The past is a ghost, the future a dream (Robin)

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"A date!?" Robin was amazed. Such miracles science could perform nowadays, to be so precise. Had this happened in their day, of course Marian would have recieved the very best care it was possible to find, he would have had the determination to do it and the funds and resources to pull it off, but it still paled in comparison to the kind of care she could recieve here, the kind of advances in medicine that would protect the life of both her and their child. Sometimes he wondered about how wise it had been to come here, but in that moment he knew it was the best decision they could have made.

"April tenth cannot come fast enough." He declared, despite the fact that there was probably a tonne of things they'd have to do before the baby arrived, he still wished it would come quickly.

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Marian had barely even noticed all the virtual impossibilities the doctor had spoken of during her appointment. She had barely listened to any of it, telling herself she would think about it all later, or she would have if she had been able to think past those three little words: you are pregnant.

Now, seeing Robin’s amazement, for the first time she took a moment to consider what she had been told. A date, she had been given a date. Not a season, not even just a probable month, but an exact date that the child was meant to be born. How could they possibly know that? It truly was incredible.

“You say that now, but you may change your tune after the baby is born and the sleepless nights begin,” she teased, her fingers playing absently with the short hairs just above the nape of his neck. Then she thought of something else the doctor had said.

“We can see it,” Marian said, hardly believing the words herself even as she said them. “The doctor said that at the next appointment they can show us an image of our baby.”

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"Never," Robin grinned at her "Sleepless nights, crying, bathing, feeding, I won't mind any of it, because we'll have a child! We'll be a family!"
Admittedly that was probably a slight exaggeration, though at the moment he was thrilled enough to be a little illogical. Besides, he was excited enough at the prospect of having a child and being a family that he'd probably at least think it was worth it, even when it got tiring or difficult.

Her next words got through his excitement only to throw him into a state of amazed shock.
"We can... see it? Our baby? They can show us a picture? While it's still..." he placed a hand on her stomach, stunned "The technology here is so strange, but it's amazing..."

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Of course Robin would say such things in his excitement, but Marian didn’t know a single parent who did not have complaints once the baby arrived. Still, it was difficult to think of any downsides to it right now, especially while being faced with such happiness and enthusiasm from her husband. He was wonderful, and Marian impulsively kissed him again as a wave of pure love and affection washed over her.

“You do realise I will remember you said that and remind you of it when the times comes,” she said with a teasing smile. Teasing, yes, but not entirely untrue.

Then his amazement overcame him and she looked down at his hand on her stomach, placing her own over his. Their baby, a new life growing inside of her. It was almost as amazing to think about as all the technology in this world. “I know,” she agreed. “I do not know how it works, but... you will come with me?” The question was sudden, and Marian brought her eyes back up to his face. It was amazing, yet frightening and intimidating as well. Honestly, had Gwen not been with her for the initial appointment she was not certain how well she would have handled it. While being from a time without this technology as well, the other girl adapted so swiftly to everything.

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"Come with you?" Robin repeated "Such a ridiculous question, darling wife of mine." He laughed slightly shaking his head.
Still, the good mood had left him feeling just a touch mischievous, so he paused for a moment to tease her before he continued.

"Wild horses couldn't drag me away. The king himself could not command me to be anywhere else."

He was speaking in jest, exaggerating, but saying it was still something of a concession, a reminder of the fact that he'd declared her to be his number one priority now, that even if the king did decide to go on another crusade or fight another war, Robin would not be in that army, he would be with his family, where he was needed.

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Marian did not need the reminder of the king, nor the result of the last command he had given Robin, but she appreciated the sentiment. He had left her once to fight in the Holy War, and again here to finish business in England, but now that they were wed and peace reigned, she truly believed that he would not leave her side again, especially after this happy piece of news.

“You are incorrigible,” she replied, rolling her eyes even though her smile did not falter. It seemed permanently in place now, she couldn’t think of anything in this moment that could ever make her frown again. “Our child better be more well behaved than you.”

Robin may have been of noble birth, but she remembered him as a child. He could raise hell with the best of them when he wanted to. However their child acted, though, it would never be lacking in love. This was all Marian had ever wanted, and she simply couldn’t be happier.

((Finis?))