Chapter 23: A Joyous Occasion
Regina knocked on a door not far from her rooms with Robin. She believed these were the ones given to Will and Ana but she worried she was wrong, so she twisted her skirts in her hand as she waited for someone to answer. In her mind, she practiced her excuse if it ended up being someone other than Ana or Will.
To her relief, Will opened the door and gave her a bright smile. "Well, this is a surprise. Does Robin need something?"
"No," she replied. "I was hoping to talk to Ana and you about something. May I come in?"
"Of course. Where are my manners?" He stood aside, letting Regina enter their rooms.
Their sitting room looked very similar to hers and Robin's, though Ana and Will had a preference for red where Robin had a preference for green. Will led Regina to a soft couch and told her to have a seat. "I'll go get Ana," he told her.
He slipped into their bedroom and Regina leaned back, rubbing her stomach. Little Henry had started kicking her again, making her wince. "Mama needs you to be a bit gentler, little prince," she told her unborn son.
"Is he kicking?" Ana asked, entering the room. She smiled at Regina as she sat down on the couch, her eyes gazing down at Regina's stomach.
Regina nodded. "Do you want to feel?"
Ana's eyes widened. "May I? You're alright with that?"
"Of course. We're family." The word sent a joyful jolt through Regina. She finally had a proper family after so many years of wishing for one. It was thrilling, she thought as she guided Ana's hand to the right spot to feel one of Henry's kicks.
Ana gasped as Henry gave a hard kick to Regina's side. "Amazing," she breathed.
"Amazing," Regina agreed before wincing again. "And painful. He's stronger than you would think."
"I can't wait to meet him," she said, pulling her hand away. Ana then took Regina's. "So, what can we do for you?"
"I know Robin's birthday is coming up soon. I was hoping you would help me plan a ball for him. The court will no doubt want to celebrate given how much they love him and I have never really had to plan such a party, especially for someone I love," she said, her stomach twisted up knots.
Ana and Will exchanged looks, a silent conversation seeming to pass between them. Regina frowned, worried she had overstepped. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Ana assured her, taking her hand again. "We'd love to help you plan a ball for Robin."
Relief spread through Regina and she gave them a shaky smile. "Thank you so much. This means a lot to me."
"Do you want to get started now? Or do you want to meet later?" Ana asked.
"Could we meet this afternoon? I have a session with Lady Wellingsbury." Regina stood, straightening out her skirts. "Thank you."
Ana stood as well, smiling. "For you, anything. Remember that you are always welcomed here."
"I will." Regina hugged her, appreciating each friend she now had in Sherwood. She also hugged Will before leaving, almost skipping down the hallway with joy.
Regina studied a map of Sherwood and the surrounding countries, trying to determine where else Keith and the Abbott might've gone. The Ellises were still being held at he Garrison as their transportation was worked out so it would be some time before they could possible get any answers, especially as Lord Nottingham was not talking to them at all. She wanted to be prepared.
"Tea?" Lady Wellingsbury offered, holding out a cup.
Smiling, Regina accepted it. "Thank you. I need something to warm me up."
Lady Wellingsbury nodded, sitting down with her own cup. "Spring is here but some of winter's chill still clings to us. It will go away soon."
"I hope so," Regina said, taking a sip of the chamomile tea. "While I enjoyed the snow and I think I proved a girl from the Southern lands can survive a Sherwood winter, I will be really happy to have the warm weather back."
"Of course, you probably won't get to enjoy it for long. I believe you are having a summer baby?" Lady Wellingsbury asked.
Smiling down at her stomach, Regina nodded. "That's what Widow Lucas said. I think it'll be appropriate."
"Why?"
"Because summer is full of sunshine and warmth and happiness. Everything I know this child will bring us," Regina replied, rubbing her stomach as Henry gave another kick.
Lady Wellingsbury smiled at her. "You sound like you're going to be a natural mother, Regina."
"Everyone keeps saying that, especially Robin."
"You sound like you don't believe them."
Regina sighed, looking down at her cooling tea. Part of her believed Robin and the others when they said she was going to be a natural mother yet she still had her doubts. How was she to care for another human being? Could she guide him through life, teach him right from wrong, and ensure he grew up loved when she hardly had that from her own mother? And when she had done what she had to her own mother?
"Regina?" Lady Wellingsbury prompted. Or rather, she asked out of concern, Regina amended.
She still was getting used to people caring about her.
"I want to believe them," she admitted to the older woman. "But I fear I'm going to follow my mother's example and end up being awful to my children."
Lady Wellingsbury set down her teacup and took Regina's hands in her own. "That's understandable, but I know you won't be."
"How?" Regina asked, wishing she had even a small amount of the confidence everyone else had in her.
"Because I watched you tend to our people during the flooding and the storms. I watched you with the children, how you soothed them and entertained them. And then I saw you with Snow White. You may not be able to see it, Regina, but you are maternal," Lady Wellingsbury told her. "You just need to believe in yourself."
Regina sighed. "I'm trying. It's just as my time draw nears, the doubts have returned with a vengeance."
The older woman nodded. "That sounds reasonable. You might want to talk with Catherine and Eleanor. I've never had children so I can't speak from experience. They can and I'm certain they will tell you they had doubts before becoming mothers."
"I think I will," Regina said, picking up her cool tea again. "Thank you for the suggestion."
Lady Wellingsbury chuckled. "You're welcome. Now, why don't we turn back to the law? According to the librarian, you were reading about our treason laws. A bit advanced, don't you think?"
Regina shrugged. "I guess but I want to be prepared. We have the Ellises and Lord Nottingham. We're searching for Keith and the former Abbott. It seems treason proceedings will soon be upon us."
"A wise observation," the other woman replied. She studied Regina. "I will help you with our treason laws, but I think we still need to start with the basics. Can we do that?"
Sheepish, Regina nodded. "I want to learn everything I can."
"And you will." Lady Wellingsbury handed her a thick book. "Now, let's start with torts."
Taking Lady Wellingsbury's advice, Regina headed toward Catherine's study once her lessons were over. She knocked on the door, which was met with a friendly "Come in" from inside. With a deep breath, she turned the knob and entered the room.
Catherine looked up from the papers on her desk, smiling when she saw Regina. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Please, have a seat."
"I'm sorry to just drop in on you without sending word," Regina started, sitting on the couch Catherine motioned to.
Her mother-in-law held up her hand, shaking her head. "You have nothing to apologize for, Regina. You are always welcome here."
Regina smiled, fiddling with her skirts again. "I was hoping to talk to you about…well, motherhood. Do you think I'm ready?"
"I don't think anyone is really ready. I certainly didn't feel ready when I had Robin even though I had waited years for him," Catherine replied, sitting down next to her on the couch. "I worried I would mess everything up once he came and I spent the last few months of my pregnancy fretting about all these hypothetical situations that I nearly drove myself crazy."
"You did?" Regina asked, feeling comforted. "What did you do?"
Catherine took her hand. "I told Edward my fears and he told me his. We then found older adults we respected to ask them advice about being parents. Then in the end, we realized were just going to have to figure it out along the way. Together."
Regina's spirits deflated a bit as she frowned. "What if we make mistakes trying to figure it out?"
"Oh, you will. No one is the perfect parent…but if you learn from your mistakes and just do your best to put the welfare and happiness of your child first, you'll be fine," Catherine told her, wrapping her arm around Regina. She held her close.
Laying her head on the woman's shoulder, Regina soaked up the love and attention from Catherine. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine having a mother who would've nurtured and comforted her rather than hurt and traumatized her.
"Are you feeling better?" Catherine asked.
"I think so," Regina replied, keeping her head on the woman's shoulder. "I guess I'll always be worried, though."
She heard the door open and close before boots stomped toward the couch. "Mother, are you in here?" Robin asked.
"Over here, darling," Catherine called out, patting Regina's arm. She made no move to greet her son nor did Regina move to greet her husband.
She did open her eyes, spotting Robin's black pants as he came around to stand in front of the couch. When he spoke, she didn't have to look up to know he was frowning and that his blue eyes were full of panic. "Regina? Is something wrong? Are you hurt?"
"She's fine, Robin," Catherine assured him. "Just needed some motherly advice and a hug."
Robin knelt, resting his hands on her lap. Even through her thick skirts, she could feel their warmth as he rubbed her thighs. "Do you feel better?"
She nodded, sitting up at last. "Your mother helped me a lot. Especially with the hug."
"I could've always given you a hug," he pointed out, holding out his arms. Laughing, Regina leaned in and let him hug her.
Catherine chuckled. "So, Robin, what can I do for you? Or are you just stopping by to visit your mother?"
"Just stopping by," he said, stilling holding Regina close. He did reach out and place a hand on his mother's knee. "Do I need a reason to do that?"
She shook her head as she cupped his cheek. "Not at all. But why don't you join us on the couch rather than kneeling on the floor the entire time?"
Regina leaned back, allowing Robin to move from the floor to a spot next to her on the couch. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him, closing her eyes for a few moments as he held her close. It always felt wonderful in his arms.
"Can you believe I'll be twenty-one in a couple weeks?" she heard him ask his mother, his voice vibrating in his chest.
Catherine chuckled. "No, I can't. Just like I can't believe you're a married man with a child on the way. It seems you should still be a child at my knee."
"Well, I was just at your knee," he sassed her. "You made me stand up."
Regina sat up, swatting at his chest playfully. "Don't sass your mother."
"Listen to your wife," Catherine replied, smirking at Robin as her eyes shone with amusement.
This was what it meant to be a real family, Regina believed. People who loved you, cared for you—even when they were teasing you. No cruel words nor physical force were used to coerce a member into doing something they didn't want to do. They respected each other too much for that.
She loved that. She loved being part of this family.
Robin squeezed her shoulder. "How about we all have lunch together?"
"That sounds wonderful," she replied before turning to Catherine. "If you want to join us?"
Catherine smiled at her. "I would love to join you. Perhaps we can all talk about parenthood together?"
Though she felt Robin's gaze on her, Regina continued to look ahead at Catherine as she nodded. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you."
That night, Robin sat down on their bed as Regina finished braiding her hair for the night. He studied her before asking: "Is everything alright, Regina?"
She frowned, tying the ribbon that would hold her braid together. "What do you mean?"
"It's just…earlier…when I walked in and found Mother holding you like that…I just want to make certain there is nothing wrong," he said, looking concerned.
"Everything is fine," she said, standing up from the vanity and approaching her husband. "I just had some concerns I needed some motherly advice about."
He frowned, worry lines forming on his forehead as he pulled her onto his lap. "What are you worried about?"
"Everything," she said, playing with his hair. "I'm about to be responsible for another person, one who will be entirely dependent on me."
"On us," he corrected gently. "You're not alone in this, lovely. We're a team."
She nodded, pressing her forehead against his. "I know. I just needed someone to tell me that what I'm feeling is normal."
"I understand," he told her, taking her hand in his. "I went to my uncle to have him tell me the same."
"So we're in the same boat, then?"
"Scared about messing up Little Henry?" he asked before nodding. "Yes."
She took a deep breath. "We'll be fine, right? We have each other."
"And our family," he reminded her.
He laid her down gently on the bed, holding up his finger. "I'll be right back, lovely. Don't move."
"Don't have much of a choice," she said, even struggling just to wiggle her way closer to the pillows. Henry delivered a sharp kick, apparently upset with the movement. She winced as she rubbed her stomach.
Robin doused the candles before climbing into bed, leaving only the fire in their hearth to illuminate the room. He rubbed her stomach. "Is he giving you trouble?"
"A bit," she admitted. "He didn't like how I was moving."
"Or he knew that I told you not to move and was telling you to stop it," he said, smirking as he teased her.
She scowled at him. "I just wanted a pillow. Is that a crime?"
His eyes widened and he shook his head, helping her move up until they were both resting their heads on their pillows. Robin locked his fingers with hers, resting their joined hands on her stomach. "How is that?"
"Much better," she said, rubbing her nose against his. "Thank you."
"Anything to make you more comfortable, milady," he replied, grin widening as Henry kicked against her side. "And you, our little prince."
Regina hummed, reaching up to stroke his face with her fingers as they continued to lay curled around each other. She tucked her head under his chin. "You think I'm going to do right by Henry?" she asked softly.
"I do," he assured her, kissing her forehead. "I just hope I can do right by him as well."
She smiled softly. "You will, Robin. He is so blessed that you are his father as I know you'll be a good one. Just like you're a good husband. I couldn't ask for anyone better."
Once again, she felt him kiss her forehead. "I couldn't ask for a better wife or mother of my child than you, Regina."
Wrapping her arm around his middle, she curled closer to him as her eyes fluttered closed. "I hope one day, Little Henry tells us we were good parents too."
"Me too," Robin whispered, holding her closer. "Me too."
She took a deep breath, smelling his familiar and soothing pine smell. As his warmth enveloped her like a second blanket, Regina felt herself start to drift off. She smiled, hoping to only have good dreams that night.
Two hands covered her eyes and she giggled as she smelt Robin's familiar pine scent. His voice rumbled behind her as he said: "Guess who."
"I know it's you, Robin," she said. "Your cologne gave you away."
He chuckled as his hands fell away. "You could've tried to guess, put some mystery into it."
"I'll keep that in mind for the next time." Regina turned around, gently grasping his arms as he gripped her waist, and kissed him.
He hummed as she pulled away, his eyes still closed and a pleased smile on his face. "I love greetings like that."
She laughed, rubbing her nose against his. "Did you have a good day, milord?"
"Ooh, why so formal, my love?" he asked, leading her to the couch so they could curl up together.
"It sounded right," she replied, smiling as she leaned against his shoulder. "And I loved the look on your face. You have an adorable confused face."
He chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
She rubbed his thigh. "You still haven't answered my question. Did you have a good day?"
"For the most part, yes," he said, playing with her hair now. "The council meeting was just more yelling and arguing about what to do with the Ellises and Lord Nottingham so I ended it early because I was certain not even the lavender pouch could ward off the headache that would cause."
Regina frowned, looking up at him as she gently brushed her fingers against his forehead. "Have you been having any more headaches?"
He shook his head. "And I'm trying to keep it that way. So I spent the afternoon at the stables."
"Did you see Rocinante?" she asked, thinking of her beautiful stallion. She needed to see him again soon, just to spend time with him.
"I did," Robin told her. "And I took him out for a nice long run. I think he enjoyed getting the exercise again though Outlaw looked at me like I was a traitor."
She chuckled, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for spending time with Rocinante. And I promise to apologize to Outlaw for making him share his master."
"Bring him an apple and I'm certain all will be forgiven instantly." He kissed the top of her head. "How was your day?"
"Pretty good, nothing unusual. I had lunch with your cousins and then spent the afternoon sending out letters," she said, omitting that those letters were invitations to his birthday ball.
He hummed. "Sounds like a wonderfully mundane day."
She chuckled. "I guess that's one way to put it. And I was thinking we could end it in a nice bath together."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Robin slid out from under her and stood up. "I'll go draw the bath and will call you when it's ready."
"You're the best," she said, laying out on the couch now that he was gone. She rubbed her stomach, feeling their son kick from the change in position before settling down again.
She closed her eyes but opened them only a few seconds later when she heard a familiar high-pitched giggle. "You two are sickeningly sweet. I think my teeth have rotted just listening to you."
"Robin!" she yelled, sitting up as her heart sped up. Regina glanced over the couch to find the Dark One sitting in her husband's desk chair, smirking at her.
Robin ran out of the bedroom, anger in his eyes when he saw the Dark One there. "You! Leave us alone."
The Dark One chuckled again. "I wouldn't be so hasty to run me out, dearies. Not when I can help you."
"We don't want your help," Regina said, standing up with her hand on her stomach. She glared at him as she spat out: "We don't need your help."
"Are you sure about that?" He jumped up, walking toward them.
Robin stood in front of her, putting himself between her and the Dark One. "Yes, we are. Now leave."
"I know about your little problems," the Dark One continued, sliding into the armchair by them. "A potential coup, enemies on the run, possible war…I could make that go all away."
He snapped his fingers and Regina jumped, worried that he had done something to them or the palace. She leaned closer to Robin, trying to look braver than she felt as she glared at the Dark One. "What did you do?" she asked.
"That was just for emphasis," he told her. "Relax."
"Not until you leave. Robin and I will deal with our problems together. Without you." She took Robin's hand and squeezed it as she glared at the imp.
He laughed at her, making her blood boil. "You two are fools. You think the strength of your love will save you?"
"I think the strength of my army will," Robin replied, anger simmering in his tone. "And the love of our people for us."
"Yep. Still fools," the Dark One said.
Regina scowled at him. "We aren't fools because we don't want to accept your help. You're just trying to trick us into an agreement we'll come to regret."
"Do you regret our agreement?" he asked her. "Do you regret ridding yourself of your mother?"
She was taken aback, unsure how to answer his question. Regina didn't regret banishing her mother from her life so she could take control over it but she did regret entering into an agreement with the Dark One.
He took her silence as confirmation of whatever answer he was looking for and smiled. "That's what I thought."
"You know nothing," she hissed, turning away from him. She didn't want to give him any more attention.
"Leave," Robin ordered. "Now."
She heard the Dark One give a dramatic sigh. "Alright, alright. I can tell when I'm not wanted."
"Please tell me that was a pathetic attempt at a joke," Regina snapped, glaring at him over her shoulder.
The Dark One just kept grinning. "If the coming civil war becomes too much for you, Regina knows how to summon me. My lieges."
He bowed as mauve smoke curled around him. When it died away, he was gone. There wasn't any proof he had ever been there except the feeling of unease Robin and Regina both felt.
Robin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. "He's gone," he whispered. "You can relax."
She shook her head. "He's always going to torment us, isn't he? We'll never be rid of him."
"Of course we will," he told her. "We'll figure out something and then he'll never bother us again. I promise you."
Regina always trusted Robin but for the first time, she doubted him. The Dark One seemed too powerful for them to stop and she worried he would destroy them in due time. She felt as hopeless as she used to feel around Mother and she sank deeper into Robin's embrace, praying she was wrong but fearing she wasn't.
She laid wide awake in bed that night as Robin slept soundly next to her. His hand rested on her expanded stomach, as if protecting Henry even in sleep, and his head lay partially on her pillow as if he wanted to stay as close to her as possible. Safe in her womb, Henry was sound asleep as well for he hadn't moved or kicked since she had laid down. It was unusual but she guessed it was no fun for him if she was already awake when he kicked.
The Dark One's words echoed around her mind. Was civil war in Sherwood unavoidable? And would it be her fault? Would her presence destroy their beloved kingdom? Could it cost her her family? Did she bring darkness, just like Robin's cousin Samuel told her all those months ago?
Soft lips pressed a kiss into her hair. "You should be sleeping," Robin's hoarse voice said.
"I know," she replied, still staring at their ceiling. She couldn't bear to look at him yet. Not when she knew she was going to destroy everything they held dear.
Robin sighed and moved closer to her. "Don't let him get to you. We are not headed toward civil war and even if we are, it's not your fault."
"How can you be so certain of that? How do you know none of this could've been avoided if you married a Sherwoodian woman?" she asked, tears pricking her eyes.
"Someone killed my father in hopes that the council could control me better," he reminded her. "It wouldn't matter who I married. This would've happened when they realized I wasn't going to be their puppet."
The tears ran down her cheeks as she rolled closer to him. "I don't want anything to happen to our country, Robin."
He rocked her gently, kissing her hair. "Nothing is going to happen to Sherwood, Regina. We're going to work together to make certain of that."
"I wish I had your optimism," she admitted, clinging to his nightshirt. She wished she could always see the silver linings rather than just the dark clouds
"You do," he told her. "You just forget sometimes because the Dark One and your mother get louder in your head. But it's there. You just have to listen to it and fight for it to drown out the others. And I know you can do that."
She smiled through the tears, pressing her ear to his chest to listen to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat. "Thank you."
"Anytime, my love," he told her, kissing her head again. "Do you think you can sleep? Or do you want some tea?"
Her stomach growled and she grew sheepish. "Tea and some biscuits sound really good right now."
Robin pulled his arm away from her as he sat up. "I'll go sneak down to the kitchens and be right back. You rest."
"Thank you, Robin," she said, pulling the blankets tighter around her. While part of her wanted to sneak down to the kitchens with him, she was too comfortable to really move. Lying there sounded just fine to her.
He pulled his robe on and left the room, leaving her to stare at the fire as Henry woke up. The baby gave her a few kicks, which now felt almost reassuring. She chuckled as she rubbed her stomach. "Keeping Mama company?" she asked her son.
The response was another kick and her smile grew bigger. "That's what I thought. And I promise you, Henry, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Except making a deal with the Dark One. I'd rather teach myself magic than…"
Gasping, Regina sat up as an idea formed in her head. Friar Tuck had mentioned reaching out to the women who still practiced magic in secrecy after the Abbott's crusade against them. Perhaps one of them could help her harness her magic for good. It could help keep their country safe.
Robin returned to the room, carrying a tray with two cups of tea and a plate of biscuits. He stopped, tilting his head as he studied her. "Is something…else…wrong, Regina?"
"No," she said, smiling. "I have an idea and I want to discuss it with you."
He sat down on the bed and placed the tray between them, handing her a cup of tea. "What is it, lovely?"
"I want to learn how to use my magic…for good. Like the women of Sherwood before me," she said, taking the cup from him. "I think it might help us in whatever is coming."
Robin paused, his hand hovering over one of the biscuits. He looked up at her, questions in his eyes. "Are you certain?"
She nodded, covering his hand with hers. "I am."
"Then we'll talk to Tuck in the morning," he said, pressing a biscuit into her hand. "Now eat up."
"You don't mind?" she asked, ignoring the biscuit as she stared into his eyes. She wanted to be certain that he agreed with her and wasn't just placating her. While she knew no matter what, Robin would support her, she didn't want to do something he didn't agree with deep down in his heart.
He reached out and cupped her cheek, leaning closer to look right in her eyes so she knew he was serious. "I think it's a good idea. You're my secret weapon, Regina—whether it's your brilliant mind or your magical abilities."
"I am?" she asked, feeling touched as she bit into her biscuit at last.
"Yes," he said. "With you by my side, I know we will keep Sherwood safe."
Warmth spread through her though she did know if it was from his belief in her or the tea. She covered his hand with hers. "It will be my honor to help such a great king as you."
He laughed, sipping his own tea. "I've already married you, sweetheart. You don't have to praise me exceedingly."
"You are a good king, Robin," she assured him, taking his free hand. "You just need to believe it yourself."
"I promise to work on that if you promise the same. You are a good person, Regina, and there is nothing dark about you." He brought her free hand to his lips and kissed it.
She sighed, nodding with a smile. "I promise to work on that. We can do this together."
"We're stronger that way," he told her, winking at her.
Henry delivered a strong kick against her stomach and she let go of Robin's hand to press hers over the spot. She smiled at her husband. "Looks like someone agrees with us."
"Of course he does," Robin said, reaching out to cover the spot as well. "He's a Locksley too, after all."
She nodded, feeling joy at being a Locksley. "Yes, he is."
"Come, let's finish our tea and these biscuits and then let's lie down. You need to try to get some rest," he told her, handing her another biscuit.
Regina took it. "Promise to hold me?"
"Always," he assured, kissing her.
She leaned back, biting into the biscuit with a smile on her face. Regina certainly felt much better than she had earlier and she believed sleep was finally attainable.
As long as Henry cooperated, she thought as he kicked her once again.
Friar Tuck agreed to help Regina connect with someone who could help her with her magic. "It might take some time," he warned her. "They've been underground for a long time. It might take some time to locate them all and to get one to agree to come back to the palace after so many years of persecution."
"Of course," she replied. "I will be patient. Besides, I may not be much of a student in a few months' time."
She rubbed her extended stomach and he nodded. "Understandable. They may not want to train you until the baby is born," he said.
"Well, we'll see what our next steps will be once they meet with Regina," Robin said, resting his hand on her knee.
Tuck nodded. "That sounds reasonable. I'll go start writing some letters to see who I can find."
Robin stood, thanking his tutor as he walked him to the door. He then returned to Regina's side, taking her hand and kissing it. "It'll work out, lovely. We just need to be patient."
"I know," she replied, feeling more confident now that they had a backup plan. There were still concerns lurking in the back of her mind, though. "I just worry we won't have the time. We still don't know where Keith is."
He sighed, nodding. "I know. But we'll find him. My best soldiers are out there looking."
Regina tried to smile but still felt her confidence wavering. "I'm certain they will find him."
"You don't sound it," he said, partially closing one eye as if he was wincing.
She sighed, leaning against him. "I don't know, Robin. I just worry. It's apparently what I do."
"Is there anything I can do or say to make you feel better?" he asked, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Hold me?" she asked.
He nodded, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close. One of Robin's hands went straight to her stomach as if also holding Little Henry as well. He kissed the side of her head. "Is this helping?"
"Yes," she replied, snuggling into his embrace. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed being surrounded by him, letting his presence calm her nerves.
"We're going to stop them," he whispered. "Between your brilliant mind, your possible magic and my army, they don't stand a chance."
"Don't minimize your role. You're a brilliant tactician and a great leader, Robin. People are loyal to you because of you, not because of your father," she told him, rubbing his leg.
He squeezed her arm as he kissed her head again. "You think so, lovely?"
"I know so," she replied. "I've seen it with my own eyes."
As Robin hummed, she hoped the party that was only a couple days away now would help change his mind. That he would see how much the court loved him—how much his people loved him—and believe it wasn't just because of who his father had been. She hoped he realized he had earned that love and loyalty.
Because he had.
Tink cleared away the remnants of their breakfast as Regina tried to contain her excitement. Her ball for Robin was that night and she couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw how much everyone loved him. She imagined them dancing around the ballroom, a goofy smile on his face as love lit up his eyes. It made her heart skip a beat.
Robin looked up from the paperwork he was looking over and smiled at her. "Is Henry awake too?"
"What? No," she said, rubbing her stomach. There was no movement from within, which she had come to expect in the morning. "He's all confused and thinks now is time for him to sleep."
"Oh. It's just…the way you were smiling…Never mind." He placed the papers down. "There's going to be a special dinner tonight, Regina. You and Tink should pick out a fancy gown for it."
She raised an eyebrow. Will and Ana had promised to come up with a reason to get Robin to the ballroom that night and now she wondered what they had told him. "What's the special dinner for?"
"Morale," he replied with a shrug. "Will and Ana said it would be a good way to keep everyone at court from thinking about Nottingham, Keith and the Ellises and what they could bring to Sherwood."
"Oh. That sounds like a good idea," she replied, pleased with their solution. It wasn't completely a lie—no doubt the ball would take everyone's minds off any impending strife and raise morale.
He nodded, standing up. "I have some tasks I want to finish before the ball so I'm going to head to my office. I'll see you tonight."
She nodded, motioning for him to come over. Regina gently pulled him down, kissing him. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I," he said, smiling at her. With one more kiss, Robin pulled away and left the room.
Throwing her napkin onto the table, Regina stood from the table. "Tink, is the dress ready?"
"Yes, it is," her handmaiden said. "I put it in your wardrobe while you and His Majesty were having breakfast. Everything is ready for tonight."
"Perfect," Regina replied, clapping her hands together with glee. "I can't wait."
Regina had originally requested a green muslin material for her ballgown but the royal tailor convinced her to go with red satin instead. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she was glad she agreed to make the change. The color looked gorgeous on her and the material clung to her changed form in just the right places. Her sleeves fell to her elbows before opening up, silk material almost touching the floor. Black lace was sewn into her stomacher and little pearls lined where it met the shell of her bodice. Jewels were embroidered along her neckline, drawing attention to her larger breasts. She had been hesitant to do so but Anastasia and Ella convinced her to do it once the tailor promised to make certain it still looked tasteful.
She smoothed down her skirt, smiling as Robin appeared in the mirror behind her. He clasped her ruby necklace around her neck, kissing her cheek. "You look beautiful, lovely."
"Thank you," she said, turning around to admire his matching velvet red coat over a white silk shirt paired with black pants. She rested her hands on his chest. "You look very handsome, milord."
He hummed, twirling one of her curls around his finger. "I'm very tempted to skip the ball and just stay up here with you, lounging around in these outfits."
She laughed, shaking her head. "We have to go down there. This is about morale, right?"
"It is," he replied with a sigh. "I guess we're need then, huh?"
"I would say so, yes," she replied, stepping away from him. "It won't be that bad, Robin."
He nodded, holding out his arm to her. "Then shall we, milady?"
She took his arm, smiling widely at him. "We shall, milord."
They left their room and headed down to the Great Hall. Regina tried to contain her excitement as they got closer, eager to see Robin's face when he realized the ball was really for his birthday. She practiced her toast to him in her head and prayed it was perfect when she delivered it to him. She just wanted everything to be perfect.
Robin stopped before the massive double wooden doors that led to the Great Hall. He nodded to the two guards flanking them and they reached over, pushing the doors open in unison. With a squeeze of her hand, Robin led her into the ballroom as a herald announced their presence.
The entire court filled the ballroom, all dressed in their finery. All applauded as the royal couple entered and Regina beamed, happy to see everyone was there to celebrate Robin. Everyone applauded and exclaimed: "Happy birthday!"
She turned to Robin just as he turned to her. Taking a deep breath, they said at the same time: "Surprise!"
It took a moment for Regina's mind to catch up and she frowned as she stepped away from Robin. "Why are you telling me 'Surprise'? This is your birthday ball."
"No," he replied, frowning as a crease formed in between his eyes. "This is your birthday ball."
Will and Anastasia approached them, smiling. He cleared his throat. "It seems you two didn't realize your birthdays were only a couple weeks apart and you both decided to throw the other a surprise birthday ball. Since you both asked me and Ana to help, we planned a grand ball for the both of you. So you're both right."
Robin and Regina glanced at each other before they both started to laugh. She doubled over, clutching her stomach as tears rolled down her cheeks. He supported her, holding her close. "And to think we've achieved sharing a mind before even being married a year," he whispered.
She only laughed harder at that.
"Is she alright?" Ana asked, sounding concerned.
"She's fine," Robin replied. "Just let her laugh it out and then we'll continue on with this double birthday ball."
Regina took a few gulps of air before straightening up, wiping her eyes. "I apologize. I guess I just needed a good laugh."
"No need to apologize for that." Robin kissed her cheek before taking her arm again. "Come. Let's go see what there is to eat. I am certain you and Little Henry are hungry."
She rubbed her stomach and nodded, feeling something rumbling inside her—though she wasn't certain if it was hunger or Henry. Regina was certain of one thing, though. "Food sounds wonderful," she said.
"Come this way," he told her. They walked over to the dais, where Catherine sat with his uncle and aunt as well as Ella and Daddy. All of them smiled widely at the couple as they approached.
Daddy stood, hugging Regina close. "Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I was so blessed the day you were born."
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered. "I think this birthday will be a lot better than last year's."
He nodded as she recalled sitting in Leopold's castle as everyone celebrated their engagement. Though she was supposed to be one of the guests of honor, she ended up in a dark corner as Snow White got the place of honor beside her father. Leopold barely spared a glance in her direction while her mother preened, accepting all the people who wanted to wish Regina well in her upcoming marriage. No one acknowledged it was her birthday until it was past, when she returned to her rooms and Daddy presented her with a little cake. The following morning, Snow left her a little gift—a painting of Rocinante. In those moments, Regina had seen her future as Leopold's queen very clearly—and it was a very lonely and neglected one.
Robin placed a hand on her back. "Is something wrong?" he asked in a whisper.
"No," she replied, pulling away from her father. She smiled at him. "I'm just so happy."
His worried frown turned into a happy smile as he leaned in to kiss her. "Good."
Robin pulled out her chair and helped her into it. Once he pushed her in again, he took the seat next to hers as the servants placed dishes of food in front of them. Her stomach growled when she saw the pheasant and reached for it, wondering if it would be unbecoming of a queen to place two on her plate at once. She decided to go for it, hoping no one noticed.
She watched as Robin then took two as well, placing the pheasants on his plate. He winked at her as he handed her a platter of roasted vegetables, telling her that they were delicious. Regina giggled and took a generous helping of those as well before passing the platter down to Ella. She leaned closer to him to whisper: "Thank you."
"And thank you," he whispered back. "This is a grand ball…even if I unintentionally helped plan half of it."
Regina laughed, covering her mouth with a gloved hand before turning back to her meal. She ate as if she hadn't eaten in years, every bite tasting better than the last. As she continued, she didn't care how she looked—this was partly her party and she was going to enjoy herself.
Though she had felt too full to move and her ankles were starting to swell, Regina had happily accepted Robin's invitation to dance. He led her to the center of the dance floor, placing a warm hand on her waist and taking her hand in his free one. As the musicians started up something livelier than the music they had played throughout the meal, he guided her into the waltz—their special dance.
No one else joined them, letting them have the first dance all to themselves. Regina laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "I love being in your arms," she said.
"Good," he replied, "because I love having you in my arms."
She hummed, feeling him turn her quickly so that her skirts billowed out around her. He whispered: "Can I twirl you please?"
"Yes," she said, lifting her head from his shoulder. "Better enjoy it now before I'm too big to do it."
"Nonsense." He spun her out and she laughed as her skirts flew around her. A few curls lashed at her face and she pulled them away from her mouth before Robin spun her back toward him, dipping her to end the dance.
She laughed as he righted her, holding her close again. He grinned as well. "Did you enjoy that?"
"Oh, yes," she said as the musicians started up a livelier tune. Excitement filled her. "A reel! I would love to dance it."
Robin chuckled. "We can absolutely dance to it. We can dance to whatever you want, sweetheart. This is our birthday ball."
"Our birthday ball," she mused, smiling. "I like the sound of that. Can we make this a tradition?"
His smile grew bigger. "I like the way you think, lovely. Yes, we can make this a tradition. Though maybe next year, we just plan it together?"
She laughed as she stepped away from him so they could join the reel before it ended. "Agreed."
The ball lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. People began to drift off after the grand clock in the courtyard struck midnight even as the musicians continued to play on. Daddy bid them goodnight first though Catherine wasn't too far behind. Robin's aunt and uncle were next to take their leave. Will and Ana left around one in the morning after hugs from Robin and Regina, who thanked them for all their hard work and promised to keep an eye on Ella, who was still dancing merrily with other members of the court.
As the clock chimed two, Little Henry made his displeasure at his mother still being awake known. She winced as he delivered a particularly painful kick to her rib cage and she rubbed the spot as he gave her another one. "Come on, baby boy, don't hurt Mama," she pleaded.
"He probably wants to dance with us," Robin said, pressing his hand to Regina's stomach. When Henry delivered another painful kick, even he winced. "Or not."
He crouched down until he was eye level with her stomach and said in his sternest voice: "Now you leave your mother alone. She deserves to celebrate her birthday."
Regina grinned even as she rolled her eyes. "Do you think that will work?"
"Is he kicking you still?" Robin asked, straightening out.
She shook her head but Henry kicked her again, causing her to wince. "Never mind. He still is."
Robin sighed, rubbing her arms. "What do you want to do, milady? I will follow your lead."
"I think it's time for us to turn in," she said, feeling sad to leave. Yet she could feel how sore her feet were getting and she knew exhaustion waited to crash down on her like the waves she used to watch crash on shore by Leopold's palace.
He held out his arm to her and she took it, walking with him to the door. Robin nodded to the musicians, who cut the song short and those still in the ballroom stopped dancing. They all looked at their king and queen as Robin cleared his throat. "Queen Regina and I thank you for a wonderful birthday ball. You may continue dancing but we must take our leave. We bid you all a goodnight."
"A cheer for their majesties!" a booming voice from somewhere in the back cried out. "Long live King Robert and Queen Regina!"
"Long live King Robert and Queen Regina!" everyone cheered back. It warmed Regina's heart and she truly felt loved by the court for the first time.
Ella emerged from the crowd, approaching the two with a sleepy smile. "Do you mind if I come with you? I feel I should go to bed too."
"Of course," Robin replied, motioning for her to start walking. They fell into step with her and Regina felt herself growing drowsy as they left the ballroom. She leaned against Robin, who kissed her head. "Did you have fun, Regina?"
"I did," she said, smiling. "It was the best birthday I've had in a very, very long time."
"It's just the start," he promised.
Her smile grew bigger as she closed her eyes, trusting him to guide her back to their chambers. Just as she trusted him to keep his promise and make this birthday the best one she ever had.
She just hoped she had made his birthday one of the best he had had in a long time too.
A/N: So, yes, I gave Robin and Regina birthdays that are close together. I thought it would be sweet.
Regina's decided to learn magic. We'll see some of it before she gives birth, but we're fast approaching Little Henry's entrance into the world.
The Ellises will return in the next chapter. Fair warning about that.
Otherwise, I hope everyone enjoys their holidays—if you're celebrating. I plan to post a holiday flash forward to one of my current verses (hint: not this one) and there's a special Christmas one shot I've been working on. And I'll hopefully have Comfort Food done before the end of the year since that's also holiday-themed. So please keep your eyes peeled for it.
-Mac