Day 5 – December 26th (Last day)

Even at 11am the whole manor was quiet apart from the stroll of Butler doing his customary security sweep. Everyone was thankful that Juliet was not yet awake allowing them to sleep longer and rest before they returned to work the next day. Trouble was especially glad as they had shared a bed that night so any excitement Juliet emanated was not only going to affect him; but force him awake much earlier than he hoped. Artemis too was awake but could not bring himself to leave his bed for anything in the world. Or more accurately the love of his life with whom he shared a bed. They had spent the night within each others arms and he had woken up just as he fell asleep: sated, comfortable and at peace. He watched Holly sleep with something of a fascination. It amazed him that someone who was so active, occasionally violent and a Captain in a police force could look so utterly peaceful, beautiful and innocent. Even though he was totally at peace he began to grow restless after half an hour so he quickly grabbed Foaly's gift and returned to the bed with the intent of breaking the layers of code to get his real gift. Foaly used his most recent protection which did prove to be a challenge for Artemis; but eventually he got there after using all of his techniques and knowledge on it. He knew Foaly would break his own codes but hoped he would struggle more than he had. Artemis had spent an hour on it thus far and as he finally got all clearance Holly began to stir. He placed the laptop on his bedside table and greeted his love properly. He leant down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Good morning my dear." His actions made her wake even more.

"Mmm. I like waking up like that." She stretched and opened her eyes looking into his with adoration and love which caused a smile to cross his face. "How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have my whole life. I never want to sleep without you again. I take it you did also?" Holly then sat up, and gave Artemis another kiss; this one passionate and fiery. It did not last long but they were both speechless for some time after happy just touching each other.

"I'm going to shower. Do you mind if I use yours?" Artemis just gestured for her to do as she saw fit and then proceeded to watch her slink into his bathroom. His eyes however were drawn to the small of her back and lower. Shaking himself from his erotic thoughts he turned again to the laptop. As he went through the various folders he grew more surprised and arousal again returned. Foaly had not only placed Holly's voyeur session on it it also contained some photos of Holly modelling. He knew Holly was not a hypocrite and would never degrade herself to modelling; it was even more obvious because no matter how seductive and happy her face may have looked her eyes burned with anger. As he clicked through the photos, making certain to transfer all items on the laptop to another before Holly saw, he was amazed that she had been willing and ordered to go as far through stripping from her usual LEP shimmer suit down a bikini. It was at that second the bathroom door opened and Artemis blushed but as Holly walked out in nothing but a towel he couldn't help but torture her slightly.

"So my dear little voyeur, I didn't know you modelled?" Holly's face underwent several changes in the first few seconds of understanding what he had said: confusion, panic and then embarrassment. She rushed over to see what he meant and what was on the screen horrified her. Foaly had kept a copy after all. She then told Artemis how she had been ordered to do it 'For the LEP'. She had kept begging Julius to not use her; since Lili Frond was willing and better suited for it and eventually he relented. Holly had personally ensured that every copy was destroyed, obviously all but one. She recalled she had threatened castration should he have kept some; given she had no way of being able to figure out his computers. She was now going to pay him in kind for betraying her. 'At least only Arty knows but-' her thought train was disrupted when Artemis kissed her again. She couldn't describe how fantastic his lips felt against her. She wanted to stay like this forever; but knew that she had to get changed eventually. So after another quick peck she ran to her room hoping no one would see her whilst Artemis waltzed into his shower. Artemis showered and dressed quickly hoping he may have time to do some work before having his presence requested again. He managed to deal with his financial work but only managed to open the blueprint for his most recent project before Holly came back in. He was deep in thought however he didn't notice her come in or approach the desk.

"What are you plotting this time Arty?" He was startled at her entrance but also by what she called him. 'Arty. Coming from her lips it sounds amazing.' He turned to face her and rather than explain merely showed her the blueprint. She looked at it but could only make out some of the words on it. Most notably the words 'cancel global warming'. "Do you honestly think you can stop two hundred years of mud-man activity? but surely it's impossible!" Seeing the look in Holly's eyes he could see hope, disbelief and amazement.

"My love you must admit 'impossible' is a term that normally doesn't apply to me." Holly's ears twitched in joy when he called her 'my love' but the smug smile that was plastered to his face only served to annoy her. She gave him her usual answer; a punch. He rubbed his arm and said, "Well yes, it is still early days. I've barely made any headway. Though without having Foaly's knowledge there would be none at all."

"Anyway, I was sent to get you for lunch. Butler got the other's up about half an hour ago." As they walked towards the dining room Holly noticed that he had forgone a tie today and had left several button's open on his shirt allowing her gift to shine through. The sight of it made her happier still than she had been previously. Brunch was again an informal affair; made even more so by Trouble and Juliet still being missing. Butler explained that Juliet had simply thrown a book at him when he tried to wake her. They talked about the holiday, their departure that day that made the young(ish) couple sad and more topics of mutual interest. Foaly did notice that Holly shot daggers at him for most of the meal. He made the mental note to run away as soon as the meal was over. Clearly Artemis has his gift. Afterwards everyone dispersed Butler and Julius going off to trade war stories, Mulch to the kitchen, Foaly as far from Holly as possible. Artemis and Holly decided on walk through the grounds despite the temperature as they realised it would be more apt for their setting to discuss the elephant in the room. How they were going to make it work.

"Arty. How can we make this last? I love you so much. I don't want to lose you so quickly." She was feeling very churned and tears threatened to spring forth from her eyes again. Artemis knew what she meant, but he knew more than she did. Much much more. He knelt down again, kissed her cheek and hugged her. Once her sobbing had stopped he simply said.

"Trust me." And she did. She saw the determination in his eyes, she knew that there was something up his sleeve. She still felt terrible; not helped by having to go back underground that night. After spending so much time above ground; as well as in all her friends company the idea of Haven and the daily R.O.K lacked any appeal to her. "I'll explain everything soon my dear." They walked back to the manor in a generally happy mood though the sword of Damocles was still perched over Holly's head. Once back in the warm they noticed that the other couple had finally risen and Artemis now decided it was time to show them the results of his training. Coughing he got the attention of his guests. "For those interested I shall be doing my workout in an hour and you are all welcome to observe. Though I insist that Foaly and Hols be there." The whole room stated that they wouldn't miss it as it was either good chance for laugh or amazement. They spent the next hour as their own until Artemis had to go prepare with Butler after 45 minutes for the demonstration. Holly became uncomfortably anxious as the time passed. She knew that this must have something to do with what he was going to explain to her. But what? Everyone made their way into the ample gym and seeing seats along one way made their way to them. Butler had changed into training gear but Artemis remained as he was, except he had done up some more buttons on his shirt. Artemis then took several seconds to explain he would be doing everything they normally covered. He did also mention to Juliet he may ask for her assistance later on.

Watching the pair spar was a beautiful sight in itself. It was almost a dance as they both attempted various holds or attacks on the other. They were obviously closely matched with Butler's wound slowing him down whist Artemis' youth granted him an agility that made him hard to hit. They moved like this for fifteen minutes after which tiredness got the better of both and they had to stop. The many soldiers in the group knew that to spar so intensely and for so long was a marvel in itself. They were also stunned by the transformation Artemis had made from the vampire with no coordination to a master fighter. It was at this point however he requested Juliet's help. He explained it was because he knew Butler's moves and weaknesses, the few there were, so well by now it meant he could read the slightest move he made thus allowing him an advantage he would not have over a random assailant. Juliet of course had the same training as her brother but due to her youth as well as size difference meant she would fight differently. They too spared and Artemis only managed to avoid several broken bones by the skin of his teeth. Even so, given it was only 6 months training, it was beyond impressive. After that Artemis was exhausted but Holly had the strangest feeling that he was recovering far too quickly for any person. "Another section of my training is that with a sword and dagger. Butler and I decided to dispense with the sword as it has no place in today's society but we did cover the knife which will shall demonstrate now. Hearing that Artemis and Butler were going to fight with sharp weapons made her heart clench although she reasoned at as four people in the room could heal either of them should it be required it added a level of safety not normally present. "Okay old friend. As we discussed." Holly noticed the look of uncertainty in Butler's eyes and was sitting on the edge of her seat should her magic be required. As they started their dance again it was clear Artemis was not as fluent with a weapon as he was without. They both received several cuts during, none however serious enough to warrant an end to the fight. Holly's ears began to twitch; sensing danger approaching, which only caused to make her even more anxious.

Moments later the duo stopped moving. The audience were amazed at the sight in front of them. Artemis' knife was at Butler's throat. There was utter silence until a creepy chuckle emanated from Artemis. He dropped his knife that he was holding and before anyone realised the truth he dropped another. This one covered in blood. His blood. When they saw that Artemis was hurt, badly, the whole room erupted into chaos all wanting to help heal Artemis anyway they could. None of the could reach him however as Butler blocked their way to him. They were shouting at him, Holly was begging until Artemis shouted above them. "STOP! Butler did exactly as I asked him to; despite his unwillingness about it." The whole room was now staring at their host as though he was mad. He however explained his methods. "I asked him to do this to give a true understanding of what occurred to me on Hybras." He then unbuttoned his, now dark red, shirt and revealed the skin underneath. It was covered in blue sparks. He was healing himself. He had magic. "Foaly I asked you here as you will need to verify my claims as I may have some calculations slightly wrong. Holly; my short lifetime will not be a problem because my cells last approximately ten times longer than a normal human as magic heals them. To that end I should live ten times longer than an ordinary human meaning I should at least have 700 years to live; if not longer." The whole room was stunned into silence again until Holly ran forward and slapped him followed closely by a world class hug. He understood his methods were not the best way to explain his new found magic but it was certainly entertaining. After that the whole room questioned him intensively and Foaly drew some blood to do a test back in Haven to make sure of Artemis' lifespan.

The rest of the evening was spent in a usual manner though a much more sorrow filled one for the two couples as they knew they had to leave eventually. They had already packed when the clock in the hall chimed ten pm, the time they had to leave. The ride back to Tara was a quiet one thanks to the few who were single giving the couples some peace to enjoy themselves in the moment. As they disembarked the mood got far more mellow and sad. Butler assisted Foaly, Mulch and Julius with their luggage only as far as the entrance as he knew what panic may result should he be seen entering. He then went back to the limo and waited for the two most important people in his life. Juliet and Trouble stood in each others arms listening to the heartbeat of their lover. Unable to bear another second in which he may have to decide to go or stay Trouble gave Juliet a passionate yet loving kiss and vanished into Tara. Artemis and Holly however were far more upbeat. Knowing they had almost a whole elven lifespan together made them both ecstatically happy though they both loathed to be apart. Holly knew she had to return to Haven but also knew that she would be able to see him soon; and for a whole two weeks which made her job bearable. They too sharing a loving kiss followed by a hug that lasted minutes. They then whispered 'I love you' into each other's ears and sadly parted. They however knew they would still be joined as long as they wore their half of the bracelet. Both return journeys were tiring and sad. Though Trouble perked up some upon receiving an email from Artemis.

Trouble,

Between myself, Foaly and No1 we may be able to do something about extending Juliets lifespan.

Do not give up hope.

Artemis

Holly however amused herself by kicking Foaly very hard on the rump in the payback she so dearly owed him for those pictures of her. Artemis and the Butler's carried on with life as they had done for the past six months; though both he and Juliet now had half themselves below the ground.