DROWNING

A/N: FINALLY! I am back. Sorry bout that folks, I was at a treatment center for anorexia…they didn't let me use the computer there. SO SORRY. Forgive me, my friends.

CHAPTER SIX Butler

Time seemed to slow down for Artemis as Holly bit her lip and slowly turned away, her eyes filled with sadness and regret. Artemis stood rooted to the spot as Holly walked out of the room and out the front door and out of his life.

He didn't follow.

'Arty – Merry Christmas, darling! Love, Mother and Father.'

Artemis threw the card aside in disgust. How could his mother use the word "love" so lightly? How could she not see that he was drowning in something so deep that he couldn't get out of it?

Well, no matter. His mother had always been somewhat oblivious to how Artemis was really feeling. Which, Artemis reminded himself, was more his fault than hers. He just didn't express his emotions. That wasn't what a genius was supposed to do.

"Artemis?"

"Butler," Artemis acknowledged, keeping his eyes on the large Christmas tree in front of him.

Butler came around on Artemis's left side, stepping over the large, haphazard piles of gifts. He had been watching the boy from the stairs, seeing the looks of sadness and pain that crossed his usually expressionless face. He had always been able to tell when something was wrong with Artemis, but this time he knew it went beyond a snag in a plan or a technological difficulty. Something was going on INSIDE of Artemis, something quite different from the usual mathematical computations and strategic thoughts.

"She came, didn't she," Butler said softly. It wasn't a question.

Artemis turned towards Butler. "Yes."

Butler surveyed his charge carefully, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and his unkempt hair. He looked exhausted. "Why did she leave?"

"You know why." Artemis's voice was cold.

Well, that was true. Butler did know why. "And you didn't go after her."

"I didn't go after her," Artemis repeated quietly, closing his eyes.

"Why not?"

Even though Artemis had been expecting the question, he wasn't prepared for it. It was one of the few questions in the world that he didn't know the answer to. "I don't know."

Butler nodded. "I understand."

Artemis furrowed his brow. "How can you understand? Nothing like this has ever happened to you before. You're a grown man, I'm a fifteen-year-old boy. There's no way that you could understand."

"As a matter of fact," Butler said quietly, "I know exactly how you feel."

Artemis looked up at him and asked one question. "How?"

"You're not the only one who has ever been in love, Artemis."

Artemis blinked. Butler? In love? "But…you…?"

Butler smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Yes, even I am capable of falling for a woman. Did you think it wasn't possible?"

"Possible, yes," Artemis answered, still shocked. "Likely, no."

When Butler smiled this time, he meant it. "Unlikely as it may be, it happened. I fell in love."

Artemis vaguely registered in the back of his mind that he and Butler had never had this kind of talk before, and that perhaps he had better stop the conversation now, but his curiosity was too strong. "Who was she?"

"A bodyguard. Like me."

Artemis tried to imagine Butler with a girlfriend and failed. "And?"

Butler sighed. "And it didn't work out. She found another man. One who was handsomer, stronger, more powerful. A man who would give her whatever she desired, whether it be diamonds or gold or gifts or power. And I couldn't give her any of those things. So she left me."

"Oh," was all Artemis could think to say.

"Yes," Butler murmured, turning his gaze towards the frost covered window.

"I'm…sorry," Artemis said, looking away. He didn't dare ask what had happened.

The pair stood in silence for a few minutes, both thinking about the one they were meant to be with, and all of the reasons that it couldn't be. Artemis had never once considered that Butler had ever been in love. He wasn't really the type. But now that he knew, he wondered why it hadn't occurred to him before. No one was immune to love, not even masterminds or bodyguards.

"You and Holly," Butler said abruptly, breaking Artemis out of his reverie. "You two still have a chance. Adeline and I—we blew our chance. But you? You haven't blown it yet." Butler placed his massive hands on Artemis's shoulders and turned the boy to face him. "Don't blow it, Artemis. Don't give up the chance to be with the person you love, no matter what stands in the way. I gave up. And I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I don't want you to regret it."

And with that, Butler walked away, leaving Artemis to wonder whether his chance might already be wasted.

A/N: Sorry it wasn't very long. Hope you all liked. Again, sorry for the delay.