AN:Sorry guys, I made a continuity error in the previous chapter. I wrote that Allan hijacked Much's email account but forgot that Allan is suppose to be Marians friend in this story. Robin and Allan just met and their only connection is through Marian. *goes back to edit* For the sake of this story let's pretend it was Carter who wrote that email which makes more sense since I have tried to established that Much, Carter and Robin spent time in the middle east together and has a friendship that goes way back…

I have a memory span of a goldfish *sigh*
...speaking of which, I do believe the name I used for Marians sister in my previous story was Nicole...

Keep the reviews coming, constructive feedback kicks ass! =)

Morning after

TO: "R. Locksley" sherwoodsfinest(at)msn(dot)com
FROM: "Much", d0nuts07(at)yahoo(dot)com
SUBJECT: RE: Rise and shine
March 6

One-night-stand, my ass…

Don't come running to me when this backfires!

Oh, and don't pay attention to Carter! He thinks he's so clever hacking my email account but the last laugh is on me. I'm submitting his emails to gay porn subscriptions as we speak…

Besides what does Carter know about playing the field?! He's been dating the same girl for ages…. which reminds me, you never did tell me what Paula thought about the engagement present we bought them. I still say you should have gone for the blender. You can never have to many kitchen gadgets….

/M

………………………………………………………..

TO: "Much" d0nuts07(at)yahoo(dot)com
FROM: "R. Locksley" sherwoodsfinest(at)msn(dot)com
SUBJECT: RE: RE: Rise and shine
March 6

Again thanks for the vote of confidence…

For your information she was the one propositioning me not the other way around. But you're right, she has me wrapped at her mercy around her little finger, and I eagerly jump through any hoop at her slightest beckoning.

I'm even considering letting her drag me to church this morning. Apparently there is a ghost to face and a grave to visit… or something to that extent…

Have to go now… Marian just got out of the shower and I don't want her to catch me on the computer.

I'll call you later.

/Robin

……………….

The night's blanket of fog had yet to burn off, and the sun was only a pale glow through the mists as Marian steered the car towards the north exit out of the city.

Neither one of us spoke much for the first few minutes of the drive. Finally, though, Marian broke the silence.

"The baby - was yours," she confessed in a voice barely above a whisper. "I know that it makes little difference now, but I wanted you to know."

"Gee, thanks for filling me in … A little too late, don't you think? " I made a sound halfway between a laugh of disbelief and a snort. It was the sound of utter confusion and mounting anger. It was a good thing she was driving because I really think I would have wrecked the car. Thoughts were flooding my mind, hundred and thousands of them… but only one remained clear - MINE. The child had been mine. It's not like I hadn't guessed that all along but I had never really let myself think in those terms before…

"I didn't know how to tell you… I'm sorry Robin." She said, slowing the car down preparing to take the exit that was coming up.

"You didn't even try. Did you? You carried a baby...our baby...for nine months and you never once tried to contact me."

"Six months… " She corrected me. "I only carried her for six month. She was born eleven weeks premature, that's why she didn't make it… Her lungs were underdeveloped and she couldn't survive outside my body. …"

"She?" My heart clenched painfully at the image her words created in my head.

"Yes, it was a girl. She was beautiful - in a wrinkly red sort of way. And so small he could almost fit in one hand."

"All I want to know is why.... Why did you think I'd want you to go through something like this alone? Did you honestly think I wouldn't care? That I wouldn't want to be involved... "

"Remember the day we broke up?," she asked the question without looking at me. "I was going to tell you that weekend but… "

"..you never got around to it…" I closed my eyes. "Right, I remember. You showed up for a surprise visit even though I had specifically told you to wait another week."

"I flew into town for our third month anniversary. I don't know who got the biggest surprise, me or you?!" she said, her voice cracking.

"Oh come on, you make it sound like you found me with another woman or something. It wasn't nearly that dramatic."

"I found you in uniform with your bags packed by the door."

"I had weeks of combat training ahead of me, there was still plenty of time… I wanted to tell you in person. I would have told you in person, if you had only stayed put for one more week like I asked you to."

She drew a deep breath and sat a bit straighter. "Yeah well , it wouldn't have made a difference. Things just weren't working out between us. I thought I did you a favor. I gave you the easy way out. "

"Oh, you gave ME the easy way out? It sounds more like you TOOK the easy way out, if you ask me."

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you… " Clenching her fingers around the steering wheel, she glared at me with aggravation. "…and quite frankly I don't think your opinion is worth squat right now:" she declared with such venom that I couldn't help but winced at it.

The sane, calm, logical part of my brain knew that whatever agony I was feeling right at this point was only a pale shadow compared to the pain Marian must have felt over the last couple of months. But the emotional part of me was having a hard time getting over the feelings of hurt and betrayal.

I'm sure it must be some sort of cardinal sin to fight on holy ground but it couldn't be helped. By the time Marian pulled the car into the visitors parking lot outside the St. Nicolaus Cathedral we were in the middle of a full fledge argument.

I think my anger was justified but at the same time I think I could have handled it better. Verbally assaulting her probably wasn't the best way to go about it. Marian was tensed to the point where it looked like she was ready to bolt…which is exactly what she did. Slamming the car door with all her might she stomped off without another word.

I let her go because… uhm… frankly it was safer that way. She wasn't the only one with a short fuse. We both needed time to cool off. Besides I wasn't sure my legs would carry me if decided to go after her. This morning had shaken me up more than I cared to admit. It's often said that no one should have to outlive their own child… If my gut feeling was to be trusted, the roughest and most heart wrenching part was yet to come…