This is the only chapter I have written out at the moment, so if it takes a while for the next one, I sincerely apologize. I'll try to write more this afternoon. Anyway, this is CHAPTER 31! I think it deserves a round of applause *claps for myself* Kidding because that's so arrogant, but I am surprised it got this far. Enjoy.
Artemis sat impatiently with Finn as the six year old smeared more paint on another sheet of paper. He grabbed Artemis's sleeve, immediately staining it with a splotch of red paint.
"Daddy, aren't you going to paint a picture too?" Finn asked, spurting some yellow paint from a tube onto a sour cream container lid and sticking his fingers in it after wiping them on his pants.
Artemis shook his head. "Not today Finn. I'm waiting for Mommy to finish with her haircut because I have to pay the lady who did it." Artemis had decided to throw in a couple hundred dollars in tips. He felt slightly guilty for having the hairstylist walk in on them. She had looked somewhat traumatized.
Finn shook his head. "Please paint with me Daddy? You haven't painted a picture since Mommy came back from the fairyland."
"I'm sorry Finn, but I've been…busy." Artemis knew that he had to spend time with Finn too, but he'd missed Holly so much…
He shook his head. That wasn't an excuse to stop doing things with his son. If it was, he should have given Finn to Holly years ago so he could be underground.
Artemis rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and grabbed a sheet of paper. "I suppose that I will paint a picture Finn."
Finn grinned and pushed his paint covered lid towards Artemis. Artemis stuck his fingers in the gooey mess and began to paint.
A half hour later, Holly came downstairs, followed by the traumatized hairstylist who looked slightly less traumatized. Holly had probably explained their situation to her and she had sympathized.
Artemis stood, wiped his hands on a towel he had kept nearby. He wasn't quite as fond of using his pants as Finn was. He smiled at the hairstylist and dug out his checkbook.
"How much do I owe you?"
The hairstylist blinked, momentarily stunned by Artemis's deep blue eye and hazel eye, before stating the price.
"Well, because we don't make house calls," she said, trying to sound businesslike, "it's going to be one hundred and fifty."
Artemis nodded and wrote out a check for four hundred. He tore it off and handed it to the hairstylist who looked at it in surprise.
"Keep the change," Artemis said dryly, a hint of a smile playing around his lips as he attempted to stay nonchalant.
She nodded. "Thank you Master Fowl." She dipped her head once and scurried out the door, reigning in her excitement until she was outside.
Artemis smiled, chuckling silently before looking at Holly. Her hair was a bit longer than it used to be but still just as spiky and familiar.
She walked over to him. "Is it ok?"
He nodded. "Perfect."
"How much did you give her? She seemed pretty excited," Holly asked, slipping her arms around him.
"Four hundred. One fifty for her company, two fifty for her, since she did such a wonderful job."
"And because you felt guilty for her walking in on us?"
Artemis rolled his eyes. "You know me too well."
Holly nodded. "I know. I had a thought while I was getting my hair cut – by the way, it's lying all over the bathroom floor still, you might want to get it cleaned up."
Artemis sighed. "Butler?"
The manservant stuck his head in the door. "Artemis?"
"Holly's hair is lying all over our bathroom floor," he spared her a rueful glance, "Would you mind cleaning it up?"
Butler rolled his eyes. "Of course."
"Thank you," Artemis said, looking back at Holly as Butler went to clean up. "So what was your thought?"
"There's a full moon tonight, isn't there?"
Artemis nodded.
"Well, Finn's a bit drained on magic and so am I so I thought we could all go out to a non-crowed spot so him and I could complete the Ritual."
"Which spot are you talking about? Tara will certainly be crowded."
"I know," Holly looked into his eyes. "I thought we could relive some old memories."
Artemis blinked, catching her meaning. "Why would you want to go there? I still feel bad about that Holly, everyday. I should never have kidnapped you. You never did anything to me and I took you from your people and held you for ransom."
"Yes, but had it not been for your selfishness, we never would have met. And I forgave you Artemis. You don't ever have to feel bad about that again."
Artemis sighed. "Alright. I'm not going to stop you. You can go wherever you want…" he trailed off, creases forming in his forehead.
"What's wrong Artemis?" Holly asked, touching his forehead, slightly annoyed by the creases.
Artemis shook his head, averting his eyes. "Nothing."
"Oh, don't even try that on me! I know there's something wrong. There most definitely is something wrong! Like you said, I know you too well."
Artemis looked at her. "I-I'm worried that if you go there, you might…you might remember how I used to be and-and leave me now because of that."
Holly exhaled. "Artemis, that's a ridiculous thing to worry about. I will not leave you again, I promise. Besides, you were twelve! That was years ago! You have completely changed and you've proven it to me over and over again. There's nothing left that you have to do for me. Going there will not change my mind about this."
Artemis closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with a new resolve. "I suppose I won't think of it anymore, but if there is ever anything else you want, you just have to ask."
Holly shook her head. "There isn't anything Artemis. I just want you to stop dwelling on the past. I know you feel bad, but it's time to get over that, alright?"
Artemis paused, then nodded. "I'll try."
"Good. Then we'll go there tonight, all three of us." She stood up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss. "I've still got a few more preparations to make for the wedding."
"You sent out the invitations?"
She nodded. "That's all done; I just need to order a few more flower arrangements and such. Cabelline is doing the decorating. Foaly has arranged for her to come up tomorrow. He says it won't rain over night so it should all be ok."
"Is there anything you want me to do?"
"You can stop asking me if there's something that I want you to do. It's all taken care of Artemis." Holly shook her head, a smile on her face.
"Alright, just as long as there isn't actually a lot of stuff still to do. Now go do what you must. Butler will call when it's dinner time."
Holly nodded and let go of him, leaving the room. Artemis watched her with one thought in his mind.
I am the luckiest person on the face of this earth.