*Robin De Noir*

"The 5000th moon. The curse is coming true. If you can sacrifice your pride, we can save our families. We can save the valley." Maria said trying to get them to listen. Then her uncle spoke.

"You first."

Father replied to him. "No, no. After you." She just grabbed the pearls and walked to the ledge.

"I must do this myself." She went to where the ledge overlooked the sea. "At the 5000th moon, I, Maria Merryweather, the moon princess of moonacre do remove the curse that darkens this valley. Take back what is yours." She said throwing the pearls into the air over the cliff. They dropped a bit and then stopped and flung right back to her open hand. She stared at them for a moment before breaking the necklace and releasing the individual pearls which flew out and right back. This time embedding themselves into the dress. She paused just a moment before looking back at everyone and then she jumped. I believe I was the first to do anything. I yelled to her not to do it, but she had already jumped. My father and Sir Benjamin must have known that I was going to try and go after her. They grabbed me just before she hit the water. When Sir Benjamin was sure that my father had hold of me he went to comfort Loveday. I stood up and all of a sudden there was a mighty gust of wind and a tremendous wave appeared. Coming out of the wave were wild unicorns who slowly were being pulled back under. All except one who jumped to shore. The one who now stood in the amphitheater held Maria on it's back. I breathed a sigh of relief as she lifted her head.

"Maria." I called out echoed by my sister. Maria regained her breath and then Sir benjamin rushed up to get her down.

"Oh sweet child, your alive." He said hugging her tightly and looking like he was holding back tears. Sir benjamin let go of her and recomposed himself walking over to Loveday. Maria came up to me.

"Were you worried Robin?"

"No, anyone could have done that." I said trying not to sound worried while Loveday smacked my head and Maria giggled. All of a sudden we heard a roar.

"That'd be a black lion sir." Digweed said addressing Sir Benjamin. The lion walked up to Maria.

"It's just Wrolf." Maria watched with a smile as Wrolf and the unicorn faded away into the moonlight. I looked over to see Loveday with a shy look on her face. Then Maria's tutor caught on to something I didn't.

"Is there to be a wedding?" Wedding? That explains the look on Loveday's face. After that we decided to simply go to Merryweather Manor for the night, while father wanted to go home, Loveday insisted after confirming it with Sir Benjamin. Sir Benjamin and Loveday walked together, Maria's governess and their servant Digweed walked together, chef Marmaduke zipped through the forest, my father walked alone and I walked with Maria. About halfway their we were lagging behind and I noticed Maria looked really tired. I slid her off her feet with my hands under her knees.

"Robin, put me down." Maria attempted to whine, but at the end it didn't really sound like it.

"Sorry princess, but you are worn out and could hurt yourself." I said smirking.

"Robin.." She started to fight with me, but decided to stop and just curled into my arms more and was out in a few minutes. I heard a giggle and saw Loveday with a smirk on her face. When we got to the manor Loveday whispered something to Benjamin and he took Maria from my arms. Loveday showed me to a room right by the tower of Maria's and bid me a goodnight after telling me where to find my father.

**Skips ahead to the same day three years ahead**

*Maria Merryweather*

We were setting up for a picnic like we have done for the past two years to be held on the anniversary of me saving Moonacre Valley. Funnily enough we would have the picnic in the amphitheater of where the curse was broken. My uncle Sir Benjamin and Loveday were married last year in the Merryweather gardens and Digweed and Ms. Heliotrope were married in the church in the town nearby. As for me and robin we are still friends, though I think Loveday knows that I like him.

After we finished up the picnic I saw Robin talking with Loveday who looked in thought before she walked over to get Benjamin. While they were talking Coeur De Noir came up to me. After the curse ended and he apologized for wanting me gone things got better between us.

"Maria, how are you?" He asked even though he saw me almost everyday since I spent most of it with Robin and his men learning the ways of the forest all except for two days a week when I still had lessons.

"I'm doing good. Robin has been helping me learn to make better traps even though I think my first one was great." Mara said hiding a laugh. Coeur De Noir laughed too having heard the story from Maria and from Loveday who was there, but not seen by anyone.

"I've noticed that you and Robin seem pretty close. He seems to be pretty protective of you as well." Coeur De Noir said hinting to me. I knew I had given it away when I felt my cheeks flush right before Robin walked over. Coeur De Noir left and went to talk to his daughter. Robin noticed the blush on my face.

"Oh, no. Princess what did my father tell you?" He asked in somewhat of a worry. I found it funny he was still calling me princess.

"It was nothing Robin." I said shyly.

"I'll be right back." Robin walked off to his father. I watched them talk and then he looked away from his father embarrassed. He walked back over still looking away. "I hope what he just told me is not nearly what he told you." Robin said.

"What did he tell you?" I asked.

*Robin De Noir*

Today was the picnic we had every year on the day that Maria broke the curse. It was like the other two, but this year I was going to try to work up the courage to ask Loveday and Benjamin for permission to court Maria. I had liked her ever since she trapped me back when we were trying to stop the curse. We all ate and then I pulled Loveday aside to ask her.

"Loveday?"

"Yes Robin?"

"I was wondering.." I started to ask when she cut me off.

"I have a question first. When are you going to admit you like Maria? Everyone other than her knows." She pushed and I looked away embarrassed. She gasped. "That's what you wanted to talk to me about. You want to court Maria, don't you?" I looked to the side again and then she walked over to Benjamin. They talked for a minute and then both came over.

"Robin, How are you?" Benjamin asked.

"Good." I said quickly.

"Loveday said you had a matter to discuss with me.." He said in somewhat of a question. I didn't know how to respond so Loveday did it for me.

"Benjamin, Robin wishes our permission to court Maria. I see no problems with it. Do you?" Loveday asked him.

"Of course not. I'm glad he finally realized it." Benjamin said chuckling and when I looked around I saw Maria and my father talking and all of a sudden her cheeks reddened. I walked over to them and my father walked off.

"Oh, no. Princess what did my father tell you?" I asked in somewhat of a worry. I still had not grown out of calling Maria princess.

"It was nothing Robin." She said shyly.

"I'll be right back." I walked off to father.

"Father, what did you say to Maria to embarrass her?"

"All I said was that you two seem pretty close. What I didn't tell her is how everyone else can see that you are in love with her. I don't think you can act like anymore of a dolt without her noticing it."

I walked back over looking away.

"I hope what he just told me is not nearly what he told you." I said.

"What did he tell you?" She asked concerned.

"How about we go for a walk and I'll tell you?"

"Sure." Maria said following me out of the amphitheater. We walked for a bit before coming to a path leading to a beach away from where everyone was. When we got to the sand we sat down.

"Ok, what my father said was that I am a dolt and can't do much more without you noticing."

"How are you being a dolt Robin?" Maria asked honestly confused. I wasn't sure how to answer. I was about to just come out and tell her I liked her when Loveday yelled for us.

"Robin, Maria. Where are you?" I chickened out and ran up the hill. I met loveday at the top knowing we had a bit.

"How did it go?"

"I chickened out right when you called for us."

"Ohh. I couldn't find you two and wanted to let you know we were heading back."

"Is it ok if I hang out at your old house tonight?"

"I guess. If you tip the horse head on the mantel it opens a tunnel into the tower outside of Maria's room." Loveday said before I ran off.

*Maria Merryweather*

"Robin, Maria. Where are you?" Loveday yelled right as Robin was going to answer and he turned and fled up the hill. I walked up the hill and thought about what was different with Robin. This was not the Robin I was in love with. Yes, I was in love with Robin 'Bird boy' De Noir. When I reached the top I saw Robin running off into the woods.

"Where is Robin going?"

"He needed to do some things." Loveday replied.

"Oh." I said sounding a little sad.

"What's wrong Maria?"

"Well, Robin's just acting so weird these past few days. Something isn't right about him, he wouldn't even let the guys hang out with us. It's like he doesn't want to be around me."

"Are you... Maria, do you like Robin?" Loveday asked me and it confused me.

"Of course, he's my best friend." I replied like it was obvious.

"I mean do you like him as more than a friend?"

"I don't know. How would I be able to tell?" I asked as we rejoined the group minus Robin and Loveday told my Uncle that we would catch up.

"What's usually on your mind?"

"What I'm gonna do with Robin."

"Do you ever feel nervous when it's just you two?"

"Kinda. I just think that Robin doesn't really want to hang out with me and he just does it for you."

"Do you ever get butterflies in your stomach when your running around the woods?"

"Sometimes, more recently."

"Maria, from what you just told me, you really like my brother." Loveday said before sending me onto the Manor's land claiming she need to check on something.