Chapter 22: Confrontation
Regina stood in the apartment, looking it over with tears in her eyes. It was stripped of furniture, most of which was going to storage until they could figure out what exactly they wanted to do with it. Her father's favorite armchair and his bedroom set were heading to Nottingham as was Regina's bedroom set.
Now it was just a series of empty rooms—a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms and a full bathroom with a crawl space in the little hallway off the living room. Yet there were still so many memories here, some bad but most very good. She hugged herself as she took her last looks at her childhood home.
She felt Robin behind her, hovering as if he wanted to comfort her but didn't want to intrude. "You can come closer. I don't bite."
"I thought you might want to be alone," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "You've spent a long time here."
Regina nodded. "I grew up here. This was always my space safe. But it's time to move on. I have a new safe space now. A new home."
"I really hope you're talking about Nottingham," he teased, breath tickling her ear.
She chuckled. "Actually, I was talking about your arms."
"Even better." He kissed her cheek. "Are you ready, lovely, or do you need a few more moments?"
"I think I need a few more moments. I'll meet you all at the van, okay?" She turned and hugged him.
He held onto her. "If you need me, just send a text. I'll come right back up."
"Thanks. But I should be fine." She kissed his cheek before watching him leave the apartment.
Regina turned and took one last look at the place where she learned how to walk, how to talk, and everything else after that. She cried many tears in these rooms but so much more laughter. It had been home once upon a time but now as she stood there, she knew Nottingham was where she really belonged. She hoped whoever rented the apartment next had just a good life in it as she had.
She took a deep breath and flipped off the lights. "Goodbye," she whispered before leaving the apartment for the last time.
The landlord met her downstairs, collecting her keys. He gave her a tight smile. "Good luck."
"Thank you," she said. "You'll want to fix the light in the bathroom before renting the place. I doubt the next tenant will put up with the buzzing for as long as we did."
He looked sheepish but she breezed past him, taking Robin's hand. "Let's go home," she said.
"Absolutely," he said, kissing her. He held open the door to his Camaro and she climbed in, surprised to see Emma already there.
"Sorry. There was no more room in the truck. So I'm bunking with you and Robin," Emma explained. "He has a nice ride."
Robin chuckled as he climbed in. "Thank you. I like to treat myself sometimes."
"I've seen your house. I live there now."
"And so you're surprised I have a nice car?" He glanced back at her, raising his eyebrow.
Regina tapped his arm. "Eyes forward. No wonder Will drives you everywhere."
"Sorry," he replied, looking back onto the road. "Marian also used to do all the driving as well."
"Maybe you should get a car again, Regina," Emma suggested.
Regina rolled her eyes. "You just want me to do that so you can borrow it and I can make all the payments on it."
"Oh, come on," she protested. Regina, though, wasn't fooled.
"What if I got you both cars?" Robin offered.
"No," Regina said at the same time Emma replied, "Sure."
She glared at her blonde friend before turning back to Robin. "You don't have to get us anything."
"But do you want a car?"
"Yes," she admitted. "I like Will and all, but it would be nice to drive myself some places, you know? But that doesn't mean you have to buy me one, Robin Locksley. I won't be some kept woman."
Regina was determined about that. She had come to accept that Robin's gifts to her did not come with strings, that he gave them to her because he loved her and wanted nothing more than to see her smile. Yet she didn't want him to buy her everything. There were things she wanted the satisfaction of earning her own money to buy.
Of course, Robin paid her that money but she ignored that for now.
"I would never consider you one," he said, glancing at her. "You're an independent woman, Regina, and I love that. Don't feel you can't tell me to back off, okay?"
She nodded. "And I promise not to fight you every time you try to be nice to me. It's just…a car is a pretty big gift…"
"And something Leo gave you," he replied. "I remember that."
Regina sighed, closing her eyes. Ever since David had told her about Mary Margaret, she felt like Leo was haunting her life and she hadn't properly banished him like she had thought. "I hate this," she whispered.
He rubbed her leg. "It'll be okay, Regina. He won't haunt you forever."
"It feels like it," she admitted.
"When's your next session with Dr. Espenson?" Emma asked. "Maybe you should talk with her about it."
Regina nodded. "I know. And I will. I see her in a couple days. I'll be fine until then."
"Good," Emma replied, leaning back in the chair as Robin turned up the long drive that would lead them to the mansion.
He pulled up by the door that led into the kitchen. "You ladies hop out while I put this in the garage," he said.
Regina did as he suggested, following Emma into the house. She heard little feet against the wood floors right before Roland burst into the room, smiling brightly. "Mom!"
The word made her stomach flutter and her heart skip a beat. Regina smiled as she opened her arms to him. "There's my little knight."
He hugged her, pressing his face against her middle. "I missed you."
"Did you have fun with Mr. Henry?" she asked him, rocking him gently as he continued to hold onto her.
Roland nodded. "He did some magic tricks and then we watched a movie together."
"Well, it sounds like you had an exciting morning," Robin replied, entering the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around her and Roland.
Emma started to back out of the room, smiling. "I'm going to go check on Henry. Leave you alone for a bit."
"You're family too," Regina reminded her.
"I know," she replied, her eyes sparkling. "But I think you all want to be alone for a bit. I don't mind."
Regina rested her head on Robin's shoulder once she was gone. "I guess she was right. I do want some alone time with you."
"I think you and this little one should take a nap." Robin pressed his hand to her stomach. "You both have had busy mornings."
She wanted to protest, but she felt herself drifting off standing up. "I guess a nap wouldn't hurt."
"Roland, do you want to join Regina and me for a nap?" he asked the boy.
"No," he replied. "I'm not sleepy. I'll go keep Mr. Henry and Miss Emma company."
They watched him dart into the living room before Robin scooped her up, holding her close. "Shall we go to bed?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You going to carry me the entire way?"
"Of course." He headed toward the stairs, taking them carefully. Regina leaned against him, reminding herself that she could let him pamper her every now and then. If he wanted to carry her to bed, then he could do just that.
She was definitely not going to complain.
Robin woke a couple hours later when his stomach growled. He turned his head, finding Regina was still asleep beside him. She lay on her side, a hand tucked under her pillow as she clutched the blanket closer to her. He kissed her forehead before climbing out of bed, off to find something to eat.
There were two sandwiches in the fridge, one labelled "Regina" and one labelled "Robin" in Will's familiar scrawl. He took his and grabbed a beer, heading out to the patio where he could tell the others had gathered.
Emma chased Roland around, both dressed in t-shirts and loose shorts that were soaked from the water in the plastic guns they held. They laughed as they fired, each hitting the other easily. Robin smiled as he took a seat next to Henry, who was resting in his wheelchair with a light blanket over his legs. Tubes ran into his nostrils, delivering oxygen from a canister attached to the back of the chair.
Henry watched Robin as he took his seat. "Thank you, again, for letting us move in with you. I have to say, it's nice to be able to go outside so easily."
"The pleasure is all mine," Robin replied. "There's a reason I built such a big house, after all."
"And it's the least you could do after knocking up my daughter," Henry added.
Robin felt the color drain from his face, knowing this was the conversation he had been dreading. "Look, I know we didn't plan this and we probably should've been more careful, but I assure you that I am dedicated to Regina and our child."
Henry laughed. "I was teasing you, Robin. I know you love Regina and you will all be a great family."
"That family includes you, you know," Robin reminded him. "You and Emma."
"I know." He glanced out, smiling at Roland. "Regina loves that boy. We all do."
Robin grinned. "Roland is very lovable. He gets that from his mother."
"Don't sell yourself short." Henry gave him a pointed look.
"I'll second that," Regina said, placing her hand against his back as she placed a plate with her own sandwich down on the table. She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
He smiled up at her. "How was your nap?"
"Very enjoyable," she replied. "And very rejuvenating."
She then turned to her father. "How are you, Daddy?"
"I'm fine. Getting some fresh air in addition to the canned stuff." Henry pointed to the canister behind him.
Roland ran up to them, grinning as water dripped off his curls. "Do you guys want to play with me and Miss Emma?"
"I think that sounds like a lot of fun," Regina said. "Just let me finish my sandwich, okay?"
He nodded before turning to Robin, leaning on his shoulder. "What about you, Papa? Are you going to play too?"
Laughing, Robin nodded. "Of course. I would be crazy to miss all this fun."
"See? I told you they would want to join in," Emma replied, jogging up to the deck. Roland grinned up at her, nodding.
"This is going to be great," he said, sitting on Robin's lap. He leaned against his father's chest. "I like having everyone living here."
Robin kissed his wet curls. "It certainly is a lot more fun now, isn't it?"
"Yep! I love having a big family." Roland grinned at them all and Robin was certain they were all piles of goo.
As he glanced around the table, Robin had to silently echo the sentiments.
It was everything he had wanted.
"Regina? Regina, sweetheart, I need you to wake up," Robin said, shaking her. She moaned, comfortable and too sleepy, and batted his hand away.
He continued to shake her, undeterred. "I'm sorry, Regina. I would let you sleep but John is here. He needs to talk to you."
She moaned again but opened her eyes, finding Robin kneeling in front of the couch. Blinking her eyes a few times, she glanced at the clock behind him and found her quick cat nap had turned into a three-hour rest. She was going to owe Emma for entertaining Roland during that time, she knew.
Robin smiled at her, still dressed in his suit from work. "There you are. Think you can sit up?"
"Yes. I am pregnant, not sick," she said, though she was still grateful when he supported her as she sat up on the couch.
John stood there, smiling at the two of them. "ADA Pendragon contacted my office. He wanted to set up a conference with Regina and agreed that you could go, Robin. I think that's a good sign."
Regina grabbed Robin's hand. "When's the conference?"
"Two days from now at eleven," John replied. "I can meet you at the courthouse."
"What do you think they'll want to talk about?" Robin asked, lacing his fingers with hers.
John shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I imagine they'll probably want to make a deal for Regina to testify or they may try to convince Blanchard Financials to drop the charges, that it's not worth it."
"So it might be over?" she asked, hope filling her.
He nodded. "I think so."
"Thank God," she breathed out in relief, sagging against Robin. "I'll be so happy when it is. Then I can really, truly put this ugly chapter behind me."
Robin stood, smiling at his friend. "Thanks for letting us know. Do you need to prep us for anything?"
"I don't think so," John replied. "I guess I'll leave you all to your dinner."
"Why don't you join us?" Regina offered, standing as well.
He smiled. "If it won't be an imposition."
"Of course not," Robin said before yelling: "Right, Will?"
"Right! And no need to yell. The intercom works perfectly fine," Will's voice said, sounding like it came from all around them.
Robin made a face. "The intercom system. Of course that's how he does it. Why didn't I think of that before?"
She shook her head, motioning for John to head into the dining room. "Come on. He'll probably be marveling over that for a while."
"Hey!" Robin followed behind as she shared a laugh with John. He wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing the side of her head before they took their seats at the table.
Regina stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her wet hair and her pajamas clinging to her damp body. The carpet cushioned her bare feet as she padded toward his bed, happily crawling under the covers. She picked up her book and settled in for a good hour of reading.
Moira crept up the stairs as quietly as possible, trying to keep the Man in Gray in her sights without him catching on that she was following him. It was the last thing she needed. Her heart pounded in her chest with every step. They were almost at the top and she'll finally learn why he had come to the furthest corner of this drafty castle.
He stopped on the top step and glanced over his shoulder. Moira pressed herself against the stone wall, a chill creeping through her coat. She held her breath, praying he didn't see her.
The Man in Gray pulled out a knife, creeping back down the stairs. "I know you're there," he called out. "Best show yourself. Maybe I won't hurt you then."
She didn't move, praying he would think he imagined everything and go away. As he grew closer, she bit the inside of her cheek as she tried not to cry.
He reached out, his hand closing around her wrist…
"Regina?"
She let out a little yell as she dropped the book. Her heart pounded and she looked around, relaxing when she saw Robin standing next to the bed. She pressed her hand to her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry," he said, climbing onto the bed. "I didn't realize how engrossed in your book you were."
"That's okay. It's what I get for reading mysteries anyway." She set the book down on the nightstand before rolling closer to him.
He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. "Is it a good story?"
"So far, yes." She toyed with the hem of his shirt. "Is Roland in bed?"
"Yes. He missed you but I said that you needed your rest. We have a big day tomorrow."
Regina nodded before whispering: "I'm scared. What if things don't go my way when we get there?"
He rubbed her arm. "Don't think like that, lovely. We need to be positive."
"I know. And I'm trying. It's still something I need to get used to," she confessed.
Robin kissed her head. "It's okay. I know it's going to take some time and I'll support you the entire time."
She smiled, tilting her head up to kiss him. He kissed her back, tangling his fingers into her hair as their kiss deepened. Robin swept her mouth with his tongue and she moaned into the kiss as she sank into the mattress, pulling him with her.
He hovered over her, hands pressing into the mattress on either side of her. Regina broke the kiss, nuzzling his nose. "Touch me," she whispered.
Robin paused, frowning. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she replied, tugging on his shirt. "Touch. Me."
He kissed her, sliding his hands under her shirt until he reached her breasts. She sighed into the kiss as his warm palms cupped them, thumbs teasing her nipples. He also slid a knee between her legs and she bucked against them, creating a dull pleasure low in her core.
Robin kissed along her jaw until he reached her neck. She buried her fingers in his hair, gasping as he hit a pressure point. "Right there."
As he continued to suck there, she let her eyes close and surrendered herself to the sensations. She wasn't ready to do more than this with him yet but she knew this was a good start.
A very good start.
Regina smoothed down her charcoal gray pencil skirt as her heels clicked against the stone steps of the courthouse. "You sure I look fine?" she asked Robin.
"Absolutely," he assured her, taking her hands in his. "I told you that before we left the house too. Why won't you believe me?"
"Because I could wear clashing colors, mix vertical and horizontal stripes, amongst several other fashion don'ts and you would still think me beautiful." She crossed her arms, glaring at him.
He smirked at her, pulling her in for a hug. "While that was true, I would make sure you didn't look like that. I promise."
"I know. I guess I'm also nervous," she admitted. "John may be convinced they're going to drop the charges but…life tends to kick me around. I can't be as certain."
Robin stroked her hair. "I know, lovely. But from what I can tell, you've always kicked back. You have been as well and I'll help you kick. We'll get you what you deserve—happiness and freedom."
She held him tighter, closing her eyes as she leaned against him. He rubbed her back and she felt her nerves loosen up. "Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you by my side."
"I'll always be by your side," he whispered. "For as long as you want me there."
Regina smiled, figuring forever would be long enough.
Maybe not.
"Sorry I'm late," John said, huffing as he jogged up to them. "Lots of traffic for the summer."
"It's okay. Just as long as you're here now," Regina said, pulling away from Robin. She gave John a hug before he shook Robin's hand.
John glanced up at the clock. "We should head up. Worst case scenario, we cool our heels in a conference room for a bit."
"As long as their coffee is decent, I don't mind," Robin quipped, taking her hand as they followed John onto the elevator.
They stepped off and were greeted by a petite Latina in a crème skirt suit, her dark hair pulled back into a bun. She smiled at them. "Miss Mills? Mr. Locksley?"
"Yes," they said at the same time.
"My name is Guinevere Leodegrance, but I know that's a mouthful. You can just call me Gwen. I'm another ADA and I've been asked by District Attorney Bleu to help ADA Pendragon with this case," she said.
"Nice to meet you," Regina replied, shaking her hand.
Guinevere motioned for them to follow her. "Arthur is already in the conference room so we can get started right away."
They followed her into the room, which gave Regina pause. One wall was just windows, looking out over Storybrooke, with a clear glass table in the center surrounded by black leather chairs. It reminded her of the room at Blanchard Financials where Leo and Gold had fired her.
"Regina?" Robin prompted softly. He leaned closer. "Are you okay?"
"Just had a moment," she replied.
He rubbed her back. "Take a deep breath. In and out."
She followed his instructions, feeling the panic recede. Nodding, she followed Robin to take a seat across from the Assistant District Attorneys. "Sorry," she said.
"Nothing to apologize for," Guinevere assured her before opening a file. "We've been combing through all the information you have provided us, Mr. Littleton."
"It is quite…illuminating," Arthur added. "However, we'd like to hear it from Regina. If you don't mind, Ms. Mills."
Regina gripped Robin's hand tighter. "Do I have to? It's…It's traumatizing."
"Did you listen to the tapes?" John asked them, jaw tense. "Cause I sure as hell did."
Guinevere nodded, almost pushing Arthur aside. "I did. And what I heard…I apologize, Ms. Mills that we won't be able to prosecute the bastard, but unfortunately, the statute of limitations…"
"I understand," Regina replied softly.
"I'm sorry," Guinevere repeated. "And we won't force you to talk about it. We'll ask you whatever questions we have and just need some collaboration for. Okay?"
Regina glanced up at John, who nodded. She took a deep breath. "I think I can do that. So…okay."
Guinevere opened the file. "It's clear from your emails that Leopold was blackmailing you by threatening your loved ones. Did he ever make specific threats?"
"Yes," she answered. "He threatened to get both my father and my friend Emma fired from their jobs as well as get the funding to my then fiancé's organization cut."
"Was this possible?"
Regina nodded. "Leopold knew the CEO of my father's company and sat on several boards of organizations that gave grants to people like my former fiancé. As for Emma…I'm not sure, but I didn't want to take any chances."
"Besides, look what happened to poor Michael Tillman," Robin added, lacing his fingers with hers.
"We'll be talking with Mr. Tillman later," Arthur said. "Can we continue with our questions?"
Regina didn't appreciate his tone and preferred Guinevere's approach but she bit her tongue and answered their questions as best she could. Sometimes John advised her on what to say but for the most part, she just told them everything that had happened over ten years ago.
Snapping his file shut, Arthur clasped his hands together. "Now, Miss Mills, let's discuss immunity."
"What?" John frowned as he sat up straighter. "I'm sorry, why are we discussing something other than full exoneration?"
"Believe me, we tried to get it for her. Well, most of us." Guinevere glared at Arthur, who stared at his hands. "The problem is that Regina's name was on all the transactions and even your own evidence shows she made them, even if she was coerced."
Regina looked up at John, panicked. "What does that mean?"
"It means that whoever they want you to turn state's evidence again will use you for reasonable doubt, though that would happen whether you're exonerated or you have immunity," John explained.
"You're not going to get Blanchard Financials to turn against Leo or Gold," Regina said, realizing what he meant as she turned back to the ADAs. "Nat Cole will never allow it. He thinks Leo is perfect and beyond reproach."
"Well, it may not be up to him," Arthur replied, a dangerous glint in his eyes that told her he was out for rich blood.
John scowled. "Regina wants to help you but I also need assurances that if Nat Cole does manage to block you from getting the big fish I see you salivating over, you won't come back for her blood."
"Of course we won't," Guinevere replied. "And if we have Regina's cooperation, we can get those big fish. We can only give her immunity, not full exoneration."
"I think we need to talk this over," John said.
She nodded. "Of course. We'll give you a few days."
"Just a couple more questions, though," Arthur added. "Why did Gold come forward ten years after the fact?"
Robin shifted in his seat. "That was my doing. I went poking around in Regina's past without her knowledge and it made Gold uncomfortable."
"We haven't put all the pieces together, but we do know my mother, Cora Ozgreene got involved as well. She tried to blackmail me into framing someone else for my sister's embezzlement but I refused. I don't know what Gold gets or was promised to work with her, though," Regina finished.
Guinevere jotted it down. "Well, I think we have everything. You'll get back to us about the immunity deal, Mr. Littleton?"
John nodded and motioned for Regina and Robin to stand up. They all rose and John shook Guinevere's hand. "Thank you for believing my client."
"Thank you for all that evidence. If Blanchard Financials wants justice, we'll make sure the right people are punished," Guinevere said.
After shaking hands, John ushered them back toward the elevators. Regina's stomach still felt tied up in knots as nothing about her fate had really been determined, even though it was clear jail wasn't in her future. She just wished she knew what would happen once and for all.
She slowed down as she spied a tall, dark-haired man in an outdated and ill-fitting black suit. His gray eyes narrowed as she approached and he stood, scowling at her. "Well, well, well. I thought I smelled bitch."
"Michael," she said, clutching Robin's hand. "I am so sorry…"
Fire filled his eyes. "No! No, don't tell me you're sorry. You got to live your life for the past ten years. I was in prison and my wife died."
She swallowed. "I know, I just found out."
"So you also know my children had to go into foster care, right?" he asked. "That they were shuffled from family to family?"
"I just found that out as well."
He nodded. "Looking into me to see if I'll come forward and testify against you?"
"No, not at all…" she protested.
Michael stepped closer and Robin positioned himself between her and him. It didn't stop Michael, who pointed at her. "Your life has no doubt been golden. I'm a mechanic, what are you?"
"A nanny," Regina replied. "I've been exiled from finance for over a decade myself."
That seemed to surprise Michael but it didn't diminish his anger. "Am I supposed to suddenly think you're some type of victim? Let me ask your husband. How has her life been, Daniel?"
Robin met his gaze, steel against fire. "I'm not Daniel. I know you've been wronged, Mr. Tillman, and you might not want to hear it, but Regina has been victimized herself. Not necessarily the same way as you, but just as bad. You have every right to be angry, but I'm telling you you're directing it at the wrong person. You should be directing it to Leopold Blanchard and Edgar Gold."
"You do know she was Leopold Blanchard's whore, right?" Michael spat out. "Probably Gold's as well."
"Robin, no." Regina stopped him as he lunged for Michael. She pulled him back. "Let's just go. He has a right to be angry. You said it yourself."
A muscle in his neck twitched. "Yes, but it doesn't mean he had the right to call you that."
"It's what she is though," Michael continued. "Everyone knew she spent a lot of time with them. Why else would she do that?"
"Well, you know what they say about assuming," Robin shot back, taking Regina's hand as Guinevere hurried toward him.
The lawyer stepped between them, her brown eyes focused on Michael. "Mr. Tillman, we're ready for you. If you'll follow me."
"We should really head out as well," John said, urging Regina and Robin toward the elevator as it opened. They boarded and Michael glared at them as he passed with Guinevere.
The doors closed and Regina sagged against Robin, who was still seething. She rubbed his arm. "Don't let Michael get to you."
"The fact he called you Leopold's…it would boil my blood even if I didn't know what that man had truly done to you."
She smiled. "My own white knight?"
"I believe that's Roland," he said, anger seeping out of him. "But still…"
"I've been called worse," she told him as the doors opened at the lobby. "I can handle that."
He took a deep breath as they stepped off. "I guess Mr. Tillman won't be too receptive to discussing possible employment at Sherwood then."
Regina shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
"Oh well," he replied, holding the door for her. She walked past him and figured the conversation was over.
Robin sank into the hot tub, the jets working out the kinks in his back. He sighed as he stretched out his arms and closed his eyes. This felt like heaven.
"Do you have room for one more in there?" he heard Regina asked. He opened his eyes to find her standing at the edge of the hot tub in her red bikini. Swallowing, he nodded and she stepped in.
She pressed herself against him and he wrapped his arm around her. Robin kissed her hair, taking in her vanilla scent. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I think so," she replied. "I know you were hoping for full exoneration but I think immunity is a miracle. I technically stole the money. I should be punished."
"I think you've been punished enough." Robin swallowed down his anger as he thought of the dark secrets she had lived with for over a decade.
She sighed. "Some people would disagree."
"If by some people, you mean Michael Tillman…Well, there are many things I could say about him."
"Let's not think about him," she replied, patting his chest. "Let's think about more pleasant things."
Robin slid his arm down her body until his hand rested on her stomach. "Like the little peanut also enjoying this hot tub with us?"
She let out a soft snort. "Did you just call our child a peanut?"
"Isn't that how big he or she is now?"
"I don't think he or she is there yet," Regina replied. "Are you going to make this a habit? Calling the baby 'peanut'?"
He shrugged, nuzzling her. "Why not? We don't have to pick a gender term to use nor do we have to worry about a name just yet. All we have to do is say 'peanut' instead."
"I am not calling my baby 'peanut'," Regina insisted, frowning.
"Okay," he said, rubbing her arm. "We don't have to call him or her anything but the baby."
She was silent for a bit before responding: "Bean. I call him 'bean' in my head. Because I imagine he's as big as a coffee bean and it sticks. We can call the baby 'Bean.'"
"Bean," Robin tried it out, letting it roll around his mouth. He then nodded. "I like it. Much better than peanut."
Regina rested her head on his shoulder, placing her hand over his heart. "Do you want to find out the sex or wait for birth?"
"Marian and I chose to find out the sex. And I'll admit, I preferred it that way. It helped us decorate and shop and just plan in general. However, I can see the allure of waiting and being surprised. So I will support whatever you want," he said.
"I want to know," she replied. "I feel better knowing and being able to plan."
Relief spread through Robin, as he had wanted to know the gender but hadn't want to push her. He nodded. "Then we'll find out. I've heard of gender reveal parties. Perhaps we should have one."
"I think we have a few months to plan that," she replied with a chuckle. "Let's get through everything on our plate now."
He nodded. "Fair enough."
She began rubbing his leg. "I really appreciate you being there for me, Robin. I don't know if I could do all of this without you."
"You wouldn't have to do any of this without me," he replied, the guilt gnawing at him again.
"Maybe, maybe not," she said. "Perhaps it was inevitable that this came back up. And it came back up now because I have you to support me."
"So you're saying it was all about timing?"
She hummed, pressing kisses along his jaw. He reached over and turned off the jets. "Come on, lovely. I think we'll be more comfortable in bed."
"Okay." Regina let him help her out of the tub and he wrapped her in a fluffy towel. She leaned into his embrace, kissing up his neck until she reached his cheek. "Try to remember that you're the hero in my story, Robin, not the bad guy. Okay?"
He chuckled, bumping his nose with hers. "Okay. But you are hardly a damsel in distress, Regina Mills."
"Damn right," she said, turning in his arms to give him a hard and passionate kiss. Robin scooped her up between kisses and carried her to their room with a lightness in each step, their hands roaming each other in hot caresses.
Regina came down late the next morning. Henry frowned at her from his spot on the couch, a talk show playing on the TV. "Are you alright, my dear?"
"My morning sickness was pretty bad," she admitted, hand against her stomach. "I think Bean has calmed down now."
Her father raised an eyebrow but said nothing about the baby's nickname. "Will said he would make breakfast for you whenever you felt up to it."
She nodded, her eyes looking around for the familiar mop of black curls. "Is Emma with Roland?"
"She went to pick something up for me," he replied. A hard look came to his eyes and his voice was terse as he said: "Mary Margaret Blanchard is with Roland."
Though her heart stuttered, Regina tried to remain calm. "Mary Margaret is his tutor, Daddy. It's okay for her to be with him."
"What about you? Her father is pressing charges against you and she shows up like it's no big deal?" He shook his head.
Regina sighed, stepping closer to her father. "It is a big deal to her, Daddy, but in the end, this is not between her and me. Would you want someone holding something you did against me?"
He fell silent and she knew she had him. She kissed his forehead and headed into the kitchen, where Will was reading the paper at the table. He looked up, smiling. "Feeling up for breakfast?"
"Something light, yes," she said, taking a seat at the table as well.
"Then something light it will be." He folded up the newspaper and handed it to her. She thanked him and began reading, avoiding the story about herself on the front page.
Little feet pounded into the room and she heard Roland's exuberant "Mom!" seconds before he threw his arms around her. She pulled him close, kissing his forehead. "Good morning, sweetheart. What have you been up to?"
"I drew something for Grandpa Henry," he replied, holding out a piece of paper. She saw stick figures of Roland and one in a chair with giant wheels she assumed was her father. "I was just going to give it to him."
"I think he'll love it. Why don't you go with Will to give it to him?" She glanced up at Will as he placed an English muffin, jelly and a cup of tea in front of her.
He ushered Roland out and Mary Margaret sat down across from her, looking serious. "David told you where I went?" she asked.
Regina nodded. "I understand why, though Leopold isn't the one pressing charges against me. I have no doubt this is all Gold's doing."
"But all of this is happening because of what Daddy did to you. I flew down to get him to admit everything to me," Mary Margaret replied. "He admitted the embezzling easily enough. I felt like such a fool. He told me he got a good severance package and pension but everything was paid for by money he stole. I could've gone to a cheaper school or gotten a job…"
Taking the woman's hand, Regina rubbed it. "Your father was a proud man, which is what caused this whole thing. I wanted to help him find legal ways to get the financial assistance. He had his mind set on embezzlement and I'm sure Gold put the idea there for his own ends."
"I feel sick, wondering what parts of my life were paid for illegally. He still won't tell me." Mary Margaret sighed.
"Is that why you stayed down there for so long?" Regina asked.
She nodded. "I wanted the full story."
The color drained from Regina's face and she suddenly felt very cold. "What else did he tell you?"
Mary Margaret lowered her voice. "What I already knew. I was here that night, Regina. I was watching Roland and I overheard your confession. It took a few days, but I finally got Daddy to admit that the romantic relationship he created in his head was really him forcing himself on you.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, crumpling forward as tears ran down her cheeks.
Regina leaned forward, engulfing the young woman in a hug. "No, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry you found out that way…I'm sorry that you found out at all."
"You don't have to protect me. I'm not a girl anymore," she said, sniffling as she tightened her hold on Regina. "You're the victim."
"No daughter should find out her father is a rapist," Regina replied, holding back her own tears.
Mary Margaret only sobbed harder. "I was so awful to you! I thought you were cheating with my father and really he was…he was hurting you. And even before that, I kept calling and asking you to come over. I asked you to come over and he…he…"
Pulling back, Regina wiped Mary Margaret's cheeks. "He never raped me at your house. It was always only in the office. In some ways, you were my security blanket. Leo would never touch me with you around or with the possibility of you entering."
"But still…"
"I still always answered," Regina pointed out. "I still always came. I cared about you, Mary Margaret, and I still do. I don't regret being there for you."
"Well now I'm going to be there for you," Mary Margaret sound, sounding as resolute as she could with a wet face and her voice choked up. "I brought my father back with me. He's going to confess everything to the DA tomorrow."
A/N: Uh oh. Leopold is in the area. What's going to happen? Will it throw a wrench in Robin and Regina's returning intimacy?
I'll let you know once I write it.
Thank you for your patience!
-Mac