"This isn't why I spoke to you tonight," he whispered, trailing his fingertip down her spine, eyes on the digit though his focus was on her. She was laying on her front, still beautifully bare with her cheek pressed into her pillow, face turned towards him. She didn't answer but her silence encouraged him on. "I don't regret it happening," his lips curled as he laughed softly, "not in the slightest but," he moved back up her back, "I just don't want you to think that I set out to seduce you."

She chuckled lowly, "and who says it was you that seduced me?"

"Touché," he gave back, leaning down to press a kiss to her bare shoulder and pulling a warm hum of contentment from her. "I just found myself entranced by you," he continued, lips brushing her soft skin, "I had to talk to you."

Her eyes crinkled with her smile as she nuzzled her head in further against the pillow, almost shyly before she replied "well," and steeled herself for the confession, "I'm glad you did."

His head lifted at that as he asked "you are?" with a smile that reeked of a hope they weren't allowed to have.

Still though, despite knowing she was soon going to have to say goodbye to him, she nodded and replied "I am."

He breathed a tender laugh before encouraging her to roll onto her side with a gentle palm on her side and whispering "good" against her lips before capturing them in a deep and lingering kiss that had her sighing and melting into him.

She felt sick to her stomach as she looked at the very man she'd spent the last month and a half searching for only to have him standing before her, smiling as though he hadn't altered her entire universe 8 weeks ago - of course, he didn't actually know that he had but still.

"You two know each other?"

Robin's smile widened as he replied with a coy "You could say that."

When no one commented any further - Regina was simply too stunned to do anything more than swallow her nausea down - Emma laughed awkwardly and drawled a slow "Okay then…" before she moved towards the two chairs that Regina had put out for them both and asked "shall we get this over with?" and when her friend only remained staring, lost in her thoughts, Emma prompted "Regina."

The brunette startled, jumping on the spot before her brain seemed to catch up with her reality and she moved to stand behind her desk, working at pulling her mask back into place. It wouldn't do to fall apart now. "What did you want to discuss, Sheriff?"

"Well," Emma sighed as she dropped down into her chair, smiling politely as she waited for Robin to do the same, before she continued "I was going to introduce my new deputy but it seems you too have already met before," Regina could hear the subtle underlying question that she would no doubt be asked later, "so it's really just a case of going over our plan for the Winter Festival."

Regina internally groaned, with all that had been going on - with the tiny person now growing inside of her - she'd completely forgotten about the Winter Festival. "In all honesty, I haven't really had a chance to properly think about it."

"Well then," Emma shrugged, "allow us to help. In all honesty, the only thing we need you to do is sign the zoning permit and show up on the night and give one of those wonderfully interesting speeches you're so good at giving."

"Both your input and your sarcasm has been noted," she replied, pulling a chuckle from the two opposite her. "But I will most certainly accept the out, thank you." And then, "Are you sure you have the time though? It's not the smallest of tasks."

"You're forgetting I have one of the most organised and dangerous party planners on my side."

Regina outwardly groaned that time.

"Now, now Madam Mayor" Regina's eyes automatically found Robin's at that - he was smirking at her, those dimples denying his cheeks - before she quickly looked back at Emma, "you promised to play nice after last year's debacle."

Regina's lips parted as she exclaimed "That was not my fault!"

"Oh no," Emma drawled sarcastically, "the cotton candy just jumped from your hand and found its way into her hair."

"The details of that day escape me," Regina waved Emma off, "I can barely remember it now."

The blonde snorted a laugh, "Sure." She cleared her throat, shaking off the moment thankfully before turning to Robin and asking "do you have any questions for either of us?"

He looked to Emma, nodding "I do," before turning to Regina and asking "Do you have any kind of facilities in which I could arrange after-school activities for the kids of Storybrooke? You know," he elaborated, "sports and social events? I wasn't quite sure if any had already been instated."

Full lips parted, she hadn't been expecting that, before Regina replied "Uh...not that I know of."

"The school offers soccer practice and gymnastics on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Emma supplied.

Robin nodded, unimpressed if his expression was anything to go by, "That's great but I meant something that's more for the children, a place away from school and home that they can go to for a few hours and get both the exercise and the break that they need."

"And you'd run this? As well as being a deputy to the Sheriff?" Regina asked. In all honesty, she was a little impressed at his initiative.

He nodded, a small smile gracing his face. "I'd spend my free time fixing a place up, making sure it's safe and accessible for both children and parents and then, once it had been deemed appropriate by you Madam Mayor" a chill ran through her at that - she didn't miss the glint in his eyes that told her he knew exactly what he was doing - "I'd hold interviews for permanent staff and supervise when I was able in between shifts."

Regina's eyebrows rose, she couldn't help but feel impressed - and a little touched that his first thought was for the children of Storybrooke - and so she nodded slowly, "I think that, as long as it won't affect your work as Deputy-"

"It won't, I promise."

She couldn't help her smile, "then I don't see any reason why not." And then, "I believe I can give you the number of the best person to help in terms of finding the optimum space for it if you'd like?"

His smile widened in response, blue eyes bright as he replied with a genuine "thank you," his gaze lingering upon her own in a way that had her stomach fluttering with something other than nausea.

"Sounds like a plan," Emma interrupted the moment - had it been a moment? - with a slap of her palms on her jean clad thighs as she sat forward in her seat and asked "is that everything?"

Both Robin and Regina startled and looked to the blonde - there was a smirk not on her lips but certainly in her eyes that had Regina growing weary - nodding as Regina found her voice first. "Yes, I think so." She dropped her gaze to the files in front of her before looking back up and smiling politely at the two, mask dragged back into place once again, "we can set up another meeting in a couple of weeks to see how things are progressing."

"Aye, ate Captain," Emma saluted her, pulling a chuckle from Robin and glare from Regina before she stood from her seat and asked "dinner at the Granny's tonight?"

She knew it was, they did it every Wednesday night without question and so instantly the Mayor was able to understand that she was more than likely telling Robin where it was they were going to be later - where it was Regina was going to be later - without physically telling him. Still, despite her suspicion, Regina answered with a definitive "I'll be there."

She dropped her keys onto the side table with a heavy sigh as she leant back against the front door to close it, eyes closed and head tilting back to rest against the whitewashed wood. He was here and he was here to stay.

She hadn't been able to get him off of her mind - not that she'd gone a day since he'd left without thinking about him, even before she'd found out that she was pregnant - since their meeting and she just knew that Emma was going to grill her about the awkward and charged exchange in her office. In all honesty, if it weren't for Henry, she probably would've begged tonight off and simply taken herself to bed for a long hot bath and a de-stress but she'd never cancelled on her godson and she certainly wasn't going to start now.

"Is that you, sis?"

A small chuckle rumbled in her throat at that as she shook her head and pushed up and off the door, slipping her heels off as she went with absolutely no intention of putting them in the closet in that moment. "Who else could it be?" She leaned against the kitchen door upon hearing the gentle clanging of pans and found Zelena putting away the dishes that had been drying upon the rack since that morning. "You have a love interest I don't know about?"

"I wish," the redhead muttered, reaching up onto her toes to put the soup pan away before closing the cupboard door and turning to rest her hip against the counter. "Good day at the office?"

"He's here." The words were out of her mouth before she'd even had time to process them, the need to tell someone overwhelming with how she'd had to keep it in for the past 6 hours.

Still, Zelena's brow furrowed as she asked confusedly "Who's here?"

Regina straightened up, "Robin."

Vibrant blue eyes widened as her sister asked, "Robin, the father of your unborn child, Robin?"

"Bullseye."

Zelena's lips parted in surprise, "Well shit."

"My sentiments exactly."

"How did you find out?" The redhead's arms folded over her chest, brow furrowing curiously, "did you run into him? See him through a shop window? How?"

She sighed heavily, shifting to rest tiredly against the door jamb once more. "He's the new deputy sheriff."

"You're joking!" Zelena exclaimed before gasping when Regina replied with a humourless laugh and I wish I was, "well what the hell are you going to do?"

Her eyebrows rose as she shrugged and breathed "That is the million dollar question, isn't it?"

"Well, you have to-"

"All that I have to do right now is get ready and go meet Emma and Henry for dinner," she exhaled a heavy breath, "we can talk about it later, okay?"

"I'll wait up," Zelena replied assuredly.

Regina breathed a laugh before intoning "I'm sure you will," as she pushed off from the door jamb and made her way towards the staircase.

The diner was a little quieter than it usually was, the colder weather no doubt drawing out the secret chefs in patrons and keeping them indoors. She was glad that she'd grabbed one of her thicker coats before leaving but still almost sighed in relief at the feeling of the warm air washing over her the moment she stepped through the door.

They were in their usual booth at the back of the diner, right by the window and she smiled at the sight of Emma rubbing the top of Henry's head with her knuckles as he fought to get out from the hold she had around his neck with her other arm.

Regina gave a quick wave to Granny behind the counter before making her way over to the booth, unbuttoning her coat as she went and weaving through the chairs and tables on her way. In all honesty, she was glad she'd come. If she'd stayed, she'd have no doubt locked herself away in her room and thought of nothing but Ro-

"Hello again."

Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice, lips parting in surprise at the sight of him sitting in the very seat she usually did. "Robin…"

"Auntie Regina!" Henry cried, having finally escaped his mother's grip and catching sight of her.

"Oh, Jesus kid!" Emma groaned on a laugh as her son tried to clamber over her, "I'll just move shall I?" She laughed once more when he paid her no mind and just slid from the booth once she'd moved out of the way so that he could reach Regina.

Her gaze moved over to her godson, warming the instant he wrapped his arms around her waist - her pregnancy was going to be a little harder to hide once her belly swelled even only a little more - as she wrapped her own around him in return. "Hi, sweetheart."

He grinned up at her before nuzzling his head against her chest - she tried not to squirm with how sensitive she was at the moment, his movements drawing a little pain. She'd never push him away, not for anything - her eyes found Robin's over his head. Her stomach lurched at the way he was smiling at her, at the pair of them, kind blue eyes moving over them both. She could only stare in return.

"Okay, Henry!" Emma chuckled, "How about we let Regina breathe, yeah?"

"Oh," he laughed as he pulled back from her, looking up at her sheepishly, "sorry."

She shook her head, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead before straightening out with a warm smile and telling him "You don't ever have to say sorry for giving me a hug like that, okay?"

He grinned and nodded, "Okay."

"Robin happened to be here when I arrived so I thought he could join us tonight," Emma explained as Henry moved to sit back down and she slid back into the booth beside him, barely containing her smirk as she asked "that okay with you?"

"Of course it is," Regina laughed the question off, her brow furrowed as though Emma was being absurd but inside she was screaming, especially as she realised that she'd be sitting beside him for the next hour or so, trying to make calm and coherent conversation. "I just need to uh…" she nodded with her head towards the bathrooms and smiled awkwardly as she dropped her coat onto the booth and muttered "if you'll excuse me."

She ran a hand through her hair as she let the bathroom door shut behind her, making sure to readjust her pencil skirt over the slight curve of her stomach so that it rested at her waist. She'd spent the last ten minutes curled over the sink attempting to curb her nerves and the nausea swirling in her gut. It wouldn't do to her sick here, not when questions that were unanswerable in present company could be asked.

Inhaling a steadying breath through her nose, she steeled herself for what was to come before yelping softly when a hand curled around her upper arm and tugged her into the shadows.

"What the hell are you-" the realisation that it was Robin who'd grabbed her, a smile curling at his lips as he looked her over, had her faltering for only a moment before she cleared her throat with a light cough and asked "what are you doing here?"

"I haven't had a chance to speak to you alone yet."

"I meant here in Storybrooke," his hands were on her waist having fallen to rest there upon pulling her close and she wasn't quite sure what to make of the fact that she felt absolutely no desire to push him away. "You could've told me that you were going to be the new town deputy! You left town!"

"I'd had the interview for the position that morning," he explained quietly, "I didn't see the point in leaving right away so I stayed the night."

"So you thought you'd seduce me and leave without telling me that you could or couldn't be the new deputy Sheriff!"

He lifted his hands defensively, "In all honesty I didn't think I was going to get the job," and then, because the idiot couldn't help flirting with her, he grinned "and anyway," he moved a hand to the wall behind her to support him as he leaned closer, "I thought it was you that seduced me?"

Her eyes automatically dropped to his lips as she fell back against the wall, shrinking away from him despite the echoes of arousal already thrumming through her with having him so close again. He smelt good. "Th-that's beyond the point." She gasped when he lifted his free hand and cupped her cheek, his thumb moving gently over her bottom lip.

"I've thought of nothing but these lips since the morning I left," he whispered, feeling her shuddered breath as it washed over the tip of his thumb, "and your expressive eyes," his own eyes fluttered closed as he drew closer to her, encouraged by the way she tilted her head upwards, "I've dreamt of nothing else."

The moment their lips touched, a whimper sounded in her throat. It felt right - certainly right enough to have her forgetting that they were currently hidden away very poorly in a shadowed corner opposite the women's toilets, visible to any who should look their way - as she opened her mouth to him at the feeling of his tongue licking at the seam of her lips. An arm lifted of its own accord, her hand moving to cup the back of his head with fingers threading through the short hair there as her other hand grabbed at the leather covering his side.

His own hand slid up from her cheek and into her hair, keeping her in place as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss further.

She was practically vibrating in his arms, desperate for breath yet hungry for all that he could give her. It was intoxicating, he was intoxicating.

A moan rumbled in his throat when he allowed the hand he'd had on the small of her back - having trailed it around from her side to her back - moved down to knead at her rear before sliding even further down the back of her thigh to the bend of her knee as he tugged gently at it and smiled against her lips when she got the hint and lifted her leg to hook it over his hip, allowing him to get even closer to her.

He wanted her, she could feel it in the generous bulge that filled his jeans and, with the slickness she could feel in her panties as she shifted against him, she couldn't deny that she wanted him too - desperately.

Still though, they were in public. Something made very clear when the sound of a throat being cleared had them both pulling apart and turning their heads to find Granny throwing them quite the unimpressed glare.

"This is a place of business," she warned them, "and not that kind."

"Sorry, Granny," Regina muttered as she allowed her leg to fall and pushed at Robin's chest to put some space between them. He didn't go far though with his fingertips still brushing her waist.

The old woman merely grunted in response, watching them for a moment longer before taking the corner to the kitchen and leaving them both flustered and red-faced.

"Well that was…"

"Awkward as hell?" Regina supplied with a breathless laugh, trying not to lose herself in his lust-darkened eyes. His lips were swollen and pink - God, she wanted to bite at them - and his hair was dishevelled. He looked good.

"You could say that again," he agreed on a laugh before he grew quiet, a gentle smile remaining as he lifted a hand to brush soft fingers through her hair, righting it for her. "I don't want you to think that this was my intention in following you, Regina or in taking the job at all." That hand slid down to cup her cheek in a way that she found strangely comforting, "It was certainly an aspect of it, believe me," he chuckled, "but this wasn't the plan."

Her head tilted heavier into his hand, "And just what was the plan?" It astounded her how quickly she'd been drawn to this man once more despite barely knowing him.

"A fresh start in a new town."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Running from something?"

He shook his head with a gentle laugh, those eyes trailing over her features as he confessed "It feels more like I'm running towards something."

"What took you guys so long?" Henry asked the moment they neared the booth, his own suspicions far more PG than his mother's if the wry smile on Emma's face was anything to go by. Regina ignored the blonde completely however and instead smiled at her godson as she slipped into the booth.

"The line for the bathroom was big, sweetheart."

"Oh, okay," he smiled, easier to placate than his mother whose gaze was unwavering. Regina ignored her however and began studiously looking through a menu she knew like the back of her hand, tamping down her blush when Robin slipped in beside her, sitting much closer than was necessary.

"Do you know what you want to eat?" She tried to keep from jumping in surprise when Robin's hand found her knee beneath the table, his thumb rubbing over her jeans. Her gaze instantly shot to the two across from her to find Henry engrossed in his drawings and Emma engrossed in her.

The blonde's eyebrows were raised as she looked between the two of them - Robin was genuinely interested in the menu having never been in here before and so had absolutely no idea of the looks passing between the two women - and her lips pursed in a poorly contained grin that told Regina she knew exactly what had been going on.

"Can I have a cheeseburger?"

Henry stole her attention for a moment as she asked, "With what on the side?" much to his dismay and Emma's amusement. They'd always had this kind of back and forth, this same argument ever since Henry was old enough to understand that he disliked most things green and adored fries just like his mother.

The two stared one another down across the table - catching Robin's amused attention also - a battle of expressions that Henry knew he would never win even as he kept strong. It was only when a smile began curling his lips that he broke with a laugh and bargained "If I have salad on the side can I have some fries too?"

The brunette's head tilted as her lips pursed with her smile. "Do you promise to finish your salad?" He nodded vigorously, pulling a laugh from them all before she shrugged and sighed, "and here was me thinking you were going to split my chocolate sundae with me."

As expected, Henry's eyes lit up as he asked "Really!?"

Regina shrugged once more, feigning disappointment as she pointed out, "You can't have fries and chocolate sundae though so," she sighed, "I guess someone else will have to help me eat it."

"I volunteer!"

"No, pick me!" Robin and Emma both feigned excitement, throwing an arm into the arm and shifting restlessly in their seats.

"I don't have to have fries…"

All three turned to him with lips parted and eyes overdramatically wide as Emma asked "But...you couldn't possibly survive on a cheeseburger and salad alone!"

"Mom!" he whined on a laugh, "stop making fun."

"Seriously though," she sobered after a moment, eyebrows raised, "you're going to just have salad?"

He eyed her suspiciously, "As long as I can have some of Auntie Regina's sundae afterwards."

"I'm not trying to trick you, kid."

"Good," and then, as he looked across the table at Regina, he asked, "so can I? Please?"

She chuckled softly before striking a deal, "As long as you eat all of your side salad and don't rush through it, I'd be happy to share my sundae with you, sweetheart."

Henry grinned, "Awesome!" before turning to his mother and engaging her in a conversation about burgers.

Regina's head turned when she felt a gentle squeeze upon her knee, still a little unsure of what to make of Robin having not had so much as a lengthy conversation since their night together.

"You're great with him," he complimented with a soft smile that had his dimples just barely denting his cheeks, "it's rather sexy."

"You find me disciplining my godson sexy?" she asked in disbelief.

"Regina Mills," he intoned, leaning a little closer and drawing her gaze to his lips, "I find absolutely everything about you sexy," her cheeks burned with a blush, "but seeing your maternal side, the way you are with him, it just...I don't know," his own eyes dropped to her lips, "does things to me."

Her exhale came out on a shaky breath as her lips parted and she subconsciously drew closer to him.

"Are you two gonna kiss?"

They shot apart, both turning their heads to find Henry frowning at them with a grimace as Emma only tried to choke down her laughter. "I, uh…"

"Are you blushing, Auntie Regina?!"

"I think she is, kid."

"Oh my god."

"Are you all ready to order?"

Regina let out a relieved breath at Ruby's appearance, trying to calm her burning cheeks as she studiously ignored Emma and hoped to distract Henry. She couldn't quell the realisation however that she was about to let Robin kiss her...in front of the two most important people in her life. What did that mean exactly?