Chapter 22, Waiting Trains

I GOTTA BETA!! Many thanks to M y r k e d K o h l! You rock! She did an excellent job editing, and without her this chapter might not have seen day light for a long time. I own her, this is a lot better than it originally was.

DISCLAIMER: Artemis isn't mine. If he was, do you think I'd still be on posting this sad story? No, my real name would be posted across the world, and I'd be living in California or England, not the Midwest.

Enjoy and review.

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Tara waltzed into his study the morning after wearing a stunning dress and smile. The dress was a little below the knee, a length she seemed to like, made of soft silk in a Chinese style, adorned with a pattern of golden Chinese symbols, orange gold fish, and bamboo pieces, all in a bright lucky bleu. Her red curls were up in a stylish bun held in place by what looked to be two golden chopsticks encrusted with semi-precious stones. Her jewelry consisted of silver toe ring, gold wristbands, and a green choker embroidered with golden vines, perfect for bring out the green of the bamboo on the dress. Light pink, non-shimmery eye shadow, brown eyeliner, clean face, glossy lip. It all came together.

"Going some where?" He asked, taking in the Asian-inspired outfit.

"Yes, it's Wednesday." Tara answered, smoothing out her lap as she sat across from his desk in one of the black leather armchairs. They had agreed that Wednesdays were the days she went back to the brownstone to check on Sarah.

Artemis nodded. "Tell her I said hello. Do you need a ride?"

"Nah, I'll take the metro. I need to mingle with society once in a while." She grinned faintly, always happy to tease him about the unorthodox upbringing he had, and his general discomfort around people.

Artemis snorted. "Right. Could you be back by seven? Mother's leaving tomorrow, so we're having a 'Family Dinner'"

"I will." She assured him. "How long will she be gone?"

"Till the twenty-third."

"Of this month?"

"No, next. July. America, you know, great shopping." He rolled his eyes.

She nodded, getting up, taking slow deliberate steps toward the door. When she turned back Artemis had returned to his papers. Her good mood dropped a little. When was the boy going to catch the hint?!

"Well…bye."

"Bye."

"I'll miss you…a ton."

"Mmmh?" He looked up, briefly, "I'll miss you to."

Artemis finally looked up when Tara gave a defeated sigh. There was a look of disappointment clearly written on her face, which confused him profusely. What had she been let down about? Was it something he said? He glanced back to his paper and muttered, "girls."

"Bye." She said again in a monotone. Her hand lingered on the framework of the threshold, and he imagined running her hand along the wall, trailing beside her, carelessly thrown out to guide her as she daydreamed.

So he returned to his work, a physics paper detailing the true natures of light and dark. But what she had, or rather, hadn't said stuck in his mind. After nearly twenty minutes he gave up, concentrating solely on what had taken place. She had expected something. What? A ride? A compliment. Artemis recalled women often expected things of that nature, by giving impossible, cryptic hints that even the young genius couldn't decode. She wasn't that shallow, however. And as a feminist, she didn't need things like that, for god's sake, and often said so.

Another 15 minutes went by before he got it.

Tara had worn lip gloss. She had pursed her lips more often than normal. She lingered, kept saying good-bye because she had wanted him to kiss her. And most likely not the peck-on-the-cheek-Leave-it-to-Beaver kind of kiss. Gods, he was so thick.

It wasn't that he didn't want to kiss her; no, he'd held back the urge quiet often, not wanting to be too forward. They'd been together for five months! Most couples were sleeping together after 3 weeks! He doubted she wanted that much, but surely…

Why haven't I done this?

Well, he'd give her one tonight, after dinner. In the hall, or his study, where they could have privacy.

That didn't seem to be enough…well, there was little he could do now, unless he was about to run all the way to the metro system and catch her before she left--that stopped him in his tracks.

"Why not?" He mused aloud. "It would mean more to her anyways."

In less than thirty seconds he had descended down the stairs into the garage. Grabbing the first set of keys on the rack, he rushed to the cherry convertible she loved so much.

He drove unconsciously to the nearest metro station. Tara usually walked to the train, which was a good thirty minute walk if she went by the road. Seeing as she was in a dress, Artemis doubted that she would take the "scenic" route through the thick wooded area, even if it did cut her time in half. If he hurried perhaps he could catch her before the metro left. Artemis glanced at the clock on the dashboard. 2:13 pm. The metro left in two minutes. There was little chance he would make it; about 15 to 375. He parked the car, then ran to the nearest turnstile, flashed his pass and sped to the tracks.

It was too late. The metro was already 10 seconds gone. The young man almost began shouting curses in various languages before he noticed the office marked as "EMPLOYMENT ONLY"

He opened the door without a second thought

The person inside the tiny director's booth was a portly little balding man who swung round, startled.

"Yon c-can't be in h-here!" The pudgy little man protested.

"Turn the two-fifteen to Dublin around and you'll receive 30 pounds." Was all the young genius barked. The average Metro-United employee made one third of that in a day. "Oh, uh… Right!"

With another 60 seconds of patience the train was back in the lane. The pudgy man explained to the driver that it was an emergency, and it'd take some time to start the train back again, for which Artemis gave him another 10 pounds for doing his 'job' "a bit above average".

"20 more if you keep it for the next ten minutes." Artemis promised, forking over the due 40.

The man nodded, not realizing he probably ought to ask for the extra 20 up front, rather than be cheated out when Artemis left. But he was, after all working in a smelly booth for Metro-United.

Artemis skipped on to the train, peering around. He had not the faintest idea of how long it would take him to find Tara in all the cars. But ten minutes would be enough. He was lucky, however; she was in the first car he checked.

Her nose was buried in a book, nothing new about that. Other passengers stared at him as he strode down the aisle. Tara sat oblivious until he stopped in front of her. By then she had noticed the lack of sound and movement and looked up, flickering her gaze up, then doing a double take. Her blue-green eyes widened. She opened her mouth to speak but before a single syllable came out Artemis pulled her up and placed his mouth over hers.

At first she didn't move. Didn't react. Didn't stiffen and push him away. Didn't kiss back. Didn't moan or groan. Just stood. In shock.

Then it was like something had finally kicked in. She pushed back hungrily, putting her arms around his neck and forcing herself closer. One of his hands went to her waist and one to the back of her neck on the base of her skull, his thumb caressing the area gently.

Neither of them cared that the entire car was staring at them, that they both knew Tara wouldn't be visiting her sister today, or that their clothes were becoming rumpled.

When a voice on the intercom came on they broke apart, remembering they weren't in private. As the driver apologized for the "Technical error" and delay, Artemis grinned sheepishly, attempting to apologize himself, but only go to "I'm sor-" before Tara rolled her eyes and kissed him again.

Some college-aged kids cheered them on, while the older citizens adverted their eyes and shook their heads, though whether in disgust or remembrance, it was impossible to tell.

"Let's go." Tara whispered. He agreed. They just made it to the doors when a tiny old woman made the comment the "Now would be the perfect time to take her home and you know." The woman waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

The pair promptly turned red and exited quickly, holding their laughter until the station was far behind them.

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He didn't even bother parking the car back into the garage, instead just stopping in the drive.

"Are you parents here?"

"No."

"Butler, Juliet?"

"At the lodge."

"Thank god." She sighed, dragging him out of the car. When they got indoors she started embracing him. "I'd thought you'd never figure it out." She murmured into his neck. Artemis blushed. "It's been years since I've had to woo a girl. Nearly a decade. I've forgotten to pick up those obscure hits."

"Not my problem." Tara declared, dismissing the excuse. "You should have been more perceptive."

He almost disagreed, but decided an argument at the current moment was unwise. That and his girlfriend had started kissing his neck.

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"Miss Gavin?"

"Huh?" Tara's head popped up from behind the couch. Another knock on the door and Artemis was awakened too.

"The atomic mass isn't equal-" He started sleepily. Tara swooped down, kissing him lightly and then shushing him quietly. Butler would get the wrong impression if he saw the pair asleep together. True, they had their clothes on, but they would still be…together. And Tara didn't want even the slightest hint of doubt being reported to Angeline.

"Miss. Gavin." The manservant called again. She stood, stretching, and answered the door. Luckily, the couch was out of sight of the door, and Artemis was a sound sleeper.

"Butler." She said, smiling charmingly. "Uh, sorry. I was sleeping."

He nodded, no expression on his face. "Mrs. Fowl requests you accompany the family for dinner; she's leaving today."

"Oh!" Tara glanced at the clock on the wall to her right. 7:12.

"I am so sorry, the time passed me by. Could you send my sincerest apologies to everyone?" She paused, "thanks."

He started down the hall, but a thought struck him and he then turned back to her. "Have you seen Artemis any where? He's been missing for a while. "

"Ah, no. Though, did you check the library? Or his study? He might have gone there. No, I haven't seen him all afternoon." She replied, feigning innocence.

The manservant nodded again, and made his way toward the library. Tara let out a breath of relief, then turned back to the boy who had caused her so much trouble. She leaned on the corner over looking the media center, shaking her head at his pale perfection. Sadly, it was time for him to go.

"Up, Arty." She sang, shaking his sleeping form.

"Why?" He moaned. "I was having a exquisite dream."

"Good for you. Now, out. Butler will be in your room in another ten minutes looking for you, you better be there getting ready."

At that he sat bolt upright. "It's seven already?"

Tara nodded gravely. "Your mother sent Butler looking for us. He didn't see you." She said quickly in response to his alarmed expression. "But I sent him to the Library and your study. About a 10 minute round trip before he gets to your room. So take the route that avoids those areas. And you might want to change." She said as an afterthought, nodding to his wrinkled shirt.

He gave her a scathing look that quite clearly said "I know" in a rather snotty tone. She just rolled her eyes and shoved him out the door with a final peck on the cheek.

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Well, it's short but sweet. Originally this was going to be a little spicier, but I felt it wasn't necessary, so I'll leave it to your imagination. My only comment is that intelligent people make better lovers. And no, they didn't have sex. Neither Sophia or Arty really want to have premarital sex. But whatever.

Please review soon! Chapter 23 is nearly done, and 24 in first step-ness. From then on everything until about 37 is already written. Thanks for reading!

Oh, and I'm done with the whole review exchange thing, either you give so many when I'm gone that I'm a bit ashamed, or you give like, 2. So it's over, I'll post when I've got something.

-Dania

PS: For anyone who lives in the UK, I was hoping you could give me a list of common cleaning supplies, or companies. Mainly cause I don't think Wikipedia would have that odd info, and I'm too lazy to check anyhow. I really, really need them, they're important.