Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and the words used to write this story (and an OC or two). All RH BBC characters and trademarks belong to Tiger Aspect and BBC, and I'm not making any profit from this story.

Summary: What if Marian had survived her trip to the Holy Land and Guy made good on his words to the Sheriff? A series of ficlets that explores the possibilities these what-if's present.

Author's Note: This plot bunny was originally intended to be nothing more than a ficlet, but it has taken on a life of its' own recently. Then it was going to be a one-shot, but the muse had different ideas. Instead it is a series of ficlets that may or may not ever end. :)

Rating: M (for the first, and just to be safe for the future)

Pairings: Guy/Marian, Allan/Marian

Spoilers: Up to Marian being in the Holy Land, then veers into a serious AU.

Series Title: An Unusual Family

A FRIEND IN NEED...

"Make no mistake, Marian." Guy's voice was cold and unfeeling as he spoke, and Marian knew that not even she could get through to him now. "We will be married tomorrow afternoon."

"I will still have Marian when we return to England. I will take her by force."

Marian's heart was racing as she stared at Guy in shock. She'd heard him say the words in Acre, but she had never believed that he would actually go through with this. "Guy..." she whispered pleadingly."Please don't do this." Guy took no pleasure in her wounded expression but he forced his heart to remain hardened. She had deceived him enough, and he had sworn that she would never play him for a fool again. He did not intend on falling for her phony tears ever again, especially not now. "Do not try to get out of this," he told her with a sneer. "You will say the vows tomorrow or you shall hang. And if you run, the Sheriff has decided that a villager will hang for every day that you are gone. Do you understand?" Marian nodded mutely, trying to force back the tears that were welling in her eyes. "Good. I will see you tomorrow at the church in Locksley," he ordered, walking out of the room quickly before he had another chance to see her cry.

When he was gone, Marian finally allowed her tears to fall and she sank down onto the bed, not trusting her knees to support her. She had always believed the best of Guy, but she knew now that she had been a naive fool to do so. Anyone that would force a woman into marriage had to have the blackest heart in all of England. And Robin... Marian sobbed harder as she realized that she could never be Robin's wife now. Once she married Gisborne there would be no undoing it, and she and Robin would be separated forever.

"Marian?"

Startled, Marian jumped to her feet and wiped her eyes to see Allan standing at the foot of her bed. "Allan what are you doing?" she asked. "I saw Guy stormin' out of here so I thought I better come check on you. What did he do?" Marian gestured to the bed and he moved to sit down beside her. "I am to marry him tomorrow afternoon or I will hang." Allan's face took on a relieved expression. "I'm not bein' funny, but isn't marryin' Guy better'n hanging?" Marian gave him a look and suddenly Allan realized the problem. "Robin." "Yes, Robin," Marian said, her fingers reaching out to play with the fabric of his shirt. He gave her a strange look but didn't stop her. "Once I marry Guy..." "Then you can't marry Robin," Allan finished, mentally hitting himself for not realizing it before. "That's rough, Marian. I'm sorry, really."

An awkward silence ensued, broken after a few moments by Marian's voice. "Allan?" He looked at her and was immediately taken aback by the look in her eyes. He had seen that look only once before, when she had kissed Gisborne to enable Robin and the gang to get out of the castle safely, and he knew that it meant she was about to do something rash. "Yes?" he asked cautiously. "So many of my choices are being taken from me," she said sadly, drawing patterns on his shirt with her finger as she looked into his eyes. "There is at least one choice left that I can make for myself... if you would agree to it." Slowly and deliberately she leaned in towards him and pressed her lips to his. Instinct guiding him, Allan returned the kiss for a moment but when she gently probed at his lips with her tongue he came to his senses and drew back. "Marian, what are you doin'?" "Making a choice," she said her voice clear and calm. "If I am to marry Guy tomorrow, I will not go to the marriage bed a virgin. Shouldn't I be able to choose the one who will take that from me? Can't I have at least that much power over my own life?"

"Yes, but Marian..." He put his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her eyes, finding nothing but clarity in them. "You're Robin's girl. I could never do that to Robin." Marian's laugh was one of frustration and a quiet desperation. "Robin? I haven't seen him since before we went to Acre. For all that I know, he could be dead. I know that he loves me, but he has a lot of growing up to do yet and I must accept my fate. I am making my choice, Allan. Now you must make yours."

Allan's thoughts were racing as he tried to reason his way out of the situation. One voice was telling him to get out, that he was not the type to steal his mate's girl, but another voice was whispering, telling him to go for it, what was he waiting for? His dilemma was ended when Marian reached down and cupped him through his pants. It had been too long since he'd had a woman, and the slight touch drove all reason from his mind. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately, his tongue pressing against her lips, seeking and gaining entrance to her mouth. He groaned as he tasted her for the first time and her tongue met his. Marian's hand was still pressed against his crotch, and she smiled against his lips when she felt his cock harden against her hand. Allan reached down and curved her fingers to fit around the bulge and she felt desire surge through her when he moved his hand to her breast, gently squeezing it.

Breaking the kiss, Allan moved his lips to her neck and began to suckle and kiss patches of the sensitive skin and her collarbone. Marian moaned and moved a hand to his hair, grasping it and using it to hold him in place. "Allan," she gasped as he pulled her gown down and took her nipple into his mouth, laving it with his tongue and suckling it while his hand kneaded her other breast and tweaked her nipple. After a moment he switched and it was all Marian could do not to scream with pleasure. She had never felt such sensation before and she finally had to tug Allan up to kiss him again, untying his pants. He stood up slightly so that she could slide them down and then her hand wrapped around his warm cock. She broke the kiss to look at him and suddenly froze. "Marian?" Allan said questioningly, gently tipping her chin up and towards him so that he could meet her gaze. "We can stop," he said breathlessly.

Marian shook her head, clearing it of all doubts. "No," she replied decisively. "I want you," she told him, her eyes bright with desire and her cheeks flushed. "Please, Allan..." Cursing himself, Allan kissed her again and laid her back on the bed, spreading her legs and moving the material of her gown around until he was finally poised at her entrance. He slid his cock up and down her slit, marveling at how wet she was already. Looking down at her underneath him, Allan gave her one final questioning look and she nodded, bracing herself. She was wet, but he knew enough to spit in his hand for extra lubrication before he spread her open. As gently as he could, he began to push inside of her. He went excruciatingly slowly, inch by inch, until he reached her barrier. Marian's eyes scrunched closed and he bent to kiss her until she opened them. "Look at me," he told her, and she nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. Holding her gaze, he gently pushed through her maidenhood. "I'm sorry," he whispered when she gasped in pain and she shook her head, wordlessly telling him that it was okay. She tightened her grip around his neck and pulled him closer as he began to thrust into her. Gradually the pain changed into pleasure and she whimpered as she clung to him, digging her nails into his back and wrapping her legs around him as she began to meet his thrusts.

"Marian..." Allan grunted as he neared his breaking point. "I'm not bein' funny, but we should be safe..." "Don't," Marian said breathlessly, sliding her hands down to squeeze his ass and nearly sending him over the edge. "Just don't." Beyond reason, he began to thrust quickly until she buried her face into a pillow and screamed with orgasm, her inner muscles spasming around him and forcing his own release. He moaned as he continued thrusting, spilling his seed deeply into her womb. With one final thrust, he shuddered and lay completely still on top of her. Their breathing was ragged and uneven as they lay together, and after a moment Allan rolled over and reached for Marian, who snuggled against his chest and let him wrap his arms around her. "That..." "Shh," Marian said, pressing her finger against his lips briefly before replacing it with her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. "Thank you," she whispered, gazing into his eyes.

~FIN