CATHY'S POV

Cathy had been with the group for almost two months by the time she finally found out who it was who was crying at night. It had never seem the right time to ask, she had ruled out asking Allan seeing as he got all touchy when she asked him about when he came back to the group after his betrayal. So it was up to Luke now.

Cathy was woken one morning after a late night out ambushing a rather large group of nobles from the north, to see Luke standing over her, his hands on her shoulders. Over the past few weeks she had learned to ignore her fluttering heart every time he looked at her, spoke to her, or was in the same proximity for that matter.

"Come on Kath," said Luke squeezing her shoulders. "Robin, Much and John have gone in to Nottingham. We have to do the rounds to Forks that we didn't get around to yesterday." Cathy groaned.

"It's like the middle of the night, Luke!"

"Actually, you missed breakfast, so you're going to have to do without until lunch."

"What?" screamed Cathy fully awake now. "That's not fair, it was a late night last-" She broke of as she saw Luke laughing at her, holding a plate of food out to her. Cathy loved it when he laughed. It was when he laughed, and when he called her Kath that she couldn't ignore her heart flipping.

"I wouldn't let you go hungry," Luke said giving her the plate, "be quick, I want to get rounds over quickly." Cathy nodded and tucked in to her food. She looked around the camp. Luke was once again tinkering with something or other and the far end of the camp. Allan was sorting the loot from last night's ambush. Cathy finished her breakfast, and pulled the curtains closed around her bed. A few days after her arrival, she had just returned from a trip in to Loxley with Little John, to find curtain around her bunk. Luke had insisted on installing then to give her a bit of privacy in a camp full of men. She finished changing and tucked the little wooden tag under her top. Robin had given her the tag the second evening at the camp.

"Cathy," called Robin from the entrance of the camp, where he, Luke and John were lingering. "I have something for you." Cathy set down the knife that she was using to cut the 'chicken' and walked over to Robin. "I thought that it was high time that we made it official," he said and held out his fist. Cathy stretched out her palm underneath Robin closed fist. Robin opened his fist and a wooden tag fell in to her hand. Cathy looked at it hard; it was a piece of rectangular wood, that had a bow and arrow in a circle. The camp seemed oddly airless as Cathy realised what it is. She shirked and threw her arms around Robin and Luke's neck. She kissed both of them on the cheek before turning and doing the same to John who was standing just behind the pair of men. She ran in to the kitchen and hugged Much.

"Don't I get a kiss to?" Much playfully asked, Cathy laughed and pecked him quickly on the cheek. Just at that moment Allan entered the camp.

"What on earth is going on here?" he asked. Cathy pulled away form Robin who she had hugged again.

"Look!" Cathy squealed running towards Allan waving the tag, she jumped up at Allan wrapping her arms and legs around him as she had some countless times as a child. Allan laughed and clasped his hands underneath her to stop her from falling.

"It's just a tag," Allan said, "You were made part of the gang two days ago."

"Yes, I know, but still. Now it's like, I'm actually in Robin Hoods gang."

"No," said Allan grinning at Robin over Cathy's shoulder, "You are Robin Hood, We are Robin Hood."

"We are Robin Hood," was murmured back by the rest of the gang. "We are Robin Hood," Cathy whispered in his ear a little after the others. She hung tighter on to Allan. It was because of him that she was here in the first place. With out any warning she felt a sudden rush of affection for Allan.

"I love you, Allan," Cathy whispered in to the crook of his neck.

"I love you too," Allan whispered back in a whisper just as quiet, "now stop crying you dopey women." Cathy chuckled as Allan lowered her to the ground.

"Ready," Luke asked as she emerged from her bunk.
"Yes," She replied running her hand through her hair. "Do I look like I've just rolled out of bed."
"Yes," replied Luke and Allan together.

"Then no I'm nor ready." She said gathering her hair up and tying a piece of string around it.
"Oh, come on Cathy," cried Luke impatiently. "You look great. You'd look great even it you were covered in pig muck," Luke said a little less impatiently.

"Really?" asked Cathy blushing slightly.

"Really, really," said Luke looking at her intensely. Out of the corner Cathy saw Allan smirk and return to sorting the Loot.

"Fine," She replied, "But if I get laughed at in Forks I'm pushing you in the pig muck." Luke laughed and passed her a bag.

Luke tried to pass a bag to Allan, but Allan shook his head.

"Robin wants information, I've got to go to my source."

"Right," said Luke passing it to Cathy instead. "Why you waiting?"

"Well it's always more risky in the mornings," replied Allan evasively. Luke and Cathy glanced at each other. No one really knew who Allan's source was. They just knew that it was another person, because Allan was never away from the camp to go all the way to Nottingham and back, so it must be someone in one of the villages. No body really questioned him about it because they needed the information, and who ever this person was, they always gave Allan reliable information.

"Fine," said Cathy, turning to Luke. "Shall we go?" she asked. Luke nodded heading for the entrance to the camp.

"I wonder who his 'source' is?" Cathy said once they were out of earshot of the camp.

"Ask him. He'll tell you."

"Did he tell you?"

"No, but I've never asked."

That is so Luke, Cathy thought to her self, sweet, kind, completely trusting Luke.

"But aren't you even curious?"

"No, I mean he get us accurate information, why should we pry in to his business?"

"Because," said Cathy her eyes sparkling, "I think his 'source' is a woman."

--

ALLAN'S POV

As Cathy and Luke disappeared in to the forest he abandoned his pretence of sorting out the Loot. He sat down on one of the logs next to the fire. He smiled to him self. He liked the idea of Cathy and Luke. Luke was level headed, not as serious as his brother, but still, he grounded Cathy. Cathy was so over the top that he wondered why she didn't drive him around the bend. But what he always over looked in his friend was that he was patient. Cathy had a very short temper that would go at any minute, but then it would subside in a matter of minutes and she would crawl back and beg for forgiveness. All the other outlaws had a little pot going to see how long her latest's feud with Robin would last. It had last a grand total of 10 minutes, after Cathy walked up to Robin and kissed him on the cheek, it was their way of forgiving each other. But somehow Luke managed to press all Cathy's buttons; Allan sometimes thought it was because she was always trying to pretend that she didn't fancy him. He knew form experience that it was hard work, and he admired his cousin for managing to keep it up for such a long time.

His thoughts drifted away from Cathy and Luke towards a 'source' that he was planning on seeing later today. Charlotte was a maid at Loxley manor, and it was through her that he managed to get all the information about the castle. Allan glanced at the sun and saw that it was now late enough for Gisbourne to have gone to Nottingham. He got up and quickly made his was towards Loxley.

As he approached Loxley manor he instantly saw her. She was standing at the window to the looked out from the kitchen to the garden. He smiled to himself when he saw her. Charlotte was not the type of girl he usually went for. She had chestnut brown hair, which glowed almost red in the sun, and chocolate brown eyes, and she had rejected every advance he had made on her. But there was something about Charlotte that made him not want to give up. Allan thought long and hard about what he felt for Charlotte. With the other girls he had been with he had just felt himself wanting to touch them, see what they felt like. But with Charlotte he wanted to be close to her all the time. Not just to touch her, but to hold her, to feel her body next to his. He wanted to be with her, not just for a night before running away the next morning, but be with her. But he knew nothing like that could ever happen, not after what he did, he didn't deserve it.

"Good morning, Charlie," Allan said cheerily slipping out from behind the holly bush. Charlotte, or Charlie as she preferred to be called, jumped, here eyes widened and her hands flew to the knife that was lying beside the chopping board. She relaxed as she saw Allan and she grinned at him.

"One of these days, Allan, I'm not going to be so kind as to wait to see who it is." Charlie said. Allan loved the sound of her voice. He found it soothing to his ears.

"Aw… come on Charlie, you know you could never bring yourself to hurt me," Allan said playfully.
"Just you wait." Charlie retorted. Charlie picked up the dough she had been rolling and dropped it on to the tray and slid it in to the oven. Allan watched her working, and he couldn't help his eyes from falling form the back of her head, down to where her curly chestnut hair ended in soft waves. Down to her hips, which swayed as she walked. Allan nearly moaned in longing. Charlie returned to where he was leaning against the windowsill. She had a piece of fresh bred in her hands. It had become almost ritual; when ever Allan came to Loxley they would always share a piece of fresh bread. Allan picked apiece and chewed looking around making sure that no guards were nearby.

"So you have any information?" Allan asked wanting to get the formal bit out the way so they could just chat.

"Yes, I herd my master talking about a visitor to the castle, It's Prince John's advisor." Charlie stated chewing another piece of bread.

'Prince John's advisor?" Allan asked, not believing his ears. "When is he coming?"

"He arrived yesterday."

"Yesterday."

"He leaves in a week."

"A week."

"Is there an echo in here or what?" Charlie joked. Allan smiled at her, He ran his hands through his hair. This would definitely mean that they would be going to the castle. It wasn't that didn't want to help Robin in the castle, but the fact that Cathy was with them now. It would be the first time that she had been in the castle. "Penny for your thoughts." Charlie asked leaning forward so that she could see Allan's face. Allan looked in to Charlie's un-judging eyes. He had first met Charlie when he worked for Gisbourne. But he hadn't had the same feelings for her then as he did now. He was very surprised that she was willing to help him and the gang, even with the knowledge of his betrayal and not knowing what happened in the Holy land. He trusted Charlie more then nearly every one. Spare the gang.

"Did I tell you that my cousin's joined the gang?" said Allan as a way of telling her.

"Really?" exclaimed Charlie, the shock obvious in her brown eyes. "When?"

"A few months ago. I mean I did suggest it, but I suppose I never though of the danger I was putting her in to."

"Her?" asked Charlie. Allan nodded hoping that she would pick up on the other things he had said. She did.

"Look Allan," said Charlie, taking hold of his hands, "from what you've told me of Robin, he wouldn't have asked her to join if she wasn't perfectly capable. Plus she's an A Dale, She'll be fine." Charlie added in a off hand tone. Allan laughed. Charlie removed her hands from his. His hands instantly felt as if the sink had just been ripped off.

"So tell me," Charlie grabbing a carrot and started to cut it up. "What's your cousin like?"

"He names Cathy. And she is driving me up the wall." Charlie laughed tucking her hair behind her ears. Allan had to fight the urge to reach up and stroke her hair, which looked glossy in the early afternoon light.

"You A Dales have that effect." Charlie joke.

"That's true, But we're just to adorable for you to hate us." Allan said flirtatiously.

"You've got that right," Cathy smiling sweetly at him. Allan thought that his heart was going to pop out of his chest it was beating so hard.

"You're to sweet, anyway, to get angry at anyone."

"You underestimate me Mr. A Dale."

"I doubt that," replied Allan popping a piece of carrot in to his mouth, he glanced up at Charlie who was looking right at him. Her eyes flashed, before she busily returned to shopping up the carrots. Allan stared at her, was there something that he was missing? Allan opened his mouth to ask just as a voice floated towards them from around the corner.

"You are all to stay mounted," It was a cool, deep voice, which sent shivers down Allan's spine. "We shall set of back to Nottingham in one minute," Gisbourne informed his guard.

"Quick sticks Allan," said Charlie, which is was she always said when Allan had to leg it. Allan nodded; he leaned forward with out thinking and kissed Charlie on the cheek. He then turned on his heel and ran in to Sherwood.

He only slowed down when he knew he was out of sight of the house. His lips tingled from where they had made contact with Charlie's skin. Did I push it too far? Maybe she really doesn't like me. These thoughts tortured Allan all the way back to camp which he found still deserted.

--

CATHY'S POV

Cathy and Luke were in their last house they had to visit for their rounds. it had taken them nearly 3 hours to do a 50 minute round.

"I thought that you wanted to get this over and done with quickly?" Cathy asked her temper wearing really thin at that moment. She had spent three hours walking around Forks, which in it's self was tiring, but she was also trying her very best not to look at Luke too often, and to not felt the fluttering in her stomach every time Luke spoke.

"Come on Kath, don't get angry at me. You were the one who spent 20 minutes talking to the tailor."

"I'm not angry," Cathy shouted finally loosing her rag. "And it wasn't me who spent half an hour talking to the bloody carpenter."
"Kath, It's not like we had anything better to do!"

"How would you know?"

"Kath, stop it."

"Don't tell me when to stop. You're not my father. So stop acting like it"

"I'll stop acting like it as soon as you stop acting like a child!" Up until now Luke had managed to keep cool. But now his eyes flashed, and Cathy saw a side of him that rarely came out and she was angry at her self that it was her who brought it out in him. She glared at him, turned on her heel and stalked off towards the forest.

Once she had reached the outskirts of the forest she had cooled off and she suddenly felt bad about getting angry in the first place, and then to bring up fathers when she knew he had seen his own die in front of his eyes. Cathy was overwhelmed with guilt; she stopped and turned to look at Luke who was still at their last house. Tears came to her eyes as a little girl, no more then 5 hugged Luke around the mid drift. She watched as Luke disentangled himself from both daughter and mother and start to head towards Sherwood. Cathy quickly ducked behind the bush, blinking the tears from her eyes. Luke passed her as she was still trying to gain composure. Once she had she hurried after Luke.

She approached silently behind Luke, she slipped her hand in to his and squeezed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. She felt Luke's calloused hand close gently around hers as he looked at her and smiled. She laid her head on his shoulder. They walked on like that in silence for some time. "Luke?" Said Cathy remembering something that she had resolved to ask either him of Allan some time ago.

"Umm…" Said Luke absently mindedley.

"Who is it who cry's? At night?" Luke sighed, let go of her hand and scratched his cheek, a habit of his when he was in a uncomfortable situation.

"It's Robin."

"Robin?"

"Yes, has Allan told you what happened in the Holy Land?"

"No. I've never asked, do you know what happened?" Luke nodded solemnly. "Were you there?"

"No, this was back when Will and Djaq were still with the gang. Right, all of this I have pieced together from bit's and pieces that I've herd from various people." Cathy nodded brimming with curiosity. Cathy listened silently, her mouth opened in horror as the story came to a climax. It was only when Luke stopped talking that she realised that they had stopped walking and that she was crying.

"Poor Robin," Cathy said her heart swelling with affection for him.

"I know," agreed Luke, he looked at her seeing for the first time that she was crying. With out saying anything he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in to a hug. Cathy let herself cry into his chest. She didn't know how long she stood there leaning against Luke's chest. She couldn't think of anything else other then Robin. As she managed to steady her breathing, some clarity came back to her.

"I feel so stupid," Sad said pulling away and wiping away the tears. "I didn't even know Marian."

"Come of it." Luke said rubbing her back as she hiccupped.

"Lets go back to camp."