AN: Okay, first things first. I missed a footnote last chapter. It would have said that yes, I do keep a tiny little foam pillow in the Guards' Room. Has my name on it and everything. ^_^ Second, this chapter was very emotional for me to write. It brought up things I've tried not to think about for 6 months now. Just want some feedback on how I wrote it, though.

Shouts!

Maddie: Yeah, sorry about the confusion. However, I do state in the summary that you need to have read Gryff's to understand mine. ^_^;;

Cassie: Okay, I'm going to respond to one of the few parts of that I understood. Yeah, I'll see you in a few days, and yes, guys are jerks.

Gryffin: Okay honey, here's the next chapter for you. ^_^ Hope you like it, and I'm glad you like this so much. ^_^ It really means a lot to me.

Why did he have to say that? He's the first guy I've trusted since Dan, and now…now I get my heart broken again… The thoughts ran continuously through Artemis' head that afternoon. Her headphones blasted then end song to Final Fantasy X on repeat in her ears. She knew she needed to go work soon, but at the moment, she didn't really care. There was an hour on no campers at 1:30, and she went on the Deep chair at 2:30. Snitch was ahead of her in the rotation…No! Don't think of him!

She looked at the clock. 2:20. With a sigh, she dragged herself from the bed. Luna had, for once, gone to the pool, and Artemis knew that if Barn Staff were there, things had to be interesting.

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It was boring. Those were the only words to describe the Pool right now. Mind, Trails End was there, and that meant Gryffin was keeping her company while she sat in the white plastic chair at the bottom of the slide, but the sun was bright and hot and the girls, especially Maddie and Cassie, insisted on trying to splash her. At this point, though, Artemis just didn't really care.

Though she tried not to look, she would be lying if she said she didn't notice when Snitch returned from practice. He looked rather troubled, but again, she wasn't trying to look. He just happened to pass within her field of vision. Gryffin noticed Artemis trying not to look at Snitch and sighed. She'd heard, briefly, about the couple's conversation and wondered how Snitch could be such a complete idiot.

Snitch, meanwhile, was thinking over his conversation with Skittery not long before. He'd been wrong, apparently. He wasn't really attracted to Skittery; they were friends, nothing more. Now, however, he'd probably made one of the biggest mistakes in his life and he didn't have the slightest clue on how to win Artemis back. Why did he have to be such an idiot?

He nearly punched the wall in frustration. Stopping himself, Snitch instead tore off his shirt and shoes and grabbed a pair of goggles from the bucket. He knew of no better way than to swim his frustrations off. The laps started quick and furious, quickly wearing away his anger energy. Before long, his pace evened out to a smooth freestyle as he mulled over possible ways to win the girl of his dreams back into his arms.

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"Hey, Harm, you showerin?" Harmony smiled and sighed.

"Nah, I did that earlier this afternoon. I think the shower's all yours." Artemis nodded and smiled at her friend, though it didn't quite reach her whole face.

"Thanks, just leave the gate unlocked and I'll close up when I'm done. I've got a cookout at Trails End tonight."

"That's fine. I'll see you tonight in Mary, maybe?"

"Yeah. See ya!" Artemis walked resolutely to the Guards' Room (it was empty) and chose a CD to listen to while she showered and shaved. "No…no…no…yeah. This one'll do." She pulled a CD labeled The Sounds. It had been a birthday gift from her Swedish penpal, and the music was sufficiently dark for her mood (while still being camper appropriate).

She changed the CD in the player and went into the shower room, washing her hair. When it came time to shave her legs, Artemis exited the shower room, emptied the bucket of extra goggles, filled it with pool water, grabbed her razor, and sat down on a milk crate on the deck. At camp, it was one of the few ways to shave safely.

Artemis was singing along loudly with her CD when Snitch approached her. She immediately stopped singing and focused on shaving her legs. Snitch took a seat on the milk crate next to hers and looked at her.

"Artemis, I'sa needs ta talk ta yah." She took a deep, almost shaking breath.

"That's what you said this morning, and I got my fucking heart broken then." She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and continued shaving, moving onto her other leg.

"And I'se sorry 'bout dat. But…I'se knows ya not too keen on me righ' now, but…" He couldn't seem to get the words out. Artemis grew impatient as the silence lengthened.

"What, Snitch?" Her voice was cold and her gaze stayed on the deck. The waning sun highlighted everything in tones of gold, he noticed, and it brought out the faint natural highlights in her hair.

"Well, I talked wit' Skitts dis aftahnoon. And we figuahed dat I'se not really intr'sted in 'im." His own gaze dropped to the deck at his feet, following an ant making its way over the concrete. "I'se wants ya back, Artemis."

The silence lasted nearly the entire song. Finally, Artemis looked at him, tears in her eyes. "And why the hell should I do that?" she choked out.

"'Cause…'cause I'se don' really wants ta hurt ya. An'…an' I tinks I loves ya."

"Don't say that!" The tears were heavy in her eyes now, and she glared furiously at him. "The last guy who said that to me broke my heart, and it wasn't you, don't worry." The pain of that memory several months before welled up in her, and she broke down in sobs. Her head fell to her hands and Snitch, seeing a possible problem, grabbed her razor out of her hand. Throwing it aside, he pulled her to his chest, praying she would be okay and not kill him for this afterwards.

He slowly stroked her hair and whispered soothing words to her. It took her a few minutes before she was calm enough to stand, shakily, and walk back to the shower room. Snitch followed a few steps behind. At the door Artemis paused.

"I don't know that I'm completely over this yet," she said, facing forward. "But I'm willing to give it a try." She could bear to look at his face and instead rinsed herself off with hot water (and the best water pressure in the entire camp) one last time. It was all she could do to not look at him in the doorway, watching her. Artemis grabbed her remaining shower stuff, put it in its basket, and just barely shoved it up on the top of the cinder block wall separating the Guards' Room and the shower room. As she lowered herself to the ground, Snitch grabbed her arms and pulled her to him in a kiss.

It was passionate, holding all the pent-up emotions of the day, and Artemis responded hesitantly at first. Snitch held her close, and he emanated warmth and safety… Artemis felt herself responding more thoroughly to his kiss. The wind, kicking up at one of its random moments, blew the door shut. Artemis broke the kiss and looked at the door.

"If that's not a sign, I don't know what is," she murmured, leaning into Snitch's embrace. He held her tight, running a hand slowly up and down her back.

"S'almos' time foah dinnah, ya know," he said gently, gazing down at Artemis. She nodded contentedly a few times, and then went rigid. Her eyes flew open.

"Dinner! Shit, we're supposed to be in Trails End for dinner!" She rushed to the Guards' Room to change, leaving Snitch standing in the shower room slightly bewildered.

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They arrived late for campfire stew, but made up for it by helping to clean up afterwards. Thank God neither of them were on after dinner. Afterwards, Artemis and Snitch walked slowly back to their unit by way of the horse trail. This was not the smartest idea in the world, since it was, after all, a trail day and the Barn had an evening group. However, the gods liked them and did not send any trail groups down the path. As they neared Laurel Oaks, the shouts of the random campers reached their ears. Artemis grimaced.

"What's wrong?" Snitch asked. Artemis winced as she heard another shout.

"They're playing in their unit, and can you just imagine what Findaly and Katie are going to say when they see us?" He wore a puzzled look on his face.

"Findlay and Katie?" Artemis sighed.

"Katie's a former Weasel and regular camper. Findlay, on the other hand, shows up about five times a summer and wants to work here even though she's only twelve." Snitch nodded in slight understanding.

"I takes it dey knows ya pretty well, den?" Artemis nodded.

"Oh yeah." They had reached the Haven porch and braced themselves for the teasing of the residents of the unit. Surprisingly, no one really said anything, though Bumlets and Crutchy did give the pair some very suggestive looks. Artemis' Death Glare had little effect on them, but she put it down to their not having been under the influence of her ten deadly weapons, the Claws of Death.

"This way," She said suddenly, pulling Snitch toward the staff tents. He was confused at first, until he saw they were heading behind the tents-to the cement slab on Sewer Hill. The sun was still low in the sky, though the first stars could be seen along the eastern horizon.

They sat there, in each others' arms, well into the night, just gazing at the stars and occasionally sneaking quick kisses.

End chapter 6

Please review. I really want feedback on this one.