"Marian? Are you alright?"

Robin's voice, soft and concerned and caressing, made Marian turn all to jelly inside, the way his voice held the power to do. Angry and frustrated at him, she squared her shoulders and remained strong.

"I'm not made of glass, Robin, just because I'm with child. Don't waste your time mollycoddling me. Go back to your gang. They're waiting for you; ready to hang on your every word."

She instantly regretted her poor choice of words, mentioning "hanging" when their friends were ready to risk their necks to obey Robin's commands.

"I mean," she faltered, "they're...they're listening to you all agog, as if every word coming from your lips were golden."

"What is this really about, Marian?" he asked gently, reaching out to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear, only to have her swat his hand away.

Unperturbed and determined, Robin stared lovingly into her face, waiting for her to lift her eyes and meet his gaze. When she did, their expression was hard and proud, the same expression they had held when she told him they both needed to grow up, accept their lot in life, and that she was indeed going to marry Gisbourne.

"They're waiting for you, Robin," she simply repeated.

Rather than answering, Robin seated himself beside her on the large rock slab without breaking his loving, inquiring gaze into her eyes. He was studying her so intently, so adoringly, she felt herself beginning to melt, which only served to make her more angry. Jutting out her chin, she steeled herself to be strong.

"Now," he said at last, in a tone so warm and intimate Marian had to fight the feeling of butterflies in her stomach, "is this just because I stole you plan, or is there more upsetting you?"

"I'm not upset!" she lied. "Though I am surprised to hear you admit you stole my plan."

"Like I said, it was a clever plan. Let's just hope it works, this time around."

Still stubbornly angry, she accused, "I suppose you have it all plotted out. Who's going to do what, and when?"

"Yes." He waited, not taking his eyes off her, gazing deeply into hers with love and admiration and concern.

It proved too much. His eyes, his face, his body, so incredibly handsome, so close to her, enveloping her with feelings so strong, made her weaken and confess the truth.

"I'm worthless!" she admitted.

In disbelief, he could only ask, "You?"

"You heard the king," she told him, letting him take hold of her hands and stroke their tops with his thumbs. "I'm a fat cow! I was a fool to think I could rescue you on my own, when I can't do anything anymore! I only made things worse, and now, we're all outlaws again, on the run, when I can't run a few steps!"

"You," he told her emphatically, "are not worthless, and we won't be outlaws for long. My men and I will see to that! And you...You have the most important job of all, Marian, sheltering our baby so it can grow and be born."

"I know. I just...it's wrong of me to want to ride and run and move freely, when I can't. I can't even..."

"What?" he asked gently, still stroking her hands.

"I can't...we can't..." Blushing and feeling ashamed, she confessed, "I miss our passion, Robin. Not that I feel like engaging in it now, but I miss it, all the same. You miss it, too, I know you do."

He did, for they were a highly passionate couple, whose lovemaking had been intensely fulfilling for both of them, before the pregnancy had interrupted it.

"I'm glad to wait for you, Marian," he told her, tenderly. "I've done it before, you know." He was grinning now, bringing a smile to her lips. "And you're no cow. You're beautiful.

Unable to resist, he kissed her, slowly, longingly, bending across her extended belly as gently as he could to reach her lips. "Let me make love to you, without doing anything Matilda says we can't," he pleaded, passionate in his love for her.

"How?" she asked, her voice small.

"Just let me kiss you, all over. Nothing sexual, I promise. Just lovingly."

"Here? But, the others are waiting for you, Robin. They need to hear your plans."

Knowing she was right, he breathed a frustrated sigh, still managing a smile. "Alright, my love. Come with me? It was your plan I stole, after all."

Smiling back at him, she let him help her to her feet, and together, hand in hand, they left the cave's innermost chamber to join the others.