"Babymoon (Part One)"
"That's it," Robin said, backing away and wrapping his arm around her waist. "The nursery is all set up."
Regina looked at the beautiful wooden crib, the center piece of their nursery. A dresser sat against the back wall and the changing station was right next to it, already packed with diapers, wipes and bottles of baby powder. There was also the toy box Geppetto's Toys had given her and sitting on top of it was one of the stuffed monkeys from their baby shower. It matched the jungle theme painted on the walls—trees and different jungle animals decorating it, from monkeys to birds to snakes to a tiger.
"It's perfect," she said, leaning against him. "We're all ready for Henry."
"Yes, we are," he agreed. He grinned. "I say we deserve a reward."
She raised an eyebrow, hoping he meant what she thought he meant. "Muffin Man strudel?"
"You read my mind," he said, kissing her forehead. "Let's go get our shoes on."
They hurried to their room and put on their sneakers before heading downstairs. Queen was asleep on the couch, meaning they could sneak out without her wanting to come with them on their walk. Robin quietly closed the door behind him before taking her hand. "And here we go," he said.
A warm breeze blew past them as they turned out of their walkway and headed toward the main road. Regina laced her fingers with his and gave their latched hands a couple gentle swings. "It's a beautiful evening for a walk," she said.
"It is," he agreed, squeezing her hand. "Maybe we should get some ice cream instead of the strudel."
She gasped, looking at him with wide eyes. "Who are you and what have you done with my husband, Robin Locksley?"
He let out a belly laugh, letting go of her hand so he could wrap his arm around her and hold her close. "We can get both—but have the strudel another day. I now really want ice cream."
"Ice cream does sound good," she admitted, already tasting the creamy goodness on her tongue.
"Okay," he said, turning in the opposite direction of the Muffin Man once they got to the corner. "To Any Given Sundae we go!"
They continued to walk down the street and Regina sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "Soon we'll be pushing a stroller with us."
"Yes, we will," he said. "And one of us will be lugging a diaper bag with them."
She snorted. "You mean me."
"Not necessarily," he replied. "I also intend to lug that thing around. We're a team, right? Why should you break your back alone?"
"Good point. Can I get this in writing?" she teased him.
He pouted, pretending to be wounded. "What, my word isn't good enough?"
She smiled, raising her head so she could kiss him. "Of course it is. I know you will pull equal weight when it comes to parenting."
They arrived at Any Given Sundae and Robin pulled away from her. He opened the door and gave a little bow. "After you, milady."
"Thank you," she said, walking into the store. A blast of cold air hit her and she felt goosebumps rise on her arms. She wrapped them around her as Robin's warm body quickly pressed against her, gently pushing her toward the freezer so they could choose their ice cream flavors.
Regina eyed the chunky monkey as well as the cookie dough options, debating between the two. Without looking away, she asked her husband: "You getting Rocky Road?"
"Of course," he replied. "No need to have any other flavor when the best is right there."
She rolled her eyes. "Well, some of us do like to vary things up. Do you think I should go with cookie dough? Or something else?"
"I think you know my opinion," he teased her.
"Right," she replied, shaking her head. "Why did I bother asking you?"
He laughed as she continued to look over the options. Her heart skipped a beat as she spied one toward the end, hurrying toward it to confirm that her eyes were not playing a trick on her. "I don't believe it," she breathed.
"What?" he asked, moving closer to her. "Is something wrong?"
"No. It's just…look." She pointed to the container in question, her finger pressing against the cold glass.
He leaned toward the glass and she saw his eyes widen. "I hardly see that here in the States."
"It took me ages to perfect that," the proprietor said, emerging from the back. The blonde woman leaned against the counter. "Would you like it?"
"Yes," Robin breathed. "I haven't had a good raspberry ripple in the States yet. And it's usually too cold for ice cream when I go back home."
The owner nodded, opening the glass by her. "Cone or cup? And how many scoops?"
"Cone," he said. "And can I get two please? One raspberry ripple and one Rocky Road, please."
Regina would've chuckled if she hadn't been in absolute shock. It couldn't have been a coincidence that she found this particular flavor now, especially as it was a flavor that wasn't popular in their area. She knew it was a sign.
"Can I have a cone with two scoops of raspberry ripple, please?" she asked. "Just the raspberry ripple."
The proprietor nodded. "Of course. I take it you are a big fan like your husband?"
"Like my father," Regina replied, a lump forming in her throat. "He loved it and was always so upset that no one really sold it."
"Was?" the blonde woman asked, handing Robin his cone.
Regina swallowed past the lump. "He passed away a few weeks ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that," the other woman replied, making Regina's cone. She held it out to her. "On the house."
"Thank you," Regina gasped out, tears threatened to overwhelm her.
Robin rubbed her back. "Why don't you go find a seat? I'll be right there."
She nodded, moving toward a far table as tears fell down her cheeks. Regina licked her raspberry ripple, savoring the flavor her father had loved so much. It wasn't her favorite but she still liked it enough to always split a bowl with Henry whenever he could find it. She felt he was with her now, sharing the cone with her in spirit.
A stack of napkins appeared in front of her. Robin sat down next to her, taking her free hand with his. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"No," she admitted. "It's just…it's weird. We're going about our day, being all normal and happy…and then WHAM! Something reminds me that my dad's not here and I'm sad all over again."
"I know," he replied. "It happens to me too."
She felt some comfort knowing she wasn't alone in her feeling. "When do you think it will stop?"
"I think that's a question for Archie," he said, taking a lick of his ice cream. "But I don't think it ever stops."
"I was afraid you would say that," she replied, taking a good lick of her ice cream. She closed her eyes, once again imagining she was enjoying it with her father.
A few moments later, Robin said: "I didn't know Henry liked raspberry ripple."
She nodded, opening her eyes again. "I forget where he first tried it but he loved it and would try to get it whenever he could find it. One time, he tried to get our local grocery store to stock it but he was really the only buyer so that didn't work."
"Too bad he didn't tell me," her husband replied. "I would've been a second buyer. Maybe that would've changed their minds."
"I doubt it, but he would've appreciated the gesture," Regina replied, smiling now.
Robin chuckled before covering her free hand with his. "You feeling better now?"
"A bit," she told him. "There's still some sadness but you're helping me smile through it."
"Good," he said, giving her hand a squeeze.
They finished up their ice cream before Robin returned to the front. Regina watched as he spoke with the owner, who disappeared into the back. A few moments later, she emerged with a container. She handed it to Robin, who then gave her some money. He returned, smiling triumphant. "I got us some raspberry ripple to enjoy at home," he announced. "And Sarah said she's going to have it all summer."
"Is she?" Regina asked, glancing over at the blonde proprietor. "And how much did you pay her to get her to agree to that?"
"I just paid her for the container," he said, patting it. "She already made the decision before we walked through the door."
Though suspicious of that, she decided to drop the subject. She stood and took his hand. "Let's get that in the freezer before it melts."
"Good idea," he said. They left the ice cream shop, noting that the sun had set and the streetlamps had come on.
A cool breeze blew past them and Regina shivered a bit, leaning closer to Robin. "The summer seems to be flying by."
"That's because we're eagerly waiting for our son," he replied, wrapping his arm around her to share some of his body warmth. "So we're speeding toward his birthday."
She nodded, still amazed by that. "We're going to be parents any day now."
"I know," he said, kissing her head. "It still feels like a dream."
"That will probably end the first sleepless night," she replied.
He laughed, nodding. "Probably."
"But it will be worth it," she continued, smiling as she thought of their beautiful baby boy lying in their arms.
"Yes," he agreed, kissing her head. "All of it will be worth it for our little Henry."
They arrived back at the house and let themselves in. Queen greeted them with her leash in her mouth and a look in her eyes that almost seemed to say "How dare you go for a walk without me?" Robin sighed as he handed Regina the ice cream, asking her to put it in the freezer while he took the dog on a walk. She agreed, watching as he put on Queen's harness and then her leash. With a little wave, he left with Her Majesty.
After putting the ice cream away, Regina headed upstairs. She was going to go to her room and prepare a bath but found herself standing in the nursery. It still amazed her that it was complete and ready for their son. Everything seemed so much more real and she couldn't wait until she had her baby boy.
She walked over to one wall, where she had set up a photo family tree. At the very top was an empty frame that said Baby waiting for Henry's first picture. Then right underneath that was a picture of her and Robin from their wedding, the two posing on the steps of their back porch. She leaned against him, looking up as she smiled at him. He beamed down at her, his hand on her back. It was placed in a frame that said Mommy & Daddy.
Underneath that were three more picture frames. One held a picture of Susan in a frame that just read Nana. Neither of them had wanted a picture of George on the wall—he certainly wasn't going to be a grandfather to their child. Instead, they placed a picture of Grandpa Roland and Grandma Ellie next to Susan. They had to special order the frame that said Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma for that photograph.
Regina reached out and brushed her fingers over the photograph on the left. It showed her parents, both sitting on their deck. Her father had his arm around her mother's shoulders, holding her close. They both smiled at the camera, looking very relaxed.
"I miss you, Daddy," she whispered. "I hope wherever you are, you are watching out for all of us."
"I'm sure he is," Robin said, wrapping his arms around her. He held her close. "And I know he's always going to be watching over us."
She leaned against her husband. "You're right. Though I hope there are a few times he looks away."
He laughed at that. "True. I would hate to think he was watching last night."
"Oh, I hope not," she replied, feeling her cheeks heat up as she recalled how many times Robin made her come.
"And maybe he shouldn't watch tonight," Robin continued, leaning her back so she could see his suggestive smirk. "That is if you're up for an encore."
While it was a tempting offer, she shook her head. "I just want to cuddle. Can we do that?"
He kissed the side of her head. "Of course. We can do whatever you want."
Regina took his hand and they headed to their bedroom together. Her Majesty was already curled up on their bed, waiting for them. She gave the dog a scratch behind her ear before retrieving her pajamas so she could change into them. With a quick kiss for Robin, she slipped into the bathroom to go through her nightly routine.
After washing her face and moisturizing it, she brushed her teeth and headed back out with minty fresh breath. Robin was already in bed, cradling Queen. The dog's tail moved every so often, creating a dull thud as it hit his leg. She certainly looked comfortable.
"Did I get replaced by Her Majesty?" Regina asked, teasing her husband as she climbed into bed next to him.
"Not at all," he replied, setting the dog down. Queen scrambled to her feet and took a couple steps before curling up on Regina's legs like usual. "See?"
She chuckled, moving closer to her husband. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close, kissing her head. "There. Cuddling achieved."
"Good," she sighed, resting her head on his chest as she curled closer to him. Queen shifted so she was lying in the small space between Regina's bent legs and Robin's. The dog let out a content sigh before closing her eyes.
Regina curled her fingers around Robin's soft t-shirt as she let her eyes fall closed. She always felt at peace in his arms and today was no different. While she always missed her father, the grief was easier to bear with Robin by her side.
She was the luckiest woman in the world.
"I love you," she murmured into his chest.
He raised his hand, entangling his fingers in her hair. "I love you too," he whispered.
Regina smiled, drifting off to sleep filled with happiness and contentment. She knew only good dreams awaited her with Robin's arms and love enveloping her. Hopefully, he felt the same way thanks to her.
"James."
"Nah. I think Leo."
"I can see that but I'm still partial to Alexander."
"You're all wrong. They are going to name the baby William."
"Och! You may be his best friend, Scarlet, but that doesn't mean he's gonna be naming his firstborn son after you!" Merida yelled.
Robin chuckled before standing, deciding it was time to end the conversation before his employees got rowdy. He stepped out of his office. "Okay, that's enough. I'm paying you to work on landscaping, not to guess what Regina and I are going to name our son."
His employees looked sheepish as they got back to their work. Except for Will, who crossed his arms as he grinned at Robin. "I got it, right? You're naming your boy after me. I know it."
"Nice try, Will," he replied, pointing to his friend's desk. "Now, get back to work."
Will let out an exaggerated sigh but did as Robin said, heading back to his desk. Robin shook his head as he looked over at Tuck, who had stayed quiet through the conversation. "You didn't want to take a guess?" he asked.
"No. I know what you're going to name the baby," Tuck replied, looking him in the eyes. "And since you and Regina want to keep it a secret, I'm going to keep it myself."
"That seems awfully convenient," Mulan said from the next desk. "You can then just claim that whatever name they choose was the one you thought of."
Tuck glanced over at her. "You calling me a cheater?"
She shrugged. "If the shoe fits…"
"Fine." He reached for a Post-It note and wrote something down on it. "I'm going to give this to Robin. He can confirm if I've guessed right…when he feels ready to reveal the name."
Tuck held out the Post-It note and Robin took it. He opened it up and smiled when he saw what his friend had written on it.
Henry
Robin folded up the Post-It note. "I'll put this somewhere safe. And after my boy is born, we'll pull it back out and you can show it to everyone."
"Sounds good to me," Tuck replied, leaning back. He crossed his arms and smiled smugly at Mulan. She just rolled her eyes and went back to her work.
Tuck then looked up at Robin. "You two almost ready for the baby to come?"
"Is anyone?" Robin asked, shrugging. "I think we're as ready as we can be. And then we just have to adjust."
"That's a good plan," Alan said. "You have to be flexible because kids throw you for a loop, no matter the age."
Robin grinned. "Thanks for the advice. Anything else?"
"Coffee," his friend replied. "Lots and lots of coffee."
"And maybe some booze," Much added, patting Robin on the back. "I keep a pack of beer hidden in our basement refrigerator."
Mulan leaned back in her chair, smirking. "Maybe your wife would like to know about that."
He didn't seemed fazed. "She knows about it. Swipes one herself when she needs a break. That's when she takes extra long to do the laundry."
"Well, I don't think I'll be turning to booze," Robin replied, knowing that he tended to turn to alcohol when he got stressed. Regina had expressed a concern and though he didn't have a family history of addiction, he knew she had a point and worked to find healthier ways to deal with his stress. While he still enjoyed a beer once and a while, it was just that—to enjoy the beer and not forget his worries.
Much shrugged. "Just a suggestion."
"Well, let's get back to work," Robin said, slowly backing toward his office. "And I'm including myself in that. Gotta set a good example, right?"
Will chuckled. "You're all set for fatherhood, Robin. After all, you've been parenting us for years."
"I've definitely been parenting you," Robin teased him, clapping him on the back. "But seriously, I might need some advice from you. You're doing an amazing job with Penny."
"Most days I feel like I'm bumbling through this whole parenthood thing," Will admitted, following Robin into the office. "And I feel bad sometimes because Penny is so trusting and I can't help but feel I'm failing her."
Robin grasped his shoulder. "I know you're not. I watch you around her all the time…but I get it. I've been told I'm going to feel like that constantly."
"Wait? This doesn't go away? Fuck," Will groaned, closing his eyes as he frowned.
It made Robin chuckle as he squeezed his friend's shoulder. "We'll deal with it together. And remind each other that we're doing a good job, despite however we feel. Deal?"
"Deal," he replied, holding out his hand. Robin shook it and they shared a smile.
Robin dropped his hand, opening the door again. "Time to go back to work. I'll talk to you later."
"We should grab a beer together soon," Will said, heading out. "One last hurrah before you become a dad."
"Sounds like a good idea. I'll find a good date and let you know," Robin promised before sitting down at his desk. He cleared his mind and focused on his business while he still could, knowing that once his son arrived, he would be distracted for a couple months.
At least.
Knocking sent Queen running toward the door, barking as loud as she could to let whoever was on the other side know she would protect her family from them. Regina wiped her hands after putting her lasagna in the oven, heading toward the door. "Hush, Queen," she told the collie. Queen stopped barking but stood next to Regina, growling as she watched her mother open the door.
"Cleo!" she exclaimed, surprised to see their social worker on their porch. It then turned to panic. "Is something wrong with Emma?"
"No, she's fine! Though she has hit that part of pregnancy where she is done being pregnant," Cleo replied. She smiled. "May I come in? I just wanted to see how you and Robin were doing."
Regina stepped aside so Cleo could enter, holding back Queen as the dog strained to evaluate their guest. "Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee? Water?"
"Water is good, thank you." Cleo crouched down, holding out her hand for Queen to sniff. "Hello there, girl. It's good to see you again."
Queen sniffed her hand before tapping it until it was on top of her head. Cleo chuckled as she scratched behind the dog's ear. "I see you remember me too."
She then stood as Regina headed to the kitchen, Queen following behind them. Regina poured Cleo a glass of water and handed it to her as Robin entered the kitchen, freshly showered. He paused before smiling. "Cleo, hi. Is something wrong?"
"Not at all," she replied, setting her glass down at the table. "I just wanted to check on you and Regina, touch base before Emma gives birth and you become parents."
"Well, we're all ready," Regina assured her. "The nursery is all set up, we got the car seat installed and checked, we found a pediatrician, and we have enough clothes to keep our son clothed for several months."
Cleo grinned. "I'm glad to hear all that, but that's not what I came to check on."
That surprised Regina and she blinked a few times. Robin ended up asking the question in her head: "Then what do you want to check on?"
"You," she replied, motioning to the chairs behind her. "Please, let's have a seat and a chat. I think everything will become clear shortly."
Robin placed his hand on her back and guided her toward her usual chair. He pulled it out for her and she sat down. Once he sat down next to her, she reached out and took his hand. "What do you want to know?" she asked Cleo.
"Just how your states of mind are as we approach Emma's due date," she replied.
"We're excited," Robin answered, rubbing Regina's hand with his thumb. "And nervous. But mostly excited."
Regina nodded in excitement. "We can't wait to be parents and everything that entails."
"I know you just lost your father," Cleo said, her tone serious but soft. "I am sorry for your loss."
Sadness crept up on her again and Regina swallowed it down. "Thank you. It's been difficult but we're getting through it together. We both miss him so much."
"We were so happy that Emma came to support us during the wake and funeral," Robin added.
Cleo nodded. "That was very important to her. She really wanted to be there to support you two. While she won't say it, I think she's coming to see you as her family."
"I hope so," Regina said, her heart swelling with joy at that comment. "We certainly see her as ours."
"Well, I know that this must've been a stressful time and soon you'll be adjusting to a baby in your house," Cleo continued. "Have you considered getting away for a bit and pampering yourselves before the baby comes?"
Regina frowned. "You mean like a babymoon?"
"A what?" Robin asked, still sounding confused.
Cleo nodded. "It's a growing trend where soon-to-be parents go on vacation to enjoy being childless one last time."
"How can they afford a vacation? We've spent a lot even with all the gifts we've gotten. And Emma's medical costs…I mean, I'm happy to pay them but I can't get how other couples can afford to have such a grand adventure on top of everything else," he said, amazed.
"And how do the women even do it?" Regina asked. "Emma doesn't want to even move. I can't imagine she wants to go to the beach or something."
Cleo laughed. "It doesn't have to be a grand adventure or to the beach. I recommend a long weekend at a nice hotel where you don't have to make the bed or make dinner or do anything. You can get pampered at a spa or just sleep. Whatever you need to do to prepare."
"That does sound nice," Regina mused, resting her cheek on her hand. After the past few weeks, getting away even for a short vacation sounded like a dream come true. She could use a little rest and relaxation, especially before the baby came.
Robin reached out and took her free hand. "Do you want to go on a babymoon?"
"If we could get away," she replied, suddenly eager to get away at least for a weekend. "I wouldn't mind it."
He nodded. "It does sound nice. We can see if we can make it work and then plan something, okay?"
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
Cleo stood, smiling at them. "Well, I see you two have a lot to discuss and think about. I hope the next time I see you is when you have your son."
"Thank you," Robin said, standing to shake her hand. Regina did the same, glad Cleo had stopped by to check on them.
After escorting Cleo out, Robin closed the door and looked at her with a grin. "So, where do you want to go for our babymoon?"
She shrugged, leaning against him. "I don't care. Just as long as I'm with you, I'll be happy."
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Well, then, I'm going to find a place where we both can be pampered together. I think we deserve it, don't you?"
"I do," she agreed, listening to his heartbeat. "I know you'll find the perfect place for us. What should I do?"
"Just be ready to go," he told her, kissing the top of her head. "Now, let's go make some dinner, hmm?"
She grinned, nodding. "That sounds like a good idea. I was looking at a new pasta dish I thought we could try. Want to help me make it?"
He smiled back at her. "Absolutely. Lead the way, milady."
"That's what I like to hear." She tugged on his hand, leading him back to the kitchen. Queen danced around their feet as they started to make dinner together. The prospect of a short vacation gave her spirits a lift and she couldn't wait to spend time alone with Robin, focusing just on each other.
It was going to be heaven.
"Do they have a name for a night of drinking before fatherhood?" Will asked, placing a beer in front of Robin before taking a seat next to him.
Tuck chuckled. "I don't think so. Want to coin something?"
"Not really," Robin replied. "There's so many new traditions around becoming parents. I don't want to inadvertently add to one."
"Here, here," Will said, raising his beer to them. He took a sip before asking: "So are you and Regina going on a babymoon?"
Robin took another swig of his beer and set the bottle down. "Yes, we are. Cleo suggested it would be a good idea and after we talked about it, we realized that we do need at least a long weekend to ourselves before our lives become all about our son."
"It does sound like a good idea," John agreed. "Any ideas where you want to go?"
"With Emma due so soon, we want to stay close. But I'm not sure if we should go down to the Cape or into Vermont or maybe chance a trip to Boston…and that's not mention do we want to enjoy a city or not leave a hotel?" Robin sighed, shaking his head. "A lot of decisions to make and not a lot of time to do it."
Tuck turned to Will. "Did you and Ana go on a babymoon?"
"We did," he confirmed. "We went to this nice little hotel not far from here. They had a great spa, which Ana enjoyed, and wonderful room service—which we both enjoyed. We just spent the weekend sleeping and enjoying just being together before Penny came. It was a great weekend."
Robin grew thoughtful, thinking that sounded like the perfect retreat for him and Regina. "Do you remember the name of that place?"
Will nodded. "We got a good price despite it being their peak season. Lot of people like to go there to experience the changing of the leaves. You might get an even better price since it's summer."
"Sounds good," he replied, taking another sip of his beer. "Regina and I just want to relax and spend some quality time together. Alone."
"You can just say it—you two want to have sex all the time," John teased, winking at him.
Robin nearly spit out his beer. Though it was partially the truth, he hadn't wanted to discuss that with his friends. So he glared at John as he said: "That is none of your business."
"So that's a yes then," John deadpanned, taking another sip of his beer as he held Robins' gaze.
"You are going to be so tired once the baby comes, you won't even be able to think about sex," Will told him. "You and Regina should definitely just have a marathon session and get your fill now."
Robin groaned, his face feeling as if it were on fire. "Can we not discuss this now? I prefer to keep what happens between Regina and me in the bedroom to myself."
"Oh, come on," Will replied with a snort. "You two can be quite handsy when you're in the mood. You definitely haven't kept to yourself then."
John nodded. "And don't forget you were living with me when your relationship started. I heard quite a few things I didn't really want to."
"Oh, come on. We usually tried to keep that to Regina's apartment. And if you heard anything, it was because you came home before you said you would," Robin argued, certain he was on fire now.
Tuck held up his hands as John stuck out of his tongue. "Okay, okay. Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere. What Robin and Regina plan to do on this babymoon thing is up to them and certain things are allowed to be none of our business. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Will and John replied.
"Thank you," Robin said, absolutely mortified at this point. He cleared his throat. "Will, can you text me the name of that place you were talking about? Please?"
Will nodded, pulling out his phone. "I'll do it now before I forget."
"Good," Tuck replied. "Now, let's change the subject before we see what other shade of red Robin can turn."
John and Will agreed, changing topics to the Knights' upcoming season. Robin's phone buzzed and he picked it up, glancing at the text Will just sent him.
It's called the Hotel Olympus, located about an hour away. Tell them you want the expectant parents' package.
Robin looked up, nodding at Will. He nodded back and Robin tucked his phone away, joining in with the conversation and plans began to form in his mind. This was going to be the best babymoon ever.
After all, Regina deserved no less.
"Thank you for watching Queen for us, Mom," Regina said, standing in her mother's living room. The house felt so quiet and empty without her father there. It made her worry how Cora was coping after losing her husband.
However, her mother's smile appeared genuine as she scratched behind Queen's ear. The dog lay on the couch, her head on Cora's lap. "She's always welcome here," she told Regina.
It seemed Queen was brightening her mother's day and so Regina felt better leaving both of them. "I'm sure you two will have a lot fun together," she said.
"Oh, that's the plan," Cora replied, though she was focused on the dog. "So you two go, relax and have your fun. We'll be fine. Right, Queen?"
Her Majesty let out a little bark before settling back on Cora's lap. Regina smiled as Robin wrapped his arm around her. "We'll give you a call when we're on our way back," he promised.
"We'll see you in a couple days," Regina said, slowly backing toward the door.
"We're fine, Regina," her mother assured her. "Go. Have fun. Don't worry about us. Just focus on yourselves."
Queen raised her head for a moment before laying it back down on Cora's lap, closing her eyes as her tail beat against the couch. She definitely looked content and Regina believed having to focus on Queen would help Cora as well. Confident all would be well, she let Robin guide her out of the house and to his car.
They buckled up and Robin turned on the engine. He looked over at her, smiling. "You ready to begin this babymoon?"
She smiled right back, relaxing at last. "I am. Let's go!"
"That's the spirit!" He put the car in reverse and backed down the driveway, heading toward the street.
Regina watched her childhood home get smaller as Robin drove toward the highway. Her worries melted away, knowing Queen was in her mother's capable hands and knowing that her mother had something to keep her busy for a few days. She could just focus on herself and Robin for a few days, their last burst of selfishness before their lives became centered on their new son.
It was going to be a wonderful weekend. She just knew it.
A few hours later, Robin pulled into the parking lot of the Hotel Olympus. It was a sprawling complex with a large building designed to look like the Greek Parthenon that served as the lobby. Will had said that it housed several massage parlor as well as a gym, shops, a beauty salon and several restaurants.
Two sprawling wings extended from the main building, both three floors. Several windows with blue shutters lined the buildings and the top level had balconies. Robin guessed those were where the rooms were and he knew that the room he had paid for came with a balcony, meaning he and Regina would be at the very top. He wasn't sure if he wanted them to be too far from the main building—it would be quite a hike but it would also allow them more privacy.
"This is certainly something," Regina said, climbing out of the car. She looked over the building. "The website doesn't do it justice."
"I know," he replied, climbing out as well. "Hopefully Will did do it justice when he explained all the great things this place has to offer."
She took his hand. "I trust Will's judgment. And Ana's. She also had only good things to say about this place."
"Well, let's go check in," he said, leading her up to the front door. He held it open for her and they entered the lobby together.
It was a cavernous space with an indoor fountain located feet away from the door. Several different types of flora were nestled amongst the fountain's three layers and Robin wondered if they were native to Greece or someplace else as he and Regina walked around it. Benches and couches filled the area as well as tables with magazines, newspapers and games on it so guests could relax and socialize. Everything about the room already seemed to relax him.
They approached the marble desk and a hostess greeted them with a smile. "Checking in?"
"Yes," Robin replied. "Locksley."
She nodded, typing something into the computer. "Ah, here you are. I see you've booked our babymoon special?"
"We did," he confirmed, noticing a woman standing next to the desk as she looked over the different activities provided by the hotel. She gave Regina a side-eye before making a face as she pretended to look through the brochures again.
He turned his attention back to the hostess as she placed their room keycards on the counter. She wrote down their room number on it and slid the packet toward him. "You're in room 3-23, just off the main building," she said, pointing to her right and their left.
She pulled out a paper map and laid it out before them. Using a black marker, she noted a few places they would need to know. "If you head out the doors behind me, you'll come to our outdoor pool. Just beyond that is the spa. If you want anything specific, you should make an appointment the afternoon before to ensure you get a good time. We also have several other recreational options and restaurants for you to enjoy. And if you don't want to leave your room, you can always order food to it."
"Thank you," Regina replied, taking the map. She looked over it with bright eyes. "We're going to have a very good weekend here."
"I hope so," the hostess replied brightly. "If you need anything during your stay, just give us a call. We'll be happy to help."
Robin thanked her again before asking about parking. She handed him a placard. "Place that on your dash and you can park in the Apollo lot. It's the closest to your room."
They walked away together. Robin paused. "Do you want to head straight to the room while I go get the car?"
"I'll come with you," she replied. "We can carry our luggage together."
He nodded and they headed back out to their car. Everything was off to great start and Robin grew more confident that it was going to be a relaxing weekend for the both of them, the perfect way to prepare to become parents.
Regina lay on the bed in their hotel room, slowly letting her body sink into the soft mattress and pillows. The bed was still made but she knew the blankets would offer even more comfort once she climbed under them. She was tempted to do that now to get a nice nap but she was also eager to explore the grounds of the beautiful hotel Will and Ana had recommended to them. It was going to be the best weekend she had had in a long time, she was certain of that.
The door opened and she turned her head, smiling when saw Robin enter their room with a container of ice. He placed it on the counter of their kitchenette before entering the bedroom part of their suite. "Is the bed comfortable?" he asked.
"Very," she replied, patting the spot next to her. "Come join me and give it a try yourself."
He chuckled, climbing onto the bed. As he sank down into the mattress beside her, he let out a moan. "Oh, this is heaven. I may never get out of this bed again."
"We don't have to," she reminded him, rolling closer to him. She curled around him. "We can stay in bed all weekend if we want."
"That's very tempting. You, me, this bed," he replied. "But I also really want to try the spa here. Even Will liked it."
That impressed Regina, knowing Will was not the sort to go to a spa willingly or like it. She nodded. "Okay. Then we stay in bed all weekend except to go to the spa."
He laughed before kissing her forehead. "That sounds like a great idea. But are you hungry?"
Before she could respond, her stomach growled loudly. She pressed her hand to it, smiling sheepishly. "I think that was your answer."
"I think so as well," he replied, reaching over to pick up the menu from the nightstand. He held out so they both could look over it. "What do you want?"
Deciding she could explore the grounds later, she glanced at the offerings before pointing to one. "The Greek salad sounds delicious and very appropriate."
"I think I'll try the souvlaki," he said, pointing to the item below her salad. "Stick with the Greek theme."
"Sounds good," she replied, closing her eyes as she snuggled against him. "Are you going to order?"
He hummed in response and she felt him reach for the phone. As she drifted between sleep and consciousness, she heard him place their order. Robin then hugged her tightly. "I set an alarm, so it should wake us up before the food arrives," he said.
"Good," she replied, yawning. "A nap sounds great right now."
She rested her head against his chest, his heart beating under her ear. It lulled her even more and she fell asleep easily, happy and comfortable in his arms.
"This is heaven," Regina said, sinking further into the warm bathwater. Bubbles popped around her as she soaked away her stress and tension.
Across from her, Robin moaned. "Maybe we should install something like this in our house."
She laughed. "And where would we put it? Our bathroom isn't very big and we don't have much room to expand."
"Who said we had to put it in the bathroom?" he replied. "Maybe we can turn part of the basement into our own private little spa?"
"That sounds expensive. And we're about to have a baby," she reminded him, knowing that they would have to put Henry's needs and wants before their own for a long time to come.
He sighed. "You're right. Maybe when he's older."
"Or we could just put in a hot tub and resign ourselves to my cousin moving in with us fulltime," she replied, shrugging. She then shuddered at the image of coming down early one morning and finding Ruby just lounging in the hot tub as snow blanketed their back yard.
"Who said we had to tell her?" he asked, smirking.
Regina raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure she'll find out. We can't ban everyone from telling her and we can't just stop inviting her over."
"True," he replied. "Well, it's just a dream anyway. We can always figure things out if we actually decide to put something in. Or maybe we just keep coming back here."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that," she said, liking the idea of coming to Hotel Olympus a couple times a year to recharge and refresh. "I'm sure we won't be short on babysitters."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "There will probably be a line to babysit Henry, if I know our family and friends."
She nodded, knowing he had a point. "Your mother might even fly in from England just for the occasion."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," he said, knowing his mother's work schedule would keep her from actually doing that. "But she'll definitely visit more."
"I'm fine with that. Maybe it will help us continue to bond," she replied, eager to continue working on her relationship with her mother-in-law. Things were going well between them and she hoped it would continue to get even better.
He smiled. "I'm sure it will."
Robin then motioned for her to come over to him. She floated across the large tub until he was able to pull her the rest of the way, helping her settle between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her as she leaned against his chest. "This is much better," he declared.
"Oh?" she asked, resting her head against the crook of his neck. "How so?"
"I have you in my arms. That always makes everything better."
She chuckled. "Sap."
"You can call me that as many times as you want but you knew who I was before you married me," he reminded her.
"That wasn't a complaint," she told him, closing her eyes. "It was a compliment."
She felt him press a kiss to her head before his hands cupped her breasts, making her moan. "While I've enjoyed our conversation, I believe we came here to do other things than talk," he whispered huskily.
"I believe we did too," she replied, pressing her ass against him. "Care to remind me what those were again?"
"Happily." He urged her to turn around with his hand and she did so, straddling him. As she cupped his face with her hands, he smiled. "Better."
She smirked, dropping her arms to loosely drape them over his shoulders. "Oh? And why's that?"
"Because it's easier to do this." He leaned forward, kissing her. She smiled into it, feeling his hands run along her back to support her. They exchanged a few languid kisses before she began rocking against him, knowing he was already half-hard as it was.
He moaned as he broke the kiss. "You're a tease."
"Oh, am I?" she asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible. "How so?"
"You know how," he replied, groaning as she grinded her ass against him yet again. "Oh, god…"
She leaned down, trailing kisses up his neck until she could nip at his earlobe. "You know that's not my name."
"Very funny," he replied.
"I thought so," she said smugly, running her tongue over the shell of his ear. "Say my name."
He shuddered as he slowly breathed out through his nose, eyes closed. When he opened them, he looked right into her as he said huskily: "Regina."
She swallowed as a feeling raced right down to her core, igniting a fire deep inside her. Nuzzling him, she said: "Again."
"Regina," he said in a whisper yet even huskier.
It almost turned her to goo right then and there.
"I love how you say my name," she told him between trailing kisses along his jawline until she reached his lips. She kissed him hard, grinding against him as she did so.
He moaned into the kiss, nibbling on her lower lip. She opened for him, letting him deepen the kiss as his hands roamed her body's curves. They cupped her breasts, massaging them as the fire ignited deep inside her grew even hotter. She was surprised the water around them wasn't boiling.
"Shall we move to the bed?" he asked when he broke the kiss.
"I think that would be wise," she replied, pushing away from him. She pulled the plug, letting the water start swirling down the drain. As the water rushed past her, she stood to get out of the tub.
Robin held up one of the oversized white fluffy towels provided by the hotel, his eyes raking over her nude form. "Towel?"
"Thank you," she said, taking it and wrapping it around her wet body. She reached out, expecting him to help her out of the tub. Instead, he stepped closer and scooped her up into the bridal carry.
"Ooh, you're pulling out all the stops," she teased him. "You're definitely getting laid. You don't need to impress me."
He chuckled. "I'm not trying to impress you. I'm pampering you – just like you deserve."
She smirked, leaning her head against his damp shoulder as she traced patterns on his chest with her finger. "Well, I'm not going to dispute that."
"I didn't think you would," he replied, laying her on the bed. He gently opened her legs as he sank to his knees. "Just as I don't think you'll disapprove of this."
He pressed a kiss to her inner thigh and she let out a little moan. "You might just be the death of me," she declared.
"I promise I will make it a sublime death," he said, bragging a little. Yet she knew he earned it – the man's tongue was pure magic.
She was in for an amazing time.
After their final climax, Robin eased her down onto the mattress, his cock softening inside her. He brushed some hair away from her sweat sticky face, tucking it behind her ear. "You good?" he asked.
"I am very good," she purred, her body feeling like goo that was just floating on the bed. She grinned. "You?"
He nodded. "I feel the same way. I think I can definitely get a good rest now."
"Me too," she replied, moving closer to him. She pressed herself against his still hot body, ignoring how sticky it was as well. He wrapped his arms around her and they lay there, just cuddling together.
After some time where she felt as if she were just floating, Robin said: "We're probably going to need another bath."
She laughed. "Probably. Just not now."
"Oh, definitely not now," he agreed. "I just want to drift off to sleep with you. Then we can see about that bath."
"Perfect," she replied, closing her eyes. She felt him pulling the blankets over them before lying back down. They lay wrapped around each other and she surrendered to sleep, looking forward to the rest of their babymoon.
A/N: Sorry for such a long wait! I had gone in another direction for this part but it just wasn't working, so I decided to bump up the babymoon! And this is just the first part!
If you want to get the good stuff AKA the smut, please go to AO3 or Wattpad. You'll probably want to read the second part there too once I write it though I'll try to write enough to post here too.
I'm also counting this as an entry in OQ Other Realms Week – the Land without Magic. I can't wait to see what everyone creates over the next five days!
If you're staying home due to the coronavirus, know you are not alone. Almost everybody is home right now. I know this is a scary time. I'm scared too. But we're going to get through this. To the Italians who are currently at the epicenter, I send my love and prayers. To everyone else – do what you can to help stop the spread and we can end this sooner rather than later.
-Mac
