Guys im back..finally finally finally!!! i hope you all are still at least a little interseted in this tale...some of you lot need thanking...major time firstly Gizzysgirl you my friend have outdone yourself in both your reviews and your awsome story!! secondly Liisa you have made me smile with your reviews and your amazing vids...i will try to watch them as i have time...still love "breathing" btw...next candyflossgirl thank you for reading my stories still!!! and jonasluva i thank you for your support even though you had your doubts...and thank you for thanking me!!

Disclaimer: since its been a while i do not own Robin Hood...i own the dvds...the pic of jonas on my wall...some ice cream which i ate while watching jonas...sight

Chapter Thirty: You love Me?!

"You love me?"

The question, or statement, or plead, seemed to echo through the air. Robin collapsed on his knees in front of the lady he loved dearly. There was nothing he could hide from her anymore. He was too wracked with pain and desperation.

While the hero of the forest looked up at the girl, she, in turn, looked down at him. At first there was shock. Absolute shock that he had found her here, of all places. Shock that he would want to find her again, after everything that had happened. Shock that he was on his knees, with his pleading eyes, asking her if she loved him.

Shock.

And then, then…Marian felt something else.

Love.

Love for the hero of the forest.

Love for the defender of justice and freedom.

Love for the soldier of King Richard.

Love for the man behind the hero.

Love for Robin.

Meanwhile, Meg stared with wide-eyed wonder at the scene commencing before her eyes. One minute, she had found her love again, the next she was fighting with his wife, and still, next, there was this stranger wrapped in a blanket of grief.

A stranger with eyes only for Marian.

This must be Robin Hood. The same Robin Hood Guy had spoken of to her earlier that night. The same Robin who had crossed many waters and countries for his love. The same Robin Hood…

Meg glanced at the broken man and then at the girl who broke him.

Marian held the child in her arms which divided them from each other. Next to her, was the husband, who again, divided the two lovers from each other.

Meg watched this all as if time had frozen in his long run, just so she could examine the situation. This man, this Robin Hood, felt as she did. Both loved others that were trapped by priestly blessings and family. Both carried torches which were dwindling with the ever changing wind.

And the girl called Meg seemed to grow in this moment of halted time.

While Meg examined this individual moment of time, Guy stared down angrily at the man he spent years hating, and minutes accepting. He gripped Marian's chair with frustration when Robin fell to his knees in front of Marian.

How did he have the audacity to do such a thing?

But, then again, when did Hood care for the proper thing?

When did Robin Hood ever care where he got the audacity to do anything?

Guy glanced briefly at Meg who was on the side watching things unfold. She seemed so far away from everything and yet, she was still a part of everything here. There was concern in her eyes and uncertainty of the future and how everything would resolve.

Guy was certain that same fear was written in his eyes.

But he could not show it. He would not show such weakness, especially not to Hood.

"Leave," he said simply.

This word, simple though it may have been, broke the almost holy silence of the room. Time resumed his race and the minutes fell back into their rightful place.

In another time, Robin would have left.

A month ago, he was tortured with the thought that Marian would not be his.

A day ago, he was tortured with the thought that Marian had a child.

Hours ago, he was tortured with the thought that Marian would be lost again.

Again!

In those times Robin might have turned back upon Guy's monotonous command. Because that Robin, was committed to doing the right thing. But it was always the right thing for others, and not for himself. But, now, in this moment, he was perfectly sick of doing the right thing.

He had learned something from his mad run. He learned that he loved Marian and did not care about anything else. He knew that this was how he always felt, but he never wanted to admit it to himself.

Once, many months ago, back in England, Robin had a dangerous plan.

It was like all of his dangerous plans that involved stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. But this time there was something different.

Much was different.

"Don't do it," he said simply.

Robin had raised a curious eyebrow at his usually supportive companion.

"What do you mean?" Robin had asked.

"Do not do this," said Much. "It will be dangerous."

Robin sighed. "Much, if I do not even try, than all of England will be lost."

Much could not take it anymore. "Yes, and if you died than that's my England lost!"

Robin had not responded to Much's words. He had done the plan. He had survived. England was still alive. Robin was still alive.

But Much's words stayed with him.

That's my England lost.

Much cared about the people, he cared about his king, his country, but none of that mattered when his best friend's life was in danger. England could very well go up in flames, but Robin was more important.

And, Robin realized that that was how he felt about Marian.

Nothing mattered. Children begot without love were not obstacles. Marriages begot without love were not obstacles. Not anymore. Not for a man who believed that Marian was his England. Marian was truly his everything.

But, since Guy was not in Robin's head, and did not comprehend Robin's intentions, he merely repeated his command.

"Leave, Hood."

Marian stopped breast-feeding and buttoned her blouse in this unimportant minute.

Meg bit her lip and twirled her hair in this unimportant minute.

But, in this supposed unimportant minute, Robin remained on his knees.

"Did you hear me?" Guy asked.

Robin nodded.

"Did you understand the words?" Guy asked with frustration.

Robin, again, nodded.

"Then what are you doing?"

Robin smiled at Marian. "I'm ignoring you."

Guy was left with two possible possiblites. The first, was to let Robin win. He could let Robin just walk in, take Marian, and then leave. But…Clara…

Marian would take away his bright-eyed Clara.

You cannot allow that can you Guy? His grandfather's voice was soothing against his rage.

The second option was to kill him. Kill Robin right here, right now.

It would be simple. It would be so easy. He could just see Robin's limp body fall to the floor. Then everything would be alright again. Everything would be back in its place, the way it should be. The way it ought to be.

Killing, Guy? His grandfather tisked.

Guy forcefully took Robin by his shoulders and heaved him up so that Robin was on his feet again. He pushed Guy away from him.

"Guy!" both women called desperately.

Both feared that this man would leave if Guy was that forceful.

Guy let go of Robin. "If he left, I wouldn't have to hurt him."

"Stop!" said Meg angrily. "Don't fight him."

Marian was silent.

She did not choose this silence. It was thrust upon her. She feared what her words would sound like. She feared what her words would be.

Robin gave Meg and odd look. He turned to Guy. "Friend of yours?"

"Stay out of this," said Guy starting to draw his sword.

"Isn't she a little young for you Gisborne?" asked Robin in a mocking tone.

Guy growled at his opponent, at his rival.

"Listen," said Robin with a fierce growl of his own. "I'm going to speak my piece now."

"Really?" asked Guy looking at Robin's sheathed sword. "How do I know you're telling the truth? What if I were to let down my guard and you attacked?"

Robin gave Guy a bitter smile. He unsheathed his sword and let it out for the room to see. He handed it to Meg. "You can hold it for me. I doubt that you'd let anything bad happen to him anyway right?"

Meg was silent but her cheeks reddened slightly.

Robin had made the right guess as to Meg's intentions and feelings towards Guy, but it was a guess nonetheless. He was still unsure if he could use this knowledge to his advantage. And, he realized bitterly, Marian had still not said anything other than, "Guy" and that was not helpful to Robin in the least.

"Fine," said Guy satisfied with Robin's dramatic display. "Speak on Hood."

"I don't care," said Robin.

"About what?" asked Guy.

Meg rolled her eyes. "He's not talking to you Guy!"

Guy's stomach ached a little at her words, at the reality he was unwilling to admit. Robin was going to speak to Marian. That was precisely what he did not want.

Guy grabbed Robin's shoulders and backed him up against the wall. Robin tried to fight against Guy's grip but he was not strong enough. After running great distances, after almost dying, there was not much physical strength in the hero.

But there was mental strength.

And plenty of it.

"I don't care!" Robin choked to the girl he loved. "Do you hear me Marain?"

Guy hit him in the stomach.

Marian bit her lip.

Meg tried to pull Robin away from Guy but he shook her off.

"I don't care about your marriage! I don't care that you have a child with him! Och!"

Guy hit him in the stomach once more causing Robin to fall to his knees.

"Good one Gisborne," he said weakly to the man standing before him. "Marian," he continued to the girl who sat transfixed at her lovers words. "I don't care that God has separated us. Because I know…ohhh…I know that I love you. And, I was wrong before, it's not a pain; it's not a burden to me. Before, with the sheriff, I told you lies. I told you that I suffered because of you. But," Robin stopped and clutched at his stomach. "How could that be possible?"

Tears glided down Marian's cheeks.

Meg was moved by the man's words.

Guy as well, was lost for words.

"How could that be possible?" Robin repeated, "When you have only made me stronger, and a better man. I love you and I don't care that I suffer! Suffering without you in my life, is far worse than what I believed. I believed, naively, that the sacredness of marriage was stronger than the sacredness of love, of my love, for you my darling."

Robin paused again as he felt another one of Guy's kicks to his chest.

Guy was going to keep kicking him. Kicking and kicking until Robin was dead. That was the plan. But Guy's grandfather had other ideas.

Suddenly Meg was filled with this strong spirit around her. It was making her feel stronger and bolder. She knew what she had to do.

She grabbed Guy's arm with this new found strength and forcefully pulled him away from the broken lover.

Guy tried to pull away but found that he could not.

"Let him speak," said Clara.

Let him speak, said his grandfather.

"Gisborne can hurt me all he wants, he can tell me to leave forever and never come back. I won't stop loving you. He will not break my love for you, understand? And, this I promise you, I will leave now, forever, but you must do me one favor."

Marian was silent.

"What?" asked Meg letting a tear fall.

"You," said Robin with his eyes fixed on Marian, "must answer my question. I asked you before when I was burdened with anger, I asked you again filled with weariness, and I ask you now, broken and torn. A mere shadow of a man. Do you love me?"

It was at that moment when a group of Englishmen and women arrived with tired faces to Angincourt.

They were out of breath and exhausted.

They needed to find Robin at all costs.

"We need to find Robin at all costs," said Stephan.

The rest of them nodded.

"Thank you brother obvious," muttered Allan.

Stephan heard him. "You weren't giving any suggestions Sir Whines a lot."

"Why I oughta—" began Allan.

Djaq stopped him from doing anything stupid. "Allan think!"

"No," said Stephan, "it's alright, I can see when I'm not wanted."

"He did not mean that," said John. John was beginning to feel somewhat protective of Allan. He was beginning to look upon Allan almost like a son. The son he had but lost.

Stephan nodded. "I am only slowing you lot. I think I will go off on my own to look for him."

"We need you," said Will anxiously. "We need to stick together."

"It is what Robin wants," echoed Much.

"We are stronger together," said Eve.

Stephan looked at all of their faces. He shook his head. "You are strong together, but Allan is right, I am not helping you lot. I am not helping my brother."

He walked away from them.

Much watched him go with sadness. Stephan reminded him of the England he had known before the sheriff, before the war. The England that Much had always loved. But it was more than that. Much was feeling guilty about Eve's pregnancy.

It was his fault.

His sperm, his responsibility.

At the same time, he could not help feeling shamefully excited. He would be a father. He would have a little child of his own. But there was no marriage. That dulled the bright-eyed happiness that should have streaked across Much's eyes.

Without a thought he ran after Stephan.

"I'll look with you," he said.

Stephan shook his head. "I need some time alone."

Much shook his head. "As we all are. But now I am facing more pressing concerns."

"I am sure I cannot help," said Stephan. "I feel like an unneeded and unwanted man, and—"

"Shut up!" said Much insistently. "You are the only one who can help me."

"You are in need of an outcast?" asked Stephan bitterly walking away.

Much grabbed his arm. "No! I am in need of a priest."

Stephan allowed Much to pull him around and face him. "What is the problem?"

Much walked by Stephan's side. "I have done something dreadfully wrong."

"What is it?"

Much bit his lip. "I've gotten someone pregnant."

Stephan's eyes widened. "Does Eve know?"

Much grinned a little. "She's the girl Stephan."

Stephan smiled and clasped Much's shoulder. "That's brilliant Much. You are going to be a father. You are going to bring a beautiful child into this world."

Much smiled with sadness. "Speak to me like a priest, not a friend."

Stephan lost his happiness and did as Much requested. "Then you do have a problem. You are not married to Eve, I believe."

Much nodded.

"A child out of wedlock," said Stephan thoughtfully.

"A bastard," said Much with pain in his heart.

Stephan looked at his friend, his comrade. "This is confession then?"

Much was silent.

"Do you feel guilty? Like you have done wrong my son?"

Much nodded.

Stephan shook his head. He put his hands on Much's shoulders. "If we have learned one thing about this adventure it is that love seems to rule out in the end. I love my brother, more than the church, more than God, I choose him over others. He chooses Marian though again there is divine intervention. Much, I only ask you one question, do you love her?"

Much blinked. "What?" He was too amazed that Stephan was on his side to hear what Stephan said. He was too baffled that this priest, a man who understood Christianity and gave his life to it, agreed with a nobody like himself.

Like Much.

Stephan grinned. "Do you love her, Much?"

"Yes," said Much. "With all the pieces of my heart."

Stephan's grin increased. "Then I do not think anyone shall find your child a bastard, least of all God."

Much chanced a look at the sky. "Do you think?"

Stephan nodded. "I know."

Much grinned. He let himself smile and let the joy of parenthood drown his anxiety and shame. He looked back at the group of his companions whom he loved. He looked at Eve.

They were all staring with confusion at the two men who had walked off.

Much was ready now. More than ever to tell his happiness to the world. To hell with waiting until England. He was contented now. He was at peace now.

"I'm going to be a father!" said Much happily running to the gang.

He was laughing as he approached the group of outlaws. Eve was silent as she stared with curiosity at Much. Everyone was silent as they stared with curiosity at Much.

Much walked up to Eve. He picked her up and kissed her passionately on the mouth.

"I'm not hiding anymore," he whispered in her ear.

He parted from her and looked at everyone. Stephan had just joined them.

"You're going to be a what?" asked Allan in amazement.

"A father," repeated Much with laughter. "Eve is pregnant. We are pregnant and I am not ashamed to tell you all! A marriage would be easy to hide it, but I love this girl! She is going to be the mother of my son!"

"Or daughter," said Eve brimming with happiness at Much's words.

"Or daughter," said Much correcting himself.

"Are you going to marry?" asked Djaq with a smile and tears in her eyes.

Much looked at Eve and held her hands in his own. Both hands trembled but found comfort in the other's reassuring touch.

"Yes," said Eve, "but, not until things have settled."

"Because," said Much, "my love for you is stronger than any marriage contract." He bit his lip and looked with a guilty smile at Stephan. "No offense."

"None taken," said Stephan. "Glad I could help."

"When the times comes," said Much to the priest he called friend, "could you do us the honor?"

Stephan grinned. "Nothing would please me more Much. I would be honored to bless your union."

There was happiness absorbing the entire gang.

Allan still felt guilty. "Stephan?"

Stephan turned to Allan.

"I'm sorry for what I said, or implied, I do not think you are worthless. You are a much needed member of the gang."

Stephan shook his head. "I understand. Sometimes, even I start thinking I'm too obvious."

"Let's start the search," said Will.

As the gang began to search with new spirits John went up to Allan.

"Do you have a minute?" he asked his young friend.

Allan nodded.

"You and I," said John, "we've gotten to know each other pretty well."

Allan nodded. "To think our relationship began with you stealing my money."

John chuckled at this memory. But at the same time he regretted how he had treated his future friends that day.

That was the old Little John.

"You know that I miss my family," said John.

"You know I miss mine," said Allan. "What of it?"

"My son," said John trying to find the words, "I will never see again. I love him, and miss him, and think of him often. I will never see him grow into the man I know he will be. I wish I had the chance."

Allan bit his lip unsure of John's sudden confession. "I know you do."

"And," said John, "I know that you lost your father years ago. He never got to see the things you have done with your life."

Allan shrugged. "I've done some terrible things."

John sighed. "That is not what I mean."

"Sorry," said Allan, "I'm a little confused though."

"You have no father," said John, "and I have no son. And I care for you Allan, like comrade for a comrade, like a brother for a brother, like a—"

Suddenly Allan understood. "Like a father for a son."

John nodded.

Allan raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to adopt me or something?"

John scoffed. "I want you to think of me like a father. I will always be there for you, to protect you, look after you. I know this idea sounds odd, especially coming from me but…" He trailed off. He was beginning to feel like a perfect idiot. This young man wanted nothing to do with him. He loved the giant like a friend and would not understand this idea.

But the young man understood more than the giant believed.

Allan shook his head. "John, no one has ever been that kind to me, that honest that they care for me…" He too trailed off and found that his throat closed off due to the tears that were threatening to roll down his cheeks.

John smiled. "It works both ways."

"I know," said Allan wiping away a tear. "Thank you John."

"Thank you Allan," said John who felt that he owed more to the youth than the other way around.

"So," said Allan, "are you finally going to tell me how tall you are?"

John grinned and tousled Allan's hair. "That, I will never reveal son."

They both watched as Much, though he should be searching for Robin, was instead going up to strangers and saying, "I'm going to be a father."

He would take a Frenchman's hand in his hand and shake it madly. While the Frenchman was shaking Much would repeat the words that echoed through his brain. "I'm going to be a father!"

Eve watched him do this and chuckled.

Oh Much.

Though she was a little embarrassed for him at the same time she felt something else…

He loves me.

And he did love her. Much loved Eve.

It was really that simple.

But some things are not so simple. Things like love can go easily like in the case of Djaq and Will. They had a plan, they had a goal. They were happy with each other and had been for a while. Sure there were times when they fought, when they faced hardships and mishaps, but it was still relatively simple.

Because they loved each other.

With Much and Eve it was a simple solution and well. Love seemed to solve their problem, and create their problem come to think of it. They would fight about how to raise the child, they would argue eventually about things like king and country. They would undoubtedly bicker about a man's call to duty. But there was also love that could leap over every obstacle.

In the case of Allan and John who had just formed a similar bond of family, it was also simple. They cared for each other and were committed to the other's well being. Like a father loves his son. Like a son loves his father. Both had found in the other, a person they had lost. There would be battles between them, just as every father fights with his son. But, still, there was love to drive through every angry threat and misunderstanding.

But, as previously stated, sometimes things like love are not so simple.

Sometimes men are doomed to love without reciprocation.

Then, things are not so simple anymore.

Things are not simple when children sit in the middle of love. When broken men, in no position to plead, do still, plead for love. Broken men, faced with resentful husbands, still reach up to the girls they love and are not afraid to speak the truth.

The truth that they have kept, like a locket, tucked away and sealed.

The truth that shatters lives and destroys families.

The truth that they love what they cannot.

And that they are not afraid to keep loving, even though it is wrong. Even though it is a sin to covet another man's wife.

And, perhaps, that is simple, though their situation may not be.

Robin, physically, sank like one of the dead and twisted with the pain he felt could consume him at any minute. But he fought the pain like Roy had wanted. He fought the pain for her. For the words he longed to hear in his ears.

He knew she would speak.

Any minute now.

Marian looked at Robin as she held Clara in her arms.

She had not spoken for a while. She had not replied to Robin's repeated question. Communication was important to any relationship, she knew that. But she and Robin never seemed to communicate well. They never were good at that sort of thing. Talking was easy, but truly listing to what the other said, was harder. They heard what they thought the other said, but not perhaps, what the other had truly said.

Or had truly meant.

Marian had spent so long with the thought that the man before her did not love her.

She had spent so many months trying to convince herself that he wanted nothing to do with her. That he couldn't care less if she lived or died. The fact that she was married must have halted his love for her. The fact that she had a child must have halted his love for her.

But his love for her was just as halted as…

As what?

As my love for him.

You cannot honestly do this Marian! You have a child for god's sake! You have a husband. What are you doing? You are letting yourself get stuck in the same way you were all those months ago. Say nothing. Let him go.

That would have been reasonable. That would have been the responsible approach to the situation. That would have been the grown up, thoughtful, solution. She could say no. She could say nothing and he would leave. Clara would have a mother and a father raising her.

Clara.

Everything was for the girl she held in her arms.

She let herself look at Clara.

Clara looked back at her mother.

And Marian, like Guy, seemed to see the older Clara through the baby's eyes. She saw Clara at the age of four running happily through the forest. She ran to her mother.

Why do you look so sad Mummy?

Marian would shake her head. I am not sad darling.

But there are tracks of tears in your eyes. The girl would persist.

Marian would try to brush them away. They are old tears Clara.

Then why are your eyes still sparkling with them?

Marian would not have an answer.

Smile mummy! The precocious one would insist.

I cannot.

Clara would hug her. I want you to smile mummy. That is all I want. I want you to be happy.

Marian would say nothing.

Do you love me? Clara would ask.

Suddenly she heard a voice ask the same question. "Do you love me?"

It was Robin. She looked at Robin.

"Don't you see from her silence?" asked Guy angrily.

But, at the same time Guy let Meg pull him away from Robin. He somehow knew, and yet did not know. Marian was not his, but Clara.

Clara.

"I want her to answer," said Robin with weak determination in his voice.

Marian stood up suddenly. She walked away from Robin. She walked to Meg and with her free hand took hold of Robin's sword. She placed the sword on the ground and was breathing hard. Then she stood up and handed Clara to Meg wordlessly. Meg, as if transfixed, held the child willingly in her arms.

Then Marian slowly walked back to where she was sitting. But, instead of sitting, instead of letting her fear overtake her, she raced to Robin. Though he was not far away, she felt like they were a great distance apart.

The next thing Robin knew Marian's arms were wrapped around his neck.

His were wrapped around her waist.

They were both on the floor.

"I love you," she whispered in his ear.

Whoa...what do you think of all of that?? much and eve?? allan and john...and of course marian and robin...awwww but how is guy going to react to that??? and clara...what about clara??? please review...just to remind me that you still like this...anyway love you all!!!