Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Robin Hood, etc.
Summary: Everything between Marian and Robin are mixed up and at a stand still. Can an intervention make things right again?

Note: Hey all—here's the next installment. I have plenty of other story ideas if this one isn't interesting to you. Would love to know what you think!! Please R&R.

The Usual Need Not Apply

Chapter 1

"So? Fill me in on everything." The command was issued by a bright eyed blonde perched on the edge of Marian's bed.

"There is not much to tell." Marian shrugged as she turned to fold a few of her cousin's rumpled garments, marveling once more at the chaos that was Josephine's life. "Caroline had her baby last week. That makes five for her now. Father has his good days and bad. The Sherriff still holds the people of Nottingham in his grip…"

"What of Robin?" Impatient to hear what she considered the 'real' news, Josie, as was her childhood nickname, interrupted Marian's boring litany of events. "I heard he is returned from the Crusades a hero."

"Robin? A hero?" Marian chuckled, though the lightness she intended sounded hollow even to her own ears. "I suppose to some, perhaps." She hung one dress in the closet, keeping her focus on the task before her and not the subject of the conversation her cousin was intent on having. "To me, he is still the same irritatingly impetuous boy that left here five years ago."

"As I seem to recall you happened to love that irritatingly impetuous boy." Josie, blew an errant stand of hair from her eyes and propped her chin on a delicate hand. "Planned on building your entire life around him, in fact."

"Yes, well, a lot has changed." Marian gave her a pointed look. "As you well know."

"Do you see him much?" Josie pressed when Marian turned her attention back to arranging her clothes.

Marian's voice hardened. "As little as possible."

"Really, Marian." It was clear Josie was disappointed with her cousin. "I am surprised at you."

"What?"

"Robin is back." The note of awe in her voice when she said his name did not go unnoticed by Marian. "How can you be so indifferent?"

Marian stilled, the dress in her hand hanging mid-air on its way to its new home. She turned to face Josie, a dark eyebrow rising. The overwhelming eagerness in her cousin's brown eyes was beyond alarming.

She dropped the dress and turned her full motherly attention on her not-much-younger cousin. "Now, Josie, you listen to me. Robin is an outlaw. A stubborn fool who dares to fight a losing battle. Punishment for any contact with him is death. Death." Marian emphasized the word hoping it would remove some of the fervor from her eyes. It did not. "By hanging."

Josie chuckled. "What's a little danger when Robin's involved?"

"Josie!" Marian's warning was stern. "While you are staying in this house, you will keep away from him. Do you understand?"

"But I have always had a thing for stubborn fools." Josie pouted.

"Josie…" Marian's practically whined her cousin's name.

"Fine." Josie sighed with dramatic emphasis. "I'll do my best."

"Do better than that." Marian quipped. Seemingly relieved, Marian granted her cousin a smile. "I am glad you are here. Let's go see what we can find for supper."

"And then…" A wicked gleam stole into Josie's chocolate eyes as she watched Marian descend down the stairs. "…I have an ex-lover to visit."

--

Hours later, she glanced back at the still figure on the bed. The deep breathing convinced her her absence would not be noticed. Slipping the hood of the dark green cloak over her head, she carefully slipped out the window and scurried down the pole, across the field and into the woods.

--

It was Robin's night to patrol. After relieving Much and sending him back to the camp, he settled in for a long night. The spot chosen was advantageous for many reasons. Not only could one see both the North and West roads without being seen, but the trees above opened up just enough to allow a few twinkling stars to be seen.

Robin sighed. How many times had he gazed up at the vast night sky from the Holy Land? Thinking about Marian. Wondering where she was, what she was doing. If she was married. If she ever thought of him.

Never once did he imagine he'd come back to the stranger Marian had become.

From the moment she set eyes on him again, she'd seemed determined to keep him at arms length. Frustrating as it was, it was also challenging and not much different than the games they used to play. But there was something different this time. A true distance he could not quite understand.

Now with her sudden engagement to Gisborne, the strain between them had gotten worse. With each word they spoke to one another lately they seemed to be shredding to pieces whatever ties still bound them.

Maybe that's what Marian really wanted. Maybe…

A sound grabbed his attention. Immediately scanning the roads, Robin noticed a lone figure racing toward him. He crouched, waiting for the right moment. Waiting. Waiting…

He sprang. He landed. He missed by a hair.

The cloaked figure spun on him with lightning quick speed. The next instance, Robin was on his back, pinned down by the full weight of the stranger. Which, in and of itself, wasn't much. But the shock of what the stranger did next paralyzed Robin in a way he hadn't been in years.

The stranger…tickled him.

Robin's giggling protests filled the forest as he struggled with little success to unseat his intended foe. A foe that finally spoke. "Still ticklish in all the right places I see."

Robin's eyes widened in recognition though it took him a moment to regain his breath. "Jo-Jo?"

With a flick of her wrist, the hood slipped, revealing a head of ruffled blonde hair that shone in the moonlight. "Hiya, Robs." Josephine Fairfax grinned down at her captive and sent him a playful wink. "Now. You gonna cry 'uncle' or do I have to kiss it out of you?"

To be continued…