I Remember

Discharged

Regina

The next morning

I woke up to the sound of Robin's deep breathing, for once it was nice to get a full night of sleep that wasn't interrupted by a screaming newborn or a crazy old imp. "Good morning babe." He said, his voice warm and raspy, he refused to share the bed with me, claiming he was dying to sleep in the "comfy" pull out chair. "I have to say milady, you really missed out, this chair was extremely comfortable." He chuckled, popping his back, I giggled and reached out for him. "Thank you for staying with me." I murmured, he just smiled then stood up, kissing my head gently. "In sickness and in health." He smirked, I laughed and looked at my ring, it was untouched of blood and grime, sparkling under the dim lights. "I love you." I said, he leaned down and kissed me gently, he touched me as if I were breakable glass, ready to shatter. "Honey, what is it, why do you treat me so delicately, you don't have to worry about kissing me." I said tilting my head, he just pursed his lips and kissed my hand carefully. "It's just, I don't want to lose you, I can't bear the thought of it. You're my queen, and I don't want to lose you too." He croaked, I just smiled at him and then crashed my lips on his, tangling my fingers through his hair, the tape holding my IV's in sticking to his brown locks. "I will tell you the same thing I told our kids, I'm not leaving you behind because I love you too much."

Henry

I woke up in the rocker next to Penelope's crib where she was wailing for her breakfast. "Umph, morning already?" I groaned, taking her out of the crib, I looked down and I was covered in spit up, blood, dirt and baby pee, I gently placed her on the changing table and undid her pajamas, removing her soiled diaper and tossing it, replacing it with a clean one.

"Let's get you fed." I said pulling out the bottle that I had pre-made the night before, she fed like she had been starved for days, whimpering in delight as she clung to the bottle. My phone rang and I wearily answered it, praying that it was just my grandma reminding me to turn off the fans in my room. "Hey Henry, it's Robin, I was just wondering if you could pick us up from the hospital, your mom is getting discharged in an hour." He asked, I sighed then groaned as Penelope spit up on the singular clean spot on my shirt. "Yeah. I'll be there."

I quickly bathed my sister in the small plastic tub that my mom had cooed over a million times while she was pregnant. It was a sad feeling going through the stuff and getting rid of the replica of everything. We now only needed one set.

I bundled her in her warm winter clothes, the sleety rain sending shivers down my spine. "Ready to get mama!" I said putting her in the car seat, pulling the protective shade over her.

I pulled up to the hospital and saw my mom and Robin sitting on a bench together, gazing at each other like lovebirds, normally I would be happy for them but now I was too sleep deprived and cranky to watch. Robin unlocked the doors and helped my mom into the backseat with Penelope, then running around and climbing next to me.

"How are you feeling mom?" I asked looking into the rearview mirror, the color had returned to her face and she looked normal again, the quill working. She was gazing in the car seat and then reached over to tickle Penelope's stomach. "NO DON'T-" "WAAAHH!" I sighed and stopped at the red light, Penelope's infamous "I don't need anything but I'm here- cry" ringing through the car, the same cry that she had wailed fifty percent last night.

"What do I do! I made her cry! Robin!" My mom stuttered, Robin looked equally flustered and started reaching back and bumping my arm. I sighed and stopped the car on the side of the road. "Robin, I need you to drive." I said irritatedly, he moved to the other side and when he passed me he wrinkled his nose and looked at me. I ignored him and walked around to the other side of the car, taking Penelope from my mother's arms, she immediately stopped crying and started sleeping again, I reached over and placed her in the car seat, returning to my spot up front.