Regina, in her subconscious, could feel a certain silence filled the expanse of the bedchamber as the tension in the room weighed down on Regina's shoulders.
She put a gentle hand to her abdomen, forcing the tears of dejection and dread out of her eyes.
Her daughter was in danger, and heroes and fairness be damned if she was going to let the Lord of The Underworld come anywhere close to her children.
She would fight.
Fight for Robin. Fight for Henry. Fight for her daughter.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the crocodile-like man before her began to speak, "Hopefully that helps somewhat, do with it what you will. Ta ta!" Rumplestiltskin grinned.
With a quick wave of the madman's hands, smoke the color of grey had appeared around the man's body as he let out an infamous giggle before he disappeared from the bedchamber. A puff of smoke, now dissipating, was left in his place.
Robin was the first to speak as he took his place beside Regina, clasping her a hand in his.
"So what's the plan? Do we wait for Hades to come after our child or do we go after him?" Robin's face was devoid of anything but anger.
Henry, who looked to the blonde haired, blue-eyed man before him, was surprisingly the first to reply.
"I think we should start with getting the darkness out of Mom, then whatever happens, we be extra cautious and protect my other Mom," Henry nodded at Regina, "at all costs. From what I remember reading in the Storybook of Hades, he isn't able to leave the Underworld so I think we're good for now. I think we should start with protecting both my sister and my Mom, whether it's anything regarding Hades, or anyone else who wants to harm them," Henry threw Regina a small reassuring smile, "while we try to get the darkness out of my other Mom," Henry nodded at Emma.
Charming nodded, a proud grin plastered on his face.
"Sounds like a good plan, Henry." he stated, setting a strong hand on his grandson's shoulder.
It was then that fast footsteps and a low voice sounded near the entrance of the bedchamber.
"Swan"
Everyone turned towards the noise in curiousity.
It was the pirate.
Emma turned around quickly hearing the sound of her lover's' voice, "Hey..Is everything okay?" she took both the pirate's hook and his hand in her own.
"Yes everything's fine. I just wasn't able to find you and got worried. Then everyone told me what happened," Killian looked to Regina sitting at the edge of the bed.
"I heard of your falling ill this morning, unfortunately most of the servants in the royal court heard. I heard them conversing about it as I was walking here."
Robin threw Regina a look of question, do you want me to tell him of the pregnancy?
Regina nodded to Robin.
"Regina...she's with child. I think everyone within our immediate group should be informed just in case. That's why she was sick.. and the child is mine," Robin couldn't help the grin of happiness that slipped over his features.
Killian threw Robin a small smirk, "Well I'd say congratulations are an order," Killian clapped Robin on the back.
"Thank you, Killian"
Robin grinned slightly as he locked eyes with the ex-pirate, remembering how just weeks earlier, both himself and Killian had talked of how they were planning to spend the future with their lovers.
"I'm no Snow White, but I think you should try to have some hope for you and your lass. I've learned one thing after spending so much time around the Charming family,: If you have hope, usually things will work themselves out for you in the end. Mate, If you want to ask the Queen for her hand, go ahead. Nothing's stopping you. Not this damned fate that everyone keeps blabbering on about. You choose your own fate or destiny - whatever you want to call it. After my many years as a pirate that is the one concept that has reiteratively rung true," Robin remembered Killian telling him as they both shared Killian's flask as they both sat against a stable's wooden structure, the fire of alcohol coating and burning as rum trailed down their throats.
The blue of Robin's eyes conveyed the emotion of contentment and pride for his friend turned good.
Robin's thoughts were soon interrupted as Emma spoke, "Merlin needs me to meet him in the forest, I'll be back by nightfall, don't worry," Emma said to the gang, as she quickly hugged her son, parents, and Killian accompanied with and I love you, before throwing Regina a small smile and a state of "Congratulations" before she walked towards the door to exit the room. As soon as she made it outside the door, Killian cursed himself for not stopping her and jogged swiftly after her.
"Swan, wait."
Emma was only a few feet away from the entrance of the Queen's bedchamber before she swiveled upon hearing her lover's voice. Killian grabbed Emma's hand in his, stopping her as he pulled her slightly towards the wall outside the wooden doored entrance to Regina and Robin's bedchamber.
"Killian, I have to go meet Merlin and I can't be late. He thinks he knows of a way to rid me of the darkness for good. 'The Flame of Prometheus'; If I can get it to ignite, I can be used to bind the dagger and the broken sword, reforming Excalibur," Emma smiled, optimism shining through her features.
"You'll return by nightfall?" Killian asked.
"Yes. We go get this spark thing, and then I'm working my way back to you, babe," Emma smiled.
"I know when you're quoting something," Killian threw Emma a smirk.
"And I love that you never know what it is. Anyway, with a bit of luck, we can put Excalibur together tomorrow, and then... bam... No more darkness."
"Be careful, Emma"
Killian raised an arm to a necklace that laid around his neck, pulling it from around his neck. "Whoa," Emma laughed nervously, "Whoa, whoa, whoa."
He now had the necklace in his hand, holding it up in front of him to reveal a ring that had gone through the silver chain of the piece of jewelry.
Killian smiled, "Calm down, Swan. I'm not proposing"
A beat of silence.
"You know I'm a survivor. This ring is why. I've had it for many years. It once belonged to a man braver and more courageous than I. It was a good luck charm of sorts, and I think it's the reason I'm alive. Or it could be. Who knows?"
Emma sighed.
"You know I can't die today. I'm immortal now."
Killian's face went serious; his light blue eyes now tinged with a slight darkness and worry; his mouth set in a thin line.
"Anyone can kill anyone, there's always a way, a loophole, and the Dark One is immortal. Emma isn't. Bring her home to me," Killian smiled slightly, "At the very least, this ring is a reminder that you've got a piercing-eyed, smoldering pirate here who loves you," Killian replied.
"Thank you. I love you, too"
The couple parted ways with a kiss before Killian retreated back into the Queen's bedchamber, a continuous nervousness clawing at his insides.
As he approached the gang once more, he heard the sure and tired voice of Snow White in a large exhale.
"So what should we do next? The sooner we leave this place the better"
"We should find Excalibur, or at least what's left of it. Don't you remember what Merlin told us this morning? He said we need to find the sword in order for him to reforge both the sword and the dagger to create the original Excalibur," Regina said from her place at the side of the bed, her voice sure.
As she hadn't talked in minutes, which was so unlike her, Snow was startled by her friend's speech.
""We"? Regina I'm not going to put you and our child in danger. That's out of the question," Robin was the next to speak. Forceful, but love could still be heard in his tone.
"Robin I'm not an invalid, I'm pregnant," Regina argued.
Seeing that this was somewhat of an intimate moment between the couple, David decided to speak up.
"I'm gonna get everyone to head over to Granny's. When you're done talking this out, meet us there in about half an hour, there we'll come up with a plan to break into the castle."
David waited a beat, testing the waters before he continued, "Would you like want me to bring Zelena?"
At the mention of Zelena, Regina flinched; eyes closed in irritation. Robin gave Regina's hand a tight squeeze.
Robin looked to David, giving him a solemn nod.
Although she was now mute, Zelena, being Zelena, would surely cause some amount of trouble. They had to keep eyes on her at all times.
David nodded back at Robin in confirmation.
"Of course," David set a strong hand on Henry's shoulder, "C'mon Henry."
Henry nodded his reassurance at his grandpa, before he walked over to his other mother who sat on the bed, gathering her in a hug. Regina's arms instantly snaked around her son's torso.
"I love you Mom, and I am happy for you," Henry whispered for only his brunette mother to hear before he pulled back, and began walking out of Regina's bedchamber with Hook, and Snow.
Robin pulled David somewhat to the side of the room talking low, "Don't mention Regina's pregnancy around Zelena, who knows what she could do, even with her magic impotent."
"Of course," David set a strong hand on his before leaving the bedchamber.
Robin waited a few beats before speaking again. He was now sitting next to Regina on the bed, their hands clasped together on his lap, dark blue eyes looking in watery whiskey brown ones.
"Regina, I can't let you do this. I don't want to risk it"
"Robin, I'm the only one who has the magic to help get the sword back from Arthur, and I am not under any circumstances letting Emma use her magic any more than she has to when I can use my own perfectly fine."
Robin held Regina's hands tight in between his own.
"We can find another way, there is always another way."
Robin sighed.
"What will it take for you to stay here while I do this?" he asked.
"Nothing. Because I'm coming with you. My friends, my family. They need help. My help; and when family needs help you step up. You do whatever you can to aid them. Because they're your family. Robin they're the very first people I even considered family. The very first people who saw me for me. Not the Evil Queen, or villain; just Regina. Now I have you, and Roland, and this baby…our daughter," Regina put a gentle hand to her abdomen, not being able to help the watery smile that graced her lips.
"And while we're out there today, I will do whatever it takes to keep our daughter safe; keep myself safe. I promise I will tell you if anything is wrong, okay?"
Robin eyed his fiancé with scanning her eyes for hints of pain, or sorrow.
She was so great at hiding her sorrow.
But Robin always saw through that facade. Robin knew better than to think that there was never something she wasn't thinking back to, something she wasn't thinking about that brought back old dark memories.
Because that's who she was. She believed apologies only made a person weak, that they only apologized in attempts to assuage their own guilt. That actions spoke louder than words.
As Robin looked into those whiskey brown eyes he saw no trace of darkness, no distress and anguish that her eyes were so prone to masking.
Instead he saw elation and contentment.
Robin smiled.
"I promise," Regina smiled that elusive but satisfying smile.
"Okay," Robin replied.
"Okay," Regina pecked Robin on the lips.
"I love you," the brunette stated as she pulled back with a smile.
"I love you too milady," Robin couldn't help the smile grace his face as he remembered the first time she had said those three words just weeks ago.
It was the night Emma had given herself to the darkness.
He remembered it clearly.
They had come home that night, the house quiet. Henry had gone to the Charming's to provide comfort, the good virtued and optimistic boy that he was, and Roland was in his bed. There would be no bedtime story for him that night.
Robin remembered clearly what she had said the minute they had climbed into bed together. The night quiet - silent. No noises sounding through the night save the regular breathing of the two soulmates, and the chirps of the crickets outside the window.
"God this is all my fault", she had said as her voice cracked at the edges, with hands covering her face as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
Robin had grabbed her hands in his and turned her to him, then. Tight, to tether her to reality, to cut off those dreadful memories and dark thoughts from consuming her.
"No," he told her; deep and sure, "Do not blame yourself for what's happened. You couldn't have stopped her. Love, this was Emma's choice. She chose to save you. She chose to save her friend. Like she said, 'You've worked too hard to have your happiness destroyed.' You've come to far to have yourself turn into what you were all those decades ago. But we will find a way to get her back, I promise you. I don't know what I would've done if I'd have lost you." Robin remembers himself telling her as he held her in their bed, her head on his chest, his arm snaked around her midriff.
There had been a few beats of silence.
"You would've kept going because that's what I would've want you to do. If something should ever happen to me, I'd want you to keep going. I'd want you to cook the kids breakfast every morning, read Roland bedtime stories, have more of those heart-to-heart talks I know you and Henry have already had," Regina let a small smile slip through, " I would want you to carry on as if I never left."
"I…" a few seconds of silence, and Robin exhaled deeply.
"I love you Robin," he remembered her responding, in a quick low whisper.
Again, "I love you".
"I love you too, and I always will." Robin had kissed the crown of Regina's head just before they fell asleep in each other's' arms.
Robin remembered the smile that graced his lips the minute he heard the three words. He remembered not being able to wipe it off of his face for most of the night.
He remembered how much it took for her to say those three words, in fear that she would lose but another love.
Robin was then brought back to reality as he felt the weight in the bed shift.
Regina had stood up from the bed, and was now outstretching her hand towards Robin, a smile plastered on her face.
"We have almost fifteen minutes before we have to meet the others. Want to head to Roland's room? I'm sure he's worried."
Robin felt his feet make contact with the floor as he walked closer to his soulmate.
"How did you know he was worried about you?" Robin asked in curiousity.
"I had no idea. Instinct, I guess," she replied.
Mother's instinct, Robin couldn't help the smile that pulled his lips upwards.
"Well let's head to our boy's room"
The brunette couldn't help but smile at the mention of 'our boy'.
Robin interlocked his hand with Regina's as they walked along the stone corridor to Roland's room.
"Are we planning to tell Roland of the pregnancy?" Robin asked.
"Not yet," Regina replied quickly, "It's too early. We should tell him when I start showing so he understands better. I mean, that seems like the easiest way, right?"
"Right," Robin smiled as he kissed the knuckles of Regina's hand that was entangled with his.
As soon as they made it to the little boy's room, the first things Regina registered were the high-pitched excited yell of "'Gina!" and a child-like weight that collided against her stomach accompanied with tiny amounts of pressure on her lower back.
Roland had hugged her.
Robin threw his son a look of trepidation.
Although his son did not see this look, Regina did, and gave Robin a small reassuring smile that said 'I'm okay, she's okay' before she looked down to see a bush of brown curls. She brought a hand up to the boy's head, running a hand through his mop of dark brown curls.
Moving Roland's hands from her lower back, and gathering them in her own, Regina bent down so she was to Roland's eye level; so she was looking into those adorable brown orbs.
Robin had a delicate grip on her arm as she bent down, just in case.
Regina couldn't help but smile at the way Robin wanted to aid her in every way possible.
She looked back to the boy and smiled.
"Hello my little knight."
"I missed you so much 'Gina!" the little boy smiled.
"And I missed you too"
"Are you feeling better?"
"I'm feeling much better, thank you for asking," she said tickling the little boy in the stomach lightheartedly.
Roland giggled, a small smile on his face.
Then his smile faded as his tiny dark eyes looked around the room.
"Where's Henry?" the little boy asked, sadness clouding his eyes as he looked around for the teenager.
"He's with Snow and Charming right now, but I'm sure he can come visit you in a few minutes. How does that sound?"
A brightness returned to the boy's dark brown orbs.
"Now we will be right back. Stay with Granny while we go get Henry. Okay?"
Roland nodded with a smile, "Okay 'Gina."
"Great," Regina smiled as she went to stand up from her kneeled position in front of Roland.
Robin instantly placed a steady hand on Regina's lower back as she slowly stood and made her way outside the room itself.
The last things Regina heard were Granny's footsteps as she walked up to Roland inside the room, and the the word 'Ice Cream' in Roland's soft speech.
Regina couldn't help but smile as she heard the little boy go off on a tangent about the different ice cream flavors he had discovered in Storybrooke.
God how she loved that little boy.
Her thoughts were instantly interrupted as she felt Robin's hand entangled with hers; calloused and warm.
She inclined her head to observe the stone walls around them as they walked down the castle's corridor towards the entrance doors; tapestry covered them.
She thought back to the night a little over a week earlier, when she couldn't breathe inside this castle. How before she had gone outside to the woods, she had known of the tapestries lining the stone walls but had never stopped to glance at what they presented.
As she looked at them now, Regina realized that the first tapestry strip depicted the image of a lion; one that unusually looked an awful lot like Robin's tattoo - she made a mental note to ask Robin about that later. Regina looked to the right of the lion; a sword. On another strip, an image of two arrows crossing over one another.
As both her and Robin approached the two wooden entrance doors of the castle, Regina looked to Robin's face, with a small smile.
But her smile had been reduced to a frown as her eyes focused on her soulmate.
The blue of his eyes weren't bright and ablaze with hope and contentment like usual, rather they were filled with a sudden darkness, a sudden dejection and self-loathing.
Robin went to open the door, and lead Regina through, but Regina stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Robin. You okay?"
Robin's eyes flitted to Regina's, a forced smile instantly appearing on his face, a mask of delight and optimism slipping up over his features.
"Yes, of course. Everything's fine," Robin placed a hand on Regina's lower back as he led her through the large wooden doors of the castle, "After you m'lady," Robin threw her one of his charming smiles.
Regina couldn't help but think there was something he wasn't telling her, some secret.
I was once, long ago, quite different.
She made another mental note to bring it up in conversation later in the privacy of their own bedchamber.
Regina walked through the castle's wooden doors making her way towards the building in the middle of the forest that was Granny's Diner with Robin by her side.
"Okay, so what's the plan?"
Snow was the first to speak up.
Everyone was now circled around one of the tables at the diner, looking at a drawn up map of the castle itself.
They had sent Henry back to the castle to go occupy Roland as they were planning their attack. Charming was next to Snow, and Hook next to Regina and Robin, all thinking aloud of ideas to break into the castle to acquire the broken sword. Zelena, still mute, was lying on Granny's countertop a hand on her forehead in boredom.
"We should take them by surprise - go in through the front gate," David spoke up.
"Well, after our jailbreak, they'll be on high alert. We need a diversion at the drawbridge. The rest of us can climb over the wall on the side," Killian supplied, pointing with his hook to a lined structure of the parchment map of the outside of the castle itself.
Regina looked at both men, whiskey eyes flitting between the two.
"Are you forgetting? I've got magic. I can just poof into Arthur's bedroom"
Robin threw Regina a hidden look of apprehension.
They wouldn't introduce even the idea of Regina's pregnancy around Zelena. They didn't know what she was going to do if she found out, even without her magic. However, Robin couldn't help the nervous look from appearing on his face at the minute he heard of Regina using her magic.
It was then that Zelena scoffed. The first noise she had made the entire time they had been occupying the diner.
"What?" Regina stared daggers at her sister, fire underneath her tone.
Zelena gestured a hand at the sorceress.
"Well, if you're going to make a scene, you might as well make noise," Regina claimed with an eyebrow pulled upwards. With a wave of Regina's hand a whoosh was heard throughout the diner.
Zelena could speak again.
Zelena exhaled as she smiled a smile hinted with agitation, "Oh! Thank you. I do love hearing a sensible person talk"
Robin rolled his eyes at the prospect.
"Spit it out. What are you thinking?" Regina replied nothing but annoyance in her tone. She wasn't going to play games with her sister. Not today.
"I'm thinking going in the front... suicide. Diversion... Arthur hides the sword. You need it on him. And you could poof right in front of a blade. Oopsie!" Zelena covered her mouth in mock surprise.
Robin's eyes widened at the thought of Regina suffering injuries or even death or the harm that could come to their daughter.
"Well..what do you suppose we do?" Robin replied, anger within his undertone.
Zelena looked to Robin, "You need to sneak in so quietly... No one knows you're there."
"How? Hang glider? Oh, giant slingshot!" Charming supplied with sarcasm.
"If Sir-Castic would let me speak, I'd tell you that I wasn't idle during those days in there, playing mute handmaiden at Regina's side," Zelena looked to Charming with eyes filled with annoyance, "I was plotting an escape," Zelena smiled.
Upon hearing this Regina's head inclined quickly staring at her sister with eyes of fire.
"I knew it"
Zelena's eyes filled with delight for her sister's anger, "And I found a way out. And if I know a way out, I know a way in."
Regina looked on with eyes of confusion and curiosity, "You're going to help us?"
More of a statement then a question.
"Of course. Because you're going to help me. I want my magic back," Zelena uttered from her spot on Granny's countertop.
"What makes you think we'll take that bloody cuff off of you? Who knows what you'll do," Killian replied from his spot near the outlaw.
"Well I'm guessing you want my help, do you not?"
Regina rolled her eyes as her eyes flicked to Zelena's, "We make it out of this safe, with the sword? then we'll talk."
Regina grabbed Robin's hand and stormed out of Granny's with nothing more than and eye roll and a "let's go greenie."
The scent of pine and dirt was registered in Regina's sense of smell as the gang made their way over to the place in which Zelena claimed that there were a set of secret abandoned tunnels that would lead them to where they wanted to go.
He's smells like forest.
Regina smiled at the distant memories of flying monkeys and wicked witches. But then her smile dropped at the thought of sleepless nights, when she would stand in front of her apple tree at night, and sorrow would consume her entire being.
The tie of darkness was cut as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?"
Snow.
"Yes," Regina exhaled slowly, "I'm fine."
"Remember you tell any of us if something I wrong, okay?" the brunette whispered low enough so Zelena wouldn't here.
Regina nodded in reassurance.
The gang approached a metal grate surrounded by stone walls with ease and caution.
Zelena nodded at the grate, "It's a tunnel, abandoned for years. It will lead you to the courtyard."
"Well, if it's so good, why didn't you escape through it?" Hook retorted.
Zelena rolled her crystal eyes.
"Observe the prodigious metal grate, Pirate," Zelena flexed the wrist with the black cuff on it, smiling, "You see without magic, I'm a delicate thing."
David approached the metal grate, looking into it with keen eyes.
"Well, it leads in the right direction. Looks like your information is good, at least this far," he added.
"Thank you," Zelena looked to Charming then to Regina, "Now I've done my part. You can do yours. Take off this bloody cuff," Zelena threw eyes that depicted the sharpness of daggers at her sister.
"For all we know, this leads to the guards' quarters. Again, we make it out safe with the sword? then I'll let think it over."
Regina looked to her closest friend to her right.
"Mary Margaret, how do you feel about guard duty?" Regina smiled complacently.
"Oh, I'd be delighted. We'll chat, have plenty of pregnancy tips," the brunette smiled.
"Good God," Zelena groaned with a roll of her eyes, "this is worse than being in my cell"
Regina walked closer to the grate, Robin stepped along with her.
"Okay everyone. Let's go get that sword," Regina spoke to the group as she waved a hand over the massive metal grate, a purple aura going over the bars before the entire grate disappeared itself.
Robin let out a large breath he had been holding, "Okay."
He reached to his quiver, nocked an arrow, and walked in front of his fiancé, covering her.
Drawing his bow, Robin nodded to David - who unsheathed his sword - and Killian - who raised a hand which also carried a sword, as well as his hooked hand - as Robin began checking to see if every crevice of the hallway was clear before he let Regina set foot in the hallway.
As soon as he reached the end of the hallway, he called David over to his side.
"Someone should cover Regina, or take up the rear. I don't want her getting hurt, with the baby and all.." he whispered to his friend as Regina was out of earshot.
"Sure thing," David gave Robin a small pat on the back and a reassuring smile before he ventured to the back to fall in line with Regina.
"Okay, we're clear," Robin called softly to the back, careful not to be too loud so the royal guards couldn't hear him.
They walked a few feet further.
It was then that they heard chatter coming from the area in front of them.
Robin stuck his hand out to the group, "Wait"
Everyone stopped, but Regina walked further; curious to see why they had stopped.
Robin threw her a look of warning and caution and Regina instantly gave Robin a reassuring and knowing smile as she moved opposite him. They stood behind the stone wall of the tunnel; their only source of coverage for the time being.
It was then that they saw two guards walking, their backs to the heroes.
Regina looked on further to see that they were carrying a black bubbling and smoking cauldron.
Robin's eyes widened as his eyes caught onto the same thing.
"I suppose that's for us?" Regina muttered to the group.
"Well I don't think we want to find out. Let's keep moving," Killian answered.
"We should find our way to the Round Table, that's probably where the sword is being held," Charming added, "when Arthur knighted me, he said he kept all of his weapons in there."
"Yeah but the weapon that could essentially kill us? He probably hid it somewhere," Robin added.
"But lucky for us, my thieving days are not over. A friend reminded me of that," Robin smirked at Killian, "I can be a helpful aid in finding this sword-or this broken sword, that is," Robin looked at Regina in question.
"If he has the sword, power or not, it's still a problem. We need that sword to save Emma. That's our goal, and I want to get out of this realm as soon as possible," Regina put a gentle hand on her flat abdomen; the simple fact that her child could be in danger because of her toying with her mind.
She couldn't help but think of what it would be like if they had never ended up in this realm.
She wouldn't have had the infertility potion she had consumed all those years ago undone, she would never have had this chance to carry a baby - her and Robin's baby. Their daughter.
Robin threw Regina a look of understanding, as his eyes flitted down to the hand splayed over her stomach and back to Regina's face, a small smile stretched over his lips, and love shining in his eyes, "As do I."
David looked out to the courtyard; everything was clear.
"The Round Table should be in the south keep of the castle. After Arthur knighted me, he made sure I remembered different passageways of how to get there. Follow me."
Their footsteps faded into the air like whispers as they began to walk towards the south keep of the colossal stone castle.