Series: An Unusual Family

4. UNEASY TRUTHS AND HAPPY NEWS

The next day, Guy stayed home from the castle to take care of business in Locksley. The previous night had been uneventful, other than Isaac still refusing to call her Mommy or Guy Daddy. Instead, he was insistent that she was 'leper' (the thought still made her blood boil), Guy was 'GISBORNE!', and Allan was 'Daddy' (the thought still made her uneasy because of the truth of it). But now he was playing with some of the children of the village and she was standing outside watching him with a smile. He was only two years old and she knew that he would grow out of this phase soon if they could just keep him away from the Sheriff. She walked over to ask one of the villagers to keep an eye on Isaac for a moment and she went inside to fetch some water. She was just pouring some into her cup when she heard Allan calling from outside, "Oi, Marian! I'm not bein' funny, but I think your son is about to catch a beatin'."

Marian set the pitcher down and hurried outside to see a circle of children had formed around her son and none of them looked very happy. As she walked towards the spot, her heart sank when she heard Isaac's voice. "Taxes!" he was saying, holding his hand out as though waiting for coins to be dropped into it. "That's not funny!" an older child said, glaring at him. "Your father collected taxes yesterday!" Marian could feel the eyes of the villagers on her as she finally reached the circle, children moving to allow her to enter and collect her son. As she made her way back to the manor, "I never would have expected that from Lady Marian's son!" was only one of the many whispers she heard.

"Guy!" she all but screamed when she was inside the house. She was furious and someone was going to pay, a fact that wasn't missed by Isaac as she sat him down and began to pace. "Mommy?" Marian dropped to her knees, anger almost forgotten as she hugged her little boy. "I'm not mad at you, Isaac," she told him, dropping a kiss on the top of his head. Just then Guy came into the room and asked, "Did you call?" "Yes I did!" she said heatedly as she stood up. "Did you know that our son just almost got beaten up by the other children? And did you leave him alone with you-know-who yesterday?" "Marian, I had no choice. Why did he almost get beaten up?" Giggling, Isaac walked up to Guy, held his hand up and demanded, "Taxes, Gisborne, taxes!" "Need I say more?" Marian asked sarcastically.

Guy sighed and shook his head, never having hated the Sheriff more than in that moment. "I won't take him to the castle again," he told her, knowing that it was the best decision for everyone. "Good." While they talked, Isaac had wandered over to Allan and held his hand up. "Taxes, Daddy!" Allan looked over at Guy and was glad to see he hadn't noticed. He picked Isaac up and looked at him seriously. "I'm not your daddy, little guy. You have to stop calling me that." Isaac looked at him seriously and reached out to tug on his hair. "Daddy!" "Oi!" Allan exclaimed, removing the boy's hand from his hair and rubbing the sore spot. "Stop that!" Isaac suddenly burst into tears, leading both Marian and Guy to turn and glare at him. Guy came over and took Isaac, gently rubbing his back. "Are you all right?" he asked the boy, taking him into the other room. "Daddy mean!" he cried, and Guy glared at Allan who held his hands up in defeat.

With Guy and Isaac gone, Marian walked over to Allan and hugged him briefly. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. "Every time he calls you that my heart leaps into my throat and I am sure that we are found out," she said. Allan sighed and closed his eyes. This was the first time that either of them had ever admitted out loud what they both knew in their hearts, and he wasn't sure what to say. "What's more, I don't want him to be around the Sheriff but there is no real way that I can accomplish that as long as he is in power." "I'm not bein' funny, Marian, but I don't like him callin' me that any more than you do. Guy is more his father than I am. And that's the way that it has to be," he said. Marian caught his gaze and held it, saying more with her eyes than she could verbally. "I know," she said simply. "And I hate it, but at least you are around him." "Makes it worse sometimes," he admitted.

"Marian," Guy called from the kitchen and Marian reached out to gently squeeze Allan's shoulder. "I am sorry," she whispered before turning and leaving to join her husband and son. Allan watched her go and tried to convince himself that he was fine with the way things were. As he heard laughter from the kitchen, he sighed and had to admit to himself that he wasn't fine with it. He'd never wanted kids, but he had never imagined how hard this life would be when he had first resigned himself to it after finding out Marian was pregnant. Knowing that the boy was really his son and being forced to tell him that he wasn't his daddy absolutely killed him, especially because of the way his heart melted when Isaac called him that. Rousing himself from his thoughts, Allan groaned and decided to ride into Nottingham to have a few drinks.

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A few weeks had passed with Isaac staying at home with Marian and he had finally begun to call her and Guy by their proper titles. He no longer cried for Vaisey but he still would ask for him sometimes, though Marian was usually able to distract him and make him forget. He had started calling Allan 'other daddy' much to Guy's chagrin, but Marian had managed to appease him by explaining that it was confusing for the boy to have both him and Allan around all the time, and wasn't it better for him to call Allan 'other daddy' than just 'daddy'? Guy had been forced to admit defeat after he had told the boy not to call Allan 'other daddy' and the boy had reverted to calling him daddy and Guy by his name again.

Guy had just returned from the castle and was eating dinner with his family when he made the announcement. "The Sheriff is hosting a party for Prince John in six months, and we are all expected to attend," he said, nodding to Isaac. Marian frowned but didn't say anything, thinking that surely if she was there Vaisey couldn't get his clutches on the boy. "Is Prince John coming to Nottingham?" she asked. "No, but he is demanding a patronage fee and I believe the party is a ruse to squeeze money from the nobles." "I'm not bein' funny, but should he spendin' money on a party to try to make money?" Allan said, not really understanding the logic. "I'm not sure what his scheme is," Guy replied. "But I am sure he has one." "Doesn't he always?" Marian quipped with a smile.

A week later, Marian became violently ill but thought nothing of it until she missed her monthly flow. Excited, she sent quietly for a physician and even paid extra for his discretion. It had been so long since she had given birth to Isaac that she and Guy had secretly worried that maybe she couldn't have more children. She couldn't have Guy find out about her suspicions and become hopeful, because if she was wrong he would be crushed. It was better to be sure before she told him anything. When the physician arrived, she shared her suspicions and after checking her out he smiled and confirmed them. He gave her instructions and left, leaving Marian to joyfully plan out how she was going to tell Guy. She smiled as she rested a hand on her belly and called for Sarah to bring Isaac to her room. She had thought of the perfect way to tell him.

When Guy and Allan arrived home from the castle, Sarah and Isaac were waiting for them. As soon as Guy walked in Isaac rushed over to him, tugging at his pants leg and grinning widely. "Daddy, Daddy! I know a secret!" Guy smiled and knelt down so that he was at his eye level. "What do you know?" he asked."I'm going to be a big brother!" Isaac announced proudly. Sarah smiled but quickly wiped it from her face when Guy looked at her in suspicion. Hardly daring to hope, Guy asked, "Who told you that?" "Mommy did!" Standing up, Guy quickly made his way up the stairs calling, "Marian!" Marian smiled when she heard Guy's voice and took a deep breath, trying to keep the joy and excitement off of her face for the moment. "Yes, Guy?" she answered as he entered the room. "I just spoke to Isaac," he told her, eyeing her suspiciously. "How is he doing with Sarah?" she asked innocently, struggling to a sitting position. "He is very happy, and he told me that you told him that he is going to be a big brother." Guy's eyes locked with hers and she feigned surprise. "Really? I wonder why he would say that..." She saw his face begin to fall so she quickly added, "Oh, wait. It must be because I found out that I am pregnant today."

Guy's face lit up and he was at her side in a moment, kissing her over and over again. Marian laughed as she kissed him back. "I love you," he told her, cupping her cheek and gently stroking it with his thumb. "And I am so unbelievably happy right now." She smiled at him. "I love you too." "Another son," Guy said and Marian shook her head. "I want a daughter," she told him, and Guy laughed. "I don't care either way as long as you and the baby are both safe," he replied honestly. Marian's smile widened as she told him, "There are things we need to discuss." "I know, but we will discuss them later." Without warning he suddenly picked her up and began to carry her downstairs, Marian laughing and playfully scolding him all the way. Setting her down into her chair, he called Allan and Isaac into the room. "Tonight, we are celebrating. I am going to be a father again!"

~FIN