Title: Outlaws2006 - Chapter Twenty Three: Six Outlaws, Six Horses
Rating: PG
Author: moonmajik and Tanya
Synopsis: Robin and his gang of outlaws, plus Guy of Gisnborne and the Sheriff, get swept 800 years into the future, to the year 2006, into the ladies bathroom of a Starbucks Coffee House. Follow their journey as they get to grips with their new surroundings. Based on the BBC's 2006 Robin Hood.
Pairings: Robin/OC, Will/OC, Alan/Djaq
Disclaimer: We do not own Robin Hood or any associated comments, such as "We go to Nottingham" or "Not being Funny, but..." Especially do not own the Sheriff. Damn. We do, however, own Charli and Tanya. In the later Chapters, there may be other characters that we own.

"Are you sure this was a good idea?" Charli bit down on her fingernails as they and the rest of the outlaws stood in a large grassy field with six horses. "You know I hate riding, these things scare me half to death."

Tanya rolled her eyes and ran her hand along the huge brown gelding she held by the reigns. "Charli, they are not things. They are beautiful animals and there is nothing to be afraid of. They sense fear anyway, so just relax."

"That doesn't help," Charli had planted herself behind John, the outlaw she figured was big enough to protect her when the horse decided to charge. Thank god she had decided not to wear red today. "Have fun, ok?"

"Aw Charli! I didn't bring six outlaws and six horses out here so you could just sit on a fence and watch! Do you know how much persuading I had to do to get these animals from Catherine?" She protested. "Besides, they say the best way to over come your fears are to face them! Now get your ass up on a horse!" She grabbed Charli's arm and pulled her out from behind John.

"Don't worry, Charli," Robin, who was already mounted, reassured her. "Will is a good safe rider, you can ride with him and you'll be okay."

"Robin!" Tanya ignored his comment for a moment. "Get down from there! You can't just get on and start riding without practicing. You'll hurt yourself."

Charli looked at Tanya blankly, blinking several times. "He's Robin Hood for Christ sake."

Grinning down at Tanya, Robin kicked his horse into a canter, speeding away down the field. "Did I really just say that?" Tanya moaned at a smirking Charli.

She patted her on her back. "Yes, my dear you did."

Tanya watched after Robin, not aware that she was gawping, as he spurred the horse from a canter and into a fast gallop. "Two can play that game." She murmured before quickly and steadily mounting her own horse to set off after him.

"Tanya, you can't keep up with him!" Charli yelled after her but it was no use.

"She's not a bad rider though," Alan was impressed as he too watched her slowly catch Robin up.

"Yeah, she used to ride for years when she was younger, loves horses she does. Anyway, she's gone, I'll see you guys later," Charli turned and began to walk towards the fence, which she planned on sitting on, only to be caught around the waist by Will.

"Not so fast," he smiled down at her. "You're coming riding with me today whether you like it or not."

"Who died and made YOU Robin Hood," Charli pushed him away. Will's face dropped. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that…I'm just really frightened of the things…"

Will nodded in understanding and took her hand. "No harm will come to you, I promise."

"I seriously would like to just sit it out. How about you guys go ahead and have a go, I'll watch for a while then maybe-"

"You'll consider it?" Will hoped.

"Sure." Charli nodded before heading over to the fence to perch on it.

Allan threw himself onto his horse in one swift motion and grinned down at Djaq. "Show off," she rolled her eyes before mounting her own horse. The two of them headed off across the field, leaving Little John, Much and Will alone.

"Well, there's two horses left," John stated. "Who would like to go?"

Much held his hand up. "I'd love to have ago. Riding a horse will help me to remember 1192 and that I actually haven't gone insane. So, if you don't mind, I'll take one."

"Fine, Will?" John asked.

Will shook his head. "I'll sit out with Charli, you take the horse and I'll ride when you've done."

John nodded and mounted the horse next to Much, the galloped off together to catch up with Alan and Djaq.

In the distance, Robin had just reached the bottom of a hill when he slowed his horse down. He turned in the saddle to look back at his friends and was surprised to find Tanya approaching fast. "Well, well, well," he raised an eyebrow at her as she drew up beside him. "Not just a pretty face after all."

She stuck her tongue out at him, not entirely sure whether he was serious, and turned her horse back towards the outlaws. Robin followed suit. "Me and Frodo here could beat you and Zack in a race any day!" Tanya grinned.

"That, milady, sounds like a challenge."

"On your life it was." Tanya shot back.

"On the count of three then? One, two-HEY!" Robin yelled as Tanya kicked the horse into a gallop before could finish. "Oh, you're going to regret that!" He went after her.

Spurring on the animal, Robin soon drew level with Tanya, and glanced over at her grinning. Pulling ahead just slightly, he laughed joyously as he passed the other outlaws and Charli who immediately rolled her eyes.

"Don't you grin at me," Tanya murmured to herself, his smirk fuelling her on even more. Her hair whipped around face and eyes frantically but she ignored it and leant forward to drive Frodo on; for some reason she was determined to win this race no matter how dangerous it got. Robin had been nothing but cocky about everything since he and his friends had arrived a few days ago and it was about time someone beat him at his own game.

The two continued on hard and fast across the field for a good few minutes, Tanya eventually drawing ahead of him again; she grinned and waved at him this time but her smile faded quick when she noticed Robin move in closer to her; they were now side by side, legs touching.

"What are you doing?" She yelled at him. "Move away before someone gets hurt! Robin, don't be stu-" She let out a small shriek when he suddenly reached over and grabbed her waist, pulling her skillfully over and onto his lap. Frodo veered off the right and slowed to a trot.

"Now, we draw." He said simply as he pulled on the reigns and slowed Zack down to a walk. "I'm not about to let you beat me."

Tanya was white and feeling slightly sick. "You could have dropped me." She turned her head to look at him, her face extremely close to his. They continued to stare at each other for a few moments, each of them breathing heavily after their heavy race.

"I wouldn't have…" He whispered. "I do this everyday."

Tanya finally cracked a smile, some colour returning to her cheeks. "What? You mean you go riding after ladies and to pull them off their horses and into your arms?"

"No…you're the first really," his smiled faded, his face growing serious as he leaned down closer to her. "So…are you going to ask me for that kiss yet?"

Tanya closed her eyes, feeling his breath on her face, lost in the moment. Something was pushing her forward, urging her voice to ask the one question he wanted to hear, urging her lips to touch his, but something also told her to push him away, to not get involved with him.

The fact that he would more than likely break her heart if and when he went back to 1192 was the main issue; there was no point in growing attached to him. Like Charli had pointed out, he was Robin Hood for Christ sake. He had bigger things in life to worry about than some silly small town girl from 2006. There was also the fact that she was seeing another man, on and off and – no scratch that…if she hadn't been hurt so many times before, things could have been different.

Tanya opened her eyes and found Robin still staring at her intently. "I…I can't." She gulped.

"What?"

"I said I can't," she pushed him away and climbed down from the horse. Her cheeks were red and hot as she began to back away. "I told you, I would never ask you. I never will. Please don't presume that I will either...leave me alone."

Tanya quickly mounted her horse in a fluster, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. But she would not let Robin see them. She kicked her horse into a gallop and headed straight back to the outlaws, as far away from him as possible.

"What happened?" Charli came running when she saw Tanya approach looking more than upset.

"Nothing," she tried to smile. "It's just the wind in my eyes from when I was racing." She lied.

"Are you sure?" Charli asked, still eyeing the horse that Tanya sat on wearily. She nodded in assurance. "Okay then, Will and I were about to take a ride together, are you staying here, maybe you could ride with the rest of the guys?"

Tanya smiled and looked over at Will. "You managed to persuade her to get on a horse? Hell! Respect to you my friend. That's not an easy job!"

Alan headed back over along with Djaq, Much and John. "That was some pretty impressive riding," he praised. "We could use someone like you in the forest."

"No we couldn't," Tanya turned in her saddle to find Robin trotting up beside her. "It wouldn't be safe for her."

"And why not?" Tanya challenged.

Robin leant over and whispered, his eyes narrow. "Just because you can ride a horse doesn't mean you can defend yourself. You're no match for the likes of someone like Guy of Gisborne."

"Oh, just like YOU are you mean? Mr. I can do just about bloody anything in the world!" Tanya said angrily.

"Who said that? I certainly never said that!" Robin's jaw tightened. "I was just saying that a lady wouldn't be safe in the for-"

"Well what about Djaq!" Tanya challenged him even though she knew Robin was completely right; she wouldn't have stood a cat in hells chance trying to survive in Sherwood with these outlaws. Still, she argued for arguments sake.

Charli and the rest of the gang, watched as they bantered back and forth. "Will these two EVER stop?" Much shook his head in disbelief, a small smile playing on his lips though.

"No, something is different this time." Djaq observed. "This is not their usual banter. Something happened out there. Look at them, they are actually angry with one another."

"You're just pissed off because I was beating you in that race, oh no wait! Sorry, you're pissed off because I refused you yet again and you can't handle rejection. You need to get over it." Tanya spat at him.

Robin sneered. "Oh believe me I'm already over it…I can have any woman I like. You're no loss."

There was a series of gasps and hisses from the rest of the group at Robins words. Tanya, feeling embarrassed, a little hurt but mainly stung, took her riding crop and whacked him across the face. "Go to hell you bastard."