Just a little author's note. In this chapter, a few parts might be easier to understand if you've seen the DVD of the movie with the deleted scenes (it's just for one part). If you haven't, or get confused, just tell me in your review and I will be happy to explain what transpired in the movie. Thanks, and sorry for the long stretch between updates. And on with the story!

"Look at that!" Stephen whistled. Scarlett glanced up, and stared.

"Who is she?" Will asked, stricken dumb at the most enchanting vision he had ever seen.

"She's Lady Marian, the king's cousin."

"The King's cousin?" another echoed.

"Way to go, Robin!" chuckles followed that observation.

She followed Robin as he showed off the camp, smiling at the people and the magnificent accomplishments of the village. But Scarlett could see that she mainly smiled at Locksley.

"And this is Giles, Stephen, and Will Scarlett."

"So this is the other infamous outlaw. I must say I've heard a great deal about you."

The surprise showed on his face. From who? Robin? No way!

"The rumors about your escapade with Miss Ellen are just flying around. You are the terror of every noblewoman in the country. Why, I even got a letter from my mother at court warning me about you and your murderous antics."

"I think these rumors have been a little mistaken. Miss Ellen almost got me killed."

"Just like someone else we know, right?" Robin inquired sarcastically.

Marian scoffed. "You were stealing my horses." They walked away, playfully bickering about their first adventure together. Will grumbled to himself about the judgment of women, for fawning over somebody like Locksley.

Later that night, the celebration was in full swing. Everywhere people were dancing and the few women were danced senseless by the many eager young men. Panting, Will retired from the festivities to cool down. It was all very innocent, he just accidentally happened to come across the perfect spot to eavesdrop on the conversation of two young lovers. Perfectly innocent.

"How is it that a once arrogant young nobleman has found contentment living rough with the salt of the earth?" Ooh, interesting question.

"I've seen knights in armor panic at the first hymns of battle. And I've seen the lowliest, unarmed squire pull a spear from his own body, to defend a dying horse," Robin spoke quietly and passionately. "Nobility is not a birthright; it's defined by ones actions."

"It's interesting to hear you say that."

"I didn't. My father did."

Will barely heard the last two sentences as he stumbled away. His mind was reeling, for that statement had sent his mind far back, to a memory he never like to remember.

"Come on Avery, hurry up!" Will called to his friend. They were almost at the castle wall now. He couldn't wait to see the place. His mother whined and complained about it, but she always mentioned how beautiful the castle was. Of course, she would never allow him to be here. No, she'd skin him alive if she found out. But Will had to visit this place. He was fascinated by it. Secretly, he daydreamed on and on about how he would ride up to the castle, push down the gates and demand everyone listen to him. He knew that his brother just didn't really like his mother, and he had no idea at all about Will, so once Robin saw Will he would instantly apologize and welcome him into his home. It was always his brother that would do this, not his father. He didn't think about his father that much. In his mind, his father should have loved his mother and it was obvious that he didn't so he just wasn't worth thinking about. He disliked his father, and in his dreams his brother would banish the father forever off their lands. After that, he just didn't think about his father very much.

But he thought about his brother. They would ride around and play together, just like two brothers should do, and Robin would always tease Will about being "his little tag-along." Will knew his brother would like him if he knew who he was. He just knew it. Of course, his mother had forbidden him to tell anyone the truth and that included, especially included, his father and brother. "We do not need their charity or their pity," she would spat. "Not after what they've done to us," and Will would always nod and agree. But a kid could dream couldn't he?

"You know, your mother will kill you for this."

"If she finds out," he shot back. He pushed his dirty blonde hair out of his face. "Now come on, help me with this." Will jumped, trying to find a handhold on the great wall. Avery reached down, lacing his fingers. Will put his foot in the hold, and Avery boosted him farther up the wall. Will managed to grab a handhold around one of the jutting stones. He freed his foot from his friend's grasp and scrambled up, pushing off the wall with his feet. He reached out with his right hand and felt the top of the wall. Quickly he pulled himself up. There on the other side, stood Locksley manor.

"Will. Will, help me up." Avery called out after his friend had stayed up there for several minutes, transfixed.

"What—oh, here." Will hung off the wall with one arm and reached for his friend with the other. Soon, Avery was alongside him.

"Wow, look at that castle!"

"Look at those horses," Will replied, gesturing towards the stables. He twisted his body until he was sitting on the wall, his legs kicking the inside of the wall now. The castle was huge! The grounds were huge! All the stables and horses and food and servants! Will stood up on the wall to get a fuller view.

"Look at the place—"

"Hey, what are you doing up there?" The old man yelled. Will jumped at the unexpected voice, and his feet scraped the edge of the wall as he tried to land. His momentum threw him forward and he desperately flapped his arms to balance himself but it was useless. He fell gracelessly to the ground inside Locksley manor.

"What do you kids think you are doing?" the old man pulled the startled kid up by the scruff of his collar. "Hey you up there, get down here now!"

The black-haired boy took a second to study the situation before he jumped to the ground (on the other side) and ran as far away as possible. Will didn't blame him one bit, but now he was stuck alone with one grumpy old man.

"I wish Master Robin was here, he'd know just how to take care of you. Lucky fer you, he's out with his friends, so—" the old man trailed off as the gates were swung open.

"What is going on here Duncan?" Robin asked in amusement as he and Peter rode through the gates. Peter was clutching the arm of a struggling Avery who was forced to walk alongside Peter's horse. They strolled over and Avery's arm was released. He quickly went and stood next to his friend.

"These boys were climbing your walls, sire. They should be punished for trespassing on your property."

"We didn't mean any harm, we only wanted to see it." Avery blurted in defense.

"Only wanted to see it," Peter scoffed.

"Now, be fair, Peter. Lord knows this place can seem like heaven to some worthless street rats. I'm sure they heard of its beauty and wanted to enrich their lives by seeing it." He and Peter laughed at his joke. Will felt the first stirrings of anger.

"Actually, we heard what a dung heap this was, and we wanted to see what kind of maggots would want to live here."

Locksley face grew red and he struck out with his boot, connecting directly under the boy's chin. Will's head snapped back, and for the second time, he fell gracelessly to the ground. As soon as he was able, he sprang back to his feet, determined not to show weakness.

"What is going on here?" a thunderous voice boomed out.

"Nothing, Father," Robin answered, a frosty tone entering his voice as he spoke to the lord of the manor, his father.

Lord Locksley surveyed the scene, his hawk eyes noting everything and surmising what had just transpired. Will's own eyes narrowed at the sight of the man.

"Peter go home."

"Yes sir," he replied, not wishing to be around when Locksley was in one of his moods, and quickly galloped out the open gate and went home.

"You struck him, didn't you Robin, a poor, defenseless boy?"

"That's truly typical, Father, walk in and blame me for—"

"Answer me," he roared.

"Yes, I struck him, but he deserved it. He's just some beggar, trespassing on our land."

"You are a noble, Robin. Your job is to protect and defend these people, not bully them into submission. If he needed money, you should be the first to give it to him."

"I don't want your" Will heatedly began, but Lord Locksley continued on, drowning him out.

"Apologize."

"No."

"Apologize."

"He's village scum, Father, just here to beg for some money and I'm not going to disgrace myself by apologizing to this lowlife."

"When will you learn, boy? Nobility is not a birthright. It's defined by one's actions."

"What does that make you, Father?" Robin asked, his voice full of anger.

"A Celt?" Will supplied, his own anger at the Lord Locksley bubbling over.

Robin snorted. "Good one, kid. But all right, Father, I'll do what you want." He dug into his saddlebag and grabbed a small bag. "Here you go, boy, now both of you get out." He tossed the purse on the ground at Will's feet.

Will picked it up, feeling the weight of the coins, but he heard the words of his mother and he felt her anger well up inside him.

"I don't want your filthy money." He threw the purse into the young Locksley's face, and then he and Avery dashed away and out the still open gate and raced home.

Will's cheeks burned at the memory. He had been a stupid kid full of dreams of adventure and excitement alongside his brother. That incident had jolted him into the harsh reality of life. His father and brother were not like his dreams. He remembered every single insult they said of him. Street rat, lowlife, scum, beggar and especially his father's answer, give him money. He didn't need their charity or pity. No, his family had not been like his dreams.

But Locksley had sounded so sincere back there. Could he have changed so completely that he would repeat something his father had said? Was that possible?

"Hey, Azeem," Will sidled alongside the older man. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, I just remembered what prejudice was like," Azeem responded, mulling over the Friar's actions, which Will had missed. "Since I met Christian, I had forgotten."

"Father! Father! She's dying!" Wulf screamed through the crowd.

"Fanny," Will breathed as Azeem fled into the crowd. Will followed behind, but when Azeem entered the home, he hung back. He knew he would be of no help, just another person to try to do something and just end up in the way. All he could do was stand there as Robin, Marian, Azeem, Friar Tuck, and John tended to her. He had never been more frightened in his entire life.

Angry voices rose from the house, and then John and Marian rushed out.

"What's happ—" Will tried to ask but John and Marian were too busy gathering things to even register someone was talking to them, and soon they were back inside the house. A few minutes later, and John and the Friar left the house, the Friar sitting down and John just pacing back and forth. Scarlett walked forward to see if he could hear any news of Fanny.

"The barbarian's killing her John."

The barbarian…Azeem! What was he doing?

Wulf walked out, but he stood in front of the door. John heard his wife's screams of agony and he lost control. He lunged for the door, while Wulf tried to hold his ground against his father. But Wulf was a scrawny kid, and John was a brute on a rampage. It was a losing battle.

"What are you doing John?" Will grabbed the giant and pulled him away from Wulf and the entrance.

"Get off of me Scarlett!" John yelled once he realized who had pulled him away, but by this time Will had stepped in front of him, blocking him from the door.

"He's killing her!" the Friar yelled to John, who screamed something unintelligible. Will dug his feet into the ground as he forced the raging husband an arm's length away.

"Do you trust Robin?" Will pleaded as soon as he could get a word in, hoping to stop the man's struggle before he was overpowered.

"What in bloody hell has that got to do with anything?"

"If you trust Robin, you should trust whom he trusts! And Robin trusts Azeem!" he screamed passionately at the crazed man. "You should too," he added quietly.

John blinked for a few seconds, and his senses started to come back to him. He quit struggling, and Will slowly relaxed his grip. Now the older man had no mission, no purpose, left only to worry, and he dropped exhausted to the ground, his eyes boring holes in to the doorframe, listening to his wife's painful cries. Will gestured to Wulf who quickly knelt beside his father. Scarlett relaxed a little bit more, but he stood nearby, continuously guarding the home, and Fanny's only hope for survival.

They waited for what seemed hours, but then a cry came, loud and wailing, a baby's cry. The crude door swung out and Marian stepped into the night.

John looked up, fear in his eyes. "Fanny—"

"—is fine," Marian assured him.

"John," Fanny called, and that was all the encouragement he needed as he flew into his house.

"Boy or girl?" Will asked softly as Marian started back inside. She smiled and her face glowed in the moonlight.

"A boy," she answered and disappeared.

A boy. Fanny had been wrong, it wasn't a girl. Fanny was alive! The child was alive! Now he didn't know what to do. What was the etiquette when someone had a baby? Do you just congratulate them, or do you give them gifts? Do you say I'm glad you're not dead?Or do you give them their privacy for a while? He saw some flowers (that seemed like a happy medium) but they were ones Fanny despised, too frilly and unpractical. But in Will's mind he saw that angelic smile and he gently pulled one up. He would find some others for Fanny later.

She was outside again, breathing deeply her flushed cheeks cooling from the night air; a piece of heaven amidst the rubbish of the earth.

"May I have this dance?" he held out the flower and she smiled; Will's heart leapt. But then Robin swooped in and snatched her away, both of them laughing and smiling as he twirled her around and around Sherwood forest. Will just watched them in silence.