Hello dear readers! I'm so sorry for the waiting! My new fanfic (Howl) stole all my time to write this story but I'm back! The next update won't take this long, I promise!

This is very much a filler chapter to get to the good/serious/emotional stuff.

Happy reading!

I love that word. Forever. I love that forever doesn't exist, but we have a word for it anyway, and use it all the time. It's beautiful and doomed ― Viv Albertine

Two weeks later

The first thing Robin became aware of when he woke up was the missing weigh of Regina's head on his chest. He opened his eyes and sat up to look around the room. He spotted the black dress that he had taken off of her the night before lying on the floor and smiled.

He slipped on his boxers and left the room.

They were staying in a beautiful cottage right in front of a lake. The house was built from a mixture of stone and wood. Its interior was full of rustic charm that made him feel like he was in a farm house. The living room featured an exposed-beam ceiling, a limestone fireplace and hard wood floor.

It was a small house, the opposite of their mansion, but Robin and Regina loved the small and simple house.

Outside was a porch with swing chairs. Behind the house there was only woods for miles and in front of it the serene and peaceful lake. There were no other properties surrounding the lake. The only noises were the birds chirping and the leaves rustling. It was perfect.

Robin entered in the kitchen and saw her immediately.

The sight of Regina wearing only his green shirt made him think that she looked sexier than ever. Her hair was piled messily on top of her head.

He approached her and cleared his throat, catching her attention.

Regina looked over her shoulder and smiled.

"Good morning, husband" – she said.

"Good morning, wife" – Robin said, making Regina giggle.

She held up one of the mugs to him. As soon as Robin swallowed the hot liquid he arched an eyebrow at her.

"Hot cocoa?" – he asked, sitting on the chair across from Regina's – "You hate hot cocoa" – he declared.

"Not anymore" – Regina said – "It seems she is having a particularly strong craving for it today and being the loving mother that I'm it's my job to give it to her" – she explained – "I can't believe I used to dislike this" – she added, closing her eyes and swallowing some of her hot chocolate.

"How do you know it's a girl?" – Robin asked, watching as Regina's lips curled in a satisfied smile.

"I'm a seer" – Regina said, making Robin roll his eyes – "I just know. I can feel it" – she explained, opening her eyes.

"Or maybe you just want it to be a girl" – Robin retorted.

"And what's wrong with that?" – Regina asked, after drinking some of her hot chocolate.

"There's nothing wrong with that" – Robin said, meeting her brown eyes – "I want her too, you know?" – he said softly, smiling at his wife – "Our family already has enough boys" – he continued to say – "Henry, Roland, little Neal …"

"Exactly!" – Regina immediately said – "I love our boys but we need girls" – she added.

"You and Killian finally agree on something" – Robin commented but Regina ignored him.

"We should start thinking of names" – she said, pushing back her chair before standing up.

"Already?" – Robin asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Yes and I had an idea" – Regina said, grabbing Robin's hand, making him stand up. She opened the door that led to the porch. The Queen grabbed his shoulders and forced him into the swing chair – "We should choose names starting with R" – she finally said, sitting on his lap.

"R?" – Robin asked confused.

"Yes, R" – Regina repeated – "Your name starts with R. My name starts with R and Roland's name starts with R" – she explained – "Our princess should have a name starting with R as well"

Robin smiled and caressed her cheek.

"That's actually a good idea" – he said, rubbing his nose against hers in a tender motion.

"I know!" – she giggled.

"So how should we name our little princess?" – Robin said, after a few seconds of silence – "Rachel, Ruth, Rose…" – he added, elaborating a list of names.

"Rebekah" – Regina suddenly said, looking at Robin.

"Rebekah" – Robin repeated, liking the sound of the name on his lips.

"We can call her Bekah, for short" – Regina suggested.

"I like the sound of that" – Robin said, caressing Regina's flat stomach and imagining a small girl named Rebekah jumping into his arms.

Killian opened the door of his house and took a moment to relax in the peaceful silence that surrounded him. He closed his eyes and leaned heavily against the door as he closed it behind him.

After a few seconds his eyes snapped open, suddenly alert.

The house was quiet, too quiet. Their house was never quiet, especially now that Roland was living with them, until Regina and Robin returned from their honeymoon.

"Emma?" – Killian called as he began searching for any sign of her or the boys.

He made his way up the stairs and called her name again. His calls continued unanswered and he could feel the worry and panic growing in his body.

He walked in the kitchen and saw a small note on the fridge door. A sigh of relief escaped from Killian's lips as soon as he saw the familiar handwriting. He smiled when he saw the word Beach written on the paper.

He opened the door that led to the beach and immediately felt the soft breeze caressing his hair. He removed his shoes from his feet and made his way towards the wooden steps that led straight to the beach.

When his feet touched the warm sand he gazed back at the house.

Perfect – he realized, looking at his home.

He could see the flower garden, the white fence, the wooden swords, the basket full of seashells, the little bike and so many other things that meant home to him.

David and Killian had decided that was about time for Emma to take some time out. The Savior was not pleased when David informed her about their plan.

"I'm pregnant, not sick!" – she protested – "David, I'm perfectly fine –"

"And I want you to stay that way" – David interrupted her. The calm tone of his voice made Emma narrow her eyes.

"I'm the Sheriff!" – she retorted.

"And I'm your father" – David said, smiling meekly – "Besides, Killian, Robin and Will agreed so you'll simply have to deal with it I'm afraid" – he added, kissing her forehead.

The Savior sighed in defeat.

He found Emma sitting on the beach, enjoying the last sun rays. Henry's head was resting on her lap and Killian immediately realized that the boy was sound asleep. Emma's left hand was lying on her big baby bump, while the other was stroking Henry's hair.

Killian kissed the top of her head and Emma opened her eyes. She looked at him with a smile.

"I've missed you" – she said softly, making Killian smile – "How was your day?"

"Good" – he said, sitting behind Emma and putting his arms around her big round belly – "David and I visited Anton and he already has a basket full of beans" – he explained – "How was your day?"

"Good but exhausting" – Emma said, leaning back and snuggling into his chest – "Roland is always running around wanting to do so many things … and then he looks at me with those big brown eyes and I just can't say no" – she added – "Even Henry is exhausted"

"Where's the little thief?" – Killian asked, caressing Henry's hair.

"He's out there" – Emma said, pointing with her hand at the place where Roland was – "Behind that sand castle we built this afternoon" – she explained.

He stood up from the sand and walked towards the boy.

Roland's raven hair was messed up by the soft wind. Killian couldn't help but smile as he watched the way the little boy was looking at the castle. His eyes were focused on the high turret of the castle and his hands were trembling as he tried to put a seashell on the top of it.

"Need my help, lad?" – Killian asked, catching Roland's attention.

"Nope" – the boy said while Killian sat next to him – "Do you like my castle? Aunt Emma helped me build it"

"I do. It looks like a real castle" – Killian gently said and Roland's eyes flashed.

"And we didn't use any magic" – Roland proudly said – "It's a pirate castle" – he added, pointing at the small flag with a skull waving on one of the turrets.

Emma watched as Killian ruffled Roland's hair and smiled. The little boy was showing him the sand castle and they were talking enthusiastically.

After a few minutes Killian grabbed Roland and threw him over his shoulder. A loudly laugh escaped from the little boy's mouth as Killian carried him to the water.

The pirate leapt backwards, pulling Roland with him as they disappeared beneath the calm waters of the ocean.

Emma giggled, imagining Killian doing the same thing with their child. Her laugh disturbed Henry's sleep and the boy opened his eyes.

"Sorry, mom, I guess I fell asleep" – Henry said yawning – "Where's Roland?" – he asked.

"With Killian" – Emma said, pointing at the sea.

"He's back!" – Henry immediately said, standing up from the sand – "Finally!" – he exclaimed, running towards the ocean.

As soon as Henry entered in the ocean, Killian and Roland started to splash water at him.

Emma stared at the beautiful scenery and felt complete, wishing she could stare at that scenery forever.

Later in the Charming's loft, Killian helped David with the dishes.

Emma was on the couch playing with the boys, while Mary Margaret helped Henry with his homework.

Two hours later Killian, Emma, Henry and Roland entered into the yellow bug and returned home.

When Emma and Killian looked at the backseat they realized that the boys were sound asleep.

"Don't worry. I'll carry them" – Killian said, before opening the car door.

He touched carefully Henry's body, trying not to wake him and carried him to his room. He was about to leave the room when he saw Emma entering in the bedroom, carrying Roland in her arms.

"Swan…" – Killian protested, keeping his voice low, trying not to disturb Roland's sleep – "I told you I would carry them. You need to rest" – he added, grabbing Roland's body and putting him in the small bed next to Henry's (the bed Emma had created using her magic).

"You're so good with them" – Emma said softly, watching Killian pull the sheet up to cover Henry's body.

She approached Roland's bed and put the stuffed monkey next to his face. The boy loved that monkey.

"So are you" – Killian said, approaching her and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear – "I hate that monkey" – he murmured and Emma stifled a laugh.

"It's just a stuffed monkey" – Emma said, caressing his cheek.

"It used to be a flying monkey" – Killian stated – "Regina should have destroyed it, not turned it into a stuffed animal" – he said, looking at the monkey with a distrustful look.

"At least he didn't name him Walsh" – Emma teased him, enjoying the way Killian narrowed his eyes.

She kissed his cheek and Killian smiled. He picked her up, bridal style, and carried her to their bedroom.

Hours passed and, unlike Killian, Emma was still awake. She tried to fall asleep but she couldn't.

A nightmare had disturbed her sleep and she couldn't erase the bad dream from her mind.

She had had this dream before.

In her dream Killian and she were walking through the beach when he suddenly disappears. She searches for him for hours without success until she sees a ship like the Jolly Roger at the sea; the ship was moving away from her and when she looks at the helm of the ship she sees him – Killian is at the helm of the ship, sailing away from her.

She yells his name but he doesn't look at her. She continues to yell as the ship disappears little by little into the sea.

She jumps into the water and starts to swim but when she is almost reaching the ship she feels something grabbing her feet, pushing her underwater.

She had had this dream before but now she couldn't shake the feeling that Milah was the one grabbing her feet and pushing her underwater.

She couldn't help but think that the dream was a warning.

This time she didn't feel like Killian was the one leaving her. He was sailing away from her but she didn't feel like he was leaving her.

Despite her efforts to reach the ship she felt like she was doomed to fail. Every time she tried to reach him she only increased the distance between them. She felt like she was the one leaving him. She didn't want to leave him but it was like she didn't have another choice.

She looked at the man lying next to her, memorizing every line of his face. His dark hair a sharp contrast to the white pillow.

She closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her abdomen. She stood in silence, listening the sound of waves crashing down on the sand.

Emma opened her eyes and looked at her belly, seeing the way the moonlight touched her stomach.

"Please, take very special care of your father…" – she murmured, breaking the silence – "… because if I'm not around... he's going to need you and Henry to take care of him" – she said, feeling her lower lip trembling and doing her best to fight back the tears – "So, love him ... and be kind to him. Do that for me, please" – her voice broke on please.

She felt a tear running down her cheek and slid from the bed. She walked towards the sliding door that led to the balcony and opened it, unaware of the sad blue eyes following her every move.

I can't believe we already reached chapter 23! We're so close to the big (baby) moment and I'm planning so many twists! Fasten your seat belt!

Thank you for reading and please review! I really appreciate all your kind words!

Love you guys! (: