Quite a Common Fairy Tale
They appeared a moment later, and as the purple and white smoke cleared, Robin looked around the room instantly on guard. He didn't recognize his surroundings. They didn't appear, as he had thought, at the hospital or even in Regina's house. Instead, they stood in what seemed to be another dwelling of some kind.
There were no widows, only a fireplace in the small kitchen, a living area, and a long hallway. If he didn't know any better, he'd think they were back in the Enchanted Forest.
"Regina, love," He started, kneeling beside her crouched form. "Where are we?"
Suddenly another person appeared in the room wide eyed and smiling. "Well, it took you long enough."
Robin looked up at the blonde, instantly recognizing her from the diner. "Tinker Bell?"
"Hello, Robin." She nodded to him in a warm greeting.
Regina let out a long, slow breath, and straightening up, she put her hand on Robin's shoulder.
"It's alright, we're safe here," She assured him with a nod to the fairy.
"Here? Where's here?" Robin looked around.
"Actually, you're a lot closer to home than you think." Tink smirked up at him. "We're just inside the forest, in an enchanted tree. The fairies made it once their magic started returning after the first curse was broken. It has many spells and enchantments placed around it. No one can find it. No one can enter without permission. No one even knows it exists."
"We're inside a tree?" He looked around skeptically.
Regina groaned and leaned against Robin. "I'm sorry, but can we focus on me and not the damn tree," she said while blowing a breath out through her pursed lips.
Tinker Bell shot a look at her. "A bit testy, aren't we?" Regina glared at her, but the fairy was unaffected. "Come on. Let's get you more comfortable shall we? We have everything you need in your room."
"You had this planned all along, and you didn't tell me?" Robin asked, looking down at Regina.
She looked up at him in pained exasperation. "We just got our memories back, and up until last night – "
She didn't get a chance to finish her thought as another contraction hit her. This one stronger than all the others, nearly knocking her to her feet, but Robin's sturdy hands held her up. Regina grabbed a hold of his jacket and put her forehead on his chest as she waited for the pain to subside, gritting her teeth together.
Once it did, she carefully righted herself, with Robin's help, and glanced back at Tink. Holding her head high, the ever regal Queen said, "You mentioned something about a room? Let's get this over with."
Tink laughed and snorted as she walked over to Regina. She hugged her, then bent down, and, placing her hands on Regina's belly, she said, "I'm looking forward to meeting you, little one. You be gentle with your mama, alright?"
Tink stood back up and asked, "How long has it been?" She grinned at Regina and helped her into the other room.
"Not long and the contractions are erratic." Regina shrugged.
Robin stepped closer to her, offering support. He used one of his hands to guide her down the hall after Tink, and the other he used to hold her hand.
Tink lead them through the hollows of the massive, magical tree. They were halfway to the room when Regina gasped and immediately let of go Robin's hand, clutching her stomach. A sharp pain shot deep within her belly. She clamped her eyes shut and waited out the burning that rushed through her, counting internally through another pain. Robin rubbed her back until it ended.
Entering the bedroom, Regina gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, and Tinker Bell handed her a midnight blue, sleeveless night gown.
"I'll let you both get settled," Tinker Bell told them. "I'm going to go tell Blue and the others. They'll want to know so they can be on the lookout. I'll be back soon."
"Hang on," Robin called out as the fairy turned to leave. "My son, can you..."
"Don't worry." Tinker Bell put a hand on his arm. "I'll make sure he's safe."
"Thank you."
She nodded and left the room.
Regina looked up at Robin, breathing heavily. "He'll be fine."
He kneeled down beside her. He leaned in and gently swept a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Beads of sweat were beginning to gather at her temples and along her hairline. Robin knew this was the beginning of a very long night to end a very long day.
"Can I get you anything?" He said, rubbing his thumb along her cheek.
She shook her head. "No, but you can help me change."'
Tinker Bell returned twenty minutes later with Blue, Roland, and Friar Tuck, who refused to give up the child unless he spoke directly with Robin. Rather than upsetting the child as they were doing, they decided to bring them both along.
Regina turned to look at Robin, and he took her chin in his hand and kissed her gently. "Go check on Roland." She motioned to the door, withholding a wince.
"Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine. I've got Tinker Bell here, go."
Robin took her face gently in his hands and touched his forehead to hers. "I love you. Even though sometimes you make me angrier than anyone else has ever had the power to do, I love you more than I've loved anyone."
Regina smiled at him, and her eyes were moist. "Don't think you're out of the forest, thief. I'm sure I'll make you angry plenty of times yet."
Robin grinned at her. "I have no doubt about that, Majesty." He kissed her again on the lips, on her nose, and then on the top of her head, breathing her in before letting her know he'd be right back.
"I'll be right here," Regina said, swallowing a lump in her throat, her hand, out of his eye line, fisting in the sheets. He swept the hair away from her brow. "What have I done to deserve you?" he asked.
"Don't feel so lucky," Regina said with a mischievous look in her eye. "Fate probably figured you're the only one who can put up with me."
Robin laughed before he turned and left the room.
Robin returned fifteen minutes later and Regina had already progressed quite a bit; her water already broken. It worried him how fast it was going. With Roland, Marian was in labor for well over a day, and her labor did not start out as heavily as this seemed to be. The only assurance it gave him was that it wouldn't be too much longer now.
Blue came into the room carrying a few blankets and baby clothes with her.
"The other fairies thought you could use these." Blue smiled, setting them down lightly on a side table.
"Definitely," Tinker Bell returned.
Regina met the head fairy's eyes and took a deep breath. "'Thank you," she said. Her eyes closed once again as she paced the room. Grimacing she stopped in her tracks, placed her hand on the wall for support, and moaned.
She hadn't wanted to be touched between contractions, but Robin watched on edge, ready to be by her side the moment she needed him.
"Another one?" Robin asked, and she nodded holding out her hand to him. He pushed himself away from the wall and went to stand beside her.
She gripped his hands and clenched down. Gasping in pain, she held her breath.
"Breathe, Regina. Breathe," Tinker Bell encouraged, coming up behind her and rubbing her back.
She shook her head and held her breath as long as she could. She then exhaled and drew in a sharp breath of air until the contraction was over as she relaxed against Robin in exhaustion.
"Regina, are you sure your labor only just started?" The green fairy asked concerned.
Regina shook her head. "I'm not sure. The real pain hit at the docks, but I suppose it could have started this morning. I thought it was just a backache."
Robin looked down at her aghast. Of course it started this morning; only she would suffer in silence. He cursed her stubborn nature. "It started this morning? Why didn't you tell me?" His brow furrowed.
She growled up at him, "I didn't know that's what it was!" Regina pushed herself away from him again. Choking back a sob, she began pacing again.
Tinker Bell touched Robin's arm and whispered, "You're going to have to help her. She's not managing this well."
"What can I do?"
Tinker Bell looked at him in startled bewilderment. She hissed lowly, "You've been through this once before, haven't you?"
Robin ran a hand frustratingly through his hair. "The midwife never allowed me in."
Tinker Bell shook her head. "Well you've got to get her to concentrate on her breathing. It will help with the pain and the baby."
"My God, will this never end?" Regina cried from the other end of the room, bracing herself against the wall. She groaned as pain and pressure the likes of which she never experienced before squeezed her middle.
Robin was instantly at her side and took her into his arms. Her fist came down on his chest curling into his sweater as the next contraction bared down on her. Robin held her as she curled into the pain, breathing as best she could.
"You're doing great," Robin breathed out against her temple, rubbing long, soothing strokes down her back.
She nodded and braced herself, not trusting her voice. Focusing on her breathing and Robin's touch made all the difference.
After the pain receded, Regina pulled away from him. Her heated gaze drifted to Tinker Bell.
"I need a time frame," she suddenly barked. "How many more of these things?"
"Just a little while longer," Tinker Bell soothed as she gathered her long hair and tied it back into its messy bun.
"No." Regina shook her head and started pacing again. "I need more than that."
"I can't tell you, exactly." Tinker Bell handed Robin a cool, damp washcloth. "This is for her forehead and neck."
He started towards Regina and brought the cloth to her forehead, but she pushed it away. "Do not touch me," She hissed at him, right before she was seized by another gripping pain.
Regina cried out in agony, pushing herself further away from Robin. She lowered herself to her knees, one arm clinging to the edge of the bed, her forehead buried in the mattress, while her other hand was gripping the underside of her stomach.
Tinker Bell came over and rubbed Regina's back and encouraged, "Slow down. Deep in, slow out."
"Shhhhh," Regina commanded through clenched teeth. "Stop," she panted. "Telling me," she gasped. "To breathe."
Tinker Bell straightened, an idea coming to her. "Robin, I suggest you sit behind Regina on the bed and support her back. These are coming fast, and I think she's going to need to push soon."
He nodded, removing his extra sweater and boots. Regina blinked up at him as he leaned down, bent from his knees, wrapped his arms under her legs and around her back, and lifted.
Regina winced. She knew what she must look like. Tears leaked out of her eyes, her hair was messy in its high bun, strands of it wisped out all over. She felt sticky, everything hurt, and the pressure that was building with each contraction was almost, but not quite, unbearable.
Robin gently placed her on the bed. She gave him a tired, weak smile, and put her hand on his. But, her smile was quickly replaced with another grimace as she cried out in pain and a new contraction took her.
Tinker Bell was instantly at her side, "Breathe, Regina. You've got to breathe."
"Shhhhhh…. Mmmmm." Regina started breathing deeply, pausing every few breaths. When it was over, she said, "Shut up, moth!"
Tinker Bell ignored her and said, "Robin, sit with your back against the wall."
He did as she asked. Sliding onto the bed, he settled in behind Regina. Tinker Bell helped the groaning former Evil Queen scoot in between his legs, both of Robin's knees propped up around her, offering support. The contraction over, Regina collapsed into Robin's chest. He situated his arms under hers and covered her belly with his hands. With no more time in between contractions, she immediately grabbed onto his hands. He felt her stomach tighten, muscles clenching, and he whispered in her ear, "It'll be alright, love."
Regina closed her eyes again. When she opened them back up, tears fell, and she whispered, "Robin, I can't do this."
"Yes, you can. I promise." Robin lowered his head to the side of hers as the next contraction hit her and calmly said, "Breathe with me." He took slow, deep inhalations and then blew them back out just as slow. It took her a moment, but she eventually matched his pattern.
When the pain subsided, she relaxed her head back onto his shoulder for a minute and then looked up. Her eyes were red and tired, she was very pale.
Her eyes searched his. "Are you okay?" she asked him.
He exhaled dramatically, relief flooding him, and he chuckled. "Yeah, I'm alright. Thankfully, you are too."
"That's a matter of opinion."
Closing his eyes, he snuggled against her. "But you will be." Quietly, he whispered, "You really had me terrified, you know. I thought I'd really lost you. No more curses."
Regina gave him a half-hearted laugh. "You'll get no arguments from me."
He rested his lips against her temple, his chest shaking from silent laughter. "That'll be a first." He breathed with pure relief.
She chuckled, but it turned into another pained groan. "Here it comes." She gripped his hands, her body tensing through the contraction.
"Relax." Robin started his slow breathing again and Regina joined him. He had an idea to help soothe her. "Do you know when I first fell in love with you, my lady?" His nickname for her whispered into her ear.
Tink even perked up a bit, having never heard this story.
"Yes." Regina exhaled, her breath and voice shaky. "You said it was after I saved Roland from that flying monkey." Regina's grip on his knees tightened as she breathed through the end of her contraction. "I said, I don't run from monsters. They run from me." She laughed weakly.
Robin shook his head slightly, his chin brushing against the side of her face.
"I love you for many reasons, Regina, but I fell in love with you that evening in the courtyard. The night you agreed to danced with me under the stars." Robin soothed her as contractions built and built, preparing her body for what was to come. He calmed with whispers and feather like touches. "When the princess sent me out to find you that night, I never thought –" He cleared his throat. "I'd never thought you'd looked more beautiful than you did that night."
His hands massaged her back, and she groaned through another pain. Sweat plastering their clothes to their bodies. Heat building between them. "Until now that is."
Regina chuckled. "You're such a terrible liar."
"I may be a thief, but I never lie. Especially to you," Robin told her while he used a wet rag to wipe her brow.
Tinker Bell smiled. "You see, Regina, I told you, pixie dust never lies. And, on that happy note, I almost forgot. I have something for the two of you."
Tink reached into the bag of pixie dust at her waist. She rummaged around before pulling out two matching rings. "Don't think I forgot about these. When you broke the curse, they were the first things I checked on." The fairy handed them to Robin.
He held them in the palm of his hand before smiling down at Regina.
"Thank you, Miss Bell." Robin said, sliding his wedding ring back onto his finger.
"You better hold onto mine," Regina said wincing. She remembered giving both of their rings to the fairy for safe keeping before Zelena's memory potion could steal away the last year of their life. "I wore it on a chain before the curse brought us here." She said, pointing to her slightly swollen wedding finger. She was about to say "thank you" to Tinker Bell when her voice was caught in her throat and instead it came out a strangled cry.
Regina doubled over, and Robin moved up to support her. When it was over, she exhaled and relaxed back against him again. "I'm getting tired of this."
Sweat was pouring from her forehead, her face was red and scrunched up in pain, and her hair was damp. She was a wreck, but, to Robin, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
He took another cold rag from Tinker Bell and wiped it over Regina's brow. She shooed it away this time. Her skin was now hypersensitive and anything touching her made her irritable, "or more irritable," as the fairy amended so helpfully.
Robin bent around and kissed her sweetly. She tried to kiss him back, but another realm-shattering contraction hit at that moment, making her cry out against his lips.
"Fffffffuuuucckk!" The expletive left Regina's mouth, her back arched off the bed, and Robin's eyes widened.
Tinker Bell moved forward to check on Regina's progress. Bracing his legs on either side of her, Robin helped hold Regina's knees.
Robin was relieved he had something constructive to do. He wasn't just sitting out in the hall, waiting, biting his nails until a midwife could fetch him, or until he heard the cry of his newborn babe through walls. No. He was here, exactly where he was meant to be, with Regina between his legs, her back against his chest. From here, he could whisper in her ear, tell her how much he loved her, how magnificent she was, and that it was almost over.
"Let me know when it starts to hurt again, but you're about ready to start pushing," Tinker Bell said.
"When it starts to hurt again?" Regina cried out, her tongue still sharp. "There is no end to this torture, everything hurts. All the time. It never ends."
"Isn't this going a little too fast?" Robin asked.
"If she was in labor this morning, then she's been doing this for a little more than twelve hours. That's normal." The fairy looked over at Regina. "When the next pain starts, Regina, I want you to take a deep breath and push steadily until I say stop."
Regina nodded tiredly, barely hearing the fairies voice. Her head back against Robin's chest, she was just so tired. The contractions were coming fast, one almost starting before the previous one finished. Surely, it must be over soon.
She whimpered as the pain began anew. "Here it comes."
"Fine. Now a deep breath and push, Regina." Tinker Bell nodded.
Regina groaned and pushed back against Robin.
After a moment Tinker Bell said, "Stop now, Regina."
But she didn't stop.
Robin, tried to help. "Breathe, love. Don't push anymore."
Regina growled, "Stop pushing…how the hell do I do that?! You try it." The pain increased, and though Regina knew the end was near she didn't know how much longer she could continue. "Oh my god, just make it stop."
"You are doing great, Regina. Now rest for a moment," The fairy soothed.
Regina took a breath, ready for a break, but one never came. "I can't," she shouted. The contractions were now on top of one another.
Regina surprised Robin then, pushing back against him with such force that he was crushed between her and the wall, barely able to breathe. "That's it, Regina. Another big push. You're doing so well."
She let out a moan and slumped back against him, gasping.
"Almost there, love," Robin was whispering breathlessly into her ear, completely awestruck by what was happening. "You're almost done."
"I see the head, and she's got loads of dark hair," Tinker Bell smiled up at her, but Regina was still breathing too quickly, so she added, "Slow your breathing, Regina."
Regina forced her lungs to fill and then pushed the air out slowly.
Robin let go of her legs and wiped her damp hair away from her forehead. He kissed her temple and said, "It's almost over, my love. Nearly there."
"Okay, Regina. She'll be out with the next push."
She was exhausted. Her body felt heavy, she was just so tired. Regina shook her head. "I can't do this anymore."
"Yes, you can Regina. You can do anything." He kissed her temple again. "You heard Tinker Bell, one more push, and she'll be here."
"It hurts so much." Tears poured down Regina's cheeks.
"I know, love, but it's almost over. One more. One more, and she'll be in your arms." Robin grabbed her legs and whispered in her ear, "Are you ready to meet your daughter?"
"Our daughter." At that, Regina's eyes opened, and she felt a renewed sense of purpose. She nodded, then gathering all of her strength, put her hands over his. She took three deep breaths, and then pushed hard, crying out. As soon as the baby passed through, Regina fell back against Robin in exhaustion.
Suddenly there was a loud cry that filled the air, and Regina smiled, forgetting the pain felt only seconds ago. Her daughter was here. Tinker Bell smiled, and taking her wand, she cut the cord. Once the infant was separated from her mother, Tink gently laid her small, slippery body on Regina. Holding her, Regina laughed and cried as their tiny daughter squirmed against her.
Robin sat back speechless as he saw their child for the first time. Once she got settled on Regina's chest, she quieted and opening her small eyes, started looking around.
"Oh, Robin, look at her." Regina stared down in awe.
"She's beautiful," his voice was rough with emotion.
Hearing the waiver there,, she looked up at Robin and noticed a couple of tears running down his face. She kissed one of them away and said, "I love you."
"Oh, Regina, I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell you just how much I love you, but I will spend the rest of my days trying," he vowed.
Tinker Bell draped a warmed blanket over Regina and the newborn, giving Regina a smiling nod. "You're both fine. Perfect in fact."
Leaning forward, Robin kissed her hair.
"Can you believe it?" she asked him, still in awe. "We made her." Gazing down at her baby and stroked her soft cheek with one finger. The cherubic face turned towards Regina's touch, trying to capture it with her mouth. She must have been hungry, the touch triggering her instincts, her little mouth hunting for nourishment.
With her shock of dark hair and blue eyes, she was the perfect blend of them both, and Regina couldn't take her eyes off her. It was love at first sight and a bond formed that would never be broken.
Tinker Bell looked on smiling, tears streaming down her face as she thought of the young, lonely Queen she'd saved long, long ago.
Pixie dust never lies.
Their daughter entered the world two hours and seventeen minutes after they'd appeared in the magical hollow of the tree. She was now four hours old, a perfect, healthy, beautiful girl.
After Regina fed the baby, she cuddled up beside Robin as he held their daughter while Blue updated them on the Wicked Witch, who was biding her time keeping quiet for now. Blue assured them that all was fine and passed on well wishes from everyone..
Tinker Bell and Blue placed a healing spell to aid Regina's recovery, but they told her it would more than likely be another couple days before she would be out defeating any witches. Regina sighed impatiently. She could do nothing but wait, something that she'd never been particularly good at. She didn't know what her sister was planing and that terrified her, but she relented that she wasn't strong enough. Not yet, anyway. It wouldn't be long now. Regina was anxious to face Zelena and take her family home.
"Regina, I'm sure they have everything well in hand," Robin told her gently.
"I know, I just wish I could go to sleep at night and not worry about someone I love being taken away from me, Robin. I really hate doing nothing."
He understood how she felt. "I know. It won't be long now, and Henry is safely tucked away at home with Emma under your protection spell. Everything will be fine." Robin said, shifting his daughter in his arms. Their baby was the image of her mother, dark haired with large eyes that could enchant anyone. "Think of this as a lesson in patience," he whispered.
"Patience?" she asked.
"And fortitude."
He smiled as she glowered at him.
Regina leaned back onto the headboard, exhausted but exhilarated. She watched Robin as his eyes stared in wonder at the downy haired infant in his arms. The baby was fast asleep. Her face was soft and angelic, and her little rosebud mouth was making small sucking motions.
Tinker Bell stood in the background holding Roland, who took to the fairy, making instant friends with her after the birth. They both were looking back and forth quietly between the two parents.
"We need to think of a name." Robin glanced up at Regina.
She sat up a little and looked at Robin and her daughter. "You're right. We do.
"We talked about several names we both liked back in the Enchanted Forest." Robin smiled.
Robin gave Regina a questioning look as he placed the baby in her arms. "Yes, but we never made a decision. And, Robin, I'm not sure I really like any of those now." She looked at the baby in her arms. "Somehow none of them fit her."
Tinker Bell sat down beside Regina shifting the boy on her lap, looking down at the baby. Without looking up she suggested, "I've always been partial to the name Willow."
"Willow," Regina echoed softly, trying on the name for size, and looked down at her little girl. "Like the tree?"
"The Willow Trees of the Enchanted Forest, which the Fairies believe are graceful, lithe, and amazingly resilient." Nodding to the baby, she said, "She looks to be just like her mother, who is as beautiful and resilient as the tree itself."
"Willow of Locksley." Robin smiled. "I like it."
Regina pulled back the blanket to look at her daughter. "What do you think, little one?" Her daughter's eyes opened and intently held her gaze. She smiled. "Tink," Regina cooed. "Don't get too excited when I say this," Her gaze meeting the green fairy's. "But, thank you." Regina's gaze turned back to her daughter's as she played with the soft curls of her hair.
The fairy glowed at Regina, a silent understanding passed between them. This child was special indeed. Tinker Bell had known of the prophecy of her parents for many, many years. But Regina had been too stubborn to accept her fate and had been intent on nothing but getting her own revenge. Then fate intervened, as fate tends to do, in the fairy's opinion, anyway.
"My pleasure, Regina." Tinker Bell looked very pleased with herself.
Tears suddenly burned in Regina's eyes, but she smiled broadly and nodded. "This couldn't be more perfect. You were right. A happy ending really wasn't so bad." She reached out and stroked a finger across her daughter's soft, downy hair. "Tinker Bell, meet Willow."
The baby was asleep again, and Regina cradled her in her arms before motioning for Tinker Bell to hold her. Roland got down from the fairy's lap and crawled over the bed to sit between Robin and Regina.
Regina smiled as she watched the young fairy tuck the small bundle up in the crook of her arm as if she'd done it a hundred times before. Tink looked in wonder at the child slumbered in her care, studying the small face and running her finger gently down the baby's soft cheek. She glanced up, grinning broadly at Regina and Robin.
Tinker Bell smiled at the baby. ""Welcome, Willow."