A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for all your favs, follows and reviews and I am so sorry that this took so long but I haven't as much time for writing as I would wish right now but I promise I will finish this story. :) Now let's enjoy Regina's birthday with her.
English is not my first language so I am sorry for all my mistakes. I tried to do my best. :)
I do not own Once Upon A Time nor its characters.
CHAPTER 10 - MAKE A WISH
Few mornings later, Robin came quietly back to their bedroom with a tray in his hands. He lay it on the nightstand and leaned to Regina. She was sleeping with her hand protectively placed on the curve of her belly. She looked so beautiful that he couldn't resist and kissed her slowly on her lips. Regina stirred little, started responding to his kiss lazily and fluttered her eyes open. She thought that was the best way how he could wake her up.
"Mhm, good morning." Her voice sounded hoarse from the sleep.
"Happy birthday, my beautiful." He whispered and caressed her cheek with his thumb. She smiled, brought her hand on his shoulder but knitted her eyebrow with curiosity.
"How do you know?"
"I have my sources." He answered mysteriously.
"Henry?"
"And my honor won't allow me to disclose their identity."
Regina chuckled, so yes, it was Henry. Robin sat up beside her and reached for the tray.
"Oh. Breakfast in bed, really?" She looked at him with a smile and moved herself up so she could leaned her back against the headboard. No one had ever brought her breakfast in bed.
"Today is your special day, you deserve the best." Robin smiled at her with so much love in his eyes. The best was what she really got. Everything what she liked the most was on the tray. Robin had prepared french toast waffles for her and served them with maple sirup and cinnamon. Despite she didn't eat it often, it was her favorite breakfast. On the second plate was arranged fruit - strawberries, slices of apple from her tree, and even mango. She had no idea how he could know that she liked it or where he had mustered it up. It wasn't something what should be easily buy in Storybrook, not even in this part of year.
And of course, what couldn't miss was cup of decaffeinated coffee, that Regina was replacing normal one during pregnancy and a glass of black currant juice. She liked apple juice and she got used to drink it more often now, instead the wine or her apple cider but she liked black currant juice even more and she was stunned that Robin knew.
Regina tasted the waffles and smiled at him.
"It's delicious." She impaled another piece on a fork and offered it to Robin.
"Thanx, but it's just for you," he smiled at her, caressed her baby bump and added, "and our little princess."
"It's a lot. I won't eat everything." She took a bite of strawberry and hold the second half of it in front of his face with provocatively raised eyebrow. Of course that Robin couldn't resist so sexy act - he was just a man madly in love with this amazing woman next to him – so he took the strawberry from her fingers with his mouth.
"You are a sly woman." He whispered to her ear, when he swallowed and Regina chuckled, leaning to him for another kiss.
"Have you any plans for today?" Robin asked.
"Not at all. Maybe some tidying up."
"Uh-uh. No house works allowed today."
"And what can I do today?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Well, I would have some ideas."
"I'm listening." She said and ate another piece of waffles.
"Snow invited us for lunch at Granny's with them." He said and Regina shook her head.
"Robin, I don't want a birthday party, no celebrating."
The reason why Regina didn't want to celebrate her birthday was that she wasn't used to do it. There had been balls in honor of The Queen back in Enchanted Forest but it was just another game of showing her power. She hated those balls and she knew no one really wanted to be there.
"That's not a birthday party. Just a lunch with friends. Maybe you don't want to admit it but they care about you, Regina."
Robin was right, she wouldn't admit it but she knew it was truth. She didn't call them friends, but despite their too complicated past or perhaps just because of it, they were.
"I would rather stay here with you and the boys." She tried to protest again.
"We will still have the whole afternoon and evening for us."
Regina knew what he was doing, he wanted to show her there were more people than him and Henry, who believe in her and who she could lean on in some way and she really appreciated hi effort.
"Okay." She sighed but agreed finally when she impaled another piece of waffles on fork and Robin smiled at her.
They were talking and Robin was caressing Regina's waist while she was eating her breakfast and from time to time he eat a piece of fruit or waffles which Regina offered to him.
"This is really good." He said when he tasted a mango for the first time.
"I know." Regina laughed.
"By the way, how did you know that I like it? How did you know everything of this are my favorite things?" She was curious.
"Because I've always seen you since the first time I met you in Enchanted Forest and because I love you and I'm noticing every little thing about you, Regina." He said like the most obvious thing in this world and she took his hand into hers but moved her sight away from his face back to the tray.
Sometimes seeing all that love in his eyes was just too much for her because all this little things were exactly what she wasn't used to and it really hurt. But it was a good kind of pain because it made the pieces of her so many times broken heart stick together somehow better.
"It's okay." Robin said like if he understood what she felt and tightened his grip around her.
"Thank you," she smiled at him, "for everything."
"Always, milady." he placed a light kiss on her temple.
When she finished her breakfast, Robin put the tray back on the nightstand and kissed her lips gently.
"We should rather get out from the bed, I bet Henry and Roland are already up." She said.
"That's probably true but we don't have to. I made breakfast also for boys and Henry offered he will keep eye on Roland and make him occupied. They will be okay for few hours so we have time only for us." He smiled and brushed his nose across her cheek.
"Robin, I- I don't think I can- not now. I love you, it was amazing but..."
Robin placed his index finger on her lips to shush her. He knew, according to expression on her face, that she was talking about having sex.
"That wasn't what I meant. I want it, of course I do, but only if you too. And I understand." He caressed her face.
"We can stay here, just enjoy each other, talk and cuddle. What you think?"
"I would like that." She smiled and leaned herself against him and he wrapped his arm around her.
"We missed so much time together, that should be just ours." She said and Robin heard a little sadness in her voice.
"We have still the whole future." He kissed her temple. Regina was afraid that it's not exactly truth, everything could fall apart in one second because she was still villain but she didn't want to think about that and ruin this precious moment.
"But soon, it won't be just the two of us." She said instead and caressed her growing baby bump. Robin brought his hand on hers.
"You are right and that's why we'll enjoy every moment together until our princess arrives, yes?"
Regina nodded and turned her head for kiss.
"And speaking of her..." Robin said when their lips parted again.
"How are you doing today, little one?" He leaned down and kissed Regina's bump through her clothes.
"I think she's still sleeping, I haven't feel any kicking yet today."
That's not true, mommy, I'm awake. I just wanted to let you spent some time with daddy without intrusion. I know it's your birthday today and that's my gift for you, mommy. I can't give you much more than my love right now but I will be good girl and I will let you enjoy this special day. I love you mommy, very, very much.
"Then, I think we don't want to wake her, right?" He asked with playfully raised eyebrows and reached up to her again.
"We don't." She chuckled against his lips before he kissed her.
They spent almost hour and half in their bed, talking about everything and nothing, wrapped around each other, when Robin suggested.
"What would you say if I give you a massage and then go to prepare a hot bath for you?"
"Oh you know, I can't say no to that."
"Sit up and take this off." He hooked his finger under the hem of her nightshirt before he stood up from the bed and went into the bathroom for a bottle of massage oil.
He knelt behind her and she took her hair away from her neck and shoulders. She was so beautiful. Robin loved the way how her skin was shining, the curve of her neck and her shoulders. He loved everything on her. He placed a kiss on her scapula and started massaging her muscles slowly.
"This is really good." She murmured with closed eyes. She had never complained but with her growing baby bump her back started hurt sometimes.
When they was done, Robin let her in the bed and disappeared in the bathroom and after a while he came back and motioned his hand to the bathroom's door with a smile.
"The bath is ready."
"And will you join to me?" She asked when she came to him.
"I would like to but I have something, what needs to be done now." He said mysteriously.
"Enjoy your bath. Don't hurry." He added and left the room before Regina could ask what he's up to. She knew he's going to make some surprise for her and she didn't want him to bother with anything but on the other hand she was also a bit curious.
xXx
First thing that Robin did that morning was making the batter for Regina's birthday cake, that was already being baked in oven while Robin was preparing the breakfast.
Now, all three of Regina's favorite men tried their best to make the cake look perfect. Henry and Roland were mixing ingredients for cream and Robin was trying to cut the baked cake horizontally into three slides. They hadn't much time if they they didn't want to being caught by Regina because it was supposed to be a surprise.
xXx
Regina got dressed after her bath and went down the stairs, on her way into kitchen when Roland ran from there and stopped in front of her.
"You mustn't go there." He said with raised hands and shook his head sharply.
"Why not?" She asked surprisingly.
"You just mustn't." He repeated and added, "I can't tell you why."
"Of course you can. I won't tell anybody that you told me." She leaned to the boy and whispered but he shook his head, determined to keep the secret. Just few seconds later Henry came out from the kitchen and Regina didn't hesitate to ask him why she couldn't go into kitchen.
"Now you can." Henry said like he had no idea what she was talking about, so she went in and the boys followed her. She looked over carefully but didn't see anything unusual there, Robin even cleaned up all the mess from making breakfast.
"What were you all doing here?" She asked suspiciously.
"Nothing." Henry and Robin answered together but of course Regina knew better.
"And why I don't believe you?" she asked and everyone laughed.
xXx
When Regina with Robin, Roland and Henry entered the Granny's, Emma, Snow and Charming was already there sitting around the big table in the corner with little Neal who was contentedly sleeping in his car seat.
"Happy birthday, Regina." Snow told instead of greeting.
"I thought this is not supposed to be a birthday party." Regina answered with her oh-so-typical cold voice.
"It's not because if it was the balloons would be all around and we would start already throwing confetti at you. " Emma said with a grin and Regina shook her head with amusement.
Everybody ordered their meal and started the conversation about all the ordinary stuffs, pretending no one has birthday today but when they finished eating and Regina went to order more beverages for everyone Snow came to her.
"Regina, I know this is not a birthday party but I have little something for you." She said and placed a box wrapped in blue paper on the counter in front of Regina but she looked at her with shaking head.
"Please, take a look at least." Snow added, trying to convince the stubborn woman next to her. Regina hesitated for a while and rolled her eyes but she reached for that package and started unwrapping the paper. It was an old white jewel-box with a blue flowers on the lid and a ballerina inside. It looked really beautiful but Regina didn't understand why would Snow gave her something like that.
"That belongs to my mother – Don't interrupt me." She added with raised hand when Regina opened her mouth in protest.
"It always remained me to be good and pure because I thought it was how she was. But when we contacted Cora's spirit, I learned everyone has some darkness inside, even my mother. Or me. Since then it's reminder that everyone haa always a choice between good and bad."
"I don't think I should have something of your mother." Regina managed to say finally. 'Something else' she corrected in her mind because after all, she had everything what was once Eva's – her husband, her life, her kingdom. She had it all even she had never asked for it.
"And I think you should. I want you to have it because I know there is a lot of good inside you, there always was, you just made some wrong choices. And despite everything I think also my mother would want you to have it." Snow smiled at her.
"I know you have important reasons for choosing good now," Snow looked back to their table at Robin, Roland and Henry, "but you can never know when you would need some other little reminder of that."
Mommy, I think aunt Snow is right. She, uncle David and Emma really care about you, they like you and want to be your friends. And despite you have daddy, me and my brothers I know you need also friends. Let them be part of your life, don't push them away, mommy.
Regina didn't say anything because she didn't know what to say so Snow placed her hand on Regina's.
"Please, keep it."
"I still don't think I should have it," Regina sighed, "but thank you."
Snow nodded with a smile and then both women came back to others.
xXx
When Regina with Robin and their boys came back home, they spent few hours sitting on couch and playing games. First winner of their game of Sorry! was Roland and Robin won the second round. Then Henry suggested to play Charades and they had tons of fun laughing all together at their acting skills.
Mommy, I know I have already told you how much I love when you are laughing but I must tell you again and I will tell you everytime because it is really amazing. On the whole world couldn't exist anything more marvelous than moments when you are happy. I love you mommy, your smile make me feel wonderful while I am still here inside your belly but I can't wait when I will see your smile on my own eyes. It has to be lovely, I know that. I love you mommy, with my whole heart and I am so happy that my daddy and my brothers are with us. That we can be family. I love all of you so much."
Regina thought that was her most precious moment in her entire life and it couldn't be better when Roland jumped down from the sofa.
"I have something for you, Regina. Wait a second." He said and run in his room upstairs and when he came back, he handed Regina a sheet of paper.
Here." He smiled at her.
It was adorable drawing of him, Robin, her and Henry. Roland's curls were the same like in reality, Robin was holding his bow and arrows, Henry had in his hands something what should probably be a book and Regina was drawn with rounded belly and another tiny figure was inside. Above their heads was colored sign 'Happy Birthday!' and 'We love you.' under that. It almost brought tears into her eyes.
"Henry helped me with that sign and taught me how to write my name. I signed it by myself." He pointed proudly on more choppy letters in the bottom of the paper.
"It's beautiful, Roland. Thank you." She leaned down to him, brushed his cheek with her thumb and hugged him tightly. This drawing really warmed her heart.
"We have something else for you. Could you stay here for a while?" Henry asked and Regina looked at him with tilted head and nodded.
All three of Regina's boys disappeared in kitchen. Oh she knew, that they were up to something in the morning. She look back at the drawing with smile. This, this was everything.
"Okay, come here mom." Henry shouted after few minutes and when Regina came in, she saw them standing in front of kitchen counter with wide smiles across their faces. Robin was holding a birthday cake with whipped cream, sign 'Happy Birthday Regina' written with red frosting and burning candles around.
"Happy Birthday." They said together.
"It really is." She smiled with unction and asked to Robin, "You make this?"
"We all did together." He answered.
"Where did you hide it, it wasn't in fridge." She shake her head slowly.
"I asked Emma if she could cast a cooling spell on that box," Henry pointed to the box on counter, "so it worked like little fridge and we could keep it in garage."
"I think you should really blow the candles out now or the melted wax will be everywhere in while." Robin tell her with chuckle.
"Can you all do it with me?" She asked with smile and they nodded.
"Make a wish Regina." Roland said excitedly after he climbed on the high chair for better access and she closed her eyes as she was thinking about what to wish. This was her fist birthday when she didn't feel single bit of sadness or anger, her first birthday when she finally had her family around and that was everything what she truly wanted so the only thing she could wish for was to all of them, with their little girl smiling around, were still together on her next birthday. Then she looked at them again with nod and they blow the candles out together.
Regina was still holding Roland's drawing in her hand so she turned around and pinned it on the fridge right under the ultrasound picture of their daughter and Robin put the cake back on the counter.
"Thank you for being with me." Regina said, caressed Henry's face, smiled at Robin, brushed her fingers through Roland's hair and then all four of them hugged. She had to hold the tears back but she put herself back together with deep breath.
"Now, let's taste the cake." She smiled.
xXx
When Robin came out from bathroom he saw as Regina placed the white jewelry box, that he haven't seen before, on her dressing table.
"What's that?" He asked quietly.
"A reminder." She said don't look away from the box.
"Of what? If I may ask." He was curios.
"Just..." she finally turned to him and shrugged, "some ordinary things. It's from Snow, you know her." She laughed a little, came closer to him and kiss him.
"What was that for?" Robin asked.
"You know." She whispered against his lips and he shook his head slowly.
"I haven't give you my gift yet." He turned from her and opened the upper drawer of his nightstand.
"What? This day wasn't that gift?"
"Yeah, but I have something else for you." He handed her little black velvet box but she didn't take it.
"I don't need more. Everything you did today..." She shook her head slowly because she hadn't words for that.
"No one ever did anything like that for me. Each day with you is the greatest gift."
"I love you." He caressed her cheekbone with his thumb.
"And I want you to really have something from me." He handed her the box again and she opened it this time. It was gold apple pierced by arrow on thin gold chain. Beautiful. Regina look back at his face.
"It's... us." She smiled.
"Yeah, that is." He chuckled.
"I found it by coincidence in one pawnshop in New York. I was trying to find way back to you and I was lost, I had no clues, I didn't know anything. But then I found this. It gave me hope and I bought it, I knew I'll see you again and I'll give it to you."
Regina brushed her fingers through the pendant and pick it up from the box.
"Could you?" She asked and turned around so Robin could fasten the clasp on her neck and she turned back.
"It looks beautiful on you."
"Because it is beautiful. Thank you." She wrapped her hands around his neck.
"From now on this is my favorite piece of jewelry." She said truthfully and placed a soft kiss on Robin's lips.
I really hope you liked this chapter and all you reviews and opinions will be highly apreciated!
I can't say when the next chapter will be, but it will be! So stay tuned ;)
MWAH!