Written for OQ Fix It Week Day 1
When Daniel died, everything happened so fast, Regina didn't register what had happened at first. For a few glorious moments, happiness had been in her reach. Then it was yanked away from her and crushed by her mother's own hand. She had sunk to her knees, clutching Daniel's still warm body and praying he would open his eyes. Realization spread through her, like tea seeping into hot warm. Daniel was dead and nothing-not even True Love's Kiss, could bring him back.
Time slowed almost to a stop when Robin died. She watched as the blue bolt of energy hit him square in the chest and felt as if it had hit her as well. She knew he was dying as he turned around, wanting her to be the last thing he saw. His body then crumpled to the floor at her feet, leaving behind the ethereal form of his soul. Robin reached out for her and her heart shattered in pieces when she realized she would never feel his gentle, warm and tender touch ever again. He faded away as tears poured down her cheeks and the awful emptiness of losing another love took over her body.
She had felt numb throughout the hours immediately following Daniel's death. Then Snow had admitted she had betrayed Regina's trust and anger consumed her, rage fueling her every move for years. Anger came quicker this time as Regina glared at Hades while holding Robin's lifeless body. Zelena's arrival only seconds later added fuel to her fire. She had trusted her sister and was burned yet again. Zelena had chosen to align herself with a god who had a crystal powerful enough to destroy them all and was more than willing to use it rather than her, the sister who kept giving her chance after chance-even hurting Robin in the process. Now he had paid the ultimate price and someone was going to suffer for it.
Hades, naturally, tried to cover his own ass. Regina watched as he tried to convince Zelena that Regina and Robin had attacked him when he tried to keep them from taking the baby from her. That he had had no choice to use the crystal because he loved Zelena and wanted to do what was best for her.
It made Regina sick. But when it appeared to sway Zelena, Regina had ot put her foot down. Even if it meant letting go of Robin.
After lying Robin's limp body back down, Regina rose onto her shaky legs and stared down her sister. Zelena had been denied love for years and didn't recognize true love, unlike her. She had received an overabundance of it in recent years-from Henry, Roland, Mary Margaret and most of all, from Robin. Her voice cracked as she told Zelena what true love was, pointing to Robin's dead body as she spoke of the sacrifice he made for her, all in hopes of getting Zelena to see the truth. Regina didn't care if they shared True Love's Kiss-Hades didn't truly love Zelena if he could lie and manipulate her the way he was doing now.
In the end, though, it worked and Regina realized their new start in the Underworld had been too little, too late. Zelena stood next to HAdes, her voice hard and cold as she addressed Regina. "You're always taking from me. Mother, the life I should've had, Rumple, my victory, my baby...I won't let you take the man I love. This time, dear sister, I win."
"Shall we do this together?" Hades asked, holding out the Olympian crystal.
Zelena smirked as she wrapped her fingers around it, the crystal pulsating bright blue. "Yes, let's. Goodbye, sister."
Regina tried to figure out a way out of the room, but nothing seemed to work. She could use her magic to poof herself and Robin out of the room but then Hades and Zelena would come after her, putting more people she loved in danger. Her magic wouldn't work against a god like Hades. She could try to take out Zelena but he would still hit her with the crystal. It seemed her only choice was to accept her fate and she closed her eyes, waiting for the end. She apologized to Robin, regretting that his sacrifice was coming to nothing, and then to Henry. Emma and the Charmings would take him in and make sure he continued to grow into a good, honorable man. She was certain of that.
"Look at you," Zelena said, scorn clear in her voice. "The great and powerful Evil Queen brought to nothing over the loss of a man. Pathetic."
"We both knew it would come to this. One of us was going to have to kill the other. It appears you get to kill me. So just do it!" Regina yelled, keeping her eyes closed as she waited for the bolt to hit her.
"Regina!" Emma's voice rang out as a blast of cool air hit her face. She opened her eyes to see the Savior standing over Hades and Zelena, both who had been blown back by Emma's magic.
The blonde turned to Regina, a panicked look on her face. "Run, Regina..."
"I can't," she said, looking back at Robin's body. "I can't leave him."
Emma's eyes widened. "Is he...?"
"Dead," Regina said, drowning the word in bitterness as she stepped closer to the two still on the floor. "They killed him."
"Well, I was aiming at you. He just got in the way, noble fool," Hades said, getting to his knees. His eyes locked onto something ahead of him on the floor. "But I'm going to finish the job."
She followed his eyeline to the crystal laying on a foot away from her. Regina lunged for it, grabbing it before Hades could reach it. She held it out, anger coursing through her. "This can kill a god, right?" she asked, seething.
Hades put his hands up in surrender as Zelena crawled closer to him. "Regina, please..."
"No!" Regina shouted. "You don't get to ask me favors, you don't get to plead for anything, Zelena. You made your decision. Now live with the consequences."
A blue bolt shot from the crystal, hitting Hades and Zelena. It engulfed them in a bright light and Regina had to look away, dropping the crystal in the process to help shield her eyes. When the light died down, she opened her eyes and then glanced back to where the two had been. Zelena's body laid sprawled out on the floor beside a pile of dust, a small bluish-white crystal resting among the god's ashes.
"Regina, are you okay?" Emma asked, stepping over Zelena's legs. She rested a hand on Regina's arm.
Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head. "No, I'm not. I've lost Robin and Zelena. I'm alone."
"No, you're not. You still have Henry. And my parents. And me." Emma hugged her awkwardly. "I know what you're going through. But we'll get through it together."
Regina laid her head against Emma's, knowing she should find some humor in the fact that her once sworn enemy was giving her comfort but unable to do so. All she felt was the overwhelming sense of loss-mostly over Robin. He was supposed to be her second chance at love and now it was gone, thanks to a vengeful god and her awful sister.
Perhaps she just wasn't meant for romantic love.
The door burst open and the Charmings stumbled into the room. David held up his sword, looking around the room as he tried to find any threats. Snow, though, pushed past her husband and focused on Regina. "Are you okay?"
As Regina shook her head, Emma awkwardly addressed her mother. "Something bad happened before I got up here..."
"Oh no," Snow breathed, green eyes widening as she took in Robin's body. "How did he...?"
"He took a blast meant for me. Hades shot off that Olympian crystal and not only killed him but oblivated his soul," Regina said bitterly.
Emma frowned. "So even if we went to the Underworld and tried to get him, he wouldn't be there?"
Regina shook her head. "Besides, it's not like going to the Underworld worked for you and Hook."
"True," the other woman agreed, looking downcast. Regina hated that she made Emma recall her own grief but at the moment, she was too tired and emotional to really care to apologize.
David sheathed his sword, touching Zelena and frowning. "Is she dead too?"
Regina nodded. "She chose Hades over me and shared his death when I shot him with the crystal. It was the only way to stop him."
"Of course it was," Snow said, her tone no doubt the one she used when placating an upset student. She came over and took Regina's hands in hers. "I'm sorry, Regina. I know you and Zelena were trying to make a fresh start..."
"Yeah, well, as I said, she made her choice. And it wasn't me." Regina pulled her hands away, trying hard not to break down even in front of the closest thing she had to a family. She reached down a picked up the crystal. "We should probably make sure this doesn't get into the wrong hands."
She stood but her legs grew weak, forcing her to brace herself on her desk. Her head began to swim and everything started to look like she was viewing the world through a fishbowl. Everyone stared at her in concern and when David spoke her name, it echoed. What was going on?"
"Regina!" Snow yelled, looking horrified. Emma slapped Regina's hand and everything snapped back into focus, feeling normal once again.
Confusion filled her as she glanced around the scared faces of the Charming family. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Emma said, voice shaky, "but I think that crystal was pulling your soul from your body. We saw a blue form that looked like you and the light in your eyes dimmed as your body started to sag."
Regina stared at the crystal, once again lying on the floor, as the Charmings talked about how they would remove it. She then glanced over at Robin's body and her heart sped up as her mind formed a plan. He was her soulmate and his soul was gone. Charming's heart was technically gone but he was sharing his wife's heart because they were True Love. Was it then possible for her to split her soul in two and share it with Robin? Could she bring him back to her?
"Regina?" Emma asked, sounding even more concerned. "Regina, what are you thinking?"
"Split my soul," she said, looking right into the Savior's eyes.
Emma blanched and shook her head. "Regina, you can't be serious."
"I am," she replied. "Just like I split your mother's heart, I want you to split my soul. Robin and I are soulmates, right? It should be the same in principle."
"Aren't you the one who is always telling me that when it comes to magic, just because something works in one case, it won't in a similar case?" Emma asked, still looking uncertain.
Those had been Regina's words but she also had told Emma to trust her instincts. And Regina's instincts were telling her that this would work. She just had to believe it would work. "Please, Emma. We have to try."
"Regina, if it doesn't work, you could die," Snow reminded her. "What about Henry?"
Guilt hit her and she had to wonder if this risk was worth him losing his mother. Would he understand? Or would he resent her? Would it affect how he grew up if she left him now?
"I believe this will work," she replied. "And if it doesn't, I know the three of you will take care of Henry. That'll you'll raise him to be a good man."
Tears filled snow's eyes as David wrapped his arm around her. Emma still looked hesitant but nodded. "What do I have to do?"
"Once my soul is out of my body, trust your instinct. It'll help you split my soul." Regina squeezed her hands in reassurance.
She then stood next to Robin's body before bending down to pick up the crystal again. With a deep breath, her fingers closed around it and she started to straighten up.
The fishbowl effect returned but the dizziness passed quickly. She felt light, almost like a balloon floating through the air. Everything was now tinged blue and she heard nothing, even though she saw Emma's and David's lips move. When she glanced down, she saw her body curled up next to Robin's. They were facing each other and almost looked like they were just sleeping.
Regina looked back and silently pleaded with Emma to hurry up. The Savior raised her hands, white magic illuminating them. She felt a warmth spread all over and then a tingling feeling, like she was really excited for something. It grew stronger and stronger before just disappearing. The warmth dissipated almost as instantaneously. She frowned, worried it hadn't worked after all.
The Charmings, though, stared at her in awe. No, she realized, they were staring just left of her. She turned her head and let out a silent gasp. Instead of seeing herself duplicated, she saw the blue outline of Robin's soul. He looked around the room, his eyes widening when he saw her. She reached out and took his hand before glancing down at their bodies. Robin nodded and together they laid back down in their bodies, eyes on each other the entire time.
She felt as if she had just been blasted into a wall and she took a big gulp of air, gasping as she stared at the ceiling. Her entire body tingled as it accepted her soul again and her heart beat wildly. She turned her head, relief flooding through her as Robin's eyes opened and he gasped, also gulping in air.
He turned his head toward her, his voice raspy as he said: "Regina."
"Robin." She let out a sound that was a mixture of a cry and a laugh. Tears wetted her cheeks as she reached out to touch his face, relieved when it felt warm against her palm.
Robin pulled her against him and they started peppering each other's faces as they rose to their knees, resting back on their haunches. They faced each other and he reached out, cupping her cheek as confusion clouded the beautiful blue eyes she thought she would never see again. "What happened? I thought Hades said the crystal would obliterate my soul."
"It did," she said, body trembling as she relived that awful moment. "But since we are soulmates, I was going to split my soul and share it with you…"
"What? That sound incredibly dangerous," he said. He glanced up at the Charmings. "You let her do this?"
Emma held up her hands. "You try telling her no when she puts her mind to something."
Regina cupped his chin, gently guiding his face back toward her. "I guess, though, there was still a part of you in my soul and Emma pulled you out. And here you are."
"Here I am," he echoed, gaze softening as he smiled at her.
Cries pierced the air, reminding them the baby was still in her carrier on the table. Regina wondered how she had slept through everything while Robin jumped up, scooping the little girl up into his arms. He rocked her, soothing her as he said: "It's alright now. Daddy's got you."
Regina stood, heading over to join him. She laid a hand on his arm, smiling down at the baby girl already starting to fall asleep in his arms. Robin kissed Regina's head before saying: "Mummy and Daddy have you."
"Why don't we go home and get her settled?" Regina asked, joy coursing through her. "And we can send for Roland too."
"That sounds wonderful." He turned and paused, no doubt seeing Zelena's body for the first time. Robin held the baby closer as he glanced at Regina, confusion once again in his eyes.
She remained stoic as she took his arm. There would be plenty of time later for her to explain what happened. Now, though, they just needed to leave. "Let's go. Someone will get…her…later."
Emma nodded, promising to send someone as soon as possible, before they all left. Regina felt her steps growing surer as they walked away from her office. That awful episode was behind them and before them was only a brighter future.
Zelena received a small burial. Regina had told Robin he didn't have to go but he insisted on being there for her. Emma was also there with Henry, who also wanted to be there for his mother. Rumpelstiltskin completed their small group and they all watched as Zelena's coffin was lowered into the ground, the witch no longer a thorn in their sides.
Emma then went to visit Hook's grave and Henry joined her for moral support. Rumple left with only a nod in Regina's direction, leaving her to stare at her sister's grave as Robin wrapped his arm around her trembling body.
"You didn't what you had to do," he assured her.
She nodded, leaning against him. "I know."
"Come on. Let's go home." Robin guided her away from Zelena's grave and toward the street.
Before they could reach their car, a surprising sight stopped them. Emma peppered a somehow very much alive Hook's face with kisses as a smiling but clearly comfortable Henry looked on. Regina glanced over at Robin, who let out a wry chuckle. "I guess I'm not the only one around here back from the dead," he said.
"Guess not," she replied, shaking her head. "Let's go see how the pirate managed to do it."
Hook told them that he was granted passage to the other side, to the place of eternal happiness. But he ended up on Mount Olympus instead, where Zeus offered to return him back to life as a reward for getting Emma important information that helped with Hades' defeat.
(That last part made little sense to Regina. Emma had blasted her way into the office but had done little else. Regina had been the one to defeat Hades, fueled by anger and grief—not any information from the pirate).
Robin shook Hook's hand. "Well, I say this deserves a proper welcome home party. Why don't we round everyone up and head to Granny's to celebrate?"
A week later, they were back in Granny's for another celebration. Regina insisted on having a presentation party for Robin's daughter. "After everything she's been through, this little girl deserves a party for when we announce her name," she insisted as she washed the baby girl.
Robin had the good sense not to fight her on it.
So now all of Storybrooke was gathered, crammed into the booths and lounging by the bar as music played in the background. Regina sat at a booth in the back, a bottle in hand as the baby girl in her arms happily guzzled down her dinner. As she rocked the girl, Regina's gaze fell to Robin. He stood across the diner talking with his Merry Men, Roland on his hip as the boy clung to his father. Their trip to the Underworld had made him nervous that his parents would disappear at any time, so she and Robin were trying to assure him it wouldn't happen again—even if it meant sitting out an adventure or two. Joy bubbled up inside her as she remembered the first moment Roland had called her "Mom." They were really becoming a family.
Henry slid across from her, grinning. "You look happy, Mom," he said.
"I am happy," she said, easing the bottle from the baby's mouth and raising her to her shoulder to burp her.
He nodded. "Good. You deserve to be happy."
"And you got the big family you always wanted," she said as the baby let out a big burp. She lowered the girl down, grinning. "That's my girl."
"So, are you finally going to introduce this pretty lass to the rest of us?" Hook asked, arm around Emma's waist as they smiled at Regina. He then raised an eyebrow. "Or are we going to call her 'baby' for the rest of her life?"
Regina shot him a look. "Fine, fine. I'll go get Robin and we'll introduce her since some people are too impatient for their own good."
Hook stepped aside, letting Regina and Henry head over to Robin. She motioned for him to meet her halfway and he obliged, excusing himself from the Merry Men so he could jog over with Roland. He grinned at her. "Is it time?"
"People are apparently getting antsy," she said.
Robin nodded, turning to Roland. "Is it okay if I put you down? Mom and I will be right here."
Uncertainty flickered in his brown eyes as he looked between Regina and Robin before nodding. "Okay. As long as you stay right here."
His feet touched the floor but Roland leaned against Robin's leg as Robin wrapped an arm around Regina's shoulders. Henry clanked a spoon against a glass, drawing everyone's attention as silence filled Granny's diner.
"Regina and I want to thank everyone for coming this afternoon," he said. "Your presence here means a lot to us as we officially become a family by welcoming our littlest member. Her life has certainly been adventurous and hopefully it'll be calmer now. And I can't think of any other place I would want to raise her."
People cheered and clapped as one of Robin's Merry Men let out a piercing whistle (Little John, she suspected). Once they quieted down, Regina held up their baby girl for everyone to see as she said: "We are pleased to introduce Lark Locksley-Mills."
"Aww, man. I lost my bet!" Leroy groaned. "I for sure thought you would go with an 'R' name."
Granny chuckled, holding out her hand. "Pay up. I told you it would be a bird, like her father's name."
Regina's mouth dropped open. "People…people were betting on our daughter's name?"
"Yeah. There was also a pool on what Snow and David would name their kid," Whale said, motioning to the two standing nearby. "No one won that though as none of us thought they'd name him after Neal. I think Granny put it into a savings account for him."
Snow looked stunned too. "Oh. That's…nice."
Henry cleared his throat as he held out his finger so Lark could grab onto it. "So, why did you name her Lark, Robin?"
"Because when I was hiding with her in the woods in the Underworld, her soft coos were the first thing I woke to every morning. It reminded me of the larks that would sing in the morning back in Sherwood," Robin explained, smiling down at his daughter. "And I figured she's also bringing us a brand-new start as a family, so why not name her Lark?"
"It's beautiful," Snow said.
Robin motioned to the baby. "Would you mind holding her for a minute? There's one more thing I want to do."
Confusion filled Regina as Snow took Lark from her arms. She turned to Robin, frowning. "What's going on?"
"Regina," he said, taking her hands in his. "This latest misadventure in the Underworld and then your office has proven to me that everything can change in an instant and that I shouldn't keep putting off things because tomorrow isn't guaranteed."
A lump formed in Regina's throat as her heart sped up. Was he really doing what she thought he was doing?
"I meant it when I said you are my future, Regina, and I want to make that promise to you official today. I know marriage wasn't kind to you the first time around, but I am hoping that you give it a second chance, just like we are each other's second chances." Robin got down on one knee, pulling out a black velvet ring box from his pant pocket. He opened it to reveal a simple square cut diamond set on a platinum band, which was encrusted with crystals. "Regina Mills, will you marry me?"
She felt everyone's eyes on her and it seemed like there was no air in the diner, as if everyone was holding a collective breath as they waited for her answer. Regina looked right into Robin's eyes, seeing the love and adoration he felt for her in them. She knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life looking into them and she slowly nodded before whispering: "I will."
Robin slid the ring on her finger as more cheers echoed around Granny's. Regina heard the older woman proclaim that she was going to get a bottle of champagne—on the house—so they could celebrate properly. But all she wanted to do was kiss Robin. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she closed the gap until her lips were against his. He kissed back, dipping her slightly as her lips parted for him.
He righted her and once they broke the kiss, Roland threw himself into her arms. "We're going to be a family, Mom!" he said.
She chuckled, holding him close. "Yes, we are."
"You were right, Mom," Henry said, wrapping his arm around her. "I did end up with more family than I know what to do with."
Everyone shared a laugh as she rested her forehead against his, Robin's hand on her back. She had never thought she would have such a big family like this but there were many things Robin had brought into her life. And as her ring caught the light, casting a beautiful colored display on the wall, she couldn't wait to see what else he brought into her life.
Used the following suggested prompts: Zelena dies instead/Regina splits her heart and puts half in Robin/Robin realizes life is short and he proposes to Regina/Robin names the baby