Chapter 19, I Don't

Disclaimer: Artemis Fowl isn't mine.

Reviews rock. Really, they do.

I'm being so nice. Really. I felt guilty, cause I'm leaving soon, so I gave you a double post in one night. Without my five reviews. See how kind I am?

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Sophia tossed her purse on to the bar then sank into the couch, sighing in the process. The opera was lovely, just not always her cup of tea. She preferred Carmen, not this French soprano's twittering voice. As a fan of musicals (Andrew Lloyd Webber, to be exact), opera was almost to extreme.

This date had been the most difficult. Artemis had over dinner pepper her with question about everything from family, music, places she'd been, people she's known (Not many), her pet peeves, and favorite things (Which had came up with the answer "The Sound of Music" on the spot.) It was nice he was becoming interested in her life (Or rather, lies), but the constant lying was wearing. It was hard to constantly think on her feet. Usual Sophie didn't have to deal with people; she was a thief. It was her occupation. She didn't trick people directly like this. And if she ever had to, she and Sasha practiced the verbal deceivers. So she didn't lie often unless the answer could be revealing. Still, is gets hard to keep one's lies straight after telling so many.

"Sophie?" There pause it took of Sasha to fumble with the light switch was long enough time for Sophia to run but she didn't. Finally there was the soft click of the switch. The soft glow of the bulb illuminated Sasha's face. "Why are you sitting in the dark?"

"I was hoping to fall asleep." Sophia grumbled. "As you ought to be. It's late. Go to bed."

Her sister ignored her, opting instead to settled down in one of the plump armchairs placing a pillow on her lap. She tilted her head, smiling at the faint annoyance playing across her sibling's face. Sophie was gorgeous. The auburn hair framing her face, the pale skin, the bright green eyes with flecks of blue, a certain light that seemed to follow her along with a great aura made her the beautiful sister. Not that Sasha wasn't pretty. Her French-Argentine blend was apparent. She had darker skin, with copper-blondish-brown hair, and baby-blue eyes. The only thing marking her and Sophia as sisters was their faces; similar noses, similar shape of the eyes, the only thing Sophia had recived from their mother. Sometimes Sasha was jealous. Sophie got the looks and the brains.

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"Sasha." Andreaya said disapprovingly. The little girl stuck out her tongue.

"Oh Sassy!" The young mother sighed, pulling the tiny girl away from her confused sister. Andreaya knew that once Sophie got over the shock she's clean herself up. Right now her youngest needed to be disciplined. Sassy stomped behind her mother, a glare on her face.

Andreaya placed her daughter in the "Bad Chair", sitting across from her in the worn floral-print couch.

"Why would you do that to your sister?"

"'Cause I hates her." Sasha mumbled.

"Oh, Sass." Andreaya said. "You don't mean that!"

"YES I DO!!! I HATE'S HER!" The girl yelled.

"Sasha!" Andreaya scolded. "You do not yell inside the house! Stop that. Why would you say such a thing? Your sister loves you."

"No she don't. And I don't love her. She's not nice."

This confused Andreaya. She was home all day with the girls. Sophia was always nice with her sister, hardly ever saying a harsh word. Even if she did, the apartment was so small, it was almost certain that Andy would hear her. But maybe the girl had figured out a way to muffle her voice. That wouldn't be surprising. She was so much like her father.

"Why would you say that?" Andreaya asked again, leaning down to Sasha's level.

The little girl sniffed. "You like her more. Da loves her more, 'cause she looks like him. Nobody loves me cause I'm not smart and I'm not pretty."

"Oh, Sassy! How could you think that?! Of course Daddy and I love you both, equally-"

"What's that? Eek-wally?"

"The same amount. It means exactly the same.Daddy and I love you both the same; a ton. And you're pretty, just as pretty as Sophie. You look like me. Am I not pretty, Sass?"

Sasha looked up at her mother, with her exotic looks, and blue-green eyes. "Yes. You're very pretty."

"And so are you. One day, you'll look almost exactly like me."

"'Zactly?" Sasha whispered excitedly.

"Almost. But you'll be you too. As for being smart, you might not be as smart as Soph-"

Sasha's heart sank. She wanted to be better that Sophie!

"But you're so brave. And stubborn. You can remember things. You have your own gifts. I'll bet Sophie couldn't remember what she had for breakfast."

"I bets she can!"

"You're on. Hey Soph," Andreaya called into the kitchen.

"What Mama?"

"What did you have for breakfast this morning?"

A few moments of silence past before Sophia mournfully admitted, "Sorry Mama, I can't remember."

Sasha and Andreaya giggled. "See? I told you."

"Okay. You're right."

Andreaya gather her daughter up in her arms. "You're very special. And we will always love you, Sassy Cat."

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"So how was it? Has he kissed you yet? Any moves at all?"

Sophia laughed, partly in sarcasm and partly in amusement. "No. We're still just friends."

"What? You've-" She paused, calculating the number of dates her sibling had been on so far. "Like, 15 dates, and there had been no kissing?"

"No. Well, pecks, but not real kissing. It takes time, Sass. In real life you start as friends, not begin making out the moment you know the other person's name. We need trust. If we had known each other for a while…." Sophia trailed off, wondering how exactly life would have been like if she and Artemis had met say, 8 years ago. Before her life went topsy-turvy, before she turned to a mild life of crime. Then she shuddered. Artemis 8 years ago was rumored to be a monster. Cruel, uncaring, and suspected of multiple criminal acts in the Internet underworld, as the geeks who ruled noted similarities. But no one outside of this computer kingdom ever heard of these theories, as they were not proven, nor were they allowed into the public (Artemis like to check up on any silent rumors regarding himself, often banning them from the public eye).

Sasha frowned. "I didn't expect it to take this long."

"Possibly longer. 2 years, maybe, until it's done."

"TWO YEARS?!" Sasha shrieked. Sophia winced. Her sister was a regular banshee.

"These things are delicate. We need to build strong foundations before we add the bricks, darling. Or it all comes crashing down-" She snapped her fingers. "-like that. Besides, Artemis is naturally shy around woman. His last relationship…let's just say it ended pretty…badly. We have to take the time to rebuild his trust in our gender."

Sasha just sat in stunned silence for a while. Though not for the reasons Sophia thought.

"What are you doing?" She finally asked quietly.

"What do you mean? Right now? I'm trying to sleep." Sophia hinted."So, night."

"What are you doing with this? You're taking too long. Getting too close."

"To who?"

"You know who. Him. Tara. Tara's life. Sometimes, it's like you've forgotten who you are. What you are. What your name means. You're Tara all the time."

"How dare you sug-"

"Tara just comes, starts the lust, robs him, and just walks away. She doesn't start a family. She doesn't begin a new life. You are not supposed to get that involved. You take you go." Sasha hissed. "I promised you retirement, not a new life…at least not one with the enemy. "

"I know that Sasha." Sophia said sharply.

"Do you?" Sasha stared hard into her sister's eyes. "I've seen the way you look at him. On the cameras that we hacked. You love him. Love, Sophia. And that's not acceptable. You know that. If this keeps up…you know what you will have to do."

"I don't love him. He's just a job. I know." She ducked her head wearily.

"Sophia, you don't. You're falling in love with the one person you can't have, and you know it. If you don't stop it, you could jeopardize the entire plan. Your feelings could stop the robbery. And it would have to turn into an assassination. "

Sophia head shot up, her hand on Sasha's arm squeezing hard.

"Never." Sophia murmured. "We will not murder anyone. What happened to your morals, Sasha? Did they die along with your heart?"

"I-" She started, but Sophia turned away. Sasha bit her lip. Oh dear. A few more seconds of silence, then Sasha spoke, proving her heart still lived.

"If…if you would want that- a life with someone-I'd let you, Soph. You've giving up so much for me, it would be cruel…" Her voice trembled. "If that's what you want….to start over as Tara then I won't stop you."

Sophie looked up. "No, Sass, I don't. I don't love him."

A sad smile tugged at her sister's lips. "Right."

"I don-" But it was no use. Sophia sighed.

Sasha stood quickly, making Sophie a little dizzy. She felt a tad light-headed.

"Night."

But Sophia pulled her down to the couch and into a hug before she could scamper to the foyer.

"Sassy, do you think I would just up on leave you to marry some millionaire who, might I add, is a bit of a jerk without inviting you to the wedding?" She teased.

"You might." Sasha mumbled.

"Do you really think so little of me?" Sophie asked in mock indignation.

"You'd forget the date of the wedding, not to mention the guest list."

"Silly girl. Don't worry so much. It won't be so bad. I'll get us out of the city for a while, then we'll come home after the searching stops. Promise. Then life will return to normal. No more thief work. No more Artemis Fowl. We can even fake my death if it makes you happy. I think we still know that guy in the morgue. " She reassured her sister, referring to the end of the scheme.

They sat for a while longer, Sophia cradling her sister. As the clock stroked two she sent Sasha off to bed with a cup of raspberry tea and a kiss on the cheek.

Then she stayed up most of the night perfecting the plan. Sasha would stay safe.

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I can't say I'm happy with you. It's March 11, and I have only FOUR REVIEWS!!!! You losers. Seriously

Guys. It's been over a week. I'm disappointed. Chapter 18 isn't even posted yet as I'm writing this.

FanXforever, I'd have thought you, of all people would have made some comment. But no. So this isn't being posted before I leave cause nobody's reviewing.

I expect 7 by time I get back, or no chapter for you. I'll be back on the 23

-Dania