First, thank you all for waiting for this chapter for so long, and thank you for still being tuned in! I hope lot of you will read this, and also enjoy how the story continues.

Thank you so much for the reviews, you have sent me, I got the last one a few weeks ago. You kept me going!

We had a lot of jumps in time, here are the numbers of the chapters in order: Ch. 1.-Ch.2.-(Ch.3.)-Ch.4.-the first half of Ch.6.- Ch.5.-the end of Ch.6. Chapter 3. is a dreamlike, future in the past, with present in it's end. Your welcome. J And sorry. J

This chapter follows where we left Regina and Robin at the end of chapter 4. All that is happening here (except for the last few hundred words) is 2 months prior to chapter 5. Then, at the end we continue in the „present" where chapter 5 ended. And we won't make any jumps in the future (or maybe we will, I don't know yet - lol sorry!:)).

A lot of things will be explained here, for example Roland's whereabouts and the mystery around Regina's pregnancy, also Rumpel's message in chapter 3.)

Enjoy!

TWO MONTHS AGO

(Continuation of chapter 4)

Her newest plan...which wasn't so new after all.

The moment Robin stepped out of her chambers she started collecting the unsettlingly, too familiar ingredients for the potion as her hands kept on trembling from weakness and her tears continued to pick at her dark eyes cruelly.

She was so tired, she just wanted this to be over.

She just wanted to end the lies, which have been weighing heavy on her already battled heart. Only a sole, devilish voice managed to pierce through the mess of thoughts in her head, forming a intoxicating whisper, convincing her that the only way she would be able to amend her lying to Robin was to exterminate the core origin of said lie. Which in Regina's grim interpretation meant ripping the fragile embryonic life out from the already unsteady nourishing nest it had been planted in. So finally she would be able to focus on how to defeat her sister.

And maybe, maybe on how she would be able to get back to her Henry.

Because she just couldn't do it now. She already had enough on her plate dealing with the false promise of a baby. This was all her fault obviously, but she just wasn't ready yet.

And what was he even thinking? Did he know what he was offering?

Only a false promise of love. It couldn't be anything else. She was The Evil Queen after all. Love for her seemed impossible.

She kept telling herself that she was better off without it. Even stronger without it.

She didn't need love. All she needed was a clear head to be able to fight.

She just wanted to get her Henry back.

Her hands were still shaking from the various emotions rushing through her. Anger, betrayal, fear, helplessness and in the deepest part in her heart, carefully shielded with darkness (for it was persumed to be the strongest protection of all), there pulsated her love for her son. For no one else but him, she replayed it with every beat like she needed to convince herself.

All the while her moves became mechanical.

Vials crushing, shards falling, liquids spilling as she continued with the recipie anyway. Even as tears were clouding her vision and she kept trying to blink them away, only ending up with more and more black mascara marking her skin with dark streams.

She tought she was being strong, she though she was doing the right thing.

She only needed one child and that was Henry, she kept reminding herself.

A soft knock on the door stopped the battle of her thoughts, and a short breath rushed free form her lungs. She only then realised how tight and weary her chest felt from the constant crying. She brushed the tears from her cheeks, then hurriedly smoothed the surface of her gown, doing a quick checkup of the dark material, looking for any remnants of the magical ingredients she had spilled or for pieces of glass she had broken earlier.

Then again there was another knock on the thick, heavy door of her chambers, a sound too easy to dismiss if it weren't followed by a tiny voice, „Regina, I brought you dinner."

She cleared her throat before she managed to answer. „That is very nice of you, Roland. Please, leave it by the door, I am going to bring it in a bit later."

„I can't. Papa made me promise to wait until you eat everything." He explained.

She felt unexpected warmth filling her heart at his sweet voice - which was a bit hesitant as Regina heard him shift outside.

The thought of Robin worrying about her made the comfortable warmness spread some more in her icecold chest. She wondered if he was outside with Roland, maybe around the corner, whispering in the shadows, encouraging his son in his mighty mission.

Whoever came up with the idea of Roland bringing her food was right to think that the only person she wouldn't send away was him.

„I am sorry, Your Majesty, but you have to let me in." Stated the boy more confident this time.

She knew she had to open. She knew that if she didn't Robin would come taking his son's place, more demanding and maybe even angry, and she just didn't need that kind of confrontation right now. Because she already felt like she failed him. She clearly failed him with making the potion.

With keeping her secrets.

She found herself touching the slight swell of her belly, guilt forcing her hands away as soon as she was getting back her senses. Shivering, she hastily checked her reflection in the mirror, using a little magic to fix her makeup around her eyes, practicing the sweet smile she usually had for Roland a few times before she stepped to the door.

The boy rushed inside the moment she opened it for him, almost knocking her over, running to the short table she had near the balcony.

„You have to taste this, Regina, it's very yummy!" He announced as he set the table for her, folding the napkin and pooring some tea in her glass, his little hands busy and adorably diligent. The whole scene before her made her tight lips curve into a smile.

The little boy was always full of life, so very happy to be near her, to be able to help her.

„You need to eat so you can get better! And then we will be able to play again!" He reasoned exciteindly.

„Thank you, Roland." Was all she could answer though, her stomack making an unsettling sound as the freshly cooked food's heavy smell hit her nose. The emptiness in her belly became almost painful, as the acid threatened to climb up her throat until she couldn't decide whether she was only hungry beyond words or was going to be sick.

So she just sat at the table, staring at the food, not moving and above all fighting the building nausea. Because she felt more and more like becoming sick as Roland's happily jumping silhouette came into her view from time to time, like she herself was sitting on a rollerc-oaester.

She was sick of herself especially, for pushing away hope, for raising walls around herself, while in the inside everything had already crumbled down. Always refusing the possibility to heal, to build a new life.

The weight of not knowing what to do made her dizzy even, with trembling hands she was holding her middle tightly, holding herself together as much as she could manage, while her thoughts kept driving wedges into her heart.

Desperate thoughts of sleeping curses, vile potions, slaughter, vengeance, jelousy. All the disturbing and self destructive pieces of her mind threatening to come to the surface.

Then suddenly she felt a shift in the the air, as if the layer of the shield outside the castle walls would vibrate.

Something was wrong.

„Roland? Roland, where have you gone?" She asked with trembling voice, standing up on shaking legs while desperately looking around for Roland. „You should leave now. Please, go to your father." Regina pleaded, more alarmed now.

There were visible signs of disturbance on the magical layer. The most unsettling one being the growing whirl which was beginning to wave faster and faster, while shifting between various dizzying colors.

Different tones of red. With more and more green floating inside the circling whirl.

Someone was trying to get through the shield she casted against her sister and her flying monkeys. And that someone wanted to enter right in front of her balcony.

„But you have to find me first." Roland whispered faintly out of nowhere.

„Roland this is…" this is serious, she wanted to say, when some force stuck her from the center of the whirl, immobilising her.

„I have told you." Echoed a voice as if it was coming from underwater. But even with it's destorted sound and the hardly visible outline of the figure it was obvious for Regina who was attacking her.

„Told you that she was going to send me to get you." Giggled her once menthor.

„Let me go." She uttered through gritted teeth, limbs stretched out in an awkward position.

Then it happened in a blink of an eye.

Another force was hitting her, with excrutiating pain racing through her body.

She screamed. Screamed until her voice muted and her desperation died on her dry lips with a deathening sound.

„That's a curse from which you will die slowly. It's a present from your sister." Rumplestiltskin explained satisfied from behind the magical shield. „And she would love to watch you suffer." He added in his sing-song voice.

Then he aimed at her again. At her limp body, as it was helplessly levitating in a standing position, skin already ashen, covered in a thin layer of sweat, facing that cruel shadow beyond her balkony. Waiting for the inevitable.

Through glassy eyes, she saw as light appeared at what must have been the center of Rumple's silouette and a red and green blast broke it's way through the angryly circulating whirl. For a second she thought she saw the source of the magic, a slender and black stick, a wand maybe. But she wasn't sure of anything any more.

Ecxept for one thing, that she was going to be stuck with yet another spell, and probably end up at the feet of her sister, whining and pathetic, suffering from great pain until her dying day would come.

She thought she would beg for mercy. Her, The Evil Queen on her knees. She would say that she was with child and beg, really beg to her wicked sister to have mercy on her unborn baby. But then she imagined her sister's answer would be just 'it's already too late', followed with her usual guttural laugh, all her wicked acts spiced with her sickeningly piercing blue eyes.

There was no way out of this. Her end was coming closer and closer toward her in slow motion, as the redish green light flew through the thick air.

She knew now that it was the combined magic of her sister and Rumplestitskin. And something else, because they shouldn't have been able to get through her shield alone.

Her ears have been ringing from the pain and her mind was getting fuzzy as she was trying to fight the constricting grip in every cell of her body. She was still able to catch something not far from her, even if it was only a faint sound.

Numbers, she recognised.

As if fate would be counting the remaining seconds of her life.

Only not backwards, as she would have expectected.

And each new number sounded more and more high pitched, even clearer as they followed one another in an agonisingly slow pace. It felt soothing though, like the sweet, innocent voice of a child.

Then 10 came, and…

„Bou!" Echoed the boy's sweet voice in her still ringing ears.

'No! Roland, no! Roland!' She wanted to scream it so badly, but the words only existed in her head.

If it was possible she struggled even more against the paralyzing spell. And her chest heaved even more from worry.

But it was all useless.

She was again useless.

Roland had jumped out from behind the thick curtains, his little feet landing right in front of Regina. With this move his tiny body got exactly in the path of the third spell and also broke the connection with the paralyzing spell, causing Regina's limp body to fall to the richly patterned carpet with a hollow thud. Before her eyes closed, she watched as the now screaming Roland was sucked out through the weakened shield, out into the vile hands of Rumplestildskin. Then the whirl shrank and disappeared, as if it was never there before.

Then silence filled the room.

They rushed into her chambers like wildfire.

The three of them had already been trying to break in since they had heard Regina scream, being more than ready to fight if it was neccessary, if the noises meant there was an intruder inside, trying to hurt Regina or Roland.

Robin was the first to reach her, Granny and Little John close behind him.

The Queen was laying on the ground, unmoving, two porcelain like hands resting on the black pile of her clothing, her face turned away from them. But the boy was nowhere to be seen.

After the desperate calls for Roland remained unanswered, Robin and Little John started to search all of the little corners of the chamber a tiny boy was able to fit in. Sadly it was all in vain, so Robin's most important task at hand became to wake Regina up.

He turned her on her back, getting to really see her deadly appearance for the first time since they have entered. If she was in this state, how bad could Roland be? Worry and confusion made his movements inpatient and some would even say rough as he began shaking her shoulders almost too vehemently. With no intention to really hurt her, only desperately wanting to have answers. And there was noone else to ask.

„Regina, where is him? What happened?" He kept demanding from her.

She wasn't responding for quite a while, and during that time of her silence, both Granny and Little John were carefully doing everything possible to calm Robin down without seeming like trespassing. And thankfully his first vehemence died quite soon, and transformed into pure despair.

„Regina, please, wake up." He pleaded with tears in his eyes, caressing her pale cheeks with trembling fingers, then kissing her temple softly. „Please, wake up." He whispered, his lips almost touching her nose, eyes wildly searching her face.

„Let me continue checking her over." Said Granny, putting a gentle hand on Ronib's arm. Despite her quietness she still sounded like the only one of them knowing what should be done next.

Feeling powerless, Robin lowered back on hin knees, back into his thoughts, his confusion.

Granny had already searched for Regina's pulse and was also relieved to see her chest rising and falling rhythmically. But if this would have been a simple faint Regina would have already given some sign of getting back to consciousness.

Finally, some time during the checkup a soft moan escaped through the queen's trembling lips. Right after Granny rested her hand on her belly.

„Fetch Tink. And Blue. Fast." Granny said, turning to Little John, sounding even more serious than previously, making the blood freeze in both of the two men's veins.

Regina's moans quickly got more and more distracted, even her hands started to push hesitantly against Granny's invading ones around her stomach, like she wouldn't want to be touched there.

„I'm going to die." She mumbled suddenly, eyelids fluttering a little every now and then.

„No, you won't dear. I won't let it." Granny encouraged the restless queen with her usual, gentle tone.

It helped some, as it usually did since they have got to know each other more and have formed some kind of a secret alliance. An unexpected but welcome developement for Regina in her relationships, starting to let someone closer to herself, to become friends. But still, she would never dare to call them friends, no matter how many times Granny had surprised her with her constant caring whenever she needed it.

Despite her overall distant behaviour, Regina has grown to find relief in Granny's words and actions. It would have been so easy to believe the wise werewolf this time too.

„But…the curse…" She tried to explain, catching Granny's hand in her's, holding it, unconsciously seeking comfort.

„Shh." Granny continued to sooth Regina, while with her free hand she carefully reached under the black gown the Queen was wearing, to feel if there has been any bleeding.

She was relieved to find Regina's underwear dry. She was going to have to make a thorough examination soon though, but until then this would do. Knowing that she hasn't been bleeding meant that there was still hope.

Seamingly still in much distress Regina was trying to relieve some of the tension in her middle with rising her knees a little, revealing more of the pale skin of her quivering thighs, making her look even more vulnerable.

„Let's put her into bed." Said Granny to Robin, eyes looking alert above her glasses.

It was finally his time again to hold Regina. And he considered it a calming thing, because the worry was already eating him alive. All he wanted was to take Regina into his arms and never let her go ever again. It was not only Roland's disappearance now, but the confusion around Regina's condition, and it was more than unsettling for him. He needed her closeness. He needed to be able to help her.

But despite his best efforts, as soon as he started to lift Regina, she unconsciously protested as much as her current stregth allowed her, and turned to her side to curle up into a ball.

„Don't... Please, it hurts..." She whimpered, hands pressed tightly to her middle.

It was so unlike her. To hear her complain and talk about her pain was even more unsettling. The two of them shared a worried glance above Regina's lying form.

„Love, what's wrong?" Asked Robin alarmed, as he remained kneeling by Regina's side, caressing her clammy forhead, trying to comfort her any way he could.

„Where, tell me where?" Granny tried to get some more words out of Regina, pushing her glasses higher up her nose in an attempt to be able to study the other woman's features better.

„… curse, he cursed me."

„Who?" The other two asked in unison.

„Rumple…. He… he took Roland." Regina mumbled, her chin trembling. „I'm so sorry." she continued while crying silently. „The bab… I think the baby is going to die." She said a bit clearer this time, with eyes open, but her gaze unraveling, so uncertain.

„What?" Asked Robin, suddenly even more confused.

„I'm so sorry." She whispered as she tried to look right into Robin's eyes, for the first time since he had left her chambers hours ago. For the first time since she had last looked at him, his blue eyes shining with love and hope, with forgivness and a promise of a future together. Not suspecting the secret she was hiding again under the soft curves of her belly.

She couldn't escape any more from facing the consecvences.

She might lose him for this repeated betrayal.

„She is with child?" Robin asked, eyebrows knitted, his face an epitome of bewilderment, looking demandingly at Ganny then back at Regina.

„I'm sorry." Regina pleaded, watery eyes never leaving him, though her eyelids were getting heavier with each shallow breath she took.

Robin brushed his fingers through his hair, starting to feel his worries sitting heavier on his shoulders.

Why would Regina do this to him? Why wouldn't she trust him? Why?

He asked himself as his strong fingers strained on his forehead, while he put some pressure on his eyebrows to try to relieve some of the the building tension there.

But he didn't have too much time to linger in his sorrow, because the fairies emerged into the dark chamber, and he found himself pushed into Regina's quivering body and was told quietly to finally put her into the bed.

The shock was preventing him from making any objections. He lifted, then carried Regina, with his mind still swimming, limbs numb and heavy. His ears became deaf to her cries, he only saw her colorless mouth opening and closing, her always soft features constricting. The sight was gripping at his heart, filling his eyes with tears of concern despite how angry he wanted to be with her.

He was broken. But Regina had been broken for a very long time. And he won't let her stay that way. He will fight for her, he will fight for them. Every one of them. He will show her that she could be happy. If she survived this.

If only she survived this.

And Roland.

He only found himself out of the haze, when the heavy wooden door closed behind him, locking him outside, his choked cries sounding like an echo following Regina's guttural ones.

Hours passed. Soon Regina's desperate whines had died and now it was only the other women's whispering inside what filtered through the thick door. Granny, Tink, Blue and two other fairies Robin didn't know by name, were coming and going, walking past Robin without giving him any attention, bringing various vials, herbs and ointments from some other place in the castle, and maybe even from outside.

At one time Ruby came rushing, her cloak tightly wrapped around her body, her eyes shining wildly even in the dim light of the corridor. She was hiding something in her hands, and a stripe of blood was showing in the corner of her mouth when she gave Robin a weak smile. She looked as if she was proud of herself, though was a bit shy about it.

He was touched by their efforts and was thinking about Regina, and how she wouldn't think that any of these people would ever help her.

How surprised she was going to be when she woke up, he thought to himself happily. But the slight smile was easily washed off of his face when the reality of the situation came back to him, his momentary hope dying fast. He let his head fall between his knees, as he has done so many times during this night, while sitting by the cold, hard stone wall, back bent and shaking from sobs.

He attempted to go inside several times, either when the frustration finally had the best of him or when he heared something from the inside that rose his worry even more. But every time he was told that he would only be in the way, and that he had to trust them to do everything possible to save both Regina and the baby.

So he just sat there waiting, shivering from feeling the cold under his bottom for so long.

Little John and the Merry Men searched all the castle, and the near woods, looking for any sign that would help finding out what happened with Roland. But so far it seemed that he disappeared without trace.

With the rising sun, Snow came with David on her heels.

The fairies didn't let her enter either. Not until all the women appeared in the doorway, faces unreadable, dark circles under their eyes from staying awake all night.

Granny stepped to him and was directing her words also to Snow as she explained everything what had to be done and how the mother and the baby were doing now.

But all Robin could hear was that „They are keeping each other alive.", that they were both alive and that was all that mattered. And that he could finally see Regina.

After finishing her speech Granny finally let them go inside.

PRESENT TIME

(Continuation of chapter 5, the day after Harry and Emma arrived into the Enchanted Forest)

He was getting used to her appearance, that she was sitting in front of him as The Queen now. Her makeup intending to cover the circles under her eyes and also to apply as a tool of intimidation. Or simlpy a mask to help her face the world.

„I hear you dreamed about Roland again.", started Doctor Hopper their session, his calm voice always meant to be soothing, but like most of the times only ending up making Regina irritated.

She smirked loudly in response, so unladylike that it would have made him smile if the situation hadn't been this serious. Then she sighed frustrated, looking everywhere but the cricket. „I hate it.", she lashed out finally.

„Hate what?", he quered, still the epitome of serenity.

„When you are talking about me.", she added, as if it should have been obvious for him.

„You don't give us too much choice." he explained, studying Regina carefully but not less thoroughly.

She was wringing her hands in her lap, the straightness of her spine, forced and faltering. Her breathing got a bit sharper every now and then, as if she has been sniffling.

She also just proved his point with still not saying anything about last night.

„Robin told me that you woke up screaming Roland's name and that you couldn't fall back asleep after that." Doctor Hopper continued, getting right to the point as all would expect from him.

He had known Regina for quite a while and knew how difficult it was for her to open up. He was always very patient with her, but he also knew which string to pull, and which one should be left alone. Until those oppressed ones too, would start to twang on their own to chant about tales so horrible that even he had to go to have some drinks after.

„You need your rest, Regina. And I don't solely mean sleeping. I mean rest in general. Peace for your body and soul.", he continued, bending a little closer to her.

She still refused to look at him.

„And for that you need to forgive yourself. You need to accept that what happened wasn't your fault.", he added, his gentle tone almost hypnotizing.

Or was it only her wearyness due to the sleepless night and the both physical and emotional roller coaster from yesterday, what caused the numbness she was feeling?

She knew she had to try this to get better, to get stronger at least mentally. That she should talk so Archie could help her, but she couldn't stop her strength fading away. And this made everything even more hopeless.

„And how exactly would I do that?", she snapped suddenly, finally looking him in the eye, though hardly seeing through the tears clouding her vision.

„By talking about what happened that evening. Talking about what you feel. Talking about your pain, your fears.", he explained, his professionalism wavering a little when he noticed Regina's cheeks shining from her tears as she turned her head, „I know it's scary, and it may sound too much, but we will take one step at a time.", he tried to reassure her.

„I need to get him back. I have to! I can't rest until I do.", she said, swallowing down as much as she could from her overflowing emotions.

„There you are. That's a good start. A great one, actually. Now we know how much it unsettles you and we can start working on it.", he beamed, with a strangely too expressive delight about his accomplishment.

After collecting himself from the enthusiasm of getting somewhere with Regina, he suddenly realized how tired she was getting. Her fingers, previously squeezed into tight fists from letting her repressed emotions outburst, were again fidgeting in her lap uncertainly.

The concern grew in him when he saw her putting one hand against her middle. The othervise loosely fit, though not less regal looking burgundi dress with black patterns and laces, hugged her tighter around the waist, showing that against all odds, the baby kept growing inside her. Despite all the signs he had learned about her not so simple condition through the past weeks, he still hoped that he could push her a little bit further before it would hurt them by any means.

„Actually this is why you sent Hook to bring Emma here, so she could help you save Roland. So she could do the things you can't do due to your condition."

She nodded, looking frighteningly defeated.

„You have to try to concentrate on the things you are able to do in order to save Roland. Also on the things you have already done to get closer to saving him. Because you were the one giving the instructions to Captain Hook how he will be able to return to the land without magic, then how he could bring Emma and Henry here. Do what you are capable of doing and stop wasting your time on things from the past.", he shared his advice with the Queen, speaking very slowly and almost whispering.

„I'll try.", she sighed, failing to dismiss any longer how much of a toll this conversation took on her. She took deeper, calmer breaths as she started to stand up from the couch. „Thank you, Doktor." she added, with forced simplicity, looking him in the eye genuinely while thanking him.

He understood the meaning behind her words. He has been expecting her excuse for a while, and seeing how difficult it was for her to stand up only verified his concernes. He was able to read her after all the time she has spent with him, with her heart open and her soul naked, so she wouldn't need to explain him that she couldn't continue. That she was weak but wouldn't admit it, wouldn't say it out loud.

„Archie.", he reminded her with a light smile.

„Yes, Archie, I'm sorry.", she corrected herself, her smile barely reaching her eyes as a soft moan slipped through her open lips at the end of her sentence.

„Regina…", Archie called for her, fearing that something was wrong. He stood up and stepped next to her to be closer if needed. He would have taken her free hand - the one she wasn't pressing softly into her middle - to offer support, but he knew better than to do something uncomfortable for the Queen. He remained reachable, always studying her posture.

„Robin is waiting for me outside.", she whispered to lessen his concernes.

„Good. I would have suggested that someone should walk you back to your quaters."

„I'm fine.", she insisted, however she was only eyeing the door behind the Doctor, but wasn't taking any step into the direction of it.

„But you'll definately need rest. You'll have your first magic lesson with Emma this afternoon, if I recall correctly?", he reminded her in an attempt to destract her attention. At her nod, he continued, „I suppose it is going to drain you enormously too, so you rest as much as…" he was deciding on the right amount in his head, when he noticed Regina swaying slightly on her feet. „I suggest you rest until the time of the lesson comes.", he finished quite abruply, eyebrows knitten when he saw the color draining from her face.

„Would you… would you walk me… to the …?", she stuttered, but wasn't able to finish it as again a moan slipped through her pale lips.

To Archie's biggest surprise, the moment her knees started to weaken her hands desperately tried to grab at his jacket, finally getting a steady hold on his collar. She was completaly leaning on him. He carefully slipped his arms around her and managed to keep her from falling.

„I've got you.", he murmured into her ear. He felt the air against his neck leaving her body through shaky breaths, and felt the shivering of her chest against his own. Her strong fingers were digging into his shoulders for a momet, until they were loosening their tight grip before her knees buckled again.

The baby was furious inside her.

„Hey, I'm going to lay you down on the couch and then bring Robin in, okay?", he whishpered, his usual calmness wavering.

He gently helped her lay down on her back, slowly lowering her onto the couch. He then hurriedly turned to the door, but Regina grabbed at his hand, before he could have stepped out of her reach.

„Do you… Do you think I deserve to find him?"

Her loose grip stopped his movements first, but her barely audible words almost stopped his heart too. He was speachless. He, who had learned about many of Regina's battles, of her failures of her sufferings, but most of all her unhealthy relationship with herself, was shocked by her question.

How could she think so little of herself?

„You deserve it! And you deserve so much more, Regina!"

„All I deserve is this suffering.", she mumbled.

„Please, don't say that." He pleaded, watching her through his glasses helplessly, as her dark eyes overflew with tears.

„I am just so tired.", she formed the words with some difficulty. Her eyes searched the room, like she wasn't sure where she was exactly, before she started to blink slower.

„You can sleep now, you are safe here, Regina."

Her only answer was a long sigh, as if with it she was letting go of her burdens to finally be able to rest. Her breathing got even and her features smoothened out.

Robin got worried when he saw Archie standing in the door alone. The Doctor guided him to the couch, to the sleeping Regina. As he took in her state and kissed her on the forehead his heart became a bit lighter.

She was just sleeping. She was finally sleeping.

„Everything is going to be fine." Robin whispered, as his nose brushed her white cheek and his hand was playing with her hair.

Reviews are always welcome. ;) I love to talk about what I write!

Massive thank you to my beta in this chapter: Sophia, you are a Queen! 3