Okay, I may have put this up a looooooonnnnnnnnnnnngggggggg, time ago. But thanks to a new review I feel like I have to finish this.

Christmass in July, anyone?

Christmas Day…

The town was in a joyous uproar! Singing ringed out as loud as church bells, and food was shared across homes as the people regained the means for their celebration. And though we had been able to complete our mission in secret, someone seems to have told every nearby soul just how gallant, brave, and heroic the Cooper Order has acted! Explaining why every citizen of the town flocked to the church just as we were about to leave. Twas really of no great burden, I suppose. The men needed rest and it is good for all of us to be reminded what we do is for the good of the people. A feast was even brought to the chapel in our honor. Father Heebleheart got to read his Christmas sermon after all, followed by a proper Christmas meal for all the Order. Among the company to the church, many young maidens in particular had come to offer thanks. A few recognized and conversed with Little John, as usual others did most of the talking. Hucklebee's attention was grabbed, quite literally, by a tailor's daughter whom he couldn't seem to stop smiling with. Galleth had no trouble commanding the entire attention of the room, leaving us to eat, drink and mingle to our heart's content.

For once I did not go off and shy away from the thanks. The wave of memories came back to me from times in Nottingham, when my family was alive, and good times even after that, many of them born from Christmas mornings in the forest and in the church house. While I sit to the side of the crowd remaining inside, a young cat in a green and white coat walked up to me. "Ah… um… Be you…Sir Robin Greensleeves?" she asked.

"I am." I smile and tell her.

The maiden blushes slightly. She holds out a goblet to me, "One of your comrades requested I bring you a drink."

Ah, she is so young! I look around to see which of my friends are responsible for sending her over, but all have their attention diverted elsewhere. "Then to you I give my thanks. May I have your name, mi'lady?"

With a hint of little bravery she says, "I am Camilla Catston, Sir Greensleeves." She then looked about us, as if to see who was close by. Then with a hushed voice to me she asked. "If I may be so bold, Sir? You bare the resemblance, of a hero my aunt in Nottingham spoke of. Are you…Robin Hood?"

I had been prepared for this question should it ever come up. In fact, no one outside Galleth's Order was meant to know this fact. But I would never have expected to be cornered by a young maiden in a church during Pentecost about this matter! Still I spoke calmly, "In essecnce, I suppose that is the best answer. I shoot an arrows and use my skills for the benefit of others, I give to the less fortunate and abused, and I do indeed where the color green. Though I suppose on that alone you could be Robin Hood yourself!"

The maiden laughed at my jest.

Now to cover my tracks. "I am like the legend you heard, my dear, because it is something to aspire to. Robin Hood should be many people, in my belief. I am not the only one with the power to give and aid those in need. But I cannot claim to be the man your aunt has spoken to you about. Who is she?"

No One's POV

Galleth bowed to the applauding crowd, and looked over to see if Robin was over by his lonely self again. To his surprise, he saw the archer talking quite cheerfully with a young cat from the village. Galleth called it the Spirit of the Seasons that Robin was looking quite happy in the company of another. Though, at the same time an odd nausea prodded the back of his mind.

"Hucklebee!" Galleth quickly pulled the rabbit out of the crowd and pointed in Robin's direction. "What do you make of that?"

Hucklebee held his goblet of wine close to his face and whispered. "Looks like Robin found some good company, ta me! Hee hee hee!"

Galleth was too caught up in his own imaginings to realize his friend was getting drunk. "Tis oddly discomforting to my senses. Suppose Robin takes a fancy to a young maid in town and decides to stay behind? What will become of the Order then? We need the Great Robin Hood to give hope to the people!"

"Not in my bad ear, Galleth!" Hucklebee pushed him off. "An' no going leechy on ol'Robin. Yer a good knight, look at the moon an' make a wish! *Hic* Robin was 'bout to retire when we caught up with 'im anyway, so what if he does decide to settle down an' take it easy? He's right earned it, I say."

Looking back over at Robin and the girl laughing, Galleth thought about what Hucklebee had said. Robin had every right to leave when he wished to, and being married to a fair maiden would be the perfect happy ending for his reclusive companion. Yet, at the thought of Robin's leaving, Galleth left an odd sense of… abandonment. While Galleth knew Robin was often irritated by his continuous claims of glory (some of which he only laid claim to), the raccoon enjoyed the lad's company.

"You speak true, Good Hucklebee." Galleth agreed. "Perhaps we best tell Robin of this. Should he decide to leave us at any time, we have no right to tell our friend otherwise."

"Robin…not…leave." Said the deep grumbling voice of Little John, the giant bear. "Robin…safest… with us."

Both Galleth and Hucklebee looked over at him with their own expressions. Galleth with bewilderment at his words, and Hucklebee with a goofy grin.

"Aye!" Hucklebee toasted to Little John. "Good mates we all be! Bu' even ah' three of us ain't got the allure of one fair damsel! Ha-ha!"

"Robin… not…in love. Robin…give…up." Little John explained.

In the past months, both Galleth and Hucklebee noted that while they stopped to rest, Little John and Robin were almost always in each other's company. It was like the two had been friends for years rather than months. There seemed to be a special trust between them. The two were often partners whenever the team split off for chores or for quiet time. So if Little John knew something about Robin, it was likely the truth.

"What do mean he gave up?" Galleth asked.

Little looked at Robin for a moment before turning back to his two friends,. "Nottingham...Maid...Marian... Dead."

Hucklebee and Galleth both replied. "Oh."

Robin's POV

It was like a breath of fresh air to be able to speak with another woman. Catherine is the niece of Alan A' Dale, a friend of mine back in Nottingham. Catherine told me that now her uncle was married to his true love and expecting a child soon. Alan had told his niece quite a few tales of my heroics, though it was worth noticing he had exaggerated a few details. Well, that was Alan's mark as a storyteller.

"T'would bring my uncle Alan great joy to here you had not yet given up your path of the noble outlaw." Catherine remarked.

I almost told the lass how I had been press-ganged into Galleth's drama. Yet... I could not bring myself to ruin my image of her. My time as Robin Hood, no matter what the story, had brought people hope. I'd rather not take the shine out of this one's eye out of callousness. "My services now are for the Cooper Order. Their mission is my own, but spreads out much farther than the lands of Nottingham. Galleth seeks knights and people of noble heart to defend the people in these times..."

I recounted just a few stories, including our recent exploit of returning Christmas to the town. Catherine sat and listened in earnest, as did a small crowd of the young. It felt so right to see their faces light up with hope and wonder. Not since had my final confrontation with that wicked Sheriff had I seen such cheer.

I recalled so many memories of my past adventures. Times when I saw depressed and abandoned souls, and felt the urge to return that spark of life to them. Yes, I had stolen money and given it to those who had lost it. But my mission was not solely centered on returning wealth. It was always about returning the people of England's spirits. Giving them the money to pay for food, for medicine, for clothes for the winters, for needs that higher class and King John shrugged off because they were already in possession of them. This, right here and now, was what made the struggle, heartache and headache alike, worth fighting for every single day.

These smiling faces in turn, sparked my own hope for the future. As the small crowd before me cheered at the last word of my story, I looked up to seem my comrades. Apparently they had been watching from afar. My eyes met Galleth's. I felt some embarrassment for considering him pompous when I had just been the one storytelling. Perhaps I had misjudged his arrogance? Galleth does not seek fame, perhaps he seeks to inspire as well. He acts the fool to us in the Order to keep our spirits from falling, and he plays the dramatic to the crowd to raise their spirits! There is no harm in that.

I smile and tip my hat to my leader. A graceful bow and returned smile are my reward.

Twas then that Father Heebleheart, called the attention of us all. "Hear ye, good hearts! For on this morning of great celebration, we honor joy, happiness, forgiveness, and those that the Lord brought to us to refill our hearts with hope." The townsfolk all cheered and clapped, some of them facing the members the Order whom they stood closest too. "We are reminded on this Holy day, that hope will always come when in our darkest hours. It comes from all walks of life to remind us that, in our hearts, when we remain good, true and strong, our people will always see a new day through strong efforts. We give praise to our father, and we give thanks to the Mighty Knights of the Cooper Order on this Christmas Day!"

The people shouted hurrahs and here-heres! My old mentor, Friar Tuck, might not have approved of so much noise to be coming from the church, and the praise going to others. But Little John described his hometown's church as the meeting place for the community, here was the only place where they could all thank us.

"Speech! Speech!" the crowd demanded. Sir Waddinton, Little John, Hucklebee and I all looked to Galleth. The raccoon did not waste the time as he ran up to the podium.

On his way up, he stepped in a bucket, got his armor caught on the one of the Christmas table clothes before falling and somehow tumbled his way up the steps. Before the crowd of grateful citizens stood their hero: An armored raccoon draped in red and green, a bucket on one foot and smiling proudly. Everyone roared in good-hearted laughter.

Galleth may not be the fool I initially thought he was, but he is still quite a fool.

I may have come to admire him for that.

A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Hopefully I'll have more time to write here soon.