"Well," Robin said smugly from his bed, kissing Marian tenderly on her lips. "That was some nap."
"Nap?" she asked, her eyes shining. "I thought it was an apology."
He chuckled under his breath, and kissed her again, heartfully. "If so, I should wrong you more often! It would seem then, Lady Locksley, that I'm forgiven?"
"Hmm," she responded, stretching luxuriously in his arms. "Completely."
The early afternoon sun streamed through their window as they lay entwined together in bed, surprised by their passion that wouldn't let them wait until nightfall.
They knew from experience, their passion would slowly cool as Marian's pregnancy progressed, to be replaced by another kind of love, every bit as sweet and fulfilling, though not half as much fun. And so, for now, they were glad to have seized these precious moments alone, after escorting that silly wife of England's Chancellor out their door.
Realizing their daughter would soon be up from her nap, as well as having a household of servants speculating about what was keeping them, Marian kissed her husband one last time and sat up, saying, "I love Sundays! Will I have to do penance, do you think?"
"Only if you confess," Robin snickered, admiring the voluptuous curves on her unclothed body. "My conscience is clear."
In their world, they'd committed a sin by lying together, since the Church taught they should only engage in that activity for purposes of procreation. Of course, it also taught they shouldn't have enjoyed a picnic today, either.
"Mine, too," Marian realized. "I won't then."
"Good," Robin grinned, leaning up on one elbow to lightly caress her gently swelling abdomen. "I wouldn't want you to make Tuck blush."
"Grow up, Locksley."
Her dimples deepened, and she gave the top of his tonsured head a vigorous rub. "For good luck," she teased him, rising to get dressed.
Robin threw himself back on the pillows and watched her. "You're gorgeous, you know, Marian."
Pulling her gown down over her head, she asked, "Am I? You don't think I look like a cow?"
His grin widened. "A cow? Hardly. A horse, now..." He smirked, wickedly.
His cheekiness was punished by her seizing a pillow and playfully beating him with it. He managed to grab it out of her hands and fling it aside, where it landed on top of the bits of vase broken earlier by Annora.
"I have never met such a foolish girl!" Marian mentioned, angrily.
"What about Kate?"
"Well, that goes without saying. But at least Kate can fight. There was no excuse for that Annora to charge in here, and break your family heirlooms!"
"Come here," Robin invited, loath to see her go so soon.
Marian, fully dressed, climbed back into bed, and into his arms. "You know, Wren," he gently told her, drawing her close, "there are going to be a lot more things broken around here, when we fill the house up with children."
"Ellen hasn't broken anything."
"Well, Ellie's special. I was told I was a whirlwind, when I was small."
"A one boy destruction crew. I remember one time my father brought me to visit, and your father sent you out in the rain to play."
He chuckled again. "The last straw was after I knocked over a scuttle of ashes Mary was saving to make soap. But I also remember you that day, sneaking outside to play with me."
"And ruining my new dress."
His adoring gaze intensified."God! I love you, Marian."
They kissed with passionate tenderness, long, slow, lingeringly.
"We need to get up," she reminded him gently.
He sighed, drowsy and content. "Alright," he agreed, summoning his unending supply of energy. Already, he was looking forward to playing with their daughter.