Author Notes: This is a very short chapter, compared to all the others that have preceded it. It merely sets the stage for what's to come in the various families. After this, there will be several time jumps, as we move towards everyone's futures and the end of the story. Many thanks to all those that have stuck with me! And even bigger thanks to those of you who have made constructive comments.
Once again, stay safe all of you during this wretched pandemic, and have a wonderful Christmas!
Fi xxx
Storybrooke Hospital – seven months later.
The Monday immediately after the Locksley wedding, Marian had it confirmed by the clinic that she was indeed pregnant. Two months pregnant. The following day, the married trio left for their two-week honeymoon in the Caribbean. And when they returned, with the baby secure, they broke the news to their sons and closest friends.
Unlike Regina's news, Marian's didn't come as such a shock, although many of the townsfolk were surprised to see the Locksley family growing so soon after the wedding. With the baby to come, that would take the family to eight, when you included Margot.
Marian's turned out to be a textbook pregnancy, with no major traumas or issues. And finally, at the end of October, she delivered a baby girl. Honour was already now eighteen-months-old, as the newly-extended family gathered around the new birth mother's hospital bed.
"She's absolutely stunning, my darling!" said Regina, sitting beside her exhausted wife on the hospital bed, cradling their new-born and stroking her cheek, while Marian snuggled with Honour beside her, after proudly showing off her new sister. Meanwhile, Robin stood taking photos at the end of the bed.
"Yeah, she's got slightly more olive skin than Honour here, and maybe more hair at this stage; but you can easily tell they're sisters!"
"I agree..."Robin finally putt down the camera. "I wonder whether she's got both of your DNA, like Honnie has?"
His wives shared a knowing smirk, remembering the most likely night that Marian had conceived. A night earlier, all three of them had made love as one, more than enthusiastically, rather than in pairs, after a brief absence. The peak of which culminated in a brief flash of shared magic.
"Hilary's already asked them to add it to her list of things for the lab to check. Have you told Henry or Rolly yet, Robin?"
"I spoke to Roland and Mulan's bringing him over shortly. I've left Henry a message and a text. I also spoke to Emma. She sends us their love and and she'll let everyone else know. Now miladies, I think it's my turn to hold my new daughter, don't you?"
Reluctantly, Regina nodded, and after kissing the tiny brow, carefully placed their newborn in her father's arms, before lifting Honour back onto her own lap. "Well now, including Margot, we have eight of us in this family! I suggest we pay a little visit to family planning sometime, don't you?"
"Or…" Marian gave him a malicious smirk. "We could just send him to get the snip?"
"The foul language you were using to describe me, while you were in labour, made me wonder whether you were going to try doing it yourself with two bricks! To think my young ladies here would be subjected to such a crude tongue?"
As Regina laughed, Marian glared back. "Well you try it? Pushing something the size of a bowling ball out of your twa-" she stopped, realizing Honour could hear and picked things up far too easily! "She stung like hell, coming out! Remember, it's been a few years since I had Rolly. I forgot what it felt like!"
At the sound of her birth mother's voice, the tiny baby in Robin's arms twitched, opening her eyes to gaze right back at her father, with a curious stare.
"Hello there, my little precious!" he softly kissed her cheek, before moving around the bed to Regina's side, and to his other daughter. "Honour, I'd like you to say hello to your little sister. Say hello…"
"Cha-iiii!" said the toddler, moving her hand across to stroke the other girl's cheek. Even Robin could feel a warm glow of magic, almost comforting, emanate from her. The baby gave a tiny, happy grin.
"Regina, did you just notice that?" Robin looked wide-eyed at the girl. "That magic? Do you think Honnie knows she has that in her?"
"I doubt it, not at this age. It just seems to be a part of her. Merlin did say she'll be a healer with unusual powers, though."
"Never mind all that!" Marian grinned. "Didn't you both hear what she just called her? Chaiii? Charlie? Charlotte was one of our top five names, wasn't it?"
The outlaw nodded slowly, pondering. "I like it. Charlotte Locksley. Works for me. Gina?"
She also nodded. "Looks like we have a name for our new beauty! Now, how about her second name? We chose Marian's mother's name for Honour, so I think it's only fair that Robin gets to choose this time?"
"So, Charlotte Elizabeth Locksley, it is then!"
In the weeks ahead it would be confirmed that young Charlotte Locksley would indeed have the same three-parent DNA as her sister, Honour. And Merlin confirmed she also had her magic. With two powerful witches, the future was going to get interesting!
