Next chapter! Yay! Excitement! I suppose that at some point I should say that I do not own these characters. All of them except for Finn belong to Eoin Colfer. But anyway, read and review PLEASE!

"That centaur…" Butler growled once Juliet and Finn were out of hearing range. "I don't understand how he didn't know. Foaly knows virtually everything!"

Artemis shook his head. "All I know is that when Finn goes to school in September, if he starts speaking in other languages and healing himself, he's going to have some serious issues with the other kids."

"You survived through that," Butler reminded him.

"Unfortunately. Had I actually tried to make friends and be a normal child, I wouldn't have kidnapped Holly in the first place and none of this would have happened."

"You can't blame any of this on your intellect Artemis. You were a brilliant boy with no time to make friends or be normal. You had better things to do. And besides, would you give Finn up for anything now?"

Artemis shook his head. "Nothing, not all the gold in the world."

"Exactly," Butler pointed out. "You couldn't imagine not having him around. You don't wish that it never happened."

Artemis sighed. "I suppose you're right Butler. I think that my brilliant intellect may be dying." He smiled bitterly.

Butler shook his head. "You're just stressed. Stress does some pretty strange things to people." He picked up his bags. "I'm going to go put these away."

"You can do that. I have to go speak to my mother," Artemis said darkly.

Butler sighed. "Angeline and you can't keep fighting about this. You're going to have to make up some day Artemis." With those words, he left the room.

Artemis sighed. "I know," he muttered to himself before following suite and heading upstairs to his parent's room.

Artemis hadn't been in his parent's room for any other reason than to be lectured since he had brought Finn home. He wasn't expecting any more this time.

He knocked cautiously.

Angeline's voice drifted through the thick wood.

"Enter."

Artemis pushed open the door silently. "You asked for me Mother?"

Angeline sat on her bed, a book in her lap. Her slightly graying hair was pulled back, and the expression on her face made it seem as though something extremely unpleasant had just happened. She nodded. "Indeed I did. Come in."

Artemis entered the room completely, closing the heavy wooden door behind him. He stood in front of it, unwilling to be without an escape if Angeline became angry.

She sighed dramatically. "Artemis, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Artemis said nothing.

"Myles and Beckett tell me you've been drinking again." Angeline muttered, almost sounding sympathetic, but slightly mocking at the same time.

Artemis frowned, resolving to strangle the twins next time he saw them. "I am an adult Mother. I can do what I want."

"That's what you said about Holly and look where you are now," Angeline snapped.

Artemis winced. "That was my mistake as well. I took full blame of it and complete responsibility of Finn."

Angeline shook her head. "No matter how disappointed in you I am Artemis, it doesn't mean that I don't still want the best for you.

Artemis restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "I will keep that in mind Mother." He turned and placed a hand on the doorknob, about to leave.

"Artemis." She stopped him. "Arty, I miss you. You've been so…distant. I'm still disappointed in you, but I have forgiven you. There's nothing I can do about Finn and so…I just wanted you to know that I've forgiven you."

Artemis glanced back. The smile on her face was genuine. He removed his hand from the doorknob. "Thank you Mother."

"You've done a good job with him Artemis. He's a very nice boy. He knows his manners, but he isn't too formal. I'm quite impressed that you were able to do it all without Holly's help. I was worried when you brought him home, worried that he would turn out like you were…" she trailed off.

Artemis nodded, pleased by Angeline's unexpected kindness. He was about to say something when he heard a crash from downstairs. His eyes widened.

"I have to go, I think something just broke. But thank you Mother. It means a lot to me to have your support again."

Angeline nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Go make sure Finn isn't hurt."

Artemis smiled faintly, gladdened by his mother's forgiveness, and rushed out the door to find out what had happened.

Angeline turned back to her book, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off of her now that she had forgiven her eldest son.