Hey everyone I'm back...please dont hate me for ending the last one on a cliff hanger...i hope i can make it up to you somehow...how about another chapter to sooth the savage soul?? a good remedy i think..to remind everyone...Robins angry--cause he realized Gizzys doing marian and vasey and Edward...though not appearing in this chap...are on their way to agincourt...and Guy and Marian...well theyre going to have a baby!!! O my gosh....tell me what you think read review and enjoy

Chapter Sixteen Shut up and let me talk!

"Guy, the baby…the baby is coming!"

Marian's moan echoed through Guy's heart. He knew that merely holding her in his arms would not make this pain go away. But he was scared. Guy of Gisborne, the man who did not show fear when killing innocence, was deadly scared.

Firstly he was really going to be a father.

Secondly because he didn't know a thing about birthing babies.

Guy had never seen a woman give birth to a baby before. He did not know the first thing to do in these situations. Though he had known for nine months that Marian was pregnant, obviously, he had never really given thought to the actual birth part. He had always assumed that she would go into labor somewhere away from him and after a little while he would see his baby.

This was not part of the plan

Damn the plan.

Guy did the only thing that he knew. He slowly helped Marian to her feet. She held onto his neck and her head sank against his chest. Guy put his arms around Marian's waist and blocked out the screams of pain which Marian bellowed.

He led her inside the house and to the bedroom. He helped her lie down on the bed and propped some pillows against the wall of the bed for her to lean against. Guy hoped that that would help…but it didn't very much.

Marian was still screaming. "Guy!"

"What!" he screamed back. But the scream was one without anger, just concern and worry for his wife and child. "What can I do?"

Marian was not really in any position to be giving instructions. She wished that Guy could figure this out on his own, she was having a difficult time just giving birth. But through the nauseating pain and sweat she was able to see that he really did care. He really did want to be a part of this.

"Get…help," she whispered painfully. Then she closed her eyes and tried to block out the pain her own way. The same way she had blocked out the pain of her first night in Gisborne's manor. Marian concentrated on Robin. She thought of the way his eyes lazily gazed at hers. She thought of the way the stubble on this cheeks tickled her cheeks when she kissed him.

Guy, oblivious to Marian's actions raced out of the bedroom and out of the house. He broke into a full out run. There was only one person who he could think of who would help Marian. And it was the one person he most certainly did not want any sort of help from.

When he reached her shop he was out of breath but still had enough energy to burst through the door.

Gabriella looked up from her desk.

At first she smiled but then she realized the identity of her customer. "Oh…it's you. What do you want?"

Guy put his hands on his knees and took a deep breath. "I need your help!"

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. "Sorry…don't work for the tall dark and dreary."

Guy groaned and walked slowly and deliberately up to her desk and slammed his fists on the wood. "Damn it Gabriella! Marian needs you. The baby is coming. You need to deliver it!"

Gabriella did not think twice. She quickly compiled all the remedies and potions she would need to give to Marian. Then she motioned for Guy to lead her to Marian. Guy did so and the two of them walked quickly through the streets of Agincourt.

At first the two of them remained silent. Both were equally focused on their task at hand. But then Gabriella, troubled by the silence decided to break it.

"Are you excited?"

Guy did not look at her. He continued walking without answering. He did not have time for small talk. Marian was in pain. He could not allow that for too long. He would not allow that.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Sorry, I forgot, you don't have emotions."

Guy rolled his eyes. He still did not reply to Gabriella's taunts. He would not give her further ammunition to humiliate and hurt him.

"You know that she does not love you?" asked Gabriella curiously. "Some outlaw captured her heart apparently."

Just keep breathing Guy. Just keep walking…ignore her. Ignore her.

"She does like you," said Gabriella kindly, "it is clearly written on her face. But love—"

"Shut up!" Guy could not take this any longer. "Do you enjoy tormenting me while your friend is crying out in pain and clearly suffering? Do you get any satisfaction of watching my heart melt? Maybe it makes you giggle to think that the tall, dark, and dreary husband can't see what's going on right under his nose?"

Guy's words made Gabriella silent. She looked up at Guy curiously. "You have her eyes you know. And his hair, obviously, his hair was just like yours you know?"

Guy shook his head. "What are you talking about? Whose eyes have I got? Whose hair have I got?"

Gabriella smiled at him. "Your grandfather."

A shock went through Guy's body. He had to force his legs to keep walking because otherwise he would have stopped and stared at the mysterious woman walking next to him.

"How do you know that?"

"How old do you think I am?" asked Gabriella mysteriously.

Guy shrugged. "I don't have the time to estimate your age."

Gabriella laughed. "Good boy. But I shall give you a hint. I was present at your birth. My mother delivered you. I came to help her and I saw your grandmother and grandfather at your manor."

Guy's eyes widened.

"If you could have seen the joy in his eyes…he cried first time he held you. Ever tell you that?"

Guy's stomach turned. "Really?"

Gabriella nodded. "Your grandmother was too sick to hold you so he held you for the both of them. And he said, 'My grandson is the most beautiful baby in the whole of France.' Or something like that. He really loved you. God rest his soul."

Guy narrowed his eyes as the sun tried to cast its glow upon them. "Why have you been saying all these hateful things to me if you knew me all along? If you liked my grandfather why tell his grandson that the woman he loves does not love him back?"

"Tell me Guy," said Gabriella, "why did you not respond to my accusations?"

A red glow lit Guy's cheeks. Gabriella nodded. "I thought so. Listening were you?"

Guy did not respond.

"How many times?" she asked inquiringly.

"Twice."

Gabriella nodded thoughtfully. "Then you don't know do you?"

"Know what?" Guy spit out the question.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "The rest of what she said."

Guy shrugged her off. "I don't want to hear more of this…especially not from you."

Gabriella nodded understandingly. But what Guy did not know was that he would have liked to hear the rest of what Marian had said to Gabriella. True he had heard the most important parts of the girls' meetings. His pained ears had witnessed Marian's confession that she did not love him. But what his ears had not heard was one very important conversation the two girls had had.

Marian had been at the table mixing ingredients for remedies to the townsfolk of Agincourt. Gabriella was sitting at her desk when suddenly a customer walked in. Gabriella smiled warmly at him. His name was Alexis Pierre and a good friend of Gabriella.

Marian could not understand their dialogue very well but she understood a couple of words here and there.

They both said hello to each other as if they were old friends.

Then there was a clatter of coins on the desk and Alexis mentioned that he could pay for his wife's medicine now.

Gabriella had let out a gasp and clapped her hands together. She told him that was fantastic. But she asked him how he had come by so much money? What had he done wrong?

But Alexis shook his head. He said something that Marian would never forget.

"Robin Hood."

Marian's eyes widened. Her jaw had dropped. Gabriella was shocked too. Just the other day Marian had told Gabriella that the man who had captured her heart was Robin Hood. Did that mean that Robin Hood was here…in France?

Marian's heart had leapt out of her chest.

Gabriella had asked if Alexis was sure that Robin Hood had given him the coins.

Alexis had told Gabriella that the Robin Hood in question had been running very quickly and had bumped right into him knocking Alexis' food all over the place. Alexis recounted how Robin Hood had helped gather together all of Alexis' food and then gave him some coins. Then Robin Hood ran off.

Gabriella shook her head in disbelief. She asked if the man called himself Robin Hood.

Alexis had shrugged. He had not introduced himself to Alexis but he had not denied the name when it was given to him.

Then Gabriella asked what the man had looked like.

Alexis described a tall man, good looking fellow, very black hair and even blacker eyes. A man that would have scared small children had he not been so kind and generous. Maybe, Alexis mused, that was the beauty of Robin Hood.

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders and gave Alexis his wife's medicine. Alexis thanked her and then left closing the door loudly behind him.

Gabriella looked curiously at Marian. Marian was concentrating on her concoction. Marian knew that Gabriella would want to talk about this but Marian had other ideas. She was trying to figure out who was impersonating Robin Hood. She had lost hope when the man said that the alleged Robin Hood had dark hair and dark eyes. And Robin, she smiled to herself, was anything but scary.

Could it have been…?

"Marian?" asked Gabriella softly. "Talk to me."

Marian rolled her eyes. "What about?"

Gabriella hit her friend gently. "Come off it. This running Robin Hood obviously."

"That man," said Marian hiding back a tear, "is not my Robin Hood. Can we drop it now?"

Gabriella shook her head. "No."

Marian did not respond.

"Aren't you a little curious?" asked Gabriella temptingly. "Don't you want to just guess?"

Marian closed her eyes. "Don't bother guessing."

Gabriella shook her head. "I know what you are thinking," she said sitting down next to Marian, "and let me tell you, without a doubt in my mind, that the Robin Hood imposter was not your husband."

Marian opened her eyes. "You really think he is that evil?"

Gabriella nodded. "I knew his mother and father. They certainly were not good parents and could not have brought up a son kind enough to give money to the misfortunate. They were evil, and cruel." Gabriella shuttered.

Marian shook her head. "I know it's him."

Gabriella raised her eyebrow. "People do not change. People never change."

"He is a good man!" Marian exclaimed.

"You only say that because you do not wish to believe that the baby you are carrying is half good and half evil."

Marian stroked her belly. "Fully good."

"Are you positive this is his baby?" asked Gabriella with a smile.

Marian ignored her. "This baby is fully good because Guy and I are both good people. No matter what you think."

Gabriella shook her head. "Good is not love! I know you want to love him Marian! I know you are trying, but you must face the fact that you do not love him and never will. Honestly, if Robin is alive or dead, you will always love him."

Marian bit her lip. "Good leads to love. And…I am beginning to love him. He has been so good to me lately. Not at all like himself. I could see being…h-happy with him. And a year from now…possibly…love will find a way to my doorstep."

Gabriella pointed to Marian's stomach. "Maybe this is the key."

And though Gabriella could have told this story to Guy as they made their way to the manor she kept quiet. He did not want her to speak and so she would not. Though it might have brought Guy happiness to hear his wife was beginning to love him, Gabriella held her tongue. Gabriella did not want Guy to be overly hopeful for nothing. She could taunt and tease the Gisborne boy all she wanted without guilt. But, for the memory of his grandfather, she would not give Guy false hope.

When they reached the manor Guy led her to the bedroom where they found Marian just as Guy had left her. She was sweating, crying, and moaning loudly.

"What the hell took you so long?!"

***************************************************************************

"What took you so long?" Robin asked Much impatiently.

The gang, which now included Eve and Stephan, had been on the road to Agincourt for what felt like a while now. They had stopped along the road because Much had to…well…relieve himself. He almost flew off his horse, causing laughter from Eve and Allan, and leapt without any grace into a thicket of trees.

He now returned with a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Robin's angry eyes. "Sorry master."

"Sometimes when you gotta go you gotta go," said Allan sympathetically.

Robin put his hand over his eyes. This was taking too long. He was taking too long.

"We need to keep moving," he said simply.

Stephan looked over at his little brother sadly. He could see the pain, even though he could not see it written on his brother's eyes. But it had been nearly two days since they stopped to rest. The gang, if they were going to rigorously continue the journey, needed to rest themselves. Stephan took a look at his fellow gang members. They all looked weary and drained.

"Robin," said Stephan moving his horse closer to Robin's, "we need to find rest for the night."

Robin uncovered his eyes and looked at his brother. "No, we keep going. It is still light out, we can still see where we are going."

He is not seeing sense. He is not thinking with his brain…just his heart.

"Robin," said Stephan soothingly, "Robby, please, we are tired and worn out. We need to rest for the night."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Who made you in charge?"

Stephan attempted a chuckle. "Nobody. But you must see reason. We cannot carry on this way. Even Jesus once said—"

"Stephan!" yelled Robin angrily, "couldn't you just give it a rest with the scripture? We all know you are the most learned and wise okay? Just…please shut up."

The gang looked at one another nervously. They were not prepared for a brother against brother fight. But they all were tired…and weary…so weary.

"How about we take a vote?" suggested Eve putting her two cents in.

Much looked at her and then nudged Allan. "Yeah, that's my girl."

Robin nodded. "Okay, whoever wants to side with Stephan and rest then say aye. If you want to abandon me in my time of need and vulnerability, then just let the ayes cry out! But if you want to help me, and show me that you care about what I'm doing then say nay."

The gang spent another couple of seconds looking at each other. Who was going to speak first? Who was brave enough to say what he, or she, really felt?

Djaq spoke first. "Aye!"

Will nudged Much and whispered proudly. "Yeah, that's my girl."

Allan sulked. I want a girl damn it.

Robin looked with astonishment at Djaq. He was about to speak when John said, "Aye!"

Then Stephan said, "Aye."

Will and Allan looked at each other. Then they both said, "Aye!"

Eve said, "Aye."

All eyes then turned to Much. Robin looked at him pleadingly. The rest of the gang looked at him curiously too. But Much knew what was right and what was wrong. It would be wrong to continue in this way when everyone thought it best to rest. It would be wrong for Robin, who was not thinking with his head, to lead onwards. It would be wrong…

But Much did not want to go against his master. Very rarely did he go against Robin and it took much bravery on his part to contradict his best friend.

"Nay," said Much.

Eve furrowed her brows at him.

Robin smiled. "Thank you my old friend. But it seems that the rest do not agree with us. We will find an inn and rest for the night. Democracy in action."

Soon they found an inn. They led their horses to the stables and made sure they had enough to eat before feeding themselves. For the most part they ate in silence. Each gang member was chewing down his guilt at betraying the leader.

And Much was chewing down his guilt for going against the majority, for going against his Eve. She would not talk to him as they ate their bread and soup.

Later that evening the gang found their rooms. They were scarce on money so rooms had to be shared. Robin roomed with Stephan. Will roomed with Djaq. Much roomed with Eve. And Allan roomed with John.

When John and Allan were settling down for the night each stared up at the ceiling in thoughtful silence.

"Do you ever miss them?" asked Allan thoughtfully.

"Every day," said John understanding perfectly what Allan meant.

"How do you hold it in?" asked Allan quietly.

The visit to the cathedral had brought forth painful memories for Allan. Memories he did not wish to share or relive ever again. But the longer he held in his sadness the more his pain and agony increased. Though John was often silent he had not failed to notice Allan's tears at the cathedral. He had decided he would not press his friend unless Allan wanted to share.

"I remind myself that they are in a better place," said John.

Allan nodded. "What if it doesn't work?"

John shifted his position but continued to stare at the ceiling. "You should not ignore pain Allan. You must remind yourself that though you feel pain, you are a better man than the sorrow."

Allan scratched his cheek. "When did we start talking about me?"

John shrugged. "I thought we'd been talking about you from the beginning Allan."

Allan nodded and let a lone tear drip from his eye to his cheek. "My father…he…passed away a long time ago. But at Burgundy…while praying…all these memories came back…and I-I…"

"I understand," said John. "It is not easy to lose the ones you love."

"Will it get easier?" asked Allan hopefully.

"No."

"So what do we do?" asked Allan.

John sighed. "We remember that they loved us Allan. We remember hope much they cared for us and how they helped us become the men we are today."

Allan raised his eyebrow. "That was pretty John."

"Yeah, don't tell the others I was that warm or caring," said John. "Just between us alright?"

Allan nodded. "Just between us."

Then John said, "Goodnight." He turned on his side and closed his eyes to welcome sleep.

Allan coughed and John wearily opened his eyes.

"John?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you," said Allan.

In the next room things were not quite so warm and fuzzy between Much and Eve.

"How could you have gone against me?" asked Eve.

Much rolled his eyes. "I told you, he is my master and my best friend. I cannot simply go against him!"

Eve put her hands on her hips. "But what I think does not count? Is that it?"

Much groaned. "I did not mean that."

"But you'd probably follow him to the ends of the earth right? Me? You just happened to find me in some stables somewhere."

Eve sat on one of the two beds and rocked back and forth on the bed. Much slowly sat beside her. She did not shy away from him. That was a good sign for Much.

"Eve, how you could possibly think that?"

"Because it is true. You would be fine if you never found me here, or never met me. You could have been fine just living with Robin in the woods for the rest of your days."

Much shook his head. "Not a day has gone by," he said slowly, "when I have not thought of your beautiful face. Your words, your movements, have haunted my soul for a year. I have longed for you for so long…and…"

Much went red in the face. He wanted to tell her something else. He wanted to tell her what he should have told her last year. But he was scared. He was scared she would not say it back. He was scared of rejection.

"What?" asked Eve. "Longing and longing and longing…what is that but lust? Just simply ordinary male lu—"

"Why can't you just shut up and let me tell you I love you?!" Much yelled angrily.

Eve stared at Much. "You love me?"

"Do you even have to ask me that?" asked Much.

Eve took his hand in hers. "I love you too."

Much smiled brightly. "Really? You are not just saying that? Because I get hurt very easily you know."

Eve shook her head. "Truly Much. I love you."

The two kissed deeply and tenderly. Then the kiss turned from tender to passionate. Much plummeted Eve on the bed and Eve began to take off Much's tunic with her delicate fingers. Both gasped for breath. Much found his hands traveling up her leg towards her…

Then he stopped abruptly and looked at her.

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

"Is this what you want?" he asked her. He wanted to make sure this was okay.

Eve took Much's face in her hands and smiled. "You are who I want Much. For now…and always. I'm ready. Are you?"

Suddenly she gasped in bliss and the position of Much's fingers.

"Yes," he said. "Completely ready."

And suddenly there were moans echoing through the room. But in the next room Djaq found herself speechless. She was sitting on her bed and looking down at Will. He was kneeling and looking up at her with love in his eyes. His hands held hers.

"Oh…" said Djaq. "Are you really about to-to?"

"Djaq," said Will, "I know that there is so much wrong with the time. I mean, I don't come from the Holy Land. You don't come from England. I have no money and I live in the forest. My father is dead, my brother is in Scarborough with his aunt. Every day we are surrounded by danger. Every day we could die. Djaq, I realized that I want to spend the last day of my life with you by my side."

Djaq remained silent.

"Djaq?" Will asked.

Djaq nodded. "Yes, of course I'll marry you."

Will jumped up from his knees and embraced his fiancé.

With all this happiness and understanding pouring from three rooms none of it seemed to penetrate the thick anger from the fourth room where the brothers roomed.

"Robin?" asked Stephan. "Are you asleep?"

"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of hearing my ridiculous dreams. Of course I'm not asleep."

Robin was angry.

"You still haven't forgive me," said Stephan with understanding.

"Would you forgive me if I walked into your church and decided to go against you in front of your companions?" asked Robin fiercely.

Stephan shrugged. "I hate to remind you Robin, but you did. You did the minute you stepped into the Abbey and asked me to leave to conduct an annulment. You cannot even begin to imagine how long it took for me to persuade the monks and brothers…"

Robin sat up. "Really?" He had not expected that.

"Surprising as it may seem," said Stephan, "priests and monks don't tend to like annulments. They were against me leaving from the beginning. I was the minority voice to their overwhelming majority. They questioned my motives for going along with the annulment. They accused me of doing it just because you are my brother."

Robin's face reddened. He did not know his brother had fought for him. "What did you say?"

Stephan sat up too. "I said they were absolutely right."

"What?"

"I should have been there for you all those years ago," said Stephan. "I know you probably feel guilty because you were not there for me when I needed you. But I feel like I let you down too. When I went to France I thought I was doing a selfless act. I didn't stop to think, really think, about those I left behind…"

Robin walked over to his brother's side and hugged him. "It's okay."

Stephan nodded. "I know. And I am sorry for going against your authority earlier today. But I could see that you were not yourself this morning."

Robin nodded. "I have not been myself for many mornings."

Stephan clasped his brother's shoulder. "With any luck, with swift horses, and worthy travelers, we shall soon put you at ease and find Marian."

Robin walked back to his own bed. "I just wish I knew for sure that she was okay. I wish I knew for sure that he has not harmed her…if he hurt her I swear I'll—"

"Sh!" Insisted Stephan not wanting his brother to get angry. "Patience and mercy. Did not Jesus say once that he who—"

But Stephan could not finish that thought because a pillow suddenly hit his face.

Robin laughed. "Do shut up please."

Stephan shrugged. "I'm keeping this pillow by the way."

Robin nodded. "That's okay, I've got another one."

Okay what did you think?? i know i know no baby yet...but next chap we will get cracking on the delivery...hope some of you got the "birthing baby" line from gone with the wind...anyway a couple of notes...that eve and Much exchange which led to sexual stuff...first time ever writting anything that discriptive of sex so forgive me if you think i didnt do it justice...havent gotten any complaints though (hehehe) will and djaq getting married anyone see that coming??? really obvious?? how about Gabriella knowing Guy's grandparents?? how old is that woman? hope i gave you humor, angst, drama, suspence, action (ehehe) and love---all the characteristics to make up a good fanfic...reviews are lovely and me day of birth is in four days yay!