Author's Note: The last line of the last chapter sort of changed the whole story. It changed Marian as well. I can't wait for us to dig into this second part of the story! (I'm not real thrilled with my writing in this chapter. It is sort of meh but I do like how things played out so...just forgive the poor writing.)

P.S. To the reviewer who brought up wasting the Elsa/Fate, Anna/Destiny storyline...I don't feel it has been wasted. The whole story hasn't been told. They are key components to the rest of the tale. Have a little faith. I will follow through.

Chapter Eleven

Just Breath

"It's not magic. She's pregnant."

The words echoed in Robin's head like a broken record as he stood watching the gurney Regina was strapped to being loaded into the back of the ambulance. He could see David's mouth moving but couldn't hear anything the other man was saying. All he could hear was Marian's voice telling him that Regina was pregnant. A strong hand cupped him on the shoulder and gave him a hard shake. He blinked and turned to find David standing close enough that they were almost nose to nose. "Tinkerbell's going to ride with her," David said quietly. Robin shook his head. If anyone was going to ride in the ambulance with her it was going to be him. He started towards the emergency vehicle only to be blocked by David. "Tinkerbell is going to ride with her," he repeated, the grip he had on Robin's shoulder tightening. "You're going take Roland inside to Granny and calm him down. After that I'll give you a ride to the hospital."

Robin wanted to argue with him. He wanted to tell the other man that his first priority was making sure the woman he loved and their unborn child was alright. Everything in him went still. He was in love with Regina. He hadn't known what it was he felt because the idea of falling in love with someone so quickly had seemed preposterous. Faced with almost losing her, he was also faced with admitting how deep his feelings went. "She'll be alright," he heard Marian whisper.

"You don't know that," he snapped without thinking. Marian took a step back, her dark eyes wide. His blood started to boil as David told him to get control of himself and to stop taking it out on Marian. A bitter laugh formed in his throat. Prince Charming was defending the very woman who would have gladly let Snow White die. The irony was almost more than Robin could stand. For a moment he entertained the idea of telling Marian's secret. The moment was fleeting. She was still Roland's mother and betraying another's trust went against everything Robin stood for. He shifted his attention to his small son. Roland climbed back up into arms and clung to his neck. "She'll be alright," he murmured. He didn't know if he was reassuring Roland or himself.

"Let me see the boy, Robin." Little John stepped forward, his arms outstretched. Reluctantly, Roland went to the larger man. "We'll get some of that creamed ice you were speaking of. Would you like Roland? Some creamed ice?"

"Ice cream," Roland corrected between sniffles.

Robin pressed a quick kiss to his son's forehead before turning to follow David to the old truck he drove around. It wasn't until he was opening the passenger side door that he realized Marian had followed. "You're not going," he growled.

"Yes I am. Whether I ride with you and His Majesty or I find another way, I am going." Marian's chin raised a notch.

"Why?" Robin demanded. "Why is it so important that you go?" He expected some hot retort about being able to go anywhere she pleased, instead he got a softly murmured concern for Roland's brother or sister. A cold sweat broke out across his upper lip as it suddenly started sinking in. Regina was pregnant. He couldn't stop his mind from wandering to the fact that she had to of known she was pregnant when they ran into one another at the park. She hadn't said a word about the baby. The thought stayed with him as they drove the short distance to the Storybrooke Community Hospital. Had Regina not wanted him to know they were going to have a child? He refused to believe that was it. It had to be because of Marian. Regina had probably gotten some misplaced noble idea in her head that if she told him about their child it would ruin his chances at rebuilding a life with Marian. She couldn't have known that Marian had ruined that chance all on her own. Or had she? Robin frowned. Had he really given his second chance with Marian an actual chance? Or had he been waiting for the right moment to end things? Robin glanced over at his wife's profile. He didn't know what he was expecting when he looked at her but it wasn't the calm certainty that he no longer had to feel obligated to the woman next to him. She wasn't the adventurous lass he had married. That girl died at the base of a mountain as far as he was concerned. He'd mourned that girl. It would that girl he would remember and cherish.

Tinkerbell was pacing the small waiting area adjacent to the Emergency Room. With her wavy blonde hair frizzing in every direction and her luminous blue eyes red rimmed from crying she looked nothing like the sassy fairy Robin had met in Granny's diner. There was a weariness about her that seemed almost human. She spun around when David called her name. "She's dehydrated," she answered before any of them could ask how Regina was doing. "Whale's going to start an I.V. to replace some of the fluids she's lost. I believe he also spoke of doing an ultrasound to make sure the baby is doing alright." She pushed her hands into her hair, frizzing it out even more. "She asked for Snow," she said quietly, her clear blue eyes meeting David's for a second. "I didn't know if..."

"Snow is on her way. Emma's going to stay with Neal and Henry."

Nodding, Tinkerbell sank onto one of the orange vinyl chairs that lined the wall. She clasped her hands in front of her and let out a sigh. "She's going to be fine," she whispered. "She's going to be just fine. They both are."

"Here." A cup of coffee was thrust into Robin's hand by Jefferson. Robin stared down at it, his fist tightening around the thin foam until he felt a splash of scalding liquid against the back of his hand. Muttering a curse, he tossed the cup into the nearest trash can. He didn't want or need anything from the man known as The Mad Hatter. As soon as Tinkerbell had said his name in the park Robin had known exactly who, or what, Jefferson had been to the Evil Queen. Everyone in the Enchanted Forest had known about the strange milliner who could use a hat to create portals to other realms. There had also been rumors of Jefferson and the Queen being lovers. Robin hadn't thought, or cared, much about the rumors when they were circulating throughout the forest, but now, in Storybrooke, he found that he very much cared. He didn't hold Regina's former relationships against her, he wasn't exactly "pure" himself, but that didn't mean he wanted Jefferson anywhere near Regina. Especially now, when her health was fragile and there was a baby to consider. "A simple no thank you would have been sufficient," Jefferson mused.

"No thank you," Robin retorted icily. Jefferson shot him an amused smirk before walking over to where Tinkerbell sat. He bent at the waist, offering her the cup he held in his other hand. Tinkerbell shot him a watery smile before accepting it. Robin felt his brow furrow. He'd seen that smile before and it hadn't been on Tinkerbell. He shook it off. That was something for him to ponder and worry about at another time. Right now his focus was on finding and being there for Regina. Without saying a word, he strode in the direction Little John had been taken the night he had turned into a flying monkey. It made sense that they would bring Regina in the same direction. His hunch proved correct when he heard Whale barking an order at a nurse. A second later a door at the end of the hall opened and a woman wearing white hurried out. She looked a bit like one of the chambermaids from his father's estate, which was impossible. Or, he wondered as she past by and gave him a wide eyed look of recognition, maybe not so impossible. Another thing to worry about later.

"...need to start taking better care of yourself. If you don't this is going to be a long, miserable pregnancy." Whale lectured as Robin carefully pushed open the door to the exam room. The doctor glanced over his shoulder and frowned. "It would appear you have a guest."

Robin felt his heart constrict as he took in the image of Regina propped up on a hospital bed. There was a frailty about her that he had somehow overlooked at the park. He felt a lump of regret and guilt forming in his stomach. Silently, he stepped forward and grabbed the rolling stool Whale had just vacated. He pulled it up close to the bed and sat down. Regina's chocolate brown eyes met his blue ones. There were too many things shining in those eyes for him to make sense of them all. The things that stood out the most were fear, regret, and love. You have nothing to fear because I am here to chase away the darkness. His fingers reached for hers, melding their two hands together. We'll face the regrets together. Raising their entwined fingers to his mouth, he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. You're not just my soul mate. You're my true love.

"You know?" Regina whispered. Tears filled her dark eyes as he nodded. She pressed her head back against the pillow, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I wanted to tell you. I just didn't know when or how." Her head raised a bit as she looked at him, their eyes meeting once more. "I'm so sorry," she choked. A solitary tear ran down her cheek. "I...I didn't know I even could...and I know this isn't what..." Robin silenced her by leaning forward and pressing his lips against hers. When he pulled back he used his free hand to wipe away the tears that clung to her cheek.

"There is nothing to be sorry for," Robin murmured, gently running the pad of his thumb down her jawline. He hesitated for a moment before pressing their combined hands against her flat abdomen. "Don't you see," he said softly, "this baby is a gift. Fate is giving us a new life."

Fate. Robin thought back to the moments right before Marian had screamed his name. He'd met Fate face to face. She'd been beautiful, so full of both life and death. She'd known him by name. She knew everyone by name. She knew every second of their lives. His first instinct had been to run but then she smiled at him. He'd never seen such a beautiful smile, except for on the woman whose hand he was holding. He'd called her Fate and she had told him to call her Elsa. You've nothing to fear from me, she'd told him. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm. She'd pushed up his sleeve, revealing the tattoo of his family crest that his father had marked him with when he was but twelve years old. With the tip of one gloved finger she had traced it. Strange isn't it? How something you hated and resented became the symbol of something written in the stars. Her words had confused him. He'd wanted to ask her what she meant but Marian's scream had pieced through the air. Elsa had dropped his arm and her smile had widen. You better hurry. You're Fate is waiting for you. There had been no time to analyze what she meant. Sitting by Regina's side it all made sense. The tattoo his father had used to mark him as Locksley property had become a symbol of his love for Regina; a love that had been written in the stars long before they met.

"Marian-" Regina started only to let her words trail off as the door was flung open. Snow ran in, her cheeks flushed.

"Regina," she breathed, engulfing the other woman in a tight embrace. "I thought you were done trying to kill me," Snow teased, a sweet smile tipping the corners of her lips as she cupped Regina's face in her hands. "Although, I have to say practically giving me a heart attack by fainting outside of Granny's diner is a new and creative way to go about it."

"If I had wanted you dead..."

Snow laughed. "Yes, I know I would be dead." She leaned in for another hug, lingering long enough to whisper something in Regina's ear. Regina nodded when Snow pulled back. "I'm glad," she said, her smile widening as she turned to look at Robin. "This is the part where I remind you she's my family and if you hurt her again I am almost as good with a bow and arrow as you are."

"Point taken, milady," Robin smiled ruefully.

"Just so we're clear," Snow continued, "you and Marian..."

"Are over," he said firmly. The brilliant smile Snow sent him was shadowed by the guilt he felt over knowing about the agreement Marian had made. Whoever had struck the deal with Marian had wanted both Regina and Snow White to suffer and they had gone to great lengths to try to accomplish it. If there was someone, or something, lurking about, wanting to cause either woman harm, didn't they have the right to know? Didn't that right to know circumvent any guilt he might feel for betraying what Marian had told him in confidence?

"For Roland's sake, I am sorry things didn't work out."

The sweetness in Snow's voice was the deciding factor. Lowering his gaze, he stared at Regina's wrist; at the delicate fluttering of her pulse beneath her skin. "My wife, Roland's mother, died four years ago," he said quietly. He felt his blood starting to race through his veins. "She slid off a cliff outside Maleficent's castle." Lifting his eyes, he forced himself to look at Snow White. "Someone, or something, found her and they offered a deal. A second chance at life if she lured you to the Evil Queen's castle. That is why your daughter found her in the Queen's dungeon." It still hurt too much to tell them that Marian hadn't made the deal so she could come back to him and Roland. He'd come to terms with that fact but he wasn't ready to voice it aloud.

Snow stared at him, her blue eyes unreadable. "There's more, isn't there," she finally stated.

Indeed there was. So much more. More than Robin knew. He played over the conversation again in his mind, looking for any detail he might have left out. "This person or thing seemed to think that by killing you they could destroy the Evil Queen." They could destroy Regina. Those were words he couldn't speak aloud.

"Zelena?" Snow asked as she sat on the edge of Regina's hospital bed.

"She's dead," answered Regina. Her voice sounded weak, reminding him they weren't in Snow's parlor, Regina's office, or the diner. They were in the hospital because Regina had fainted.

"Is she," questioned Snow, "because I don't recall ever seeing a body." She rose from the edge of the bed and started towards the door. Regina called after her, asking her where she was going. "I'm going to talk to Marian. I'm going to find out exactly who she made that deal with."

"And then?" There was more strength in Regina's voice this time. She had pushed herself into sitting position, her dark eyes trained on Snow White.

"I don't know. I just know I'm not going to sit here, waiting for whoever she made that deal with to find another way to get to us."