hey, sorry its been so long since this update...work...classes you understand (hopefuly) so we've come to an interesting cross roads...this is either the end of the story..and i start the sequal which i already have ideas about...or i just continue this story..though i think the place it ended is actually a good end...you decide...thanks to gizzysgirl...liisa...jonasluva...candyflossgirl...all of you thank you soo much i could not do this without your help input and support....read review enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood i do own the box of tissues i used to wipe my eyes after seeing the end of season 3 Robin Hood BBC

Chapter Thirty Three: Loves Resolved

"Unless you have a better suggestion?"

The question hung in the distilled air as Guy considered this possibility. It was a position he had always dreamed of holding, but yet, at the same time, never dared to imagine that he would ever achieve. Guy would have so much power as sheriff; he could command an entire community to do exactly as he wanted. He could order troops, he could inflict taxes…

But then, Guy thought of that Frenchman.

That nameless man who had lost his basket of food because of Guy's inability to watch where he walked. That nameless man whose face lit up as Guy's coins sparkled in his shaking palm. That nameless man who called him, "Robin Hood."

Robin Hood.

A name that had once sent shivers through Guy's body now seemed like a sought for title. It was almost on the top of the list with sheriff. While the ideal sheriff took care of the lords and ladies, Robin Hood took care of everything else. He was the champion of the people. The hero of the wretched and weak who had no voices of their own. The defender of the defenseless.

He knew that he would be tempted by the promise of power, the guarantee of glory, but he would force himself away from that path. The sheriff had trudged down that path for the long years of his reign of terror, and Guy was not going to repeat Vasey's taxes, or terror, or hatred. He would not repeat the mistakes.

Guy glanced at Marian. He could tell that she was considering Robin's proposal as well. Guy was sure that she was going to be against it. Against it for all the reasons Guy had just thought of. Against it because he was a monster, a killer…

What Guy had not considered was that Marian was actually thinking about it seriously. She thought of the potential pain Guy would inflict, but also about the beautiful possibilities. Clara had taught him how to breathe without hatred, how to see without anger, how to live without vengeance. If Marian took Clara away, then Guy would sooner or later retrieve back into his old shadow, his old ways.

No matter what kind of a sheriff Guy became, Marian was not prepared to let Clara's father become evil again. She could not bear to think that he was somewhere, in the world, and causing anguish because of the anguish that had been done to him, by her actions. By Marian's doing.

If Guy was sheriff then he could see Clara grow up. He could still raise her and call her his own. They could make it work. She knew that it was possible; she forced herself to believe that such things were possible.

A year ago, she would not have believed in the goodness of Guy. But now, now look at where she stood. She was not afraid to be the mother of Guy's child. She was not afraid of his hatred, which had washed away, she was not afraid of his anger, which evaporated, she was not afraid of his terror, which diminished with the wind.

"Unless you have a better suggestion?" Robin asked again wondering if the two had even heard what he said.

Marian looked at Robin. There was so much love in her heart for the outlaw of England. She had to keep herself from beaming every time he looked her way. And she knew he loved her, with every piece of his previously shattered heart.

But…

Marian's stomach turned at this but. Marian knew that everything was well and good in the light of day. Daylight showed only radiance shining off of her beloved. Daylight showed only dazzling brilliance which glowed from his eyes and smile. But daylight did not show the misdeeds and misgivings of the night.

Day always had to give way to night.

And Marian had to face facts.

She was not Maid Marian any longer. She was not Lady Marian any more. She had been the wife of Guy no matter what annulment you conducted. She had still lain with Guy and given her virginity to another man, no matter what Robin said. For God's sake she had had a baby by another man!

Robin might love her well enough during the day, but, what about in the night?

Marian looked at Robin and he smiled at her, waiting for her decision, waiting for her words. Marian knew that she would give up all the nights they might never have for all the days like this one. She was willing to take this chance, no matter how Robin felt, because she loved him. And she was not afraid of what he did, or did not do, when the sun fled from the sky.

Standing next to him, was enough to set her heart alight.

Allowing her eyes to gaze into his, was enough to let her breathe.

Touching his face, was enough for her to exist.

Intertwining his fingers in hers, was enough for an entire lifetime.

She would worry about the night when it came. Now was not the time. She stowed away this feeling and instead cleared her throat.

This action caused both men to turn and face her.

"I think," began Marian, "that it would be a good idea."

"You don't have any other ideas?" Robin asked with a smile.

She shook her head and with a grin. "No."

Guy rolled his eyes. "Get a room."

Robin snorted. "Sorry."

"Aren't you both a little old for flirting?" asked Guy with fake impatience. In truth, he was feeling more alive than he had felt in a while.

She had said yes.

She said yes.

He would have Clara.

I will have Clara.

There was probably nothing in the world that would make him happier than he was at this moment.

Well…maybe not.

Maybe there was still, possibly, perhaps, one small thing that would add to his life. That would make him complete.

And, at this moment she was inside, with the gang wondering what was going to become of the man she loved.

Meg stood awkwardly to the side of the gang's conversation. She wasn't quite sure whether or not she was "permitted" to speak with these people. She didn't feel like a part of them, so she decided to remain quiet.

She thought about Guy. She wondered if Robin had spoken with him, and whether he had tried to solve the problem she knew Guy was facing. She also found herself wondering what would become of her as a result.

As Meg pondered her fate, the rest of the gang congratulated themselves on a mission completed and well done. Stephan stood around his new friends breathing in the sense of freedom he knew his brother felt. He had done it. Finally, he had been of use in this adventure, he had done what was requested of him. Stephan was totally at peace for the first time in months.

Djaq, with Clara in her arms, also felt immensely happy. Not only was her leader free to love the woman he cared for, but her fiancé was at last, free of guilt. She knew, though Will did not speak of it often, that Will had suffered during these months in France. He had never forgiven himself of his words to Marian that day. No matter what Robin said, no matter how she tried to reassure him, he still felt responsible. Now, his guilt was washed away.

Much was at bliss with Eve by his side. His master had found love, and he had as well. Could anyone be happier than he? Much inwardly shrugged. He did not think it was possible for another mortal man to be filled with this amount of joy. He had Eve. He was going to have a child. He was going to be a father…a father.

John even let himself smile a bit. He was content that Robin at last, found Marian. That they would be together, filled John with joy. And also, at the same time, pain and loss filled his being. Robin's joy reminded the big man of his big loss. Alice and John. He shivered at the memory of the two people who he cared for most in this world. He was happy that he had Allan now for company, for comradely.

Allan, for his part, noticed John's shiver and gave him a supportive smile. There should be rejoicing. There should be happiness, even for a man who lost his family. But, then Allan noticed that there was one who was not happy.

She was standing in the corner, apart from the rest of them.

He excused himself and walked to Meg. He noticed, with surprise, that there were traces of tears in her eyes.

"Need a sleeve to cry on?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No, thanks."

Allan shrugged. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

Allan grinned. "Your tears."

"Oh," said Meg, "no."

"You think that he will leave you once he has the baby?" Allan guessed.

Meg's eyes widened. Then she shrugged trying to look dispassionate. "What gave you that idea?"

"I guessed," said Allan.

Meg crossed her arms. "Good guess."

Allan mentally congratulated himself on his understanding of the female mind. He knew that would come in handy one of these days. "I doubt, very much, that he would leave you."

"Why?"

Allan sighed. "Because it would confirm my belief that he is, in truth, and absolute git."

Meg blushed. "He is not."

"Meg," said Allan seriously, "you need to understand something: this sort of thing does not happen to Giz often. It is not every day that he has a beautiful girl with her arms wide open welcoming him into her life, forever. It is not every lifetime that any of us have that gift. Guy would be an idiot if he let you go. You are the first person I know, who actually cares about him, for him, and not for his money, or anything superficial like that."

"Thank you," said Meg.

Allan nodded. Then he smiled. "I don't think we've been properly introduced," he put out his hand, "I'm Allan-a-dale."

Meg shook his hand. "I'm Meg."

"I hear you are in love with my old boss," said Allan jokingly.

"I didn't know you used to work for him."

Allan nodded. "Didn't get any holidays, and had to work for long hours."

Meg giggled. "Sounds like a mean boss."

Allan shrugged and looked at Meg. "I guess if I worked for him now, things would be different."

"Why?"

"Because of you."

Before Meg could reply Guy, Marian, and Robin walked in. Everyone stopped their conversation and sentence upon their arrival. They were not sure why the three had left, and at first, they were deeply thankful that no one had been killed while outside. That was a good sign.

"We have some news," said Robin with a smile.

"What?" asked Much anxiously.

Robin looked at Marian and Guy. "Which one of you wants to tell it?"

Guy pointed to himself. Marian nodded.

Guy stepped out and looked at his former enemies now allies. He looked at Meg. "I am going with you back to England."

The gang first looked at Robin, who gave them a nod, then they cheered and clapped for the clarified good news.

But Meg looked down at her feet. Allan saw her do this and bit his lip. "You'll be alright," he whispered.

"What are we going to do about the sheriff?" asked Will.

Robin laughed. "We've got a new one lined up boys. Gisborne."

There was a mixed reaction from the gang but each was happy in his or her own way. As long as Robin knew what he was doing, then everything was alright.

"He better know what he's doing," Much whispered to Eve.

Eve shrugged. "He's in love Much, he's never going to know what he's doing again."

Much smiled.

"When do we leave?" asked Stephan.

"Next ship out of here," said Robin. "We need to get back to England as soon as possible. The sheriff probably put one of his trusted cronies in charge, we need to see that he is put to an end and Guy is put on the seat of power."

"That sounds so strange," whispered Djaq to Will.

Will nodded. "I think you should give Marian the baby back."

Djaq nodded though she was loath to do so, as she liked the feeling of the little child who currently depended on her for survival.

But she dutifully walked to Marian and handed her the child.

Marian looked down lovingly at Clara.

"Mind if I hold her?" asked Guy.

Marian nodded. She gave Clara to Guy. "Better get used to it."

Guy chuckled. "I'll be seeing a lot of her I take it?"

Marian smiled. "Yeah, how else are we to keep an eye on your behavior?"

Robin laughed now and put an arm around Marian. Though he meant it as a gesture of love she mentally shivered. The feel of his arm around her reminded her of the uncertainty of the night. What in gods name would it bring her?

"Let's go look for a ship!" declared Much with excitement.

Everyone walked out of the house and stepped outside into the fresh air. They made their way to the port.

The majority of the walkers were filled with happiness and bliss, as right they should. But some were not so lucky. Some, like Marian, who Robin still held, felt like trash too used for the likes of someone like Robin Hood. Others, like Meg, who walked by herself, were filled with longings and feelings of deep uncertainty. And still others, like Allan who walked beside John, were filled with feelings they could not describe.

John noticed his friend's discomfort.

"What is the matter?"

Allan shrugged. "Nothing."

"I saw you talking with Meg earlier," said John suspiciously.

"What of it?" asked Allan.

"Nothing," said John with a smile as he saw Allan's face grow slightly red.

"It's not like that," said Allan quickly. "Really."

John shrugged. "Maybe you should talk to her."

Allan rolled his eyes but let John walk in front of him so that he could walk beside Meg. Meg smiled as she saw him approach.

"Hello," she said.

"Hi," said Allan awkwardly.

There was silence.

"Meg?" asked Allan unsure of where to begin.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If things don't work out then do you think…"

He was interrupted by Guy who had suddenly appeared, as if out of nowhere beside Meg's other side. Allan watched with slight envy as Meg's entire face lit up when her eyes met Guy's.

"Do you…" Guy began unsure of the words. "Do you want to…maybe…come with me to England?"

Meg bit her lip because she couldn't stop smiling. "Yes, of course Guy, I'd love to."

"You could live with me in the castle," continued Guy unable to stop talking, "we could raise Clara together, we could—"

"Sh!" said Meg insistently. "I already said yes Guy."

Allan took a deep breath and slowly walked quicker to walk beside John.

"Well?" asked his friend.

"Well nothing," said Allan.

John shrugged. "I'm sure, when we are back in England, you will have completely forgotten about her."

Allan nodded. "You're right." He chanced a glance back at the couple. He shook his head. "Of course you're right."

While Allan wrestled with unsettled thoughts, Robin was wrestling with an unsettled question.

Robin leaned his head close to Marian's ear so that his lips grazed it as he whispered, "So?"

Marian raised a brow. "What?"

"I see that you are not married."

"Ah, always one for stating the obvious," she whispered back to him.

Robin nodded. "True. And I do not think it is wise."

"To state the obvious?"

"To stay unmarried," he said gently making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She blushed. "Oh really?"

"Yes," he answered. "This world is not safe for an unmarried woman. Outlaws you know."

"I've heard of them," she replied. "I always thought they were too afraid to come out of the forests."

Robin shrugged. "If they must then they do."

"What brings them out into the light of day?" asked Marian, "it cannot be simply because of the money?"

Robin nodded. "It is not, they come out because of money, glory, justice, and…something else."

"What?"

He kissed her on the lips. "Love."

She smiled. "Is that what brought you all the way to France?"

"That is what would have brought me all the way to the other side of the world," breathed Robin.

"It was not just to stop the sheriff?"

"No, that was an added bonus. Marian?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Will you marry me?" Robin whispered.

"This is the third time you've asked me, I said yes both times before, did you think I would have changed my mind since then?" Marian took his hand in hers.

"Something always came up, the war, you running off with Gisborne," Robin listed.

Marian rolled her eyes. "You're never going to let me forget that are you?"

Robin kissed her again. "Probably not, no."

They were interrupted from their third engagement when Much yelled, "We're here!"

There was such excitement in his voice at the irresistible prospect of going home. Everyone was happy, in his or her own way—well…except for those who weren't happy. Those who still had doubts about what the future would bring were, obviously, not as boomingly happy as Much was.

Marian—who worried about the nights…if there would be any she shared with Robin.

Guy—who still worried about the kind of sheriff he would become.

And Allan who worried about the pain in his stomach and the fact that it was not physical pain…

After the tickets were purchased everyone made their way on the ship. They each found rooms. Eve and Much were in a room with two beds. Djaq and Will were willing to take the room with one bed, though when Will suggested it Djaq rolled her eyes at his boyishness. Robin and Marian were in a room with two beds as well, which they did not dwell on. John, Allan and Stephan were in a room with three beds and this room was where Clara stayed. No one knew what Robin and Marian would do in the night, or what Guy would do with his roommate, Meg.

By the time all the rooms were situated accordingly it was time to go to bed.

Eve and Much regretted the two beds almost immediately as they were perfectly content with only one. They pushed the second bed up against the door to their room for two reasons. The first reason was for privacy, they certainly did not want anyone coming in while they were…uh…busy. The second reason was it would muff the noises coming from their room.

Will and Djaq settled into their cozy one bed in bliss wrapping their arms around the other in a passionate embrace. You could hear the clothes thrown to the floor within seconds of their entry.

Stephan took charge of rocking the baby to sleep because Allan and John did not know the first thing about babies.

This gave them time to talk.

"I do not think this is something that will leave," said Allan sitting on his bed and hugging himself into a ball.

John nodded sagely. "When I met my Alice, she was, I thought, attracted to another man. But it turned out it was my feelings of inferiority that were at work."

"What do you mean?"

John smiled at the memory. "I was the wood cutter in her village, she would come to me every day for fresh wood, with him by her side. Sometimes he wouldn't come with her, and then I would talk with her, about everything, and anything. The last time she came by she said she did not need any wood, she only wanted me."

"That's sweet," said Stephan who was listening into the conversation.

"Thanks," replied John stiffly.

"That is not the same tale that I am in," sighed Allan.

John nodded. "True. True."

While the men pondered over the meaning of love and sacrifice Guy and Meg were settling in to their quarters quite comfortably.

They shared one bed together and were currently undressing the other. Both were smiling yet still focused on the desired goal at hand.

But Guy had been in this situation before, and not with Meg, were he had taken what was not rightfully his. He felt differently about Meg, and he knew that she deeply cared for him as well. So he forcefully moved his fingers away from her dress and placed them by his sides.

"What are you doing?" she asked kissing his mouth.

"You are still a maiden," he replied.

She nodded.

"I do not want you to regret doing this, with me."

Meg brought Guy's hands back to her dress. "You are the only man I want to do this with, ever."

Guy smiled and both continued as they sank into bed together and their bodies intertwined and became one.

While Guy and Meg found pleasure in the night Robin and Marian, were wide away in their separate beds. Both stared up at the ceiling and did not speak.

Robin suddenly sat up. At this movement Marian shifted her eyes from the ceiling to look at Robin.

"What is it?" she asked.

Robin shook his head. "What is wrong?"

"What?"

"Marian," said Robin gently, "I know something is wrong, you can tell me."

Though Marian did not notice at first, due to the darkened Robin, Robin got up out of his bed and began walking towards hers. Unaware of Robin's actions Marian decided to make her confession.

"I do not think you want me anymore," she said quietly.

Robin scoffed. "That's an idiotic idea coming from such a bright girl."

"I'm serious," exclaimed Marian who did not know how close Robin was to her at the moment. "I'm no longer a maid, I have been a wife, a mother, a used piece of baggage. Why would you want me anymore?"

Suddenly she was taken aback by the pair of lips that kissed her own. Suddenly there were arms wrapped around her and a gentle force pushing her on her back and cradling her in his arms. His hands were on her back, in her hair. His lips were on her face, cheeks, and neck it seemed all at once.

"You do not need to prove something to me," she whispered though wished desperately that Robin would continue.

"I love you Marian," the hero, her hero, whispered into the night, "there is no difference between the pure and the impure except for the difference in our minds. In my mind you are as beautiful to me as you were before you were married. You will always be perfect to me even when you are old, and gray."

"You will always be perfect to me," sighed the lady, his lady. "I love you so much Robin. I want to become your own, forever."

She started taking off his trousers while he was undoing her dress. He ran his fingers through her hair and tenderly kissed her neck and breasts. She sighed with immeasurable bliss. He sighed with unmasked ecstasy as her fingers and kisses gently made their way down his body.

England was still some ways away. No one, especially not the gang of Robin Hood, knew what the next day would bring. Would they be faced with storms which rocked the entire ship? Or would their troubles begin in England with the new sheriff of Nottingham? Babies still needed to be born, conceived and raised. Marriages would need to be made and granted. Loves would requited, lost, and found. Battles still needed to be raged, and kings needed to come home.

But for this moment Marian and Robin forgot the troubles of the world. They forgot about all the Gisbornes who created obstacles. They forgot the cries of children, and the needs of parents. They forgot about rights, wrongs, and marriages. They forgot about everything except each other. Except Robin and Marian and how they were in that moment.

In that one precious moment of time.

we still have things to resolve like allan's feelings for someone (which i know is weird but it popped into my head) and going back to england..and the new sheriff...so what say you?? new chap or new story?? lots of love to you all~