Here's the second part, I hope you enjoy!
Mary – Margaret reclined on the sofa while she watched her husband and son play with the Finding Nemo fishing set on the floor of their loft. The toddler still didn't quite grasp the concept of the game, forgoing the usage of the magnetized fishing pole to actually just plucking the fish out of the pond. It was adorable she thought while she sipped on her coffee. Soft Christmas music was playing in the background. It was a rather peaceful morning. She'd sent out her mass text Merry Christmas to her teacher friends earlier that morning and the return texts had recently stopped. David would shake his head every time her phone pinged. She'd grin at him in response and exclaim, "I've got more friends than you – this is easier!"
"Hey babe, it's ten thirty, Emma and Killian should be here soon. Wanna start loading the truck to head over to Regina's?" David said, looking up from Neal.
"Oh yeah, sure. I'll take the smaller presents down and then Killian can help you with the crib while me and Emma direct."
"Oh, you're gonna direct?"
"Mmmhmmm, that's what we're good at," she said, sticking out her tongue for good measure. Mary – Margaret pulled herself off the sofa to pick up Neal. She took him over to the changing table to wipe him down once more and put him on a more appropriate Christmas outfit to continue out the day's activities in. "Did you get all the food cooked and prepped too? I could load that while I'm at it!" She called out to David.
"That'd be great. You want any more of this coffee before I toss it?"
"Nope, go ahead. I'm getting kind of excited for this afternoon." Mary – Margaret carried Neal back out to the sitting area and turned on Robin Hood. She was tired of the Finding Nemo theme for today. Perhaps she could get Neal interested in another movie. Neal stood in front of the tv holding onto is stuffed Nemo, bouncing lightly on his toes as the narrating song came on for Robin Hood. Mary – Margaret thought she could even hear him singing along to the song. She was now confident that her son would occupied while they got ready to head out. David started sliding big box out into the living area. Mary – Margaret loaded the rest of the presents into a box and placed them by the door. She went into the kitchen and stacked the side dishes David prepared into another box. She grabbed the keys and opened the door to find Emma's fist in her face.
"Whoa there!"
"Emma! You startled me! I was just taking these boxes down to the car to so we're not wasting much time getting over to Regina's. Hi Killian."
"Hey Mary – Margaret," Killian responded in greeting.
"Do you need any help?" Emma offered, holding out her arms to accept the boxes from Mary – Margaret.
"That would be great! Maybe we can put the food and presents in your car? And then we can load the crib onto David's truck?" Emma looked to Killian.
"Is that okay with you Kill?" Mary – Margaret eyes went wide as she mouthed 'Kill'? Emma rolled her eyes.
"What? I haven't found a nickname that I like yet, I was just trying it out. No good?"
"No, it sounds like you're commanding a dog to attack someone."
"I'll just uh, go inside and help David while you two lasses figure out what to call me." Killian side – stepped the two ladies and shouted a greeting out to David. Emma held onto the box with the food and Mary – Margaret stooped down to pick up the box of presents.
"So this is what the fuss is all about?" Killian said as he approached David to help him slide the box across the room and over to the door.
"Yep."
"I don't get it. We all know, what's with the secrecy?"
"Regina, she's a, to put it delicately, a private person. She's got a great personality, but she's experienced some hard times in life. They kinda change a person, ya know?"
"Well yeah, who are we as a people without our experiences?"
"Right and well, Regina's experiences have left her a little worse for the wear. She can be a little strong, but when life's knocked you down a couple of times you kind of really have no choice but to come back stronger. I promised Daniel I would look after her and treat her like my second wife and Henry like my own son. Stick around long enough and you can join our crazy cobbled together family too," David finishes his comment just as his wife and Emma re – enter the loft.
"Okay, everything's loaded into Emma's bug. We just need to get Neal and you guys need to carry that down to David's truck."
"Right mate, let's get this downstairs." Killian helped David pull the box across the threshold and to the top of stairs. They coordinated picking up the box and walking it down the stairs and outside to the waiting truck.
"Wait!" Mary – Margaret called out to them. Both men turned to look at her, a little out of breath. "Let me throw a blanket in the bed of the truck so we don't scratch it."
"Mare, it's a box. It's protecting the crib. They're not gonna care if the box is slightly damaged."
"Really David? Have you not met 'Evil Queen' Regina?" Killian mouthed 'Evil Queen' to David. "She is so nervous and wants this to go perfect. She will have a cow if any of this gets ruined. I don't want to have any part of any reason this might not go the way she wants it to. Just hang on a minute while I get the blanket."
"Geez mate. I hope this is the last kid they have – that any of you lot have."
"Not interested in all these shenanigans?"
"Not in the least." David hung his head in a chuckle. Killian just didn't know how having child of your own changed your world. Perhaps one day he would get to experience and David can rag on him and remind him of this exact moment.
True to her word, Mary – Margaret returned with a blanket and Emma and Neal on her heal. She threw the blanket onto the bed of the truck and instructed David and Killian on how to lift and carefully place the box onto the truck. She checked behind David to make sure it was secured before dispersing the group towards their destination on Miflin Street.
The Mills – Hood clan overslept their allotted one hour mid – morning nap. That was perfectly fine with Regina and her squishy. She chuckled at Roland's inadvertent nick name for his younger sibling. At first she was a little hurt by his declaration that she was gaining weight. She knew that happened when one was pregnant but she was still coming to terms that she was actually pregnant. She was in the kitchen basting the turkey Robin had started on earlier in the morning. The kitchen felt warm and filled with smells that had her mouth watering. Breakfast was consumed a mere three hours ago, but hunger pains had come to claim her once more. No one would mind if she made herself a snack. She sliced the apples for her famous apple pie and set them in a pot to boil on the stove before slicing herself another apple and plating it with two tablespoons of peanut butter. And a side of pickles. She turned on the blue tooth speaker in the kitchen so she could listen to some Christmas music while she waited for everyone else to drag themselves out of sleep. She checked the time on the wall. It was around nine thirty. The Nolans and Emma and her boyfriend were supposed to arrive around eleven. Her heart raced a little at the thought. Robin knew she purchased the crib, but he had made no mention of asking where it was and for that she was grateful. Maybe he thought she changed her mind and he was accepting of her decision. The scenarios she imagined were making her nervous. Would Henry and Roland be okay with the new baby seeing as they were all just getting adjusted to this new family dynamic? Would she be able to keep the family running smoothly? How much more money would it cost to raise an additional child. Was it a boy, was it a girl? She had the second ultrasound last week that showed there was only one baby in there, a small worry to get off her mind.
She thought back to her appointment and her request of the ultrasound technologist to print out multiple pictures of the sonogram so she could give them as a gift for Christmas. She felt silly, but it made her happy to finally have a chance to share her happiness, for she truly was happy. It was getting harder with each day that passed to conceal her excitement.
She was dragged from her thoughts by a pair of strong hands kneading into her shoulders.
"Babe, you're so tense!" She hummed in response. Robin's hands were working magic and she felt herself relax into his touch. "What are you doing down here and why didn't you wake me?"
"Oh, I was just checking on the turkey and starting the pie. You looked so peaceful sleeping, didn't wanted to disturb you," she murmured as she rolled her neck around under his hands.
"We are going to have two very cross boys."
"I know, I know. I'm amazed that they're still sleeping myself." She turned to smile up at him. "Shall we wake them? Everyone will be here soon and I want to be done with our presents before we share our news."
"Yep, yeah, we can do that. Are you sure it's our news? It seems more like your news. You haven't exactly kept me in the loop other than those silly shirts you got made for the boys." She softly slapped his chest.
"Of course it's our news! We both made it happen. Don't ask too many questions, just follow my lead."
"Alrighty then, lead the way. Let's go wake up our boys." Robin offered his hands to Regina so she pull herself up. She then took her plate over to the sink and rinsed it off. She cut off the apples, drained them and set them to cool. Regina and Robin headed over to the sofa where their two slumbering boys were starting to wake.
"Mama, daddy you didn't wake us!" Roland whined as he sat up and crossed his arms.
"We are so sorry, but mommy and daddy were really tired and it looks like you guys were too. But now that we're all awake whadya say to opening some presents, hmm?"
"Yay!" Roland exclaimed, clapping his hands. He hopped up from the sofa and ran over to the tree. He picked up a present and stared at the name tag curiously.
"Can you read the name Roland?" Robin prompted his son. Roland scrunched up his face. "What's the first letter?"
"It looks like a H."
"Alright, and whose name here starts with the letter H?" Roland cocked his head to the side to think for a moment before responding.
"I know! Henry!"
"That's right. Do you want to give that present to Henry?" Roland nodded his head and walked the present over to Henry.
"Thanks Ro. I wonder this could be; it's kinda heavy." Henry shook the present a little bit before setting it on his lap and removed the ribbons and bow and tore at the paper. He lifted the cardboard box up out of the paper and peeled the packing tape to open the box. Inside he found a photo album. He looked curiously up and Robin and Regina, "Uh, thanks?" Regina chuckled and pulled the album from Henry's hands.
"Well, I figured the sentiment would be lost on you. It's pictures from our first year as a family, together. I know it's not a very exciting present, but I thought we could work on it together – kinda like scrapbooking but not as girly."
"It's okay mom, just not what I was expecting." Henry said as he flipped through the pages. "It'll be fun to fill it with more photos."
"Okay then, why don't you pick out something to give to Roland?" Henry nodded his head and slid of the sofa to choose a present for Roland. Henry wasn't at all surprised when Roland opened up yet another Robin Hood DVD and a stuffed fox to go with it. They continued opening presents for the rest of the hour until just the few were left for the Nolans and Emma. Regina excused herself to the kitchen to finish up with the turkey and putting together her apple pie. She left her men in the living room playing with their gifts.
"Hey mama we forgot to open these ones!" Roland came trotting into the kitchen carrying gift bags with her special surprise presents in them. She stooped to catch the little boy.
"Oh Roland, please be careful. You can't open these right now. You have to wait for everyone else to get here, okay?" Roland pouted his lips and Regina turned him back around and gave him a light shove towards the living room. "Go see if you can convince Henry to put in a movie, hmm? Something other than Robin Hood, okay? Mommy will be in there in a few minutes." Regina was getting anxious. It was fifteen minutes past eleven. Her stomach was full of knots and was twisting and turning in anticipation. She checked her phone to see if Mary – Margaret or Emma had texted her to let her know they were running late. Nothing. She huffed out in annoyance and tried to take deep breaths to calm herself. She decided to send a quick little text to Mary – Margaret to see what was keeping them.
Where are you guys? I thought I specifically told you to be here at eleven o'clock, no earlier, no later.
No response.
"Oh crap David, Regina just texted me. She wants to know where we are." David chuckled. Regina's neuroticism was going to be the death of them all. He shook his head and patted his wife's leg in an effort to calm her down. Sometimes Regina's neuroticism was contagious.
"Relax Mare, we'll be there in a few more minutes. Christmas won't be ruined just because we're a few minutes behind schedule."
"David, you know how she can get when things don't exactly go to plan."
"I know, I know." Mary – Margaret's phone pinged again. This time there was a text from Emma.
Hey, Regina just txtd me wondering where we are. Would it be cruel to ask her what she's talking about?
Emma! Don't you dare! She'll hunt us down and bleed us out to dry.
Lol, you're so dramatic
And you are not funny
Seeya in a few, goob
A few minutes later David's truck pulled up into Regina's driveway followed by Emma's yellow bug.
"Wait here David while I go let Regina know we're here and ask her how she wants to handle this."
"You mean to tell me she didn't plan this part out?"
"She uh had some ideas. I may or may not have forgotten what they were."
"Really."
"She can be really intimidating when she's trying to drill a timepoint into your head. Just start unloading the box okay?" By this time Emma had rounded over to Mary – Margaret carrying the box of food. Killian came up behind her with the box of presents. They made like a caravan up to Regina's porch. Mary – Margaret carried Neal to use him like a human shield. Surely Regina couldn't be too terribly cross at Mary – Margaret if she was holding her favorite little person. Mary – Margaret timidly rang the doorbell, took a step back and waited. The seconds that passed by felt like an eternity. Finally the door swung open to reveal Robin. He turned his bead back to call to Regina.
"Well, took you long enough to get here. Robin, will you help Killian take these boxes into the house? I have something to discuss with my friends here. We'll only be a moment," Regina ordered as she politely shoved the box Emma had into Robin's hands and motioned Killian to pass in front of her. She pulled the door shut behind her before addressing Emma and Mary – Margaret.
"Are you guys trying to ruin everything?" She yelled at them in a whisper. The two women just stared blankly at Regina. Their stare – off was interrupted by the lift gate on David's truck banging as he dropped it. Regina's focus shifted. "What is he doing? He better not break the crib!" She informed the two women as she stalked off in the direction of David's truck. Emma and Mary – Margaret hurried after her.
"Regina, calm down, he's just preparing to unload it. Why don't you tell us what you want us to do and we'll help you, okay?" Emma grabbed Regina's arm to steady the woman.
"Okay, right, uh, we need to get Killian to help David bring this to the front door. Then I was going to give Roland and Henry their last present. Then I will tell Robin his last present is outside, he'll open the door and see the box and then I will hand out the rest of the presents, got it?" Mary – Margaret and Emma shook their heads.
"Alright then let's head back to the house so Killian can come back out here and we can go inside." Regina walked nervously to the front door with Emma and Mary – Margaret trailing behind. She paused at the door, inhaled and pushed the door open.
"Killian," she said with a sweet smile, "David needs your help with one last thing at the truck."
"Oh yeah, right, I'll be right back." Killian excused himself and exchanged a bewildered look with Emma has he passed her.
"Alright boys, Robin and I have one last gift to give you, how does that sound?" Both boys looked at each other, spreading wide grins on their faces and jumped up from their seated position on the floor. Regina reached behind the tree and gave them each an identical wrapped box. They were puzzled. They shrugged their shoulders and proceeded with unwrapping the boxes and opening them. Roland was the first to pull out the object.
"Aww man, more clothes?" He whined. "I don't need anymore clothes!" Robin and Regina chuckled. By this time Henry had pulled out his matching shirt.
"It's okay Ro, look I got the same thing. We'll be twins."
"That's not all you'll be."
"Whadya mean, mom?"
"What does the shirt say?" Henry turned the shirt around so he could see it.
"It says, 'I'm a big brother' Yeah, I guess I'm Roland's big brother." Regina gave pause, she hadn't thought about that.
"Well, what does Roland's shirt say?"
"It says, um, Henry will you help me?" Henry nodded his head. Henry was helping Roland with his reading by offering to let him read his comic books if he could read the words.
"Okay Roland, you know the first word."
"It says 'I'm."
"Alright and the next one?"
'a big…brother?" He finished, remembering what Henry's shirt said and guessing it must say the same thing. Both boys looked confused.
"Roland can't be a big brother, he has to be the little brother." Regina's face spread into a wide grin as she passed out smaller gift bags to everyone else, including Henry and Roland.
"Okay, boys I have another photo for you to add to your albums that you got this morning. Everyone on the count of three, open! One, two, three!" With a flourish everyone pulled out a picture frame with a grainy black and white photo in it. There were words printed on the photo. Henry was the first to try to read them out.
"Baby Mills – Hood June 2016"
"Mom?" Regina approached Henry and Roland, taking a hand into each of hers.
"This wasn't exactly planned, but what do you guys say to being big brothers?" Henry's face broke out into a grin as he reached forward and gave is mom a hug. Roland still seemed a bit confused.
"I don't understand. Is there a little brother somewhere?" All the adults chuckled. Regina had tears brimming her eyes by this time. She kneeled on the floor in front of Roland and took his hand. She pulled up her flowing shirt and guided his hand to her stomach.
"Remember how you called this squishy, Roland?" He shook his head. "Well, it's squishy because there's a baby in there."
"A baby?"
"Yes," Robin came to squat next to Regina, "This is why you have to extra careful around Regina. We don't want anything to happen to the baby, okay?"
"You're gonna have a squishy like Dori in Nemo?" Henry laughed and ruffled Roland's hair.
"No Roland, mommy's going to have a baby, not a squishy."
"But, we can call it squishy for now. It's a cute nickname, don'tcha think?" Just then a knock came from the door. Regina stood and straightened out her clothes.
"Ahem, and now, for Robin's final present." Robin looked at her, curious as to what else his wife could possibly have gotten him. "Go on, open the door!" Robin walked to the door to find David and Killian holding onto a rather impressive box. Robin stepped outside to see what was printed on the cover. He brought his hand to his mouth to suppress a chuckle and wipe tears that pricked the corners of his eyes. Everyone stepped out onto the porch to watch his reaction.
"The crib, you did buy it. I was wondering what happened to it."
"I know, I know. I'm glad you didn't pester me about it. I know I've been a pain these past few weeks, but I think we're out of the danger time to properly celebrate and prepare for Squishy."
"That sounds like a great idea."
"Now, whadya say we get to lunch? Squishy and I are starving." Everyone laughed and headed back inside. The men helped straighten up the living room area while the women reheated the food and set the table. It wasn't too long before everyone was seated and enjoying their meal. It was a wonderful afternoon. They opened the rest of the presents the Nolans and Emma brought over and sat around the fireplace and tv to watch one of Roland's new movies about a boy and a jungle and all his animal friends.
I'm such a terrible author for not having done this sooner! A special thanks to everyone who reviewed the story. You guys rock!
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