Regina had stepped things up with David, beckoning him three times in the week since they’d agreed they would have sex when the need came up. As lovely as it was having her carnal desires met, the heat of late May was killing her with the growth of her stomach. She had to hand it to David, though; he never got awkward about her stomach protruding, and never once had hesitated in the times she’d seduced him. Perhaps that was because he’d already slept with a pregnant woman before and wasn’t bothered by it, or maybe he was one of those men that found pregnancy attractive. She didn’t know, and she didn’t care.
She headed to the library early in the morning on a Tuesday, having fallen asleep early after thoroughly enjoying David the night before. The castle was fairly quiet, and the library abandoned. Belle had told her the day before about a journey she and Neal were going to take in search of Rumplestiltskin, or the possibility of bringing him back, anyway. With Belle gone, she had the library for her own private use again (not that she was bothered by the bookworm anymore, rather she liked to think of her as an ally, or even a friend). Regina had given up on finding a way back to Storybrooke, at least for the time being. Instead, she set to searching for a way to defeat Zelena. She tried to find everything she could about magic that was so natural to her half-sister that she’d used it even as a baby. Regina had no recollection of using any magic before she’d met Rumplestiltskin, and the realization made her nervous about just how much stronger Zelena could be than she was.
So she researched. She checked every page of every book for a way to defeat dark magic, especially that of a relative, without getting harmed in the process. It wasn’t as though she could just fight the other woman; Regina would not put her baby’s life in danger just to save a bunch of people she didn’t even like.
Regina was running her fingers over the spine of each book on a shelf, searching for one she hadn’t stared at for endless hours yet, when she heard the library door open. She turned, finding Snow White and raising an eyebrow.
“Regina? Can I come in?” Snow hesitated by the door, shutting it behind her and standing just beside it.
“I don’t believe I’ve made it a private room, yet,” she answered dryly, plucking a book from the shelf and sitting at the table.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
Regina sighed, nodding. “What would you like now, princess?”
Snow took the seat across from her, folding her hands in her lap and looking pointedly at Regina’s stomach. After a moment, she looked up to meet her eyes and pursed her lips. “I had thought we were… friends… sort of, now. I mean, I thought I would at least make the list of people you’d tell about being pregnant.”
Narrowing her eyes, Regina pursed her lips and clenched her hand around the book she was holding. It took everything in her not to snap at Snow, but really, it wasn’t the other woman’s fault. None of it was. So, she calmed herself down before answering. “It’s not really news I’m jumping for joy over. I had sex with someone to release some tension, got pregnant, because that’s just my luck, and now I’m having a baby less than a year after losing my son. So no, it’s not something I was excitedly telling anyone, and the only people who know know because they have damn dog noses, or they spent everyday in here with me.”
Snow nodded resolutely. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking of the difficulty of your circumstance.”
“You never do,” Regina retorted, giving her a look of boredom. “Was that all you came for? You wanted to hear me say it? Okay, I’m pregnant. I’m having a baby. No idea if it’s a bouncing baby boy or girl, though. I’m sure you’ll know almost as soon as I will when it’s born.” Setting her book on the table, she showed her hands. “Anything else you want to know?”
Tilting her head just slightly, Snow reached over and touched Regina’s arm. “Aren’t you even a little bit happy? You’re a wonderful mother, Regina, you were to Henry, and you will be to this baby.”
Regina jerked her arm away, glaring at the other woman. “I don't have my son . I cannot enjoy life without him, regardless of this baby. You may be able to act like life is all sunshine and rainbows without your first child, but I cannot.”
Snow didn't budge, pressing with, “Well what about the father? Isn't he happy?”
“Go away, Snow. I'm not discussing this with you.”
“Is it… Robin?”
Regina snorted, rolling her eyes and standing up. Moving around the table, she left the library, heading to her bedchambers to be alone.
The next day, Regina planned to find David. He'd been pushing her about when to tell Snow, arguing with her that the pregnancy was just past halfway over and it was time. He'd told her they needed to allow Snow to absorb the information before the baby came. She knew he was right, and now that Snow had made her knowledge about the pregnancy clear, Regina figured it was time. She didn't need to go far, only to the door of her room, opening it to find him with his fist raised in the air to knock.
“So… Snow knows you're pregnant,” he stated.
Sighing, she pulled the door further open, stepping aside to let him in. She nodded as he moved into the room and closed the door behind him. “So she does.”
David turned to look at her, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I can’t keep our secret from her now. She knows you’re pregnant, and she was talking about her theories of who the father could be, and I can’t just... “
“Oh? Is it an ego issue? You don’t want her placing the paternity on anyone else?” Regina snarled, her mood darker than she’d thought it was.
“Regina, enough,” he snapped. “She has a right to know. It has nothing to do with my ego, but she’s not going to stop talking to me about it, or bothering you about it, until she knows, and you know that. You know that’s how she is.”
She looked at him contemplatively for a long moment, rolling her lips together and giving a curt nod. “I know. I was actually coming to find you to discuss it. I’m… going to stay in here for a couple days. I’ll just use magic to get my meals for now. I don’t want to be in the way immediately after you’ve told her. I’m sure she’ll eventually come to find me, anyway.”
“So you’re going to go into hiding?”
“David, what else do you want? She’s going to be pissed, probably more at me than at you, even though you’re her husband. She has more reasons to be angry at me in general, so of course she’s not going to be running around happily and skipping with joy.” Regina raised her hands in defeat, dropping them down to her thighs. “I don't know what more to give her other than space.”
He nodded. “Fine. I'll tell her today.”
“Okay. After breakfast. I'll eat with everyone, and then return here.”
As planned, after breakfast, David took Snow to their private chambers and pulled her to sit on a lounge chair with him. She stared at him, eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed as he settled in beside her, tense and on edge.
“David, what’s happened?” Snow asked softly, when he’d gone a full minute without saying anything yet.
Licking his lips, he reached to take her hand, holding it between both of his. “I have something I have to tell you. You’ll be upset, and I won’t blame you for that, and I can’t really make excuses because there aren’t really any good reasons why I did what I did--”
“David,” she interrupted, “just tell me what it is and then we’ll figure it out.”
He nodded, squeezing her hand and looking her in the eyes. “I… uh, I’m the father of, uh, of Regina’s baby.” David winced as he made his admission, watching as the color drained from Snow’s face and her eyes widened in disbelief. “I’m sorry. Snow, I’m so sorry.”
“Dont.” She held up one hand, jerking the other from his grip and shifting away from him on the seat. “You’re right, there is no good reason for what you’ve done. But tell me anyway. Why would you do this, David?”
“I-I was lonely, I guess.”
“Lonely? I’ve been here the whole time! I’ve tried being there for you when you’ve been moody and pushed me away! I’ve been willing to listen and I’ve tried talking with you! How are you lonely?”
He sighed, rubbing his palms on his pants to dry them. “We’ve been on different pages since we returned. We’ve differed so much on all of our viewpoints and you wouldn’t just listen to me about being upset, you just wanted to be positive and see the good and it upset me. I know it’s wrong, and that I shouldn’t have cheated just because I felt a disconnect and I felt lonely, but I did. And now Regina’s having my baby, and you’re having our baby, and hell, Snow, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t get to apologize. You don’t get to try to ease your conscience by telling me you’re sorry for sleeping with someone else, for sleeping with her of all people. Why Regina? Just answer that.”
David watched her for a few seconds, surprised at how calm she was being, regardless of the words she was saying and the situation they were in, her demeanor was nearly still and resolved. “She felt the same way I did. She was… mourning, sort of, and we just, it just happened. I don’t know what else to say here.”
“How many times?”
“A few. I don’t know, a handful of times, I guess.”
Snow stood, moving toward the door. “You’ll find somewhere else to sleep. I need time to deal with this on my own. I don’t want to look at you right now.”
David nodded, watching her go. He wouldn’t push her just now, he knew that was only going to cause more damage in the long run instead of simply giving her space to digest the news and decide how to deal with it. He knew her well enough to know that.
Hours. It was hours before Regina heard anything. She had to give Snow credit for that, at least; had the situation been reversed, she would’ve been breaking down the other woman’s door within minutes. It was nearly evening, though, before she heard the frantic knocks and the ragged sound of her name.
Hesitating only a moment, she opened the door to look Snow in the eye. “Snow.”
“Don’t you dare act like I'm bothering you.” The younger brunette shook her head, eyes wide and watery, rimmed with red. Her cheeks with splotchy, giving away the fact that she’d surely been crying since she’d received the news. Her appearance made Regina’s stomach clench and she pursed her lips.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, lowering her head just slightly.
“For what, Regina?” Snow hissed. “For what, exactly, are you sorry? For hunting me from adulthood on? For trying to kill me more times than I can count? For framing me in Storybrooke for Kathryn’s murder? For trying to seduce my husband when he didn’t know who he was? For forcing me to choose to give up my daughter?” Her chest heaved as she stared at Regina. “Or for getting pregnant by my husband? My true love ! Is this payback? Is this finally you getting even with me for Daniel? What is it?”
Regina waited until she was certain Snow was finished, bringing her hands together in front of her and taking a step back. “I’m sorry for sleeping with him. I shouldn’t have, and I know that.”
“I thought we were building something here! I thought we were finding a friendship, making amends, and I thought you were becoming more like the woman who saved me from that horse when I was a child. Well I hope you’re happy! You’ve destroyed my true love now!”
“I’ve told you many times, and I’ll say it again, that girl is dead.” Snow had struck a nerve in her, and any further apologies died on her tongue. “Have I destroyed your true love? Last time I checked, David is still breathing, he is still living. You can choose to forgive him and continue on with your pathetically sappy life, or you can make the choice not to forgive him. Neither is my decision, but don’t you dare compare this to what you did to Daniel! Fucking your husband is not the same as you getting my fiancé killed!” Snow’s hand came up fast, making hard contact with Regina’s cheek. Taking a step back to re-balance herself, Regina brought her hand up to her face and glared at Snow. “Get out.”
Snow burst into tears, reaching one hand out for a moment, before finally taking a step back and turning around to leave. There would be no good in staying longer. There would be no productive discussion just yet, and she knew that.
Regina waited until Snow was out of sight, then slammed her door shut and locked the hatch.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/6410809/chapters/23347230The way time was moving was maddening. Regina felt like she’d go half insane before this baby was born, and it was exhausting. She wasn’t ready to have a baby, and she only had three months left to go. She had no idea how she could get them to Storybrooke, and she’d all but given up hope for the possibility.
But for the moment, that wasn’t at the top of her to-do list. Snow had informed everyone in their small group of leaders that she wanted to meet. She wasn’t interested in going to a meeting, but if she hid away any longer, she’d look even more guilty for what she’d done, and she refused to let Snow humiliate her and treat her like she should be ashamed. Guilty, yes, but ashamed, no. She made her way to their conference room, finding nearly everyone there except her, only Grumpy was late, and Aurora and Philip were there in addition, which she didn’t understand, but she was over trying to understand Snow’s motives.
Grumpy came rushing in brusquely behind her, his shoulder bumping into her arm as he moved past her. It took everything she had not to choke him with magic. Snow looked up when he came in, her eyes passing over Regina as though she wasn’t there.
“Good, it looks like everyone’s here,” she said brightly.
“What’s this about?” Aurora asked, looking at the other princess.
Snow smiled. “David and I are going to have a ball to announce our baby!”
Regina’s eyes darted to look at David, suddenly feeling like she was going to throw up and choke in one go. She licked her lips, then pursed them shut so she wouldn’t say anything she shouldn’t. “Are you certain that’s the best idea? We still don’t know what Zelena wants, and a ball is only going to call her attention.”
Aurora nodded, surprising everyone in the room by agreeing with Regina. “That may not be the best idea right now.”
“Of course it is! We can show everyone that Zelena can’t stop us from living our lives!” Snow answered, her voice too cheerful as always.
“Snow…” Aurora looked at her husband, guilt written clear as day on her features. “I have to tell her,” she whispered, before looking back at Snow. “She wants a baby. She told us she’d take ours if we told you! We-- I’m so sorry, I was protecting our baby. But if you announce your pregnancy with a ball, it’s only going to let her know there’s a baby for her now.”
“And you know it’s my baby she wants? What about Regina’s? She’s her sister.”
“We don’t know. We just know she wants a baby. We figured we’d just know when someone got pregnant.”
Snow nodded. “Then we will go on as normal.”
Just then, Zelena flew in on her broom, interrupting the meeting. She looked at Aurora and Philip angrily, changing them into flying monkeys, and then looking between Regina and Snow. “So there are two babies to choose from… how interesting. And from the tension in the room, I can only guess that they have the same daddy?” she taunted knowingly and looking at David. Regina didn’t know how Zelena knew that, but that wasn’t what mattered. “Congratulations. Must be so exciting.”
“Get out of here!” Regina snapped, stepping between Zelena and David.
“Oh, I am. Trust me, I have no desire to be in this company,” Zelena snarled, looking around the room. “But I’ll be back. When there’s a fresh, bouncing baby.” The woman got back onto her broom and fled as David pulled his sword and swung.
Snow stepped up to him, patting his arm. “Don’t worry, David, she probably wants her sister’s baby, not ours.”
David looked at Regina, eyes wide with realization and watching her hand come to rest on her rounded belly. “Regina, we won’t let her near the baby, you know that.”
Regina nodded curtly. “I know. That bitch isn’t getting anywhere near my baby.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The cold weather had finally stopped, but it had given into hot days, bright sun, and insane humidity. Regina didn’t remember the weather being like this, didn’t remember the sun ever feeling so overwhelming or the heat exhausting her so much. Though, she had never been pregnant before, either, so maybe that was a contributing factor with the heat bringing her excessive grumpiness. And she was horny. All the time. She didn’t understand how couples ever managed to get out of bed if every woman felt this way pregnant, because all she wanted was to have someone between her thighs. It wasn’t the same taking care of herself, not with her rounding belly that made the reach just a little too difficult, and made it impossible for her to get comfortable.
She woke up in the middle of the day after a short nap, something she’d grown quite used to with the exhaustion of pregnancy, especially with the heat. She was almost desperate, and Regina lay there for nearly half an hour trying to convince herself not to go find David. Eventually, she lost that argument with herself and set off in search of him. It didn’t take her long, only a few minutes and a short walk. He’d been talking with some of the Merry Men, chatting about boundaries and booby traps. She’d waited, clearing her throat when she thought it was an appropriate enough time, and then pulling him away with the excuse of needing assistance. Checking the hallways as they walked back toward her room, Regina briskly pulled him into her chambers and shut the door behind them. She dropped the heavy locking latch and turned as he started to speak. He’d barely had his question of curiosity out before she was crashing her lips to his and pulling him down to her.
David returned the kiss for a long moment, but slowly brought his hands up and gripped her upper arms, pushing her back and stepping away. “What the hell, Regina?”
She couldn’t blame him for his tone. They hadn’t done this since the time he'd refused to come out of guilt, so his confusion wasn’t misplaced, but it was frustrating nevertheless. Regina looked up at him with narrow eyes. “I need sex.”
“Regina, no.” David sighed. “Look, I haven’t even told Snow, and I feel bad for hurting her and she doesn’t even know I hurt her yet. And we need things to not be… weird when our kid gets here.”
“Okay, look, David. You can stand here and try to be noble, telling me that we can’t have sex because you’re married, even though that didn’t stop you before, and because we’re going to have a baby and you don’t want co-parenting to be awkward, especially around Snow and whatever. Or you can shut up and fuck me senseless, until my hormones are under control, and we can repeat as necessary, because if you’ve forgotten, this is half your fault. And we will still be able to co-parent without any awkwardness, because we’re mature adults. It’s your choice.”
Continue on the above link, or read here, at fanfiction.net
Set during the missing year. Trying to get back into the swing of writing, forgive me if this sucks!
She’s crossing the corridor on the way to dinner when she suddenly gets the sensation she is not alone.
She freezes, her dark gaze sweeping over the ornate walls and deepening shadows as she tries to spot the voyeur. She’s still on edge after the flying monkey attack the other day, they all are, and she had been hoping to have a few minutes to breathe before the next crisis showed up on their doorstep. If the Wicked Witch has found them already…
Regina is about to move on, convinced that she’s now so paranoid that she’s jumping at shadows, when she sees the faintest movement from behind a tapestry on the wall. Squinting in the dimness–damn, she misses electricity–she manages to make out a pair of little feet behind the thick fabric, clad in slightly shabby but clearly well-made boots. They’re worn and splattered with mud, but still too fine to belong to the children of any of the palace staff, unless this version of the curse had been just as generous in the wardrobe department as her last one had. She stands there a moment, watching the feet behind the tapestry. Whoever they belong to appears to be trying to stand still, but in the manner of small children, she watches the hidden figure begin to fidget, sees a few little fingers reach out and finger the worn threads on the edge of the tapestry. She can hear breathing, slightly labored, and she almost smiles as she catches sight of a curly lock of brown hair for just a moment before whoever it is settles back into their hiding place again.
“I know you’re there,” she says suddenly. Her voice, sure and steady even if the rest of her sure as hell isn’t, echoes through the empty corridor, and she hears a tiny gasp. “So you might as well just come out here.”
For a moment, there is nothing. The feet have gone stock still, as if by not moving they can blend right into the wall. Then, slowly, she watches as the little hand snakes its way out from behind the heavy fabric again, pulling it away from him so a figure can step out. It’s the thief’s son, the little boy she saved from the flying monkey, the one who reminded her so much of Henry that her heart aches even now. Roland.
“What were you doing behind there?” she asks coolly.
He’s staring at her with huge brown eyes, little lips twitching as if unsure whether to smile or not. She presses on. “Were you spying on me?”
“No,” he answers simply, then seems to reconsider. “Maybe a little.”
Well, maybe she deserves that. “Shouldn’t you be at dinner?” she asks briskly. “I’m sure your father will be wondering what happened to you.”
“Anya says I shouldn’t talk to you.”
Regina gives him a blank look. “Who’s Anya?”
“A girl from the kitchens. Her mama’s a cook. She says that you did bad things before the curse that took you all away, and that I should stay away from you.”
So even five-year-olds haven’t been spared all of the dirty little secrets about Regina’s past, it seems. Fantastic.
“Do you always believe what people tell you?” she asks, not trying to be cruel, though she’s not sure her words come across as particularly warm. It’s hard to be cordial to this little boy, not when the wounds of leaving her own behind are still so raw and open.
“No!” Roland says adamantly. “Papa says that it’s important to think for myself.”
That almost makes her smile, the way he repeats his father’s words with such conviction. “And what do you think, then? About what your little friend said about me?”
“Well, she’s not always right. She thinks she is, but she’s not. She’s kind of bossy.” He wrinkles his nose. “And Papa doesn’t think you’re bad. He was really happy you saved me.”
“Well, if someone had saved my little boy, I’d be happy too,” Regina replies softly, thinking of Henry and Emma, worlds away and without a clue as to who she is. “But what do you think?”
Roland looks up at her a minute, biting his lip in a gesture that makes Regina think of his infuriating father. “Well, you did save me. And you turned the bad monkey into a toy so I wouldn’t be scared anymore. So that doesn’t seem so bad.”
“No?”
“No. Besides, everyone does bad things sometimes. Like me. Sometimes I take extra food without asking, or stay up past my bedtime, or do things I’m not supposed to and then make Little John promise he won’t tell my Papa. And Papa, he steals things, but only what we need. That doesn’t make him bad. Or me either. We all do good things and bad things.”
“That’s right,” Regina says softly, somewhat taken aback by the unexpected wisdom of this little boy. How can a child understand something that most adults–even herself–can’t?
“Besides, I really like my monkey. And you gave it to me, so I say you’re good.”
“A compliment if I ever heard one.”
Regina has to fight the urge to roll her eyes. “I thought I smelled forest,” she mutters under her breath as Robin Hood strides into view. Staggers, more like–is there another man more full of himself in this entire kingdom than he is?
Let’s hope he and Hook don’t get too friendly. The castle can’t handle both of their egos.
“Roland, we were looking for you. It’s past your dinnertime.”
“Sorry, Papa. I was talking to Regina.”
“Roland, Regina is the queen,” Robin says quickly. “We have to treat her with the respect that title deserves.”
“But I thought you didn’t like king and queens.”
He almost seems to blush, which Regina decides to count as a victory. “Well, be that as it may, she’s still a lady. We don’t know her well enough to call her by her first name.”
“Actually, Regina’s fine,” she pipes up, surprising herself. “He can call me that…if he wants to.”
She can’t quite name the look on the thief’s face–it might be gratitude, it might be something else–but somehow his gaze makes her face being to grow hot. “Well, that’s very nice of you,” he says finally. “And thank you for looking out for Roland. I was afraid he might have gotten himself lost in this huge place.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Regina says, looking down at Roland with what might just be her first genuine smile since the new curse. “You have a very smart boy there. Very smart indeed.”
though I have shown signs of all my weakness (somewhere in me there is strength)
Okay, so it was a certain person’s birthday, (they should hopefully know who they are... not quite sure if i’m allowed to tag them. what is the etiquette for these things?) anyway - birthday fic! Hope you had a lovely day and year, and well, life.
Pairing: Outlaw Queen
Word count: 1 550 ish
Information: missing year fic.
The Queen is missing.
Robin couldn't understand the almost numbing shock that flooded him as Grumpy announced those words to the castle's inhabitants, suspicion laced in the dwarf’s tone, swirling through the syllables and squeezing the hearts of the many who were already crippled by fear, held hostage to the unknown fate they would soon be facing.
But Robin, he could only think of that woman, his son's saviour, gone. Possibly taken. He watched bewildered as the people around him continued on with their lives, some quietly whispering their inner thoughts, the vile conjecture and false accusations finding their escape without fear of her Majesty's retribution.
None of that however, compared to the shock he felt when he was exposed to the raw emotion of Princess Snow and her Prince Charming, or rather, their lack of response to the loss of someone who was family, the tears glistening in her eyes the only sign that she was affected by the news.
And so, like a thief in the night, he left the protection of the castle unnoticed, determined to find the woman who had somehow managed to bewitch his mind, needing to make sure she was safe.
He stumbled upon her quite by accident, his tracking ability sorely affected by her continuous use of magic, though it was the only thing keeping hope alive within him. Because whoever that green witch was, she would have no reason to go through the lengths taken to disguise her crime.
Robin was merely searching for a place to quench his thirst, the rather spontaneous search for the Queen not allowing him much time to pack supplies for his journey. He knew that there was a brook nearby, and thirst guiding him, he sought it out, pausing when he noticed that the spot he was approached was already occupied by another, the small frame of a woman at its edge, her dress and accessories proving she was at least nobility.
But then she turned her head and he saw.
It was her.
He couldn't reconcile the Queen from earlier, haughty and shut off with an air of disdain that surrounded her from their first encounter, and the woman before him now, small and delicate, shoulders crumpled inwards as her body shook, so overcome with feelings. Her emotions were radiating from her body, winding their way through him and clutching his heart, playing a melody with his heartstrings that he had not yet heard, nor did he want to hear again, melancholy written into its very soul.
And while he would always claim that it was his intention to be discovered by her on her own accord, the truth of the matter was that he was simply caught unaware of his surroundings, the clean snap of a twig underneath his foot enough to disturb her.
She rose immediately, a fireball in her palms, the glow it was emitting making the tear tracks on her face shine against her paled skin. The anger at being discovered, her fury at him seeing her vulnerable all consuming, a welcome distraction from the overwhelming sadness from moments before.
"M'lady, I mean you no ill will." He spoke softly, the situation unfolding before him something he would not treat carelessly.
"Thief." Her voice was hoarse, the emotion visible before manifesting itself in her raspy tone. "What are you doing here?" And much to his relief the flame in her hand extinguished at her recognition of who he was.
"The news of your disappearance spread through the villagers quickly," he refused to back down, maintaining eye contact throughout their conversation, "I was just making sure you were safe." And it hurt him to see surprise flicker across her face with the knowledge someone was willing to follow her, to see if she was okay with no ulterior motive.
"Well, as you can see I'm perfectly fine, so just go back." She waved her hand, dismissing him, but he found himself drawn closer to her, an unquenchable need for her to smile, to truly smile like she had for his son months ago.
"Are you really?" She didn't flinch as he approached, their increased proximity allowing him to see the tremble of her chin, the flash of emotions in her eyes as she fought to keep them in check. She didn't answer him, didn't deign to give him any response lest her emotions slip through.
Sensing that she would not budge, that she would not answer him, he crouched down, cupping his hands and drinking from the brook, "I hope you don't mind, this journey has brought on a terrible thirst." He heard the undignified response leave her mouth before she had a chance to filter it, his lips curling upwards at the noise, glad it was hidden by his hands as he sipped the cool liquid.
"And you can't drink somewhere else?" Robin would have thought she was disgusted by his presence if not for her sitting down beside him, making herself comfortable once more.
"No, no I don't think I can." He smiled at her, hoping it would spark some form of reaction, but even his crooked grin wasn't able to elicit anything from the now stoic queen. A terse silence settled down between them, words dying on his tongue as he tried in vain to start a conversation, to do anything that would alleviate the awkwardness. And it was then Robin saw the item hidden away behind the layers of her dress, and before she had the chance to realise she hadn't adequately hidden it he was reaching over, tugging it to him.
"What is this?" And he was so distracted by the stuffed dragon in his hand he failed to notice the look that fell across her face when she saw what he had in his hands.
"No!"
"M'lady, it looks like a child's toy." But the sparkle in his eye dimmed as he saw the cracks in her fragile facade, her face giving away everything she wanted to keep hidden. "Is this..." and he let the question drift off, too afraid of the answer.
"Yes." It was some time before her answered, her voice was empty, a husk of what it was before, the spark gone.
"Oh Regina," and he was at a loss for words, silently handing her the toy, watching her pull it to her chest, squeezing it closer, the last remaining connection to Henry in her hands and by her heart.
"I-" Her mouth dropped open, but the words refused to come forth. She couldn't tell him about the date, about how it was the anniversary of her prince's arrival in her arms, of how this day all those years ago, she was granted with the greatest gift she could have wished for. Only for it to be taken away from her, ripped from her grasp as she finally felt as though she could be happy.
And she was just so tired of it all.
He pulled her against him, worry hitting him as she fell without resistance into his arms, her hands once so lethal and deadly, now clutching the fabric of his shirt in desperation.
"I do not require answers Regina, just - I just need you to be okay." He felt choked up, his throat constricting and tears burning at the thought of the pain she must be going through, because of anything ever happened to separate him from Roland... And he gripped her tighter, his fingers digging into the material of her dress, searching for an anchor and finding one in her.
He stayed until she felt better, until there were no more tears to cry, until she felt strength return to her bones, until she stood up, now looking down at him. Robin could feel her drawing away, the physical distance only serving as a reminder that the Queen was... well, the Queen. Her armour was slowly being pieced back together, shielding her from the outside world that had hurt her one too many times.
She cleared her throat, shame burning within her at letting her guard down around him, swearing silently to herself it would not be repeated.
"We never speak of this." He had to fight back the smirk, unsure how it would be received by the Queen. "And never again refer to me with such familiarity thief. This meant nothing."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it." And with the cheeky grin slipping out, he got up and turned, heading towards the castle, knowing that she would be behind him.
They would never know that Snow had also snuck out, delayed by the need to calm down the rest of her people, and had also used her tracking ability to locate Regina.
She had stumbled onto the pair, her breath catching as she saw Robin with his arms around Regina, the words spoken, while not distinguishable, poignant all the same. She watched them for a while, a soft smile slowly spreading across her face as a warmth blossomed with her at the sight, deciding that it would be better to leave them now and not risk getting caught.
And if the antagonism between them seem to increase, it only served to bring a smirk to her face, because this secret one she was determined to keep.
When Regina first arrive in Storybrooke, she hated Mother's Day. The word 'Mother' brought to mind a cold smile and even colder eyes. All of that changed when she met Henry.
Mother’s Day had once meant a glass of wine, or two, after work. It had meant locking her office door and going without lunch because she’d forgotten to make it, and there was no way in hell that she was braving Granny’s Diner when every child and their mother were going to be there. Picnics in the park, lunch at the lake, ice-cream, shopping, movies. That first year, Regina had sat in her booth and watched as mother’s smiled adoringly at their child, passing her by, and all she could think about was her mother standing over her, telling her not to cry.
Mother’s Day, to Regina, had been just another day for her.
Until Henry.
It hadn’t even occurred to her at the time. Months after adopting him, after he somehow cried his way in to her heart, that her first mother’s day as a mother had come and gone, and she hadn’t even noticed. Everyone else certainly had. Her breakfast had been half-off, the regular Mother’s Day Special, and Henry had learned to clap. Flowers had appeared in her office, which she ignored in favour of lulling her son to sleep in her arms. ( To this day, she still doesn’t know who put them in there in the first place. ).
The next year though, the next year she remembered. She held him as she made pancakes, and he got batter in her hair. She spent an hour chasing him around the house, because he’d learned to walk two months before, and he hadn’t stopped since. They watched The Lion King, both of them falling asleep on the sofa, Henry holding on to her shirt with an unwavering grip.
Late at night, when Henry was asleep and Regina had crawled in to her bed, she thought of Cora, and she wondered… Why didn’t her mother love her, as much as she loved Henry? It was the only time Regina had thought about her that day. Cora. And every year she thought of her less.
Every year, they spent mother’s day the same way. With Henry running in to her room and throwing himself on top of her, bouncing and jumping, screaming ‘Happy Mother’s Day, Momma!’ at the top of his lungs. Breakfast made together every morning, pancakes or waffles, with slices of apples that Henry kept stealing from the plate. A card he’d made, the first time with Ruby and Granny while Regina was at work, and then every year after at school.
Henry got older, and things started to change, but Mother’s Day never did. Not until she had to share it with a woman who her son had never met, who he’d called real. Like she was not. They still made breakfast, they still watched movies, he still wished her day was happy. But it wasn’t the same.
She thinks about it now, about whether those traditions they’d made together were now shared with Emma. He doesn’t remember her, he probably never will, but at least he’d remember that day. Mother’s Day.
“Regina?”
She turned from her balcony, half-bent over with her wrists hanging loosely off the rail, to glance at Snow. “Hmm?”
“Are you coming?”
Regina sighed, glancing back out at the view before she nodded, straightening her back and moving forward. A hand shot out, gently grasping above her elbow and Regina stiffened, tilting her head down to stare at Snow’s, wrapped around her arm. She looked up, meeting Snow’s eyes with her’s, and Snow smiled sadly.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Regina.”
Regina stared, her breath hitching in her throat, chest shuddering slightly, but as usual, she composed herself quickly, and turned away. “Happy Mother’s Day, Snow…” she drawled softly, walking away with her head held high, her heart in New York with Henry.
send me three sentences worth of fic and i’ll finish it as a one-shot
