Does anyone know the meaning of the word 'please' anymore? Do I have to command my readers to leave a review?

Anna-Maria frowned and turned over, but whatever it was that was tickling her chin was still there. Still half-asleep, her eyes flickered and focused on the parakeet that was chirping on her chest. Wait, a minute! Anna-Maria thought frantically. Since when did we get a parakeet?!

"Artemis!" She screamed. "Why is there a bird on me?!"

The male genius opened the door, looking worried. "What happened?"

Anna-Maria managed to keep herself from bolting out of the bed. If this bird urinates on me… "Artemis, there is a bird, a parakeet to be precise, sitting on me and tickling my chin."

He tried not to laugh as he allowed the bird to perch itself on his finger. "Relax, darling, it's not a wild bird. Mother gave it to us as a gift; it must have gotten out of its cage." Anna-Maria watched as the parakeet climbed up to his shoulder. "Its name is not Paulie, is it?"

Artemis laughed. "No, not Paulie, fortunately for us. Diana named him Rocky; don't ask me why, ask her."

Anna-Maria relaxed and got out of the bed slowly, not wanting to startle Rocky. "Oh, as a present? As long as he won't hurt the twins I don't mind." She said, reaching out a finger to stroke the bird. Rocky did the equivalent of a purr and perched himself on her finger, chirping merrily.

Artemis smiled and hugged her gently. "Happy anniversary, sweetheart."

Anna-Maria kissed his cheek. "I wanted to get you something, Artemis, but what can you get a man who has practically everything?"

He swept her up into his arms and kissed her. "You have made me a father, no man can ask for a greater gift. But a woman can." He put her down and clasped an emerald bracelet around her wrist. "It matches the exact color of your eyes."

"Oh, Artemis!" She hugged him so tightly he could feel the air being squeezed out of his lungs.

"Darling, not so hard please. I am finding it extremely difficult to –" Anna-Maria let go, looking slightly worried. "Breathe." He finished, inhaling deeply. "Thank you, I love you too."

"Artemis, there's something I need to tell you. It's about –" The doorbell interrupted her.

"I'll get it." Artemis offered.

Anna-Maria held up one hand. "No, I'll get it. I can still answer doors even though I'm four months pregnant."

Artemis watched her go. "I never said you couldn't." He said to himself. "Did I accidentally insinuate it?"

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Anna-Maria opened the door and pasted a fake smile on her face. "Well, hello, Minerva. I certainly was not expecting you. Was Artemis…?"

"Oh, Anna-Maria," The 21 year-old girl flipped a strand of blond hair out of her eyes. "I was not expecting you here. Were you in the midst of something? Do you mind my being here? I thought you and Arty stopped dating over a year ago."

"Minerva, Artemis and I are not dating, we're married. Exactly a year now today."

The French girl's eyes turned to slits as she smiled (falsely). "Oh, really? Happy Anniversary, did he get you something nice? Oh, of course he did! What did you get for him?"

Anna-Maria tried not to growl as she replied, "That is a personal matter you do not need to be informed of."

Minerva kept smiling as her eyes traveled over the younger girl. "Well, someone has certainly let herself go." She said, eyeing Anna-Maria's growing belly.

Anna-Maria would have done something she may (or may not) have regretted later if Artemis had not come in at that moment. "Who is it at the door, darl –" He paused as soon as he saw Minerva. "Hello, Minerva…" Anna-Maria shot him a look that said, Did you know about this? Artemis answered her with one that said, No, you're the one who said you had something to tell me.

Minerva flashed him a smile as she said, "Why hello, Arty. I was just telling Anna-Maria here that she appears to have let herself go – in terms of her figure, of course."

Anna-Maria frowned and looked at Artemis. Artemis, please get this insane woman out of our home!

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Well, that shows how much you know. Anna-Maria has a very high metabolism; she is sometimes thin to the extent that I worry about her. And in case you have not noticed, Anna-Maria is in the mid-stages of fetal development."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's…interesting."

Anna-Maria frowned at him and mouthed, Do you have any idea of what you just said?

What did I say…oh. Oh! "Uh…that was not exactly my meaning. I did not mean that Anna-Maria was in the stages of fetal development, I meant that she is experiencing them."

"Of course. It is only to be expected between a husband and wife. Although I would never have expected that you would have impregnated her so quickly."

Anna-Maria fought to hide her displeasure. Artemis frowned and hoped her blood pressure and blood sugar levels were normal. The last thing they needed now was a double miscarriage because of a girl who was speaking too much for her own good. "Minerva, perhaps it is best if you departed…now." Artemis said, managing to keep the glare out of his eyes.

"But I –"

"Goodbye, Minerva." Anna-Maria said cheerily as she closed the door in the French girl's face.

Artemis smiled. "Same Anna-Maria all over. Now, what was it you were going to tell me?"

Anna-Maria stood with her back to the door. "Well, I was going to tell you that –" The doorbell rang (again). Anna-Maria sighed and opened the door. "Julio, how nice to see you again. How long has it been?"

Artemis raised an eyebrow coolly as a familiar blond-haired man stepped into the room. The man smiled at him. "Artemis, how are things going? It's been exactly a year now, hasn't it?" He heaved a sigh of happiness, or at least satisfaction. "You're one lucky man, Artemis. Anna-Maria could easily have chosen me; after all, we grew up together."

Anna-Maria rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm. "Stop it, Julio! When the LEP retrieved me, you were only eight years-old, two years older than me. And then you wouldn't have met me again if it wasn't for Artemis."

Julio grinned. "True, and if it wasn't for Artemis, I wouldn't have lost my heart to you."

Anna-Maria nudged him impatiently. "Stop it, Julio, now!"

Artemis smiled his vampire smile. "Have you heard the good news?"

"What good –" Artemis turned the older man's head until he was looking at Anna-Maria's growing midsection. "Whoa."

Anna-Maria smacked the back of his head. "Watch it, Julio! Don't forget I could always aim a punch better than you." She tugged his collar until he was on eye level with her and her green eyes were glaring into his brown ones. "Capisci?"

"Sí, io capisco!"

Artemis just prevented a laugh from escaping as his smile grew to a grin.

"Quanti mesi?" Julio asked, straightening his collar.

"Quattro." Artemis replied with a smile.

"Ah, I could have guessed. Anna-Maria's mother was acting the same way when…" The Italian man caught Anna-Maria glaring at him. "Never mind."

Artemis grinned. This was going to be a very eventful visit.

I've stayed up till 11 'o' clock just to finish this chapter (yes, that's late for me) so PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!