The show might be over, but we still have stories to tell!

High pitched screams broke through low on the baby monitor.

"Regina."

Silence.

"Regina?" Still silence. "Alright, I'll go get 'em, but you still have to wake up to feed him." Robin sighed as he swung his feet over the side of the bed. He knew it was a bad idea to put Nathaniel in his own room two weeks after his birth. He actually found it quite odd Regina had even suggested it. He also knew it was a bad idea to turn down the volume on the baby monitor for Regina's afternoon nap that actually turned into an eight – hour sleep cycle. She was tired but the fact she was breast feeding and hadn't managed to start pumping made it difficult for him to help her out in letting her get some rest when the only time their young son woke was to either be fed or changed. Other than that he was turning out to be a good baby. Robin pulled on his robe and padded down the hall to the nursery. He entered the room and walked over to the crib to see his son had somehow managed to wiggle himself free from the swaddler and his little arms were flailing as he every once in a while managed to get a fist into his mouth.

"Hey there little man," Robin cooed. "What's got you all worked up? Hmm? Are you hungry? Mommy's still sleeping." He picked up Nathaniel and cradled him close to his chest. The baby relaxed in his father's arm for a few moments before fussing yet again, wriggling his head from side to side, searching.

"Oh, sorry love, I'm afraid daddy doesn't quite have what you want." Robin rubbed soothing circles on his son's back as he took to the hall towards the master bedroom. He cringed when he saw Henry's door had been left ajar and silently prayed his son's wails wouldn't wake the almost teenager. That was no fun. It wasn't a great adjustment for Henry and Roland. They still demanded Regina's attention, wanting to tell her all about their day at summer camp. The different field trips that went on, the friends they were making, the different arts and crafts projects that needed to be placed on the fridge. Nathaniel's cries had quieted some as Robin pushed the door to the bedroom open. Regina was still cocooned under the covers.

"Alright son, what do you think the best way to wake mommy would be? Hmm?" Robin thought for a moment. He didn't want to startle his slumbering wife who was clearly in need of rest, but he also didn't want her grumpy at being woken up. He decided the best he could do would be to climb into bed with the baby and set him close to her face. He tried calling her name once more, nudging her shoulder.

"Regina, Nathaniel's up." This time she rocked a little, letting out a small groan. Robin waited patiently to see if she would rouse. He waited a few more hushed moments before his son started fussing again, being so close to his mother, to her breast, but not being sated. It didn't take long for his fussing to turn into small cries. Regina shifted in her sleep, this time reaching out to smack Robin.

"Robin, the baby's up. Will you get him for me?" She managed to slur out with her eyes closed. Robin chuckled and pulled his son close to his face so he could half – whisper into his ear.

"Mommy's silly. She doesn't realize how close you are." Regina's eyes popped open and she abruptly sat up.

"Oh my god, Robin! How long has he been up? Was he crying? How long have you been sitting here with him?" She fired out question after question as she reached for Nathaniel while undoing her nursing bra. Nathaniel's cries seemed to increase in volume at the realization he was near his mother and more specifically her breast. His mouth opened and closed like a little bird and he sniffed at the air, moving his head side to side. She adjusted him into the crook of her arm, holding her breast so he could latch.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry baby boy. Momma's so tired." She sighed, rubbing her forehead with her free hand. She relaxed back into the pillows, closing her eyes for a brief moment. All Robin could do was stare, wishing there was something more he could do. He reached out to brush a piece of hair that fell into his wife's face. She clasped his hand and held it to her cheek.

"Thanks. Sorry I didn't hear him," she sighed. Robin withdrew his hand. "Don't," she cautioned. Apparently she was awake enough to head off the argument they had during the previous morning's four AM feeding.

"Will you please just reconsider? We're not bad parents for letting him co-sleep if that's what he needs." Robin couldn't help himself. Co-sleeping was a source of contention between him and Regina. Unfortunately it wasn't a topic they touched upon in their marriage counseling sessions with Dr. Hopper.

"Robin, I said not now." Regina sighed and turned her head to face her husband. She was tired, too tired to fight about co-sleeping at two AM. She hears Robin take a big inhale. And now for the other question. "I would think very carefully about what you're going to say next," she warned as she detached Nathaniel from one breast and switched him to the other.

"I'm just saying, she's offered to come and you're not getting any rest. I think you and Nathaniel have bonded wonderfully. Can you meet me half – way here? Please? I'm going back to work soon. If we're going to do this I would feel better about developing a routine with her here." Regina tolled her head to the side and eyed her husband.

"We're not first – time parents," she argued.

"Well, no, we're not, but we are first – time parents together with a baby. We each have our own parenting style and we've already started down our own paths with them. We've compromised a lot with the two of them because of that. With Nathaniel, this is completely new. We can leave him with Zelena for an hour and go sit with Dr. Hopper. And maybe Zelena can help us figure out a good routine with Nathaniel since you don't want to co-sleep. Speaking of, why don't we just move the bassinet back in here? He won't be sleeping in the bed with us, but he'll be close by, you're bound to hear him."

"Oh, are you throwing that barb in there?" Robin put his hands up in defense.

"No, I'm just saying we shouldn't make things harder on ourselves if we don't need to. Either you call her in the morning or I will, but I think now is a good time to have her here."

Regina could hear the seriousness in his voice. She wasn't sure why he was fighting so hard for this. She is a good mother. She wants Nathaniel to self – soothe, to be able to sleep through the night. She wants as little disruption in their day to day life as possible. She wants to shower attention on Henry and Roland. She also wants to sleep. And then some days she wishes she was assigned to an account so she could start back editing. She'd been going stir crazy since being on maternity leave and she was at her wits end. Maybe Robin was right. Maybe having Zelena around now would be good for them. She could ease into this, having an infant, a six year old, and a soon to be twelve year old. All those different ages required different things and it was frustrating her trying to figure out how to provide for her family. And Robin. He was being such a saint and they hadn't really had time for themselves. It was always spent on the early morning feedings which more often than not, involved them fighting over things like co-sleeping and when Zelena should come to help. She closed her eyes and heaved out a sigh.

"Alright."

"Alright?" Regina sighed, dropping her arm to pass Nathaniel to Robin so he could burp him while she closed up her maternity bra.

"Pull the bassinet back in here and I'll give Zelena a call once I get up and moving around. Does that please you?"

Robin momentarily stopped rubbing his son's back before resuming his ministrations.

"Regina, I'm not doing this for pleasure. I'm doing this out of concern for everyone's well – being, alright? Please trust me when I say that. Now, take him while I get the bassinet."

Regina's eyes went wide as she accepted Nathaniel from Robin. She couldn't really understand why this was such a source of contention for the two of them. She wanted to sleep train Nathaniel to get him on a schedule. They have three kids to take care of and couldn't give Nathaniel as much attention as they had to their respective firstborn, no matter how much she wanted to. Getting her husband to understand that was turning into quite the task.

She was still a little bit sore from her delivery and sometimes moving too fast caused her a little discomfort. Truth be told, she wasn't as thrilled with having her sister come and stay as she was when Zelena first made her proposal. Her lips turned into a frown. Robin disappeared from the room and she rocked Nathaniel from side to side. She pulled his small frame close to her, her cheek pressing close to his, inhaling his scent. Her lip troubled, threatening to spill forth a sadness that settled onto her heart. She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as Robin wheeled the bassinet back into their room.

"Do you want it on your side of the bed or mine?"

"Hmm? I suppose my side so I can reach him."

"Yeah, okay." A few moments passed while he maneuvered the basinet by his wife's side of the bed. "Is this okay?" He asked her. She nodded her head. "Is he asleep?" He asked as he came to sit by his wife's side of the bed, peeking over to see his son's eyelids fluttering.

"I think so. Where's his swaddler?" She responded, looking down, slowing her rocking motions.

"Oh, uh, must be back in the crib. Why don't I go change him? You can get some more sleep. I'll bring him back." She nodded her head.

"Will you get me some more water? My bottle's empty," she titled her head towards the night stand.

"Yep sure. Whadya say Nat? We'll go change your diaper and get mommy some water so she can keep making you milk. And you can continue hogging the boobs." Robin cooed out to his son who squirmed in his arms. Regina chuckled at the pair.

"Right. I'm gonna pee," she continued on as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Slowly she pushed herself up. Robin reached out a hand to help steady her on her feet.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yep. Just the soreness one has after pushing a watermelon out their vagina."

"Well, if it was only seven pounds and five ounces of watermelon, I need to return it. I kinda want my money back," Robin joked. He wanted to bring a smile to her face. He missed their banter.

"Sorry, it took ten months to grow that watermelon. It isn't going back. Besides, I thought you were kind of fond."

"Oh, mi'lady, don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the watermelon. Tis a shame I can't quite eat it." She smiled a genuine smile and wiped the tears spilling onto her cheeks. Robin didn't think his joke was that funny she was in tears.

"Alright, alright, cut it out before I pee myself. Lord knows I'm still leaking in places."

"Alright lass, we'll return shortly." Robin spoke as he placed a kiss to her temple.

"And don't forget my water," she reminded him as she flicked the light on.

It was ten in the morning and Nathaniel's third feeding for the day. And she was exhausted. Robin made them all breakfast and they actually got to sit around the table like a somewhat normal family one sees in the shows from the 1950s. Now, however she was currently seated cross – legged on the sofa in the den with the television on mute. Phone in one hand, Nathaniel supported in the other as he suckled her breast. All she had to do was press send. And she had to do it now, while Robin was out of the house. He offered to go to the store so she could have some privacy while she phoned her sister. She took a big inhale, counting to ten, exhaling the breath.

"Alright Nathaniel, here goes nothing." She pressed the button and listened to the ring. She didn't know why she was so nervous. They had all agreed Zelena would come and help out with the baby. It's not as if Regina was incapable of caring for her child by admitting she needed help. A little help, that's all this was. Someone to help do laundry, maybe some cooking and cleaning. Someone to watch Nathaniel for a little bit while she rested. Or went for a walk around the block to get some fresh air.

"Hello?" Startled with the voice that suddenly came on the line, Regina almost dropped the phone.

"Hello? Regina is that you?" Nathaniel chose that moment to be done with the first breast, but his fussing whimpers indicated he was still hungry. Regina looked down in her arms and contemplated the best way to maneuver her son to her other breast while managing to talk to Zelena on the phone.

"Uh, yeah, hang on a sec." Regina placed the phone down so she could switch Nathaniel. He quickly latched on and settled, his eyes closing.

"Oh my goodness! You had the baby! Is it a boy or a girl? What's its name? How much did it weigh?" Zelena ticked off her questions. Regina almost forgot that they haven't sent out formal birth announcements, wanting to enjoy having Nathaniel to themselves before people started coming over to the house and taking him from her.

"Uh, yeah, he was born two weeks ago, weighing at seven pounds, five ounces and twenty – two inches long."

"Two weeks ago?!" Zelena practically screeched into the phone. "Why didn't you phone sooner?" Regina shrugged her shoulders, momentarily forgetting her sister couldn't actually see her shrugging her shoulders. The front door opened and she heard Robin's footsteps in the foyer. Suddenly panic gripped at her heart and she could feel her eyes start to well. She willed Robin to come up the steps and into the den so he could take the phone from her. Suddenly she felt like a terrible sister for not letting Zelena know her nephew had arrived.

"Regina? Hello? Are you still there?" Luck would have it that Robin did decide to stop off in the den first. She reached the phone out to him and mouthed, "Zelena." He took the phone and nodded his head in understanding while Regina detached Nathaniel and adjusted him on her shoulder so she could burp him.

"Hey Zelena?"

"Robin? Where's Regina? I was just speaking with her."

"Oh, uh, well, she's just finishing nursing Nathaniel."

"It's a boy? You guys had another boy?"

"Yeah."

"Well why didn't you guys call sooner? I need time to rearrange my schedule. How long did you want me to stay?"

"Um, let me…"

"You do still want me to come, right?"

"What? Oh, yes! We do! That's why Regina was calling."

"Oh, okay. So how long did you want me to stay?" Robin tilted the mouthpiece from the phone down away from his face to mouth the question to Regina. She had placed Nathaniel on his back on the sofa. Her knees were drawn close to her chest and she bit nervously on her fingernails. She shrugged her shoulders. Robin rolled his eyes. He tilted the phone back up.

"How does three weeks sound?" Regina's eyes went wide and she her head vehemently. "Sorry, sorry that was wrong. Um," he tilted the phone down again and mouthed, "two?" As he held up two fingers. Regina nodded her head in agreement. "Okay, two weeks."

"Alright, I can do two weeks. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until this weekend. This is such short notice."

"I understand. That's perfectly fine. Will you be okay to get here or do I need to come pick you up?"

"I wouldn't want to put you out."

"Oh, nonsense, you are doing us a very big favor."

"Great, I'll see about flights and all that and let you know. Can I speak back with Regina?" Robin sighed. His wife looked on with curious eyes. He tipped the phone in her direction. She shook her head no.

"Sorry, she's busy with Nathaniel right now."

"Oh, alright. Give her my love and uh, Nathaniel, did you say?"

"That's right, Nathaniel."

"Right, give them both my love and tell them I'll see them soon." Zelena ended the phone call and Robin dropped the phone from his ear, taking a seat on the other side of his newborn son. The baby's eyes were open and seemingly alert as he wriggled around on top of the blanket Regina had spread out on the sofa. He kicked his little feet and she grabbed onto one absentmindedly, fiddling with it as she and her husband sat in silence.

"Well, hard part's over," Robin spoke.

"Hmm?" Regina turned her head in her husband's direction.

"I said, the hard part's over. Calling Zelena?"

"Oh, yes."

"So, where should we put her?"

"Oh, um, guess we hadn't really thought that part through, have we?"

"Well, it's alright. Maybe we can go out and buy a full bed and fix up my office a bit."

"Your office?" her eyes went wide with surprise. "But it's your office! We can put her here on the pull – out sofa." Robin reached out to grasp her hand.

"No, love, it's alright. I don't need that much space and any work I need to do, I can do in your office, or our bed or the kitchen. Heck, I can even drag the laptop out to the back deck and catch some sun. It's only for two weeks."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I'm sure. Now, I'll go rearrange the office a bit, see where we can put some stuff."

"Oh, right now?"

"Now's as good a time as any and we don't really have much time before she gets here."

"I know, but does it have to be right this moment? I was hoping to grab a shower and I need you to watch Nathaniel."

"Oh, well I don't see why we can't put him down in the pack 'n' play. He can stay out here. I'll be able to hear him if he gets fussy. He's due for a mid – morning nap soon."

"Now you want to leave him alone while he sleeps?" She asked incredulously.

"It's just for a little while love, while you take a shower. And maybe you can lie down for a nap as well? I'll take care of everything down here and if you're not done when I'm done, I'll take Nathaniel with me to the department store to see about getting a bed delivered. How does that sound?"

"You want to take our two – week old newborn baby out of this house? Are you crazy?! Who knows what germs he might pick up! And the people that will want to touch him and give him their germs!" Robin grasped Regina's flailing arms and pulled her closed to him. He stroked her back, shushing her.

"Relax love, I won't let anyone touch him. I promise we won't be gone for more than an hour and this is only if you take me up on the offer of letting you have an uninterrupted nap." Regina wrested her arms out of Robin's hands, wrapping them around her body as she stole a glance at Nathaniel staring up at the ceiling from his position on the sofa. His offer seemed great, a shower and a nap without having to worry about Nathaniel, but then she would worry while they were out of the house without her. He hasn't been away from her since she delivered two weeks ago and as much as she desperately wanted what her husband was offering she didn't think she could actually bear to be too far away from him.

"No, you just stay here with him. I'll shower while you get as much done as you can straightening up your office. We can lie down together upstairs."

"But love – " Regina held up her hand.

"No, I'm not ready for him to go outside and be accosted. Now, I'm going upstairs for a shower. I'll take a nice long hot one. That's sure to make me feel like a new woman. I'll dress, come get him and if he's asleep I'll nap while he's napping, otherwise I can continue straightening up your office while you head out to pick out a bed. And text me a picture before you make a final purchase, alright?" Robin nodded his head. He had no choice but to agree with her wishes. She headed towards the stairs while he picked up Nathaniel in one arm and grabbed the pack 'n' play in the other and headed down the hall towards his office. She stared after them before ascending the stairs to her bedroom.

"Well, Little Man, looks like your momma isn't as ready to let you out of her sight as she would have us believe. She's being a strange bird, huh?" Robin talked to his son as he settled him down in the pack 'n' play. "Let's see, we can shove the desk closer to the wall, yeah?" Robin gave his desk a shove towards the back wall of the office, partially covering the room's window with the billowing curtains Regina painstakingly picked out when she redecorated the room as a gift to Robin. Nathaniel let out a few little gurgles, his arms and legs moving disjointedly. "There we go, now, let's see, what else? Hmm? Maybe we can stack some of these files in the closet? Or do you think Zelena will want to use some of the closet space?" Nathaniel fussed a little, probably passing gas Robin surmised, making the newborn's face scrunch in disgust. "Ha ha, okay, I get it. I should properly file these away." Robin scooped up the files he had stacked in various places around the room and filed them away in drawers in the filing cabinet positioned underneath his cherrywood desk. Robin spent more time clearing the various pens and pencils and sketches he had strewn across his desk, sitting himself down going through the pages. He stopped on a sketch he'd made of Regina from memory during the first few hours of Nathaniel's life. She had a curious expression on her face. A mix of awe, wonder, maybe disbelief. Her mouth was parted in a slight 'oh' as she brought her son to her chest. A gentle finger caressing his cheek. He remembered her first few words she uttered in greeting, they burned in his memory because they seemed so full of emotion, so unlike his wife and he couldn't believe something they created could bring forth such feelings from deep inside her. He wanted to hold that image forever, for him, for her, and for Nathaniel.

He picked up the charcoal pencils Regina had gifted him when she stumbled upon his portfolio when she helped him move into her house. He smiled at the thought. Stealing a glance over at Nathaniel on the pack 'n' play, Robin decided to finish the sketch so he could gift it to Regina. Maybe it would put a smile on her face, something he's missed seeing ever since Nathaniel's birth. She's been exhausted since they've come home and no matter what he tries, how hard he tries to help her, it seems he can't do anything right. This, however, he can do. She admired his sketches, was so taken with his ability to capture nature on canvas. It was due to her encouragement he even ventured towards portraiture and she was his muse. Now his muse was his son with her and her, for not only giving birth to his son, but giving him a new life with her and Henry and Roland. Glancing towards his son, Nathaniel's eye were closed, his belly rising and falling with each inhale and exhale he took, a soft serenity graced the infant's features that were changing each day and that Robin and Regina were learning and relearning each day.

She's not sure how long she was in the shower but the warmth of the water cascading down her body along with the lavender soap Mary – Margaret bought for her in a 'Mommy Spa Day' kit for after the birth was slowly stripping away the grime of the past two weeks. For the past two weeks her life consisted of nursing, short naps, laundering spit – up covered clothes and scrounging up enough energy for Robin, Henry and Roland and then at the end of the day the briefest of showers so she could get more than a few hours of sleep while she and Robin traded off tending to Nathaniel throughout the night. It was taxing on her body, her mind. It was all so unexpected. Never in a million years would she have imagined herself in this position, thirty – six years old, remarried and with newborn. She more imagined after Daniel's death she would focus all her energy on Henry and making sure Henry knew how much his father loved him. And now, she found herself struggling to love Nathaniel. The shock of learning the little girl she mentally prepared herself for, carrying around for ten months turning out to be another son hadn't quite worn off. She wasn't sure if she felt relief or failure for depriving Robin of his Daddy's girl. Although, he seemed perfectly smitten with Nathaniel and she hated herself even more for thinking these thoughts and how she couldn't stop herself from thinking all these thoughts, spiraling one after the other, bombarding her, overwhelming her, making her unable to resist their seemingly hypnotic pull into the same dark place she found herself years ago after Daniel's death, after her miscarriage. That scared her. Made her feel weak.

She sniffled trying to stop the tears before her face became puffy and red. The water turned cold and she exited the shower, grabbing the towel she sat on the toilet lid. Wrapping the towel around her body, she reveled briefly in the warmth it offered, feeling refreshed and better equipped to handle the rest of the day. There was a bottle of lemon – vanilla scented lotion in the spa kit and she decided maybe it would be a nice refreshing change from her apple scented brand. After she spends a few moments slathering on the lotion, she steps into the bedroom, sauntering over to the full – length mirror in the corner. Allowing the towel to fall and pool at her feet, she stares at her body, her eyes lingering over her still slightly swollen belly, reaching for the stretch mark cream she begins massaging the cream, concentrating on the marks, willing them to disappear with each pass she makes. For a few minutes more she stands, repeating the motions until she hears the soft sighs of her son coming from the study downstairs. Walking over to the dresser she pulls out a pair of her compression pants and one of her maternity tops that would hide her belly and allow for easy access to breastfeed.

"Hey," she greets Robin, reaching for Nathaniel before his cries got too loud. It is always a little more difficult to calm a crying baby than a fussy baby. Robin looks up from his work, smiling sheepishly.

"Hey, did you enjoy your shower?" He asks as she settles herself in the chair across from him.

"Mmm, I did. I feel like a new woman. Thanks for watching him."

"Don't be silly, he's my kid too. I am perfectly capable of spending time with him while you take a shower. Or go take one of those yoga classes you love so much. Or even go out for dinner with Emma and Mary – Margaret. He's not a burden, love."

"I know," Regina responds, bringing Nathaniel close enough to smell his hair. She loved the new baby smell and she wanted to enjoy it before it faded away. "How was he?"

"He was fine. I was able to put away most of my files and move the desk over. Unfortunately I think Zelena may have to settle for a twin bed for the duration of her stay." Regina stood and made her way around Robin's desk to peer over his shoulder.

"Oh, I think she'll be fine. What are you working on?"

"Oh, it's a surprise."

"Hmmm, picking back up on portraiture?"

"Yeah, I was feeling inspired."

"Is, is this me?"

"Yeah, you're my muse."

"Oh, Robin," she gasped, tears spilling down her face.

"Oh hey, love, don't do that. I wanted to make you smile, not cry." He stood and pulled her into his arms as much as he could with Nathaniel in between them. She nodded into his chest as she gripped him close.

"I know, I'm sorry. I think my hormones are still trying to sort themselves out," she stated, swallowing her tears.

"Alright, alright, it's okay, if it helps to cry, just let it all out, okay? I'm here." They stood for a few minutes more, Regina's body shaking with her cries and then they dried up. She pulled away from him, bringing her free hand up to grasp his cheek. She rose onto her toes and he met her halfway. It was a chaste kiss, but it was the only way she knew how to express her thanks to him being there for her.

"Now then, you're done with your shower and I'm all finished with sorting things out down here. I can head out to the department store and pick out a bed and some bedding – and I can do it with Nathaniel in tow. You can have another hour to yourself." Robin held Regina out in front of him, searching her features. She heaved a sigh, placing her hand on his chest, dropping her head as she picked invisible threads from his shirt.

"No, he's still too young to go out. He'll be due for a feeding soon I think. And then he'll nap for a bit. Maybe I can make us some lunch, hmm? I haven't been able to do that."

"You know we still have left over casseroles from the meal train Mary – Margaret organized so we wouldn't have to worry about cooking and such while we bonded with new baby."

"I know, but," she licked her lips, "I uh, I want to do this, okay? Let me do this. I want to do a little bit of something that feels routine. More routine than feeding baby, burping baby, changing baby, putting baby down for nap and then choosing between getting stuff done around the house or taking a nap while he naps."

"Regina – "

"It'll be something simple, okay? I'll throw a rub on some chicken breasts and pop those in the oven, maybe sauté' some veggies and add a mixed salad. It'll take me no time at all. And we, we can have a meal together, just the two of us. Nathaniel should sleep for a few hours after I feed him. I miss you. I just want some time with you that doesn't revolve around the baby for an hour, okay?" Robin nods his head.

"Alright, alright. I better get going – it seems I might be racing the clock of Nathaniel," he chuckled, leaning forward to peck a kiss onto Regina's lips, then to Nathaniel's forehead and once more onto Regina's forehead.

"Don't forget to text me a picture before you purchase anything!" She cautions him as he rushes through the house and out the door.

Nathaniel stirs a little in her arms and she sways a little while she resumes looking over Robin's charcoal drawing. It was of her holding Nathaniel against her chest soon after he was born. Only, she's not sure she recognizes the woman her husband is sketching. It looks like her, she knows it's her, but the look of bewilderment he's captured on her face pricks the back of her mind. She's certain that's not the face she chose to greet her son with, it couldn't be.

Hope you're still out there enjoying this story even though Adam and Eddie chose to try and keep us down!

R&R is greatly appreciated!