Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy doing laundry and other boring college stuff. Well, that's a lie. I've actually been exceptionally homesick and it has kind of wrecked my life for a few days. I'm better now; a little less depressed so it's time I gave you the next chapter of this story. I pondered this scene for about two weeks now. I wrote about the first 5 or 6 paragraphs over two weeks ago, but I couldn't figure out how I wanted to write the rest of it. I'm not entirely satisfied with it, but I told myself just to quit fretting over it and go with it. Let me know what you guys think of it. I'm always open to suggestions. I hope anyone who reads this is having a lovely day and that you have a lovely week as well! As always, I only own Sarah and my plot. Reviews are crack, please send them my way, and love to all who are reading!

Chapter 11

The Forest

Allan had been hunting for over an hour now and had nothing to show for it. His head just wasn't in it. He had seen two deer already, the second of which would have been enough meat to feed them all for probably two days. But no, he had missed with his shot and thus was still wandering through the forest alone.

He had been hunting all morning. He was distracted, mentally at least. Even when trying to pay the utmost attention to his prey, he found that he couldn't. His mind would wander off to deep dark places. Recesses in his mind that normally only his deepest sleeps could touch, now were floating freely throughout his conscious mind. What could he do? He'd never felt like this before. He was Allan a Dale. If he didn't already have a plan, he could think on his feet, come up with the best decision he possibly could within the circumstance. But this was different. This wasn't a battle, or a trick, or a deal to make. This was his mind and his heart picking sides, pulling him in two totally opposite directions. How could he choose? But how could he not?

"Bullocks!" He yelled as he missed his third shot of the day. He had missed another buck. He had to bring back something, otherwise the gang would become suspicious, or worse they would make fun of him for his lack of hunting ability. "Snap out of it mate." He thought to himself.

After a few more arrows and two missed rabbits, Allan decided to take a break. He wasn't accomplishing anything except for depleting his arrow supplies. He started just walking through the forest. The trees still looked familiar so he wasn't worried about getting lost. Soon though, he came upon the edge of a clearing. He started to head for the brook, when he saw Robin sitting by the edge. "Shoot!" He thought and darted behind a tree.

He peeked out from behind the tree and realized that Robin hadn't noticed his presence and was still sleeping soundly. He should leave, find somewhere else to think. But having another person in the vicinity made him feel less lonely, even though half of his problems were sitting right on the other side of the tree. He really hoped he hadn't offended Robin. He was just trying to help. Ever since Robin had come back injured, he hadn't been sleeping well. Allan had noticed that if he stroked Robin's hair it helped Robin to sleep. And a silent, sleeping Robin was good for the whole gang. He hadn't meant for the two of them to wake up sleeping so close together. It wasn't anything like it looked like; at least he didn't think it was. But obviously Robin had taken it the wrong way based upon his reactions this morning.

He didn't want Robin to hate him. That was the last thing he would ever want. But that was all he could think about, that Robin would hate him. He cared too much about Robin and by extension the rest of the gang for any of them to have ill will for him again. It had been impossible the first time and he knew it would kill him if it happened a second time. God what could he do. How could he make things right between Robin and himself?

"You could start by talking to me."

"Bloody hell mate! I'm not being funny, but you can't just go reading people's minds and all that!" Allan yelled back.

"I didn't read your mind, Allan." Robin said with a sigh. "You've been thinking out loud for about 5 minutes now." "Oh." Allan replied. "I'm sorry." Allan said faintly.

"Sorry for thinking or sorry for thinking out loud?" Robin inquired. "No, I'm sorry for this morning."

"What are you sorry about?" "Well, you know. We woke up in kind of an interesting position. I saw, well more I felt your reaction when you jerked up this morning."

"Allan, I wasn't mad. More startled than anything."

"Robin, I hope you didn't think that what I did meant anything more than what it did. I was just trying to help you sleep and rubbing your hair worked. And it kind of relaxed me as well. And I fell asleep. That's it. Nothing more."

"I know that Allan. Just took me a little thinking to work it out. I'm sorry for the way I reacted."

"No problem mate." Robin stood and Allan sat, but the silence was tangible.

All of a sudden, Allan jumped up. "I lied." He grabbed Robin by the front of his shirt and hauled him in for a kiss. But what Allan had hoped would be the perfect moment was shattered. Instead of love and hope and happiness, all Allan felt was the scrape of beard scruff, the sweat on his palms as he gripped Robin's shirt and nerves. Robin was frozen, he couldn't even think, nonetheless respond. Allan kissed him as Robin stood there motionless, stuck to the ground. It was if he awoke from a slumber as he jerked back to life and pulled away suddenly. He spit into the ground, shaking his head, unable to make eye contact with Allan.

"Robin I'm sorry I just…" Robin threw up his hand and Allan quieted. "I'm sorry, so sorry." He whispered. With that, Allan took off running into the forest. Robin didn't, couldn't move. He stood rooted to the ground where he had moved after the kiss. "The kiss." Robin thought. "Why did he kiss me? Oh my lord he kissed me." The internal wheels in Robin's brain started turning at lightning speeds as he finally processed what had happened. He wandered back towards the camp, ambling along as he went, brain scattered by the moments before.

As he walked into camp, all the heads whipped toward him. "Robin?" Sarah inquired, seeing the look of pure confusion on his face. "Robin, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm just…yeah…" He trailed off and headed for his bed. "Where's Allan?" he heard Djaq inquire. "He's gone into the forest." Robin said quietly. "He's gone into the forest.

Post Chapter Author's Note: I've never done a post chapter note before, but this one is to plug some of my other writing. I'm going to be posting a new story in the next week or so, it is going to be called One of the Boys. When I post it (I'm trying to get a couple chapters ahead writing it so I can post regularly for the first few chapters) I would love it if you could check it out. Let me know if you like it. Also, I've written a one shot called Allan's Betrayal Revisited. Please check it out as well and let me know if you like it! Love to all and I'll try not to take so long before I post the next chapter! Thanks again!