Based on this prompt: Zelena captures Henry and threatens to kill him if her baby is not returned to her. Regina is faced with a tough decision.

As usual all mistakes are my own ;) This is more about Regina and Zelena than about Robin (but he has his scene too). It's about what means to be a mother


Regina's choice


Regina looks down at the baby in her arms feels how the little girl grips her finger with quite some strength for only being a few days old. Regina's heart is heavy the pain flowing through her body. Only looking at this child hurts everything hurts but there is also something else.

A warm soft feeling a little flame of love Regina feels for this child, a child conceived under the worst circumstances imaginable, conceived to hurt her by using the man she has lost her heart to. Oh she hates Zelena wouldn't love anything more than set her on fire but she can't. She isn't that person anymore. Her family counts on her and Regina will be damned if she lets them down.

So she swallows down the anger and pain and strokes the baby's cheek gently muttering softly:" Everything is going to be fine honey. You have a family who…" Regina hesitates for a moment but then shakes her head and continues:" loves you. You will never be alone."

As crazy it seems she can already feel herself falling in love with the baby knows that she will do everything in her power to protect this child. Regina won't have the baby grow up the way she did won't ever let her doubt if she's loved if is she's enough even if it hurts. And oh boy does it hurt.

As the baby starts crying Regina pulls her closer and whispers softly:" Shh sweetheart everything is alright, everything is fine."

"Well it appears my daughter is already displays my brilliance and excellent hearing sis," Regina flinches slightly at the snarled words and turns around slowly but it's what she sees then what makes her heart stop in dread.

Her damn sister is standing at the door to the nursery on hand on Henry's shoulder in the other a beating heart. A heart that without a doubt belongs to her son who now looks frightened at her. Regina can't breathe can only stare. Stare at the woman who keeps going after her, who keeps destroying her life, the woman who now holds her son's life in her hands.

"What do you want?" Regina asks calmly grateful realizing that her voice is steady even if the fear is eating her alive. "What do you think I want sis? My daughter of course. It's a simple exchange. Your dreadful son's life for my child."

Regina is frozen in place clutching the baby closer to her. Her eyes never leaving her son's. What the hell is she supposed to do? Her wretched sister has her son, her little prince and Regina has no doubt in her mind that Zelena will execute her threat.

How should she choose? Choose between the boy who saved her from the darkness the boy she loves more than anything or the little girl born to be a tool for revenge but has turned out be so much more? She can't let Zelena hurt Henry but she also can't let the little girl being taken by a woman who don't understand how love works, can't let Robin lose his daughter, can't let him down again.

Zelena smirks clearly enjoying the internal fight her sister is having enjoying to inflict more pain on her. She wants her daughter back and if she can throw one last punch at Regina in doing so…well Zelena won't complain.

Zelena increases the pressure on the heart making Henry whimper in pain watching full triumph how her sister's eyes fill with tears her armor slowly breaking. "Choose wise sis. Who will it be?" She slowly closes her fist around the glowing organ more and more till…

"Stop just stop. Let my son go. Here t-take her," Regina's arms are shaking as she hands the little girl who still doesn't have a name over to her wicked sister almost hearing her heart breaking. She would die to protect this child but she can't let her little prince die she just can't. She now has to hope that Zelena truly wants this child and won't harm her.

"Well choice sis. And don't try to follow us you won't be able to find us." and with a triumphant smile Zelena takes the baby and hands the heart over to her sister. With a last glance she and the baby disappear in a cloud of green smoke.

Regina rans towards Henry holding on to his shoulder as she whispers:" That's gonna hurt for a moment sweetheart," and at Henry's nod Regina pushes the heart back into her son's chest and pulls him into hug.

Regina holds him almost clutches afraid that he disappears if she looses her grip on him, tears falling down both of their cheeks. Her son is fine but the baby is gone and the guilt crushes down on her, a voice whispering you failed you failed over and over again.

She saved her son but she failed the little girl and she has to make it right. But before Regina can do anything heavy steps are heard and Robin stands in front of them. He sees the empty crib the traces of tears at Regina and Henry's faces and immediately knows what's up. "She took her didn't she?" He asks barely able to breathe feeling numb. Zelena has his little girl and and…

Regina nods and more tears are falling down:" S-She threated to kill Henry if I didn't give her the baby. I'm so sorry Robin but I promise you I'll get her back I'm…"

But Robin interruptes her:" She had your son I understand." His voice is harsh he avoids her gaze and Regina's heart breaks a bit more but then he suddenly looks up and sees the pain in those dark orbs. He then holds her hands and says:" Can you get her back?"

It almost sounds pleading and Regina's hatred of her sisters grows even more. "I will do anything I can Robin I'll get our daughter back."

Despite everything Robin's lips curved into a smile." What? "Regina asks confused. "You said our daughter," Robin points out and both of them share a glance. There is so much that still has to be dealt with but right now all that matters that the little girl comes home safe.

"Let's go," Robin says but Regina stops him:" No this is between me and my sister. I can bring our girl back but I have to do it alone. Please stay here and make sure Henry is safe." "Regina…," Robin starts but Regina is now the one interrupting him:" Robin please I need you to trust me on this."

They share another look and then Robin nods. Regina presses as soft kiss on his lips squeezes her son's hand who mutters a "Mom you can do this" and then disappears in a cloud of purple smoke.

Regina goes to her vault and tries everything but no spell works to find her sister. The protection spell that damn green woman casted is strong. She knows she has to find her before Zelena finds the wand and rans off to Oz for good. But nothing works and Regina can't fail this little girl not again but she doesn't know how she doesn't…

Regina throws the books she is holding on the ground desperate and scared. What if she will be too late? She surpasses a sob as she picks up the books till her eyes catches a page and she starts reading.

The books tells of spell a spell to find people you love by holding something of them and think about how much you love said person. Regina looks up and bits her lip. She needs to find that little girl but does she really love the baby?

With a wave of her hand the baby's blanket appears in front of her and as Regina touches the soft material tears come to her eyes. Yes the way this child came into her life might have been painful a pain which likely never will go away entirely but the little girl still found somehow a place in the Queen's heart.

Regina clutches the blanket tightly to her and thinks of the baby, of her little fingers, her little nose and then once again disappears in a cloud of smoke and reappears in front of her sister.

Before Zelena can react Regina throws her across the room and with a dull sound Zelena's head hits the floor. Regina uses the moment her sister is unfocused and puts the cuff back where it belongs and then slowly walks to the crib. She takes the little girl out and kisses her forehead softly:" Hey little one."

"How did you find us? How…" Zelena screams trying to get rid of the cuff.

"Never underestimated the need of a mother to protect her children Zelena. Something you hopefully will understand someday," and with that Regina disappears with the baby, with the child that despite everything found her way into her heart.

But not before whispering a soft "I love you" into the baby's ear.