A/N: This is for HeadlessHoncho. He has put some pretty damn impressive effort into getting me to put this up.
To my reviewers- You guys are freaking awesome. Thank you so much for the support! Aaah! I'm so glad y'all like the story! *bounces around like crazy*
…no, I don't smile like a moron and squeal every single time I get a review…you can't prove that. Nope.
Five Golden Rings
Breakfast, packing and getting to the Lear all went in a blur for Holly. Her head was swimming; a strange happy feeling struck her every time Artemis glanced at her.
She was surprised by his behavior. She had expected him to blush and probably stay at a distance from her; this was not exactly something Artemis had experience with and she expected him to be slightly less affectionate towards her at least until that "new" feeling faded.
It seemed, however, that she had forgotten that Artemis didn't do anything part way, nor was he likely to suddenly lose his day-to-day confidence. She suspected that he had spent some of the morning deciding exactly was acceptable behavior.
If he was the least bit nervous about openly showing affection towards Holly, he didn't show it. He sat next to her at breakfast, even held her hand as they walked to the limo. When they boarded the jet, he seemed to make a point to be just a step behind her with his hand kept to her lower back, lest she should fall.
Once the plane had begun its flight, Artemis unbuckled his straps and walked up to the cockpit to speak with Butler. Holly stood up, stretching and shrinking back to her small elfin size. She went to sit on one of larger lounges, glancing out the window. As the clouds rushed by, she sighed.
'What am I getting into?' she thought. 'It really isn't a good idea.'
'Why isn't it a good idea?' part of her wondered.
'Well,' thought the logical part of her brain, 'this is probably against more rules than I can count to. I know it won't be kept quiet, if Foaly finds out, and he will, everyone will know.'
'So?' asked the apparent devil's advocate in her head, 'since when do you care about rules? You still haven't read anything in the LEP RuleBooke except how to file those stupid forms for Foaly. And he sent that in a separate email. You still haven't actually opened the real one."
'Well, that is true…' conceded the logical voice.
'And besides,' she argued to herself, 'even fairies are forgiving if love is involved.'
She gasped quietly. "Oh goodness," she breathed when she realized her newest point.
'Oh gods, I really do love him. I had been hoping it was a phase…but I don't think it is…'
She stood up, crossed the aisle to the nearest metal support beam she could reach and promptly slammed her head into it.
She continued to do so until she heard footsteps stopping behind her. She finally stopped, resting her head on the beam.
"Feel better?" came Artemis' sarcastic inquiry.
"Yes, loads better," was the scathing reply.
Artemis cocked an eyebrow, familiar with this mood. She was not angry, but she was likely to snap at the next thing that moved.
He let out a deep breath and simply said, "I will be on the couch if or when you choose to join me."
He turned and sat down, eyes leveling on the flustered elf in front of him. He wanted to know what exactly had set her off, but he also knew that he would not be getting any useful information out of her until she decided to share. He was not surprised if she was overwhelmed. Admittedly, he was too.
He had not meant to kiss her that night. He had acted spontaneously, something that seemed to be happening more lately around Holly. He really did not mind however, he had truthfully been worried about working up the nerve to actually kiss her. He had admitted his feelings about her long ago, but he was not certain how she would respond to a physical verification of these feelings. He was quite pleased that she did not outright punch him.
He wondered if she was having second thoughts. He would not blame her for reconsidering. They had made no official plans or agreements as to how the next week or so would go, but when he had kissed her cheek or touched her arm, she did not pull away or made to stop him.
He needed to reassure her.
And right then, she needed reassuring.
She turned around and looked at him, a look of exasperation in her eyes.
'Why is he always so damn calm?' she thought, highly considering getting angry just to get a ruse out of him.
'I guess that's not fair,' she reasoned. 'He always looks calm when he isn't sure of something. He has no idea why I'm standing here banging my head. He's waiting on me to decide what I'm going to do next. Drat. Why is he also so d'arviting considerate, too?'
She glared at him and walked over, stopping right in front of his feet.
He looked at her with a questioning gaze. She let out a huff of air.
"Why are you so calm?" she asked, shaking her head.
"Holly, if I got upset or worried every time you acted violently without giving a reason for your actions, I would have grey hair."
She snorted, her brain deciding it was too tired to keep arguing right now.
She sat down by him, curling her feet on the seat in front of her. He leaned over, draping his arm around her small frame.
"I know you're worried and probably scared, but I don't expect you to admit to that part." He held up his hand to silence her interruption. "Please listen, Holly. I mean it when I say I want to make you happy. Nothing else seems to matter to me anymore, aside from my family. For the next few days, can we just enjoy being together? We will talk about everything before you leave, but you are not going to have any problems for the next week, I can assure you of that. Unless you specifically wish to stop, of course." He paused, not wanting to say the next phrase, but knowing it was necessary. "If you wish to stop right now and never again speak of the past twelve hours, I shall do so willingly."
He waited for her to speak. She sat for a few moments, fidgeting in place.
In a small voice, she finally asked, "Is that what you think I want, Artemis?"
"Holly, I could never begin to understand the finer workings of your mind. This is not a situation that I have ever known you to be in, thus, I have no previous data from which to glean possible answers to my questions. I would also not be so brash as to assume that you want this sort of situation in the first place."
She looked up at him, a look of awe dancing over her features. Suddenly, she started to laugh.
"A simple 'no' would have worked," she said, then "thank you for not assuming, and for giving me room to change my mind."
"You are not some simple experiment. You are certainly not simple, and if you are an experiment, it is the most volatile, wonderful, amazing one I have ever tried to execute. I consider you to be a wonderful adventure, one I am not keen on ending anytime soon."
She smiled, rolling her eyes at him.
"So what do you want, Holly? Right now, in this moment? What can I do to make you happy?"
She grinned up at those eyes that shone so clear, once again noting the presence of a look she could swear was reserved for her alone.
"Foaly is going to have a field-day with this," she whispered; then she reached up and kissed him.
They arrived at the manor mid-afternoon. Juliet gave Butler a questioning look when she noticed Artemis' close proximity to Holly and the fact that Holly hadn't told him off for it. They were bickering about the pros and cons about Foaly's newest wing design, but their hearts weren't in it. Juliet noted the smile on Holly's face and the ease in Artemis' walk. She would bug her big brother about this later.
The evening passed fairly quickly. Myles and Beckett were thrilled that Holly had to be shaped like a human until all of the decorators for the Ball were gone; they were hoping it meant that they could actually beat the normally smaller woman at hide-and-seek.
Artemis sat at the desk in his study as they played. He could hear footsteps racing up and down the halls, occasionally a shout from one of the twins would echo down the stone halls. Those were generally followed with Holly's bright laughter as she somehow managed to continually best them, even in a larger form. Eventually, the boys got tired of losing so badly and they went to bother their parents.
Holly sat and read a book while Artemis worked, each enjoying the quiet companionship.
After a late dinner, Angeline declared that they would all watch a movie in the manor's plush theater. Butler and Juliet supplied popcorn and drinks as they all settled into over-stuffed couches to watch the children's movie Beckett picked out. Myles was unhappy that his movie was not being shown, but he lost the rock-paper-scissors game and everyone saw it.
Holly and Artemis shared a couch. Holly was nervous about being in a room with Artemis' family and likely cuddling with the eldest son, but Angeline just winked at her as Artemis put his arm around her shoulder. She silently shook her head at everyone's reactions to their subtle but none-the-less open displays of affection over the evening. No one seemed the least bit surprised or concerned to see the new couple holding hands or the kiss he put on her cheek at dinner.
After the movie, the twins were put to bed and their parents retired to the master suite. Holly and Artemis ended up walking through the halls at what Holly thought was a random pattern until he stopped and smiled at her.
"I would like to show you the next gift."
"Artemis, really…"
"Holly, we have been over this," he said sternly. She looked up at him sheepishly. She knew she should want to smack him, but he looked so excited. She decided to see what it was and then decide if he needed a good whack to the head for continuing with this crazy idea.
"Oh, alright."
He entered the code on the door and stepped in, holding the door for Holly.
She stepped in and immediately received a rush of floral scents hitting her nose and a heavy humid feeling swamping the air around her. He reached around her and turned on the lights as she gasped in wonder.
She was standing in what could have been a small gymnasium, except no gymnasium has rows and rows of flowers and plants in beautiful patterned plots with artificial light and watering tracks attached to timers designed to give each bloom the perfect amount of light and water.
She couldn't actually see the corners, even though she knew they must exist. Flowers were on every wall, vines creeping in spaces between displays. She began to walk, transfixed on the blooming life around her. A small winding pond took up most of the floor with small bridges crossing in strategic places. She could hear a water fall somewhere, but she couldn't see it. She began to take note of individual blooms, seeing a little of everything. Orchids, roses, lilies, daisies and pansies of all breeds exploded their bright colors against a backdrop of every shade of green imaginable.
When she remembered that she wasn't alone, she looked back at Artemis and was surprised to see how far from the door her feet had taken her. She had gotten lost in all the beauty around her.
When he saw that she had paused, he came over, smiling.
"It's been a pet project of my mother and I. There are over 300 species of plant and flower in here along with quite a few mosses and wild weeds. We have managed to repopulate several of the rarest species on the planet. Myles has been assisting by attempting to manipulate the genomes of those that cannot repopulate easily or at all. It has been a success thus far. Do you like it?"
She smiled at him.
"It's amazing. I…this is wonderful! So much life! I can feel it. These plants are very happy. They love it here. You take great care of them."
She walked up to a bright purple lily, touching the petals lightly. "It is beautiful," she whispered.
"I'm glad you like it. You are welcome to spend as much time here as you wish. I'll give you the code the door later."
She turned to him, awed at the work that must have gone into these creatures. She was impressed. He had said that many of the plants were rare, and Myles was playing with the science side of it all, but this idea was created for beauty and life.
She walked over to him, beaming. She hugged him tight; he had to struggle to get breath for a moment. Thankfully she lightened her grip only to drown him in kisses. When they came up for air, he said playfully, "If I had known that I would get that reaction, I would have shown you this room ages ago."
She stuck her tongue out at him as he laughed. As she looked around the wonder-filled room, she took a moment to relax and truly enjoy the moment. Yes, it was going to be a rocky next few weeks, maybe next few months or even years; somehow, she couldn't make herself care.
She was happy, content and being spoiled rotten whether she liked it or not. She decided that she had best get on with liking it; she was only on vacation for another week. Artemis was right, she should enjoy this ride while she was on it.
A long while later, after Artemis had walked her through the different segments of the greenhouse room, they ended up in his bedroom talking.
"I should go to the other room," Holly said regretfully when they decided it was time for bed.
"You don't have to," Artemis quickly replied. She grinned at his response.
"And why is that?" she asked playfully. "Is there a reason I shouldn't go?"
"Well, yes," he said. She laughed at how quickly he had stopped her from leaving.
"And what would that be?"
"I want to spend as much time as I can with you, even while we sleep. Besides, I quite like cuddling," he added slyly.
She started laughing at his using such a non-scientific word, but she relented.
"Oh alright, but I'm only doing this because your bed is far more comfortable than the other one."
He laughed at this, walking into his bathroom to change into his nightclothes. "If that makes you feel better, you can go ahead and tell yourself that."
He shut the door as she fought for a snappy response and utterly failed at finding one.
She sighed and crawled into the giant bed. She could sleep in the clothes she was wearing; she was too tired to find her actual pajamas.
When Artemis emerged from the bathroom, he found Holly already asleep. He smiled when he got into bed and she curled easily into his arms.
"Good night, my love," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
'Oh Frond,' she thought as she sleepily heard his words and felt her pulse jump, 'I don't think this is a phase.'
That's all for now, folks. Also, it was late when I finished this. If you find anything wrong, please let me know and I'll fix it ASAP. :)
Thanks again for reading, and please review. I love reading them!
BQB
