She still can feel his lips on hers, although it has been hours since he kissed her. Shit, that kiss has complicated things between them, hasn't it?

Or, maybe not, and, on the contrary, has made things easier and has cleared the way for whatever is about to happen between them. She looks through the window of her apartment sighs deeply trying to take away that idea from her mind, because she is very much aware that's not the case. Who is she trying to fool? Definitely, that kiss has been a wrong move, and their inability to address it, their anticipated departure from the ball, and their awkward silence on their way back validate that theory.

She, now, sees things crystal clear and knows that kiss has touched every fiber in Robin's mind, soul and heart, as well as in hers, and has left both of them so overwhelmed with all kind of thoughts that they've been unable to talk about it and, least of all, to handle properly its meaning and implications.

Yet Robin, always a gentleman, insisted in taking her home, after her It's late. I think I need to go, not so long after they kissed. On their way back to Regina's apartment, in the same car and with the same driver that took Robin to the Magic Gala at the beginning of the night, neither of them dared to say a word. The only thing breaking the awkward silence inside the car, was the Christmas carols the driver had been listening to as he waited to drive Robin back.

Their time in the elevator to reach apartment N° 23, on the 12th floor, had been tormenting. Ninety seconds to get there; ninety seconds of an absolute silence; and ninety seconds, that seemed a complete hour, of watching their own feet until they heard with relief the doors opening.

Robin waited until she opened the door of her apartment, and while she searched for her keys inside the elegant clutch she wore that night as a complement to her attire, she caught Robin several times trying to gather the courage to say something and backing out immediately. The only concrete step he took was an emotional "I …" to which Regina whispered before he could even finish "I know," just before closing the door.

Yes, that kiss was a wrong move, and she feels guilty because she was the one that encouraged him to go on. He had been hesitant, and she clearly voiced what she wanted, so this isn't only on him. Maybe she should have been the one taking the lead on the talking part. That's what she does for a living, doesn't she?

Regina has already taken off her dress and has changed to a satin nightgown. She sleeps in sexy sleepwear regardless if she is in bed by herself or has some company. That's part of who she is, and that hasn't changed throughout the years.

She stares at the picture on her nightstand, and it only makes more difficult to take away Robin from her head and the taste of his lips from hers. She hopes a night of sleep can help her clear things so that tomorrow she'll wake up having figured out how to deal with this mess.

However, soon she'll realize the night won't develop as she hopes.

...

He hates elevators, always had. He's an outdoor man, and having to be in one for almost two minutes (that seems like two hours), is enough punishment for his stupidity. And he has been punished twice this night: first, during their journey up to the 12th floor with her, and now, as he goes down after having said goodbye to her ...well, sort of goodbye.

Nonetheless, the way down to the first floor is far worse than the way up, because he doesn't even have to pretend he's okay. There's no one else to fool, and, anyway, who does he think he tricked? Certainly, not Regina. So, it's only him and his thoughts of self-loathing for ninety excruciatingly long seconds.

He's such a coward. He won't forgive him if he loses her for the second time. Shit, he's a disgrace! Another man, that happens to be the husband of the woman he loves has gone through the trouble of organizing an evening to die for, has thought about every detail (he's certain Leopold had something to do with the choice of music, and the one thing he was supposed to do was not screw this (again). And what does he do? He gives her a hell of a kiss, that wouldn't have been that bad at all if he'd have had the courage to be accountable for his actions and address that kiss as the grownup man he is. He learned nothing all those years and is about to make the same mistake by wasting the only chance he might have with her. He's fucked!

Ding. That sound brings him to reality, and he exits the building feeling like shit. He steps inside the car and asks the driver to take him back to his hotel.

What would Marian think of him? What is preventing him from telling Regina he loves her? Does he love her? Or, is he in love with the idealized thought of the life they should have had together? Why is he so afraid to tell her he wants to be with her? What happened to his excitement after her perhaps that had filled him with hope?

With those questions in his mind, he asks the driver to take the long way to his hotel, the one that takes the road through the forest. He needs to clear his head, he needs to try to fix this, and the solitude of the night and the view of the trees will help him think.

...

Regina can't sleep. It seems it's been hours since Robin left when only a few minutes have passed. She turns to one side of the bed; then, to the other. There's no place in bed that feels comfortable enough that can help her get to sleep. But, she knows it isn't about the bed and its coziness ...or lack of it. It's all about that kiss and what it meant for her, what she expected from it and what remains unsaid.

A cup of chamomile tea might help ease her nerves. So, she gets up of bed and heads to the kitchen. She doesn't even bother to put a robe on. There's no one home with her, so why bother with any modesty?

She turns on the burner, puts the kettle and waits, as the events since the day she spotted him for the first time in years come to her mind. So much has happened in such a short time, that she thinks she could explode. Six days. Today is the sixth day since she saw him for the first time, and if seven days ago someone had asked her how her life was, her answer would have been completely different than what it is now. Seven days ago she was content; she could say happy, even; she had come to terms with the idea that she wouldn't be crossing paths again with the love of her life; she had accepted that fact some years ago and had decided to go on with her life without him. But now, everything she thought was sorted out, is not. And the worst is that kiss gave her hope, and now she has to deal with the disappointment that means neither of them found the courage to talk about it.

She is aware that she requested Robin to take things one step at a time and maybe he felt bad for going too fast and kissing her (at her demand, by the way). Nonetheless, the least she expects if something like that happens and they move forward two or three steps, just as they did when they kissed, to pull themselves together and address that fact, but that hasn't happened.

Robin, more or less, knows about what her marriage to Leopold is, so that's not the issue preventing him from taking things further. It hasn't avoided him to come all his way to Boston, meet her, spend a beautiful evening in her company and, even, kiss her, so Leopold isn't the problem. It's them.

Wheeeeeee. The whistle of the kettle indicating the water is ready startles her. She jumps on her seat and goes to turn off the fire, begins preparing her tea and when she is about to take the first sip, another sound alarms her.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

...

Bang. Bang. Bang.

He knocks the door three times. Maybe he should have knocked only once; at this time of the night one knock is enough to wake up half the people in this building, and, besides, three knocks show insistence, eagerness, desperation, and bad manners, yet he couldn't care less about either of those reasons.

He doesn't know why he's here ...well, he does but has no idea about what he will say after she opens the door. He's acting out of instinct and not rationalizing his thoughts. He is aware this is an improvised move, but it's worth it.

At some point during his return to the hotel, the driver took a road through the forest, the long way, indeed, as requested, because it seems it had no end, and as he watched the dark trees covered with snow passing by, a different view of the whole situation came to his mind. He realized everything he'd done during the last days, almost being in the dark. He has talked to her, still at the risk of being slapped in the face in front of half the town; has requested an encounter with her (even before knowing he could have another chance); has gathered the courage to explain what he went through; has asked for forgiveness; has met her husband thinking that meeting would be leading to his death; has taken a leap of faith by coming to Boston without knowing shit about what to expect …and he becomes aware that it would be completely unwise to back out after all he has already gone through.

So there he is, waiting for Regina to open the door after having knocked desperately for three times.

It doesn't take long for Regina to open the door. She looks surprised; maybe, because she didn't have time to put a robe on in the rush to avoid waking up the whole building with the insistent knocking on the door; or, perhaps, because she wasn't expecting a late visit; or, possibly, when she realizes the way this man scans her body with his eyes after she opens the door.

"Robin ...er...why are you here?"

"Honestly, I don't know," answers Robin, but he must have realized how those words sound because he adds almost immediately "Well, I do. Um ...my mind was in the forest, but my heart took me here."

Regina is touched by his words and opens the door widely for him to step inside wrapping her arms across her chest in an attempt to cover her breasts after remembering she's not wearing a bra.

"I guess we need to talk. Please, come in and take a seat. I'll be back in a minute."

She goes to her bedroom, puts on a robe; then, takes a look in the full-length mirror inside her walk-in closet and smiles softly realizing that rather than worrying about her modesty (or lack of) and how she looks, she should be more concerned about what they are about to discuss. This is the point of no return and how they handle things, and whatever they decide, will define their future.

Besides, Robin has seen her in far less clothing than what she is wearing, so this shouldn't bother her that much. Still, manners are important. He's a guest at her house and doesn't deserve to be received by a barefoot and semi-naked woman, even if it's the middle of the night and she's certain he won't complain.

Regina comes out with a robe on, and before sitting prepares two glasses of whiskey. She remembers it's his favorite drink, and, besides, both of them could use something strong in their systems for what is about to happen.

They sit next to each other on the couch, and Robin begins talking "Um …Regina …I ...I'm making the same mistake twice, and I just realized it. That dance, that kiss, you ...everything stroke me at once ...and it was just too much to handle ...that's why I didn't say a thing, but as soon as you close the door of your apartment I felt as if you were closing the last chance for us ...and I ...I don't want that …"

"Robin ...I ...it … er ..." Regina struggles to say something, but Robin doesn't let her finish.

"Regina, please, listen to me …let me continue talking ...I ...I don't know how things between you and Leopold will sort out. That's between you and him and it doesn't concern me, but I do need to know ...I beg you to be honest, and tell me if we can still have a chance."

"Why didn't you say anything before? You ...you have been very persistent about giving us a chance, and after our kiss, you just stepped back, didn't say a thing ...it gave me another impression," confesses Regina. She's opening up to him and certainly, he's doing the same.

Regina watches Robin drink from his glass and knows he's thinking what to say next. He has that expression on his face that she recognizes quite well: his eyes half closed and a frown beginning to form. He's trying to pick his words carefully.

Robin talks with emotion and doesn't dare to take his eyes away from hers. "I was afraid, Regina. Terrified. I figured out I don't know how to be with you in a natural way. I'm always overthinking everything I say, every step I take and that kiss ...well...that was the first time I didn't think things through …and only felt ...and what I felt scared me because it was so damn good that I couldn't stand the thought of losing you again ...but, at the same time I realized I couldn't lose what I don't have ...so I guess I came here to tell you I'm sorry ...I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you all those years ago, for making you think I had second thoughts about you ...about us tonight ...shit, Regina ...and I'm sorry because, for a man that loves you the way I do, I'm doing the worst job in the world showing how I feel."

"Robin, don't be sorry. It's on me also. I could have started a conversation after we kissed, but the truth is my head was elsewhere, overthinking, just as you were," replies Regina. She knows how these past days should have been for Robin, because she has been feeling mostly the same, and she is aware that for him things must have been more difficult. She has Leopold and Emma that know her whole story, but Robin has no one that could have been of help in this particular situation. So, she decides to answer his question directly, "Um ...and to answer your question I ...I guess we can try, and until Leopold and I are legally divorced we can spend some time here, away from gossips, rumors, gazes, and sarcastic remarks, and all the other things those shitty people in Storybrooke excel in."

They are seated on a couch facing each other. Robin still dressed in his suit and Regina with a robe on top of a nightgown. They are looking into the other one's eyes with emotion, care, and love, but Regina's expression is somehow different. It's nostalgic, sad even, and it seems Robin notices it and asks, "What? Is there something else?"

Regina shakes her head and smiles softly "No. I'm just trying to memorize you like this."

"Like, what? Nervous and alarmed?"

"No. With love in your eyes. I ...I have missed a lot of things about you ...about us, but what I missed the most was the way you used to look at me ...and it's the same way in which you are looking at me right now."

Regina's words are full of emotion, and her eyes, clouded with tears. She knows soon she'll be sobbing on his arms, because, honestly, how many emotional situations can a human being handle at once? In the last week she has faced the return of the love of her life; has relived the circumstances of their breakup; has learned his life wasn't what she thought, at all; has been forced to acknowledge her feelings; has realized that soon Leopold will no longer be in her life; has spent an evening with the man she loves; has been compelled to hear music that brought painful memories and danced with the man she was supposed to marry, to the particular song they both chose as their first dance as husband and wife; has kissed that same man in front of, at least, a hundred strangers. Shit! That's too much to bear! She is allowed to have some weeping. She earned it.

"Come here … can I hold you?" asks Robin. It seems he reads her mind and knows she is at the edge of breaking down.

Regina gets closer to Robin, and when they are inches apart, she whispers, "Of course you can, but, please, stop overthinking. Let's be ourselves."

...

Okay. It's good to know how Regina feels about all this, which is probably the same way he has been feeling lately. But the best part is that finally, he will allow himself to stop thinking and begin feeling.

So, Robin takes advantage that she got close to him and told him exactly that, and, rather than a hug, goes for a kiss. He's being himself and wants to kiss her properly.

They kiss for the second time this night, and ...shit, this kiss has one additional ingredient: privacy. They both know they are alone. No kids, no other people, no phones that menace to ring this late at night. It's just them and their desire for the other one because it's obvious both of them have been holding back their eagerness.

There's no need to pretend, so, as soon as Robin feels her lips, he requests more. First, it's his tongue poking on her lips, begging for another type of contact which she welcomes without hesitation; then, his hands come into action, caressing her nape and intertwining his fingers with her hair, something that has always driven him crazy.

Robin notices she's responsive to his kisses and his touch. Her mmmmms and ahhhhhhs are sufficient sign of it. He wants to feel her closer, though, but their position on the couch makes difficult for him to have more access, since their upper bodies are facing each other, but their legs are not.

It seems Regina finds awkward and uncomfortable that position too, because without breaking the kiss she lifts slightly from the couch, rotates her body so she's facing Robin completely and moves one of her legs above his, straddling him.

Shit. He wasn't expecting a bold move on her part so soon. She must feel the bulge in his pants because she is almost seated on top of it, and he's mortified that she'd be aware that from those few kisses he gets this turned on.

Despite his embarrassment, he focuses on their kiss which has heated up since their lips first met. He kisses her jawline, descending to her neck; he can feel her ragged breath and the little sounds she lets escape each time he sucks and licks her.

She said stop overthinking, and he's doing precisely that. He's not thinking at all and instead concentrates on making her feel good ...and it happens that he has some experience in that field since he knows where she likes to be touched and kissed, the exact spots that drive her crazy, and if that's what she wants, he certainly will get there.

But, this experience also works the other way around because she understands his body too, and knows exactly what turns him on, and, maybe, that's why he didn't realize when she took her robe off. It must have been a simple move, untying it and letting it slip through her arms, and he realizes in astonishment she's only wearing a short black satin nightgown that happens to show a generous portion of her cleavage and, even, a portion of her breasts where he can clearly spot her nipples through the delicate fabric.

Minx! She knows he has a thing for her breasts and has no bra on. Always had and after all these years his tastes haven't changed.

Robin stops kissing her neck after realizing her breasts are inches from his face. He looks at her and, without taking his gaze away, he slowly pulls down the straps of her nightgown. He's aware that although Regina is intense in bed, and enjoys rough sex and fierce moves during lovemaking, she prefers sensuality, passionate gazes, slow touches, and soft kissing during foreplay. He knows how to do this, and pulls those straps awfully slowly keeping his eyes locked with hers all the time. With every inch his hands descend, he touches her arms slightly, noticing the change in the pace of her breath and her chest rising up and down each time more quickly.

He takes his eyes away from hers, staring at her bare breasts when he realizes the straps are down to her elbows, and, her breasts, are on full display. He gulps, affected with the sight in front of him, and can't help but grab both breasts in his hands, touching them kindly first, even shyly, and, then, with determination. He watches with attention her erect nipples and begins teasing her by pinching them at the same time.

Robin alternates his gaze between her perfect breasts and the expression on her face that's none other than one of pure pleasure. She has her eyes closed, her mouth half opened and from time to time he catches her biting her lower lip in a failed attempt to hold back her moans.

And hearing her moan, as he has dreamt for so long (and not only at night, because he has daydreamed about this more times than he would like to admit), makes him want to kiss those splendid breasts. He begins sucking, licking, and biting her nipples, all at once. This time his touch is not soft or kind, and, instead, it's desperate and eager. And, as he enjoys swirling his tongue around her swollen breasts and hardened nipples, the rhythmic movement of her hips all over his lap, using the bulge inside his pants to receive the stimulation she needs, drives him crazy.

They haven't said a word since they began their smooching, and it's odd because, although they've always understood each other so well in bed, usually knowing in advance what the other needed, still they enjoyed being vocal during foreplay and sex. He is unable to say a word because he lost his ability to talk after he began kissing her breasts and felt those exquisite back and forth and side to side moves on his lap, but now that she has begun undoing his shirt, talking is out of the question.

He watches her delicate hands struggling to open each button of his shirt in desperate and sloppy movements, as she breathes heavily and continues moving frantically, but she succeeds and finishes with the last button of his shirt. He realizes he still has his tie on and decides to make things easier for her, taking it off, and exposing his chest and a silver chain necklace with something Regina recognizes immediately hanging from it.

...

"Is ...is ...this what I think? You ...you kept it all those ...years. W-why?" asks Regina in between pants and heavy breathes, staring at the engagement ring on in his chest.

She has remembered that event each day during the past four years and has regretted every moment of it. However, witnessing that Robin kept her ring with him all this time fills her with emotion as she realizes he never moved on, just as he confessed the day of their first encounter at the cabin.

Robin's voice brings her back from her thoughts. "Well, I didn't get to have you with me, so at least having something that belonged to you near my heart made it possible to feel you closer ..." explains Robin making a pause as if trying to find some courage for what he is going to say next, "...and ...um ...also because years ago I promised someday I would give it back to you, and holding to it was a constant reminder that I needed to keep my promise."

Regina, still visibly affected by their previous activities, opens her eyes in surprise, and it seems this finding kind of killed the mood, because after Regina found out what Robin has been guarding all these years, they have stopped kissing and touching, although they continue breathing heavily and in the same position as minutes before, with her straddling him.

"No need to panic. I'm not giving it to you ...not now, anyway," he smirks.

Shit. She is overwhelmed by this. She would never have thought he'd be attached for so long to something that belonged to her. Or, maybe, he had never needed before to feel her closer because, for five years in which they were in a relationship, she was always there for him. So, this detail impresses and overwhelms her that much that she doesn't know if she'll begin crying because of emotion or fuck him right where they are.

"I ...I can't believe you kept it with you all the time. I ...I don't know what to say … I …I ...this is too much," and after those words, she kisses him and in between little kisses and open-mouthed ones, she says the magic words he has wished to hear for years "Robin, I ...I want you."

...

If he knew his little token would make her say the words he'd dreamt about countless times, he would have been less careful hiding it from her.

He isn't surprised, though, that she voiced her desires. She's always been like that with intimacy. She's not a shy woman, on the contrary, she goes for what she wants and has no inhibitions requesting what she enjoys or needs. What surprises him is the turn this night is taking. Making love to her this soon wasn't on his mind when he knocked on the door of apartment N° 23, although the idea of it is driving him crazy with desire.

They reach her bedroom in between sloppy kisses and after stumbling from time to time because of their eagerness. On their way there Robin lifted Regina holding her below her hips, and she surrounded him with her legs, leaving her ass almost exposed, considering the lace thong she chose to wear is extremely petite.

As soon as they arrive to the bedroom Robin smiles upon noticing the picture that decorates her nightstand. He smiles and whispers between kisses, "You ...mmm ….kept mmm ...it."

She only gets to answer in between kisses, "I ...mmm ...did."

He is still carrying her and, as he puts her down slowly, lying her down on the bed, he adds a, "Me too," in a sultry tone.

She chuckles at his confession, and he doesn't know if that giggle is a sign that she finds funny the fact that he can't get rid of things that remind him of her, or because of anticipation. Still, he's too focussed on her to lose time trying to explain something as natural as a giggle, which, in fact, he loves and has missed all these years.

As soon as she is lying down in bed, with her nightgown up to her waist, and her breasts totally exposed, the realization of what is about to happen hits him.

Shit. He's about to make love to Regina ...and he's nervous. Not because he doubts his skills as a lover, because he doesn't, but having recreated this scenario thousands of times, makes him wonder that he might not to be up to the circumstances and finish embarrassingly fast.

However, this night has proven to be magical in every sense, and this is the cherry on top of the cake.

Feel. Don't think. Feel. Don't think. Feel … As he repeats those words inside his head, like a mantra, he places his body above her, and claims her mouth first; then, descends, kissing her everywhere, trying to recognize a body he once knew like the palm of his hand.

She lies still, and he notices she's trying to get some friction down there by rubbing her legs, one with the other, something that definitely isn't working as he spots one of her hands going downwards seeking a more direct contact. She has always been a woman that took matters into her own hands.

But, there's no way that after all those years, he would allow someone other than him near her private parts, it doesn't matter if it's herself. So, he grabs her hand firmly whispering "No, Regina. I want to touch you first."

She nods her head, and, in a quick move, he removes her underwear, and what remains of her nightgown, leaving her totally bare for him to feast.

He gulps at the sight of her in all her glory. Her body is just as he remembers: curved and toned, yet soft. And looking at her in that way, he can't hold back his desire and pounces on her, spreading her legs for him. He explores her body with both hands, as he kisses her everywhere he can, but soon one of his hands wanders lower, lower, until he reaches the little protuberance he aimed for and stops there rubbing it firmly with a rhythmical pace which certainly will do the work. At the same time, he's kissing her neck and lips, and going for her breasts again, just to claim her mouth after that.

She responds to every kiss and touch with exquisite sounds of pleasure. There are mmmmms and ahhhhhhs. Also heavy breathes, loud oh Gods, yeses and fucks, and instructions like don't stop!, yes! just like that!, right there!, but what makes him doubt if he'd be able to last some more minutes are those sexy, sultry Robins he hears her say from time to time.

He knows she's close. He recognizes the signs: her expression, the way she begins moving her hips and the change in her breath and is determined to continue when he hears her say, "Wait. Stop. I ...I want …I want this first time to feel you," and he exactly knows what she means.

She hands him a condom, he's not sure from where, and in record time he unfastens his belt, takes his pants off, puts on the gadget, and begins making love to her.

It doesn't take long for both of them to finish. One, first; then, the other, and even with the burst of sensations their orgasms gifts them with, Robin smiles with exhaustion thinking that some things remain the same as always.

They would have said that was the best sleep they both have had in a long time, but they'd be lying because neither of them got to sleep that night.

They made love again, and again as if trying to make up for lost time. They talked, leaving unaddressed no topic, and they even discuss the painful ones like Henry Mills' illness and death, and their theories on Cora and Robert's whereabouts. It happens no one has heard a word about them since they ran away. That was the question Robin had been dying to ask Regina, but never found the courage or the right time to bring it up. It seems those bastards never wanted to be found, and have done a pretty good job covering their tracks. They found out each of them went through the trouble of trying to discover, by themselves and with the resources they had on hand, any clues about their parents' fate as a way to find some closure to one of the saddest episodes of their lives, reaching only dead end after dead end.

They laughed, lying down on bed, caressing their naked bodies, as they share silly stories of their time apart. Those about Storybrooke and their citizens that, at the same time, made them crack up with laughter and feel outraged by the ridiculousness of the people they know.

Robin shared stories about his parenting experience with Roland, and Regina was mesmerized finding out how well he's doing as a single dad, and the delight of a boy little Roland is.

And, when morning breaks, they both are totally wasted from a night full of emotion, passion, and lack of sleep, yet happy and grateful with the second chance it seems they are getting, after all.

A phone call interrupts their morning cuddles and conversation, but neither of them seems to get upset after finding out who's calling. Instead, they are happy and burst into laughter after they hear someone asking on the other end of the line, "Do I need to congratulate you and Locksley, darling?"

Robin finds delightful Regina's, "I guess you do, Leo," while a slight blush colors her cheeks and she bites her lip playfully.

And as they watch the beginning of a new day, enjoying the magnificent view from her bedroom window, they think of the worst Christmas of their lives, and how now, four years later, it seems they will be having one of the best ones.

They share one more kiss before heading to breakfast, thrilled and ready for their new adventure.

THE END