Heres another chapter as an apology for the late update. rxr. Love yall

They stood at the doors waiting to be let in. Maria was so nervous she was having a hard time paying attention to what was going on. Her uncle patted her hand gently and she looked up at him. He smiled.

"Everything will be okay. Just smile and have fun. If it becomes too much you can always come find Loveday or me."

Maria nodded taking a deep breath to calm her nerves as the doors swung open. The hall was filled with music and chatter as people danced and talked to one another. The room was crowded with so many unfamiliar faces, Maria tightened her hold to her uncle's arm as the made their way into the throng of people. As the made their way across the room Maria noticed a lot of people stop dancing and turn to watch them. Usually she would ignore them and hold her head up high for all to see but tonight was different she was tired and all these people watching her set her nerves on fire. She let Loveday and Sir Benjamin lead the way across the floor as they headed for the table where Coir De Noir sat.

Maria immediately scanned the area to try and find Robin but she couldn't see him until they reached the table. He had been sitting beside his father talking with him. The reason Maria hadn't seen him was because he wasn't wearing his hat. A closer look showed that he wasn't wearing any of his leather either. He had cleaned up for the night, dressed in a nice black suit. His hair looked damp as if he'd just washed it and was combed neatly on his head. He looked nice but Maria wished he was wearing his hat. He just didn't seem like Robin without it.

Coir was the first to notice them. He took in Loveday and Sir Benjamin first and was about to speak when his eyes landed on Maria and he stopped. He looked her over and then nudged Robin beside him. Robin looked up to see what he wanted and again Loveday and Benjamin were first to be seen but when his eyes landed on Maria he all but froze. His eyes scanned the dress she wore several times before he lifted them to look at Maria's very flushed face. All this attention was going to drive her insane. Suddenly he stood up and turned to his father.

"Would you excuse me father?"

"Of course." Coir looked at his son with knowing eyes as he watched him move around the table and over to Loveday, Benjamin, and Maria.

"Sorry but may I steal her away from you for a moment," he asked Sir Benjamin. Loveday smiled at her brother as her fiance nodded releasing Maria's arm. As soon as he had let go his arm was replaced with Robin's who immediately began to pull her away. Maria hiked up her skirt as she was pulled through the crowd by him. She had no idea where they were going and could only follow him.

He weaved his way through the crowd ignoring anyone who called out his name. He seemed to be focused on a door at the other end of the hall. When they reached it he pulled it open and drug Maria through then turned and kept walking.

"R-Robin where are we going," Maria asked after they began to climb a few steps. "Why did we leave the party.

Robin tugged on Maria's hand saying nothing and turned into a room closing the door behind them. As she looked around she realized it was a library. She turned around to ask Robin why they were here but stopped. He stood a little ways away, eyes on her, and a blush on his cheeks.

"Robin," she spoke softly, confused. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," he said after a moment of silence. "It's that dress."

Maria looked down at the dress. "What's wrong with it? I thought it looked pretty. Do you think it looks bad?"

"No," he said putting his face in his hands. "It looks too good. My sister did to well this time. You look absolutely stunning."

"I-I don't understand then," Maria whispered, her face as red as a tomato. "What's the problem?" She didn't understand what was wrong but the fact that Robin had just called her stunning made her heart flutter.

"I had already figured I'd have to chase away a few guys tonight who would come and ask you to dance because of how beautiful you are. What I didn't figure on was that I would have to battle every single guy at the party just to spend time with you." He lifted his head out of his hands and Maria's breath caught. His brown eyes stared into hers and the look he gave her made her stomach do flips. The look was familiar to Maria. She'd seen it in his eyes a few times before ever since they saved the valley but it had never been this strong.

"What are you saying Robin?"

Robin moved forward closing the distance between them. He reached out and took her hand.

"Don't leave my side tonight. Please." He spoke so softly and his eyes pleaded with her not to leave him alone tonight. Maria smiled up at him squeezing his hand.

"That had always been the plan." A look of relief washed over Robin's face and he pulled Maria into a tight hug. Although she still didn't fully understand what had happened she held him and returned the hug.

"Come on," he said pulling away. "Let's get back to the party. I'm afraid me walking away with you so abruptly may have sent Loveday's and the others minds running wild. We should get back before they think we've ditched."

Maria giggled grabbing hold of Robin's hand and pulling him out of the library.

Hope you enjoyed Toitles bye bye.