Chapter 7

Of course it would have been too much to ask if everything would have run smoothly from there on. Because of course it didn't.

There were a few shouting matches with Marian. Fortunately they could keep it away from Roland though. And he never found out what she was hiding from him. Because he knew she didn't tell him everything about the time between her leaving them and being captured by Regina. But he was exhausted, and didn't have it in him to prod.

The only times he was at peace were the quiet hours when he was lying awake with Regina in his arms, watching the sun rise outside while he was just content to have her by his side.

The tension between Regina and Marian was pulling at everyone's nerves, and sooner or later Roland would pick up on it, and Robin still didn't know how he should explain everything to him. His son was happy with having two mothers who were doting on him, and he didn't see anything strange about it.

Sometimes he wished it could be that easy for him.

But he knew he had made the right choice. It wasn't easy, but he was still happy.

-/-

Smoke was everywhere, and his lungs were burning as he screamed her name. Over and over again. He couldn't find her. He couldn't see anything.

A hand closed suddenly around his arm, Marian appearing out of the smoke. "Come with me."

He stumbled through the smoke with her, his heart clenching in her chest as he saw Regina lying on the ground with a nasty gash on her forehead, her face eerily pale.

He fell on his knees beside her, his fingers shaking as he reached for her. "God, don't leave me. Please don't leave me."

He didn't know what he was doing, only remembering all the times Henry had read the story book to Roland. He couldn't even remember how often he had heard the stories about True Love's Kiss.

It had to work. Because he loved her. He loved her so much. He couldn't live without her. He just couldn't.

"Please, I need you." He pressed his lips on hers, praying for it to work, fearing it wouldn't. But then her mouth suddenly moved under his, and he let out a whimper, crashing her against his chest.

Everything that happened over the next hour was just a blur. Her hand patting his cheek, her hoarse voice assuring him that everything was okay, the ride to the hospital, his fingers closed tightly around hers, his refusal to leave her side only for one second and then her sudden outcry, taking everyone in the room by surprise.

"The baby? Dr. Whale, is everything okay with the baby?"

He stumbled backwards, his back hitting the wall. He could only stare at her, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he searched her face, wondering if he had gone in some kind of shock, if he was imagining things.

A baby?

Dr. Whale was shouting for the ultrasound, and moments later he squeezed the gel on Regina's stomach and adjusted the probe, sliding it back and forth, a foreign sound suddenly echoing through the room, and only when he saw Regina relaxing into the pillow he was realizing what he was hearing.

The heartbeat. The heartbeat of their baby.

"Yes, Madame Mayor." Dr. Whale's voice reached his ear as he put the probe away, and the nurse cleaned Regina's stomach. "Everything is okay with the baby. You don't have to worry."

He didn't realize he had made a sound, but apparently he did because all the heads swiveled around to him, and Regina's eyes found his, her hand lifting from the sheet and begging him closer.

He staggered forward, almost falling onto the bed with her as he clasped her hand, and he slumped down on the stool someone shoved under him.

"You are pregnant?" He whispered.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." She said softly. "I was scared."

"We are going to have a child?"

"Yes."

He buried his face against her chest and just started to weep. It had been just too much. The whole day an onslaught of emotions, and he just couldn't keep it in any more. He could here Dr. Whale and the nurse leaving the room, and his hands closed tighter around her arms as he tried desperately to gulp down the sobs, his whole body shaking as the events of the day caught up to him.

"Shhh." Her hand was stroking over his hair, and he knew he should be the one comforting her. She had been the one who had been hit by magic, but he couldn't stop shaking. "It's alright. I'm still here. We are both still here. Everything is going to be okay."

"A child?" He rasped minutes later, pulling his head up from her chest. He still couldn't believe it, his hand trembling as he reached down, hovering over her stomach, and she lifted her hand, placing it on his and pushing it down gently until their entwined hands rested on her stomach.

"Yes, Robin. A child."

He could hardly make her out through the blur of tears obscuring his vision, but he could see her smile, and he leaned forward pressing his lips on hers. "I love you, Regina."

"And I love you, Robin."

He pushed himself up, his hand still lingering on her stomach and reaching up, he pulled the blanket softly down, leaning forward until his head was only inches away from her stomach.

"And you." He whispered, pressing his lips on Regina's stomach. "I love you too."

His eyes found Regina's again, and new tears threatened to fall as he watched her. She was beautiful. So beautiful.

He stood up from the chair then, and climbed up on the bed with her, pulling her into his embrace.

"I don't know what I would do without you." He whispered into her hair, pressing her against his body.

"You'll never have to find out." She murmured against his chest. "I am not going to leave you."

"You better don't. I won't raise our brat alone."

"Brat?" She asked, leaning back to look up into his face.

"She is the descendant of the Evil Queen and the Master of Thieves. What do you expect?"

"She?" He saw her eyes soften and he raised his hand to cup her face.

"Roland needs a sister to dote on."

"Only Roland?" She questioned, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips as she added. "Her father would not spoil her at all, right?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." He huffed, grinning down at her.

"And if it's a boy?" Her voice trembled slightly with the question, and he brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"Then his mother can spoil him."

He pulled her back against his chest, minutes ticking by without a word before he heard her clear her throat.

"Robin?"

"Yes?"

"I am so glad I found you."

He tightened his grip around her, his lips brushing over her forehead. "Well, you told me pixie dust never lies. We were meant to be together."

"Yes. We are."

He laid his head on hers, one hand trailing up and down her spine while his other hand settled on her stomach.

Maybe it was easy after all.

As long as they were together.

The End

Thank you so much for all the support throughout the whole story. Now we can only hope that the show won't give us too much angst over the next episodes and we will still see the silver lining on the horizon. :-)