Thanks for the follows and the reviews. Please keep the reviews coming, it is always good to know that people like what I am writing. But even better than that is constructive criticism I know that I am not the best writer out there and would love to improve so if you have some notes for me don't be scared to put them in the reviews for to PM me.
Enjoy.
"You won't be able to keep it a secret much longer my dear. I understand why you wanted to keep in quiet at first but...Regina this is good news. Not something to keep hidden."
"I know Father." Regina said as she paced back and forth in the library. It was the one place that she knew no one would wander in, besides her father who practically lived there. Henry lived off of books as if they were as necessary as the air that he breathed, plus the Library always offered some solace and time away from Cora.
"You're holding something back from me again I can tell."
Regina stopped her pacing and turned to look at her father, a hand resting on the bulge in her stomach that the layers of fabric of her gown were starting to fail to hide. "I'm scared Father."
"Oh Regina. You have nothing to be scared of; this child is going to have all that it could dream of, including a fantastic mother. After all, you already are one."
"What?"
"The way you are with Snow. She is lucky to have you and so is this child."
Regina's face hardened at the mention of Snow's name. "Yes Snow...such a charming child," her tone turning icy as she lingered over the word charming.
"And this child will be too." Her father responded. For a man who seemed to know Regina's every mood there was still one feeling that he was blind to, her great dislike for the girl named Snow. "But you need to let the world know that this child is coming so that arrangements can be made."
"Arrangements?" Regina asked nervously.
Henry simply shrugged, "things like this always call for arrangements, besides how much longer do you think you can hide that bump?"
Regina paused and looked down at her growing stomach and her father smiled. "You touch it more than you think you know?"
Regina quickly moved her hands away and smiled, "you are probably right, I will make the announcement tonight at dinner."
"This is something to be celebrated Regina."
"I know." Regina said, with a genuine smile.
The silence that was common to the dinners seemed so much heavier to Regina that day, almost as if it were palpable.
"Cora, is the soup to your liking tonight?" asked the King, who always tried to warm the place with conversation, but more often than not failed.
"Oh yes Leopold it is lovely...a bit salty if I am completely honest."
"Well we will have to do something about that."
Cora just nodded as the group continued through their course.
"Actually there is something that I would like to say if you all don't mind." Regina said as she set down her spoon and dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin.
"What is it dear?" Cora responded before anyone else could get a word in.
"Well the thing is..." Regina started to answer quietly.
"Please speak up, if you have an announcement to make you want us all to be able to hear it don't you?"
"Well the thing is I am going to have a child." Regina announced louder and more confidently this time.
Silence filled the dining hall, not the common silence of having nothing to say but the silence of not knowing what to say. The sound of Leopold's spoon clinging against his bowl echoed around the chamber and seemed to reverberate for hours before Snow finally broke the silence.
"I am going to be a sister?" Her voice was filled with joy and expectation.
"Well yes I suppose you are." Regina answered.
"Is it going to be a boy or a girl?" She asked quickly.
"Well I don't know I will just have to wait."
"It doesn't matter if it is a boy or a girl, either will be wonderful. This really is wonderful news Regina." Leopold answered.
Regina sighed, "I glad you think so." She looked over to her mother but Cora said nothing and just looked at her as if she had known all along.
"It really is wonderful." Snow spoke up again. "I've always wanted a sibling we will have so much fun together." With every word that Snow spoke it seemed as if she was more filled with joy, and with each joy filled word Regina felt as if her heard was being squeezed painfully tight.
"Yes dear that is lovely." she mustered.
"Oh Regina I am so happy." Snow said as she leaped out of her chair and gave Regina a hug.
Regina pushed her away gently, "Thank you Snow, but I'm afraid I am not feeling so well if you would all excuse me." She stood up shakily and started to make her way out of the room, Snow's happiness starting to be too much for her. This child that she was carrying was good and to be celebrated; but it was for her, not as a present or a playmate for Snow.
Leopold stood up quickly, "are you alright? Should I send for a doctor?"
"No I am sure it is nothing, I'll just go lay down." She made her way half way to her room before pausing in the hallway to catch her breath. It didn't take long for her to hear the familiar footsteps of her mother.
"I told them I would come to make sure you were alright, you really do have to work on keeping your calm around Snow she is your daughter after all."
"Step daughter" Regina corrected.
"That isn't important now. You've done well."
"What?"
"The child, it is wonderful. Now if it is a boy it is bound to be the heir and then your position as Queen with surely be secure."
"Secure?"
"Well you know, things can happen, I wouldn't predict anything, but if you were the mother of the heir to the throne now that could do wonders."
"Well I guess we will just have to wait and see." answered Regina.
"We could...or I could help."
"Help?" Regina asked, hoping that Cora was not implying what she thought. Cora simply answered by raising her hands in a way that Regina was so accustomed to by now. "No." Regina answered confidently, turning her body away from Cora.
"No?" Cora was almost surprised, her daughter so seldom stood up to her.
"You will not use magic against this child, do you understand?"
"But it is for you, for the child." Cora tried to reassure her.
"You will not use magic on this child." Regina answered again in a harsh tone.
Cora lowered her hands, "you won't always be saying that, children are difficult."
"But this child will not suffer at the hands of magic, I make that decision."
"Suffer?" Cora asked.
As the words escaped her mouth a pain spread over Regina's back as if she had been it with a hammer. She grimaced and clung to the wall for some sort of support.
"I told you no magic." Regina said angrily through clenched teeth. "What have you done?"
"Nothing I've done nothing."
"Then what is happening to me?" Regina asked with a mix of confusion and fear.
"I don't know it shouldn't be happening this soon."
"What shouldn't be happening?"
"Nothing...come dear lets lie you down."
Regina made her way over to her mother just as Snow rounded the corner. "I just came to see if you wanted dessert?" she asked her voice tapering off at the end. "Is Regina alright?"
"Yes she is fine dear" Cora answered, "but tell your father that it might be best to call for the Doctor, quickly now."
At Cora's command Snow turned around and ran from where she came.
"I have to stay in bed until the baby comes?" Regina asked surprised.
"I think that is best, we want to keep the both of you healthy." the Doctor answered.
"It will be fine, I'll make sure you are well taken care of." Leopold answered.
"And I can help." Snow chimed in.
Cora reached down and stroked Regina's hand. "We won't let anything bad happen to either one of you.
