The day just keeps getting worse.

Robin's head was pounding, but thankfully it was just from the ale he had drunk that long night he had celebrated (with little persuasion ) with the people of Loxley, he had the right to celebrate because he was alive, and his men also thankful for that. The people of course had the right to do so for the fact the Sheriff was gone and his evil cruel laws. Guy (even though Robin had worked with him to take down Isabella and Vaisey), Guy had still killed loved ones of the villagers and put them through such torture, that sort of thing was hard to forgive .5 years of being evil and cruel against half a day for one good deed.

The outlaw was laid out upon a straw mattress fixed inside a barn, the farmer's wife said that he and his men could stay the night and out of the forest for a day. Robin had taken it slightly easier then Much, John and daresay Tuck had done, they were still sound asleep as he slowly sat up. He gave a little groan touching his head tentatively as his head throbbed for a moment, his mouth was dry but it was a situation he had been in before so there was no worry, plus it had meant he had slept a little easier with his recovering body able to mend that little bit without him being bothered by the aches and pains that were slowly easing off. He drank deeply from a cup of water the farmer's wife had been so kind to leave them knowing how they'd far by the morning.

Robin was about to slip out of bed to make for the well before the door slowly eased open, sunlight filtered through the cloth covered windows already, but more did so as someone opened the door. Robin assumed it was going to be the farmer's wife to bring them breakfast, but as a young slim blonde female slipped in Robin couldn't help but feel slightly uplifted.

'Kate!'

Kate gave a thin smile, her bright blue eyes staring back to him' Hello Robin...'

Robin kept the light furs over his modesty as he beckoned her closer 'Kate..how did you ...where were...' His head gave another lurch as the dozen questions rolled inside his head. Where had she been?

how did she know where they were?

what took her so long to see him?

He noted as Kate shyly came towards him stepping over a sprawled Much on the floor to sit on the edge of the straw mattress that her eyes were slightly reddened and puffed as though she had been crying. She had been crying when he had left her, when he had left her to die alone.

Maybe it had been too hard for her to come to terms with, but then wouldn't she want to see him sooner to be relieved he was alive?

'I...was staying back at home the last few days, when I found out you were alive ..I gave you a little space to get better.. Then we heard yesterday you'd made it out to Loxley so I thought I'd come see you later..Here I am'

'I was hoping you'd see me sooner...Listen Kate there were a few things I needed to say to you but I never thought I'd get the chance.. I..'

Kate shook her head squeezing his hand gently 'Robin.. please there's something you need to hear from me first...'

She too did not get to say what she was going to say as the door opened again and this time the shaggy haired male that was Archer, Robin's half brother came in .

'Archer!' A wave of paranoia washed over Robin as it was too coincidental both he and Kate would suddenly come to him within a short space of each other unless they had been together in the first place

'God you look awful... did Kate tell you yet? '

'Tell me what.. ?'Though Robin felt he already had an ounce of an idea of what it was.

Kate shot Archer a look as he stayed where he was, leaving it to Kate to speak softly to Robin.

'I was devastated when I thought...I didn't want to believe I had lost you...but then I realised I never really had you did I. I mean we had our moments but we were nothing more then friends...Of course I was devastated what happened to you...but Archer was with me, he would have lost a brother and I a friend...'Kate paused as Robin listened though he realised his hands were shaking now though he wasn't entirely sure why.

'...Me and Archer found each other whilst we learnt that you were getting better though you were still unconscious.. In the days you woke we didn't want to bring it up in case it stopped your healing progress.'

'You...and him' Robin noted that his voice betrayed a touch of hurt in the tone as Kate stood back up, tears in her eyes and the fact she looked so guilty about all of it.

'We thought it was best you heard from us ' Archer moved his arms round Kate as she found it hard to look back to Robin.

'I don't have time for this... Get out...go back to camp...I'll deal with this later...GO!' Robin shooed them with a cry flinging the cup of water that had been beside the makeshift bed towards the pair only just missing them.

It was only as they left did he notice that 6 pair of eyes were watching him, Much, John and Tuck had awoken and were watching him with worry, surprise and disapproval of how he had acted.

Robin ignored them and slipped out of bed, finding his clothes to dress and make his way out of the barn, he wasn't entirely sure why he should be so upset that Kate had found happiness with Archer rather then just have him mess her around any longer. It had been difficult he had been fond of Kate but always in the back of his mind he could see Marian in front of him as he longed to kiss her again.

His friends were following him behind as he walked down the dirt track instead of straight into Sherwood back to camp, he could do with the walk to clear his head and it wasn't like there were any guards around to take him to any dungeons as it was so he was almost a free man if it wasn't for the fact Prince John was most likely to send someone just as bad their way and have him hung by next morning that was. The rebuilding of Nottingham was already taking place and a few villagers last night had heard tales of such a thing, a new man was already being chosen and ready to send this way, and a good thousand men to speed the rebuilding of the castle and its town. This at least would give Robin something to keep fighting for until King Richard could come back from the Holy lands.

Robin ignored the cries John and the other two were making to get his attention, his hands deep in his pockets as his heart ached lightly for the fact his friend and own brother had chosen to stay away to keep their new friendship a secret and the fact that they had only come to see how he was now.

His mind focused on the last days he had remembered before he had been poisoned and nearly died. It was so focused he didn't even realise the heavy footsteps behind him and John quickly pull him to the thick bushes to the side until the air had been completely squashed out of him.

'I do not like the look of them ' John's gruff voice whispered to the side of Robin as he realised Much and Tuck were already behind him.

Robin looked up his mind now alert, though a few aches and pains rocked through his body for a moment taking a second to recover as his sharp eagle eyes noticed a dozen horse riders moving along the track to Nottingham not to far away, a moment or two later and he would have been spotted and who knows whose side these people were on. Outlaw or not, he was still not his absolute best and he did not need to go back downhill.

Who are they ? 'Much whispered the worry clear in his voice as the riders came that bit closer, and Robin could see the arms they bore was that of one he had hoped he would not for a while longer.

'Prince John's ' men..' An angry tone settled across Robin's tongue before relaxing into a smile as the guards rode on their way clapping a hand heavily onto John and Much's back. '

You know what this means...

'Oh no..please Master don't say it 'Much shook his head standing up and nervously put his hand atop of his bandana shifting it slightly as he looked back to Robin with those young nervous blue eyes of his.

'There's going to be a lot more things we're going to need to put right, a lot more taxes we're going to have to take back, and a lot more of John's men we'll need to take down'

Oh no nope he said it, he went ahead and said it anyway.. 'Much went off ahead as John laughed clasping the littler man on the back as Tuck walked back with Robin.

'You'll be alright to fight for what you believe in, for a better England ? '

Robin looked to Tuck for a moment and nodded. 'I'll have to apologise to Kate and Archer first, and strengthen my body again, but whilst John is in charge this country will never be safe from that evil tyrant and the people will always be hungry and scared..They need me and I daresay I need them. So.. to fighting back '

Robin held his hand out to Tuck who took it in his big hands and shook it roughly.

'To fighting back..For King and Country...For England! '

Author's notes: So thats where Kate and Archer had got to..ok so they weren't quite shacking up, but Series 3 annoyed me in the sense they must have known it would be the last series and the fact Robin never truly got to find happiness again, thats where he sort of played with Kate's feelings though ok he was still upset about Marian he could have been kinder to Kate and though I do believe he cares for her I dont think it was ever in the right way. Archer and Kate however can be an item and yet make everyone happy..but how..Ok now that specific detail is for later ..But now...dark times are coming... And Robin is going to need to be at his strongest both mentally and physically whilst having all the men, and Kate that he needs to take down any threats to his people and Nottingham. But whose coming...by the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes...Stay tuned folks !