Chapter 11-Family and Forever

The sight of her husband syringing medicine into the mouth of a sick kitten was a sight she'd seen before countless times, she wished there was no illness to treat as she knew how much it broke his heart when he lost one.

"Okay Sarah, you're alright." he stroked her until her ears prickled back and she purred putting the empty syringe on the side to be cleaned later. A gorgeous light brown tabby cat, she buried herself in the crook of his chest causing him to smile, scoop her up and shut the cage door with a short clash.

"Ha, you are so much like my wife." he said, still blissfully unaware of her presence in the doorway. She did visit him as often as she could but, with the kids and all the promotional work she'd had to do lately, it was not half as much as she'd wanted to. David continued stepping back and swaying them in his arms as she purred. Always the father, even at work.

"Always looking for the next adventure."

Mary-Margaret stepped further in until she was behind him on the next revolution.

"It's only fun when you go with me."

He turned, his face lighting up brighter than a thousand fireworks going off simultaneously in the sky. "Hi!"

"Mmm. Hi." she linked their lips in a slow kiss before grinning as Sarah immediately recognised the lovely woman who bought food supplies for everyone whenever she could.

"Hey Sarah, how are you sweetie?"

"Much better after her meds, we were going to try a small bowl of food weren't we?" David cooed.

"I don't wanna hold you up." she blushed. "You aren't. Why don't you help me? I could do with my beautiful assistant back."

"MA! Okay."

Five minutes later, they are contentedly watching Sarah attack the mix of dry and wet food on the mat occasionally stopping to drink the water. It's lucky the other animals get the same love otherwise, there would be a riot.

"Look at her go." Mary-Margaret said lovingly, both of them having crouched down to watch the food rapidly disappear.

"So what brings you here on this fine afternoon?" David asks playfully knowing the answer.

"Can't a girl visit her husband at work without an ulterior motive?"

"Of course, but, I know you. You wouldn't have asked Belle to take Neal for a few hours otherwise."

Very clever. It was true she did have something to tell him. Quietly, she took his hand and placed it on her abdomen. The place where their love was growing. Their child.

David gasped and turned so they were facing each other. "NO! You're kidding!"

She nodded negatively, "Three kids under five. Are you up for the challenge?"

"Challenge? AHH! C'mere!" he enveloped her in a fierce hug so hard they toppled over kissing passionately as Sarah purred at them.

"You know? Emma has always wanted a kitten and puppy…" Mary-Margaret suggested eyes hazy with love.

So, a few days later they take Sarah and a little brown lab who Emma calls Lily home. It's impulsive, mad, considering their house is going to be full of another life in eight months. But, they have always wanted this. A house, a dog, cat and lots of kids.

The whole deal.

"I'm a sissy again." Emma exclaims, when they tell her. Lily and Sarah contented nested into the couch with them.

They laugh. "No sweetie, not yet, Mommy won't be ready for a few months."

"Months? But, Daddy I want her now. Like Neal." she was referring to her little brother who was snoozing away in his travel crib.

"I know, you do." David kissed her fore-head as he pulled them closer. They didn't have the heart to tell her that she might be outnumbered soon.

"But hey, Em you can feel her in my tummy just like you did with Bubba Neal and then when she comes out…."

"Be a family." Emma said, unprompted.

"We are. Mmm. Sweetie. It'll just get bigger."

"Like your tummy?" "MA! Yes. Like my tummy."

When they were in bed she said it: "I'm going to be huge again."

"What?"

Turning to him on her side she sulked. "Like a whale. I'm nearly thirty three on baby number three."

"Hey, you're stunning."

"You have to say that."

"No… yes but, you are." he expressed, kissing her sweetly over and over.

"You are too." Mary-Margaret said into the kiss tugging at his lip til he is flat on his back her hands running up and down his chest lightly.

"Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

"Oh David…." she giggled, "Regina is going to kill me."

Across town, Regina's mind is on something but, it's certainly not Mary-Margaret's womb.

"Robin." she gasped, as he kissed a trail down her neck and then back up. "I can't- I can't get any work done if you keep…. ah!"

"Well, I never heard anything about work." Robin murmured cheekily, teasing her lips.

"I didn't. I just like to keep… busy." The heat from the fire made her bare skin glow. Roland was fast asleep in a room she had kept just in-case she had a child. Toys books and space themed wall-paper all subtle evidence of the slow family they were building.

A smile graced his features and he stilled the toned abs of the sports instructor and professional archer within kissing distance If only she could… "Agh." Regina exclaimed her plan to kiss and tug and so many things to his body completely foiled.

"I know you do." he smirked, "And while that is one of the many, many things I love about you."

"It's also." Robin kissed her nose as the tension continued to build and build until they both wanted to explode. "Very frustrating."

"Really?" Regina teased taking his lips again before allowing him to continue.

"Yes, especially when I- when we want you all to ourselves." Regina rolled her eyes jokingly. "Roland is asleep he doesn't get a vote til the morning."

"Regina we love you." Robin said passionately and then she thought her heart would burst as he wiped away her single tear.

"I want you Robin, I want this. These past few months with you and Roland have been the best of my life."

Taking a breath she pulled away slightly. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying…"

"Don't leave. You and Roland. Stay. Stay with me forever."

He kissed her sweetly causing a moan to rumble from her lips. "But, I have… one condition."

"Anything." she giggled.

He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered.

"Marry me."

In shock, she pulled back but, not so much as to make him thing he'd said anything wrong

"What?" she sobbed happily convinced, absolutely convinced she would never hear those words come from anyone's lips again. Not after Daniel, not after that damn fire that took away her dreams of marriage and a family.

No, this couldn't be real? Except the blood red sapphire ring etched in gold he retrieves from his clothes and loops on her shaking finger proves it is.

He laughs, kisses her and then asks again. "Regina?"

It takes her barely a second. The answer so crystal clear in her mind. She wants and loves this man and his no, now their son with all her heart. It's so clear.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, Robin MA! Of course, I'll marry you."

Smothering her in kisses, they fall into a rhythm with the heat of the fire until there is nothing left but dying embers.

"I love you. Robin." Snuggling into his body a thick blanket keeping them warm he pecks her lips again. "And I love you- " "My Regina."

"David! David!" He is awoken from his short nap by his wife exaggeratingly shaking him awake. Her baby bump still not yet visible.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

"MA! Regina called." he began to slowly sit up against the pillows. "Is she alright?"

Mary-Margaret's teasing smile was unmoving. "She's more than alright."

"Mare, spit it out."

His wife just laughed moved to straddle him stroking his chest. "Robin proposed."

David had the biggest grin. "About time!"

"MA!" Giving him a sloppy kiss she finally said it. "She said yes."

"When are they thinking?" David caught her lips at the earliest opportunity rubbing sensually over the home of their child."

"MmmmmmmmmmmmMA!" Mary-Margaret gasped, "The summer, so between her and the little one the book launches are now on hiatus at least until, she's old enough to bounce on my knee."

"She? You still think we're having another girl."

"Don't you?" Stroking his cheek Mary-Margaret laughed as he tickled the body under-neath her lavender silk nightdress.

"I think, I am blessed, no matter what. But, yes I do."

"Eva."

"After your mother." David suggested.

Smiling she said: "It's perfect."

"And if it's a boy?"

"How about?" Mary-Margaret pondered

"Oliver."

He just smiled and she knew, he loved it.

Guest. Hope this answers your question. xxxx