Trust Much to have already spread the news!
As Robin made his way through his village toward Will and Djaq's home, he was stopped over and over by his happy villagers' words of congratulations.
"A little lad!" Old Elspeth cackled in glee, swallowing Robin in her large, flabby embrace. When he emerged, smiling, she gave his cheek a grandmotherly pat and bellowed, "The Lord bless us! Well it is I remember the day you were born, young Master! May your laddie follow in your footsteps, and be a light to the next generation, as you are to this one!"
Extremely touched, Robin murmured sincerely, "Thank you."
"Oh, don't thank me...I only speak Truth." She sighed happily, then rearranged his hair to her satisfaction and his unliking. "Just think! I hope I live long enough to see your little lad running through the village, his wee white bum glowing in the moonlight when he escapes his bath, just as you did when you were a wee one, Master Robin!"
"Don't tell me that's your favorite memory from my childhood," Robin grinned, blushing slightly.
"And why shouldn't it be? Such a wee lovely bum you had!"
Embarrassed, Robin laughed and continued on his way. He couldn't wait to gather his little girls and introduce them to their new baby brother. However, before he reached the Scarlet's door, he was accosted by one more Locksley villager.
Kate, her scraggly blond hair frizzing out from her scowling face, stared out her window and spied him coming. Running from her home, she hurtled her small body against his with so much force, he reeled backwards three steps and nearly fell to the ground.
Steading himself, he gently pulled Kate's bony body off him.
Robin never wasted a thought on Kate until confronted by her, but whenever they met, he reproached himself for her undying, misguided feelings. Incorrectly assuming he must have accidentally given her some false hopes of a possible relationship with him, back when he believed Marian to be dead and he had moved like a shadow through Sherwood, he felt guilty and responsible for having led her on.
"Where have you been?" Kate demanded.
"At home with Marian," he told her proudly. "We have a new son!"
"I heard." Kate scowled jealously into his face. Then, softening, she rested her head against his chest, closed her eyes, and said, "You're here now."
Carefully, Robin removed her clinging form and stepped away. "I need to bring my girls home. Goodbye, Kate."
Stung, Kate watched him leave, bitterness and longing eating away at her.
...
Robin could hear Grace's wails escalating from inside the Scarlet home. Outside in the yard, Ellen was twirling in circles and laughing as she grew dizzy and tumbled onto the grass. Looking up, she saw her father.
Just like Kate, Ellen ran to him, causing his face to break into his sunniest smile. With a single swoop, he lifted her high into the air, tossed her even higher, and deftly caught her while she squealed with delight.
They shared a loud smack of a father/ daughter kiss, and Robin told her, "Ellie Boo, congratulations! You are the big sister to a new baby boy!"
Ellen clapped her small hands in glee, then returned to more important matters.
"Gracie won't nap," she informed him, as if he couldn't hear the wailing from inside the house.
"That's alright," he said, his voice lilting. "Who needs to nap on such an important day as a birthday?"
"It's not Gracie's birthday! Silly Daddy!" Ellen giggled, finding her daddy very funny.
"You're right, Boo. It's not. It's Edward's birthday."
"My brother?"
"That's right."
"Hurray!"
"Come on, then," her daddy invited, still holding her in his arms. "We have a rescue to make."
Ellen loved the watered down Robin Hood stories she had heard. "Who are we rescuing, Daddy?" she whispered excitedly.
"Aunt Djaq, from Gracie's wails."
"And Uncle Will? And Much, too?"
"Much is in there?" Robin laughed, forecasting how Much would not hesitate to report all Grace's objections to Marian, as soon as he saw her. "Well then," Robin grinned, "there's no time to lose."
He let Ellen knock on the door, then had to push it open because no one inside could hear the knocking over the toddler's cries.
"Oh! And Daddy..." Ellen began.
"Yes, Boo?"
"Gracie doesn't wail."
"Yes, Boo."
