Chapter 1515/11/2008 01:20:00

CATHY'S POV

It had been three days since Much and Luke went on their way, and neither Cathy nor Allan had been to see Charlie. Cathy was burning to see her, but she kept putting it back because Luke was due home. Plus now that both Luke and Much were gone the rest of them had to pick up the slack and do their rounds, the cooking and try to fix the camp, which had started to fall apart since Luke went away. None of them really realised how much work Luke put in to keeping the camp up and running, But after Cathy spent nearly three hours trying to fix the door she fully appreciated Luke and wanted him back even more.

It was late on the third day of Luke's absence and Robin and Cathy were making their way back from Cotgrove from their rounds.

"No, I did not, you pushed me in to him," cried Cathy her voice ringing thought the forest.

"I did not, you threw your self on him, even you said he was handsome!" replied Robin laughing.

"Which is why you pushed me on him."

"Why would I push you on him? I'm on the Cathy/Luke train, I'm not going to encourage you to flounce off with some man as soon a Luke turns his back." Cathy screamed and jumped on Robin. By now they were crossing the north rode. She jumped on Robin and he crumpled to the floor, they rolled around laughing and screaming. They stopped as they heard someone cough over head. Cathy who was on the bottom twisted awkwardly to get a view of the figure standing over them.

"LUKE!" she cried wriggling out from underneath Robin. She scrambled to her feet flinging herself at Luke who caught her and swung her around. She couldn't stop herself from smiling as Luke and Robin embraced each other.

"Doesn't look like I've been missed much," he said grinning at the two of them.

"Don't be silly," Robin as he and Cathy took up their position on either side of Luke.

"We all missed you so much, speaking of the Much still isn't back yet. Obviously not as successful as you in tracking down loved ones. How's Auntie Annie?" even though Annie wasn't her aunt she had started to calling her that for convenience.

"She's alright, I suppose, She's taken on this little orphan. I knew that she wouldn't hear anything against it so I didn't say anything, but honestly I don't think that she can afford it. When me and Father went to live with her dad was working, and when he died I took up his place, so I don't think she realises that she's lost an income."

"What are you going to do?" asked Robin, Cathy could hear the strain in his voice and she knew that he was worried that Luke was leaving the gang.

"Help her out as best I can, money wise," he said, not noticing the strain in Robins voice that Cathy had. "But other then that she's alright," said Luke a small smile spreading over his face. By now they had just reached the entrance of the camp. Cathy bounded in to the camp first and was pleased to see Allan and John sitting there trying to cook.

"Look who we found wondering around in the forest," she called. Instinctively both Allan and John reached for their respective weapons. But at Luke walked around the corner of the camp laughing at Cathy's childish behaviour their faces broke in to huge grins. Allan yelled and jumped up, his knife clattering to the floor. He pulled Luke in to a bone-breaking hug. Cathy grinned; she knew how much Allan missed his best friend. Luke returned it with as much enthusiasm. They clapped each other on the back as they broke apart, and Luke moved off to embrace John. The next few hours was spent in waves of laughter as they got Luke to recount his whole trip to them, while Cathy rescued the dinner from Allan and John who had royally screwed it up. As silence engulfed the group having caught up on everyone's news Luke joined Cathy in the kitchen.

"Any more on the 'Charlie/Allan' front?" he asked in an undertone.

"No," said Cathy throwing some carrots in to the stew. "Not that I know of, but we've been pretty swamped with out you and Much, I spent nearly all day yesterday trying to fix that door," cried Cathy not bothering to keep her voice down.

"You broke my door?" asked Luke walking over to it.

"Not being funny, but it just broke, nearly killing Cathy, by the way. And it is impossible to fix," said Allan.

"Well you made it worse," said Luke examining it.

"Oh, so don't mind about it nearly killing me then," Cathy snapped. There was a general intake of breath. Cathy looked around at the rest of the gang perplexed at their reaction.

"Well it didn't kill you, if it had then I would have killed my self. Better?" asked Luke pulling out his axe and started to tap something or other. Cathy stared at him, trying to process the emotions that were filling her mind. She felt three pairs of eyes on her as she turned to John.

"Keep stirring it, don't let it stick to the pan other wise you'll be cleaning it," said Cathy. She then walked out the camp passing Luke with out looking at him. She walked quickly but came to an abrupt holt just within earshot of camp. She heard Robin and Allan laughing.

"Nicely done, mate," she heard Allan say through fits of laughter.

"What?" she heard Luke ask, suddenly she felt sick to her stomach and started to run. She ran as hard and fast as she could, she had no idea where she was going until she saw Locksley manor through the trees. She slowed to a walk thinking whether she should turn back. But as she reached the edge of the trees she saw Charlie hanging up the washing outside the manor. Cathy checked around her to make sure that no one was nearby. She waited until the stable boy disappeared in to the stables before straightening up out of the bush she had been hiding in.

"Cathy!" said Charlie a smile spreading over her face, "I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me," she said picking up another sheet.

"We'd never forget about you, even if we'd wanted to," said Cathy picking up another sheet to help Charlie. "Luke and Much have been away, so we had to pick up the slack," said Cathy, pegging the sheet to the line.

"Luke said he was going away. Has he come back yet, he said he'd only be a few days," said Charlie.

"Yes, he's just returned."

"I bet you're happy about that," said Charlie a knowing smile on her face.

"Of course, now we have someone to mend the camp," replied Cathy.

"I don't mean that," said Charlie, Cathy looked at her. First Allan now Charlie, Cathy thought.

"What do you mean?" she asked a little too snappily.

"Just that you and Luke are good friends," Charlie said quickly.

"I suppose," said Cathy smiling at Charlie. She felt bad about snapping at her, Charlie was so sweet, and she didn't want anyone angry with her, that sometimes she became venerable.

"I have news," said Charlie hanging up the last sheet.

"Oh, what is it?" Cathy asked handing her the last peg.

"Locksley has a visitor, it's the daughter of some Lord from some where or other. She's acquainted with Gisbourne in someway or another, so I don't think it's anything to worry about. She's arriving on Tuesday she's coming by the north road. A good chance for an ambush," said Charlie.

"Tuesday, are you sure?" asked Cathy. Mulling this over in her mind.

"Yes, I have to clean out the room which she is going to stay in every day until she gets here, I'm sure its Tuesday."

"Sorry," said Cathy smiling at Charlie.

"Right, I'm off work, you want to talk about it?" asked Charlie, Cathy looked at her, confusion whipping the recent information out of her mind.

"Talk about what?" she asked, as Charlie picked up the wicker basket.

"What ever it is that's bothering you," said Charlie shrugging. Nice try Charlie, Cathy thought to herself, you didn't tell me about Allan, so I'm not going to tell you about Luke.

"Oh, it nothing, really just Luke, and stuff," said Cathy evasively.

"Oh, just Luke and stuff. I know exactly what you mean," said Charlie sarcastically.
"I'm just being silly, I should really get back to camp. Bye," she said quickly embracing her friend, before turning away. "I'll get Allan to come by tomorrow," she called over her shoulder.

"And Luke, I want to know how it all went," called Charlie back. Cathy walked back to camp in the quickly fading light. She kept her mind of Luke by thinking about how the days were getting longer. You could tell summer was fast approaching, you could almost smell it on the wind.

"I have information," she announced to the gang at large as she entered the camp. John was sitting over the stew that was bubbling merrily, Robin and Luke were sitting next to each other making bows, and Allan was getting the plates ready for dinner. "Locksley has a visitor, It's this lords daughter who knows Gisbourne," continued Cathy without waiting for an invitation.

"Is she here to enforce new taxes as well?" asked Robin gravely.

"She's nothing to worry about, but she's a good ambush opportunity, she's arriving on Tuesday by the north road," said Cathy walking over to John and checking the stew, She then started to serve up dinner as Allan and John handed it out.

"Good idea, we haven't ambushed a Lords daughter in ages," said Robin chewing his food thoughtfully. "Allan you're going to be the front men."

"Not being funny, but if she knows Gisbourne then she's going to be well guarded coming through the forest," said Allan

"Um…." Said Robin taking another mouthful of food. Cathy, who was sitting next to Robin, could almost hear his brain working. "Right, here's the plan…"

An hour later Cathy was bent over the stream washing up the pans and plates from dinner. She sighed as she put it on clean plate on the cloth that she had spread out on the forest floor. There was a rustle behind her; she spun around pulling her swords out of their holsters as she did so. She let her arms fall limply by her sides as Luke stumbled out of the bushes.

"Hello," he said blushing deeply, "Look, Kath I'm really-" Luke stumbled to a halt as Cathy hurried up to him and threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, holding his tight, she felt his big strong hands holding her close. It felt good to be in his arms, like she was made to fit right in to them.

"Me too, I do care for you Kath," said Luke holding her more closely. Cathy sighed in to his shoulder.

"Thank you," she said, she pulled back and kissed him on the cheek. "Right, seeing as you're here you might as well help," she said tossing him the towel.

"But I need to… I was just going to… Robin needs me too..." Cathy raised her eyebrows at Luke. He sighed and grinned. "Wroth a try, right?"

"Get to it," Cathy ordered bending back over the pan she had thrown away as she heard Luke coming.