Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, as it is the property of the BBC

Author's Note: I'm not really sure about the details of how I've described Juliet's condition, but hopefully I can get away with it.

Chapter 45

There was a horrible pause, during which everyone looked at each other in horror and shock at the revelation.

The silence that followed must have lasted at least two minutes, before it was broken by baby Marie waking up and crying.

Her mother took her from her basket and held her close, rocking her slowly from side to side, looking up at the gang, and saying as she did so,' You see, I'm ill - I've got a consumption. '

Djaq's eyebrows shot up,' Consumption? You're sure? '

Juliet nodded, brushing a hand over Marie's tiny forehead, and added,' I'm having serious coughing fits . . . I'm often out of breath . . . sometimes I cough up blood . . . I sweat more than usual . . . a doctor confimed it. '

Robin cleared his throat,' How - how -? '

Juliet nodded, knowing what he was saying,' A month or two if I'm lucky. Which is why I was coming to give Marie to Marian to look after for me. I knew she'd do a good job for me. Now what am I supposed to do? '

The gang all looked at each other.

It was Will who had the first suggestion,' We could send her to Scarborough, with my brother, and aunt. '

Juliet looked down at her baby,' I-I don't want her living with strangers,' she spluttered, as a coughing fit took over her, and she shook violently.

As Djaq tended to the ill woman, Ava took the baby from Juliet, keeping her free from germs.

Djaq and Juliet left the main area of the camp, when Robin suggested that they go and take a drink from the pool down the path.

As Djaq and Marian's sister left the camp, Ava smiled down at Marie - tiny, beautiful, three month old Marie. As she stood gazing at the child, she barely registered what the others were saying.

John, Robin, Allan and Will sat together around the camp fire.

' This is all too . . . you know,' Robin sighed,' first we lose Marian - I lose Marian - and now her sister shows up, and she's going to die too. '

' But at least she's got this gorgeous baby,' Much said, standing behind Ava, arms wrapped around her waist from behind, as both looked at the baby.

' What are we going to do with her? ' Will asked,' are we sending her to Scarborough? '

' I don't see what we can do, ' shrugged Allan,' the kid's none of our business. '

' She's a piece of Marian,' Robin said, voice cold, ' I feel like we have a responsibility . . . I do, anyway - Marie's my niece now, isn't she? '

' But what can we do? ' Allan asked, with a frown.

Ava pulled Marie closer to her and leaning backwards into Much, bounced the baby girl up and down lightly.

' We ask Juliet if she'd mind us keeping her. Looking after her,' Ava insisted, looking around at them all.

Each of the men looked at her in suprise, and each shared the same look of disbelief and uncertainty. Much removed his arms from her and shifted to that he stood in her line of vision. He folded his arms and looked at her, trying to tell her with his eyes that he didn't think this was such a good idea.

' What? ' Ava demanded, looking at them defensively and holding the baby closer,' she's got no one else? Would you rather we dump her in the forest? '

' Don't be daft, Ava,' Will said,' we just can't keep her wiht us - it's not practical. '

Before anyone had any more to say, Djaq came running back into camp.

She looked at them all in wide-eyed panic, saying,' Juliet! Juliet as taken a funny turn - help!'

Robin, John and Much followed Djaq from the camp, whilst Will, Ava and Marie remained.

Minutes later, Juliet returned, being carried by John. John set her down in the tent, whilst they all crowded around her.

It did not look good.

Juliet's face was reddening, and she panted for breath, eyelids drooping, and lips slightly parted. Her hair stuck to her sweating forehead, and she was otherwise still . . . no energy, and no focus on anything.

' What happened? ' Robin demanded, kneeling beside his sister-in-law.

Djaq also knelt down, trying to cool her down, and sighed,' She has taken a funny turn . . . with this illness, comes the sudden attacks like this. She was coughing, coughing more loudly, and more violently, and she couldn't stop. She fell to the ground, and started panting. '

' Is this normal? ' pressed Robin.

Djaq looked at him sympathetically,' She is a very ill woman. Sudden fevers happen with this condition - they can last for a few days, and she will need care and attention constantly. We have to cool her down when she is too warm, and warm her up when she is too cool. '

' Isn't there anything we can give her? ' Ava asked.

Djaq shook her head,' We can try, but I don't think there is anything . . . we just have to play the waiting game. '

And so they did.

*****

Hours followed, of the gang taking it in turns to sit by Juliet's side. Warming and cooling her according to her body temperature.

This carried on all night, with them taking it in turns to sleep, monitor Juliet, and look after Marie.

By the next morning, the atmosphere in the camp was very tense - everyone worried that Juliet would not pull through, but all hoping that she would. All worried about what would happen to the baby, but all hoping against the odds that she would be able to stay with her mother.

Ava sat down in the camp, along with Allan, John and Much, Will, Djaq and Robin were watching over Juliet with care.

Much was cooking breakfast for everyone, whilst Allan was drawing in the dusty sand with a stick. John was darning up the holes in some of the clothes that had been ripped. Ava meanwhile, was looking down at Marie in the hamper.

' Ava,' Allan said loudly.

Ava looked up, and guessed by the expression on his face, and on the other's, that her father had said her name more than once already.

' Sorry,' she sighed,' what did you say? '

Allan frowned at her,' Ava, my girl, you have to snap out of it - you can't keep thinking about that baby. '

Ava shrugged,' I - I - sorry. I just . . . ' she trailed off, unsure of how she was going to end that sentence.

Much sighed,' Come on, why don't you and I go out for a walk or something? '

Ava shook her head,' Can't leave Marie,' she said.

Much hooked his arm through her elbow,' Come on - it's doing you no good sitting around here. We're going for a walk. '

' But -'

' But nothing,' dismissed Much,' come on. '

' He seems to have gotten bossier with marriage,' John mused, as the pair of the left, leaving Marie to Allan's care - probably not a smart move.

*****

As Much led his wife away from the camp, they walked in silence, neither sure of what to say.

It was Much who broke the silence, taking a hold of her hand, and looking at her, before saying,' I wish that you'd cheer up. '

Ava looked at him incredulously,' Cheer up? Cheer up? What is there to be so cheery about? '

' I know it's a bleak situation, but we're doing all that we can. You didn't sleep at all last night,' Much said,' see - you think that I don't know when you're not asleep, but I do. I feel every little toss and turn that you make, and everylittle shiver that you give. '

Ava sighed,' I'm sorry,' she said.

Much came to a standstill, making her stop too, and looking at her intently, 'I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to be the woman I love . . . all this moping isn't you. '

He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and allowed his hand to linger by her cheek, grazing her skin lightly.

'I guess that I'm just worried,' she said.

' That makes two of us,' Much nodded,' but Djaq says it's only a matter of time before Juliet . . . you know, passes on. There's not a lot we can do. '

' I worry about that little girl. '

' Robin will figure something out,' Much assured her,' now let me make your mind off it, eh? '

Ava raised her eyebrows, and her husband tugged on her hand, pulling her further into the woods, out of the eye of anyone, before he kissed her swiftly. She kissed him back, as his hands wandered to the ties of her dress.

*****

Another day passed.

And another.

And another.

Then it had been a week.

And still Juliet was no better. In fact, she seemed to be much, much worse - the attempts to warm her up and cool her down were doing little good, and everyone grew very worried.

No on had left the camp much in the past week - except for hunting and firewood. There had been no ambushes, no visiting the poor, and no handing out money and food to the poor.

In fact, they all knew that the poor must be suffering - losing hope in their Robin Hood and his gang of outlaws. They all worried what Gisbourne and the Sheriff were up to now. And they all worried about another death looming over them.

Ava and Robin were sat with Juliet around mid-day of the seventh day of her illness.

A barely concious Juliet lay in the bed, whilst Ava sat at her side, Marie on her knee, and Robin sat beside Ava.

' I've not got much longer,' Juliet practically whispered.

' Don't talk like that, Julie,' Robin said, shaking his head sadly.

' We all know it's true. And I'm OK with it . . . I am, really,' Juliet insisted weakly.

' For what it's worth,' Ava said, bouncing a gurgling Marie up and down on her knee,' I think that you are a wonderful person, and I wish that we'd got the time to become friends. '

Juliet smiled,' My sister wrote about you in her letter sometimes, you know. Mentioned this little teenage girl who was all innocent and clueless. Then as the months passed, she mention less about her, and more about the plucky young woman who was a good, loyal friend. For what it's worth. '

Robin grinned, some of his cheeky demeanour coming back,' Now now, ladies. We don't need all this soppy talk. Don't need my two sisters going all grim on me. '

Ava grinned too - his two sisters. His late wife's sister, and his best mate's wife.

She took hold of one of Juliet's currently cold hands, warming it with her own, and leaned into Robin.

For a moment, it was as if everything was alright.

Robin looked down at Marie, pulling the blankets away from her face with one finger, as he looked down at the child.

He smiled to himself,' She's got Marian's eyes. '

Juliet smiled weakly, dropping Ava's hand,' My baby's going to be just like her Aunt Marian. I want you to make sure of it, Robin. '

Juliet's eyes closed, and she opened them several seconds later, though her eyelids drooped heavily.

Ava cast a quick, panicked glance in Robin's direction. Robin laid a hand on Juliet's shoulder,' Julie? Juliet, don't you dare go away now. Juliet! '

Juliet closed her eyes again, as whilst they were closed, whispered,' This is it. I know it.'

' No,' Robin said stubbornly.

Juliet attempted a smile,' Let me finish, please. I have not the time. Robin, thank you - for me, and for making Marian so happy. I want you to make sure that my Marie knows all about me, and her Aunt, and her Grandfather. '

Ava stood up, leaning the daughter close for the mother to have a final kiss - they all three knew that this was it - and there was nothing that they could do to stop it.

Juliet kissed her baby, and grabbed the collar of Ava's dress, making her come close to whisper in her ear.

' You're a good girl,' she said quickly,' You were a good friend from what I've heard. You've got a good husband and you'd be a good mother. You're good with Marie. '

Ava tried to move away, casting a glance at Robin, who was watching with interest, but also a wary expression.

Juliet whispered more,' Whatever you do, I want you to look after her. '

'I-'

' Promise me you'll always look after her. Care for her, and bring her up, love her as if she were your own. '

Ava frowned,' Juliet, I dont know if-'

' Promise me,' said Juliet, this time much louder, as loud as she could manage.

Ava looked at Robin, who was merely watching in question, and then looked back to Juliet. ' I do. i promise,' she nodded, taking Marie back in her arms.

As Robin was kissing Juliet's cheek, Much entered the tent.

' Ava, I wondered if -' he broke off when he saw Robin and Juliet.

' What's going on? ' he asked.

Ava sighed, Juliet's . . . on her way out. There's nothing we can do. '

Much sighed, a sorrowful expression crossing his features.

' C'mere,' Juliet sighed, upon seeing Much.

Then just as she had done with Ava, Juliet pulled Much close to her, and muttered in his ear.

' I want you to look after her - my Marie. You and your wife. Look after her. '

Much had no time to reply, because Juliet's eyes closed, and this time, they didn't open seconds later.

Robin, Much and Ava - still holding Marie - looked at each other.

' She's gone,' Robin said.