Note: This one-shot chapter was originally published on April 26, 2021


"Artemis."

"Hm?"

"Put down the book."

Artemis did as bid, and gladly looked his wife in the eyes. "Can I help you?"

Holly studied his face, apparently searching for something. "Did you really forget what today was?"

Artemis was suddenly not so glad to be looking into his wife's eyes. Had he forgotten something important? Anniversary? Birthday? Surely not. He had a nearly photographic memory. Surely he couldn't forget such a date. "Er... Was it the anniversary of something?" he guessed.

Holly tried to speed along the cogs in the machinery. "Yes, yes it was. A very big anniversary, in fact. You know. The anniversary."

Oh gods. He'd forgotten their anniversary.

Holly took pity on him and decided to spell it out. "Twenty years ago today, the-"

"I'm sorry! I forgot our anniversary!" blurted Artemis. Then: "Wait. Twenty years? That's not the right number. I know that much."

Holly rolled her eyes. "No, you dolt. Twenty years ago today, our first biography was published!"

"Oh! Well, isn't that nice." Artemis nodded approvingly. "I knew that, of course."