Chapter 28: Paparazzi
"Everything looks good," Dr. Ludgate said, rolling back toward her desk. She wrote some notes in Regina's file as she continued talking. "How's your morning sickness?"
"Not as bad as it was but I still can't stand the smells of certain things. And I still can't eat any cheese," Regina replied, fiddling with the exam gown.
Dr. Ludgate nodded. "That will probably last for the rest of the pregnancy. And you might still be running for the bathroom for a few more weeks. Twins tend to make everything worse."
Regina groaned. "Of course they do."
"I'll see you again in a few weeks," the doctor continued, ignoring Regina's last comment. "By that point, we should be able to determine sex, if you and Robin wish to do so."
"We do," Regina said, rubbing her stomach. "How would we do that?"
Dr. Ludgate pulled out a few pamphlets. "There are a few options. We could just check during the ultrasound but that might not be easy depending on how the twins are positioned. You might want to have one of the tests run. They are minimally invasive and pose little threat to the babies."
Glancing at the pamphlets, Regina nodded. "I'll talk it over with Robin and see what he wants to do."
"Sounds good to me. We'll discuss everything at your next appointment. Otherwise, just keep doing what you're doing, Regina, and I'll see you then." Dr. Ludgate closed the file, excusing herself so Regina could change back into her clothes.
Regina placed the pamphlets into her purse before rubbing her stomach. "Hey there, Beans," she said. "Soon your Papa and I will know what you two are. Maybe then we'll come up with names for you. Though we may still call you Beans, even once you're born. Sorry in advance for that."
She changed back into her regular clothes and gathered her bag to head toward the front desk. As she stepped out into the waiting room, she frowned. Dr. Ludgate had a popular practice but there seemed to be more people in the room than usual. In fact, there seemed to be a lot of men for a gynecologist's office. Uneasy, she made her next appointment with the receptionist and hurried from the room as the men there grew very interested in the women's magazines they were reading.
Very suspicious.
"Night cap?" Regina asked, entering Robin's office with a glass of whiskey. She held a glass of milk in her other hand for herself.
He looked up from his laptop and smiled. "With you? Absolutely. I think I'm going cross-eyed from looking at these spreadsheets anyway."
Robin crossed the room and joined her on the couch. He took the glass of whiskey and wrapped his arm around her, letting her lean against him. She sighed, taking a sip of her milk as she enjoyed just relaxing on the couch with him.
It was normal.
"How was your appointment?" he asked, playing with her hair. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you."
"That's okay, it was quite boring. She just measured my growing baby bump, checked some vitals and declared everything was fine with me and the Beans. You honestly didn't miss much," he told him.
He hummed, kissing the top of her head. "Well, I'll definitely be there next time. I've already asked Johanna to clear my schedule."
"Good. Because next time is a big appointment. We decide how to find out the sex of the Beans." She pulled out the pamphlets from her back pocket, handing them to him.
Robin took them from her, frowning. "What are all of these? When we found out that Roland was a boy, Marian's doctor used the ultrasound."
She nodded. "Dr. Ludgate said we could do that but depending on how the Beans are positioned, we may not be able to see either's genitalia. We might consider one of the tests, though."
"Okay," he said, setting down his whiskey to open the pamphlets. "What are the risks though? I don't want to put you through anything that would harm you or the babies."
That was one thing Robin was adamant about throughout this pregnancy—he would not put either Regina or the Beans at risk, no matter what. If that meant waiting until the babies were born to find out if they were boys or girls, so be it. There were plenty of nice neutral colors they could use to decorate the nursery.
He opened the pamphlet and his frown deepened as he read some of the complicated medical terms and looked over the risks. Robin scoured each one as Regina rested her head on his shoulder, rubbing his thigh as he took in their options.
"Are you sure we can't just use the ultrasound?" he asked, concerned at some of the risks. Any talk of possible miscarriages made him skittish and it didn't seem the risk was worth it. "Most of these tests can tell us if there is a male chromosome present, but we have two. What if one is a boy and the other a girl? We might not be prepared then for a girl if we think both are boys."
Regina was quiet for a few minutes before giving his thigh a squeeze. "We can discuss all of this with Dr. Ludgate and get her opinion. How's that?"
"I like that." He kissed her forehead. "I just don't want to put you through something that would do more harm than good or wouldn't be helpful anyway."
She nodded, leaning against his shoulder. "I understand. We'll do what we think is best. We're a team, right?"
"Yes, we are," he confirmed.
They slipped into a comfortable silence and Robin discarded the pamphlets in order to pick up his whiskey again. He took a sip as Regina curled up closer to him, humming in content. "This feels normal," she said.
"It does," he agreed, sighing contently. "It feels really good, doesn't it?"
She chuckled. "Yes, it does."
Robin set down his glass before taking hers as well. He eased her down onto the couch before lying next to her, holding her close. "I've missed this."
"Me too," she said, brushing her fingers against his scruff as she gave him a soft smile. "I've missed us."
His heart skipped a beat. They had been working hard to get back the trust, comfort and intimacy they had shared before his stupid decision to go behind her back had come to light. Robin was careful not to push her, willing to wait for her to make the first move when she was ready. They were growing more and more intimate now and he wondered if tonight might be the night they went all the way again.
Regina nuzzled him, eyes closed with a soft smile. "Why don't we go to bed? I think we'll be more comfortable cuddling there."
"Of course," he said, heart pounding in anticipation. He sat up, picking up their glasses. "You go ahead. I'll put these away so Will doesn't kill us in the morning."
She chuckled, kissing his cheek before standing up. "Thank you for keeping me safe from death. I'll see you in a little bit."
Robin ran down to the kitchen, dropped the glasses into the sink, and raced back up to his bedroom. As he closed the door, Regina stepped from the bathroom in her pajamas. She smiled at him. "That was quick."
"I'm a bit eager to cuddle," he said, pulling her into his arms. He kissed her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning softly into his mouth.
He took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth as he backed her up toward the bed. They fell onto the bed, his hands creeping under her shirt to cup her breasts. She hissed, pulling away from him. "Tender," she moaned.
"Sorry," he said, sliding his hands away from them. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
She nodded. "I know. I should've warned you."
He pulled one hand from under her shirt, cupping the back of her head as he smiled at her. "I should've asked."
"We can't keep apologizing like this and trying to take blame," she said with a sigh. "We'll never get anywhere if we stop to apologize for every little move."
Robin nodded, rolling onto his back. Disappointment and concern filled him as he said: "I know. Maybe we're not as ready as we thought?"
"No," she said, curling across his chest. "I think we're ready. Or we're almost ready. We just have a few hang-ups to get over."
That didn't sound too bad to him as he knew they could work through hang-ups together. "Okay. We'll address them with Dr. Espenson. How does that sound?"
"Good. I have an appoint in a couple days at the hospital…" Her voice trailed off, concerning Robin.
Frowning, he turned to his side and used his elbow to prop himself up as he looked her over. Her eyes were distant and she was frowning as well, which scared him a bit. What was going on? "Regina? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," she replied. "I'm just remembering something that happened after my appointment today."
"What?" His heart beat faster and he felt ready to fight someone to protect her even though they were safe here in their bedroom.
She rolled onto her side, propping herself up as well. "There were a lot of men in the waiting room for an ob-gyn. And they were all trying not to be seen. I think they were watching me. Or is that just me being paranoid?"
Robin paused. Neither he nor Will were much for tabloids and it appeared Regina felt the same way. So she hadn't seen how their every move had been stalked and photographed after the press figured out he was dating his nanny. He had hoped the paparazzi would at least keep their distance but it appeared they were growing bolder.
He shook his head. "You're not being paranoid. We're actually popular tabloid fodder."
"Right," she replied, sounding somewhat bitter. "Dr. Espenson showed me the magazines. I didn't know how often I was on a cover."
"I know. And I promise I wasn't hiding them from you. None of us read those magazines and, well, I'm used to it. My relationship with Marian pretty much played out on the same covers," he said, knowing that was an inadequate explanation for his inaction.
Her scowl confirmed it. "I still would've like to have known about it, Robin. I don't want our relationship to play out on tabloid covers. I've been there before and I don't need that stress again."
"Okay," he said, kissing her hand. "If I see us on the tabloids, I'll sic John on them and get my PR people involved. How does that sound?"
She laid her hand against his cheek, her scowl disappearing. "That sounds perfect. Thank you, Robin."
Relieved to have that solved, he pushed back the covers. "Shall we see if we can get some sleep?"
"Sleep sounds very good," she said, crawling under the sheets. She then tugged his hand. "As long as you cuddle me first."
Chuckling, Robin wrapped them in their blankets and turned off the lights. He let Regina settle her head on his chest as he held her close. Robin played with her hair until they both drifted off to sleep.
Robin whistled as he walked from Marco's town car into his company's building. Leroy greeted him, looking at him like heh ad sprouted another head. "In a good mood today, Mr. L?" he asked.
"I am," Robin confirmed, swiping his card to go through the turnstile. "It's a beautiful day, Regina's legal troubles are behind us and tonight, I'm having a barbecue with my family as we watch the sunset over the lake. All very good reasons to be in a good mood, Leroy."
"What about Regina's pregnancy?" the security chief asked.
That stopped Robin as he reached the elevator, his smile drooping. He and Regina had controlled who knew about the pregnancy, especially during the risky first twelve weeks. It wasn't general knowledge yet and he hadn't yet asked Regina how she wanted to announce it. So how did Leroy know?
Despite having an inkling to that answer, Robin slowly turned back to the desk to find a grim-faced Leroy staring back at him. The shorter man pushed a newspaper toward Robin and answered the unasked question: "Page Six."
The gossip column.
Shit.
Spotted: A high-profile woman recently in the headlines for some legal troubles having an appointment at an ob-gyn. She made a follow up appointment in a few weeks and sources say the words "pre-natal care" were used. Looks like this lovely brunette is going from nanny to mommy!
"I know it don't mention names," Leroy said, "but I doubt there are many nannies who made headlines for legal problems."
"No, there aren't," Robin replied. He thought about the men Regina had seen in Dr. Ludgate's office and their suspicion that they were paparazzi who were stalking her. It appeared they were right and it was time for her and Robin to fight back. They didn't need any more intrusions in their lives.
He motioned to the paper. "Can I keep this?"
"Sure, Mr. L," Leroy said. "I already read the sports pages anyway."
"Thank you." Robin took the paper and finally pressed the button to call the elevator so he could head to his office.
The metallic doors slid open and Robin stepped on. He swiped his card to access his floor before giving Leroy a smile. "Have a good day, Leroy."
"You too, Mr. L," the guard replied. "And if that blind item is right, congratulations."
Robin thanked him again before letting the door close. The elevator rose up, going directly to his floor. When the doors opened again, it was Johanna who greeted him. "Anything I can do for you, Mr. Locksley?"
"Yes. I need you to contact Dorothy and tell her it's a personal emergency," he said, heading into his office. "And hold my calls, please."
He heard Johanna pick up the phone as he closed the door. Tossing the paper on his desk, he picked up his own phone and hit the speed dial button for home. He was not going to try to take care of this by himself—just like he promised Regina. It was going to be a team effort.
"Hello, dear," Will said once he answered the phone. "I'm guessing you saw a certain blind item on Page Six?"
Robin bit back several curses. "Regina's seen it?"
"We've all seen it," his friend confirmed.
Sighing, Robin asked: "Can you put her on, please?"
"Of course." There was some jostling and he heard muffled voices as Will passed the phone off.
"Hello, Robin," Regina said, sounding annoyed. "You know, tabloids are one thing. But the newspaper is doing it now."
He understood her frustration and felt she had summed it up perfectly. "I know, lovely. But we're going to deal with it. I'm going to put you on speaker phone as Dorothy Gale, my best publicist, just walked in. She'll be able to help us."
Dorothy, a no-nonsense brunette who was a master at her craft, took her seat as Robin put the call on speaker. He knew there was no one better suited to help them and he felt better watching her open her notebook, ready to get to work. "I trust this is about the blind item?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied, sitting down at last.
Over the speaker, Regain hugged. "It's clearly about me. Why not just put my name on it and be done with it?"
"Plausible deniability," Dorothy replied. "Just in case what they printed turns out to be not true, it gives them some protections from libel. So, I'm going to have to start with this question—is it true?"
"Yes, I'm pregnant. With twins." There was a little snark in her voice from her frustrations.
Dorothy hesitated, no doubt trying to determine if Regina was being sarcastic or not. So Robin nodded to help her. "She's telling the truth. We really are expecting twins."
"Congratulations, you two," she said, jotting something down. "Now, don't let this blind item rush you into something you're not ready for. This is your pregnancy and the power is still in your hands. If people call looking to confirm the blind item, I can always answer with a firm 'No comment.'"
"Thank you," Regina replied, relief evident in her voice. "It's nice to control my narrative again."
Robin grinned. "I guess we can discuss announcements and timing when I get home."
"I can help you with that if you want…if you both have time now," Dorothy offered.
He waited for Regina to respond. She sounded very grateful as she said: "I would love that. Thank you."
Regina kissed her father's forehead. "Emma is going to stay with you during your treatment. I have an appointment with Dr. Espenson," she told him.
He frowned. "Maybe Emma should go with you. Those paparazzi jerks may be lurking around the hospital again."
"I'll be fine, Daddy," she assured him. "I'm a grown woman and refuse to let anyone try to scare me again."
"Just be careful, please. Remember, it's not just you you have to worry about." He motioned to her stomach, fingers grazing her little bump.
Her smile softened as she thought of the Beans. "I know, Daddy. We'll all be fine. Now I have to go or I'll be late. I'll see you in a little bit."
She gave a nod to Emma, who put her hand on Henry's shoulders. "Have a good session," Emma told her.
Regina thanked her and left Whale's office, heading toward the elevator banks to go up to the floor with Dr. Espenson's office. She walked quickly but kept glancing around her, trying to determine if someone was following her or watching her every movement. Who knows what they would print if they saw her going into a therapist's office. She didn't want to have to deal with that.
It felt like an eternity but Regina made it to Dr. Espenson's office. The waiting room was empty except for Sally, who greeted her warmly. "The doctor is waiting for you," she said, motioning to the door.
"Thank you," Regina replied, heading inside. She closed the door behind her and sat down on the couch. "Nice to see you, Doctor."
Dr. Espenson held up the newspaper. "Nice to see you too, Regina. I was thinking we could start with this blind item."
Regina sighed, rubbing her face. "I called Dr. Ludgate yesterday to tell her about the unusual amount of men in her waiting room the other day and the timing of that blind item. She said she would have her receptionists keep an eye out for anyone who looked out of place in the future."
"You know that's not what I meant," the doctor said, giving her a pointed look. "This is another obtrusion into your life. How do you feel about it?"
"Annoyed but Robin and I are working with his PR person to take control again. They'll have to grow tired of us eventually, though I fear that will come at the cost of someone else's privacy."
"Unfortunately, that is how it goes," Dr. Espenson said, setting the newspaper aside. "But you and Robin are working together on this."
Regina nodded, knowing where the conversation was going. "I told him about I didn't like that he hid the tabloid covers from me the other night. He said it didn't mean to hide them, he was just used to ignoring them so he didn't think to tell me. But he understands now why I would want to know and why I wouldn't like it, which makes me feel better."
"That's good." Dr. Espenson smiled, leaning back. "It sounds like you and Robin are rebuilding that trust."
"We are. I'm getting better at opening up and he's getting better at trying not to fix everything by himself. We really are a team now, I feel." Regina smiled, thinking of the man she loved.
Dr. Espenson's smile softened. "I can see the love in your eyes and how much more relaxed you are than when you came back at the start of the summer. Now, what progress are you making on re-establishing your intimacy?"
"Good progress," Regina replied with certainty. "I think we're almost there. We're just adjusting to my changing body. We were making out the other night and I thought we were close to possibly having sex when he cupped my breasts and they hurt. He backed off, not wanting to hurt me. It kinda killed the mood and then talk of the tabloids really killed it."
"But it's something that needed to be done." Dr. Espenson stated it as a fact because it was. Regina knew that.
She nodded. "Yes, it did need to be done. And I think the more we clear the air, the more I'm ready. Or that might be the hormones."
Dr. Espenson chuckled. "Maybe but I wouldn't tell Robin that."
"Good point," Regina agreed. "He would probably then question if I was really ready or if the hormones made me do it."
"Are you really ready or is it the hormones driving you?" the doctor asked her, tilting her head as she studied Regina.
Leaning back, Regina considered the question. She knew there were many hormones coursing through her at the moment and guiding some of her urges. Like how she had been craving pizza with pineapples chased with a healthy helping of rocky road ice cream the past few days. It did beg the question if she was letting her hormones push her toward something she wasn't ready for yet.
She thought of the quiet, intimate moments she had shared with Robin since forgiving him. Lazy kisses often turned into ones that were more passionate, igniting a familiar fire inside her. Regina loved having his hands on her, even with her tender breasts, and she loved feeling his flushed skin under her own palms. She was also very comfortable being naked in front of him, remembering a recent night where she had laid in bed after her shower and Robin had kissed the swell in her stomach as he continued to talk to their unborn children. It made her love him and want him more and more.
"It's not the hormones," she finally answered Dr. Espenson, opening her eyes. She knew she exuded confidence as she declared: "I'm ready."
The doctor nodded. "Good. Maybe you should make this a special night for you and Robin. Focus on each other and your relationship, not anything else."
"I think we can do that. Any other advice?" Regina asked, feeling like she ought to be taking notes.
Dr. Espenson chuckled. "Relax and enjoy yourselves. This is about reconnecting with each other on that intimate level."
Regina nodded. "I think if I give Robin free reign, he'll create the perfect evening for us."
"You don't want to be part of planning it?" Dr. Espenson asked, frowning as she studied Regina.
"I wouldn't mind being surprised. I trust Robin to create the perfect evening for us." She frowned as well, not sure what the doctor was getting at with that question.
Dr. Espenson leaned back in her chair, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "As I said, this is about you reconnecting. So this should be about the both you, not really one surprising the other. Surprises can come later. You should plan this together."
Regina considered what she said and nodded. "You're right. Robin and I will plan this together."
"Good," Dr. Espenson said, glancing at her watch. "We still have some time. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"
Glancing down at the newspaper, Regina smiled. "Would you mind if I vent about the paparazzi invading my life?"
"Vent away," the doctor said with a laugh, leaning back in her chair.
Regina left Dr. Espenson's office, shouldering her purse as she closed the door behind her. She checked the hallway for any suspicious characters but found it empty. Letting out a sigh of relief, she headed back to the elevators to meet up with Emma and Henry back down in oncology.
She pressed the down button and watched the arrows to see which one would light up first. The one closest to her thankfully shone green and the doors opened, allowing her to step inside the carriage. She noticed another woman out of the corner of her eye but was focused on pressing the button for her floor to really register her appearance.
"Regina Mills?" the woman asked, her voice sounding familiar.
Confused, Regina slowly turned around to take a good look at the woman. She was tall with long blonde hair and kind blue eyes. Her outfit was immaculately tailored and no doubt came from the high-end stores in Storybrooke, clothes she could always afford as the daughter of one of the richest men in the town. "Kathryn?"
"It is you," Kathryn said, approaching her with a warm smile. "I'm so glad to see you. Outside of a courthouse, that is."
Guilt hit Regina as she remembered that Kathryn had been at her arraignment and that she had never acknowledged that. "Yes. Thank you for your support. Robin told me you moved the auction house's investments from Blanchard Financials to another company and I saw you in court. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you."
"You had other things on your mind," Kathryn replied as the elevator doors opened. She bit her lip. "Is this your floor?"
Regina glanced out, spotting a sign that read Oncology. She nodded. "But I can go down to the lobby with you if you want. It's okay."
Kathryn shook her head, pressing the door open button and motioning for Regina to lead the way. "I'll get off with you. We'll probably have more privacy up here than down there."
"True," Regina agreed, stepping off the elevator with her old friend. She pointed to the left. "I'm heading this way."
They fell into step together as they headed toward oncology's waiting room. Kathryn fiddled with her purse strap. "Your father? Is he the one with cancer?"
Regina nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "He has an aggressive form of lung cancer. He's in an experimental drug trial that's been slowing down the progression but it's not a cure. It's giving me more time with him I might not have had, though."
"I'm so sorry, Regina," Kathryn said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "You've certainly had a rough couple years and that must sound so trite."
"It doesn't," Regina replied, opening the door and letting Kathryn go in first so she could collect herself. It felt good to expand her support circle even more and to reconnect with her old friend.
They took seats in a distant corner of the room, facing each other as Kathryn reached out for Regina's hand. "I wish I had had the strength back then to support you rather than just stand by while everyone pilloried you."
"I understand," Regina said, meaning every word. "I can't say I wouldn't have done the same if the positions had been reversed. Sometimes it's easier to stay quiet and keep the status quo rather than shake things up. Shaking things up can be dangerous."
When Kathryn didn't reply, Regina squeezed her hand. "Look, you were there for me in the end and that matters to me. So thank you for that. Now, why don't we talk about more pleasant things? We have so much to catch up on."
Regina nodded, smiling as she held up Kathryn's hand. Her engagement and wedding rings caught the fluorescent lights. "I never got to congratulate you on your marriage to Frederick."
"Thank you," Kathryn replied, beaming. "He's made me so happy. We've had our ups and downs but we always have each other's backs. And I love him for that."
"That sounds like what I have with Robin," Regina replied, knowing her smile softened as she thought of the man she loved.
Kathryn smiled as well. "I saw you two at the courthouse. He really loves you, I can tell."
"I really love him too," she admitted. "Even more than I loved Daniel. It's such a deep connection…like our souls are connected."
Regina paused before shaking her head. "Listen to me. I must sound like some silly romance movie."
Her friend shook her head. "You sound like a woman in love. Is marriage in the cards?"
"I think so," Regina replied, "though I don't think we're there yet. We, uh, hit a bit of a rough patch before I was arrested and while we've worked through it, there's still some progress to be made before we get to such a commitment."
Kathryn nodded. "Well, I hope to get an invite when you do get married."
Regina smiled. "I'll make sure of it. But you might get an invite to a different function first."
"Oh?" her friend asked, looking confused. "And what would that be?"
"Did you read the gossip column the other day? The top item?" Regina bit her lip, waiting for Kathryn's response.
Her blue eyes went wide. "It's you?"
Regina nodded, keeping her voice low. "We're not confirming anything publicly yet. I'm barely out of my first trimester."
"Understandable." Kathryn then beamed as she hugged Regina. "I'm so happy for you! Congratulations, Regina."
"Thank you. I just wish the paparazzi wouldn't stalk my OB-GYN and sell the info to gossip columnists," she replied, annoyance tinging her words. "My pregnancy is not meant for the public."
Kathryn nodded before shock set in. "They stalked your OB-GYN? What the actual…?"
She cut herself off before the curse but Regina knew what she was going to say. "Yeah, I know. Messed up, right?"
"That's putting it lightly." Kathryn shook her head. "Are you and Robin hiring extra security?"
"We're trying not to. We want to have a normal life and that doesn't seem very normal," Regina said.
"Well, then, let's talk about normal things. Have you determined the sex yet?" Kathryn asked.
Regina shook her head. "We're going to do that later. We just need to talk to the doctor about the best way to do that since we're expecting twins…"
Kathryn let out a shriek before covering her mouth, apologizing through her fingers. "Twins? Really?"
"Yes," Regina said, motioning for her friend to keep it down. "So that presents a few more challenges but we'll figure it out."
"Are you going to have a gender reveal party?" Kathryn asked, leaning forward with excitement sparkling in her eyes.
Regina had never heard of such a thing before and frowned. "A what?"
"They're parties that have caught on in recent years, usually small gathering of close family and friends. Before the party, someone is entrusted with the sex of the baby and they go about arranging for a way to reveal it. For example, they have a cake baked and when the parents cut into it, the inside is blue for a boy. Frederick and I popped a bunch of balloons with the last one showering us in blue glitter to tell us that we were having a boy," she explained.
"You have a boy?" Regina asked, joy bubbling up inside her. Kathryn nodded, pulling out her phone to show Regina a picture of a chubby cheeked toddler with floppy blonde hair and toothy grin. She melted at the sight and she hugged Kathryn. "Congratulations."
Kathryn thanked her as she pulled back from Regina. "So, do you think you'll have a gender reveal party?"
Now that she knew what it was, Regina had to admit there was some appeal to it. She could imagine a small group of their family and friends sitting on Nottingham's lawn as she and Robin learned the gender of each twin. It sounded like fun. "I'll have to talk about it with Robin but I think we might," she answered.
The door opened and Emma wheeled Henry out. Regina gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Kathryn. "It was lovely to talk to you but I'm afraid I have to go."
"Of course. I should be heading out too. But first…" Her voice trailed off as she searched for something in her purse. She pulled out a business card and handed it to Regina. "This is where we got everything for Chrys' nursery. They are very, very discreet…if you know what I mean."
Regina took the card and nodded. "Thank you, Kathryn. We should catch up more often."
Kathryn nodded, handing her another card. "That's my contact information. Don't be afraid to use it."
"I won't." Regina hugged her again and thanked her before Kathryn headed back to the elevators.
Tucking the cards into her pocket, she hurried over to her father. She smiled at him, crouching down beside his wheelchair. "How are you, Daddy?"
"Tired," he said, voice weak. "Can we go home, please?"
She nodded, kissing his forehead. "Emma and I will take you downstairs. Will can then take us all home and we can all get some rest."
Robin pulled into the rear parking lot of Once Upon a Baby, a boutique catering to baby furniture, clothing, toys and other items. Kathryn had recommended it to Regina, promising them that it was discreet and would protect their privacy. It appeared they were dedicated to that promise as the entrance to the store was in the back, not facing the street. No paparazzi would see them enter.
"It looks pretty welcoming," Regina said, crouching down to look at it properly through his windshield.
He had to agree with her. It looked like a cozy cottage, painted white with two large bay windows. One window had a pastel blue curtain while the other one had pastel pink ones. A large white teddy bear sat in the window with the blue curtains. The name of the store was written in blocks on an awning over the door, waiting for them to enter.
She took a deep breath before reaching over to give his hand a squeeze. "Shall we go in?"
"Let's," he said, opening his door. "I'll help you out."
He hurried around to the other side and held out his hand to her. She took it, letting him help her out of the low sitting car. Regina straightened up, rubbing her back. "Ugh, isn't it too early for back pain?" she asked.
"I don't think these symptoms follow a set timetable, lovely," he told her, closing the door. "But let's get this over and we can get you back home and set you up with a heating pad and a back rub."
They laced their fingers together as they headed toward the front door. Robin opened it for them and a bell sounded their entry as Regina stepped into the store. It smelled like baby powder and lavender, a soothing scent that relaxed him.
A young woman with blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and a sunny demeanor approached them. "Welcome to Once Upon a Baby. My name is Ashley; how can I help you?"
Recognizing the voice he spoke with on the phone, Robin relaxed even more as he held out his hand to her. "Robin Locksley and this is my girlfriend, Regina Mills. We spoke earlier?"
"Right!" Ashley said, perking up even more. "I'm so glad to meet you in person. I have everything all set up for your registry. You just have to add items to it!"
"And it'll be kept private? Like we asked?" Regina sounded nervous and he could understand. The last thing they needed was their baby registry splashed across the society pages and tabloid covers.
Ashley nodded. "You'll control who gets access to it by sending out an email with a special link to it. Then they'll have to put in a special password in order to see it. No one's hacked in yet."
Relief coursed through Robin and he nodded. "That sounds very promising."
"Come on. I'll get you a scan gun and then let you loose," she said, leading them toward the customer service desk.
Once they were ready to go, Regina dragged Robin first over to the furniture. She tenderly pushed a wooden rocking chair, biting her lip. "This is so adorable. I know you have the white rocking chair…"
He turned her to face him, taking her hands in his—even with the scan gun firmly in her right hand. "This is your nursery, Regina. Design it however you want."
"This is not my nursery, Robin," she said, frowning as crossed her arms to glare at him. "This is our nursery. These are our children. I want you to have input and not just let me do everything. That's not fair to either of us, don't you think?"
"Oh," he said, caught off-guarded. He grew sheepish as he admitted: "Marian really took over decorating everything for Roland and it made her so happy, I just let her do it."
Her frown morphed into a soft smile. "Because you want to make everyone happy. But you're allowed to make yourself happy. So let's plan this nursery together. Okay?"
Robin smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as he nodded. He felt comfortable to confess: "I always hated the white décor anyway. I felt like I was being blinded whenever I took the early morning feeding."
"Well, then, it's gone," she told him, laughing as she hugged him. "I prefer wood myself."
He held her close, kissing her head. "Then I think we're going to be fine decorating this nursery."
She leaned back, studying him. "Do you have any themes in mind?"
"Star Wars?" he asked cheekily, even as he imagined a lightsaber nightlight and a mobile of Death Stars.
"Very funny," she replied. "I don't think that would go with wood furniture, do you?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "I was also thinking about a zoo theme. Can't go wrong with animals."
"No, you can't," she agreed, pulling him toward a chest of drawers with little animals carved into it. "This might be perfect then."
They spent a good hour building their registry and getting ideas for their nursery, purchasing a few items and putting them on layaway until the expanded room was completed later that fall. Ashley helped them and as Robin paid for the furniture, Regina wandered over to the clothing section.
"Isn't this the cutest thing you've seen?" she asked, holding up a blue dress with a fluffy tulle skirt. It came with a matching headband with little flowers that Regina held in between her fingers. "I can't wait until I can dress our children."
He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her stomach as if he could feel the tiny babies growing inside of her. Robin smiled. "Are you coming around to us having a girl?"
She hummed, leaning against him. "Well, we're having two and so there's a fifty-fifty chance that at least of them is a girl.
"Besides, I never said I didn't want a girl," she continued, turning in his arms. "Back when we thought we were only having one, I said I would prefer a boy just so I could name him after my father. But I would love to have a girl too."
Robin glanced down at the blue dress still in her hand, imagining a chubby baby girl with dark curls and big brown eyes just like hers lying in his arms while wearing the dress. It made him smile as he took the outfit from her. "Shall we buy this then, milady?"
She stroked the dress but shook her head before putting it back. "Not yet. Not until we know what we're having."
"Okay," he said, understanding her rationale and figuring they could always come back if it turned out they were having a girl. (Or two).
The sound of someone knocking on glass interrupted them and Robin saw a flash from the corner of his eye. He turned his head, frowning as he saw a few paparazzi crowded in a window as they tried to get shots of him and Regina. When they saw he was watching them, they started to yell questions at him.
"Are you expecting a girl?"
"How far along are you, Regina?"
"Are you two getting married? Or are you already married in secret?"
The store's entire staff, including Ashley, flew past him and Regina to the window. The curtains were quickly closed and the manager stormed out of the store. "This is private property. Get off now before I call the cops," she yelled at the photographers.
Ashley approached them, wringing her hands. "I'm so sorry, you two. I don't know how they found out you were here."
"It's okay," Regina assured her. "We'll just hang out here until they leave or are arrested. If you don't mind?"
"No, we don't. We'll let you know when it's safe to leave. Until then, feel free to continue browsing." Ashley gave them a tight-lipped smile before hurrying off.
Robin turned to Regina, rubbing her arms. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, giving him a small smile. "I'm not going to let them ruin such a great day for us. Are you?"
"No," he replied, squeezing her arms. "So, what else do you want to look at?"
"Toys." She grabbed his hand and pulled him in that direction, to where shelves stocked with every baby toy possible was.
He chuckled as she let go to pick up a big bear that was half her size. "Isn't this adorable?"
"It is," he agreed before picking up another one, holding it close to his chest as he rested his chin on the soft head. "And it comes with a twin. It would be perfect for our Beans."
She bit her lip as she continued to hold hers close. "I have an idea for them. Kathryn mentioned something called a gender reveal party and I was thinking that I would like to have one. Really live the obnoxious soon-to-be-parent life."
He laughed, happy to oblige that desire for her. "Then you will. And we can have a gender reveal party. What do these Teddy bears have to do with it?"
"Well, these are brown," she said. "But what if we can see if we can get them in different colors? When we find out the sex of the Beans, what if Emma can call Ashley or someone to order the bears in the colors of our babies' sexes? Then she puts them in a box and we open them to find out."
"That sounds very creative." He put the Teddy bear down and held out his hand. "Let's go talk with Ashley and see if we can arrange that."
She put down the bear she was holding to take his hand, vibrating with her excitement. He was glad to see her so happy and relaxed, knowing she deserved to have this life. No amount of paparazzi was going to take these moments away from them, he promised himself. They were going to enjoy the rest of this pregnancy and then live happily as a family.
The public would just have to live with whatever he and Regina agreed to give them.
A/N: This is dedicated to glindalovesshoes, who wanted to see Robin and Regina deal with the paparazzi.
As you might guess from Regina's conversation with Dr. Espenson, smut is about to return to this story—starting with the next chapter! There will also be an appearance by someone pretty much everyone is asking to see.
We're also getting closer to finding out the gender (or genders) of the Beans!
I want to thank everyone for their patience. I had to start this chapter all over again when my laptop died as it wasn't on my OneDrive. I think I like this version better than the one I started. I hope you all enjoyed it.
-Mac