As Aidan walked into camp steadily, albeit a tad starry-eyed, the gang looked up at him suspiciously.

"Where have you been?" Little John asked gruffly, seating himself next to the now roaring fire, adding sticks to the heat.

"I was getting water!" He realized this was not going to be enough to satisfy them, so he sighed. "If you must know, I was helping a man with a horse that got loose. I ended up quite a ways away from the camp by the time I was through, and the man and I got to talking. He offered to take me home, but seeing as how I live in the forest, and he cant know that, I decided to walk. It took me a while to get back, though. Okay?!"

John nodded, satisfied with his answer. However, as Aidan glanced up furtively at Allan, he noticed his intense stare. He didn't buy the story. Aidan's thoughts flitted hopelessly to the girl he had met.

"Ah ha…I do believe our Aidan was with a girl!" Allan announced triumphantly.

"I was not!" Aidan retorted, his traitorous cheeks becoming red and flushed. How did Allan figure out things like this?

"Oh, don't lie," Allan laughed. "I know that look. Go on, tell us! What'd she look like?"

Aidan groaned, but resigned himself to describing Josalyn in detail, only leaving out her name.

"Ahh…you've picked a winner there! Sounds feisty!" Aidan shrugged, becoming redder still.

Will leaned forward. "So what's her name?"

"Josalyn."

"She have a last name, too?" he asked, smiling gently.

"Um…I don't know her last name." He replied, noticing this for the first time.

"I see you weren't big on exchanging pleasantries." Will said, laughing.

"Right to business. Good man. Don't want to get too attached, after all." Allan said, nodding appreciatively.

"Allan! It wasn't like that! I only just met her today in the forest!"

Allan scrunched up his brow, as if trying to solve a difficult problem. "So?" He finally asked.

Aidan rolled his eyes. "SO I just talked to her, that's all."

"Now why on earth would you do a thing like that?"

Will shoved his friend's head and smiled at Aidan. "Don't you listen to him. It's good that you're getting to know her. Now where exactly did you meet this girl?"

At that point Robin walked into camp, and Aidan got up quickly. Allan and Will returned to their meals without another word. Giving them a grateful smile, Aidan tried to go inside and to sleep. Robin had other ideas.

"Now where were you this afternoon, exactly?" Robin asked, arms folded.

Aidan groaned, and resigned himself to telling the same story he had just relayed to Allan and Will, leaving out the information about Josalyn. Robin seemed to believe him, because he shrugged and jerked his head behind him, allowing him to pass into the shelter. Robin had decided against informing Aidan of his plan just yet. After some… arm-twisting, Robin had persuaded Marian to let him start taking Aidan out of the forest. He thought it would be better to let the gang in on this first.

Meanwhile, Aidan was quite content being in the forest. Two days later, Aidan rejoiced in the fact that he could roam the whole forest again. He woke up that morning to find his father and John out already. The other members of the gang were eating breakfast. Aidan stretched, and cleared his throat.

"Well, I think I'll take a walk. I'll be back later." He said, starting to leave camp.

"Whoa, wait a minute. Where are you going? Don't you want breakfast?" Much asked, perplexed. Aidan shook his head.

"I'm just…going on a walk, Much. I'm not that hungry, actually."

He caught the glance of both Will and Allan, and scowled, as Allan was laughing silently at him.

"You have fun, then." Allan said, grinning.

Feeling the heat returning to his face, Aidan shrugged it off and left hurriedly. He walked deliberately towards Josalyn's camp, although staying on the trail. Once he found the spot Josalyn had returned him to last time, he took a moment to mentally record this place, so he wouldn't get lost again. Then he began to stroll slowly through the woods, getting nearer and nearer to the village, whistling loudly. It wasn't long before he heard the snapping of a tree branch behind him. He turned, and his breath caught in his throat. There she was. Her hair was up in a clasp behind her head, accentuating her perfectly sculpted face. She looked mildly surprised to see him there, although something in her eyes told him that she had been expecting him to return.

"You lost?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"No…I mean.. I," How was it that he could go days thinking about the moment when he saw her again, but not actually plan something to say! Aidan rebuked himself before gathering his thoughts and saying calmly, "I grew up learning to appreciate and respect women. Now, you so kindly saved me a few days ago. And I could not let that go unnoticed. So, I have put it upon myself to return the favor, at any cost."

Aidan could see a smile playing on her lips. "You…save me?"

Aidan nodded.

"Does it look like I need saving?" She asked.

"Well, not at this particular moment, no. But if and when the case arises, I will be here."

"Like a knight in shining armor?" She asked, a definite smile falling upon her stunning face.

"Exactly. That would make you…a damsel in distress." Aidan said, returning her smile.

Suddenly, the smile left her face as abruptly as it had appeared.

"Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but I think I can fend for myself, thank you very much."

Aidan was a little taken aback, but he recovered quickly. "If you say so. Allright, my damsel-in-complete-control, would you take a walk with me?"

The ferocity that was in her face a moment before dissolved slightly. She glanced behind her warily. Biting her lip, she regained her composure and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I would go anywhere with you?" She asked, although she was already beginning to walk beside him.

"Well, I am a bit famous, after all, seeing as Robin Hood is a distant relative of mine." A devilish smile played on his lips as he brought up their little inside joke.

She nodded slowly. Allright, lets play a game. I ask you a question, and you answer, completely honestly. Then it's your turn."

Aidan rolled his eyes. "SUCH a woman's game."

The ferocity returned to her eyes. "Or we could swordfight. Whichever you prefer."

Aidan smiled. She was so cute when she was mad. "Allright, allright. You go first."

"Okay. Truth, now. Robin Hood?"

Aidan nodded. "My father. Although I didn't actually go live with him until a few years ago."

Josalyn smiled, in an almost triumphant manner. "Like I thought."

Aidan rolled his eyes again. "Yes, congratulations, you win. Shall we dwell on that, or can I get to know you?" he asked in a huff.

She laughed. "Go ahead then, my "knight". Ask away."

"Tell me about your family."

"That's not really a question."

"Do I need to rephrase it?"

"No…I'll answer." Her face fell. "Well, my father is kind of the leader of this… crusade against Robin Hood. No…crusade is the wrong word for it. This, vendetta, I guess? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, because he knows as well as I do that Robin…your father…acts in complete selflessness for as many people as he can. However, one time, right when Robin Hood was beginning to gain a following, Hood infuriated the Sheriff. He sent his men to our village because he was positive we were harboring one of Robin Hood's men. At that point, we were all under the wing of Hood, we were all "protected", we all believed that this man would finally restore justice. And so my cousin, Jeremy, stood up to the soldiers, confidant that, even if he was arrested, Hood would come to his rescue. But the men didn't give him the chance. They shot him in the chest with an arrow before anyone quite knew what had happened." Her eyes brimmed with tears momentarily, before she blinked them back and took a deep breath. "There was nothing anyone could do. It couldn't have been stopped. But my father…he can't let it go. Jeremy's parents, my aunt and uncle, died long ago. Jeremy had been staying with us, and my father loved him like a son." She sighed. It's been over four years now. I know that it really changed my father. He looks for any excuse he can to blame our lives on Robin Hood. Any time we are low on food, it is Hood's fault. Any time soldiers ransack our village, its Hood's fault. My mother doesn't feel the same way, but she supports him because she understands how heartbroken he was. And my brother…my brother has been trying ever since to fill the place of Jeremy. Although we are very close…it seems to come between us a lot."

"Your brother?"

"Caleb, of course. He will go along with my father on anything, despite how absurd it might be."

Silence followed this description.

"I'm sorry about Jeremy." Aidan said finally, noticing afterwards how feeble this apology seemed.

"I told you, it's no ones fault." She smiled a little. "Allright, my turn. I want to know about the gang."

"The gang? As in…all of them?"

"Yes! I've heard all the stories, of course. But I want to know what they're really like, beyond the fame."

She sounded so sincere that Aidan found himself opening up and giving her information he never thought he would tell anyone. He told her of Will and Allan, how much they were like his family. He told her of the romance between Will and Djaq, about the lesser-known hero, Much, who took care of the gang as a whole. They kept walking for a long time, asking each other questions. Finally, they strayed a bit too close to the camp, and Aidan tried to turn them away, into a new direction.

It was then that Josalyn asked, "So Aidan. What exactly do you think of me? Too bold? Not ladylike enough?" She grinned.

Aidan was silent a minute, leading them towards a clearing. He stepped carefully over a concealed string on the ground, and she stepped on it. Instantly, a net came flying down, and she was caught in a tangle of ropes. Josalyn screamed. Aidan laughed, instantly appreciative of all the traps they had set around the camp, and looked on at Josalyn in the mess of ropes.

"On the contrary. I think you are a damsel in distress."