I do not own Robin Hood BBC or the characters. Only my own thoughts and that's even questionable.

Knowing something of the loss of a brother-in-arms.

Dedicated to my best friend (Sasquatch). I held him as he died.

For where he has gone I have yet to follow.

(Calvin)

Also to my older sisters having had to endure their 'Girl' talk quite often and knowing what they talk about.

Prologue:

Deviations from script;

Much's talking and ignorance is only an act so he doesn't have to fight as he tends to forget not to kill.

Much survived the Holy Land and fought alongside his master as Robin said in the very first episode. Therefore, he must be at least as good, and knowing how protective he is of his best friend, probably better.

Like my twin we seem to be able to know each other's thoughts and feelings as well as where the other one is. These thoughts/feelings are represented by words here but words cannot truly describe it.

Marian didn't die in the Holy Land, and Djaq and Will returned with Robin and the gang.

For some background to my stories please read:

SilasBrandybuck, Mentor and beta reader. You-ll-Be-the-Death-of-Me

Also:

Empathise-Much

I-Was-There-When-You-Died

For the Love of brothers.

When Robin no longer hears the familiar breathing of his best friend and brother lying next to him he is instantly awake and anxiously scans the area for him and any threats. He sighs and replaces his sword while watching his friend stoking the fire back to life. He smiles thinking about his best friend and now brother who has remained faithfully by his side from birth, becoming his servant, loyally following him though the horrors of the Holy Land and then into exile, and grins trying to hide his thoughts knowing what joy awaits him later this evening.

Much, sensing that his best friend is awake and watching him, turns his head and grins then turns his attention back to bringing the fire to life. He thinks to his brother with a smirk, 'You're getting slow. I've been here for more than a minute.' Once the fire is alight, he places enough chunks of wood above them to rewarm the cave then lies back down on his mat shivering from the cold and covers himself with his blanket.

Robin, watching his brother shiver, lifts his blanket, shifts over, and presses his back against him sharing his warmth. He hears his brother's sigh of thanks and feels him lean against him, shudders from his cold back, but they slowly warm and return to sleep.

When the sun rises high enough to shine into the cave, the gang rises to the warmth of the fire and slowly makes their way about tending to their needs. Much and Robin crawl out from beneath their warm blankets and dress. Much yawns, stretches, and walks over to his kitchen and prepares the morning meal while Robin walks over and sits on the bench at the long table and watches the gang.

After they eat and have cleaned up from the meal, Robin calls out to his friend, "Come on Much let's go practice, you're getting slow." Then asks, "Anyone else want to come practice?"

Much bristles at being called slow, grabs his sword and bow, and to the laughter of their comrades, follows his master out to a meadow covered with low green grass and small white flowers where they can practice without being disturbed.

Much, after defeating his master in short order asks, as he helps Robin off the ground, "Getting slow am I?" Robin chuckles as he brushes himself off and tells his brother, "Okay Much, you're not getting slow, now let's practice." As they begin again, Little John and Allan call out to the two men involved in melee and Much advances on them. Little John drops the archery target and Allan drops his pack and after a few minutes Much has disarmed them and is working at wearing down his master's defense once more. Allan and Little John rise and watch the two until Robin gets in under Much's defense and disarms him.

Allan calls out, "Getting slow there Much!" To that, Much, breathing heavily, picking up his sword replies, "I took you and Little John out pretty quickly so if I were you, I wouldn't talk." Little John chuckles and tells him, "For someone who claims to have trained the King I would expect better." Much raises an eyebrow and Allan nudges Little John and quietly tells him, "If we want to practice with them I wouldn't antagonize him. Remember the eight guards?"

Much smiles and raises his sword in challenge as Little John says, "No offence." Much charges Little John and their melee begins. Much, remembering his master's advice about not defeating his opponent too soon, toys with Little John by using extravagant sweeps of his sword and overly flagrant foot work, until his opponent tires then starts to offer advice and performs the same move over and over again until Little John can defend against them. Much then and advances on Allan.

While Allan parries Much's first strikes he tells him, "Hey Much, go easy there. I know what you can do." Much smiles, backs off, takes a deep breath, and advances slowly, slowing back down and gradually works Allan's speed back up giving him a good workout.

Robin walks over to Little John and helps the man to his feet and together they watch Allan and Much spar. Robin calls out to the sparing men, "Allan! Don't wear him out too much! He'll need his strength for tonight!" After Allan tires they pick up their bows and Little John sets up the target so they don't have to go chase the arrows through the forest. After each has had a go, Much, eating an apple from Allan's pack walks up to retrieve the arrows. After pulling the arrows out of the target, he turns and sees his master aiming his bow at him with Little John and Allan standing behind him.

Much stares straight ahead remembering when his master had shot him but stands still as he slowly lifts the apple up with his left hand holding it there with three fingers. Robin takes aim and shoots his arrow through the center of the apple. Much casually tosses the apple up and catches it by the arrow as he casually continues to eat it while walking back to his master. Much hands over the arrows and takes the last bite from the apple. He presses the apple off the arrow, removes the bow from his shoulder, nocks the arrow, and quickly shoots it dead center of the target.

He turns and grins as Robin swiftly shoots three surrounding it. Much laughs and says, "Show off."

Robin turns to him, chuckles and replies, "Come on now Much, you used to be able to do at least that in the Holy Land." Much huffs, grabs three arrows, and continues the circle with his master's arrows surrounding the center one. He turns and tells him, "Still can." Much and Robin laugh as Little John and Allan stand behind them, their mouths open, still amazed every time Much shows more of his hidden abilities.

Robin and Much hand their recurve bows to the other two and help them with their archery. Robin, with Allan and Little John's help, keeps Much occupied all day practicing then towards evening, they return to the cave to eat.

After the gang has cleaned up from the meal, Robin calls to his friend waving his arm to follow, "Come on Much, let's go see if Marian has returned."

Much grins at hearing Marian's name and shoots Robin a knowing thought and watches his friend blush, then walks over to their bunks, grabs their swords, tosses Robin his and sheathes his own. He shoulders his bow and quiver, then walks over and hands his friend his own.

As they leave the cave, Robin calls to the rest of the gang, "Much and I are going to see if Marian has returned. We'll be back, later… Come on Much let's go." The two men walk in step towards Lady Marian's home on the cushioned forest floor, which is held in shadow by the thick green canopy above, all the while listening for any movements, their senses honed sharp by the years spent in the Holy Land and while in exile.

Robin, so as to not let his brother know what is in store for him, shares his thoughts about how miraculous it was to have found that the only man who has been with him from before they can remember, his loyal best friend, had actually turned out to be his twin brother. Robin thinks to his brother, 'After all, you can choose your friends but not your relatives.' Much cannot hold back his shared thoughts of joy and understanding as they momentarily grasp scarred hands and continue through the forest.

Once they reach Marian's home Robin gracefully leaps up to the ledge outside her window and gently taps on it. The window opens and a soft white hand elegantly reaches out and beacons him inside. Then after a few moments, Robin reaches out and beacons his brother to follow. Much, stops fading into the shadows and looks up curiously watching as his master beacons him to follow, and whispers up to the window curiously, "Master?" He watches his brother lean out the window, waves his hand, and whispers to him urgently, "Come on Much!" Much shrugs and leaps up to the ledge then jumps through the open window as his master does.

Much jumps in, watching his footing having not done this as often as his brother, looks up to see Robin smiling with his arm wrapped around Marian's waist. He looks at them curiously then glances around the room and finds, standing just to the right of Marian, is his beloved Eve.

Eve and Much, dumbfounded, stare at one another for a moment until Eve breaks from her shock and leaps into her love's arms joyfully calling out his name, "Much!" Much's vision narrows to exclude all else except the gorgeous vision racing towards him. He reaches out, tightly embraces her, and they immerse themselves in a deep passionate kiss.

When they pull away, Much through tears of joy, his voice wavering, whispers to his reclaimed love, "I thought I lost you. How did you come to be here?" They once again tightly embrace and passionately kiss ignoring the pair watching them.

After a timeless moment, they hear Robin clear his throat and they slowly separate. Eve gently steps away from Much and nods in thanks to Marian. Much's eyes close as his cheek brushes against Eve's soft auburn hair as she steps away breathing her in. He slowly turns and opens his eyes, then lifts his head giving his undivided attention to his childhood friend who brought his heart's desire back to him.

Marian laughs merrily and says, "I see you already know Eve." Much glances once more at his love confirming that she is truly standing against him and gently squeezes her hand.

Marian smiles telling him, "Eve is my new handmaiden. I found her in a clothing shop at Scarborough fair in Yorkshire and bought her servitude from her master."

Much releases Eve's hand, paces up to Marian and without thinking embraces and kisses her gently then looks her in the eyes and tearfully tells her, "Thank you."

He then remembers that she is his brother's fiancée and steps back embarrassed. He wipes his eyes, drops his head, and says, "Sorry master, I did not mean to offend." Robin steps up, lifts his friend's head, and replies, "No apology needed my friend. It's good to see you happy." Much smiles and steps back slipping his arm around Eve's narrow waist and holds her tight against him as though afraid that she might be removed from him once more.

Much glances around Marian's room and notices several wrapped packages and a large tub of steaming water.

Much thinking to Robin, 'A bath? You?'

Robin returns with a mental laugh, 'Just wait.' Much looks at him confused but Robin only laughs.

Marian breaking in says, "Well, I'm sure you and Eve would like to get reacquainted." Eve, holding her true love's hand, sweeps him out of Marian's chambers and down the hall to her own quarters. Robin thinking to his brother as he's whisked away tells him, 'See, all surprises aren't bad!'

When Much and Eve enter her room and close the door he finds the same type packages and steaming bath. The brother's attention now falls on their beloveds as they are voluntarily dis-robed and led to the awaiting tubs by their women.

The next morning as Much rises from bed, he looks lovingly back at Eve and notices the blood stain on the open white gown she is wearing and sighs. He bends over once more and gently kisses his Eve on the cheek so as not to wake her then walks over to the now cooled bath, washes himself off, quietly gets dressed, and leaves her sleeping peacefully with a slight smile on her beatific face.

The brothers join each other in the dark hallway and quietly leave through the servant's back door.

As they are walking back through the early morning dew covered forest dressed in their new clothes that Marian had bought for them, Robin jokingly asks, "Do you think they'll be able to stand?"

Much laughs and answers, "If we can I'm sure they will eventually."

Robin looks over his friend and snickers, "You're walking kind of funny there."

Much huffs, "And you're walking none too gracefully yourself."

A little while later, Much gives his brother a sideways look, and says, "You knew Eve was there."

Robin gives him one of his cheeky grins.

Much exclaims, "This was planned! How did you keep it from me?"

Robin chuckles telling him, "I met Eve the last time I was with Marian, and I kept us too busy with other things to keep me from thinking too much about it and you from finding out."

After a pause Much looks sideways at Robin and says quietly, "She was still a virgin."

Robin stops as does Much and Robin asks, "She was? She saved herself all this time for you?

Much nods and replies, "Yes. She truly does love me."

Robin sighs and places his hand on his brother's shoulder and tells him, "So was Marian until last night. She waited for me as well."

Much smiles and replies, "We are the two luckiest men in all of England."

Much then gets worried and says, "I hope we don't get them pregnant before we can marry them."

Robin nods in agreement and tells his brother, "Marian told me that she has that taken care of. Madeline has given her a special tonic that works without fail."

Much sighs with relief and says, "That's good. I was worried for a moment."

Robin looks slyly at his friend and says, "Shouldn't you have thought of that before, having been with her Majesty Alyssa?" Much chuckles and retorts, "How about you and those handmaids, notice I didn't call them maidens." Robin and Much share a cheeky grin, nod, and say at the same time, "Yea, well…"

About half way to the cave, Much tells him earnestly, "I must free her so we can marry."

Robin sighs and tells him, "Much, Marian bought Eve's servitude to bring her back to you and I know what she means to you, but for now, she must remain with Marian."

Much protests, "But Robin…" Robin stops, turns and grips Much's arms forcefully, "Much listen to me! If you set her free right now where would she go? In the woods being hunted like the rest of us? She is with Marian and not someone we can't trust. With her, Eve will be taken care of. You know she will. When the King returns and we purge Nottingham of the evil within, then I'm sure Marian will let you set her free."

Much relaxes and tells his friend, "Okay Robin. I trust you."

Robin sighs and releases him solemnly, "Then we can both get married. I will have Locksley and you your Bonchurch." They clap each other on the arm and continue their walk back to the cave.

Robin snickers, "Four times. Not bad." Much laughs and throws his arm around his brother's shoulders, pulls him tight, then releases him.

It's just before noon as they enter the cave and Allan laughs watching as the brothers walk in and sit down. Allan flings his leg over the bench and sits down across from them snickering, "I can guess why Robin is walking funny but why are you?"

Much gives him a cheeky grin and tells him, "Marian has a new handmaid. It's Eve."

Allan surprised asks, "Your Eve?" Much nods grinning broadly.

Allan says mockingly, "Well that explains it. I'm just glad to find out that you really do like women."

Much's eyes narrow as he glares across the table at the man and starts to get up but Robin restrains him and tells Allan, "I think you might want to apologize. Remember what happened in the forest when we went to get him back? Next time I may not be around to stop him."

Allan gulps and rubs his neck thoughtfully and quietly says, "No offence Much." Much nods and relaxes.

Djaq looking at the two friends asks, "Did you get your new clothes from Marian?"

Robin, glad for the distraction, turns his attention to their resident healer and replies, "Yes, she bought them for us while she was at Scarborough fair in the shop where she found Eve. Do you like them?" Robin shifts from the stiffness of the garments and thinks to his friend, 'I still prefer the clothes you make me, they fit and aren't so stiff. Is there something you can do with these?' Much replies, 'Yes, but not until our ladies aren't looking so closely at them.' The brothers laugh heartily while the rest of the gang just stare having gotten used to their exchanges that no one else can hear.

Djaq says, "They're, well… nice."

Much replies, "Yea, well, I'll do something about the fit later." The gang all laughs at Much's response, aware that they don't like them much either.

Much, shifting position on the hard wooden bench, then asks, "Djaq, could you mix me something for pain? I'm, well, a bit tender." Djaq laughs wittingly, walks over to where she keeps her various herbs, potions, and elixirs, and mixes two mugs of her special pain tonic and brings them to the brothers. Much and Robin thank her and drink them, then walk over to their pallets, strip to their braise, lie down next to each other as always covering themselves with their blankets and go to sleep. The gang shares a chuckle while shaking their heads and Djaq, voicing her thoughts for all says, "Brothers."

When Marian awakes, she moves her hand under the covers next to her and sighs when she doesn't feel her betrothed lying next to her. Marian lays in bed for a while longer then rises and calls for her new servant Eve. When she arrives, Marian shows her a bottle of brown liquid.

Eve quickly enters wearing her white nightgown and asks, "What's that?"

Marian replies, "Something to keep us from getting pregnant."

Eve takes a step back, holding her hand over her breast acting prim, and asks vexed, "What makes you think…?"

Marian gives her a knowing look, mixes two cups with light mead, and hands one to Eve. Eve blushes, but takes the cup and drinks the mixture.

Eve screws up her face in disgust and asks, "This is nasty but does it work?"

Marian grimaces as well and tells her, "Madeline says that it does, and it's better than having a child until after we get married. Now go wash up and come back."

Eve curtsies and departs closing the door behind her. Marian, watching her new handmaid hurry out the door, notices the small blood stain on the back of her long white gown and looks at her own. She sighs at the stain, but aware that eventually Eve will see it and smiles with the knowledge that even Eve had waited for her true love as well.

After a minutes Eve returns, having changed, and helps her mistress to dress. Eve notices the blood stain, and looks at her new mistress and asks, "Are you Robin's betrothed?" Marian shows her the ring on her finger and Eve replies, "You are engaged!" She sighs having lost her maiden head to a man to whom she is not even engaged to, "But Much hasn't proposed to me."

She pauses for a moment in thought wondering just how familiar her new mistress will let her be and says, "At least you lost yours to the man you will be married to."

Marian replies soothingly, "And you gave yours to the man who will marry you." Eve looks shocked then remembers that she hadn't changed when she had entered her mistress's room and that surely Marian would have noticed.

As Eve brushes Marian's hair Marian replies, "I know he will as you are the only woman he ever talks about and did you notice the way he kisses you?"

Eve blushes at the memory of the look on her man's face and the depth of his kiss, "Well, yes."

Marian pauses then tells her, "Now that he knows you are here and safe, we can expect more visits from the both of them." Eve pauses combing her mistress's hair then continues day dreaming about how deeply she loves Much and what it would be like to be married to him, to have him all to herself.

Marian then remembers a secret that Eve is sure not to know anything of and says, "Oh, you need to know something… Robin and Much are brothers. Twins in fact and they seem to share some kind of mental link. They know each other's thoughts and even where the other one is."

Eve surprised, exclaims, "Twins?" Marian nods.

Eve ponders and voices her thoughts, "Mental link?" Marian nods again.

Eve then says, "Then all last night they could have been…"

Marian's eyes open widely and turns to face her new handmaid.

Marian startled, breathes, "You don't think?" They pause thinking about last night then Eve starts to giggle as does Marian and says, "So there's no need to feel embarrassed about comparing them then."

They share a good laugh and Marian conspiratorially asks, "So tell me, How was Much? He was the first boy I ever kissed… and don't you dare tell anyone."

Eve tells her solemnly, "As you may someday be my sister, nothing that you tell me will never pass my lips. Not even to our men."

Marian nods smiling and turns away so Eve can return to combing her hair and says, "Good, then we will be great friends as well. So… Tell me… how was Much?"

The two soon to be sisters engage in talk about their men as most friends do when alone, comparing their men's attributes and failings, notes and expectations.