#undeadinmorde

I shall do a real follow forever in the near future, but for now let me just say how much I love all of you. Here's to the next year.

Happy Birthday

She'd been in town for what seemed like ages. If he hadn't known she was there on real business, he'd have thought the sheriff was keeping her on purpose. Keeping her from him. He waited along the trail impatiently, hanging from trees or lounging in bushes, just waiting for a glimpse of the hem of her gown on the path.

"Uh…" Allan stammered out, taken off-guard by the sudden appearance of Raven and they very suggestive movements of her lithe fingers. He swallowed and grinned shakily. "I know that already." he murmured.

Crane sighed. This issue kept rearing its head. “Yes yes, I know all that. But in my experience, such feelings are best dealt with by forcing them deep inside and ignoring them. Not acting on them. I don’t think giving me a Valentine’s kiss is going to help you do that. And I don’t mean to hit you with a news flash here, but I think I have made my own position clear. I have no romantic feelings to anyone. My commitment is to my work. As yours should be.”

"Yes, love is celebrated. Which is why I assumed that neither of us would acknowledge it. Perhaps we should celebrate a day that celebrates professionalism. Or celebrates platonic distrust and reluctant cohesiveness. Those seem more like occasions for us.”

"Uh….um….OK….you know, you never really seemed to need the excuse of Valentine’s Day before. Although this may be the first time you kissed me without it being part of some sinister plan. Unless…" He felt at the back of his neck for a syringe. "Nope, apparently not."

It had been decades since Allan A Dale had last stepped foot inside Nottinghamshire. Of course, he'd had no reason to - the days of Robin Hood, the camp in Sherwood Forest and all who had been associated with it were long gone, along with anyone likely to recognise him from it. That was the way he preferred it, and why he never stayed in one place for any considerable amount of time. The thought made him laugh. It was remarkably similar to the way he'd lived his life a long time ago, making money from his tricks and petty thievery around England. As for the moment, he wandered the forest with the moon high in the sky and peering through the thick leaves. His hunger wasn't bothering him, given how recent his last meal had been, and his meandering path drew him in one particular direction. A place where a dark old manor had been, and a woman who'd made him question many things about his life and his attitudes. Allan smiled wryly at the memories as the house came into view, distinct against the darkness of the sky.