Chapter Twenty Eight ~ Trouble In Paradise

Robin's deep brown eyes met mine and neither of us spoke for a few moments. Those 'few moments' of silence felt like forever. His eyes were piercing into me, probably trying to fathom what on earth I had just told him. The way he was watching me made me feel self conscious and I felt the need to look away and avoid his eyes, though I stood ground and held his eyes with an attempt of casualness. As if the words I had just spoke were just simple and 'casual'. But they weren't. Those three words meant so much and Robin's reaction was going to either destroy me or send my heart into complete decomposition as it was already beating rapidly within my chest. Surely he could hear it? The beating was booming in my ears. He only stood a few feet away.

Surely he could hear it beat for him?

"What?" Robin's voice came out strained and wary. The sound made me jump slightly as it broke the content silence between us. I let out a nervous laugh.

"You're going to make me say it again?" I asked. "I thought I had made it quite simple." He frowned slightly and opened his mouth to speak but was only silenced by a distant shout.

"Maria?" It sounded unmistakably like Mrs Heliotrope. They had obviously realised I had gone missing and had sent my slightly batty tutor to come retrieve me. Though I defiantly wasn't ready to go back inside. Especially when I was in the middle of confessing my feelings for my best friend, who had turned away from me and in the direction of Mrs Heliotrope's shout.

"And so the cavalry comes." I heard Robin mutter, to himself I presumed. In an instinctual reaction, I rushed towards Robin, grabbed his hand and began to drag him further into the garden. Robin didn't protest and let me pull him in no particular direction, as long as it was away from Mrs Heliotrope and whoever else had come to 'collect' me.

"Maria, are you out here?" Mrs Heliotrope's became a distant shout now. Unintentionally, I headed into the forest. That's when Robin spoke.

"Maria, stop." He said quietly. I carried on into the forest. "Maria." Robin stopped in his tracks and tugged me to a stand still aswell. I turned to face him. He was glancing around us anxiously. "We shouldn't be here." He muttered, his hand turning tense in mine. He glanced between the trees, his eyes moving aimlessly.

"Robin." I said softly. He shook his head once and carried on staring between the trees.

"We need to go." Robin said, his voice sounding distant. I assumed he was more talking to himself than me.

"Robin." I tried again, my eyes pleading with his face. I wanted him to look at me, but he refused. His eyes were still fixed on the world around us. I saw him tense his jaw as he turned back over his shoulder in the direction of the manor. I could still see the glow between the trees.

"We need to go." He repeated. With my free hand, I reached out and carefully touched his cheek. Robin's head snapped towards me without a second's pause. His once nervous eyes now stared down at me with the familiar glint I had grown to know and unquestionably love.

"Robin." I whispered, smiling to myself. My finger ran across his cheek and traced under his eyes. As if on command, Robin closed his eyes and I lightly ran my finger over his eyes lids. His eyes remained closed as I ran my finger down his nose and to his lips. I saw them turned up in a small smile. Robin's lips parted slightly as I felt his warm breath tickle my skin. It was a pleasant feeling. I saw Robin's free hand move up out the corner of my eye and he gently took the wrist of my hand that I was using to trace his face. He held my hand by his mouth and he kissed my palm lightly. I saw his eyes open and I looked up to meet them.

The silence between us was comforting though it was also full of questions. Now as Robin stared at me, I could see he was thinking intently on what I had previously told him. He seemed troubled in a way and I could tell he was now having doubts on whether what I had told him was true. His eyes told me he was uncertain.

Deciding I would probably either regret it or be overjoyed with, I let my hand rest on his cheek again and pulled my hand out of his hand to the do the same on his other cheek. I held his face there, trying to be confident but it seemed to be evaporating as Robin's eyes watched me waiting to see what I was going to do next.

"Robin." I said, softly.

"Princess." Robin whispered, his lips smiling in amusement. I giggled then bit my lip. I couldn't have him distracting me from what I needed to say. Even though it was hard.

"Robin." I said again.

"That's five times you've said my name and yet you don't seem to be getting to the point." Robin said mockingly. I glared at him.

"If you be quiet then I may get somewhere." I told him. He bit his lips to show he wouldn't say another word. So I continued. "You're probably going to think I'm a complete fool, but I don't think there's any going back now. I need to tell you how I feel." I paused. "Even if it may ruin us." I closed my eyes and didn't say anything for a few moments, before opening my eyes and looking up at Robin again. "I love you. I have for a long time, I just didn't know it. You've been my friend ever since I came to Moonacre, forgetting the bad start." Robin smiled at the memories of when I first arrived to Moonacre. When he kidnapped me, when he locked me away in a dungeon. Those memories always seemed to both amuse and embarrass Robin whenever we talked about it. "I can't imagine life without you anymore. That probably sounds incredibly dull but it's true. I know I'm just a irritating little girl and I know probably have girls much older and much more suitable for you falling for you, I just think you should know how I feel." Robin's smile grew.

"I thought I was supposed to be the irritating one?" He asked, innocently.

"Even when I'm trying to be serious you feel the need to make jokes?" I asked, astounded. His face softened.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. I shrugged and let my hands drop from his face. I rested them on his chest and played absently with his feathered scarf thing he had around his neck. I was unsure of what to do next. Should I leave or stay? Should I continue to pour my heart out or keep my mouth shut. I looked up to meet Robin's gaze and my mind suddenly seemed clear.

I curled a hand around Robin's neck and pulled him towards me. I pressed my mouth against his before he could say a word. My lips seemed to have a mind of their own as I kissed him gently. To my surprise, instead of pushing me away, Robin's hands rested on my waist and pulled me close to him. I also found myself wrapping both my arms around Robin's neck and drawing him even more closer to me than he already was. I felt Robin part my lips carefully with his, though unlike when Henry kissed me early, I allowed him and we deepened our kiss.

My mind was racing with unspoken questions. I had confessed my feelings to Robin but he had not told me anything. And yet here he was kissing me back with as much force as I was. Surely he must feel something for me. Why else would he kiss me like this?

Stop it, Maria. You mustn't let yourself be caught up in fantasies. I would only be hurt when it came to reality.

A shout nearby acted like some sort of force and we jumped out of our embrace. I stepped a few feet away from Robin, trying to rearrange any sane thought in my head. Mrs Heliotrope appeared from between the trees and sighed in relief as she spotted me.

"Maria!" She exclaimed, picking up the bottom of her dress and walking towards me. I risked a glance at Robin. He had his head titled back and hands shoved into his pockets. His eyes watched me and he smiled when he saw me looking at him. I couldn't help but smile back regardless of the embarrassment I may have just made just now. "Where have you been, my dear?" Mrs Heliotrope asked.

"Right here." I replied. My voice seemed quite calm considering I was a wreck inside my head.

"Did you not hear me calling?" I shook my head slowly.

"No I didn't." I saw her look around, her eyes lingering on Robin, then she turned back to me.

"Maria, my dear, this isn't a very good place to be." She stuttered. "You know what terrible creature is out here. You should know better than to wander off like this."

"I'm fine, Mrs Heliotrope." I reassured her. "I'm still here, aren't I?" Mrs Heliotrope gave me a disapproving look and took my hand.

"Come back inside before more people notice your absence. It is your birthday party after all." She began to tug me back in the direction of the house. Then she stopped and turned to Robin. "Are you coming back inside, Robin?" I turned back to the De Noir boy. He shook his head.

"I think I'll stay out here for a while." He replied.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Mrs Heliotrope asked.

"I'll come inside in a bit." Robin promised, smiling at Mrs Heliotrope. She gave in and tugged me back towards the manor. Robin titled his head at me as I was dragged away, a small sorrowful smile on his face. I frowned in confusion but I was dragged out of sight by Mrs Heliotrope before I could do or say anything.

"I can't take my eyes off you for one moment and you're running riot around the place." Mrs Heliotrope muttered as we headed back into the garden. I didn't say anything. My head was completely baffled for the events that had just happened. As we headed through the garden, we ran straight into someone who I then recognised to be Mr Gomez.

"I'm sorry." He said quickly.

"It's quite alright." Mrs Heliotrope smiled. "What are you doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be inside looking after Mr De Noir?" Mr Gomez's mouth turned up with a smile.

"I've left him in the capable hands of his daughter." Mr Gomez replied. His eyes flickered to me and narrowed slightly. "At the moment I have to deal with the other De Noir I have been assigned to look after." He stared at me with what looked to accusation. Did he know what had just happened between Robin and I?

"Come on, come back inside." Mrs Heliotrope pressed, oblivious to the looks Mr Gomez was giving me. "You'll freeze out here." Without letting him say another word, she grabbed hold of Mr Gomez's arm and she pulled us both back towards the house. I wasn't aware that Mrs Heliotrope was so strong. I could see Mr Gomez's hesitation in his face. Something wasn't right. Judging by his face, he was baffled by Mrs Heliotrope's reluctance but also worried. He catch my eye for a few short moments and then looked away.

His eyes told me a lot though. His eyes were much like Robin's, therefore quite easy for me to read. He was worried about something. Something unbeknown to myself and Mrs Heliotrope. It also seemed that Mr Gomez wasn't all that I had thought he was.

He seemed to be hiding something.

We made it to the manor and were pulled inside and into the crowds of people expressing a 'happy birthday' and asking if I had had a nice day. I wanted to be back with Robin. Back outside in the cold forest air and staring up into Robin's warm eyes. I wanted to be back in his arms and feel the closeness as our bodies were pressed together.

What was going through Robin's mind when I told him how I felt? What did he feel? Why didn't he tell me how he felt when I had told him? Him kissing me back had just confused me even more. When I saw him again I was going to have to confront and demand he tell me and I would not leave until he did.

"Are you enjoying your night, Maria?" Someone asked me. I could tell the rest of the night was going to be long.

I woke up the next morning in a dizzy state. At first I had completely forgotten the events of the previous evening but when they did, they hit me with some force.

So much had happened in just one evening. I had met Jesse, Jude's younger brother. I had gone from a friend relationship with Henry Cunningham to more of a 'I never want to see you again' relationship. I had realised my true feelings for my best friend. I had told said friend these feelings and ended up in a passionate embrace. Then there was the mystery of De Noir's tutor and what he seemed to be hiding to top the evening off.

No wonder I was feeling dizzy.

I sat up in my bed and stared around the room at all the gifts I had received. I saw the shoes Claire had bought me on the floor by the door, where I had quickly taken them off once I had gotten into the safety of my room. Loveday's dress was hung carefully over the back on the chair so not to damage it. On the dressing table was the pearl box from the De Noir's and next to it was the bracelet Georgina had gotten me.

I glanced down at my bedside table and noticed a locket. I picked it up with gentle fingers and let it rest on my palm. I carefully opened it and reread the prayer inside that I had read to myself too many times now. This was the gift from Robin.

Robin De Noir. The boy I had unintentionally fallen in love with. The boy I had confessed to last night with the trees of the forest as witnesses. Now when I thought about it, Robin was the first ever boy to kiss me. All that time back in my bedroom back in De Noir castle.

He was my first kiss and first love.

What I did not understand though was why on earth did Robin kiss me back? He did not tell or say anything after I had told him how I felt, except a few jokes which I had discarded. If he felt the same, why didn't he just tell me? Unless he didn't and I had taken him completely by surprise when I kissed him? But then why did he continue? I didn't see him for the rest of the evening, last night. I didn't see him come back inside and if he had done I didn't see him. Was he avoiding me?

All this was giving me such a headache.

With a groan, I fell back onto the pillow. I put the locket back on the side table and threw my blankets over my head to hide my face from the world. Why couldn't things be simple? Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl get married. Boy and girl have a family. Boy and girl live happily ever after. Who was I kidding?

Nothing was ever that easy.

The next few days passed by quickly. Aunt Sylvia and Cousin Barney left a few days after the party and continued their travels around the world. Georgina and Claire also left, promising to write and visit me soon. I gave them both back the same promise and they headed off in their carriage back to their normal London lives.

Normal life inside Merryweather Manor resumed quite quickly. Loveday had calmed down a great deal after the place was cleaned and a few days passed. Everything went back to normal again.

Everything apart from my friendship with Robin.

I hadn't seen him at all since the party. We hadn't seen any of the De Noir's. They left some time in the evening without saying goodbye and no word has been heard from them since. If I wasn't so caught up with Robin, I would be suspicious of the situation.

Thankfully though, Loveday was around to worry about her family. She did enough worrying for the both of us.

"I can't imagine why they haven't even sent a messenger down." Loveday said, during dinner time one evening.

"They have got a great deal going on at the moment though remember." Mrs Heliotrope said. In this debate, I agreed with Loveday.

"Maybe we should go visit?" Loveday pondered, completely ignoring Mrs Heliotrope's comment.

"I'm sure they get sick of us trailing up and down all the time, my dear." Uncle said.

"They're my family, Benjamin! I need to know what's going on!" Loveday cried. There was a deafening silence in the room.

"They probably haven't been in contact because of the snow." Uncle suggested after a while. "It's getting quite thick now."

"It's never stopped them before." Loveday muttered, tucking viciously into her food. Everyone around the table could see her irritation and anxiousness. Uncle quickly changed the subject before his wife could resume it.

After dinner I made my way up to bed, claiming to be too tired, though I really just wanted to curl up in a ball all night. As I climbed the stairs, I heard someone shout my name from behind me. When I turned around I saw Loveday skipping up the stairs towards me.

"I'll walk you up to your room." She told me when she reached me. She smiled and we began to head up, slowly. "I haven't had chance to talk to you much since the party either."

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"There's something troubling you, Maria." She said. I could see her watching me from the corner of my eye.

"I'm fine." I lied.

"You know you can tell me anything." She told me. I nodded.

"I know." I could tell I wasn't fooling her. Loveday had always been very persistent and I knew she would get it out of me sooner or later. Why did I bother hiding it? I sighed. "It's Robin." I admitted.

"Trouble in paradise?" Loveday asked in a teasing way. She clearly hadn't grasped my tone.

"What paradise?" I grunted. That's when she got it.

"Tell me what's happened." So I did. I told her everything that had happened the night of the party from when I met Jesse to when I was dragged inside by Mrs Heliotrope. Our pace had slowed down a considerable amount and I had finished telling Loveday all my concerns and questions when we reached my room in the tower.

"I swear that when I see my brother next, I will beat that curly covered head of his so hard." Loveday muttered. I rolled my eyes.

"It's not his fault that he doesn't feel the same." I sighed.

"He shouldn't have lead you on by kissing you back!" Loveday cried. She then sighed. "Anyway, you shouldn't be so certain that he doesn't feel the same. He may have just not known how to tell you or he chickened out or was just completely love-struck all he could do was make inappropriate jokes instead of telling you how he really feels."

"Or he just doesn't feel the same." I muttered. She poked me hard in the shoulder.

"We can visit De Noir castle tomorrow. No matter what Benjamin says." Loveday told me. "I can confront my father and demand why he hasn't contacted us since the party and you can confront my brother and ask him why he's being such a moron." I giggled and grinned at Loveday.

"What if Uncle says no?" I asked. She shrugged.

"Your uncle is powerless when I have my say." She grinned then hugged me. "Get some sleep. You'll have a big day ahead of you tomorrow." I nodded and said my goodnight, then I headed inside through the tiny bedroom door. I got myself ready for bed and climbed under the blankets.

My head whirled with thoughts of what I was going to say to Robin. Somewhere during my well-planned out arguments I feel asleep.

(A/N) Wow, even I'm getting annoyed with Robin and I'm the one writing! I know you're all going to get annoyed with this chapter but trust me, things will come clear in time. I promise!

I didn't mean to cut Georgina, Claire, Cousin Barney and Aunt Sylvia out so sudden, but I know it's all dragging on too much now so I wanted to quicken things up. Plus I've still got quite a bit more to go, and you're all probably there infront of you screens like ''ARGH hurry up and get to the point!'' but I'm following the original plot I had planned out, which was quite long. I do apologise for it all though.

On another note, I know I told you last chapter that I wouldn't be able to update today due to the fact I was busy but I was wrong. It turns out I got the dates wrong so I'll be busy tomorrow. So if there is a lack of updates for this story, then you all know the reason why.

Thank you (yet again) for your reviews! I really can't express how I felt when I saw I had gotten all those reviews for the last chapter. You all rock, seriously! If I could hug you, I would.

Wow this must be one of the longest Author's note I've written. And I'm making it much longer by writing that it's long... :)

Anyway, until next time my fellow fanficers!

-jemlou-