Title

: To Live Another Day
Author: Kate's Master, aka Emma
Summery: Obligatory response to the end of series two. Will be followed by some form of angsty oneshot, no doubt. Ten ways she lived. Many crossovers, verrry odd. Read at your peril. Spoilers galore.

Disclaimer: Still not mine. Alas, alack, and all that jazz.

Authors Notes: Insert appropriate apologises here. I'm so amazingly sorry, I can't even begin to express it. Work, exams, revision, driving…not to mention the return of Torchwood, and then Doctor Who, which altered my fan-centre slightly…but yeah. Sorry.

I've only got two left to write now, though, so you should hopefully have them all by the time the next series starts!

Hugest apologises to KeepingAmused, LoonyLover and rh2006fan, and thanks as well for your reviews. Sorry there were no replies – I've been snowed under with all sorts of thoroughly boring activities.

Anyway, at long last, on we go once more!

Ten Ways That She Lives

6. Optical illusion they were all playing on Gisborne, so she and Robin can get married without his dark brooding interrupting them all the time.

The funeral party stood in sombre silence, heads bowed, frozen as though waiting for a cue. It arrived in the form of a young boy, maybe fourteen or fifteen, who came galloping up to the group on a small horse.

He dropped to the sand in front of the king, panting slightly.

"Well, James?" the King asked, staring down at the boy's bent shoulders.

James, blushing slightly at the realisation that the king knew his name – he, who would be little more than a stable boy, if they had stables out here – straightened and faced the group.

"They're gone. They have boarded a ship, and I watched until it rounded the headland. There is no way message can reach them with any haste now, unless they return suddenly for some reason."

King Richard nodded. "Thank you, James."

It was as though someone had flicked a switch. What had been a silent, brooding company were suddenly smiling once more, and Robin, grinning widely, leant forward to help his wife to her feet. The King, perhaps sensing that this was a time for friends, silently took his leave and left.

"I can't believe he fell for it!" sighed Allen, shaking his head. "I mean…not being funny or anything, but it'd be nice to think they were vaguely intelligent."

"Unlike you, then." sniped Much, but he was smiling too.

"You think it'll work, though?" asked Marian, sounding worried.

Robin waved one hand airily. "Course it will. Gisborne thinks you're dead, the Sheriff thinks you're dead, so you can stay out here and return with the king when the war is over without worrying about repercussions in Knighton, caused either by your presence or absence."

Much shook his head. "I hope that made sense to someone, because it didn't to me."

"Luckily, my friend," said Robin cheerfully, "it doesn't need to."

Marian was frowning. "I still don't like this." she muttered. "You all returning to fight, me just staying behind…"

"To fight as well." interjected Djaq. "You and I, Marian, have peace to make here. We will end this war, and then we go home. Your people remain safe in their village, and you," she pointed seriously at each outlaw in turn, "will have to cope without us."

And so, three days later, the gang went their separate ways. It would be two years before they all met once more, in the soft shadows of Sherwood, but the meeting would be merry, and unending. Their battle would be over…and their reward would last each man (and woman) a lifetime.

And that's that. Sorry once more – next one should be up much sooner!