Barking.
Robin sat up in bed, frowning. Had he dreamed he heard the barking? Or was a neighbor's dog defending their home from some intruder? Did any of their neighbors have a dog?
That was probably something he should've known after living there for almost seven months.
He headed into the hallway as he heard the barking again. So it definitely wasn't a dream but it still didn't rule out it being a neighbor's dog. Robin walked downstairs and followed the sound until he got to the backdoor. His stomach twisted into a knot as he opened the door and looked down to find a brown shaggy dog sitting by his door.
"Hello there," he said, crouching down. "Are you lost?"
Robin went down to one knee, brushing through the dog's fur to see if he wore a collar. But his hands didn't find one and he sighed. "I guess not. Maybe you have a chip so we can get you home," Robin said.
"Robin? Who are you talking to?" Regina's voice came from behind him and she sounded both confused and amused.
He sighed and stood, turning to her. "We have some company in the backyard."
"Company?" she asked, stepping closer to him. She leaned past him as her eyes widened. "Oh."
The dog tried to come into the house but she gently pushed him back out into the yard. "Oh no. You're not coming in here," she told him.
"He has no collar," Robin said. "I'm hoping he's chipped."
"I don't know," she replied. "He doesn't look like he's been groomed. And I'm not sure he's been trained. I think he might be a stray."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Either way, the shelter should be able to help him, right?"
She nodded. "Absolutely. They'll find him a home if he doesn't have one and I'm sure he'll be a spoiled puppy in no time."
"Okay," he said, knowing she was right. He kissed her cheek. "Let me go get changed so I can bring him to the shelter."
"Sounds good," she replied. "I'll start breakfast. Any requests?"
"Whatever you feel like," he said, knowing that while her morning sickness had subsided, she still had some food aversions due to the pregnancy. It was best to let her set the menu for now.
She hummed, grinning. "My favorite words after 'yes, dear'."
He chuckled. "I can imagine."
"Can we have pancakes?" Roland asked, appearing on the stairs. "Please?"
"I think pancakes are a great idea," Regina said, holding out her hand to him. "Do you want to help me?"
Roland nodded, coming down the stairs to take her hand. As they headed into the kitchen, Robin headed upstairs to change. His thoughts turned to the dog sitting in their yard, wondering how the pup had gotten there. Before marrying Regina, he had contemplated getting a dog for him and Roland to help round out their family. Now that they were soon to become a family of five, he had put those thoughts aside – for now. Maybe he would talk to Regina once their child was older about getting a dog.
Unless they had another child…
"Slow down there," he told himself. "Let's take this one step at a time and handle the child you are expecting before you start planning for more."
He finished changing before heading downstairs. Robin frowned as he saw both boys now pressed to the backdoor, looking outside. Sighing, he realized they had discovered their guest. "I see you found our visitor," he said.
They jumped up before nodding. Roland asked: "Where did he come from?"
"I don't know," Robin replied, ushering the two away from the door and to the kitchen. "I'm going to take him to the shelter after breakfast and they can see if he has an owner. If he doesn't, they can find him a good home."
"Can't we give him a good home?" Henry asked, clasping his hands together as he looked up at Robin with big eyes. "Please?"
Robin sighed, shaking his head. "I'm afraid not."
Both boys sighed before Roland asked: "Why not?"
Sighing, Robin sat down on the stairs. "Because your mum is pregnant with your brother or sister. Having a new dog and a new baby in the house will be tough."
"We promise to take care of him," Roland said as Henry nodded. "Please, Papa?"
"I'm sorry, boys," Robin replied, shaking his head. "But now's just not the right time for a dog."
Both sighed and hung their heads. Robin's heart broke for them and he wrapped his arms around them, hugging them close. "We can talk about getting a dog in a couple years, once your brother or sister is older, okay?"
"Okay," they said, though it didn't sound like their mood had much improved.
"What happened?" Regina asked as they walked into the kitchen.
Robin took a deep breath. "The boys found the puppy in the yard and asked if we could keep him. I explained we couldn't and they are a bit bummed."
"Oh," she replied, pulling the two into a hug. "I'm sorry, darlings. How about some pancakes to cheer you up?"
"A puppy would be better," Roland said with matching puppy eyes.
She shook her head. "Not now. The best I can do now is give you pancakes with chocolate chips."
They both sighed. Henry finally nodded. "Okay."
"Go sit at the table," she told them. "Breakfast will be ready shortly."
She caught Robin's eye and he could almost read her mind. This wasn't likely the last time the boys would ask for a dog. He just hoped that once the baby came, Henry and Roland would realize that it wasn't time to get a puppy. And he also hoped that they really could revisit the topic in a few years.
Because he wouldn't mind a dog either – just with older children.
"Can I get you two something to drink?" he asked, hoping the conversation was dropped for at least that day.
"Orange juice, please?" Henry asked as Roland repeated the same request. Robin nodded, pouring them both orange juice. As they ate their breakfast, it seemed all talk about getting a dog was done.
Regina handed him a plate. "Here you go."
"Thank you," he said, kissing her cheek. He then asked in a whisper: "You think they're done?"
"Asking for a dog?" she asked, turning her back to the boys. She then shook her head. "This isn't the last we're going to hear about it."
He sighed. "That's what I thought."
"We should probably talk about it," she said. "Make sure we're on the same page."
"Agreed," he replied, kissing her cheek. "Thank you."
She hummed, waving her spatula toward the table. "Go sit down. You need to eat and then get that dog to the shelter so he can go to a good home."
He saluted her. "Yes, ma'am."
"How are the pancakes?" he asked, sitting down with his sons.
"Very good," Roland said. "Mom makes the best pancakes."
Robin chuckled, pouring some syrup on his pancakes as Regina joined them with a plate of her own. "Yes, she does," he agreed.
"So, what do you want to do today?" she asked the boys, taking the syrup from Robin to pour it on her own pancakes.
The boys both perked up and started to make suggestions for how they could spend their Saturday. None involved adopting the dog still in the backyard, which was a relief for Robin. He started to relax, confident they had successfully pushed talk of getting a dog back at least another year. And hopefully once he and Regina got on the same page about pets, they would be able to handle the next conversation and possibly the conversation after that.
When they were ready, they would get a dog.
"The boys are all tucked in for the night," Robin said, entering the living room. "And so we now have the house to ourselves."
Regina grinned, motioning for him to join her on the couch. "I like the sound of that."
He sat down next to her, giving her a quick kiss. "So, what do you want to do?"
"I was hoping for a cuddle," she said, moving closer to him. "And also I wanted to talk with you about something."
"Me too," he replied, looking apprehensive. "It's about the dog…"
She sat up straighter, worried that he was about to argue that they should adopt the dog after all. "Robin, we agreed."
"Oh, it's not that. I definitely agree the time is not right," he said, reassuring her. "But I think it might be a good idea to get a dog in the future when the kids are older."
That surprised her and she tilted her head. "You do?"
He nodded, taking her hand. "I guess it's a bit selfish. I've always wanted a dog but my dad was allergic so we couldn't have one. And then it just never seemed like a good time to get a dog. Though I was starting to consider getting a dog right before Santa married us. I thought Roland was old enough to help."
"Henry has never really asked for a dog," Regina said, thinking about her conversations with her son. "He's asked about pets and I've told him we could discuss them when he's older. I guess if Santa hadn't married us and you had gotten a dog, Henry would've started asking about one."
"Probably," Robin agreed. "But I wouldn't mind a dog once this little bean is older."
He pressed his hand to her stomach and she covered it with her own, smiling as she thought of their child growing there. For a moment, she imagined their three children chasing around a dog in the backyard and it felt right.
She nodded. "I think we can talk about getting a dog once the baby is older. Like preschool age."
"Sounds good," he agreed. "The boys will be in middle school and it would really help teach them responsibility."
"I think so as well," she said, glad that they had gotten that resolved. "And I'm glad we're on the same page. I hope we're on the same page about what I want to talk about. Finding out the sex of the baby we're having."
He nodded and she held her breath, waiting to hear what he would have to say. Robin wrapped his arm around her as he said: "I want to know."
Relief coursed through her. "Thank god," she sighed.
"You were worried?" he asked, sounding surprised and amused as he tilted his head.
"A little bit," she said. "I could see you going either way but felt you could be a 'let's be surprised' parent and I thought that would come into conflict with my need to plan, plan and plan again."
He chuckled. "I could see why you would think that but there are even some things I want to plan for. Our child is definitely one of them."
"Good," she replied, kissing his cheek. "So we're agreed on finding out the gender at the twelve week checkup."
"Yep," he said, tilting his head. "Do you want to find out right then and there or do you want to do a reveal?"
She frowned, thinking of some of the outlandish reveal parties she had seen on the internet. "I don't know. We just had a wedding. Don't you think it might be pushing it to have reveal party as well?"
"I'm not talking about anything extravagant," he said. "It could just be something between you, me and the boys."
"I guess that wouldn't be too bad," she replied as an idea came to her. "But maybe we could invite a few more people and just have a nice barbecue in the backyard before doing the reveal. Nothing crazy though. I don't want to end up on the news."
He chuckled. "Neither do I. I was thinking cutting into a cake or something like that."
She bit her lip, knowing that was a pretty safe option. "I think a cake would work."
"So we're agreed – we have a nice barbecue and just so happen to reveal if we're having a boy or a girl?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
"Yes," she replied, laughing a bit. "We are."
Robin kissed the side of her head. "I hope picking his or her name will be just as easy."
"Me too," she replied, rubbing her stomach that was growing more rounded each day. "Maybe we should start putting together a list."
"I think we should wait until we find out what we're having," he said. "That way we can narrow down our name choices."
She nodded, knowing that made the most sense. "Alright. It likely won't be much longer."
He pulled her closer. "So, anything else you want to talk about?"
"Not at this moment," she said, feeling content. "Do you?"
"Nope," he replied, picking up the remote. "Shall we see if there's anything good on?"
Regina reached up to grab the blanket from its place on top of the couch and pulled it down. She spread it out over them as she cuddled against Robin's side again, watching as he scrolled through the guide until he came to one movie. He paused and looked down at her. "What do you say?"
"Good choice," she replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "Let's watch it."
"No one can say no to The Princess Bride," he agreed, pressing the option. The TV went straight to the movie, leaving them at the point where Buttercup realizes the Dread Scott Roberts has been her lost love Wesley the entire time.
Regina could relate – it had taken her a long time to realize that Robin was really the man she was meant to love.
He wrapped his arm around her, resting his cheek against her head. They sat there, content just to spend time with each other and watching the movie together. She couldn't imagine ending her day any other way.
"Robin, can you take out the garbage?" Regina asked, scrunching her nose as she started to look a little green. "I can really smell it right now."
"Sure," he said, knowing he could smell it as well. And given how pregnancy had enhanced his wife's sense of smell, he could only imagine how much stronger it was for her and the baby.
She sighed in relief and kissed his cheek. "You're the best."
He chuckled as he pulled the bag out of the trash can, tying it off. Robin carried it out of the house and toward where they kept their bins when it wasn't garbage pickup day. Lifting one of the lids, he tossed the bag inside and let the lid close with a satisfying thud. "Goodbye, stinky garbage," he said.
Robin turned away from the bin and stopped short. Sitting in front of him was the same dog from the other day. His tail wagged happily as he looked up at Robin with big brown eyes, panting with his tongue out.
"How did you get here?" Robin asked, confused and concerned. "Did you escape the shelter?"
The dog sat up, paws reaching up toward Robin as if begging, and let out a bark. Robin sighed, kneeling as he scratched the dog behind his ear. "I'm sorry, boy, but you need to go back to the shelter," he said.
"Who are you talking to?" Regina asked, leaning out the kitchen window. She frowned when she saw the dog, pointing to it. "Is that the same dog you took to the shelter the other day?"
"It appears to be," he replied, standing. "Looks like I'm heading back there."
She sighed, nodding. "Why do you think he came back here?"
"I don't know," Robin said, feeling just as baffled as his wife sounded. "Maybe he's from around here and keeps mistaking our house for his own?"
"Maybe," she replied. "But I'm surprised no one has claimed him yet then."
He rubbed his chin. "We're assuming he escaped the shelter. Maybe he was claimed and he escaped his other home yet again and keeps coming here because he's confused."
"True," she agreed. "Well, you can ask at the shelter. And you should get him there before the boys come back from their playdate and see him."
"Yeah," he said. "They might see this as a sign or something. Can you get me my car keys, please?"
Regina stepped away from the window as Robin looked at the dog, who now laid down at his feet. He stared up at Robin with big brown eyes and Robin felt his resolve start to waiver. But he took a deep breath, reminding himself that now was not the right time for a dog and that someone would give this one a good home soon if he already didn't have one.
"Here you go," Regina said, holding out his keys through his window. "Do you need help getting him in the car?"
"I think I should be good," he said. "He listens to commands."
She nodded. "So he must be trained."
"I'm starting to think so," he replied. "Which should be helpful to whoever ends up being his owner."
"Well, good luck. I'll see you when you get back," she said, leaning through the window to give him a quick kiss goodbye.
She pulled back inside as he turned to the dog, who wagged his tail as he watched Robin. With a deep sigh, he motioned to the car with his head before saying: "Come on, boy."
He walked away and the dog followed him right to the car. Robin opened the back door and the dog jumped into the backseat, sitting there as Robin closed the door again. Taking a deep breath, he went to the driver's seat and got himself situated. Looking over his shoulder, he spoke to the dog again. "Here we go!"
The dog let out a little bark, his tail still wagging as Robin backed his truck down the driveway. As he drove down the street, the dog laid down in the backseat and just seemed content to be in the car. Robin hoped that whoever adopted him took him on lots of road trips and gave him a good life.
And hopefully one day, they would be able to adopt a dog just like him and give that dog a good home.
One of the best things about being married to Robin was that he loved to barbecue in the summer. It meant that he was responsible for dinner more often than Regina and she was not complaining. He also was very good at grilling, coming up with some delicious marinades and using some rubs she had never considered before. She had enjoyed every meal he had made for them so far and she knew their dinner that day would be no different.
"That chicken smells delicious," she said, carrying some plates out to their patio table. She kissed Robin's cheek as he stood in front of the barbecue, the lid down to trap the smoke and heat.
"Thank you," he replied, smiling proudly. "I think you're going to find that it tastes just as delicious too."
She hummed. "I can't wait."
Regina continued toward the table and placed the plates down. She then shielded her eyes from the bright sun to find the boys. They were playing catch on the other side of the yard and she called out to them. "Time to wash up for dinner," she said.
"Okay, Mom," Henry called out before they took off their gloves. He put the ball down before they jogged back to the house, heading inside to wash their hands.
"What do you want to drink?" Regina asked Robin, walking past him as she headed back into the house.
He turned away from the barbecue, letting the smoke dissipate as he replied: "Can you grab me a beer, please?"
She nodded, entering the house. Roland exited the downstairs bathroom and held out his hands to her. "All clean, Mom!" he said.
"Very good," she replied, looking them over. "Do you want to help me bring out the drinks?"
"Sure!" His eyes lit up as he followed her into the kitchen.
Regina poured juice into two cups and gave them to Roland. "That's for you and your brother. Be careful."
He nodded solemnly before slowly walking out of the room. She poured herself some juice as well before opening a beer for Robin. Carrying them outside, she smiled as she saw Henry helping his father bring plates over to the table while Roland sat there waiting for their meal.
It was a perfect family tableau.
"Here you go," she said, handing Robin his beer. He thanked her before giving her a quick kiss and heading back to the barbecue.
Regina sat down, looking over the sides she had put out earlier. Picking up a spoon, she asked: "Who wants some pasta salad?"
Both boys raised their hands and she chuckled, doling out pasta salad to all four plates on the table. She set it aside before picking up the grilled asparagus Robin had made along with the chicken. "And now a vegetable," she said, placing some on her sons' plates.
"Then we can add the chicken," Robin said, coming over with four perfectly marinated chicken breasts. "I think you're all going to really like this."
"It looks delicious," Regina said, her stomach growling. She just hoped the baby liked the meal as much as she was certain she was going to. Though her morning sickness had subsided, sometimes certain foods still made her sick from time to time.
Robin placed chicken breasts on each of their plates before sitting down. He raised his beer in salute before saying: "Dig in!"
They did not need to be told twice.
"This is amazing," Regina said after a few bites of her chicken. "What did you use to marinate the chicken? It's delicious."
He chuckled, winking at her. "It's a secret recipe."
"Secret, huh?" she asked, amused by his comment. "So if I check your search history, I'm not going to find this recipe?"
"Bold of you to assume that I haven't cleared my search history," he replied, raising his eyebrow as he raised an eyebrow.
Well, two could play at that game. "As if you know how to do that," she said.
He chuckled. "Well, I guess you're just going to have to find out for yourself. Or maybe I'll be in a generous mood and tell you myself later."
"You two are being weird," Roland said, reminding her that they had an audience. She looked over to find their sons staring at them with their noses crinkled at their behavior.
"There is nothing wrong with being weird sometimes," Robin told them, taking Regina's hand. "Especially when you are with the people who love and accept you no matter what."
She squeezed his hand. "It's all just a little fun."
Roland shrugged. "Still seems weird to me."
"Maybe," Regina agreed. "Or maybe it's something you'll understand and appreciate when you're older."
"There's a lot of things we won't understand until we're older, huh?" Henry asked, looking thoughtful.
Robin nodded. "But I think there are some things you understand better than us."
"Like what?" Roland asked, looking thoughtful.
Before Robin could respond, barking interrupted their meal. Regina looked up, her heart sinking as the dog bounded across the yard. Even before it came up to the table, she knew it was the dog that had been found in their yard twice now.
Henry gasped. "It's another dog!"
"I think it's the same dog," Roland said, standing to get a better look at the animal. "He came back!"
"He wants to be with us," Henry replied, looking up at Regina with big eyes. "Can't we keep him?"
She sighed, her stomach churning as she knew she would have to tell him no. "We've been over this, Henry. Now is just not a good time for us to adopt a dog. Maybe in a few years when your brother or sister is older."
"So we have to bring him back to the shelter?" Roland asked, looking sad.
"We do," Robin replied, pulling out his phone. "I'll call them to let them know that he's escaped and that we're bringing him back."
Henry looked sad as he rested his chin on his crossed arms. "He's probably miserable there and wants to be in a home."
Regina sighed, reaching over to rub his back. "I know, sweetheart. But the right home is out there for him. And I'm sure the shelter has the perfect family just waiting to take him to that home."
"When are they going to do that?" Roland asked, now copying Henry's pose. "He looks so sad."
Looking down at the dog, Regina saw him looking up at the table with big, pleading eyes. She turned back to her sons, saying: "I think he just wants some of our food."
"Can he?" Roland asked.
"No," she replied. "I don't know what your father used to marinate the chicken and could be dangerous for the dog. Besides, they'll probably feed him once we get him back to the shelter."
Robin set his phone down and sighed. "We have a bit of a problem."
That concerned her as she asked: "What is it?"
"The shelter is closed and won't reopen until the morning," he said. "It looks like we're going to keep this little escape artist overnight."
"Oh," she replied, glancing down at the dog before looking at their excited children. She worried they would bond with him quickly and wished they had some place else to take him until the shelter opened again.
She bit her lip. "Maybe Archie can take him instead. He would have food and toys for a dog. We don't."
"That might be a good idea," Robin said, holding out the phone to her. "I can take the dog over there if he agrees."
"Are you sure we can't keep him?" Henry asked, clasping his hands together. "Just for tonight?"
Roland nodded, also clasping his hands. "Please?"
"I'm sorry, boys," Robin said, wrapping his arm around Regina. "But we really don't have anything he would need. He would be happier at Archie's where he would also have a friend."
"Your father is right," she said, hitting Archie's contact. Her phone rang and she waited for him to answer.
"You have reached Archie Hopper. I am unable to come to the phone…"
She sighed, ending the call. "He's not answering. Let me text him."
After sending off the text, she set her phone down. "We'll see if he answers that."
"What if he doesn't?" Henry asked, looking concerned. "What are you going to do with the dog then?"
"Let's take it one step at a time," Regina said, wondering the same thing. "We'll cross that bridge if we need to."
Henry sighed. "Okay."
"For now, let's finish our dinner," Robin said, picking up his fork and using it to point to their plates. "Or else we'll never get to dessert."
"And dessert is good," Regina added, hoping to give them extra incentive to finish their meal despite their unexpected but cute dinner guest.
Both boys gasped and turned their attention back to their dinner. So far, so good.
Hopefully Archie would text or call her back so she didn't have to figure out a way to get them to bed without the dog.
"Okay, bad news," Regina said, leaning against the counter as they cleaned up from dinner. She held her phone in her hands. "Archie isn't here. He's at some sort of retreat for the weekend."
Robin frowned as he wiped his hands on a towel. "Who is watching Pongo?"
"That's the other bad news," she replied. "Archie's normal sitter is on vacation so he has Pongo at the kennel."
"So that means we have the dog for the night?" he asked, grimacing.
She nodded. "Appears so."
He sighed. "I guess we'll just have to keep giving him water and they'll have to feed him at the shelter."
"Yeah," she said. "Do you want to check on his bowl?"
"Sure," he replied, placing the towel down. "Then maybe we can see if the boys want to watch a movie?"
Regina smiled as she kissed his cheek. "Sounds good."
They parted ways and she headed for the living room, finding her sons on the couch. Smiling, she asked: "Who wants to watch a movie?"
"I do!" they both said, hands going up as if they were in the classroom and she was their teacher who just asked a question. Both smiled widely as their eyes lit up. She also believed they were bouncing up and down but it was hard to tell on the couch. Even a slight movement could seem bigger on it.
"Excellent," she said, clapping her hands. "What do you want to watch?"
A clap of thunder echoed outside and shook the window in the living room. Both boys jumped and she moved toward them, pulling them against her to comfort them. "It's okay," she said. "We're safe."
"It's so loud," Roland said, his lip trembling as a flash of lightning illuminated the window before thunder rumbled again. He pressed his hands to his ears as he tried to bury his head in her chest.
"I know," she replied, kissing the top of his head. "But it will pass quickly."
Henry moved closer to her as well and she wrapped her other arm around him. "How do you know?" he asked as another flash of lightning lit up their window.
She waited, counting until she heard the next clap of thunder. She had reached seven, which meant the storm was already a mile away now. "I can tell," she said. "I think it's already passing us by."
"I hope so," Roland said, still trembling. He then looked around and his eyes grew wider. "Where's Papa?"
"I'm right here," Robin replied, entering the living room as he rubbed his hair with a towel. He had also changed his clothes, putting on a fresh t-shirt and his pajama pants. Robin was also barefoot as he came closer to them. "It's really coming down out there."
Henry lifted his head, frowning. "What about the dog? You didn't leave him out there, right?"
Robin shook his head. "No. I set him up with an old blanket in the sunroom. He'll be dry there."
"That sounds good," Regina said, giving both boys a comforting squeeze. "Well, since your father is in his pajamas, I think we should change into ours as well. Do you agree?"
"Yes!" Both boys jumped from the couch and raced off to their rooms.
She chuckled before kissing Robin's cheek. "We'll be right back. Why don't you make us some popcorn?"
He nodded. "I'll have it waiting when you get back down."
"Thank you," she said, leaving the living room and heading upstairs so she could change into her pajamas. Then she would enjoy a lovely movie night with her family. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy night.
The thunder returned in the middle of the night.
Regina sat up when she heard it, her heart pounding. It took a few moments for her mind to wake up and realize what was happening as lightning again flashed outside. Thunder rumbled shortly after, indicating the storm was very close to Storybrooke. She hoped this one moved as quickly as the one earlier but was grateful everyone was inside the house, safe and dry.
Beside her, Robin slept on, oblivious to the storm. She worried about the boys, though, and slipped out of bed to check on them. Regina padded down the hallway and opened the door to Roland's room. His bed was empty and she frowned but she didn't worry. She had a feeling she knew where he had gone.
Leaving his room, she went next door to Henry's room. She stepped inside and stopped, finding both boys in Henry's bed. And lying right between them was a very unexpected sight.
The dog.
"How did you get in here?" she asked, walking closer to the bed. The dog lifted his head for a moment before resting it on the bed again. Another rumble of thunder shook the window as both boys tightened their holds on the dog. He placed one paw on Henry's leg and rested his head on Roland's, apparently comforting them.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to sleep here tonight," she said, crouching to look the dog in his eyes. "Especially if you are comforting the boys."
She stood again, kissing Roland's forehead and then Henry's. "Sweet dreams, you two."
Pausing for a moment, she then added: "And to you, boy."
The dog then closed his eyes as she left the room, closing the door behind her. She padded back down to her room and climbed into bed. Robin finally stirred next to her and opened a bleary eye. "Something wrong?"
"Another thunderstorm is passing over us," she said. "I went to check on the boys. They are fine."
"Good," he replied, rolling closer to her. "Then go back to sleep."
She chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her. Closing her eyes, she nodded. "Sleep sounds good."
When she next woke up, her blankets were weighed down. Lifting her head, she found the dog lying on their bed. She guessed the storm passed and so he decided the boys were fine. And he found there was more room on their bed.
It felt really comforting to have him there, if she was honest with herself.
"Is one of the boys in the bed with us?" Robin asked, his eyes still closed. "It feels more crowded."
She chuckled. "It's not one of the boys unless they grew fur and a tail and now walk on all fours."
He opened his eyes, frowning. "What?"
"Our furry friend somehow got upstairs and is now sleeping on our bed," she said, pointing to the dog. "I also found him earlier with the boys. He seemed to be comforting them during the thunderstorm."
"Oh," Robin said, sitting up now. "That's sweet."
She nodded. "He's a good dog."
The dog raised his head as if realizing they were talking about him. He tilted it, studying them. She didn't want to admit it but it felt right to have him there. It was almost as if he was meant to be their dog.
"Shit," she said softly. "I think we have a dog now."
"Yeah," Robin replied with a sigh. "Me too."
She let out a little chuckle, looking at Robin. "What do we do now?"
He shrugged. "I guess we make ourselves some breakfast and then go talk to the shelter about adopting this guy."
"He seems to be well-behaved," she said. "And hopefully housebroken so we don't have to worry about that."
"Well, we have about five more months to train him before the baby arrives," he replied. "I know we can do that."
She nodded. "So we're going to have a dog and then a baby."
He shrugged. "Could be worse. At least he's not a puppy."
"Are you sure?" she asked him, knowing that dogs grew fast. Maybe he still was a puppy and would get even bigger.
"Yes," Robin said. "The vet at the shelter said he was probably a year old, maybe two."
She nodded. "So you think he's done growing?"
"I think so," he replied. "But the vet should be able to confirm that. Which means we're going to have to get a vet."
"We can use the one Archie uses for Pongo," she said. "I've taken Pongo to the vet a few times and he seems very nice and capable."
Robin nodded before slowly looking at her. "Wait, you've taken Pongo to the vet?"
"Of course," she said. "Usually when Archie has a conflicting appointment and doesn't want to cancel. He's actually taken Henry to the doctor for me if neither Mary Margaret nor I could do it."
"Good to know," Robin replied. "John's taken Roland for me when I couldn't do it for whatever reason."
She nodded. "And so you know, we've also watched Pongo for Archie as well. Usually when he travels to a conference or something like that. He likes to go on vacations to some place pet friendly."
"Makes sense," Robin replied. "So you have experience with dogs."
"Yes," she said, recalling what he said about his father being allergic. "But I know you don't."
He shrugged. "I had some friends with dogs growing up and I spent one summer with a relative on their farm. They had a dog who I helped take care of back then. So I have some experience but none as an adult."
She appreciated his honesty and nodded. "But you have some experience, so that counts for something. And I'm sure we can figure the rest out. After all, we've both figured out parenthood so far."
"We have," he agreed, nodding. "We've managed to keep Henry and Roland alive this long. I think we can handle a dog."
"Me too," she said as the dog tilted his head. She believed he realized he was about to get a home and asked him: "What do you say, boy? Do you want us to adopt you?"
The dog licked her nose and she chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."
She straightened up. "Well, let's go get some food and then we'll officially make you a Locksley-Mills."
"I like the sound of that," Robin said, opening the door. "I guess we should also tell the boys the good news."
"There is going to be no living with them now," she said, sighing. "Oh well."
He nodded. "I guess we can let them have this and just make sure it doesn't go to their heads."
She chuckled as they left the bedroom. The dog followed them and she found comfort in the sound of his nails against the wooden floor. For a moment, Regina wondered if Santa was meddling with their lives again before deciding that it didn't matter. It was clear the dog was meant to be part of their family.
There were worse things Santa could've done than give them a loyal pet.
After breakfast, they went back to the shelter as a family. The vet who volunteered at the shelter confirmed that the dog was not chipped and the shelter staff said that no one came to claim him so they were okay with letting the Locksley-Mills family adopt him. Henry and Roland bounced on their feet as they watched Robin and Regina fill out the paperwork and pay the adoption fee.
Regina paused when it came to one box. "What are we naming him?" she asked.
"Oh," Robin said, looking over at the dog who lay between their sons as they petted and hugged him. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Neither have I," she said, looking at the dog. "Maybe we should call him Bandit since he kept breaking into our yard?"
He scrunched up his nose as he shook his head. "But he didn't steal anything."
She sighed. "That's true. And I don't think he looks like a Rex."
"He does not," Robin agreed. "And he deserves a better name than something generic like Spot or Fido."
"But what?" she asked, unable to think of a name. She hoped they didn't have this much trouble naming their child when the time came for that.
He rubbed his chin. "Maybe we should ask the boys."
She glanced over at them as the dog rolled onto his stomach for tummy rubs, which the boys were more than happy to give him. They really loved the dog and so she had to imagine they had some ideas for names. Regina nodded. "Good idea."
"Boys, we need your help," Robin said, motioning for them to come over. Henry and Roland jumped off the couch and the dog followed them over to the table where Robin and Regina sat filling out the adoption paperwork.
"What is it?" Roland asked as Henry scratched behind the dog's ear as he sat at the boys' feet.
Regina smiled. "We need help naming our new family member. Do you two have any ideas?"
"Oh," Roland said, looking down at the dog. "I don't know."
"Archer," Henry said. "I think we should call him Archer, after Dad's sport."
Robin's eyes widened as he smiled. "You think so?"
Henry nodded and Roland now bounced on his feet, grinning. "I think Archer is the perfect name," he said.
"Then his name is Archer," Regina said, agreeing it was a good name for their dog. She turned to Robin. "Do you agree?"
"I do," he replied. "Welcome to the family, Archer."
The dog gave his fingers a lick as Regina finished the paperwork. Once it was turned into the shelter staff and their adoption fee paid, they were given a collar and a leash for Archer until they could get one from the nearest pet store. Robin walked him out to their truck and he happily climbed in, settling between Henry and Roland in the backseat.
Regina buckled herself into the passenger seat while Robin climbed into the driver's seat. "Alright, I think we need to go to the pet store to get some supplies for Archer," he said. "Agreed?"
"Agreed," everyone else said. He nodded, starting the car and leaving the parking lot. Robin turned toward the main road to head to one of the biggest pet stores in Storybrooke. They would certainly find everything they needed there.
And then they would all go home and help Archer settle in as the newest member of their family.
"I still can't believe you got a dog," David said, sitting on their lawn as he scratched Archer's ears. "And that you got one before me."
"Well, Archer adopted us," Regina replied, amused by how much David already loved Archer. "He wanted us to be his family and now we are. And honestly, I couldn't ask for a better dog."
John chuckled as he joined them. "I've heard of the cat distribution system but not one for dogs."
Regina frowned. "Cat distribution system?"
"Yes," John said. "The internet believes there's a cat distribution system where the universe pairs a cat with an owner. The cat will just show up one day and essentially adopt the owner."
"I wish I dog would just come up to me and adopt me," David replied, sighing. "It would be nice."
Regina bit back her laughter before shrugging. "Maybe it will happen. If it's anything like how we got Archer, it will happen when you least expect it."
David stood. "I hope so."
"Does anyone want to give me a hand here?" Robin asked, leaning out of the back door with a plate of uncooked patties. "I know Archer is cute and all but last I checked, he wasn't the one making the food."
"I'm coming," David said, jogging over to him. "What do you need me to do?"
As they handled the food, Regina turned to John. "Do you have everything for the announcement later?" she asked him.
He nodded. "I have it with me and they gave me one to test. It went well in my yard last night so I have full confidence it will go off without a hitch."
"Good," she replied, relieved. "Thank you again for doing this."
"You're welcome," he said. "I'm honestly very honored that you trusted me with this. I thought you would ask Mary Margaret."
She chuckled. "I love her but she is terrible at keeping secrets from me. I knew she was pregnant before David just because I called her shortly after she took the test. And that was just one of many instances. She would cave and tell me without me saying or doing anything."
He laughed. "You wouldn't believe how many times Robin has tried to get me to give him a hint about the results. It's very comical because he's just so bad at pretending that's not what he's doing."
"Really?" she asked, amused at the idea of Robin trying to get the answer from John. He seemed to be patient about it at home and made no comments about wanting to find out sooner. It felt more endearing than annoying.
"Oh, yes," John replied. "It's been fun messing with him. Sometimes I'll hint it's a girl and then change to hint it's a boy. He's still guessing."
She chuckled. "You do sound like you've been having fun."
He nodded. "I have, but don't worry. It ends today and your reveal will be the true gender."
"Thank you," she said. "And we'll finally put Robin out of his misery."
"What?" Robin asked, stepping closer to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist. "I feel like I'm missing context for that statement."
John chuckled as Regina smirked. "I heard someone hasn't been as patient about finding out our child's gender as they may have been letting on," she said.
He narrowed his eyes as he glanced at John. "Traitor."
"Oh, please," John replied, rolling his eyes. "That's a bit rich."
"Be nice to John," Regina said, patting Robin's chest. "He's the one in charge of finally telling us if we're having a boy or a girl."
He sighed, nodding. "Fine. You got lucky, Little."
"Come on, you two," she told them as John stuck his tongue out at Robin. "Play nice or I'll put you in a timeout like I do with the boys."
"Yes, Mum," they both said, almost groaning.
She rolled her eyes but nodded. "Good."
Robin pulled away from Regina as he motioned behind him. "Want to help me get things ready with the grill?" he asked John.
"Happily," John replied. "Talk to you later, Regina."
"Of course," she said, amused by how quickly they had made up. It was a testament to their friendship, she believed.
Archer barked as he streaked past her, concerning her. She turned toward the gate as Archie stepped inside with Pongo in tow. Regina hurried over to her dog, grabbing his collar. "Archer, down. Pongo is a friend," she said.
"It's okay," Archie replied. "Let them sniff each other and I'm sure they'll realize they are friends."
"You sure?" she asked, still not sure how Archer would react toward another dog. He wasn't growling, which she took as a good sign, but it didn't mean a fight wouldn't break out anyway.
He nodded. "Works all the time at the dog park."
She sighed, releasing Archer. "Alright. But you're ready to intervene if it doesn't work?"
"Yes," he replied, holding up Pongo's leash. "I won't take it off him until we know it does."
"Alright," she said, stepping back. "I guess we'll see what happens."
Archer sniffed around Pongo, who did the same. It seemed to take forever but they both let out happy barks as they wagged their tails. Relief filled Regina. "They're friends," she said.
"Yes, they are," Archie agreed, taking Pongo off his leash. He straightened up before addressing the dogs. "Go and play."
The dogs raced off together, looking happy. Regina turned to Archie, hugging him. "Thanks for coming," she said.
He chuckled, hugging her back. "Always happy to see you and your family."
"Well, you go make yourself comfortable," she said, releasing him. "Can I get you something?"
"I can help myself," he assured her. "Don't worry. You relax."
She chuckled. "I will. I promise."
They parted ways and Regina greeted a few more guests, inviting them to find a seat and help themselves to drinks and snacks. She then closed the gate to make sure the dogs didn't accidentally run away. It was time for the party to really begin.
"Lemonade?" Robin asked, holding out a plastic cup to her with a smile.
"Thank you," she said, taking the cup from him. "It's just what I needed."
He nodded, kissing her cheek. "Why don't you sit down and relax for a little bit? Our guests are here and it'll be some time before the food's ready."
She grinned. "I think I'll do just that."
"Good," he said. "I'll let you know when I need help."
"Sounds like a plan," she replied, patting his chest. "Don't forget to relax too."
He chuckled. "I will once the food is served. There's plenty of party left to go and I plan to enjoy it."
They went their separate ways and she sat at the table next to Mary Margaret, who sighed. "Now my husband is going to beg me for a dog," she said.
"Sorry," Regina replied, watching as David and the boys chased after both Pongo and Archer. "But maybe it wouldn't be too bad."
"No," Mary Margret said, looking annoyed. "Not you too."
Regina chuckled. "Look, I was just as resistant to having a dog but now that we have Archer, I realize that a pet can be pretty beneficial."
Mary Margaret shook her head. "I feel like I've slipped into an alternate universe."
"I know," Regina replied. "But let me say this – I don't think you should rush out and get a dog right away. You need to wait until the time is right."
"Now that sounds more like you," Mary Margaret said, smiling. "I'll keep that in mind and make sure David does too."
Regina nodded. "Well, if you do get a dog, I'm sure he or she will be good friends with Archer and Pongo."
Mary Margaret chuckled. "I'm sure."
"So, enough about the dog. He's cute and all but inquiring minds really want to know - are you and Robin going on a honeymoon?" Ruby asked, changing the subject with a grin.
"Eventually," Regina said, rolling her eyes as she knew the inquiring mind was just Ruby's. "When we do, I want to be fully able to enjoy my honeymoon. You know, enjoy different foods and drinks. Not have to worry about our baby."
She rubbed her stomach as Ruby nodded. "I get it."
Granny grinned. "Well, whenever you do go on a honeymoon, you will have plenty of babysitters ready to take care of your kids."
"Oh, I know that," Regina replied, chuckling. "That probably will be the least of our worries."
"Do you have any ideas where you want to go for you honeymoon?" Mary Margaret asked.
Regina shrugged. "I think it's going to depend on when we can go. Right now, I wouldn't mind going to some place like Paris to soak up the romance, culture and history."
"Ooh la la," David said teasingly.
"Ha ha," she replied, rolling her eyes. "But who knows? If you had asked me after we first got married, I probably would've said someplace tropical because it was the middle of the winter and I wanted to go someplace warm and wear a bikini."
She felt Robin stand behind her before he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I would never complain about seeing you in a bikini," he said.
"That doesn't surprise me," she replied. "Especially since I wouldn't complain about seeing you in a bathing suit."
"Good to know," he said, leaning down to give her a quick kiss.
Someone cleared their throat before John asked: "Did you just come over to flirt with your wife?"
Robin straightened up, shooting a look at his friend. "Is that a crime?"
"No," John replied. "But I'm pretty sure we came here to enjoy a barbecue, not watch you two be lovey-dovey with each other."
"Fine," Robin said, rolling his eyes. "I did actually come over here to get everyone's order."
John nodded. "Good."
Robin clapped his hands. "Okay, so we have the usual fare – hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and chicken. Let me know what you want."
"Do we have any limits on what we can order?" John asked, looking almost as if Robin had issued him a challenge.
"For you, yes," Robin said. "You can order two things to start and then we'll go from there. Everyone else can order whatever they want."
John groaned before nodding. "Fine. I'll start with a cheeseburger and a hot dog. We'll go from there."
Robin wrote John's order on his small pad. "Alright. Who wants to go next?"
"Regina can go," David said, motioning to her. "Go ahead."
"Oh no," she replied, holding up her hands. "You're all my guests. Don't feel you have to let me jump the line because I'm pregnant."
Robin pointed to John with his pencil. "He didn't."
John shrugged. "And I'm not going to apologize for it."
"Nor should you," Regina replied. "Everyone be like John. Okay?"
"Maybe don't eat like him," Robin said good-naturedly. "I only have so much to barbecue."
Everyone chuckled before they each gave their orders one by one. Robin wrote them down before he turned to Regina. "Alright, you're the last one before I get the kids' orders," he said.
She nodded. "I want a chicken breast and the baby wants a hamburger."
"Done and done," he said, writing it down. "Then I'll get the children's orders and start making it. You all just relax and enjoy each other's company."
"Thanks, Robin," David said, raising his beer. "We appreciate it."
Robin nodded. "You're welcome. I hope you're saying the same thing after you have my cooking."
He moved away and Regina turned back to her guests. "So, you asked me about our honeymoon plans – where would you like to go on vacation?" she asked them.
"Tropical island," Ruby said without hesitation. "Fiji, baby."
"And how are you going to afford Fiji?" Granny asked, rolling her eyes as she shook her head at her granddaughter's choice.
Regina chuckled as she sipped her lemonade, glad to have her family around her as they celebrated the summer. And everyone she also wanted there as she and Robin learned if they were having a son or a daughter.
It was going to be a wonderful party.
Robin squeezed her hand, leaning closer to her. "Are you ready?"
"I think so," she said, deciding it had gotten dark enough for them to light the sparkler. "I guess we should tell John."
"I'll go get him," he replied, releasing her hand. "We'll be right back."
She nodded but held her hand out to him again. "Before you go, can you help me up, please?"
"Of course," he said, helping her to her feet. He gave her a quick kiss. "Be right back."
"I'll go get the boys," she said. "We'll be waiting for you."
They parted ways and she walked over to where the boys were playing with the dogs. She leaned down, smiling. "Hey, you two, your father and I have a surprise," she said.
Both gasped as they looked up at her. "What is it?" Henry asked.
"We're going to find out if you're having a brother or a sister," she said, holding out her hands. "Come on."
"How are we going to do that?" Roland asked as he and Henry took her hands. His eyes lit up. "Are we going to cut a cake to find out? I heard some people do that."
She chuckled before shaking her head. "We're going to do something else."
Roland looked a little disappointed. "Oh."
"Don't worry," she told him. "There are still plenty of yummy treats after we find out if the baby is a girl or a boy."
"Is there ice cream?" Henry asked hopefully.
She chuckled as she nodded. "Yes, there is."
A bounce came to his step as he grinned. "Good."
"Are we ready?" Robin asked as they approached. When Regina nodded as the boys cheered, he smiled. "Perfect! John!"
"I'm ready," John said, holding a box and a lighter. "You want them now?"
Robin shook his head. "Not yet. We want to tee up what we're doing."
John nodded. "Alright. I'll be here when you're ready."
"Thank you," Robin said, taking Regina's hand before turning to the other guests. "Can we have everyone's attention for a few minutes?"
"You can have as many minutes as you want," David said as everyone gathered around them. Regina tried not to roll her eyes at such a cheesy line.
Robin took a deep breath before saying: "Right, well, we have another reason for inviting you all over today. We're going to find out if we're having a girl or a boy."
Their guests gasped and Mary Margaret clapped. "A gender reveal? How wonderful!"
"I guess that's my cue," John said, stepping forward. He held up the box. "I've ordered a special sparkler that when lit will glow either blue for a boy or pink for a girl. Robin and Regina will hold it while we have two sparklers for Roland and Henry. Is everyone ready?"
"Yes!" they all cheered.
John chuckled as he set the box down on a small table placed nearby. He opened it and pulled out a smaller box. "These are the sparklers for Henry and Roland. Come on over," he said.
They approached him and he handed them their sparklers. "Wait here and I'll tell you what you'll do next," he said.
"Okay," Henry replied as Roland nodded.
"Now, this one goes to Mom and Dad," John said, pulling out the big sparkler and handing it to Robin and Regina. "You two can hold it together."
Robin took the sparkler, holding it as Regina grabbed it as well. He nodded. "Got it."
John grinned. "Good. Now, I'll light Roland's and Henry's sparklers and then they'll light yours."
"This is safe, right?" Regina asked, nervous to have her sons around so many sparks. "They won't get hurt or burned?"
"Everything is safe," John assured her. "And I'll be standing by with water just in case things get out of hand. There's also a fire extinguisher in case things get really out of hand."
She nodded, feeling comforted. "Thank you."
He positioned Henry and Roland so that they stood facing each other in front of their parents. John then took the lighter before kneeling by them. "I'm going to light your sparklers and then you'll press them together so your parents can light theirs from yours. Got it?"
"Okay," Roland said as Henry nodded.
"Don't worry," John assured them as he lit their sparklers. "It'll be perfectly safe. I promise."
He watched as Henry and Roland pressed their sparkler together to create even brighter white sparks. John nodded as Robin and Regina pressed their sparkler to their sons'. A few seconds later, it sparked to life and they both quickly backed up. White sparks first burst from the end before they slowly changed color. Regina held her breath, waiting to see the result.
The sparks turned pink.
"A girl!" Robin yelled before kissing the side of her head. "We're having a girl!"
"A girl," she repeated, still amazed to see the pink sparks dancing in front of her. She had wondered how she would feel if that was the result, if she learned she was having a daughter. Regina was used to boys and didn't know if she would be able to pivot to raise a daughter. Would she be happy then if she was having a girl? Or would she feel dread?
Now she knew.
Happy.
Incredibly happy.
"We're having a girl!" she yelled, turning to Robin and hugging him. He hugged her back, kissing her head again. "A girl!"
"Yes, we are," he said, swaying with her as someone took the sparkler from him. He wrapped his other arm around her, holding her tightly. "I hope she looks just like you."
She chuckled. "I hope she looks like you."
He pulled away from her, grinning. "I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree on that one."
"Alright," she said, nodding. She then turned to Henry and Roland, who were having fun with a few more sparklers John likely had given them since they were also emitting pink sparks. "Are you two happy to have a sister?"
"Yes!" Henry said, jumping up and down as Roland nodded. "It's going to be cool."
Robin grinned. "Why don't you give those sparklers to Uncle John and give your mother and me a hug?"
John held out a container filled with water and a few other used sparklers, grinning. "You can put your sparklers in here," he said.
"Thanks, Uncle John," Roland said, placing his sparkler inside the container. He then hugged Regina as Henry placed his sparkler in there as well before hugging Regina too. She held them close, feeling happier than she ever thought she would be.
Robin wrapped his arms around all three of them. "I love you all," he said.
"Love you too," Regina replied, giving him a quick kiss. "Thank you for this."
"For what?" he asked, looking confused.
She smiled. "For loving me and building a family with me. This is everything I've ever wanted."
His confused smile turned into a bright one. "You gave me the same. We're really making the most of our second chances, huh?"
"Yes, we did," she said, nodding. "We did."
"Uh, you two want some more privacy?" David asked, sounding amused. "Because if so, we can leave."
Robin released her as Regina rolled her eyes. "No, we're fine," she said. "Sorry we decided to take a few minutes to celebrate as a family."
Mary Margaret elbowed her husband in the chest. "Ignore him. You all can take as much time as you want."
"That's okay," Robin said, wrapping his arm around Regina. "We can continue that once everyone goes home."
"I'm sure you will," John said, winking at them and earning knowing chuckles from the adults.
Mary Margaret bounced on her feet, grinning. "Can I hug you now?"
Regina laughed, nodding. "You can."
"Thank goodness," Mary Margaret said, rushing toward Regina. She hugged her tightly. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Can I ask one favor?" Regina asked. When Mary Margaret answered in the affirmative, she asked: "Can you not overdo it on the pink, please?"
Mary Margaret laughed, pulling back. "I'll do my best."
Regina nodded, knowing that was the best she could ask for. "Thank you."
"I'm sure there are other people who want to hug you," Mary Margaret said, "so I'll go hug Robin and let them get a chance."
"Thanks," Regina said, squeezing her hands.
As Mary Margaret walked away, Regina moved closer to Archie. He smiled widely, his eyes sparkling. "A daughter," he said.
She nodded. "I know," she replied. "How do you think I'll do with a girl?"
"I think you'll do great," he said. "You're a great mother and the sex of the child isn't going to change that."
"I hope so," she told him, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "I'm excited but still worried."
He nodded, squeezing her hand back. "That's to be expected. I'd be more concerned if you weren't."
She felt comforted by his words. "Still, I think I might need to talk about it."
"You know my couch is always open for you," he said. "Pongo always loves it when you stop by too."
"I'm sure he does," she replied, gently rubbing her rounding belly as she glanced over to where Pongo laid by the table. Archer had left his side and gone to investigate why all the people had gathered in one spot, sniffing around for some food.
Archie then opened his arms. "So, can I hug you?"
She chuckled, nodding as she wrapped her arms around him. "I would love a hug."
"Good," he said, hugging her back. "I really am happy for you. You're finally getting all the happiness you've deserved all along."
"You know what? I finally believe that," she said, pulling back as joy coursed through her. "Thank you."
He chuckled. "You're welcome."
Tink sidled up to them, grinning. "Are you done hogging her, Archie? The rest of us would like to hug her now."
"And people tell me I'm impatient," Regina replied, rolling her eyes. She then squeezed her friend's arm. "Excuse me."
"Go ahead," Archie said, amused. "I want to talk with Robin and the boys too."
She nodded, walking over to Granny and Ruby with Tink. They took turns hugging her and Granny squeezed her hands. "Looks like I need to get some pink yarn for the blanket I'm going to make," she said.
Regina's heart skipped a beat. "You're going to make me a blanket?"
"Of course," Granny said. "I made one for Henry and now I'll make one for your little girl."
"Thank you," Regina replied, knowing how much she had treasured the blanket Granny had made for Henry when she adopted him. She knew she would treasure this new blanket just as much.
Granny stepped aside and Ruby hugged her next. "Congratulations! This is amazing news!"
Regina chuckled. "Thanks, Rubes."
"You're welcome," Ruby said. "Now, I'm going to stand aside before Tink pushes me."
"I'm not going to do that," Tink replied, shooting her a glare before turning to Regina. Her eyes lit up. "A girl!"
Regina chuckled, nodding. "It's going to be an adjustment but I think we'll be fine. I have a feeling you'll be more than fine."
Tink laughed. "Is it that obvious?"
"Yes," Regina replied. "You're even giddier than you are at Christmastime, which I didn't think was possible."
"Very funny," Tink said, rolling her eyes. "And I love Henry and Roland but it's going to be fun shopping for and getting to know your daughter."
Regina nodded. "Yes, it is."
Tink grinned. "So, do you have any name ideas?"
"We haven't really discussed that," Regina admitted as Robin joined her, wrapping his arm around her. "We agreed to wait until we found out the sex."
"So now we're going to have to do that," Robin said, giving her a little squeeze. "Wish us luck."
Everyone chuckled before Granny said: "Don't worry. You'll find the perfect name for your little girl. After all, you're both 2 for 2 on naming your sons."
Regina wrapped her arm around Henry and held him close. "Well, naming this one was easy," she said.
"Marian was responsible for Roland," Robin said, hugging his son. "So we'll see what happens now."
"I think you two are underestimating yourselves," Archie replied. "And that you're going to surprise yourselves."
Regina chuckled. "I guess we'll find out."
David checked his watch before saying: "I hate to break this up but the fireworks should be starting soon," he said. "We should probably get ready."
"Yes," Robin agreed, releasing Regina. "We don't want to miss them."
"No, we don't," she said, taking Henry's and Roland's hands. "Let's go get our seats."
She led them to where they had set up several beach and lounge chairs. Roland and Henry laid on the blanket also set up by the chair, both staring up at the sky. Behind them, Robin helped her sit down in a chair before taking the one next to her.
David connected his phone to a Bluetooth speaker and grinned. "This will allow us to hear the music while we watch the fireworks," he said.
"Perfect," Regina replied, taking Robin's hand. "Thank you, David."
"You're welcome," he said, settling into a chair next to Mary Margaret. She held Neal on her lap, noise-cancelling headphones over his ears to protect his hearing from the fireworks. He looked ready to fall asleep and didn't fidget on his mother's lap, content to just sit there.
The speaker crackled to life as the mayor welcomed everyone to the annual fireworks display, delayed due to weather in a twist that had worked in her and Robin's favor. He kept his remarks short before the music started. Regina watched the first firework fly into the night sky before bursting into a cascade of red sparkles. She glanced at Neal, who watched transfixed. It seemed the noise-cancelling headphones worked.
She made a note of that for next year.
For now, though, she enjoyed watching the fireworks with her family. It wasn't the one she had been born into but the one she had built for herself over the years, full of love and happiness. She was able to give that to Henry, then Roland and soon her daughter.
And that gave her some hope that she would be a good mother to her daughter and not repeat her mother's mistakes.
She was ready for her next adventure and knew Robin was as well.
It was going to be amazing.
A/N: This verse lives!
I know it's been a while but I had a couple ideas for this part. First, I thought that I would write Robin and Regina on their honeymoon but decided they would wait for their baby to be born before going.
Then I realized I never wrote about Archer coming into their lives so I decided to do that and combine it with them finding out that they are having a girl.
Voila!
I hope you've enjoyed it! And I'll try to get the next one out sooner.
-Mac