5 a.m.…

"Robin," whispered Regina.

"Hmm?" Robin yawned sleepily.

"I think the baby's coming," said Regina.

"Mmhm," he mumbled. He rolled over and rubbed her abdomen. "Of course, she'll be here soon enough."

Regina rolled her eyes at her fiancé and smacked his chest lightly. "I mean I think I'm going into labor." Robin's eyes shot open. Finally, thought Regina.

"Are you sure?" asked Robin, sitting up in bed.

"Pretty sure," said Regina. "I've been having some pains that seem to be coming every ten minutes."

"For how long" asked Robin.

"For about an hour," answered Regina.

"How are you feeling?" asked Robin. Regina could hear the panic in his voice.

Regina chuckled lightly and grabbed his hand. "I'm not in a lot of pain yet, if that's what you're asking. Right now, it feels like faint cramps and a dull backache."

Robin squeezed her hand and asked, "So, what now?" Sure, he had skimmed the books she had given him and paid enough attention in the Lamaze classes, but his mind had gone completely blank right now.

"Well, we should try to get some more sleep. We're both going to need it." Regina chuckled nervously.

Robin smiled and asked, "You excited, love?"

"Yeah, I just know it's going to get worse before it gets better," admitted Regina. She tensed as a contraction went through her.

Robin rubbed her shoulder soothingly and spoke when her grip on his hand loosened. "I'm right here with you, darling."

Regina smiled and attempted to go back to sleep when her eyes popped open again. "What about the party?"

Robin chuckled lightly and kissed her. "We can get the word out, but I'm sure the residents of Storybrooke would rather have their Mayor deliver a healthy baby than host a Christmas party. Besides, I don't really think we have a much of a say in the matter," he said teasingly.

"Okay." Regina nodded, attempting to go back to sleep.

Two hours into labor, Regina found that she was more comfortable walking around in between contractions. Robin helped her pace their bedroom and the halls. Soon, the boys were awake. "Mama!" shouted Roland excitedly.

She smiled at the young boy. "Hi, sweetheart."

"Mom, are you all right?" asked Henry in concern.

Regina nodded happily. "Your baby sister will be here soon."

"Really? When?" asked Roland, perking up a little.

"We don't know yet, buddy," said Robin, crouching down in front of his son. "But you'll spend most of today with Emma and Killian."

Roland nodded and went back to his room. Regina suddenly stopped pacing and leaned on the wall, reaching out for Robin. Robin took her left hand, and Henry took her right. "Breathe, Mom," he encouraged.

Regina loosened her grip and said, "This is going to be a long day."

"But it'll be worth it," said Robin.

Three hours into labor, Robin called Emma and Killian to let them know Regina had gone into labor. About five minutes later, Emma had picked up Roland and wished the couple luck. Henry had decided to stay at home in case Robin or Regina needed any help.

"That's it, Gina. Deep breath. Good job, baby," coached Robin.

Regina gave Robin a slight glare. "Robin?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Shut up," demanded Regina. "And I'd really like to lie down now."

"Mom, walking is good in early labor. It helps strengthen contractions and bring the baby down." Regina gave her son a questioning look and raised an eyebrow at Henry. "I read things besides fairy tales."

A few seconds later, Zelena poofed into the room, much to Robin's and Henry's relief. "Hey, Sis, how are you doing?" asked Zelena gently.

Regina nodded her head in affirmation. "Okay," she finally whispered.

"Good," said Zelena, taking Regina's hand from Henry and squeezing it.

"I'll be downstairs if you need anything," said Henry, anxious for the arrival of his sister.

Six hours into labor, Robin drew a bath for Regina as her pains increased. Regina could feel her contractions pushing her baby out into the world. The pain was in her lower back and abdomen and also radiating down her thighs, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle once the warm water enveloped her midsection.

Henry paced the upstairs hallway and downstairs nervously while Regina labored. He paced while listening to his mother's cries of agony and Robin's and Zelena's praises and words of encouragement, though Henry wasn't one hundred percent sure they were helping.

Nine hours into labor, Regina's water broke, so Robin and Zelena took her to the hospital. Henry called his mom and grandparents to meet him at his house. They all arrived, and Roland looked into Henry's eyes. "Has Mama had the baby yet?"

"No, not yet," said Henry.

Everyone made their way to the hospital, where Tinker Bell was waiting. "She's five centimeters dilated. Now that her water's broken, things should speed up from here."

Twelve hours into labor, the pain became more than Regina could handle, which forced her to get an epidural. Thankfully, the epidural helped lessen the pain; it didn't completely go away, but the epidural made the contractions feel more like dull aches, and therefore, more manageable and tolerable for Regina.

At this point, Emma and Snow had switched with Zelena so she could spend time with Robin. "Hey, Regina, how are you?" whispered Snow.

Regina shifted on the bed. "All right," she answered. "The epidural is helping some."

"It takes a while to kick in," said Emma.

Regina sighed in relief. She had been dead set on giving birth naturally, but once she got a taste of what strong contractions felt like, her mind had been changed. Robin was supportive either way. "It still ends with meeting our little lady," he said, stroking Regina's hair.

Nurse Ratched entered the room and said, "Your Majesty, the doctor wants me to start an IV."

Regina nodded and held out her hand just as another contraction started. "Shit," Regina cursed to herself.

Robin took her hand and squeezed it. "Breathe, darling," he encouraged.

"If you tell me to breathe one more time, I swear you won't have a voice to speak," said Regina through gritted teeth.

Robin knew not to take Regina's threats personally, but he didn't want to take the chance of losing his voice. The nurse prepared the IV, and Emma quickly got up to leave. "I have to go."

Regina watched Emma leave the room, and the latter reentered a few moments after Nurse Ratched left. "What was that for?" asked Regina.

Emma shrugged. "I don't like needles and sharp objects."

Robin snickered, and Regina glared at Emma. "Your husband has a giant hook for a hand." Regina didn't have time for any more smart remarks once another contraction overtook her. "God, when is this going to end?" Robin went to say something, and she glared at him. "Don't. Say. Anything."

Sixteen hours into labor, David and Snow took Roland back to their place. Roland, Robin, and Neal were all getting tired and fussy. "Have a good night, sweet pea," said Zelena, kissing Robin.

"Let us know when you finally have a niece," said David.

Zelena nodded and went back with Emma, while Killian waited with Henry.

Eighteen hours into labor, Regina was getting close to delivery; Whale, Tink, and Blue could tell. Robin was getting concerned, as Regina was now shaking and sweating, clearly in the worst pain she had ever felt physically, as the epidural wasn't keeping up with the strength of contractions. "Is this normal?" he whispered to Blue.

"If she's in transition, then shaking and sweating is completely normal," said Blue. "But haven't you seen birth before?"

Robin shook his head. "After a while, the midwife wouldn't let me in the room when Marian had Roland, and Robin came too quickly." He walked back over to Regina and wiped her forehead and neck, as she was covered in sweat. Regina could feel the pressure building, so she motioned Robin over to her. "Robin, honey." Robin got a little closer to her. She grabbed his shirt and said, "Get Whale, because I need to push this baby out of me. NOW!" she shouted emphatically.

Robin looked up at Blue with a panicked expression. "I'll get Whale," she told him.

Robin nodded and looked down at Regina. He hated seeing her in so much pain. He loosened Regina's grip on the bedrail and took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm right here, my love." He didn't know how, but even in the middle of childbirth, Regina Mills was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

Regina took his hand and squeezed it, indicating she'd heard him. "All right, Regina. Let's see how dilated you are." Regina nodded as Robin helped her pant to keep her from pushing.

"I just want to push her out already," Regina moaned.

Robin kissed her forehead and wiped the sweat from her face and neck. "She'll be here soon, love. You'll be holding our little lady in your arms soon."

"Well, good news, Regina. You're fully dilated, so the next time you feel a contraction, you can begin to push!"

Regina glared at Whale a little. He obviously wasn't the one about to push a baby out of him.

Nineteen hours into labor, Regina was gripping Robin's and Zelena's hands harder than either one had felt before now. "That's it, Regina. Push down hard," coached Whale.

"Keep going, Gina. You're doing such a great job," Robin praised.

Regina glowered at him after her contraction ended. She pulled him closer and yelled, "I swear, Locksley, if you come near me with that penis of yours ever again, I will either cut it off, or kill you! Or both!" she shouted through gritted teeth.

Robin protectively grabbed his privates with the hand not holding Regina's, and he was just about to mention all of the trouble she had gone through to bring him back to life, but he knew that he would sorely regret it.

"You've got this, Sis," said Zelena, only to find her voice disappear.

"Not now, Greenie," shouted Regina. Regina pushed and pushed, letting anyone who came near her know she was in a great deal of pain. Zelena's voice was already gone. Emma was put in a choke hold. Robin just held her hand and rubbed her shoulder soothingly. He hoped maybe, just maybe, it would be Regina, his Regina, the sweet woman who was telling him how much she loved him just last night giving birth to their daughter; alas, it was definitely her Evil Queen side doing most of the talking.

After nearly twenty hours of labor, the baby started to crown. Regina had given Zelena her voice back; she needed all of the encouragement she could get at this point. "I can't do this anymore!" Regina whined, falling against the pillows. She was feeling exhausted, pouring sweat, everything hurt, and was experiencing more pain and pressure than she had ever felt in her life.

Robin stroked her hair and said, "She's almost here, love. You can do it. I love you."

"You'll be holding her soon, Regina," said Emma.

"Give me your hand, Regina," instructed Whale, helping Regina to feel her baby's head. "That's your baby's head."

Regina let a few tears escape, and she chuckled happily, gaining a new sense of strength and purpose. She grabbed Robin's and Zelena's hands and gave another push. "That's it, Regina. Next contraction, you'll have a baby."

Robin looked into Regina's eyes and rubbed her cheek. "Almost over, love." The next contraction, Robin and Zelena gripped Regina's hands as Regina pushed, yelling out as the baby slipped out of her body and into Whale's arms.

"Well, hello there, little one," said Whale, putting the baby on Regina's chest. "12:05 a.m.: a Christmas baby."

"She's here, Gina," Robin cried, wiping the tears from his eyes and kissing Regina's temple. "And she's beautiful. I love you so much."

"She's perfect," Regina cried happily, forgetting all of the pain she had been in just moments ago. Her beautiful baby girl, the best Christmas gift she had ever received, snuggled against her chest in her arms.

Whale stood and asked, "Do you want to do the honors, Daddy?"

Robin smiled and nodded, taking the scissors from Whale. He cut the cord, and Tinker Bell took the baby to clean her off and weigh her. Their little girl was 8 lbs. even and measured 20 inches long. Blue wrapped her in a blanket and snuggled her against Regina's chest. Zelena observed as her sister and future brother-in-law welcomed her niece. "You did a good job, Sis," she said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Zelena," said Regina.

"It's true, love," said Robin, kissing Regina and then stroking the baby's cheek. "Thank you for giving me a beautiful, healthy baby girl."

Regina wiped more tears from her eyes. "Thank you for helping me make this day the best day of my life."

The baby started to root, since Robin must've triggered her instincts. Regina guided her to her breast for nourishment. "There you go, Princess," she whispered.

Emma smiled at the family before she went to get Killian and Henry and call her parents. "Oh, by the way, what's Lady Locksley's name?"

Regina gazed down at her tiny daughter, happily suckling away while grasping Regina's pinky finger. "Welcome to the world, Danielle Marian-Robin Locksley."