And here— is the last chapter. At which point I admit to… tears. Even I. Anyways, please review this one people. And don't just review, email me. I really enjoy hearing from you, and just writing some of you has given me so many fresh ideas, even for my novel. For future novel. For titles. For chapters. For AF stories. All kinds of things.
Just a warning though. I may not write back for a very long time. A month or so. Forgive me.
Next year, I'll leave several days between chapter updates, but in order to fit everything in, I had to do it everyday. Please understand. I calculated it perfectly. This is my last day of school. I didn't want you guys to have to wait a year before I finished the story. People lose interest, naturally.
But you guys have been great. People reviewed a lot. Thanks again.
AgiVega: No. No, Justin is not dead. I couldn't kill him. His only 'injury', is Dom's initials, which are carved out neatly in his stomach. Thanks by the way.
aperfectattitue: Thanks. Don't worry. He gets over himself.
avovisto: Blah. That's only because teky1389 gave me 21 reviews. And it ends happilly, so there!
Elyne: It will not end in tears! Grrr... And you ought to know better than to stick your hand in an oven coil. sighs
notdapunkprincess: Hah! You cried! Probably not literally, but still...
teky1389: You did it! Thank you so much! blows kisses of gratitude. If you have an email, put it in the box next time so I can write you when I'm not traveling. That was very sweet... Very. Anyway, I'm deadly curious; how many languages do you know? (name them please)
Trouble Kelp: Thanks for the review... I liked emailing you. By the way, the school servers have overloaded, and I have no access to Yahoo, so I won't be able to write back to you if you've written to me until I can get to the library. I hope you liked the story. It was rather blah, but still. :)
Disclaimer: Juliet Butler and all references to the Artemis Fowl series are in the sole possession of Eoin Colfer. I do not own anything except everything else.
Justin took a deep breath, and got to his feet, annoying the complaints from his stomach. It wasn't a deep cut. It just hurt. And yeah. He was proud. The Butler's initials. And guess what? He was still alive, even if it was because Juliet had asked for him.
She lay a few feet from his, curled up in a little ball, shaking with sobs. And why shouldn't she cry? Her brother had just banished her from the family, apparently, and she thought he didn't care for her. She'd lost most everyone she loved. It wasn't like she was going to die. She could easily get a job. Easily move on. But it was family.
"Juliet?"
"No," she spat. "Go away, Justin! Just go! I don't want to talk to you. Go. Please… please leave me alone. Please."
For a moment, he looked at her. Then, he did something entirely unforgivable. He dropped down in the sand beside her, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her against him, holding her there.
"Let go!"
"No. I won't. I won't, and I'm not going to leave."
Half-heartedly, she fought him; but he was stronger than her, and she was tired. So tired. He kept tightening his grip too, until finally, she couldn't move, and could hardly breathe, because of the pressure of his arms. But she liked it almost. She felt safer than she had. Less exposed. Protected.
"Cry," he whispered. "Cry, baby girl."
She turned her head, burying her face in his neck, and held onto him.
Justin held her for a long time. Feeling her hot tears trickle down his neck and back. Letting her soak his shirt. Not really minding. Listening to her low, hiccupping sobs, and the half-formed whispers, begging her brother not to. To come back. To forgive her, and love her anyway.
Finally, she stopped. Not because she was done, but because she couldn't cry anymore.
"When you went out of the tent that night," he said quietly, "Chance talked to me. He told me you didn't want to go, because you loved me. And he told me to lie to you. To tell you I didn't love you. To hurt you so you'd want to leave. Because there would be problems, he said, with your brother, if anyone found out. And I was afraid. Afraid of what your brother would do to me. So I listened to him. And I lied to you."
She was watching him now. So hurt. So many questions in her eyes.
Justin looked away. "And I shouldn't have. And I'm sorry. Even if you don't believe me."
Juliet turned her head away, refusing to look at him, and didn't move again. Wouldn't.
"Do you still want me to leave?" he whispered.
She didn't answer.
Slowly, he rolled to the side, loosening his grip. Juliet started, grabbing him tightly.
"It would help if I knew what you wanted, pet. I can't give it to you otherwise. Truthfully, I have no idea. I don't know whether to stay or go. You tell me."
"Are we still married?"
The question surprised him. A good question to ask, certainly, but he hadn't expected it. "I guess. Chance never bothered getting divorce papers. It's illegal— with a forged signature, but we're married, I suppose. If you want to call it that. Why?"
"I'm tired."
He studied her in confusion a moment, and then shut his eyes, slowly rubbing his forehead. "And you want me to take you to a hotel, or something, don't you?"
"Please?" Her mouth quivered slightly.
"Well—"
"Or don't… you want me?" she asked haltingly. Tears welled up in her eyes again, threatening to spill over.
Quickly, he drew her against him, brushing his lips across her face. "No. No, you misunderstood. I love you. I do want you. I just didn't know if we ought to go to a hotel right now."
"We're married. It's not wrong."
"I know," said Justin uncomfortably. "But it just— What about your brother?"
Juliet started to cry again, pressing her face into his chest. "Does he love me, Justin? What if he doesn't forgive me. He meant it! He doesn't want to see me again, and…"
With the nagging feeling that she was manipulating him to do what she wanted, Justin got to his feet, lifting her with him, and turned towards the path. "Alright, fine. We'll get a hotel room, and you can sleep. But I'm not going to sleep with you. I need to find out where your brother went. What he's doing, okay? I don't want to run into him again."
"Okay," whispered Juliet. "I took a taxi. I didn't bring my car with me this summer. We don't have to worry about that. Besides, I'd probably fall asleep anyway."
Justin smiled slightly, and kissed the top of her head. "Do you have a false identity?"
"Yes, but Dom knows them all… except one I got this summer. I'll use that one." She lifted her head slightly, and pushed her face into his jacket. "I'm going to sleep."
An hour later, she felt Justin lift her, and carry her up steps. "Where are we?"
Justin paused, opening the side door of a large house. "Forget the identity. For now. You might want it later. Tonight, we're going to stay at a friend's house. He doesn't ask questions. Just sleep. You're tired. You need it. I'm going to see if I can make another connection with Chance."
Juliet looked up, opening her eyes as Justin opened a bedroom door. "What's he going to say about it?"
"I don't know." He set her down on the bed, pulling the covers up over her, watching her frightened eyes. She was so lost. She didn't know what to do. "It'll be okay though. I promise."
She went to sleep again.
Justin sat down beside her, and punched in Chance's number. When he answered, he was obviously not happy. Probably about the hanging up that Justin had done earlier.
"What now?"
"Him— the Butler. He tried to kill me. I have his initials in his stomach now."
"Join the club." Curiosity worked its way into his voice. "Why? Where'd you run into him? What happened? How'd you get out of it? I mean… he's older, but deadly, still."
He glanced down at the small form on the bed beside him. "He would have killed me. He came up behind me while we were talking. That beach is a pretty lonely spot."
"And?"
"His sister. Juliet— she made him stop."
Chance groaned. "And there were problems, weren't there?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Justin leaned back, drawing Juliet closer to him. She smiled sleepily, arching her back as he began to rub it. "He told her that she could have him, or have me. One or the other, and no other options. Kill me, or lose the family. It killed her. It really did."
"And she chose you?" Chance choked slightly. "But everyone knows… He was that angry about it? And she was that serious about you?"
"Yeah. He left."
"And what about her?" he asked suspiciously.
"She's here with me now. I— I couldn't just leave her there, Chance, she was falling to pieces. And besides, she just saved my life. What was I supposed to do? And I care about her. A lot. Still. Like she cares for me. I wasn't just going to walk away again."
"She's a Butler. You're an Anthony. It doesn't work."
"It does!" snapped Justin defensively.
Juliet stirred, eyes flickering open for a moment. "Justin? Who're you talking to? And please don't be so loud. I'm trying to sleep. And my head hurts. Bad."
"Sorry pet. I'm talking to Chance."
"Love you, Justin." She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment, ducking her head slightly. Justin kissed her.
Chance grunted something in disgust. "Well, if you're quite done now, I have to ask what you two are going to do."
"I don't know."
"You can't bring her here, Justin, if that was what you were thinking. She's made enough trouble. And you obviously can't be anywhere near the Butler. You don't get along very well."
"I know."
"Well?"
Justin took a deep breath, and shut his eyes. "I was hoping you might be able to help me there. I have no idea. Nothing. Obviously a job would help, though I'd hate to sit in a little cubical, and type up data all day, or call people about insurance."
"I get the point. But quite frankly, you two are going to run into both sides of the family anywhere you are. It shouldn't be hard for you two to find jobs as body guards, or at a special military training facility, but I don't know how things are going to work."
"I'll talk with her when she wakes up, and maybe call you back later. Thanks."
"It's not like I helped much," muttered Chance, and hung up before Justin could.
"Talk to me about what?" Juliet blinked her eyes in confusion, slowly sitting up, and reaching out for him. "What were you going to talk to me about? I didn't hear."
Justin pulled her down on top of him, lightly kissing her face and neck. "Where we go next. We can't live with your family, or mine obviously. Too many problems. And I'll need a job, because we can't keep living off family funds. You'll probably want one too. I doubt you like sitting around. Chance suggested either a military training facility, or work as bodyguards, which I hate to say, is also obvious. What do you think?"
"Rub my back." She laughed slightly. "I don't know. I think I would like bossing people around better than being bossed around. And I'd still get to body slam people, probably. And we could work together. It would be kind of hard to do that if we were both bodyguards."
"I know." He ran his hands over her, gently petting, and then began to play with her hair again.
Juliet's cell phone rang from the dresser.
For a moment, neither of them moved. It rang again. Justin leaned over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Damn you, Justin! Give the phone to her!"
"Why should I? You hurt her already. Why should I sit her and watch you do it again? Tell me. Talk to me. I am her husband, in case you've forgotten. I do care about her."
"Is it—" Juliet pushed herself up on an elbow, eyes wide.
"Yes. Hush, pet. Lie back down. Not yet. Trust me." He kissed her again, and gave her a little push, watching her settle back against him with a smile. It was nice to be loved.
"I'm her brother."
"Apparently that's changed though. Hasn't it? You're not affiliated with her anymore."
He felt a tear trickle down his fingers.
There was silence on the other end. He knew what he'd said had struck home.
"Do you want to talk to him now, pet?" He pulled up her face, gently wiping away her tears with his fingertips. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but you may, if you like."
Juliet shuddered, and slowly shook her head. "Don't make me Justin," she whispered. "Please? I can't. He'll— what if he… if he does it again? I can't. Don't make me."
Justin held her tighter, bending his head, and kissing her lips. "It's alright, baby girl. I understand."
He turned his attention back to the phone. "She doesn't want to talk with you right now."
Butler swore, and Justin could almost hear the desperation in his voice. "Please? Damn it! She'll listen to you. Tell her to talk to me. Tell her I'm sorry! I— I don't know what else… Please Justin? Ask her again for me. She'll listen to you. Tell her to!"
"I don't tell her what to do."
"Please? Ask her."
Slowly, he looked down at Juliet again, covering the phone with his hand. "He's pretty desperate, Juliet. He wants to talk with you. He's begging you. Will you?"
"Tell him to call tomorrow morning. I might talk to him then," whispered Juliet angrily.
"No. You can't do that, pet. Don't play with people. They'll stop trying sooner or later. Do you want to talk to him, or not? The call's costing him money. Make up your mind."
Silently, Juliet held out her hand.
Justin gave her the phone, pulled off his shirt, and slid under the covers with her. No one could sleep in collars. They suffocated you.
"Juliet?" Butler hesitated. "Look, I— I'm sorry. Really."
She didn't answer, but shut her eyes, smiling slightly, as Justin started to rub her back again. She was tired. She didn't want to talk. Especially not to him. Not right now.
"Please talk to me," he said desperately. "I didn't think you were serious. I was wrong, I'm sorry!"
"Where are you now?"
"On a plane back home."
"Good," said Juliet wickedly. "Stay there once you get there, will you?"
"I'm sorry."
She squirmed as Justin nipped at the back of her neck, trying to get loose, but wanting to be held captive.
"Please?" he asked.
"Please what?"
"Forgive me. Forget what I said— come home. If you will."
Justin started playing with the top button of her shirt. Juliet forgot what Butler was saying, and lay still, watching him.
He grinned at her mischievously. "Do you mind?"
"You really think I do?" She let him move to the next button, and then pushed him away. "Don't. Not now, Justin. I'm on the phone. Later, maybe. Not now."
"Juliet? Please?"
Juliet didn't answer him. She didn't know what to say.
"Please? I—"
"Maybe."
There was silence for a moment. Juliet lay still eyes closed. She barely noticed Justin roll her over and pull her against him again.
"If you do… if you ever want to come home— bring— bring your husband. It doesn't matter. Not really. It won't. But please Juliet? Don't hate me. I'm sorry. I am. For real."
"Maybe."
"Oh, and Juliet?"
"What?" She glared at Justin in mock anger, and then gave in, letting him unbutton her shirt.
"Madam Ko announced she's going to retire at the end of the season. Just this morning someone called me. She's going to stop the school for one year, and train one of her old students. Possibly more. I thought you might be interested. Just to prove you're better than all the men."
"Yeah." She pushed Justin's hands away, thinking. "Okay. I'll call you later, Dom."
"Bye."
She hung up, and gave Justin her full attention.
"Please? We're married. And you know—"
She slapped his face playfully. "Yeah, I know. In a little bit maybe. I want to talk to you about something first."
"What's that?"
"What would you think about running the Academy? There's not much anyone can do about that, and they'll have to deal with us. And it would be quite fun. A woman and an Anthony running the camp. Most of them will have a heart attack at the first convenient opportunity."
Justin smiled. "I like it… Is that all?"
"Yes; why?"
"Good. Shut up for a while now, will you? We can talk more later. Play. Sleep."
At which point we stop, because I don't like to go into… descriptive stuff. It tends to ruin plot if I do it too soon, and I like to end that way. Anyway, you can obviously guess what happens next. Heh heh. Naughty girl. Naughty! Ah well. Perhaps a sequel, perhaps not. I won't promise it, because they're always more difficult. I have several ideas I'm working with. Of course the origional one I had, has totally changed, because they always do, but oh well.
I thought it a tad bit insulting to write: And they lived happily ever after, at the end, so I left that part out. I don't think you're all quite that stupid.
The end. I hate those words, but that's okay. This is exactly page one hundred. Good, aren't I? All the chapters were exactly five pages. (Except this one, which was seven, because it asked to be.)
Until August. Then, I'll have something for you. Write me. Reading your emails is like being in the shower. I come up with crazy ideas. And next time, I need a better title. No?