Shattered

Sealed

Regina

I awoke to the sound of wheels rolling into the hospital room, causing Eliza to groan and open her eyes, the sound of baby gurgles filling the room.

"Hello sunshine." She cooed softly, looking over at the nurse who carefully handed her over, leaving us alone in the room. "She's precious." I commented, gently rubbing her cheek with my finger, smiling up at my other half who seemed to be glowing with joy.

"She's a miracle." She whispered, leaning back on the pillow tiredly, I chuckled and nodded in response. "Do you want to hold her? Since she's not all slippery now." Eliza chuckled, making me nod and slide my arms under the squirming infant and pull her close to my chest.

"Look at you." I whispered, rocking her gently as she blinked slowly and stared up at me tiredly. "Thank you." I heard Eliza whisper from her bed, her voice small as she tried to maintain her weeping.

"It was nothing, and you did great today. You and I both really know how to deliver a baby." I chuckled, looking over at the Queen, but she shook her head at me and smoothed the thin hospital gown fabric down onto her deflating stomach, pulling her robe tighter. "I meant, thank you for believing in me. You gave me a second chance when I didn't deserve it, and you saw the good in me that nobody else did. Plus, when Daniel died, you took me in and supported me throughout my pregnancy, honestly, I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for you." She confessed, her face beaming as she smiled softly in my direction, tears stung the back of my eyes as I tried to compose myself in front of her.

"I split us, I thought that there was something inside me that was awful, and I was wrong. Completely and one hundred percent. I'm sorry that I separated us in an attempt to get rid of you. But, I got something better in return, you're a part of the family, you're someone who knows me better than anyone, and I'm lucky to have been able to get to know you. I see your value, your worth, and I am so glad that I failed at crushing your heart that night." I revealed, scooting beside her on the bed, making her smile and cup my cheeks with her icy hands, her iv brushing against my face.

"I love you, Regina, thank you for allowing me to have my daughter." She wept, sniffling as a chuckle came out of her mouth, scooping her baby back into her arms.

"I love you too, but you were the one who brought this baby into the world! You pushed her little head out and man was that frightening. You're a mother again, and you did it for yourself. You found love again, and you were able to have this baby on your own terms, and you didn't have to kidnap any baby to do so. I'm very proud of you for it." I smiled, watching the baby gurgle while being laid against Eliza's knees, her eyes looking up at her mother brightly.

"She has his eyes, and I can already tell that she's room to be patient and gentle like him." She sighed, staring at her child with a bittersweet look in her eyes, gently tracing each feature over with her chocolate irises.

"I know you wished he was here, but you survived ten years of raising Henry all on your own, and he's a marvelous man now." I reminded, causing her to scoff and wiggle her finger into her daughter's strong grip. "But I had you, and your level head and kindness, I'm just me." She cried doubtfully, staring at the tiny life that she had created, and was now fully responsible for.

"You will still have me, granted, we won't be living inside of one another, but I will be there to help, we all will. Alena is great with babies, hell, she delivered two of mine, and she's is fantastic with Evelyn." I pointed out, making her chew on her lip and smile towards me. "I hope she sees me as a part of her life, maybe not a mother, but at least as a family member." She whispered, obviously thinking about how Daniel would have liked her to approach her relationship with our daughter.