"Guy, stop!" called Marian, running across the sand towards him and conveniently choosing to ignore the unsheathed sword in his hand. "It's over, Guy."

"Get out of the way," Guy ordered, not wanting to hurt her, but determined to do whatever it took to kill the king and ensure his favor with Nottingham's Sheriff.

"All this time I've been fighting for England," said Marian, hands outstretched as she walked steadily backwards, always ensuring that she remained between Guy's sword and the king. "Do you think I'm going to let you kill England?"

"Marian, get out of the way!" he yelled, swinging his sword in warning.

"You'll have to kill me first," she said, as though daring him to go through with it.

"No, we're going to get out of here. I'm going to do this thing, and I will have power beyond measure... and we will be together."

Marian's smile was taunting as she said, "I would rather die than be with you, Guy of Gisborne." Ignoring his weakly muttered protestation, she went on to say, "I'm going to marry Robin Hood. I love Robin Hood."

Guy could only stare at her in shock as he watched his dreams splinter and break at her simple declaration. All the times he had defended her, protected her, put his life on the line for her – all was for naught. She'd never loved him and she never would. Without consciously making a decision to do so, he suddenly surged towards Marian, his sword penetrating her abdomen. She gave a startled gasp as he took her in his arms and Guy trembled as their eyes met before she fell to the ground, lifeless.

Backing away slowly, Guy fought the impulse to pull out his hidden dagger and impale himself on it. He had killed Marian, the love of his life. He, Sir Guy of Gisborne, was responsible for driving that blade into her body – no one else.

And with that thought in mind, Lucas North fought off the vestiges of his nightmare to awaken. Sitting up with a jolt, his first action was to bury his head in his hands and weep, unashamedly. Past or present, the irrefutable fact remained that he had killed Marian. How could she greet him with a smile on her face, much less look forward to spending the rest of her life with him? He was a despicable human being.

As his sobs gradually slowed and his breathing returned to normal, Lucas lay back down and attempted to fall asleep again, despite already knowing it to be futile. After countless minutes spent tossing and turning, in addition to punching his pillow a few times for good measure, Lucas moved down to the floor. He hadn't needed to sleep here in quite a number of months, having finally adjusted back to normality, which included sleeping in an actual bed on an actual mattress.

However, tonight he thought the hardness of the wooden floor might be a suitable penance.

Hours later, though – when Lucas's alarm finally went off, the shrill ring breaking the oppressive silence – and Lucas hadn't slept a wink. He didn't need to look in a mirror to know that there were bags under his eyes from having spent the time since waking considering all of his multiple faults and why Sam should tell him goodbye, now, before he ruined her a second time. Dressing mechanically, Lucas made his way down to the street where his car was parked. Putting it into drive, he stopped by his favorite coffee place for a much-needed pick-me-up, and took a chance with Sam's order, deciding on an impulse to pick her up for work. He needed to see her, if only for a moment, and even if she slammed the door in his face.

They'd exchanged numbers the previous night, but Lucas decided to surprise Sam rather than phone ahead. So when he knocked on her door bearing two cups of coffee, he had the pleasure of seeing her eyes light up in joy and a delighted smile flit across her face.

"Lucas!" she exclaimed. Upon closer examination, however, her smile soon dropped as she read the signs of sleep deprivation and night terrors that were plain to see to anyone who knew Lucas. Not that many bothered. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, taking one of the cups and then grabbing his free hand so as to lead him into the relative safety of her flat.

A black cat wound its way around their ankles, begging for attention, and Lucas absentmindedly bent down to pet it before collapsing into the seat that Sam pointed him towards, wondering whether he had ever had any real hope of being able to fool her. "Nightmares," he replied succinctly, "And one in particular. I'm sure you can guess which particular demon I wrestled with last night?"

Sam gripped her coffee cup in both hands as she thought about what to say. It was clear that Lucas wasn't going to forgive himself for the past all in one night. They would have to struggle to reach a resolution – together. She only hoped that both were capable of putting in the work that would be required. After all, their job wasn't the easiest to live with. But could they balance the job and their new relationship? Or would one or the other ultimately fail?

No, not this time, Sam vowed. This time, we'll make it.

"I'm not sure what I can say to make you believe me, Lucas," said Sam slowly. "But hear me when I say that I forgive you. It's all in the past. But Lucas, to have any hope of healing, you have to let go sometime. Might as well start now. I'm willing to work for us. Are you?"

Lucas had been staring into his coffee cup while Sam spoke, unable to meet her eyes as his own were filled with tears. And while still ashamed of his weakness, he couldn't answer her without looking at her directly. Glancing up, he spoke firmly: "Yes. Yes, I am. You are more important to me than my job or my reputation. I'm willing to do anything— Well, almost anything," he amended his statement with a small but genuine smile. "Let me put it this way: I'm willing to do anything legal to ensure that we make it."

"I'm glad to hear that you won't resort to outlawry to keep me with you," said Sam, chuckling at her own pun. She was relieved when Lucas joined in. Crisis averted, then, at least for the moment.

Lucas was still smiling at her. "Thanks, Sammy," he said. "I needed this: us, just you and me, before work started. Time to ourselves is going to be pretty scarce until the day's done, and even then you never know when you might have to work overtime. I wanted you to myself for as long as possible."

"And you have me, utterly and completely," Sam assured him.

"I know." Lucas smiled warmly at her. "Let's get to work before Harry has our heads."

"Agreed," said Sam, nodding, as she stood seamlessly to grab her coat and bag, Lucas trailing along behind, once more following where his love led him.

They paused in the hallway with the door partway open as Lucas bent his head and briefly pressed his lips to Sam's. Although they had kissed at the end of their date the night before, Sam felt butterflies the same as she had then, and she smiled into the kiss, which Lucas felt and led him to smile, too. Pulling away, though only slightly, Lucas observed Sam's fluttering eyelashes and the way her cheeks were flushed from their previous exertions.

She really did love him, then, and was attracted to him. He'd never been the most confident of men – at least not in recent years – not when it came to his sexual appeal as a romantic partner, although he could pull off the part of 'boyfriend' well enough when on a job. But thanks to his and Sam's little heart-to-heart that morning, he now had a fresh outlook on life and was starting to believe in himself more, to see himself as others saw him. In short, Sir Guy of the past had been reborn as he had truly been meant to be.