A/N-Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favorites for this story. I also want to thank you all for all the nice words while I was taking a break. It meant so much. Now a tiny warning there will be a death or two, one will be a little shocker, but please don't stop reading, things will get better in a way.
"She's at the hospital with the babies!" Regina screamed as she dropped the phone, she wasted no time and used her magic to transport herself there. Robin had seen what she was about to do and made a grab for her to go with her, but was not in time. Robin and the Charmings headed to the hospital as soon as possible.
"Zelena where are you?!" Regina screamed as she appeared in the hospital, she leaned up against the wall. Transporting had robbed her of her strength after giving birth. The staff was afraid to tell Regina what had happened, but they could tell she already knew. When they couldn't answer her, she knew then where her sister was. Her cell. She made her way there quickly.
She threw the door opened and saw her sister holding Hope, while Hunter was on the bench behind them.
"Hello sis, how are you?" Zelena asked.
"Give me my children, now you green freak!" Regina said as she took a step to her.
"Now, now," Zelena said as she then held a knife to her daughter's forehead.
Regina stopped in her process towards Zelena. She had the upper hand for now. "What do you want now, Zelena? Haven't you done enough?"
"Oh, I haven't even started," Zelena said as she rocked her niece in her arms.
"Then what do you want?" Regina asked.
"I want to leave a wound on that black heart of yours that will never heal," Zelena said as Regina was about to ask what, when the door behind her opened. "And there is that wound. Hello dear husband."
Robin entered the room, seeing Zelena holding his daughter made his heart stop, and not in a good way. His son, seemed to know that his sister was in danger and waved his tiny arms but no magic happened. As Robin looked closer he could see a tiny wrist band on his arm, that must be keeping him from using magic. His daughter had a matching one on hers.
"Zelena, give me my children," Robin said as he stood beside Regina.
"Oh I will dear husband, but I need something of yours first," Zelena said.
"Whatever you want, just take it and leave my children alone," Robin said. He would give her anything right now for the return of his children.
"What I want is your heart, and I want Regina to take it from you," Zelena said to the stunned duo.
"What are you doing Zelena?" Regina asked, fearful for Robin.
"I thought it would be quite simple to figure out. I'm going to crush his heart right in front of you just like our mother did to that poor stable boy," Zelena said with a laugh.
"Zelena don't do this. Don't become like her," Regina said. She knew in her heart she couldn't stand to watch as another soulmate was killed in front of her.
"You have one minute to say goodbye to lover boy," Zelena said.
Regina turned to Robin, who took her hand and put it on his chest. "Regina, do it. Think about our children."
"Our children are going to need you, all four of them. They need someone good in their lives," Regina said.
"They already have that. They have you," Robin said.
"I can't do this, Robin. I'm not strong enough to say goodbye to you," Regina said.
"Then don't," Robin said as he pulled her in for a kiss. "Take my heart, Regina. It's yours anyways, had been from the moment we met."
Regina let out a cry as she put her hand on his chest and went into this chest, hearing Robin moan in pain caused her pain and she pulled out his heart. It was glowing a bright red.
"I love you," Regina said to Robin.
"I know. I love you too," Robin said as Regina then handed the heart to Zelena who then gave her baby Hope. Robin went to baby Hunter, behind them the Charmings entered the room. They saw Zelena holding a heart, a red adult beating heart. They knew then it had to be Robin's.
"Take my son," Robin said as he kissed his son's forehead before handing him to Mary Margaret."Be good to your mother, my boy."
He then went to Regina who was holding baby Hope. He kissed his daughter's forehead as well. "Be good to your mother. She loves you both so much."
"Robin," Regina said with a broken voice.
"I know sweetheart, I love you with every fiber of my being," Robin said as he cupped her face with his hands on each side. "I wanted to grow old with you, wanted to spend every day of my life at your side. Promise to never give up."
"Robin, don't do this," Regina cried out.
"I love you, never forget that. Take care of our children, explain things to Roland when he's older," Robin said knowing he would never see his children get older. This was going to hurt his little boy severely. "Have my merry men help you and our children." He leaned down for one last kiss, knowing she was about to loose him. After the kiss ended, he pulled back to stare into her eyes which were full of tears as he suddenly let out a moan and grasped his chest and crumbled to the floor.
"Robin!" Regina cried out as she kneeled down beside him. David came and took her daughter from her so she could hold Robin. She kissed his forehead, praying that a true love's kiss would work, but it didn't. He was still motionless.
"I told you sis, I would take everything from you. And now I finally have," Zelena said. Her victory was secure now. Regina had lost the love of her life, again.
Regina couldn't believe she was having this happen to her again, her soulmate was dead. Gone forever from her. She didn't even care that Whale and Jefferson took Zelena from the room, she could hear her children's cries, it was obvious they knew what had happened to their father and could feel their mother's pain.
"Regina, you have to split your heart. It worked with David and I, it will work for Robin and you," Mary Margaret said as Regina's hand went into her heart and she quickly pulled it out and broke it in half, gasping at the slight pain. She then took her half and put in back in her chest. She then took the other half meant for Robin and pressed it into his chest. She waited and waited, but there was no response from Robin.
She pressed her head to his chest, there was no heartbeat. Nothing. "What's wrong? Why isn't it working?" She looked up from Robin's chest to around the room, the Charmings, Whale and Jefferson.
"Because half of your heart is not whole," Jefferson said.
"What are you talking about? How is your half not whole?" Mary Margaret asked.
Regina then went deathly white as she realized why it wasn't working, and how she would have to fix it. But did she have it in her to do it?
"Because of the spell I cast to bring Daniel back. I had to give up a tiny piece of my heart to do it," Regina said.
"Okay, well can't you undo it?" David asked.
"That small piece is what's keeping Daniel alive. Daniel has that small piece inside him," Regina said as Mary Margaret gasped as she knew then what Regina would have to decide to do. Could Regina ask Daniel to give up that piece to save Robin?
They moved Robin's body to a room, Regina stayed at his side through the whole process, never leaving his side. Regina was literally torn in two pieces, one part of her was with the still man lying on the bed beside her. Robin was her other half, it was destiny. She kept asking herself why she had been so foolish to have wasted such precious time with him. Because of her, he was dead. Roland would have to grow up without his father, their twins would never know Robin. Henry would loose Robin as well. It was all too overwhelming to accept. She laid her head against his chest, she could feel nor hear any heartbeat from the man she loved.
"Regina?" a voice said from behind her. She turned to see Daniel standing there.
"Daniel, what are you doing here?" Regina asked.
"They told me about what had happened," Daniel said as he came up to her.
"They shouldn't have. They had no right," Regina said.
"They had every right," Daniel said as he kneeled down beside her. "Regina, the man loves every part of you. I knew it after talking to him within seconds, he loves the best and the lesser parts of you. He knows your past and has never judged you for it, matter of fact he embraces it. He's held your heart, seen the darkness that even in small parts is there."
"Why are you saying all this?" Regina asked.
"Because I want you to take that piece of your heart out of me, and give it to Robin," Daniel said.
"Daniel, no! I can't ask that of you," Regina said, her voice shaking.
"That's the thing, you didn't ask. I'm asking you to take it, Regina," Daniel said.
"Why?" Regina asked.
"Because you deserve someone that loves you as much as they love you back," Daniel said. "While I will always love you, our time has passed. Your heart chose another, and I told you to love again. You did exactly what I wanted you to."
Regina's heart hurt, Daniel was asking her to do the impossible. Take the part of him she had given him, and let him die to save Robin. Her first love would be saving the love of her life. But was she strong enough to let Daniel do this for her? For Robin?
"Daniel, you know what would be the result if I did this?" Regina asked.
"Yes, I'm well aware. Regina, listen to me," Daniel said as he made her look at him. "Even if we had made it in our youth, you were destined to meet and fall in love with Robin. Your hearts and souls, have been connected since before you were born."
"How do you know all this?" Regina asked.
Daniel smiled at her, before he went to his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. "When this is over and Robin is alive again, I want you to open this, but not until he's alive. Promise me, Regina."
"Daniel, I-" Regina started to say only to be cut off.
"Promise me," Daniel said.
Regina had tears leaking from her eyes as she nodded her head in agreement. "I promise."
"I do love you, Daniel. A part of me always has," Regina said.
"I know, Regina. And you'll always be a part of me," Daniel said as he brought her into a hug. As he pulled away, he pressed the envelope into her hand. "Now take the piece of your heart out of me and give it to Robin. He loves you so."
Regina cried as she paused for a second, "Close your eyes, Daniel." Daniel did as she asked, he closed his eyes and felt her hand enter his chest, pulling out the small piece of her out of him. His body went lifeless as he fell to the ground. Regina held that small piece of her in her hand as she leaned down and kissed Daniel's forehead.
"Regina?" Mary Margaret said as she entered the room. She knew what had happened.
"I'm so sorry, Regina," Mary Margaret said as she went to Regina to hug her.
"He was always so selfless, always the kindest person I have ever known," Regina said as the door opened again and in came David and Whale, neither said a word as they removed Daniel's body and left the women in the room.
"I need to be alone with this, Mary Margaret," Regina said as Mary Margaret nodded.
"I'll be outside if you need me," Mary Margaret said as she left Regina alone with Robin.
Regina moved a small part of Robin's hair from his forehead, "I love you Robin. Come back to me, I need you, we all need you." Regina then took the small piece of her heart and pressed it into Robin's chest, to where the other part of her heart was and put it together. The half was now whole, and Regina waited a few seconds as she looked down at Robin's handsome face for a sign that it had worked.
"I was too late," Regina cried as she let the tears flow, she laid her head on his chest. She then heard a faint beat, then another, another and another. She looked up at Robin's face and saw his mouth open up as he let out a loud gasp. "Regina?"
Regina let happy tears fall now as her soulmate was alive again, "Oh Robin. It did work."
"What happened? How am I alive? Are the children alright?" Robin asked. His last thoughts were of what had happened with Zelena, her crushing his heart to break Regina's heart.
"The children are fine. I split my heart to try to save you, but one half wasn't whole. I gave up a small piece of my heart to bring Daniel back, but he gave it back to save you," Regina said.
"Oh, Regina. I'm so sorry," Robin said as he remembered how in a drunken stage he had almost shot Daniel. He knew Regina was hurt over loosing Daniel again.
"He told me to do it, he said we belonged together," Regina said.
"I'll always feel gratitude for him sacrificing himself like this," Robin said.
Regina then remembered the envelope Daniel had given her, she then started to open it up. It was a letter with another piece of paper. She stared to read it out loud.
"My dearest Regina, you are the strongest person I have ever met. Only someone with your strength, could stand to have lost their first love, then their love of their life like you did with your Robin. Robin is the other part of your heart, as you are the other half of his, as it was destined to be. Your heart is strong enough for the both of you, I knew this would happen one day. I actually wrote it for you. You see Regina, once I died I was told by a previous author that I would be an author for a very short time period. I was told I could write for a certain time period, I knew in a heartbeat what I would write. Your happy ending. You see, I was the one who wrote page 23, I wanted you to find the other half of you. That was Robin, I wrote you meeting him in that tavern. And I was hurt when I found out you didn't. But I have watched over you all this time, and I knew that one day you would meet him, and fall in love again. I'm so happy for you that you found the love you were destined for. Be happy my love, love your children, love your family, love Robin. Just love."
"He did all that?" Robin asked, as he then knew that Daniel had put the page into his bag that night in the library.
"He did, he is truly an angel," Regina said.
Robin pulled her into a hug, as he knew her first love had made the ultimate sacrifice for her, for them. Robin was not going to let an opportunity like this pass him by. He knew they had a lot more to work through but he knew in his heart they would get through this, together.
He could feel her sadness with Daniel's passing again. He knew a part of her would always love Daniel, and he couldn't fault her with that. He too had a lost love, but now he had a true love, a forever love that he was determined to spend his life with. He would be there for her to help ease her pain with this.
"Regina?" Mary Margaret said from the doorway. Robin and Regina turned to see Mary Margaret standing there holding Hope. David was behind her holding Hunter.
"If it's alright, two special people would like to see how their parents are," Mary Margaret said as she walked to them and gave Regina, Hope. While David gave Robin, Hunter.
"We'll give you all some time," David said as they left the room.
The children seemed at ease now, their parents were holding them now. "They are beautiful." Robin said as he kept looking from Hunter to Hope.
"Well, he is handsome," Regina said as she nodded to Hunter. "Like his father." Robin just smiled as he looked down at his son, he could see a resemblance to Roland at this time of his life.
"And she looks exactly like her mother, utterly enchanting," Robin said. "She stole my heart about as quickly as you did."
"Robin, I don't know how to explain all this to you. I screwed up our lives so many times, first when I didn't enter that tavern and meet you," Regina said.
"If you had entered that tavern and we met, then we wouldn't have our children. We wouldn't have Roland, or Henry, and quite possibly these two in our arms," Robin said.
"I was cruel, deliberately cruel to you. Keeping you from knowing that you were their father, then bringing Jefferson and Whale into the mess I made," Regina said.
"Well, let's just say, those two have been taken care of," Robin said.
"What did you do?" Regina asked.
"Well they will both probably have black eyes tomorrow," Robin admitted.
"It wasn't really their fault, I convinced them both to go along with me," Regina said.
"Regardless, I'm sure they deserved it," Robin said as Regina looked at him, smiling as she remembered saying that to him the day they met in the Enchanted Forest.
"I have an idea I want to run by you, about the babies middle name. Well, Hunter's anyways," Robin said, he looked down at his son who was nodding off.
"Go on," Regina said.
"Well, I think we should name him Hunter Daniel Hood, if you think that's a good idea," Robin said.
Regina smiled sadly as she felt some tears leave her eyes as she thought of her beloved Daniel. She felt Robin's thumb wipe the tears off her cheeks. "I think Daniel would have liked that very much."
"Okay so we have this one taken care of, what about this little lady then?" Robin asked as he looked at his little girl who was sound asleep like her brother now.
"I was thinking of Hope Mary Hood, I think it would be a nice way of burying the dagger, arrow, knife, and all that between Mary Margaret and I, once and for all," Regina said.
"I think our daughter would like that as well," Robin said.
Regina nodded as she looked at her daughter. A product of true love and soulmates. As she then looked over at her youngest son, another product of true love and soulmates, she realized that everything that had happened in her life had forged her for this moment.
"What are you thinking of?" Robin asked as he looked at Regina.
"Just how lucky I am," Regina said as she looked at him, holding their son. Never had she seen a more perfect image than Robin holding their child.
"I think we both are very blessed right now," Robin said.
"Robin, I-" Regina started to say.
"Regina, let's take a few days, then we'll talk about how we're going to make this work," Robin said.
Regina nodded as she put her hand on top of one of his. His thumb rubbed over her hand to offer comfort. The next few days would be tiring to them both. Robin knew how much it was going to pain her to have to bury Daniel again. Robin thought of the young man who had sacrificed his life to save his, because of Daniel he was alive. His children would not grow up without him.
A/N-I promise the talk between Robin and Regina is still coming.
All four of them.