"TLC"

Their living room was dark, save for the soft orange glow from the candles placed around the room as well as the glow from the TV as The Philadelphia Story played. Regina laid on the couch, using Robin's arm as a pillow, as they snuggled together under a thick blanket. Queen lay curled up against her and Regina absentmindedly stroked her fur as she watched the movie.

It was the perfect way to spend a bitterly cold January night.

She sighed, smiling softly as Robin pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "Thinking of something in particular, lovely?" he asked in a whisper.

"Just that in a year, we could be doing this with our son or daughter," she whispered, glancing back at him.

He smiled at her, his eyes reflecting the TV's glow. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. "I doubt we'll be watching The Philadelphia Story."

"Why? We should probably start culturing him or her early. Like how some mothers listen to classical music while their children are in the womb," Regina commented, turning back to the TV.

"I suddenly have an image of Mary Margaret sitting on her couch with a rather large pair of headphones on her baby bump while David keeps changing CDs," he said dryly.

She snorted at that, causing Queen to pop up and give her a confused looked. Regina assured the dog everything was fine before turning back to her husband. "While they would seem the type, they didn't do that to poor Neal."

"Good," he replied. "There may be hope for them and him yet."

"Mary Margaret and David are good parents."

"I know they are. Doesn't mean they won't make questionable decisions as parents. Doesn't mean we won't."

She fell silent at that and he reached over, lacing his fingers with hers. He kissed her cheek. "Hey, it doesn't mean we're going to be bad parents. We're just going to have to learn as we go along and do our best. Together."

"Together," she replied, liking the sound of that. "Now hush. I'm trying to watch the movie."

"You've seen this so many times, I'm pretty sure you can recite it from memory," Robin said.

She elbowed him and he let out a huff. "It doesn't matter. How many times have I watched Star Wars with you?"

He sighed. "Fine. You win."

"Good." She smiled, proud of her victory as the movie played on.

As they approached the end, she grew aware of Robin's breath against her neck. It was even, meaning he had fallen asleep on her. She grinned, finding it absolutely adorable. Especially as Queen was sound asleep in front of her.

It did present a problem, though—how was she going to move without waking up either? Regina slowly extracted herself from Robin's hold, relieved when he slept on. She then slid down the couch without disturbing Her Majesty and stood up, stretching.

She turned everything off and cleaned up their dishes, placing them in the dishwasher and starting it. Regina returned to the couch, staring at her husband as she debated whether to wake him or not. He looked comfortable curled up there, Queen now cuddled against his side, and she figured it wouldn't hurt. Yet part of her knew she was going to miss him in their bed and selfishly wanted to wake him just so he could hold her.

In the end, she decided not to be selfish. She adjusted the blanket so it covered him more before kissing his forehead. "Good night," she whispered.

Regina climbed upstairs to their bedroom after blowing out the candles, brushing her teeth before climbing into bed alone. She sighed, facing away from Robin's empty side as she turned off their light and attempting to fall asleep.

She drifted off into a light sleep and so heard the soft padding of feet coming down the hall some time later, followed by the clicking of nails against the wooden floorboards. She heard the running of water in the bathroom for several minutes, feeling the glow of the lights against her face.

They died down and she felt Robin's side of the bed dip. He slipped under the covers before wrapping his arm around her, kissing the back of her neck as his body pressed against her back. "Good night, lovely."

"Good night," she whispered, feeling Queen curl up on their legs. Everything felt right now and as his breathing evened out, Regina slipped into a deeper sleep.

She woke to soft kisses along her neck and she groaned. "Please don't start something you can't finish," she told him.

"Who says I can't finish?" he whispered. "There's a half hour before the alarm goes off. It won't be as good as usual, but I can certainly finish in that time frame."

Regina rolled over to face Robin, noting his smug expression and the desire in his eyes. She had no doubt they could pull off a quickie, yet there was one furry problem. And she made herself known by walking up the bed and pawing Robin, whining.

"Looks like Her Majesty needs to go out," Regina said, grinning as she ran her hand over one of the dog's ears. "And she prefers you to me for that."

He sighed, pushing back the blankets. "Yes, she does. Looks like I'm going to have to put a pin in my thoughts. Until tonight."

"Promise?" Regina asked with a smile.

"Promise," he replied, smiling right back as he climbed out of bed. "Can you entertain her while I get some clothes on?"

She nodded, petting Queen. "I'll be happy too. Just hurry up. I'm not sure how long she'll be distracted for."

"Understood." He scooped up some clothes from his drawers before disappearing into the bathroom to get ready.

Regina leaned back against the pillows, Queen lying her head on her stomach. Continuing to pet her, Regina smiled. "You know Daddy and I spoil you right? You are the luckiest dog in the world, Your Majesty."

Queen rolled over, baring her stomach in response. Chuckling, Regina rubbed it until Robin came out.

"Okay, girl," he said, patting her side. "Let's go for your walk. Then we'll get you fed once we come back."

She jumped off the bed, ready to follow him downstairs. Regina climbed out of bed as well. "I'll feed you when you get back too," she promised her husband, kissing him.

He grinned. "Then I'll try to hurry Her Majesty along. I can't wait to eat whatever it is you make."

"Just go before she goes on our bedroom floor," Regina told him, giving him a little push. "I love you."

"Love you too!" he called out, heading downstairs with Queen. She shook her head before heading to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Regina walked into her office, her nose still frozen even after a short amount of time outside. She hurried past Mary Margaret's desk, not bothering to say hello to the temp who had been filling in during her friend's maternity leave. Upping the heat in her office, she took off her coat as she prepared for the day.

"Regina? Are you okay?" Mary Margaret's familiar voice asked.

Surprised, Regina turned around to find her friend and assistant standing in the doorway. Mary Margaret wore a pair of black slacks paired with a bubblegum pink wool sweater and was definitely a sight for Regina's sore eyes.

"You're back," Regina said, surprised. "I thought it was going to be a few more weeks."

Mary Margaret shrugged. "I talked it over with HR and decided to come back early. I love Neal but I was going a bit mad sitting at home with him. Mom and Daddy are watching him for me."

"Well, I'm so glad you are here." Regina hurried forward, wrapping her arms around the young woman. Everything felt normal again, knowing her days would go more smoothly with Mary Margaret back behind her desk.

Chuckling, Mary Margaret held her tight. "I'm glad to be back too. And I think I'm up to speed, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Good," Regina replied, pulling away. She smiled at her friend. "So what's on my schedule for today?"

Mary Margaret took on a business tone. "Gold has called a meeting with all the senior directors. It's a lunch meeting so I put in your order already, if that's okay with you."

"I trust you," Regina assured her. "Just let give me the standard half hour warning, okay? Oh, and set up a meeting with Gepetto Toys. I want to go over their plans for the year."

"I'll get right on it." Mary Margaret looked happy to have something to do and she headed out of the office as Regina chuckled. All was right in her world and she relished that feeling.

"I want to congratulate everyone on a great holiday season," Gold said at the meeting. "And with Sidney's team securing a Super Bowl commercial, we're looking at a strong fourth quarter. But that doesn't mean we get to be complacent."

Regina tried not to zone out but this was Gold's standard start of the year speech. The only change was who he congratulated for getting a Super Bowl commercial that year. With any luck, it would be her next January.

Gold then launched into upcoming campaigns for the first quarter and she prepared to answer for Geppetto Toys when the door opened. A pale Mary Margaret stepped in. "I'm sorry, Mr. Gold, but I need Regina. It's an emergency."

"What kind of an emergency?" Gold asked, echoing the unspoken question rattling around Regina's mind.

Mary Margaret glanced at her before replying: "The police need to talk to her."

"The police?" Zelena let out a little laugh as she swiveled her chair toward Regina, smirking. "What did you do?"

"There are other reasons for the police to be calling," Gold said before waving his hand at Regina. "Go, go."

She gathered up her papers, blood pounding in her ears as she hurried out of the conference room. Mary Margaret met her in the hallway, eyes full of sympathy. Regina stopped, her heart almost beating out of her chest. "Mary Margaret, what's going on? Please don't let me get blindsided before I take this call."

"They're not on the phone," her assistant replied. "The police are here to see you. It's about Robin."

Regina's heart stopped and she almost ran back to her office. Every thought possible ran through her head, all worse than the last. Tears blurred her eyes as she burst into her office, convinced the officers were going to tell her her husband was dead and the sun was never going to shine in her life again.

One officer in blue stood in the middle of her office along with David, who was dressed in a sharp gray suit. Regina sobbed when she saw him, knowing he had just transferred to homicide before the New Year. All feeling left her body and her legs turned to jelly. "No!"

"Regina!" He seemed to fly across the room, catching her as her legs gave out and keeping her from landing on the floor. "Regina, Robin is not dead. I'm here to take you to the hospital."

She hiccupped, looking at him through her tears. Her body began to shake, not comforted by that news. "Why is he in the hospital?"

"He was in a car accident," the uniformed cop said. "He hit a patch of ice, spun out and hit a tree. We've transported him to Avalon Mercy."

"How badly hurt is he?" she asked, leaning against David. Every scenario played through her mind, including Robin being on the point of death. She needed to see him, to hold him, to find out how bad everything was.

Her friend squeezed her shoulder. "You'll have to ask the doctor when we get you to the hospital. But from what I understand he was alert when loaded into the ambulance."

Regina tried to collect her thoughts as she nodded. "Okay, I need to…I need to…"

"You need to put on your coat and let David drive you to the hospital," Mary Margaret said, handing her her coat. "I'll handle everything else. Go."

"Thank you," Regina replied, pulling on her coat. She knew should feel gratitude but all she could do was panic. But she did manage to give Mary Margaret a tight smile. "I am so glad you came back today."

Mary Margaret gave her a sad smile. "Me too. Though I hadn't thought this would happen."

"None of us could've predicted this," David assured his wife before putting gentle pressure on Regina's arm. "Come on. I'll take you to my squad car."

As he led her out of the office, Regina tried to focus on the fact that Robin had been alert and was getting medical treatment. He was going to be fine. He wasn't going to leave her.

Everything would be okay.

Will and Tuck were waiting for her in the waiting room when David escorted Regina into the hospital. Both men stood and Tuck opened his arms for her and he held her close. "He's going to be fine, Regina."

"Have you seen him?" she asked them, praying for reassurance. "Did he look okay?"

"They'll only let family see him. We've been waiting for you," Will explained, sounding as panicked as her.

"Come on. We'll go get you your answers now." Tuck guided her to the nurse's station. He cleared his throat to get the attention of the older woman with dark black hair sitting behind the desk. "Excuse me?"

The woman looked up, glancing over at Regina. Her name tag read Ratchet. "Is this Mrs. Locksley?"

"Yes, I am," Regina replied, leaning against the desk. "Where's my husband? How is he?"

"Wait right here. I'll go get Dr. Whale and he'll answer all your questions." Nurse Ratchet's voice was soothing though she didn't smile. She stood and walked away, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.

Will joined them at the counter. "What did she say?"

"She's getting the doctor," Tuck explained as Regina stared down the hallway, waiting for the doctor and nurse to reemerge.

After what seemed like hours, Dr. Whale's familiar form with his platinum blond hair appeared in the hallway. He was dressed in blue scrubs that didn't appear to have any blood on them, which sent relief coursing through her. She called out: "How is he?"

"Mrs. Locksley," Dr. Whale said, motioning to a spot off to the side. "Come over here and I'll tell you everything."

Regina followed him, Tuck and Will close by. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to provide some comfort without Robin to wrap his arms around her. "How bad is it?"

"Not as bad as the scenarios I'm sure you've had running through your head since you were told Robin was taken to the hospital," he told her, clearly understanding the source of her jittery appearance. "I believe he has a broken leg, which should be confirmed soon with an X-Ray, as well as a few broken ribs from when his airbag deployed. He's also bruised from the seatbelt and from where his head hit the steering wheel. So he's going to be very, very sore for some time."

She nodded, understanding that while Robin was injured, all the injuries were treatable. "Can I take him home? Once you finish bandaging him up, that is?"

"I'd rather keep him overnight for observation," Whale said, apologetically. "I'm still not sure if he had a head injury."

"Okay. Can I stay with him?" she asked, hugging herself tighter. Not even Tuck's hand on her back could comfort her. "Please?"

He gave her a soft smile. "Of course. I'll take you back to where we have him and then we'll set something up for you when we transfer him to a room."

"Thank you," she said. She reached a shaky hand out and placed it on his arm. "I'm glad you're working on him. You took great care of me."

Dr. Whale nodded. "Thank you for that. You ready to head back?"

"Just a moment, please." Regina turned to Tuck and Will. She hugged both of them at the same time, a bit of a stretch for her arms but she managed. "Thank you for being here. I'll tell Robin you were here. But maybe you should go home."

"Of course. But call if you need anything." Will said, hugging her even when Tuck pulled away. "Everything will be fine, Regina. Robin will be home soon."

"I know. Can…Can one of you go take care of Queen for us? Please?" she asked, pulling away as she thought of her poor puppy. Queen was going to be so confused as to where her parents were.

"I'll go," Tuck replied. "Don't worry about her. Just focus on Robin. Okay?"

She nodded, turning to face Dr. Whale again. "Okay. Lead the way. I want to see my husband."

"Just down this hallway." The doctor placed his hand on her back, guiding her away from the waiting room.

He looks worse than it really is. He looks worse than it really is. He looks worse than it really is.

Regina kept repeating that mantra in her head as she sat at Robin's bedside in the Emergency Room. He looked like death warmed over, his skin a sickly pale color. It made the bruising all over his face and body look even worse. She winced as she glanced at his exposed chest, wondering how painful broken ribs were. The bruise there was a particularly awful shade of purple.

She tenderly brushed her fingers over some small white bandages covering a cut on his forehead. He turned toward her, scrunching his face up and she retracted her hand, scared she had hurt him.

He opened his eyes and though they weren't exactly focused, he still smiled. "Regina. You're here."

"Of course I am," she said, leaning closer. "Where else would I be but by your side?"

"You've been crying." He frowned, trying to reach for her cheek. His coordination, though, was affected by the medication and he ended up only swiping at the air. She took his hand instead.

She almost shook her head, not surprised he would still be worried about her while he was lying in a hospital bed hooked up to several machines. "I got a bit of a scare. David and another officer showed up and I…might've thought the worst."

"I'm sorry," he said, squeezing my head. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I promised I was driving carefully. I just…I just didn't see the black ice on the road. And then I spun out."

"It's not your fault. Black ice is treacherous," Regina told him. "I'm just glad it wasn't more serious."

He nodded. "I only totaled my car and broke myself. I could've hurt someone else. Or you. You could've been the car with me…"

She hushed him, unsurprised that he would be thinking of others as well as her. "I meant that you weren't more seriously hurt."

"Oh." He paused for a moment before nodding. "I guess that makes sense too. But I'm really glad you weren't in the car."

"I wish you weren't." She raised his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "I wish you weren't hurt."

He gave her a big smile. "You're so pretty. How did I get so lucky?"

"They gave you the good stuff, didn't they?" she asked, holding back her laughter. It seemed her husband had a similar reaction as her when it came to painkillers.

"Probably," he said. "I'm feeling nothing, honestly. Except the desire to be back in our bed with you."

She laughed at that. "We'll get you there soon. Just close your eyes and rest while we wait for Dr. Whale to come back, okay?"

He nodded, doing just as she said. Regina gently stroked his hair, humming softly until his breathing evened out and she was certain he was asleep. She then leaned back in her chair, sighing.

"Regina?" Archie's soft voice still startled her and she felt her body tense up, ready to fight or fly. He looked apologetic as he stepped into the room assigned to Robin. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I heard about Robin…"

She straightened up in her chair, stretching a bit as she smiled at Archie. "You didn't have to come."

He smiled as well, sitting down next to her. "I know. But you are my friends and technically Robin is my patient…"

"Well, your patient is sleeping right now. And when he's awake, he's a bit…loopy," she said, glancing at her slumbering husband. Robin's chest rose and fell in an even rhythm, which sent relief coursing through her.

Archie chuckled softly. "They have him on the good painkillers then, huh?"

"Yep," she said. "He has no filter right now."

"Oh no."

She shook her head. "So far, it's fine. All he's said is that I'm pretty and that he wished we were in bed together."

"Doesn't sound like his filter is gone," Archie commented, still grinning at her.

"You didn't hear how he said it," she replied. "Trust me when I saw I know how painkillers can remove a filter."

His eyes sparkled as his eyebrows went up a bit. "Do I want to know?"

She shook her head. "Definitely not. Too many people know."

Robin groaned, stirring in his sleep. She leaned forward, taking his hand. "Robin? Are you awake?"

"Regina," he moaned, blinking his eyes open. They weren't focused at all but he still smiled at her. "My beautiful, beautiful bride…"

"Oh, I think I see what you mean," Archie said, sounding like he was trying to suppress laughter.

Regina stroked his hair again. "I'm right here, love. Close your eyes and go back to sleep, okay?"

"Where's Queen?" he asked, trying to lift his head to see if their faithful dog was curled up on his legs. She realized he thought they were at home, in their own bed.

She smiled, even though he had closed his eyes again. "She's sleeping downstairs tonight, Robin."

His grin took on a coy manner and his eyes opened again. "Oh? And why's that?"

"I think we need some time to ourselves," she said, knowing she was probably treading down a dangerous path.

"Then I think you're overdressed for this," he said, reaching out for her shirt. He gave it a little tug. "Let's start with this."

She swatted his hand away, hoping to get him back to sleep before he did something one of them would regret. Most likely her, as it were. "Not yet. I need some rest. It's been a long day at work for me."

"Then let me help you relax." His hand slipped under her shirt, fingers inching up toward her bra. "You're not even ready for bed."

"Do you need me to give you some privacy?" Archie asked, eyes still sparkling though his cheeks were turning pink. Regina wondered if all their friends were going to catch them in some sexual situation.

She sighed, batting away her husband's wandering hands. "It's probably for the best since I can't get him back to bed. Thanks for stopping by. If he wasn't so drugged up, I'm sure Robin would be touched to know you were here."

Archie nodded, standing up. "Have a good night, Regina. Try to get some rest, okay?"

"I will," she said. "Dr. Whale is going to see if the maternity ward can spare one of the cots they keep for the dads."

"Good. Well, if you need anything, you know my number. Good night, Regina." Archie picked up his umbrella and left the room.

Regina sighed, turning back to her husband. As she did, her bra shifted and pooled against her stomach. Her mouth fell open as she stared at Robin, who had a shit-eating grin. "Did you undo my bra?" she asked.

He nodded. "I told you were too dressed. So I thought I'd help you."

She wasn't even sure how he had managed to do that when he couldn't even focus his eyes on her face and had to admit she was impressed. Regina nodded, making a decision she hoped would work in her favor. "I'm going to go slip into something more…comfortable…in the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"I'll be right here," he called out as she slipped into the small bathroom in the hospital room.

Regina closed the door and waited, hoping the medication coursing through Robin would do its job and help him go back to sleep. Otherwise, she feared he would get friskier and she would run out of excuses as to why they couldn't have sex. So she leaned against the counter as the lights buzzed overhead, slowly counting to one hundred in her head.

When she finished, she stepped out of the bathroom. Regina approached Robin's bed quietly and was relieved to find him sound asleep. She kissed his forehead as she adjusted his blankets again. "Sleep tight, my love," she whispered.

Regina slept fitfully throughout the night though the cot and blankets the hospital provided her with were comfortable. She had to wake up every couple of hours to check Robin for a concussion. He passed every time, easily falling back to sleep. It took longer for her, knowing only nightmares awaited her. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw the afternoon play out differently—Robin's injuries grew progressively worse until she found herself standing next to a freshly dug grave.

"Regina, wake up!" her mother's voice sounded over the minister droning on by the casket.

Opening her eyes, the dreary cemetery gave way to the harsh lights of the hospital room. Cora's concerned face hovered overhead and over her shoulder, Regina could see her father was there too. Calloused fingers brushed a few tears from her cheeks. She looked up to see Robin staring down at her with clear eyes as he continued to caress her cheek. "Good morning," he rasped.

"Morning," she replied, sitting up with a groan.

"Regina," he continued, "are you okay?"

She nodded, standing up to stretch out her limbs. "I'm fine. Just some bad dreams."

Robin glared at her, nowhere near placated. "Sounded a lot worse. You were crying and wailing my name. And you couldn't be roused until your mother shook you. I had been trying for some time before they arrived."

"Why don't we give you two some privacy?" Cora suggested, starting to back up as she grabbed Henry's arm to pull him with her. "We'll get you some breakfast, Regina, and be right back."

Her parents left them and Regina sighed, sitting down on Robin's bed. He kept his eyes on her, waiting. She smiled, taking his hand. "How are you? Are they weaning you off the painkillers?"

"The strong stuff, yes," he replied. "Pain management came in while you were asleep."

She frowned, upset that she had missed something so important. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you needed sleep," he replied, giving her a look that dared her to challenge him.

Regina did, annoyed with him making that decision for her. He was the one injured, not her. She scowled at him, crossing her arms. "I can sleep once you're discharged. I should've ben awake for that so I know what we need to do once you're home."

"They will provide written instructions with my discharge package," he said. "You can read it but they've downgrading me to some pretty strong codeine before going down to over the counter stuff. And they showed me some breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia."

Questions swirled around her head, making her more annoyed. Pneumonia was a serious thing and apparently a risk she should've been awake to be told about. "Pneumonia?"

He nodded. "Apparently having broken ribs can put you at an increased risk for it. It has something to do with not being able to breathe deeply. I guess it doesn't clear out the lungs or something."

"Or something," she repeated, seething. "Had I been awake, I could've had a better understanding."

Robin scowled at her. "You needed rest, Regina. I don't regret my decision."

"I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around, Robin. And I need to know how to do that!" She was close to shouting but she didn't care. It would hopefully pierce her husband's thick skull. Why did she have to marry a man as stubborn as her?

He sighed, rubbing his face. "Fine, I'm sorry. But I'm sure Dr. Whale can answer all your questions. Besides, I'm sure I'll be fine."

She crossed her arms. "If the situation was reversed, would you let me say the same thing to you?"

"No," he admitted with a sigh. "I'd probably be just as angry if you let me sleep through something as important."

"Then you see where I'm coming from."

He nodded, his shoulders slumping as he reached out for her hand. He laced their fingers together as he gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"I forgive you," she said before smiling. "Only because you're injured and you look so adorable chastened."

Cora and Henry returned, her mother holding a coffee cup and her father carrying a Styrofoam container. "We got you some French toast. It looks pretty good," he said. "And your mother has your coffee."

"Thank you," Regina replied, taking the coffee from her mother. "You two are a godsend."

"Well, God didn't send us. Mary Margaret and Tuck both called to let us know about Robin. Tuck also assured us that he had Queen but we knew you both would need a change of clothes. So we went over to your house and packed a bag for you." Cora motioned to the little suitcase resting by the bathroom door.

Robin tapped his cast. "How are we going to get my pants over this?"

"I might have to ask a nurse for help so I can see how they do it," Regina replied before looking at her mother. "I trust you brought a pair of his sweatpants? Not his jeans?"

Cora nodded. "I figured they would be easier to pull over a hard cast. And I think I can help you dress Robin."

"Do I get a say in this?" Robin asked. His ears were turning pink and he was no longer meeting their eyes. "I love you, Cora, but you are my mother-in-law. Having you dress me seems a bit…awkward."

She chuckled. "That's a good point. Then I guess we'll step out so Regina can dress you. Just give us a call when you're done."

"No, wait," Robin said, staring at Regina. "I want Regina to eat first. Or else she may get too busy and forget."

Henry nodded, holding out the container with her food in it again. "Go ahead, Regina. Eat up."

She moved to the chair, eating the cooling French toast as her parents spoke with Robin. He was more lucid than he had been the night before and carried on a coherent conversation with them. "I'm not sure what they did with my car. I assume they towed it," he said.

"I'm sure you can call the police department and they can confirm that," Henry assured him.

Regina leaned back, studying her husband as he talked with her parents. He was still pale, which made the bruises on his face look much worse than they probably were. The nurses had put him in a medical gown after wrapping his chest in gauze, making sure not to make it too tight. Robin still breathed in short, shallow breaths that sent a pained look with each one he took. His left leg was in traction, the hard, white cast up to his knee and leaving his toes exposed. One nurse had given her a pair of large woolen socks to put over them while he was outside in the bitter cold. She hoped it worked as she waited for them to get the okay to leave the hospital and go home.

Her parents drove them back to their house after Regina realized her car was still at work. Before she finished saying those words, her father was on the way to get his car and Cora was insisting it was no problem to take them home. Regina and Robin were grateful and she leaned against his wheelchair, eager to get him out of the hospital.

The hospital gave Robin some crutches and a PA had showed him how to use them to get around. He still struggled with coordination and it took both Regina and Henry to help him into the house and to the couch.

"Looks like you'll be living down here for the foreseeable future," she told her husband as he sat on the couch. "I doubt you'll make it up the stairs."

He nodded, patting the couch. "Good thing we made sure to get a comfy sofa bed. We should both be comfortable on it."

She raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was talking about since her legs were fine. "Both?"

"Yes," he said, frowning. "Do you want to sleep apart for six weeks?"

Regina hesitated at that point. She hadn't considered that part when she figured she could set him up in the living room. "No," she admitted, "I don't."

He nodded. "So either we both sleep on the couch or I try hobbling upstairs."

"The sofa bed should be fine," she said, smiling. He was right that they made sure to get a comfortable one. She also saw another bright spot. "And I can keep a better eye on you during the night."

"I'm not going anywhere," he said, tapping his cast with a big smile. He then tapped his head. "And this is fine."

Cora emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Let me make you both lunch. How do sandwiches sound?"

"It's not hospital food," Robin quipped, leaning back against the couch. "It sounds wonderful."

The doorbell rang and Regina sighed. "That's probably more people to come see how you're doing. You up for guests?"

Robin shrugged. "I'm not going to turn anyone away just yet."

She nodded, heading for the door. Opening it, she was attacked by an excited Boykin terrier. Queen jumped up, pawing at her legs as her tail wagged. Regina's mood improved immensely and she crouched down, petting her beloved dog. "Did you miss us, sweetheart?" she cooed.

"Yes, she did," Tuck told her, smiling down at her and Queen. "She was mopey all night long."

Regina kissed Queen. "It was her first time away from us for such a long time. We've usually stayed over places so far that she's been welcomed at so we've brought her with us."

"Well, I'm sure she's glad to be home," he replied, handing her a bag. "That's everything I grabbed to take care of her."

She took off Queen's leash, watching as the dog went searching for Robin before standing. Regina held out her hands to Tuck. "Let me take your coat. My mom is making sandwiches. You're more than welcome to stay."

He thanked her, closing the door behind him as she shucked off his coat. "I do want to see how Robin is doing."

"I'm laid up, that's how I'm doing," Robin called from the living room. "You're going to have to handle a lot more at the office for a few weeks."

Tuck chuckled heading to that room while Regina hung up his coat. She then took out Queen's things, including her bowls and the bag of food Tuck had packed. Regina carried them into the kitchen, smiling at her mother. "Can you make another sandwich for Tuck?" she asked.

"Of course," Cora replied, shooing Regina out of the kitchen. "Go. Rest. Your father and I have everything under control."

Regina shook her head as she returned to the living room. Queen was curled up next to Robin, her head resting on his good leg. He rubbed behind her ear and her tail wagged as he talked with Tuck. They discussed things at the office that Robin would need Tuck to take care of while he was out and Regina slid into an armchair. She closed her eyes, letting herself get some rest while she still could.

Queen was completely devoted to Robin while he convalesced. She rarely left his side, except to eat and when Regina dragged her outside to do her business. Even then, she didn't go far. She would balk every time Regina approached the gate, straining against her harness in an attempt to pull Regina back to the house. In the end, Regina gave up fighting and just let Queen go in the yard. It was easier for her, especially as this was not one of her usual Queen duties—Robin always handled walks.

After another quick jaunt outside, Queen trotted back into the living room as Regina pulled off her winter gear. From her vantage point, she could see Her Majesty climb back onto the couch and lay on Robin's lap. He scratched behind her ear while continuing his conversation on the phone.

"Yes, Mum," she heard him say, "I'm doing a lot better. Yes, I'm doing everything the doctor and Regina say. No, I'm not being diffic…I was six, Mum!"

Regina bit her lip, trying not to laugh as she entered the living room. He caught her eyes and rolled his before holding out the phone. "She wants to talk to you."

That surprised her. Despite making strides in establishing a relationship with Susan Locksley, she still hadn't often requested to talk with Regina specifically. Her stomach flipped as she pressed the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Robin will just say anything to keep me from worrying, but I know you'll tell me the truth," Susan said. "How is he really?"

Regina felt her eyebrows go up as she turned to leave the room. Part of her was surprised Susan didn't trust Robin and another part was pleased she trusted her. "He's doing well, Susan. His leg is starting to itch, which Dr. Whale said was to be expected. We found something thin enough to slid into the cast and he's been doing better. He is growing frustrated that he can't do much around the house but he's learning to maneuver around better."

"And his ribs?" she asked.

"Slowly but surely mending," Regina assured her. "We're doing all the exercises he was given and Dr. Whale says his lungs sound good."

She heard Susan breathe out in relief. "Thank you, Regina. I'm sure you're taking very good care of him."

"I'm doing my best," she replied, touched by the woman's words. "But there is a reason I went into advertising rather than nursing."

Her statement was met with laughter before Susan asked: "Can you put Robin back on? I just want to say goodbye."

Regina handed the phone back to Robin, who rolled his eyes. "Happy now that Regina told you the same things I did? Good. I love you too, Mum. Yes, I'll call soon."

"She's just worried about you," Regina argued once he hung up. She sat down on the side of the couch that wasn't occupied by Her Majesty and curled against her husband. Regina pressed her hand to his chest.

He kissed the top of her head. "I know. It's just frustrating."

"Do I want to know what happened when you were six?" she asked, teasing him.

Sighing, he rolled his eyes. "I didn't handle the chicken pox very well. That's all I'll say."

Deciding not to push him—especially since she had also been a difficult patient when she had the chicken pox—Regina took stock of his breathing instead. It was coming in in short and shallow breaths, which made her frown. "I think you should do your breathing exercises."

"I'm fine, Regina," he said, almost wheezing.

She shook her head. "No, you're not. So come on. Just like we always do."

He sighed but let her walk him through his breathing. Robin struggled a bit with a few of them, worrying her and she made a note to talk to Dr. Whale the next day. Maybe Robin needed a follow up…

"I'll go make us some dinner," she said once he was done. "You rest with Her Majesty and I'll be right back."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," Robin repeated, tapping his cast with a cheeky grin to complete the now-familiar saying. He then lifted himself up enough to kiss her. "You're the best, you know that?"

She smirked. "Flatterer."

"It's the truth. I really am in good hands with you as my nurse," he told her, settling back onto the couch.

Regina had a silly smile on her face the entire way into the kitchen, glad to be doing something good for him.

Their lives fell into a new routine over the next couple of weeks. Gold and HR worked with her, allowing her to work from home most of the week. She only had to go into the office a couple days for a few hours, which was fine for Robin. As he healed more and more, he worked on regaining his independence.

When she wasn't working, Regina was busy shuttling Robin around to his doctor and physical therapy appointments. She maintained a strict schedule for his medications as well as his exercises, both for his lungs and his leg.

He regained mobility with each passing week and around the halfway point—week three—he was able to hop up the stairs. Robin was able to take proper baths, though she had to saran wrap his leg to keep it from getting even a drop of water on it but that was easier than the sponge baths she used to give him.

(She did miss those).

However, most of the housework still fell to her and she found it exhausting to do everything. As such, she had to start prioritizing everything. While the bathrooms still got cleaned every week, she only mopped the kitchen every other week. She didn't vacuum as often as she used to and laundry piled up longer than she usually allowed. It annoyed her to no end but Regina had to suck it up for now.

Robin was helpful in his own ways. She could dump several loads of clean laundry on him, leave him alone for an hour to handle a few other chores and come back to find everything sorted and folded. He also could dust many places in the living room from the couch thanks to some clever devices and the magic of Swiffer pads.

He also fixed a few appliances that had broken in the house, including their toaster. She hadn't known he could be so mechanically inclined and it was a pleasant surprise. However, she was going to be happier once he could work outside again. Regina's back was especially going to be thankful.

"Regina is an angel," she overheard him tell Will one night when his friend stopped by to give an update about Sherwood. She smiled as she stirred the cheese into the pot of macaroni. She had to resist the urge to give it to him every day but she still made it more often than usual to comfort him.

Will chuckled. "Of course she is. Especially as you're not the easiest of patients."

"I was six!"

"You didn't handle the flu well either when we were teenagers," Will reminded him. "I remember dropping off your schoolwork and you moaning that you were dying."

Robin huffed. "I'm a grown man. I'm not that bad anymore."

"Uh huh. I think I'll wait to hear what Regina has to say about that," Will replied, chuckling.

She chuckled as she set the table, which Robin could now sit at provided he kept his foot up. It meant she sat diagonally from him rather than directly across from him, but she didn't mind. Everything right now was only temporary.

Regina was about to call him in for dinner when his next statement made her pause: "Part of me wishes the case manager from the adoption agency would stop by just so she can see just how amazing a caretaker Regina is. She would see how Regina juggles everything and makes it work, proving she'll be a great mother."

"But?" Will prompted.

She heard Robin sigh. "But I also don't want the case manager to see how useless I am right now. I'm hardly father of the year material right now."

"I think the case manager would realize you're injured," Will replied. "Besides, I'm sure if you had a baby, you would still be a father to the best of your abilities. I mean, you're still cuddling Her Majesty right there."

"It's all I'm doing. Regina is doing everything else—walking her, feeding her, giving her water…I mean, I am grooming her, but still…"

"She looks pretty happy to me. And I'm sure your hypothetical child would love just to cuddle with his or her father, no matter what."

Robin chuckled. "When did you get so knowledgeable about children?"

Will hesitated and Regina knew in her gut what his next statement was going to be. "Ana's pregnant, Robin. I'm going to be a dad," he announced.

She could imagine Robin's goofy grin and how his blue eyes lit up as he said: "Congratulations, Will! I'm sure you and Ana are over the moon."

"We are," Will replied. "She told me the other day over dinner…after I proposed to her."

"So you're getting married and having a baby? Man, Scarlet, you're speeding right along the road of life there," Robin teased good-naturedly.

Regina rolled her eyes as she heard Will chuckle. "Did you really just say that? I thought you were off the strong stuff."

"Shut up, Scarlet." There was a pause before Robin continued: "But seriously, I'm really happy for you and Ana. You two deserve all of this."

"Thanks. And we haven't planned much, but I would be honored if you would stand up for me when I marry Ana."

She peeked around the doorway, peering into the living room. Robin was hugging Will, so she figured he had said yes. Warmth spread right down to her toes and she grew misty-eyed watching the friends. Their relationship always moved her and today was no different.

"Can I get in on this hug?" she asked, walking into the living room.

They broke apart and Will nodded, wrapping his arms around her. She gave him a quick squeeze. "Congratulations. This is great news."

"Thanks," Will said, rubbing her back. "We don't have much planned yet but I think we're set on having the wedding on England so her family can come. I hope it doesn't inconvenience you."

Regina glanced over at Robin, who shrugged. She knew they were thinking the same thing: "Depends on where we are in the adoption process, I guess," Robin said.

Will's face fell and a pang of guilt stung her heart as he replied that he understood. She laid her hand on his arm, giving him a soft smile. "We'll do our best to be there. Or at least to get Robin there. I wouldn't want him to miss your wedding for the world."

Gratitude and adoration filled Robin's eyes as he mouthed "thank you" to her. Will also thanked her and she shook her head. "Nothing to thank me for. It's just common sense. Now, are you staying for dinner or is Ana expecting?"

"Ana is expecting me," Will replied, checking his watch. He then clapped Robin's shoulder. "Don't let this one give you too much trouble, okay?"

She nodded, telling him she wouldn't as Robin continued to protest that the situation was being blown out of proportion. Laughing, Regina walked Will to the door and handed him his coat. She promised that she would call Ana soon to touch base about everything before closing the door and turning to her husband.

Robin had picked up his crutches and was already heading towards the kitchen. She followed, smiling at his determination and how adorable he was when he was flustered. He slid into his seat, putting his broken leg up as she kissed the top of his head. "You're a great patient, you know that, right?"

"Yes," he replied, making her laugh. He grinned up at her. "But thanks for that. Now, eat. You need it after doing all the work since I'm useless."

Annoyance filled her as she took her chair. She knew when her husband was being self-deprecating for humor and when he was really being hard on himself. Right now, he was being hard on himself and she hated it. She hated that he couldn't see all the help he was still able to provide her, that he was focusing on everything he couldn't do instead. And she wasn't sure she could change his way of thinking.

But she was going to try.

"You're not useless," she replied. "The fact we can have toast again really speaks to that, trust me."

He shrugged in response. "It was nothing."

"Robin, you took apart our toaster, found the problem and put it back together. That's pretty amazing. If I tried that, we'd probably need new tools as well as a new toaster."

It wasn't getting through to him, she could tell. She backed off for now, focusing on eating her dinner as she plotted her next move.

That night, Regina helped Robin into his pajama pants. They slid easily over his cast but it was difficult for him to bend over with his ribs. He grimaced as he laid down on the bed, letting her place a pillow under his leg. She frowned and shook two aspirins out of the bottle on his nightstand, pouring some water from a bottle into a small glass. "Here, take some pills."

"I'm fine," he grunted.

"It's okay if you do. You haven't hit the maximum dosage and you're highly unlikely to get dependent on them," she argued, crossing her arms. "Nor will it help for you to punish yourself."

He stared at the ceiling, face passive and voice flat as he said: "I'm not punishing myself."

She sighed, sitting down as Queen jumped on the bed. Her Majesty laid down by Robin's face, giving his cheek a lick. "I think even Queen agrees you're punishing yourself unnecessarily. Yes, you aren't doing everything you can around the house and I've had to take on a few more chores. But it's not forever and I don't care. To me, the things you can do make a world of difference.

"Yes, it's also easier right now because we don't have a baby," she admitted. "But even if we did, you wouldn't be useless either. You could still feed and burp him or change him. And you can always just hold him. You need to stop looking at it as what you can't do and what you can do. You'll find that list is just as long."

Regina stood, leaving the dog to cuddle with Robin as he thought over her words. She changed into her own pajamas in the bathroom, tossing her clothes into the hamper that was close to overflowing. It appeared time for another laundry day and she sighed, feeling tired just thinking about it. She leaned over the sink, taking a deep breath and letting herself feel overwhelmed while the door was closed so Robin couldn't see. It was only a few more weeks, she reminded herself. Then things would start to go back to normal.

She brushed her teeth and ran through her nightly skin care routine, feeling more relaxed with every familiar motion. By the time she flipped off the light and headed back into the bedroom, she was no longer pretending she felt okay.

The pills were gone and the water had been drunk. Queen was resting against Robin's chest, above his healing ribs, as he stroked her ears. Her eyes were closed and her tongue stuck out a bit as she wagged her tails. He smiled down at her, looking happy and peaceful. Robin dropped a kiss to her head before settling back down on the pillow.

"Feeling better?" Regina asked, climbing into bed. It felt odd to sleep on Robin's side of the bed, but his injured leg forced the change.

He nodded, puckering his lips. She laughed before giving him a quick kiss. "What's that for?" she asked, though she could guess the answer.

"For being amazing," he replied. "I am so lucky to be married to you, Regina Locksley."

"I know you may not feel like it right now, but I'm lucky to be married to you. Good night, Robin." She felt lighter than a feather as she turned off the lights, snuggling under the blankets.

Queen moved from her spot on Robin's chest and curled up on Regina's legs, a comforting weight. As the day caught up with her and she felt herself drift off, she heard Robin sigh. "I really can't wait to cuddle you again, though."

She had to agree.

A/N: Thanks to the anon on Curious Cat who asked for Regina taking care of Robin! I hope you enjoyed this!

I'll be heading off to Disney at the end of the week so there might be a few more updates to a few other stores before then. Keep your eyes peeled!

Thanks to you all for your patience. I hope this was worth the wait!

-Mac