I'm trying guys! Im sorry its taken so long, but here it is none the less.

You'll have to thank the beautiful and talented Gray-Autumn-Sky for making this disaster of a chapter into something wonderful. And if you haven't read her stories, please do, because they are beautiful.

By the time he had stopped staring at where his hands laid, the tears were flowing steadily down her face. For a moment he did nothing but stare in shock, his face full of confusion. She thought he might have not wanted this as much as she had anticipated. Fear and rejection flickered through her mind, but before they were able to run wild, his eyes had locked upon hers, and she could see the love and hope swirling in his deep blue eyes. She smiled then, tearful and wide, when he asked if what she was implying true, but the thickness in her throat did not allow for a single word; instead, as the tears ran down her face, she nodded her head in confirmation.

There was a brief moment, when all he did was stare at her, and she at him. She couldn't figure out what he was thinking. He seemed confused, and for a moment, it threw her off. Could she have been wrong? Was he not as happy about this as she had hoped he would be? She had thought he would be over the moon with the revelation she had for him, she thought this child would make him happy. Her doubt only lasted for the briefest of moments; and the next thing she knows he is laughing and crying, and she felt her world spinning as he lifted her and her arms wrapped automatically around his neck. He held her in his arms, spinning her, and all she could do is join in his laughter, and bury her head in the crook of his neck as her nerves began to fade.

"Are you sure about this Regina?" He asked her as he stopped moving, his words just above a whisper.

"I don't know how, but yes. We're having a baby, Robin," she cried as she leaned in to kiss him, their tears colliding with each other as he held on to her, before he lowered her to the ground once more, their lips never parting. After some time, they broke apart, reluctant to let each other go as he asked her, "When...how did you know?"

"The day you brought me inside from the storm," she told him as she looked down briefly, remembering the way she had acted towards him. "I was in the library going over books that could help with Zelena, when I came by a calendar. It hit me that I was late, and by the time Tinkerbell had come into the room I was in a panic. I told her and she was able to confirm it."

"That's why you ran wasn't it?" he asked her. It suddenly made sense, remembering Granny's words about something triggering such an attack.

"I didn't know what to believe. I was so scared.I still am. All I could think about was the pregnancies I'd had before. I couldn't think straight. But these past few days, it became clear to me. And as terrified as I am-and will be until this baby is in my arms-even while my heart still screams for my son, there's this light, this hope that this baby-our baby-will make it. And I want so desperately to believe that," she admitted as she closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest.

Her fear over losing this child would not abate her, but the never ending hope that lied within this possibility was overwhelming. He wrapped his arms around her then, cradling her to him. He knew her fears and understood them, because suddenly it was Marian he held in his arms, lifeless cold after the birth of his son. He hugged Regina tighter, forcing the images out of his head and focusing on the woman in his arms. He lost the mother of his child once, and it would not happen again.

It was well into the afternoon, just as the sun started to set, that they had made their way back into the castle grounds. Roland, completely and utterly exhausted after he'd spent the day chasing and fighting the ogres while trying to save and protect His Majesty, did not stir a bit as Robin placed him in his bed.

Then as she readied herself for bed, she couldn't help but think how much this day couldn't have gone any better. That was false, she reminded herself. Since returning to the Enchanted Forest, she hadn't laughed as much as she'd laughed that day while spending time with Roland. But it made her heart ache with the memories for her own little prince's adventures on those lazy Sunday afternoons, back when life was simple and she was just Mommy, not the Evil no matter how much her heart ached at the thought, she couldn't help but smile as her hands crept up and laid flat against her belly. She was pregnant, and while her fears remained, she was so incredibly happy.

The feeling was clearly mutual as she felt the comforting hands of Robin wrapping around her waist, landing over her still-flat stomach. She leaned against him, her head rolling to his broad shoulder, tilting just so, as she inhaled his smell.

"Hmm, you washed up I see," she admired quietly, placing a kiss just under his jaw.

"Well, I don't think you would have let me near you if I hadn't."

"You know me very well, Thief."

Silence washed over them, neither wanting to speak, just simply enjoying the other's presence, swaying to a fro in front of the fire place in her room. It could have been hours for all she knew, or cared frankly, but then she felt him turn her in his arms, slowly leading her to bed. Turning down the covers he helped her in, following in right behind her, and gathering her once more. Time again ceased to move, she closed her eyes, and buried herself against him, sighing in relief.

"I promise you, Regina, I will be here for you. You've given me a gift that is precious beyond words. I can't even explain to you how happy I am. I know your fears and I'm scared too, but with the two of us, I know this baby will be happy and loved."

Miles away, Zelena waved her hand across the mirror, and cheerfully made her way across the room, swinging the ends of her dress and sitting down on her chair.

"Did you hear the news, Rumple? I'm going to be an auntie!" She smiled ruefully, her plans were coming together, finally all at once.

"I've known for sometime now Zelena I'm surprised it took you this long. But then again I'm not." Locked in a his cage, he did nothing but spin his gold. He knew the moment the child came into existence, the magic in the air shifted, and he knew without a doubt that it could only be the doing of one person.

"And pray tell how you know of this, you imp," Zelena sneered as she rose from her chair and made her way to him.

"For the same reason I know you will fail, Zelena. You wish to remove her from existence, yet you will fail. Don't you feel it in the air? The change that's occurring now as we speak?" He questioned as he stopped his spinning and rose to meet her. "Of course you haven't."

"There was a reason behind my choosing Regina over you many years ago. It wasn't simply because you would fail at the dark curse, but because I knew I had to act fast to get Regina to become the Evil Queen. I needed her wrath and anger, I needed her to be loveless, for if she didn't, she would have destroyed me. Something neither she herself, nor Cora knew. The same reason of which you will fail. Those scars you bear from your last encounter tells me so. Tell me, what did it feel like to be touched by magic as light as hers?"

Dumbfounded and speechless as she was, Zelena just stared into his eyes. She had in fact felt that change in the air, but had made nothing of it. Now, that it was confirmed, for the first time fear trickled in her veins.

"No. She does not posses white magic. Her magic is DARK! Darker than mine!" She screeched out.

"She who bears the strength of the moon and the sun in her veins will be our protector. Batter her heart and soul and she will rise. Tempt her to the shadows and she will rise with the sun. Harm those she shelters and she will flame with the sun," Rumples recites to her in Latin.

"Regina has the power of light and dark within her. The child she carries is something unheard of. A child born of true love is a gift and it's magic will be light. A child born of a purveyor of light and dark and a soul mate has unprecedented power. You may think this is the answer you've been awaiting, but make no mistake, this child, its mother and its father, its lineage has more meaning and power than you and I. Mark my words, this child will be your undoing Zelena, just as it will mine." Those were his final words before turning once more to spin his gold, a sinful grin etched on his face.

"Well then, I'll see to it the child never comes to be."

Emerging back in her chamber, Zelena set about her new found information.

Regina was pregnant, and had light magic. She had felt it yet choose to ignore it that day in the fields, both worse for wear, but she had felt the power then.

"No matter, this child will not stop my plans. I will have my way, come Hell or not, I will end you Regina. Long before this child comes to be, you will cease to exist," she declared as she engulfed herself once more in green smoke, changing into a fresh new gown. With another wave of her hand, her monkeys were in front of her.

"It's time to play, my pretties. Tonight we pay a visit to the castle." And with that, she sent the beasts to gather the rest, "Our night has just begun."

She barely registered her name being called out in the middle of the night. She had fallen asleep in the safety of Robin's arms around her, her head pillowed on his chest. Now though, rousing from sleep she vaguely heard the urgency of her name being called until she felt small hands moving to her face.

"R'gina! Wake up please!" Roland cried frantically.

"Shh, Roland, honey, what's the matter?" She asked as she finally came to her wits. With a start she realized the fear in his eyes, and the man whom she'd gone to bed with was no longer there. Instead, a rather terrified Roland throwing himself onto her, sobbing into her chest.

Hiccuping and sobbing she barely understood his words as she tried to calm him. It wasn't until he calmed a bit that the noise reached her ears-screams, shouting, and the smell of smoke filled her senses.

A moment later she heard Roland cry, "The green witch is here Gina! Her Monkeys, they came to the castle."

Not a second later, she was up on her feet in nothing but her night gown, pulling on her robe with Roland in her arms.

The last thing she expected to see was the scene that lay in front of her. Making her way frantically through the corridors she saw people running for cover and wanted nothing more than to find their own safety. Finally reaching the dining hall, her eyes could barely see anything beyond the smoke that filled the room, making out just the silhouettes of people fighting, their shouting near deafening. Her eyes searched frantically for Robin, his men, Granny, anyone.

As if her silent prayer was momentarily answered, Snow came in right behind her almost knocking her and Roland down.

"Regina! Are you okay? What's happening?!"

" I don't know. I need you to take Roland and head back to my library. There's an old door hidden under the rug, take him and get out," Regina said frantically as she pried Roland off of her and placed him into Snow's arms.

"Regina no, I-"

"Snow. GO. NOW!" And with a wave of her hand, they were gone.

She needed to concentrate, she needed to find Robin and her people and get them to safety, but she could see nothing in front of her. Another wave of her hand, and all the windows were blown away, and the smoke found its way out.

Slowly as the smoke began to clear, she saw the beasts high in the air as arrows flew in all different directions. As one spotted her, she threw a fireball and incinerated the beast right away.

"Regina!"

"John? Is that you?" She screamed as she made her way through the room, calling out his name once more she found him on the floor leaning against a pillar. "John! What happened? Are you okay?" She cried as she knelt down beside him, her hands running over him, trying to find an was barely able to say her name before she was flung across the room and crashed into the dining table.

Her ears began to ring as the haze receded from her vision. Grimacing as she turned over, hands gripping her stomach, as she slowly made her way to her feet.. She looked up to find Zelena.

"You," Regina sneered.

"Are you ready to have some fun sis? 'Cause I am." And without another word she disappeared in a cloud of green.

The next thing Regina saw were the beasts making a lunge for John, as another lunged for her. She managed to dodge it just before it reached her, throwing her magic in time to prevent the other one from reaching John, as another to one aimed for her. Crawling her way back to him, she tried to wake him, shaking him, and screaming out his name.

"Damn you John, don't you dare die, or I swear I'll kill you."

"It will be a death worth having then," was his muffled reply a seconds later.

She asked him where he was hurt, and with some effort she was able to roll him onto his side, and saw the gash slicing his skin fiercely from his shoulder to his mid-back. Placing her hand over his wound, she closed her eyes and murmured a spell. She could only hope it would work, but she'd be damned if she didn't try.

"They attacked the camp outside not long ago," he said through his pain, answering her silent question. "I don't know how they made it past the shield, but they did. Seconds later everyone was scrambling to their feet, and fighting them with whatever weapons they could find on such short notice. Cowards, the bastards are, attacking in the night. We tried to keep them outside, but they made their way in. By the time we got here, it was too late. They had spread out."

"How in the hell did they come through it?" She breathed out. She had done what she could for him, yet her heart beat frantically. Zelena was loose somewhere and she didn't see Robin anywhere. It's in that moment that time stops for her, and she registers everything around her. The piercing screaming of the monkeys being shot, the moaning of the men and women lying on the floor, the screaming heard from around the castle. Her mind and body were alight with rage and power, her senses so acute she felt every hair on her body. Somewhere in the back of her mind she thought that this was what shock felt like. But she put it out of her mind; she had people to find, and a sister to kill.

"John... Robin, did you see him?"

"He was here last time I saw him, Charming, too; but, I don't know where they are now. Regina, the witch is after him"

Ignoring the pain that ran through her body, and the blood that ran down her neck, she left John in the care of Alan moments after he came around. She noticed nothing as she searched the rooms and going person to person, incinerating every beast that she saw. She had to find him. She had no idea what the hell Zelena wanted with him, but she needed to find out. Running out into the hall once the beasts were under control, and with no trace of Robin, she made her way to the courtyard where she heard the cries of battle going on strong.

Blowing the doors open, she saw countless people fighting; swords, arrows, and torches swung in the air, restlessly fighting against the claws of the enemy. It had been a cool night just hours ago, now the wind blew strong, the moon was high in the night sky; her hair blew across her face.

She turned her head as she heard Granny call out her name.

"Are you alright?!" Both women asked each other as Granny threw her bow aside, she ran towards Regina. She carelessly ran her hands over her face, checking for signs of damage.

"I'm fine!" Regina answered tersely, looking around at the mayhem around them. By the light of the moon she was able to see the people fighting for their lives. She could see David from the corner of her eye, battling two beasts. Her hands flew out just as the beast was about to strike him from behind. Startled by the incinerated monkey, he turned around and began to make his way over to her.

Blood staining his clothes, and exerted from the attack, yet powered by adrenaline, he asked if she had seen Snow. "She's fine, she's hidden. Where's Robin?" She asked, as she ignited any beast she could see. The men and women around her were tired and shocked. Yet when they noticed her arrival, they fought their way closer to her, David and Granny, surrounding her, battling any of the beast who tried to come near her.

Her answer came a moment later, as her blood ran cold, freezing her on the spot.

"Looking for this, dear?" Zelena's menacing voice rang out as she stood before them with Robin held tight by her magical grasp. "He's quite the powerful man, Sis. I see what you like so much about him. Quite the fighter."

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she stared into his eyes, and she could see the anger and the fear swirling in his eyes- fear for him and for her. My god, she thought to herself, hours ago they'd gone to bed in each other's arms, and now here they were.

Finding her voice, she moved her eyes to her sister and spoke. " Let him go."

"And why ever would I do that? That wouldn't be any fun, now would it?"

"Ah-ah, no no Regina, one move and Robin dies," Zelena said just as Regina inched closer, her hands barely lifting from her sides. She felt a surge of power again. The last time she felt it, she barely made it out alive from her fight with Zelena. It felt stronger now, but laced with the need to protect, it swelled within in her. Yet, she knew that it was different now. She could sense the baby within her, could feel its magic laced with her own.

"Much better. Now, tell these people to lower their weapons."

"Like hell we will," Granny sneered from beside her.

"You will do as I say," Zelena threatened as her hold on Robin's neck grew tighter, as Regina's cry became nothing but a passing sound to the red-head's ears. "Or I'll kill him right here and now! Or better yet…" she smiled sinfully. Her eyes zoned in over the crowd and up into the night sky where two of her beasts could be seen; and in an instant there was a cloud of smoke between and the crowd.

"Oh my, my, it must be my lucky day."

A second later, Regina's air left her lungs, her legs barely able to hold her up at the sight in front of her. She could see Robin begin to panic in his hold, his face turning blue with anguish and rage, everyone else behind her just stood gasping and open-mouthed at the people in front of them

Snow White and Roland now stood in the middle of a war zone.

I promise to get this quicker to you all, I can't apologize enough for the delay.

I thank each and every single one of you who reached out to me after the last post, you guys are wonderful.

I hope you enjoyed this.

-YB

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