(A/N: Warning; This is a long chapter. O,O)

A Friar's Baby

Ch. 5

In the cell, Shenzi wasn't able to cease her sobbing; She had lived with Friar Tuck her whole life, and even with her vivid imagination, couldn't think of anything otherwise. Now more than ever, she desperately wanted to be in her father's arms; He was always very comforting. But since she was alone, she went with hugging herself as heartbreaking sobs kept escaping. She laid face-down on the cold stone floor, although she felt uncomfortable with the iron on her small midsection.

After a while, she cried herself to sleep, with tear stains on her cheeks.

Outside in the village square, Robin and Little John were putting their plan into action; They sneaked in, undetected, and waited outside the gate. Little John reached over to grab Nutsy after he stood at his post, but was abruptly stopped. "O-o-o-o-ne o'clo-o-ock, and a-a-a-a-a-a-all's we-e-e-e-ell!" He shouted, and the clock chimed three times, proving him wrong.

The Sheriff snorted and smacked his lips together, waking up from his slumber. "Nutsy, you'd better set your brains ahead a couple of hours."

"Yes sir," Nutsy nodded, "Uh, does that there mean addin' or subtractin'?"

"Oh, let's forget it."

"Yes sir, Sheriff sir," Nutsy then continued his duties: Guarding the jail gate.

"Nutsy, how can I sleep with you yelling, "All's well!" all the time here?" The wolf glared.

"Sheriff, everything ain't "all's well"," Trigger reported, "I got a feelin' in my bones there's gonna be a jailbreak any minute."

The Sheriff flinched when he saw that the vulture's peashooter was pointed directly at his head. "Crimenetly, Trigger! Point that peashooter the other way!"

"Don't you worry none, sheriff. The safety's on Old Betsy." Trigger patted the shooter, but then it went off, sending the arrow flying all around them, before it stopped.

"What in tarnation you tryin' to do, you birdbrain?!" The wolf glared at him, before punching his head over his helmet.

"Just doin' my duty, Sheriff."

"You and that itchy trigger finger of yours."

Meanwhile, Nutsy went back to his previous post; But his scream was muffled when he was pulled back.

"Hey, did you hear that?" Trigger was on alert.

"Sure did, Trigger," The Sheriff nodded, "There's somethin' funny goin' on around here; Come on." The two started sneaking over to Nutsy's post area, but stopped when Trigger's arrow unintentionally made contact with the wolf's backside. "Wait a minute. Is the safety on Old Betsy?"

"You bet it is, Sheriff."

"That's what I'm afraid of. You go first," He ordered, and the vulture did just that. "All right, you in there, come out with your hands up!" Behind the gate, Robin and Little John had Nutsy tied to a tree and gagged, while the fox put on his uniform.

"Yeah, reach for the sky!" Trigger added.

"Just you watch this pre-formance, partner," Robin put a sock, which resembled Nutsy's beak, on his nose for his disguise.

"Be careful, Rob."

With that, Robin put the next phase into action: He posed as the goofy vulture. "Jehoshaphat, Trigger; Put that peashooter down," He said in the vulture's voice.

"Oh, shucks Trigger, it's only Nutsy," The Sheriff put his sword away, "And criminently, get back to your patrol. On the double. Get!" He kicked at him, but narrowly missed.

"I'm a-gettin'! I'm a-gettin'!"

"That Trigger; He's gettin' everybody edgy," The wolf grumbled to himself, "Nothing's gonna happen. That fat friar is gonna dangle from the gallows come daybreak. And his precious little girl is going to be there to watch the whole thing right before her bright, innocent eyes." As he spoke to himself, Robin winked to Little John, indicating their plan was going just as they hoped. "Nutsy" adjusted the chair for the Sheriff by the jail gate.

"Sheriff, why don't you just sit yourself down here, kind of cozy-like?"

"Well, thank you, Nutsy." He mumbled tiredly.

"Just close your sleepy little eyeballs. The sandman's a-comin'." The "vulture" made him more comfortable, as the Sheriff started snoring. "Why don't you, uh, let me loosen that belt?" Robin undid his belt, and carefully slid the key ring off of it, trying not to make too much noise; He flinched when the wolf snorted.

"Rock-a-bye, Sheriff
Just you relax..." He started singing, and the Sheriff hummed along in his sleep. Once he was out, Robin went to work; He started using the keys to unlock the jail gate, but flinched from the loud squeak and click, and hid the key behind his back when the Sheriff snorted.

"Oh, Nutsy, that's mighty sweet. Sing it one more time, would you?"

"Rock-a-bye, sheriff
Just you relax..." Robin sang once more, and the wolf was out again. After he gave him the signal, Little John sneaked over, and in the entrance to the jail.

But when Robin gave him the keys, Little John accidentally slammed the gate shut. "Wait a minute!" Trigger exclaimed when he heard the slam but his shooter went off again, effectively waking up the Sheriff while Robin hid at the entrance. "Jailbreak! Jailbreak! I heard it! I heard it! The door! The door!" Robin used Nutsy's ax to make the vulture trip and slide over to the angry Sheriff.

"Now, for the last time, no more false alarms," He told him.

"B'aow!" Trigger yelled when the Sheriff kicked him away.

(A/N: I gotta be honest, I used disneyscreencaps, without spaces, for assistance on that part. XD)

"Now, you release Friar Tuck and the others," Robin whispered to Little John, "And I'll drop in on the royal treasury."

With the clinking keys in hand, the bear went to do just that. He stopped at a cell with a sign on the door reading "Sentenced to Death for Treason" with Prince John's signature. He opened the door, and saw Friar Tuck chained up with irons on his wrists and ankles.

The badger slowly looked up, and was surprised at who he saw. "Oh, Little John, it can't be!"

"Shh, quiet," Little John shushed him as he was unchaining the irons, "We're bustin' out of here."

"Thank God," Friar Tuck rubbed his sore wrists when they were released, "My prayers have been answered."

Then the two proceeded to release the other prisoners. While Friar Tuck helped Otto and the rabbits, he was desperately searching for his young daughter. He wanted her in his arms again, so he'd know if she's alright or not. He prayed for the former; He didn't know what that dastardly prince had in mind for her, but he didn't exactly want to. But he was going to find out.

"I'm ready! Where's the bad guy?" Skippy came forward with determination after he was released from his neck iron, but Friar Tuck stopped him.

"Take it easy, son," He told the young rabbit. "Ha-have any of you seen my daughter?" He asked the citizens after they were all released.

"I did!" Skippy piped up, "She's over there, behind that door." He pointed to the other side of the wall that the two came from. He followed Little John and Friar Tuck headed in that direction. "But may I ask, what does de-por-tation mean?" He asked them.

Friar Tuck's eyes widened in horror. "DEPORTATION?!" He shouted.

"SHH!" Little John shushed him again in a panic, clapping a hand over his mouth.

"Why that Prince John!" The badger snarled angrily after he was ungagged, "When I get my hands on him..."

"Deportation means that she was going to get shipped to another state, or country," Little John quietly explained to Skippy, "It looks like she was going to be deported to France."

"France?"

"Was?" Toby whispered as he emptied a bunch of water out of his shell.

"But nobody's going to France tonight," Little John said with determination, "Especially her." He then turned to Friar Tuck. "I'll get your daughter out of there; You wait out here." He unlocked and opened the door quietly, and what he saw broke his heart: Shenzi was laying face-down on the floor, a tight iron on her midsection, and tear stains on her cheeks, as if she had been crying forever. She woke up from the door opening, and gasped at the familiar figure at the doorway. It was then when he saw her large eyes were bloodshot from crying.

"Li-li...?"

"Yeah, it's me," He nodded as he knelt to her level, "Your uncle Little John; We're busting out of here, kid."

"'Ust?" She muttered.

"That's right," He nodded, undoing her iron.

"D-Daddy?"

"Daddy's right outside," He whispered to her, before setting his hands on her tiny shoulders. "But you have to stay quiet, or Prince John, or the Sheriff will hear you, okay?" She nodded. "Good," He smiled, "Now come on." He tried to escort her, but she ran out in the main jail room, effectively alarming him.

And to her delight, her father was right there, completely unharmed. With a small yell of joy, getting his attention, she ran over and jumped in his arms, another sob escaping the second she landed. Friar Tuck felt tears well up in his own eyes as his daughter cried heavily in his chest. "Shh, sh, sh, sh, it's okay, baby, it's okay," He tried to sooth her, as he hugged her tightly, "Daddy's here; You're alright." Her dress and hair were still damp from the rain from earlier, but he couldn't care less; All that mattered was that she was safe, and in his arms again. He kissed her temple as she sniffled and whimpered pitifully. Little John smiled as he watched the heartwarming reunion. Skippy's mother had tears of joy in her eyes as she watched it as well.

In the master bedroom, where Prince John and Sir Hiss were sleeping, Robin successfully entered from the balcony with a grappling hook. "Robin Hood!" The fox flinched when he heard the prince's voice, but was relieved that he was just talking, not to mention laughing, in his sleep. "I'll get even. I'll get..." He then went back to snoring. Since the coast was clear, Robin shot an arrow into the jail room window.

In the jail room, the child was able to regain her composure as Little John shot the arrow back out through the window. She wiped her eyes, and smiled as she gazed up at her beloved father, whom she thought she'd never see again. "I," She sniffled and wiped her eyes again, "I-I love you, Daddy," She said again, her voice cracking at the end.

"Oh." Friar Tuck sighed shakily and held her closer, his head just next to hers as his tears escaped. He had thought that he'd never see his precious daughter again; He didn't want her to go anywhere without him until she was 20, at least. He didn't even want to set her down again! He was afraid that if he did, then she would slip away again, and this time, never come back to him. "I love you too, sweetheart." He stroked her damp hair and kissed her forehead as she smiled up at him, tears in her eyes threatening to spill.

In the bedroom, when the arrow stopped on the bed's headboard, Prince John shot up in surprise, but stayed asleep as he sunk back down. As Robin started tying bags of loot to the newly-created zip-line, he heard Prince John's snoring increase in volume, and become associated with high-pitched moaning. He shook his head in distaste as he continued his work.

"It's Robin Hood I... I want," Prince John muttered in his sleep before flopping on his stomach, making the fox jump back a bit. But then, the lion started laughing in his sleep. Robin looked, and saw that Sir Hiss' tongue was unintentionally tickling his foot. But then, he kicked the snake in the face, effectively waking him up with a snort of shock. As Hiss looked around the room suspiciously, Robin quickly ducked down before he could see him. He grimaced upon seeing that Prince John's backside was almost right in his face. He then fell back asleep when the fox started rocking his bed with one foot as he continued his selfless looting.

In the jail room, Alan-a-Dale was pulling the rope, so the bags would come their way. Friar Tuck laughed with joy as he was carrying four bags, and his daughter, who was holding three for support, at one time. "Praise the Lord, and pass the tax rebate!" He chuckled as he gave one bag to an owl couple.

"Come on," Little John whispered, "Follow me." And they did just that; Some of the citizens, including Friar Tuck, Otto, and the owl couple, followed the bear quietly. Friar Tuck was forced to set his daughter down, so that he would help more in carrying the bags; He hated to, but she stayed close to him as she carried one. That provided some comfort for him.

"You stay close to me, okay?" He whispered to her, just to be safe, and she nodded obediently. She hated not being in his arms anymore, but she didn't want to slow them down; Plus, she volunteered to carry one bag for them, and was insistent.

Little John carefully opened the gate, and was checking for any enemies when to his horror, one of the bags had a rip on the bottom; It was small, but it was big enough for farthings to fall through. The Sheriff woke up when some fell on his face, and just before he could do anything, Little John pulled him back by his mouth, effectively muffling him. After a tussle, the bear came out in the wolf's clothes, and took his place in the chair.

"Now, Sheriff... Now, don't get your dander up," Trigger began telling the wolf, not knowing who he was actually talking to, "But I still got a feelin' that..." He stopped when Little John revealed his true identity, and was grabbed by the neck before he could do or say anything.

"Friar, get goin'," Little John told the badger, who led everyone out of the gateway, "Hurry." He quietly led the citizens through the village square when none of the guards saw them. Shenzi was starting to slow down from the heavy bag's strain on her tiny arms, so Friar Tuck carried it for her.

As they sneaked through, the clock chimed four times. This caught Robin's attention, and practically told him to pick up the pace. He hurriedly tied another bag on the zip-line, before he saw another bag under Prince John's pillow. He carefully lifted up the prince's pillow, and his head, and dropped him down after snatching the bag. Prince John snorted and almost woke up in surprise, before he shuddered and started sucking his thumb loudly. This woke up Sir Hiss, who was feeling irritated. Robin then saw the last bag in the prince's left elbow; He carefully lifted his arm up and grabbed the bag with one hand, but his thumb slipped out of his mouth. When Robin pulled the bag away, Prince John's thumb fell back in his mouth.

Hiss looked around as Robin ran to the balcony, and started riding along the zip-line. The snake bit into one of the bags with his tail around the lion's ankle, effectively waking him when they were dragged along. Prince John screamed in terror before and as he grabbed onto the balcony railing when he almost fell, his crown flying off and falling back on his head. "Guards! Guards! My gold!" He then fell and landed by the gate, where the last of the citizens were escaping with the loot. "Oh, no, no, no! They're getting away with my gold!" He whimpered, "Guards! Guards! To the jail!" Just as Sis and Tagalong escaped, the prince closed the jail door. But the guards were headed right for him! "Rhinos, halt! Stop! Desist!" But the guards broke the door right off its hinges, and brought Prince John with them; They then broke right through the stone walls.

"Everybody, this way!" Robin commanded as he led the citizens, as they were being bombarded by the guards' oncoming arrows. One hit Otto's cane, while another narrowly missed Toby's head when he ducked into his shell. Sis ducked and jumped up to avoid getting hit. When three guards came running in, Robin and Skippy each shot an arrow at them, pinning them on a wooden beam. Alan-a-Dale shielded a little raccoon he was carrying from an arrow with his guitar. The Captain of the Guard attempted to attack Friar Tuck and the owl couple with his large ax, but narrowly missed. Shenzi had skidded to a stop and covered her eyes in fear; But she uncovered them and kept running a second later, but was slightly left behind. Little John tipped over a wheelbarrow, so its contents, which were barrels of wine, would roll out, and bombard the rhinos. He and Friar Tuck started boarding the citizens in the wheelbarrow; Friar Tuck stowed all the raccoons in, when Robin came up, hastily carrying Shenzi to her father. "That's all of them! Get going!" As the badger boarded his young daughter in their method of transportation, the fox pulled the heavy lever that lowered the bridge, giving them an escape route.

"This ain't no hayride; Let's move it out of here!" Little John joked, before he started pulling the wheelbarrow along the bridge. "Hey-o-o-oh!"

"On to Sherwood Forest!" Friar Tuck exclaimed as he pushed the wheelbarrow from the back.

"Stop! My baby!" Skippy's mother suddenly yelled out. Shenzi looked, and saw that Tagalong was still in the courtyard.

"Mama, Mama, wait for me!" When bravery washed over her, Shenzi jumped on the ground, and ran back in the opposite direction!

"Shenzi, no!" Friar Tuck yelled in horror, "Come back here!" He wanted so much to go after her and bring her back, but Little John couldn't pull the wheelbarrow by himself, so he had to help him. He wished that she wasn't so brave.

Luckily for him, Robin came back, and grabbed the two children; Tagalong was in his arms, while Shenzi was sitting on his shoulders. He started running back to the gate with the little girls in tow, and the guards in hot pursuit, but one guard closed the gate before he could escape! "We've got him now!" The Sheriff exclaimed, as he was now clad in only a pink undershirt.

Robin slipped Tagalong in Little John's arms through the gate, but Shenzi couldn't fit between the rails. "Just keep going; Don't worry about us," He whispered hastily, "Tell Friar Tuck that I promise to take very good care of his daughter."

"Will do, Rob," Little John quickly nodded, before he ran back to where the other citizens were waiting.

"Where's Shenzi?" Friar Tuck asked the bear when he saw that he wasn't with the fox, or the black-haired child, "And where's Robin?"

"They're still in the castle," Little John hesitantly explained, "She couldn't fit through the rails."

"What?!" Friar Tuck yelled in horror, "She's still in there?!" He felt horrible for only mentioning Shenzi, but she was very young. Robin was much more likely to come out unharmed, although he still worried for him.

"Yes, but Robin promises to take very good care of your daughter."

Sis' heart sank at those words; She had said the same thing to him only a couple days ago, on her little brother's birthday; She only hoped that this time would go better than before.

Friar Tuck couldn't believe it; His baby girl was still in that castle with those guards, Sir Hiss, the Sheriff, and worst of all, Prince John! He should've gone after her! Now, because he didn't, she may very well be in grave danger! He trusted Robin, but he was still terrified for his little angel. He couldn't lose her again; The one time alone was overwhelming, so a second time just might kill him.

Meanwhile, Robin now had Shenzi on his back, as he climbed up the gate, and swung on a rope, kicking the Sheriff into the rhinos. He then proceeded to climb up one of the stone towers, dodging spears and using them to quicken his pace. At the top, after shifting the child in his arms, he ducked to dodge two arrows that two guards shot at him; This caused the guards to duck down to avoid getting struck themselves. He then jumped to another tower, where the master bedroom was, throwing Shenzi carefully down on its walkway when he landed and almost fell off the ledge. After grabbing her back, he inched along the walls, hastily dodging arrows shot by guards and causing his hat to flip off his head for a second.

"This time, we got him for sure!" The Sheriff exclaimed to himself, as he ran up the tower with a lit-up torch. Robin jumped in the room through the balcony, exited the bedroom, and closed the curtain. But to his terror, the Sheriff was right behind them! After setting Shenzi down in a safe place, a fierce battle raged on between him and the wolf. Robin ran back in the bedroom, as the Sheriff started a fire in the tower, from his growing obsession with doing the thief in. Shenzi watched the fight from the torn, flaming curtain with wide eyes. Robin used a chair for a shield, but had to drop it when it started burning. After yanking a carpet out from under the Sheriff's feet, he grabbed Shenzi and made a run for it, dodging the flames. He used everything in him to make sure the child wouldn't get hurt in any way; He couldn't let Friar Tuck down. He'd be so devastated if anyone happened to his precious little girl; She was everything to him. When the flames started closing in on them, he held the child closer, and escaped to the top of the tower.

"Shoot them!" Prince John commanded. The deportation plan left his mind; Now, he just wanted the little girl dead, along with Robin. The fox looked around in a panic for an escape route; Little did he and Shenzi know, Little John and Skippy were watching from the forest in anticipation. When the flames only got bigger, Robin set Shenzi on his back, and jumped in the lake below with her. "Kill them! Kill them!" Prince John shouted in anger. Robin was swimming in the water with Shenzi in tow, being bombarded by arrows before they sunk down. The lion, snake, bear, and young rabbit watched the lake in anticipation.

"Come on, you two. Come on," Little John urged.

"They've just got to make it," Skippy added in with hope.

But only a second later, Robin's hat, which had an arrow through it, and Shenzi's hair ribbon, which had two arrows, emerged without their owners. "No!" Little John exclaimed in horror, as he shook his head. "No, no."

"Hiss! They're finished! Done for!" Prince John cheered, "Lalala!" He sang and danced happily, before he laughed with joy.

"They're... going to make it," Skippy said, before looking up at the bear, "Aren't they... Little John?"

But he stayed silent as tears welled up; The hero of Nottingham was no more. Plus, another innocent was gone too. And a very young one at that. He immediately thought of Friar Tuck; He couldn't imagine how devastated he would be when he'd find out that his little angel, his princess, his flesh and blood, was gone for good. And at such a young age too.

Skippy gripped Little John's hand as tears leaked from his own eyes. His idol, and his young friend were gone forever. Just as he faced the facts, he saw something in the water that caught his eye. "Hey, what's that?" It was two reeds moving by themselves. "Little John, lookit! Lookit!" He ran up to the lake to investigate, and the bear followed him, and knelt down to take a look.

Suddenly, one of the reeds sprayed water in his face. "Hey, what the...?" And to his and Skippy's delight, it was Robin Hood, and Shenzi too! They were alive! "Oh, man, did you two have me worried," He smiled, as Robin hit water out of his ears, holding onto Shenzi's leg with his free hand, "I thought you were long gone."

Skippy jumped into the fox's arms with joy. "Oh, not Robin Hood! He could've swum twice that far!" Robin's eyes widened in surprise at "twice", "Huh, Mr. Robin Hood, sir?"

"Look, sire! Look! They've made it," Hiss pointed out to the prince, "He got away again."

"A pox on the phony king of England! Oo-de-lally!" Robin and Skippy mocked the prince together, as Robin punched the water.

"Oo-de-lally!" Shenzi exclaimed, surprising them both.

"Oh, no. It's so miserably unfair," Prince John whined in despair.

"Well, I tried to tell you, but, no, no, no, you wouldn't listen," Hiss berated him, "Your traps just never work. And now look what you've done to your mother's castle." He turned to the burning tower.

Prince John screamed upon seeing it for himself. "Mommy!" He whined, before he started to suck his thumb again. But then he realized: He didn't burn it down! In a fit of rage, he started trying to land a hard blow on Hiss with a long plank of wood.

"Sire, no!" Hiss screamed in terror as he dodged the blow.

"You cowardly cobra!"

"Please! Oh, no!"

"Procrastinating python!"

"Aggravating asp!"

"Save me!"

"You eel in snake's clothing!"

"Help! He's gone stark raving mad!"

Little John chuckled at the amusing scene, before he turned to the stowaways. "Let's get back to the others; They're all very worried about you." He then turned to Shenzi, "Especially Friar Tuck." She smiled at the mention of her beloved father. She regretted leaving him to go on a rescue mission. Especially since she did no rescuing!

A while later, they arrived at the heart of Nottingham, where the citizens were waiting, with Friar Tuck up front. When Robin came out from behind Little John, the citizens cheered for him. "That's right, I'm still in one piece!" He exclaimed over the cheers. He then turned to Friar Tuck after the cheers ceased. "And look who else made it in one piece."

And with that, a soaked Shenzi ran out from behind Little John, and back in her father's arms when he knelt to her level. The citizens cheered again as the badger hugged his daughter again, with happy tears back in his eyes. "Oh, Shenzi! I was so worried about you!" He exclaimed as the tears slid down his cheeks. When she pulled back, he noticed that her ribbon was missing, but he didn't bring it up. All that mattered was that she was safe and sound again.

"Uncle Wobin was awesome!" She exclaimed, "He weally showed those meanies!"

"I'm sure he did," He chuckled, before hugging her again, not caring that she was dripping wet.

"And after she was out of the lake, she seemed to have learned a new word," Little John chimed in.

"Oh really?" Friar Tuck smiled down at his daughter, "What word is that?"

"Oo-de-lally!" She exclaimed, and the citizens cheered again.

"Oh, you're definitely taking after your uncles," He smiled, before he kissed her wet temple. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Daddy," She smiled back. She then let out a yawn as she rubbed her eyes under her dripping bangs.

"Let's get you home, sleepyhead," He chuckled at her, "And get you out of these wet clothes. You've had a long night. "

At the church, Sexton Mouse and Little Sister were very happy to see them come back unharmed. And they were very impressed that Shenzi was beginning to speak in full sentences as she described her whole escape with Robin in as many details as she could come up with. After the mice retired, Friar Tuck surprised Shenzi with a present from Maid Marian that they were saving for her 3rd birthday: A new dress! She was changed into it after she was dried off, and then was put into bed. "Good night," He smiled down at his precious daughter, as he brushed her long bangs from her face. "I love you." He kissed her cheek as she smiled up at him.

"I love you too, Daddy," She replied; She then sat up with her hands for support, leaned her head up, and kissed his cheek in return. His smile grew as he stood up, and left her room to let her sleep.

(A/N: You know the disclaimer. If you didn't already know, we're getting really close to the end. The next chapter will be the second-to-last!)

Random Fact about BxB

It ticks me off when ABC Family (or FreeForm) doesn't show animated Disney movies.