A Moonacre Fanfiction Roman Holiday

Maria and Robin were seated upon a couch; no, it was more of a loveseat, really, but Maria preferred to think of it as a couch. Their elders had all gone off to bed, even though it was hardly two o' clock in the afternoon. Of course, a long carriage ride could wear a person out, and after travelling from Moonacre to Rome, they were quite exhausted. Maria, however, preferred to engage in conversation to reinvigorate herself, and Robin happened to be the only person still awake, so…

"What would you like to do here in Rome?" she asked him, swinging her feet up onto the love—I mean, couch and lounging back against the armrest. "Whatever you would like to do," Robin replied smoothly. The truth was, he didn't know much about Rome at all (save one rather significant detail) and so relied upon Maria to plan their exploits. "Oh, there are so many things to do in Rome!" Maria exclaimed, eyes dreamy. For years she had longed to visit this majestic place of myths and mysteries, and now she was here with all of her favorite people!

"We must of course visit the Coliseum," she said matter-of-factly, "And I've always wanted to see the Trevi Fountain." Robin screwed up his face in a confused frown. "The what fountain?" he asked. Maria stared at him in bewilderment. "You've never heard of the Trevi Fountain? Robin, what kind of a person are you?" He was all set to expound upon his kind of person, but Maria quickly added, "Don't answer that." Robin gave her a pouting look. "Well, the Trevi Fountain is the beautiful fountain with all these amazing sculptures. What you're supposed to do is make a wish and then throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder, and the wish will come true."

This intrigued Robin. "Really? You can wish anything?" Maria raised an eyebrow. "Why? What were you going to wish for?" Robin fingered his neck feathers meditatively. "Nothing." Maria knew Robin well enough to know that he would not tell her once he set his mind to it. With a sigh, she went on. "I heard that a special church service is going to be held the day after tomorrow in the Sistine Chapel. It's a beautifully painted—wait, today is Friday, right?" Robin didn't reply. "Robin! Robin?" she frowned, and peered in front of his face. "Boo." He blinked. "What? Sorry. Just thinking." Maria chuckled. "Well, I suppose there's a first time for everything," she allowed. Robin began to nod—then frowned. "Wait a minute…what?" Maria grinned, but said, "Nothing." If Robin wasn't going to tell her his wish, she wouldn't explain either. "Isn't today Friday?" she repeated her question. He closed his eyes. "It is."

Satisfied, Maria sat back shoulder-to-shoulder with Robin. "So, what else is in Rome?" he asked, making an effort to further the conversation. Not that he particularly cared, but he enjoyed hearing Maria's musical voice. "Well, as I said, the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo painted it; but I don't suppose you know who that is, either." Robin pulled his bowler hat over his eyes and grunted. "I'll take that as a no," Maria smiled. "There are these famous gardens called the Villa Borghese gardens. We absolutely must see those."

"Anything else?" Robin muttered with a little smile. "Um, there are the catacombs of St. Callixtus, but those are a little…dark." Robin chuckled. "Catacombs are underground, right? They're going to be dark." Maria rolled her eyes. "No, Bird Brain; I meant 'dark' as in 'morbid' or 'dismal'. I'd rather not go there." Robin casually slid an arm around Maria's shoulders. "Then we won't." he reassured her.

She leaned into him, breathing in his familiar woodsy smell. "You know, this holiday isn't all about me," she said. "It's really about Miss Heliotrope. She's the entire reason we came." Robin grinned down at Maria. "She's not the reason I came," he replied warmly. His meaning was not lost on the girl whose shoulders were encompassed by his sturdy arm, and she blushed mildly. "What I mean is, we'll do what Miss Heliotrope wants, what she feels up to. We came in a group and we're expected to travel in a group." Robin couldn't resist a chuckle. "And yet look at us now! The group has rather diminished, hasn't it?"

Maria yawned. "But the company is still pleasant," she admitted, snuggling into his thick black coat, vaguely noting what a silly boy he was to wear such a coat in balmy Rome. But he was such a sweet silly boy that she would have to forgive him. "That it is," Robin agreed, his voice muffled by his bowler hat. Maria's eyelashes began to sink lower and lower until she could barely hold them up. She was so comfortable, so warm. "Well…I suppose we'd better…" she paused as she yawned a little yawn, "…get to…bed…" But before she knew it, she was asleep.

Robin smiled from the darkness of his hat. He decided that if the vacation was to end the very next minute, it would have been worth it. After all, Maria was here. Therefore, this holiday couldn't be any less than wonderful.

A/N: Beloved reader,

I thank you for reading this, the fourth chapter of Roman Holiday! Let it be known that I have the next several chapters planned out, but not written yet. I do have a general idea of where the story is going, although as to its length I am completely in the dark. I hope you are enjoying it so far, even though to me it seems rather slow-paced. Hopefully things will pick up as we delve into their exploits in Rome. Oh well. We shall see.

Sincerely,

Ponygirl7 ;)