Chapter 1: High hopes

It wasn't easy seeing him like this. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more it became clear that someone has to put an end to all of this. Of course – not literally. Though her evil side screamed otherwise, she would never erase the child, no matter who was its mother. The baby was a part of Robin and she loved it already, even if against all of her instincts it meant protecting Zelena.
When they got a call from the hospital this morning, she didn't even flinch. Zelena's „episodes" became so predictible there was no use in even opening the eyes. She was about to go back to sleep when she saw Robin's expression and nothing's been the same since.
Regina tightened her grasp at that memory. She was holding Robin's hand all the time to assure him she's with him, she's right there no matter what. They were sitting in the waiting room, although the doctors already assured them nothing bad happened to the baby. Robin seemed like he needed to think and stay in the hospital a little longer, so she didn't hurry him. They both just kept looking at the other side of the glass wall where ginger-haired woman way lying unconscious. The nurses were still jumping around her, but there was nothing more anyone could do. At least for now.
„Can we talk?"
Regina didn't even notice when dr Whale approached them, so she looked up and their eyes met. Whale looked at Robin with hesitation and then back at Regina. It was obvious he wanted to talk to the baby's father, not to her, but Robin's mind has gone somewhere else. She touched his arm gently and stood up, leaving him on the bench. Whale just nodded and they both walked around the corner. She assumed they'd stop there, but the doctor kept walking until he reached a white door with his own name on it and pushed it. When the queen walked inside she quickly realised this was serious. Did they lie to Robin? Is the baby…? No, it couldn't be.
"I'm going to cut the crap, because there's no time to be gentle right now. The situation is bad."
"Just an hour ago you said she's alive." Regina responded harshly.
"For now, yes. But I didn't say she was well."
„I think that's pretty obvious. She cut her wrists and almost bled out in that basement. But she did it on purpose so no one's sorry for her. Especially me, no need to worry."
"But the baby won't survive without her. It's only safe when she's asleep and we both know we can't keep her sedated during the entire pregnancy."
„What are you trying to say?"
"Regina, she made a move on her own life this time. I don't think she thought this through and that's our leverage, but what if the next time she points the knife straight to her stomach?"
Regina froze. She never thought about that and right now she was pretty sure Zelena would definitely come to that conclusion once she wakes up. Especially when she sees that she failed...
"We - we need to tie her. We'll make sure..."
"And that'll stop her?" Whale raised his eyebrows. "Don't forget who we're talking about."
"Then what are you suggesting?! From what I'm hearing the baby gets hurt or killed in every scenario. If we keep her unconscious, it won't allow the baby to grow properly. If we do wake her up, she'll eventually find a way to hurt it… To hurt Robin."
„All I'm saying is that, as a doctor, there's only so much I can do. She's an evil witch with magic, so maybe magic is what we need to fight it."
Regina narrowed her eyes.
„You never wanted to talk to Robin in the first place, didn't you? You were asking me to talk… for a reason."
„I know you care for Robin and this baby, too. So I trust you'll try and find a way to solve this problem. Because if you don't, then I don't see how this baby could be born safely."
"I got it." Regina couldn't hear it any longer, so she grabbed her purse and stood up. "I will come up with something, she will not hurt this baby."
When she came back to the hall Robin was still there in the same position. She looked at Zelena in her room and frowned.
„The baby's fine, Robin. I swear."
„I know."
She was about to say something else, but she bit her tongue.

xxx

She spent the entire next day in her vault. Finding a way became her obsession. Zelena woke up in the morning and has been tied to the bed ever since. The doctor said that's it's pretty obvious she's becoming mad. It wasn't even what she screamed to them, it was how she behaved. Since she woke up she already tried to harm herself twice, so they had to make her unable to move even her head. If Regina didn't know any better, she'd say she's possesed by a ghost of some kind, because this was exactly what she saw in some of those movies that were broadcasted late at nights when she had all her time to herself during the first years of the curse and when she was still mesmerized by this world's inventions. Either way, her sister wasn't controlled. She was just sick in mind. No one could say if it was because of the magic that was taken from her or the realisation she's gonna spend the rest of her life (well, or at least the next 18 years or so) restrained and lonely.
Regina never even got close to loving her sister, but she did feel bad for her. The old Regina would never feel this way, but she was a different person now and it somehow got to her. Her own flesh and blood…
„No." She said to herself and shook her head. With her nose in the book she didn't even realise someone was watching her.
„Is this not a good time? I could..."
„Snow! No, it's fine. I was talking to myself."
Snow rised her eyebrow. In different circumstances this would be the time to make a joke about „going crazy like her sister", but they both knew the situation was too fragile.
„Everyone's been looking all over for you, what are you doing?" Snow seemed disturbed and Regina wasn't quite sure what about.
„Oh, damn." The queen closed her eyes and put down the book. „That's right, I was supposed to meet with Henry this afternoon. I'm sorry I completly forgot."
„Don't worry, so did he." Snow laughed.
„What?!"
„He's on a date. Just don't tell him you know it from me."
Regina should laugh but she just looked down on the pile of books before her.
„Anyway." Snow said. „I do want to know what you're up to."
„It's Robin… I don't…. I can't help him and it kills me."
„And you think you can find a solution here? Why don't you talk to Belle?"
„I already did! God, I've tried everything. It's like Zelena came up with a perfect way to hurt him and there's nothing I can do about it."
„Are you sure this is only about Robin?" Snow smiled softly to her.
„I know what you want to say." Regina sighed. „She's doing this because of me. And yes, I do care about this baby, too. For some twisted reason ever since we locked Zelena up I knew it was gonna be me who gets to take care of it with Robin when it's born. Robin thought I'd be angry about it at first, but honestly? This is my only chance to feel that again. To be a mother. Even… even if I'm not… Ugh."
„Hey." Snow touched her arm to calm her former stepmother down. „Nothing will happen to this baby. From what I've just heard you already love the life she's carrying. And that makes you the only true mother in the baby's life. You shouldn't feel bad about this. SHE tried to kill it."
„I know. In the perfect world I would be the one who carries Robin's child." The queen laughed ironically through the tears and started cleaning up the books. „But we do not live in a perfect world."
Snow stared blankly into space and Regina kept talking, not even noticing.
„Either way, believe me, I wish I could've undo many things from my past, but I somehow can't bring myself to think I could erase this baby from existence. Zelena's plan has no flaws and this is what drives me insane. It was genious, because now we lose whatever the hell we decide to do."
„Unless..."
Regina stopped to look at her.
„Regina… What if there was a way?"
The queen rolled her eyes.
„Haven't you been paying attention? If there was a way, I would surely find it by now."
„No, I have. I've really paid attention to what you said." Snow got very exited and started gesticulating energetically. „Regina, that's so simple! You said it yourself! YOU should be the one who carries Robin's child, not Zelena."
„I think it's a little too late for that, Snow." Regina raised her eyebrows and got back to cleaning the mess she made.
„No, listen to me!" Snow grabbed her arm. "What if you were the one to carry this child to full term? This specific child. We're not talking about changing the past in any way, we're talking about the situation where you were pregnant with it from now on... Zelena would have much harder job in hurting it if it wasn't inside her."
„Are you high or something? I know what a surrogate is, but as I said, it's still a little late to think about such solutions. She's two months pregnant, you can't take a child from someone's womb and in-vitro it into another, it doesn't work that way."
„Sure, in this world it doesn't. But here... we have magic, Regina. If we know it's entirely possible to carry someone else's child, why won't we find a way to transport it? There has to be something!"
„You're forgetting one thing. I can't have children." Regina looked down. „Even if there was a way to do it, I couldn't..."
„Yes, I know you can't actually concieve but this one's already convieved. Don't you get it?"
„So you're saying… I can still carry a child if someone puts it into me?" This sounded so ridiculous she had to take a moment to think about it. "Where is this assumption even coming from?"
"I don't know, hope? Isn't it worth trying though?" Snow smiled widely and looked into her eyes to find the same hope she had. „You didn't make the cake but you can still bake it." She tried to joke but Regina's mind has already gone elsewhere as she realised something.
"Hold on. We're talking about me here. Why? If a magic baby transfer is possible, it could be anyone! If I can't do it, then let someone else save this child. It could be hard to find someone, but that's a start!" Now Regina got excited as well. "Wow, you can be really helpful from time to time."
Snow rolled her eyes.
"Why are you doing this? Why won't you take a leap of faith? Don't tell me you wouldn't want to do it?"
"There's no time for that now. I need to talk to Robin." The queen quickly put on a coat but her stepdaughter stopped her again.
"What?!"
"You need to know something. I actually came here because of him."
"Why? What happened? Is he okay?" Regina's eyes widened.
"He's okay, I mean... He got into a fight in Granny's. He's not doing very well. And I don't mean physically."
Regina looked down and held back tears.
"That's it. That's what she wanted all along. Robin's hurt and I can't be there to help because I'm doing everything I can so he's not hurt even more. She got between us and it's only gonna get worse."
"That's why we need to stop it." Snow nodded and then livened up. "I know who we should talk to about it."
Regina nodded. She knew exactly who.

xxx

The door bell of the „Mr. gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer" shop rang loudly, as two women rushed inside to meet with the only person, who could actually know the right spell. It was one of the few moments in Regina's life where she was actually glad she had never murdered him along the way. They weren't exactly enemies, but they weren't friends either, so she hoped that at the right price he'd be able to help. And she was ready to pay any price for this.
„Gold!" Regina shouted and he came out immediately looking quite unamused, to say the least.
"Why is everyone always yelling? I can hear my own damn bell... What do you want from me and what on earth makes you think I'll give it to you?"
"Why do you always assume we want something?" Snow asked with a frown.
"Did you ever actually buy anything?"
"Fair enough."
"Listen!" Regina grumbled through teeth. "You'll name your price later, but I talk first."
"I owe you nothing. None of you."
"You got your powers back." Snow said with pleading tone. "It's really important, it's about..."
"Robin Hood and his baby, am I right?"
"Belle told you?" Regina frowned and crossed arms on her chest. Rumple didn't answer. She actually wondered if he knew it from his wife or he had just seen it in his head. But it didn't matter. "Either way, in this case you already know why I'm here."
"Well, yes, I know the reason you're here, but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. Unless of course you want me to crush Zelena's heart, then I'd do it with pleasure."
"We want you to tell us if it's possible to transfer a two month old fetus into another person."
Rumple stopped polishing the object he was holding in his hand and put it down slowly.
"That's your way out? Really?"
"So it's possible?" Regina stepped from one foot to another. "Tell me."
"Of course it's possible. Even this world's medicine allows it to some extent. But why would you want to do that? Who would even want her spawn to be..."
Regina was looking at Gold in a certain hopeful way he immediately knew what she was thinking. He smirked and look at Snow and then back at Regina.
"You? Really?" He laughed.
"Doesn't matter." Regina abashed and looked down. "I mean… I know you know that it can't be me. Whoever it's gonna be, that's none of your concern, we've come to ask you if you know how I can perfom such a spell."
Rumple narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. He moved closer to one of his cabinets and reached his hand for something.
„What's that?" Regina asked suspiciously as she saw a small scroll inside his palm.
"You're asking for a very complicated and risky magic." He didn't exactly answer her question but it still was enough for her to understand. „To be able to cast the spell you have to link two bodies in a very special way. I never tought you that, because it's hardly ever used since it can't quite solve the problem in its core."
„You're speaking in riddles, Gold. Will it work or not?"
„Oh yes it will." Dark One looked at the scroll. „But you have to ask yourself if it's worth it."
„Of course it's worth it, it's an innocent life we're talking about!" Snow said unexpectedly.
„I don't think he means the baby." Regina spoke quietly and the other woman looked at her with a frown. „Tell me, what's the price?"
„The spell links two souls for life. By design it's meant to protect both sides, so women wouldn't be able to steal babies from each other all around. Once you transfer the baby, both the biological mother and the one who gives birth to it are connected. They're both meant to witness the child's life. They can't harm one another because if one dies..."
„The other dies, too." Regina finished, staring at the scroll blankly.
„Does it mean…?" Snow looked at her.
„Shit!" Regina began to walk around the store with her hands on her hips, she was furious. Why did she believe? Why did she allow herself for a bit of hope? She thought she found a perfect way, she thought she'd be able to save this child from her wicked sister… She never thought about what would happen to her after, but that was supposed to be the easy part. Was she planning on killing her? Maybe… But even if she didn't, there were many people in this town who would like to do it. And they will. She couldn't link anyone to Zelena just so they can die after. God, she just couldn't link anyone to such a horrible person in general! Dead or alive, it would be the most evil thing in the world. She was a fool to think anyone would even agree to give birth to Robin's baby, but even if someone did, she couldn't keep the spell's side effects from them. There was no way out. Again.
„Regina?" Snow asked again.
„That's it, Snow." The queen was very close to losing it. „We're back at the start. Dammit!"
„Don't give up. You can't give up now."
They looked into each others eyes. Regina's were filled with tears.
„I can't force anyone to be linked to that witch forever, Snow. I just can't. And I can't have children myself, so that excludes the only actual person who I know would agree to this."
Snow smiled to her. The Regina she knew all those years ago really was back. And she would do anything to help her.
„You would really do that for him?"
„Of course, I would. If I could."
„You can."
Both Snow and Regina turned their heads around to look at Gold, who they already forgot was still in the room.
„What?" Regina said whiping the tears and frowning.
„Oh come on. Seriously? Don't tell me you haven't noticed."
„What are you talking about?"
„You're not cursed. Not anymore. You were for many years, that's true, but now you're overflowing with that sickening soulmate magic. I can sense it from a distance."
Regina opened her mouth and blinked twice. She tried to understand what she just heard but that must've been some game Gold played with her mind.
„You think Regina and Robin shared true love's kiss?" Snow was beaming with happiness. She was in shock but there was no surprise she understood it sooner than her stepmother.
„Not only one, I assume." Rumple smirked. „Ever since you kissed your thief, your majesty, the curse has been lifted."
"And you knew all this time?! I could've..." Regina was furious and her mind was spinning. Thousand thoughts went through her head before she finished the sentence. „It doesn't matter anymore. If what you're saying is true, it can be me. I can save this child from Zelena."
„Yeah, and be connected to her forever!" Snow added. „You can't do that, not with what you just found out!"
„Yes. Yes, I can. I have to. My feelings towards this baby haven't changed. Besides, I'm already linked to her more than anyone else, I'm her sister. I'll be able to protect this baby from her until its born, that's all that matters."
„You're missing the point! If you two are connected that means she can still hurt you by hurting herself. We both know she's crazy enough to do it, he proved that many times lately. And if you're still pregnant while she does it, then it all would be for nothing."
„That's why she can't know. She won't know. We'll put her to sleep and decide what to do with her after the baby is born. It isn't perfect but that's the only solution we've got."
„Are you ready to be dealing with Zelena for the rest of your life?" Rumple asked. „Because after the baby is born that's when the real problems start. You won't be able to kill her, because it'll kill you, too. And if you keep her alive but her locked up, she eventually tries to do it herself again. You die either way, Regina. This isn't „imperfect solution". This is suicide."
„I know." She said and then looked down at the engagement ring on her finger. „That's why Robin can't ever know."

xxx

Her heels made a quiet clicking sound as she walked into the house late at night. She closed the door behind her and sighed deeply. Only then she noticed the light inside the kitchen was on. Taking off her coat she also noticed a few drops of blood on the floor and froze.
"Robin?" She asked quietly, because the boys were probably long asleep.
Regina walked forward and when she walked into the kitchen she gasped.
"Jesus, Robin!" She came closer to him and touched his bruised forehead. The blood on it was already dry and he didn't even showered. "Talk to me. What happened?"
"Nothing."
He took a sip from the glass, which, as she assumed, contained her top shelf whiskey. She looked at the alcohol in his hand and then at him with pain in her eyes. Then she touched his head again, this time her buring her fingers in his hair, stroking him gently.
"I'm sorry."
Robin looked at her. She noticed his other eye, until now hidden in the shadows, was all red and briused as well.
"What are you sorry for? None of this is your fault."
"I wasn't there for you today. I should..."
"What, Regina? What can you do? You're doing everything you can already. And I'm glad you didn't see how I lost it today and punshed Hook in his pretty nose. I'm... I'm not myself... I don't know what's happening to me."
"Wait, Hook?" She raised her eyebrows. She didn't try to dwell the subject, though. She would love to punsh the guyliner in the face from time to time herself.
"Well, I think I've got good news for you." She smiled radiantly to him which seemed so strange to Robin he liven up a little. She sat on the chair beside him and took his hand to gather thoughts.
"What is it?"
"I... I'm not sure how you'll react to this."
"Jesus, Regina, tell me. If you hadn't just told me it was good news, I would be freaked out right now."
"No, it's..." She kept smiling and frowing at the same. It was so ridiculous to her. She subconsciously imagined telling him she's pregnant a thousand times before - even thought she believed it was impossible - and yet she never thought she'd be asking him if she can be pregnant with a baby he has with another woman. So finding right words for this wasn't very easy. "Okay so I think I found a solution."
Robin opened his eyes widely and started breathing faster. Suddenly he took her head into both of his hands and kissed her possionately. She was taken aback so much, she forgot how to breathe for a moment.
"Wow!" She said when he finally let her go. "Take it easy, thief. I didn't even tell you my plan."
"You didn't have to." He was smiling widely, looking into her eyes. "The fact that you're telling me is enough proof the solution is good."
"So you don't want to know?" She laughed.
"Okay. Right. Tell me."
She was filled with so much joy and love in that moment it made it a little easier, so she decided to just use this feeling and give it to him straight.
"What would you say if Zelena's baby could be carried by someone else?"
"Wait..." He frowned. His smiled lessened a little but not entirely. "Is that... possible?"
"Yes. In fact, even in this world people do things like this thanks to the advanced medicine. There's a difference though. This fetus is already developed too much to move it. But we... have magic."
"Oh." He said. "I'm not..."
"No, listen!" She stopped him before he had a chance to object. "It's a good thing. It's safe. I've already talked to Gold, the spell exists."
"You trusted Gold?"
"I trusted me." Regina spoke proudly. "I'm a witch, too, you know."
"Okay. I'm sorry. I trust you, I do." He said and closed his eyes to calm down. He knew she was trying her best to help but he couldn't help but worry about his child.
"So you're saying that if some other woman would agree to do it, the baby would be safe from this green psycho. We could actually protect it."
For a brief moment Regina felt a sting of pain inside her, but then she quickly remembered what she just found out today and her heart flooded with joy.
"That's the best part, Robin." She smiled with tears in her eyes. Her palm touched his cheek. "We don't have to look for some random woman to do it."
"What do you mean?" Robin didn't catch it yet.
"Remember our first kiss in the forest? Remember how it felt?"
"Of course I did. It was the first time in my life I've ever felt something like this, it was like..."
"Like magic, yes." She kept smiling and a single tear of happiness escaped her eye. "Don't you get it? The curse I told you about after we started dating... It doesn't exist anymore. It haven't existed since the first time we kissed. You healed me, our love healed me."
"True loves kiss..." He understood and gasped. "Regina... You... We..."
"Yes." She laughed and then Robin wiped tears from her cheek. "We shared true love's kiss and we didn't even know it. And Gold... he said something about soulmate magic. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but I think it's something even more powerful. I felt that back then. I just didn't realise."
"But... hold on." He said and grabbed her hand. "If you haven't been barren since the first time we kissed, how come you're not pregnant by now? I mean... We have quite a lot of sex, you know."
They both laughed. Regina wondered about this for a while, but he was... kind of right.
"I..." She said and her face clouded over. "Oh my god. You're right. What if I'm pregnant right now?"
"Would that be a bad thing?"
"Yes! I mean, obviously no, but it's the worst timing, Robin! Who would save the baby you have with Zelena if I was pregnant now?"
Robin opened his eyes in terror.
"No, no, no, no, no..." She stood up and started walking around the kitchen. "I need... I need a pregnancy test. God... I'd never thought I'd say those words... Anyway! I... I'll be back!"
"Regina, wait! It's the middle of the night!" He shouted but she was already gone in a purple smoke.
Already when she materialized herself in front of the shop she realised how stupid her plan was. It wasn't that much of a crisis to break into the pharmacy, for god's sake she was still the mayor! Besides, pregnancy tests can be wrong and she couldn't afford to be mistaken right now.
She poofed herself into another place, this time she knew there can be no mistake. She pounded at the door twice and it immediately opened.
"Regina." Maleficent frowned and hesitated.
"Hey. I know it's late and I know we have a past but I need your... help."
"I'm eating dinner with my daughter... Go away and be grateful I'm not in the mood for a fight."
"It's just a moment, I swear!" Regina held the door that Maleficent tried to close. "Please."
"Fine. You have 30 seconds." The witch opeded the door once again and crossed her arms on the chest.
"Snow told me about your abilities."
"You already knew my abilities. Better than most. You exploited me and kept me under the town for 28 years and then had me killed."
There was a long awkward silence between the two of them for a moment.
"Right." Regina said. "But there's something else. You're like... a walking pregnancy detector. You can sense it, right?"
"I do." She said. "It's a dragon thing. But I don't get how...?"
"Am I pregnant?"
Maleficent looked at her and then down on her stomach and then back at her.
"No." She said shortly.
"No?" Regina couldn't help but feel dissapointed. "Really? You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure. Besides, I would've told you sooner if you were. I can't stand seeing women treating themselves poorly while they don't know they're with child. But you're not. Where is this coming from?"
"Nowhere. Thanks."
Regina left quickly without saying goodbye. She wasn't pregnant. It was a good thing, right? She could save Robin's child. She loved that child, more than she could explain. But once she got the idea of being pregnant with her own baby, she couldn't help but hope for it. Even if it would be a massive problem for them at the moment. She felt dissapointed she wasn't pregnant, but relieved the plan didn't have to change. She would be the one who gives birth to this baby and Zelena would be out of the picture, so...
No. She wouldn't be.
Regina stopped in the middle of the road. She just realised he was walking alone through the dark streets of Storybrooke.
Zelena would never be out of the picture, she thought, not when they perform the spell. Her life would depand on her sister's and vice versa. Why was she still determined to do it though? Why there wasn't a single doubt in her head that she would sacrifice her life for this baby? Maybe it was the guilt. Maybe she felt like she needed to be the one to do it because if it wasn't for her, Zelena would never try to hurt Robin. It was her fault she decieved him, so she should be the one to take the fall.
On the other hand, she just simply already loved the baby. A lot more than the imaginery baby she could potentially have with Robin some day. That particular baby already existed and she couldn't allow it to be harmed.
It was the right thing to do, she told herself and walked a few more steps before she poofed herself back into the house.

xxx

„That was quick." Robin said to her and hugged her.
„I'm not pregnant. We can do it."
„Regina, wait." He looked at her, still holding her close. „We didn't even talk about this, there was so much new information I..."
„That's okay, I really want to. Unless you don't..."
„Of course I do! Having you carry my baby… I can't think of anything more beautiful. But it isn't your obligation. Are you really willing to sacrifice your body and do all of that for a baby that isn't even, you know... ours? We can still find another way."
She looked up at him and smiled softly.
"We both know we can't." She spoke and he nodded, pulling her closer so her head rested on his chest. "I know you think it's a lot, but honestly it isn't. Obviously I'm a little scared, because I've never thought I'd be able to do it. But for the first time since Zelena tried to kill herself I felt peace. We found a solution. And I won't be able to feel that peace again as long as she's pregnant with your baby and you're... like this."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I don't want to see on the dark side, Robin, you have no idea how long it took me to escape that darkness. If you'd get cosumed by it, I would be lost, too. I got your back as long as you got mine. We can do it all but we have to do it together."
"Always."
„Besides..." She looked up into his eyes. "You know I love this baby already. I would be its mother figure not matter what. This isn't any different than having Henry. Except now I can actually experiance all the joys of pregnancy."
She laughed at the last part and he smiled to her.
„And I'll be here."
„Yeah, that's gonna be different, too."
„You're amazing, you know that? I love you so much."
„I love you, too, thief."
Their lips united into a kiss. Robin held her close and didn't let go. Then he suddenly picked her up from the floor and her shoes fell on the ground. He carried her quietly into the bedroom, trying not to wake the boys up. This night was different. They've done it so many times before but a few things have changed. Now they knew for sure that what they had was true love. There was magic between them and, as clishe as it always sounded to Regina, they really were two halves of a whole. That night was also different than other because for the first time they used protection. They didn't want to "risk" anything, though it was still a bit strange she wasn't pregnant by now. There will come a time where Regina would look back at that evening and think about how stupid she was to believe it was a coincidence. But that wasn't the time yet.