The chapter everyone has been waiting for has arrived!!! marian will have a baby!!! o m g...its finally happening...but this is soooo not the end nowhere near it so dont fret or worry your wondeful heads about that. Now heres a question for you...as you know i havent brought up the vasey/edward sections for a while...are you guys still curious about them or do you want to be suprised since they are the true evil villains of the tale?? and a note for you all...i dont realy know that much about childbirth...so forgive me if its not right or something...SOO one last thing...i do not own robin hood bbc...if i did there would be a very different ending to season 3 and season 2

Chapter Seventeen Discovery Delivery

"What you look at that?" Allan asked the gang as they were leaving the inn. He pointed to a poster of the sheriff of Nottingham. The sheriff's face seemed to be staring angrily at the gang. And even though he was not there his gaze sent a chill through Will's heart.

"I suppose his cruelty has been spread all around Europe," mused Djaq looking at the picture.

Robin shook his head. "But what does that mean underneath the picture?"

He was referring to the writing underneath the picture which was in French. Stephan and Eve took a look at it and looked at each other with worried glances. They both understood exactly what the message meant. It was not simply a description of evil deeds the sheriff had committed in Nottingham. And it was not target practice for French archers.

It was a wanted poster.

It signified that the sheriff of Nottingham was here…in France!

But who was going to break the news to Robin? Which one of them dared?

Much looked curiously from his Eve to his master's brother. "What is it?"

Eve cleared her throat as if to begin to speak. "Uh, well…it means that the sheriff is wanted dead or alive."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "That's impossible. That could only mean one thing. It could only mean that…that…"

Stephan nodded. "The sheriff of Nottingham is here Robin. He is here in France."

The hero of the greenwood closed his eyes and thought about his last meeting with the sheriff. He had promised the sheriff he would deliver Guy back to him…and the sheriff seemed to accept that. Why was the sheriff here then?

Robin opened his eyes. Before they left this town they were going to find out why the bloody hell the sheriff was in France. He turned abruptly to Stephan and Eve.

"Find out what anyone knows about him. If anyone has seen him, what he has done while in France, if anyone knows where he is…anything like that okay?"

Stephan and Eve nodded.

Then Robin turned to the rest of the gang. "Go with them. Make sure they get answers. Much, Allan, Djaq…go with Eve. The rest of you go with Stephan."

The two groups left without a word. But Will hung back and looked at his leader. He watched with eyes full of sorrow as Robin ripped off the poster from the side of the building and sat on the cobblestone ground. Robin was staring with pain and sorrow into the sheriff's blank eyes.

He took the picture in his left and hand with an intake of breath crumpled up the poster into a little ball. He let it fall to the ground beside him.

"Don't liter," said Will trying to make Robin laugh.

Robin spun his head around to face Will. "What are you doing here? You should be off with Stephan. I told you to help Stephan."

Will bent down to Robin and put his hand on Robin's shoulder. "What is wrong?"

Robin pushed Will away. "Just leave me alone Will. I need to think, plan this out."

Will shook his head. "You still have not forgiven me."

Robin shook his head. "This isn't about you Will…I just…I don't know."

"You do know," said Will, "you can tell me. I'm here for you Robin."

Robin looked into his friend's eyes. There was so much love in Will Scarlett's eyes. There was love for his fearless leader, love for his friends, his home…so much love yet sadness was written there too it seemed. Sadness for the loved ones he could not save. Sadness for the deaths he could not prevent.

"I have had to watch the ones I love slip away too," said Will. "You know that Robin. And I understand how you feel about Marian. If anything happened to Djaq…especially now, I swear I'd—"

"Wait," Robin stopped him. "What do you mean 'especially now'?"

Will's face reddened. He hadn't meant to share that part. He didn't want to tell the gang he and Djaq were engaged until this was all over. But he supposed it couldn't hurt to tell Robin now.

I hope he doesn't hate me for this.

"Djaq and I," said Will, "are engaged."

Robin's previously forlorn face broke into a smile. His smile brightened Will's heart as well. "That's fantastic Will. Congratulations."

The two friends hugged each other and then parted. They stood up silently. Robin put his hands on his hips.

"She said yes right?"

Will nodded. "Wouldn't force her to marry me otherwise. That would be weird wouldn't it?"

Robin took a sharp intake of breath. He did not reply. He was thinking of a woman who had been forced into marriage without truly accepting.

Will realized his mistake. "Oh, Robin I'm sorry mate, I forgot."

Robin shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You're right. And I am very happy for you."

"What about?" asked Allan.

Allan's group, which consisted of Eve, Djaq, and Much returned and looked at Robin and Will.

"So what are we happy about?" Allan repeated his question.

Will looked at Djaq and they had an entire conversation through eye contact.

Don't be mad at me. Will's eyes said.

What did you do now Will? Djaq's eyes asked him suspiciously.

Robin knows about us…do you think we should tell the rest of them?

Djaq raised an eyebrow. Was he okay about us being happy?

Yeah, of course. Will's eyes shone with happiness.

"Djaq and I are engaged," said Will aloud.

"'Bout time," said Allan.

Much chuckled. "Finally."

Eve smiled and took Much's hand in hers. "Congratulations."

Will shook his head. "Wait a minute, you lot saw this coming?"

"Sort of," said Allan. "But we wanted you to figure it out on your own."

"How kind of you," said Djaq walking beside Will and taking her hand in his.

Robin wanted to ask Eve what she had learned from the villagers but he found that his words were lost inside of him. He was looking from Much and Eve to Will and Djaq. They were both so happy and in love. Will and Much, two of his oldest and dearest friends, had finally found happiness in the arms of another. And Robin was happy for them. There was true bliss in his heart for his companions…but there was also something else.

Jealously.

A bitter sort of jealously which clung to Robin's skin tightly. The jealously seemed to suck away all the joy he felt for his friends. The jealously taunted him bitterly.

Look at all of them…so happy so in love. You are so pitiful…people should weep for you. How could you have convinced an entire shire of your bravery? You are nothing! You are in love with a married woman. Do you have no shame at all? Surely people, everywhere, should weep for your pitiful state of being.

But he would not let the jealously control him. He would fight and destroy this feeling inside of him. So he coughed to get everyone's attention back.

"What did you learn Eve?"

Eve scratched the back of her neck. "Maybe you should let Stephan tell you. He probably has heard the same thing."

"What did you learn Eve?" asked Robin more desperately.

Much patted her hand gently. "You can tell him, he probably won't hate you."

Eve rolled her eyes at Much. Though she had forgiven him the previous night…many glorious times over…she was still annoyed that he was not on her side of things. True she had once worked for the sheriff and true he would never abandon his best friend…but still…

Eve began to talk when Stephan and Little John walked up to them.

"Thank God," whispered Eve. "Saved by the priest."

"Did you tell him yet?" asked Stephan anxiously.

Robin sighed. "If someone doesn't tell me what's going on I swear I'll…never mind. What is the sheriff doing here?"

"He was seen a couple of villages from here," said Stephan. "Apparently after he left the town he left behind a dead bartender. But he seems to have disappeared no one can find him."

Robin nodded. "But do you know why he is here?"

Eve spoke, "The villager I was speaking with told me that he told the bartender he was looking for a man named Guy. Apparently the bartender told the sheriff where Guy is living and the sheriff had him killed."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Had him killed?"

"Sources say he is not alone," said Stephan.

So he's not alone…he's looking for Guy…that does not add up.

"If the sheriff found a replacement," said Allan, "then why would he be looking for Guy?"

"Maybe he wants to visit Guy," said Much hopefully.

But the gang doubted Much's suggestion.

"Do you think he means to kill Guy?" asked Will. "Guy did abandon him after all."

Robin nodded. "That's likely."

"Good to have saved us from doing it ourselves," said John.

But Robin shook his head. "John you know he would not stop at Guy…and if he knows that we are headed this way…"

And then the blessed little gears in Robin's brain began clicking. Things started making sense in his previously muddled mind. The sheriff wanted Robin and the gang to come to stop him…and then the sheriff would use Marian to kill Robin…though Robin had not figured out how exactly.

"Marian," whispered Robin.

Not only did he need to worry about getting her back, now he had to worry about the sheriff beating Robin and his gang to the estate. What if the sheriff got there before Robin…what if the sheriff was there now? What if he was hurting her?

Robin hugged himself and looked at the sun. "I should not have told the sheriff we were engaged."

Much stared at him. "You told the sheriff you were with Marian?"

Robin shrugged. "At the time I didn't think he'd do anything about it."

"Robin, if he knows that you were engaged to Marian and that Marian does not love Guy…then maybe the sheriff is not planning to kill her himself," said Will worried.

Robin looked at him. "What are you suggesting Will?"

"The sheriff will tempt Guy to kill her."

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

"Guy, this is killing me!" screamed Marian.

"Stop hurting her!" screamed Guy to Gabriella.

Gabriella was seated at the end of the bed and tried to spread Marian's legs open so that the baby could come out safely. But the baby was still not ready yet. Marian was getting painful contractions but she could not push yet. Gabriella told her that Gabriella would know when the time was right to start pushing.

Guy was sitting beside Marian he was massaging her neck and back. But since he was not very good at healing others the thoughtful deed turned out to cause Marian even more pain. So he stopped and put his hands by his sides.

"Can I at least get her something to drink?" asked Guy wanting to do something useful.

Gabriella shook her head. "Can't have anything to drink."

Marian was breathing heavily. "Are you sure you know what you are doing? You've done this before?"

Gabriella looked at Guy and then nodded. "Every baby I have seen come into the world was beautiful and healthy."

Guy put his arm around Marian and she put her head on his shoulder. Her hair had fallen out of its bun and it fell in a tumble of wavy curls. At this moment some of those curls tickled Guy's chin and the side of his neck. Though they were wet with sweat he still thought they were beautiful.

He took Marian's hand in his own.

"Squeeze my hand if it hurts," he said. He braced himself for the impact of her grasp.

"AH!" she screamed and squeezed Guy's hand extremely hard. But Guy did not feel it. He was so used to pain that Marian's pull did not seem so bad in comparison.

"OW!"

Then Guy bit his lip. She really had a strong grip.

"I can see how you'd have made a good nightwatchman. Guess I didn't stand a chance against you," said Guy gently to Marian.

"What?" asked Marian.

She was concentrating on the pain and did not hear how Guy had just accepted Marian as the nightwatchman. Gabriella heard him though but she held back her comment because she realized that this was the moment they had all been waiting for.

"Marian?" she asked.

"Yes?!"

"I need you to push really really hard! NOW!"

So Marian pushed and screamed as she did so. She pushed through the agony and wretched torment she was in. She pushed through the pain and sorrow of the last nine months. She pushed through the loves she would never see again.

But Gabriella shook her head. Marian was not pushing enough. The baby was not coming

She motioned for Guy to join her. He did so.

"She is not pushing hard enough, you need to encourage her."

"How?" asked Guy perplexed.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Men! Use your brain, figure it out. I've got bigger problems."

Guy remained kneeling beside Gabriella. He looked up at Marian's tired face.

"What is it Guy? What's wrong?" she asked.

"Gabriella says you need to push harder," said Guy sympathetically.

Marian closed her eyes. "I can't. I'm too tired. Argh!"

Guy got up and walked back to Marian's side. He looked in her eyes. "I know you Marian. You do not give up that easily on anything. Every time I have seen you as the nightwatchman, though I did not know it, I was amazed that you never stopped fighting. You are so brave my sweet, good, Marian. I know you can do this."

My sweet, good, Marian. Something that Robin used to call her.

So Marian pushed harder because of Guy's encouragement.

Then suddenly she did not need to push anymore because she heard a little scream.

Gabriella smiled and held Guy and Marian's baby in her arms. "Congratulations. You have a new healthy baby...girl."

Marian smiled and collapsed on the bed worn out. Gabriella stood up and wrapped the baby in a blanket.

Guy walked over to Gabriella's side and looked at his little daughter. He shook his head with confusion.

"Why is there so much blood?" he asked confused.

"It is normal with every birth. There is always blood."

The blood on his pure child made Guy a little woozy. But then Gabriella left the room to clean her leaving Marian and Guy alone in their bedroom.

Guy walked back to Marian. She was staring up at the ceiling in shock.

I just had a baby. There were tears in her eyes.

Guy joined her on the bed and he stared up at the ceiling too.

For a while neither spoke both were reflecting on the miracle they had created together. Marian was still crying though they were not tears of sadness. Guy did not understand that.

"What's the matter? She's beautiful…and completely healthy."

Marian wiped a tear from her cheek. "I'm not sad Guy. Quite the opposite actually…I'm delirious with bliss."

Guy raised an eyebrow. "You are?"

Marian nodded. "Yeah, I'm a mother Guy. I have a daughter…I…we have a daughter."

Guy nodded. "I'm sorry about this morning. I wasn't thinking…I was too angry and I apologize."

Marian was about to respond when Gabriella entered carrying the baby who was now completely devoid of blood in anyway. Both Marian and Guy sat up. Gabriella wordlessly handed the baby to Marian.

"I'm going to go," said Gabriella. "If you need me, you know where I am."

She slipped out of the room to give the parents time to greet their little girl. The girl was still crying a bit even while her mother held her.

"Sh!" said Marian sweetly, "it's okay little one. We're here, we'll always be here to protect you and look after you."

Marian looked at Guy. "Do you want to hold her?"

Guy gulped. "Are you sure?"

Marian handed the little baby to Guy.

Guy held his little daughter in his arms. At first he did not look at the baby too worried that the baby's innocent eyes would glimpse the monster inside of him. But at last he had the strength to look down at his baby.

The baby was looking up at him. The baby had little wisps of brown hair like her mother. But Guy could not tear his eyes away from the baby's eyes. Because the baby girl had his own black eyes. But the eyes were beautiful and soulful. They contained nothing of strife or suffering. They did not know about wars or revenge.

And Guy found suddenly that he couldn't clearly see his daughter anymore. His vision was blurry. Guy blinked and blinked again but he could not stop the tears falling like a waterfall from his eyes down his cheeks.

He, Guy of Gisborne, was crying.

And these tears were not of anger, sorrow, or fear. They were tears he had never experienced before. They were tears of joy and bliss.

He remembered the words he grandfather had spoken to him just before he died.

Guy, come here. Guy's grandfather whispered.

Guy dutifully approached his grandfather's side. I'm here.

Soon I shall depart from this world forever, said Guy's grandfather somberly.

Guy nodded but did not understand

The old wise man chuckled and then coughed. I know I am leaving you in a world all on your own. And you do not deserve that my brave little boy. You deserve much better than the loveless love your parents give you. And you deserve better than the grandfatherly love of an old man like me.

Shhh grandpa…Guy had tried to calm him down.

But Guy's grandfather shook his head. No you must listen now. You will go through strife and pain…I know that. You will need to battle and chose sides, and your choices might not always be for the best. But one day you shall find bliss…you shall find ultimate happiness here I assure you.

Now Guy realized what his grandfather meant all those years ago.

Guy of Gisborne the murderer was no longer. Guy had love, unadulterated and pure, right in his arms. And Guy felt bliss for the first time in his adult life. And he knew it was not something bought with lavish gifts, it was not earned by years of devotion and service, it was not gained through schemes. No.

True bliss…had to be given selflessly and received selflessly by another.

This little girl with her bright warm eyes gave Guy bliss without asking for anything back.

Guy smiled down at his little girl and held her in his arms.

"Hello Clara," he said calling her by the name they had decided for her. "It's me G-…your daddy. I love you. I love you very much my sweet little girl."

The tears continued to flow down his cheeks but he did not burn with shame.

And Marian watched Guy with joy in her eyes. She felt that she was finally beginning to…possibly…maybe love him.

"I'm going to rest for a little while," said Marian. She bit her lip.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"Don't leave," she said. "Can you stay here, with Clara, next to me? When I wake up I want to try feeding her."

Guy nodded content cooing over Clara.

Marian closed her eyes and suddenly found Robin Hood staring at her.

Her first instinct was to jump in his arms and hug him forever. But she could not touch him. She could not truly hold him as her own. Robin crossed his arms and stared at her.

Where are you Marian? He asked quietly.

Here! The call could have pierced through glass…but Robin did not seem to hear her.

Do you love me?

Her heart began to beat faster. She did not respond.

Do you still love me?

How she wanted to respond with a no. She longed for it because she knew that this was not real and Robin was dead. But she did not speak at all.

You have been busy since last we met, Robin said without emotion.

He began to slip away and fade into blackness.

Wait! She screamed with all her might.

A silhouette of her beloved outlaw lingered waiting for a reply.

I did it for you! She pleaded to the cold silhouette. I did it for you because I love you. You wanted me to live! I did this for you!

But the silhouette faded in blackness and Marian was awakened by the cries of her little baby.

"I think she's hungry," said Guy. "I'd do it if I could. But I haven't got milk filled breasts."

Marian rubbed her eyes and laughed at Guy's joke. She wordlessly sat up and lowered her dress so that she could feed Clara. Guy handed Clara to Marian and soon the baby was suckling happily.

Guy smiled at Marian. He had not heard the conversation in her head. He tried to wipe away a tear but she noticed he was still crying.

She looked up from Clara's feast and raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"

Guy nodded. "It's just…I think I'm finally beginning to understand the meaning of a couple of words I'd forgotten over the years."

"What words?"

Guy shrugged and looked lovingly at Clara. "You know, words like bliss, or joy, or happiness."

"You've changed," she said. "Guy I am astonished."

But Guy shook his head. "I have not changed Marian. This side of me was always within me. I just didn't know it at the time…you helped bring it to the surface, you and Clara have reminded me that there is more to me than pain and darkness."

Marian's stomach turned. "Oh. You're welcome." She did not know what to say.

Guy laughed. He leaned over to her and kissed her lightly on the lips.

He was full of unfettered joy.

Marian, as they kissed, and as Clara enjoyed her first meal on earth, was torn. She wanted to kiss Guy back with unfettered joy and passion. She wanted to love her husband without any doubt or second guessing.

But every time she closed her eyes she found Robin standing there.

Miss me? He asked her.

Robin! I need to stop loving you!

Gosh its getting good...i hope (crosses fingers) you like it (crosses fingers again) soooo lets recap....rob knows...kinda...about the sheriff's scheme ish...and guy and marian have a baby guy is happy who saw that coming??? and marian is going to have such nightmares about robin...though they're not nightmares more as they are...painful reminders that she does not love guy....yes i know guy/mar fans i said the bad word...but youve been geting such good chaps...i need to balance it with the rob/mar lovers so just remember i love you both and ill make it good again for both of you guys...soooo what do you think?? read review enjoy