Chapter 89

Home

Holly's POV:

"What are we doing here?" My brain had been so occupied that I hadn't noticed that we weren't going back to the manor. Everything that had happened so far seemed impossible. Surely, this entire night was just my imagination, and soon I would wake up from this dream and find that none of this had ever happened.

"Don't tell me you thought our date was over, Miss Short. Surely, you know that I am too much of a gentleman than to let us go home so early." I looked around in an attempt to recognize where we were. We were parked in the same place that we been had so many months ago. The place that led to our little meadow.

Just like that night, he helped me out of the car and through the woods, helping me to navigate the treacherous ground in my heels. The clearing was as I remembered it. If anything, it was even more beautiful. The circle, the starry sky, the tree, the seat, the feel of the magic in the air. "Wonderful," I whispered, feeling the need for quietness in this place.

Just like the last time, the two of us sat down in the cradle with his arms wrapped around me. I remembered what I had asked him back then. "So.. Do you bring all of your girls here?"

"I don't have any 'girls' as you well know. I have a woman. A beautiful, kind, elfin woman."

"Flatter will only get you everywhere." I giggled. Artemis had a way of making me feel like a… like a real girl. Now I'm well aware that I am in fact a female. But during joining the LEP and trying not to stand out or blend in too much, I had allowed some of my femininity to dissipate. With Artemis, I was getting a part of me back. I was learning that I was exactly what he said: beautiful, kind, and elfin. I am woman, hear me roar.

He gently kissed my lips. "As I've heard."

"Artemis, do your remember the game that we played last time we were here?" Surprisingly, it had been fun to sit and just find out a little more about each other. Though at the time, I had no idea that I was giving myself away with every word. And as I look back now, I would not change a single answer nor the outcome that it led to.

"Of course. It was my idea." I rolled my eyes. Ah, ever so humble.

"Well, I have some questions and I'm sure you do too." Of course, Artemis always has questions and he always wanted answers. It just so happens that this time I feel the same way. Perhaps, it comes from spending so much time with him.

"Interesting. Ladies first."

His gentlemanly ways secretly appealed to me. They always have, though for once, I would love to see him do at least one thing completely for himself and completely against convention. Though that would probably cause the end of the world as we know it.

There was one question that had been running through my mind since we left the manor. "What does your father think of me?" Fowls are good liars. Sure, he seemed friendly, but I have no doubt that he is adept at feigning affection. In his line of work, he had to be.

"He absolutely adores you. He thinks you're perfect?"

Artemis was smiling, but I couldn't believe that. Perfect didn't even belong in the same sentence as my name. "Really?"

"How could he not? You have the extraordinary gift of extreme charisma and kindness that allows you to win the heart of even the most spiteful individual."

Only Artemis. Only he manages to ignore my many faults in the face of a small flicker of benevolence. "You're over exaggerating."

"I am not. Think about it for a moment. You won my friendship, when I cared for no one. You took possession of my heart when I was unaware that I even had one."

I looked away in the face of so much admiration. He forced me to stare into his passionate eyes. "My brothers adore you. Myles actually invited you to view his experiments. He almost never lets anyone see them. In fact, he only allows me entry when he is in dire need of assistance." He chucked probably imagining an incident that had required his 'assistance'. Chances are, it was pretty bad. "And Beckett… he lives through his art. Each piece is a piece of him, a piece that he never gives away. Not even to our parents. But he gave one to you."

My heart felt touched, amazingly so. It was strange, but it seems as though I've been accepted by Artemis' family. Like they actually liked me and thought that I was enough for Artemis. "Wow."

"They already love you." Not nearly as much as I loved them. Angeline with her racy jokes and easy smiles. The cute and eager faces of the twins staring at me. The enigmatic grace of Artemis Fowl Senior.

"And I feel the same way for them."

He beamed with pride. I knew how much this meant to him. His family and I getting along was the most important thing to him. And to me. "I'll pass my next turn."

There was quite a few questions clamoring to be asked but one was more persistent than the other. It had been worrying me for a while, and now was even more pressing than before. "What's going to happen to Minerva?"

He sighed loudly, rubbing his temple. "Honestly, I don't know. As a person one must grow and change. Circumstances beyond my control and the people around me forced me to become a better person. She, on the other hand, had no one to force her to improve in any way, so she did not."

""She's still angry and the thirsty to prove herself like she was when we first met," I sighed. I thought back to how she was when I first saw her, cold, calculating, angry, desperate to prove herself as the best and brightest despite who or what it may hurt.

"I know. I've tried my best to lead her to a better emotional plateau, but even I was not capable of that." It had to be serious if Artemis had even began to admit defeat. He could do anything, and for him to not… it was perplexing and of a definite concern.

"And she took it as romantic love for her?" It's not hard to believe. Artemis was always kind to those whom he thought deserved it, and I for one, know very well how warm said kindness can appear. It would not be hard to confuse it with something else if a person was so inclined.

"Yes, I suppose it was easier to anticipate love than to face her own moral shortcomings."

I could agree with that. No one likes to be shown that they're wrong. Especially not genii. "True, but she needs a friend. A real friend."

"She had me," he reminded me.

I felt like chuckling. A genius Artemis might be, but he still did not have the capability of understanding women. In all fairness, neither did I. "Yes, but she needs female friends, someone to confide in, to understand exactly what's going on in her life." He looked confused. A first for him, though the look did sit rather well on his face. Perhaps I'll be able to dredge it to the surface more often. "A woman friend to help her with feminine things." Like Juliet does for me.

"Aaah. I understand."

Not likely. "I think in a few weeks, I should try to reach out to her."

A bright smile spread across his face and his arms tightened around me. "What?" I asked when he said nothing.

"You always manage to display a startling amount of kindness. Even when its recipients don't deserve it. Especially then."

I giggled. "That's not true. It's not kindness, simply human nature."

He paused briefly. "Yes, my species is known to be quite charitable."

"And modest too."

"Of course," he chuckled. "Now I believe we've talked more than enough about Minerva. Tonight is for the two of us."

"I agree." After all, this was our night. A date of sorts that I wanted to spend with just my boyfriend and not the rest of the world's problems. We could cure global warming later, this was just us. "Now I believe it's your turn to ask me a question."

"I choose to pass this turn," he smiled. "I'd much rather answer your question."

That smirk on his face That very handsome smirk. I wanted to wipe it off and for once I had the ammunition to use against him. Not to mention the fact that I was also genuinely curious. "So… about what I found in your glove compartment…?"

I couldn't help but take a savage pleasure in the wide-eyed, startled 'deer in the headlights' expression that was on his now red face. Ahh, silence is golden and this look of surprise was pure diamond. "Have you ever thought about… the two of us… you know…?"

His mind was working behind those beautiful yet cryptic eyes, but he seemed paralyzed, unable to speak at all. The only sign of his being conscious was the slight twitching around his mouth as he attempted to speak to me. Delightful. I just broke my boyfriend. Well, at least now I know how to shut him up when it's necessary. "I'm waaaaiting."

Affer another moment, he seemed to come back to himself. "You may or may not believe this, but I am a normal teenage male under all of the genius, and I can readily admit that I have considered the two of us together extensively."

I smiled, feeling exactly like a predator that was drawing its small, weak prey into its clutches. "Mmmm," I purred, my face centimeters from his. "Care to define extensively?"

His chuckle was slightly nervous, though his 'slightly nervous' sounded exactly like the rest of the world's perfectly calm. "Let's just say you've been the star of many a fantasy," he whispered.

His warm breath tickled my ear and chills ran through my body. "You're going to have to describe those to me in detail later," I murmured, my voice husky and rough in what I hoped was attractive.

"Of course. It would be my personal pleasure."

And mine. "I look forward to it." Lately, I've been learning a lot from Arty. Nothing that serves as educational, but useful all the same. The most useful right now is his lesson of how to put a mask on my face to avoid embarrassing moments. So, yes I sounded calm, cool, and collected on the outside, but inside I was a live wire, a bundle of barely suppressed nerves, just asking to be stimulated.

"When exactly did you realize that you had feelings for me?"

Difficult question. "I don't really know…" I answered honestly. "I think I began slowly falling for you after we rescued your dad and I saw that you had a spark decency, but I honestly didn't realize it until Cupid confronted me with it."

"Why was he able to convince you when no one else could?"

A question that I had asked myself only about ten thousand times since that day. One that I still didn't have an answer to. "I'm not sure. Part of it was the fact that…well, he's Cupid. The fairy of love, of course he knew what he was talking about. And we were in his house, no one goes there which means that he must have had a strong point to make. But the strongest persuasion was when he showed me our connection. It was a golden cable connecting us that was even stronger than the one that my mom and dad had between them." It strange to think that there could be a love stronger than theirs, and honestly, I don't know if I can really believe that. Not yet.

"Fascinating. I wish I had been able to meet your great grandfather."

I giggled. I doubt he'd be saying that once they actually met. Cupid was… an acquired taste. "Oh, I'm sure he'll be coming around soon to meet you and warn you not to hurt me."

His mismatched eyes bored down into my soul. "I would never hurt you."

"I know," I whispered. It was still so strange to hear him speak so honestly. His words had such a power that his slight frame didn't back up, yet I know that he would do almost anything to protect me. "You love me."

"More than even my words can express."

I blushed. Whenever Artemis talks about his feelings, he becomes so passionate. There's still a bit of that clumsy awkwardness hidden beneath the confidence, but I can feel his words and the sincerity that is bubbling up behind them. "Well look at me. I have rendered the great Artemis Fowl speechless. Now if only he'd stay that way."

"You'd miss my lovely voice if I did."

He had a point. A few days ago, I snuck into his bedroom and caught him doing something. He was singing. Yes, I was well aware of the fact that he plays piano, cello, and guitar like a professional, but I did not know that his voice was so smooth and melodic, like a chorus of angels. And ever since I'd been pestering him nonstop to sing for me, but he still had not obliged me. "If I take it back would you sing for me?" I asked, hopeful.

"Later. If you're well behaved."

I giggled. "Yes dad. I'll eat all of my vegetables and do all of my homework."

"Come now, father jokes? Would a father do this?" His full lips made contact with mine with just enough pressure to make me hungry for more. Damn him and his amazing kissing skills.

"You can't start something and not finish it," I whined, my lips crying out for a prolonged connection.

"I was merely proving a point and not 'starting something' as you put it."

Not starting something? Who was he fooling? Just looking at me started something, and the worst part was that he knew exactly what his lips did to mine. "Oh you were starting something and you know it. Jerk."

"So harsh. Are you frustrated?"

Only physically. "No."

He smiled, dragging me into his lap. His strong hands rubbed down my back and he squeezed my shoulders, lingering at my hips. I could feel the tension, leaking out of me, but my 'frustration' was only rising. "Mmmm, if you're sure." And he stopped! He stopped!

I fought to keep my voice calm. "Did I say you could stop?"

"No ma'am," he laughed, allowing his long piano fingers to slowly stroke the stiffness from my back as he would stroke sounds from the keys.

"You're such a tease."

"And that's why you love me."

"Yes, that amongst other things."

"Other things?" his brows raised. "Such as?"

The two of us asked this question to each other almost once a week, but it didn't matter. Neither of us got tired of hearing the answer, and it seemed to make us stronger, more secure as people. "Because you're sweet, funny, and my best friend." I intentionally skipped one, knowing that he would catch me and call me out on it.

"And…?" Like clockwork.

Of course he noticed, he is a genius after all. "And extremely, amazingly, seductively, sexy," I purred. His smirk and red face was enough enjoyment for me. "So incredibly sexy."

"Now who's the tease?"

"Always you."

"Of course," he chuckled. "I am always the negative contributing factor." I rolled my eyes at his usual flamboyant dramatics. Really, he should become an actor. Frond knows he would excel at it, at anything really.

"I never said it was negative. I only said that you were a tease."

A slight smile tugged at his lips. "And you like that?"

"More than even my words can express." I threw his words back into his face, enjoying the mild feeling of temporary superiority. No wonder he was always so annoying, it was rather fun.

"It's your turn, you know."

What oh what should I ask? What do I want to know? Well, one thing had been bothering me. "You're about to graduate high school: what are you going to do with your life when you're finally out?"

He looked at me, searching the corners of my soul before answering. "I don't know."

Surprise was too mild a word to describe my feelings perhaps shock and awe are closer substitutes but even they could not fully sum up my emotions. Artemis is a meticulous planner. He knew everything about the part of the future that he could control, but this… right now… it isn't him. He has never simply 'not known'. "You don't know?"

"Not at all," he admitted. And I could understand that. When you had numerous degrees and had saved the world over and over, what exactly could you do next? Where was there to go from there?

"But you're always so sure about everything." Maybe not the best or most helpful thing to say, but it just spilled out.

"Yes and no." He paused. "It really does seem like that, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," I responded, struggling in his chest to give him some comfort, to let him know that I was there.

He was silent for a few seconds, but the silence was loud and full of our whirring thoughts. "I don't really know who I am or what I want, but I know the things I stand for, the things I oppose, the things I tolerate, and the things that I love." His eyes bore into me, allowing me to know exactly what he loved.

"That's okay; it's a start. Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to because where there's love and inspiration, you can't go wrong."

He held my hand tightly. "Love really is the best, isn't it?" he laughed, lighthearted once again.

"The best thing isn't the 'love' per say. It's the friendship, it's the companionship. It's having a person know everything about you and still hanging around for it. It's knowing that someone will sacrifice everything for you and being willing to do the same."

"Impressive." And he really did appear to be impressed. Though it wasn't my quote, I was willing to bask in the temporary glow of his pride. "Who said it?" Emphasis on temporary.

"Your mother, of course."

His brow rose. "And what else did you two talk about?" He sounded nervous as he should.

I thought about shocking him, about asking him about the Fowl family kink. But that might be just a little awkward. "Trust me. You don't want to know."

He thought about it for a moment before agreeing. "Yes, I'm sure I do not."

"Your turn," I reminded him.

"Actually, I don't have any other questions so that would make it your turn."

Great. Now I was playing the game all by myself. "Why didn't you tell me that you had friends at school?"

His loud chuckle echoed around the forest. It was almost a whole minute before he managed to settle down into his usual 'impassive' air. "Friends? I don't have any friends at school."

Color me confused. I'd watched the way he interacted with them, it was the same way that he treated… well…. Mulch. "But what about all of the guys from earlier."

"They were only being friendly because they were attracted to you. And those who are… otherwise inclined were, under the duress of their parents, seeking to curry favor before we part ways in the hope of later using me to gain positions of power."

The second I could believe. Who doesn't want to gain power? But the first…? "Attracted to me?"

He smirked. "It may have escaped your notice, but you were the most beautiful woman in the room."

I looked up at him from under my long lashes in what I hoped was at least somewhat sexy and not just sad like I thought. "You're just saying that because you have to."

"I only speak the truth, love." Yes, the truth under a few hundred layers of half truths and ambiguous statements.

Love. I loved that nickname especially the way his mouth moved to pronounce the word. It was like a warm caress to me. One that I could not resist.

"But what about Zander?" He obviously wasn't attracted to me, and out of all of the others he really seemed to know Arty.

His mouth quirked and he chuckled slightly. "Zander is a rare exception though I'd go no further than calling him a close acquaintance."

Okay, I'll bite. "And how exactly did he become your 'close acquaintance?"

"I was ordered to tutor him in advanced mathematics. Needless to say, at first, I was angry at the indignity of it all. However, he proved not to be the idiot that I assumed. Rather, he was bored. I found a way to challenge him into performing as I knew he could, and he 'challenged' me to help him in lacrosse. And as his game and social standing improved, he confronted me with another… problem…"

Ugh, trust Arty to pause at the important part of the story. "Which was?"

"His problems in confronting and revealing his sexual orientation."

"So, what happened?"

"At St. Bartleby's, we have a rather large amount of openly homosexual students, even on our sports teams. However, he was concerned about becoming the first open lacrosse player and the first gay male in his family."

I could see where this was going. "So your psychology degree finally came in handy?"

"That it did. Due to my counsel, he was able to come out both at home and at school with only minor problems."

I grinned, enjoying his role as kind, beneficent giver instead of apathetic puppeteer. "And the friendship."

"You learn a lot about a person in therapeutic sessions. Their likes, their dislikes, who they are, their preferences. It just so happens that Alexander is an incredibly kind person with a rather admirable personality." That he did seem to be. Kind, friendly, generous, exactly the kind of guy that Artemis needed for a friend. Exactly the kind of guy that Artemis wanted for a friend.

"Aww. Look who has friends!" I cooed. "I'm so proud of you." And I was. It warmed my heart to know that he hadn't spent years all alone, stewing in his own superiority.

His glare was supposed to be threatening, and maybe it would have been to someone who doesn't actually know him like I do. "Has anyone ever described you as insufferable?"

"All of the time, but they never mean it." I winked. "In fact, the one that calls me that usually wants me more than anyone else."

"You're correct. I do want you," he muttered. The cool, silkiness of his voice causing goose bumps to rise on my skin. Ugh, how did he do that and where could I take lessons?

"You know I'm a cop. I need evidence and not just hearsay."

"Evidence?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "Tangible proof."

"Like this?" He pulled me into his lap and turned me around so that his lips could crash into mine. His tongue sent shivers down my spine as it traced my upper lip. I opened them allowing him entrance into my inner sanctum.

His tongue took the dominant position and wrestled mine into submission as his hands explored my body and mine explored his. I tickled and pulled enjoying the feel of his muscled chest.

Our wanton moans echoed through the forest. Right now anything could happen and neither of us would notice anything other than each other. The trees could catch fire, a storm could shake the ground, lightning could strike the tree, the world could end but all either of us would know was each other's lips.

We pulled apart reluctantly and stared at each other. Into my eyes and into his. It felt almost like we were one. "Woow," I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away.

"You are an amazing woman, Holly Short."

I smiled, my face red. "So, I've heard."

His cheeks were also red. Artemis always tries his best to personify a cool temper. These passionate feelings of the love that is between us scares me, and I know that he feels the same. But what can we do? Neither of us have experience. Neither of us know how to handle this, but we're willing to learn, because, honestly we're both in too deep to just walk away. "What shall we do now?" he asked, leaving me to make the decision. Genii… so clever.

I glanced up at the slight pink tinge of the sky. It's hard to believe that we had been out here so long. But when I'm with him time just melts and bends to nothing. "Can we just stay and watch the sunrise?"

"Of course. I'd like nothing more."

"Good."

He held me in his arms as we watched the sun rise. It was beautiful. The entire sky seemed to be on fire with rays of orange and pink that cascaded down to where we sat, dancing around us in rapturous joy.

I had never understood why sunrises were so romantic. Not until Artemis and I started dating. Now, it made sense. It was representative of a new day, a new beginning completely unlike what one had known before. In that way, it was my relationship with Arty and so of course it was now the most romantic thing that I had ever seen.

"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" he murmured.

I thought back to the last time that we had been there. I had been Hollinda and he had been Artemis; we were still denying our feelings. Every time I even thought about those days, I got angry at myself, thinking of what I had missed out on. "Memories of our stupidity."

"Yes," he grimaced. "We were truly blind, though I'm happy that we are now quite able to see well."

"Me too."

A slight blush stained his cheeks. "And I'm happy that I found your love."

My love? He doesn't understand that it was his love that was…. That was…. That just was. Because sometimes syllables and words aren't necessary. Sometimes you just need the raw, passionate emotions. "I feel the same."

He smiled, serenity and peace encapsulated there. "Are you ready to go home?" Home. The way he said it… he didn't just mean it as his own. No, he was including me, calling it my home too.

"Let's go."

We stood and he led me back to the car. The entire ride back to the manor was a blur. As I look back, I can't remember a single word or a single song on the radio. All that I do remember are the feelings. The warmth, the comfort, the security, the cocoon of our love surrounding us inside of the confined space.

I took his hand as he helped me out of the car and into the manor. The lights in the hall shimmered brightly, but there was not a sound. It seemed as though no one was awake. We tiptoed up the stairs to his room, attempting to stifle giggles at every sound that we made in fear of waking up the entire house.

We both breathed easily in the safety of his room. "I suppose we both need a shower and a change of attire," he commented. "You are welcome ot this bathroom." He pointed at the door in the corner. "And I'll take the one down the hall."

I nodded, shutting and locking the door behind him. If he came back before I got out of the bathroom, he'd just have to wait. Though, I'm sure he has some way of getting back in when he wants to.

I smiled at myself as I removed my shoes. A part of me did not want to remove this dress because it would mean that this night was over. It had been, dare I say it, perfect in every way. It was childish, but I didn't want this night to end.

I sighed regretfully as I managed to slip my dress off. I smiled slightly as I stepped into the hot spray of the shower. It felt so good as it loosened my muscles. I stood there until my fingers began to get wrinkled. Reluctantly, I turned the water off, and climbed out.

I stared at the pajamas that Juliet had so thoughtfully laid out for me. Ugh, why did I keep trusting her? I must be an idiot. She had given me a short, lace, black nightie that seemed to be almost see through. Great, it was either that or my underwear. I really didn't want to put it on, but it was better than my bra and panties. Only just.

I pouted as I finished the rest of my nightly routine which included washing my face and brushing my teeth. When I was finished, I glanced back down at myself. No, this was not going to do.

I carefully cracked the door open, peeking out to make sure that he hadn't come back. For once, luck seemed to smile on me because the room was empty. I smiled as I approached his drawers. I tried to open them, but nothing happened. I tried again, and nothing happened. Out of frustration, I kicked it. The pain radiated from my toe and had me hopping up and down. "D'arvit!" I cried.

Just as I said this, the lock clicked and Artemis entered. For a second I was taken aback. He stood in the doorway, wearing only a black pair of silk pajama pants. His inky hair was tousled and wet, his pale chest glistened with the moisture that still hung there. For a second, I couldn't breathe as he stared at me, and I stared at him. But somehow I finally managed to rouse myself from the hypnotic sight of his body. "What's wrong with your drawer?" I demanded in an attempt to cover my emotions with anger

He shook himself slightly and regained his usual calm, composed air. "Is there any particular reason that you wish to go through my drawers?"

I shifted to my other foot, the silky, black fabric swishing around my thighs. "Artemis, please?" My begging was shameless as I tried to convince him to just make things easy for me this one time. And maybe a lot of times later that I can't possibly forsee right now.

He grinned and his hand waved across the top. As I looked closely, I could see a keypad. He allowed me to see the numbers that he was typing. My grin stretched my face. "The day that we got together?"

"And before that it was your birthday." One can't deny he's charming, and very handsome when wet.

The top drawer popped open to reveal a number of pressed dress shirts. I pulled out a white one and slipped it on, buttoning everything but the top two. All the while Artemis' mismatched eyes were trained on me like a laser beam. They burned into me and made me feel…dirty. "Is there a reason that you're staring?"

"I've never noticed how attractive you are in my shirt."

I licked my lips that had suddenly went dry. "Really?"

Those eyes followed my tongue hungrily. "Really." I envied his ability to stay so calm when I knew he must be feeling something. If only I could stop this breathlessness….

His lips were on me so fast, I barely had time to smirk. Apparently, he wasn't as composed as he looked. In fact, his mouth was hungry, devouring mine with an unparalleled passion. His hands held me glued to him while I explored his hair. The slightly damp strands clung to my fingers like old friends, clamoring for attention.

His damp chest pressed against me. I could feel the cool moisture and the planes of his chest riding me eagerly. He tugged my ear tips and I moaned loudly. I grunted into his mouth, begging for more. He obliged me with his tongue paying homage to my mouth. Before I knew it we were against the bed, falling into its comfortable confines without even separating our lips.

His hands. My hands. They were everywhere. His lips, my lips nipping away at each other, reducing the other to putty. When our lips finally separated, our bodies were closer than ever.

A serene smile of utter peace settled on his face. "Welcome home," he murmured. I looked up from where I was nestled in the safety of his lap, in the warmth of his arms.

Home. Home is a place of security. Home is a place of happiness. My mom always used to tell me that: "home is where the heart is." I thought about my heart. It was with Artemis. Whether on the surface or below the ground, whether in the manor or in my small house or even in a box with a fox, he had my heart, my love. By that logic, this moment, here with him was my home. It's where I want, where I need to be.

My eyelids began to grow heavy, and I felt myself sinking into the inky embrace of slumber. Perhaps these thoughts were too much to consider while I was so emotionally and physically drained. My last cohesive thought as I sat there was of Artemis' arms. I smiled dreamily, feeling relieved that I had finally, after all these years, found my way home.

A/n:

Yay! Another Chapter Down! I hope you enjoyed that. This was the last chapter before the epilogue. *Tear slides down cheeks*. Wow!

Sorry it took forever to update. Computer issues as usual, but I'm working on it.

Rest assured that I will update as quickly as I possibly can. By now I'm sure you've all realized that I'm the absolute worst at making deadlines and keeping them. This time I'm going to be realistic. I want to be finished eventually. Hopefully, before my all too short summer ends next week, but no promises. In the mean time, read my other stories. I think they're not too awful, but I can't know for sure without feedback.

Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette