Day 11 of OQ Prompt Party
#44: 'I didn't know I was pregnant' OQ version & #288: "It happened again."
Trigger warnings: Mentions of infertility. Also, complicated labor and pregnancy.
"Regina, love," Robin crouches before his wife, brushing some dark hair from her sweaty forehead. Regina blinks a few times, her eyes still straining to come back into focus.
"What happened?" she manages to get out.
"You nearly fell out of your chair."
"I um," Regina attempts to clear her dry throat, only to fall over in a coughing fit.
Henry leaps from his seat. "I'll go get some water."
Pain shoots through Regina's abdomen as her son rushes out of the room. Ella, Alice, Margot and Roland quickly usher the younger children out of the room. Sweat drips down Regina's forehead as another stab of pain hits her back. She leans forward, groaning. Her body has ached all day and at first, she thought it was just the flu. Still, her family had been looking forward to this big dinner for months now. She piled makeup onto her face to hide the paleness, plastered on a smile and kept her distance so no one else would get sick.
Now, it's impossible to hold back. Robin rubs her back and while it normally brings her comfort, tonight she gently moves it away. It shouldn't be so hot in here, she adjusted the thermostat before everyone arrived.
Henry appears again with a glass of water and to humor him, Regina accepts it. Just as she goes to take a sip, the glass shakes in her hand as her body receives another surge of discomfort. Robin carefully helps her up, wrapping an arm around her. Henry's hazel eyes are wide with horror.
"What's going on, Robin?"
"I'm fine," Regina attempts to assure him.
"No, Mom, you're not."
Robin shakes his head. "I'm going to take your mom to the emergency room."
Regina stills in place. "That's not necessary. I'm fine, it's probably just the flu."
"It's not the flu. And if it is, it's a bad strain and you should be seen by Whale right away. You're burning up."
Regina's attempts to fight back are feeble against her husband and oldest child. Henry helps her into her peacoat that's been a bit tighter these days. She blames it on the holiday season coming to a close. Normally, Regina would use her magic or even just her words to get two of the most important people in her life off her back. Now, she barely has the strength.
As the passenger door to the Mercedes shuts, Regina hears Henry say something about cleaning up the dinner. Robin is promising to update his step-son as soon as he knows anything. Regina moans, snuggling against the heated seats. She strains to keep her eyes open as Robin speeds towards the hospital. Just a week ago, they celebrate the New Year. Many have already put away their lights but Regina takes comfort in the few houses that are still decked out for Christmas.
It's another half hour in the waiting room before they are finally seen. Robin spent most of it fighting with the receptionist until she finally agreed to page Whale. He got Regina in a wheelchair so she wouldn't have to walk, not that she could even if she wanted to. Her vison is blurry once more and every inch of her is in pain. Her paper gown quickly lines with sweat as she tosses and turns in the uncomfortable hospital bed. Whale goes to work running tests, but even the ever-confident doctor looks perplexed as he reads over one of the results. He rushes out of the room and returns with a doctor Regina doesn't recognize. She has dark brown hair and a serious expression. Alongside of her is a cart. Regina obliges when the female doctor asks her to roll up her shirt. Cool gel brings great contrast to her warm skin. Only a few moments later, a soft heartbeat can be heard.
"At least I'm still alive," she mutters.
"Your Majesty," the doctor says, gently. "My name is Dr. Tessa Shields. I'm an OB/GYN. I specialize in maternal-fetal medicine."
Regina's brows furrow. "I don't need an OB. I have the flu."
"No, Your Majesty, you don't. You have preeclampsia."
Robin's grip on her hand tightens. "What's that?"
Regina shakes her head. "It's something pregnant women have. I'm not pregnant," she slurs.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Dr. Shields corrects. "You are."
"That's…that's impossible."
"I'm afraid it's not."
Dr. Shields turns the monitor to face them. In black and white, there's a fetus. Small, but developed. Regina's mouth drops open as more pain fills her in.
"I…I can't have children. I made sure of that. I've got three grown kids for Christ's sake!" Regina blinks a few times. "I'm a grandmother!"
"That's not something we need to worry about. Your blood pressure is very high and Dr. Whale found protein in your urine. We need to perform an emergency cesarean."
Everyone begins talking at once and over one another. Regina's eyes remain on the monitor as the baby moves around. This is her baby, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.
Robin is pressing a kiss to her head and all Regina can do is stare at their baby until she slowly loses consciousness.
It's a blur of pain, murmurs and wailing. Regina isn't awake when they cut her baby out of her. She barely makes out Robin answering the questions of their family, softly explaining that she needs lots of rest. Everything hurts and the only thing that makes it better, is sleep. Regina indulges, her world becoming dreamless darkness.
When her eyes finally open for good, her mouth is dry again. Robin is quick at her side with a pink plastic cup full of water. It takes about five refills and his help sitting up before she is fuly conscious once more. There's a tug of pain in her arm and she realizes an IV is there. A larger one sits lower on her body, which she assumes is the cesarean.
A soft cry comes across the room and Robin reaches into the bassinet nearby, pulling out a baby that's tightly swaddled in a soft green blanket with a matching hat on its head. He's holding a baby, their baby.
"Is it okay?" she manages to get out.
"She's perfect."
"She." Regina whispers. "We had a daughter."
"We have a daughter. Do you feel up to holding her?"
Regina nods and Robin carefully places the baby onto her chest. She gently strokes the tiny cheek, taking her in. By far, this is one of the smallest babies she ever held. Margot and Henry were chunky. Snow's baby Neal was on the bigger side at birth. This little girl is teeny, eyes barely open.
"Did they say how far along I was?"
"Dr. Shields estimated 36 weeks. The little one is doing great. 5 pounds, 10 ounces, 18 inches. A little on the small side for that gestation but she's had no issues."
Regina nods, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead. A gush of love comes barreling through her. "How long have I been out of it?"
"Two days. Everyone's been by, they send their love. I finally got the kids to leave a bit ago to change, eat, all that fun stuff." Robin caresses her cheek. "They'll be back soon. I'm sure they'll be excited to see those beautiful brown eyes."
Regina partially smiles, staring up at him. "Robin, I swear to you, I had no idea. I haven't had a period in a very long time," there had been some spotting earlier in the year but she thought that was normal. "I was sick awhile back, but thought it was a stomach bug. Weight I blamed on the holidays and such." She frowns. How did she not know? How did it never occur to her? "I didn't even feel her kick! I told you that I took that infertility potion. There was just…no way this should've happened."
"Shhh, shhh, my love," Robin gently traces her lips. "I know. I had Emma do some research. It's rare but sometimes it happens. Given all the magic you used to combine the realms and all of the curses you've gone through, it's possible that a few potions you took might have been counteracted."
Regina nods a little, but she still can't find relief. "Then why didn't I feel her move at all? I mean, you said she's healthy right?" Her fingers trace against the baby's cheek. If anything happened to her, she'd never forgive herself.
"I did, and she is. Dr. Shields says that since you've never been pregnant, you didn't know what to look for. You've complained of cramps and stomachaches."
"I should've gone to the doctor…"
"There was nothing out of the ordinary for you." Robin squeezes her hand. "Without curses and time warps, you're 50. Even a woman who hadn't gone through all of what you had wouldn't think they were pregnant."
"If anything happens to her…"
"Nothing will. She's fine, you're fine."
He kisses her again and Regina sighs, cuddling her daughter closer. Robin resumes stroking her hair.
"It happened again," Regina whispers. "We're parents."
Robin nods. "Diapers, late night feedings…"
"God," she groans. "We're too old for this."
He chuckles. "I admit I thought the same. These past couple of nights, I've been reminded that outside babysitting our grandchildren, I'm a bit out of practice."
"I owe you for being on duty that long."
"I had help from the kids and nurses. And that's not going to end here. You know everyone will be excited to help. Lucy's already talking about babysitting."
"Her aunt is 10 years younger than her," Regina shakes her head. "That just feels wrong."
"Is it really the most messed up part of this family tree?"
Regina has to laugh there. She supposes it's not. The baby fusses a bit and Robin grabs a bottle he's already prepared. Regina wants to try breast feeding but she doesn't even know if that's an option yet, she'll have to speak with a lactation consultant. Taking the bottle from Robin, she feeds her little girl for the first time.
"Have you named her?"
Robin shakes his head. "She's kind of just been "little one" for the time being. Everyone's had opinion."
"Of course they do."
"But she's ours. So, we get the final say."
Regina gazes down at her. "Helena."
"Helena," Robin repeats, tilting his head. "Why Helena?"
"I remember reading it years ago. It means shining light or torch.
"No one else will have a name like it at school," he remarks.
Regina nods. "So…Helena?"
"Helena Mills-Locksley." He pauses. "Helena Nora Mills-Locksley?"
"I like it." Regina removes the bottle so she can burp her newborn daughter. "If she's already causing this much trouble, imagine what she'll be like as a teenager?"
Robin groans, moving closer to his wife. "We are doomed."
