A Moonacre Fanfiction Roman Holiday

The cool night breeze whispered into Maria's hair, causing a few unruly locks to float momentarily. She sighed with contentment as she walked side-by-side with Robin down the walkway to the hotel gardens. "It's such a beautiful night," she said quietly. Robin laced his fingers through hers. "Yes, it is," he agreed, "I think I could learn to like Rome after all." Maria's silvery laugh sailed away on the breeze. "Did you have your doubts?" Robin shrugged. "I did. But they're gone." Maria smiled. "I'm glad."

They ambled into the hotel gardens. Wisps of music drifted through, soft, sentimental Italian music. The sweet floral aroma assaulted them, but in a pleasant way. "Almost like the Moonacre forest," Maria remarked presently. They were surrounded by tall, lush greenery. A little light shone out from the hotel, but the primary illumination was issued from the stars themselves and the muted blue glow of the moon. "Almost," Robin said a little doubtfully. Maria glanced up at him. "How is it unlike?" she asked, curious to hear his reply.

Robin squinted thoughtfully. "This garden is carefully pruned and tended. It's all proper and perfect. Sure, it's pretty; it's beautiful, really, but it's not like my forest." Maria grinned. "Your forest?" she repeated. "My forest," Robin confirmed. "My forest just happens to be beautiful, but it's wild, untamed. Whatever flowers grow are few and far between, but they're certainly some of the prettiest flowers in the world."

A thought crossed Maria's mind. Their comparisons were not unlike their personalities; Maria was the prim, proper, pretty garden, carefully pruned and delicate. Robin was the wild, untamed woods. Any virtues he had were few and far between, but they were indeed the best of virtues. The thought brought a reflective smile to her face. "What is it, Princess?" Robin asked, noticing her expression. "Nothing," she said dismissively. "I wonder where Loveday and Sir Benjamin are?" Robin shrugged. "Probably spying on us." Was the unconcerned reply.

"Why on earth would they spy on us?" Maria exclaimed, looking up at him oddly. "She's my sister. She likes to pry into my relationships." Robin said this as though it was a commonly known fact. "Now we have a relationship?" Maria said jokingly. "No, I was talking about my relationship with this shrub," Robin employed props into his charade. "Can't you see the longing in this shrub's leaves for me? Haven't you noticed how it perks up when I near it?" Maria assumed a solemn expression. "Oh, indeed. I think you have a secure future together." Robin gave a sweeping bow. "Thank you, my lady." Maria frowned in disapproval. "You mustn't call me your lady when the shrub is so near! It might hear!" Robin chuckled. "Forgive my recklessness." He caressed a branch of the shrub. "I have only eyes for you, my dear," he reassured the plant.

Maria laughingly pulled him away. "There's enough of that," she said. "I think we are so tired we are going mad." Robin swung her arm lightheartedly. "Ah, but what a wonderful madness it is," he said. "You know, Shakespeare said that love is only a madness." Maria halted dead in her tracks and turned to face him incredulously. "You speak Italian, and now you quote Shakespeare? Who are you, and what have you done with Robin?" He grinned enigmatically. "He is locked away in a dungeon, madame, never to escape."

Maria resumed her walking and said indifferently, "Oh. All right then. And it's 'mademoiselle', actually." Robin gave a great sigh of exasperation. "What's the difference? I mean, does it really matter?" Maria gave a little smile of indulgence. "You really are quite a scholar. A madame is a married woman. A mademoiselle is unmarried." Robin frowned. "Oh. I guess that is a rather big difference."

Little did they know it, but Loveday and Sir Benjamin were, in fact, spying on them in a way. Loveday was, as all sisters are, deeply interested in her little brother's relationship with Maria. But Robin hardly ever revealed his feelings about anything, and Maria was so genteel that Loveday wondered if they would ever amount to anything. Robin ought to be more straight-forward, she thought distastefully. Like precious Benjamin. Loveday planted a little kiss on Benjamin's cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked smilingly. "Thank you for being you," Loveday replied, losing herself in his beautifully dark gaze. "Well then, you're quite welcome," Sir Benjamin replied, giving his fiancée a proper kiss. They were so exquisitely happy that they did not notice Robin and Maria peering out from behind a rosebush.

"You were right!" Maria whispered, trying to blow Robin's neck feathers out of her face. "Of course I was right," Robin said, stepping back. "I know my sister." Maria giggled. "She's not very good at spying." Robin's eyes twinkled. "She's not the sly hunter in the family; that's my job. And anyway, she's in love. She's going to be married. I think it kind of makes you careless about anything else." Maria snatched his bowler hat off his head and settled it onto hers. "And how would you know this, oh wise philosopher?"

Robin raised an eyebrow. "I'm Robin De Noir. I know everything." Maria laughed outwardly, but was inwardly aching to tell him the one thing he didn't know. She refrained, however, only saying, "Look at those two birds. Are they nightingales?" she pointed to a pair of birds flying cheerily amidst the garden. "Turtledoves," Robin corrected. Maria sighed. Oh, to be like a turtledove who had found its mate! Her gaze averted to Robin. If only…

Loveday noticed the birds too. "Look, Benjamin darling. Lovebirds." She said, watching them dip and soar in the crisp night air. "Indeed, love." He agreed. Loveday smiled as she rounded the corner of the garden path. "And look at our two little lovebirds," she said quietly, pointing them out.

Robin and Maria were walking very close, very slowly. Loveday's eyes twinkled merrily to see that Maria wore Robin's beloved bowler hat. It was a perfect night in Rome. Magic glittered in the air. A perfect night to fall in love.

A/N: Treasured reader,

Thank you so much for coming with me this far. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it! I just realized that the former sentence almost insinuates that this is the final installment of Roman Holiday, and I am anxious to assure you that such a thing is not the case! Robin and Maria have more adventures waiting for them in Rome, do not fear. Anyway, I remind you that your reviews are much appreciated, and I wish you a most blessed day!

Yours dreamily,

Ponygirl7 ;)