A Rose By Any Other Name (Robin/open)

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Marian sat upon a blanket that was laid out on the grass, her school books forgotten beside her as she flipped through the book of baby names her coworkers had given her as part of her going away gift. She knew she could have continued to work long into her pregnancy but she did not intend to return to work afterwards, and she and Robin did not want to take any unnecessary risks. Besides, it was her first child and she wanted to enjoy this time.

“Axel?” she said, furrowing her brow in confusion. Flipping a few pages, her expression did not change. “Blaze?” Lowering the book to her lap, she looked over at Robin who lay next to her. It was an unusually warm day for the season and they had decided to take advantage of it and spend the day out of doors. “Do people honestly name their children these things?”

What happened to the good, traditional names like Charles and Henry? And even some of the nice names were so confused by strange spellings just to make them stand out that she did not know how a young child could even remember to spell their own name, let alone pronounce it if they saw it written.

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Robin stared contentedly at the sky, arms tucked behind his head, as Marian looked through the book beside him. This really was perfection, he had no idea how he'd survived so long without simple moments like this, but now that he'd found them he didn't intend of ever letting anything get in the way again.
Admittedly, if people needed him he wasn't going to leave them wanting, but his wife, his family, they were his priority now.

He raised an eyebrow at the names she came out with, glad he could recognise the tone of confusion in her voice or for a moment he might think she was actually suggesting such ridiculous names.
"Perhaps they just come up with them to fill out the book," It was a particularly big book, Robin had been surprised at just how many names it listed "Or for fun."

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Marian raised her eyebrows at her husband, clearly not believing his suggestions. “I do not think this is supposed to be a comedy. I think it is actually supposed to help people,” she said, because why else would her coworkers give her such a thing? And there were a great number of normal names in it, so it certainly did not seem like a joke.

“Although...” flipping the book open again to a random page, she sighed. “Talon? No one could seriously name a child after the claws of a bird of prey.”

Perhaps there was some validity to his theories. Well, no son of theirs was going to be stuck with such horrendous names.

A son. They were having a son. The technology here was incredible. Not only had they been able to give them a date that the baby was meant to arrive, but they had been able to tell them that it was a boy. Placing a hand over her slightly swollen belly, Marian smiled.

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"Oh I don't know..." Robin began, tone serious but eyes twinkling with mischief "Talon is a good, strong name for a boy... Or what about Wing? Or Beak maybe?" he couldn't keep a straight face for long, and he barely finished his sentence before laughing.

He placed a hand over hers and his laughter faded into a more genuine smile.
"Whatever we call him, he's going to be perfect, he's going to be ours." Theirs, their little boy. Robin could hardly contain his excitement, he was almost annoyed that pregnancy took so long, even if they could use the time to prepare for the baby's arrival.

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When Robin began joking around and teasing her about the name, Marian closed the book and hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Keep that up and I am revoking your decision making privileges,” she threatened, but his laughter was infectious and by the time he took her hand all signs of worry were gone. Of course he was right. She still felt the name to be vastly important, but they had time and the perfect name would come to them. Whatever they chose would be perfect, just like the life that was growing within her. Even now she sometimes had a hard time believing it.

Tossing the book aside, Marian laid down on the blanket as well and rested her head on her husband’s stomach. Threading her fingers through his, she closed her eyes a moment, just letting the sun warm her skin.

“What are we going to do once he is born?” she asked after a moment. “My programme is set to finish about the same time he is due, though I may try to arrange to finish sooner.” It seemed almost pointless now to even bother to finish, and it became harder each day to focus and motivate herself to do the coursework, but after putting more than three years into it already she was determined to see it through.

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Robin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace even as she spoke, holding her close as he thought about it.

"We'll do whatever you want to do," He told her, genuinely happy to plan his life around what she wanted, there wasn't really anything pressing he had to do, he didn't so much have a job anymore, other than being an earl and he could sort of do that anywhere - though if he got bored he was sure there was something he could find to do. Either way, it didn't really matter. "I had thought it would be nice for him to grow up in Nottingham, to see where we came from, but home for me is wherever you are, so as long as you're happy, so am I."

Just because he'd be happy wherever she was didn't mean he didn't have preferences, it just meant he didn't mind putting hers first.

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Marian settled into the embrace, content to just stay there forever. It was amazing to think how her life had turned around in just a few short years. When she had first arrived at Avalon she had been young, heartbroken, angry at the world and terrified of all the wonders around her. Now she had positively blossomed. She had embraced this world of magic and technology and had grown strong and independent, but when it came right down to it it was her childhood dream, now turned reality, that brought her true happiness. This right here - her husband, their baby - this was all she had ever truly wanted.

Leaning up to kiss him tenderly after his speech, she then lay her chin on his chest so she could still watch him. In her eyes he was still the most beautiful man she had ever met, and his words were still able to make her heart beat faster. “You are home to me,” she said softly before laying her head down on his chest. Still, no matter how strongly they felt that, this was still very important, and it was something that needed to be decided so arrangements could be made.

“I think I would like that too,” she continued after a moment. “This place means a lot to me, and it has given me so much, but I came to it in a time of need. I am not sure it is a place to raise a family.”

All true, of course, but not the only reason for her agreement. Of course there was something else, something she was still reluctant to discuss as it only upset her. But if she could not speak of it with Robin, then they had further problems than where to live. “And... I think it is time to reconcile with my father.”

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"Of course." Robin said softly "Do not worry about it, my love, things were said and mistakes were made but he is family, and you love each other, I am sure it will be fine."
Marian loved her father dearly, he knew, and her father loved her in return, there may be some hurt feelings and things that could have been avoided if certain actions hadn't been taken, but they were in the past now, and everything had worked out for the best in the end, so hopefully they would be able to move past it.

"Perhaps you could write to him, let him know how you feel before we return, see how he feels before you have to see him, it might make it easier, smooth the way," he suggested "I think we should stay here at least until the baby is born, for your course but also to ensure you, and he, get the best possible care."

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Marian really wished she shared Robin’s optimism. After she had learned what her father had done, how he had convinced Robin that she had married while he had been away to war so he would give up on her, she had written him a very angry, hurt, and accusatory letter. He had tried to explain to her, tried begging her forgiveness, but in the many months that followed his letters went unanswered until he finally gave up. It was not until after her wedding that she had broken the silence, and her announcement had not been received well; not because he still did not approve of the match but because she had cut him out of her life and he had not been there to share the day with her and to give her away. It had incurred her anger again because it was his own fault that things had worked out this way, but at the same time she felt guilty for hurting him. Needless to say her reply letter was defensive and less than kind and again the letters stopped.

Robin was, of course, right though. She had to make another attempt at a reconciliation, and the sooner the better. This one had to go better, it just had to, because while her father may find her a disappointment now, and her choice of husband unacceptable, she could not see him turning his back on his grandchild. She was his only daughter, and his only chance to have grandchildren. He would wish to be part of their lives. ‘Their’ because of course there would be more than one.

This thought brought a small smile to Marian’s face, banishing the dark cloud that had settled over it moments ago.

“When did you become so insightful?” she teased. He also brought up another very good point: labour was difficult back home, and often a joyous occasion became tragedy. Her own mother had succumbed to it, but this place could do miracles. It was their best chance. “I agree. And besides, there are many people here who would be very displeased if we left before.” Mainly Gwen. “Have you told Much the news yet?”

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"I have always been this insightful, I am a veritable fountain of knowledge," he boasted with a fakely pompous accent, though as usual the twinkle in his eye gave away that he was just joking. Very often with Marian, unless the matter was particularly serious and particularly important right that moment, when something had made her sad it was best to distract her from it, so make jokes and tease her so that she forgot about it and was happy again.

"There certainly are," he agreed, Arthur for a start, and Gwen, "and I sent Much a message, although I have not yet heard a reply."

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“Of course you are,” Marian replied with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. Reaching up to ruffle his hair, her hand lingered, fingers twirling the strands between them affectionately. She hoped their baby had his eyes; she had always loved his eyes. All the time he had been away, fighting for his king, or for glory or for whatever his true goal was, it was his eyes that had haunted her most at night. Always in her dreams she would see them, forever present, and she would awaken with such fear that she might never see them again.

Now he was finally hers and come hell or high water he would not leave her again.

“How do you think he will react?” she asked. “You know he is going to want to be a big part of our child’s life. Just wait until he hears you are returning home.”

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He leant into the touch, enjoying the feel of her fingers running through his hair. Once upon a time he would have never thought this possible, there were the years where he dreamed about coming back to this and then suddenly that all seemed to be taken away from him, obstacle after obstacle being thrown in their way. It sort of made it worth it, now, to have come through all of that and still have found each other.

"If he wants to be a part of our child's life, he should be," Robin decided. He didn't agree with what Edward did, but he'd done it for Marian's sake, and that was something he could get behind. Now that it had all worked out, he was sure Edward would see sense, the old man wasn't as unreasonable as all that - was he? "He better react with utter joy, as is only fitting for hearing about an heir. If he doesn't, he's..." he stopped himself from saying anything too bad "crazy."

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Marian was confused for a moment when Robin spoke of an heir, but thinking back on what she had said she realised that she had not actually been clear. She had been referring to Much when she had spoke, but of course her husband would think she was referring to her father; he knew how much the deterioration of their relationship bothered her and how much she dwelled on it. Even if she did not speak of it much, it was often on her mind.

“I am sure that once he sees his grandson all will be well,” she said with more confidence than she’s realised she felt. As she said it, she was certain it was true. Perhaps the news itself might not be completely well received, but as soon as he saw the child then nothing would keep him from being involved.

“And what of your ‘men’?” Marian asked with a smile. “Our son will certainly have the most unique extended family.”

It was both comical and sweet to think of it. Much, of course, would want to be like an honourary uncle; Allan Marian still considered to be one of her closest friends and she hoped he would be around when she returned, and despite former tensions she also felt Djaq could be a good influence. Wil gave her pause, though; she was not sure she wanted the violent girl around their child, and Little John she knew only in name. Still, with people like that around their little boy would certainly have a life that was anything but boring.

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The mention of a son jolted him slightly, and then he remembered that they knew, they weren't just guessing or hoping, they knew for sure that they were having a little boy. Much as he had come to be used to the technology here, that still kept surprising him.

"I am sure they will be thrilled to meet my son," his son, his boy, he couldn't wait, he almost wanted to spin her around with the joy of it all, but as they were both lying down he simply took her hand and squeezed it, a tiny gesture but a meaningful one, "and they will be an excellent family to him."