This is the next chapter...whoa that was quick i guess i was inspired by a certain amazing video of rob/mar "breathing" on youtube...Liisa this chapter is for you because it is the beginnig of your request....the rest of the chaps will continue it...also thank you--over 100 reviews to this story!! you have made me one happy writer seriously doing a happy dance now...anyway a thanks to gizzysgirl gatewatcher cindy4806 thank you all and everyone else!! please read review and enjoy!!!

Chapter Twenty Six: Breathing

"Oh my God! He's alive!"

Everyone looked up from their tears with astonishment and happiness. Marian, shakily, touched Robin's pulse again just to make certain. Yes, yes it was there! She could even faintly hear his breathing.

She smiled.

Then she realized that he was about to open his eyes. Marian awkwardly got off of his body and let Djaq examine the patient. Djaq left Will's side.

She turned to Marian and Guy. "I'm going to need some room."

They stood back as she knelt by Robin's body. She too came to the same conclusion as Marian had.

Robin was alive.

Robin opened his eyes and saw Marian looking down at him. Then he turned his head and saw that the gang had congregated around his body. They were all smiling but Robin could see the tracks of tears in their eyes.

"Who died?"

Much sniffed. "Not funny."

Robin attempted to sit up but he let out a groan instead and clutched at his wound. Djaq turned to Marian and Guy. "Do you have a needle and some thread?"

Marian nodded. She ran out of the room quickly.

Robin watched her go off and chuckled. "She's pretty fast Guy, you'll have to get used to that."

Guy nodded. "Right."

He felt guilty. He knew that there was no reason for him to feel guilty but reasoning with himself didn't seem to make a difference. Robin still did not understand the situation. He still believed that Marian did not love him anymore.

When Robin was dying Guy knew it was his duty to tell him the truth, but Robin had not heard Guy's words.

Part of Guy, the evil part, tried to convince him that he was off the hook.

Guy, you did all that you could. You told him the truth, and if he doesn't realize what's right in front of him, then that is his fault not yours. Let him go back to England with his little band of outlaws, and you and yours can stay here happily.

Then again, maybe not so happily.

This is your life! You cannot let Robin Hood steal all of this away from you.

Remember he had the chance to steal this away from you! He did not need to tell you that Clara was really your child. You would never have known that truth if Robin hadn't confessed it to you. He could have got the girl, the baby, and left without you having any clue.

Guy's thoughts were broken as Marian returned with a needle and thread. She handed them to Djaq, and Djaq noticed how Marian's fingers shook. Djaq took a deep breath and began to stitch up Robin's wound.

While she worked everyone was silent. The gang, for the first time, noticed the other bodies on the floor besides the body of their leader.

"Hey," said Allan with a smile, "this lot definitely took care of business."

"What does that mean in English?" asked Will shaking his head.

"The sheriff and Edward are dead," said Allan.

"Oh," said Will. "I knew that."

While the two of them mused over the corpses Much found himself moving to Djaq's side.

"So," he asked, "how's it going?"

"I'm a bit busy Much," said Djaq. "You know, trying to save Robin."

Robin smiled at Much's concern. "I'll be all right again."

Much nodded slowly. "I shouldn't have left you. I shouldn't have left you."

Robin shook his head. "You saved Clara, that was important Much, more important than saving me."

"Clara?" asked John.

"The child," Eve whispered to him.

John nodded.

Stephan was still standing apart from everyone else. He had not joined with the rest of the gang and still found himself separated from them.

He was too shocked and happy to move.

Robin noticed someone was missing. "Where's Stephan?"

"I'm here Robby," said Stephan walking towards his little brother.

Marian raised an eyebrow. "You're Stephan? Robin's brother Stephan?"

Guy gave Robin a confused look. "You have a brother?"

"Did he fail to mention me?" asked Stephan who now knelt by Robin's other side. He took Robin's hand in his and kissed it.

"I bet you prayed for me," guessed Robin.

"I'm that obvious?" asked Stephan.

Robin nodded.

Suddenly Clara started to cry. Guy nudged Marian. "We should take her to bed. She's had a pretty big morning."

Marian nodded. She glanced at Robin and then she and Guy walked out of the room.

When they were gone Robin closed his eyes and let go of Stephan's hand. He shook his head and moaned.

"What is it?" Much asked nervously.

"Her," said Robin.

"Marian," said Stephan.

Robin opened his eyes and turned to Stephan. "I am sorry for asking you to come. You did not need to make the trip."

"What?" asked Stephan. "Why not?"

Robin bit his lip as Djaq finished sewing up the wound.

"Because," Robin said, "Marian is happy here, she loves Guy."

Much gasped. "You serious?"

"No," Allan shook his head. "No way."

"That's impossible," muttered Will.

"This I do not believe," said John.

Djaq rolled her eyes. "Robin, you should have seen—"

But Robin shushed her because Marian and Guy were returning. They had just put Clara into her crib and returned to the main room.

"So," said Allan, "what happened here?"

Guy smiled. "I killed Edward pretty easily enough, and then both of us finished off the sheriff."

Allan turned to Will. "I was hoping for a longer story."

Will rolled his eyes. "Shut up Allan."

"Sorry to disappoint you," said Guy. "Allan, aren't you supposed to be working for me?"

Allan shrugged. "You left us remember? Anyway, are you really surprised Guy?"

Guy shook his head. "I didn't really trust you to begin with."

"I forgive you," said Allan with a smile.

Robin turned to Djaq. "Can I sit up now?"

Djaq nodded. Robin pulled himself up and leaned against the wall. He gazed at his gang who had helped make the journey with him. And then he looked with sadness at Guy and Marian. They did look happy together didn't they? They did look complete didn't they?

"I think we should leave now," said Robin determinedly. Then he decided to follow that comment with a lie. "We uh, heard that the sheriff was coming to hurt the two of you, with his new second in command. Glad we could put a stop to it before anyone was seriously injured." He chuckled.

Marian looked at her feet. Robin did not love her anymore.

"But Robin," said Much worried that Robin was actually going to leave, "we need to do something about the sheriff. We're going to need a new sheriff."

Robin shook his head. "We can decide that when we uh, return home." He paused and looked up at Guy. "Unless you want to be the new sheriff. Take Vasey's place?" Robin secretly hoped that Guy would take him up on this offer. This meant that Marian would at least be in the same country as him, even if he could not have her as his own.

You could see her face at least.

Guy shook his head. "I cannot."

"Why?" asked Robin.

Guy shrugged. "This is my home. This is where I belong. If I went back to England, to Nottingham, and became the lord sheriff, I would let the power go to my head. I would no longer be a good person, a good man. And though I want to help you make England better, it would be better if we stayed in France."

He said 'we.' He included Marian. You are in love with another man's wife.

"Are we really leaving?" Much asked.

Robin nodded and gave Marian a forlorn look. "Yeah. We need to go back home."

"Wait!" Marian called. "You cannot go."

Djaq smiled.

Much grinned.

Allan nudged Will and whispered, "Told you so."

Will was too happy to tell Allan to shut up.

Eve beamed.

Little John nodded in approval.

Stephan gave a small smile too.

"Why can't I go?" asked Robin.

He wanted to believe that she would tell him she loved him and she never wanted to part from his side again. He wanted to believe that she would tell him that she would follow him around the world. He wanted to believe that she would tell him that Guy meant nothing to her. He wanted to believe all of this and more.

Marian took a deep breath. "Because…because…you…you…are not well enough to make the journey."

All faces fell at her words.

Robin's heart broke. "Sure, we can stay for the night, tomorrow we leave."

Marian looked at Guy. "That's okay right? I mean, we cannot just let them leave can we? They helped save our lives, Clara's life."

Guy nodded and put his arm around her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"So we can stay?" Much asked.

Guy smiled. "Sure."

Marian and Guy left to bring out sheets, blankets, and pillows for the outlaws of Sherwood. Everyone would sleep on the floor in the main hall except for Robin. Because of Robin's injury he would share Clara's room. There was a spare bed by her crib.

Marian showed Robin the room while everyone was prepared for a slightly uncomfortable night on the floor. Robin was leaning on Marian for support as they entered the room. She wrapped her arm around his chest and he put his arm over her shoulder. Though they were so close to each other they felt very far apart is if an entire ocean separated them.

Marian helped Robin to the spare bed but Robin tripped and the two of them fell on the bed together. Robin was on top of Marian and looked dreamily into her brilliant sparkling eyes. Marian, in turn, looked up at Robin with a dreamy expression.

She could feel his warm breath on her neck. His hands held hers uncertainly. Her fingers inadvertently wrapped around his. He could feel her breasts underneath her dress. She saw little beads of condensation on his beautiful hair.

There was no sound in the room other than breathing.

Until Clara began to cry. Her cry broke the peaceful quite. Marian rolled off of Robin and stood up to go to Clara. She picked up the baby and rocked her back and forth. Marian's back was facing Robin. He could not see her tears and she could not see his pitiful face streaked with sorrow and regret.

"Sorry," he said quietly.

She shrugged. "An accident."

"I mean," said Robin, "I'm sorry I came to France."

She bit her lip and her heart stood. "You are?"

"Guy is a good man. He can look after you Marian," whispered Robin.

Marian squeezed her eyes tightly to stop the tears. "He's a good father."

Robin nodded. "I don't doubt it."

Marian looked down at Clara. She was still fussy. Marian turned around and looked at Robin sitting on the bed watching her. Marian held out Clara. "Do you want to hold her? Maybe you can calm her down."

Robin nodded. He gently took Clara from Marian's arms and held her. He looked down at the little girl and smiled at her. "Hello, do you know who I am? I am Robin Hood."

Marian smiled. "She can't understand you."

Robin shrugged. "You never know. Maybe she can hear me. Sometimes people can speak to each other without words, just with—"

"Their hearts," answered Marian. "I can't believe you remember that."

Robin shrugged. "How could I not. You told me that so many times when we were young."

"We were having a fight," said Marian, "I don't remember what it was about, but I remember we were really angry at each other."

Robin smiled. "Yeah. Suddenly we stopped yelling and got really quiet."

"And then we kissed, it was the first time we kissed," said Marian blushing slightly. But in the darkness of the room, Robin could not see it.

"You kissed me," said Robin laughing. "And I remember asking you, how you could go from hating me to then kissing me?"

"And I said," Marian continued, "that we spoke in the silence. We spoke with our hearts that was all that we needed."

Robin nodded. He gave Clara back to Marian. "I think she's asleep."

Marian stood up and gently put Clara back to bed. She began to walk out of the room when Robin coughed. Marian turned around.

"Yes?"

"Wait, don't go yet," he said.

"Why not?"

"Because…I uh…need to tell you something."

"What?"

"I uh, wanted to tell you…thank you," he said with bitter resentment at his stupid mouth.

She shook her head. "It was nothing."

Then she turned around again and walked out of the room closing the door behind her. When she closed the door she leaned against it and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes.

Even after all this time, you can see into my soul.

Marian opened her eyes. She still loved him. How could she still love him?

Marian walked to the main room where the gang were setting up their blankets. Djaq saw her enter and came up to her. She hugged her friend.

"We didn't get to say hello properly," said Djaq.

Marian hugged her back. "I know, you were a bit busy saving a life."

Djaq broke the embrace. "I need to tell you something."

"What?"

Djaq bit her lip. She wanted to tell Marian about Robin's feelings. But she thought it was best for Robin to tell her himself. It was not her place.

"Will and I are engaged."

Marian beamed. "Oh my God! Djaq, that's brilliant!"

Djaq smiled. "I know."

"So," said Marian, "how is everyone?"

"We all miss you," said Djaq.

"Besides that," said Marian.

"Much still cooks us squirrel."

"It's not squirrel!" Much called from the other side of the room. The girls turned to see his bright red face which Eve then kissed.

Marian nodded at the scene. "Eve?"

"We found her in France, I think they're in love."

"How are the other lads?"

"John is doing well, considering that he still misses his wife, and Allan is providing the laughs as usual."

Both girls laughed at the thought of Allan entertaining everyone.

Marian nodded to Stephan. "What about Stephan? I thought Robin had a bad relationship with him. I heard Stephan left home to become a priest."

Djaq nodded. "He is a priest."

"What is he doing here?"

Djaq did not know what to say? Was she really going to tell her friend that Robin asked him to come to help with a little business of an annulment?

"Uh," began Djaq uncertain of what to say, "well…" She trailed off.

Marian furrowed her brow. "Something wrong?"

Djaq shook her head. "Nothing."

Guy entered the room. He shook his head in surprise. There were so many people. So many faces that he had so recently tried to hurt and kill were now surrounding him. It made him feel uncomfortable and nervous. But he felt, in his heart, that they had forgiven him of his past actions and deeds.

"Anyone need an extra pillow?" he asked holding up a pillow.

Much nodded. "Throw it here."

Guy tossed it to Much but Allan caught it instead.

"Give it here," said Much.

"No, my head needs more support than yours does."

"Please?" asked Much.

Eve took Much's face in hers. "It's okay, I'll get you back your pillow."

She sauntered up to Allan. She put her hand on his arm. "Whoa."

"What?"

"Strong muscles," she said lightly gripping his arm.

"I don't even work out," insisted Allan with a sly smile.

Eve nodded and then quickly snatched the pillow out of Allan's hand and ran back to Much. Much gave her a disapproving look while Allan was smiling down at his arm.

"What?" asked Eve hitting the pillow in Much's face. "I got your pillow back."

Much kissed her forehead. "Don't do it again. I'm a jealous man you know. Easily hurt, not easily mended, full of sorrow—"

"Much," said Eve sealing his voice with a kiss, "do shut up."

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

It was the middle of the night and Guy could not sleep. Marian was sleeping by his side. Her face was full of confusion even while she slept. Her face matched Guy's as he tossed and turned unable to find peaceful repose.

Guy sat up and put his hand to his head. There was something gnawing on his conscious. Something that was rattling his brain and keeping his mind awake.

Robin still did not know.

Guy could not live with himself.

Robin still did not know.

Guy felt he could not breathe.

He envisioned his future. Four years later there was Marian tending to the kitchen with Clara holding onto her leg. Suddenly Marian burst into tears. Clara, frightened, ran into Guy's open arms.

Daddy? Clara asked sweetly. Why is mummy crying?

I do not know, he replied though he glanced sadly at his wife.

Clara noticed his sorrowful face. I think you know daddy. Did you make mum sad?

I might have.

Little Clara, wise beyond her years, shook her head. Poor mummy.

Poor mummy indeed.

Poor Marian.

Guy did not like what he was about to do, but he felt it was his duty to do it. He could not continue in this way. The shame and guilt would only build on top of his body and he would crumble to the ground. If he said nothing, and let life go on the way it was, he would break.

Guy bent down and kissed Marian on the forehead. Then he got out of bed and crept down the hall to Clara's room. The door was closed. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, wondering if Robin was awake.

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

Earlier that night, while everyone was settling Much had made a visit to Robin's room.

He knocked once.

"Come in," said Robin who was sitting up in bed leaning his back against the wall.

When he saw Much's face he smiled at his old companion. "Hey."

Much nodded in return. Robin thought he looked troubled.

"Are you alright?" asked Robin with concern. "You seem a little out of sorts."

Much shook his head and sat himself down on the bed. "You are the one out of sorts master."

Robin pretended not to understand Much. "What are you talking about?"

Much wrinkled his brow. "Don't play dumb Robin, you know exactly what I mean."

His friend nodded. "I do."

Much put his hand on Robin's shoulder. "Are we really going to leave her here?"

"Yes."

His friend closed his eyes and shook his head. "This is unreal, you are not yourself. Robin can't you…don't you see it?"

Robin gave Much a weak smile. "She is safe here Much. I think she has grown to love him."

Much decided to tell him about Marian's actions while everyone thought Robin was dead. If Robin knew how Marian had thrown herself on Robin's body, and wept over him, surely he would see sense!

"But Robin—"

His master shook his head. "No more about it Much. I have made my peace with it. You should go, get some rest, tomorrow is a big day."

Much nodded. He stood up and began to walk out of the room. Then he stopped and turned around. "I will say one more thing on the matter, there might not be a lot I know about. I'm not the smartest man in this world. I might not be able to reason, or see reason. I might be broken and slow, but I know one thing for certain: you love her. You will never stop loving her. You will never make your peace with this."

Then he walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.

Eve was on the other side of the door. "What happened? Did you tell him?"

"I didn't get the chance, he wouldn't hear what I had to say," said Much sadly.

Eve stamped her foot. "This is crazy! They love each other! Why is this going on?"

Much put his arms around Eve. "Fear."

"Fear?" the girl repeated dumbly.

Much nodded. "I know it quite well. It is the fear of the unloved. The fear of rejection. If you make yourself vulnerable and the other does not take your hand in his, then you will break."

Eve looked up at her Much. "Did you break?"

Much nodded. Then suddenly he felt Eve's finger's wrap around his own. "I'm not leaving Much."

Much kissed her happily.

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

Besides Much, Robin had another visitor that night. After Much left with Eve, Stephan entered the room. He was not planning on confessing anything to Robin about loves and dreams.

He did not even bother knocking. He just walked into the room and looked at his little brother. He ran to the bed and embraced Robin tightly.

"Its nice to see you too," said Robin.

Stephan was crying. "I thought…I thought…"

Robin nodded. "I'm not going anywhere. But I am sorry to have dragged you from your monastery. When we leave, we can drop you off there so you can return to your brothers."

Stephan shook his head while tears still streamed down his face. He took Robin's face in his.

"I'm not going back to Burgundy."

"Why not?"

"Because the only brother I want to live with, is you."

Robin's hear thumped. "Really?"

Stephan bent his head. "Robin, when I thought I had lost you, my entire world seemed to go black. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Robin, I'm not going to lose you again. I want to go back with you, to England. I want to help you fight for justice."

Robin couldn't help but smile. "Are you sure? We are a band of outlaws living in the forest. It is not such a holy life."

"Being near to you," said Stephan, "being near to my little brother, is holy in its own way. Will you let me come?"

"You don't have to ask," answered Robin. "Of course you can come."

Stephan nodded. "Looks like it wasn't a waste."

"What?"

"Visiting me," said Stephan, "It wasn't a waste after all."

Robin shook his head. "Even if you didn't want to come back home Stevey, visiting you, after all these years, is never a waste in my mind."

The two brothers hugged once more and then Stephan stood up and walked out of the room. He felt peaceful and at ease. He was not sure of the road ahead but he knew that Robin would be by his side, and that was enough.

That was enough.

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

Robin heard a knock on his door. He was starting to get rather tired of all these visitors. He sighed.

"Yes?"

How surprised he was to see Guy's face at the doorway. "Can I come in?"

Robin nodded. "This is your house."

Guy shrugged and stepped into the room.

"Is something wrong?" asked Robin.

"Why?"

"It's late," said Robin looking out the window. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I couldn't sleep," answered Guy. He stopped by Clara's crib to check on his daughter. Then he walked to Robin's bed and sat down by Robin's side.

Robin nodded. "Me neither."

The two men were silent for a while.

"Thanks for saving my life," said Robin. "Not sure if I said that earlier or not."

Guy grinned. "I figured you were thankful even if you said nothing."

"So," said Robin flicking a piece of lint from his clothes. "You are married."

"Caught that did you?"

"Hard to miss," said Robin. "Lucky man."

Guy shook his head. "Guilty man."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Guy took a deep breath. "There is something you need to know."

Robin shook his head. "I know it already, you don't have to tell me."

Guy opened his mouth and then closed it. "You know?!"

The hero scratched his neck. "It's obvious. She loves you Guy! That's what you want to tell me. She loves you, you love her, and that's the end of the story." Robin closed his eyes and gave Guy a bitter smile. "That's it," he muttered.

Guy chuckled. "Sometimes you really are stupid Hood."

"Hey," said Robin with his eyes still shut, "that's Locksley to you. You gave up Locksley when you came here to France."

"Fine, sometimes you really are stupid Locksley."

"Don't be mean Guy," said Robin in a monotone. "I'm trying to be the better man."

"You are only being a stupid man," corrected Guy.

"Explain."

"I was trying to tell you this earlier, you were wrong about Marian."

"How so?" asked Robin.

Guy put his hands on his knees. "You love her don't you?"

"That's neither here nor there," said Robin angrily.

"But you love her, admit it," challenged Guy.

"Yes, alright!" Robin exclaimed loudly.

Guy nodded. "Okay, good."

"Good?"

"Good. Now let me go on."

Robin shrugged. "I think I liked you more when you were evil."

"You don't mean that."

"I do." Robin was bitter.

"So you miss the time when I stabbed the woman you love?"

Robin opened one eyes. "How do you know?"

"She told me she was the night watchman," answered Guy. "I saw the scar."

Robin opened his eyes and rolled them. "Of course you saw the scar," he muttered. "Why wouldn't you? You slept with her for godsake." Though he said it casually he shivered at the horrific thought.

"Anyway," said Guy, "you need to know that she, Marian, loves you."

Robin looked directly at Guy. "Really?"

"Really."

"Don't joke with me Gisborne, I'm having a bad day."

"She loves you Hood!"

"How do you know?" asked Robin.

Guy gritted his teeth. "Because she is not happy here. She acts like it, but she is not. She misses you Robin, its pretty obvious."

"You really hate me don't you?" asked Robin.

"I'm telling the truth."

"Just leave please," said Robin.

Guy shrugged and stood up. He started to walk out the door when he looked back at Robin and sighed. "One time, we were in the middle of…well…just starting to…anyway she let out a scream."

"Well done Gisborne."

"Shut up!" Guy whispered angrily. "She screamed your name. Yours. Not mine."

Robin looked at Guy. "Really? Truthfully?"

"I'm not lying. And you should have seen her when she thought you had died."

"She was on top of me wasn't she?" asked Robin remembering something he thought was a dream.

Guy raised an eyebrow. "How did you know? You were dead."

Robin found himself smiling and shrugging. "When I lost consciousness I felt this warm thing on my body. I didn't want it to leave. It began to breathe and moan. Suddenly my neck felt wet as if the warm thing was crying or, it was raining only on my neck. When I began to regain consciousness and open my eyes I felt the being move away but before she left completely I felt hair in my face. I smelled it. It was the first breath I took. And it smelled of her. Marian."

"Do you believe me now?" asked Guy crossing his arms.

"I thought it was a dream," said Robin marveling in wonder.

"Goodnight Hood," said Guy closing the door.

Robin lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. He smiled brightly. Soon he found soothing rest.

Guy walked back to his room as if in a daze. Marian was still sleeping but she stirred when she heard his footsteps.

"You're awake?" she murmured.

He nodded and climbed into the bed beside her. "I had things to do."

"Like what?" she asked.

"I think we'll find out tomorrow. Go back to sleep."

Marian turned on her side away from Guy. She kept her eyes open and waited, for what seemed like ages, for Guy to fall asleep. Then she crept out of bed herself and walked down the hall to Clara's room. She slowly opened the door and found Robin was asleep.

She stood at the doorway and leaned against it. Marian was not sure what tomorrow would look like. But if Robin was leaving, and this was the last time she would see his face, then she would let herself memorize everything about him.

Marian watched the way his stomach moved up and down with his gentle breathing. She saw how his eyes were closed and a smile shone on his face. His hair was a wonderful mess of brown. His lips were still beautiful. Marian smiled with sorrow as she gazed for the last time at the man she loved.

Then she whispered, "Goodbye my love."

She walked out of the room and closed the door.

If she had stayed longer she would have heard Robin speak. Robin's voice alone would have filled Marian's broken heart with joy and love. His voice, in her mind, could rival an angel's. It was so beautiful and commanding. It was full of hope and promise.

But on that night the word he spoke would have brought her to him instantly. If she had heard what he said she would have rushed to him in an embrace and never let him go. If only she had heard his voice calling.

Calling out a name which meant more to Robin Hood than all the justice in the world.

Calling out a name he held next to his heart.

"Marian," he moaned.

So lots of angsty mushy sappy stuff going on...i hope it was bearable i had to get it all out it has been locked up so long!! will rob and mar ever figure this out??? and lets face it...whats going to happen back in england remember the sheriff had his master of arms in charge...will they save the day??? whats going to happen to the marriage??? to clara?? to gizzy?? i want to hear your thoughts on this!! keep reading to find out!!! love you all