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Boxes lined the hallways, the living room, the bedroom, and the storage unit. Regina stood in the kitchen putting her china in a box. Music played softly to the tune of Mozart.

The window was open to the spring breeze. Humidity clung to the air and left the hair on her neck sticky and wet. The heat was drowned out and sucked in by the oscillating fan.

Her feet were bare, her back aching, and her stomach growling. Robin was due anytime with lunch. That time couldn't come soon enough. The song switched and she closed the box she'd filled.

It was their first night in the new house together. It wasn't long ago, she recalled that they were strangers. He'd been an arrogant and sleazy lawyer with a bad reputation. She'd bought it, she thought with a smile.

When she'd gotten to know him, she tried to keep her distance. She wanted to believe that he was in it for the sex, the money. In truth, he cared about his clients. He cared about what happened to them and worked hard to ensure they got help.

She'd seen it the first time she'd given him Emma Swan's file. She saw the way he went out of his way to help her. Regina admitted that she wouldn't have gone that far. Now, she could recognize her selfishness.

Taking a swallow of her iced water, she turned to sit down a minute.

Even if he couldn't provide help himself, Robin worked and used his contacts to ensure they had the best chance of moving forward. It had been the first tip of her heart toward him. Looking back, she couldn't really pinpoint the moment it happened.

The moment she fell in love. It was more gradual, in her estimation. She smiled to herself when she thought of that first kiss. The first time he grabbed her, and that zing traveled down to her toes. He'd ignored her for a week, she remembered.

It wasn't usual, that's for sure. But he slowly broke down her walls. When she thought of that first time, he'd been there for her. He hugged her and held her when she was upset. That was a big tip.

A softening of her heart. It was scary to open it up again after she'd lost Daniel. She promised herself she would be careful. Careful with not letting herself give her feelings so freely.

She just couldn't help it. It wasn't in her control. He simply melted her heart, showed her that he could trust her, and proved it by being there in her darkest moments. She'd shared her fears, her loss, her pain. He'd listened and he'd supported her.

As she continued to wrap dishes in bubble wrap and into boxes, she thought of the last few months. He'd become part of her world. Most of her world, if she was honest. It seemed like from one day to the next, he was there.

At first, he'd initiated their meals, their meetings. Eventually, it just became a norm for them. A routine. Now, months later, she couldn't imagine her life without him in it.

Pressing a hand on her belly, she couldn't imagine her life without the joy he'd brought to her. Love, trust, and family. Without him and Amelia, she was alone. Sure, she had Maggie and David. But that's not the kind of family she always wanted.

It's not the life she wanted to lead. In a few months, she'd be married, in her dream house, and a baby on the way. It was more than she imagined for herself before she'd met him, and he changed her life.

This family she would cherish, she would nurture her and make sure that she knew she was loved. Her daughter would know what real love was. She would be told about her grandfather and the wonderful man he was.

Her daughter would want for nothing. Her father would provide for her and love her like her own had.

As she heard the door open, she smiled and thought, there he is.

He set the food on the table, took her by the waist, and kissed her cheek. He rested his chin on her shoulder, "Hungry?"

"Starved." She turned with a grin on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing," she wrapped around him. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am. How luck this baby is gonna be."

"Oh, well." He eased into a kiss, and said against her lips, "I'm the lucky one. Come on, let's eat."

She washed her hands in the sink and sat to dig into the Chinese he'd picked up. She was thankful to be past the morning sickness phase of her pregnancy. The greasy food she consumed was enjoyable. She rarely felt guilty.

Robin didn't let her eat this way often, so she didn't worry about it. To compensate for the grease, he did pick up a green salad. "How did it go?"

He took a sip of water, "Good. Vicky is confident that she can close the case next week."

"That fast?"

"Yea. Well, given his charges, there's not much we can do. It's out of our hands."

"She's good."

"Have you made a decision?" He watched her.

"Not yet," she said. She'd been cagey and careful not to answer him. Too much had gone into her decision. There were a few too many factors.

"Is it because you're pregnant?"

"Partly," she admitted. "We work so many hours now and I just can't imagine adding a baby and more hours to my plate."

He took her hand, "It's smart to take your time. I hope you don't think I'm pushing you. I just want to know where your head is at. I guess I know." He kissed her fingers.

"I don't feel like your pushing me."

"Good. Look, I know that I promised not to surprise you again for a while, but…"

"What did you do now?" She watched him try to keep a straight face.

"I can't tell you, not yet."

"Robin, you've already given me everything I could hope for."

"Not everything, but I hope that this will show you that I'll give you anything you want. I want to," he said.

"What does that mean?"

He smiled, "Eat your lunch. I'll take you to where we're going."

..

Robin watched her watching him through their meal when she left to change, he made the call.

"Hello?"

"Kat, it's me."

"Where are you?"

"I got hung up. We'll be there in about an hour. Does that work? Will you be ready?"

"We've been ready. I can't wait to see her face."

He couldn't either. "Let's make a bet she'll cry in less than a minute."

"You'll just be stealing my money, hurry up. We're waiting."

"Will do." Regan walked out with her hair brushed, she'd put on a nice dress, and sandals. "You look pretty."

"Gee thanks, let's go."

"Hold on a minute," he stepped to her. "Before we go, I wanted to tell you that I love you." He touched his lips to hers. "I'm so proud to call you mine and I hope that after today, you'll never question that love."

"Are you trying to make me cry?" He saw the tears swimming in those gorgeous brown eyes. "I love you too."

"Let's go."

..

He'd blindfolded her again to her annoyance. The drive was shorter, and she tried to be excited. He'd looked at her with love and she melted. It still didn't stop her from being annoyed with him.

"Ready?" He turned off the engine.

"I hope so," she said. "I really hope so."

"Well, there are a few things you should know about this surprise," he began.

"Okay," she said patiently.

"First, there are a few surprises, not just one."

"Robin…"

"I know," he took her hand and squeezed. "I'm hoping this will be my quota for the next decade, I promise."

"What else should I know?" It was easier to give in than to put up a fight. She wanted to see what it is that he had planned.

"Second," he said kissing her fingers. "The biggest of these surprises is…well you'll see."

"Ugh…" She clenched her jaw.

"Just remember that I love you," he said. "I'll come get you when I'm ready. Crack your window."

She heard the door open and close. Then, she was left alone. For five minutes she tried to be patient. When she felt like it moved to ten, she was starting to get steamed.

At fifteen minutes, she was ready to rip her blindfold off and get out of the heat. Her hair was damp at the base of her neck. It was starting to get too hot and she was too annoyed to care.

When she reached up to take it off, the door opened. "I was ready to pull it off."

"I'm sorry, I had to get set up. Watch your step." He led her forward by the waist. "There are three steps coming up." She was led up the steps and into the door. He guided her through a tiled room until she stepped on plush carpet and he stopped.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

He pulled down the blindfold and she blinked. Zelena was the first person she saw standing in a green dress, her red curls down her back, a smile in place. She wasn't sure what to say.

"Hi, sis." She smiled and offered her hand. "Truce?"

"I…How did you get here?"

She sighed, "Well, an airplane. Duh."

"It's so good to see you," Regina took her into her arms and hugged her tightly. It had been weeks since she'd seen her at their mother's funeral. They'd laid their mother to rest.

It had been a turning point for them. A sort of closure for her. Her mother had always made her feel there was unfinished business between them as sisters. As family.

"Well, what are you doing here?"

"Ask Robin," she smiled sympathetically at him.

She turned and he slid his hand in his pockets, smiled nervously. "Not yet."

Rolling her eyes, she turned to see Maggie come in with a bowl of fruit. "Oh, Regina. It's about time."

"For?"

"Uh…" She glanced at Robin. "Well, this is just ridiculous. You haven't told her?" She asked Robin.

"Nope. I thought he should be the one to do it."

"Robin, he's not exactly…"

"Who isn't?"

"Ask your fiancé," she said and walked off.

"What is going on?"

"Regina," Katherine came in and hugged her. "I'm glad you're here."

"I…" Okay, this was starting to get really annoying. She wasn't sure what was going on. She seemed to be the only person on the outs. "Will you tell me already?"

He motioned for Kat who poked her head in, "Do it."

"Do what?" An ache in her back had her hand massaging the spot.

Kat left the room and came back with Roland who was dressed in a suit and tie. His shoes were shined, and he held a package in his hands. His thick curls fell over his forehead and the dimples in his cheeks twinkles as he smiled. "Hi, Gina."

"Hi, baby," she crouched and hugged him. "This is for you."

"Yea?" She forgot the room and sat on the sofa with him. He sat next to her and swung his little legs back and forth.

"Robin helped me make it," he said. "But you gotta open it after dinner."

"After dinner?"

"Yea, we're having lasagna. The kind you make. Kat and Maggie made it. I hope it's as good as yours."

"I'm sure it's fine." She looked down at the package in her hands.

"I helped make the apple fritters."

"You did?"

"Yes, he did," Henrietta said from the doorway.

"Granny is the best at baking," he said.

"Hey, honey. I missed you." Regina stood and was taken into her arms. The woman who'd been a mother to her when her own had taken off. The woman who she could always count on. Who'd always been there from the time she was a child.

David walked in with a box and said, "Ready?"

Robin shook his head, "Not yet."

Regina stared at him, "What's in it?"

David shrugged, "Not my party, sweetheart." He backed out and around the corner.

"Tell her, Robby," Amelia said. "She's waited long enough."

"I think so too," he said moving toward her. He knelt and took her hand.

"Robin…"

"Just be quiet," he said. He looked nervous and so unlike him.

"Regina, I didn't want to want you. I'd been through something and I wasn't ready to be with someone again. But you blew into my life and knocked me on my ass."

She laughed feeling like she'd just thought that this morning.

"It didn't take long for me to see who you were under the image. The woman with a passion for her work and an even bigger heart. A woman who had been hurt by the world but still had room to love anyway."

"Robin…"

"I'm incredibly lucky to have you, Regina. We've been through a lot in the short time that I've known you. We've been able to support one another, comfort each other in times of trouble and grief."

He reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek. "When I found out you were pregnant, I was panicked. All the stuff with Greta came to me and I just couldn't deal with it. But then I looked at you and it became clear."

"What?" Her heartfelt full and she wasn't sure what he was about to say to her.

"You're what I wanted, Regina. All along, I wanted a woman who could be my partner, who could be my lover, my best friend, and my wife." He kissed her hand.

"Is this a second proposal?"

"No," he laughed. "I've got my ring on your finger. This is much more than asking you to be my wife. This is a promise for our future." He looked at Roland. "You ready?"

He nodded when she looked at him. "Gina, I was sad when I couldn't stay with you. Kat takes care of me, but I missed you."

Tears filled her eyes, "I know, baby. Me too."

"But I still got to see you, so I was happy to see you. Robin was fun to hang out with at Christmas. And when we go to the comic bookstore and the movies, it's fun."

"Wait," she turned to Robin. "You've been taking him out? Since when?"

"Since we got back from London," he admitted. "Go ahead Roland. Tell her."

She met his big brown eyes, "I wanna come live with you." Her heart went into her throat. A knot lodged there. "Robin told me a judge said I could. Kat said it's okay. So, can I?"

She was speechless, she looked at Robin. He wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb. "I don't understand."

"I've been meeting with a therapist, I met with a social worker. I had a hearing with the judge. Kat and I have been in contact with your caseworker. I've been granted temporary guardianship. For 45 days, he'll stay with us."

"What?"

"If we get the paperwork in, and we'll do it soon, we'll file the adoption papers within six months."

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks; her lips trembled. "But they said that I couldn't."

"I know," he said rubbing her shaking hands. "That was before you had a family. You were on your own, Regina. You have me, and mum. You have your sister. You have Maggie and David as you always have."

He took the package Roland held and handed it to her. "Open it."

With shaking hands, she ripped the paper away and stared at a photo album. There were tons of pictures inside of her and Robin starting from when they first went out on a date to the New Year party in London. Another of Amelia and them at Christmas.

Pictures of Maggie, David, and Regina over the years. Henrietta, Ruby, and Regina at family dinners. A few of Zelena and she over the years starting from childhood.

Pictures of her and Roland with Kat. He'd added pictures of himself and his family.

A picture of Robin, her and Roland with Santa in the toy store. The last slot was empty. "We can add our baby girl. It'll complete our family."

She swallowed, looked over at Kat. "You agreed to this?"

She was crying silently, "Yes. He's always belonged to you. I'll be here, Regina. You have me. I'm always gonna be here."

"I don't know what to say," she said. Looking at Roland, she smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too, mama." The dam broke and she sobbed taking him into her arms. "I'll be a good boy, I promise."

"I know, baby." She looked at him, "We'll have a lot of fun and you'll be an amazing big brother."

Tears fell down his little cheeks, "Does that mean I can come live with you?"

"Yes, it does." Robin smiled. "We're gonna be a family, bud."

If that wasn't enough emotion, Regina silently wept when Roland asked Robin if he could call him papa. Before she could turn and thank Robin, Amelia came forward to meet her grandson.

Then she was whisked away by Maggie and David. "We got you a little housewarming present," she announced.

David put the box down on the floor. "It's sort of for Roland, but well, I figured you'll go nuts over them."

"Them?" She looked down and frowned when she saw the box move and whimpers came from inside. "What on earth?"

She lifted the lids and two puppy heads popped out with big dog grins. Their coats were golden honey and shiny. Their eyes were golden brown and they each had a bow around their necks. One pink and one blue.

"Are you serious?" She looked up at them amazed.

"Robin said you always wanted a dog. We figured you would have room for a dozen in that house. This duo should do for now."

"Oh, thank you." She hugged them both before turning her attention to the puppies scrambling to get out of the box.

"Oh, no you don't," David said closing the box. "I'll take them to the house. Get them set up."

She walked in the living room of Kat's house overwhelmed and full of love in her heart. All her favorite people. The people who had been in her life, the ones she was welcomed into. It was her family.

A family made on trust and love. She couldn't have been happier than she was at that moment.

..

Later, when Roland was tucked in his new superhero bed, a nightlight of the hulk glowing in the room, and the puppies dozing by the fire, she lay with Robin on the couch.

The new plush blue couch filled with ten pillows that he hated. How many damn pillows did a woman need? He was content to sit here after such a day.

She was laying across his lap, his hand on her belly. "I don't think I've ever been this happy," she said sleepily.

"Me neither," he said kissing the top of her head. "I think we've got ourselves a great start to this family. I say after our girl is born; we work on another."

"You're joking. I'll need a year before I even think about having another one."

"I say we wait and see how we do with this one. I don't know how to take care of a baby, but I'll figure it out."

Her lips curved, "We will."

They lay in silence and listened to the snap of the fire in the hearth, the wind outside. Robin softly moved his hand over her belly in soft strokes. Then, his hand stilled.

"Did I just feel her move?"

"Yea," she laughed.

"She's been kicking, and you didn't tell me?"

"I felt her for the first time this morning, it was a little busy for me to tell you."

He kept his hand there until he felt it again. "Wow."

"Yea, wow."

He leaned over and captured her lips with his in a hard-long kiss. "I love you, Regina."

"I love you too," she said against his lips.

"You know," he said linking their fingers together, "We have Gold to thank."

"For what?"

"We never would've met if he hadn't hired me. We never would've started this crazy journey with out all that mixer madness."

THE END.

I want to thank every person who read my story. It means a lot to me that you'd take the time to do so. It means a lot that you stuck with me through it. Thank you. 😊