Hey all did you miss me?? miss the story?? maybe not...but anyway we've got ourselves another update so that's good news!!! i hope you all like it still and hopefully you guys dont see an obvious outcome for these characters...however if you have any ideas you want me to incorporate i'd love to hear them!! thanks for the sweet reviews so far this is the longest story i've ever written for fan fiction (you are free to cheer now!) Robin Hood BBC does not belong to me...Much would probably have a bigger role if i owned it...but since we all know he doesnt (sniff) it obviously doesnt belong to me see the logic???

Chapter Twenty Three: Pleads of the Broken

Robin stared at the sheriff with his mouth wide open. Was the sheriff seriously suggesting that Robin Hood murder an innocent child?

"Do you know me at all?" Robin asked the sheriff.

The sheriff rolled his eyes. "Hood, this is not such an innocent child."

"Did she bite you Vasey?" asked Robin sarcastically. "Did she throw up a bit on your clothes?"

Vasey looked at Edward. "Edward, give Robin the inbred baby."

Edward walked up to Robin and put the baby in his arms. Guy tried to take the baby from Robin's arms but Edward held him back with his sword. Robin did not look at the child. He refused to acknowledge the girl's existence. Instead he looked at Marian. But Marian would not meet his eyes she looked at the floor.

"This is his child!" Robin yelled. "This is the result of his seed!"

"So," said Vasey, "what's it to be?"

Robin gazed at the sheriff but was silent.

"Oh come on now," the sheriff implored, "this tiny one is merely a bag of evil waiting to burst at the seams. It is the child of a monster, what else do you expect will happen? Hood, do you understand what will happen if you kill this…thing? You kill the baby and you basically murder the father of the baby." The sheriff paused and gestured with his free hand to Guy's face. "Do you think he will survive if you murder his child? He will be begging you to kill him."

Robin considered this option. If he did kill the child and then Guy, Marian would be free. Marian could return to England. Marian would be happy.

"Hood," said Guy suddenly, "please…"

Robin's ears heard the unfamiliar word issue from Guy's mouth. Please?

Robin swiftly turned, with the child in his arms, to face Guy. He was separated from Robin by a single blade. But in his heart, Guy felt like he was a million miles away from his dear daughter. He was torn from her and the distance broke his spirit. The sheriff had been blathering that murdering his Clara would kill him, but he was already dead.

Marian, on the floor, felt broken too. If Robin actually did this deed and killed her daughter, she was not sure she would ever forgive him. She was not sure she would live much longer in a world where her daughter did not exist. Marian wanted to meet Robin eye to eye and demand Clara's safety. But she was worried that if he was forced to look at her it would only increase his motivation to murder her baby.

But what she did not realize was how deeply Robin was touched by the "please" spoken by her husband. And he forced himself to look down at the child in his arms.

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"Uh," said Much standing beside the gang at the bottom of the hill, "is anyone else worried that Robin is not back yet?"

"We go after him," said John. And it seemed to the outlaws as simple as that.

"I have to say," said Allan, "I was not surprised when he ran up the hill without us. It seems in his nature these days to do things like that."

Will shrugged. "He has not been his usual self lately."

Everyone nodded in concurrence. Their leader had acted without reason or thought. While each member reflected on this realization it began to trouble Much.

Much still thought that the scream could have come from a child. If Robin was so angry and passionate would he stop and think before harming and innocent? Even if this innocent was the child of his enemy and his love?

Much began to shake and looked up with determination at the hill. He took out his sword and his shield. Then he turned to Eve and kissed her passionately on the mouth.

"Remember I love you," he told her.

Then, without a formal word to the gang, he ran up the hill as his master had done and opened the front door.

Allan shook his head. "See? Now that was surprising."

"He is worried about Robin," said Eve knowingly, "he is always worried about Robin."

Djaq nodded. "That's Much for you. What was he saying earlier about the little scream?"

"Just that it sounded little," said Stephan. "But what of it?"

John's eyes flashed. "Much has every reason to worry about Robin!"

"Why?" Everyone seemed to ask this in unison.

"What makes little screams?" asked John.

"Birds?" guessed Djaq.

"Squirrels," said Will.

But Allan seemed to understand. He had been thinking about Much's "little scream" ever since he had teased him about it. He began to remember many screams that sounded of that nature. Little screams come from little people. And little people, are children.

"A child!" Allan gasped, "Marian and Guy have a child!"

"Exactly," said John, relieved that someone finally understood.

"You don't think that Robin would…?" Djaq asked and then stopped herself unable to speak the terrible accusation.

"No," John shook his head, "he wouldn't surely!"

Stephan crossed himself. "My brother would never kill a child."

"But this is the child of his enemy, a man who has tried to kill him on several occasions," pointed out Will.

Eve looked at the path Much had taken. She closed her eyes. Oh Much, for once in your life don't agree with Robin! Please do the right thing!

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Meanwhile Robin was looking down at his possible victim and definite cause of distress and sadness. He was expecting to see little daggers in the girl's eyes, or tiny fangs dripping with blood. But, to his surprise, Robin Hood saw none of these Satan tendencies in the little girl he held in his arms. He saw something much more disturbing.

He saw love.

The little one was looking up at him with her beautiful black eyes and smiled at the stranger. She stopped crying as soon as Robin took hold of her. But in the confusion, Robin had not noticed until now the peace upon her face.

Where did that come from?

Perhaps it had all come from Marian. All the goodness on the girl's face was due to her mother's goodness and purity. But if this child was half good then she was also half evil thanks to her father's killing tendencies.

But what scared Robin was that the child did not seem at all evil. This meant that Guy had been changed for the good when the child came into the world.

Robin could not kill easily, unless absolutely necessary. Was this absolutely necessary?

But before he could decide anything the front door was suddenly thrust open and Much yelled, "Robin Stop!"

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He was out of breath when he opened the door but he was at a loss for words when he saw the scene in front of his eyes.

Much's eyes scanned the room quickly and found Marian with the sheriff's sword inches from her neck. He saw a stranger holding a sword at Gisborne's chest. And Much then spotted his master, his best friend, and his comrade in arms with a child in his arms.

All eyes in the room fell on the newcomer.

"Much?" asked Robin with surprise.

"Much!?" exclaimed Marian both shocked and briefly warmed upon seeing a sweet and familiar face.

"Hood's little side kick," muttered Guy.

"Mulch," said the sheriff with a smile. "Good of you to have arrived to see the show."

Much's eyes darted to Robin and the baby in his arms. "What is he talking about Robin?"

Robin did not answer but wore a guilty expression on his face.

But Much did not need an explanation from his master to understand the situation. He knew exactly whose baby that was. And he knew why Robin was holding the child with his eyes downcast and saddened beyond relief. But what Much did not understand nor could comprehend was how Robin could actually be considering this path!

"Robin," Much said desperately, "surely not."

"Much!" Robin yelled, "this is something I must decide on my own!"

Now Much was used to that kind of answer. He often let himself get pushed to the side during these times. Much always had the courage to stand up with Robin. Yet he was not sure if he had the courage to stand up to Robin.

That was when he heard Eve's voice inside his head.

Much…I think this is it.

Much mentally shook his head. No. He is my best friend! My best mate! I am not going to go against him on this. I cannot.

You must! If you believe in justice then you must do this!

He will never forgive me if I betray him like this, in front of his enemies.

He will never forgive you for this if you sit by and let him ruin his life! Do you honestly think he will be able to live with himself if he does this? Come on Much be brave!

Both parts of his mind desperately fought to be heard. But Much realized what he should do, what he should have done long ago. From the depths of his soul he let out a scream.

"Robin," Much shouted, "please do not do this!"

Robin began to reply but Much shook his head. "Do not try to ask me how I know, I just do! And Robin, if you claim to fight for justice then you must listen to me now! You cannot do this to an innocent creature. Be it Gisborne's child or not!"

Robin looked from his friend's pleading eyes to the child's beautiful black eyes. If he did this brutal deed and murdered the child then perhaps the pain would be gone. But in its place would be a completely different pain, and that pain would never go away.

And he realized he would never hurt the girl, no matter who her father was.

But while Robin stood in thought Vasey was getting impatient with this entire ordeal. He had been expecting a quick murder of Marian, followed by an even quicker death of Gizzy. And then the outlaws would drop one by one. However, so far, as the sheriff could count, everyone who should be dead by now was still alive.

There is something wrong with this picture.

Vasey rolled his eyes. He glared at Edward. "Why is this thing speaking? Why are we letting him speak Edward?"

"My lord," said Edward, "there are only two of us on our side with swords. What do you expect me to do?"

Vasey was about to answer when he suddenly let out a groan and clutched at his groin. Marian had had the good sense to kick him while he wasn't looking. And as the sheriff groaned Marian grabbed the sheriff's sword and stood up. Her face was bloody as were her hands but she was satisfied with her successful escape.

The two men who loved her more than life stared at her with awe and admiration.

But then Robin looked at Guy and saw how he stared at Marian with love too. Robin felt a lump swirl in his throat. Guy did not simply lust after Marian. Guy loved Marian. And the hero of the forest never wanted to believe that. He had come to France with a purpose, a plan, to release Marian from Guy's grasp on her.

What he had not considered was that she might not want to be released from Guy's grasp. Because maybe Guy wasn't grasping, maybe he was simply holding onto her, the way Robin should have done.

Robin was about to speak and tell everyone that he was not going to harm the child. But before he could say a word Edward leapt from Guy's side to Marian's. He pointed his sword at her and the two of them began to fight. While they battled Guy drew his own sword and began to fight Edward as well.

Much looked at Robin. He was shocked that Robin seemed to remain motionless and rooted to the spot.

"What are you doing?" he asked Robin.

Robin went up to Much and whispered in his ear, "Take the child outside Much. Keep her safe with the gang. Give the baby to one of the girls, they'll know how to look after her for now."

Much nodded and took the baby from Robin's hands. "But master," he said, "what are you going to do?"

Robin took out his own sword. "Today," he said, "is a good day to die."

While he and Much were talking the sheriff had taken Marian's sword and joined the fight.

Robin ran towards the sheriff and began to fight as well. Though he felt like a broken soul he was prepared to die for Marian to be happy. No matter the cost no matter the outcome. He was too involved now.

Edward fought Marian with passionate anger. If he could kill her quickly then he could move onto Gisborne and kill him quickly. Guy would be heartbroken at the thought that Marian died and he would give up quickly and quietly.

Marian fought Edward with anger and determination. This Edward Mann was planning to kill her and she would not let him do that so easily. Though she was filled with so much hatred for this man she could barely breathe, she was filled with something else that drove her.

Marian was filled with an emotion she had not felt in a long time.

Love.

She loved her daughter more than her own life that was certain. And she loved Guy and was beginning to find contentment. She was beginning to convince herself that it was possible to live without her outlaw. But then Robin had returned. Robin seemed to bring back the sun in the sky. His very presence sent shock waves down her spine.

But Marian feared that he no longer loved her or cared for her now that she was married to Gisborne. Now that she had been with Gisborne. She thought she could have died when she saw the way he crumbled upon finding out that she was a mother. Marian wanted to tell Robin the truth right then and there. Even now, as she battled Edward to the death, she wanted to scream the truth to Robin's beautiful ears.

I still love you! I have always loved you!

While Marian fought Edward, Guy fought the sheriff. He kept a watchful eye on Marian and Edward and often stepped in to clash his sword against Edward's before parrying the sheriff's thrusts.

Guy did not feel like he was in his right mind. His Clara was in danger, his Marian was in danger, and he had to protect them. Only, and this was the tricky part, Marian was not his Marian. It wasn't so much the tricky part as it was the part that Guy did not wish to think about for too long. He had seen the way her eyes lit up when she saw her precious outlaw. Her eyes had sparkled in a way that Guy had never seen before.

And then, when Edward had handed his beautiful Clara to Hood, Guy was about to scream and break Edward part one bone at a time. But all that had come out of his mouth was a pitiful please. Though he thought in the way of a monster he spoke in the way of a father. A father whose only crime in this world is loving his daughter more than life itself. A father whose only crime is his willingness to beg for her life, to die for her life.

A thought crossed Guy's mind. He saw himself in a sea of blood with a sword in his stomach. He saw the sheriff's cackle and Edward's triumphant look of contentment. But these images blurred into two others. He saw Marian looking down at him with tears in her eyes. And he saw Clara as a little girl crawling on her knees to his her father's cheek.

Please, the broken man pleaded to his angel. Please I need to know...

Will you be alright? He asked her knowing the wound was fatal.

You saved me daddy, of course I will be alright.

How do you know? he asked quietly.

You love me.

But before Guy could understand this image he saw Robin Hood jump to his side and fight the sheriff by his side. He would have stared at Hood with his eyebrow raised but there was a sheriff who needed to be taught his lesson.

"What are you doing here?" asked Guy as he and Robin faced the sheriff.

"Which here do you mean?" answered Robin while they fought.

"You decide," said Guy blocking the sheriff's blow, "I'm a bit busy now."

"I came here to save my fiancé," said Robin to Guy though he fought on.

Guy nodded.

"Not surprised?" asked Robin.

Guy groaned. "It is not the most surprising news I have heard today."

Robin was about to continue to ask Guy how he could have known about that when the sheriff delivered at threatening blow that Robin had to block.

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While Robin jumped to fight Much groaned and slowly crept out the door holding the child.

"I hate sayings," he told the little one. "I hope your mother and father know what they're doing."

I hope Robin knows what he's doing.

He walked down the hill with a child in his arms and saw the gang at the bottom of the hill looking oddly at him.

Eve was the first to speak. "Yours?"

Much rolled his eyes. "The product of Marian and Guy."

John closed his eyes and shook his head. "This, I do not like."

Will crossed his arms. "We should not leave him in there. He needs us now, probably more than ever."

Stephan shook his head. "Robin needs to battle his own demons without us."

"But what if he loses?" asked Allan. "What if the demons are stronger?"

Much shook his head holding the baby tightly in his arms. "No, Robin will win. He must."

"Can I hold him?" asked Djaq stretching her arms out to take the child from Much.

Much nodded. "It's a she actually." He handed the baby to Djaq.

Djaq took the child and began to hum a lullaby that her father used to sing to her when she was a little girl. She smiled down at the little innocent creature who was the cause of so much chaos and confusion.

"May I ask," said Eve, "how did you get a hold of the baby?"

"Robin was holding her," began Much while the gang listened intently, "and he was considering killing her. That's how angry and confused he was. And I, I stood up to him." Much paused and saw Eve beam at her lover. Much then continued, "And I think he listened, I think he actually considered what I had to say."

"Think?" repeated Allan.

"Well before he could say anything Marian kicked the sheriff in the groin and got his sword. Then the sheriff's new lackey jumped to fight her, then Gisborne jumped to fight him, then Robin handed me the little babe. Told me to keep it safe while he fought too."

All gang members were silent considering the news.

Stephan spoke up. "How does this Gisborne seem?"

Much had not been expecting this question, especially from a man who had never met Gisborne. But Much answered to the best of his ability.

"It is a shame you have never met him before today," said Much.

"Why?"

"Because," said Much, "because he seems very different now. I mean, we all know, we could tell you stories of his cruelty. But he has changed since we last saw him. He does not wear the same black leather of a henchman, but plain clothes like that of a…"

"Farmer?" asked Will noticing Guy's work in the field by his home.

Much nodded. "He has changed."

"Marian changed him you think?" asked Will.

Allan walked over to Djaq's side and looked down at the baby. "No," he said answering Will's question. "No. I think, she did. This little girl changed our Gisborne, possibly for the better."

John put his hand to his head. "Then we are lost!"

Everyone gave John a quizzical look.

"We cannot expect Marian to leave Guy now that she has a child, and a better husband."

Much shook his head. He refused to believe John's words. "No. Marian loves Robin. She does not love Guy."

John walked up to Much and put his arms on Much's shoulders. "Much, I have a wife and child in Scarborough. You know that. Let us pretend that I do not love my wife. But no matter how much I hypothetically detest my wife, I still love my son. And I would stay with ten women I despise to be with my son."

Allan raised an eyebrow. "Would you…?" his voice trailed off unable to finish his sentence. He began thinking about the love a father feels for his child. He thought of his own father. In the last days of his life, when they had no more money and food was scarce, his father always insisted that he eat the last piece of bread.

But daddy, Allan had insisted. Aren't you hungry?

Allan's father had shaken his head and patted Allan on the head. You need it more than I do Allan. What kind of father would I be if I did not give you what I had? Besides, you need it more than me…your life is more precious than mine.

Allan had tried to refuse and tore off a piece of the bread to share with his father. His father accepted the piece but when he took the bread from Allan's small hand he broke it off even smaller and gave a part of it back to Allan.

Now Allan remembered his father's frightening words to him.

Your life is more precious than mine.

John took his hands off of Much's shoulders and walked up to Allan. He and Allan had not discussed what they had spoken of that night in the inn. He was worried that Allan would bring it up in front of the entire gang.

"Would I what Allan?"

Allan did not answer.

"Would I what Allan?!" John asked with more intensity.

Allan gulped. "Would you die for your child?"

John nodded.

Allan cocked his head to the direction of the manor. "What about Gisborne?"

What about Guy?? what the heck is going on in that manor?? who is going to die?? Guy?? he's willing to die for the child...Marian's willing to die for the child....Robin's willng to die for Marian...Vasey and Edward wouldnt die for anyone...well maybe not...you'll have to keep reading to see for sure please read review enjoy and remember i love you all