Hi, guys! So, here is our update. I know I haven't updated for a long time and I'm sorry for that, but as promissed, here is our chapter!
Yesterday we got a new episode and what can I say? I loved it! Regina is so sassy and dramatic, I couldn't stop laughing at her. And Outlaw Queen? I'm already in love with them haha I missed Roland, though. I think we all know he is going to be Robin's way to Regina's heart. Can't wait to watch more.
To snoopydoodles17; hahaha, don't cry, please... I'm thinking in doing another story just to show the girls and their lives as a family. What you think? "No sex" HAHA I knew you would love that part. Thank you for reading my story... kiiisses ;*
To EvilRegalTwinnies; Perdita is amazing, huh? Thanks for staying around haha ;* :D
To CCangel; Yeah, that was intense indeed. I hope you like this chapter. See ya :D
To opheliafrump; I know right? They are coming! haha I promisse :D
To MeMirellaVieira; Obrigada por gostar e por estar ao redor por tanto tempo. Archie é um fofo! haha Aposto que você vai gostar ainda mais dele aqui nesse episódio. Ele tem tanto cuidado com Regina, ele a trata como se ela fosse a joia mais preciosa que ele tem, e eu acho que ela é haha
To emanu cristina; Haha Eu amo seus comentários... Quanto ao repouso, você vai ver um pouquinho dele aqui nesse capítulo, mas não sei se eu vou realmente explorar esse lado, na verdade eu sei, mas não vou te dizer haha ;* Já estou triste. "Só leio se for pregnant"Não diga isso, por favor! haha Embora eu ame escrever fanfictions da Regina grávida, eu queria explorar as meninas crescendo e se desenvolvendo, quem sabe uma outra gravidez, mas só daqui alguns anos, eu não sei haha
To Anonymouse; I think she already knows that, but she's stubborn... she needs to go against something haha no matter what!
To Livialittleliar; Primeiro de tudo, MUITO MUITO OBG por reservar um tempo para comentar, você não tem ideia do quanto eu amo ler reviews e as suas sempre me deixam com um sorrisão de orelha a orelha, muito obrigada! Segundo, Happy Birthday, girl! ;* Eu sei que estou tipo muuuuito atrasada, mas desejo de coração que tenha sido um aniversário muito proveitoso! haha Eu que devo desculpas por demorar a atualizar. A verdade é que esse capítulo e o próximo já estavam escritos a muito tempo, mas eu dependo da minha beta e ela é muito ocupada, haha Eu espero que você goste desse capítulo. Um grande beijo e muito muito obrigada!
To ouat; I can't wait any longer too haha, but we have to... but I promise the wait is getting over.
To anapcmesquita; You're so boring, I can't haha I know you will love this chapter, it's lovely! I know you prefer Lillian, Ana, I swear I know... that is why I already know which one of the girls is going to survive :O spoilers :O kidding! Archie indeed is cute haha you'll see that in this chapter. She's his jewel. ;* Love u too ;DD
To Gotapenname; Thank you so so much! haha ;* kiiiissses and I hope you like this chapter.
To Britney; Oh, thank you so much! You have no idea how glad your reviews are making me. Good things indeed must come to an end :/ But what about another story showing the girls growing up? Just an idea! Kisses ;**
To Kristy; You're amazing! You help so much and I won't ever be able to thank you enough! So, thanks! :***
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 44 – THE SMALL DETAILS
"What are you doing dressed up?" Archie asked as he entered the kitchen.
Regina sat eating something that smelled like apples. Pongo and Perdita were sitting right below her. As soon as she saw him, her face flushed with shame, her mouth was full of food and she was looking at him as if she had been caught.
"And what are you eating?" He asked as he approached her and kissed her cheek still full of food.
"Apple pie." She replied with her mouth full. "I thought you had brought it to me."
"No, I did not." He replied quickly.
"It's a shame, because it's delicious." She replied with a shrug. "I would thank you for bringing my favorite, but it wasn't you so-"
"Oh, don't be evil. I can buy you one whenever you want. Just ask me." He said with a smile.
He picked up a fork and he was about to steal a piece of the pie, but once Regina realized what he was planning to do, she slapped his hand.
"No way. It's my pie." She said and stood up, turning her back to him as she walked towards the other room with the dish of pie in hand.
"Hey!" He whined, but she paid no attention.
He followed her for a while before returning to look at the clothes she was wearing.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I know I have to be on bed rest for the next month and I will, I promise. But today I need to go to City Hall." Regina said.
"No, Regina. You heard Whale. No working."
"Just for today, Archie. Belle will replace me for the next few months and I need to teach her a few things first."
"She can't come here?"
"I need to show her some files that are there and I want to leave her familiar with everything there."
Archie sighed in defeat.
"Okay, but just for today. I'm serious, Regina."
"I promise."
"Okay, then I'll take you."
"Ouch." Regina whispered grabbing the bottom of her belly.
"Regina? What is it?" Archie ran to her side.
She grabbed his arm the moment he approached. Her knuckles turning white with the force she was applying and in the next minute the pain was gone.
"Are you okay?" Archie asked again.
"I am." She said between short breaths. "It was just... another Braxton Hicks."
"They are getting stronger, huh?"
"Yeah... they are and it's your fault. You got me pregnant." She joked.
"Yeah... and you were there, as I recall." He teased, repeating the same words she had used only a few days ago.
"And then you sign here and here. Kylie will help you when you need something." Regina said.
"I understand." Belle said.
"What about the files for the school, I don't know if-"
"Regina, you've explained everything. I swear I already understood. Anything, I promise I'll ask Kylie and if she doesn't know what to do I'll come to you and ask. Don't worry." Belle reassured.
"I know, it's just that I've never been out of City Hall for so long, I just-"
"I already told you to stay quiet. Now go home and rest, you look tired."
Belle had noticed that over the morning, Regina was getting slower and pale. Sometimes, she could see the obvious discomfort in the brunette's face.
"I'm not tired," Regina insisted. "I'm just..." But she wasn't able to finish because a strong wave of dizziness hit her.
Belle saw the woman holding strong onto one of the chairs to avoid falling. Regina's eyes were closed and her face was pale.
"Regina, are you okay?" Belle ran to her and approached, waiting worriedly for a reply.
"I'm just... I'm just dizzy." Regina said with difficulty.
Belle supported her and helped her to the couch. She went and got a glass of water. When she was about to give it to Regina, she realized Perdita already sitting next to her owner, wagging her tail and looking at her with some kind of expectation that Belle didn't understand.
"Are you better? You want me to call Archie?"
"No." Regina replied quickly. "I'm already feeling better. I'm going home. You know where you can find me if you have any questions, huh?"
"How are you getting to your home? I don't think you're fine enough to go alone."
"No, I'm fine now. I'll be walking, Whale said it is good for them and Perdita is a faithful companion."
"But you're not on bed rest?"
"Yes, but-"
"But from what I know rest means rest and not walking around. I'll call Archie."
"No, please." She hastened to ask. "He is always worried. I already have to deal with staying a month at home being treated as a patient. If you call him, he'll think I'm dying." She laughed. "Seriously, I'm fine," She said and stood up to show her point. "I just want to go home and lie down, my back is killing me."
"All right, then. I'm not calling Archie, but you won't be walking. I can call Emma or Snow to come get you, I could call Rumple too, but I think you wouldn't want that."
"No." She growled.
"Oh, there is Ruby, too. Who is it going to be?"
Regina sighed in defeat. "Emma."
"And then you say I'm unbearable and boring. At the first opportunity you have, you call me." Emma joked. She had a gift that she had discovered some time ago: annoying Regina.
"It wasn't an option. Belle wouldn't let me walk and, besides, I wasn't feeling very well."
"That's no excuse, you could have called Archie. The fact is that you love having me around, admit it or not."
"I'm starting to think that calling him was a much better option." Regina answered low.
Emma helped Regina out of the car and into the house.
"Order delivered." Emma joked. "Now I really must go. I have a scheduled meeting. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"Meeting? Since when do you have a meeting?"
"Since... since I'm the sheriff of this town," Emma said trying to keep her voice from stuttering, but failed. "Now, excuse me."
Regina looked at her with narrowed eyes. She was hiding something.
"With who is that meeting?"
"Come on, Regina. That's none of your business." Emma spoke still stuttering. It was obvious that she was really hiding something.
"If you are ashamed to talk about it, that is because you're lying and don't want to stay here with me or because this meeting of yours isn't even a business meeting, perhaps a date?" Regina began. "And since you are unbearable and will not lose the opportunity to disturb me, I'll take the second option."
"Of course not, you... you're crazy, Regina. I don't have a date. You don't know what you're talking about, Neal and I aren't dating, it's just a meeting to discuss-what?!" Emma asked exasperated.
"Neal, huh?" She said between laughs.
"No, wait, it's not what you're thinking." Emma defended herself quickly.
"I know, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to lie down. I don't want you to be late for your 'meeting'." Regina said and started to close the door.
"Regina-"
"Bye, Emma."
"Regina?" Archie called as he came running into the bedroom. "Regina, are you here?"
He entered the room and found her lying. He approached and called her.
"Regina, are you okay?"
It took some time until she seemed to wake up from her sleepy state and could focus on Archie's worried look.
"What?" She asked huskily sleep.
"I went to pick you up at City Hall and Belle said you came back home because you weren't feeling well. What are you feeling? Why didn't you call me?"
Regina sighed. "I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"Why didn't you call me? I would have gone to pick you up."
"Because you would act like the way you are now."
"How?"
"Worried. I'm fine, Archie. Seriously."
He looked at her for a few seconds as if searching for some sign that something was out of place. As she lay in the center of the bed, he took advantage of the space and sat beside her.
"Are you sure? You look a little pale."
"I'm just tired."
"I'll make us something to eat, then."
"I'm not hungry." She whispered and snuggled further into her blankets.
"But you need to eat something." He insisted, but no answer came, because she had gone back to sleep.
He looked at her for a few more seconds. He traced his fingers through her hair and down her face, feeling the cool skin to his touch. After a few minutes, he left the room to let her rest.
Archie prepared lunch but Regina refused to eat. He wanted to prepare a surprise for Regina before the girls were born, but for that he would need to leave in the afternoon. The problem is that he didn't want to leave her alone, even with her sleeping as deeply as she was doing.
He needed someone to stay with her in the afternoon and who better than Henry? Archie knew Regina would never deny her son's company and even though she was tired, she would do her best to distract the boy and keep him around and she would eventually also be distracted, that was exactly what Archie wanted.
Emma left Henry at the mansion and as soon as Archie saw him, he prepared to leave. Luckily for him, Regina was too tired to ask where he was going or what he was going to do.
The surprise? Well, that was the big problem. Archie had been wondering about it for almost two months. Since before Regina has been kidnapped by Greg. The question in his mind was constant. He knew Regina and he knew a few pieces of her dark past. He knew that Regina's marriage with the King wasn't a fairy tale, quite the contrary, but he knew that Regina, deep down, still had some pieces from that young princess who dreamed of finding her prince charming - no, this is Snow, correction - that young princess who dreamed of finding her prince, getting married and being happy forever.
That's why he decided he would ask her to marry him. The truth was that he was prepared to listen to anything that Regina had to say. Yes or no. He knew she loved him, he didn't need more proof about it and he loved her anyway. He didn't care if she would say no, but he wanted to risk it. He wanted to risk the chance to call her his wife. His beloved wife, the mother of his children.
None of the rings seemed appropriate for a queen and none of them were what Archie had in mind. None of them until, finally, after three hours, he found what he was looking for. It was perfect.
There were many more striking rings more expensive and larger in the store, but what he had at hand now was exactly what he wanted. It was as simple as the certainty that what he felt for Regina was love, but the beauty of its simplicity was indisputable. The pair of rings was a perfect match, they were made of pure gold, and when placed side by side, they fit together and formed one heart. It was proof that they were not just two or four hearts, because of the twins, or five, because of Henry. They were one. One family, one heart. They were only complete when together and that's exactly what Archie wanted to give to Regina. A new perspective on marriage. A different perspective than what she had.
Thus, he bought the pair of rings and decided to keep them in his office. He had thought of a million ways and certain times to ask her for marriage. He had come with good ideas, some with David, Emma and even Snow's help. Apparently, the only one who didn't know of such surprise was Regina. He wanted to ask her for marriage before the twins were born. He just needed to wait for the right moment. He had thought about doing a dinner or calls her out one evening, just the two of them, and surprises her. He couldn't risk leaving the rings at home and run the risk of Regina finding out.
When he came home, he was surprised Perdita and Pongo were already at the door waiting for him. He played with the dogs for a while and shouted that he was home, but no answer came. He searched throughout downstairs and didn't find them, so he went upstairs. They weren't in the couple's bedroom and not in Henry's room, but when he opened the nursery, he felt his whole body relax. Henry was sitting in an armchair with the fairytale book slovenly lying on his chest. It was obvious that the boy had fallen asleep while reading the book. Regina, meanwhile, was lying on the couch with her feet propped up on its side. She had a slight frown on her face and she was covered with a thick comforter that made Archie wonder why she wasn't dying of heat with that heavy blanket.
He woke Henry and the two went down and left Regina in the room. Archie said he had bought the rings and this was their subject for the next few minutes. Henry was anxious and he only calmed down when Archie showed him the picture on his phone. Lucky for him that he had taken one.
"So, what did you do today? She is already asleep and isn't it dinner time yet." Archie said as he threw some stuff in the kitchen trash.
"She isn't 'already' asleep." The boy replied quickly. "She's 'still' sleeping." And Archie noticed the boy's disappointed look.
"Still? How so?"
"She spent the entire afternoon sleeping. She left her bed to lie on the couch in the girls' bedroom and fell asleep. I barely started talking to her when I saw she wasn't even listening to me."
"Oh, Henry. I'm sorry, but you must understand that she is very tired. Remember Dr. Whale said it would be normal for her to feel more tired than ever in the coming weeks?"
"I know, sorry, Archie."
"No need to apologize. Now, help me with this dinner so I don't catch the kitchen on fire." Archie said with a huge smile.
The boy smiled back and helped Archie. Archie called Regina for dinner, but she barely paid attention and said she would eat later. Shortly after Archie and Henry finished their dinner, Emma appeared at the door to pick the boy up. Henry was staying with Emma for the few next days.
Emma was surprised that Regina wasn't there with the boys, but they said she was fine and was sleeping. Archie told her about the rings and they spent a few minutes making plans and discussing about how Archie should propose to Regina. It wasn't long and they were gone.
Archie finished tidying up the kitchen and went to wake Regina again. She was still in the same position. He spent a few seconds admiring her and debating whether to wake her or not. He approached and tried to wake her.
"Hey, baby." He whispered. "It's time to wake up."
She didn't answer and he pulled the blanket from her. He walked over and put his hand on her cheek to wake her. It was then that he realized it. She was warm and her skin was pinker than normal. He frowned and looked at her again, placing his palm on her forehead to see if it wasn't his head's temperature. It wasn't.
"Regina? Baby, wake up."
"I don't want to." She spoke with severe hoarseness having spent the entire day without using her voice.
"Regina, I think you have a fever. Come on, open your eyes for me." He asked hopefully.
"I'm fine." She spoke again.
"Regina?" He called, but this time he used both of his hands on each side of her cheek eagerly waiting for a response from her. "Look at me, baby. Are you okay? What are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"I'll call Whale. You're hot and you spent the whole day sleeping. Something is wrong." He said getting up, but before he could reach the door, he heard her sighing and comment.
"I already said I'm fine. I'm just tired." She said trying to get up despite the dizziness.
"Let me help you," He ran to support her. "We'll get changed and I'll take you to the hospital."
"No." She said with closed eyes. "Not the hospital. I promise I'm fine."
"But you have a fever."
"I don't understand."
"What?" He asked confused.
"When I don't want to rest you're complaining, but when I do exactly what you want, you claim the same."
"I'm just worried."
"No need." She walked supported by him to their room.
Once they entered, Archie disappeared into the bathroom looking for some thermometer to measure Regina's temperature, but when he returned to the room she was hiding under her sheets. He sighed.
"How do you use it?" He muttered to himself, frowning at the thermometer.
The truth was that Archie had never been sick and he never had to take care of anyone, just Pongo. It made him feel helpless. Determined, he took the thermometer box and read the instructions.
"That's it. You have a little fever." He said after taking the thermometer from Regina and reading the temperature it was showing.
"I'm fine." She said groggily.
Ignoring what Regina was saying, he did the only thing he knew could help. He knew Regina wouldn't want to go to a hospital because of a fever.
"We need to take your fever down." He whispered, pulling the blankets off her. "I'm going to prepare a bath for you." He said, kissed her temple and moved to leave, but she pulled him back.
"It's cold." She whimpered. "No bath."
"You look like a child running away from the bath." He teased, but she didn't smile as a cold wind hit her body making her shiver.
"Please?" She tried again, this time giving him puppy dog eyes that she had learned from Henry.
For a brief moment Archie considered letting her sleep, but when he pulled her into a hug and a kiss on the cheek, he remembered the fever again.
"Cold bathtub or shower?"
"None." She said insistently.
"Regina, bathtub or shower?" He asked looking at her seriously and she knew, even with her eyes closed, that she wouldn't escape.
She sighed in defeat. "Hot bathtub."
"You're not helping me here. You have a fever and even if you keep saying you're fine, I still worry. So, will you take a bath or go to the hospital?"
"All right. Shower."
Archie sighed with relief, smiled and pulled her to him. "Come on." Then he led her to the bathroom.
Once he helped her take off her clothes, he took off his and then led her to the shower. The cold water made her shiver and in response she clung to him strongly. Even with the cold water running between them, Archie could still feel the heat coming from Regina's body and that's what made him stay with her in the shower for the next few minutes.
Regina was shaking, but it was like that cold water was washing away all the tiredness and pain in her body, but at the same time a new wave of exhaustion swept over her and she let her head rest on Archie's chest. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, taking advantage of this moment of calm. She still had her arms around him trying to stand up and he had his arms around her rounded body.
Just when Archie was sure that the fever had left Regina's body, he turned off the shower, both were wet and shivering. He grabbed a towel and helped her dry off since she looked like she could fall asleep standing at anytime. He put his towel around his body and led them back to the room.
"Better?" He asked.
"Yes," She said still shaking. "Cold. I need clothing."
"I'll get it for you." He kissed her quickly on the forehead and ran to the closet. He returned shortly thereafter with one of her panties that went to just below the navel and a gown in hand.
"I hate this nightgown." She muttered as she saw him.
"You look beautiful in it, let's go." He said encouraging her to stand for only a moment for him to be able to clothe her.
Once they were done, Regina went back under their blankets and she was asleep in the next instant. Archie checked the doors and windows of the house, turned off the lights and laid down beside her, pulling her closer to him until there was no space between them.
"Good night, my love." He whispered. His hand never left Regina's belly. The protective manner in which he held or touched her could soothe her even in her sleep. The smoother movement of their girls was also reassuring him. That's how they slept.
Tonight, though, it was different. Archie was already familiar with Regina's restlessness during the nights. Sleeping wasn't easy and finding a comfortable position was an almost impossible task for her. But this time, she seemed more restless and uncomfortable than the previous nights. She spent almost all night turning over in their bed, trying to find a comfortable position, but the scowl on her face showed that she just couldn't find such a position.
In the middle of the night, Archie realized that the fever had returned. She wasn't as hot as before, yet she was hot and it worried him. He woke her up a few times during the night to see if she was feeling well, but she answered a quick "I'm fine" and went back to sleep. And that was how the night went.
Archie was the first to stand up, not that he has been able to sleep. He took a bath and prepared a breakfast for Regina. She didn't get out of bed to eat, so he brought the breakfast to bed. She barely touched the food because the smell was making her sick. He had an appointment early in the morning, but he wouldn't leave her alone and she knew it.
"You'll be late." She said with closed eyes and a voice choked with sleep. She knew he was staring at her.
"I won't leave you alone."
"I'm fine, Archie."
"You spent the night turning over, you have a fever. You have been sleeping since yesterday afternoon, you-"
"Oh God," She moaned. "How many things have you listed? What must I do to prove that I'm fine and that this is normal? I'm tired, very tired, but Whale said it was normal and-"
"But he said nothing about a fever. Please, Regina, I'm just worried. I know you hate hospitals and I know you don't want to go, but please, do it for me?"
The tone of concern present in Archie's voice and the frightened look he had was what made her sigh in defeat. "Tell you what. You go to your commitment and I promise that when you come back, if I'm not feeling better we'll go to the hospital, okay?"
He sighed with relief and ran to her side. "You promise?"
"I promise. Now please, go!"
"Okay," He said and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "But you promise if anything, if you feel anything you'll call me, right?" And in response, she nodded. "I'll leave the phone here beside you and you call me."
"I promise."
"Okay," He replied still afraid. "I love you."
"I love you too." She replied with a tired smile and closed her eyes again.
When Archie was already near the door, she called again, he looked at her immediately. "Thank Granny and Ruby for the apple pie for me, please?"
"I got it."
Archie met two patients in the morning and he was eager to go home. The problem is that it wasn't even 10am. He had tested calling Regina once or twice, but he knew she wouldn't answer and she was probably asleep. He wondered about going home, but Regina would probably get irritated and say that he was treating her as a sick person. That's why he took the intermission between patients to stop by Granny's and eat something.
"Archie!" Ruby greeted cheerfully when she saw the man. "How are Regina and the girls doing? I haven't seen them for days."
"It's true." He smiled. "She's home, angry because Whale put her on absolute bed rest."
"Absolute bed rest? Is she okay?" Ruby asked worriedly.
"Yes, she's fine. She's just tired. She has been sleeping for hours."
After eating his lunch, Archie was paying the bill when Ruby came up with an apple pie in hand.
"Granny is sending it to Regina. She knows that Regina loves her apple pies." Ruby said grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, are you two trying to steal my pregnant woman from me with apple pies? That's a low blow. Yesterday, she almost killed me when I threatened to get a piece of the pie that you made for her."
"What pie?" Ruby asked confused.
"The pie you made for her. She ate all of it yesterday morning and believe me, she refused to give me even a little bit." Archie said with a silly grin on his face.
"Archie," Ruby got his attention, her face contorted with something between concern and confusion. "We made no pie for Regina yesterday, what are you talking about?"
"Well, Regina is addicted to apple pies, she recognizes Granny's apple pie only by the smell and, moreover, the packaging was the same that you use here, I just thought-"
"Archie, but we made no apple pie yesterday, I'm absolutely sure." Ruby's voice was growing alert.
Archie looked at her with eyes full of worry and fear, his interior was screaming that something was wrong, but he wished with all his heart that it was nothing more than a mistake and that's what kept him a little quieter. "Maybe Granny made one and you didn't know, or maybe she had one saved."
"I'll ask her." Ruby said and disappeared into the kitchen of the restaurant.
It wasn't long until she and Granny left the kitchen. Both were a little pale and had a worried look and, if well analyzed, full of fear.
"What?" Archie asked fearfully.
"Archie, we've made no apple pies for days. Regina is practically the only one who eats it and she hasn't been here for more than a week. I think there's something wrong." Granny said.
They don't know if Archie really heard all what had just been said. When Granny was done, Archie was almost at the restaurant door. He didn't care about his umbrella, which was left behind, and even with Pongo, who was now chasing his owner looking as he had just realized his agitation. The only thing that was going on in his mind now was that he needed to get home. He needed to find Regina because his heart knew that something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
So? Any thoughts? One spoiler to the one who guess what's happening here.
See you in the next, I will try not take too long to update ;)
Thank you everybody who is following and reading this story for so long, and you who have favorited it and are following me, THANK YOU! :*
Bárbara