Problem (un-)greedy RegExp

Question

Consider the following Strings:

1: cccbbb

2: cccaaabbb

I would like to end up with are matches like this:

1: Array
(
    [1] => 
    [2] => bbb
)

2: Array
(
    [1] => aaa
    [2] => bbb
)

How can I match both in one RegExp?
Here's my try:

#(aaa)?(.*)$#

I have tried many variants of greedy and ungreedy modifications but it doesn't work out. As soon as I add the '?' everything is matched in [2]. Making [2] ungreedy doesn't help.

My RegExp works as expected if I omit the 'ccc', but I have to allow other characters at the beginning...

Answer 1

/(aaa)?((.)\3*)$/

There will be an extra [3] though. I don't think that's a problem.