Robin breezed into camp, his head still in the clouds, his heart still at Knighton.

Noticing Allan without Maggie brought him slightly back down to earth.

"I assume you were able to escort Maggie safely home?" he asked.

"Yeah." Allan's lack of a jest indicated he clearly missed his "friend."

Robin, head over heels in love, was all sympathy and kindness. "Well, you'll be seeing her again soon," he said, clapping a hand on Allan's shoulder.

Much scurried to his master. "Everything go well between Marian and Maggie?" he asked.

Robin closed his eyes and smiled. Then suddenly, his eyes popped open and his face wore a look of consternation. "Gisbourne!" he cried out in panic.

"What about Gisbourne?" Much's own panic rose, surpassing his master's.

Allan was quick to soothe them. "Don't worry. I took care of things."

Quickly mastering his emotion, Robin asked, "How?"

"Easy! Right after I dropped off Maggie, I met some soldiers heading into her house. 'Evenin', Gents,' I said. 'Wanna hear somethin' funny?' Of course, they did. 'You know the one here called Maggie?' I asked, all pleasant. They didn't know the girls by name like I do, but they said they knew which one she was. 'Well,' I said, 'she thinks she's gonna go work for the Lady Marian at Knighton Hall! What a waste that'll be, right, Gents?' "

"I don't see how that will help!" Much cried.

"But I didn't stop there, Idiot! I made sure to spread the story all over town. Gisbourne's probably heard it already!"

Robin's face broke into a smile. "Allan, you're a genius!" he cried approvingly.

"Whoa! Not bein' funny, but I hope you're not plannin' on kissin' me, the way you did Will when you declared him a genius!"

Robin looked a bit confused, then smiled again at Allan and slung an arm around him. "You saved the day," he told him. "Thank you."

Much huffed away to prepare the evening meal, and Robin sauntered over to Lady Cecily, who was sitting on her log, slightly away from the others.

"Well!" he greeted her, still glowing from his tender encounter with Marian. "One woman safely back where she wants to be! Now, all we need to do is find shelter for you."

"You don't even realize that we're at odds, do you, Robin?" Cecily asked, her manner cold and proud.

"Are we?"

Cecily turned her face away, expecting him to grovel at her feet. Now that he'd returned, she was beginning to enjoy herself. She felt she'd gained the upper hand at last in their "relationship," and that Robin would begin to truly appreciate her, after she'd made him suffer first.

Robin tried to remember what he'd done to annoy her. He vaguely recalled her getting snippy with him, but as it had been something of no consequence, he'd put it out of his mind.

He would prefer to go enjoy the jovial company of his men, but knew it would be rude to simply walk away. Resigned to giving Cecily a few moments of his time, he told her, "Sess, I'm sorry if I upset you. Forgive me?"

She wasn't looking at him. He knew she'd forgive him, if she only bothered to look. The look he wore on his face always worked, with every woman he knew except for Marian. He guessed Djaq would also prove immune, but then, he'd never angered her, and didn't intend to. If he ever did, he would pay her a sincere apology.

Robin felt he'd wasted enough time. Better get her to look at him, so he could enjoy the company of his friends. He gently put his fingers under Cecily's chin and lifted her face to look into his. "Forgive me?" he asked again, knowing he looked irrestible.

And irrestible he truly proved, at least to Cecily. Forgetting all the breeding that had been forced into her from years and years of lessons in deportment, Cecily rose to her feet and threw herself against him, her mouth devouring his in a deep, passionate kiss.