Chapter 36

One week later, Regina was now 41 weeks pregnant and was snapping at everyone in sight. They had an appointment scheduled in 3 days to induce Regina's labor if it did not happen on its own. Robin was just trying to keep the peace in the house and assisting Regina with all the ideas she had found to induce labor. To be fair, there was one labor inducing activity which Robin was glad Regina wanted to try, every night this week in fact. Some of the other ideas were a bit less enjoyable such as eating super spicy food. This only upset Regina's stomach and made her even crankier for the rest of the night. She was tossing and turning all night long because she could not get comfortable to sleep. It was keeping Robin up as well which made Regina's mood twice as trying on his patience. He loved this woman with everything in him, but more than once in the last week he wanted to scream and yell at her with how frustrating she was. She would often apologize later for her mood, but a short time later something else would upset her and they would be right back where they started.

"Robin, are you coming to bed soon?" Regina called down the hall from their room. He was finishing up Roland's bedtime story, "I'll be there in a minute." he replied back to her. Robin chose to spend a few extra minutes with his son and ended up falling asleep with Roland in his bed. Thankfully, Regina had fallen asleep as well. About an hour later Regina awoke to a very strong contraction. She stayed in bed and tried to fall back asleep once the contraction ended. She had 4 more contractions in a matter of 25 minutes which made her realize she was likely in labor. Regina made her way out of bed to go find Robin. As she was opening Roland's bedroom door she felt liquid running down her legs. "Robin, wake up." she said as she gently shook his shoulder in hopes of not waking Roland as well. "What is it?" he replied still half asleep. "I think my water just broke." Regina answered. As soon as what she had just said registered with Robin his eyes shot open. "Okay, I'll grab the boys and you can go call Hook to let him know we will be dropping the boys off." Robin told her.

Regina made her way back to their room to grab her phone and make the call. Thankfully, it was still early enough in the night that Hook was still awake when she called. At the same time, Robin gently picked Roland up from bed trying not to wake the sleeping child. He made his way to Henry's room and woke the teenager up, informing him of what was happening. Their bags for the hospital had been packed weeks ago and Regina had instructed Robin to leave them in the trunk of the car at all times once she reached the 40 week mark. After dropping two very sleepy boys off at Emma and Hook's, they made their way to the hospital. At this point Regina's contractions were about every 4 minutes apart. Robin tried to coach her in the breathing techniques they learned in Lamaze class while still staying focused on the road. "You're doing great. We will be at the hospital in just a few minutes." Robin told her.

As promised a few minutes later they were pulling into the hospital parking lot. Regina had called from the car to let them know that they were on their way. Robin parked the car before helping Regina get out and leading her into the hospital. When they reached the entrance a nurse grabbed a wheelchair for her and took them both to the maternity wing. About 20 minutes after they arrived, Regina had changed into a gown and was hooked up to monitors that were tracking the baby's heartbeat as well as her contractions. Her contractions were currently about 4 minutes apart and were more painful than Regina ever could have imagined them being. Dr. Whale came in a few minutes later to check her. "Well, you are officially in active labor. You are 3 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. You still have a ways to go so I will be back in a few hours to check you again unless something happens before then that requires my attention. If you want an epidural we can get one started once you're another centimeter dilated." he explained to the nervous couple. Regina was holding onto Robin's hand, squeezing it every time she had a contraction. "I want to try to do this naturally if possible." Regina told him. Whale nodded his head before heading out of the room.

It had been a long night for both Regina and Robin. Her contractions were progressively getting stronger and closer together. Around sunrise, Whale returned to check her. She was now 5 centimeters dilated and 100% effaced. It was slow, but at least it was progress was all Robin kept reminding her. He had not slept at all, doing his best to coach Regina through each contraction. Seeing his wife in pain was almost unbearable and not just because Regina was squeezing his hand so hard he thought she may break it. He wished that he could do something more to alleviate her pain. She was continuing to refuse an epidural despite Robin's pleas that it would make her more comfortable. Well as comfortable as anyone can be in labor.

Another few hours passed and Regina was still insisting she did not want an epidural. "Are you absolutely positive about this Regina? If we wait too much longer, your labor will be too far along for us to do the epidural." Whale asked after checking her. She had only progressed another centimeter since he last checked her. Regina hesitated to respond and Robin could see her resolve on this issue begin to disappear as he looked into her eyes. "Robin what do you think I should do?" she asked, squeezing his hand as another strong contraction ripped through her. "I hate seeing you in this much pain and it would make you more comfortable, but it is up to you. I will support you whatever you choose to do." Robin replied. Regina groaned before telling him, "I love you, but that was not all that helpful". She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she tried to make a decision before the next contraction took hold of her body. In the end Regina's stubbornness won out and she decided to forgo the epidural yet again.

Regina's labor continued through the morning and well into the afternoon until around 5 o'clock when she had finally reached 10 centimeters. "What do you say we meet your little girl?" Whale asked as a nurse helped him to put on a gown and gloves. Regina nodded her head trying to take some deep breaths before she needed to push. "On the next contraction I'm going to need you to push Regina." Whale instructed her. "You can do this sweetheart, our little girl will be in your arms soon." Robin encouraged her, knowing what she was about to go through. He had been through this once before and remembered the screams that came from Marian as Roland was being delivered.

As soon as the next contraction started, Regina pushed as Whale and the nurse counted 10 seconds out loud to cue her as to how long she needed to push. This was a whole new level of pain that Regina had yet to experience. Despite this she was doing remarkably well Robin thought. She was squeezing his hand so tight that he was pretty if he looked down it would be changing colors, but otherwise she was remaining relatively quiet.

Close to an hour later Regina was completely exhausted, her forehead was dripping with sweat and she was not sure how much longer she could do this for. "You're doing great Regina. Two more pushes and your daughter should make her appearance." Whale explained. Robin kissed her hair before leaning towards her ear to whisper words of encouragement to her as he held her hand. He could see the toll that this was taking on her and wanted to support her as much as he could. Two contractions and rounds of pushing later Genevieve Hope Locksley entered the world on April 8th at 6:02 pm. "Robin would you like to cut the cord?" Whale asked. He nodded his head, taking the scissors from the nurse and cutting the cord. She let out a big cry after a few moments and Whale immediately moved to place the newborn onto the blanket that was laying on her mother's chest. Regina burst into happy tears at the sight of her daughter. Robin was gently caressing her hair as a few tears also escaped his eyes. "You did amazing. I love you." he told her as he leaned in to place a gentle kiss to her lips. "I love you too." Regina replied when their lips parted.

They basked in these first few moments they spent with their daughter before the nurse took the child from Regina temporarily to clean her up and take some measurements, bundling her up in a blanket before handing her to Robin. "She is perfectly healthy. 7 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long." Dr. Whale told them as the nurse handed Genevieve to her father. Once they were situated and Whale finished taking care of Regina after the birth, Robin handed the newborn back to the arms of her mother after placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. The couple was then left alone to bond with their newborn daughter.

The two spent the next hour fawning over their daughter in awe of what they had created together. Genevieve had a full head of dark hair, the most adorable little face, and when she opened her eyes briefly it was clear she had inherited her father's bright blue eyes. She was peacefully resting in her mother's arms as Robin pressed kisses to his daughter's forehead as well as his wife's temple, leaving his hand to rest on the top of Genevieve's head as his free arm wrapped around Regina's shoulders. He was perched on the edge of her bed, trying to be as close to his wife and daughter as possible. Eventually, the newborn began to fuss and Regina's motherly instincts kicked in, realizing that her daughter was likely hungry. Robin pressed the call button for the nurse to come assist Regina with the first feeding. Since Henry was adopted, Regina had always given him bottles, leaving her a bit lost when it came to nursing. The nurse came in to assist Regina who quickly caught on to how this all worked. Robin watched in amazement at how natural his wife seemed at doing this. Once she finished feeding Genevieve, the nurse took their daughter to the nursery in order to allow the parents to get some rest promising to bring her back for her next feeding.

After some much needed rest the couple woke up the next morning and immediately had their daughter brought to Regina's room. The nurses came in and helped Regina to shower while Robin held their little girl, allowing him some one-on-one bonding time. A shower was exactly what Regina needed, she felt much better after, but she was definitely still very sore. After her shower it was time for her daughter to eat again. Regina planned to nurse at least for the first few weeks and then progressively switch her over to formula before she returned to work. She worried that trying to maintain a nursing schedule for her daughter would be too difficult between work and the constant threats from various villains. Soon after she finished feeding Genny, the boys arrived accompanied by Hook and Emma.

The newborn was fast asleep in her mother's arms, so the group quietly made their way into the room. Henry made his way to his mother first, giving her a gentle hug from the side before sitting at the edge of her bed to get a good view of his new little sister. Robin picked Roland up into his arms, taking the boy over to join Regina and Henry. He set the young boy down on the other side of Regina's bed after instructions that he needed to be gentle with his mom and little sister. Regina leaned over to kiss each of her sons on the head. Emma and Hook had also made their way closer to the family to get a good look at the newborn and congratulate Regina and Robin.

"Henry, do you want to hold her?" Regina asked. He nodded his head and his mom handed the still sleeping newborn into his arms. "Hi there baby sister. It's great to finally get to meet you. I am one of the people who has been talking to you for the last few months that you have been in mom's belly. I love you and promise to be your over protective big brother forever." Henry quietly said to her before placing a kiss to her forehead. He held her for a little while before Robin sat down in a chair, placing Roland in his lap. Henry then brought Genevieve over to the pair, placing her into Roland's arms with some assistance from Robin to support Roland's arms as he held his sister. After handing his sister to his younger brother, Henry crawled into bed with Regina to get in some cuddle time with his mom. Regina watched all of the interactions so in love with the 4 most important people in her world.

After a few minutes, Roland's arms began to get tired so Robin took Genny into his arms. "Emma or Hook, would one of you like to hold her?" Regina asked. "Definitely, if you don't mind." Emma replied. Robin handed the newborn to Emma who immediately snuggled the newborn in her arms while sitting down in the chair Robin had just vacated since she was having back pains again. "She is gorgeous Regina." Emma told her after a few moments. "Thank you. Just think a few weeks from now, you will have two of your own in your arms." Regina replied. A few minutes passed in silence before Regina asked the question she and Robin had discussed a few weeks ago, "So, since both of you are here right now we wanted to ask you a question. We were wondering if you would like to be Genevieve's godparents?" Regina asked. Emma and Hook glanced at each other for a moment before reaching the same conclusion. "We would be honored." Emma responded with Hook nodding in agreement. Once Emma got in a few more minutes of snuggling she turned to Hook, handing the newborn to him. Emma could not get over how it felt to see her pirate cradling a newborn and smiling down at her. She seemed to fall in love with him even more than she already was and she knew that would happen even more when she watched him holding their little ones.

As her fiancé was snuggling Genevieve close whispering to her, Snow and Charming knocked on the door. "May we come in?" Snow asked. "Of course." Regina replied. The couple made their way over to Hook so they could see Genny for the first time in person. Robin had sent them a few pictures last night, but they were thrilled to finally meet the newest member of the family in person. "Regina, how are you feeling?" Snow asked, making her way over to her step-mother. "Pretty sore and tired, but otherwise I feel good. I'm just thankful she is finally here with us." Regina responded. "Well I have to say, you and Robin definitely make adorable children. She is beautiful you guys." Charming said as he shook Robin's hand. Hook got in a little bit more time holding her, before handing her off to an eager Snow. After holding her for a short time, Snow handed the baby over to her husband. A few minutes after she was placed in Charming's arms the newborn began to fuss, indicating it was time for her to eat again. "Well I think that is our cue to head out. The boys can stay with us for as long as you guys need." Hook told the couple. "Thank you, we should be going home tomorrow so I'm thinking the boys can head home later tomorrow or the next day depending on what time we go home." Robin replied. The group said goodbye, congratulating the couple once again before leaving them alone to be with their daughter.

When Emma and Killian got home with the boys neither one would stop talking about their little sister. Henry had taken some pictures of her on his phone. He and Roland just kept looking at them talking about everything they would teach her and that they could not wait till she was home. Emma smiled through all of it but at the same time had tears coming out of her eyes. It made her want her little girls here with them even more. She was happy for Regina and Robin. She could not believe they asked her and Hook to be the godparents. She just really wanted her girls here and was worried if Henry would feel the same way about them as he does Genevieve. "Love, everything with be fine. Genny is healthy and beautiful. Our girls will be here soon and will be just as healthy and beautiful. Don't worry about Henry. He will love our little princesses just as much. His phone will be full of pictures of his little sisters," Killian whispered into her ear from behind like he could read what was going on in her mind. "Bloody hell, Swan," Killian groaned as Emma turned in his arms and gave him a kiss. "You looked good holding a baby, pirate," Emma chuckled as she laid her head against his chest. They spent the rest of the night talking to the boys about Genny and watching movies knowing that for the night everyone was safe.

A/N: I apologize that this is being posted a day later than it normally would be. I worked late last night and my co-author was travelling for the holiday so neither one of us could get on to post it. Anyway, hope you all are as excited as we are about the new addition to the family. Please continue to follow, favorite, and review we love hearing your thoughts. Also for those of you celebrating it today, Happy Thanksgiving!