The Option To Decline

"Alright, let's start of with the basics... What's your name?"

"What type of question is that? You know my name... Zelena Mills."

"I'm sorry, but these are the types of questions we have to ask"

Of course. Questions to determine whether she was crazy. Questions to see if she was fit to be a mother or fit to be a homicidal maniac. He asked her about her age. She was two years older than her sister. Had she been born two years later, she wouldn't have been in this office. This smug office with the cricket, who insisted on her calling him Archie or at least, Dr. Hopper. She may have decided to change her way, but she hadn't decided to start being nice. Calling him by his real name would have made him more human to her and connections like that, were often dangerous. She'd become attached to people before, but this cricket would not be one. No, she needed to distance herself, but more questions came at a much faster rate... Questions that made her feel vulnerable and some that made her feel defensive. The cricket was patient to listen, Zelena thought, but she wouldn't have her walls torn down so easily.

"How old were you when you found out you had magical abilities, Zelena?"

"I was five when I first took notice. I wandered off looking for berries and strayed too close to a lake... Fell off the side. Almost drowned"

Archie took down notes, he could tell Zelena felt vulnerable discussing her memories. He didn't know much about her childhood besides what she had told him that day. Questions of her mother and father in Oz put her in the most vulnerable state possible, as she tried to stray from the questions or avoid eye contact with him. He didn't want her to be so uptight, but alas, some people just were. They had hard shells to crack and their minds were like puzzles. Luckily, puzzles fascinated Archie and he was determined to solve the one sitting before him. He asked more questions... Questions about Cora and Regina, some about Rumpelstiltskin. There were so many bases to cover in such a short amount of time.

"How did you feel, when you found out you were pregnant?"

"I was happy, but for all the wrong reasons... I didn't think about the consequences."

"Consequences?"

Yes, the consequences... Everything came with strings attached and Zelena was no exception. Every wrongful decision she made darkened her heart or affected her future. Had she not become pregnant, she would be called a 'rapist' or the occasional 'SOB'. Yeah, the only good thing to come out of this pregnancy had been Merida. An innocent baby that could be so easily corrupted by it's struggling mother. It didn't make her happy to think that her daughter might turn out like her. She wouldn't tell Archie that, it was too personal to share. It tugged at her, but all she wanted was to pick Merida up from Regina's house and go home. She didn't care if Robin stayed behind, she only wanted to see her little girl after a long day. She imagined the little baby was hungry and the formula they'd offered Regina wasn't as good as the natural stuff. Archie could tell she longed to be with her child and he realized that he wouldn't have her full attention until she was positive that her baby was alright. He closed his book and stood up from his seat. He lent his arm for her to use to get up. She ignored it.

"I do believe I can manage to get up myself, cricket... Is your evaluation over already? I must say, I was half expecting you to keep me here until dusk, guessing you cracked?"

"Nothing of the sort... You're not focusing and it was wrong of Dr. Whale to send you so soon, especially when you've just had a baby."

"Well, I guess I'll be on my way... It's a bit of a walk to my sister's house. Too bad I haven't those magic slippers anymore!"

"Walk? Perhaps I could give you a lift?"

Zelena had gotten up and had just made it to the doorway, but she stopped when he heard his offer. Why would a cricket want to help her? She wasn't good and despite the terrible session they'd had, he still offered her away home. A bit unprofessional if she did say so herself. Someone with that job shouldn't be so close to his patients... Maybe Regina should have thought twice before cursing him as a psychologist. After all, in the Enchanted Forest, all he'd been was a cricket with a habit for doing the right thing, a conscious of sorts... Or so Robin had told her. That was before he'd found out who she really was. Whenever he looked at her like a woman and not a monster or witch. Zelena longed to be looked at that way again, but definitely not under those circumstances. She noted that the cricket had already grabbed his coat and was making his way out of the office. She hadn't said yes or no, he was supposed to listen to her, yet the curly haired man seemed to already have his mind set on helping her. Perhaps he was being a gentleman? Ugh. Whatever it was, it made her squint her eyes a bit. People weren't usually kind to Zelena and for good reason. She didn't need them to be.

"Well, it looks like you're going to come either way... Guess that doesn't give me the option to decline?"

"You could decline, but I'm pretty sure you were planning on saying yes. You don't strike me as a person who would easily decline help. You ponder..."

Ponder? Well, maybe occasionally, but how he could tell was a bit freaky to Zelena. The man had not one magical bone in his body, yet he still read minds and predicted answers. Intuition, she guessed. This wasn't fairly attractive to Zelena. She wasn't very intuitive herself and meeting someone who was made it that more difficult to communicate with. However, she couldn't find it in herself to decline his offer. She was going soft. Great. First motherhood and now the cricket. They walked out of his office and down the short flight of stairs. It was awkwardly silent. Considering that cricket was a psychologist, things shouldn't have been this awkward. Maybe she was just too intimidating to strike conversation with. Well, if she was too intimidating then perhaps she could use that to her advantage. Well, perhaps not... He was her psychologist and he would be the one making decisions on whether she would be a suitable mother. Maybe that's why he offered a ride. Was this all a test? Some twisted mind game?

"Well then, I suppose we should be on our way..."

"I suppose so."

00

Back at the Mills house, Regina was busy taking care of the newborn. A fussy one she was, but nowhere near as fussy as Henry had been. Though she loved her son dearly, the first few years had been a little rough. A baby was a lot of responsibility to take on, especially when you hadn't much time to prepare. In fact, it had only taken a few weeks for Gold to find her little prince. Of course, Gold probably had some intuition on who the boy was, but maybe it was Fate. Fate always snuck up on Regina, she wanted her Happily Ever After more than most, but right now with Robin... It felt like it wasn't complete. No. She swept those thoughts aside, even if she couldn't be with Robin, she would always have Henry. It had taken some time, but it finally felt like the two had been reunited, especially after he'd told his mother she wasn't a villain, she was his mom. Now Zelena would be following in her sister's footsteps, raising a baby that she probably hadn't expected to be so needy.

"Hi there... You a little hungry, Merida?"

"... Always had a way with kids, haven't you?"

"Well, not necessarily... Henry was harder to care for."

Regina took out a bottle the hospital had given her, for when Zelena was at Dr. Hopper's office. Robin crept up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She didn't mind the attention, but the baby did. Merida began to coo and gurgle for some attention and Regina picked her up to hold. Carefully, she examined the baby... Bright blue eyes followed Regina's and a smile crept on baby Merida's face. She offered the baby to Robin, who seemed rather nervous to hold the little one. Finally he accepted and held her in his arms, speaking to her as most adults did to babies. She wondered what it would have been like, had she been the one to become pregnant. How happy it would have made her to have a child of her own... Not that Henry wasn't hers, but deep down she knew that he was still Emma Swan's kid. She had learned that after he'd brought her to Storybrooke. The two had become very close, almost instantly and it made Regina envious of their relationship. Henry would always be Regina's, but he would also be part Emma's.

"Are you alright, Regina? You look a bit pale."

"No, I'm fine... The paleness is probably just baby powder that's settled on my face."

Robin laughed, Regina was smiling and Merida was cooing in delight. They would make the perfect family, he thought. It'd be quite a big family, too. Everyone was related in one way or another and he could only imagine what it'd be like when they all gathered together for a holiday. Roland running around with his stuffed monkey, Henry studying the book or reading his Thor comics. Robin particularly enjoyed Henry's comic books, they had amazing stories and he could often relate to Thor's lack of knowledge on using everyday devices. He looked at Merida and then to Regina. Her smiled had disappeared and her brow had furrowed. She didn't look angry, but she looked hurt. He wasn't sure why, she had just held the baby and smiled... Now the smile was gone and all it left was the Regina he had seen at the castle. He put baby Merida down in her crib and pulled Regina close, staring her straight in the eyes... The door flew open.

"And since you've insisted on coming inside this is... my house, cricket. Oh look, it's my sister kissing Robin Hood!"

"I uh... I'-I'm, very sorry to intrude..."

"Oh no, drop by anytime! Buh-Bye!"

Regina and Robin stared at each other in complete shock. Zelena shut the door and smiled wickedly at her sister. She might have been trying to change her ways, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

"Well then, is it me or is it getting steamy up in here. Sister, do tell me you at least checked on her and fed her, hmm? Or were you... A bit busy?"

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