The car flew over the city slowly as to not attract attention. Marion removed her goggles and looked at her saviour.
“I had it under control," Marion said, looking out the window.
“You had nothing! You could have been killed!” Robin yelled and he let out a sigh.
“WHAT... what were you thinking? You could be dead, Marion! You understand that?” Robin asked in a demanding tone.
“Like you care! You vanish for seven years fighting a war against these... things... and when you come back, you barely fucking look at me and insist on running around in a costume playing vigilante! You could be killed too!” Marion yelled, her patience running out.
“I do care, Marion! I care very much! Those cops have you marked now! You can’t go back to the city or you’ll be killed,” Robin said and Marion punched the dashboard.
“Oh that’s just GREAT! What the hell am I supposed to do now?” she demanded and Robin sighed.
“You will have to stay with me for a while. I don’t care what you say, Marion... It’s the only way," Robin said. Marion pouted quietly, looking out the window again and realising they were no longer flying through the city, but over tall trees.
“Wait... this is the woodlands! Why are we heading to the forest?” Marion asked and Robin said nothing. Her answers were coming, but as always, whether Marion liked it or not she would have to wait.
Robin flew through the trees towards a landing platform that had been built between two tall trees. He landed perfectly and he and Marion exited the vehicle.
Marion looked around at the impressive village of huts built high into the trees. She took off her white leather jacket, carrying it on her arms.
“You’ve been busy!” Marion said as Robin threw back his hood and removed his ski mask.
“How many of you are there?” she asked, looking around and seeing several people dressed exactly like him working on various building improvements, fences and what seemed to be defences and traps.
“Enough for now," Robin replied, taking Marion by the hand and leading her into the forest.
Robin led Marion through Sherwood Forest, leading her to a large open area with a lake surrounded by rocks, and a massive waterfall. Robin and Marion sat on the grass by the rushing water. She looked into his eyes for a long time – his tired face almost seeming somewhat alien, yet at the same time, in those eyes somewhere she saw the younger man who had chased her around the city years earlier. Who had made love to her in the moonlight. The young man that had made her laugh.
“You were gone so long," Marion said to him finally and Robin frowned.
“I know," Robin replied, his eyes slightly wet Marion could see. It made her feel bad.
“Why are you doing this? You don’t owe these people anything, Robin! Least of all your life!” Marion said.
“It’s not about what I owe them. It’s about what they deserve. Every man deserves to be free, Marion. Every heart deserves a home. The king wants to destroy the poor and the weak. It’s not right," Robin replied, tearing some grass out of the ground and tossing it away. The sun was going down and the sky was an impressive orange. Marion took Robin by the hand, running her fingers across his skin.
“When you went to war, I thought you weren’t coming back. I thought... I would never see your face again and I thought that for a long, long time. One night, I had a dream about the time I fell down that hole and you carried me out of it. I was crying because I had broken my foot. You were so brave. You just kept telling me I’d be fine. When I woke up I thought about that day a lot. I realised you would come back to me. I only hoped that you’d be different," Marion said. Robin lowered his head and nodded.
“You thought I would come back for you," Robin said and Marion nodded.
“Yes you idiot! I know it’s old fashioned but I thought we would get married... have a family! Not for one second did I imagine you’d come back to Sherwood to play hero!” Marion went on. Robin laughed.
Marion stood up, dusting grass off her white pants. His laughter reminded her of the man he once was.
“Oh that’s funny?” Marion asked and Robin shook his head.
“No, its just... You haven’t changed Marion. And I’m very glad you haven’t,” Robin replied as Marion turned to walk away. Robin stood up, calling after her.
“I came back for you too," Robin said. Marion froze, turning her head slightly in his direction.
“Is that true?” Marion asked and Robin nodded his head.
“I thought about you every day on Loxley. I thought of how I would feel when I saw you again. I was so scared that I wouldn’t, Marion. I was scared that I’d be killed or you’d meet someone else, but I fought through it. You kept me going, Marion. You kept me sane," Robin said and tears ran down Marion’s face.
Marion ran towards him, the two of them locked in embrace. Robin placed a hand under Marion’s chin, gently kissing her on the mouth. She kissed him back, her tears wetting his face.
Their lips parted and their eyes locked. Marion saw more of the man she had fallen in love with all those years ago than she had seen in along time.
“Marry me," Robin said and Marion beamed, an undeniable smile creeping
