Artemis glanced in Anna-Maria's direction as he handed her another tissue from the box next to him. After a few moments, he tossed that one in the trash can beside the sofa and handed her another tissue. He watched her and shook his head as he gave her yet another tissue. "I still fail to understand why you are crying."
Anna-Maria blew her nose and tossed the tissue into the trash can. "Artemis, the story is simply saddening…if you had any feelings at all your tear ducts wouldn't be so shriveled up from disuse."
"Thanks," He replied in an injured tone. "I always wanted my wife to tell me why I have shriveled tear ducts." He handed her another tissue. Seeing her expression, he added, "Yes, I know you didn't mean it like that and I am not taking offense…but you read Pride and Prejudice years ago and you know how the story ends, so why are you crying?"
"Because it just looks so sad…poor Darcy," Anna-Maria wiped her eyes. "Elizabeth won't give him another chance because she's still upset about what he told Bingley at the ball."
"And we couldn't have watched something less tear-inducing?" He asked. "Something like…oh, say Spy Kids? But then of course you would have cried when that woman's hair caught fire because of the regretful loss of her split ends. I have never seen you so sentimental…I think I preferred it when you were Beetroot Junior. At least then I would be prepared for your anger."
"Oh, stop complaining," She tossed her tissue at him. Artemis lifted it from the sofa by its edge and threw it into the garbage as if it carried a contagious disease. "Anyway," She continued, "The movie's almost over. You can go to sleep now if you want. I'm not tired yet."
"No, I'll stay up with you," He replied, settling back into the sofa. "Besides, you might want a snack and I don't trust you with so much as a butter-knife in this condition."
"Artemis, you can be so unromantic at times!" She exclaimed. "I know I'm acting unusual right now, but what do you expect?"
He glanced at her. "If I'm so unromantic, how do you explain Angelina and Artemis?"
She waved her hand at him, her eyes riveted on the screen. "Shh…I think Darcy's about to propose to Elizabeth…again."
The raven-haired genius made sure she was watching the movie before he tossed the box of tissues over the back of the sofa. "Oh, would you look at that? We're all out of tissues. Well, I should go and get another box before the movie ends. So I'll just go…" He stood up to leave.
She grabbed his arm and pulled him down again. "No need," She drew a box of tissues from under her blanket, opened it, and handed it to him without moving her gaze from the movie. "There you go."
He blinked. "Have you had this the entire time?"
"Of course," She answered. "Now shush, I'm trying to hear what Elizabeth is saying."
"On second thought, I think I'll go to bed."
"Okay, just make sure you don't fall over the –"
CRASH!
Anna-Maria looked away from the screen. "Baby simulator," She finished, sighing. "We really should have smashed that thing with a hammer last month. Even Julio admitted it gave him a massive headache."
Artemis stood and opened a window. "That's because you threw it out and it happened to land on his head." He flung the simulator out of the manor and closed the window.
"Goodnight, Artemis."
"Are you coming anytime soon?"
"Give me an hour or so…maybe five."
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Anna-Maria turned and mumbled drowsily, "Artemis?"
"Hmm…?" He mumbled back. "What is it now? We're all out of pickles."
"Artemis, you know I hate pickles."
He blinked sleepily. "What did you want to tell me?"
"I think my water just broke."
The male genius turned to his side and mumbled, "It's past midnight, darling. I'll call a plumber to fix it in the morning."
She blinked and sat up. "Artemis? Dear, did you hear what I said?"
"Of course I heard," He muttered. "You said you think your water…" He opened his eyes and sat up quickly. "Your water broke? Are you sure?"
Anna-Maria took deep breaths as she replied, "I think so. It really can't be anything else."
He got out from under his blanket and helped her up as he moved around the room, picking up her suitcase and handing her a glass of water. "I'll call Angela…hopefully she can get to the hospital without any problems. How far are the contractions, would you say?"
"Far enough," She replied as she took the glass of water and began to gulp it down nervously. "I don't think I'll be ready for delivery for another couple of hours at least."
He moved quickly as she took deeper and slower breaths. "Okay, we've got extra clothes for you, ice in the Bentley, Butler's ready, Angela's on her way to the hospital, Mother knitted baby clothes for the twins…is there anything I'm forgetting?" He called from the hallway as he grabbed his jacket.
"Yes, Artemis," She said breathlessly, "I think there is something you are forgetting."
He came back. "Really? What did I forget?"
She gave him an odd look. "Oh, I don't know…maybe you forgot something important like…say, me?"
"Oh!" He helped her up and lifted her in his arms carefully. "Sorry, dear, I just got a little nervous."
"Why are you nervous? I'm the one who's been carrying twins for the past eight months!"
"Yes…how do you do that? The twins feel like they must weigh at least five pounds each."
"Artemis, can we get to the hospital before the contractions get worse?!" She exclaimed angrily, her face reddening.
"Oh, honey, you got your temper back." He observed with a smile.
"Artemis, unless you get me into the Bentley right now, I am going to kick you in a very uncomfortable place when this is over. Let's go already! Labor pains are very, very…"
"Painful?" He suggested.
Her only response was a piercing scream.
"My apologies! This is the first time I'm doing this!"
"Oh, yeah, and I've given birth before!" She replied sarcastically, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. "Just get me to the hospital, please. And, Artemis?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't faint if you see blood…and please don't tell me about it either."
"Anna-Maria, I do not faint…but that may depend on how much blood there is."