Apologies for the long absense but I had a death in my close family and have had to play catch up at work and school. Thank you to those who continued to read and especially to those who respond or add this little story to their lists. I do not own any BBC characters - only my own creations.

Gene looked out into the night. Tom's calls for his men to stand down had been met with silence. A lump in the back of her throat was forming. If Guy was dead, then her problems would be more than simply getting her heart broken. She still held her blade close to Tom's throat. If Tom's band of soldiers had some how killed the father of her child, then all of them would pay and she might as well start with this one. Pregnant or not, Gene would slaughter them all if Gisborne was dead.

* * *

Guy had walked out into the darkness as planned. However, when he turned the corner out of sight of the cottage, his chance to skirt into the woods and double back was hindered by three figures blades already drawn. Gisborne's own sword was at the ready as he fended off their attack. While decidedly amateur, each of the three fought with energy. To Guy this did not seem like hired hitmen given a job to do. No, this fight was personal.

Gisborne was easily able to disarm slowest one and knock him to the ground. This seemed to renew the energy of the other two. But, as the two closed in to pin Guy between them, Guy grabbed hold of them and knocked their heads together. The two fell into one lump on the ground. Guy went back to the first man, yanked him to his feet, and pulled his hood down to reveal the face of his attacker, "Sweet Jesu! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Nothin' worse than you did to that poor gel. M'lady Gene pulled you out of the pit of despair she did and all you did to repay her was to sadden her heart so much that she killed herself." Sally, Gisborne's head maid at Locksley, stood proud and freed herself from Guy's grasp.

"Who else is with you?" Guy grabbed the other two to expose William, who was one of Guy's stable boys at Locksley, and the choirboy. Both had witnessed Gene's prowess with a gun in the church in Nottingham when she dispatched Vasey and wounded Guy.

"What is this about?"

William stood up as tall as he could, "It's your fault that she's dead. How could you turn your back on someone you were so desperate to help? We rode like fire from Locksley to Nottingham when you thought she was in trouble and then you abandon her? No, you and your new hussy must both pay the price for your betrayal of that good Lady."

Suddenly a series of thumps and scrapings came from the cottage. Guy looked up in alarm.

The blonde choirboy spoke, "That's why Tom is dealing with her now. I think you'll remember Tom. He's the one you sent to talk to Hood when you cared about whether Lady Gene lived or died. He won't show you new bit any pity I promise you."

The realization fell on Gisborne taking the wind out of his lungs as if he had been physically hit, "Fools! You fucking fools! That is Genevieve in that house! She's alive. We're keeping it secret to protect her from King John."

The two boys gawked but Sally eyed Guy warily.

Then Tom called out from the cottage, "It's alright, lads. Stop your mission. That's an order!"

Guy froze in his tracks. "Why did he call and not Gene?"

Gisborne roughly pulled Sally to him and held his sword to her throat. "You lads will walk in front of us. We are walking up to the cottage. If you so much as try to run, Sally will get to die very slowly." Guy thought to himself, 'If Gene is dead, you will all discover true pain before you die.'

They made their way up to the cottage in the low light of the half moon. The door was open and only Tom was visible in the doorway. Tom felt the point of Gene's blade dig into the back of his neck as Gene took her position directly behind him. "Lads, stop where you are. Lady Gene is alive. She's here and is holding a blade to my neck. She wants to know about Gisborne."

Gisborne's heart leapt at Tom's words but he leaned down and whispered in Sally's ear how to respond. He tightened his grip on his blade as Sally spoke. "Gisborne is here and unharmed. He wants to hear m'lady's voice before we come any further."

"Alright, Gisborne?" Gene called from the cottage.

Gisborne let out a sigh, "Yes, love. Never better."

Relief spilled into Gene as she heard Gisborne's voice. "Bring your lot into the cottage slowly, Guy. I've got some questions for them."

"As do I." Guy growled as he signaled the lads and Sally to move forward. As they entered the cottage, Gene had already maneuvered Tom into a seated position on the floor; her blade clearly visible as she held it to his Adam's apple.

Guy ordered his group to get in the same position as Tom. "Sit down on the floor and put your arms above your head." As the three complied with his orders, Gene moved away from Tom in order to see who the rest of the company were. But before Gene could evaluate the situation, Guy captured Gene in a kiss that reassured him that all was well with her. He broke away and held Gene's gaze then glanced down to her belly. Gene's nod was all he needed to know that the child was safe too.

Their exchange was not unnoticed by Sally while the young men were more taken with the passion of the kiss. The four looked on with mixed emotions – some in awe the others in disbelief. The choirboy, the youngest of the group, was the first to break the silence, "I saw you die. That day when you jumped from the castle because of Sir Guy. But you live! A miracle – truly." With his mop of blonde hair and dark blue eyes, the boy looked at Gene in wonder.

Gene turned to face the lad and knelt down eye level to him, "I remember you from the church. You were there when I killed Vasey. As for my own 'death', everyone saw what I wanted them to see – even Sir Guy. There may be miracles in this world, but what you saw was misdirection and assumption. Besides, why do you care about whether or not I live or die? You don't know me. I'm just a killer to you."

"But Lady, you also have the gift of music and life. No one who could play that music in the church like you did could be evil. And, when they shut me out of the pub where you took Sir Guy, I found my way into the cellar and watched you from the cracks in the floorboards. I saw you save him. I couldn't stand the thought of this ungrateful man causing the death of an angel and not paying the price for it."

"Hmm, lad, if there's one thing I'm NOT, that's an angel," Gene turned her attention from the youngest to the oldest, "Now, Sally, what in the world were you thinking?"

Sally looked at Gene unblinking and unashamed, "Lady Genevieve, after all you did to bring that man," Sally looked up in disgust at Guy, "out of his depression and darkness, I couldna stand the thought of how he'd repaid you." Sally reached out her hand and stroked Gene's cheek. "You remind me so much of my own daughter. She didna have any luck with men either. She died before I had the courage to help her. Your death was so sudden that I couldn't control my rage. I would have gone to any lengths to see justice done by you, lass."

"A noble thought, Sally, but you rushed in without knowing the full circumstances."

Guy could hold his tongue no longer, "That's right, you stupid lot. You would have killed what you had sworn to avenge."

Tom finally spoke up, "You don't have any right to chastise us. You two may be reconciled now, but I know that you virtually ordered Lady Gene's death yourself. We might have rushed in to this situation, but your temper could have cost you what you loved the most – for a second time. You condemned me for my inaction in not helping her escape from the cell, but your inconsistencies could have had the same effect."

Guy started to move toward Tom menacingly, but Gene stopped him by standing partly in front of Guy and placing her hand on his chest. Gene leaned in and whispered, "Love, there's no point in arguing about the past. Besides, this lot has come up with a solution to our problem."

Guy glanced down at Gene warily, "What problem?"

"What better protectors than those already willing to lay down their lives for me?"

Guy let her words sink in before rolling his eyes, "Gene, you cannot be serious. They were rubbish fighters – completely amateur."

"Who better to teach them how to fight than you and me?"

"Let's get this straight. You want to teach this lot how to fight in order to be your protectors?"

"Yes! They've proven their loyalty already. Their training will give me something to do to keep from going stir crazy. Plus, more hands on the farm will make the cover seem more real. Besides, I'm sure Sally has had experience with babies. It would be good to have her here. This is my first time going through a pregnancy. All my knowledge is academic. I need someone with practical skills."

"You really want to do this?"

"Are you trying to get me to say 'please'?"

"No, of course not."

"Good. Because I wasn't going to anyway. I think I'll let you tell them the good news." Gene stepped away from Guy and let him take centre stage.

Guy looked at all four of them with a grim expression. "Now I've had to decide what to do with you lot. You've attacked the lord of the manor on his very lands, and you've attacked an innocent young woman without cause. I could very easily take you all up to Nottingham, bring you before the Sheriff, and ask for you to hang. But, I am going to be lenient. You showed a true loyalty to the woman I love. So, if you choose, you may stay here to be Lady Gene's protectors. You will learn from both of us the art of fighting and swordplay. At the same time you will work as farm hands in order to keep up the cover that this is a working farm. You will earn your keep by working the land and protecting my lady. If any of you decline this generous offer, let me know now. And if any of you every betray my lady, I will promise that you will beg for death before I am done with you."

The youngest lad looked puzzled, "So we can stay here, work on the farm, learn to fight, and protect m'lady? How is this a punishment?" His bright eyes gleamed at the thought of it.

Gene continued the conversation, "You will not be able to go home. You will have to leave your parents, and I will have to write them to let them know that you have a job now. So boy, what is your name?"

"Adam Carter, m'lady. My parents are dead. I was on the streets before the church took me in because I could sing so well. They wanted me to become a monk or a castrato, but I didn't want to do either."

"Well, Adam Carter, you've got a brand new cross to bear now."

"Thank you m'lady." Gene looked at him with a slight frown. "And thank you, Sir Guy." Gene half-smiled her approval to Adam who grinned across his entire face.

Guy just nodded and looked to the others.

"Of course I'll do it. Someone has to look after our gel," Sally still looked at Guy with a sense of distrust.

"What about you, William?" Gene paused, "What is your surname anyway?"

"Lee, m'lady, William Lee. And I will glad to learn from you both."

"Good lad, William." Gene turned to look at Tom who was still at odds with himself and his choices.

Before she could address Tom, Guy chimed in gruffly. "Well, Tom Quinn, what is it to be?"

Tom looked at Gene then said decidedly, "I'm in."