Prologue
Meg smiled as she watched Guy and their son play in the meadow.
It was a sunny day, so Meg sat on a blanket under the shadow of a great tree. Having a basket next to her, she took its contents out of it and started to make some snacks when her husband and son would become hungry after running around for two hours under the naked sun.
Meg sighed in content. More than a year had passed since she and Guy wed. Even though she adjusted herself to her new life with Guy living in Locksley as Lady of the Manor, she still wasn't fully adjusted. The reason for it being so was that the villagers welcomed their new mistress with difficulty. They didn't like her so much, by the cold, indifferent looks and small remarks. That made Meg unsettled, because she really wanted to show the people that she, as Lady Gisbourne, would care for their needs. The people feigned kindness towards Meg, but, in their hearts, they could not get used to the fact that she was a foreigner, and that she had a child out of wedlock.
Meg was aware of all this, but she didn't want to think about that as she was having her picnic with her family. Guy almost always had to stay in the castle, so that day was one of the few days in which the Gisbourne family could spend time together.
Meg laughed when Gwido stumbled on the grass, like he always did at home. When Guy picked him up and tickled him, Gwido laughed like crazy. When Guy put him down, Gwido ran off, screeching his baby screech, as his father was chasing after him. The two-year old toddler was so full of energy and life, Meg was amazed at how such a small child practically could run like an athlete. He must have been wearing Guy out!
After ten more minutes, Gwido stopped and scuttled towards his father. Guy picked him up and spun him around, but Gwido whimpered as he struggled to get down on his feet again. Ever since he learned how to walk, he realized that he was too much of a 'big boy' to be carried around.
Guy conceded. "All right, Gwido," he said, placing Gwido down and bending his knees so he could look at his son in the eyes. His smile became mischievous as he whispered to him: "But you have to run to mama. She has food prepared for you!"
Gwido's eyes lit up at the mention of Meg. He turned his head towards his mother, who smiled and waved at him.
"Mama!" he screamed as he darted towards Meg. "Mama! Mamaaaaa!"
Guy laughed as the toddler dashed towards his mother. Gwido extended his arms out towards Meg and crashed into her, burying his face in her chest. Meg was taken aback at his sudden and unexpected moves, but she nevertheless wrapped her arms around her son.
"Woah, Gwido! Be careful! Don't run into me! Are you hungry?"
Gwido nodded. "Tak!"
"You have to sit next to me, though, not on me." Meg caressed his light-blond curly hair.
Gwido was not listening to his mother, for he turned around to see his father, who sat down on the blanket next to Meg. He ran to Guy and crashed into him, as well.
"Oh, dear!" Guy said. "What a boulder we have here!"
Meg giggled and delicately straightened out the creases on her dress. "He likes you, Guy."
Guy positioned Gwido on his lap. "I can see that. Are you ready to eat, my boy?"
Gwido nodded again. "Tak!"
Meg smiled as she handed Guy a wooden bowl full of chopped up peaches. As Guy fed Gwido, Meg gazed admiringly at the two while she ate her own food. Her heart wanted to burst at her husband being so loving, caring, and accepting of Gwido. It was as if Gwido was his own son, not his adopted one. She also noticed that Gwido gradually trusted Guy and enjoyed being around him, whether that be during mealtime, during play, or during leisure time. It filled Meg with joy to see the two bond so well.
Meg handed Guy a canteen of water. Running around for two hours, especially after someone as nimble as Gwido, was bound to make someone exhausted, sweaty, and thirsty. Guy had his black leather jacket off during it, but he still wore black. To this day, Meg wondered how her husband was used to wearing his black leather, especially during the summertime. She herself would never survive! On that day, she wore a light pink, flowy dress with half-sleeves and a lower neckline than usual. Even then, she was sweating a bit. She took out a handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiped her forehead with it.
"You are so beautiful, Meg."
Guy's words caused Meg to blush.
"It's true. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on."
"I could say a similar thing about you, that you are the most handsome man I've ever laid my eyes on."
Guy chuckled. "You're very happy, Meg. I might say too happy, to be honest."
"Whatever do you mean by that, Guy?" Meg's smile broadened even more.
"It's just that you're smiling more than usual. Your whole countenance expresses immense joy in something."
"Well, if I must say it, I have a surprise."
"A surprise?"
"Yes. A surprise. But it will be for later."
At that, the two saw that, by that time, Gwido practically licked the bowl clean.
"Are you still hungry?" Meg asked him.
Gwido nodded.
At that, Meg gave Guy a soft piece of bread some berry jam on it. However, when Guy tried to give Gwido a piece, he pushed the bread away. Guy tried again, but the same result remained.
"Come on, baby," Meg said in her gentle, motherly voice. "You need to eat more. That fruit wasn't enough for you."
Yet Gwido insisted in his baby way that he didn't want to eat the food.
"I know something," Guy said. "My mother always used to do it to Isabella and I." Turning to Gwido with the piece of bread in his hand, he said: "Gwido, can you take a bite of the bread for your mama? She would very much like that."
To Meg's surprise, Gwido ate the piece of bread.
"Now, how about for me, your Tata?"
Gwido took another bite.
Meg already knew where this was going. "Hmm. How about for Auntie Isabella and Wujek Mietek?"
Gwido eagerly took two more bites.
After listing out the rest of the people Gwido could eat for-namely, Adelina, Celestina, Jasper, Robin, Marian, Aunt Della, Archer, Allan, and Kate-Meg was pleased to see that Gwido was almost done with his food.
"No, I don't know who else to name," Guy said. "I've nobody else in mind. You, Meg?"
Meg nodded. "Gwido, how about another bite for your baby brother or sister?"
"For your baby bro-wait, what?" Guy turned to Meg with a look of shock on his face.
Meg turned crimson as she placed her hand over her belly. She waited so long for the look of pure surprise and utter joy on Guy's face. And when she saw them, she felt like the happiest woman in the world. Gwido looked at both of his parents, wondering what in the world were they grinning like two idiots for.
"You're pregnant?" Guy asked incredulously.
"Three months. I wanted to make sure, but yes, I am with child!" Meg responded, unable to contain her elation.
"I can't believe this!" Guy exclaimed, also unable to contain his happiness. He neared Meg and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you so much." His voice was laced heavily with emotion.
"For what? We made this child together. I didn't do everything."
"Just, thank you," Guy murmured. He kissed her on the lips and said repeatedly between kisses: "Thank you. Just thank you."
When they stopped, Meg caressed Guy's face. Tears of joy fell down her face. "Nothing makes me happier than seeing you happy."
Smiling, Guy kissed her again, cupping her face with both of his hands and wiping her tears away.
Breaking away, he said: "I am honored to build this life, this future with you." And he kissed her again.
Their moment was interrupted by Gwido's screeching. Gwido was waving his arms around, trying to catch his parents' attention. Guy placed Gwido on his lap and held him.
"He's probably wondering why we are getting so emotional," he said.
"Did you hear that, Gwido?" Meg said, holding both of his pudgy hands. "You're going to be a big brother!"
But Gwido didn't understand what his mother was talking about. He gazed at her with a blank expression on his face. He was too young to comprehend the fact that his mother was pregnant.
"He's going to be so happy once he's older," Meg continued. "Oh, it's going to be just wonderful!"