Hey guys, quick shout out to one of my readers:

Lucky Lucy Heart,

Thank you for reading my work.

Now to the new chapter. Enjoy!

"What the hell are you talking about Genevieve?!" Robin glared down at the girl still clinging to his arm. The look that had appeared on Maria's face made him feel awful. She looked shocked, upset, and about ready to cry or punch Gen (he wasn't quite sure).

"What? You're father's the one who arranged the engagement," she said looking up at him with a smile that made him want to shiver.

"When we were 12," Robin snapped. "And he canceled it over a year ago. We are not getting married so stop telling people we are."

"So, you're not engaged," Maria asked in a small voice. Robin turned to her and his eyes widened. There was a very clear look in her eyes as she watched him: hope. Robin ripped his arm free of Genevieve and moved to Maria pulling her into a hug.

"No way Princess," he assured her. "We haven't been engaged for awhile."

"Don't feel special, he used to call me Princess to," Genevieve remarked behind them. "You won't last long. He'll come back to me, just you wait."

"Genevieve," Robin said through clenched teeth shooting a glare her way. "Go away! If you say one more thing to Maria I'll kick you out just like I did Alister."

"Wha-"

"Miss De Voir!" The booming voice of Sir Coir De Noir echoed through the room silencing everyone. Robin's father made his way through the crowd and stopped in front of Genevieve. "That is quite enough. Your family was generously invited here and already your brother and you have caused these two trouble. You are not engaged to my son. Leave them alone or you will be escorted out. This is a celebration. Stop ruining it with your uptight and nasty behavior."

Genevieve stared at Coir in stunned silence. She shot a glare in Maria's direction before storming off. Coir turned to the guests.

"My apologies everyone. Please, enjoy yourself." The music started up again and people slowly went back to dancing and talking. Robin and Maria stayed where they were gently swaying to the music until the song ended. They moved off to a corner where no one else was sitting and sat together.

"Sorry about that," Robin said after a while of silence. "Should of known she'd be here to with Alister attending."

"So… you guys were engaged?"

Robin sighed. The way Maria was looking at him had him wanting to slap Genevieve for saying something like that to her. "Just for awhile. Father wanted a way to control me and thought the engagement would do that, but I just found it annoying. When it was clear I had no intention of marrying her he called it off. Then I met you."

He smiled at Maria but she didn't return it. "Did you used to call her 'Princess' too?"

The question shocked him and he stared at her for a moment before responding. "Maria, I have never called anyone but you 'Princess' okay? You are the Moon Princess. The Princess of Moonacre. My princess." As soon as he had said the last one he knew it was true. She was his best friend and he cared for her more than he had anyone else. Maria looked at him with wide eyes and then smiled.

"That makes you my Bird Boy then," she giggled. Robin chuckled.

They sat and talked until it was time for dinner and they followed the crowds into the dining hall. Maria didn't realize how hungry she was until she had food on her plate. She scarfed down dinner rolls and chicken, probably in a very unladylike manner that would have made Miss Heliotrope faint. She chatted happily with Uncle and Loveday while Coir and Robin talked.

While she was eating she felt like she was being watched and glanced around spotting Genevieve sitting at another table glaring at her. Maria smiled then did the most unladylike thing ever. She stuck her tongue out at her then turned back around in her seat as she laughed at the shocked expression on the woman's face.

"What are you laughing about," Robin asked.

"Nothing," Maria said, and then because she was feeling mischievous, she swung around in her chair, stood up, and snatched his hat off his head, backing away as he slowly turned around.

"Princess," he warned. "You really shouldn't keep stealing my hat."

"But it's so fun," Maria giggled, plopping the hat on her head. "I think I'll keep this for a bit."

"I don't think so." Robin jumped from his chair and bolted after her. She let out a squeal and made a break from it. She weaved around tabled, giggling with glee as she went. People were watching them, some were frowning in disapprovement, others were laughing, and then some like Loveday and Coir De Noir were yelling for Maria to run faster. As Maria bolted along side the table Genevieve was sitting at she saw her scoot her chair out of line at the last second to block her way but Maria twisted, dodging the chair completely and with a little yelp kept running as she had seen how close Robin was.

"Princess, give it up," he called. "You can't escape." As he said this, he caught her arm. She immediately pulled the hat off her head and hid it behind her back as he spun her around. "Now Princess hand it over."

"Nope," she laughed.

"You're trapped girly, you can't get away so you should just give it up."

He had a point. With him holding her arm she was trapped. An idea started to form in her head. It was a long shot but it might work. That is, if she didn't chicken out.

"I'll tell you what Bird Boy," she began. "I'll give you your special hat back if you do something for me first."

"What might that be?"

"Come just a little closer."

He quirked his eyebrow but bent down slightly so that his face was level with hers. 'Here we go,' she thought to herself. She took a deep breath then leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. She go the result she wanted. Robin froze, his face beat red, and his grip loosened. Maria used her distraction to pull away and she was at the other end of the room before he realized what had happened. He turned towards her a smirk on his lips.

"You little minx, that was a dirty trick. I'm going to make you pay for that."

"You'll have to catch me first," she called and dashed over to hide behind Loveday's chair. She watched as Robin slowly made his way over to the table, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You're in trouble now," Loveday chuckled.

"Hush," Maria giggled. "Though I think you may be right. I may have gone too far."

"Don't you think you should be more focused on him right now not me?"

Maria's eyes shot up from where they had wandered to look at Loveday while they had talked. He eyes widened when she couldn't find Robin.

"Behind you Princess." His breath on her ear made her jump back, hitting his chest. His arms immediately wrapped around her locking her in place. "Now now, you've been very bad. Stealing my hat then running away after a kiss. You need to be punished." His arms loosened around her but not enough for her to get away and the moved down to her rips his fingers positioned on her side. She froze. He wouldn't. But he would. His fingers moved along her ribs and Maria burst into laughter as Robin tickled her. She doubled over unable to get away and struggled for breath as she laughed. As soon as he'd started he stopped. By the time Maria had caught her breath and collected herself, Robin had snatched back his hat and was already back on the other side of the table standing beside his chair.

"That was so evil," she said as she made her way back around. Robin pulled out her chair and she sat but not before glaring at him playfully.

"That was revenge Princess." he took his seat beside her.

"Well that was entertaining," Uncle Benjamin chuckled. "Should we keep this little thing (can someone give me a better word for this. I know there is one but I cant think of it.) a secret from Miss Heliotrope?"

"Please," Maria said with a smile.

Sir Benjamin smiled and nodded and everyone went back to eating and chatting though Maria snuck a look at Robin and found him smiling at her making her blush and refocus on her food. When she felt his hand grab the one sitting in her lap her blush darkened but she didn't pull away and that's how they sat for the rest of dinner.

Two chapters in one night *whoop whoop* This girl is on Fiyaaaaaa! Hope you liked it. Let me know if theres something you might want to see in the ensuing chapters and I'll see what I can do. Love y'all RxR