The Gift of a Prince and a Thief
Chapter 28

A/N - Apologies for the delay with the last chapter, I hope it brings this story to an end nicely. Thank you all so much for following me through this story and I hope to write more OUAT in the future.

There were things one would miss if they walked through the woods of Storybrooke rather than magically transporting themselves where they needed to go. The first being the sweet smell of fresh air, especially after there had just been a brief shower of rain followed by the bright sunshine peeking its head around the cloud causing the raindrops on the leaves to sparkle. The second was the sound of the nearby brook, trickling its way from the source down over the smooth rocks. This body of water did not rush or crash like the waves of the sea but rather meandered softly, barely moving at all, but just enough to whisper to an unsuspecting passerby, informing them of its existence.

Regina noticed all this and more as she carried her infant daughter through the trees towards her vault. Knowing her heritage, the mayor had vowed that Rosanna would be exposed to nature, far more than she ever let Henry but that was more out of fear than anything else. If Robin's daughter wasn't out camping in the woods with her older brother and sister by the time she can walk Regina knew he would be highly disappointed.

It didn't seem possible that only a few months had passed since her little Rose had first entered the world. She had already grown so much and Regina was still learning more and more about her every day. Despite having raised a child once before, she still wasn't fully confident. That's why she was ever thankful for Henry and Zelena being on hand for support, and Snow and Emma were never far away either.

"Come little one, we have to hurry to get back for your sister's birthday party," Regina told her infant daughter softly.

Rose looked up at her with wide eyes lacking in understanding but completely full of love and trust for her mother. All week they had been preparing for Robyn's first birthday, there were balloons, streamers and so much food. The party would be starting in just an hour, but Regina had one important present to deliver first, not for Robyn but for her mother.

As she walked down the stone steps of her vault, Regina could already see the outline of her sister sitting at her desk waiting for her. "Where have you been? You do realise Robyn's party starts at two?"

"Shh," hushed Regina, rocking Rose gently. "I decided to walk, the Spring air really did her some good."

Zelena just about resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "yeah, well, some of us don't have any other mode of transport anymore!"

With hearing that, Regina took a deep breath and placed Rose in her travel cot. She had no idea how her sister was going to take the news that she had been keeping her magical gift from Robin from her for weeks. It wasn't out of malice that she hadn't given it to her, quite the opposite in fact. Regina thought it best to let Zelena finish her law training without magic to prove to herself that she could do it without help. To everyone's surprise, she stuck at it and she passed with flying colours. Her magic being restored was her prize.

"That's why I wanted to meet you here..."

"-Oh no, please no more driving lessons! Haven't the citizens of Storybrooke been tortured enough?" cried Zelena in protest, only silenced by her sister raising her clenched fist.

Regina shook her head and placed the vial into her sister's hand. Zelena frowned for a second in confusion before all became clear. "No..." she barely whispered. Her heart began beating nervously and excitedly in her chest. Her deepest desire had actually come true.

"How?"

"I wasn't exactly truthful about my coma. In fact, I didn't tell you anything. I went to some sort of limbo and I saw Robin. I got the goodbye I was robbed of, and together we named our daughter. He has been watching over us his whole time, he knew everything." Regina could see the sceptical look on her sister's face, and she nodded understandingly.

"I would've said I was dreaming, but in that place, wherever I was, Robin gave me that vial. He said the powers above had been watching how you've turned your life around and this is your reward."

It took a moment until Zelena found her voice. She grasped her fingers around the vial tightly until her knuckles went white. "You've had this for weeks and didn't tell me?"

Regina took her sister's hands desperately. "I did it for you. I wanted you to feel the pride of completing your law exams without the use of magic. Now you have done that yourself, I completely trust you to live both a non-magical and magical life together."

Slowly, Zelena nodded, she was no longer the woman filled with hatred she used to be. There was no sense in fighting with her sister on the day of her daughter's birthday and when she had been presented with the chance to be a witch once more. This was an opportunity not to be missed.

"Well, here goes nothing," she started taking a deep breath. Regina felt herself also holding her breath as her sister pulled the stopper out of the vial.

At once, the sparkling green liquid escaped from its confinement and found its home in Zelena's fingertips. She threw her head back as the power rushed back into her body, filling the void that had been empty for so many months. It was as if she had been living a half-life, never feeling truly alive until that moment. It was poetic that her power was being restored in the same place she had sacrificed it to save the fate of the town and its residents.

Once it all disappeared, Zelena collapsed back into the desk chair and began panting heavily. Regina frowned with concern, "are you alright? Did it work?"

"I- I think so," she held out her palm and tried to set it alight, but she could only conjure a few green sparks.

Regina approached her gently, "don't try and force it. When I had lived without my magic, it took me a while to get used to it again."

A disappointed sigh escaped from Zelena's mouth, but she understood. At least her magic would come back to her soon, five minutes earlier she didn't even know she would have that. She clenched her palm and walked back around towards her sister before entrapping her in a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered in her ear.

"If it wasn't for your encouragement, I wouldn't have turned my life around. I now have a job, I know how to look after my daughter safely and I have a family and friends who actually like me and care about me." Regina was stunned to hear the words of gratitude tumble out of Zelena's mouth, but she smiled as they broke apart.

Their relationship was certainly complicated by it was precious nevertheless. She wouldn't trade her sister for anyone. "We better get back; Robyn's party will be starting soon."

With that, Regina engulfed her sister and her daughter in a cloud of purple smoke. After all, there are only so many times you can walk through the forest.

The party was in full swing, it seemed like the whole town was there in Regina's backyard enjoying food, drink and good company. Grumpy was propping up Granny's makeshift bar on the patio while Snow and Charming danced with Neal to whatever pop song was playing through the speakers. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. This was exactly what everyone needed after the year they had endured.

At the celebration of Robyn's birth, the events of that day did not go unforgotten. Emma's heart felt particularly heavy as she remembered stealing the new-born out of her mother's arms mere moments after she had entered this world. This did not go unnoticed by her friend, Regina sat beside her with Rose still nestled in her arms and smiled at her gently. Words didn't need to be spoken. Emma knew the pain this new mother would be feeling at the absence of her love. Robin should have been there to experience all of this, but he wasn't.

"She's getting big, isn't she?" Emma finally found her voice, looking down at the tiny baby. Rosanna big brown eyes looked up at her and she burbled happily.

Regina nodded with a smile, "I know, I can't believe it's only been a few weeks." She paused for a moment and then placed her child into Emma's arms gently. From the corner of her eye, she could see Roland standing by himself looking rather nervous and she needed to know what was wrong. "Can you watch her for a moment?"

"Of course." Emma studied the little one and couldn't help but grin. "She really looks like you."

Regina stopped and looked back, this was not the first time someone had commented on their similarities. It was obvious from her raven hair and her dark brown eyes, but she was desperate to see her father in her. With Robyn it was the eyes, with Roland it was his cheeky smile. Regina hoped she would see Robin just a clearly in the little girl who never had the chance to meet her Daddy.

She nodded in response to Emma before hurrying over to the concerned little boy. Since starting school, he had made lots of new friends and Regina had invited some of them today, so she was confused at why he was by himself and why he seemed out of sorts.

"Sweetheart are you okay?" she asked gently, crouching down to face him.

Roland wasn't meeting her gaze and he was grasping tightly to the ends his new blue shirt. "Can I talk to you for a minute inside?" he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper.

This made Regina's heart beat faster. She had no idea what he wanted to talk about. Had someone been hurting him? Did he want to go back and live in Sherwood Forest? Each possibility filled her with dread. Regardless, she took him by the hand and led him back inside the safety of the empty house which seemed a world away from the lively party.

As Regina sat on the couch, Roland clambered upon her knee and huddled himself into her chest, she could feel his body quaking. "What is it? What's the matter?" she asked, rubbing his back.

The soothing motion seemed to calm him, and he gradually stopped shaking. He took a deep breath and Regina found herself taking one too. "You know how Emma is Henry's real mama but you were his mama when she couldn't be there and you still are now?" he mumbled so quickly all his words almost ran into one.

"Yes?"

"Can you do that to me too? My mama can't be my mama no more. So, will you be mine please, Regina?" It then became clear why the little boy had been so scared. It wasn't over anything or anyone. He trying to be brave enough to ask her something really important because he was scared she might say no.

Regina's eyes filled with tears as her heart filled with joy. Her worst fear had dissipated in an instant. Roland didn't want to leave her, in fact, he loved her so much he wanted her to be his mother. She could almost feel Robin beaming down proudly at the two of them as she hugged him so tightly he was at risk of breaking a bone.

"Oh Roland, of course I'll be your mama," she cried through her tears, laughing slightly with giddiness. His face lit up like a Christmas tree and he threw his arms around her.

"I love you, Mama."

Regina sighed and nestled her face into his soft, brown curls which somehow still always smelled like Robin. This little boy who she had thought of as her son for so long was truly going to be hers and she vowed, just as she did with Henry, to give him a life of stability and love that had been cruelly taken from him. "I love you too."

All of a sudden, Zelena burst through the door. "I'm sorry to interrupt but we're about to do the cake!"

Regina quickly composed herself, with the help of a little magic, and take Roland's hand to lead him back outside. Everyone was gathered around to see the cake that Zelena herself had actually baked - Granny had a spare in the cupboard if it wasn't at all edible. In scrawly, pink piped letters it read 'Happy 1st Birthday Robyn'. For the first time all afternoon, her eldest son had left the company of his girlfriend and come to stand with his family. He must have been looking after his little sister for the time being as he carefully passed Rose back to her mother.

Holding her daughter carefully in one arm, Regina held her boys close to her. At that moment, she knew everything was going to be alright and the future was hopeful.

"The candle isn't lighted," Roland stated looking up towards the lopsided birthday cake.

Zelena smiled as Robyn was already trying to reach down out of her arms to paw at the frosting. "Allow me."

She closed her eyes and concentrated really hard for a moment and finally her palm set alight, eliciting gasps from the guests.

"How did-" Snow began to question but Regina simply shook her head, that was an answer that would have to wait for another moment. She proudly watched as her sister lit the single candle in the centre of the cake.

As the guests burst into a less than tuneful rendition of 'happy birthday', Regina clutched her sister's hand, letting her know that everything would be alright. The little girls in their arms, cousins and sisters, would grow up in a much different world than they did. They would be loved, and they would be supported. They could grow up to be whoever they wanted to be. They would always know they'd be cared for no matter what, they were a family.

When the singing ceased, Zelena leant forwards and blew the candle out on her daughter's behalf, but as soon as the flame had been extinguished, it was lit again. Regina looked towards her sister who protested, "it wasn't me!"

In between them, cheeky a one-year-old with red curls laughed hysterically at her new trick, causing everyone around her to laugh too. Her giggles were infectious.

"I think we're going to have some talented magical young women in our midst!" David called out from the crowd.

Regina looked out at the smiling faces of the people she once hated and couldn't have felt more joyous. After living so long feeling there was no way back, it was hard to believe how lucky she had been to get this second chance and finally have family and friends around her. She had people to love and people who loved her.

This was her home and though she hadn't always appreciated it, it was her happy beginning. As she huddled her children close to her, Regina looked up to the cloudless sky. She knew, without a doubt, that her outlaw who smelled like forest was beaming down proudly at them and always would be.