Sorry it took so long for the update everyone! My parents dragged me all over the past three weekends I barely had time to do schoolwork, let alone write a fanfiction!

Artemis was reading a book on how to treat newborn infants when he smelled a wonderful aroma that lured him into the kitchen. "Anna-Maria, you know how to cook?"

"Not really; I'm taking classes."

"It smells delicious."

"I'm making curry and rice for lunch; do you mind?"

"No. What's the curry made of?"

Anna-Maria expertly stirred the concoction in the pot. "Hmm…lentils, red chili powder, black pepper, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and a pinch of cilantro. It will be ready in a few minutes. Want to try?" She held up a small spoonful for him to taste.

Artemis chewed thoughtfully and swallowed. "Excellent, especially for a first attempt! I do beli–" His eyes grew wide and a vein in his temple pulsed.

The half-fairy girl snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Artemis, are you oka–" "WATER!!!" She watched, appalled, as he grabbed a jug of water off the table and drank its contents without a single pause. "Too spicy?"

Artemis panted a little as he set the jug back on the table. "You think? Is your cooking teacher Indian?"

"Yes, so?"

"India is known for serving some of the spiciest food in the world!"

"Mr. Sharma said it was a comparatively mild dish."

"Yes, if one is used to eating incredibly spicy food!"

"You must be overreacting." She took a spoonful of the curry and tasted it. "Mmm…exotic and delectable."

The male genius's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "But it was so spicy! How did you…?"

"My mother was fond of spicy food; this curry is nothing compared to some of the dishes she got me to try."

"Oh, really? Did she have an iron tongue?"

"Just drink something that contains sugar. Or eat some yogurt. Both are known for reducing the extremely spicy feeling and –"

"Why do you sound like you are thinking that I am weak by not being able to consume such spicy food?"

She put her hands on her hips. "I do not!"

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't!"

"Fine. I'll bet you I can eat a plateful of that curry and rice without a single sip of water."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you sure about this?"

"I can do it easily."

"Non lo so,Artemis…it sounds foolhardy to me."

"Since when am I foolhardy?"

"Artemis, if you're trying to prove something; don't. You know you're perfectly fine the way you are; don't do anything you'll regret."

"It is merely a plateful of spicy curry, Anna-Maria; it is not as if I am planning to bungee jump off a bridge."

"Are you planning to bungee jump off a bridge?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Forget it." She turned and picked up her duffel bag. "I'm going to my maternity session. See you later; don't do anything without thinking first."

Artemis frowned and raised an eyebrow. As soon as her back was turned, he picked up the serving spoon and began to eat the curry ravenously.
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"Darn it, I forgot my keys!" Anna-Maria mumbled to herself, stepping back into the kitchen. "Artemis! What are you doing?"

"I told you I could eat it without consuming water." He replied, laying his finished plate in the sink.

"Artemis, your eyes are completely red!" She grabbed a glass and a jug of water. "Drink some now!"

"No."

"Artemis, I said now!"

"Why should I?"

"If you eat extremely hot food without being used to it, you can develop pancreas and liver problems; you know that!"

"Then how would drinking water help if the spices have already entered my system?"

She frowned, her knuckles turning white on the handle of the jug. "It wouldn't; but it would help your eyes – which, by the way, are starting to water."

"No, they are not."

She held back a scream of irritation and instead, she dumped the jug of water over his head. "Humph, and you have no consideration for my condition now, huh?"

Mindful of the ice that had been in the water; Anna-Maria retrieved a towel and handed it to him. "I'll get the hair-dryer."

Artemis took the towel and wiped his face. "I suppose I deserved that."

"Yeah, well, so did I." She plugged in the hair-dryer and set it to its highest speed. "Now, let's get you dry."

"You know," Artemis said over the sound of the hair-dryer. "That curry was actually quite good."

"Thanks. Mr. Sharma said I was one of his best students."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Did I mention there were only two other students?"

"I don't think you did." He replied, smiling.

She turned off the hair-dryer and kissed his cheek. "You're perfectly dry now."

"Are you late for your maternity session?"

She looked at the clock. "No, not yet. Why?"

Artemis lifted the towel from his shoulders. "I was thinking about going with you."

"Well, if that's what you want…are we going to be eating out tonight?"

"No, we'll eat here. However, I would like to meet Mr. Sharma."

"His dishes are spicier than mine, Artemis." She warned.

"All the more enjoyable."

Again, sorry the update took me so long!