Author's Notes:

Special Thanks to ale_nena for contributing ideas and the beautiful cover art. Available on Twitter at n0m_de_plum

Setting: Misthaven non-magical modern AU. The society and political system will be based on a combination of modern countries, with a probable bias toward the American system as I am an American. However, all characters are fictional and resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidence.

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Henry Mills stared at his suits and ties hanging in closet opposite Cora's dresses, pantsuits, and various other items. This closet was designed to be big enough for them to both have their own side and not get their clothes mixed up, but at the moment the empty stretch of carpet between their two wardrobes seemed downright symbolic.

"Oh! Mr. Mills?" a voice interrupted his somber thoughts. Turning, he found Mrs. Lucas standing behind him with a surprised look on her face.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you were in here."

"It's alright," he reassured her as he walked over and picked up his suitcase, "I just came in to pack for my trip to the Federal District."

"Of course," she nodded, "Did you need help?"

"No," he shook his head as he carried the suitcase out and set it on the bed that he hadn't slept in for over two weeks now.

Mrs. Lucas watched as he went back to the closet and began selecting outfits, "Are you certain?"

"Yes, Constance," he told her, "I can manage."

"Alright," she finally gave in, "So you're leaving this afternoon, right?"

"Yes," he nodded as he began packing, "Locksley and Razoul are accompanying me. We'll be gone about five days."

"Yes Sir," Mrs. Lucas confirmed, "Is there anything else I can do to help you?"

"No," he shook his head absently.

Finally giving up, Mrs. Lucas started to leave the room but Henry turned, "Actually…"

She turned back, "Yes?"

"There is something you could do for me."

"Of course, Mr. Mills," she assured him, "You name it."

"Could you have the rest of things taken down to the second floor guest room?"

She blinked in surprise, "Everything?"

"Yes," he said, looking away.

"Sir...are you certain?"

He sighed, "I am, I…"

Mrs. Lucas stepped forward and squeezed his arm, "She might just need more time."

"I wish I believed that," Henry said morosely, "But we haven't even spoke in weeks."

The estate manager swallowed hard, struggling to come up with some words to comfort her employer but found that none came.

As if sensing her struggle, Henry gave her a weak smile and turned back to his suitcase, "Thank you, Mrs. Lucas."

She nodded, quietly leaving him in peace.

* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *

Regina was sitting in a Foundation meeting when her phone buzzed with a text. Sending apologetic looks to everyone who turned toward the noise, she opened the text. It was from Robin

"We're taking off for FD now. See you Friday. xo"

She smiled, sending back a reply.

"I'll miss you. xoxo"

She sighed as she set down her phone. She would miss him. In fact she'd been missing these past weeks.

Their pizza interlude a few days prior had been a nice, sweet change of pace, but she was really starting to miss the other aspects of their arrangement.

With her father staying the next room, however, sex had been out of the question. Her father travelling to the Federal District this week would have been the perfect opportunity, but, naturally, Robin ended up being selected to accompany him. She'd been so pissed when she found that out that she nearly phoned up Drake to demand the change the schedule, but she knew that would raise suspicions.

With her parents argument and them being separated this week it was starting to feel like the period in between Unity Day and the vineyard trip all over again!

Simply put she was frustrated...in more than one way.

"Regina?"

She looked up to find everyone gathered around the table staring at her. Setting her phone aside she asked, "I'm sorry...what was the question?"

The person speaking made a valiant, but not quite successful, effort to hide an annoyed look before recapping what she'd missed while daydreaming.

She let out a sigh. They really needed some alone time soon or she was going to go crazy!

* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *

That same night Cora Mills stepped off the elevator and was surprised to see the door to her suite wide open. Stepping through the sitting room, she checked the bedroom where she found Ruby Lucas and one of the other maids packing up Henry's clothes from the closet.

"Excuse me!" she called their attention, "What's going on here?"

Ruby looked at her nervously before answering, "My grandmother told us to move, Mr. Mills things down to the second floor guest room."

Crossing her arms, Cora asked, "Did she?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Taking her phone out of her pocket she called, Mrs. Lucas.

"Hello?" the older woman answered.

"Mrs. Lucas?"

"Mrs. Mills? Yes, Ma'am. Everything alright?"

"No it most certainly isn't!" Cora snapped, "Would you like to explain to me why you decided to move my husband's things out of our suite?"

"Ah…"

The estate manager hesitated, she she barked, "Well?!"

"Mr. Mills requested we do so."

The words stopped Cora in her tracks, "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Mills asked to have his things moved down to the second floor guest room before he got back from the Federal District," Mrs. Lucas repeated.

"I see…" Cora finally said, dropping the phone from her ear and hanging up. Glancing up, she noticed the two maids watching her from the bedroom, "What are you staring at? Go on with your work!"

With that she stormed from the suite and down the hall to her study. Shutting the door firmly behind her, she let out a breath, feeling a cold nauseous feeling setting in her stomach.

Henry had decided to move out for good.

Quickly the cold feeling was replaced by the same red hot anger she'd felt at seeing him laughing with that little blonde tramp at the country club.

How dare he do this to her? The miserable coward! He thought he could just leave her without saying a word?

No! That wasn't going to happen!

If he wanted out he'd have to say it to her face!

Whirling around, she hurried back to the bedroom.

"Stop!" she ordered, causing both maids to jump and stare at her in shock, "Put everything back right now! In fact, anything my husband has in the guest room, bring it back up here and put it away!"

The two young women gaped for a second before Ruby gently said, "My granny said-"

"I don't care what she said! I'm overriding it! If she or my husband has a problem with that, they'll have to discuss it with me! Now put all of this back!"

After a few tense moments, they finally nodded and reluctantly began unpacking.

When she was satisfied that her orders would be followed, Cora turned from her suite and rode the elevator down to the ground floor.

Plates were just being served in the dining room, and she was please to find Regina already seated at the table.

"Ah, Regina," she commented, moving over to her seat, "I see you decided to join me for dinner tonight."

"Yes, Mother."

"I'm glad, there's something I wanted to speak to you about."

Her daughter tensed, looking over at her. Cora frowned. Everyone had been reacting that way around her lately, and it was starting to irritate.

Thinking it over, she relaxed as she picked up her silverware and began to eat, "How's work?"

"It's fine, Mother," Regina answered, "We have a good fundraising season."

"That's good. I'm very glad for you," she answered.

"Thank you," Regina answered.

"So what I wanted to ask you was about your father…"

"Yes?" she asked, tensing up again.

"Has he mentioned meeting Kathryn Midas again?"

"Kathryn Midas?" Regina asked, "Yes I think he mentioned that. He said that she was interested in moving into the nonprofit sector."

"I see," Cora answered, "Was that all?"

"Yes," Regina said, "Why?"

She shook her head as she took a bite of broccoli and thought over what she'd heard from her daughter and her husband that day at the country club. Both seemed very sincere in their words and, though Regina she wasn't sure about, Henry certainly didn't have a gift for deception. He'd always worn his heart on his sleeve.

In her mind she mulled over whether he would actually be unfaithful. At their age a lot of men were...however, Henry had always seemed loyal.

She shook her head. It didn't matter even if he were! She certainly didn't care about something as meaningless a sex! That aspect of their relationship had died out years ago. All she cared about was that they remain a family.

After all, after everything they'd built, surely he wouldn't just abandon it so quickly?

No, Henry wasn't that kind of man.

Looking back at the situation she realized she'd handled it all wrong. She'd let her emotions get the better of her and that was something she'd spent so long training herself not to do!

Brushing off the self-reprimand, she formulated a new plan of action in her mind. What she needed to do was remind him of what they still had and why that was better than whatever it was he had going on with Midas' daughter!

* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *

Five days later Robin Locksley pulled the limo around to the entryway and waited for Henry Mills and Razoul to get out. When the two men were making their way up the front steps, he let up on the brake and drove around to the back of the house down into the garage.

After parking the limo in its usual space, he made his way over to the elevator and rode it up to basement level. Putting the keys back on their hook, put his suitcase in his room, then got back on the elevator and took it up to the ground floor.

He was heading to the kitchen when he heard Cora's voice, "Henry? Oh you're home. How was your trip?"

"Ah…" Henry hesitated, "...it went well."

"Excellent," she said pleasantly, "Productive?"

"Yes."

"Well that's wonderful. Have you eaten?"

"No, actually," he answered, "We left right after breakfast and didn't stop on the way back."

"I see," Cora answered, "Well I'm a bit peckish myself and Mrs. Fa doesn't serve dinner for another few hours...what would you think about going out tonight?"

"Out?" Henry asked.

"Yes," she told him, "We haven't done that in a while….only if you'd like, of course."

He was quiet for a few minutes before finally answering, "I'd like that very much."

Robin was floored to actually hear a smile in Cora Mills voice, "Wonderful. Why don't you go up to our room and change, and I'll make us a reservation?"

"Our room?" Henry asked.

"Yes," she chuckled, "Of course!"

After another long, Henry Mills answered, his voice sounding lighter than it had in a long time, "Alright. I'll be back down in 20 minutes."

Robin listened to the exchange quietly, and quickly continued on to the kitchen before either of them saw him.

Taking his phone out of his pocket, he typed out a text to Regina

"I just overheard your parents talking. It sounds like they made up."

"Did they?" she responded, "My mother had this things moved out of the guest room, but I wasn't sure how that would go over."

"I heard them making plans to go out for dinner tonight."

"Really?" she asked, "Well that is a good sign!"

"Does that mean I can come show you how much I missed you?" he took a chance on asking. This time she took longer to respond.

"Let's wait until they get home and go to bed just to make sure" the message finally came.

"Alright, he answered. Let me know. xoxo."

He tried not to be disappointed. He'd missed her a lot these past few weeks, and he knew she missed him too and was just being cautious. He knew he shouldn't take it personally. After all, if they got caught it was guaranteed he'd get fired, and that would mean never seeing each other.

Putting away his phone, Robin got a soda from the fridge and rode the elevator back down to the staff quarters.

As he went the mused to himself that it was probably a good idea to wait anyway, because he was technically still on Henry's security duty so he might actually end up having to go to dinner with them.

In the rec room, two of the guys from the security team were watching a futbol match on tv. Sliding down next to Kronk, he settled in to wait for a call from Drake.

The match ended with Misthaven United winning 2-1. Afterward he sat through dinner with the staff without his phone ringing, so he assumed that Razoul had been roped into accompanying them to dinner.

After the buffet was cleared, he hurried back to his room to grab his pajamas and shower caddy. He showered and quickly as possible, and was on his way back to his room.

"Hey, Locksley!" Miguel's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Miguel," he tuned, "How are you?"

"Can't complain, can't complain," the blond man said, "I see you're back from FD. How was it?"

He shrugged, "Fine."

"Where are you off to? Are you going to bed already?"

"Afraid so," he admitted.

"It's only 9:30?"

"Well, what can I say?" he shrugged, "I just got back from a long trip and I'm an old man!"

The other man laughed, "Alright then. Goodnight, Grandpa!"

"Night," Robin answered, escaping when he had the chance.

Shutting the door firmly behind him, Robin put away his shower caddy and checked his phone. Setting it down on the night stand, he lay down in bed and waited to hear from Regina.

* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *

Up on the second floor Regina was just as anxious to send the text Robin was waiting for. While waiting, she tired to read a book but found herself unable to concentrate. Finally getting fed up, she tossed it aside with a groan.

Before she could reflect too much on the fact that she was driven to distraction with longing to have sex with her bodyguard again, she heard the unmistakable sound of the town car pulling into the driveway.

Leaping out of bed, she leaned up to the window and watched her parents walking up the steps side by side. In the glow of the front spot lights, she could see them talking amicably and even laughing!

Biting her lip, she sat back down on the edge of the bed and picked up her phone. She was about to open her text editor but hesitated.

It looked like her parents were doing downright well again, but it wouldn't pay be mistaken about that.

After thinking it over, she scrolled up from Robin's name and instead selected her father's.

"Hi Daddy. I heard you and Mother coming home. Are you going to bed?" she typed.

A few long minutes passed before a response came, "Yes, your mother and I just got back to our suite and we're both pretty tired. I'm sorry I didn't see you this evening. Catch up tomorrow?"

Grinning she typed back, "Of course, have a good sleep. I love you."

"Goodnight. I love you too" he wrote back.

Smiling at the sentiment, she flipped over to her last conversation with Robin and typed out a new text.

"All clear. Come up?"

His response text came quickly, "Be there in 5."

With a smile, she set her phone aside and hurried to the bedroom to make sure her hair looked alright. After running a quick brush through it, she dabbed on a little perfume.

A knock at the door reached her ears just as she was flipping off the bathroom light. Walking through her sitting room, she yanked open the door and pulled Robin inside. Slamming it closed, she pushed him back against the door and attacked his mouth.

He pulled back after a moment, "Wow, someone's eager."

She smirked at his smug tone, reaching between their bodies, "Yes, it certainly feels like...someone...is."

He chuckled and admitted, "Alright, I really want you."

"Me too-" the words were cut off with another hard kiss.

After thoroughly devouring each others lips, they stumbled their way to the bedroom, shedding clothes along the way.

Once they got there Regina shoved him backward onto her bed and crawled over him, kissing her way up this thighs to his chest.

"Mmm," he groaned as stroked his cock while nipping at the side of his neck, "That feels good."

She chuckled, leaning back to lift her nightgown up over her head.

His hands snaked up her back as he sat up to kiss between her breasts, pinching one nipple then then the other.

She gasped, tightening her hand around him and causing him to shudder.

"I'm not going to last," he breathed.

"Mmm, well then let's moving this along," she nudged him back down and leaned over the nightstand to dig out a condom. She tore open the packet, rolled it onto him, and lifted her pelvis to guide him inside her.

They both groaned as they joined together, taking a moment to get used to the feeling.

Leaning over she lifted herself off him and back down, slowly picking up pace as she found just the right angle that sent jolts of pleasure through her belly.

"Oh Gods!" she gasped after a particularly strong thrust.

"Yes!" Robin encouraged, holding her hips to help lift her, "Keep going, love!"

Breath coming heavily, she grabbed the back of the headboard for leverage and thrust faster. Oh it felt so good! So, so good after so long, and she was so close...

CREEAAAK

She heard the ominous groaning in the back of her mind but didn't register until a sharp crack bounced off the walls and the upper right side of the bed fell, sending them sliding off.

Her back hit the edge of the nightstand sharply, causing her to cry out in pain, echoed by Robin swearing.

They quickly struggled to untangle their limbs and get up from the floor.

Standing side by side they looked at the broken bed frame in shock. Glancing at each other, they finally spoke.

"Shit!"

"What the fuck?!"

"Did we actually break my bed?" she asked in disbelief.

"I think we did," he chuckled.

"It's not funny!" she covered her mouth with her and trying not to laugh as well, but snickers slowly slipped out from between her fingers until they were both laughing hard.

Finally, they both caught their breath and looked at each other again.

"Well..." she commented, "...that was a bit of a mood killer."

"Yeah," he nodded, "In fact, mind if I use your bathroom for a moment."

"Of course," she winced, noting that he was still wearing the condom on his waning erection.

She let out an exasperated sigh, picking up her nightgown and pulling it over her head. She was just gathering up Robin's sweat pants when she faintly heard her cell phone buzzing from the bedroom.

Running back in she frantically searched around for it, before finding on the floor.

"Hello!" she answered breathlessly.

"Regina?" Mrs. Lucas asked, "Are you alright? I heard some kind of crash!"

"You did?" Regina asked in alarm, rushing to the bathroom door as it opened. She shoved Robin's clothes into his arms, motioning to him to be quiet.

"Yes! I was just dozing off and I heard some kind of loud thump!" the estate manager exclaimed, "What happened?"

"Well..." she hesitated watching as Robin pulled his sweats on in record time and rushed out the door toward the back staircase, "...you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *

Needless to say, she didn't get much sleep that night after Robin's hasty retreat. She spent at least 20 minutes trying to explain to Mrs. Lucas how her bed frame had broken. Luckily, it was old, so the explanation that it simply cracked when she rolled over to turn off the light was plausible. Afterward, she'd had to convince her not to wake Marco and send him up before morning.

After finally getting off the phone, she'd flopped down on the couch and fell into a fitful, unsatisfied sleep.

The next morning, she rolled off the couch, dressed, and shuffled down to breakfast half-awake.

At breakfast her parents, of course, noticed her chugging coffee through blearly eyes so she ended up having to explain to them, as well what happened.

One good thing came out of the conversation, however. Her father felt sorry for her, so he'd volunteered to coordinate with Marco to get a new bed purchased and set up by the end of the day, so that was one less thing on her plate.

After eating a light breakfast with several cups of coffee, she excused herself and hurried out the front door. Robin was already waiting out front with her car. She walked down the stairs and slid into the car.

As Robin was driving down to the gate, she let out a breath.

"How did you sleep last night?" he asked while they waited for the gate to open.

"Not great," she answered, "You?"

"Same," he replied as turned onto the road.

"Well so glad you're driving me to work," she murmured.

Glancing over, he asked, "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing," she sighed.

"Did this at some point become my fault?" he asked.

"No!" she insisted.

"Then what is your problem?" he asked.

"I'm sorry! Okay? I didn't mean that I'm just tired and...do you realize we still haven't gotten to be together again? Not fully at least."

"Do I realize?" he asked incredulously, "Do I realize? Yes, Regina, I realize! I realize in very stark, frustrating...blue...reality!"

"Okay, I get it!" she snapped.

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Shaking his head, he stared back at the road.

"You know what? Pull over!" she ordered.

"Where?" he asked.

"I don't know! Find somewhere!"

Catching her meaning, he continued past the turn off to the highway and made a U-turn. Going back in the opposite direction, he sped past Brick Oven Pizza and turned in the entrance to the park where they'd gone after.

It was still empty at that time of morning, but, not taking any chances, he continued down the road until he reached the farthest spaces in a gravel parking area deep in the trees.

As he threw the car in park, Regina unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed over into his lap. They kissed hard, tongues fighting for dominance. His hands worked open the buttons on her blouse until the car horn blared, causing both of them to jump.

"Argh!" Regina cried out, knocking her head on the ceiling.

Groaning in frustration, Robin grabbed her hips and shoved her back over into the passenger's seat, "Get out of the car."

"What?" she asked.

" . .car" he repeated opening his door and climbing out to stalk around to the other side. She just managed to get out of the passenger's side when he attacked her lips, pressing her up against the car. She attacked back, wrapping one leg around the back of his thighs and unbuckling his belt.

Tearing his lips away from hers, Robin asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"Fuck me now, Locksley!" she ordered.

Needing no further encouragement, he spun her around, forcing her to lean over the hood of the car. She gasped as he pulled up her skirt and yanked her underwear down to her ankles. The feeling of air hitting her bare skin, knowing she was so exposed, made her knees shake with excitement. This was unlike anything she'd ever done before and she loved it. Loved knowing how reckless this was...how taboo.

After fumbling for a few moments, she felt Robin's hand reach between her legs to ease her open before he thrust himself inside her.

She bit her lip, pressing her forehead against the cold metal underneath her.

The car shook with the force of each thrust, but she didn't even notice. Too lost in the promise of finally reaching the release they'd been missing for so long.

She gripped against the hood, her palms getting clamming and her body trembling as she tightened like a bow string, and her orgasm crashed over her. She didn't know if she was screaming or staying silent, but couldn't have controlled it if she'd tired. Her vision went white with the force of how hard she came. She wasn't even aware of the world around her until her vision cleared and she became aware of the pressure of the hood against her front and Robin's body against her back.

After a few minutes to catch his breath, Robin lifted himself up, causing her to shiver at the obscene feeling of his cock sliding out of her.

Gods, this was more daring than anything she'd ever done and she loved it!

Pushing herself up to a standing position, she straightened her clothes. Once they'd made themselves presentable again, she and Robin met each other's eyes sheepishly before bursting into ridiculous laughter.

As they calmed down Robin pulled her into his arms, kissing her head, "You're amazing."

"Why thank you, so are you," she teased, "Now...I'm late for work, Locksley."

He looked at her, chuckling as he moved to open the passenger's side door, "Your chariot, Your Majesty"

She looked at him, holding the door open for her in a playful, boyish way, even after what they'd just done, and it made her heart swell.

With a grin, she climbed into the car and waited for him to move around to the driver's side. The smile on her lips lasted all the way to the office.