"Daddy!"

Ellen toddled delightedly to her father when he came down the staircase the following morning, to join her and Much at breakfast.

"Your leg seems better," Much commented, between mouthfuls of ham, bread, and eggs.

Robin's smile was incandescent as he scooped his daughter up in his arms, kissed her, and looked at her adoringly. "It is!" he agreed. "Hardly a twinge of pain left, to remind me of our illustrious queen's poisonous fangs."

Much shuddered. "Her! Why would she do that to me, Robin? Why would she try to cut out my tongue?"

Sitting across from Much with Ellen on his lap, Robin asked, "Why does she do any of the treacherous things she tries? She's evil, Much. Just like her brother, may he rot in..."

He stopped himself, remembering how his precious daughter soaked up every word he said.

Deftly changing the subject, he asked, "How did you sleep, my friend? Glad to be back, under Locksley's roof once more?"

Much grinned. "I would have slept better, if your house wasn't haunted!"

"Haunted? Locksley's not haunted, Much."

"Then what were all those moans I heard, on the other side of the wall?"

Much's joke fell flat, for just as he was speaking, Marian appeared, hearing every word.

Knowing Much had taken the room next to hers and Robin's, she blushed to the roots of her hair, causing Much to blush as well. Robin tried to smooth things over.

"Good morning, again, Marian," he smiled, rising politely to his feet.

"Mama!"

Ellen held out her arms, and Marian was only too happy to take her child, and bury her face in her hair.

Since Robin had risen, Much stood, too, sputtering, "S-s-sorry! I shouldn't have said that!"

"Shh," Robin shushed him quietly, knowing it would be better to simply drop the topic and speak of other things.

"Good morning, Lord Bonchurch," Marian recovered, feeling the mood in the room called for formality.

"Morning!" Much shouted out, far too loudly.

"Now," Robin said, sitting after Marian set Ellen down and took a seat at the table, "my wife and I have something to say to our daughter. Come here, Boo."

Ellen climbed happily onto her father's lap, her usual seat at their table, and stared adoringly up at him.

Robin looked to Marian, knowing how much this moment meant to her.

"Daddy and I have something wonderful to tell you," Marian said, her eyes shining with excitement. "Before too long, a new baby will be coming to live with us. You're going to be a big sister! Would you like that, Ellie?"

"I know," Ellen said, casually.

"You do?" Marian asked, looking at Robin in surprise. "How do you know?"

"Uncle Much told me," the small child answered, nibbling a piece of buttered bread.

"Well, excuse me for trying to make conversation! Nobody told me it was supposed to be a secret!" Much defended himself, shrinking from the dual glares of both Robin and Marian.

For an instant, Marian almost wished the queen had succeeded with her evil deed the night before, but quickly forgave Much. He was only being Much, after all.

"It's alright, Much," Robin grinned, suddenly finding the humor in the situation. "So, Ellie Boo, what do you want? A baby brother, or sister?"

"I want Mama's new horsie back."

Robin's grin widened as he looked lovingly back and forth between his wife and daughter. "Well, leave that to me! I have a plan to do just that."

"Robin...!" Much warned.

"A plan?" Marian asked, torn between eagerness and alarm. "What plan?"

"You'll see," Robin grinned wickedly.

"Unbelievable!" Much cried out. "After...after...after all that's happened! Throwing yourself into danger several times a week isn't enough for you...No! You have to do it every single solitary day! You know, Robin, there really is something wrong with you!"