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Artemis ate quickly, heartened by Butler's return which was close at hand. Finn ate silently, contemplating something.
He looked up at Artemis. "Daddy, is my picture dry yet?"
Artemis glanced at his son. "Yes."
"I want to give it to Grandma. She always likes my pictures."
Artemis nodded, standing and picking up his and Finn's plate. He placed them in the sink, then got Finn's picture off the top of the fridge and handed it to him.
"You can go give it to Grandma, Finn. I'm going up to my study. I'll be there if you need me, alright?"
Finn nodded. "Ok," he said and he ran from the kitchen. Artemis could hear his footsteps clamber up the stairs. He smiled when the squeaky step protested.
Artemis cleaned the kitchen briskly, then hurried upstairs to change and make himself presentable again. Everyday he dressed properly, entertaining the hope that just maybe she'd visit him. So far he'd been disappointed.
He straightened his navy blue tie and was about to leave the room when a familiar heat haze shimmered in front of him. He caught his breath as she materialized in front of him. Her mechanical wings fluttered to a stop as she landed on the floor before him. He shook his head. I'm dreaming, he concluded. It's really pathetic that I haven't even woken up yet. Finn is probably wondering where I am.
Then she spoke.
"Artemis?"
Her voice, it was so familiar, so real. He couldn't be dreaming. But it was the only explanation. He had waited four and a half years and there had been nothing. It wouldn't make sense if she came back now.
Artemis could only think of one thing to say. "Do you possibly know if I'm dreaming?" he asked.
She let out a choked laugh. "Dreaming? Are you serious? You aren't dreaming Artemis. I promise."
Now it was his turn to laugh bitterly. "You promise? Last time you promised-"
"Don't hold that against me Arty."
"Don't call me Arty. There is no reason that you would ever have to call me that again," he said, his voice cold.
"Arty…Artemis, you don't understand. You know that it wouldn't work. You know that! Why are you still mad at me?"
"Because you left me by myself with a child to take care of. You know that my childcare skills are limited, especially caring for fairy children!"
She blinked. "What?"
"You heard me Holly," Artemis said. "Finn is part fairy. I am deeply unimpressed with Foaly's equipment right now. You can tell him that, by the way."
"Artemis, I didn't know. Foaly told me…"
"Well, maybe you shouldn't trust Foaly as much as you do. His equipment failed. Besides, did you really think that he would be entirely human? Were you really that stupid?"
Holly looked as though she had just been slapped. "Artemis…" She looked into his mismatched eyes. He still held one of hers, just as she held one of his. An undeniable connection, but still…
"You can leave now Holly." His voice was cold, but his eyes betrayed his feelings. He desperately wanted her to stay, just for an hour, maybe half and hour, just so he could be with her. But it would hurt too much when she left again. This would already end badly for him emotionally.
Holly's mouth dropped open. "I don't even get to see him?"
"You forfeited that chance when you left him with me. What do think he's going to do when he sees you? Run up to you yelling 'mommy'? He hasn't seen you since he was a year and a half old. He won't remember you."
Holly looked at the floor. "I guess not." She glanced up at Artemis. "Can I shield and see him?" she begged. She was begging. How un-LEP like.
Artemis exhaled. "Just a minute. And don't you dare go running off." Artemis turned and walked towards the window, wondering what he should to. Technically Finn was Holly's child too. She had a right. But she also forfeited that right in leaving Finn with him. He supposed it couldn't hurt for her to see him. Just as long as he didn't see her. Artemis would kill her if she disrupted his son's life. And if he saw her, it would destroy his life. Everything he knew would fall apart at the discovery that his mother was a fairy. So maybe just as long as she stayed shielded.