Chapter Fifteen ~ And So The Bird Boy Blushes

Soon, Jude's mother came and told her to come inside as she still had work to do. Jude bid me goodbye and skipped away. Mrs Harper apologised for her daughter, though I laughed and assured her it was fine.

I was alone again and left to worry on my own. My eyes never moved from the tree line.

When I was about to give in and go inside to question Robin's father why they were not back yet, I saw movement between the trees. First one figure appeared and then another four followed. I recognised Robin immediately, his outfit a giveaway.

I rose to my feet and I felt a feeling of relief wash over me.

He was alive.

The group made their way towards the castle, all looking completely exhausted. All covered in dirt and their clothes ragged.

Robin's face was unreadable as they came within distance for me to see their faces properly. His eyes were on me and though I was usually good at telling what he was feeling, his eyes told me nothing.

If anything he looked slightly angry.

His friends passed by without a second glance or a look my way and continued up to the castle. Robin stopped a few feet away from where I was leaning back against the tree.

Neither of us said anything.

"Did you find anything?" I asked, making conversation. After a few moments of silence he shook his head.

"No." He replied, his voice flat. "Why are you here?" I frowned at his rudeness.

"Waiting for you." I said slowly. His face tensed slightly but otherwise there was no reaction from him. "But maybe that was a bad idea."

"Why do you say that?" He said in the same tone from before.

"I can leave if you want?" I suggested. I picked up the bottom of my dress and prepared to leave. Robin grabbed my arm before I could.

"Don't go." He said quietly. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. I watched him for a few moments as he seemed to be trying to calm himself down. Finally he opened his eyes and released my arm. "I've had a bad day." He sighed. "I shouldn't take it out on you."

"No you shouldn't." I agreed, nodding. He studied my face than laughed quietly. He took off his hat and ran a hand through his brown curls. "You want to talk about it?"

"It's been a long, hard day." He said, looking down at his bowler hat in his hands. I looked down at it aswell, then noticed his hands. They looked battered and dirty. I could even make out some dried blood on them. "We've been at each other's throats all day." I glanced up away from his hat. He must be talking about him and his friends.

"You had a bad argument?" I guessed. He smiled sadly and met my eyes with his.

"The worst we've ever had, I'd say." He muttered.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." There was a long silence between us.

"What was it about?" I asked finally, though I was worried that it was none of my business and I was just being rude. "If you don't mind me asking." I added quickly.

"I don't mind." He sighed. "You."

"What?"

"The argument was about you." I didn't say anything. I just watched him stare at me.

"What have I done?" I asked, confused. He laughed.

"You haven't done anything, princess." Robin reassured, though his smile vanished slowly. "It's them who have a problem." He glanced up at the castle behind me with a hard look. No doubt it was directed at his friends. "They don't like me spending time with you. They believe that I'm abandoning them and 'choosing' you." He shook his head and glared down at his hat. "Idiots." I watched him in silence. Behind the hard face Robin had on, I could tell the argument he had just had with his friends had upset him.

Hurt him even.

"You don't have to spend time with me if it means your friends get angry." I said finally. His eyes shot up and stared into me.

"I'm not going to just stop seeing you, Maria, just because my friends are a bunch of over-reacting girls."

"If it means loosing them, then I think you should." I replied. "They were your friends before I was." He laughed.

"That doesn't make a difference!" He cried. "I'm not going to do it."

"Then I'll decide for you." I turned to leave again but Robin grabbed me. This time though I tripped and fell back against the tree, bringing Robin with me. "I'm sorry." I mumbled, trying to look anywhere but where Robin's face. I could feel my cheeks reddening already.

"That's fine." Robin laughed, straightening himself out. There was silence again and I made sure my eyes stayed firmly on the ground. I felt a hand on my chin and Robin pulled my face up so I had no choice but to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"This reminds me too much of my dream." I admitted. Robin thought for a second then grinned. A mocking grin. I glared at him though it only made him laugh. After Robin had recovered, he stared at me for a few moments before placing his hat on the top of my head. He tilted his head to one side and then his grin reappeared again.

"Beautiful." He said. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Don't expect this back." I warned. Robin raised his eyebrow.

"Whatever you say, princess." He grinned. I glared at him one more time and then we headed back up to the castle.

Robin's hat still on my head.

I informed Robin on both Jude's and Mr Gomez's promises he had made to them and that they were expecting his presence when he got back from patrol. He seemed irriated with himself at first then sighed, agreeing to go find them. After I had to persuade him to not go up to his room to rest. When we went to see Mr Gomez, he told him that he could have the day off today, though tomorrow they would have to work.

"But Father's got me tracking tomorrow." Robin sighed. Mr Gomez shook his head.

"Your father is making you work too much." He grumbled. "If he wants this beast found, he should go find it himself!"

"You tell him that and he'll probably have you shot." Robin laughed. I watched the two men and their exchange from the door of the room we were in. Robin told me it was his father's interpretation of a library. It was quite large but it was dark and dreary, much like the rest of the castle. Books and parchments lay about the room, some on shelves, some on the floor. This may have been a lovely library at one point, but at the moment the room looked a state. Robin told me that it was because his father had let it rot when Loveday left. Much like the music room.

"When is good for your father then?" Mr Gomez asked, clearly annoyed. Robin shrugged.

"I think he's got me patrolling every day now until the creature is dead."

"Has the man gone mad?"

"Probably."

"Hmm." I watched as Mr Gomez picked a book up from the floor and began flicking through the pages. He seemed deep in thought for a moment. "I'll talk to him." He sighed finally. "Get the old toad to slacken up your 'duties'." Robin grinned.

"Much obliged." He said. Mr Gomez regarded him in a disapproving way and then waved his arm at him.

"Run along, I'm getting sick of your face." Mr Gomez said, though a glint in his eye showed that he was obviously joking. Robin nodded, still smiling himself. He tipped his hat, which he had managed to gain back off me somehow, in his tutor's direction and headed towards the door. He shooed me out the way and shut the door behind him. We headed down the corridor.

"Now you need to go see Jude." I reminded him. He thought for a while then nodded.

"Suppose I do." He glanced down at me. "You're coming with me though." He knocked me with his shoulder and grinned. I didn't argue with him.

As we walked to find Jude, something was bugging me.

I still wasn't sure about what really happened last night and the not knowing annoyed me. The kiss was probably a dream, but I needed to know for a sure. Though if I asked Robin, then he'd find out I dreamed about him again and probably tease me about it.

Not that that was unusual.

"Robin." I began.

"Maria." He said mockingly. I shoved him lightly.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.

"Ask me whatever you want, princess."

"Promise me, you'll refrain from teasing me though." A grin formed on his face.

"Is it that bad?"

"No, I just know you'll do that." I replied.

"I won't tease you." Robin promised, grinning. I paused before asking.

"Last night," I tried to work out how I was going to ask it in my head quickly. "I was probably dreaming but I just wanted to ask so I knew for sure." Robin nodded once, waiting for me to continue. "Did you kiss me?" There was a pause from Robin before a smile broke out across his face. I must have been dreaming; Robin was smiling, trying not to tease me. Though what he said next completely baffled me;

"You weren't dreaming." I stopped walking. Robin stopped aswell and turned to face me. The smile was still on his face.

"What?" I asked finally.

"You were not dreaming." He repeated again, though slower, as if he was talking to a child. I glared at him.

"Don't patronise me." I muttered. He grinned. "Why?" He narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"Why what?" He asked.

"Why did you kiss me?" His face seemed to fall as the words left my mouth. He mustn't have been expecting that question. Robin went tense suddenly. He shoved his hands in his pocket, an action he only seemed to do when he was nervous. It may have just been my imagination, but it seemed that his cheeks reddened in colour.

As if he was blushing.

Finally he shrugged and gave me his nervous smile.

"If you can't kiss your best friend, who can you kiss?" Robin replied. His answer hit me hard for some reason. My stomach felt weird, but not like I had butterflies in there. Just weird.

"Yeah." I said quietly, nodding slowly. Robin's smile vanished. "I suppose you're right." I attempted a laugh but it didn't come out right. Robin studied me with a sad look on his face. "I just wanted to know, that's all." I tried to resume normal conversation, and failing. "So I know I'm wasn't going crazy." I stared down at my feet for a few moments then back up at him. "We better go find Jude then." He seemed to be like some odd sad statue. Not moving, just watching me with the same expression.

"Maria," He began, quietly. His voice seemed strained. "I…" He stopped talking and glanced at something over my shoulder. I turned around to see who it was. Henry stood there.

"I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" He asked, glancing from the pair of us. I answered for Robin, as he seemed too caught up to speak.

"No you weren't." I shook my head, smiling at him. Henry smiled back and then turned to Robin.

"How did the patrol go?" He asked politely. Robin didn't answer for a few moments.

"We didn't find anything." Robin sighed finally. "We'll continue looking tomorrow."

"I'd love to come help you, but I just think I'd get in the way."

"It's fine." Robin strained a smile at his cousin. "It's early days at the moment. We'll hopefully catch it soon though."

"I hope so." Henry agreed, nodding. "Are you two coming to dinner?"

"It's dinner already?" I asked, astonished. Henry nodded. I hadn't realised it was so late. "We better get going."

"I think I'll pass on dinner." Robin said. I turned to him. "I need to go find Jude. I promised I'd see her."

"I'm sure the girl will be fine for an hour or two." Henry said.

"I'm not really hungry either, if I'm honest."

"Well if you're sure. I'll tell the others where you are." Henry nodded. He then turned to me an extended an arm. "Shall I escort you to dinner?" I paused before talking his arm. "See you later, Cousin." He nodded in Robin's direction and then began to lead me away. I glanced over my shoulder.

"I'll see you later, Robin." I called. He only nodded at me. His face was even more strained than it was before.

His eyes sadder than I had ever seen them.

Henry and I turned the corner and Robin vanished from view. A deep feeling of regret feel on me.

I felt guilty again.

(A/N) This whole 'I probably won't update for a while' isn't really happening is it? I just seem to have more time than I expected, so I can update for you all quicker. The lack of updating may apply soon, though, with Christmas fast approaching! Don't worry though, I'd have updated alot before the 25th. I'm not going to go on strike or something and not update until Christmas is over. I will try for you all! I'm just warning you in advance.

I know I update a lot and due to this you may think it's not neccessary to review, but please please please do so anyway! Your reviews tell me that people are interested and motivate me to continue writing. I'm one of those sad people who get depressed when they don't get alot of reviews for their stories. I just love to know what people think of my writing and that I'm interesting people with it.

Again with the random chapter title name. I think I'm going slightly and slowly insane. I'm dreading what I'll come up with next! Be prepared people!

Anyway, I'll stop rambling now and say goodbye. Until next time my faithful readers!

Don't forget to review!

-jemlou-