AH HA HA. I love the last chapter. It's my excuse to get all mushy inside.

Regards, Noodle

OOoOoOo

This part of that moment sucked for Artemis and Stephanie. After they broke apart, they suddenly realized that Shawn had found the laundry and was standing in the doorway, doing what? Watching the entire event, and he was going to create the finale.

"I'm calling your parents and TELLING, Artemis!" Shawn exclaimed, pointing at him.

"Oh, and how is that?" Artemis asked, cool as a cucumber. "You don't know their cell numbers."

Shawn didn't say anything. Instead he pulled out a flip phone. On the screen were three phone numbers: Butler's and-you can guess the other ones.

"How did you get my cell phone, you little brat!" Artemis looked angry. Angry. Angry.

"You left it on the bathroom counter when you were cleaning." Shawn told him, a smarmy look on his young face.

Artemis jumped off of the dryer and ran in Shawn's direction. Shawn bolted, and the chase was on. Stephanie decided not to do anything, for she was happy in her own little world at that moment in time.

Artemis chased Shawn practically ALL over the manor. Once or twice he almost caught his cousin, but ended up tripping and getting back up.

Lucky for Artemis, Shawn suddenly tripped when he was just about to shut himself up in his room. Artemis grabbed him, got the cell phone and said in a harsh tone, "If you ever, EVER tell anyone about what you saw today, I will punish you so cruelly, imagining it would make you go insane."

"Will you give me a cookie?" Shawn asked.

Artemis sighed. "Yes, I will give you a cookie. Just don't tell anyone."

"Wee!" Shawn ran to the kitchen so he could get his reward for shutting up.

OOoOoOo

Stephanie sat on the washing machine, staring at the ceiling and thinking. The past few minutes were probably the happiest she'd been through (Although that's not saying much). Maybe now Ben would give up and leave her alone.

Ah ha, yeah right.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she yelped. It was, of course, Ben.

"Why are you here?" She asked. That was one of those moments she really didn't want him there.

"I know what happened, and it won't work." He kept a straight face.

"Work how?"

"You will not keep me from letting this happen, believe you me," Ben said, starting to raise his voice. "Even if it takes me every fiber in my being, I will-"

"Take me as your bride, make me love you? After what you've done? Forget it. You don't even know me personally. How do you expect something to happen between us?" Stephanie gave a harsh "ha".

Before Ben could respond to that, they both heard footsteps approaching. Ben gave a scowl and mouthed, "Next time," to Stephanie. She just rolled her eyes, and before you could blink he disappeared.

Artemis appeared in the doorway, putting his cell phone in his pocket. "I thought I heard you talking to someone."

"Nope, it's just me. I was thinking aloud, that's all," Stephanie lied. She didn't want to lie, but she had no choice.

Artemis raised an eyebrow, as if he knew she was fibbing, but then shrugged. "Alright." He helped Stephanie of the washing machine. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you what time it was."

"What time is it?"

"Eleven at night."

"What!" Stephanie cried. "We've been cleaning for that long?" Artemis nodded. "Why aren't we tired? And why is the brat still awake?"

"I'm guessing we aren't tired because of the recent…events…." Artemis blushed, and then kept going. "As for Shawn, well, he's Shawn. Think about it."

"Should we go to bed?"

"It would be best."

Instead of rounding Shawn up and stuffing him in his room, they just went to their own rooms to retire. They didn't say anything about the last hour, or any other subject, for that matter. All they did was walk. Really, really close to each other (lawlz).

The reason they didn't say anything is because they were to busy thinking. Thinking about what would happen tomorrow, if things would be awkward between them, if they'd even admit how the feel…

Eventually the two got to the first destination, Artemis' room. The only reason it was first is because it was nearer. Both teens stopped.

"Well, err, g'night," Stephanie said rather feebly.

"I'll see you in the morning," Artemis replied. He said it as if nothing was about to happen.

As Stephanie turned around to walk to her room, Artemis spun her back his way and hugged her. No, not just friendly-like. As he did so, he softly whispered in her ear;

"I love you."

As soon as he said that, Artemis let go, blushed a deep red, and hurried into his room. He did this too quickly to hear Stephanie respond.

Stephanie stood there, stunned. Into thin air, she said quietly, "I love you, too…"

OoOoOoO

Artemis had his window open for fresh air, and he leaned against the wall, beside it. He could not sleep due to what he had just done. The boy didn't even mean to do it. Not then, not that way. Artemis had planned to tell Stephanie when the time was most right, and that definitely wasn't the right time.

I probably scared the poor girl when I did that, Artemis thought. Then again, I scare most everybody. I still feel bad about it…

Artemis gave a silent sigh and looked out the window. The stars were especially bright that night. The breeze blew his raven hair (Noodle: In a very sexay way. ;D) into his eyes. All of this, for some reason, brought slight relief from the moments before.

At that same moment a small piece of crumpled paper drifted across the window, just barely in Artemis' reach. Wondering what it could be or what it might say, he leaned out the window and quickly snatched it.

The paper felt used, like it had been stuffed into someone's pocket for too long. It had random tears in it and seemed to be ripped unceremoniously from a bigger piece of paper. Writing was on it. The handwriting looked like perfect computer type; it could've possibly been.

What was written on it made almost no sense to Artemis, although it would've meant a lot to Stephanie, of course.

No matter what you do or say, you will not win…

Instead of pondering on what this might mean, and adding on to things that will keep him awake, Artemis stuffed the paper in his pocket and went to bed in his day clothes.

OoOoOoOOo

Stephanie walked into her room. Her room. But not for long. Artemis confessed his feelings to Stephanie, and she had said them back, somewhat. And her month stay was coming to an end. She had but one week to go through with her feelings for Artemis.

She relaxed herself, changed into her pajamas, and went to bed. To sleep.

OoOoOoO

Artemis, later then next day, came barging into Stephanie's room while she was feeding Nathaniel (we kind of forgot about him, didn't we?). She and the cat stared at the panting boy until he finally spoke.

"You…need…to…hide somewhere…!" Artemis gasped.

"Why?" Stephanie looked at him anxiously.

"Shawn is going home earlier than I expected." He finally caught his breath. "As in today. He has already stayed most of the month. My parents will suspect something about you, usually guest that I have over never stay this long."

"And…?"

"They're going to send you home as well!"

"What? Why!" Stephanie stood up.

"They're just like that, okay?" Artemis took Stephanie by the wrist and dragged her down the hall (not literally, mind you). "Just follow me!"

As if I have a choice at the moment… Stephanie thought as she tried to keep the pace.

They both ran until they got to a small broom closet. It had never been used and so cobwebs hung here and there. Neither of them bothered to sweep the spiders' doings away. Artemis just stuffed her in, shut the door and told her to stay in there and don't make a sound.

At the moment Artemis ran back to Stephanie's room and closed the door, his mother came from behind him. "Arty, have you seen your friend? The cab has arrived for her. I'd have Juliet take her home but she's out and about."

"Stephanie? I haven't seen her. At all. She could be anywhere. In the kitchen, the bathroom, a large vase, anywhere!" Artemis sounded a tad nervous.

"Oh. Well, if you find her, let me know." And that was the end of that.

After his mother left, Artemis hurried back to the closet to tell Stephanie that she'd have to hide there for a few more, hours, maybe? When he got there, however, she was gone.

Not a sign of her ever being there. Artemis leaned into the closet and looked around, despite the fact that he wouldn't find her in there anyway.

Surely Stephanie wouldn't have left? She knew what could happen if she did.

Suddenly something from behind pushed Artemis into the closet and closed the door. Instead of landing on the closet floor, he was tossed into what seemed like nothing. The impact of the change of environment knocked the boy out, and he knew no more.

Holy crap. That chapter SUCKED. I'm sorry you guys, I really am. This is definitely not my best. Imagination seems to fail me suddenly and I never know what to say anymore. Hopefully that will change.

Regards, Noodle