A/N: Well, still before OQFixItWeek gets to an end, here is the last part of this story.
Unbetaed, so I apologize for the mistakes.
-5 -
A week passed, since Regina told Robin that they were having a baby together, and Robin has remained true to his word and hasn't missed any moment with Regina, enjoying every little moment of her pregnancy.
Regina is doing well. The morning sickness is less frequent and is beginning to cease but some days she still wakes up with the feeling of nausea, and now Robin understands why she needed those candies that much during the prior weeks.
Dr. Legrand had made clear that everything is fine with their baby, but still he had insisted in doing an ultrasound, pointing out that Regina only had one on week 8, when she found out she was pregnant. With all that happened lately, she had missed the one regularly scheduled for week 12.
So now, at 14 weeks pregnant Regina is lying down on Dr. Legrand's examination table with Robin by her side, holding Regina's hand. Both, Robin and Regina, can't hide the emotion of watching their baby, but each of them enjoys the experience differently.
Robin is thrilled by the experience of hearing and watching his baby but, he is also curious and amazed by the things this realm can provide for healthcare, prevention and wellbeing. He feels relieved that Regina will be able to give birth in ideal hygienic conditions and with the support of skilled professionals. He thinks in how different it had been when Roland was born in the Enchanted Forest with no prenatal care and with no possibilities to face any complication during birth.
Regina, on her side, feels happy, loved, taken care of, supported … so different from the way she felt in her first ultrasound where the feelings had been fear, loneliness, sadness, angst, insecurity.
Another more week passes by, and with the arrival of the DNA results from Zelena's baby, it almost seems that things are finally beginning to settle a bit in Regina and Robin's life.
They have been so anxious about receiving those results that have even paid the additional cost to obtain the report in 5 business days, instead of the regular 9. When they receive the envelope, they skip all the graphics and percentages and words none of them understand, and almost jump when they both read the word "excluded". They don't even bother to finish reading the report, where it clearly indicates that "the alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the fetus".
And with that confirmation Robin and Regina begin to feel some sort of relieve.
They decide to return to Storybrooke in the shortest term. Both miss their sons; they have been a long time apart from them, actually more than a month, and the constant calls from Henry and Roland, make clear that the boys are missing their parents too. And, there's also that Regina needs to go back to the reassume her duties as Mayor. The City Council had accepted her request to take some time off due to personal reasons, had agreed that the deputy mayor would be the one in charge during Regina's absence as long as Regina continue monitoring and following up the pending issues and the new ones that may arise during her absence. But it has been already a month now, and, despite her constant supervision, there still were some issues that she needed to resolve in Storybrooke. It seems that the deputy mayor was not as competent as she thought.
So, Robin and Regina decide to tell Zelena the news about the paternity test in the following days, and that they'll be leaving New York shortly. Still, there's one thing bothering both of them, and it is their need to know if Robin and Zelena had sex or if it is just another lie. And, that would be the last thing they need to know from Zelena, they even aren't interested in knowing who the father of her child is.
But, just as they begin planning their return to Storybrooke, they receive a call from the hospital requesting Regina's presence, as Zelena's only relative, for the delivery of Zelena's psychological evaluation the next day.
The physicians that evaluated Zelena had a hard time figuring out Zelena's diagnosis, and it even took a little longer than it should, because there was some data missing on Zelena's story as a child.
As Robin and Regina hear Dr. Angles, the psychiatrist of the hospital, explain the symptoms of Zelena's condition, they both agree that it is an accurate diagnosis.
Dr. Angles describes Zelena's diagnosis as Antisocial Personality Disorder. A mental condition where the main signs of alarm are lack of remorse, disregard of right and wrong, impulsivity, irritability, violation of the physical and/or emotional rights of others, manipulative tendencies, continuous lying, irresponsibility, recklessness, lack of empathy …. Well, as the doctor keeps reading the report it is clear that he is describing Zelena's behaviour.
And with that information, the concern that Zelena would not be fitted to take care of her child on her own, without treatment, arises.
Dr. Angles recommendations for Zelena are to begin immediately individual and group therapy sessions and, as soon as the baby is born, medication.
Zelena's diagnosis had been a nasty shock to both, Robin and Regina, and they were forced to take some drastic measures.
First, Robin and Regina decide to keep Regina's pregnancy to themselves, since they are afraid that Zelena might harm Regina and their baby in purpose. They make this choice, mostly, after Dr. Angles "I can't assure that she won't", after Robin asked if he thought Zelena might be dangerous. And trying to hide or control Regina's morning sickness (she still in her 15 week of pregnancy has some episodes) from Zelena, so that she doesn't find out, is difficult because she is always around.
Second, they have managed a routine, one that allows Robin and Regina to have some activities, while Zelena is been taken care of, without Regina staying alone with Zelena. Each morning Robin drops Regina and Zelena, in the medical center, where Regina and Zelena attend, each of them, individual therapy sessions (Regina had wisely arranged that both sessions, Zelena's and hers, be held at the same time). Then, if there's another medical appointment scheduled for Zelena, they continue with it; and, if there's no appointment, Regina takes Zelena to group therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Robin goes to the community center where he has found a part time job during the mornings teaching archery. This activity allows Robin to focus on something different than Zelena and earn some extra cash. And, by the time Regina and Zelena finish, Robin is there to pick them up. With this arrangement Robin can be sure that Regina is not alone with Zelena during the mornings, while he gets to have a much needed activity by himself.
Robin and Regina were surprised on Zelena's reaction when they told her about the results of her psychological evaluation, just after receiving Dr. Angles report. Zelena was quiet, let them read the report, read it by herself when they handed it to her. Maybe, it had been the words at the end of the report what did the job … the ones that recommended urgent treatment and a re-evaluation after the baby's birth to determine if the mother was suited to take care of the child.
So, really it hadn't been hard for Zelena to begin attending regular therapy sessions, as requested.
The last decision Robin and Regina take is how they will approach the results of the paternity test. It isn't as if they need Zelena's confirmation on it, but after they told Dr. Angles what Zelena did to them and gave the DNA test as proof of how Zelena lied for almost a month, Dr. Angles recommended that this issue needed closure for the three of them. Dr. Angles added that it would be the first step in Zelena's recovery to recognize the consequences of each choice she made, being capable of facing it; and, suggests a group session for Robin, Regina and Zelena with his intervention.
So, a week later the three of them are seated quietly, but visibly nervous, in Dr. Angles office, waiting for him to be the one to talk first. And in fact, Dr. Angles begins addressing to all of them, "Well, good afternoon. I need to know first if each of you knows why are we here?"
"Robin?, Regina?, Zelena?" asks the doctor looking at each of them waiting for a sign to continue, or to elaborate but at their signals of approval he continues.
"Okay, I assume you all have agreed to be here willingly. Is that it?" asks the doctor and after seeing each of them nod, he continues "We have here the results of Zelena's baby paternity test. Do you understand Zelena what a paternity test is?"
Zelena's answer doesn't take long, "More or less. I understand that it is a way to know who the parents of a child are" and, the doctor adds "More accurately it is a way to exclude or confirm paternity based on the common genetic information the supposed father and the child have".
The doctor continues addressing Zelena, "So, Zelena I will answer this for the last time before I open this envelope. Is Robin the father of your baby?"
Zelena looks down, speaking in a voice so low that the doctor has to ask her to repeat what she just said, and she does "I think he is".
"Okay, Zelena. I will hand you this envelope, I want you to open it, go over the name of the supposed father and read the conclusion of the test on the last page. Please, read it out loud." requests the doctor.
Zelena receives the envelope and opens it, and begins to find the information the doctor has requested. When she goes to the last page she begins reading "The alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the fetus".
Time stands still. No one dares to breath. They all wait for Zelena to process the information she just read and after seconds that seemed forever, she just says "This is a mistake! Maybe they confused the samples and tested the ones of another person".
The doctor answers immediately, not giving any chance to Robin or Regina to intervene "Zelena, you know that is not possible. The results are from the samples they took from you and Robin".
But Regina can't hold it anymore, and says "Enough, Zelena! You and I know why you are doing this. There's nothing that will make you say you lied, but these results confirm that Robin is not the father of your baby. You can believe whatever you want, but Robin doesn't have any obligation towards you or your baby. We'll go our own way from now, far away from yours".
Robin takes Regina's hand in his and gives a little squeeze, as support and comfort, and just after Regina has finished he continues "Zelena, I don't care if you don't believe in those results, for us they're enough. But I do need one more answer from you: Did we had sex the night I passed out?"
All of them turn to look at Zelena who only answers "Well, isn't that question obvious? That's exactly why I think you are my baby's father".
The doctor is about to talk, but Robin answers quickly "Then it seems I will need to learn to live with that fact. But, still I'm grateful that I don't have to share a child with you … that'd be something I would have never overcome".
"Well, I thought that maybe this session would have turned out to be different", says the doctor addressing to all of them "… it's clear and has been proven enough by science that Robin is not the father of Zelena's baby". Zelena is about to interrupt but the doctor continues, "Zelena, no matter what you say on this subject, Robin isn't the father of your baby. Now is the moment for you to make some choices: you can choose to admit your mistakes, ask for forgiveness and move on; you can choose to keep lying about this and be doomed to a life of bitterness; you can tell us the truth about your baby's father and seek some support with your sister; you can try to begin working in your emotional aspect so that you can be a good mother to your child …. As you see, this is all up to you… your life can turn out to be what you like, depending on the choices you make. … What choice will you make?"
Zelena is affected by Dr. Angles speech. They all can tell that, and when the doctor finishes, she can hardly answer "I … I need to think about this".
"Okay, Zelena. It is good to know that you will think about this. I'll be seeing you on our next appointment".
With that, they leave buried in thoughts of lies, deception, new chances, forgiveness and redemption.
Two weeks go by, and they continue with their routine. Robin working in the mornings; and, Regina and Zelena between therapy sessions and medical appointments.
Regina is now almost 18 weeks pregnant, and has begun to show slightly; this is a problem, because now they need to hide the physical evidence from Regina's pregnancy from Zelena, but they handle it… at least, for the time being.
Robin and Regina had told Zelena, some days ago, that they will be returning to Storybrooke, where their family is. Zelena hasn't said a thing about Robin and Regina's plans, but hasn't shared hers, either.
Zelena has continued her therapy sessions, and her prenatal control, but has not brought up who her baby's father is, or admit that she lied about it. She just has avoided that issue.
But somehow Zelena's behavior has changed. Robin and Regina have begun to notice that Zelena is more calmed, maybe even thoughtful. She collaborates more with daily chores, willingly. And, even she is capable of having small talk focusing on the other one.
So after having noticed Zelena's improvement and at her insistence, they allow Zelena to leave the apartment on her own, to help them run some errands or just to take a walk. They are even thinking that she could begin attending her sessions by herself and that would give Robin and Regina some extra time to organize their return.
Everything is running smoothly, Robin and Regina are supposed to leave for Storybrooke in two days more and are busy packing, paying the last bills and shopping some souvenirs for the kids. And, maybe because of that is that they don't realize that Zelena hasn't come back yet.
She should have been back by 6pm and it's almost 9pm, and still she isn't back. There's where Robin finds the cell phone Regina gave Zelena in her room and next to it a letter:
"Regina:
I don't want you to feel any obligation or responsibility of any kind towards me, and I'm well aware that people in Storybrooke won't accept me easily. That's why, with Dr. Angles support, I've decided to join a community that had accepted me and will help raise my child, while I get the adequate therapeutic support.
Since I'm not financially independent in this realm, this community is my best chance for a new beginning. They only have two conditions: that I continue treatment; and, that I help in the group house that I'll be sharing with them.
They will provide shelter, food, help with the baby and therapy sessions free of cost.
In that community, I feel just like them. I'm not feared. I'm not hated. I'm not the Wicked Witch… I'm just Zelena.
With the little therapy I had these last weeks, I have understood that I need to begin working on myself, on my boundaries, on the way I relate to others and to learn some tools so that I can fit in society.
The first step towards my recovery is to acknowledge my mistakes and not blame others for my choices.
I'm sorry for what I did to the both of you. I lied. Robin never touched me, not once. My baby is not his.
Regina, when I'm ready…. If, I'm ever ready, I'll get in touch with you and maybe then we will be able to begin building a relationship as true sisters.
Meanwhile, I'll be working on me to be a better mother than the one that gave birth to me … and that at the end, ruined both of us. At least you saw the right path earlier than I.
And, by the way, congratulations on the baby … you both did a really poor job hiding it.
Until sometime,
Zelena"
...
Robin and Regina are about to get out of bed, really excited to know what this day, and the others ahead, would be like.
She has been thinking all the morning so much about the last two months, but still she finds some memories of previous years that are meaningful for her.
And, with Robin by her side, she smiles, leaving behind years of misery, loneliness and self-loathing; and, remembers particularly two events in her life.
First, she recalls the words she said years ago to a very young Snow White "… love, true love is magic and not just any magic, the most powerful magic of all. It creates happiness". Those words, said by her innocent and naive younger self, when she thought she had a life ahead of her; a life she was sure she would share with a young and caring stable boy. Those words had proven her to be right, because true love had reversed the effects of magic, magic that doomed her to infertility.
Then, she remembers Tinkerbell's words "… that is your happy ending … he's down there … inside here lies the beginning of your happiness … all the pain in your past will be just that, the past ... look, there he is, the guy with the lion tattoo … this is your chance at love and happiness … a fresh start, no baggage …".
She smiles, watching Robin's tattoo, and says to herself that despite all the irony in her life, this time had been different. Those words were not just words, they did mean something and were powerful.
If it hadn't been that way, it would have meant that true love and the power of soulmates were nothing; and, on the contrary, that envy, jealousy and lies were capable of taking her happy ending away … and, that would have been the worst irony in her life.
-THE END-
Will Regina have a boy or a daughter? It's up to you!
Who is Zelena's baby's father? … well, that is for you to fix!
Hope you enjoyed it and let me know what you think!