Okay, so Robin and Lizzie really are very much in love so you must allow them some sappiness! I really hope you like this chapter but pleeeaasseee review either way - also if you've got any characters you want me to add in or requests for storyline then just ask, that's aways fun to do :) Anonymous reviews are disabled so be my guest - I really do love to hear what people think.

Enjoy!

Chapter 33

Robin

I nervously shifted the ring from hand to hand behind my back as I watched her folding her dress. We were alone in the camp today as the other outlaws had gone into town so she was only wearing my shirt, her shapely legs had smudges of earth and grass on them and her hair was loose, falling in vivacious curls to the small of her back. I couldn't believe she loved me though I could well believe I loved her – who wouldn't?

She caught me looking and smiled widely.

"Avert your eyes sir for I am indecent!" She protested with an air of assumed horror at my open appraisal of her.

"No." I grinned as I took her in my arms and slipped the shirt off one shoulder, kissing her exposed collarbone. "Indecent would be if I took this shirt off." I mumbled against her soft skin.

Lizzie wrapped her arms around my neck and put her cheek to mine so she could whisper in my ear.
"Sir you are too bold by far." She breathed, I could hear the smile in her voice and grinned as I undid a button.

"Don't play hard to get with me, my lady." I teased, running a hand along her shoulder and the base of her neck.

"Why? Not up to the challenge?" She asked, moving so she was on my lap facing me, her long legs curved around mine.

"What say we find out?" I suggested, a mischievous smile playing round the corners of my mouth which she promptly kissed. I tangled a hand in her soft hair and kissed her back with passion, aiming to go one step further than her so I could win the challenge but she was having none of it. Leaning into me she wrapped her legs around my waist and bit gently on my lower lip, I narrowed my eyes.

"You little -" I mumbled around her lips and she laughed, obviously thinking she'd won.

Think again, I thought resolutely as I undid every button on the shirt, pausing to caress the skin beneath each as I did. She gave a little shiver when I touched her and I smiled triumphantly but she wasn't going down without a fight. Slowly and gently she pressed her lips to my shoulder and began to distribute small kisses to my skin and pushing me down to lying as she did.

"Liz." I chuckled and she shushed me with a kiss to my lips. Her hair looked like a halo in the light but the emotion in her beautiful eyes made any angelic connotation void. I never broke eye contact as I slid the shirt off her completely and tossed it aside, her bare skin was golden perfection, tanned by the persistent sun and her time outdoors, and her full lips were swollen with kissing. I couldn't hold back any longer, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen let alone held in my arms.

"Lizzie." I said and she laughed breathlessly as we tumbled together, joined by passion and happiness and made love in the dappled light of the mid-afternoon sun.

Lizzie

"Robin." I said quietly, we were lying side by side with our bodies curled around each other.

"Mm?" He answered drowsily. I found his hand and entwined our fingers.

"I think you won the challenge." I said.

"I think I did too." He replied smugly with a smile that was half arrogant and half unbearably charming.

I rolled my eyes and he laughed, kissing my hand softly.

"Okay it was a team effort. Happy now?" He allowed and I chuckled.

"Yes." I said and then grew serious as I turned to look at him. "Very happy. The happiest." I told him. For a moment we were silent and then his eyes sparkled cheekily.

"Well I guess now we know what the key to happiness is."

I batted him away, annoyed that he hadn't understood the genuine gratitude and love I had been trying to convey but a second later he had me in his arms again, even if my back was to him.

"I'm sorry. You know I understand what you mean – I never imagined anyone could make me as happy as you make me." He said softly and I breathed out.

"Kay." I said quietly, feeling comforted by his words and his arms around me. He kissed the back of my neck lightly and then sat up.

I looked round at him quizzically, wondering why he looked so nervous all of a sudden.

Robin

I had taken the ring out of my trouser pocket ages ago and had been toying both with it and the idea of actually giving it to her ever since.

"Liz there's something I – that I want..well would like to...ah -" I broke off, rubbing my forehead to hide my embarrassment – why couldn't I get my words out?

"Robin what's the matter?" She asked worriedly, now kneeling.

"I – it's – I just...damn it." I muttered, running a hand through my hair and blowing out heavily – this had definitely never happened before so why now?

"Please, you're scaring me." She said, looking at me intently.

Great, just the effect I wanted right before I was going to propose – she's terrified, well done, I congratulated myself bitterly. Now, of all times, I was tongue-tied.

"It's nothing bad, I'm just being silly. Actually I think I -" I started to say but at that moment Much hurtled into the clearing and I gave a yell of surprise.

At first he was too out of breath to notice we had no clothes on and we were too shocked to remedy the situation but as he went to talk to me he suddenly realized and let out an ear-splitting yell as he realized that Lizzie was in the same state.

"Wha – NO! Argh!" He wailed, turning round and pressing his hands to his eyes. Lizzie and I looked at each other and burst out laughing as we scrambled for our clothes.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY! THAT'S DISGUSTING – I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THAT, I REPEAT DID NOT!" Much shrieked but we only laughed louder as we had found ourselves with the wrong persons clothes

We swapped and dressed quickly to the accompaniment of Much's vehement grumbling and our own chortling, then Lizzie turned to me.

"Come now Robin, I don't think we're being very decent." She teased, putting as much double-meaning into the last word as was humanly possible.

"Yes, we're being too bold by far." I rejoined, parroting her own words from earlier. Our eyes met and we both had to turn away with our hands over our mouths to stop from having another laughing fit.

"It's okay Much, we're clothed." I said once I had controlled myself. Much turned around indignantly.

"Well I should hope so!" He huffed.

"Oh Much, don't be annoyed!" Lizzie said brightly and his face softened a little. "Why were you in such a hurry anyway?"

Much clapped a hand to his forehead. "I nearly forgot! They sent me to tell you – new taxman! He's meant to be a right nasty piece of work, got a reputation for foul play apparently."

I sighed. "When does he arrive?"

"Two days time." Much said promptly and Lizzie and I exchanged glances. Two days didn't leave a lot of time for days like the one we'd had what with planning and worrying and then, eventually, acting. I fingered the ring in my pocket and cursed my cowardice – it would have to wait.

"Well..." Lizzie said, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing the end of my nose. "Since the gang are still in Nottingham..." She trailed off suggestively and I chuckled, sweeping her off her feet and into my arms.

"I think I know what we can do until they return." I finished and she giggled.

"I am still here you know!" Much said loudly but I was too busy kissing Lizzie to reply and he turned around and stomped off into the forest. I felt a twinge of guilt but all I could think about, focus on was the beautiful girl I loved, and besides our time was precious – we had to savor these moments.
And savor them we did.

The taxman could wait.

"I love you."