**DISCLAIMER **
I own none of the characters from the film, I have merely borrowed them for a time.

A jumble of woodsmen and villagers tumbled through the gates into the courtyard of Marian's homestead. They had made it this far without pursuit, but Robin had been careful. He'd sent the best of his men that were still in good shape as scouts along their path, stationed both ahead of them and behind them to warn of any approach. He'd also sent a few of the more confident riders in groups of three or four to set false trails: one leading straight to Sherwood, one to the west and another to the south of Nottingham. The diversions may not fool the enemy for long, but any time they could buy themselves would save lives.

If his brother had been stronger, he might have used his help. His sharp mind may have given them an extra edge. But Will was in no shape to go galivanting around the countryside. And even if he was, Robin wasn't sure he could have let him out of his sight. He needed Will close. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that axe poised above his brother's neck. He shivered, glancing around. Where was Will? He needed to check on him. He needed to know that he was safe.

Then he spotted him. His little brother was leaning against the doorway of a stable, his head resting against the rough wood, his eyes closed. He looked as if his legs were about to give way. Robin crossed the courtyard with rapid strides, catching Will just before he fell, pulling him firmly to him. "I've got you". His brother's body shook with violent tremors. "It's over, Will. You're safe." He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Will's hair. "You're safe," he whispered again, more to reassure himself than his brother. His plan had succeeded in part – they'd rescued their men and Marian. But they hadn't won the day. Nottingham was still in power and it wouldn't be long before he rallied his soldiers. Robin was sure that he would do everything in his power to wipe them out after this.

But the thing that had shaken him to the core was the horror of almost witnessing Will's death. Seeing Will in mortal danger so many times in such a short period had taken its toll. He couldn't fully shake the echo of the panic he had felt each time he saw his brother in peril. Nothing had frozen him in battle like that before. He closed his eyes and squeezed Will tighter. His heart twinged again as his little brother shivered and let out an exhausted sigh. Robin gently lowered Will to the ground, rubbing soothing circles over his back.

A shadow appeared at Robin's shoulder as Marian quietly knelt beside them. She raised an eyebrow questioningly. Robin swallowed the lump in his throat once again. He cradled Will's head to his chest and softly pressed a kiss to his hair.

"He's my brother," he choked. It was all he could manage before his emotions threatened to overwhelm him again. Marian started at the mistiness that formed in Robin's eyes as he said that word. Brother? She squeezed his arm supportively. Clearly, this was not the time.

"Robin, we have to leave. We may have been here too long already. Nottingham won't be far behind us." Robin nodded. Reluctantly, he gently untangled himself from his brother's embrace and settled him carefully against the stable door behind him. Will didn't open his eyes but smiled reassuringly and nodded. He would be ok here. Still, Robin hated to leave him. He was just stepping away when something stopped him. He quickly shrugged off his cloak and arranged it protectively around the small form. There, that was better. Will cracked one eye.

"Stop fussing, rich boy. You know what this lot are like. They'll follow their own backsides off a cliff without their 'fearless leader' to guide them!" Robin snorted and Marian saw the first real smile appear on his face since this whole disastrous day began. What had happened between these two? When Marian had last seen them, they were almost at each other's throats. She didn't think she'd ever seen anyone look at another human being with the sheer venom that Will seemed to harbour for Robin. He'd tried to knife him in the back! Robin had shot an arrow through his hand!

And yet, here they were, acting as if their lives depended on each other's safety. It was baffling. And how could Robin have a brother? There was clearly a good deal that she'd missed since she had left them in Sherwood. She looked at Robin. Still, he hesitated. Marian squeezed his arm gently.

"I'll stay with him," she said. Robin hugged her briefly and whispered, "Thank you."

Robin took charge. He started by sending those on foot ahead to gain as much ground as possible. Those with horses would follow as soon as they'd gathered whatever supplies they could. They had survived in the shelter of the forest before, but the events of today had left them scattered and reeling. And they had added a significant number to their band as the residents of Nottingham who had stood with them had been forced to flee. They would need all the resources they could find.

As Robin organised the throng of people, Marian moved to seat herself on the ground beside Will. She had no idea what to say to this boy. She cleared her throat.

"Brothers?" she asked quietly. Will started as if he hadn't known she was there, and his eyes shot open.

"Half-brother, I guess, really…," he mumbled. "My mother…she…knew our father for a time after Robin's mother died. I…I…I was born a short time after. Robin...he never knew who I was, or that I existed, I guess. But...I knew who he was." Marian nodded quietly, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. Neither of them noticed that Robin had finished directing activities and was standing silently to the side, listening sadly.

"I blamed him for everything that happened to me and my mother. She…she died when I was young. We had no money, no medicine, I couldn't save her…" He paused. These words were still so difficult to say.

"So, when Robin came to Sherwood…I hated him…I focussed all the anger and pain I've carried for years on him." Will knew he was rambling, but he couldn't seem to stop. Tears sprung in his eyes and his voice began to tremble. "I…I…I don't know if I meant to kill him when I went to throw that knife…I hope I didn't, but…I…I…I was so angry…"

Will's next words were nearly a whisper. "I'm sorry…I think…I think I knew that I needed to tell him…that I needed him…I just didn't know how to…I just couldn't…"

Robin took a half-step forward, reassuring words forming in his mind, but Marian beat him to it. "Will," she said softly, "you have no idea the good it would have done him to have a brother growing up. He sometimes talks of Peter and I in a way that breaks my heart. It's always just been him. Sometimes he was so alone. He needed his brother too."

Will made a small noise and shook his head.

That was enough.

Robin dropped to his knees beside Will. He sighed and reached out to brush a stray tear from Will's cheek. "Hey," he said gently. "She's right, you know. Seeing you in danger today…it paralysed me, Will. I don't know if I'll ever shake that feeling of helplessness when the sheriff saw you or the image of you about to be beheaded on that platform. I panicked. I couldn't think of anything other than the fact that I couldn't lose you." He stopped, swallowing. His voice broke slightly as he gazed into those glistening green eyes. And the soul that knew his.

"I know we have so much to learn about each other, but I know that I need you, Will. You are a part of me. A part that I don't know if I could hold together without. Stay with me, OK? Please?"

Will looked into those earnest blue eyes, swimming with the same tears that he felt cascading down his own cheeks. He didn't have Robin's way with words. He didn't know how to voice the tumult of emotions that threatened to drown him in that moment.

So instead, he flung himself at his brother, clinging to the only thing that made him feel safe; the arms that felt like home. Robin enfolded him, pulling him bodily onto his lap. He didn't say anything, just held him.

A few of the villagers stopped to stare at the sight of Robin Hood cradling one of his men like a child. Marian quickly intervened, organising the last of the stragglers as they left for the forest, giving the brothers some privacy.

Finally, there was just a handful of folk that remained: Marian and the seven of them that had launched the rescue that morning. John had gathered the remaining horses; they would be bringing up the rear with the remaining supplies. Marian quickly left to collect the few family heirlooms she couldn't leave behind.

"You ready, Robin?" called John.

Robin nudged his brother carefully. "Will?" he asked, resting a hand on his cheek. Will's bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on Robin's face. He took a deep breath and scrubbed his eyes with his hands. "Yup, I'm good".

Robin smiled sadly back at him. "I doubt that," he replied, "But we have to get moving. We've already been in one place for too long." He paused. Will wasn't going to make it far in his current condition. He was beyond exhausted. But he doubted they had time for wagons. Not with the full force of the sheriff's men on their tail.

"Will can ride with me," he decided. John looked up, puzzled, but one glance at Will huddled in Robin's lap and he nodded. The younger Locksley was going to have to let the others look out for him for a little while longer.

"Riding?" Will asked. "But I...I...I don't…," he stuttered, trying to gather his thoughts. Whenever he tried to catch the words, they seemed to flutter just out of reach. Robin smiled sadly, looping an arm around his brother's shoulders. "With me," he repeated softly.

Will nodded tiredly, leaning briefly against Robin before moving to push himself to his feet. He stumbled, catching himself against the wall beside him. Robin's heart clenched. Will had pushed himself far beyond the limits of what his body could reasonably take. He swayed gently, and Robin couldn't squash his concern. His brother needed to rest. He needed a meal, sleep and someone to take care of the wounds that were still healing on his back and chest.

And he needed some time to process the trauma of the last few days. He'd fought in a violent battle, been captured, tortured, assumed a traitor by his friends and bared his deepest secrets to the brother he had hated for so long. He'd managed one night's brief respite before infiltrating Nottingham castle, being discovered and nearly executed, then being engulfed in another brutal fight for their lives.

They'd escaped, barely, and there had hardly been time to catch their breath, let alone their thoughts. Both Locksleys were still reeling from everything that had happened in the last week and it pained Robin more than he could say that he couldn't give his little brother the time he needed to recover. Not without putting them all at even greater risk.