Happy.

It was a word that couldn't really begin to express how truly happy Maria was to be coming back to Moonacre.

Leaving for London on a mission to reclaim all of her late father's belongings at the age of fifteen had been her goal since she was told of how he'd left her nothing.

It had been hard at first; although once her uncle had showed up at the meeting with his personal lawyer things began getting much much better. Being a Merryweather in London had a lot of perks to it. Having an aunt that was a De Noir was even better when it came to shopping in Paris.

One thing that had not been planned though was staying in London for a good three years for school/ ... Yes that was not part of any of her plans at all.

She should have known that her uncle wouldn't come down and help her for nothing.

He didn't even give her a hint of it coming.

It was fine though she'd learned much from her studies, and she was glad that her dear uncle put her in them.

Right now she was just thankful to be back.

Dancing in the greenhouse with Loveday, horseback riding with her uncle, taste testing foods with Marmaduke, walking the gardens with Miss. Heliotrope, debating with Coeur De Noir.

But the thing she'd missed the most out of everything.

Spending time with her best friend.

Robin De Noir.

She'd only had so much time to write letters to her uncle, and Robin...Robin's letters she could never send because she could never finish them. The Classes always kept her busy, as well as the other girls and their shopping; never could they just give her a minute to really breathe.

She'd always begin to write a letter for him, but then someone had pointed something very, very interesting out to her one day that twisted her feelings for the De Noir.

Every time she thought of him or mentioned him she'd get stars in her eyes.

It made her realize just how deep her feelings for the older boy went. Although he was stubborn, arrogant, and annoying. She'd seen a different side to him later on when they began to hang around each other more often.

Robin De Noir was at very few times sweet, and more than often he'd outsmarted her in many ways, in many subjects. Handsome, very, very, handsome at that, especially after Loveday forced him into a haircut. He was everything a woman dreamt of.

Tall, dark, and handsome.

The carriage stopped and Digweed got off to open the gates, she'd looked out the window to see if she could see the De Noir Castle from her spot.

Nothing.

Even though the two families were at peace again and the De Noir family had all the forest to themselves, and even though Coeur De Noir always went on and on and on about building onto his castle, he obviously never did.

That or she was on the wrong side of the land that they built onto.

"Well Maria, only twenty minutes & we'll be right at your doorstep, I'm betting everyone will be out and happy to see you." Digweed said as he got back onto the carriage.

Happy.

She couldn't wait. She'd been away for much too long for even her liking.

Hopefully Robin didn't think she'd left and ran away from Moonacre, she hadn't exactly left on good terms with him. She could barely even remember what the whole fight was about anymore.

It was probably another fight about feminism. They'd get into in whenever the matter was brought up.

Men weren't the only ones who could do things too.

Well except pee standing up, and anything for that matter that had to do with the male organ of course. The same could go for men not being able to do what the female organ could do & conceive, as well as hold a child inside of them.

Yes hopefully he didn't hate her for seeming like a runaway when that was not what she did. She just wanted to get her father's things, and she did. Nobody expected her uncle to pull a stunt like the one he did.

The carriage stopped and she looked around to find that her aunt Loveday, Miss Heliotrope, & Marmaduke were outside waiting for her. Quickly she opened the carriage door and jumped out. She stopped caring about her manners long after she met Robin.

"Loveday." She cried as she was embraced by the older woman.

"It's so good to see you again Maria, god how we've missed you." She said as she let go of Maria.

"Oh Maria look how beautiful you've gotten it's been much too long." Miss Heliotrope said as she as hugged her charge.

Maria bent down to hug the short chef. "Dear Maria you've grown very beautiful but much to skinny, what were they feeding?" Marmaduke asked.

Maria laughed yes she was happy to be back, but where were those men?

Her eyes meet Lovedays. "Benjamin & my father went to the Aryiss estate. Sir. Harper Aryiss wanted to spar. And you know how your uncle and my father love a good spar." She said.

"And Robin?" Maria asked enthusiastically.

Her uncle told her everything about the newcomers; they arrived one year after her departure.

Lovedays smile slipped just a bit. "We'll get to that later. Come, come there's someone I've been dying for you to meet." Loveday said as she grabbed Marias hand dragging her into the castle.

Two weeks before she left Loveday had announced her pregnancy. Maria had been dying to meet her cousin Brandon ever since she'd read of his birth and growth.

The house was definitely owned by Loveday. The smell, the aura, the animals, and gardens.

Peaceful.

She followed Loveday to the nursery room that was only a few doors away from the master chamber. She opened the door and waved the nurse away. Maria squeezed Lovedays hand.

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped into an astonished smile.

The two year old boy was definitely a Merryweather, more than a De Noir. Everything was just like her uncle & father.

"Maria Merryweather, I'd like you to meet Brandon Merryweather." Loveday said quietly as she handed the boy to her carefully.

"He's so beautiful." Maria whispered.

"Indeed he is." Loveday said.

"Loveday I was hoping you could tell me how Robins been doing?" Maria asked as she handed the baby back to his mother.

There was that slip again.

"That brother of mine has been doing well. Your uncle has been teaching him everything he knows. Although he's been spending much time at the Aryiss Estate for the last year. He's become quiet ……. Intimately close with the Aryiss family though, so lately I hardly see him, although he does stop by to catch up every now and then." Loveday said.

"But enough of him, you've had a long journey, you should rest for tomorrow, I'm sure your uncle and everyone else will be so very happy to see you." Loveday continued as they left the nursery.

Nod her head. The way she was speaking about her baby brother was odd.

Loveday kissed her forehead. "You've grown so much more beautiful Maria; I swear your uncle will be regretting his decision." She said.

Another nod and she went quietly to her room. She smiled at the new sight. The door had finally been enlarged.

Three portraits hung across her door. The first moon princess, then Loveday, and then herself. She couldn't help but wonder who the next moon princess was.

Upon entering her dream room she'd found that everything had been enlarged just for her. Bigger bed, bigger closet, bigger everything. Perhaps her uncle knew she was going to get older and bigger when she finally came back.

Her clothing hadn't changed much she still wore the fancy shirts, the skirts weren't as heavy though they were just simple rouched skirts, although she hand the tailors personalize it. Corsets were in fashion according to Paris. Her hair was still the same just a bit longer. Although she'd finally gotten the curves after such a long time of waiting they finally came in.

She dropped onto her bed.

Everything was falling back into place.


"Loveday, my love I'm home." Sir Benjamin called.

Loveday was in his arms in a minute with a passionate kiss at his lips.

They broke and she smiled. "Maria is back." She said breathlessly.

A frown adorned his face again. He'd forgotten that Maria was coming back today. He'd sent Digweed yesterday night for her.

"She's mad at me isn't she?" He asked.

"Of course she isn't, she is a selfless person, she's happy if you're enjoying yourself." Loveday said

He nodded his head. "Although she asked about Robin … But with the glow of happiness on her face I couldn't find it in my heart to tell her." Loveday said her mood beginning to slope.

"I'll tell her tomorrow at breakfast, the sooner the better." He said as he walked to their chambers.

"You should have told her in the letters." Loveday said

"She'd never forgive me for not telling her in person." Sir. Benjamin said.

"You don't know that." Loveday said.

"She's my brothers' daughter, I would know that." He replied.

No more was said between the beautiful couple.


Maria tossed onto her left side she couldn't get back to sleep. She had a long day ahead of her she needs to rest. She sighed might as well give in.

Sitting up she slid off her bed and, walking over to her window. Everything was so peaceful, nothing like in London & Paris, where even late at night many shops were still open.

No matter where she'd been though, Paris, London, neither city could be compared to Moonacre. Moonacre was beauty itself, blessed by the Moon Princess. Not to mention Moonacre smelled so much better than the city, she just never realized the weird smell until she went back to London... and Paris it smelled even worse.

Why oh why did her odd uncle make her stay in that place, it was much too far away from her true home.

Too far away from the ones she loved.

Too far away from her best friend that she was in love with.

Her eyes widened considerably.

Never had she ever said love, no, no, no. She couldn't be in love; it was everything she was against sort of. She had plans for herself, get into politics, women's rights, and wipe Robin's smirks off his face at making these things happen. Maria loved to dance and wear pretty dresses, and go to parties in those pretty dresses. If she was in love then people would expect her to marry her love then and there, they'd expect children as they were married, they'd expect her to be the good wife and mother & stand behind her husband and clean & cook like a good wife did.

Well she obviously wouldn't be cleaning and cooking she was a Merryweather after all.

But still if she fell in love she wouldn't be able to accomplish her goals.

Oh how she hated, no loathed that Robin De Noir for doing this to her.

She would not submit to her feelings. She was Maria Merryweather, she was going to become the first female politician, and she was not going to fall in love with any man. She is going to let go of all her affections for Robin De Noir.

She smiled. Pep talks were always helpful.


* Any Questions you have about the story feel free to ask.

Reviews appreciated.