"Regina, he's up 'ere!" It is Will Scarlet's voice that calls down from the attic of the farm house they'd been searching. They've found him. Thank God.
"Is he all right?" She calls back immediately, though she can barely speak. Fear and relief flood through her. He's been gone for hours, and since Zelena's departure, they've been looking for him everywhere.
Making her way up to the attic, she turns a corner to see Will hovering over an unconscious Robin. He's untying the ropes from his feet, and she notes the ropes beside his hands and the red angry marks marring his wrists. He must have fought against them because the skin is broken and chafed in spots, and Will must read the worry on her face, because he assures, "He's just knocked out."
"Robin?" She kneels down beside him with a thud, the relief leaving her a little weak-kneed and breathless. She's been in a constant state of fear since she's been back, and yet this has frightened her more than anything. The moment her sister poofed away to God knows where, she had been frantic, as had David, Mary Margaret, Emma and Hook.
With everyone's help, they had checked all around town, the docks, and much of the forest, but Regina knew better. Had gone to the one place familiar to Zelena. The place where she and Robin had met for the first time, the second time around. The farm house. Though she left willingly, Zelena wanted Regina to find Robin. Regina has no doubt Zelena has other plans in mind, and this isn't it.
She cradles his head on her lap, and pleads to him gently, "Robin? Robin, wake up, please."
"He'll be fine. He's got a hard stubborn head on him, he does."
Regina nods, and gives Will a worried smile. She is well aware he is trying to keep their spirits up, but Robin is not waking, and she just can't seem to relax. "I'm taking Robin to the hospital. Let Mary Margaret and David know, and tell them to bring the children there."
She gives him time to reply, to tell her he understands, and then she wastes no more time and disappears with Robin.
Robin can't tell how long he has been unconscious, but when he comes to, he hears voices yelling around him. His skin burns at his wrists, and his head feels like it is about to explode.
The thunder of footsteps vibrate around him and he hears someone's voice calling out, "Robin! Regina!"
Then it's Regina's that answers, and calls out. "Someone get Doctor Whale now!"
He wants to open his eyes, to tell him that he was okay, but he feels stunned and completely immobile. He hears another voice say, "He has a pulse. Let's get him up on the bed."
A few moments later, he feels himself being lifted onto a bed of some kind. The move hurts like hell, but he isn't strong enough to let anyone know. He wonders why he is there? What's happened to him? However, he cannot seem to remember. He tries, tries to recall his last memory, but only only recollection he has is having breakfast with his family this morning.
Regina's voice is worried, so worried, and he can hear how her breath hitches when she asks, "Why isn't he waking?"
Who he can only assume is the doctor's voice then asks, "Robin? Are you conscious?"
He moans as best he can, but he isn't sure if it is audible. His thoughts are of Regina. She needs to know if he is okay. But he cannot seem to summon the energy to wake long enough to speak and he can't stop himself from drifting back into oblivion.
When he wakes again, he hears the doctor's voice. "I think he's coming around."
Regina asks, "Robin, can you hear me?"
"Robin? Robin, are you with us?" the doctor echoed, and if Robin had strength he'd would punch the bastard for saying such a thing in front of Regina. Of course he is still there. He's not a bloody corpse, he's breathing isn't he?
He tries to make a sound or move, but he still can't find the strength. A needle is being stuck into his arm, and he feels someone's hands on his head. There is a warm sensation and then he feels what can only be described as a pressure dissipating. His head no longer feels like he's been hit by an ogre, and he hears Regina urge, "Come on, Robin. Don't do this to me."
He felt Regina's fingers on his face. "Open your eyes, Robin. Come on, open your eyes."
He tries to move his head, but it dropped too quickly to the side and he moaned with pain.
"Robin!" Regina catches the side of his cheek to steady his head and brings it back to a more comfortable position. "I'm here, Robin. I'm here."
He tries again to respond, but all he is able to do is move his lips and moan softly.
"Don't worry, we're all fine." Her voice is soft and reassuring, and she smoothes his hair back.
It's her words of their safety that have his memories coming back to him in a rush.
Zelena.
The doctor returns. "How is he?"
Regina's fingers linger on his hair. "I used magic, it seems to have helped. He's responding more."
"Just give him some time. That's a pretty substantial blow to the head he has there. Once the swelling goes down he should wake."
Robin tries to say that he is fine, to ask what's happened, but only a slight sound escapes him. Regina must have heard him because he feels her touch once again, and she says quietly, "Robin, can you hear me?"
Finally, he manages a moan, and more pain radiates along his side when he takes a full breath in. He can feel Regina shifting beside him, and the doctor's hands on his side, as he calls for a nurse. The pain is so intense and he can't help slipping back into unconsciousness.
She moves tentatively over to the side of his bed, and her hand reaches over and gently brushes his hair. She takes his hand in hers and leans over close to his ear.
"Robin, it's me." She leans forward a little further and places a kiss on his forehead. She just stands there holding his hand, watching his face for any sign that he can hear her. It's late, almost two in the morning, and she glances over at the cot where Henry and Roland are lying now sound asleep, then down to her chest where her daughter is wrapped against her. She's wide awake and looking up at Regina with the light blue eyes that mirror Robin's own.
Outside the room his men are camped out in the waiting room, along with a few of the town's residents. David, Hook, and Emma left earlier that evening, wanting to check out the town for any signs of her sister.
She is just about to turn away quietly when Robin says her name. She inhales sharply, grabs hold of his hand with one hand, and with the other holds Wren to her. "I'm here, Robin. I'm here." She moves to his side and lies with him on the bed, carefully shifting so she doesn't jostle Wren or hurt Robin further. He tries to shift a bit and make room for her, and once they're situated, she strokes the side of his face.
He opens his eyes again and gives her a weak smile. "Hi."
She lets out a broken laugh, and she smiles as tears begin to fall unchecked down her cheeks. "You scared me to death." He grimaces, but brings up a hand to wipe the tears from her face and gently stroke her cheek with one hand as she holds him as tightly as she can with their daughter between them.
Regina is so relieved to see him awake, she finally lets everything she's been holding back leave her, and she tucks her face into to crook of his neck and let's it all go. She's been so terrified she was going to lose him, but she isn't. He's alive and awake and smiling at her, and she cannot stop the tears that come. She wants to assure him she's fine, that they're all safe, but the words aren't coming. She needs this first. To be in his arms, and feel his arms around her. So she lets him hold her for a few moments. Soon, she is pulling back, and she's sure she is a mess, but he smiles, his forehead resting on hers, and he says, "I see everyone is accounted for."
Regina nods, and sighs deeply before replying, "We're all fine."
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you-" he begins, but she'll have none of that and stops him with a shake of her head and a kiss to his lips.
Pulling back she assures, "It's alright. If someone had told me Daniel wasn't who he claimed to be… the man I knew so well and loved...I wouldn't have wanted to believe them either."
"Zelena, she didn't hurt you? The children?" His eyes shift to Wren, babbling happily against Regina, and strokes her soft downy hair. He looks over, sees the boys asleep in the cot, and looks back at her.
She shakes her head. "Everyone is fine."
"Did someone stop her?"
"She got away." Regina lets out a frustrated breath. "She'll be back. That I know for sure." He starts to ask, "how-" so she explains everything. Starts from the time he left, to Zelena showing up at their home, to finding him lying on the floor in the attic of the farmhouse. He asks questions about what her sister might be planning, and she answers the best she can. Honestly, she doesn't know much, all they can be is prepared for when she does come back.
They make tentative plans for now. To use her and Emma's light magic around the hospital and around their home until Regina can find another way to add to their protection spell. She'll go see Rumple soon, see if the Dark One has any ideas. Their talks turn softer as the morning creeps up, and Robin places a kiss to a sleeping Wren's brow, who is now lying against his chest, and they lie there together speaking whispered words of love and sharing light kisses until they both join their children in sleep.
As the dawn light seeps into the room, Regina slowly drifts towards wakefulness. She is warm and snug, and as reality eventually asserts itself, she hears the soft cooing from her daughter beginning to wake in her father's arms, and in her search for food, gnawing on her tiny hand and turning her head from side to side, upset at her mother's lack of urgency.
Robin is also stirring now waking as the baby's cries become more frantic. Quickly, she takes Wren from his arms, places a hand on his chest telling him softly to go back to sleep, she's got her. He frowns at her, but seems too tired and weak to argue with her, so he relents, closes his eyes and she's sure he's out before she reaches the door.
Twenty minutes later, Regina is walking back to Robin's room after feeding Wren, who is now once again fast asleep in her mother's arms, and Regina looks up to see Emma coming toward her.
Regina gives her a tired smile which Emma returns.
"Hey," Emma begins, her voice full of sympathy. "How is he doing?"
Regina's smile is genuine. "He's awake. He's going to be just fine."
Emma lets out a breath, "Oh, good. We were all really worried."
Regina nods, adjusts Wren so that she can rest against her chest. Emma watches, and brings her hand up to pat the baby's back. "How's this kiddo?"
Regina places a kiss to Wren's brow, takes a moment to breathe her in, and just be still for a moment. She looks back up at Emma, and replies, "Blissfully unaware."
Emma nods knowingly. What mother wants their children to grow up always having to be afraid? "And the boys?"
"Good." And she means it. "Both of them are asleep."
Emma takes a step toward her and lowers her voice to prevent anyone from overhearing, "I think I'll go with you to see Gold. Maybe if the both of us use our magic we can find some way to get this bitch once and for all."
Regina lets out a small chuckle. Doesn't blame Emma for her anger, it's a term that's ran through her own mind a time or six. "I agree. Once Robin and the boys wake I think it would be okay if we go talk to him."
"Regina, if you don't want to leave them right now…"
"No, it's alright." Regina shakes her head. "I want answers, and the sooner I get them, the sooner I - we can make it safer for everyone."
Emma purses her lips, gives her a resolute nod. "Alright then. Give me a call when you're ready to go."
"I will."
Author's note: Thank you everyone for all new follows and faves, and always thank you for the reviews. Only a few more chapters left. :)