A/N:

Cynthia: Wow. I guess you people don't watch Sherlock a whole lot. Anyways, the medium height man is John Watson. And when ne daus he had a row with a machine once, that is a reference to Season 1, episode 2 The Blind Banker. Welp, that's all!

Yep…. Nothing else for me to say either, except that WOW we finished this fast. I mean, compared to chapter 5. Hm... I hope school's going well for you guys. :) I'm certainly enjoying it… soo that's all! Comment, suggest, compliment, critique, love, hate, review and enjoy! :) J&Cynthia

Butler and Holly were the first ones home (the others had taken a separate car). Butler unlocked the door and let Holly go in first, like a gentleman. She smiled her thanks, and then looked around the manor.

"Arty!" she called. No answer. "You there?" Still no answer. She looked behind her shoulder at Butler. "He's not home."

"Doesn't sound like it," he agreed, closing the door. He walked up beside her. "Until the others get back... let's wait in the living room."

Holly nodded. "Okay."

So a minute later they sat across from each other on either couch, in the living room, smiling at each other awkwardly. They hadn't really "talked" before... not like that, anyway. And neither of them knew what to say.

But, finally, the silence was interrupted.

"Soo..." they both said at the same time in the same tone. Then they burst out laughing.

The laughter lasted for a minute, and Holly no longer felt uncomfortable. Neither did Domovoi.

"You first," Butler told you.

"Oh," she said, "I wasn't going to say anything... I mean, not much. It wasn't going anywhere."

"Yep." Butler nodded awkwardly.

"Soooo..." Holly said.

"Sooo.." Butler said.

"Let's not start that again," said Holly.

"Agreed." Butler approved.

"You know, Butler," Holly said, sitting up suddenly. "I am still curious."

"Oh?" Butler raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"You and Lilac, of course!" Holly said in her 'no, duh' voice.

"Holly-" Butler started before he got cut off.

"If you're going to say I'm too young, I'm not. And it's extremely obvious you and Lilac have some history. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes or Artemis to figure that much out," argued Holly.

"Holly, seriously. You need to let it be," Butler said, tiredly.

"But, Butler!" Holly protested. "You can't keep it hidden away inside yourself. It's just not healthy."

"Since when did you care about my health?" Butler said. "Just stop."

"Butler-"

"I said stop!" Butler shouted.

Holly was shocked. Butler had never, ever raised his voice at her.

Butler realized he had upset Holly. "Holly, I'm sorr-"

"No, don't apologize," Holly said, stonily. "You made it clear you don't trust me." Her voice quavered as she said the last part and ran upstairs.

"Holly! Holly!" Butler called after her.

When it was clear the Captain wouldn't come back down, Butler sat down on the sofa and rubbed his face with his hands.

That's when Artemis, Foaly, and Lilac used their brilliant timing.

"We're baaaaack!" Foaly sang, but stopped when he noticed Butler giving him a 'not in the mood' look.

"What? What did I do?" Foaly asked.

"Dom." Lilac dropped her bags and sat down next to Butler. "What's the matter?"

Butler forced a natural smile. "Nothing," he told her.

But Lilac still looked concerned. "Really?" she asked. "Are you sure? Because you look upset..." She sat next to him, and looked at him with kindness in her eyes.

"Really," Domovoi insisted.

Lilac stared at him for a few seconds, and then nodded in a way that didn't believe him, but figured that if he didn't want to tell her then it was none of her business and she should stay out of it.

While this was happening, Artemis had walked in the door, and sat on the couch across from them. He sighed heavily when he sank into the cushion, and immediately closed his eyes, like he was going to sleep. "That was exhausting," he groaned.

Juliet stood on her feet in front of him and half smirked, half glared. She said, "Well yeah, maybe for someone who sits around all day doing nothing but computer... stuff..."

Artemis glared at Juliet. "I do more than just 'computer stuff'."

Juliet folded her arms. "Oh, really? Like what, for example?"

"I am not entitled to tell you," said Artemis.

"Like I said, computer stuff," Juliet said, smugly.

"No! It's ingenious, I'll-" Artemis stopped midsentence.

"Yes? We're listening," Juliet said, mockingly.

"Nothing," mumbled Artemis.

"I thought so," Juliet said. "Now, Foaly, shoo!"

Foaly had an offended look on his face. "Excuse me?"

Juliet rolled her eyes. "Sorry. Go upstairs and find Holly, please. I assume she's upstairs."

"Um, okay...?" Foaly said, slowly, and went upstairs.

"Good, he's gone," Juliet said, as she plopped down on the sofa next to Butler. "Now we can talk about that little fight you had with Holly!"

"Wait, how did you know that?" Butler said.

"Simple deduction," said Juliet, proudly.

Artemis rolled his eyes. "I told her."

"Yeah. Whatever," Juliet said. "Minor details."

Butler sighed. "Leave it alone, okay?"

"But Dommy-"

"Okay?"

Juliet pouted. "Oh, alright..."

"Well, we still need to figure out what we're gonna do next," Juliet continued. "Which of the options before had the second most votes?"

"Gingerbread houses," Artemis recalled. "Then chess, then Christmas tree, then cookies with Myles and Beckett."

Juliet glared at him. "I told you before, chess is not an option!"

Artemis smirked. "But you said that you accepted my challenge to a game... didn't you?"

"Hm... I suppose I did." She snapped her fingers and grinned. "Well then! Dommy and I will get the ingredients for Gingerbread houses, everyone else take five! We have enough time to make one tonight, and then chess will be first thing in the morning! 'Kay?"

Juliet didn't wait for an answer, though. She grabbed her brother's arm, and dashed into the kitchen, dragging him against his will.