The next day Regina woke up in her bed in Robin's arms. He was asleep with one of his arms around her, one hand on her stomach where their child was. She lay there for a while, just enjoying the precious moments with the man she loved and her unborn child. Her boys were still asleep in their beds, but she knew before long they would be awake.
She moved slowly. Lifting Robin's arm from her, she watched him turn in the bed to lay on his back. Robin had kept his word and they had literally just slept in the same bed last night. She stood therefor a moment watching him before went over to where his clothes were in the chair. Picking up his shirt, she slipped it on, loving the scent of it. As she moved to the bathroom, she was about to start getting herself ready for the day, when she felt the familiar wave of nausea hit her.
"Not again," she whined as she ran to the toilet, kneeled down and violently emptied her stomach. She retched and retched until she didn't think she had anything left. It was only when she felt a hand on her back and another hand pulling her hair back that she realized she was not alone.
"You shouldn't have to see me like this," Regina said. She was slightly embarrassed to be seen so out of sorts.
"I'm partly to blame for you being like this. Not to mention, you're going to be my wife soon. This is why they say in sickness and in health," Robin said calmly, not even remotely phased by her being sick. Living in the forest for so long meant nothing much bothered him anymore.
"I don't know if I can go through this for another month," Regina groaned. The cool bathroom tiles were her only friends, until Robin began to wipe her brow with a cool rag.
"Surely the woman who stopped the evil Peter Pan and the wicked witch can deal with a little nausea," Robin teased trying to get a smile out of her, but when he looked at her face he saw it had not work.
"A little? You try almost throwing up your lungs every morning and when you finally get something in your stomach you have to run right back and do it all over again," Regina snapped, her tone a little upset.
"You are of course right, my love. I have no idea what that is like, but know this, if I could I would take this discomfort from you, I would do it in a heartbeat," Robin vowed seriously. Then he lowered his hand to her stomach. "Hey little one, how about giving your mom a break for a while?"
"It won't work. It isn't her, it is just the process of going through the beginning of a pregnancy," Regina sighed. She closed her eyes as she felt Robin's hand steady on her stomach. A few seconds later, she felt the nausea let up and she opened her eyes to look at Robin.
"It's gone. How did you do that?" Regina asked as this was the first morning the sickness had gone away this early.
"A father's touch," Robin answered mysteriously with a smirk on his face. Regina rolled her eyes at him. He helped her to her feet and finally saw what she was wearing.
"So it would seem you find the smell of forest more appealing these days?" Robin teased, his fingers drifting over the familiar worn fabric now wrapped around her.
"What? It's comfortable," Regina shrugged as she moved to the vanity. She ignored Robin's chuckles and focused on brushing her teeth. Once she was done, they returned into the bedroom, got dressed and headed downstairs.
"I've got to meet with David this morning, but I'm going to take the boys with me and leave them with Little John at the campsite. We'll grab a bite at Granny's on the way," Robin said as he went to stand behind her in the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his body.
"Robin, you need to behave," Regina warned as she felt Robin's desire for her pressing against her. She felt him move his head to beside hers and felt his breath on her ear.
"I can't help it milady, just being in your presence is all it takes. Every time I see you all I want to do is pick you up over my shoulder and have my way with you," Robin whispered as his lips fell on her neck and his arms tightened around her waist.
"Robin, you promised," Regina reminded him gently, now almost regretting the promise she had gotten from him. She promised herself it would not be all that long before they were man and wife.
"And I keep my promises to you. Just be forewarned that on our wedding night you are not getting any sleep."
"Promise?" Regina asked as she turned her head to look him in the eyes.
"I promise you with all that I am," Robin answered as he lowered his lips to hers. It was the kind of kiss that held all the passion they were feeling and yet was still tender enough to remind them of how special their new relationship was. He wrapped his arms around her pulling their bodies together in an embrace. He had promised her that they would wait until their wedding night, but he did not promise her that he would not tempt her.
Regina, from the first time being in his arms in the forest that fateful night, had always felt that this was where she should have always been. The feelings he had always made her feel were from his love for her. No matter how hard she had tried to fight her feelings, deep down she knew she could not keep her love for him at bay.
Kissing him had always felt natural to her and she felt that every kiss was special for her. She, who had not shown any emotions or wanted any ties to any other man in a long time, had feelings. She, who had actually shoved people away to keep a distance, had pulled him to her somehow. With Robin it was all new and different. She wanted him by her side and as far as being tied to another person, there was now a very special bond they had and would always have, growing inside of her.
"I better stop or I will be in danger of breaking my promise to you," Robin sighed as he ended their kiss and pressed their foreheads together. He saw her eyes looking at him with love in them and he was struck by how thankful he was that this special woman had come into his life.
"Papa?" Roland called as he came running down the stairs with Henry not too far behind.
"Here my boy," Robin returned, quickly turning to catch the little boy running at him. "How did you sleep, little man?"
"Great! I like sleeping in Mommy's castle," Roland said. Regina looked at Roland in surprise. This was the first time he had called her that. She caught Robin's eyes on her, but he was merely grinning.
"And I love having you here, my little knight and my little prince," Regina said as Henry walked over to her and hugged her.
"Mom, I'm not that little anymore," Henry said as she hugged him back.
"You're always going to be my little prince," Regina said as the boys left to gather their things, while Robin stayed in the kitchen with her.
"So Tinkerbelle should be here pretty soon. I want you to promise to take it easy today. If you start to feel poorly, I want you to call me," Robin said, once again taking her in his arms, as she laid her head on his chest.
"Are you going to be like this the whole 9 months?" Regina laughed.
"Try the rest of our lives," Robin replied seriously. "You mean the world to me, milady." Then he kissed her forehead and started to rub her back, only to be interrupted by the doorbell.
"That has to be Tinkerbelle," Regina said, moving to answer the door. As soon as she opened it, in ran hurricane Tink mumbling about how this style of dress would look best on her.
"And what about your maid of honor? And bridesmaids any thoughts on who you are going to pick?" Tinkerbelle asked as she walked into the kitchen. Seeing Robin, a huge grin appeared on her face and she could not stop it from growing bigger every second.
"She knows, doesn't she?" Robin asked, looking to the doorway where Regina stood.
"Of course I know. I could feel the presence of a powerful magical force," Tinkerbelle said. She went to Robin and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you two."
"Thank you Tinkerbelle, and while we are at it, I really want to thank you for helping Regina and I back then and now," Robin said, His eyes never leaving Regina's though hers had misted over.
"Regina?" Robin asked worriedly. Tinkerbelle followed his gaze.
"Hormones already?" Tinkerbelle asked.
"Just something in my eyes, is all," Regina shook her head to regain some composure. "Now to answer one of your questions, I think I am going to have a Matron of Honor and Maid of Honor…" She paused for dramatic effect, before asking, "Tink would you be my Maid of Honor?"
"You mean it?" Tinkerbelle said in obvious wonder. Regina nodded her head and Hurricane Tink came running over to her, wrapping Regina in an impossible tight hug.
"Okay, okay now, that's enough," Regina said trying to calm the flittering fairy.
"Alright then, I'm going to leave you two ladies to it," Robin said. "Tink, call me if she starts to feel unwell. I'm leaving you in charge of my precious cargo." He walked over to Regina and pecked her on the lips quickly, before walking into the entryway to wait on the boys, who came running down the stairs seconds later and they all left the house.
"Ok so, let's go dress shopping," Tink said as she grabbed Regina's arm and pulled her out of the house. The two women headed to town to start dress shopping. Regina tried on dress after dress and while some were very pretty and stylish, nothing was catching her eye.
"What do you think of this one Regina?" Tinkerbelle asked as she brought out a mermaid style dress.
"I don't know. I mean I want Robin to like it as well," Regina said.
"Regina, he will love anything that you wear and you know it," Tinkerbelle said, before a thought struck her. "Wait, I think I know the perfect dress. Hold still," Tink said as she touched her fairy dust necklace and a green glitter surrounded Regina. When Regina looked down, she saw that she was wearing the cream colored dress from the night that she didn't go into the tavern to meet Robin, only it now it didn't have long sleeves and it hugged her curves just a bit more.
"Oh Tinkerbelle," Regina said as she looked at herself in the mirror and for the first time that day loved what she saw.
"I knew you would recognize it," Tinkerbelle said as the two women left the shop. They had picked up a few things there and were heading towards Granny's to get a bite to eat. They were almost there, when a gust of green smoke appeared in front of them stopping the two women in their tracks.
"Hello little sis," Zelena cackled, eyeing Regina dangerously.
"Stay away from her," Tinkerbelle said, stepping in front of Regina.
"Another protector, my little sis, you have an abundance of them," Zelena rolled her eyes as she waved her arm and sent Tinkerbelle flying out of her way.
"How did you survive?" Regina asked as Zelena approached her.
"I have my ways. So, I hear I'm going to be an auntie," Zelena said as she reached her hand out to touch Regina's stomach, only to be pushed away by a gust of light magic. "That didn't come from you. It's your child, isn't it? My, my, it certainly is strong for being so young."
"Zelena, don't let the darkness over take you. I know what that's like and all you'll end up is miserable," Regina said, trying to reason with her only blood relative left.
"Oh, but it's so much more fun being wicked little sis," Zelena said as she tried to choke Regina with her fist like she had during their confrontation in the barn, but once again no harm befell Regina. "That child is a force to be reckoned with."
"Zelena, you wouldn't harm a child. Not even at my lowest level, did I do that and I know you wouldn't either," Regina said.
"I may have to wait until your brat is born to get back at you, but mark my words I will take everything you love from you," Zelena returned with an eerie fire in her eyes.
"I don't know about that dearie," Rumpelstilskin said as he came up behind them to stand in front of Regina.
"Oh look who it is, my executioner himself. Well, how does that saying go? Payback is a witch," Zelena said as she waved her hand and sent Rumple and Regina flying through the air, smashing through the clock at the clock tower. They ended up landing on the floor with glass surrounding them, though Regina was unharmed and Rumple was shaken up a bit.
"How did you get up after going through this before?" Rumple asked as he tried to get his bearings.
"Once you go through one clock tower, the rest are a piece of cake," Regina shrugged as Rumple used his magic to bring them back down onto the street.
"My turn dearie," he said as he waved his hand and sent Zelena flying back into a van. "That's more like it."
"Just restrain her powers and let's figure this out later," Regina said. Though she was holding it together, she was feeling worse by the second.
"Just stay where you are and I'll handle your sister," Rumple said as he headed towards the fallen Zelena. Regina was going to try to reason with Rumple, but her head started to swim and she dropped to her knees, feeling sick to her stomach.
"Milady?" a man's voice called from above Regina, causing her to look up. The word was the term that she loved to hear, but it wasn't from the man whose voice she wanted.
"William?" Regina asked as she saw him standing above her.
A/N Thanks to Joy Booth for helping me with this story!