Hey peoples! Sorry it's been awhile in coming... I had some computer problems. Thank you to Forest Archer, Rawr I'm A Toaster, and shilohfan. AND thank you to cattycat92, brismiss, and Forest Archer for putting this on Story Alert. (It makes me feel nice to know you like it that much!) This is, of course going to contain MAJOR fluff!! Which makes me happy... and I hope it makes you happy! It would make me even more happy if you tell me that you're happy with what makes me happy (this chapter). Read that sentence over twice if you need to. Read, enjoy, review!

Marian could feel Organa's glare as she accepted a glass of wine from a servant offering it. She sipped it, marveling over its sweet, spicy taste. Organa had come, insisting that Marian would need supervision, but stood a good distance away, for which Marian was thankful. She was standing among a decent crowd of people in Huntington Hall, feeling like a single bee in a hive full of other insects. Everyone stood in their little groups chatting politely and making small talk. It felt the same as all the other social events that Organa had dragged her to.

Gossip flowed around her; she could hear their whispers about her. How a woman should be married by her age. Only unmarried women wore their hair down, and she was. It made her a direct target for their tittering.

Marian had tried to find Robin but didn't have any luck at it. For now, she was taking a break from her vain search. She knew she could have asked, but also that she was looked down upon by many for her unmarried state, along with being known as a reckless woman. If they only knew.

"We saw you from across the hall, you looked lonely." Marian jumped at the sudden arrival of three women, having not expected company. They looked to be about her age give or take a few years. "I'm Lady Cicely. These are my sisters, Harmony and Renee." In Marian's mind she begged them to leave her alone.

"Yes, darling," Harmony stated. "We also wanted to know why on earth your hair is down. It's a disgrace for a married woman to wear it like that."

"I'm not married," she said firmly, hoping to dismiss them back to their corner.

"What, at your age?" They seemed appalled.

"I'm eighteen; it's not such a horrible age to be single." She kept her sentences short and to the point, a tactic that had kept her from other loathsome conversations. Not this time.

"Why, darling, we'll help you look, it shouldn't be that hard," Harmony offered. "You've still got youth and a pretty face."

"Come," Cicely grabbed Marian's elbow. "I insist that you let us introduce you to our cousin. He's single too. We've been trying to find a girl for him all night; he hasn't spent more than five minutes with any of them." She allowed herself to be led through the people, not sure what possessed her. Surely, this was a bad idea. Somewhere in this very room was her fiancé, and yet here she was traipsing after a couple of crazy young women!

"Hold up, Cicely darling," Harmony called from behind. Cicely drew into a halt. "You look so unladylike when you walk that fast. What will people think?"

Cicely wouldn't keep still. She was craning her neck over the throng searching for her cousin. Marian was looking in the opposite direction for Organa, hoping the hag had lost track of her. "Oh, there he is!" Marian was yanked away from her searching, glaring at floor as it moved under her feet. Cicely released her once they had found the cousin. People moved away from them, and she heard an exasperated sigh. She was staring at his boots, wondering what had prompted her to come this far.

"I thought I told you." Marian froze. She knew his voice. "I don't need you to find me a girl. I've got one already." She dared to glance quickly up at his face. Her breath caught in her throat. It was him. The cousin was Robin. She took one step back but could go no further.

She wanted to blend back in with the people, but she couldn't. Her gaze had become riveted on his face. He was clean-shaven, and she liked it that way. His hazel eyes seemed distant, like he wanted to be somewhere else. She noticed how incredibly good-looking he was. No, she shouldn't think like that, wouldn't think like that. Marian noticed a scar on his forehead, one long line starting in the middle and receding into his hairline. He hadn't even glanced at her; he was too busy lecturing his cousins. It was better that way; she could gain her composure before he noticed her.

--*--

Abruptly, Robin turned, about to walk away from his cousins. "Marian," he exclaimed in a surprised voice. His cousins exchanged a puzzled glance. Then Renee smiled and gestured to her sisters, who dutifully followed her. "You could have told me you were right there."

"A good host would have acknowledged me, and waited to lecture until later." Her voice! He had waited to hear it for so long. Robin wanted her to keep talking just so he could drown in it. Drowning in her voice would be the most heavenly thing.

"Etiquette hasn't been on my schedule for a while." Nobody was around to delay them, it was time. If he waited a moment longer someone else would ask him how it felt to be back. He was going to be sick of that question before long. There were other things they'd want to discuss too, of course, but he was tired of it all.

"How is it that you came back?" Marian asked, not sure what else to say.

"I was captured and held for ransom. When the king paid it and I was released, he asked me what I wanted most in the world."

"And you said?" Marian prodded,

"That I wanted to be home," he said matter-of-factly. He took her wine and handed it off to a servant nearby. "I don't think you'll need that. Come on, I've a place where we can talk in private."

"All I seem to do is follow people," she grumbled.

"Would you like to lead then?" He glanced back at her, and fund that she was scowling. She hadn't changed completely. He loved the way she scowled, one glance and it could tear you apart and leave your pieces scattered for the birds.

Once in the side hall, he let his emotions get the best of him, not even trying to curb them. Marian had grown so beautiful over the years. Everything about her stunned him. He wanted to run his fingers through her hair, to caress it. Her personality was so extraordinary it became attractive. He had never known himself to be so completely in awe of something before, but now that was rapidly changing. She was the most extraordinary thing he had ever seen. By far.

"What?" Her question brought him out of thought, and made him realize that he'd been staring.

"Nothing, I was just..." He couldn't think of a good excuse.

"Just trying to figure out what happened to the old me?" There was wistfulness in her voice, and he wondered why.

"Sure." Not really, but if she believed it...

"They've turned me into quite the idiot. I'm like everyone else now, no different." He wanted to disagree; she was not like everyone else. She was still Marian Fitzwater 'that rash repulsive girl'. He had heard that said of her more than once, both before he left and after he got back.

"Speaking of idiots, I apologize for my cousins. Although I'm surprised you followed them." He saw Marian flush. She quelled it quickly.

"They're very insistent young women. I had nothing better to do anyway. It wasn't as if I had any idea you were their cousin. If I had known it would have..." She paused, searching for the right word. She glanced to the ceiling as if the words she needed would be written there. Instead of words though, she saw the mistletoe hanging there. "Oh. Is that a joke?"

"No, but I'm not forcing you into anything."

"Did you plan this? Of course you did." She gave him a bit of a glare, although it didn't seem genuine. "Do you have any idea how many men have tried to woo me?"

As soon as she said it he wanted to know their names so he could give them several good reasons never to try it again. Wait. Was this where that Robin Hood from his nightmare came in? "I haven't been around," he said, hoping his assumption had been wrong.

"Four not counting you and none of them got anything. Do you know why? Because I've told them that I already have a fiancé. And now that man too is trying to charm me. What am I supposed to say to him?" Marian asked, sounding intrigued.

How was he supposed to answer her? She had somehow turned her decision into his. "Knowing you, I think I should leave that up to you. You don't let anyone put words in your mouth, and I'm not going to the first to try it."

"Good answer, exactly what I needed to hear. So go ahead. Kiss me."

He thought he had misheard her at first. She wouldn't say that, would she? It was what he wanted to hear, but it sounded strange coming from her. She took one step toward him, leaving little space between them. Her eyes penetrated into his very soul. She wasn't glaring at him, but searching for something within him. He didn't know what it was, but wanted to give it to her anyway.

For now though....

Robin closed what little distance remained between them, and embraced her. She tilted her head up to meet her mouth with his. The fact that she had been so willing made everything about it so much better. Although he wouldn't have forced her to, no, he'd never force her to do anything she didn't want to. One hand went through her lustrous hair, while the other was busy memorizing her face. Robin was gentle, as if Marian might break with his touch. He was almost afraid that it was all just a dream and he'd wake up and be back under the heat of the desert sun. And each moment held the fear that she might suddenly pull away and smack him, but his thoughts were lost, muddled beneath the immense joy that kept his heart crashing inside.

Well...? Are you happy now? It takes three happies to make a glad!! So I'd like three people to tell me they're happy, so that I can be glad. Double glad would be even better! If you aren't happy, let me know as well, I'll knock it off the happy points. hehe... I think I know who is understanding my inside joke.

PS- To all the lucky ducks who have seen the RH season 3 finale: Don't give ANYTHING away!!!!!!!!! About that or season 3 in general!