Another month passed by, and Regina was beginning to regret her decision about giving the baby away for someone else to raise. The doubts had started to penetrate and keep circling in her mind, would the couple treat the baby good? Would the baby be happy? Could she raise it and not let it turn out like her? But as much as she thought she could raise it, heavy doubts hit her again. Would she be just like Cora, and make her baby so unhappy? Could she be good again like she had been before Daniel had been murdered?
"I can't keep doing this to myself." Regina said as she sat on her bed and started to rub her temples, as the headache that had been threatening to explode finally did. "I'm sorry baby but I know you will be much better off without me in your life." As if sensing her distress, her baby moved as if to offer reassurance. Regina moved her hands to her stomach, and hugged it as if wanting to keep the baby with her.
"He's moving again isn't he?" Mildred said as she came into the room.
"He? How do you know?" Regina asked as Mildred came and sat on the bed beside her.
"You're carrying it low which signals its a boy. Are you second guessing your decision your majesty?" Mildred asked. She wanted the Queen to keep the baby, because she knew the baby was the one thing that would make her be like she had been once before.
"I can't keep it. I can't take the risk of it being like me." Regina said.
"I hope you don't take this the wrong way your majesty. But I think if you do this, you'll feel the loss the rest of your life." Mildred said.
"You think I don't already feel that way? You think I just don't want to keep it, but if I did I would always being thinking about how I would screw up its life." Regina said as she got off the bed and walked to the window to look out. Mildred walked up to her side.
"Your majesty, have you given anymore thoughts about telling the father about the baby?" Mildred asked and instantly regretted it as Regina turned her head sharply and gave such a look.
"No I have not! He is never going to know about the baby, he doesn't deserve to know. Now leave me be." Regina said as she remembered Robin's words to her that night things ended between them.
"As you wish your majesty." Mildred said as she left the Queen in her room. She turned to look at her once before leaving the room.
"You will be better off never knowing your parents. Your mother is evil, and your father is a bastard who only cared for himself." Regina said as she turned and went to her table, and sat at it and opened a chest and started to finish the potion she had been making for over a month now.
"This is the only thing that is going to help me get over your loss." Regina said as she poured the finished potion into a clear vial and held it for a second before she placed it in the top drawer.
Meanwhile in the forest Robin was outside chopping wood, and thought how good his life was. He had a wife and a child on the way now, he knew one day he would have to stop his thievery way. He and his merry men had spent one too many a day running from the Evil Queen's black knights.
"Robin." Marian called out as she walked outside.
"Marian, are you feeling alright?" Robin asked as he walked over to her.
"I'm fine, you need to stop worrying so much." Marian said.
"You were sick not too long ago and I almost lost both of you, so I will always worry." Robin said as they had not been married all that long only seven months now. He had met her one day as she had been running from someone, and he swore he would help her which he did, and very quickly they fell in love.
"Well, I'm healthy now so stop." Marian said as she thought back to that time when her health had deteriorated, and if not for Robin stealing the Dark One's wand she would have died. Rumpelstilskin had come to her one day when she was alone, and explained that the wand was only postponing what was going to happen to her eventually. Marian was dying and nothing could stop this from happening. Robin had thought it was the 'pregnancy' that had caused it but the truth was so far from it.
"And I plan on ensuring you stay that way, you and our baby." Robin said as he put his hands on her 'stomach' and moved them around searching for any movement.
"Why does he sleep so much?" Robin asked as he thought it was weird for this to be happening.
"Just remember that when he is running his legs off, and you're chasing after him all the time." Marian said knowing she was not going to be there to see this.
"Oh I will." Robin said as Marian went back inside as Robin finished the firewood. Marian hoped Rumpelstilskin would have the baby with him soon before anything happened to her.
Two weeks later in the Queen's castle Regina had just woken up that morning, when she felt a wetness between her legs she pushed the covers back, and saw blood on her legs.
"Mildred!" Regina screamed as Mildred hopped up from her small bed near the windows. She had been sleeping in the room since Regina's time was so near.
"Your majesty, what is wrong?" Mildred asked.
"I'm bleeding, something is wrong." Regina said.
"Now don't worry sometimes that happens. Lets get you cleaned up first." Mildred said as she assisted Regina to the bath and cleaned the bed while she cleaned herself up a bit. Regina was walking back to her bed, when she felt a strong contraction take hold of her stomach. She fell down to her knees because the pain was so much.
"Is it time?" Mildred asked as Regina nodded. Mildred assisted Regina back to her feet and to the bed. Regina was propped up against the headboard, with pillows propped behind her and Mildred checked on Regina and called for another maid to retrieve more towels and fresh water.
"Ah gods! I don't know if I can do this!" Regina said as she was in such pain from the contractions, which seemed to be coming every few minutes now.
"You can your majesty. Your time is not that far off, just try to breath and think good thoughts." Mildred said trying anything to keep her calm.
"What good thoughts can I have?" Regina asked as she thought of how this baby was conceived in this very bed, and how it was about to be born here as well. Mildred had no answer for her as she was amazed how quickly the birth was going. She could feel the baby getting closer and knew the baby was going to be big. She assumed just like his father was, she felt so bad for the Queen and cursed the man who hurt her like this.
"Your majesty, its time for you to start pushing." Mildred said as Regina started to push with all her might. She thought she was going to be torn apart as the pain intensified.
"Ahhhhhh!" Regina screamed as she pushed with everything in her.
"Yes your majesty, that was a great push. Now take a breath." Mildred said as Regina fell back against the pillows.
"I can't breath, I feel like I'm going to be torn apart." Regina said as her face was red and she was sweating.
"Firstborns are usually a harder delivery." Mildred said.
"Oh gods! Here's another one." Regina said as she felt the contraction start again. She leaned forward and ground her teeth as she pushed.
"That's good your majesty, just a little bit more and he will be here." Mildred as she encouraged the Queen.
"I'm not going to make it." Regina said as she again fell back against the pillows.
"Your majesty, I swear the next time will be much easier for you." Mildred said.
"I'm never going to go through this aggggggaiiiinnnn!" Regina screamed as she said that final word.
"I can see the head, just a few more pushes." Mildred said as Regina leaned up and felt more pressure between her legs and pushed for all she had. She felt incredible pain again and felt the baby leave her body as she screamed one last time. She heard silence, then a loud, angry cry sounded in the room.
"He's here your majesty, and he's beautiful." Mildred said as she handed the baby to the maid who went to clean him while Mildred tended to Regina. Once Regina was cleaned up, Mildred retrieved the baby from the maid and walked over to Regina.
"Take him away." Regina said as she had her head turned and would not look.
"Your majesty, are you sure you don't wish to see him at least once?" Mildred had to ask once more.
"Take him away now." Regina cried out as she closed her eyes and started to cry.
"I'll be back later your majesty, just rest." Mildred said as she nodded to the maid to look over Regina while she was gone. Mildred left the room and started to walk with the baby to the north exit of the tower to meet with Dreda who would take the baby to the parents. As she turned the corner she heard another yell, this one was a cry of pain and it was coming from Regina. She looked down at the baby who had dark hair with curls, and she could already see dimples in his pink cheeks, evidently something he inherited from his father whoever he was.
She wanted to get him a new blanket before she met with Dreda, and went into the laundry room and removed the old one and as she was about to wrap him up she noticed a birthmark on his right arm, she knew this mark as Regina had one as well. It was in the shape of a little feather. She smiled as she wrapped him up and met with Dreda to give her the baby.