(NOTE: THE IS JUST ROBERT AND JULIE)

IN THE FLESH

On the way home, Robert sat up straight, looking out the window, far different from when Julie had driven him into Coffs the day before. She couldn't actually believe all that had happened in such a short time or that he was permitting her to take him home to Rose Cottage. She'd never advanced a relationship in one of her books quite so rapidly. But, then, how advanced was it? She wasn't sure at all. She wasn't sure of anything, not really. A sudden thought crossed her mind and she acted on it, often being a creature of impulse.

"Robin," she said and his head turned.

Without thinking, he replied, "Yes?" Then he realized what she'd called him.

"Why did you do that?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Why did you answer so easily?" she shot back.

"It is the nickname for Robert. Why shouldn't I answer?"

"No reason. None. Oh, look! Kangaroo off the port bow!"

"You are still probing," he said quietly.

"Do you mind?"

"What is it you wish for me to say more clearly, Julianna?"

"I wish for you to say you are Robin." She kept her eyes on the road ahead.

"I already said it was the nickname for Robert," he answered. "You wish more than that?"

"Um hmm." 

Reaching out, he put a hand on her shoulder. "Julie, you know who I am."

"I think I just want to hear you say it, Robert. Say it aloud so I can stop thinking I've gone and fallen off the crazy cart."

"What if I said you had? Fallen off the, what did you call it, crazy cart?"

"Too late, Mister. I do think I've got your number now."  At least she hoped she did. And she DID have possession of his person. At least for a few days.

"You want me to say I am Robin of Loxley, is that it?"

"Are you, Robert?"

He sighed. "I have been."

"Are you not now?"

"Yes, I am now."

She pulled off the side of the road and turned to face him. "How?"

"How? That's who I was born as."

"How were you born as him?"

"Um, the usual way...I suppose."

"That's not what I mean. You know that's not what I mean."

He smiled. "I do know that."

"Then...how?"

"It's why, Julie, I prefer no one know...so I do not have to explain how."

"Maximus knows. Did you explain it to him?"

"He needed no explanation."

"You are a difficult man, RobinRobert."

"Thank you."

"I didn't really mean that as a compliment."

"I know, but thank you anyway."

"You're not going to answer me, are you?"

"Not yet."

"Some day?"

"Perhaps."

"I can wait."

"I imagine you could quite possibly do that. You seem to be a woman of somewhat tenacious will."

"Thank you."

"I didn't really mean that as a compliment."

"I know, but thank you anyway."  She smiled and pulled the car back on the road, ignoring him now as she drove, her mind full of her own wildly creative explanations for how the very real man beside her could possibly, possibly be Robin Hood in the flesh.