Fanny lay grasping on the bed. Andy sat next to her holding her hand, Fanny looks at her with pain filled eyes. "Andy get Tuck, get John" she cried.

Andy leaves without another word, she throws open the door to the hut and takes out in a run. She only goes a few feet before she runs into Wulf, he smiles at her.

"Andy I've been looking for you, you weren't at supper" he stops short when he sees the panic in her eyes. "Whats wrong?"

"Wulf, your mother is having the baby, but she says there's something wrong, please get your father and Tuck!"

Before Wulf could answer the sound of Fanny's tortured screams came from the hut. He waited no more, he took off at a run. Andy watched him run off, before turning and return into the hut.

She dipped a cloth into some water and applied it to Fanny's head. "It's going to be okay Fanny, Wulf's getting them.

Andy again took up Fanny's hand and rode through the pain with her. Andy raised her eyes from Fanny's face as the door opened and Tuck ran through.

Tuck immediately bared Fanny's stomach, he put his hands upon it and felt. Tuck's grim expression didn't change as he dug through the bag he cared and drew out a jar of leeches. Andy watched as he placed them upon her stomach and recovering it with blankets he sat beside Fanny and began to pray.

When John ran through the door followed by Robin and Marion, Tuck looked at them bleakly. John immediately knelt by Fanny and took up her other hand.

"The child comes early," he said quietly, trying hard to keep the worry out of his face and his voice. "I fear all is not well."

Andy had to keep herself from snorting, what gave Tuck that idea. Andy grimaced as Fanny squeezed her hand again and screamed as a new wave of pain hit her.

"Hush, lass," John said gently. "You'll be fine."

Fanny shook her head, exhaustion as well as pain showing clearly in her sweat-streaked face. "This one's not like the others, John. Oh God, it hurts!"

Marian knelt down beside Andy and place a gentle hand on her brow. The heat coming off of Fanny's skin worried her, but she too kept her voice calm and soothing. "Courage, mother."

Azeem appeared in the doorway, and Robin gestured urgently for him to enter. Tuck bristled at the sight of the Moor, but reluctantly acceded to Robin's authority. Robin smiled reassuringly at Little John. "My friend has knowledge of medicines and healing."

Azeem gestured for them all to move away from the bed, and they all did except for Andy, she refused to move. Tuck scowled at every move Azeem made, but Azeem ignored him, and smiled reassuringly to Fanny, and pulled back the blanket covering her. On her stomach lay a dozen leeches. Azeem snarled angrily.

"By Allah, leeches! Barbarians, do you want to kill her?" He started to pull the leeches off. Blood trickled from the tiny wounds where they'd been feeding. Tuck grabbed him by the arm and tried to stop him.

"Leave them be, savage! Get away from her!"

Azeem shrugged him off with enough force to send the friar staggering backward, and removed the last of the leeches. He threw them onto the floor and crushed them under his heel. "Blood is like air. If she loses to much both she and the child will die."

Little John looked to Robin for help, and he nodded firmly, hoping he was doing the right thing. Azeem examined Fanny's swollen belly with gentle hands. "Fanny your baby hasn't turned. It cannot be born without help" said Azeem softly looking at Fanny.

Fanny clutched tightly to John's and Andy's hand, but John was paralyzed with fear and confusion. Tuck stepped forward again and appealed to Robin, his voice trembling with outrage.

"You cannot trust this man! He is the Devil's seed, sent to lead us astray. Do not listen to him. He will kill her!"

Azeem stood and faced the friar. "If you do not listen to me," said Azeem evenly. "She will certainly die. And the child too,"

Fanny cried out again as the pain stabbed through her. Little John looked pleadingly to Robin, who put a steady hand on his shoulder.

"The good friar has done all he can, John. Let the Moor try. I trust him."

Little John looked at Fanny, and she nodded quickly, unable to speak. John swallowed hard. "So be it."

"Then their deaths will be on your head!" snapped Tuck. "I have warned you. My conscience is clear."

Little John reached out and grabbed the front of Tuck's robe, pulling him close, so that their faces were only inches apart. "Shut up, Tuck. Just….shut up."

John let him go, and Tuck stormed out of the hut. No one watched him go. Azeem turned to Marian, his manner calm and businesslike.

"Bring me a needle, thread, water, a skinning knife, and burning ashes. Quickly."

Marian nodded and hurried out the hut. John looked at Azeem in horror. Robin took him by the arm and gently persuaded him to wait outside. Azeem looked down at Andy, "Are you sure you want to stay."

Andy looked up at him. "I'm not leaving her." Azeem nodded. Robin returned and gestured for Azeem to move a little ways from Fanny. They talked quietly, heads close together, but Andy could still hear them.

"A skinning knife?" asked Robin. "What the hell are you planning to do?"

Azeem looked at him steadily. "The child must be taken out, by the knife. It is the only way."

Robin shook his head slowly. "I've heard of such a thing, but never seen it. Have you done this before?"

"I have seen it done many times. With horses."

"Horses?" Robin's voice started to rise, and he clamped down on it before it could upset Fanny. "Azeem, if you fail in this, and child and mother die, John will kill you! I couldn't protect you."

"I know that," said Azeem. "But it must be done, or they will both surely die." He looked round sharply as Marian burst into the hut with the things he had requested. Azeem took them from her, one at a time, and finally nodded his approval. "Robin, hold the woman steady."

He heated the knife in the red-hot ashes, while Marian slipped a piece of wood between Fanny's teeth, for her to bite on. Azeem waited as long as he dared, and then he took the knife from the ashes. The blade glowed a sullen red. Robin took hold of Fanny's shoulders firmly, while Marian held her head. Andy clutched her hand harder.

"This will hurt, lady," said Azeem gently. "But the pain will pass, and you will forget. Are you ready?"

Fanny nodded quickly, and squeezed her eyes shut as Azeem advanced on her. Andy shut her eyes and turned away her face.

Outside the hut, Little John pace up and down, his great hands clenched into helpless fists. Wulf walked at his side, close as a shadow. Families sat quietly together close by, trying to reassure John with their presence. Friar Tuck sat a little to one side, clutching his wooden crucifix tightly, and murmuring prayers in quick succession. Groans and cries from inside the hut, suddenly building into screams. Little John stopped pacing.

"Will you listen to me now?" snapped Tuck. "The barbarian is killing her!"

Little John moved uncertainly toward the hut. Wulf tried to restrain him.

"Get out of the way boy" he said.

And then the screams broke off, and a new sound filled the night-the lusty wailing of a newborn babe.

Inside the hut, Azeem muttered with awe in Arabic as he tended to Fanny, who had finally fainted. Robin handed the bloody, struggling infant to Marian, who enveloped it in a blanket. Their eyes met over the squalling bundle, and something passed between them in that moment, something more than just the share experience of the birth. Marian looked away, and hushed the crying baby. Robin looked back at Azeem, still bent over the unmoving mother.

"Is she gone?" asked Robin quietly.

"No, merely passed out from the pain and the shock. She will live. She is strong, By Allah she is strong." Azeem looked up at Robin and smiled. "Strong as a Moorish woman. See, she is stirring already."

Marian gently placed the baby on Fanny's breast as she stirred, and it was the first thing she saw as she opened her eyes. Marian smiled at them both.

"Your son, my Lady."

Robin looked at the two and then at Azeem.

"You truly are a great one" said Robin putting his hand on Azeem's shoulder. Andy stood up from her place by Fanny and went and opened the door, letting the anxious John in.

"John" whispered Fanny. "You have a new son."

John gently knelt down next to Fanny, he moved the hair off of her forehead and gently kissed it before he peered at his new son. He gently put one of his massive finger's under the tiny ones, surprised at the strength the little one had as he squeezed.

"He's a strong lad" whispered John.

"He gets it from his mother and father" spoke up Azeem speaking for the first time. Little John looked up at him, he rose and held out his hand. "I have wronged you many a times Azeem. I can never tell you how grateful I am for saving my wife and son." Azeem took the hand offered and shook it.

"I am grateful that I could help"

Little John nodded and turned back to Fanny and gently picked up the boy. "This is to be celebrated" He went to the hut door and threw it open.

"My son" he cried to the entire camp. Music burst out, Robin, Marian, and Azeem followed him outside leaving Fanny and Andy. Andy gathered the soiled blanket and cloths, Fanny fell into a well-deserved sleep. Andy quietly left the hut with the soiled blankets and cloths heading towards the stream.

The camp was joyful, John proudly showing off his son, Andy caught a glimpse of Robin and Marian dancing. Andy's face softened as she gazed at her brother, she was accepting the fact of what was happening between him and her. She shook her head and continued on her way to the stream.

"Here let me take some of those" came a voice from her left, it was Will.

She smiled at him. "It's okay Will." But Will didn't listen and then took most of the blankets away from her. She sighed and then looked at Will. "Why aren't you dancing with everybody else?"

Will made a face "Got turned down."

Andy laughed, "What woman could deny your charm brother?"

"Maid Marian," Andy stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him. Will was grinning at her.

"Oh, don't give me that look Andy, I don't like her, I was trying to nettle Robin, though he intervened before I could get her to dance."

Andy rolled her eyes. "Are you ever going to talk to him?"

A very defined no was Will's reply. Andy took the hint and dropped the subject. They walked in silence, the music fading in the background. Will looked at the bloody blankets and then at Andy. "You planning on washing these tonight?"

"Course not, there is a pool fed by the waterfall that I'm going to throw these in to so that the blood can soak out of them. I don't want to miss all the fun" she said grinning as they reached the pool and dropped the garments into it. Will turned to look at Andy.

"Well Andy Locksley, can I have the pleasure for the first dance?" From his vest he drew a flower, and bowed to her. Andy took the flower and curtsied.

"Why yes good sir, you may"

Will offered his arm and they walked back to the music. The rest of the night was a happy dream to Andy. The music carried on through the night. Andy found herself dancing with Will, Robin, John, and Wulf. She never had a chance to sit down, every time she attempted to; she was jerked back into the dance. Between the mass of bodies, Andy saw Marian dancing with different people, both Robin and peasants alike.

Andy even went out and got Duncan, guiding him they danced with the best of them. It was well past midnight when the celebrating came to an end. Not wanting to walk all the way to the huts, Andy flopped down by the dying fire with a blanket. Moments later Wulf flopped down next to her.

"What do you think you're doing" she mumbled snuggling closer to him.

"Sleeping, wanted to give Mum and Dad the night alone with the new baby."

"Alright" Andy sighed. Wulf chuckled and put his arm around her, together they fell into a deep slumber.

-y-y-y-y

A voice interrupted Andy's dreams.

"No I will not leave until I say good bye to the young Master."

Andy rolled over, snuggling closer to Wulf, not wanting to be disturbed. Her wish was unanswered as a hand fell onto her shoulder shaking her. Andy opened her eyes to look up into Bull's eyes.

"Sorry to wake you Andy, but Robin is sending Duncan to leave with the Maid Marian, but he refuses to leave without saying good-bye" whispered Bull.

Andy was awake in a second, slipping under Wulf's arm, carefully so not to wake him.

"It's okay Bull," she whispered back. She followed him to where Duncan was standing.

"Master Andy" he called reaching out his hand.

Andy took his hand in hers. "I'm here Duncan."

"Master Robin is sending me away I'm afraid with the Maid Marian. With winter coming and my bad health he thinks it will be better for me to be with her on his estate."

Andy sighed; taking her arm into his she began to lead him after Bull as he motioned her to follow them, he was leading Robin's white horse. The morning, was beautiful, the mist covering everything in its white shadow. Andy looked at her family's retainer, "I'm going to miss you Duncan."

"I am to Master Andy, I've been serving your family all my life. What will I do if there is no Locksley's for me to watch over."

"Duncan, as soon as King Richard returns, you will have Locksley's to watch over again, I promise" she assured the man. They had reached to river, Andy could see Robin and Marian standing close to one another, as they approached, they broke apart.

Andy could hear Robin asking Marian for her to take Duncan with her. Duncan heard to and spoke up. "Master Robin, you really wish for me to leave you and Master Andy?"

Robin looked at Andy before putting a hand onto Duncan's shoulder. "Old friend," he said gently. "I need you to escort Lady Marian home. I fear for her safety in these troubled times."

Duncan relaxed a little, and nodded understandingly. "Of course, Master Robin."

Bull led him down to the raft, Andy followed. Before Bull lead him onto the raft, Andy hugged him close and kissed him on the check, trying to hide the tears that were running down her face. She moved out of the way as Sarah and Marian made their way onto the raft. Before Marian boarded, she put her hand on Andy's shoulder.

"Andy I'm sorry for everything I did in the past. I wish I could take it all back. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I want to ask you that you take care of Robin."

Andy looked at Marian. "I will Marian, and I do forgive you. Now you better get on the raft."

Marian nodded and got on the raft. Robin walked down and put his hand around Andy as the raft began to drift out of sight.

Marian watched Robin and Andy until they faded into the mist, it was only then did she go and sit next to Duncan. Duncan smiled as he heard Marian come and sit by him.

"He loves you, my Lady," he said quietly. He sensed her surprise, and smiled. "I may be blind, but some things I can still see."

Marian looked back at the riverbank, as the mist cleared for a moment. Robin stood on the bank, staring after her. Their eyes met, and neither looked away until both of them had been once again swallowed up by the early morning miss.

-d-d-d-d-d-dd-d-d-d-d-dd-d-d-d-d-dd-d-d-d-d

Sorry for taking so long to update, sorry for the wait. Please review.