Prompt from lillie-grey on Tumblr. Breakfast in Bed. Takes place in the same universe as "First Day" but stands alone.
She's crying again, a quiet snuffling sound slipping between the gaps in his fragmented dreams, snapping his tenuous grip on sleep like a twig beneath his boot. Not again. He's been through this before, but somehow it's not any easier this time around, despite all the so called modern conveniences.
Robin rolls to his side and stretches out his hand to comfort her, even though he knows he is not the one she wants, not with this particular cry. He splays his fingers across her belly, rubbing small circles across the soft pink cotton, hoping he can soothe her back to sleep before—
"Is she hungry again?" Regina mumbles. The bed dips as she slides over and wraps her arms around his bare torso, her head nestling into the slope of his neck. Her lips fall against his shoulder, a light graze of a kiss followed by a soft breath of air as she sighs. "I was hoping she'd make it until six today."
Robin glances over at the digital clock on the nightstand. "We've almost made it. Five forty-five."
"Maybe she'll go back to sleep," Regina says, yawning against his shoulder and tucking herself further into his body.
No one's had an ounce of sleep in the last few weeks, despite the bottles she's given him to feed Alexia on nights like tonight (last night?) when she needs the rest. He'd used the last one a few hours ago, had searched to the back of the refrigerator to make sure he hadn't missed one of the tiny bottles among the casserole trays and leftovers provided by the Charmings and other well-wishers, all to no avail.
"Maybe." Robin continues rubbing circles on his newborn daughter's belly, but she's having none of his ministrations this morning, her whimpers sharpening into the prelude of a full fledged wail. "Or not."
"Mm, hand her over before she wakes the boys."
Regina's hands slip away from his chest as he swings his legs over the edge of the bed. He feels her shift to sit back against the headboard as he reaches into the bassinet and scoops his daughter into his arms.
"Hush, little outlaw," he whispers, rocking her for a moment as Regina pulls down the shoulder of her nightgown. "The queen is almost ready for you."
Regina yawns against the back of her hand, and then lolls her head to either side, cracking her neck. "Bring her to me," she commands, holding out her arms, chin raised, ever the queen even as she lays half bare with the duvet pulled up to her waist, her shoulders slumped against the padded headboard.
Robin sits on the bed and transfers their daughter to her embrace, watching in fascination as Regina brings her to her breast. No matter how many times he sees them like this, he will never not be in awe of the mother of his child and his daughter sharing these moments, knows how fleeting they are in the wake of life's turbulence. He cradles Alexia's downy head in his palm as he leans over to kiss Regina's temple. "Can I get you anything from the kitchen, love?"
"Breakfast in bed?" she asks, hiking an eyebrow, and he smiles because he knows how fastidious she is about crumbs between the sheets.
"Seeing as you're already providing that particular service, I thought I might return the favor."
Regina smiles, lets her head rest against the headboard as she closes her eyes. "Coffee?"
"Decaf."
"And they called me evil."
"You love me."
She pouts for a moment, trying to wait him out, and then cracks open an eyelid to gauge his reaction. Her face softens as she finds him entranced with Alexia's grip on his forefinger, his thumb sweeping a tender arc against the back of their daughter's hand as she continues to feed. Robin lifts his eyes to Regina's, and his heart cracks open a little with unbearable lightness as she smiles sleepily and covers their joined hands with her own, saying, "That I do, thief."