A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

It is unnecessary for me to tell you that the Christmas Eve meal was extraordinarily delicious; I need only tell you that Marmaduke was the cook.

I will also refrain from mentioning how many times Miss Heliotrope burped throughout the meal. You're welcome.

After supper, everyone adjourned to the piano room to sit and admire the tree. Then Lillian seated herself at the piano and struck a chord.

"Who's ready for Christmas carols?"

"Christmas what?" Coeur De Noir asked her. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Dear me. You've never heard of Christmas carols? Joy to the World? Silent Night? Hark the Herald?" Coeur De Noir shook his head. Maria turned to Robin, who sat beside her on the floor.

"Don't tell me you've never heard of Christmas carols either."

"Actually, I think I know some of the ones Lillian mentioned." His fingers twirled a lock of her hair. "There was an old woman in the village who used to give me bits of leather, a tanner's wife. She sang a great deal. Lots of us kids sang with her. But I'm not surprised my father doesn't know them. This is his first real Christmas celebration as well as mine."

"You'll catch on," Lillian was saying, "Now then, what'll we do first?" Loveday raised a hand.

"I do love Joy to the World."

"Joy to the World it is," Lillian decided. Maria looked at Robin questioningly. He nodded.

"I know this one."

Lillian's fingers leapt nimbly over the keys, and everyone, Coeur De Noir excepted, came in at full volume. Between Miss Heliotrope's quivering soprano, Loveday's mellow alto, and Maria's floating, versatile range, the women's section was varied. The men were all strong singers. Even Digweed, to Maria's surprise, had a fine singing voice. By the time they ended with a hearty 'Amen', Coeur De Noir had begun to catch on. They all clapped. Then they sang Silent Night, What Child is This, and From Heaven Above to Earth I Come. After the last one's fifteenth verse, everyone's voices were drained.

"I have one more request, actually," Loveday said sheepishly. "It's only four verses, and since the last part's the same, I know Father will catch on." Lillian looked up at Coeur De Noir.

"I think he's a rather fast learner. But which carol, Loveday?"

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing, if you please."

"All right everyone, ready for one more?" Lillian's fingers didn't wait for an answer. Though this time, her playing was less proud and joyous as it was meek and humble, rather, Maria thought, like Jesus was when He came to earth as a baby. She was glad of the quieter playing, though; her voice was weary of fortissimo. She leaned into Robin as she sang:

"Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled."

Sure enough, Coeur De Noir did learn the refrain. When at last they all sang the 'Amen', everyone seemed in a dreamy trance. Robin smiled down at Maria, watching her blink slowly in the candlelight. She smiled sleepily up at him.

"Are you staying tonight?" He frowned.

"Wh—what?"

"Are you staying in the guest room here? Or are you going back to your home tonight?"

"Oh. I don't know." He relayed the question to his father, who shrugged.

"Up to Sir Benjamin, I expect. It's his house."

"Oh, of course you can stay," Loveday said, quirking her brow up at her husband, who chuckled.

"We'd be happy to have you. I'm sure you'd rather not go back out into the cold tonight. And of course, we'll open presents tomorrow morning. We'll need you here for that as well." A few minutes of peaceful silence passed. Then Miss Heliotrope stood.

"I think I'd better retire. I'd like to well rested for my wedding tomorrow." She bid everyone good night, and Digweed escorted her down the hall. Maria sighed.

"She's right. We have a big day tomorrow. Christmas and a wedding, all rolled into one." She rose, and Robin followed suit. "Good night, everyone. I'll see you in the morning."

"I'll be sure to wake you in time to get you dressed for church," Loveday said.

"Thank you." Maria leaned down to kiss Loveday's cheek. "Uncle Benjamin made a good choice of wife. Your baby is going to be the happiest little child in the world."

"And he or she will have a marvelous cousin," Loveday returned the compliment. Maria grinned in anticipation of being an older cousin. A few more 'good night's were exchanged, and then Maria and Robin made their way up the stairs out to the hallway.

"Before I go to bed," Maria said, "come with me to the front room."

"The front room?" Robin repeated dubiously. "We're finally alone together, and you want to go to the drafty antechamber?"

"Yes," she replied stoutly. He had no choice but to follow her. At last they found themselves in the front room. "Now, tell me what you see," Maria said, backing away from him. He looked around.

"A coat rack. Doors? Fireplace over there. Chairs…a rug…"

"You don't notice anything different? Come now, you're a hunter. You have sharp eyes." So he scanned the room again, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Maria folded her hands behind her back. "Look up." He did so, and he saw a little bundle of greenery hanging from the ceiling. By the flickering fire light, he could see they were green with little white berries.

"Why would you hang plants from the ceiling? No one would notice them there unless you pointed it out." Maria laughed airily.

"If they were just normal plants, yes, I agree, it wouldn't make sense."

"Are they magical plants, then?"

"Of a sort."

"Why are you being so mysterious and vague?" He stepped toward her.

"Well, I rarely get to be so. Let me enjoy the moment, knowing something you don't know."

"You know a lot of things that I don't know."

"This is true. Would you look at that, you're being humble!"

"'Twas a rare occurrence, I assure you."

"Oh, I know." He took another step towards her.

"So what are these confounded plants?" She stepped back, enjoying his confusion.

"This, Robin, is mistletoe." She waited. He shrugged.

"All right. Good for it."

"You've truly never heard of mistletoe?"

"Does it look like I have?"

"Well, you've lived in the woods."

"I've never seen this in the woods."

"Oh. Maybe it's special from Digweed's greenhouse."

"Probably." He neared her. "Do you have a point, or are you just prolonging the suspense for your own guilty pleasure?"

"A little of both. All right, here you go: traditionally at Christmas, when people walk under mistletoe, they're supposed to kiss." Robin's eyes glittered.

"I'm beginning to like your Christmas traditions."

"I thought you would." Now she stepped near him. They stood directly below the mistletoe. Then a flicker of something crossed over Robin's face. "What?" Maria asked.

"Noth—well, it's just that my father and Lillian spent an unusual amount of time in this room when we arrived. That's why I came in to supper first." Maria slid her arms around his neck and interlocked her fingers.

"And…how do you feel about that?" He hesitated.

"I…it's strange. It'll take some getting used to. But I'm glad for him, if it works out." Maria nodded.

"You're sensible." He pulled her closer to him.

"You're beautiful." She shook back her hair.

"You're flattering."

"You're humble."

"You're…" she trailed off, drowning in his dark eyes. Her breath hitched in the silence.

He smiled. He bent down, his lips meeting hers. She tasted of cinnamon and spices.

She leaned into him. His curls brushed across her forehead. Oh, she could stay in his arms forever.

And then voices echoed in the corridor. Robin quickly maneuvered Maria away from the center of the room, pressing her into a dark corner. They held their breath, frozen, as Sir Benjamin and Loveday came round the corner and mounted the stairs towards their room. Only when their footsteps could no longer be heard, did Robin and Maria collapse into each other, laughing.

"That's enough excitement for one evening," Maria whispered to him once they had calmed down. "Now, if you please, I will retire to my room."

"At least let me escort you," Robin said, offering her his arm. She took it, and they ascended the staircase together. When they came to Maria's little door, she turned round.

"You can't come in, I'm sorry. But I'd never hear the end of it if Miss Heliotrope found out."

"Come on, how would Miss Heliotrope find out?" Robin pleaded. Maria only smiled.

"Good night, Bird Boy." He sighed.

"Good night, Princess."

She ducked inside and shut the door. Robin lingered outside. He leaned up against the door, pressing his forehead to the cool wood.

"Princess?"

"Robin?" He paused.

"Merry Christmas." There was a silence, and Robin knew she was smiling.

"Merry Christmas."

He stayed just a moment longer, a silly grin plastered to his face as he leaned against the door. He was deliriously happy. But this delirious boy had better get some sleep if he was to be in any state to attend a wedding. So he made his way downstairs. Every step he took matched the thudding of his heart. Yes, it was a merry Christmas. It truly was.

A/N: Hello again!

I've been productive this evening! Aren't you proud? I love Christmas Eves, and this Christmas Eve at Moonacre was delightfully cozy. A shame I'm writing this in July…but who knows, you may be reading this in December! At any rate, please continue with this story and please review! It is the loveliest motivation.

Love,

Ponygirl7