A/N-Special thanks to all who took the time to read, review, follow, fav. And also special thanks to Bekki for beta reading this.

Regina was staring out the kitchen window. She was miles away. Thinking about the honeymoon. Pretending that all the emotions she shared with Robin had been real. It was a game that she had played a few times whilst they were away, and now they were home it was a method of relaxing that she was using more and more. It helped to allay the ache of sadness inside her, and she told herself that it was a harmless diversion.

She remembered the gentle rhythm of the days away, the bright pink of dawn, the scorching red of the sun as it sank slowly down beneath the horizon. She kept telling herself that she couldn't have everything in life and that at least Robin was making an effort to hide his lack of feelings, and that maybe one day he would grow to love her.

But they'd been married for almost three months now and increasingly it was hope that her intelligence was telling her seemed less and less likely. The days had fallen into routine. Regina gave Holly her breakfast and spent some time playing with her. Then as soon as Holly went down for her afternoon nap, Regina would turn on her computer and do some work.

In the afternoons she would take Holly for walks, then give Holly a bath and then dinner before it was time for her bedtime, and then all Regina could do was wait for the sound of Robin arriving home.

Except this week was different.

This week every morning after Robin left for work she had been violently sick.

She couldn't be pregnant, she kept reassuring herself, because she was still taking the pill. She'd gone along to the doctor and got a repeat prescription. Ok, there had been a slight delay getting her regular tablets, her doctor had given her a lower dosage until her regular pills came in two days later, so surely the chances of conceiving were slim?

Maybe she had a stomach bug?

As she went to get her a cup of coffee, her stomach heaved so much that she had to throw her cup away and run cold water. She had always liked the smell of coffee before.

There went her theory for a stomach bug.

How would Robin react to them having a baby? Another baby, when Holly was still so young? She remembered how he had dismissed the idea of them having a baby without even a smile. Panic zinged through her as she faced the truth. Of course, Robin wasn't thinking about making babies with her.

He wasn't in love with her. He'd made that fact abundantly clear. He needed her to be Holly's mother and he enjoyed making love with her, but that was as far as his emotions went. He'd probably be horrified if she told him that she was pregnant...

Robin left work early. He hadn't been able to concentrate on anything today. All he could think about was Regina. She had looked very tired over these last few days. He didn't think she was sleeping properly and sometimes when he glanced over at her he caught a glimpse of such sadness in her eyes that it chilled him.

Guilt ate at him.

He'd forced her into his marriage, had he put that look in her eyes?

When he entered the house, he found that it was Granny who was in the kitchen giving Holly fruit juice, not Regina. "Where is Regina?" He asked as he went and tickled Holly's sides causing her to giggle.

"Upstairs. I offered to look after Holly and told her to go and lie down because she looked so tired. She's been up there for a while, you should wake her." Granny answered.

"Thanks, Granny." He went upstairs, taking them two at a time, taking his tie and jacket off as he strode purposefully towards the master bedroom. Maybe he needed to cut down on some hours at work, he told himself forcefully. He'd been behind with things because of all the time he'd taken off after Jefferson's death. Perhaps Regina needed him here more for support.

He opened the bedroom door. The curtains were drawn and Regina was lying on her side on top of the bedcovers. The room was in semi darkness, the overhead fan whirring over her. She was fast asleep.

He approached quietly. She was only wearing the briefest of silk camisoles and scanty pair of pants, and her dark hair lay across the pillow like silk. Something inside him tightened. She was so gorgeous, so sexy.

With a smile he sat down on the edge of the bed beside her and looked at her. His gaze moved over her skin, that was so perfect that there was an almost ethereal quality about it. Her eyelashes were long and dark. He wanted her so much.

"Regina." He ran a finger up over her bare arm and across one creamy shoulder and her eyes flickered open. For a moment they were filled with a sleepy contentment as he caught her between dreams and reality.

"What time is it?"

"Does it matter?" He leaned down and captured the softness of her lips in a sensually demanding kiss.

She rolled over on her back, her arms moving up and around his shoulders.

"You are so delicious." He murmured as he looked at her.

As he spoke he was sliding his hands up under the silk camisole, his fingers stroking over her skin, then he leaned down and kissed her lips again. "You taste like peppermint."

"Granny made me a special tea." Regina tried to sit up. "What time is it?"

"Relax, it's only three in the afternoon. Granny is looking after Holly. I'm home early." Robin said.

"Three? I only meant to close my eyes for a few minutes." Regina said.

"You needed the rest. Do you feel any better?"

"I'm fine. Why are you home early?"

He laughed. "So I can see my wife and my little girl in daylight hours. And I'm very glad I gave into the impulse now."

"Robin, I have an appointment."

"An appointment where?" He looked at her with lazy amusement in his blue eyes.

"With... it doesn't matter." she trailed off. She couldn't tell him about her appointment with the doctor, he would only start asking more questions.

"A hairdressing appointment? Why not ring and reschedule?" He leaned closer and kissed her again, his fingers sliding further up under the camisole, finding her breasts and stroking over them.

She responded immediately to his touch, her breasts tightened with need. "I'll do it…later." Her breathing quickened as she watched him unfastening his buttons of his shirt before moving towards his trousers.

"Take off the camisole," he whispered huskily as he moved back to join her on the bed, unzipping his trousers.

She pulled the silk garment over her head and he watched the sleek waterfall of hair flowing about her shoulders, caressing her skin. His gaze moved lower to her breasts, so firm, so lusciously inviting. Regina leaned back against the pillows and looked up at him.

If only he loved her, if only this was real.

Robin saw the vulnerability in her eyes and it cut into him fiercely.

"Regina?"

"Just make love to me," she whispered, reaching for him.

His lips crushed against hers, his body molded against hers, his hands caressing her softly, slowly, tormenting her with needs that she couldn't resist, couldn't ignore. He whispered to her, and she closed her eyes and pretended he was telling her that he loved her.

Then he was inside her, fiercely claiming her completely. She arched against him, heat and desire escalating. Today, Robin's pace was faster, forceful and more demanding, no holding back. When she exploded in his arms, he held her so tightly, absorbing her shuddering sobs, her tiny gasps as his lips ravished hers.

For a long while they lay entwined and it was hard to know where her body ended and his began, they were as one, totally sated, totally exhausted. He was the first to move. He stroked her hair back from her face so that he could look at her. "Are you ok?"

She nodded, unable to find her voice. She wanted him to hold her some more, she wanted him to tell her that he loved her. But instead he pulled away, and she wanted to curl her arms around the manly power of his body, prevent him from leaving. But she didn't.

As he started to get dressed, she reached for her dressing gown, looking at the clock and realized if she didn't leave soon, she'd miss her appointment.

"Would you call me a taxi, I'm going to try and make my appointment." Regina asked.

"I'll take you into town."

"Thanks, but you might as well and stay and look after Holly since I know Granny has to leave soon." Regina said.

"Alright."

As she finished dressing she made her way downstairs to wait for the taxi. As Robin fixed him a glass of wine, he saw a bag of baby clothes sitting on the counter.

"Where did those come from?" Robin asked.

"I was clearing a few of Holly's clothes, they are too small for her now."

"We can donate them to charity." Robin said.

"Unless we might need them…" she ventured, trying to keep her voice casual.

"We won't need them, Regina. I'll get rid of them."

"Well, we don't know for sure, do we?" She asked. "I mean I might get pregnant."

He shook his head. "Regina, a baby is not on the agenda."

It hurt. It hurt so much that she couldn't even answer him for a moment.

"Regina?" He looked at her with a frown, noting how her eyes seemed to glisten.

"I've got to go. My taxi is here."

As she was on her way to her appointment. Regina told herself how stupid she was, of course he didn't want a baby with her. What was she going to do if she found out she was pregnant? Would he want her to end the pregnancy?

She couldn't do it, wouldn't do it. She'd leave him.

But what about Holly?

Regina was walking down the streets in Cologne. She had lost track of time since leaving the doctor's office, where it was confirmed she was pregnant. Her phone rang and she took it out of her bag.

It was Robin.

She put it back in her bag. After half an hour she found an outdoor café and sat down. She was watching the people walk up and down the sidewalk, watching happy families. She wouldn't have that.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

The familiar voice made her heart dip like a yo-yo and she looked up into Robin's steady blue eyes.

"I'd like to say I'm waiting for friends."

"But unfortunately it's just me." He pulled out the chair opposite. "May I?"

"What are you doing here, Robin?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

"I'm having a drink." Regina answered. Even though it was water.

Robin summoned a waiter, then looked at her. "Since when have you drunk water?"

Since I got pregnant.

"Who is looking after Holly?"

"Granny."

"It's late for her."

"I told her about your disappearing act and she very kindly rallied."

"I just needed some space."

"So have you made any decisions?" Robin asked.

"What kind of decisions?"

"The kind that involves staying without our marriage or walking away."

Regina had been thinking what she was going to do. But it wasn't going to be an easy thing to say to him.

"I think we made a mistake, Robin. This marriage was never going to work."

Robin heard pain in her voice. For a moment, Robin was transported back in time to another meeting like this. Only it had been Marian sitting opposite him, tears shining in her eyes, telling him that she loved him but couldn't marry him.

This was what he had been trying to avoid when he had pushed Regina away those years ago. But for the first time he had seen her sitting here, he'd fallen. Somehow Regina had got to him. Wheeled her way under his skin.

She stared at him now and he could see the emotion on her beautiful face, the glitter of tears in her eyes.

"Why don't you want to have a baby with me?"

"You think I don't want to have a child with you?" His voice didn't sound like him. "Regina, nothing could be further away from the truth."

He reached and took hold of her hand. "I want to have a baby with you more than anything else in this world."

The gentle words made Regina's heart turn over with joy. She stared at him, thinking she must be dreaming.

"Regina, I love you."

Her vision blurred with tears.

"I've loved you from the very first moment that I set eyes on you."

"Do you mean it, Robin?"

"I mean it with every breath in my body." His eyes didn't waver from hers. "But I can't have a child with you."

She pulled her hand away. "How can you say that now?"

"Regina, I'm infertile."

She stared at him, saw the proud way he sat back in his chair ow, saw the way his eyes had shuttered. "I had mumps when I was younger. I never really thought about it until I met someone years ago and fell in love. She insisted she loved me but couldn't marry me."

"Robin, I_"

"This was why I couldn't commit to you two years ago. But then you returned to help look after Holly and I tried to convince myself that she would be enough for you, prayed that she would be enough to hold us together. But deep down I knew it was selfish of me. I knew that this moment would come and that I would have to let you go."

Suddenly it all made sense to her.

"Robin, I'm not going anywhere." She leaned forward. "I love you."

He shook his head as if he hadn't quite heard her and didn't believe her. "Regina, I know you are hurting inside. I know you mean well, you married me for Holly's sake, but this isn't going to go away, already you are talking about children."

"I married you because I love you, and I always will, with or without the baby."

For a moment their eyes held across the table and then she reached for his hand. "I mean it Robin. I have loved you since we met. There's never been anyone in my heart like you." She stood up from the table and went around towards him and he slowly rose to his feet.

"Tell me again how you feel about me." She whispered as she looked into his eyes.

He took a deep breath. "I love you, Regina." He stroked a hand along her face. "I adore you. Worship you." His lips twisted. "Can't live without you, but that is selfish."

"If that is selfish, then I love you being selfish." Regina said.

He smiled as if he couldn't quite believe that. Then he lowered his head and kissed her. It was such a searing, sweet kiss that it melted her inside and she clung to him, drinking him in, loving the feel of his body so close to hers.

"Robin, do you believe in miracles?"

He smiled. "Well, I met you, and you came back when I needed you most, so, yes I do."

"Let's get out of here then."

He put some money on the table and took her hand.

They walked around Hohenzollern Bridge, then stopped and looked at the water. "Robin, I'm two months pregnant. I'm carrying our baby." Regina held her breath as she told him.

For a second, he looked at her as if she were speaking another language.

When he didn't respond, she told him again. "Robin, my appointment was to see the doctor. I'm really pregnant."

"Are you sure?" His eyes narrowed on her. "Regina, this can't be. I don't want to dash your hopes, really I don't." He reached out and stroked a strand of her hair from her face with loving fingers. "I would so anything to make this right for you, but-"

"There's no mistake, Robin. I saw the doctor, I'm definitely pregnant."

"But all those tests I had…" Robin frowned.

"Well…" she shrugged. "maybe we are just a very powerful explosive combination. Or something."

For a moment he laughed. "Of course we are. I've always told you that. But-"

She placed a finger against his lips. "You're going to be a father, Robin. Again."

As her hand dropped back to her side she watched the powerful play of emotions across his handsome face. And then she folded into his arms and they just held each other. Her arms swept around his neck and he buried his face against her neck.

"Some things are just meant to be." She whispered softly.

"Like us." He stroked a hand over her hair. "I love you."

They were both there when Holly took her first steps, then sat down and looked at them.

"Clever girl." Regina knelt beside her. "Well done!" She looked around at Robin. "Did you see that?"

"Of course, I did." He smiled.

For a moment their eyes met, and she knew that, like her, he was thinking about Jefferson and Tink and how much this moment would have meant to them too.

"I can't believe she is toddling already." Regina whispered as she kissed the little girl.

"I'm just glad I was home to see it." Robin held out his arms to the little girl. Holly pulled herself up and headed towards him with a look of determination, her unsteady little legs moving faster the closer she got to him, until, gurgling with laughter, she flung herself into his arms.

They all laughed as he swung her up into the air. "This is my clever girl," he said softly, and the pride and love in his voice made Regina's heart feel so full it was overflowing.

He glanced at her and smiled.

"So you have no regrets about taking so much time off work, then?" She met his eyes mischievously. "Not worrying about what's going on in that office?"

Robin smiled. "What office?"

"I never thought I'd see you this laid back."

"I never thought I would see this either." Robin glanced down into the crib beside him where baby Roland Locksley slept so soundly.

His son.

Even the words sent a thrill of joy through him.

"Is he ok?" Regina asked, going to stand beside him.

"He's more than ok, Regina, he's perfect." Robin smiled at her. Then kissed her cheek and then her lips.

He couldn't quite believe his good fortune, he had never thought that he would be so blessed as to have a beautiful son, and little girl, and this wonderful family. And every day he gave thanks for that, took nothing for granted anymore. Jefferson and Tink taught him that, had taught him that life was to be grabbed and lived to its fullest potential.

The End.