Author's note: Regina gets hurt by an attempt to save Emma. When she wakes up Granny tells her something that will change her life forever, hers and Robin's. This is part 1 from 3 (probably)
A little surprise
Regina feels dizzy has been the entire day. Maybe all the stress with Emma, coming to Camelot (her dear sister)maybe it's finally catching up with her. Not that that can actually happen. She needs to be at the height of her strength which means head held up and keep going. Like she has most of her life. She always kept going no matter what was thrown at her. Always kept fighting sometimes just simply because she didn't know how not to.
But today feels different. It not just that she fees nauseous there is also tiredness, a weariness she feels deep in her bones. Not to mention the fact that keeping her breakfast this morning where it belongs had been a challenge. Especially as she noticed Robin looks. He had been concerned watching her realizing already when they got up how pale she was. Regina doesn't know what's going on. Why the hell her body has to betray her now? She has to be strong for Emma, for Henry, for Snow and Robin
Her Robin who still has one sleepless night after another thanks to her wicked sister. He needs her on his side they all need her she can't just take a break. Not now. That's why she is here standing in front of that damn tree where Merlin should be trapped in (Seriously who traps someone in a freaking tree, it has neither class nor style) trying a spell Belle found in one of those old books.
A spell powerful enough to free Merlin. Theoretically. But also one which requires energy lots of it and she isn't sure she has it. It's a long shot knows the magic trapping Merlin is old and strong. Stronger than to be broken by a simple even if powerful spell. But she needs to try it.
Regina then once again can feel Robin's gaze on her, knows that if she looks up she will see concern in those big blue eyes. Her heart always flutters by the thought that she finally after all this years has somebody (by now an entire family how did that happen?) who cares for her, genuinely without a hidden agenda.
But right now is not the time to think about that right now she needs to focus on that damn spell. So she breaths in and out and…there it is that feeling that she already had this morning. She can't tell what it is it feels like a blast of energy but soft and warm. Something like magic but different, lighter. Regina knows she doesn't understand the light magic she wields now entirely (too many years only studying dark magic, everything else was only slowing her down on her haunt after Snow ) but still… it's something she can't explain.
"Regina are you ready?" Emma's voice rips her out of her thoughts and she looks at her friend who seems as nervous as she is. Regina takes another deep breath and nods: "Let's do it." She now looks at the tree and mutters:" It's time for your tree vacation to end Merlin." She can hear Robin chuckle behind her knows that he is still watching every move she makes.
Regina throws another glance at Emma and then says the words Belle found she says them three times (like the book says) and then waves her hand. What then happens sadly confirms her fears. The spell isn't strong enough (and likely a wrong approach at all but better than nothing right?) and she gets knocked down by the magic protecting the tree. Regina waves her hand trying to soften the impact but nothing happens. No magic comes and lands on the ground with a dull uff.
Only the warm tingling feeling in her stomach turns into something shaper almost hurting. Regina can feel the pain flowing through the rest of her body and it's excruciating and Regina doesn't understand it. She has taken worse blows (her damn sister had thrown her through a clock tower for god's sake) but it presses the air out of her lungs. Why didn't her magic work?
But before Regina can think about an answer to that question she blacks out. All the voices she hears all the hands she feels just disappear into darkness. She loses consciousness.
When Regina wakes the sun is almost set. She blinks a few times but the pain is gone. The only thing remaining is the strange feeling in her belly only that it is now again warm and tender, it doesn't hurt her anymore. "It's about time you wake up girl I was slowly getting worried." Regina startles at Granny's voice and looks up in surprise." I just threw your dear thief out if you are wondering. He needed to get something to eat he has refused to leave you side even for just a moment. "
Granny grins softly as she adds:" I had to use Roland even his own father can resist those dimples." Before Regina realizes it she returns the smile and asks:" What happened?" ""You got knocked down by a tree girl. I wish someone would've told me what you are planning I would've put a stop to it. It was dangerous in your condition."
Regina throws a glare at Granny:" I can decide what I can or cannot do thank you very much." She then stops as she realizes what Granny just said:" Wait what do you mean in my condition? I'm fine." Granny looks at her those eyes warm and Regina sees something like care and understanding in them.
"You don't know?" Granny replies but she seemingly already knowing the answer to that question. "Know what?" Regina asked her voice sharper than before. Granny was making her nervous and she hated not to know. Being clueless is dangerous it makes you vulnerable and Regina hates being that.
"You are pregnant Your Majesty." Regina thinks at first that she has misheard. It can't be. No seriously it can't be she made sure of that long ago, driven by pain and self-loathing and the manipulation of her mother she made sure she would never be able to bear a child. "It can't be Granny I can't have children. I… I made sure of it a long time ago."
Granny looks kindly at the younger woman in front of her. There had been a time where Granny has hated her not feared maybe even respected but hated nevertheless. Had seen that force of nature destroying everything in her way, that strong powerful woman. That woman who has nothing to do with the girl in front of her anymore.
Sure the strength and power remain but otherwise? Regina looks now far more like the young scared and hurt girl she has seen all those years ago at Regina and King Leopold wedding. She can see the fear and hope in her former enemy's eyes and the urge to protect to make her understand is so strong. Granny has to chuckle at the thought. She cares for the Evil Queen. But Regina isn't that anymore her mistakes are lying in the past. So apparently did her infertility, a self -inflicted spell broken by the purest form of magic. True love.
"Well girl apparently your magic isn't always what it's cracked up to be. A wolf's nose always knows Regina. You are with child believe me." Regina can only stare her hand going down to her stomach by reflex and then she understands. That energy she feels, that warm soft feeling it was her baby (or rather its magic a thought which alone terrifies Regina)
Before any of the woman can say anything else the doors opens with a loud bang and Robin stands his eyes still full of concern but with a big smile on his face:" Hi milady." Granny stands up at his words and mumbles:" I'm gonna let you to love birds alone."
As soon as she is gone Robin takes her place next to Regina taking her hand kissing her knuckles softly. "Regina I've been so worried about you, how are you?" "I'm fine Robin." Regina answers and tries to smile but like always Robin sees right through her.
"And how are you really feeling?" Robin askes again a bit firmer this time tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. " I am really fine Robin I'm just…" Regina sits up (under Robin's protests) "You are just what milady? I've seen you talking blows far worse than this. What happened?" Regina stays silent turns her head away from Robin. She doesn't know what to say, how to say it. She never thought she would be…hadn't wasted much thought about it in years she has a child, she has Henry her little prince has always been more than enough and now Roland too.
So she pushed it more or less out of her mind. A baby, her baby, their baby. God she still can't believe it but she can feel it. Feels how her baby reacts to its father's present (a warm sweet feeling) how the baby knows she is anxious ( a nagging feeling, firmer than the other one) how she is happy and scared at the same time ( a light pressure but tender at the same time) she knows it is there.
"Regina?" Robin asks again and she realizes that she has fallen silent. She looks at him cups his jaw and presses a soft kiss on his lips then their eyes lock. Regina takes a deep breath she can do it, they can do it and says:
" I'm pregnant."
