Night had fallen silently over Sherwood Forest.

Djaq sat staring at the fire breathing in the cool damp atmosphere that she finally admitted to herself that she missed. She allowed the hypnotic fire light to sooth her troubled mind, emptying it of the worries that had plagued them since they began their journey – since before then – since Bassam…..she couldn't complete the thought as she felt the tears prick behind her eyes. She had still not accepted what had happened to them. She knew that it would be a long time before she would come to terms with it all.

She looked up as a blanket was placed around her shoulders and smiled at the gentle giant that was John Little, who sat beside her and hugged her. She had missed the small kindnesses that they did, this gang of thieves and cutthroats. Ha – if only they knew how gentle they really were compared to….no she could not even complete those thoughts either. She sighed deeply.

"Its good to have you back" John interrupted her musings, voicing the feelings of them all. "You and Will" he added glancing up at the young man approaching them and taking his place on the other side of the her, typically passing her a plate of stew just as he had always done. It was like they had never been away. But they had been gone for a year, and they had been missed. He took in their gaunt appearances, the shadows under their eyes, the fear that seemed to emanate from them. They had a story to tell, but he was prepared to wait to hear it. Right now, it seemed to big John Little, they needed to forget and enjoy their family, if only for a moment or two. He wanted them to know that he was truly glad to see them, things had not been the same without them.

Much joined the small group gathered around the fire, cradling his bowl of stew lovingly. Some things never changed, and for Much it was the pleasure of food. He looked at his comrades expectantly.

"So then. What's the story? I must say we were surprised to see you, we didn't know that you were coming back – Robin never said. After all the sending pigeons back and forth a while back, and then that seemed to stop. And then all of a sudden we get a message three weeks ago, and I don't mind telling you that I am glad to know now what was in that message. Robin was so funny about it all, I'm surprised he didn't tell us the good news." Much was in full flow apparently oblivious to the shocked stares from the new arrivals and the subtle but frantic hand gestures from John telling him to stop – now, immediately.

"What message Much?" asked Djaq, not disguising the apprehension in her voice.

Much hesitated. "Well the last message that you sent with the pigeon." He affirmed looking between the two of them.

At the silent stares that he received he deflated.

"You didn't send a message saying you were coming home did you?."

They shook their heads.

"Robin did not read you this message?" urged Djaq.

"No" hissed John. "Robin did not tell us what was in the message." It was clear that he had not been amused about that.

Much continued

"No, but he's been acting all funny ever since. He hardly spends any time with us, he gets up, says little and disappears for hours, never an explanation of where he has been, or what he has been doing."

Much could not hide the disappointment in his voice.

"I just thought that maybe he had been waiting for you to come back, and that would explain his behaviour of late." He went on.

John shrugged in that way of his that told their companions that he agreed with the man – for once.

Will and Djaq shared anxious looks with each other. Djaq then placed a hand on his arm, clearly trying to soothe him.

"It will be alright Will, he will understand" she tried her best to sound more confident than she felt.

Will said nothing and just stared into the flames, his half touched meal forgotten. He had hoped to tell Robin first, and now he knew that his leader would be looking for an explanation, a very difficult explanation. What if Robin did not believe him, but chose to side with King Richard? Will Scarlett knew how loyal Robin was to his King, he himself felt the same loyalty towards Robin. What would he do if he was rejected by the one man on this world that he trusted beyond life itself? Where would he go? What would he and Djaq do if they had to leave this place?

John and Much shared their own anxious look. What was going on?

Much opened his mouth to voice his thoughts but was interrupted by the sound of the door to the hideout opening. Will could not help but feel a small surge of pride at the mechanism that still worked smoothly after so long. But this was quickly quashed as he regarded the faces of Robin and Allan as they entered the camp. They deposited their weapons and grabbed bowls of food and joined them.

John raised his eyebrows in question and Allan nodded between bolting mouthfuls of the warming stew.

"Yeah we deposited them about a mile from Nottingham, they'll be alright." he assured them of the fate of the soldiers that had chased Will and been left behind by their leaders. "Hey Much, you're improving mate, this isn't half bad. Or maybe I'm half starving!" he joked.

He had quickly sized up the mood in the camp and had decided to inject a bit of Allan a Dale joviality to lighten the mood. After all it wasn't every day you got to celebrate the return of old friends. Even if they seemed to bring half a ton of troubles with them. Robin wasn't exactly lightening the atmosphere with his silences and black looks.

"Very funny" came the short response in typical fashion.

Djaq watched Robin, trying to assess his mood, to read him somehow. But he was a closed book. He in turn was staring at Will across the fire while he ate his meal silently. Will knew he was being scrutinised and did not bear up well. Djaq's heart sank when she saw that he could not hold Robin's gaze in return. Will felt guilt and shame and for no reason. She fervently hoped that Robin would grant him the exoneration that he needed, indeed that he deserved.

It wasn't long before Robin decided to speak and in the silence that followed you could hear the leaves fall from the trees.

"So Will, tell me why I shouldn't turn you in for the murdering traitor that King Richard says you are…."