I'm back and ready for another update!! hope you're all excited and ready for our sheriff/guy confruntation!!! there will be more of the confruntation yet to come...thanks for the reviews especially thank you to Gizzysgirl Liisa candyflossgirl and gatewatcher and everyone else who likes this story just for the sake of reading it!!! hope this one doesnt disappoint a note or two...the guy and marian scene sorta resembles their scene in season 2 episode 6 when he tells her to run (so cute) and also obviously i do not own Robin Hood BBC because i wouldnt have Allan die......we miss you Allan!!

Chapter Twenty One: I'm Back...Scared Yet?

"The sheriff…the sheriff is coming," Guy said to Marian.

Marian shook her head. "The sheriff is dead."

Guy gripped her shoulders. "Marian, you do not understand. I heard him. He is coming. He will be here by the morning."

Marian looked at her husband. There was visible fear and determination in his black eyes. She nodded.

"What are we going to do?" she asked him.

Guy stood up from the bed and shook his head. "We? No Marian, we are not going to do anything. You and Clara are going to leave now before things get messy. Run!" He took out one of Marian's bags and walked to the closet. He then began throwing dresses into the bag and did not even notice that Marian put a hand on his shoulder.

"Guy!" she yelled angrily.

Guy turned to face her. "What?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm saving you," he said. He went to the dresser and opened the top shelf. He rummaged through it and found what he was searching for. There was a small bag of money he had put there just in case of emergency. This definitely felt like an emergency.

He took her hand and put the bag of coins into her hand. "Get yourself and Clara to the docks and find the fastest ship there. But right now I want you to run!"

Marian shook her head and handed him back the coins. "I'm not going anyway Guy."

Guy put a hand to his head. "What?"

Marian put her hands on her hips. "Try to get this into your head. I am not running away. I am standing by your side Guy. I am your wife and the mother of your child. I am not leaving you."

"Can't you see I'm trying to help you?"

"I can see that," she said, "but this is my way of helping you."

Guy put his hands on Marian's shoulders and bent his head to her head. "I will not forgive myself if anything happens to you. Marian, you need to live. I hate to say this, but Hood was right, you need to survive this, you and Clara."

"She would not leave her father," said Marian. "And I shall not tear her away from him."

"Marian, if the sheriff probably already hates me for leaving him. If he found out that you were with me, I do not know what he would do to you. And, if he finds out we have a child…" Guy could not finish the sentence.

Marian shook her head. "We will face him together."

Then Guy got an idea. It was not a good idea for him, but it would probably tempt Marian to save herself.

"Marian," said Guy warmly, "if the sheriff is alive that means he succeeded."

Marian nodded calmly though her stomach turned and her heart beat quickened.

"Marian, that means that Robin is alive," said Guy anxiously hoping she would understand what he wanted her to do.

"I know," she said. "And if he were by my side now, and the sheriff was closing in, I would not leave him. And I will not leave you."

Guy kissed her cheek. "Are you sure?"

"I do not need men protecting me all the time you know," said his wife. "I'm not half bad at taking care of myself, or taking care of you. You are Clara's father, and I will not let anything bad happen to him so long as I can stand."

Guy took Marian's hands in his and their fingers intertwined. "Brave words are not the same as brave actions. If you stay, then so be it, but on my terms okay?"

Marian nodded. Guy took her hand and led her into Clara's room. She was still sleeping peacefully when her mother and father entered the room. Marian looked quizzically at Guy.

"I don't understand."

"You," he said, "are going to stay here, with Clara while I try to deal with the sheriff. No matter what happens you are not to leave this room."

"But!" Marian attempted to protest these ridiculous conditions.

Guy shook his head. "We agreed to this on my terms remember?"

Marian crossed her arms. "Save the brutality for the sheriff Gisborne!"

Guy raised an eyebrow. "That was pretty mean Marian."

"See?" she said, "see how mean and evil I can be? Don't you want me by your side? You've seen me as the nightwatchman! I can hold my own in a fight."

"Marian," said Guy softly, "I do not doubt you. I have seen you fight and you fight just as well as any man. The reason why I do not want you to fight is because the best way for you to protect me, truly protect me, is to stay hidden."

"Fine," she complied.

Guy gave her a kiss and walked out of the room closing the door behind him gently. As the door closed Marian crossed her arms and stared at the door.

"This is not right," she said. "I should be out there."

But as she crossed her arms with anger she thought about what Guy had reminded her and what her own reasoning had led her to conclude.

Robin is alive.

Robin Hood succeeded and Nottingham did not burn. This thought brought a smile to her face. But it was a brief moment of happiness as she heard a little knock on the door.

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"Why are you knocking?" asked Edward. "He already knows we are here."

The sheriff shook his head. "No. They know I am here. Not you, my dear Edward. Hide now! I will give you a signal when to enter."

Edward hid himself by the side of the manor. The sheriff knocked again.

"How will I know the signal?"

Vasey rolled his eyes. "If you know me, you will know the signal."

Knocking brother? His sister's voice rang in his ears. He shook his head trying to get her voice out of his rattled brain. Vasey could not handle distractions like thoughts of unnecessary mercy or compassion. But the sheriff was not worried, it had been decades since he experienced any sort of kindness on victims.

*************************************

So far the sheriff had knocked three times yet Guy did not answer. He tapped his sheath and felt the sword resting by his side. Perhaps he would not need it to face his intruder. But then again…

"Gizzy?"

Guy shuddered. It had been a long time since he heard that pet name the sheriff had so unceremoniously given him. That insipid demeaning pet name. How the bloody hell did the sheriff find him? That indeed was what worried Guy of Gisborne.

"What do you want?" he asked loudly.

"To see you, can't you let your old employer and friend in for a visit?" Vasey asked sweetly.

Guy closed his eyes. No. He knew that the sheriff was no friend to him. He so did not want to let Vasey into his home. Guy would have given anything for the ability to send the sheriff on his way. But Guy did not possess the ability.

"I heard you married Gisborne," said the sheriff with false interest. "I'd love to see the little woman."

Guy walked up to the door and pressed his body against its wooden structure.

"No." Guy shook his head. "I'm afraid you are mistaken. There is no one else here but me."

Would the sheriff believe him?

"Come on Guy," said Vasey, "we both know, that's not true, is it? I think I'd have known if she was in Nottingham."

"And I think," said Guy, "I'd know if she were here."

Outside the sheriff was getting slightly concerned. She was here right? Marian had to be here for this entire operation to work. Vasey shook his head. Someone was lying to him. Robin had told him Marian left with Guy. Yet Guy seemed determined that she was not there.

Too determined perhaps?

Vasey tried a different approach. "I did not want to come."

"Really?" Guy asked with disbelief.

"Robin Hood sent me."

This statement, chock-full of lies and deceit wafted through Guy's ears as well as Marian's. Though husband and wife were in different rooms both of their eyes widened with shock at the intruder's words.

Marian stopped her pacing and pressed her ear against the door.

Robin sent him? No, he's lying. He must be lying. Robin would not sent the sheriff to get me, surely not…would he?

Guy furrowed his brow. "I thought you did not do business with outlaws."

"You see," said the sheriff, "after you so unceremoniously left me to rot all by my lonesome in Nottingham Robin Hood approached me. He told me you had taken his fiancé and—"

"Fiancé?" Guy repeated in bewilderment.

She said she loved him not that she was tied to him?

Marian closed her eyes and bit her lip.

You should have mentioned that to him when he was ready to listen to you.

Vasey smiled from the other side of the door at Guy's repetition of the word the sheriff hoped that Guy had heard. "I suppose so," he said. His voice was causal in reply but on the inside the sheriff was happily dancing at Guy's misery and pain.

Guy had closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wooden door still blocking the sheriff from his house. He was taking deep breaths and trying to calm himself. How could she do this to him? He had finally tired to be accepting…and now this?

Meanwhile Marian still behind her own door and biting her lip.

I cannot believe that Robin told the sheriff we were engaged! Did he really send the sheriff then?

She was about to walk out of the room and face Guy…when she heard a noise outside of the window.

***********************************************

"So," the sheriff continued twiddling his thumbs, "Robin Hood approached me and told me you had taken his fiancé. I asked him if it looked like I was crying?"

"Let me guess," muttered Guy's voice from inside the house. "A clue?"

"No!" finished Vasey proudly. "Why should I care about such things? But then he told me that he would make it worth my while. And that I do care about Gizzy, you know I do."

"What else? What else did he tell you?"

Vasey shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps I'd remember if you let me in."

Slowly the door was opened and Vasey shook his head for Edward to follow. For now Vasey would go in alone. He would assess the situation and then signal Edward to enter in and…fulfill the plan. Vasey entered and saw Guy for the first time in more than nine months.

Guy had not changed greatly. His hair was still short and wavy black. He remained unshaven. But his clothes were the first obvious difference. They were not black leather worn by a killer with no remorse or sympathy. Instead he wore a simple tan tunic and trousers. These clothes were not of a murderer but of a man who had chosen a different path of life. And Guy's eyes almost made the sheriff faint with fear. Behind Guy's raven black eyes hid no revenge or hell.

What was the word again?

Could it have been…no…surely not…

Love?

Perhaps he has found what you could never gain my brother. Vasey shook his head and tried to tear that dreadful voice from his mind.

"Anyway, so Robin Hood told me that he had something to offer me that would make finding you worth my while. I asked him what it was that was worth something to him. He told me he would give me the entire contents of his poor chest."

Guy shook his head. "No. Hood would never do that."

"Oh really?" asked the sheriff.

"He loves her," said the sheriff seductively, "he really loves her Gisborne. I mean, you should have seen him…yearn for her."

Guy gave him a disgusted look. "Yearn for her?"

Vasey nodded. But tried not to look directly at Guy. There was too much newness in him and he disliked the new Guy. The new Guy was too full of…that word…what was that awful bloody word?

Love Vasey? Asked his sister.

Vasey shook his head violently and put his fingers to his temples.

Guy noticed the sheriff's moments and raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Am I feeling okay?" repeated the sheriff. "Since when do you care about feelings Gisborne? What the bloody hell happened to—"

Suddenly the sheriff stopped himself from speaking. He completely understood what had happened to Guy. It was love. And that only meant one thing…

"She is here," said the sheriff with a greedy smile.

"No."

"Don't lie to me," said Vasey pushing Guy aside and trying to find Marian. But Guy was quicker and he grabbed the sheriff's arms and held them tightly. "Guy, what are you doing? Let me go!"

*****************************************************************

Marian heard the screams of the sheriff and Guy. She looked out the window quietly and spotted a man standing a little ways away. He was crouching by the side of the manor with his sword out and ready to attack. Marian raised a suspicious eyebrow.

And who is this?

It must be the sheriff's new lackey. Why was he hiding though? That did not seem to make any sense to Marian. The sheriff never hid his lackeys. Then Marian turned her head around towards the closed door and walked towards it.

She pressed her ear against it and heard the sheriff yell, "Marian is here! Do not try to hide her. Robin Hood sent me to find her! Come out Marian!"

Marian's heart beat faster.

***********************************************************************

Guy was holding the sheriff back from moving any further in his house. And Vasey was trying to free himself from his former lackey's hold. But Guy was stronger than the sheriff so physical force would not work against Guy.

Perhaps another method…

"You know," said the sheriff, "I think I know what to do here."

Guy was silent.

"I do not want to be here, and you do not want me to be here right?"

"Yes, I think you've got it so far."

"Right, so how about we settle this so that you win, I win, and Hood loses? What do you say?"

"I say," answered Guy, "what is your proposition?"

Vasey gave an evil smile. "I know that the lady leper is here. You cannot deny that anymore Gisborne. And look at what she has done to you!"

"What is that exactly?" asked Guy.

"Firstly your clothes Gisborne," said the sheriff with distress in his voice. "What happened to the black leather?"

Guy smirked. "You cannot farm in leather."

"You farm!?"

"What else?" asked Guy changing the subject.

"Right, secondly your eyes have changed," said the sheriff.

"Still black."

"Without the evil intentions Gisborne, they really are not your eyes anymore." Vasey shook his head sadly.

"What is your point?"

"My point," answered Vasey, "is simply that she has changed you and not for the better it seems. What's more, the change, whatever you think it has done, is basically a lie. She does not love you Gisborne. You mean nothing to her. Do you understand that?"

Guy shrugged.

"She loves the outlaw. She was engaged to the outlaw and was never yours to begin with."

Guy shivered slightly. How many people were planning to tell him that? He did not need the entire world explaining what unrequited love was. Guy was perfectly able to comprehend the meaning of the phrase all on his own.

"What do you expect me to do about it?" Guy asked.

"Simple," said the sheriff, "and once you have done the deed, not only will you feel much better and back to normal but you can also come back home with me."

"What do I have to do?"

Vasey looked up at Guy. The man before him was quite changed and definitely not for the betterment of mankind. However, the sheriff knew Guy well. He was sure that, with the proper encouragement and words, Guy would soon be himself again. And then, once Guy was feeling most tortured and grief stricken, Edward would kill him. Kill him for abandoning the sheriff in his time of need. Kill him for running off with that leper to France while Nottingham was in danger.

Vasey laughed. "Kill her."

********************************************************************

Marian closed her eyes.

He wouldn't do that would he? No. Not possible. You do not murder the ones you love.

And meanwhile Marian had to worry about that quiet lackey. The sheriff was definitely going to use him as part of the plot. But Marian did not understand what the plot was and therefore could not understand why he was hiding. If only she was the nightwatchman again. She'd have dealt with him in no time. But things were different now. There was a baby in the crib beside her.

If Marian took action against this stranger and jumped out the window to fight him, what would happen to Clara? She would be all alone while the darkness of her parents' past swirled around her sleeping head.

So Marian stayed where she was and did not try to fight the intruder.

Right. Now, if I see any movement from this creature, any movement at all mind you, I go out the door and warn Guy and prepare myself for attack. Guy might be able to take on just one sheriff, but you need two people to take on two intruders.

But…what if when I go into the room Guy kills me?

The thought was left to burrow into her brain and made her feel very uncertain about a lot of things.

*********************************************************************

"Kill Marian?" Guy repeated with bewilderment.

The sheriff nodded. "You heard me correctly. Just go and kill her. That way Hood will lose the one thing that means most to him in the world. That way I will not be forced to do business with him anymore. That way, my dear Gizzy, you can come home again. We missed you Gisborne."

"Let me get this straight," said Guy. "You want me to kill her?"

"Very bright Gisborne," applauded the sheriff.

Guy shook his head. "Why would I want to kill Marian?"

Vasey chuckled and thought that, in this moment of confusion, Guy would release him, but Guy still held onto his arms tightly. "Well, weren't you listening to anything I said?"

"She does not love me," said Guy.

"But I do," said the sheriff, "and I am prepared to take you back. You just need to kill the little leper lady and we will be on our way back home. No one is going to miss her."

"What about Hood?" asked Guy.

"I think we can take him," said the sheriff. "He's just one outlaw, hardly does enough to make a difference anyway."

"Are we talking about the same Robin Hood? Because the one I'm talking about, fights our guards, robs us of our money, and gives everything to the peasants. The one you are talking about apparently picks wild flowers and doesn't harm a soul."

Vasey chuckled. "You still have that same wit Gisborne. But getting back on track, you and I can take care of him. We can make it so he never existed. The peasants will forget about him eventually and then you and I will be the only ones they remember."

Guy shook his head. He knew better now. He knew a lot better. "You do not understand. Robin Hood's name will not be so easily erased from the earth. The people of Nottingham loved him from the serfs to the lords. And his name is even known here in France."

Oh, thought the sheriff sadly, and I thought I was the only one with that kind of reputation.

While Guy was watching the sheriff the sheriff used this opportunity to escape from Guy's hold. But Guy drew his weapon against the sheriff and still blocked his path. Though Guy tried to seem fierce and defiant, his action only made the sheriff cackle.

"You don't expect to use that against me?"

Guy did not answer.

"This would be so much easier if you killed her! What is stopping you? The fact that she always loved Hood and not you? The fact that she was engaged to Hood and not to you? The fact that you probably frighten her while Hood never did such a thing? Guy, you are a monster, you must accept that. No one ever changes. People do not suddenly become good once they have been evil for so long, and you must believe that. I understand you Guy, but she never will. What do you say?"

What did Guy say? He thought about what the sheriff said. Marian did not love him. Marian had been Robin's fiancé and was never truly Gisborne's. Marian called out another man's name while they were having sex. Marian might be his wife by marriage, but she would not be his wife in her heart. And that fueled Guy with anger and passionate rage.

That kind of fire that burnt in Guy's belly could have destroyed an entire village. That kind of rage that writhed in Guy's heart could have murdered entire families. And the sheriff had offered Guy a way out of his pain and misery. All he had to do was kill someone. And Guy had killed many someones so it should not be so difficult for him to kill another.

All he had to do was open that door on the far right and walk in. Without even talking to her he could just stick his sword into her belly and watch her fall to the ground. When her body hit the floor his pain would be gone and he would be free to return home. But suddenly, in his mind's eye, he heard a scream.

Another pair of ears had heard the fall of Marian. Clara was crying in her crib. Guy went over to Clara and saw her staring up at him. But her eyes were not full of shimmering light when she stared at her father. They were filled with hatred and grief at her lost mother and at her equally lost father.

You do not love me, she whispered. You lied to me.

Guy was jolted to reality. He continued to point his sword at the sheriff.

"No!" Guy bellowed. "I will not murder her!"

Vasey yelled back. "Why not?!"

"Because I love her!"

"Then," said Vasey, "you leave me no choice! Edward! Now!"

Suddenly, before Marian could open the door and warn Guy, before Guy could understand what was going on, Edward Mann snuck out of his hiding place and walked in the front door. His sword was out and pointed directly at Guy's belly. Guy looked with curiosity at the intruder.

He certainly remembered the man's face. Guy remembered the dark eyes and the features well, but he could not place a name on the familiar face.

Edward looked at the man who had murdered his family. He smiled at the killer. "You do not remember me Guy of Gisborne?"

Guy shook his head. "This is not your fight. Leave before I kill you."

Edward smirked. "No. No. I don't think so."

Vasey put his hands on Edward's shoulders. "Guy, let me introduce to you, my new right hand man, my new lieutenant, Sir Edward Mann."

Guy knew that name very well. And the recognition was clearly written on his face as he stared at Edward, the son of the father he murdered, and the brother of the brothers he also murdered.

"I am your worst nightmare Gisborne," said Edward, "and I shall be the last man you see in this life."

OOOOOOH THings are starting to heat up a bit!!!! Marian probably should have dealt with edward while she had the chance...ah chances come and gone but can she save guy from this mess? and where are those bloody outlaws????!!!! im almost positve they are in the next chapter so keep reading reviewing and enjoying love you all