Diana was starving. Angeline offered her some food, but strangely, Diana refused them. She got up, and whispered to Artemis, "I'm going out. You know where. " And he did know where she was going. It was quite obvious.

*****************************************

Finally, the doorbell rang. David sprang out of the sofa, and almost breathless already, and opened the door. As he had expected, a smiling Diana stood at the welcome mat. He beamed and welcomed her in his house. Like he did for a few years.

"What took you so long, pignose? I waited long enough. " he snapped playfully at her.

"I didn't say I was coming. "

"So you wouldn't have come if you didn't feel guilty? "

"I am not guilty! "

"Obviously."

Diana scowled. David was just plan geeky sometimes. "Ugh, " she spat. "You are so just ridiculous. " And she started walking towards him.

Diana had almost reached him when she fell. Her foot turned unevenly, almost spraining her ankle, and she slipped. David saw it happen, as if in slow motion. Somehow he knew even before it happened that she was about to fall. He ran forward as she staggered, trying to regain her balance. Her arms flailed and her other leg buckled.

"Diana! " he called on instinct, as he bent forward, arms outstretched. He caught her, just. She fell towards him, her hands out to break her fall, and he grabbed her under her arms. David stood motionless for a while, holding her. He could feel his heart hammering against her body. Their faces were side by side. They each sucked in their breath.

After what seemed like eternity, Diana managed to pull herself upright again. David did not let go, until he was sure she could stand properly. Then she gently pushed him away. David coughed, embarrassed.

"You okay? " he asked Diana.

Surprisingly, she smiled. "Of course I am, " she said softly.

***********************************************

Artemis was thinking. Why would his mother leave the house all of a sudden? She said she needed to go to a shop… all by herself? There was definitely something suspicious going on. And he was dying to know what. He knew Diana had gone to David's house. Well, maybe his mother really wanted to go to the store for a while. Maybe she needed some fresh air.

Artemis sighed. And then he decided he needed some rest.

*****************************************

It must have been eight hours. Or sixteen. He wasn't sure. But when he woke up, the house was quiet. He walked to his mother's room, and realised that it was late night. He opened the door to his mother's room, he got the shock of his life.

"Hello. " Diana was slouching on the bed, dressed in pyjamas. "Little brother. There's one nice mother you have. "

And the truth clunked into Artemis' brain in a millisecond.