"Your majesty?" the older woman kept saying until Regina finally woke up.
"What happened? What did you do?" Regina asked as she got off the floor, and took a few unsteady steps, as the room tilted.
"Your majesty, I didn't do anything but I think you need to sit down. You've had a shock." the older woman said as Regina sat down and suddenly remembered what was said before.
"I can't be pregnant. He's nothing, but a common thief who is not to be trusted." Regina said
"Your majesty, I beg your pardon but you must have trusted him at some point." the woman said very gently.
"I was a fool then." Regina said as she pondered on what she was going to do.
"Your majesty, children are a blessing and you can always raise the child yourself." the woman said.
"No, no I don't want this child to be like me." Regina said.
"And how is that?" the woman asked.
"Evil, I don't want it corrupted like I was." Regina said.
"Your majesty, you can always raise the child to be good. I knew you when you were younger, before your mother helped change you. You can be that person again, and so can your child." the woman said.
"I can't take that risk." Regina said as she struggled with the words. She wanted her child but would it turn out like her or even the heartless father? Was she going to treat it like Cora had her, and force if it was a girl to marry for power? Or control it and turn it evil if it was a boy? And would it look like its father, and be another reminder of the pain he put her through?
"No, I can't keep it." Regina said as her mind was made up.
"You're not going to destroy it are you? No matter what the father did this child is a part of you." the older woman said.
"I'm not going to kill it, but I can't keep it. I'll carry it to term and have it, but I'll have to find someone to raise it. Someone who is good not evil." Regina said.
"I'll talk to some of the other women and, I promise your majesty to not reveal who the mother truly is." the older woman said as Regina nodded and left the room and headed back upstairs. She entered her bedchamber, and walked to the window rail and looked out into the forest.
"If things had been different I know your father could have made me happy, could have made us happy. I'm sorry your mother is an Evil Queen, when all I always wanted was to be happy and for one night your father made me happy." Regina said as she placed her hand on her stomach and could feel the slight difference there. She was nowhere near showing yet, but with her being so tiny there was a defining difference there.
"I hope you are happy and grow up with two parents who love you, and will teach you how to be a good person. I'm sorry that person is not me." Regina said as tears came to her eyes as she cried for herself, for her little baby and she cried for what could have been. They could have been so happy but that was not her fate, but it was not too late for her baby. She was going to do the best thing for her baby and give it a happy life.
The months started to fly by as Regina's stomach was not such a secret anymore, as it was evident she was pregnant. The older woman who Regina found out her name was Mildred had been looking for a married couple who would raise the baby. Regina was almost seven months pregnant now, and time was not on her side and she encouraged Mildred to keep looking.
"Your majesty, I think I might have found a couple for the baby." Mildred said as she entered her bedchamber.
"Good, because I don't have much time left." Regina said as she stood up from her chair.
"I talked with the new chamber maid Dreda, and she knows of a couple who can help us." Mildred said.
"Thank you Mildred. When the baby is born I want you to be the one who takes it to her." Regina said.
"You don't want to hold it your majesty?" Mildred asked.
"No, I can't because if I do I know I'll change my mind." Regina said as she felt her baby kicking just then. It had been kicking her for months now and every time it did she would start crying. It was almost as if the baby was protesting the decision she had made for it's future.
"If you are sure. I'll do as you suggest." Mildred said as her heart broke for the Queen. Yes, she knew she had done very bad things, even terrible things but she also knew Cora was behind turning Regina into this. She left the room and went to where Dreda would be, to go over the arrangements for the exchange.
"Dreda everything is set. You are sure this couple is able to care for the baby?" Mildred asked as this baby was very special.
"Yes, everything is in perfect order." Dreda said as Mildred nodded and left.
"Everything is in perfect order." Dreda said as she smiled and looked to make sure she was alone before snapping her fingers and disappearing. She later appeared in the forest and waited a few seconds before snapping her fingers again and changed into Rumpelstilskin.
"And there comes part of my plan walking right up to me." Rumpel said as a young pregnant woman approached.
"You're late.'" Rumpel said as the woman stopped in front of him.
"I'm sorry. I had to wait for my husband to go hunting." the woman said.
"He still doesn't suspect does he?" Rumpel asked with an evil smile.
"No, no and he is never to know. That was part of our deal remember?" the woman asked.
"I always honor my deals dearie. Now remember, I'll be the midwife who helps you 'give birth' as your loving husband waits out of the house." Rumpel said.
"It's not been easy faking this pregnancy. He always asks why the baby doesn't kick when he is around, and I tell him its because its asleep when he is around." the woman said.
"Well, you won't have to worry about that for very much longer." Rumpel said. "I have to admit I was quite surprised when you came to me months ago asking for my help with this."
"I was told when I was younger that I could never carry a child. You were my only hope left, as my husband wanted a family more than anything." the woman said.
"Well it looks like your dreams are about to come true. But remember there is always a price to pay." Rumpel warned with a smile.
"You never have told me what the price is." the woman said.
"Oh you'll find out one day, and when you do the irony will be something to witness." Rumpel said as he disappeared as the woman turned and started back to her home. She entered the house and finished cooking dinner, as she made sure the pads had not dislodged and were still in place for the 'baby'. An hour later she heard the door behind her open and turned and saw her husband come in.
"How did it go today?" the woman asked.
"Great, I killed two foxes for dinner tomorrow." her husband said.
"Nothing else happened?" the woman asked.
"By nothing do you mean did I run into any trouble?" her husband asked.
"Did you?" she asked.
"Marian, when are you going to stop worrying about me?" her husband asked.
"Robin, I will always worry about you." Marian said as she hugged her husband. They were going to have their family just as the Dark One had promised.