Author's Note: It's been a hot minute, I know and I'm sorry. Hopefully this will make up for it. One more chapter left guys.

Chapter Eleven

Two weeks went by and Regina was more than done. At thirty-six weeks, the heat from outside, the packed streets, and the smell that blew in from the Hudson was too much. Robin put in a window air conditioner in the bedroom, which she kept on all night, but even with the covers kicked off she felt like an easy bake oven. Robin had no problem, however, taking the blankets she tossed off.

He watched her from the bed as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. "I'm going to call my mother and tell her I'm not coming."

"That… might not go over so well, love." He smirked, but that was the wrong thing to do because she narrowed her eyes at his reflection.

"I don't care. It's almost a hundred degrees out there, and I'm not in the mood." Turning around, she held out a hand toward the living room. "I have things to do. Everything needs to be cleaned before the baby gets here."

"I could always drop you off and come back and clean."

Regina narrowed her eyes at him again. "Oh, no. If I have to go, so do you."

"It was only a suggestion," Robin chuckled, rising from the bed and walking over to her. With his arms around her waist, he kissed her neck. "Don't fret, I'll have the air conditioner on the whole way there."

"Can't you just tell Olivia to come and then I won't have to go at all."

"I'm sorry, love, but she's not quite ready yet."

"Well my body is…" she trailed off with a long sigh. His eyes had fallen from hers to her chest, which to be fair, she had a fair amount of cleavage going on because she bought the dress a few months back and didn't anticipate her boobs getting so large, and his mind was clearly elsewhere. Men. "Stop looking at my breasts."

His lips fell into a pout. "But they're lovely and plump and in need of my attention."

Regina groaned. Her eyes fluttering shut as he bent down and began to trail a row of kisses on the tops of her breasts. "Don't start something you can't finish. My bad mood isn't the only thing out of control today."

She felt him smile against her skin. "I can fix that for you."

She held up her phone. They had an hour to get there. "We don't have time."

"Nonsense. You can't be late to your own party."

His hand made its way underneath her dress and her breath hitched feeling his fingers slip into her underwear. Her head fell back and her hands threaded into his hair. Her breathy, "A few minutes late won't kill her," was the last coherent thought she had for the next little while.

#

The door to her parents' home opened, and Regina smiled at the man no doubt hired for the day. Still, her mother came around the corner looking composed, but the look in her eyes told Regina she was anything but.

"Regina, dear, there you are." Her mother placed a kiss to her cheek, then pulling back gave her and Robin an appraising glance. One that she must have deemed acceptable because she smiled and made no comment. Though it didn't stop her from saying, "We've all been waiting."

Regina would have rolled her eyes if it wouldn't gain her a scathing reproach. "I'm early, Mother."

"Ten minutes before the party is supposed to start is not early, but we won't argue about your punctuality now." Her eyes left Regina and flicked behind her. "Robin, Henry's in the den if you'd like to join him."

"He can come to the party, Mother…"

She turned when she felt his hands on her shoulders. "No, love, it's all right. I think I'll join him for a bit." He kissed her cheek and whispered, "Have fun."

She glared at his back as he made his way to the den while she was taken by the arm and led into the living room. Her mother was talking about who had already arrived, who was still to be expected, and what baby gifts she might be receiving, but only when she mentioned the cake did she really capture Regina's attention.

#

As far as baby showers went, Robin imagined something a little formal and maybe to be a bit more included, but it was fine. He had other plans for just them later before their daughter came and that made being excluded from the pretentious party a little more bearable.

Spending time with Regina's father did come with it's benefits. A very well aged lowball of Scotch, to be specific. He would only accept the one, Henry assured him the gathering would be hours, and it was a nice icebreaker while he and her father got to know one another.

He raised a brow as she came into the room. "Shouldn't you be out there?" he asked with a slight tilt of his chin back the way she came.

"It's not a baby shower; it's an excuse for my mother and her friends to gossip." Regina placed her hands on her low back and sighed. "Nothing I have any interest in. Right now they're all having a conversation about Mrs. Jensen's affair. I doubt they'll notice I'm gone."

"Sounds quite scandalous, indeed." Tilting his head, he watched her rub her back. The pinch in her prow growing tighter by the moment. "You all right?"

"I'm fine. Just uncomfortable, but what else is new?"

He leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek. "I wish I could help."

"Yeah well, you can't."

Robin frowned at her tone. He didn't blame her for being short. In fact, if she was going to be, he'd rather it be with him instead of her mom and save herself the grief. But when he saw her eyes fill with tears seconds later, his frown softened and he reached out to her.

"Babe…"

She blinked and looked away from him. "Ugh, I'm going back in there. I'll see you in a while."

He felt his soon-to-be father-in-law's hand on his shoulder. "Don't take it too close to heart, son."

"Oh, I'm not. I'd help her if I could, but there's not much I can do I'm afraid. And her stubborn streak doesn't help."

"No, it doesn't. She's much like her mother in that regard, though she would never speak to you again if you were to say such a thing." Robin held back a grin. Never speaking to him again would be the least of his worries if he compared her to such a thing. "There's only keeping her as comfortable and happy as you can." Didn't he know it? Henry clapped him on the back. "I'm happy you came, because there was something I wanted to talk to you about."

Robin turned to face him. "What's that, sir?"

"Henry, please, we're about to be family." Her father chuckled. "My wife is difficult, you know that. She has standards, which are, for the most part, outlandish and nothing my daughter cares for. I try, however, to make her happy, because when she's happy I have peace."

He didn't hold back his smile this time and nodded through his grin. "Understandable."

"Good," her father began as he poured himself another drink. He held out the bottle to Robin, but he shook his head. "Because Cora and I want to pay for your wedding, you see. I don't see Regina having an issue with it, but knowing my wife she will want things a certain way."

"A certain way meaning?"

"Traditional. Something she can fuss over. I don't know what your plans are…"

"We've decided to wait until after the baby's born. I'd marry her this moment, but I think Regina wants to be a little less pregnant and something a bit more magnanimous than the Justice of The Peace." Truthfully, he didn't want that either. He always pictured when he got married it would be something he'd celebrate with his family and his friends. "And I want to give her that."

Henry's smiled curved up. "We would also prefer that. But I do want to also thank you. I haven't seen her this happy since Daniel passed."

"I love your daughter a great deal," Robin told him, earnestly. "I realize things aren't ideal for you and your wife, but I promise to take care of them both."

Her father held his gaze for long moments. Robin felt like the man was searching for any hesitation, but he'd find none. Regina and his daughter were his world. "I know that you will," Henry finally said. "Now with that settled, do you play billiards?"

Robin laughed. "I do, though not very well."

A wink from the old man had him grinning. "My kind of player."

With that, Robin and Henry spent the next few hours playing billiards, Robin losing spectacularly for most of it until Regina came to find them. She looked tired and more than a bit ready to leave, but her parents insisted they stay for dinner. So Regina took him into the living room where she showed him all the things she'd been given while dinner was made and didn't head back into the city until well after seven that evening.

The night was, thankfully, cool, and he helped pour her into bed the moment they got home.

#

On Monday they left the apartment at seven. The only appointment her doctor had was an early morning, and the night before she hadn't been looking forward to it until Robin pointed out that it was still early enough it wouldn't be too hot and she could be back in the comfort of their air conditioning before the heat got overwhelming.

They stopped along the way for decaf, iced coffee for her and a hot, dark roast for him. She made a face as he drank his. She wasn't a fan of hot coffee, especially in the summer.

She frowned up at the ceiling as her doctor checked her. Was it bad she hoped Kathryn would say she was almost ready? Terrible for her to want her daughter to be just as impatient as her.

Probably.

"You're doing great, Regina. You're dilated two centimeters. Two more weeks and then we'll see where you are then."

Regina sighed and dropped her hands down to her belly caressing over the top where her daughter had been pressing her feet for the last half hour while Kathryn did her exam.

"Is she supposed to be dilated this soon?" came Robin's voice from beside her.

Reaching out, Regina took his hand and rested it on her belly. While he was amazing at putting her own worries and uncertainties about being a mother to rest, he worried more about her actual labor than she did.

"It really depends. Some women start dilating a couple months before and some don't until their labor starts. It's nothing to worry about," Kathryn replied, her tone was light but confident.

"But if she were to come?"

Regina met Kathryn's gaze as the woman stood and they shared a soft smile. Kathryn reached out, and Regina took her offered hand to help her sit up. Robin's own hand gripped hers and the other on her back had her looking over at him. His face pulled down into an apologetic frown like he was sorry he hadn't been the one to help her sit up first.

Regina shook her head and murmured, "You're fine."

Kathryn, unaware of their silent conversation went on, "If she were to come she would be perfectly fine. There are lots of babies born at thirty-eight weeks, and most twins arrive between thirty-four and thirty-six weeks. But still, we want her in there as long as possible. A little while more, and then I'll give you my permission to try some things to bring on your labor."

Regina groaned in relief. She was done being poked and prodded every two weeks. She was done with swollen ankles and everything she drank making her burp like a man. She wanted her energy back and not having to pee every ten minutes.

"How long?" she asked.

"A couple weeks." Kathryn chuckled at her frown. "Don't worry, it'll go by faster than you think."

Regina snorted. Says the non-pregnant person.

#

Much later that evening, Regina held up a rattle given to her by… someone while Robin watched some documentary she wasn't the least bit interested in, but he'd been excited by it, and well, she was pleasantly distracted anyway.

"Why exactly do they give silver rattles to babies?" Robin asked just as soon as she shook it.

Her shoulders lifted and fell. "I have no idea," she started to say, but then her eyes fluttered closed and moaned.

Robin's lips pulled up into a grin. He'd discovered the way to make her putty in his hands. "Feel good?"

"Very good," she said, then her eyes popped open when his hands ran up her calf. "Nooooo don't stop." Her other foot rose and jabbed him in the arm. "Go back."

He chuckled, did as she asked, and dug his thumb into the arch of her foot. "There?"

"Yes… Mm."

His eyes roamed from her foot and up over her belly, where he smiled. "I see a foot." The hand not pressing into her foot reached up and rubbed over the little protruding bump that was their tiny daughter's heel.

Regina's smile matched his and she told him, "She's awake and wants out."

Leaning down he pressed a kiss to her belly. Her tone conveying her own impatience rather than their daughter's. "Soon."

"I don't think it'll be two weeks."

His brow furrowed. "And why's that?"

"Just a feeling," she said simply. He knew she'd been having dreams lately, and in them, she was always going into labor early. Normally, he'd dismiss foretelling dreams as just that, but given everything that happened to them, he'd be a fool to discount them so easily. "Oh, Emma and Neal are coming over next week. They want to make dinner and watch a movie. I think she feels bad for not making it to the baby shower."

He swallowed and said absently, "Sound good to me."

Drawing his gaze back to the television, he watched without really listening, thinking of how he'd planned to go into Brooklyn tomorrow to meet with Marian, but now he wasn't so sure that would be a wise idea. Perhaps he could call her and see if she was willing to meet with him somewhere in the city...

He felt a jab in his side, Regina poked him with her foot again. "What's wrong?"

"Hm?" He looked over at her, and at her raised brows, he sighed. "Nothing, just thinking."

"Of?" she encouraged.

"Of work." He turned toward her while he took her other foot and rubbed. "I have a meeting later in the week in Brooklyn, and I'm just wondering if I should move it somewhere in the city."

Her brow furrowed, and at her, "Why?" he dropped his gaze from her eyes to her belly and back, and Regina rolled her eyes in response. "Robin, I'm going to be fine."

"That may be, but I'd still feel better being close."

She frowned at him. "Stop. It's Brooklyn, and it's only for a few hours."

The tiny movement caught his eyes, and he brought his hand up to caress over the small spot on her belly a while before going back to his task. "If you insist."

She hummed happily and closed her eyes while he rubbed. "I do. Besides, I have zero plans to go outside of this apartment."

"Well, that makes me feel better, at least."

Her lips curved up and she bit her lip, getting a look in her eyes he'd seen many times when she wanted something. "Since you're going to be out that way, maybe I can bribe you into picking us up some pie from the Stove?"

"What kind of pie?"

"Apple. It's on your way home, and I'll share."

"Is that your bribe, then?"

"I can bribe you with other things if you need more incentive." The foot that wasn't in his hands slid up his jean-clad thigh. Her brow rose. "What would you like?"

"A kiss?"

She let out a dramatic sigh and preened, "I suppose there are worse things."

He took her feet and then her calves, and moved her over slightly so he could get between her and the couch. She giggled when he settled against her. His fingers tangled in her hair, and his palm cupped her cheek.

"Come here, you."

When he lowered his head all thoughts of pies and trips out of the city, baby gifts, and documentaries lifted away, and for a while all they did was kiss.

#

Robin pulled up to Marian's flower shop, pleased to see construction had started and, by the looks of it, was going along well. Getting out of his car, he'd just taken his first step onto the sidewalk when a voice from behind him had him turning.

"Robin, hi!"

He smiled at Marian who was jogging across the street toward him. "Hello, I was just headed over."

A bit out of breath, she motioned down the street. "How about we look at these over some coffee? I'm starving and could use some breakfast."

"Sure thing," he replied. It might as well be better anyway with all the lads going in and out of the place.

They fell into step side by side, the small café only a few stores down from the flower shop. The day was already warm, and he was rethinking the dark, long sleeved shirt.

"How's your fiancé?" she asked.

Robin chuckled, his mind replaying over the last week and how moody she'd been. "Doing well. Though if you ask her, she'd tell you differently."

Marian tilted her head. A small crease forming between her eyebrows. "Why's that?"

"The baby's due in another couple weeks," he explained, and with a smirk added, "and she's very much over it."

Marian laughed. "I can imagine after being pregnant all that time when you reach the end you'd just want it to be over."

"I can't speak for Regina, but I know I am definitely anxious to meet her." He didn't mention that he'd only been around for the last couple months or that he only found out she was really his not so long ago. "Do you have children?" His eyes widened as he realized he was marching on to less professional conversation but then again, she had asked about his... "I'm sorry, was that too personal of a question?"

Marian smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "No, you're fine. I don't have any, but I'd love to have some someday. Gotta find a man first."

"I'm sure you'll have no problem with that," he said, because she was pretty and seemed like a nice girl.

"I don't know, I don't get out much and all the good ones seem to be taken." There was a pause as she looked at him, and he glanced away feeling suddenly awkward, but in the next moment she asked, "Got any single friends?" and it seemed to dispel the growing tension.

"You know I do have one…" he began, thinking of Killian, then changed his mind but joked, "Tell me, do you like spending your nights in loud bars listening to your date talk about himself?"

She gave him a rueful smile. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

"I take the mickey out of him, but he has a good heart, deep down there somewhere." They reached the café, and he pulled open the door for her. "Here, let me get that."

#

When Regina woke that morning she had no idea where all her energy had come from but was eager to make use of it. After a cup of tea, she took one look around their apartment and had to clean. It wasn't like they didn't keep the place tidy, they did. Where Regina was the clean-as-you-go type, Robin was a neat freak. While she kept things clean, he kept them organized. And yet, it was the little things that drew her eye - the dust around the picture frames, the little crumbs between the cushions, the tiny bit of toothpaste left in the sink from Robin earlier that morning that didn't get rinsed down the drain.

All of it had to go, and she told her daughter as much as she went.

Finishing up her room, she was just about to go refill her ice water when her phone started to ring.

Looking down, she spoke to her belly as she reached for her phone, "Your daddy has good timing." Tapping the accept, she held it to her ear. "Hello, we were just talking about you."

"We?" he asked, his voice sounded curious.

She laughed and grabbed her glass. "The baby and me."

"Oh," his voice said, drawing the word out, his curiosity turning to amusement, "and what did she have to say?"

"She thinks you should bring us home some salted caramel ice cream to eat with our pie after we have the lasagna I'm making for dinner."

Making her way down the hall, she paused at Olivia's room and flipped on the light. It was still as pristine as they left it a few days ago, but she wanted to go over it maybe one more time.

The line filled with his warm chuckle. She could just imagine what he was thinking about her cravings, but to his credit, he didn't say a word. "Lasagna? Can't wait, and I think I can manage to round up some ice cream." He paused and after a moment asked, "What's that noise?"

Regina cringed as the music got progressively louder as she made her way into the kitchen. "I've got the music up in here, just a sec…" Turning her iPod down, she told him, "I'm cleaning this place."

She heard his heavy sigh and pressed her lips together waiting for his response. "Babe, we cleaned over the weekend."

"That was Olivia's room," she replied simply and pulled open the freezer. "Now I'm cleaning the apartment."

"Stop then and wait until I come home to help," he pleaded.

"It's fine. I feel fine." She dropped a handful of ice into her cup. Another sigh from him made her add, "I have a lot of energy today."

"All right but take it easy, love, yeah?"

"I am," she assured and filled her glass with the filtered water from the fridge. Twisting the cap back on her bottle, she said, "Emma's on her way over, I promise to give all the things out of my reach to her."

His slight groan made her smile. "You better."

Walking back to their room, she tilted her head to the side, holding the phone with her shoulder so she could rub over her belly where her daughter was stretching. "Don't forget the ice cream."

"I won't," he promised. "Don't overdo yourself."

She shook her head and promised the same before saying, "Now go back to work so you can come home."

He sighed once more. "All right, I love you."

Sitting down on the bed, she placed her water on the table and smiled. "I love you, too."

They said their goodbyes and let herself fall back against her soft mattress. She just put the sheets in the washer, and that was all that was left of their bedroom. She had a mental list in her head. There was still the bathroom and the kitchen left, and she might as well get the latter done before Emma got there. But then another kick drew her attention away, and for a while, she laid on the bed talking to her daughter about how silly and protective her father was and how her mommy needed to get ready for when she decided to make an appearance.

#

A few hours later Regina looked into her kitchen cabinets and glared. Why on Earth was there so much dust and where did it all come from? Thank God she never really used any of the dishes on the top shelves, but now that she saw it, those needed to be cleaned, too. Their place was a mess. And she was going to bring a baby back here to all this dust?

Not if she could help it.

There came a pounding on the door, then the sound of keys over the music, and Regina stopped wiping out the cupboard to see Emma walk in.

"Hey lady..." Emma called out, looking around, obviously not expecting to look for her friend standing up on top of her counter.

Regina turned back to her task and said, "I need your help."

There was a moment's pause before Emma's exasperated, "Holy shit, Regina, what the hell do you think you're doing up there?"

Regina rolled her eyes, wanted to snap what the hell Emma thought she'd be doing up on a counter if not the obvious. "What's it look like? I'm cleaning."

Emma's face looked like a deer in the headlights. "Geez, here, get down from there."

Regina frowned as Emma offered her a hand when she went to step down on the step stool but took it when the blonde glared at her. Changing the subject away from her, she asked, "Where's Henry?"

"With Neal at the zoo." When Regina was back down, Emma looked from her to the cabinet unimpressed. "What the hell do you think you were doing up there?"

Regina held out the dirty cloth. "Cleaning. This place is filthy."

Emma sighed, one of those heavy things filled with resignation as she removed her jacket and took the dust rag from her. "All right, what the hell else do you want cleaned?"

Regina smiled. "I haven't gotten to the ceiling fans yet."

They spent the rest of afternoon together cleaning and reminiscing, something Regina missed doing with Emma as of late, but with both of their relationships going well for them and being busy with work, they didn't have as much time to spend with one another as before. However, they planned to fix that with weekends at the apartment, double-dates together, and with the kids at the park as they grew.

While their friendship took a backseat to their lives, it was still there, as strong as ever and always would be.

#

When he came home later that evening, he brought with him apple pie and ice cream. He couldn't believe how amazing the place looked. He nearly had a panic attack when Regina told him all that she'd done, but then added Emma had done most of the high cleaning which calmed his nerves a bit, but not entirely as she said most of the cleaning.

The smell of her lasagna was nearly enough to make him weep. She'd made it for him once before, so he skipped lunch knowing he would come home to it, and he wasn't disappointed. He had two servings and later in the evening warmed up a third, while she had her ice cream over warm pie, because she went to all the trouble to make so much and it was only them to enjoy it after all.

It turned out she did have a lot of energy, because the moment they finished, she stripped him and herself bare, and they made love on the couch. It was slow and exquisitely intimate, and she came around him with a soft sighs and his whispered name on her lips.

They shared a quick shower later, and while she read in bed, he decided to catch up on a side project that needed a bit of attention.

Tapping his pencil on his desk, she was just about to go make another cup of coffee when she came and stood beside him. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Her head fell on his shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just making a few changes to these." His pencil flicked over the paper, making adjustments here and there. Placing a kiss on her hair, he breathed in deeply, smelling her shampoo and lotion. "Mm, you smell good."

He heard her let out a sigh. "I'm going to go lay down."

Noting the tiredness in her voice, he looked up at the clock and realized how late it was. "All right," Robin said, speaking into her hair. He was almost finished with the plans, an hour maybe, and he could join her. "I'll be in soon."

She pushed herself up to full height, and he met her halfway for a kiss. A brush of lips that lingered a moment before she moved away. He smiled seeing her only in his gray tee-shirt; it was tight against her belly, but she loved that old thing.

The sight of her gave him the incentive to get a move on so he could go crawl into that soft bed of hers and hold her close.

But a half an hour later, she walked back into the living room with a pillow in her hand.

He dropped his pencil and turned in his chair. "Regina? I thought you were going to bed?"

She shook her head and eased herself onto the couch. "I can't sleep. My back hurts."

He frowned. He knew all that cleaning and then their activities this evening would wear her out and now he was kicking himself that he let things get out of hand before. "I'm not surprise, love." He got to his feet and went over to her. "You did a lot today. Do you want me to rub it for you?"

"No, I'm fine. You can finish. I'm just going to go watch some TV."

"All right…" He took the blanket from the back of the couch and put it over her. He went back to his desk and sat down, but after five minutes he gave up. His concentration was gone, and there was nothing to be done about it.

"What are you doing?" she asked when he got up and turned off his desk light.

"Gonna lie down with you," he told her and easing his way onto the sofa, sunk in behind her. Bless her wide couch and thick cushions. He shut his eyes but heard her groan. Running his hand down her back, he slipped his hand under her shirt and caressed her back. "Where's it hurting?"

She reached back. "Here."

He raised his head and ran his hand down her back until his fingers touched hers. Pressing the heel of his hand into her lower back gently, he began to rub circles. "Is that helping?"

"Mmhmm, don't stop." Her voice was low and sleep-filled.

He pressed a kiss into her hair and assured, "I won't. Sleep, my love."

Her murmured, "Love you," was the last head heard from her. She was asleep in his arms within moments. It took him quite a bit longer, but with the sound of Regina's even breathing and the feel of his daughter's feet beneath his palm he finally drifted off.