Hi, guys, I'm back with a new chapter! I'm so so sorry it took so long, but I should be able to update more quickly from now on.

Anyway, I hope this chapter worth the wait. Thanks for the reading!


Chapter 9. Back to Where We Began

They are sitting on the couch, Robin in the right corner so he could support his injured arm on the arm of the furniture, while Regina remains on the left side, pretending to watch the movie on tv as they wait for the knock on the door that would announce the arrival of their son.

They'd come straight home as soon as they finished the talk with Mother Superior about Henry, and after many vain attempts from Regina to convince Robin that they should ask Graham for help, he'd kept his opinion that he couldn't ask anything to that man and definitely wouldn't ask or allow Regina to do that for him. There's no way.

So for the past twenty minutes, Robin has just been trying to distract himself from the urge he feels of wrapping his arm around Regina and pull her closer to him, in an attempt to wipe the insecurity of her beautiful features and assure her that they could deal with that on their own and that they don't need Graham to help Henry. They will help Henry.

But if he sees the gesture as a simple, reassuring one, he's not so sure she sees it the same way and against his better instincts, he keeps his hands to himself, knowing better than pushing her, because he's lucky she'd finally agreed to make their relationship work, and she isn't running away from him anymore, so he won't spoil everything because of that sheriff again. Everything would have to be done at the proper pace to make sure she wouldn't run away again.

"Robin..." he hears her calling, knowing that it'll be another attempt to start the same conversation that they'd been discussing since they left that group home, and honestly, Robin can't take it anymore, he won't change his opinion and the answer will still be no, regardless of what she would say.

"Regina, we already talked about this," he sighs, keeping his eyes on the tv screen as he stops her from whatever she'd say, "I need you to trust me and please, give me time."

What she can do? She knows him and knows that if she keeps pushing him, his patience will probably run out and they'll end up arguing about something that she doesn't want to do either, she just wants to help the boy that somehow helped her back then.

So she just remains staring at him, slowly nodding as she knows he can see her from the corner of his eye, and she focuses her attention back on the movie, trying to keep her mind off that issue, even if it's just for a while.

They remain in silence for the following moments, exchanging looks, but nothing more than that, since Robin had managed to stick to himself, grabbing one of the pillows on the couch and it's not Regina, but it's enough to ease Robin's mind until the sound of the bell echoes through the house, causing Regina to leave her seat as quickly as she can to receive her little son after his day at school.

"Hey, how was your day?" she asks with a smile on her face, scooping him up in her arms and giving him a kiss on the cheek before he could run away towards the living room to greet his father, "You won't give me a kiss?"

She doesn't have to ask twice. In a swift move, the little boy wraps his arms around her neck and places a kiss on her cheek, giving her a hug at the same time, before he pulls back with a pout on his lips, staring at his mother's eyes as he asks, "Is papa feeling better?"

She can't help but smile. He's so young and he still doesn't understand everything, but seeing how he cares about Robin and remembering how difficult it was to get him out of the bed to go to school that day because he wanted to take care of his papa, makes her heart flutter. They are raising an amazing kid, she realizes.

"He's great and will feel even better when he sees you," she answers, placing Roland back on the floor so he could finally run towards the living room, leaving his mother at the door with the woman who'd brought him, and the happy laughs of the three-year-old as the background noise.

At least the house it's not in complete silence, she can hear father and son laughing when she's sure that, despite the doctor's orders, Robin picks him up with his good arm, and he still wonders why he needs the sling. At least it stops him from doing movements like that with his injured arm.

But apart from the boys playing in the living room, there's no other source of sound in that house, and the foyer where Regina was left by her son remains in an awkward silence as the two women stare at each other.

"I have to say I was surprised when you asked me to bring Roland," Emma breaks the silence, remaining at the front door without taking another step to enter the brunette's house.

They haven't really spoken since the day Emma told Regina she always knew about Robin, and their friendship had been damaged since then, but Emma is the best friend Regina has in this town, and they both want to fix things.

"Yeah, I need to talk to you," Regina replies, crossing her arms in front of her chest and stepping aside to allow the other woman to enter the house, "I hope Roland hasn't been a problem."

"Of course not! He's great," Emma assures with a smile on her lips as she follows her friend towards the living room, frowning discreetly when she spots the same blue-eyed man Regina had told her finding impossible to keep a relationship with. But he's there, standing in front of her with a sling on his arm and Roland on the other, who protests and whines when Regina places him back on the floor to keep him away from Robin's arm.

"I told you daddy can't pick you up for a while, sweetie," Regina explains, glancing at her husband at the same time, annoyed that he makes her be the bad guy when he knows very well that he can't lift any weight, "go play with your toys."

They need to talk to Emma, about their relationship, about their work, and maybe they can even tell her about Henry, it'd be one more help, and since they don't want to rely on the sheriff, maybe the blonde could help them.

So they watch as the boy runs upstairs, leaving the three adults to talk in the living room, the couple taking up the couch while Emma settles herself on the armchair.

"Emma, we need to know," Regina starts, wasting no time because the sooner they figure out a way to help their relationship, the sooner they can start to focus hundred percent on the boy, "Does Gold knows about you and Killian?"

Straight to the point. It's important for her to know since if Gold didn't know, Regina wouldn't tell him about her and Robin either, but if he did know, then maybe there's a way to keep her job and her family at the same time.

"He knows," Emma nods, confirming Regina's suspicious about the whole thing. But how she'd convinced that stubborn man to leave them in peace, knowing Killian's job? She can almost say that Emma had been lucky. Gold isn't easy to convince, even more when such thing could put his company at risk, but apparently something had made him change his mind, "I can tell you he wasn't happy when he found out, but we wouldn't give up on our happiness."

Regina knows she's saying that to make them believe in the same thing. They couldn't give up on their happiness, but in their case, it wasn't even about happiness anymore, it was about their family, especially their son, who is not guilty of anything.

"I'm pretty sure Gold doesn't know about you yet, so let me just tell you to keep it that way as long as you can," Emma continues, drawing the couple's attention to her, "It's not worth it to put him against you until you have a way to convince him otherwise."

She's right, they need time to think about something and they will have the time to it as long as Gold doesn't find about them. So silence is a key, now they need to know how they can make him see their relationship will not be a threat.

"What did you do to convince him?" Robin asks, eager to come up with a way to save their relationship. He's willing to do anything. He'll face such Gold if he needs to, he just wants to have a normal life with Regina again, where they don't have to run away from their companies.

"We made a deal with him," Emma explains, giving a knowing look to Regina that leaves Robin wondering if there's something important that he should know about the two women's boss. He's sure he's a powerful man, Robin doesn't even question that, but the look his wife is sharing with her friend tells him that they know how the man can be persuaded, and Robin just needs to know what is crossing through their minds for him to get out of the door and show that man that no one will keep him apart from his family. He'll do what he has to if that means they can go back to their old life.

"A deal?" Robin asks, shifting his gaze between his wife beside him and the blonde woman on the armchair on the other side of the room, "What kind of deal?"

"There's just one thing that can possibly make Gold listen to you and that would be a deal," Regina explains before Emma could say anything to answer Robin's question. But her explanation is not enough and just leaves Robin with a puzzled look on his face, asking his wife to elaborate because he doesn't know the man, and he's not understanding a thing she is trying to tell him, "Gold is a difficult person. He doesn't care about anyone and doesn't give anything without getting something in return, so if we want to get to him, we will need more than a simple talk to try to appeal to his human heart."

"Alright, we will ask him what he wants to leave you in peace," Robin offers, reaching for her hand and breathing in relief when she doesn't try to push him away, instead, she actually interlaces their fingers together, right before she shifts a little to face him.

"It's not that simple, Robin, he'll not just ask you for something," she replies, caressing his hand, and Robin is almost sure he can spot a bit of disappointment in her brown eyes, "you have to know what he wants, or have something that you can use against him. That's the problem here. We don't have any of those things."

"Regina, I'm sure we can figure it out something," Robin quickly assures, shifting his gaze to Emma, who just watches the scene, not really wanting to interrupt when herself doesn't have much for them to rely on, "Emma, how did you do it? What did you offer to him?"

"Well, I did nothing," she answers sincerely, noticing the puzzled look on the blue-eyed man's face, "I can understand Regina. Our job is important and Gold is not someone with whom you can play with," she explains, shifting her gaze to her co-worker, who nods slowly, a sad expression settling on her features at the prospect that they can't do anything. They just can wait and see if they are as lucky as Emma, "But I was lucky enough to have a crazy boyfriend to stand up for me and show his woman's boss what he was willing to fight for."

"I will gladly do the same for Regina,"

"Emma!" Regina interrupts Robin, who had been quick to reply, tightening his grip on his wife's hand and moving slightly to sit on the edge of the couch, eager to know the rest. Regina knows Emma is teasing Robin, she's sure he would do anything for her, but she's not a damsel in distress and she hates to don't have a say in this, "I can fight my own battles," she says annoyed, rolling her eyes and releasing her hand from Robin's.

"Regina, it's not just your battle, it's ours," Robin protests, ignoring the sigh coming from the brunette beside him and focusing his attention on her friend, "And I will help. Emma, can I ask what deal did you do with him?"

She nods, wincing when she notices the pointed look coming from her best friend, but she asked for help, right? And that's exactly what she's trying to do.

"Killian just made Gold see that he was a threat like anybody else that knows about our company would be," she explains, chuckle as she continues, "Not the best approach, but it worked," yes, it was dangerous to threaten Gold that way, but at least will get the job done, "He proposed that he wouldn't do anything that could damage our company if Gold would leave us with our relationship."

"If he'd tried something against us, I would deal with him myself," Regina rolls her eyes, earning a smile from the blonde, who after four years knew very well the temperament of her best friend. Stubborn, determined, but those were the things that make her one of the best professionals in her area.

"Yes, I believe that. But the truth is, Gold stepped back and never spoke about us again," Emma says pleased, shifting her attention to Robin, who, for the look on his face, is trying to come up with something to face the feared boss, "So, what do you say, Robin? Ready to claim what is yours?"

"Emma," Regina warns again, and it's not just because she doesn't want Robin to feel he's the one who has to solve everything, but even because she's not anyone's property and she doesn't need to be seen that way by her boss.

"This could work, Regina," Robin tries, looking deeply into her brown orbs, not giving up for a second against the apprehension in her eyes, "I can deal with him."

"I don't want you to deal with him!" Regina protests, sighing and shaking her head before she focuses her eyes on his again, "I want us to do that together," her voice is much softer now, as a request, begging him to listen to her. She will not let him take every problem that can come with this plan. She wants to protect him as much as he wants to protect her, and let him solve everything on his own is insane and not Regina Mill's type.

"I don't want to put you in a bad spot with your boss," he replies, bringing his hand to her cheek and stroking her skin.

"Believe me, I can do that to myself, I don't need you for that," she smirks, breathing in relief when he laughs.

The last thing she wants is making him think she can't take care of herself when it comes to her boss, but it's not the first time she has to deal with Gold and it helps a little that she's one of his employees that he isn't willing to let escape to competition. So she's sure she will deal better with him than Robin, even if her husband is trying to protect her from stand up against her boss and probably get in trouble.

"We will think about this, okay?" he says, and she nods, knowing that they shouldn't decide something this big without thinking about it first, "As Emma said, we have time as long as he doesn't know about us, right?"

"Right," the blonde agrees, offering them a reassuring smile before she stands up, straightening her jeans and informing them she should be going. They will want to talk about this and the way her relationship with Regina is, she doesn't want to impose her presence more than the necessary.

To her surprise, the brunette approaches her and opens her arms for a hug, thanking her for everything and saying that they will talk later, about their fight and maybe telling her everything about Henry. At least she's willing to straight things out, Emma thinks.

"It was good to see you, Robin," the blonde offers, and Regina considers if she's saying that as a simple way to say goodbye, or if she means something more with those words, like she's glad to see them working on their relationship. Either way, she pushes away her thoughts and walks with Emma towards the door, smiling and shaking her head when she notices her friend at the bottom of the stairs, shouting to their boy in his room, "Bye, kid."

###

The week goes by fast, with Regina getting back to work while Robin works from home due to his injured arm that he claims is almost healed, but Regina is more stubborn and practically forbade him from leaving the house, with a little help of Emma, who would always inform her if the blue-eyed man stepped into his office and was unlucky enough to be spotted by Killian.

So he had given up on trying after two days, choosing to focus on finding a way to help Henry rather than finding a way into the building. He'd study all the information they had about Malcolm over and over again, but they'd nothing new and Robin was starting to lose his patience to wait for more news. What if the kid was in danger?

He finds himself having dinner in front of the computer, checking his email countless times, once he doesn't have Regina's or Roland's company that Friday night. She'd informed him she would take advantage and would stay late in the office after Roland's request to have a sleepover in Mary Margaret's, and Robin didn't protest, he was tired, had spent most of his day at the hospital waiting to know if he could finally get rid of the sling, and he was more than pleased to know this would be the first night he would be sleeping without that strap in his arm.

So when Regina opens the front door of their house at 10PM that night, she's welcomed with nothing more than silence. And dark. The lights are out, Robin had just left the lamps on the porch on, and when she closes the white surface behind her, she is left in complete darkness. Not that she minds, she will just leave her purse on the hooks by the door, lowering herself to remove her high-heeled shoes that click on the floor every time she takes a step, and turns to the stairs, going back immediately when the ring of her phone echoes through the house.

"Yes?" she whispers to the device, bothered that the annoyed music of her ringtone could be enough to wake the sleeping man upstairs, "Gold?"

There's a slight irritation in her voice, and curiosity. She'd been in the office not even 15 minutes ago and has her boss already bothering her at 10PM on a Friday night. Did she forget something?

"I believe you had time to get home, how's your husband doing without the sling?"

She can spot a smirk in his voice, but she's completely frozen at the realization that he knows about Robin. He knows he's her husband, knows about the incident and probably had known for a long time.

She's so stupid, how she believed she could hide this from him all this time? He's powerful, has more contacts than anyone else in this town, and unfortunately for them, many people already know she's married to Robin. Too many people by the looks of it.

"How did you know?" she spats, forgetting for a moment about her husband sleeping upstairs.

"Relax, dearie, I was just trying to be polite," at least she remembers to move to the living room because if he will keep with his games, she'll just forget he's her boss, "And I have my ways."

She was already expecting that response. Of course he wouldn't tell her how did he find out, but why he'd decided to let her know only now? Was he planning something?

The fear took hold of her, replacing the anger she was feeling a few seconds ago towards who or whatever had let that information reach her boss. She just wished they could have told him and convince him sooner. Now he had everything on his side and she's sure he doesn't really care about if Robin could be a threat to his company when he can take care of him himself. Robin is not hundred percent and Gold knows that, which just leaves them even more vulnerable.

"What do you want?" she asks, gripping tightly the phone in her hand, the other resting on her forehead as she paces the room.

"You're so nervous that I'm almost afraid to let you know about a certain little boy."

And then she stops. Henry. He's talking about Henry. He knows about the boy too? And why he's not helping her to find him? She always thought their job was to help people.

"You have to tell me everything you know," she tries, as if that way she will get the information she wants, the information she needs to find him. She doesn't even know if he actually has something to tell her, or if he just knows the same as her. Maybe he's just using that against her, to get whatever he wants from them now that he knows the truth.

"Why would I do that when you hide things from me too?" he replies, getting on her nerves and she doesn't know if she's angry or scared. Maybe both things, "I can always keep that information to me."

"Gold!"

"Regina?" she hears from behind her, the familiar voice causing her to stop her talk and turn around to find Robin staring at her, his arm free of the sling just as her boss had told her, and his chest deprived of any shirt, that on another occasion would make her drop everything to just be wrapped in his arms.

But not now, now she has to do something to help Henry and she knows exactly what it has to be.

"Robin, I'm sorry," she whispers, hanging up the phone with a last 'Regina' coming from her boss, right before she heads towards the entrance, putting on her shoes again and picking up her purse until Robin halt her movements with a hand on her wrist.

"Regina, what are you doing?" he asks, frowning and staring straight into her eyes, noticing the tears she's trying so hard to fight. He's confused, had managed to understand that Regina was talking to her boss, but what he had told her that had left her so upset? With everything going on with their relationship and Henry's story, they need to be alert and ready to act at any time, but he can't do that if he has no idea what's going on, "Regina?"

"He knows, Robin. And I'm afraid, I-" she trips over the words, fighting to release her wrist from his grip, but she's tired and he's stronger, and doesn't seem to let her go so soon.

"What does he know?" he asks, finally relieving some of the pressure on her wrist to make her more comfortable and in an attempt to make her see she can tell him everything, he just wants to help, "Regina, talk to me."

She seems to stop for a moment, just remains to stare at him, his eyes begging for her to let him know about her talk with Gold, so to offer her confidence, he releases her wrist, takes a step back and she relaxes visibly.

He can't say it doesn't hurt to see that she doesn't find his presence comforting, not so close to her at least, but Robin can understand she's nervous, upset, so he keeps the distance, waits until she decides she wants to talk to him.

"He knows everything, Robin. About you, about Henry," she finally explains, bringing, so discreetly, her hand behind her back towards the door handle, "And I know you don't want me to, but I'm going to talk to Graham. I'm sorry," she opens the door, preparing to leave the house when his hand raises to stop on the surface behind her, shutting it again and causing her to jump in surprise at the swiftness of his gesture, "Robin!"

"Can we talk about this?" he asks, keeping his hand on the door beside her head, knowing he's not trapping her, she can always leave the small space between him and the door, she just can't leave that house, not at this moment at least.

"No, we can't talk!" she replies angrily, making him swallow hard and shift in his spot, because he never saw her like this, so upset, so determined about something, "I'm tired of this. You've been sitting at the computer the whole week waiting for news, and what have we ended up with? Nothing!"

"Regina-"

"There are people out there who actually need our help and we can't do this by ourselves. We can't!" she continues, causing Robin to move away from the door and dropping his arm at his side, allowing her to open the door if she really wants to.

"I'm not stopping you, Regina," he shrugs, shaking his head. He can't say he's disappointed, more hurt actually, but he knows she's right when she says they haven't made any progress in the past week. But Robin does know one thing, and she can call him selfish, but he'll not work with the sheriff, "If you get through that door, I will get Henry on my own and you are free to do what you want, find him with sheriff's help if you want. I truly wish you can find him."

She knows him well enough to know he's being honest and it breaks her heart that he's putting her on the spot like that, making her choose between her husband and what she knows is their best chance to find the boy. She wants to yell at him, make him see he can't be proud in a situation like this, but deep down, she knows she would probably have the same reaction and she can't scold him for that.

"Robin, I..." she sniffles, and it's just when she raises her head to look at him that he notices she's crying, has at least two tears running down her cheeks and some more threatening to fall.

"Regina, I'm not mad at you, please don't cry," he begs, reaching for her and cupping her face in his palms. The worst thing that he can see is Regina crying because of him. He's supposed to make her smile, laugh, make her happy, that was one of the reasons that made him want to marry her and now he is doing exactly the opposite. He can't stand that, "I'm not mad at you, I just... I'm incapable of doing what you're asking me, but I don't want to stop you."

His hands move to her back, one arm wrapping around her waist as his other hand holds her head closer to him, her face buried in the crook of his neck, taking in his scent while she encircles his torso with her own arms. She needed this. Someone to hold her and make her forget for a moment the chaos her life has been lately. And who better than the man who understands her better than anyone, the man who is going through the same as her.

That's probably why he tightens the grip around her, running his hand on her waist from side to side, in a soothing motion, and moving his head to whisper in her ear, "Can you forgive me?"

"I don't want to talk to you right now," she grumbles, earning a low chuckle from the blue-eyed man, who moves the hand in her head to run his fingers through her hair, causing her to look at him and put a little smile on her lips when he bumps their noses together.

"Then don't talk."

The distance that remained between them is practically nil when he captures her lips in his, soft and kind at first, assuring her that he's there for her, if not to support her decision to join forces with the sheriff, then to be the husband she needs. He can feel the salty taste of her tears every time he runs his tongue through her lip, asking for entrance, but she steps back, putting some distance between them before he could deepen the kiss.

"Why can't we have an ordinary life?" she asks genuinely, and Robin can't help the smile that forms on his lips, at the same time he brings his hand to her cheek, wiping the tears that remained there.

"And where's the fun in that?" he teases, locking their eyes together, and despite both of them really wished to have a quieter life, this was the job they had chosen and at least for now, none of them seemed to be able to imagine their lives without it, "And was your job that brought you to me."

She remembers the day she arrived in the town. Bags in hand and an empty stomach. She was tired and that little bed & breakfast seemed the only thing opened in that small town. She remembers being upset about the move, she had a life in New York despite all the complications with her ex-fiancé. She had already told that story to Robin and he had said that, at least, that trip had allowed her to start over, and it was true, her trip to fill a vague in Gold's company had earned her, within four years, a marriage and a kid, their little boy that she loved more than anything in the world, but what really surprised her was her ability to marry almost instantly to Robin. After all the despise and disdain she got from Daniel right after he asked her to marry him, she would think that Robin would do the same to her, but he was different, and something in him led her to take the risk and believe in his intentions. She couldn't say she was regretting it, but their whole situation was everything but favorable, but despite all the obstacles, they remained together.

"The first time we met..." she starts, holding his gaze with hers and moving her hands to his biceps to steady herself, "What was your first thought?"

Robin knows he shouldn't proving so amused with her question. She's being serious and probably just curious, but given to their jobs, she has the right to ask, Robin thinks.

"I thought you were intriguing, you get my attention the second you walked through the door," he answers, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear and offering her his smile, watching as she bites her lower lip, "You know, before I met you, I spent many of my nights on that diner and I never saw a single person entering that place after hours," he explains, recalling the many nights he had stolen from that old lady. Granny was probably glad he'd married so quickly. A smile forms on his features again, and he finds himself mimicking Regina's gesture with her lip, at the same time he shakes his head and confesses, "I wanted to know what took you there."

"Snoop," she mocks, waiting as he switches parts and tells her it's her turn to amaze him, "I thought you were such a ladies' man, smiling at me with your blue eyes and those lips," she answers, watching him as he nods and takes a step back, letting his hands fall to his side, "What?"

"Ladies' man... I was expecting something more romantic, but-"

"You said I was intriguing!" she protests, chuckling and reaching for him again as she takes his hands in hers and closes the distance between them one more time.

"And it's a good thing! It means you're interesting," he smirks, letting his hand wrap in her hair again, locking their eyes together and saying honestly, "besides, you don't need me to tell you for the umpteenth time how beautiful you are."

He always knows what to say, always knows what to do to keep her right where he wants her, and at this moment that place it's right here, on their home, where she's not asking for Graham's help.

She couldn't care less, though, it's probably close to 11PM and she wouldn't find the sheriff at such hour, either way, so she lets herself melt in Robin's embrace, knowing that at least they are able to enjoy their moments together.

"Kiss me," she asks, and in no time his lips are on hers again, his tongue finding its way to her mouth, and it's good to savor her without the salty taste of her tears that earlier he was so determined to remove from their kiss.

Now she seems comfortable, more relaxed as she wraps her arms around his torso one more time, keeping him close to her and trapping her between the front door and his body. Not that she minds, he's not even grabbing her, is just supporting his weight on his forearms against the white surface, so she can stop when she wants to, but that it's the last thing on her mind at this moment.

They linger for a few seconds, it seems minutes when they part breathlessly, but Robin's mouth is immediately at her neck, leaving open-mouthed kisses while she tries to catch her breath. Not that it's helping, she's moaning and her heart is beating hard in her chest, not to mention the feeling of him against her belly that makes her want to give up on the foreplay to get to the real work.

But he's feeling so good against her, when one of his hands moves down to stop just above her rear, pressing her more against him and positioning her just right to have her grinding against him. Her movement causes a groan in the back of Robin's throat, and he curses himself to have chosen to wear his pajama pants when normally he sleeps in his boxers.

He just wanted Regina to feel comfortable. They were, are, still working on their relationship and a week ago she doesn't even sleep in the same bed as him, so he didn't want to push his luck when she already allows him to sleep shirtless. He thinks it's because he had to remove the sling every time he needed to get dressed, but whatever the reason is, he feels lucky enough to have her hands running up his chest at this moment, stopping in his shoulders and pulling him against her until he winces and steps back, "The scar, babe."

"Sorry," she kisses his lips again, a quick and simple peck before she moves to his neck, and with his movement, she doesn't have her back against the door anymore and his hands find her ass, squeezing and take advantage to bring her closer to him one more time.

She feels... alive again, hadn't felt this way since the night they had found about each other, since they had been together on their couch, and that it's probably the proof that she can't push away the feelings she has for him. He's her husband, after all, and for whom she should fight if not for her family?

So she sucks and nibbles on the skin of his neck, relishing in the feeling of his hands on her rear every time she sucks a bit harder, and then moves to his mouth, kissing him more passionately when Robin lets his hands move towards her thighs, scooping her up and letting her wrap her legs around his waist.

"Should you be carrying me as soon as you got rid of the sling?" she asks, eyebrow raised and a tease expression on her face. No, he shouldn't. He can't carry weight with his arm, but he's just as stubborn as her and if they will discuss that now, the mood between them will change and she really doesn't want that right now.

"I'm not even supporting you, you're attached to me," he teases, lifting the hand from his injured arm to her face and holding her with the good one. She's practically holding herself with her legs and her arms around his neck, making it easier for him to carry her, so he just needs to move them to a place that it's not the hallway of their home, somewhere where she can be comfortable and where he can show her how much he loves her, "I'll put you down in a second."

"Hurry up," she replies, knowing what he wants.

He thinks of just move them to the living room, he just needs to give a few steps and would have her on the couch in no time, but then the memories of their last time in that spot assaults his mind, and there's no way he will have her running away from him that night. He doesn't know if it's a stupid superstition, but he doesn't want to take the risk, so he decides for the bedroom, where they had been together many times but each one is always special. He'll think about another way to make their night different.

So he walks up the stairs, through the door of their bedroom, and shuts it behind them, not that they need but it's probably out of habit, and places her on their king-size bed, moving atop of her and placing his knee purposely between her legs. Tease.

Her shirt's the first thing to go, the buttons quickly freed of their confines, and then she's there in her black bra, her chest rising and falling with her quick breathing, and Robin thinks he'd never seen her more beautiful. That's probably because he had thought he wouldn't have her this soon again, but thank goodness they are here now, and he will give her everything she wants tonight.

He starts in her collarbone, dropping soft kisses on that newly exposed skin, and wanders down through her sternum, belly, and her ribs, never paying attention to where he knows she wants him.

"Robin..." she can feel that insufferable smile against her skin when he hears her calling his name, knowing he would love to hear her beg, but she will not give in so easily, and not so soon anyway, so she just sucks it up as he continues to pamper her with soft kisses, until he decides to finally move one of his hands to her covered breast, cupping and squeezing it through the lace material and giving it at least some of the attention she needs.

His mouth is quick to join the job, kissing the side of her breast and causing her to grind her hips against him to relieve some of the pressure between her thighs. Shit, he wants to kill her, is trying to tease her, but his own game is proving to be too much for him when he lifts himself to his knees, slipping his hands behind her back and loosen her bra that it's quickly tossed somewhere to the floor. It's good to know she's not the only one so eager to be with him.

His hands find her breasts one more time, now free from any cover, and he has finally one of her nipples trapped between his fingers, rubbing and tugging, at the same time he swirls his tongue over the other, making Robin focuses even more on his task every time she arches her back and moans his name.

God, he didn't even know how bad he needed this before he's here with Regina. He really missed her, and she must be able to feel how much against her leg. He's already hard in his pants, but he didn't miss her just because the sex, he missed seeing her this relaxed when she's with him. In the last few days, Robin could say they were trying to work their relationship, but she was never one hundred percent with him and that was just what was left.

Now she's here, burying her fingers in his hair and urging him to continue his ministrations, and he's more than willing to do so, alternating the swirl motion of his tongue with tender sucks and teeth scrapes, and repeating every move on her other breast.

It's not too late that she notices he's not moving his hand anymore. Is just running his thumb in a soothing motion over her skin, but she needs more. Much more. No. She'll not beg. If he wants to make this a competition, fine, she'll be victorious at the end. So she does everything to keep quiet, at least for the pleads, biting her lower lip and telling herself that he'll get there, what he's doing with his tongue is just as good.

"Need something, love?" she'll not give in, focuses on the heated kiss they share now and on running her nails through his sides, sighing contented when he groans against her mouth at the contact.

"Keep going," she whispers, not a plead, nor an order, just a point to let him know he's doing fine. And maybe something to tease him when she sees the defeated look on his face. He'll not win just yet.

She doesn't have to wait long until his hand on her ribs starts to move, he's so desperate as her, running his fingertips down her stomach, down to the waist of her pants, at the same time their tongues battle together the whole time till he rubs firmly through the two layers of fabric that keeps them from a closer contact. Her head falls back against the mattress with a moan, already waiting for that move, but it's too good, not as much as it will be when she gets to feel him, really feel him, but the friction is just as welcomed and she fails to notice the smirk on his face when she pushes herself even more into his touch.

At least he seems to think the same as her as he moves up to the button of her pants, ignoring her little noise of protest when his fingers are out of reach. But she knows what he's preparing to do, and it will be so much better when she will be able to have those fingers inside her, pumping in and out, bringing her closer to her peak. If he could just hurry.

Robin for his part is enjoying every second of it, freeing the button and getting the zipper down at a torturous pace, then hooking his fingers in her waistband and pulling both fabrics down and off her legs until she's completely bare for him.

"Beautiful," and he already knew that, because this is not their first time (nor will be the last, Robin is even more certain about that), but he's determined to let her know how amazing she is, how much he loves her, and how he can't live without her.

So his fingers find its way to her one more time, causing her to shut her eyes and exhale heavily when he drops his forehead against hers, groaning at the wetness that welcomes him.

She manages to offer him a quick peck, licking his upper lip before she's moaning again when he strokes her clit in tight circles, caressing the skin of her jaw with his lips, not kissing and barely touching, but enough to make goosebumps all over her skin.

It's absurd, it's really ludicrous what a week apart can do to them. No, not apart, they never even really separated from each other, but that it's the last thing she wants to think about right now. She very much prefers to think of him as he's at this very moment, his mouth teasing her jaw, tongue soothing the area his teeth have been scraping, while his fingers keep rubbing her hard, quick, making her rocking against him and letting out louder moans as he approaches her entrance.

He lets two fingers slip into her, easily and slow, and she's hot and wet, and he can't wait to be inside her, but now this is for her and he's able to focus on that again as soon as he notices how turned on she is by this whole thing. He's too, moving his fingers in and out of her, and moaning himself every time he pushes them back inside. Shit, she's so sexy, more than sexy, with his fingers buried deep inside her between her thighs and eyes closed, relishing in the pleasure he's providing her. He couldn't love her more than at this moment, even if she's all sweaty, she's the most amazing woman in the world and he wants to give her everything. Thankfully, they're married long enough for him to know what she likes, what makes her reach her peak almost instantly, but he likes to watch her as her pleasure grows, so he keeps his pace, a good pace by now, and just shifts his hand until his palm is pressed against her clit, offering the pressure she needs as she grinds against him.

"You've no idea how sexy you are right now," he groans, struggling if he should just kiss her, because he really wants to kiss her, or if he would rather get lost on the noises he's making her do and are driving him crazy, but sod it, he'll go down on her and will have time to hear her later.

So he crushes their mouths together, swallowing her cries as he thrust his fingers into her faster, hitting just the right spot to have her breaking the kiss as her jaw drops open, regaining almost immediately the enough control to bring a hand to the back of his neck, urging his lips back to hers. Oh, god, why didn't they do this sooner?

But then he's slowing the pace of his fingers, maybe because he's getting too distracted with... well, her, but no. He knows exactly what he's doing, even if she doesn't seem to understand his idea.

He keeps the torturous pace inside her, not to finish her just yet, but to give him time to shift his position atop of her, his mouth leaving hers to spread open-mouthed kisses through her torso, from her collarbone to her hip, reaching further down to her thighs and changing his kisses to softer ones that have Regina's breath getting caught in her throat in anticipation.

Now she knows what he's doing, is heading straight to where she needs him to finish what he started, and good, she needs this release.

"God, Regina, you're driving me crazy," he mutters almost imperceptible, his voice low and making it difficult to hear from his place between her legs, but there's no need to hear him when she can feel his tongue against her clit, causing a little whine to leave her mouth at the sudden, but welcomed, sensation.

He licks one more time, and she drops her hands to his hair immediately, keeping him on her as he laps at the already sensitive area, her hips lifting from the mattress to meet more of him.

She won't last long, Robin notices.

If he just speeds up the pace of his hand and gives her clit the attention she needs, she will be reaching her orgasm in no time, but they have all night, after all, so Robin keeps the steady licks with her tongue and works his fingers inside her a bit harder, focusing on the noises of 'more' and 'faster' that comes from her lips.

And who is he to refuse her requests?

He matches the rhythm of his tongue with the one of his fingers, helping to build up the pleasure through her whole body, as she struggles to breathe and moan his name at the same time. She's close, so, so close, and if she was able to form a word right now she would be pleading Robin (she already ruined her attempt of letting him tease her without a word from her) to do more than just those licks with his tongue, that are pretty amazing but she needs more.

"Babe," is all she manages at that moment, a messy effort to call Robin's attention, but is enough for him to understand and wrap his mouth around her, sucking at her clit as she starts to quiver under his touch, "Yess, that."

He chuckles against her, the vibrations doing things to her, and he's thrusting harder and faster, in and out of her, her hips following his movements, chasing her release.

She's going to come, is gripping the sheets with such strength that has Robin thanking that is not any other part of him under that grip.

God, how he get so lucky? Had found Regina four years ago and not for anything he'll let her escape. Not after seeing how she stills loses her control when she's with him, how she clenches around his fingers when she's getting close to the edge, and she's right now, is bucking against his mouth when her orgasm hits her, her jaw dropping open one more time as she releases a cry of pleasure, but not for a moment he still his movements in his hand, even if his arm is killing him after a week immobilized by the sling.

The only thing he does is slowing the pace inside her, allowing her to ride out her orgasm at the same time that relieves immediately the ache that was starting to kicking in on his injured shoulder, and then removes his mouth from her, pressing their foreheads together and promises her that he just will stop when she asks him to.

She nods breathlessly, keeps grinding against his hand reflexively, but when she grasps his wrist, he knows she'd had enough. He stops the movement of his hand, removing his fingers from her, and kisses her slowly on the lips, helping to bring her back to the reality again.

"That was so sexy," he smirks, caressing her cheek with his other hand, the one that it's not covered with her release, and she doesn't know why, but she blushes with his remark, as if that was the first time he calls her sexy, it's definitely not, but she'd never felt these moments between them so deep as she's feeling right now and she wants to keep it this way.

She's well aware that they didn't have a long path when it comes to their sex life, they'd slept together the day they met, but she really thinks they had taken a step forward that night, or maybe they should just argue before they have sex.

A chuckle leaves her lips at the thought, but Robin is more focus on another thing, noticing the tears that are threatening to leave her brown eyes.

"Babe, are you okay? Did... did I hurt you?" he quickly asks, already scolding himself at the thought that he could have caused her any pain. He would never forgive himself if that happened.

But she's shaking her head, a genuine smile on her lips and then she's the one cupping his face in her palms, stroking his cheeks as she says, "I love you, Robin."

He wasn't expecting that. They had already voiced their loved for each other many times, but this... this is better than any other time they had said that to one another. This seems more real, not that she didn't love him when she had said it to him in the past, but now was different, now they knew pretty much everything about each other and they were there together, fighting for the life they had worked hard to achieve.

"I love you too, Regina," he's certain his eyes never shined so much as at this moment, but he's well aware that he'd never love her so much as right now. He thought it was impossible, but here it's the proof they love tends only to grow more and more, and nothing would keep them apart right now, nothing. So he lowers his mouth to hers one more time, kissing her tenderly before he gets out of the bed, stretching out an arm for her and teasing her, "You almost killed my arm, by the way."

"Oh my god, are you okay?" she's out of the bed in two seconds, reaching for his arm and massaging his bicep in an attempt to soothe any discomfort that could remain.

"I'm fine," he assures, smiling down at her and encircling her waist with his arm to bring her closer to him. He'd be fine as long as he has the best nurse taking care of him, the same nurse that soothes every fever of their three-year-old and is dropping sweet kisses up his shoulder, "And I think you need a bath, or am I wrong?"

"That doesn't seem fine," she ignores his last words, gesturing with her chin towards his erection, still pretty prominent under his pajama bottoms. She's feeling so selfish, she should have done something about that, but she still has time, she thinks.

So she lets one of her hands slide down his naked chest, passing the waist of his pants until she's palming him over his clothes, only to be stopped by his hand around her wrist, bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckles, " I believe I'm going to accept my own offer too."


So, I'll finish the smut, don't worry ;)

I had to split the chapter in two because as you can see it was too long and I wanted to give you an update as soon as I could.

Thoughts about this one? :)