Regina fluttered her eyes open as she saw the glint of sunlight through her drapes.

She felt heavy breathing on her neck and there was an arm draped over her petite waist. She also felt something hard on her backside that didn't escape her notice.

She turned her head to see Robin sound asleep next to her. She couldn't contain the smile and happiness that erupted through her.

"Mmm, Good morning," Robin groaned.

She could get used to a greeting from his sexy accent every morning.

"Good Morning...to the both of you," She replied, looking down at his erection then giggling.

"Can't help but to get a little excited when a gorgeous woman is laying next to me."

"Mhmm," She said glancing at her clock on her dresser that read 7:12am. Wow, she really overslept. She put her legs over the side of the bed.

"Don't get up yet," Robin whined from behind her. He put his arms back on her waist.

"Robin.. if I lay here with you any longer, I'll be late for work."

"You're the mayor. I highly doubt anyone will scold you."

"Seriously I'm getting up," she said laughing at him.

Since he was being stubborn she decided to make a bee-line for the bathroom. He saw what she was doing and ran after her, but she got into the bathroom before he could reach her.

He could hear her laughing from behind the door and it was like music to his ears after not hearing it for far too long.

"We'll have plenty of time to just lay with each other another day."

She regretted saying that right after it came out. What was she thinking? Maybe after he was done tending to his son and wife he'll want to be with his... What even was she to him? Luckily for her, he played it off.

"Fine, I guess you just like to leave 'em high and dry? Is this going to become a thing?" Robin yelled, chuckling.

Her answer was turning on her scorching hot shower water.

Robin decided it was probably time for him to get ready to go back to his camp anyway so he started getting dressed.

They walked down the stairs together, Regina ready for another day at the office. Robin didn't want to go home yet, he couldn't face Marian after what he just did. He did not regret it but he did feel guilty.

"I forgot my car at the Rabbit Hole so I have to go pick it up before I can go to the office," Regina said while she put her hand on the doorknob to let Robin out.

"I... We-" he started but Regina cut him off.

"It's fine. I don't expect you to leave your wife and come running back into my arms because we made a stupid mistake last night," She said.

That was the thing. He didn't feel like last night was a mistake at all. If anything it felt more right than everything that had been happening these past few weeks.

"Regina, it wasn't a mistake, and you know that. What we feel for each other is real, what we had is real. Those feelings don't just disappear because we can't be together." He said, stepping closer to her. His right hand went up to caress her cheek.

"I know," She almost whispered, leaning into his touch and closing her eyes. She allowed herself to enjoy these last brief moments before saying her final goodbye.

"So... This is it," She started.

"It doesn't have to be," He replied and pulled back his hand.

"Robin, we can't keep doing this. I mean, not that I didn't like it, I did. But I won't be your dirty mistress. I can't do that to-"

His laughter interrupted her sentence. She raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a confused look. He shook his head, trying to let her know that that's not what he had meant but when he looked up and saw her face he started laughing again.

"I don't see what's so funny." She said calmly, her hand still on the doorknob, ready to let him out.

"That's not what I meant at all. I mean not that it's a bad idea," He looked at her with a smirk.

"Robin!"

"I'm just joking," He said before he got serious.

"I mean we could stay friends you know.
I love you, I always will and I don't want you out of my life. I know it's very selfish of me, but I was hoping that maybe we could stay friends instead of avoiding each other like we used to before this."

"Friends?" She asked, thinking the idea through. It didn't sound half as bad as she thought it would. Being Robin's friend is better then cutting him off completely.

"Yes, just friends." He said, a smile appearing on his face. He reached out his hand to shake hers as a piece offering.

His dimpled smile was too adorable to turn down so she reached out her hand and shook his.

"Just friends,"She said, but it came out as a warning. Honestly she was trying to convince herself of their friendship more than trying to warn him.

After Robin had left she poofed herself back to the alley she and Robin almost had sex in last night, her cheeks turning red just by the thought.
Just friends she reminded herself and quickly walked out of the alley and to her car.

Determined to get to work before 8:30am, she started the car and drove to the office.

• • •

After Robin had left Regina's he was debating whether or not he should go home right away. He knew Marian would be mad, when he left to meet up with Regina he told her he was going out for a drink with Will and that they wouldn't stay out late.

When he got to the Rabbit Hole that evening he wasn't really looking forward to it. He was looking forward to seeing Regina, because he missed her whenever she was away, but he thought the whole night would be a disaster. She would be yelling at him and he would let her, because she was right, it wasn't his place to be jealous of Graham. He had left her and she was free to do whatever she wanted to. He couldn't help it, he would get mad even thinking about her with Graham. He really regretted what he had said that afternoon, so when she had texted him to meet up he had happily agreed.

The evening planned out better than he would've ever thought. Regina was hurting and it was all because of him, he couldn't resist. Just one last hug, one last kiss. One last time. The kissing turned into something else. More than he ever expected. He ended up staying the night. Sleeping next to the woman his heart belongs to.

But how would he explain this to Marian. She wouldn't understand, she would get mad. And with good reason. He cheated on her. He felt horrible, she did not deserve this. He felt even worse for the fact that he didn't regret his night with Regina. He felt guilty, yes, but if he had the chance to do it all over he would've done the same thing.

Once he got to his tent, he took a deep breath and went inside it, expecting Marian to be there.

But she wasn't.

He got out and looked around. "Marian," He shouted.

He saw her then, at the lake washing clothes, his clothes which only made him feel guiltier. Regardless, he made his way down to her and to his surprise she was crying.

"Marian," Robin said gently tapping her shoulder.

She turned around, startled and frantically trying to wipe the tears off her face.

"Oh Robin, I just finished washing your clothes," she said with her voice breaking a little.

Robin put his arms around her in a bear hug and watched as she let go of her tears. Each sob hurting him, because he knew he was about to hurt her even more.

"Marian.. we need to talk," he finally said once her crying has become slight whimpers.

"I did something really bad last nigh-"

She cut him off before he could continue.

"Can I just say something?"

"Umm yeah," He said hesitantly, not really sure what to expect from what she was about to say.

"I know you weren't with Will last night."

"Marian liste-"

"No Robin, let me finish. I know you were with Regina last night and I forgive you."

This was really unexpected. What game was she playing because she could not be serious.

"You forgive me?" Robin asked with disbelief in his tone.

"Yes I forgive you." Marian said looking him in the eyes.

She put on her brave face and explained.

"I knew when you said you were going out with Will that that's not really what you were doing. And of course the only person you would sneak out for would be her."

"I'm sorry,"Robin said putting his head down.

Marian put her finger under his chin to lift his head.

"It's okay. I get it. I came back from the dead and you had.. moved on. It's hard to just let those feelings for someone go so this one time only, I'll forgive you."

Robin took a second to take in what Marian said and thought about the conversation he had with Regina when he left her house this morning. They were just going to be "friends." He really saw no reason he couldn't resolve things with his wife.

"Thank you, Marian for understanding and this won't happen again."

Marian let out a relieved breath.
"Good. Now I need to get Roland."