A/N: Ok, episode four, one of my favorites if totally traumatic.

I don't own Robin Hood.

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Over the last few days they had been avoiding any travelers wandering through the forest – except those who were just asking to be robbed. They had been too busy.

To try a different way of ambushing they'd been working out a complicated pulley system that could be started off by Robin firing an arrow and cause a net to be raised. When this had been built and was working to Will's critical satisfaction they had to work out a way to encourage those they were ambushing to run towards the net and so be captured. It was decided after much deliberation and argument, that they would play on the superstitions of the people and the legend attached to Sherwood Forest.

They finally finished their preparations and decided on an afternoon to test it. Ava asked to be excused for the test however. She hadn't had the chance to have a proper bath since she'd joined the outlaws and had discovered a pool a week ago which would be perfect. She'd decided that it was one thing to live with a bunch of unmarried, outlawed men but she would have a far more relaxing bath if they were far away concentrating on something else, and under Djaq's watchful gaze.

So, after helping them put on their camouflage (and accidentally poking Will in the eye) she waved them off on their adventure and gathered a spare blanket to use as a towel, some clean clothes and soap and set off for the pool.

Plunging in she reveled in the freedom she felt in the cool, clear water. She swam and dived to keep herself warm before soaping herself all over, her hair as well, and turning her attention to her clothes. They could definitely do with a wash, particularly the scarf which had been Robin's before she commandeered it and had been used as anything and everything. As she scrubbed it and the dirt fell away she discovered it was a pale, delicate green rather that the mossy, sludge color it usually appeared.

Finally the water became too cold and she dragged herself out and rubbed herself vigorously with the blanket until she was dry and warmer. She put on a dress, the only dry clean clothes she had, picked up her wet ones and walked back to the camp.

It was some time before the outlaws returned. She first heard raised voices, one of which seemed to be Will's which was unusual, and went to stand at the entrance of the camp. Framed by the poles on either side of her she looked the perfect maiden and housewife, waiting for her men folk to return. The others were surprised, her brown skirt and white shirt with flowing sleeves was covered by a serviceable overdress belted at the waist. Her hair was pinned back, curling softly round her face. In one had she held a pair of trousers she had been folding when she heard them, a stranger wasn't to know they were her own. Finally, she smelt of soft roses from the soap she'd used. In no way did she appear the Ava they were used to.

As Robin passed her she put out a hand to stop him.

"Did it work?"

"Yes – sort of,"

Before she could ask what he meant he'd moved beyond her. The next person to reach her was Allan, who reached out an absentminded hand for the trousers she was holding so he could use them to wipe the camouflage from his arms. She snatched them back from him.

"I've just washed those!"

It was irate wife to oblivious husband.

He raised his hands in defeat and moved past her to find something he could use. Will barely looked at her as he went past, a stormy expression on his face. Ava frowned in confusion, which became greater as she saw there were two strangers following Will. She put her hands on her hips and turned into the camp to demand an explanation.

"What happened?"

Robin, Allan and Will looked up and all were forcibly reminded of other women they knew, any that had had any power over them. One look at her face let them know she would take no excuses. The two strangers entered behind her and Robin stood from his letter to make the introductions.

"Ava, this is Dan and Luke Scarlett, Will's father and brother."

She looked surprised as she turned to greet them. The outlaws didn't have time to get away before she wheeled towards them again.

"These are the people you trapped?"

"Yeah, but we didn't do it on purpose,"

Allan seemed to think this would excuse everything. Will was remaining steadfastly silent.

"This craftsmanship is good,"

Dan was admiring his son's handiwork.

"See? I've got a life here."

Will had obviously made this point before and seemed to think the fact he'd designed the hidden camp would further his argument.

"All that says to me is that you could make a decent living in Scarborough,"

Ava turned to Allan in bemusement, with just an underlying, sickening sense of fear.

"Scarborough?" she mouthed. He shrugged in reply to show his own lack of understanding for the situation.

"Robin, can you tell my father I'm a grown man now, I make my own decisions,"

The mere fact he had applied to Robin to endorse this statement seemed to belie it, though he was and he could. Ava was drawn from her observation of the discussion by Much who was staring in confusion at a great hunk of venison and pile of vegetables. She walked towards him and clasped him on the shoulder,

"You have to cook them, Much, otherwise no one will eat them,"

"But – where did they come from?"

Ava had been distracted by Robin's invitation that Dan come to Nottingham with them the next day to see what it was they did.

"Hmm?"

"Where did they come from?"

"I – procured them,"

Much still looked baffled but Allan leaned closer to the meat.

"I'm not being funny but that's the King's deer,"

"For the King's men,"

Ava sent a mocking curtsey in Robin's direction, who laughed and bowed in return. She turned back to Much and sighed, he had yet to move. Taking matters into her own hands she reached for a cabbage and began to peel of its leaves.

The food they ate that night was the best they'd had in a long time. It was the first example of Ava making good on her promise to help Much and it certainly showed particularly in the lack of moaning that came from the kitchen. The good food and freely flowing wine led to a convivial atmosphere enhanced by the presence of old friends. Will alone remained silent, more so than normal. Every time he caught his father's eye he looked away in impatience almost as if afraid that hat he would see there would make him agree to go back to Scarborough.

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A/N: There you go – I'll update soon I promise! Please review xx