A/N: Yes, I know the last chapter was short. Not even two pages. Here's the deal, I don't really have a plot planned out. Please help me come up with one.

This story is going to be focused on Artemis' and Adia's relationship (I repeat, this is not a romance) and so it won't be particularly actiony. It won't have a huge gripping plot. But it will be a bit of a comedy at times, more of a coming of age story. So; any little scenarios that you always wanted to see Artemis put through?

Another thing I should warn you about. Adia will be making conjecture's about Artemis and her reasoning for his actions. These are not necessarily what is really going on, it's just what Adia thinks is going on. If any of the characters say or think something, don't trust them. It may just be their faulty opinion.

insert evil laugh But I won't tell you when they're wrong or when they're right.

Disclaimer: ditto

Once more Angeline watched Artemis walk into a room and Adia fix her own death glare on her son. Artemis looked up calmly and coolly matched gazes with the girl; smirking slightly and raising an eyebrow. "Is there anything I can do for you Adia?"

She narrowed her eyes and firmly flicked her gaze back to her book.

Artemis' smile widened sharply and he too returned to his novel.

Once more Adia turned from her book to gaze steadily at Artemis, seemingly drawn to the thing which—for whatever reason—irritated her so. Artemis again locked eyes, "Are you sure I cannot assist you?"

Adia growled something unintelligible and stood suddenly, turning on her heel and storming out of the room.

Angeline looked at her son, confusion written all over her delicate features, "What on earth did you do to her Arty?"

Her son raised his eyebrows with an air of wounded dignity, "I? Why should I do anything to Adia?"

Angeline was silent for a moment, clamping down on her natural response; 'Because you detest your peers and view them as your subordinates. Not to mention you feel insulted that I would even suggest that you spend time with a girl whom you view to be so extremely beneath you.' "Oh, I don't know Arty. You just often seem to…well…taunt other teens."

"I, taunt?" he proclaimed in a horrified tone; trying not to smile.

"Well yes, you often remind me of a cat…and they're the mouse."

Artemis couldn't hold back a smile that time, having lost his ability to remain indifferent to his parents. He had to face it; Artemis had begun to dote on his mother and look up to his father. Well, he had always looked up to his father. But it was somehow different now then it had been before.

The fact of the matter was that his father was a warmer man; a man who now returned the love his son gave him. And that would change any relationship—and for the better I might add.

Anyway, Artemis smiled. "I suppose I do tend to treat adolescents badly. But I have not been guilty of such conduct with Adia." By his point of view he hadn't. Artemis hadn't set about to play mind games with her, and he hadn't tried to run her off. Therefore, Artemis was being civil. Not just civil, he was being downright friendly.

Angeline nodded, accepting her son's explanation without a second thought. It was odd, but her faith in him had made Artemis a more honest young man. "What do you suppose could have gotten into her then?" Angeline had no doubt that Artemis would be able to come up with a perfectly plausible; and probably correct, reason for Adia's behavior. Her son was a very intelligent young man, and she thought that with a certain amount of parental pride.

Artemis sat back, the answer easily within his grasp once he took the time to consider the question. "She is merely unaccustomed to my more reserved manner and feels slighted by it."

Angeline looked at her son, "Arty dearest?"

He winced, he knew that look. She wanted something and she would be ruthless in her pursuit of it. "Yes Mother?"

"Perhaps you could be a little warmer to Adia," she began hopefully. "She really is a nice girl."

Artemis suppressed a sigh, "I shall try mother," the snake lied through his teeth.

Angeline brightened immediately, "I know you two will get along just splendidly Arty!" And she kissed him on the cheek before leaving to tell her husband how wonderfully things were going.

Angeline bustled into her husband's office, "Things are just going wonderfully dear."

He looked up at her, smiling slightly, "Really?" a sardonic disbelief similar to Artemis' in his voice.

"Now don't give me that look." Angeline chastened, "Things really are going splendidly."

"I assume you are referring to Artemis and Adia?"

Angeline just brightened right up, "Yes, ask me why things are going so well."

Her husband smiled, curious despite himself, "Why are things going so well?"

She sat in his lap, "Artemis doesn't hate or even detest Adia. It has been two days and he is still neutral about her."

That got a reaction. "Really?" Disbelief clear in his tone.

"Yes."

"Then things really are going well."

Angeline smiled, "I told you it was a good idea."

Artemis finally shut down his computer, his daily allotment of business transactions over. Under his father's tutelage Artemis had begun to try a variety of legitimate business dealings. Oddly enough he found them often more trying then his less reputable methods. If only for the reason that 'red tape' kept popping up.

The boy stood up, folding up his laptop and handing it to Butler, "I suppose I should spend some time with that Adia." Artemis said her name as if she was some rare and delicate mosquito; and he was afraid she would breed.

Butler tried to tug down a smile, "Whatever for sir?"

"Why, to placate my mother Butler," Artemis looked up at his man servant, surprised he'd bothered to ask. Then he saw the almost hidden smile and it dawned on him, Butler was teasing him. Butler never used to do that, Artemis would have to find a way to respond to this 'teasing.'

The young genius barely suppressed a roll of his eyes, "Do you know where she is?"

Butler nodded, "Adia and Juliet are in your old play room. Mrs. Fowl has asked Juliet to help Adia feel 'at home.'"

Artemis picked up his pace and walked at a quick clip to his old play room. Already he could hear high pitched shrieks and laughs. Artemis threw open the door, and saw Adia and Juliet bouncing on his trampoline.

No, they weren't bouncing. Bouncing implied that they were still following the laws of physics. They were competing. Adia and Juliet were trying to see who could jump higher, and as a result, both kept nearly cracking their heads on the ceiling.

Adia saw Butler and Artemis, "Join us!" she called over joyously.

Artemis closed his eyes and massaged his temples; for some unknown reason he was getting headaches a lot lately. "And why would I want to join you as you two make a ridiculous spectacle of yourselves?" Artemis snapped out.

Well, Juliet stopped jumping immediately and slipped off of the trampoline. It had seemed like a good idea at the time…

Adia fixed a disappointed gaze at Juliet, "Pushover."

Juliet pulled back, unable to believe that such a scrawny defenseless little girl had called a Butler a 'pushover.'

Artemis smirked, "Juliet is hardly a 'pushover', as you so readily put it."

Adia didn't respond, not wanting to piss Juliet off. Though she was still right. "So are you going to come on up or not?"

"I'm afraid I must decline."

"You must? What's making you?" Adia continued to bounce; seeming tireless.

Artemis narrowed his eyes, not longer amused. "I do not wish to."

"And why not? You can't possibly look any stupider than I do," Adia offering her own humiliation to help save him from his own.

"While I cannot argue with that reasoning," Artemis admitted not without a small amount of satisfaction, "I do not find bouncing around like some sort of a,"

"Opiumed up Kangaroo?" Adia offered brightly.

His glare turned decidedly malignant, "brainless child at all entertaining."

Adia rolled her eyes, "Yeah, you're just afraid that you'll look stupid. You know Artemis; you'll be able to stop caring about how you look as soon as you realize how little everyone else cares."

Artemis turned on his heel to leave; it was pointless trying to speak with such a brainless twit. Adia jumped off of the trampoline and called after him, "What are you afraid of?"

He stopped and turned back to her, "I am not afraid of anything." Now don't be mistaken and think Artemis was saying he was never frightened. He was just denying that he was frightened of anything at this moment.

Adia rolled her eyes, "Then why won't you jump on the trampoline?"

"Because I do not enjoy jumping on trampolines," he hissed at her; barely managing to constrain his temper.

"Alright." Adia grabbed her shoes and caught up with him, "You could have just said that instead of making fun of me."

Artemis stared at her, not expecting so sudden a change in attitude. "I thought I had made it quite clear."

Adia shook her head, "No. You'd made it 'quite clear' that you thought I was an idiot and wanted to spend as little time with me as possible. You never made the point that it was also the trampoline that you wanted to avoid."

Artemis looked at Adia out of the corner of his eye, the two now walking side by side; Adia having matched his gate. "If I remember correctly you had your fair share in hurling abuse."

"Yeah but I wasn't as good at it," she said, waving off her 'abuse' as ineffectual.

Artemis smirked, repressing the odd urge to chuckle. Adia looked over at him, "How about I make an effort to stop being a 'brainless child' and you make an effort to not use your superior intelligence against me. Is that fair?"

Artemis smiled a vampire smile, "I find it acceptable."

"Good," Adia continued walking, "And I'd appreciate it if you'd cut down on the intimidating looks."

His smile widened.