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Regina is given a red tailored suit to change into. The female guard helps her glide the zipper up and she slips the jacket over her growing belly. In a wheelchair, she's wheeled down the corridor slowly making her way through locked gates. Her wrists are cuffed to the chair, her legs and feet are still bandaged, and she still can't put weight to stand on her own. Ten weeks of recovery hasn't been enough to heal the damage Simon inflicted on her.
The country expected a big flashy trial with camera crews, journalists surrounding the courtroom, and it is broadcast on TV. It was all that could be talked about in Camden, California, and the states where Simon Thompson murdered women. The day before the trial was to begin, Regina was called into court.
The cruiser pulled up outside the back entrance to the prison and she was settled into the backseat with blacked-out windows. The car smelled new, but the coffee and pastries filled her with a missed scent. Her stomach rumbled. Her appetite was increasing day by day as the baby grew.
When the car came to a stop, the door was opened, and she was helped into another wheelchair. Cuffed in, she was wheeled into the entrance of an empty hallway. The floors were waxed, the walls were golden brown with white trim. On the walls hung pictures, statues, and room numbers framed by glass.
Behind a door they passed, she could hear a gavel being tapped and an eruption of voices. At the end of the hall, detective Waltz stood in his uniform. "Regina," he said.
It was the first time, he'd called her by her chosen name. "Waltz," she said back.
"We have a surprise for you before your hearing," he smiled. Behind him, Henry stepped forward.
"Mom," he said before nearly jumping in her lap. "Henry," she encircled him and held on tight ignoring the pain of his weight on her legs.
"Are you alright," she asked. He pulled back and her fingers traced over his body to check for any imperfections. "Are you hurt?" She took his face in his hands and kissed his cheeks. "I missed you so much."
Henry looked down at her belly, "I missed you too, you got fat," he said. A laugh bubbled out of her and she released the tears that gathered in her eyes.
She pressed his hand to her belly, "It's the baby," she said. "I know."
They hung onto each other for ten minutes until his foster mother, Pearl arrived. "Henry, I'm sorry to cut this short, but your mom has a hearing. We'll have to wait until she's done before you can spend more time with her."
Regina looked up at the woman, "Are you the woman taking care of him?" Regina was pleased to see a sweet woman with eyes the color of moss and a gentle smile.
"I am. Henry has had some hard times, but I take care of three other boys. We're adjusting," she smiled. "I believe Henry has a visit tomorrow with Mr. Locksley."
"I get to see Robin, mom. I haven't seen him or Roland since they took me," he said. His hands were wrapped around his mothers.
Regina hated that Henry was hurting and that it was surely causing Robin and Roland pain to not have him with them. "You tell them I miss them," she said. "Be good and listen to what you're told. Okay?"
He nodded, "I promise. When is this all over?"
"I don't know, I can't promise you a timeframe, Henry. All I can do is stay strong and I expect you to do the same. I love you," she said.
"I love you, too."
Waltz said, "It's time, Regina. It's all I could get for you right now."
Pearl took Henry's hand, "We've gotta go, honey. It was lovely to meet you, Regina. Good luck."
"Thank you. Henry, I love you." She watched her son walking hand in hand with a sweet woman and knew he'd be okay. But she wasn't so sure about herself.
Waltz wheeled her toward the courtroom, "You wanna fix your makeup? Your eyes are runny," he commented.
"Sure," she said. He wheeled her into the ladies' bathroom after checking if it was vacant.
"I'll wait outside," he said.
Regina looked at herself in the full-length mirror in the entrance. She quickly fixed her eye make-up. She rested her hand on her belly and got a good first look at her changed body. Thinking of Robin, she hoped he wouldn't see her differently. It was vanity, she knew but it worried her. They'd been apart for ten weeks. In that time, her belly was starting to grow. The roundness was already noticeable, her face was puffier to match her fingers and ankles.
Her eyes were different, she mused. They used to be full of fear, but now they were different. Simon's death seemed to have taken the terror away. She wasn't sure she liked the new look. Part stress, part worry, part fear. When she heard a knock on the door, she sighed. "I'm ready."
Waltz opened the door, "Better. You could use some color in those cheeks," he said.
"Really? Are you my personal assistant?" Sarcasm seemed to ebb and flow when she was around him.
He reached down and pinched her cheeks between his fingers. "There. You look ready."
The courtroom was empty except for her lawyer, Waltz, and Valdez who sat behind her and the lawyers who sat to her right. An officer in uniform stood at the front of the room. "All rise for the honorable, J. Knight." Regina felt foolish that she couldn't stand.
The judge was wearing a black robe with his white-collar peeking through his fat neck. He had a chin that drooped over almost covering the white. "Be seated," he said. His voice was soft and to the point.
When the room was settled, he opened the book in front of him. "You may proceed," he told the officer.
The same officer to introduce him pointed at the lawyers to her right after announcing the case. "Your honor, I'm Rebecca Reeves representing the state of Maine, this is Johnathan David representing the state of California, and Greg Rigsby representing the state of Virginia."
Regina's lawyer spoke louder and with more bravado, "Jeremy Mars for the defendant, Sabrina Thompson, your honor."
"Proceed," the judge stated.
Jeremy Mars was a skinny man who looked anxiety-ridden, like he'd drank too many shots of espresso and decided to pace the courtroom. Regina worried that a public defender would only send her to prison for the rest of her life, but he was competent.
"Your honor, detective Waltz and Valdez had undergone extensive investigations, questioning of the defendant, her son, and many others in the states of this case. They've corroborated her story, the story her son gave, and the evidence shows she's reliable and innocent. Therefore, your honor, I'm asking the murder charge and accomplice charges be dropped."
The judge looked at Regina who told herself to meet his gaze and hold it. "Do you have objections?" he said to the other lawyers.
The woman, Rebecca, spoke, "No, your honor. We've been provided the evidence and agree with this verdict."
Regina's eyes went wide, what? She felt Waltz's hand rest on her shoulder. It reminded her to stay calm.
"Counselor's approach," he said. The group of them huddled in front of the judge and she watched in fascination. They were whispering, the judge's cheeks were red, and Jeremy's mouth was going a mile a minute. In this time, her heart was beating like a scared rabbit. Her stomach felt jittery, and her hands couldn't stay still.
After six long minutes, he sent them back to their positions. Judge Knight frowned as he linked his fingers together. "It is the order of this court to expel justice. To uphold the laws and to rightly squash those who would dishonor it. Mrs. Thompson," he said, and she met his gaze.
"It is the order of this court, the state of Maine, California, and Virginia, the charges for 3rd-degree murder, 2nd-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accomplice to commit murder, dismemberment, disposal of a body, and 1st-degree murder be withheld to the full extent of the law if it finds you guilty."
She held her breath. "Given the evidence, your extensive injuries, and the agreement of counselors, I'm granting the motion. All charges will be dropped in containment to murder." Before she could celebrate, he kept going. "However, the remaining charges of identity theft, fraud, and child endangerment are yet to be tried. You will serve in the penitentiary you reside, until or so forth, the hearing for which you will have the opportunity to present your case to a judge."
He picked up his gavel, "This so ordered," he said the date and time, and the three knocks of the gavel echoed in the room. The officer yelled, "All rise," and the judge exited from whence he came.
Jeremy turned to her and held out his hand, "Congratulations, Regina. The next steps are to prepare for the next court date, next month. It should go pretty fast from here on out. You can breathe a little easier."
"Thank you," she managed. Her head spun at the revelation of the murder charges being dropped. A tear slid down her cheek and she let go of the resentment, fear, and humiliation she'd been carrying for so long.
Henry nearly shot out the passenger door, when Pearl pulled up outside of Robin's house. He ran across the grass and opened the door. "Robin! Roland!"
Roland came running down the hall and launched himself in his arms, "Henry, you came back. I knew you would." The boys shared a tearful hug before launching into asking each other what they'd been up to.
Robin heard the chatter before he walked into the room, his foot out of the boot but not fully healed. Henry looked like he'd grown a few inches. When Henry looked at him, he grinned to see the fear had faded. "Come here," he said. Henry launched into his arms and Robin lifted him so he could wrap his arms around him. Damn, it felt good to have him back. Closing his eyes, he hugged him tight.
"I missed you," Henry cried. "I wanted to come sooner," he said.
"I know."
"I saw mom yesterday," he sniffled.
Robin put him on his feet, "You did? How did she look?" Robin felt his heart trip.
"Fat," Henry said.
Robin laughed but he was still stuck on her wellbeing, "Did she look okay?"
Henry nodded, "Yea, she told me to tell you that she misses you and Roland. She's still in a wheelchair. I didn't have time to ask her how she was, but she looked okay. Her legs and feet still had stuff on them."
Robin's heart eased a little, but he missed her like nothing he'd ever felt. "She's fat?" he laughed.
Henry's cheeks turned pink, "I didn't mean the bad way. Her belly is a little big, and her face is pudgy," he said. A tear fell down his cheek, "I only got to see her for ten minutes before court." Robin sympathized with him but envied that he'd gotten to see her.
"I heard about it," he said. "They dropped the charges and she's got another court date soon."
Roland said, "How long can you stay?"
Pearl was standing in the doorway, "Hi, there."
Robin stood to greet her, "I'm sorry, we're being rude."
Pearl smiled, "No, worries. I see you're at home here. If it's alright, I have some errands I need to run." She winked at Henry. "I can pick him up in a little while if that suits."
"Sounds perfect," Robin said. Pearl turned and left them to their visit.
Henry pulled out a picture of him and his mom from before they ran away and handed it to Robin. "I thought you might want this. Mom used to play the piano. The social services lady gave it to me but since you haven't gotten to see her, I thought you could hold onto it."
Robin took the photo and his heart swelled. Love filled him to look at her face. She was sitting with her hands rested on the keys of a grand piano. Her hair was pinned up with curls framing her face. Dressed in a yellow sundress, her feet were bare. The sun was shining through the window illuminating her eyes. She faced the camera with her eyes bright and lively, a slight curve to her lips.
God, she was gorgeous. "Thanks, buddy."
Roland asked, "Can you play?"
"Yea," he said. The boys disappeared down the hall and Robin stared at the picture in his hands.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed a number. On the third ring, he heard a familiar voice. "Detective Valdez."
"Valdez, this is Robin Locksley."
"What can I do for you?"
Staring at the photo in his hands, he said, "I've been patient with the questions, the investigation, and the hearings. I want to put in an official request to visit Regina."
There was a slight pause before Valdez responded. "I can try, but she's not allowed to have any visitors. Judge's orders."
Robin closed his eyes, "She's having my baby, Valdez and I haven't seen her in months. I need to see her before I lose my mind."
"I'll talk to the judge and get back to you," he said.
"I appreciate it."
Valdez hung up and Robin slid the photo in his pocket and walked down the hall to his boys.
Regina fidgeted with the frayed hem of her jumpsuit. The unflattering gray washed her out, she was sure. She pulled the shirt over her belly again, willing it to disappear. It was silly, she knew to be nervous. Robin had seen her naked in more ways than one. But, with her body the way it was, it scared her.
For hours, she'd heard she was granted a visit with him. Two weeks after the murder charges were dropped, the judge had granted her visitation with Robin. Special circumstances due to him being the father of her baby. It baffled her to think about it. Just yesterday, they'd told her the sex of the baby.
The room wasn't cheery, and the bandages on her legs and feet annoyed her. She'd just begun to use the walker to move around. It was painful but she pushed herself a little every day to walk. To try and feel like a normal person again. When she failed, the anger she held for Simon would overtake her.
Other times, she'd try and be patient. To know that soon, she'd be back to her old self. Well, almost. She rested her hands on her belly and closed her eyes. "Okay, little one. We've been through hell, I'll admit. There's still some to face but this life is going to be worth it, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."
Her nervous stomach fluttered under her palms, she smiled. "It's you and me, kid."
Caught up in the moment, she failed to hear the door latch open. Robin got the first glimpse of her through the glass. She looked so damn cute talking to herself, the baby, he corrected. His gaze looked over her face, her hair was shorter. He'd been told Simon cut it. It framed her face, still dark.
Her arms were full of healing wounds. A few Band-Aids were covering the worst of them. Her belly was gorgeously round and covered by her hands. Her legs were covered mostly, but white bandages wrapped around her feet. He noted the wheelchair next to the bed. He wondered how much she used it.
The officer put his key in the latch, "You get an hour," he said.
Robin nodded. The key turned and she looked up into his eyes. When the door swung open, he took a step inside. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he jolted when the door clang shut behind him and the lock turned.
"That feeling never gets easier no matter how many times you leave this cell," she commented. Her voice was clear, sweet, perfect.
"I imagine it would shave a few years off you if you had to feel that day in and day out." Why were they speaking in formalities? Robin wanted to take her into his arms, but he couldn't make himself move. The guilt stuck in his throat.
"I've wondered what I'd say to you when I saw you again," he said.
"Yea?" She removed her hands from her belly and looked at him. His face was a little swollen, he wasn't putting much weight on the foot he broke. "I wondered the same thing. Why are you just standing there?" she asked.
"I'm waiting for you to disappear," he said. "I've imagined being in the same room as you for so long. I lost count how many times I was disappointed when I woke up."
Regina held out a hand, "Why don't you try one more time," she said. Robin looked into her eyes. They weren't full of fear or terror. As he held her eyes, he agreed with Henry. Her face was swollen, her belly round and big. He'd never thought she looked better.
He took slow steps until he could take the hand she offered. When he felt her skin touch his, he felt a shock run through his body. Her fingers tightened on his and he watched tears well up in her eyes. "I missed you," she said.
He linked his fingers with hers but couldn't speak, there was a knot in his throat. Instead, he used his free hand to trace the healing and covered cuts on her arm. He could see the tiny slits all along her skin. There wasn't a place he could look where he didn't see a band-aid, a scab, or a scar. His jaw jumped when she winced. He gentled his fingers.
"Robin, sit down." She scooted over so he could rest next to her. He did, but he continued to look over her. Regina could see that he needed to see what had been done. So, she let him. Though, she wished he would say something. When he met the cloth on her arm, he gently moved her hair aside to get a look at her neck. The bandage was still tightly in place. Simon had peeled a layer of skin along the side of her neck and it was healing slowly.
Robin moved his hands down her other arm just as slowly until he met her hand and squeezed. "I'm so sorry," he finally said. When he met her eyes, she almost gasped. There was a sea of torment storming in there. "I didn't protect you."
"You tried and you nearly died doing it," she protested. "I'd never have forgiven myself, if you'd…"
He put a finger on her lips, "Shh…I'm fine. When I woke up and you were gone, I thought I'd never see you again. Then, I was lying in a hospital bed feeling sorry for myself and they told me they'd found you. Regina." He paused. "The first they told me was that you'd died on the table they found you on. That ripped my heart out." He framed her face with his hand.
Tears fell silently down her cheeks. She knew exactly what happened to her, but she'd instructed them not to tell him everything. It was too much for anyone to carry her burden. She swallowed, "I kept thinking of Henry. The first hour, I was in so much pain, I couldn't think. But, when I went numb, all I could see was Henry. Then, I'd see Roland. His dimpled cheeks and those innocent eyes. I'd see you," she said.
Robin lowered his brow to hers and felt the grief, the guilt was eating at him. "It's my fault. If I'd been paying attention or I'd called the police sooner, you wouldn't have had to endure this. I'll never forgive myself."
"Robin…" he lifted his head to look into her eyes. She took his face in his hands. "This isn't your fault. Simon wanted me and that's what he got. I don't want you blaming yourself because I don't. Do you hear me? It wasn't your fault." She shook him to hammer it into him.
With no words to respond, he leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead, the tip of her nose, over each cheek, and when he reached her lips, he paused. He needed to take a moment. When his mouth lowered to hers, it felt like coming home. She was sweet and soft and the taste of her flooded his system with love. He gathered her close with gentle hands.
The kiss spun out, deepened, and gentled until he was barely pressing his lips to hers. When he lifted his head, he said, "I love you, Regina."
"I love you, too." She took his hand and lifted it to her belly. Robin felt a slight flutter and his heart exploded with love. He lifted her shirt and was relieved to find her skin untouched.
"Henry was right," he commented.
"About what? When did you see him?"
"I've seen him several times in the last couple of weeks." He looked up and said, "You're fat," with a smirk.
The absurdity and abrupt statement made her laugh through her tears. "He said that?"
Robin pressed his lips softly to her belly and hummed and cooed. "He did," he laughed.
"I missed it, Regina. I missed all of it," he said solemnly. He slid her shirt back down and shifted to lie next to her on the bed. "But, I'm glad to see you here, glowing, and alive. It's better than the picture I've been carrying in my head. The things they told me…"
She hushed him, "Let's not talk about that. Hold me." "I will."
They laid like that looking in each other's eyes, sharing slow gentle kisses. "Have they told you the sex?"
Regina grinned, it made his heartache to know that he was leaving soon. "They told me yesterday."
"Are you gonna tell me?" He kissed her nose and sampled her lips again for good measure.
Humming against his lips, she said, "It's a girl."
Robin grinned, "A girl?" Regina nodded. "Yea." They laughed and embraced.
"She's gonna be as pretty as her mama. Those eyes, I hope she has your eyes. Maybe that pouty mouth too. This straight little nose, and the color of your skin." Each declaration, he brushed his lips along them. "Henry will be thrilled. Can I tell him?"
Regina nodded and sobbed into his chest, "I miss him. I wanna go home." Robin held her feeling the same way.
"Soon, you're almost there. The worst is over. God, it's gonna kill me to leave you in here. Hey," he put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his. "I love you and we're waiting for you. I want you to come home with me with you get out of here, Regina. I want you to live with me."
"Robin, I don't have anywhere to go. Even if I did, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else." She kissed him.
He wanted to ask her to marry him, but not in this place. Not like this. This promise was enough for now. With the few remaining minutes, he kissed her like she had never kissed her. He poured himself completely into her until he was dizzy with it. The buzz on the door sounded when he lifted his head. "I love you," he whispered. "A little longer, Regina. Hold on for us. We're waiting."
The officer announced, "Time's up."
Regina hugged him tight, "I love you, too. Tell Henry and Roland I love them."
He kissed her fingers, "I will. Bye sweetheart." As he walked out of the room, he looked at her through the glass. Her lips curved just a little and that was enough for him to carry with him. He could feel her, smell her, feel the baby under his fingers, and knew that when he got his hands on her again, he'd never let go.