A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated, even the negative ones, but the concluding parts will be withheld only to heighten the suspense and not to force them from you...

Thank you to my lovely betas: darkentwisted and robinfanatic on LiveJournal.

Summary: Set during 3x01, on the night after the Gang gets back to Sherwood. An old friend comes to make Much an offer.

Gisborne roared in triumph as he hurled Robin's body from the cliff into the swirling river far below. Much threw himself forward with an animal cry of rage...

And woke with a start then winced at the pain in his side - that brand was going to take a long time to heal.

It would still fade quicker than the wound to his heart however. Robin was dead and they didn't even have his body to mourn over. He was grateful to Allan and John for saving him from the Sheriff but really, what did he still have left to live for with Robin gone? What did any of them? They couldn't carry on with just three of them and he'd be surprised if Allan didn't shortly reduce their numbers still further. John would probably just go back to the life he had before and he would... Much couldn't think what he would do. He'd never really considered that there may one day be no Robin for him to look after.

He sighed and slowly manoeuvred himself off his bunk. Perhaps a fresh cold cloth would take some of the heat out and let him get some rest. John and Allan continued to sleep soundly as he passed them; John lying flat on his back with one hand on his stomach and his mouth slightly open and Allan curled defensively into a ball like a fox as usual. Much smiled as he thought of all they'd done for him that day. He'd felt so alone and full of despair up until he'd seen them nodding at him as the cart had trundled out of Nottingham towards the forest and then he'd just known everything would work out somehow.

Much walked gingerly down to the nearby brook and knelt at the water's edge. There was a bright moon and Sherwood looked almost dreamlike bathed in it's soft glow. Only the gentle trickling of the water, the faintest of breezes rustling the leaves and the occasional soft animal noise disturbed the stillness. He lifted his shirt off over his head before loosening his leggings and pushing them down slightly over his hip to expose the burn to the cool night air as he inspected it.

"You're just as beautiful as I remember."

Much quickly looked up as the soft voice startled him. "R-Robin?"

Carter smiled sadly as he slowly advanced towards Much through the trees. He looked like an angel; his fair hair, pale skin and white robes gleaming in the moonlight. "No, Much. I'm sorry. Perhaps he didn't love you as much as I did. Maybe he would have come back for Marian. I came back for you."

"Carter..." Much felt his jaw drop open in astonishment. He must be dreaming - or maybe his wound was infected and he'd started seeing things. He instinctively started to rise to his feet to greet his friend then stopped and his face paled. "But you're dead... We buried you." He nervously tried to back away and fell over a tree root, gasping in pain as the scab over the burn on his side reopened. This definitely wasn't a dream.

The apparition was instantly kneeling by his side, cradling him in his arms and looking down at the bearded man's body with concern. "Much, you're hurt."

Much clutched at the ghost's arm as Carter held him. He certainly seemed substantial enough. More than substantial - the firm muscles under his fingers reminding Much of just how attractive he'd found the handsome young knight the first time they'd met. He looked up into Carter's sparkling blue eyes, glittering in the darkness like the stars far above them.

"It - it's fine, just a small burn. It'll heal quickly enough." Much tried to shrug it off but Carter could see the pain on his face.

"You always were far more brave than anybody gives you credit for," Carter softly told him. He tenderly brushed his hand across Much's cheek then slowly lowered his head. Much felt a sudden jolt deep in his stomach as Carter's warm lips met his. The very few times Robin had kissed him there had been something slightly possessive about it. Even after he'd made Much a free man he still kissed him like he owned him, like it was just his natural right to take command of Much's mouth. Carter's kiss was soft and welcoming, drawing him in like it was where he belonged.

"I never want to be without you again, Much, in this life or the next." Carter reached up and pulled Much's cap off. Much feebly protested but Carter shushed him and ran his fingers through Much's hair, gently untangling it. "When I woke and saw the grave next to mine, I was so worried it was you. Poor Robin. Marian was a beautiful young woman - so full of life. At least now they will be together again, forever, as we should be."

"But I don't understand..."

"Why do you need to? Your love has brought me back, Much - just accept it. Let me show you what other beautiful things our love can do." Carter raised his own wrist to his lips and suddenly, shockingly bit into it. Much gasped as he saw the scarlet liquid pulse from the wound and run down Carter's arm.

"Trust me." Carter lowered his arm to Much's side and smeared his blood across the burn. Much whimpered slightly as the heat under his skin suddenly intensified then died away. He stared down in amazement as the burn healed, faded and then vanished completely without a trace, as if it had never been there.

"W-witchcraft!" he stammered.

"No, Much, do I look like a witch?" Carter smiled. "It's a beautiful gift I want to share with you."

"Share?"

"Yes, say you'll be mine, Much and I can give you this gift too. We'll be together forever, never dying, always young and healthy and... beautiful." He leaned over for another kiss and this time Much willingly returned it, lifting his hand to Carter's shoulder and stroking his strong arm, feeling Carter's bicep flexing under his thumb as he pulled Much closer towards him and the intensity of the kiss grew from gentle tenderness to smouldering passion.

"Forever..." Much breathed as their lips parted.

Carter offered his wrist to Much's lips and almost without thinking what he was doing, Much hesitantly licked at the dark liquid oozing from Carter's pale skin. He knew the taste of blood in his mouth from a hundred moments of pain but this was completely different. It burned on his tongue and heat spread through him like drinking strong wine. He felt the pain in his shoulders from the earlier digging ease and vanish and the tender patches of skin on his wrists where the manacles had rubbed and chafed healed over and disappeared. Even an old pain in his ankle he'd almost forgotten he had, from having to live with it for so long, flared suddenly then left for good.

Much gently laughed in wonder. He'd never felt so whole, so... alive.

Carter licked his own wrist clean and the wound closed and vanished. He slowly lowered Much to the ground and lay beside him then rained soft kisses down on Much's lips and across his neck and chest. Each one made Much's skin tingle and his pulse race. He could feel the gift Carter had already given him like a warm glow in his blood and he held his hand up against the backdrop of night sky and forest leaves, looking at it strangely as if surprised that he wasn't actually able to see the heat he felt in his body radiating through his skin. The stars and trees above him somehow seemed brighter and clearer and the smell of the new growth of plants all around him and the warm, musky scent of the man kissing him was heady and intoxicating.

Carter buried his face in Much's neck, gently licking and nipping with his teeth at the sensitive skin there. Much groaned with desire and arched his back slightly from the ground as Carter ran his hand down the blond outlaw's chest and across his abdomen before sliding it under the waistband of his leggings. Much shuddered as the knight's fingers gently brushed against him and the overwhelming sensation of the tingling heat in his blood made his manhood throb as he started to harden at Carter's touch.

Carter kissed his way slowly down Much's chest.

"Carter! What are you...? Oh!"

Much gasped as Carter knelt by his hips, pulled his length free from his leggings and lightly kissed the tip, licking drops of clear liquid from it before sliding his lips over the head. Carter's mouth was so warm and the heat coming from the blood pulsing within his own body was so intense Much was amazed he wasn't drenched in sweat. Robin had never done this for him despite the numerous times the manservant had gladly serviced his former Master with his mouth. It felt indescribably good and the fact Carter had willingly taken him into his mouth without even being asked just made the moment that much more beautiful. Much felt a small tear run down the side of his head and he quickly closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.

Carter suddenly stopped and lifted his lips from Much, staring deep into his eyes as Much looked up. "He never did this for you." It wasn't a question, but a statement, as if he had heard Much's thoughts.

"N-no."

Carter's face darkened with anger then softened again. "How could he resist? You're so beautiful. I want to drink in every part of you, Much..." He leaned over and licked slowly up Much's length before closing his lips over it once more, swirling his tongue around it as he gently sucked it further into the welcoming warmth of his mouth. Much's hands grabbed at the earth beside him, dirt packing under his fingernails as he scrabbled at the ground in ecstasy.

Carter stopped and sat up and Much whimpered, feeling the cool night breeze blowing across his wet manhood. Carter stared hungrily down at him then lay across him again. His teeth gently grazed Much's neck as his hand dipped lower and resumed stroking Much's length, making him groan with lust. "Share yourself with me and we can be together forever. I love you, Much. All my thoughts are of you, of us being together, of your beautiful blue eyes, your strong arms, your mouth..." He kissed Much deeply again. "Say you'll be mine, Much. Give yourself to me. I want you so badly." He dragged his nails across the outlaw's chest, leaving three fine red scratches. As ruby drops blossomed from each, he hungrily licked at them, making Much shudder at the fire he felt still burning within him. The scratches faded away as quickly as they had appeared.

Say yes... give in... You know you want this...

"Oh, Carter... I... I..."

Carter suddenly froze. Much hadn't heard anything but he looked up to see John standing about ten feet away with his staff at the ready. "John... No!" He held his hands out as John stepped towards them.

"Get your hands off him." John growled at Much's 'attacker'.

"Now, John, can't two old friends just have a quiet chat?" Carter lifted his head from Much's chest and grinned up at John.

John's eyes widened in recognition and his knuckles tightened around his staff. "Carter!" he exclaimed. "You're a revenant..."

"A what?" Much asked.

"He's an evil spirit, Much, returned from the grave to drink our blood and spread sickness and death. Get away from him." John swiftly crossed himself.

Carter smiled as he slowly got to his feet and stepped in front of Much. Much hastily tucked himself back into his leggings as best he could, his face now burning as much with embarrassment as from the fire in his blood.

"John... I'm no evil spirit and I don't spread sickness - I help cure it. Let me show you."

Carter suddenly leaped across the clearing and although John swung his staff with great speed, the blond knight was unnaturally fast. John felt like he was fighting three men at once and every time he thought he would land a blow, Carter suddenly wasn't there and was instead delivering his own quick strikes to the outlaw's head and upper body. It didn't take John long to realise Carter wasn't even really trying, just toying with him. He roared with frustration but Carter merely laughed and with an even quicker movement than before he punched John hard, three times. The large man dropped to his knees gasping for breath, the staff falling from his suddenly nerveless hands. He looked over at Much helplessly as Carter circled him like a predatory animal.

"Carter! What have you done?" Much had watched the fight in shock, rooted to the spot but now he started to get up.

"Stay there!" Carter ordered and Much suddenly found himself stuck on his knees, unable to move. It felt like the fire in his blood had turned to stone, anchoring him to the ground. "Your friend is sick, Much." Carter ran his hand down the side of John's face. "He's sick of living and I can cure that."

"No!" Much struggled uselessly, hot tears spilling down his cheeks in response to John's anguished look as the older outlaw realised they were both completely powerless to do anything.

Carter stepped behind John and pulled aside the lank curtain of his dark hair. He gently kissed John's neck and John shivered at the touch as he felt Carter's teeth lengthening against him then breaking his skin. He moaned as his warm blood suddenly pulsed out into Carter's mouth with surprisingly little pain, in fact it felt a little like getting drunk.

Carter held John's hair aside with one hand while the other slipped inside his shirt and teasingly stroked his large chest as he hungrily drank for a few long moments. The blond knight lifted his head and drew in a deep breath then wiped his hand across his mouth, smearing John's blood over his chin with a small shudder. "Oh... You have to taste him, Much! Such strength! He's... delicious! I've had to make do with mere snacks for so long but John... John's a feast!"

John could feel his life slowly pulsing out and running down his neck into the collar of his shirt. "No... please..." he quietly begged. Carter stood in front of him and lifted John's chin so their eyes met.

To Much's eyes Carter was radiating light; he glowed with beauty and strength and his eyes shone like his spotless white robes and armour. John's dark eyes looked flat and lifeless in comparison; his older, bulkier body, clad in little better than rags, quite rightly on its knees in front of a being so beautiful as Carter, unworthy of even being in his presence. He should be grateful Carter was even touching him...

Much shook his head. No, that's not right... John's my friend... He's a good man...

Carter looked down imperiously at the ageing outlaw before him. "You want this - you want to die, John, I've seen it in your mind. You're sick of your wife being with another man, sick of being cold and tired and lonely and growing old, sick of fighting against the Sheriff and never getting anywhere. You want to die but you're too much of a coward to kill yourself. I'm going to give you what you want."

"Not like this... please..." John pleaded.

Carter just smiled and leaned back over, placing his lips to John's neck once more. John groaned softly and his eyes started to glaze over, helplessly unable to stop the blond knight as he slowly drained the life from his body...

~~~ TBC ~~~

Additional A/N:
[1] The concept of a revenant is, believe it or not, almost historically accurate for the time period. Well, according to Wikipedia anyway... but what do they know...
[2] Yes, I know there will be hardly any moonlight if there's going to be a solar eclipse the day after next. If the show didn't care, I don't either. Bite me.

No, really Carter, bite me... please. ;o)