Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood nor am I affiliated with BBC. Only OCs and plot post-season 2 belong to me.

Chapter 44: Simple Gifts

Marguerite rode to the camp early the day after the wedding, tying her horse before she walked in the entrance. "Marguerite!" several said in greeting. "Any new news?" Robin asked.

"No, I actually came hoping I could borrow Little John for today," Marguerite grinned. "Well, Big Bear?"

"Go on," Robin said, not sure what Marguerite had planned. "We can make do."

John gave Robin a wary look as he followed Marguerite out. He was feeling wary about what the lady had planned. Marguerite mounted her horse and waited for John to fetch one of the outlaws' horses. "Where are we going?" John asked.

"You'll see," Marguerite grinned as they rode off. They rode in silence for a very long time. Unsurprising, considering her company. "John… I pray when we get there you don't hold this against me."

"What are we doing?" John asked even more wary now.

"We are almost there," Marguerite promised. She dismounted on the outskirts of a village. She waited for John to follow her as she walked quietly on the edge of the forest until they came upon a small, cozy cottage. "That is what I wished for you to see."

John gasped in shock as he watched Alice, heavy with child, and little Little John laughing in the yard before the cottage. Marguerite looked up at the big man with tears in his eyes. "She is happy, John. So is your son. They are both well taken care of," Marguerite promised. "You gave her this," Marguerite insisted. "Do you wish to go talk to them?"

John seemed stuck to his place as he watched, soaking in the sight of them until Alice's husband came home, greeting both Alice and John with a kiss. "John?" Marguerite asked worriedly. The only thing she didn't, couldn't, plan for was John's reaction.

John watched as the man placed his hand lovingly on the swell of Alice's belly. "That should be me," John said angrily.

"It isn't, though, John," Marguerite said. "I understand how difficult it is to let go," Marguerite said softly. "I wish you could see how much you have given your loved ones, though. You gave them a gift, John."

"I didn't do anything, I never did right by them," John insisted.

"When you found out about Little John, and Alice, you wanted to do right, you attempted to," Marguerite said. "Between Guy and Robin I learned what happened. Look at them, John. I wish you could see the gift you gave your son and wife," Marguerite said studying the family.

"Gift? I abandoned them," John said angrily.

"You let her move on," Marguerite countered. "You let her go with another man that she loves, who loves her and your son. You loved her enough to let her be happy, even when you could have been selfish. That is a gift, John. She wouldn't have this family, she wouldn't be happy now, if you had been selfish."

"I wanted to," John admitted, looking at the noblewoman. "I wanted to snatch her and little Little John back to me."

"You loved them enough to let them go. They are happy John. And they would want you to be happy," Marguerite pointed out.

"How did you find them?" John asked.

"I had Luke scout them out," Marguerite grinned. "He is proving most useful to me. Luke found them before the wedding; he learned that your son, petite Jean, still has the necklace, the Hood tags, and that he wears all the time."

John smiled fondly when he heard that as he watched his son. "It might have been the only good thing I ever did for them, letting them go."

"John, you have to let them go now. I can't tell you how…" Marguerite trailed off. "If you figure that part out, let me know," she said sadly. "But I know your Alice would want you to be happy. She loved you, and I'm sure a part of her still does. You had a son together. She would want you to be happy. Or at least stop looking forward to death," Marguerite drawled.

She left him watching them as she walked back to her horse. If he wanted to watch or talk with them, she wouldn't intrude.

~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*

"Ygrainne, be careful," Gretchen called out, yawning, as she watched her niece play. The gang was returning from drop offs while they waited for John to return and was now walking through Sherwood. Everyone was still in a festive mood from after the party the day (and night) before.

"Why didn't you take Marguerite's offer?" Marion asked. "I've been dying of curiosity."

"Because I want to be here for Elle, I can't abandon her. I hope eventually Elle will cave and marry Allan. I don't want to miss that," Gretchen grinned as Eleanor glared at her.

"I am not taking his proposals seriously while he is still an outlaw and we are living in the camp," was all Eleanor would say. "Not that he has proposed since we came to the camp," Eleanor frowned.

The women all looked at her, surprised. "Really? Not once?" Marion said, shocked. Eleanor shook her head.

The girls were shaking their heads as they came out of the forest, spying Marguerite and Guy on horseback. The rest of the gang found them and they watched on from the forest. "She does have a beautiful stallion," Marion commented to Robin.

"Her family always had excellent horses. Richard kept Christophe's after he died in the Holy Lands."

Something startled Marguerite's horse and it reared. Marguerite expertly kept herself steady and her hold on the reigns as the mount took off like lightening. Everyone was so surprised they naturally ran out to see if she was hurt. Guy was ready to take off after her when he saw Marion standing next to Eleanor and Gretchen.

He stared at her like she was a ghost come to haunt him. Suddenly, everyone realized he was looking at Marion, not chasing after Marguerite.

Eleanor looked back and forth between the two and sighed. Anne had told her what was happening between Guy and Marguerite. She could understand the shock—who wouldn't be shocked?—but Marguerite could be half way to the next shire the way her horse was moving.

She reached up and was about to swat the horse's flank when Guy took off on his own volition.

Suddenly, Robin, Allan, and Will were horseback. "I'll watch Tom," Gretchen told Eleanor as Allan reached down for her and helped her behind him. "Go," John said as the other horses were untethered and Djaq mounted another one. "I'll watch him and Ygrainne," he said taking the boy. Gretchen was surprised but nodded. Will offered a hand.

"I think I'll stay and keep John company, help out," Much said to everyone's surprise as Marion climbed on behind Robin and they took off.

"He needs to be changed," John commented, an idea forming in his mind. Much sighed, unable to hide the look of disgust. "I'll do it if you think you can play with the girl," John said. He walked off, grinning, carrying Tom who had just been changed before the fiasco. "We'll see if those two finally get their act together. They are almost as bad as your parents, little Tom," the big man laughed as he talked to the baby, making sure Much went to keep an eye on Ygrainne and, hopefully, bond with her.

~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*

He couldn't think about it now. Guy told himself to just focus catching up with Marguerite before she was thrown. He could see her up ahead and…

She was laughing.

Relief swept through him when he saw she was in control and enjoying herself. She pulled on the reigns to slow her mount and allow him to catch up. He took the reigns from her hands and then, to her complete surprise, yanked her from the saddle to place in front of him. "Are you insane?" he asked. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm perfectly fine," she said in surprise.

"That makes one of us,' he mumbled. Allan and Eleanor rode up to them with Djaq, Will and Gretchen not far behind. Robin and Marion hid themselves as they watched the scene unfold.

"Robin, I don't think he will do anything…" Marion started.

"He tried to kill you!"

"I haven't forgotten, and neither has he, Robin. What happened to having a truce? And you would make Marguerite continue to lie to him? Can't you see how they care about each other?"

"Marion…"

"I know you don't want to see me hurt, Robin. I don't want you hurt, either. But you can't keep me in a box. The only reason I haven't complained is because you still let me help you with the runs and deliveries and fights away from Vaysey. Otherwise I am no better off than Gretchen and Eleanor are," she huffed.

"I am just trying to protect all of you," Robin insisted.

"Sometimes you have to be free to stretch your wings, my love."

"Are you alright?" Eleanor asked Marguerite and Guy as she and Allan rode up to them.

"Perfectly fine. I have no idea what spooked him," Marguerite said puzzled. She had no idea Guy discovered Marion. She slipped from Guy and went to mount her own horse. "But that was invigorating! Didn't we love that, Arkvior?" She asked as she rubbed his neck. "It's as close to flying as we'll ever get."

"Well, if that's all then," Allan said backing away and taking off. Eleanor gave a quick wave to Marguerite over her shoulder as Will, carrying Gretchen, and Djaq followed in quick pursuit.

"Did I miss something?" Marguerite asked.

"We need to talk," Guy said darkly. She followed him back to Locksley wondering what it could be. What could possibly have happened in the minute they were separated?

She dismounted and followed him to the padlock. Whatever it was, he obviously didn't want them to be overheard. "Why didn't you tell me?" At her confused look he became angry. "You knew how I berated myself, how I was dying inside at the thought of killing her."

"Marion?"

"Yes, Marion! She's alive! What else have you lied about?" he demanded.

She looked stricken, then got angry. "I told you I haven't lied, Guy. I withheld that from you because I was sworn to. Robin wants to protect his precious Marion, you want your precious Marion back. Vaysey finds Marion the perfect distraction for you. Hell, even Richard thinks I am only a replacement for her."

"This isn't time for your jealousy…"

She glared at him. "My jealousy? You were grieving over a woman who did nothing but manipulate and use you, Guy. And you call that love? I have told you everything. I trusted you, Guy. Perhaps this is for the best. Now you can make your choice," she decided, and told him Robin's other precious secret: directions to his camp.

She watched Guy storm off and fetch his horse.

I have the best readers! I wish you all the best 2010. HUGE thanks to I-Can-Spell-confusion-with-a-K (it is a lovely picture! I wanted a sweet day-in-the-life vignette sort of moment, a chance for everyone to relax and be happy, especially with what's coming) vintage2000 (I love Guy and Marguerite, so I am happy someone else does too! A monkey wrench is about to be thrown in their relationship, it will all depend on Guy, soon!) and Starry-eyed-peoples (I love ALL of your reviews!! Totally made my day! Thank you so much!) for the wonderful reviews! It was a wonderful surprise finding all of them in my inbox over the holidays!