My entry for the Cherish the peanut week, Day 1: Milestones

A little fever doesn't bring a Mills down….Charlotte's first word


Regina is tired so tired and close to a meltdown. She paces up and down the nursery holding her little girl in her arms and tries to calm down. It's just a fever (she is burning up)just a bit of a high temperature nothing to worry about. Henry had been sick like this all the time Regina was used to it. Only that she isn't.

Charlotte's fever keeps spiking no matter what she or Robin do. Her little girl is in pain and she doesn't know how to help and it kills her. Watching her big blue eyes looking pleadingly breaks her heart. Regina is kissing her sweaty red curls trying to comfort the 9 month old in her arms but Charlotte's cries don't stop.

Three days of being up all night switching between getting some antibiotics into their little princess (the fever is high so there wasn't much of a choice to refuse even though Regina still doesn't trust Whale in any way) and trying every way to bring down the fever Regina and Robin ever heard or read about.

They are changing shifts taking care of their newest member of the family but even together the exhaustion is dragging them down even though the worry is worse.

As Regina softly kisses Charlotte's hot forehead shivering guiltily at the distant memories of whishing this child wouldn't exist of writing Zelena and therefore that little bundle of joy in arms out of her story.

Thinks about how she can't image her life, their life without the little girl with her big blue eyes (her father's) and her red curls which are already everything but easy to tame (sometimes magic does come in handy).

Regina presses another kiss onto her hair and whispers: "Shh sweetheart everything is alright. I'm here just close your eyes and sleep honey. Mommy is here."

Regina finally feels how Charlotte (or Charlie how Roland already affectionately calls his little sister) settles down her breathing going even and her eyes drop. She had given her the last dose of medicine before her fever was supposed to break (if you trust Whale's word). So Regina presses her daughter closer to her chest hoping it would finally work and the toddler would be her adorable and joyful self soon.

They had tried to teach her speaking before she fell ill. Simple words like Mama or Papa but till now all they could get was babbling and a beaming smile. Regina loved Charlotte's smile could feel her own become bright and loving when the little one beamed at her.

That was usually all that was needed for Regina to stop the "Its-Mama-honey-can-you-say-Mama sweetie-lessons. Robin on the other hand was far more persistent but till now all attempts were fruitless. Which was alright Charlotte would say her first word when she was ready.

Regina sighed and put her now finally sleeping daughter into her crib and sat right next to her. She barely could keep her eyes open anymore but she refused to leave her alone. As much as she feared and detested the arrival of this girl in their lives hurt and angry at the circumstances (Robin's nightmares hadn't stopped yet neither had hers) but somehow Charlotte had found her way into her parents hearts within seconds.

The pain of her conception would likely never fade but the love both Robin and Regina felt for her (Henry and Roland were as taken by the little pumpkin as their parents) was far greater than any hurt caused in the past could be.

Regina startles as she feels a hand on her shoulder looking up Robin's eyes find hers. Eyes filled with concern and fear dark circles under them but a soft smile on his face.

"Hey love. When did she finally fall asleep?" Robin asks his hand finding Regina's. "Just a few minutes ago. I can stay here Robin you should go to bed you haven't slept in quite some time," Regina replies squeezing his hand.

"Neither have you," Robin answered before adding: "I can't sleep Regina. I never could when Roland was sick and I can't know. I need to know she is alright." Robin sounds as exhausted and terrified as she fells (both of them had dealt with sick children but after everything that has happened…the breath-taking fear just wouldn't go away)

"She will be Robin. Whale might be an idiot in desperate need for a new hair style but he is a good doctor. If he says our daughter will be fine she will be. You'll teach her how to say Papa even though I bet with you she will say Mama first sooner again than you think. She is our daughter she is a fighter It will be alright."

"You are probably right milady," Robin mutters before adding with a small grin: "Except that her first word will be Papa." Regina only snorts.

With those words Robin presses a kiss to Regina's temple and sits down next to her putting his head on her knee. Both parents' gazes never leave Charlotte watching her chest rise and fall. Watching for every sign of pain of discomfort at their little girl's part. Till exhaustion wins over and both of them fall asleep curled up in each other fear never leaving them.

"Mama"

Regina's eyes pop open (when the hell did she fall asleep?) as the sound of a soft voice immediately searching for her daughter (is she alright? Did the fever get worse?)Her gaze wanders fearfully but what Regina sees when her eyes find Charlotte's make her smile a smile which finally reaches her eyes.

Regina gently shakes Robin till he wakes up too and looks confused and alarmed at her but she only grins and points to the crib.

Charlotte is standing there holding herself up at the crib eyes free of the feverish glance they had just a few hours ago and smiling brightly at her parents and as she is sure both of them are looking at her she repeats:

"Mama"

Both Robin and Regina run towards her and as Regina pulls her into her arms Robin's hand finding her now cooler forehead(he throws a relieved glance at Regina who nods not less relieved) both of them kiss and cuddle their daughter happy the illness finally losing its grip on the little girl.

They are about to take her down with them and preparing breakfast (there are two very hungry boys in this house) but not before Regina can whisper:" I guess I won the bet." "Bet?" Robin asks playfully.

"Charlotte's first word…Mama. That was a big step for her, "Regina replies grinning at her soulmate and daughter.

Robin only grins back mumbling that yes indeed she has and seems the pumpkin loves you as much as her father does. Which makes Regina almost cry.

She feared so much that she wasn't good enough that she wouldn't be able to love this baby or Charlotte wouldn't love her but her first word had been Mama.

Her daughter's first word had been Mama and she said it her not to Zelena not to anybody else but to her.

Because Regina chose to be Charlotte's mother months ago and today…her daughter showed her that she too had made the same choice.