Hidden within the sheltering cloak of Sherwood Forest, Robin and his gang, together with Marian and Ellen, trudged familiar paths known only to them, heading toward the cave Much hated so greatly.

Robin supported a tired and footsore Marian on his arm, while carrying their sleepy-eyed daughter upon his back. Much, holding Robin's bow and quiver, kept up a steady stream of complaints against the cave, to work off his anxiety.

After the first exuberant rush brought on by the successful rescue, the mood of everyone was beginning to sour, as the gang contemplated losing the lives they loved to become outlaws once again. Looking about him at the grim, unhappy faces of his friends and family, Robin knew he needed to do something to lift everyone's spirits.

"Tell us about your new sweetheart, Allan," he suggested, as a way to end Much's whining.

Allan grinned. "Which one?"

"Very funny!" Much scolded.

"You mean Virginia?" the cheeky tavern keeper asked. "Her! Not bein' funny, but there's not a lot to tell, in mixed company. I used to call her 'Virgin' for short, but not for long!"

The joke worked, for Little John, despite his twisted ankle, guffawed loudly, wanting to hear more. The others either smiled or rolled their eyes.

"Much! Your friends are still here, the bats," Allan teased, shielding his head as they entered the cave.

"How are you?" Robin quietly asked his wife, concerned for her tired eyes, and remembering the time he struggled to carry her inside this entrance, soaked through with rain, when she couldn't walk from Gisbourne's dagger wound in her side. Carefully, he helped her to sit, then handed her Ellie, who had drifted off to sleep.

"What are we going to do, Robin?" Marian asked, her courage failing. "I don't want to raise Ellie, or give birth to our next child, in this cave!"

"You won't have to, my love," he promised. "Trust me."

Much handed Robin his bow and quiver, then bustled about trying to make the cave comfortable, resuming his role as Robin's servant.

Everyone else felt odd, being back here together, hiding from the law.

"Thank you, my friends," Robin told them sincerely, looking at each person in turn, while he stood beside his pregnant wife. "You saved our lives. But there's no reason for you to stay. No one knows you helped us. Go back to your homes."

"Home...is Sherwood," Little John stated, firmly. "We...are Robin Hood!"

"That's very kind, John, but it's not," Robin told them all. "Not any more. Not for any of us."

"Where will we live?" Marian couldn't help asking.

Robin had been dreading this moment, knowing Marian would object to his suggestion. But he knew the time had come to tell her. Crouching down on his haunches beside her, he looked directly into her lovely eyes and said, "I need you and Ellie to go to Kirklees, where you'll be safe. Will, I'm trusting you to lead them there, as soon as Marian gets a few hours rest."

"Of course!" Will agreed, honored by Robin's faith in him.

Marian, as Robin had expected, refused. Drawing in her breath, she stuck out her chin and insisted, "I won't go! Robin! We're a family! I won't be separated from you!"

"Please, Marian, do as I say, for once. It's only for a short time, I swear it."

"No!"

Pulling off his cloak and handing it to Much to fold, to make a cushion for Ellen to sleep on, Robin thought it wiser to ignore Marian's protests and tell his gang his plan.

"Right, Lads!" he said, somewhat dispirited, after arguing with his wife. "Since no one's made a move to leave, I might as well tell you my plan."

"I knew it!" Much proclaimed, happily. "I knew you'd have a plan!"

"I'm in. What do you want us to do?" Allan asked. "Poison the king and queen with an extra strong dose of Matilda's sleeping potion? I call dibs on her!"

"Something along those lines, but not quite," Robin answered, brightening. While the faces around him also brightened, all except for Marian's, which was set and determined, Robin told them, "King John believes his life is threatened. When he gets really scared, who does he send for, to protect him?"

"You," Djaq answered, grasping Robin's plan immediately.

"That's right! And no matter what grudges he holds against me, everything's forgiven, when he thinks he needs me to safeguard his life. So, what I want you to do, Lads, is make him think he's under attack."

"Not bein' funny, but you're askin' us to shoot at him, and such, in secret?"

By way of an answer, Robin touched his finger to his nose and winked.

Even more angry now, Marian struggled to her feet. "Robin of Locksley! That was my plan!"

"And a very good one it was, my love," he told her, smugly. "It was only the execution of it that was so bad, trying to do it on your own, when you can't fight, let alone, barely move."

Furious, Marian made a fist and punched him in his stomach. "And how does that feel, since you claim I can't fight?"

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and waddled deeper into the cave, back toward the large smooth boulder that had served as her bed, when she'd been wounded and had nearly died.

Straightening up, Robin heaved a sigh, excused himself, and followed her.