Returning home and finding his family in the yard behind their house, Robin felt a tremendous weight lift off him.
Moonlight, the family's grey kitten, greeted him by purring and rubbing against his boots. His daughters raced to him, hugged his legs, then hopped up and down with excitement, as if it had been days rather than hours since they'd seen him. And best of all, Marian smiled and held his gaze, her beautiful eyes shining with love.
Her beauty moved him and made him feel the world a fresh, new, wonderful place. But it was more than her beauty. Her heart, her soul, her mind, her very essence restored peace, filling him with love and hope and happiness.
The little girls trotted away to play together under a tree.
"How is Sister Mary Claire?" Robin asked his wife, settling to place a kiss on her cheek when he preferred to kiss her lips, because the girls' nurse was watching.
"She's fine. Djaq told me you found Isabella."
"Will and I took her to the sheriff."
"Good."
"Not so good, I'm afraid."
"Why?"
"He took her side. He's fooled by her, Marian. He thinks she's an actual nun, intent on doing charitable works." He paused, then delivered Isabella's insult. "She calls herself 'Sister Marian Isabella.' "
Marian's mouth formed an "O," and her eyes stared at him in angry amazement. Then, recovering, she uttered a short laugh and rolled her eyes. "That's the least of her crimes," she decided. "Come see what I've been teaching Ellie."
Marian joined the girls but Robin was stopped by the nurse. "Excuse me, Sir," she said. "You need to stop Her Ladyship. She is doing things she mustn't, in her..." She cleared her throat before continuing. "Her...interesting condition."
Robin couldn't help being amused by the nurse's obvious embarrassment. "Thank you for your concern," he said, unable to hide a grin, "but my wife can look out for herself."
"But she's teaching the children unladylike behavior!"
"She's teaching them to defend themselves?" Robin had guessed easily, having discussed teaching the children self defense before with Marian. Both felt it would help Ellen overcome her fear, but they had agreed she was too young and small to begin. "I'm sure, whatever my wife does, cannot be 'unladylike,' " he told the nurse.
He was doubly curious now to see what Marian had taught Ellen. Rejoining his family, he watched with interest.
"Watch me, Daddy," Ellen called proudly.
Marian lifted Ellen onto a low hanging branch of the tree. Ellen swatted down on her haunches. Then, with Marian ready to catch her should she make a mistake, Ellen flipped backwards off the tree, landing on her feet.
Robin was delighted and proud.
"It takes the bad ones by surprise," Ellen explained.
"If it isn't the Night Watchman!" Robin said, his smile radiant.
"Me, me!" Grace called, and Marian lifted Grace onto the branch, but didn't let go of her, flipping her down to the ground while holding her round little body.
"Now, Daddy," Ellen said, all excited, "you be the Black Man, I mean Black Guy. Mama showed me where to hit him with my head, as hard as I can."
Robin laughed, then said, "I think I'll pass on that, Boo. I have no desire to be Gisbourne. But I'm glad you know how to protect yourself. How would you like me to teach you to shoot?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Good. You'll need a bow and arrows, just your size. And now, seeing as it's such a fine day, I suggest we take a picnic to the top of the OW!"
Looking down, Robin discovered that Grace had rammed her head against his shin.
"Bad Black Guy," Grace said, rubbing her forehead with her hand.
"I knew something bad would come of this," the nurse muttered under her breath.
Grinning, Robin scooped Grace up in his arms. "You little handful," he laughed. "Let there be no mistake. I am not the Black Guy. For one thing, I'm far better looking."
"Some might disagree," Marian teased him.
Robin placed Grace on the ground and playfully seized Marian around her waist. "What about you?" he asked. "Admit I'm handsomer."
"If I do, will you let me go?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then I won't."
They held each other smiling, longing to share a kiss.
"Excuse me, Master," the nurse interrupted. "It is time the children ate, and Grace will need her nap after the meal."
"And we're going on a picnic!" Ellen reminded them.
"I'll see to it," Marian said, giving Robin's cheek a kiss before heading to the kitchen, where she ordered a picnic lunch be packed. In very little time, the family was climbing the hill overlooking Locksley to enjoy their mid-day meal outdoors.
"It's good of you to do this," Marian told her husband, as he carried the knapsack packed with last night's leftover cold chicken, bread, and apple slices. Both of them carried water in their flasks. "Considering how many meals you've had to eat, out of doors."
"Who doesn't like a picnic, on such a day as this?" Robin asked. They reached the hilltop. "And, with such a view!" Placing the knapsack on the ground, he stood behind Marian with his arms around her waist, both of them looking down on their village.
"Locksley is lovely," Marian said with a contented sigh.
"Yes, Lady Locksley is," Robin said quietly, smiling at Marian.
She turned and faced him, her eyes sparkling. He loved the way she smiled and dropped her eyes, then looked back up at him, having never lost her pretty, maidenly ways. His heart thumped harder, and he loved the feeling of being in love with her, which never left him.
The family picnic was a happy one, but it became exciting when the wind changed and a storm suddenly blew in from the west. The sky grew ominously dark and the wind blew hard. Quickly, Robin and Marian packed the remaining food into the knapsack. Robin threw it over his shoulder then gathered up both little girls under his arms for the trek down the hill. A loud clap of thunder startled the children, and rain began to fall.
Marian and Robin couldn't help but enjoy the adventure of the rainstorm, knowing their little girls were safe. And because they enjoyed it, the children did as well.
"Boom!" Grace called back to the thunder.
"I hope Moonlight's alright," Ellen worried.
"She's probably under your bed, safe and dry," Marian assured her.
They made it to the bottom of the hill then ran through Locksley and into their house, where dry clothes awaited them.
Both Ellen and Grace took naps that afternoon, and Robin sat by the fire with Marian on his lap, talking quietly and kissing one another, enjoying the comfort of being warm and dry and together, while outside the storm raged.