Hey guys welcome back. Thanks so much for your reviews on the last chapter, they make my heart swell. For those of you who are OQ shippers this chapter features them to make it so short but please enjoy!

Regina paced the floor of her kitchen, one hand on her ever-growing stomach, waiting for her son and fiancé to arrive home. The boys had gone out training more than a few hours ago and the only communication she'd had from them since was a small text stating they would be coming home later than expected. Her short heels clacked against her tile floors as she turned yet again. She'd initially been grateful that Robin had been willing to talk to Henry about his relationship with Grace but now that the talk was actually happening she felt a desperate need to be there and know what was being said. She sighed and gave her belly a gentle rub.

"You don't think I'm overreacting do you?" she whispered to her stomach. Early on in her pregnancy Regina had discovered that the strangest thing about carrying a child was the distinct feeling that you were never truly alone. After what happened with Henry and Pan and the missing year the thought that no matter where she went her child would always be with her was a comforting one. Lately she'd started having small conversations with her baby when they were alone. She'd yet to get so much as a flutter in response but it was still comforting.

She whipped her head toward the front door as she heard them come in the house. She quickly put on a smile as they walked into the kitchen.

"Hello boys! How were the targets I made you?" she asked with false cheerfulness.

"They did their job marvelously," said Robin giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Henry even managed to land a few arrows in the center ring."

"That's excellent Henry!" she said sending her son a smile. He just gave her an apathetic shrug.

"I could still use a lot of work," he mumbled.

"Well you know I'm always willing to help out. All you have to do is ask," said Robin.

"Thanks Robin," said Henry sending him a forced smile. "I think I'm just going to head upstairs."

Regina furrowed her brow at him. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll let you know when dinner's ready."

"I don't think I'm in the mood to eat," he said shaking his head. "I'll probably just get a snack late tonight."

Regina raised her eyebrows nervously. "Um, okay. I'll set something out for you."

He muttered a thanks to her as he left the kitchen. She watched, with worry in her eyes, as he shuffled up the stairs to his room. As soon as she heard his door shut she turned toward her fiancé.

"He doesn't look good," she said. "What happened? What did you say?"

He took her hands and led her to the table. "Regina calm down. He's just taking things a little hard. I had to tell him to some harsh truths today."

She sighed as she sat down in her wooden chair. "Okay so what did you talk about?"

"Well I talked about us first," said Robin taking the chair next to her. "Our differences and how people they affect the way people look at us. The hierarchy. Then I had to tell him about how people would see him and Grace. I told him that people had already begun to talk."

Regina swallowed hard at that. Her son had fantasized so much about their world. The Enchanted Forest with its heroes and its magic. She now feared it was ruined for him. "How did he react to everything?"

"He was angry. Wanted to change what they were saying about Grace," replied Robin.

"He wants to protect her," whispered Regina proudly.

Robin nodded his head with a smile. "That he does."

"You think he loves her?" It was a statement, not a question. And Robin knew it.

"I do," he responded firmly.

Regina just shook her head at him. "He can't. He's only fifteen…"

"I know he's young," interrupted Robin. "But Regina the way he talked about her… it was the way I feel about you."

"Really?" asked Regina with a skeptical smile.

"Yes," said Robin. "I don't know if they're soulmates but there's something there. And whatever it is its real. At least on his end."

Regina groaned and shook her head in response. "Oh I am not ready for this at all."

Robin let out a breathy chuckle at that and put a hand on her stomach. "I'll tell you one thing. Seeing him and how protective he got over Grace… it made me really glad our daughter will have him as an older brother."

Regina let out a laugh at that. She and Robin had long since let go of notion that they could have another son. They didn't need a sonogram to tell them they were having a little girl. They could both feel it.

"Is that why you insisted on taking him out to shoot instead of out to dinner like I suggested?" she asked raising her eyebrows at him.

Robin sent her a mischievous look. "Well, can you blame me? If she looks half as beautiful as her mother I'll need all the help I can get scaring off her unworthy suitors. I'm making Roland a bow as well."

They laughed together at the ridiculous image of their five-year-old trying to handle one of his father's massive bows. As their laughter subsided Regina ran her hand through her hair with a sigh.

"I hope for his sake this isn't one sided," she said softly. "Henry in love I can adjust to but Henry heartbroken? That may just kill me."

Robin shook his head. "No. You've seen the way she looks at him. The feelings are there."

"Let's just hope she's brave enough to let them out," said Regina with a raised eyebrow.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Robin still had his hand on Regina's stomach when Belle walked in the kitchen.

"Oh I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?" she said nervously.

"No," said Robin rising to his feet. "I was actually going to leave soon. I have to pick up Roland from Marian's home anyway."

He leaned down to give Regina a quick kiss. "He will be fine," he whispered to her.

Regina just rolled her eyes at him as he walked out of the kitchen. Belle quickly replaced him in his seat. "I saw the hand on your stomach. Any movement yet?"

Regina shook her head disappointedly. "Nope. She's still as a rock."

As Regina went further along in her pregnancy she had become extra vigilant concerning for her baby's first kick. Her doctor had told her that since this was her first pregnancy she might not feel it until her fifth or six month but she still remained adamant that she would feel something any day now.

Belle let out a disappointed moan. "Just give it time. If she's your truly your daughter, I expect she'll announce her presence in a grand way."

Regina scoffed at her. "To be honest I'm hoping she'll take more after Robin in terms of personality."

"Speaking of Robin," said Belle. "How did his talk with Henry go?"

Regina sighed before answering her. "I don't think it was easy on either of them. Henry so upset he's not even eating tonight. Robin said he got pretty angry when they were talking."

"Well you had to see that anger coming," said Belle. "He might be Emma's biological son but those protective instincts he has, those come purely from you. He doesn't want anything to happen to someone he loves."

Regina groaned at Belle's words. "Can we take it easy with the use of the 'L-word' please? I still think he's too young to be saying it."

Belle smirked at her. "You know I understand why you're so worried about it."

Regina raised her eyebrows challengingly. "Do you now?"

Belle hummed affirmatively while nodding her head. "You're not worried because you think that he doesn't mean it. You're worried because you know that he does. And if they're young, good looking and in love, well, that could lead them to do certain things you'd rather not think about, right?"

Regina glared at her from her seat. "Tread lightly, bookworm. I am pregnant and hormonal and that means I am not in control of my own actions."

Belle just gave her a smug look. "You know if you're so worried about it Regina, why don't you just talk to him to about it."

Regina just rolled her eyes as she stood and stalked toward the refrigerator. "You know I don't see why you're so invested in my son's relationship? From where I stand you should be far more concerned about your own."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Belle, giving her a quizzical look as she walked over to the kitchen counter.

"I'm just saying that it's been three months with you and Jefferson," answered Regina, pulling out a group of vegetables and setting them on the counter. "You should be taking stock of how you feel and deciding where you want the relationship to go, if you want it to continue at all."

"Of course I want it to continue!" said Belle quickly. "He's been nothing but amazing these past few months."

"Do you love him," asked Regina bluntly.

The question caught Belle so off guard she had to take a step back. "What?"

"Do you love him?" repeated Regina, shrugging her shoulders. "Or do you at least think that you could?"

Belle sat in one of the counter chairs as she thought of Jefferson. His pinstriped vests. The breathy chuckle he lets out right before he says something sarcastic. The way he looks at Grace. The butterflies he painted for her. His inability to ice skate. The way it felt when he takes her hand in his. His blue eyes and bright smile.

She let out a tiny gasp as the realization hit her. "I do… I do love him."

Regina let out a sigh at Belle's confession. "With you and Henry I'm starting to think it must be something in the air. Have you told him?"

Belle gave her head a tiny shake. "I barely told myself."

"Do you think that he loves you?" asked Regina, cutting up a stalk of celery.

Belle looked back on her short relationship with the hatter. The way he looked at her and talked to her. Every visit, every touch, every smile. She ran them all through her head but could not come to a conclusive answer. "I don't know. I know he likes me, he's good to me. But I think it's too soon to tell what's in his heart."

"Only one way to find out," said Regina mischievously.

Belle's eye widened in fear at Regina's suggestion. "You mean ask him. No! I can't do that."

"Why not? You just have to tell him how you feel and see how he responds," said Regina practically.

"I just… can't," said Belle sadly.

Regina looked at her sympathetically. "I know it's frightening to put your heart on the line again. Especially after Rumple. But remember what you used to say about bravery."

Belle let out a small involuntarily smile. "Do the brave thing and bravery will follow."

"Yes," said Regina nodding her head with a smile. "You know despite my misgivings about everything I am truly happy that Henry is brave enough and secure enough to tell Grace how he feels. I think part of that is due to you. So my advice for you is… don't let yourself be shown up by a fifteen-year-old."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Henry laid on his bed with his hands behind his head. Everything Robin had talked to him about was still swirling through his head like fog. The hierarchy, the rumors, the expectations and in the center of it all Grace. The way all this is affecting her. How he could protect her from it all. Did she even want him too?

Grace hadn't spoken to him since he'd told her how he felt. There was always a chance she didn't feel the same and what right did he have to try and convince her differently? If the things that Robin had said were true if Grace continued her relationship with him her reputation could be forever damaged. He couldn't let that happen to her. Maybe his best option would be to let her go?

As he turned to his side he caught a glimpse of the photo sitting on his desk. He sat up and stared at the unframed picture leaning he had leaned against his computer. He walked over and picked it up. It was a picture of him and Grace from the homecoming dance. It was an accidental candid taken by his mother. He had just whispered a small joke to her while their parents were fiddling with the camera. The flash went off just as Grace had started laughing. The look on her face was one of unbridled happiness. It was his favorite picture of her. Looking at it he knew that he wasn't going to give up on her. He just had to prove to her that what he felt was real and prove to the world just how far he was willing to go just to make sure they knew.

His eyes landed on the lilac corsage on her wrist and he suddenly knew exactly what to do.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Belle woke up the next morning to rapid knocking on her door. She stumbled out of bed and opened the door to find a frantic Regina on the other side.

"Did you hear Henry leave this morning?" she asked desperately.

"What? No," answered Belle rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "He's probably still in bed."

"No he's not! And I called Emma and he's not at the loft either!" she cried. "Belle I don't know where he is!"

DUN DUN DUN! Where is Henry and what is he doing! Stay tuned to find out!

Please follow and review!