It's Not Easy

Neal was dead. How was that for cruel reality? Granted, Regina knew she couldn't have stopped it, no one could have. However, it was just another reminder that their situation was quickly becoming more and more serious the longer they were without their memories. If she had any choice in the matter, she'd find Zelena herself and end this once and for all. Yet, Whale's words kept echoing in her head. "The stress, in combination with constant time on your feet, is progressing your pregnancy a tad too thin for my liking." She knew he was right. If she didn't take better care, she'd risk putting her daughter's life in danger, and there was no way Regina would jeopardize her baby. Her tiny daughter, who by all accounts should never have been able to be conceived in the first place, along with Henry were the only two people she cared about right now.

With Zelena out'ed as Emma had put it, Regina felt as if she was now the one with the upper hand. At least Greenie hadn't been back to see her. The thought that the witch even wanted to deliver her baby sent a chill through her. There was something about Zelena that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but whatever it was wasn't good. How that witch was able to get past her blood spell baffled her.

Curled up in front of the fire in her living room, Regina placed her hand on the large curve of her stomach and gently rubbed the tiny feet which were jabbing her in an attempt to soothe her daughter, who was quite in tune with her mother's emotions. As hard as she tried over the last few days, Regina often found herself wallowing in her own misery and plotting revenge against personal affronts she'd endured over the last year, or at least the personal attacks she imagined, since the last year of her life had been cruelly wiped from her memory.

An angry growl rumbled through Regina's chest, and then an abrupt laugh escaped her mouth for what seemed like the unpteenth time as of late. It had been so since she let the idea of true love and hope sneak its way back into her heart. It had been forever since she'd given up on the thought that she'd be worthy enough to find it again, not that she thought she was worthy now. She'd done so many horrible things since that fateful day in the stables when she'd only been a child, young and in love.

It wasn't lost to her how ridiculous it was that after all this time, fate had caught up with her. That of all the possible moments, she'd finally know the face of the man with the lion tattoo. Robin Hood. The Prince of Thieves, no less.

Regina knew her true love had been out there. Her mother claimed to have found him, only to inform Regina that he was a married, moralizing sap. It only slightly amused her that for years she'd been unknowingly hunting down the very man she was destined to be with. Wanted posters had been distributed and decorated across her kingdom for his capture, nailed to the trees in his precious Sherwood Forest.

"Dead or alive," she'd said.

Her soulmate.

Regina sighed and continued to rub her stomach, thankful that was in another time and another realm.

She should have been happy and overjoyed that he was here, that she'd found him, that he was no longer bound to someone else, but, of course, there was yet another obstacle in her way, besides her obvious pregnancy – a Wicked Witch to be specific. As curious as she was about how and what the man with the lion tattoo was doing here, her curiosity would have to wait. Regina swore to protect her baby, and that took precedence above everything else.

The baby chose that moment to move around restlessly, and Regina sighed. She moved her hand over the spot on her belly and began whispering words of reassurance to her daughter. She was still amazed that this was happening, that she could have this. As overjoyed as she was at being pregnant, she couldn't help feeling an emptiness in her chest, a hollow sadness, and it was that feeling that made her know something or someone was missing.

Her mind immediately brought up an image of Robin, and she instantly hated herself for so easily equating him into the picture. But she did, and whether Regina was willing to admit it or not, she'd already put him in that place marked father.

She shifted a little in her seat as her cell phone buzzed beside her. She picked it up quickly. Because of her worry for Henry's safety, she kept it close to her. It was Snow White informing her of the times for the funeral and wake. After a moment, she ended the call and pushed herself up, heading upstairs to her bedroom to get ready for the day.

Stepping into her closet, she gently thumbed through the new set of maternity dresses before pulling one from a hanger. Black had always been her color of choice, but today it weighed heavy on her. Today it felt appropriate, because today was Neal's funeral.

Regina knew he was there. Even without looking, she could feel him standing just a few steps behind her. Their morning had started in tragedy and grief, and any other plans they'd had were put off. Robin had tried to apologize, but she shook her head and told him there was nothing to say. He'd nodded somewhat reluctantly, and made her promise that there'd be a rain check sometime soon. To which she agreed.

On her short walk from her car to the graveside, Belle had surprised Regina by asking her if she minded some company. The young woman not waiting for a reply had stepped into pace with her, and with a glance over her shoulder, Belle began to tell Regina that Robin and Neal had been friends back in the Enchanted Forest. She also told how Robin and his son helped get Neal to Neverland, and in essence save Henry.

Glancing back, Regina could see the sadness in Robin's eyes. He'd lost a friend. She felt a pull to him, to offer him comfort and to thank him for his assistance - however small- in saving her son. She could feel his eyes on her, and as she met his deep blues, she'd never felt so drawn to someone in her whole life.

But she couldn't let herself go to him.

Not yet anyway.

Regina was lost in her thoughts later that day at Granny's Diner, as she watched the man at the counter down from her. His eyes crinkling in amusement as someone spoke beside him, and then as he turned to speak to Granny.

She closed her eyes as Tinkerbell spotted her from across the room and walked over to her. Please, Regina thought. Don't.

Tinkerbell's eyes glanced in the direction Regina had been staring most of the afternoon, and Regina knew before Tink could speak what she was going to say. "It's the lion tattoo," the fairy smiled brightly, making the former queen sigh. "It's what was prophesied. He's your soulmate."

Regina's eyes never left Robin, never left the black ink just above his wrist as she whispered an impatient, "I know. I saw it yesterday."

Tinkerbell dropped her chin in a pout. "And you didn't tell me?"

"Well, right now I have better things to do than to gossip about boys," Regina told her in a hushed whisper, wishing she wasn't having this conversation right now.

While her attention was on keeping her friend quiet, she didn't notice immediately when the man in question stood and came over behind them. That is, until he cleared his throat.

"Care for a drink?" he asked her. "The old woman, Granny, assured me this is your preferred beverage of choice."

He set a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick on the counter beside her. Regina threw the old woman a look of unamused disdain, but Granny only smirked, unaffected by her withering glare.

Robin looked at her and bit his lip. "I, uh, I do hope I didn't upset you. I would've walked with you, but your friend seemed rather keen to see you..." his voice trailed off.

Belle. She did an internal eye roll. Hardly a friend, she wanted to say, but he didn't need to know that and this wasn't the time or the place for such conversations. She could tell that he was still concerned for her, and her heart flipped a bit. Not sure of how to respond in front of the fairy, she settled for changing the subject. Gesturing to Tinkerbell as she said, "Robin Hood, Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell, Robin Hood."

The charming outlaw offered her his hand, which the little fairy enthusiastically accepted.

"I've been wanting to meet you for a very long time." Tink said with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Regina nudged the fairy with her elbow. She was going to have a chat with that damn gnat later, but for now she focused on the man in front of her. Before the fairy could say anything else, Regina replied, "No, you didn't upset me. Miss French just needed to talk."

"Ah, well, um... I'm still sorry." Somewhere behind him his name was called. "If you'll excuse me then."

Regina watched him go, and a feeling of guilt spread over her.

Tink turned to her with wide, searching eyes. "What was all that about? Are you pushing him away again? Didn't you learn anything from the last time you screwed this up? If you had been open to the possibility of love when you first saw him, maybe your life wouldn't have turned out so..."

Regina's anger rose as the fairy searched for the right words to sum up her life. She didn't need this right now. She didn't need to be judged. She'd done enough of that herself lately. Deciding she was up for a fight, she asked, "So what? How did my life turn out?"

Tink stepped back affronted. "Why am I even bothering?"

Now just as angry with herself as she was with the entire situation, Regina raised her voice to a harsh whisper. "Can't you see I have a bit of a situation right now?"

"So?"

Regina was floored by the fairy. "What do you mean, 'so?' Am I supposed to ignore the fact that my baby has a father somewhere out there? That I can't remember who he is, or whether or not he's even still alive? How do I know if he's even here in Storybrooke, or if it wasn't just some random fling in the Enchanted Forest? How do I know if he even meant anything to me, or if I meant anything to him?"

The fairy blinked curiously at her, and a sad, little smile inched its way across her lips. "Regina, after all this time, don't you think…" Tink trailed off and shook her head.

"Think what?" Regina snapped, mistaking the fairy's pained expression for pity.

"After all this time, you still haven't remembered what I told you? Regina, love, you need love," Tink was adamant and unrelenting. "You're soulmates, Regina. How do you know it's not him?" She said, directing her gaze back to Robin who was sitting at the far end Granny's counter.

Regina paused, but soon she began to shake her head because it couldn't be that simple. Nothing in her life had ever been that simple. Despite the feeling inside her that screamed at her to listen... No, she wasn't that lucky. "What? No, he isn't. He couldn't be."

She looked to the other side of the diner to see Robin, looking very forlorn as he sat at the other end of the bar. Every so often his eyes would find their way back to her before looking back down at his drink, swirling the golden liquid around in his glass.

At that moment, Robin's gaze met the fairy's, and Tink smiled. Robin's look lightened a little, and Tinkerbell thought, "Isn't the father of her baby... What a load of pixie dust."

"How do you know? I mean, Regina, there's got to be a reason he's here now, and…"

But whatever Tinkerbell was going to say was cut short as the door to the diner burst open to reveal the woman whom Snow introduced Regina to only three days before. The woman who quite possibly could have delivered her baby. The Wicked Witch, Zelena. The thought gave her chills.

"My condolences, I'm so sorry I missed the funeral, but I could never pass up a wake." Zelena smiled widely at everyone. "Oh, did I miss the speeches? Shall I make one? I mean, I am, after all, responsible."

Emma stood visibly angry and started for the witch, but Snow caught her daughter by the arm, preventing for from getting to her. "Emma, no. Too many people will get hurt."

Zelena held up the Dark One's dagger. "Listen to your mother," she mocked. "She's right. Anyone who tries to interfere with my plan is gonna have to deal with the Dark One."

Regina narrowed her eyes at the redhead, her anger building. "Why are you here?"

The witch's cold crystal blue eyes locked with hers. "Now that my cover's blown, I can finally pay another visit to my little sister."

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

"Why, you, of course, Regina."

What? Regina, understandably taken back, blinked at the witch. No, that wasn't possible, Regina's mind reasoned. "I'm an only child."

"Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister. Half, if you want to get technical," she all but spat. Turning, Zelena looked around at everyone in the diner before her attention came back to Regina with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "And, by the looks of things, I'll be an auntie soon."

Robin stood up from the bar stool and took a step toward the witch. "Don't go any closer to her."

Zelena looked at Robin, and then her eyes widened in undisguised mirth. "Ooo, who's this?" she asked, glancing at Regina before her attention went back to Robin. "Don't worry, love. I'm not here for the baby. Not today, anyway."

Regina spoke up, distracting Zelena's attention away from Robin. "Why should I believe anything you say?"

The witch turned back to her. "Oh, well, you shouldn't. It's a lot to swallow, which is why I've brought a gift to help."

Regina scoffed. "I don't want a gift from you."

"Oh, but you shall have it," Zelena said, menacingly creeping toward her. "You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to learn the truth, and you must believe it. We'll meet again tonight to talk. Say, sundown."

"And then what?" Regina asked.

"Oh, for now I just want to see you admit the truth, but once that precious baby is born, well, then…" Zelena finished in a deadly voice, "Then I'll destroy you."

There were very few things that truly frightened Regina, and a witch with an over-inflated ego was not one of them. "This isn't the wild west."

"No, dear, it's the wicked west, and I want everyone to be there to see the Evil Queen face the cold hard truth."

Regina straightened her shoulders confidently and crossed her arms. "I already know the truth. Only one of us is delusional here."

"Just keep telling yourself that, dear. One of us - is about to make history. See you tonight, sis." She said with a smirk before she turned and left, leaving a gaping crowd behind her.

"And you're sure Cora never said anything about her?" David asked, as they all sat around the counter, not long after the Wicked Witch had left.

Regina took a deep breath. How many times was she going to have to say it? Maybe this time she should phrase it another way for them all to understand. "I think I would remember if my mother told me she had a love child with a scarecrow."

"It doesn't matter if Zelena is your sister or not. She wants you dead. Any idea why?" Emma asked, sounding as upset and impatient as Regina felt.

Frustrated, Regina said, again, "I never even met her before today."

Emma deadpanned, "Doesn't mean you didn't do something to piss her off."

"You did manage to step on a lot of toes back in our world," Tink added.

Regina sneered at them. "Well, none of them were green."

"Then there's the missing year. Maybe you did something to her then," Granny said, butting in from the behind the counter.

Regina had about had it. "Stick to the lasagna, lady," she growled up at her, before she slowly pushed herself out of her seat and stood up at the counter, grabbing her jacket. "It's starting to sound an awful lot like you're all on her side."

"Where are you going?" Snow called after her.

"To find out exactly what this witch thinks I did to her." Regina replied, walking out the door with Emma and Snow hot on her heels.

Tossing open another chest, Regina rifled through its contents, searching for any clue into her mother's past, any sign that what Zelena was saying could be true. Her hand reached in one last time and her fingertips grazed a folded piece of paper.

As she held it up, she suddenly remembered. She didn't need to read it to know what it said, however, she couldn't help but open it. To stare at the words that told her everything she realized she already knew.

"Regina, did you find something?" Snow's voice called from somewhere behind her.

"A… a letter."

Emma's curious voice asked, "What's it say?"

Regina schooled her features as best she could. The bitter truth of the words in the letter rolled like razor blades through her mind. She refused to let them see the sharp wedge of disappointment to a mortal depth. "Zelena is my sister."

"Regina, what is…?" Snow started.

"Nothing," Regina said, cutting Snow off and straightening up. "Don't worry about it. It's my fight. I've got it handled."

Without another word, she turned and walked out.

A gentle breeze ruffled Regina's hair and coat as she sat on a large fallen tree looking over the forest. Taking a deep cleansing breath of crisp air, she opened the piece of paper in her hand from the vault, reading it once again. Though it was known by heart, now the words held a completely different meaning than before.

Just as she began to read the words upon it, a twig snapped somewhere behind her, and she turned toward the sound. A fireball erupted in her palm, already on edge from the appearance of the Wicked Witch. She looked, and her guard dropped almost instantly, looking into the eyes of none other than Robin, who was lowering his crossbow.

"We have to stop meeting like this," Robin's amused voice told her, and she turned her back to him.

Of course he was there. She wouldn't be surprised if Snow had called him. "Did the Charming's send you to give me a pep talk? Cause I don't do well with pep talks."

Folding the letter quickly, she shoved it in her jacket pocket.

"No, nothing of the sort," he replied coming over to sit beside her. "After Zelena's threat, I decided to patrol the woods in case she decided to build the ranks of her simian army." He glanced at her then, as he took off his gloves. "How are you holding up?"

Regina sniffed. "I'm not a flying monkey, if that's what you mean."

He grinned, and she couldn't help notice the way his eyes crinkled at the sides or the way his dimples appeared when he smiled. She looked away.

"So, are you gonna tell me what's in that letter you've been staring at?"

She feigned innocence. "What letter?"

"This one," he said, holding it up in the air between them.

Regina looked at him in surprised disbelief, her hand flying to check her pocket for her letter, but it was gone. How in the hell?

As if in answer to her thoughts Robin said, "I'm a pickpocket by trade. I spent many years learning how to rob from magicians."

She glared and leaned toward him. "You're lucky I'm saving my strength for that witch."

He leaned closer to her in return. "I think, deep down, you actually want to talk about what's in here."

Regina looked at him. His thoughtfulness and uncanny ability to read her mind was the pin that burst her bubble of anger, and she was overcome by the untimely and uncharacteristic urge to cry. Swallowing past the burning lump in her throat, she gave him a tight smile in the hope that he wouldn't notice her precarious emotional state, but there was little chance of that. Still she was determined not to show it, and adopting an air of contempt, she questioned, "And what makes you think you know me so well?"

"Well, for one thing, I'd be charred to a crisp by now if you didn't," he told her, the corners of his mouth tipping into a smile.

Amused by his candor, she smiled. "True."

He returned her smile, and her stomach flipped. She blamed the sensation once again on the baby.

"So, can I read it?"

She sighed, kicking the grass. "I'm not stopping you."

Unfolding the paper, he took a breath before he began, "Cora, dear, I finally got my hands on your firstborn. Never thought I'd find her. Did you? Now I know why. She's the most powerful sorceress I've ever encountered, even more powerful than you…" he paused for a moment, reading the next words silently and looking up at the woman beside him. He felt the words as he said them to her, "Stunning in every way." Robin closed the letter. "Rather complementary, I'd say. Why is this troubling you?"

She squinted as bright flashes of late afternoon sunlight strobe through gaps in the treetops and in the spaces between the broad trunks; she studied them without really seeing them. Lost in her thoughts, as her mind replayed all the times she could remember going to it, studying the ink so thoughtfully scripted. "I've seen that letter a hundred times before. In my darkest moments, I'd go to it for comfort, for solace, for a boost when I needed it, because I... because I always thought it was about me."

Taking a deep breath, he sighed in sober understanding. How was it, that this beautiful amazing creature beside him only found her self-worth in words on a piece of old parchment? "It's about Zelena."

"Rumplestiltskin thinks she's more powerful than I am," she said, defeatedly.

He leaned toward her, indignant frustration evident in his expression at the sound of Rumple's name. "Why care what that imp thinks?"

Her eyes met his. "Because if the man who taught me everything I know about magic thinks she is stronger than I am, then there is no way I can win this fight."

Robin sighed deeply. He couldn't explain the irrational fierce need to protect the woman before him, but he knew he had to try. Robin studied her for a moment before deciding to plunge ahead with his concerns for her. "Must you really do this now?"

With sadness in her eyes, she answered, "I don't have a choice."

Becoming more frustrated, he said, "There is always a choice. If it's you she wants, I can hide you..."

Losing her patience, she cut him off and replied, "It won't work, she'll just find me, and she can put people I care about in harm's way. I have no choice but to face her."

She saw the hurt look in his eyes, and her hands itched to rub the worry from his brow.

Calmly for her benefit, he said, "And what of the little one?" His gaze lingering on the curve of her stomach.

"I have to believe she means what she says. She wants a confrontation tonight." She looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingertips together, feeling the magic there. "She won't hurt me; she just wants to humiliate me. And although it doesn't bring me comfort, she admits she wants my baby. She won't hurt her."

It was clear to him that she wasn't going to be talked out of this. He tried to keep his objections contained, while telling himself it wasn't his place. Still, before he could catch his words he said, "I don't like it."

"I know, neither do I."

He took her hand in his and looked up into her deep brown eyes. When she didn't say anything, he said, "Then, let me help you."

Walking into downtown, Regina could see the large crowd up ahead. She could make out as her sister's voice rang out. Taunting. Threatening. It was time for this to stop.

"Anybody else want to give it a go?" Zelena called out.

"I do." Regina smirked. She could feel her energy returning to her as she drew herself up to her full height. This woman didn't have a clue who she was dealing with once threatened. "Didn't anyone tell you? Black is my color."

The witch laughed. "But it looks so much better on me. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up."

"I couldn't let my sister off that easily."

"Oh." Her mouth curled into a sarcastic sneer. "So you've finally accepted me into the family?"

Regina wouldn't go that far. "I've accepted that we shared a mother, yes. But I still have one question. What the hell did I ever do to you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Zelena walked up to Regina. Standing toe to toe, she hissed, "You were born."

She'd had just enough of this. Regina reared her hand back, then bringing in round the palm of her hand connected sharply with the side of Zelena's face and God did it feel good!

Regina's eyes narrowed. "I've been waiting to do that all day."

Zelena wiped the blood from her lip. "Careful, dear...Rumplestiltskin can't save you this time. He should have chosen me."

Wait. What? Regina's brow rose up. "Who?"

Her glare ice-cold, Zelena spat," Rumplestiltskin."

Regina smiled. She should have known. "That's what this is about?" She asked, almost amused. "You're jealous of me?"

Regina would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. If the witch wanted a fight, she would give her one. Using her magic, Regina summoned the large traffic light, snapping it from its suspension above, and then easily tossing it at Zelena.

Unfortunately, Zelena tossed it aside using her own defection spell. Soon Regina felt her throat being constricted, and she was raised, held high in the air by Zelena's magic. Zelena didn't give her much time to think before she hurled Regina through the clock tower window.

When she landed softly against the railing, Regina gasped out in shock, gripping her right hand protectively over her stomach. She'd thought her "sister" wasn't going to hurt her, but obviously she'd been mistaken and underestimated how wicked Zelena was. Luckily, something had mostly cushioned her fall. Groaning, Regina tried to sit up, but a sharp pain flared up in her side, stealing her breath away.

Zelena appeared in front of her then, glass breaking under her feet. "Oops." She chuckled darkly. "Did I hurt you?" she mocked, bending down, coming eye to eye with her sister. "Did I …" a wicked grin spread across her face, "did I hurt my poor, little niece?" Zelena stared down at her with cold, hard eyes.

Regina refused to let her think she had the upper hand, pushing down what was now only a slight ache, she bit back, "You wish."

"Oh, Regina," Zelena sneered and clenched her teeth. "You still don't realize what you have. You never did. You got everything I ever wanted, and you didn't even deserve it! But I'm gonna take it all from you!" Zelena tightened her grip of Regina's throat. "You can't beat me, little sis. Everything Rumplestiltskin taught you, he taught me, too, but I was the better student."

Regina forced out, "Well, what are you waiting for? Kill me."

"I never said I wanted to kill you."

Regina scoffed and adjusted her weight, one hand still protectively gripping her stomach. "I find that hard to believe."

"We both know you're more resilient than that, dear. That's what makes this all so fun. I said I wanted to destroy you, and to do that, I need your heart... and your baby. Hopefully, not too worse for wear." Zelena froze Regina in place again, magic tightening around her throat while her free hand creepily touched Regina's stomach. With what little air Regina could get into her lungs, she gasped, but was unable to stop her. "But I only have to wait for one of them."

Then came a white hot pain as Zelena attempted to pull out her heart. Anger filled the Wicked Witch's face as she pulled her hand back in enraged confusion.

"Where is it?!" she screamed, letting go of Regina who fell back against the clock tower railing.

Regina looked up at her and smiled through gritted teeth. "Our mother taught me one thing. Never bring your heart to a witch fight. Something you'd know if she hadn't abandoned you."

Fury filled Zelena's eyes. "You haven't won, Regina. I will get your heart! I will get your baby! I will get everything you ever had!"

"Not today," Regina said.

A broom stick appeared beside Zelena, and, in an instant, she and Rumplestiltskin were gone.

With her sister gone, Regina groaned. Slumping forward, her hands resting protectively on her stomach, she fought back tears from the pain in her throat.

She heard footsteps, followed by Snow's voice. "My God, Regina! Are you alright?" she asked, panicked as she kneeled down beside her.

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Regina replied, dryly. David held out his hands to help her up. Shakily, getting to her feet, she looked around at everyone's concerned eyes. "As it turns out, Zelena wants my heart and the baby. It's a good thing I wasn't stupid enough to bring my heart with me."

Snow gasped covering her mouth. "Regina, we need to get you to the hospital."

"I'm fine." She said, placing a hand at the small of her back. "I'll be fine," she said, waving a now steady hand over her stomach, magic soothing away little aches and pains. "She'll be fine," her voice was more of a whisper directed at the baby growing within her.

Snow's gaze still concerned, but Charming's voice broke any tension still in the air. "Any idea why she wants them?" he asked.

"Well, she got your courage and wants my heart and baby." Regina's nervousness starting to edge away, replaced by uncertainty. "As much as I hate to admit it, those are ingredients."

Emma was taken aback. "For what, a curse?

Snow shook her head. "We're already in Storybrooke. We've already lost our memories. What else could she do to us?"

She had no idea how much farther she needed to go, but that would be the least of her problems if Zelena found where she hid her heart. She stumbled on wobbly legs out into the late night darkness, and knew she would eventually come to his camp. She hoped that she wasn't too late. That her sister didn't beat her to it or figure out where it was. She had to find Robin. The thought that Zelena would harm him in her quest to get to her heart made her breath catch in her throat.

Shining the flashlight around her, she turned a corner and then breathed a great sigh of relief, as he came into view, before coming to a staggering halt.

His voice called out as he walked over to her. "Did the plan work?"

Breathless from her quick jog, and bracing a shaky hand against a tree, she panted, "That depends. Is it still here?"

"Right where you left it," he confirmed, going over to a nearby pile of rocks.

"Well then, it worked. I just needed to find the one thing I had that Zelena didn't." She watched forlornly at the ground as Robin kneeled down to retrieved her heart.

"And what exactly was that?" he asked, standing and holding it out for her.

Taking it from him, she placed it in the satchel she carried with her and replied, "My heartless mother. My sister was right about something. She said I don't always realize what I have right in front of me."

She watched him as he stood there, and she couldn't help but think about how he was what was right in front of her.

"What's that?"

"Just that I didn't always appreciate things." Regina stared at the satchel for a moment and took his hand in hers, placing her heart back in his. "Would you mind holding on to this for a bit longer?"

He took note of what she was asking of him, "You're really going to entrust something so valuable to a common thief like me?"

Voice thick with emotion, she said, "You can't steal something that's been given to you."

Closing her eyes for a moment, her shoulders slumped and her hands dropped, cradling her stomach before she raised her head again, met his gaze, and cleared her throat.

He studied her carefully. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm just tired and dizzy." She placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. "Zelena was a little more aggressive than I anticipated. She surprised me, that's all. The baby is fine." Although, Regina knew it was more and hoped he couldn't spot the lie. Being thrown through the clock tower would've taken it out of her before, but, now, being pregnant, her energy was sapped. She realized just how exhausted she was.

Robin instantly saw she wasn't telling the whole truth, and, with immediate concern, he grabbed her arms to help support her. "I think it's high time for you to get some rest."

Regina shook her head. "I just need to get back to my car."

She swayed slightly, and Robin stabilized her.

He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not, milady." Robin knew she was exhausted and needed rest, but he also knew she was stubborn and didn't like to admit when she needed help. So he gently prompted, "I've been in those convoluted contraptions, and, if there's one thing I know, it's that you are in no condition to operate one."

She closed her eyes, while the world sickly spun around her. "I'm open to suggestions."

"You shall stay in camp with me," he told her without room for argument.

Regina very slowly and carefully looked up at him. She gave him a tired lopsided grin. "My, aren't we a little presumptuous?"

Robin chuckled. "Actually, in addition to you and your little one's safety, I'd like for you to meet my son."

"Oh."

"So, many more protests, hmm?" He raised a challenging brow at her. "Can we go?"

Regina groaned. "I can't afford this right now. There's too much to do." Regina lightly stretched, almost afraid to make any sudden movements and swayed on the spot again.

Amused at her willfulness, he smiled, "It seems the little one disagrees, and, if you won't listen to reason... well then…"

She let out a cry somewhere between surprise and disbelief as he swept her up and effortlessly into his arms. "You are not carrying me,' she stated, although her arms were already wrapped securely around his neck.

He smiled and shook his head. "Actually, I already am."

"But…" she started in a weak protest. Surely he couldn't support her weight the entire way there? "Is it far?" she asked, relaxing her posture in surrender.

"No, it's not." With a tender smile, he said, "Just rest easy, milady. I've got you."