Robin sat in the traffic jam tapping his fingers in time with the music playing loudly from the radio. He had been gone almost an hour and was starting to get worried. Tapping helped calm him.
The pocket of his jeans vibrate and he flipped open his phone.
"Hello?"
"Robin where the hell are you?" Will's voice came over the line in a harsh whisper
"I'm stuck in traffic. Trust Marian to go into labour at rush hour" Robin laughed but got no similar response.
"Well I'm glad you're laughing Robin because none of us are here. Marian's in so much pain and she needs you here right now"
"I know Will but I'm in traffic like I said. I'll be there as soon as I can"
"You really don't understand do you Robin?"
"Understand what?"
"Robin this is the birth of your child. The woman you love is here by herself and it doesn't matter how many friends she has round her it is not you" Will's whisper had disappeared and he was truly angry. "Robin are you listening to me? This is your child. Your son. Your daughter. They are being brought into this world without a father who cares. Because if this was me nothing on God's earth would stop me getting here right now"
"Alright I'm on my way ok? It's not as if I can move the traffic"
"Robin" Will sad calmly
"What?"
"Just think about this ok? She needs you" Robin looked around for any possible way he could get there faster.
"I have an idea"
"I don't like that tone of voice Robin. That voice means trouble"
"It's only trouble if I get caught" Will could practically hear his trademark grin over the phone until the line went dead.
Will shut his phone and went to tell Marian he was on his way.
Robin looked around, pulled out into the bus lane and put his foot on the pedal. No sooner had he done so he heard the sirens behind him. He bowed and shook his head as he pulled over and stopped.
"Shit"
Marian let out another breath after a contraction and flopped her head to one side.
"Where is he?"
"He'll be here soon Marian just hold on" Djaq said holding her hand
"I'm not being funny but it's not like she can hold it in" Allan said swirling round on a swivel chair in the corner. The rest of the gang stared at him in disgust before turning back to Marian.
"Well when he gets here and I'm through with him I won't be in this situation again," Marian said trying to get somewhat comfortable.
"What?" Allan asked as he planted his feet on the floor to stop spinning. Marian forcefully pointed to her huge baby bump and added an evil eye look for good measure. Allan went back to his spinning.
"Step out the car please sir" the policeman said through the window. Robin did so and sat in the back seat of the police car.
"Now sir. Do you know how fast you were travelling?"
"About 80 I would say" Robin answered truthfully
"It was 77 but close enough and do you realise you were driving in a bus lane?"
"Yes and I know it looks bad but I have a valid excuse" Robin pleaded. It had just hit him how much time was slipping by
"That's what they all say" the policewoman in the front passenger seat mocked
"No really my fiancé went into labour about two hours ago and I need to get there"
"Jeff?" the woman asked the man
"Mandy?" he asked back.
Robin glanced between the two unable to decipher the looks they were giving each other
"What?" he asked eventually
"Would you like to come with me please sir" the policewoman stepped out of the car and opened his door for him.
The room of people had now learned to block their ears when a contraction hit. The pain and the added stress of not knowing where her fiancé was didn't make a good sound. As one particularly loud scream from Marian subsided a policeman came through the door.
"Special delivery for Marian Fitzwater" he said gesturing into the corridor
Robin came bursting through the door looking like he had just run a marathon.
"Maz can you believe it? I got a police escort here!" Robin was beaming. He felt like a little boy
"I'm going to kill you Locksley" Marian reached out but he sprung back to avoid her grasp.
"And how are we in here?" Hannah came through the door with a breezy voice. "Oh you must be the famous Robin Locksley we've been expecting you" the nurse smiled to him then looked around the room "wow it's a bit crowded in here. Why don't you wait outside while I get started before this baby delivers itself?"
The gang dispersed with promises to be right outside if she needed anything
"Right Marian. Spread"
"Sounds like me" Robin laughed.
Marian and Hannah looked at him blankly
"Sorry carry on"
"Well Mr. Locksley you're in luck" Hannah said, "Miss Fitzwater doesn't seem to be that far along" Hannah smiled again before she left them alone in the room.
Marian looked up at Robin and rolled her eyes away. Robin laughed and kissed her on the forehead.
"By the skin of you teeth Locksley"