Safely sheltered within the hospitable walls of Bonchurch Lodge, Seth sat beside his mother Annie, confused and avoiding her eyes shining upon him.

Eve bustled about her home, graciously making Allan's family feel welcome, and listened in silence while Allan and Much plyed the boy with comments and questions.

"So, Auntie Isabella claims she's your mum. Not bein' funny, but there's a reason her name starts off with a 'hiss.' "

"I don't understand," Seth said.

"She's a snake, young royal pretender," Much explained, proud he himself understood Allan's joke.

Eve shot her husband a gentle reproving look. "Be kind," she whispered to the kindest hearted man in the room. "He's had a hard time." Much nodded, smiling.

"Well, you're safe with us now," Annie sighed, completely happy again.

Allan fingered the rich black cloth on Seth's doublet. "I say we need to find you some new clothes. Seeing you all decked out in black gives me the willies."

Seth looked at all their smiling faces. They didn't realize it, but he was not pleased to be back with them. Until tonight, he had been spoiled and pampered by his beautiful aunt and the King of England himself! Seth's every whim and desire had been catered to. And so, although he had missed his family, he really believed he preferred to return to the castle. Why should he give up his glorious future as Prince of the Realm? For that is what King John had promised him.

His aunt had convinced him there was no harm pretending she was really his mother, for it made the king happy. Seth would gain everything he could ever want, and the wealth, power, and position of the Gisbournes would be restored. She had even explained that his mother and stepfather would never understand, but should be glad to see him so happy.

Seth snuggled up against Annie's side, content for now to be close to his pretty mother once again. They'd sleep comfortably at Bonchurch tonight, but come morning, before anyone else arose, Seth would find his way back to Nottingham Castle. As his aunt had told him, it was his duty as a Gisbourne.

...

In the middle of the night, Marian lay tossing and turning on her daughters' bed. Cramped, lying uncomfortably between her two precious little girls, she lay listening to their gentle steady breathing and watched their sweet faces as they slept.

Marian had missed them so much while she had been away. She felt she ought to be happy to be so near to them once more, but she did not feel glad.

The argument she had had with Robin was eating away at her. Even though she felt it had been entirely his fault, she missed his presence beside her in bed, and was utterely miserable over their anamosity.

Rolling over onto her other side, she stared at the door. This was ridiculous! She missed Robin and longed to make up and be close to him again. Unable to stand it any longer, she climbed out of bed and hurried into the hallway. Now, which of the spare rooms had he chosen to spend the night?

Before she could hazard a guess, she noticed candlelight coming from the floor below. Of course! Robin must be awake in his office, no doubt struggling over his hated ledgers. Her heart gave a little leap in her chest.

Quickly descending the stairs, she did indeed find him at his desk, his face in the candlelight a study of frustrated puzzlement, one hand raking through his hair as if to pull it out by its roots.

Marian cleared her throat lightly and interrupted his thinking. "I have to admit, Robin, you are certainly responsible. I'm sure those books need your attention, but there aren't many lords who would crack them open their first night home."

He looked up, his smile betraying just how pleased he was to see her.

"Couldn't sleep," he confessed.

She smiled back. "Me neither."

He held out his arms and she rushed forward and climbed onto his lap. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?" he asked, smiling appealingly into her sparkling eyes.

"Almost."

"But not entirely? Good. I like the idea of having to change your mind."

At first, they continued smiling into each other's faces, but smiles soon turned into tentative kisses, and tentative ones quickly grew heated.

"Let's promise never to fight again," Marian murmured, between kisses.

"Hmm, never."

"And never to spend a night apart."

"Not if we can help it."

"We may still argue, of course."

"You're enjoying making up the rules."

He was laughing good naturedly at her with that remark, but she stopped his laughter with the intensity of her kiss.

The sparks from their argument served them well, and all was forgiven in the blaze of the tremendous fire they ignited.

...

Afterwards, they lay entwined together on the narrow bed in the room that had been Robin's before he became Lord Locksley. Moonlight illuminated the room, bathing everything in its soft glow. Marian was contentedly studying a fanciful tapestry hanging on the wall opposite the bed.

The tapestry had clearly been designed to please a child's imagination. It depicted a mighty tree, its branches filled with birds. A robin perched on the topmost branch of the tree...a wren was on the branch below.

"I always wondered why your mother put the wren below the robin," Marian mused.

"I told her to do it," Robin grinned, "since you were always so competitive, trying unsuccessfully to best me."

"Funny how someone as little as you could have had such a big head," she teased.

The marvelous tapestry continued to hold her attention. "I never can get over how exqusite her work was," Marian sighed. "I wish I could have known her better. Do you believe what people say...that our departed loved ones are watching over us from Heaven?"

"I certainly hope no one's been watching the last quarter hour!"

"Robin, be serious! Do you think our parents are in Heaven, taking care of Richard for us?"

He wasn't sure where her sentimentality was coming from, but he liked it all the same. It felt right, listening to her lovely voice muse about his mother in Heaven, as he fell asleep in the bed where his mother used to tuck him in at night.

He privately hoped it wouldn't be long until another little boy occupied this room.