"You like having Much under your roof again, don't you?" Marian asked Robin hollowly, standing beside their bed.

Robin, stretched out upon their mattress, waiting for her to join him, bent one arm behind his head and answered, "Yes, I do. But it's our roof, Marian. Our home. Our bed."

The unmistakable look in his eyes matched his voice, warm and sensual, loving and inviting.

"Don't," Marian snapped at him.

Robin was taken aback, not understanding his wife's angry response.

With concern, he sat up, to better study her face. "What is it, Marian? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she snapped back at him.

"Is it Much? I only told him to stay for his safety. Who's to say that Isabella and her minions won't be hiding somewhere down the road, waiting to ambush him?"

"I would have thought you'd want to stay up the rest of the night, downing ales and joking with him!"

"But I'm not. I'm here, with you."

Rising from the bed, Robin approached her and tried to brush her cheek with his thumb, but found his hand slapped away.

"Don't touch me!"

"Marian!"

After a moment, Robin laid his hands gently over hers. He felt her tense, but at least she didn't fling his hands away. "What is it, my love?" he asked, with genuine concern. "What did I do, to make you angry?"

"You don't know? Men!"

Puffing out a sigh, Robin tried to think of anything he might have said or done to earn this reaction. The only thing he could think of was his comment in front of a roomful of soldiers, about picturing Marian wearing Isabella's revealing nightdress.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Marian," he told her, sincerely. "I shouldn't have made that comment about you in the gown, causing all the men to leer at you like that."

"You liked that gown!" she accused him, making him realize what had really caused her anger.

"No, I didn't. It was inappropriate, and wrong, for Isabella to flaunt herself in it, but typical of her. It only shows how desperate she is, to try and-"

"To try and, what, Robin? Attract you? Seduce you?"

"Don't tell me you're jealous! Believe me, my love, you have no cause."

Once again, he tried to caress her cheek, and again, had his hand slapped away.

"I love you, Marian," he told her, passionately.

He believed her pregnancy was making her unreasonable. It had to be! Marian knew his heart belonged to her...had always belonged to her.

"If you think for one moment, Robin of Locksley," she scolded him, with flashing eyes, "you can enjoy my body, after the sight of another woman, especially her, ignited your lust, you-"

"Marian! Stop! That's not what happened!"

"Isn't it? I saw the gleam in your eyes, when she threw off her cloak!"

"That's because I was picturing you, stretching the fabric of that gown so tightly-"

"Stretching? Do you think I'm fat?"

"No! Marian!"

"You do! Well, I can't help it! I didn't ask for full breasts, you know!"

"Neither did I, but I'm glad God blessed you with them!"

"How dare you?"

"I'm sorry! That just slipped out. But it's true, Marian. You know how much I-"

"Yes, I do, but that's beside the point. You think I'm fat! For your information, Locksley, I'm pregnant, and it's all because of you!"

Speechless, Robin could only stare at this raving creature who used to be his wise, intelligent, rational wife.

This was supposed to be a beautiful, romantic moment. He had placed her emerald ring under his pillow, and had been looking forward to telling and showing her how much she meant to him, not ever anticipating this reaction!

Was she really jealous, of Isabella? To his mind, it was unthinkable...ludicrous! It was time to reassure her that she had no cause to feel that way.

"Come here," he invited, soothingly, holding her hands and sitting down on the edge of their bed.

Marian let him pull her gently to the bedside, but she wouldn't sit. Instead, she stood over him, forcing herself not to cry.

"You," he told her, "are beautiful, Marian."

"I'm not."

"You are. Every man in our house tonight, with the exception of Much, couldn't take his eyes off you, even while Isabella stood there, only partially dressed."

"I snore," Marian pouted. "My hair's short, and my belly's round."

"You're gorgeous."

"I still snore."

"Only when you're asleep."

At that, Marian couldn't help but smile.

"Come here," Robin invited, pulling her down onto his lap.

He teased her by pretending to grimace under her weight, then laughed to let her know he was joking.

Marian was herself again, rolling her eyes indulgently at his attempt at humor.

"Sorry," she said, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

Tenderly kissing the top of her head, he told her, "Shh. It's alright. I ought to be more understanding, I guess. You're just so beautiful, I can't imagine you feeling insecure."

"I'm happy I'm with child. I love our baby already. It's just a change, is all."

"I want to do more for you, my love."

"I'm not helpless, Robin. Not yet anyway. When can we tell Ellie?"

"Why not tomorrow?"

Marian's smile was one of pure joy now. "I can't wait."

She yawned, and Robin realized his own needs and desires would have to wait. But he could still give her back her ring, in the most beautiful, romantic way he knew.

"Let's get to sleep, my love," he invited, kissing her hair once more.

Lying down, Marian rolled over to spoon her back against his chest, then closed her eyes and uttered a sigh of complete contentment.

"I love you, my husband," she said drowsily.

"And I love you."

Realizing words weren't needed, Robin wrapped her in his arms, then lifted her left hand to his lips. Marian's smile deepened as she felt him press a kiss into her palm, and another and another upon her thumb and each of her fingertips.

Her eyes opened in delight when she felt him slide her ring onto her finger.

"I love you, my wife," Robin breathed passionately into her ear.

Losing all traces of tiredness, Marian rolled over, wrapped her arms around his neck, and began kissing him every bit as passionately as he was kissing her.