I'm actually almost caught up with how much I've written. That's a really odd feeling...

Present Time

Storybrooke, Maine

Robin Hood could not decide if he was dreaming or not. Ever since Regina had appeared by his lonely outpost the night before, ever since she had pulled him in for their first kiss, he had not been able to let her go. He needed to feel something of hers against him at all times; he was addicted to her touch, her smell, her voice, her taste. Especially her taste.

They had spent the night at her house and as the gentleman he was he made sure they did not go too far during this first encounter of theirs. Regina seemed grateful for that as well and had fallen asleep curled up against his chest, enclosed in his arms, and he himself had not slept so well for he did not know how long. He did not have to worry about Roland; Tuck had promised to look after him when Robin had said that he needed to leave the camp and patrol the forest. Instead of waking up beside a cold and dead fire he woke to her still in his arms and it warmed his heart and soul.

He had disentangled himself from her as gently as he could and gone into the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her. He had no idea of how to use all of these machines that Regina kept on her benches, but fruit – that he did know how to make a breakfast out of. He also worked out how to heat up water on the stove pretty easily and made them both tea, before putting all of these things on a tray and carrying back up to her bedroom. She was awake when he entered, a confused frown on her face being replaced by a surprised stare at his appearance, before her lips widened in a smile.

They ate their breakfast together in bed, talking about everything and nothing, only interrupting it by kissing the other. When they got dressed later Robin could not help but admire the lean body of the woman he was falling desperately in love with, encased in a tight, red dress. Who could blame him, really?

He accompanied her to Granny's Bed & Breakfast where Regina had a meeting with some of the others. He desperately wished he could stay as well, but he needed to get back to Roland before anyone started worrying about his disappearance. Still, that did not mean that he was just going to leave her; he intended to stay by her side for as long as it was possible.

And that was why they now stood pressed against each other in the corridor outside the series of bedrooms at Granny's, gently teasing each other with soft, short, butterfly kisses. Each one sent a shiver down his spine and he longed for more, longed for her, longed for them together.

Slowly Regina pulled back from him, staying in his embrace but separating their faces, allowing them to look at each other without the other one seeming blurry. She cocked her head slightly to the side as she studied him.

"What do you see in me?" she asked, her voice soft. The question took him slightly by surprise; it would be more accurate to ask what he did not see in her. The answer to that would be someone who was evil, dark and incapable of love. He knew better.

"Hopefully the same thing you see in me", he responded. "A second chance."

His mouth curved upwards in a teasing smile.

"And you're quite a good kisser."

Regina's lips widened in a wide, beautiful smile at that comment.

"Jus wait till I actually have my heart back", she remarked, a teasing glint in her eyes that sent another shiver down his spine. Still, hearing about her missing heart brought a wave of guilt on him. She had said that he had done the right thing, more than once, but a heart was a valuable thing. He should not have handed it over just like that.

"What is that like?" he asked, meeting her gaze again. "I mean, can you..."

"Feel?" she filled in, causing him to nod. "Yes, I can. Just not... fully. It's difficult to explain."

He saw the sadness in her eyes and wished nothing but to take it away, to bring back her happiness and her smile.

"Then don't", he said and took her hand in his, placing it on top of his chest. "Use mine for the both of us."

The smile that now appeared on Regina's face conveyed more emotions than words could ever do; happiness, love, sadness, fear, all in that one expression. Before he had any chance to ask her about it the hand resting on his chest moved up to his cheek as she leaned in and kissed him again, deeper this time. His eyes closed as he pulled her closer to him again, wishing they could stay like this forever.

A door slammed shut somewhere close and Regina let out a startled gasp, turning in his arms and effectively breaking the kiss. He was about to send an angry glare at whoever it was that had interrupted them when he spotted the teenage boy standing a few feet behind Regina, a sheepish smile visible on his lips.

"Henry", Regina said and pulled free from Robin's arms, forcing herself to become the Mayor again. "Good morning."

Robin felt as if he was the teenager who had been caught by a woman's father while kissing her; this was Regina's son, who no longer remembered her. He had seen them and Robin instantly knew that if the boy got his memories back he would not forget this incident; he would question them both about how long they had been together and if Robin had any intentions to hurt Regina. That was at least what Robin expected to happen based on what Regina had told him about her son.

At the moment, however, the boy was simply embarrassed to have caught the town's Mayor kissing a seemingly random man outside his bedroom.

"Morning", he said. "Excuse me, Madame Mayor."

He quickly averted his gaze from the couple and hurried past them, down the stairs and out through the door, probably heading towards the diner. Regina looked after him as he went, sadness etched upon her face.

"Are you alright?" Robin gently asked, squeezing Regina's hand, the only thing she had kept contact with during the encounter with Henry. The woman in front of him swallowed hard before managing to meet his gaze.

"No, I'm not alright", she whispered. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes any second now and he wanted nothing but to kiss away her sorrows, to guide her back out of the darkness and into the light.

"They're waiting for me", she suddenly said and turned, pulling her hand from his grasp. "I should go."

"Wait", he said, his voice a silent, pleading whisper as he caught her arm. She turned towards him and he cradled her head in his hands, running his fingers through her silky black hair as he leaned in for another kiss, tasting her hungrily. She responded with equal favour and pressed herself against him. Smiling slightly he broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers while gently brushing her cheeks with his thumbs, brushing away the imaginary tears. She managed to return the smile, budging her nose against his. Slowly he pulled back and gazed into her dark eyes.

"Good luck", he said, smiling reassuringly at her. Her smile widened even further and he wondered when someone had last wished her luck in anything, when someone had done everything to make her smile the way he now managed to. He leaned in for another quick kiss before releasing her and allowing her to turn towards the door Henry had previously exited, which would lead her to Emma's room and the meeting she had to attend. He held onto her hand for as long as possible, smiling at her as she closed the door. It then took him a while before he even considered leaving.

A throat cleared behind him, causing him to break free from his reverie and spin around. Jade was grinning at him from an open door on the opposite side of the corridor.

"That's not something you wake up to every morning", she remarked. "How long has this been going on?"

"That's none of your concern", he remarked, even though he could not keep the smile off his face. Jade just chuckled at his attempt.

"Have it your way", she said, "just don't let Clarissa see you. If she does she will have a field day and freak out about how adorable you two are."

"Thank you, I suppose."

Jade opened the door a little wider and stepped out. He frowned when he saw that she was carrying a small hunting bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Where are you going with that?" he asked.

"To get some practice", she responded. "Magic doesn't always work, so we decided to get some real weapons to fight with as well. I'm off to meet with Miranda, Clarissa and Rowan for an archery session. Would the world's most famous archer like to come along?"

She made a mocking bow in his direction, causing him to chuckle.

"Only to show you how to really shoot an arrow", he said, before following her down the stairs.

"Now that did not carry a double meaning at all, did it?" Jade responded with a teasing smile. Robin just shook his head at her, before they exited the house.