Hey, just a couple of things to say before we kick the chapter off.

First off, Sparky16, I'm so sorry. It was a total typo, I promise! Thanks for the review and I'm trying to write bigger chapters! How's this one:)

Thanks again to YoungWiccan for the nice review as well! I love hearing from you guys!

stellayourphantomqueen - Umm...Okay then. Really, I sorta knew that. And as much as I like my stories to be realistic, we still have to agree that this is fiction, as in -not real-. And yes, I know that they wouldn'tallow "a 15 year old virgin to sleep in the same bed with a 25 year old man." I'm not stupid. I go to church (and listen) every Sunday and have since I was four. But, you'll notice, that I did say that Amon arranged it so that the nuns thought they were married which would entitle them to share a bed. AND obviously, if the nuns thought they were married, they wouldn't think she was that young (she's almost 17 in my story anyway) and they definitly wouldn't think she was a virgin. I'm sorry you had such a big problem with it. Thank you for reviewing.


Chapter 4: Out in the Town

Robin didn't think it'd be best if she were out and walking about with her old clothes on and she knew Amon wouldn't like it, so quickly picked something out and went into the bathroom. He was just shutting the laptop lid when Robin reentered the room in a long dark gray skirt and a lovely sweater that Amon couldn't decide to call purple or blue. Wearing knee-high high-heeled black boots, she just came to his nose, he estimated. She had swept her hair up quickly with a black clip, making sure to cover her ears. With her bangs falling into her face, he thought she looked beautiful. Robin, aware that his eyes were on her, tried her best to ignore it and got a small black jacket out from under the bed. If they were going to be walking, she didn't want to be cold. After another moment, Amon got up and pulled his own coat on as well. He waited until she was done situating her coat and then held the door open. Robin let Amon lead her out of the church. Outside, it was just growing dark and she was glad for her coat.

She followed him down the sidewalk past houses with lights and mothers yelling for their children to come in. Robin idly wondered if she would ever have children. She smiled at each and every one they passed as they walked. Soon enough the houses died away and the road opened into a small main street. She could see the small sign of a bookshop, probably the one Amon mentioned, she surmised. This town really was small and out of the way. Passing it, they made their way into a cozy place with small tables. Getting a table right by one of the fireplaces, they took their coats off. That was when Robin's stomach seemed to seize up. A waiter, close to Robin's age, came up and handed them menus. Suddenly not in the mood for a large meal, Robin ordered some of their special house soup and a side of salad. Amon had steak with fresh vegetables, the later surprising Robin. However, she did pride herself in correctly pegging Amon as a steak man…but then again, who wouldn't? She sighed at her thoughts. Busy scolding herself, she didn't realize that Amon was looking at her rather strangely. And he was busy thinking about her sudden sigh and then the slight frown that had come over her features. He could just imagine her talking to herself inside her head, though he had no idea as to what she could be saying. Checking his watch and realizing their food wouldn't be coming for a while yet, he decided to try to talk. However, when the words actually came out of his mouth, he was surprised.

"What kind of books are you looking for?" He hadn't meant to do it right then. He mentally frowned. Robin was surprised out of her thoughts and met his gaze unexpectedly.

"Oh, uh…nothing important. I wanted to…look up some mythology and perhaps one or two…secular books." She was so nervous it was ridiculous.

"Secular books?" What the hell did she mean?

"I've never…I wasn't allowed to read anything…outside the church." Why was she telling him this? It wasn't what she wanted him to know about her, how naïve she was.

"Not even the classics?" All she's read is church books? How could the control her so much?

"No. Most of them have foul language or inappropriate scenes. Father Juliano didn't find them suitable for me. In Japan…I didn't really have a lot of free time." He nodded. They'd kept a tight leash on her, he remembered all too well.

"I'm sure you'll find something that'll interest you." The food came and conversation ended. Robin ate her soup and was halfway through her salad when she was calm enough to ask him what she'd been dying to since he mentioned the classics.

"Have you read the classics, Amon?"

"Yes."

"But…I thought…" As if reading her mind, he answered her unspoken question.

"They don't. I was educated in England from age 7 to 15." What he didn't tell her was that he'd gone straight to work for the STN-J afterward.

She nodded, then quietly went back to eating, mentally congratulating herself on prying more information out of him about his personal life. She'd been so afraid he wouldn't tell her and then it would've been awkward. She finished off the salad quickly after seeing that Amon was almost done. They relaxed a few moments, Robin focusing on the wonderfully warm fire, before paying and leaving. After only walking a few minutes, Amon stopped in front of the bookshop Robin had seen earlier. The windows brightly lit, Robin followed him in. Her thoughts of Amon were momentarily pushed aside as she faced many books she'd never been allowed to read. After leaving the Mythology and Occult section, she had two books she wanted. Searching for Amon's head a moment, she made her way over to him, finding him standing in front of the Modern Classics section. He looked at her, then the books she had, then focused once again on the bookshelf. Robin's eyes wandered over what seemed like hundreds of books before she gave up and turned to Amon to ask for help.

"Amon…could you choose some?"

Though his head didn't move an inch, his eyes whipped hers so fast you'd think they'd hurt from whiplash. One corner of his mouth quirked and he looked away again. Robin had just began scolding herself for being foolish when Amon, quick as lightning, snatched four books as if he'd already chosen them. Which, in fact, he had. From the second he'd learned she'd never read the classics; he had known which ones she would enjoy reading first. Handing them to her, she looked at the authors and titles, decided that if Amon thought she'd like them she would and nodded her happiness with a slight smile. Heading toward the checkout, Robin spotted a beautiful journal. It looked handmade, the pages of thick parchment, and Robin felt as if it were waiting just for her. Reaching out, she touched the cover. Its black binding contrasted sharply with it's hand-painted silk, covered in orange and red flames. She fell in love with it. At the bottom, engraved in gold, were the words "All shall go up in flames and hope anew". Robin didn't realize she'd been standing there staring at it for longer than a moment until Amon called her. Snapping her head to him, she blushed. Rushing forward, she placed all the books on the counter and blushed more when the old man running the cash register teased her about it. She did, however, learn that it had just come in from an old woman in the village who made him special journals to sell occasionally. Her heart sank when he also mentioned how fast they normally sold, too. Each one was the only one of its kind, he'd said. Robin tried not to think of it as they walked home. She felt guilty for wanting it so much.

Walking into the dark church, Robin was once again grateful that Amon was here with her. Just about to turn into the hall that would lead them to their room, Amon stopped short, causing Robin to bump into him. However, she knew not to make a sound and waited. Amon slowly and noiselessly set the bag down and this time Robin heard what Amon had heard. Someone was in their hall, trying to open a door. Apparently he thought it was their door. Creeping around the corner, Robin lost sight of him and knew she had no hope of hearing him. He was much too good at what he did to step on a squeaky floorboard. Robin stopped herself from peeking around the corner when she heard a sharp gasp. If and when Amon needed her help, he would let her know. Until then, she knew to stay out of sight. She did, however, move closer to the hall, in order to hear, if at all possible. Robin had to bite back her own gasp as she heard Amon speak.

"What are you doing, Sister Maryann?" Amon's voice was ice and Robin heard the sisters' huff of indignation.

"You will not intimidate me, mister. I know something's off with you."

"You have no business here." Both women heard his unspoken demand.

"You've got no right to order me around in my own home! Where did you take Robin tonight?"

"What Robin and I do are none of your concern."

"Yes it is. The sisters see how you treat her and we won't stand for it. God takes care of his own, Mr. Amon." When Sister Maryann swished away in her habit after leaving what sounded like a threat to Amon, Robin could barely believe it. She was a nun! She never knew a nun to act like that, ever! Not even when Robin was five and accidentally knocked over an expensive vase that had been donated to the church had she heard such language and tone from a woman of God. She was still in a state of shock when Amon came round to collect the bag, and upon realizing her mental state, guided her into the room with a hand to the back. Once the door had been locked securely and Amon checked the room, he took the time to look at her, now sitting on the bed, staring into nothing. Why was this affecting her so much?

"Robin?" She didn't answer for a moment.

"She is a nun, Amon. A nun. A woman of God, and she threatened you."

"People are people Robin, nun or not."

"But she leads others, Amon. I thought she and others were blessed to have such a close relationship with God, but…She threatened you. Those who follow her could be in spiritual danger, Amon, and she is the head of the convent. How can she do that?" So that's what it was. Amon was dumbfounded that Sister Maryann threatening him affected her so much. And her concern for the eternal well being of those people floored him. She didn't even know them. How could she care so much?

"I'll worry about the Sisters' Robin. Why don't you go to bed?"

Amon's voice soothing her, she nodded. It seemed she was back from the bathroom in her flannels in the blink of an eye. Getting into bed after depositing her dirty clothes, she closed her eyes. The day had been more stressful than she could have imagined it would be. First Amon asking her for a walk in the gardens, then going out to dinner, and the episode with Sister Maryann. And the books, she mustn't forget the books. Sleepily, she remembered she'd been so caught up in the journal that she'd never thanked Amon. Opening her eyes slightly, she saw him just about to go change.

"Thank you for dinner and the books Amon." Then in her sleepiness, she said what popped into her head a moment later. "Watch out for angry nuns." Feeling satisfied, she didn't notice Amon's more than slight smile as he walked from the room. Robin was already asleep when Amon reentered the room a moment later, clad in black pajama pants and a gray t-shirt. Turning out the light, he climbed in bed. Hearing her slight sigh, Amon, for the first time since he was 7, muttered goodnight. If you'd been standing there watching, you might have seen Robin's lips quirk into that lazy half-smile, even in her sleep.


Whew. How was that? Does Sister Maryann surprise you? She surprised me. I honestly didn't plan on writing the chapter this way, but that's the way it goes, now isn't it? I've got to say, I just got the coolest little charm necklaces. But I won't describe them cause that'll take a while. Love ya,

Dizzy