In the middle of the night, Robin tossed about on his bunk, tormented by his recurring nightmare. But this time his dream was worse than ever before. This time in his dream, Gisbourne not only stabbed him and tried to kill the king, he tried to kill Marian.

Marian awoke, sensing that Robin needed her. She climbed from her bunk and went to kneel beside him, then lightly stroked his bangs back from his forehead. She once had calmed Much suffering from a bad dream by softly singing a childhood lullaby, so she did so again as softly as she could, in Robin's ear.

Robin's eyes popped open and he breathed heavily, trying to shake off his nightmarish thoughts.

"It's alright," Marian told him, soothingly. "You saved my life by killing that priest. You are a good man, Robin."

"Climb in," he invited, pulling his blanket back.

"There isn't room."

"I thought you liked narrow beds."

She giggled softly. "Not this narrow. And Robin, your gang!"

"They're all asleep. I only want a kiss and a cuddle."

There wasn't room for two on his narrow bunk, so she stretched out on top of him. His kisses were very warm, his mood playful as he tried to banish the terrible, tragic place his mind had taken him. He pressed one hand into the small of her back, drawing her ever closer to him, while his other hand cupped and caressed a breast, his thumb circling rings over its nobbed center through the cloth of her gown.

"Ooh!" Marian pulled herself away. "Locksley! That's a bit more than a cuddle!"

"I'm sorry. I thought you liked it."

"When we're alone! Besides, I'm tender there tonight."

"Sorry." He guessed it must be that mysterious time women had to endure once a month, and thought how odd it was that he should know it, from here on out. None of his gang even knew when Djaq went through it, living in such close quarters. It only made him feel more gently loving toward Marian.

"Come back, my love," he wheedled, wearing his most irresistible grin. "I promise to be good."

"You had better be," she warned him, teasingly. She lay back on top of him again. "Are you sure you're comfortable?"

"Couldn't be better. Aren't you?"

"Hardly."

"Then kiss me again and I'll make you forget."

That's what he needed, she realized...to forget his dream. And so, she kissed him as he desired, and surprisingly, she stopped minding how uncomfortable she was.

Snuggling against him with her chin on his chest, she gazed into his handsome face while their hands stroked one another's. She could feel his heartbeats and loved the feel of his firm hard body under hers, and the way he was looking at her so lovingly.

She really longed to tell him about their baby, and had to force herself not to. But she couldn't resist hinting. "I have something special for you, for your birthday," she whispered.

"As long as I'm good?"

"Maybe even if you're not. But I do need to tell you something you won't like first."

"And spoil this moment? Alright, what is it?"

"I can't stay, not yet. I need to return to the castle. I hope you understand."

He could not shake off his nightmare. "Don't go back to Gisbourne, Marian!"

"Gisbourne? Of course not! I'm returning to the castle to help you. The sheriff's Shah Mat plan is escalating. I need to help you save England. I'm perfectly safe, now that the priest is dead. Trust me, Robin."

"I do trust you. I just don't trust Gisbourne."

"I don't trust him, either, but I can handle him. Does that help, at all?"

He couldn't make her understand, not without admitting his fears. "I've been thinking," he told her, changing the subject. "Why seek out a priest to marry us, when we can travel to another county and be married by a trusted friend?"

"Such as?"

"The Earl of Leicester. Much and I fought beside him in the Holy Land, and I've known him for years. He's home for a brief time, rounding up more troops for the king."

"Something King Richard asked you to do. Robin, that can't be good news for us. It must mean the king has no immediate plans to come home."

"Another reason for me to contact Leicester. I can convince him that England needs Richard here, and with both of us pleading the case..."

"I hope so! But asking the earl to marry us is a wonderful idea, as long as it's legal. Is it? We don't live under his jurisdiction."

"John of York and Beatrice didn't live under mine, and I married them. So, assuming it is legal, how soon can you be ready to take a little trip with me, about twenty-five miles south?"

"Any time! But who will give me away?"

It wasn't going to be that kind of wedding, Robin thought. But this was the second time she'd asked him that question, so he knew it was important to her, with her father gone. Originally he had suggested the king, but that option seemed impossible now. He almost hated to suggest his new idea, wanting to honor her the best way feasible, but it was the only one he had. "What about John?" he asked, almost timidly.

"Prince John?" she asked, reproachfully.

"No, Little John. I know he's not of the nobility, Marian, but he's..."

"He's perfect," she assured him. "Your gang...I've been doing some thinking myself, Robin. I love you. You took men who were...well, men and a woman, who were damaged...solid underneath but shattered in some sense, and turned them into the bravest, most noble fighters in all of England. I would be honored if Little John were to give me away."

"I love you, Marian. I want to truly be your husband."

"Kiss me, and then I need to go back to my own bunk I think. We both need some sleep."

"Stay here, my love. Maybe the magic will come back."

"It will, some other time. But Robin, I need to sleep. I promised Much I'd mend your cape in the morning."

"You don't need to, Marian. Much can do it."

"I want to. Please, Robin. My sewing's improved. I'm really quite good at it now."

She thought about his birthday, and how she would surprise him. She would begin sewing some clothing for the baby, a few shirts, a baby bonnet, things he would need. And then, on Robin's birthday, rather than saying anything straight out, she would present the items, and watch his reaction. Her idea excited her, but not as much as his plan to travel to Leicester, to become man and wife at last.

"Goodnight, my love," Robin told her.

She answered with a sigh, partly filled with longing but mostly with contentment, then returned to her bunk.