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While cheating is always a heinous offense, not all acts of betrayal are created equal. While you might be tempted to send your straying sweetie packing, there are some situations in which your relationship can recover.

Is there ever a time you can take back a cheater? Yes, if...

It was a one-time deviation.

Even the most faithful partners sometimes screw up. If it's never happened before and your partner has an otherwise perfect track record of treating you well and following through on promises, you might be able to chalk it up to a (terrible) error in judgment. If you truly want to forgive and move on, though, you have to do just that. No revenge fantasies, no long-held grudges, no throwing it in his face every time you have a fight.

You hear an immediate confession.

Confessing to an affair is a cry for help. It takes a whole lotta guilty feelings to share that kind of a secret. It's actually an indication of how much your partner values you and your relationship. He or she also secretly hopes that your anger - and subsequent laying down the law - will absolve them of guilt and keep it from happening again.

There was a lot of alcohol involved.

Is it lame? Yes. Is it juvenile? Certainly. But having a partner who had a few too many and forgot about your commitment isn't necessarily a deal breaker. Unless he or she always acts single after a few drinks, this kind of cheater probably isn't evil, just immature. Don't go easy on the offender - tough love tends to sort them out - but don't give up just yet.

Things are stressful.

Some people react to stress -- both the good and bad kinds - by cheating. And, believe or not, sometimes reaching major milestones in your relationship, living moving in together or getting engaged, can trigger an affair. Even loyal (happy) partners can do something stupid in a moment of "we're going to be together forever" panic. As long as there's a lot of sincere apologies and assurances that this will never, ever happen again, you can survive it.