AN: Though these events happen after my story "Where the wild roses grow" and after the episode "The Secret" Summerlee is still in the story, because I think he should still be in it.

Chapter 3: Not our farewell

«Now they know the whole story about me.» For some odd reason Marguerite felt relieved that her friends knew the other reason why she had funded the expedition. Xan and the oroborus weren't the only reasons and especially not the main reason. She would have gotten her birth certificate anyway.

Marguerite continued gathering her belongings. Right after she had told them, she had left and had gone to her own room, to get the things she wanted to keep and than leaving the treehouse.

She took a look in her jewelry box, which was still empty after her "meeting" with Locke, Olmac, or whatever his name was. Though there was a piece of paper in it. Marguerite smiled at the memory. Roxton had taken the paper and showed it after Locke and his friends had disappeared.

"You think I wanna be your wife? Lady Marguerite Roxton!? I wasn't thinking of you, I was thinking of your fortune!" was her response when he had shown her the little piece of paper with the words -Lady Marguerite Roxton- written on it. But he had been so right when he said that it was her most valuable treasure. And only God knew how much she wanted to be his wife, more than anything in the world. Only it was not meant to be.

Marguerite startled out of her thoughts when a low voice said: "Ahhh, there it is. I was wondering where it could be."

Marguerite continued gathering her things and tried to walk out of her room. But Roxton blocked the doorway.

"Roxton …"

"Marguerite …"

Marguerite got angry. "Let me go!"

"You can go, but your belongings are staying right were they are, namely here and I'm going with you! We need to talk."

There was not much Marguerite could do, but accept it. Though she knew he was right, she wasn't very happy about it. "Fine!" she snapped.

Roxton took Marguerite's belongings and placed them on her bed. Then he took her hands in his and let her follow him. After a ten minutes walk they came at a spring. "Remember this place?" Roxton looked pleading at the brunette woman in front of him. He saw her face soften a bit.

"Of course," Marguerite whispered. "The place where the wild roses grow." Then she turned around all of a sudden and looked Roxton in his eyes, tears forming in hers. She wanted him more than anything in the world, but that could never happen. All London society would be turned upside down when they heard that the famous Lord John Roxton, a relative of her Majesty, would get involved with someone like her.

Pulled out of her thoughts, she noticed Roxton's face was closer than it was first. Before she could say anything about it, she felt the soft touch of his lips on hers. A chill went through her spine. Soon they kissed each other passionately, not letting the other go.

Roxton slowly pulled Marguerite down with him, without breaking the kiss. In fact, he deepened the kiss even more. Marguerite's hands were tangled in his hair. This felt wonderful; she never wanted this moment to stop. But when Roxton's hands touched her breasts, she pulled back. Tears were in her eyes. She didn't have to say anything, Roxton understood. He pulled her close and gave her a hug; whispering that it was alright.

Marguerite looked into his eyes. She saw so much love in them, it was impossible. "You still care about me, after all I have said?" she whispered.

Roxton looked surprised. How could she use the word care after what just had happened between them. He was doubting whether he would tell her or not, he decided to do so. "Of course I still care about you Marguerite. I'll always care about you, because I love you!"

Marguerite's eyes widened. She looked in shock at Roxton, who was looking back at her a little embarrassed. He couldn't believe he actually just said that. But he had and he didn't regret telling her.

"What …" Marguerite started but she hadn't had the time to finish her sentence. All of a sudden men jumped out of the bushes and arrows were whistling through the air.

"At your right Marguerite!"

Marguerite quickly turned to her right and fired. After a while most of the men who had attacked them were dead or on the run.

"Everything okay with you?" Roxton asked concerned.

Marguerite nodded. Then her eyes widened in utter horror. "Roxton …!" But it was too late. None of them had seen the man who had hidden himself in the bushes, awaiting his chance.

Roxton stumbled on the ground, an arrow in his abdomen. Marguerite shot the attacker dead, than immediately ran to Roxton.

"Roxton! Roxton! Don't you dare dying on me, Lord John Roxton!" she sobbed.

°°°°°

"Did you hear that?" Summerlee asked. "Gunshots! They must be in trouble!"

No one hesitated. Quickly they gathered their guns and pistols and went into the direction the gunshots had come from.

"There must have been quite a fight," Veronica stated, pointing at all the dead bodies that surrounded the area.

Not long after that Malone found Marguerite, sitting on the ground with Roxton in her arms. He rushed to her. "Marguerite, what happened?" Then he saw the arrow.

The others had quickly followed Malone. It wasn't a pretty sight they saw. Veronica overlooked the situation.

"Challenger, Summerlee, take Marguerite with you back to the treehouse. I have to push the arrow through the wound."

"Wouldn't that cause more harm to it?" Summerlee asked.

"Pulling it back would cause more harm. Take a look at the arrows that surround the place."

Summerlee understood. Challenger and he walked to Marguerite, who was still holding Roxton.

"I'm staying!"

"Marguerite, I really have to take a look at that cut in your arm." Summerlee said. "And that has to happen in the treehouse. We haven't enough supplies. Malone and Veronica will take care of Roxton and carry him back."

"I'm staying!"

"Marguerite, go! Malone and I can take care of Roxton."

Marguerite looked at the blonde woman and then stood up. She started walking towards Challenger and Summerlee, but suddenly turned around and walked back to Roxton. She kneeled down, placed a soft kiss on his lips and whispered: "This is not our farewell. We aren't finished talking yet. Remember that Lord Roxton!"