Written for Cherish the peanut day 1: Milestones on Tumblr

First night sleeping without a pacifier (The Pacifairy)

"Sweetheart, it's time," Regina said, stroking her daughter's chestnut hair. She'd been postponing this moment for as long as possible, but now it really was time. If Ellie kept it up any longer, she would become too dependent and those things were just not good for her teeth.

Henry rose from his spot at the kitchen table, abandoning his homework, and walked over to the two of them sitting on the couch, taking place next to his sister. "Ellie, I had to do it too once. It's not a big deal," he said, patting her shoulder in an attempt to comfort his sobbing sister. "But…" she started, looking up at Henry with those big blue eyes, now stained with sadness, "I can't sleep without my binky." Pouting, she buried her warm cheeks under her brother's arm. "I don't want to give it up, Henry."

Henry and Regina shared an anxious look when Robin came through the door. "Good evening, everyone!" he said, storing his jacket in the closet under the staircase. Walking into the living room, he immediately noticed the sad-looking gathering of pouts and tears, and rushed over to his family. He kneeled before Ellie, resting his hands on her knees, "What's wrong, darling?" She removed herself from Henry's embrace and pouted in Robin's direction. "Mommy's making me give up my binky." He half-smiled, sighing, and looked at Regina, who was eyeing him, urging him to say something. He cupped Ellie's cheek and wiped the tears away, "Mommy's right, sweetheart, you're going to have to sleep without it one day, right?"

"No," she said, fervently shaking her head. Regina lowered her head, stroking some stray locks of hair out of her face, "Hey, you're a big girl, aren't you?" She looked up at her mother, changing the direction of her shaking head to a nodding of yes. "I'm a big girl too and I don't have one either," she cooed, hoping that would change her mind, Ellie being her mother's biggest fan. But she simply sighed and said, "No."

Suddenly, something sparked inside Regina's mind.

"Hey honey, let me tell you a story. When Henry was your age, he had to give up his binky too; he'd become a big boy and big boys don't need pacifiers to sleep at night. So we gift-wrapped it and placed it on the coffee table, together with a chocolate bar and a glass of wine. You know why?" Ellie shook her head, entranced by the story. "Because there was a fairy coming to get it, honey. A very special fairy, who's in charge of picking up big boys' and girls' old binkies. And she just loved us for also giving her chocolate and wine, because she's very fond of it."

Robin smirked at her, realizing there was no such thing as a binky fairy. He'd become familiar with Santa Claus, after being fooled by Regina and Henry, who had convinced him that he was very real, and that if you were very silent, you could sneak a peek at night when he came over to bring the presents and candy. So he'd hidden on the staircase, waiting for a glimpse, but Santa never came. Regina and Henry had been so very amused after this, but Robin wouldn't get fooled again. A full-on smile appeared on his face when he thought about Regina enjoying the fairy's wine and chocolate at night when Henry was asleep.

"She appreciated it so much that she gave Henry presents in return, for being such a good boy. And I'm sure she'll do that for you too."

If Ellie wasn't paying attention before, she sure was now. Her big eyes looked up at her mother's, "Really, Mommy?" Regina nodded and reciprocated, "Really."

"What's the fairy's name?"

Oh, Regina thought. Of course Ellie would ask this. She was a girl obsessed with fairies after all, with her godmother being one. She threw Robin a fast look, urging him to help her. She started mumbling, "Uh, it's… Uh… Her name is–"

"She's the Pacifairy!" Robin exclaimed. Regina and Henry pushed back a snort to the back of their throats. A big smile appeared on Regina's face instead, and she nodded, "Yes, the Pacifairy's coming for your binky, honey."

"That's her name?" she said, frowning, not grasping the humour of it. Robin smiled at her, "Yes, sweetheart, she's from a special land called… Pun… Donia. Pundonia! It's a very peculiar place, but everyone's extremely kind over there."

"But she won't come if you're on the lookout, Ellie. You have to stay in your bed all night long, okay?" Henry interrupted after having caught the sly expression in her eyes. Regina threw Henry an appreciative glance. Thank God for him.

Ellie sighed, still pondering over whether or not she was willing to get rid of her binky.

But there will be toys…

Her choice was made.

"Okay, Mommy, the Pacifairy can have my binky."

Regina, Henry and Robin enveloped their little girl in a tight hug, whispering words of praise into her ears.

That night, Ellie slept peacefully without her binky, dreaming about the beautiful fairy and all the gifts she would be getting, while Robin and Regina enjoyed some chocolate and the -now- bottle of wine left by Ellie ("Pacifairy will be very thirsty after having flown all the way here from Pundonia").

"Pacifairy was an excellent move on your part," she said, nearly making him spit out his wine. He laughed and agreed, "One of the things I love about this world is its pun-loving nature."

She smiled and buried herself deeper against him, both of them relishing in the joys of being a parent.