Last chapter, thanks for the support. It may be a bit random and disjointed but I'm tired and I want to finish this story finally so there you go!

Tristan and Grace followed their parents over to the other side of the camp where the wood was usually stored whilst the rest of the outlaws did their best to make themselves scarce. Allan vanished into the forest with Johnny, their excuse being to catch something for lunch whilst Djaq and John hurried off with some pouches of money that would soon be in the hands of several poverty stricken peasants. Will and Ranulf were the only ones to remain at the camp with no other viable excuse allowing for their leaving.

Therefore the carpenter retreated to his trusty axe hoping to chop up some would to fuel the fire they would later need to build. Unfortunately he realised that the wood he needed to cut was where the foursome had gone to. Without that plan he wasn't left with a lot of options and collapsed onto his bunk, defeated. Ranulf also retired to the safety of the bed in the medical bay.

Once they had reached some unspoken point Robin stopped walking and leant against a sturdy adopting a surly expression. Marian unconsciously moved towards him and took up the space to his right.

As they watched their parents both children couldn't help but feel they were being ganged up on. Despite the intimidating air of the two adults however both Tristan and Grace managed to incorporate a degree of defiance and boldness into their stances. They stood beside each other, shoulder to shoulder, seeking encouragement and support from each others present. Although they had only known each other for a couple of days they already trusted one another completely.

Robin and Marian watched this defensive posture and couldn't help be startled by the striking resemblance both children had to one another. They knew they were twins obviously but the similarities between the youngsters were uncanny. Both had intense blue eyes the colour of sapphires and the exact same shade of hair colour. It was not just these attributes that were common factors but also their strong jaw lines and identical brow shapes that were at the moment creased into matching frowns.

"Well, are you going to say something or just stare at us?" Grace suddenly snapped causing her parents to jump visibly. They exchanged a look before Robin nodded and began speaking.

"We understand your want to be with us which is equal to our want to be with you but…."

"There's always a but with you, isn't there?" Grace growled.

"But there are several reasons why this is not practical. One is that we live in a forest which is not the best environment to grow up in. Two is that we are outlaws and therefore if you lived with us you would in essence become one too and then your lives will constantly be in danger. Finally three is that although you want us to be a complete family but Marian and I are not together because she is married to Gisborne."

"Not now she's run away," Tristan pointed out.

"However, we have come to another possible outcome."

"You know, you are beginning to sound way too pompous and serious," Grace put in though she was sure the comment was irrelevant.

"Maybe it's because he's assuming his 'fatherly' role," Tristan grinned cheekily.

"Onto our plan," Robin hushed them both with a fierce glare, he did not appreciate the mockery of his offspring, "We have decided that we will send you away but Marian is to go with you at first to get you settled down before she returns here."

"What?! Where are you sending us to?" the young girl gaped astonished that her parents had drawn this conclusion.

"Not too far away. To the village of Hampford, it's still in Nottinghamshire but out of the eye of any soldiers so we can visit you."

"That's not fair! And who exactly will we be residing with if our own mother is deserting us?"

"Well, we haven't quite decided, there are several possibilities…"

"But all people we don't know."

"Yes but…."

"I can't believe you!" Grace exclaimed incredulously, "Why can't we just live alone?"

"Because you need adult protection."

Ranulf couldn't help but listen to the conversation that was being had in the family as they had raised their voices a considerable amount since starting. He'd heard Robin's reasoning and the twins' outrage. He could understand the reasoning behind both arguments: the parents just wanted their children to be safe and happy whereas the children just wanted to be with their parents after all this time apart. It was a difficult dilemma one that could surely rival the Sheriff's in complicity.

However, as he thought about it he realised that he had the solution. The young man wasn't really comfortable staying with these outlaws and he had nowhere else to go now that he's betrayed Gisborne. His only choice was to move away, just like the kids.

"I can be their protection." The sudden interruption to the ferocious glaring contest that was going on between Robin and Grace caused them both to come to with a start. They looked over at the source of the voice.

Ranulf stood tall with his arms crossed and a look of quiet determination on his face. He felt slightly perturbed as the whole family turned their eyes on him but he persisted none the less.

"What the hell do you mean?" Robin frowned.

"I mean that I can be their guardian in Hampford if you and Marian are going stay here fighting the Sheriff. I vow to keep them safe. I've saved their lives once before haven't I?"

"Are you serious?" A huge beam spread across Grace's face when the young man nodded in acknowledgment. Robin didn't look convinced.

"I'm not sure…."

"Father, how is you sending us to live with strangers any different from us residing with Ranulf? Besides we know him and trust him," Tristan, the voice of reason, cut in.

"I don't know," Robin looked to assistance from Marian but she shrugged.

"I believe that seems like the best idea by far if Ranulf is actually willing to take on the responsibility. Two adolescents can be a handful. We will need to sort them out with a house as soon as possible."

Robin stared at his lover, gob-smacked, he would have never suspected her to be so decisive but then he realised that this was an easy way of keeping their children safe and happy until justice could be restored to Nottingham. If the children liked where they were going even better.

"Alright then," he smiled, "We best get moving."

Epilogue…five years on…

The sun set over the brow of the hill and the young woman covered her eyes to avoid the glare. She enjoyed the warm glow that it cast over the rest of her body however and revelled in the heat. Beside her on the grass outside of a small stone house sat a young man of exactly the same age. His dark brown hair flopped over his eyes slightly damp with exertion after several hours of hard work chopping wood for the fire that would be lit after sundown.

He offered her a cheeky grin, the sunlight reflecting off his rosy cheeks. The woman returned it with the same intensity. It was days like this when she loved being alive so she could experience the last rays of sun or listen to the evening chorus of birds twittering in the trees or feel the lush grass through her fingers. It was bliss.

From inside the dark interior of the cottage emerged a shadow in the form of a man. He was slim but reasonably well muscled after several years working outdoors and glowed with a beautiful brown tan. He spoke quietly so as not to startle the two.

"Grace, Tristan your parents sent a message from the Manor House to see whether you wanted to visit them tomorrow. Do you?"

"Of course, I want to visit my little sister after all," Grace smiled and clambered to her feet, "I bet the tiny terror is running riot in the house."

"Your mother is keeping Isobel under tight supervision so she grows up to be a proper lady."

"I know that, she wants to succeed with this one after she ended up with me for a daughter. I'm not exactly the perfect woman."

"And I'm not the perfect man yet Father is allowing me to inherit the Manor. I don't think they care, Grace, they're just glad we are happy."

"Sometimes I wonder what would've happened had we not liked it so much in this cottage that we wanted to stay. Would I be wearing all the proper frilly dresses that are of the most ridiculous colours?"

"Probably, just count your lucky stars you are allowed to live your life out as a privileged peasant rather than a model young lady because you still have your freedom."

"I may have been born a noble but I was brought up as a peasant. Still, it's not bad having it both ways is it?"

"Not at all."

Random at the end, sorry. Thanks for all the reviews! Will you review one last time for me?! Thanks!