Tell me I was dreaming
That you didn't leave me here to cry
You didn't say you don't love me anymore
And it was just my imagination telling lies
Tell me that you didn't say goodbye

I'm in a state of confusion
I hope things aren't what they seem
If this is really happening
Just let me go back to dream
You're home

(Tell me I was Dreaming by Travis Tritt)

It had been almost five years since Robin Locksley had seen his wife. In all that time only the kiss of the air had touched his lips, only the cold, wet arms had caressed him.

But soon, Regina, soon, he thought.

Robin was returning to his home in South Carolina that he shared with his wife Regina. The civil war had just ended and it had taken the last two weeks to make his way back home. Because of his rank as Captain, he had been given time away as many soldiers were ordered to remain, in order to take the long waited task of rebuilding houses, towns, a nation.

He had feared for her upon hearing that she had gone back home not long after he had gone up North. He had written to her many times but never got a response, not that he was surprised with how the mail was with the war going on.

But he was home now.

Home to Regina.

As he made the turn to their home, his heart sank as he saw what was left of their once beautiful home. It was in complete ruins, only a skeleton of the house remained as it had been burned badly, probably by Robin's own army.

Regina was a Southern who he had met when his father, John and Anne Locksley, had visited with an old friend of John's back from their days at West Point. Henry Mills had been a promenade farmer in Charleston and upon seeing Regina that one summer day, Robin Locksley had fallen head over heels in love with her. John's sister Ruth also lived in Charleston, with her son David, who followed Robin and Regina as much as he could.

He had spent every second he could with Regina, even asking to take many a midnight stroll with him, where he kissed her once beneath a huge tree by the pond. He had courted her as best as he could in the days that he spent with her in Charleston. When the Locksleys had to leave to go back up to Philadelphia, Robin had asked permission from Henry Mills to write to Regina while he was back home. Henry had been more than thrilled to have a nice young man such as Robin to do so. John and Anne Locksley had also invited Henry, Cora and Regina up to stay with them later in the year, and before the Locksleys had left Philadelphia, Robin had asked Henry for permission to marry Regina, and Henry had given his blessing for the young couple.

They were married that Christmas in 1860 at Regina's home in Charleston, Robin had bought property not far from her parents' place, they also had a place up North that they were going to stay in that following spring. But before the young couple could adapt to their new lives, war had divided the country and sent it into pure hell.

Robin had begged Regina to stay in Philadelphia with his parents, and he had worried nonstop when his parents had informed him that Regina had went back home. He had hoped that Regina had come back to be with his parents to await his return.

Now he was home, only there was no home. No Regina.

He just wanted his wife and peace.

He decided to head to his cousin David's home to see if Regina was there by any chance. After a few hours he arrived at David's place. The place looked deserted, but Robin headed inside and was determined to find the one who had occupied his thoughts nonstop.

He was almost to the door when Randy, one of the grounds keepers, approached him.

"Mister Robin...what...how are you here?" Randy asked, clearly stunned to see him.

"Nothing could keep me from being here. Is my wife here?" Robin asked.

"Misses Regina, Sir...she's...oh no," Randy said as he backed away from Robin.

"Is Regina here?" Robin demanded.

Randy just nodded, "She's...she's in the kitchen."

"Thank you, Randy," Robin said as he headed into the house.

Regina.

She leaned before a giant stone fireplace, dressed in a blew flowered floor-length dress and a white homespun apron, which she held like a potholder while stirring the contents of an iron cauldron hanging on the crane.

He stared at the back of her head with its heavy knot of dark hair, at her slender back, at the faint outline of hips beneath the blue cotton. She was humming quietly to the accompaniment of the spook clanking against the pot. His palms went damp and he felt almost dizzy at finding her. In silence, he watched her, basking in the simple familiarity of her.

She clapped the cover back on the pot, while he imagined the lift of her breasts, the coffee brown of her eyes, and the curve of her lips. At last he knocked softly on the open door. Regina looked over her shoulder, startled. A tall man was silhouetted in the door space, haloed by the blaze of noon light behind him.

"Yes?" she turned, wiping her palms on the apron, the lifting one to shade her eyes. She squinted, and moved forward with uncertain steps until the hem of her dress was lit by the sunlight slanting across the floor. There she stopped, making out familiar blue eyes, copper skin, and the first lips she had ever kissed.

She gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief while she stiffened as if struck by lightning. "Rob...Robin?" Her heart went wild. Her face blanched, and the room seemed to spin around crazily while she stared at him, shocked. At last her hands fluttered downward and she stammered again in a choked voice. "Robin?"

He managed a shaky smile while she struggled to comprehend the impossible! Robin Locksley, fit and lively, was standing before her!

"Regina," he got out, half choking on the word before continuing with rough emotion. "After almost five years, is that all you're going to say?"

"Robin...my god, you're alive!"

He dropped his bag to the floor and took one long step, head bending, arms reaching, while she flew forward to be gathered high and hard against him.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no! She pinched her eyes shut, then opened them wide as if to steady the senses that careened off kilter. But it was Robin! His embrace threatened to crack her ribs and his body with its wide spread legs was pressed against the length of hers, his cheek of bronze very warm and rough, and very much alive! Her arms did what they'd done hundreds of times before, what they had ached to do a thousand times since. They circled his tough, wide shoulders and clutched him while her temple lay pillowed against his scruff and tears scalded her eyes.

Then Robin lifted his head. Hard calluses framed Regina's face as he bracketed her jaws with broad hands and kissed her with an impatience that had been growing for five years thanks to this war. Wide, warm, familiar lips slanted over hers before reason interfered. His tongue came hungering, searching and finding the depths of her mouth as the years slid away into oblivion. They crushed each other with the sweet torment of reunion driving their hearts into a ramming dance as the embrace and kiss pushed all sense of time aside.

At last they separated, though Robin still held her face as if it were a precious treasure, gazing down into her eyes as he whispered in a racked voice full of emotion, "Oh, Regina." Tiredly, he leaned his forehead against hers while his eyes sagged shut, and he basked in the scent and nearness of her, running his palms over her back as if to memorize every muscle she had.

After a long moment she lifted his face, moving her fingertips and eyes over him, familiarizing herself with five added years of creases that webbed its bronzed skin. Gone was the very youthful appearance of the young boy she had fallen in love with now, stood before her was a man.

With those eyes he drank her in, standing a small space away. He lifted one palm, as touch as the leather almost, and lay it on her cheek, pink still from the heat of the fireplace. His other palm fell from her shoulder to the softness of her breast, caressing it as though to affirm that she was real, that he was here at last.

She reacted as she always had, pressing more firmly against his palm, letting her eyelids close for a few moments, cupping the back of his hand with her own as her heartbeat and breathing hastened. Then, realizing what she was doing, she captured his hand in both of hers, turned her lips into it, and pressed it instead to her face, while dread and relief fought against one another.

"Oh, Robin, Robin," she moaned, "We thought you were dead."

He placed his free hand on the knot of hair at the nape of her neck, wondering how far down her back it would fall when he freed it. His rough palm caught in the fine strand he remembered so well, had dreamed of so many lonely times after a battle. Once more he circled her with both arms, holding her lightly against him while asking softly, "Didn't you get any of my letters?"

"Your letters?" she asked, gathering enough common sense to push at his inner elbows and back out of his embrace, though it was the very last thing she wanted to do in the world.

"I supposed it to be expected with the way the mail couldn't get through during the war," Robin said with a soft smile on his face. His Regina was in his arms, and everything was right with the world.

"But, five years," she half moaned.

Moving again to cradle her face in his hands, he said now, "I'm sorry you didn't get them, but it is of no matter. We're here now and this is-"

But just then a small voice interrupted, "Mama?"

Regina leaped backward and pressed a hand to her hammering heart.

Robin spun around.

In the doorway stood a lad whose top of his head reached no higher than Robin's hip. He peered up at the tall stranger while one finger shyly tugged at the corner of a winsome mouth. A burst of emotion flooded through Robin's chest. A son, by God! I have a son! His eyes sought Regina's, but she avoided his questioning glance.

"Where have you been, Roland?"

Roland! It had been the name they had once discussed right before they were married to name their firstborn son. Robin couldn't stop the smile that grew on his face as his joy was constant after finding Regina and now-

"Waiting for Papa."

Panic tore through Regina. Her mouth went dry, her palms damp. She should have told Robin immediately! But how do you tell a man like that?

His face, alit with joy only seconds ago, suddenly lost its smile as he turned a quizzical expression to his wife. She felt the blood leap to her cheeks and opened her mouth to tell him the truth, but before she got the chance, steps approached them. The newcomer looked to find Robin and Regina standing like statues before him.

Regina swallowed. The face of the man in the room now suddenly blanched. Robin's gaze darted from the newcomer to Regina, and back to the man again.

David Nolan was the first to recover. He forced a welcoming smile and came forward with hand extended. "Robin! My God, man, we thought you were lost to us forever!"

"David, it's good to see you," Robin returned.

"Roland, go upstairs and wash your hands and face for dinner," Regina ordered gently.

"But, Mama-"

"Don't argue, now go," Regina said as she gave her son a gentle nudge. Once the little boy was gone, the tension in the room seemed to grow thicker.

"Regina stays here with you, David? Since our house was lost?" Robin asked.

David didn't respond he only looked from Robin to Regina. Both men then silently appealed to the woman, whose fingers were clenched tightly before her.

Regina's voice was strained, her cheeks blazing, as she worked her palms together nervously, "Robin...we...we thought you were dead."

"We?"

"David and I."

"David and you," Robin repeated expressionlessly. "Is it...is it what it looks like here?"

Finally, Regina admitted. "Yes, Robin, it is. David and I are married."