One thing was certain, in Robin's mind. Marian wasn't going anywhere tonight.

"Thrilling as it sounds, sneaking around in the dark with you, it's not happening tonight," he told her, folding his hands behind his head and leaning back on the pillows. "Bedrest," he reminded her, grinning smugly to emphasize winning his point.

"Speak for yourself," she shot back.

"Marian!"

"What? I'm better. And you just proved yourself quite healthy. Why shouldn't we sneak into Nottingham together, tonight?"

"That's different."

"How?"

"I stayed where I was told to, in bed. I obeyed instructions, something you need to learn how to do."

"How dare you?"

"I mean it, Marian. You need to rest, for our baby's sake, as well as for your own."

Unwittingly, he'd said the words Marian had been waiting to hear. She'd led him straight to them, and now, she could make her point.

"Robin," she began earnestly, "do you really think I would put our baby at risk by scaling a castle wall and sneaking into Isabella's rooms, especially after just having been kidnapped, drugged, and nearly...nearly raped? I love my ring, Robin, but I love our child more. A ring isn't the King's life, the late King's life," she corrected herself, "nor is it the people of our village facing starvation. It's a ring, Robin, a precious symbol, but not a life. And as much as I would like to help you in all your future worthy adventures, I was only trying to point out how foolish this one would be, should you try to attempt it."

Robin felt a rush of emotion at her words. "I don't know what to say. You amaze me, Marian."

"You were planning to try to sneak into Isabella's chambers again tonight, weren't you, Robin?"

"I don't want her to have your ring. She stole it from you once before."

"And we got it back, didn't we? We will again, Handsome, but not tonight, and not by sneaking into the dragon's lair."

She was right, of course, he realized. Right, as well as being beautiful, amazing, incredible, and perfect for him.

"Why do we keep repeating the same arguments over and over again?" he asked her. "In fact, why do we argue at all? You'd think, after all the wasted years apart, we'd savor every moment together."

"We savor our arguments, too," Marian reminded him, smiling.

"But not as much as the making up?"

"Not even close."

Their tenderly passionate kiss echoed their spoken sentiments, and it seemed this particular argument might finally be resolved.

"Now," Robin said softly, lying face to face with Marian with his arms wrapped around her, "maybe we can both rest easy tonight."

Marian was beginning to grow drowsy again. "When do you think we should tell Ellie about the baby?" she asked.

"Anytime," he answered happily. "I don't know how much she'll understand. Remember when we were children, and Much thought all expectant mothers ate their babies?"

She didn't recall that. "Because they're in their bellies? Much!" Marian sighed.

The sound of hoofbeats in the yard drew Robin out of bed and to the window, and then into a pair of trousers and boots.

"Robin?" Marian asked, sitting up. "I thought you agreed to stay in bed today."

"That was before I saw the king's courier arriving with a message," he told her. "You stay put, Wren. I'll see what he wants and come right back."

As soon as he'd hobbled downstairs to greet the messenger, Marian rose from the bed and stood at the door, straining her ears to listen. All traces of tiredness were gone, banished by what could only be, considering the message's sender, bad news.

"You may tell His Majesty from me," she could hear Robin saying, unpleasantly, "that we respectfully decline his invitation. My wife and I have been placed on bedrest, just for today, and so, we are not at liberty to accept."

"The King is not requesting your company, my lord earl. Only your lady wife's."

"Tell the king-" Robin began.

"Tell His Majesty it is impossible, as I am honored, but extremely ill," Marian lied, appearing covered in a robe at the top of the steps. "Not to mention, contagious," she added, sending the messenger scurrying out their manor's door, tripping over his own feet in his haste to get away.

"Please, Robin, not a word," she said, as he stood staring up at her.