John walked up to Djaq after Robin and Will walked off. "I think you hurt the poor boy."

"That is a risk whenever you spar," Djaq answered nonchalantly.

He placed one of his large hands on her small shoulder, "that is not what I meant, little one."

She smiled up at him. John had become a father figure to her, and he was the only one that she permitted to call her by a pet name. He was kind enough only to use it in private. "He just frustrates me so much, John. He treats me as a child, like I cannot do anything on my own."

"I too have seen how he is around you. He does treat you differently, but he definitely does not think of you as a child."

Djaq picked up a bow and tried to hit a small tree in the distance. Miss. "I appreciate your wisdom, as you know, but in this area I think you are wrong. You saw how he responded to my touch a week ago." She shot another arrow. Miss. She threw the bow down, "he tossed me aside."

John looked at her with sad eyes, "little one, you have to understand, we men are idiots." She laughed at him. "No, it is true. We act and speak before we get a chance to think. We hurt the ones that mean the most to us. And we think that needing someone makes us look weak. Just think about how Robin treats Marian. We all know that he loves her, but he annoys the hell out of her every chance he gets. She is a great fighter, yet he always treats her as though she needs his protection."

She nodded, "I will consider your words. Thank you, my friend."