I woke up to strange sounds and sweet smells from the other side of my house. Still half-asleep, I grabbed the metal bat I keep next to my bed just for safety and stumbled out of my room in a daze.

The couch was empty, and I could feel a presence behind me. Without processing or thinking, I turned around and swung as hard as I could.

And...Ended up hitting Artemis straight in the face with a sharp smack. It was a good hit. Definitely a human home run. I didn't know whether to be pleased or guilty.

"Ouch!" He cried out loudly, holding his nose and falling into the wall behind him. "What the hell, Short?!" Artemis' eyes wide eyes looked at me in surprise and partial disbelief.

I sighed and dropped the bat, not completely guilty that I had hit him. He moved his hands away from his nose and I grimaced at the blood flowing from it like a faucet. It was an extremely good hit.

"I'm not used to people in my apartment, Fowl." I answered, kneeling next to him on the floor and tilting his head back. I didn't feel like apologizing straight out, and I could guess the stupid genius could figure out I didn't mean to hit him...Completely. His cheek felt warm against my hand as I put it there, closing my eyes to concentrate. "Heal."

Blue sparks zipped from my hand at a rapid pace, healing his nose. He groaned as I'm sure he felt his nose straighten back out and I stood up, getting a towel. I handed it to him and he started wiping the leftover blood off his hands and face. "Thanks." He mumbled.

I nodded, looking in my kitchen and stopping as my eyes widened. "Wow..." I breathed.

My counter was a mess with pots, pans, and utensils I never even remembered I had anymore. I never cooked in my kitchen, and I wasn't even looking at the mess on my marble counter. I was looking at my table.

My mother's beautiful white lace tablecloth was over the circular plastic table, one I hadn't seen in quite a while. China my family only used during the holidays were spread out on the table and chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes were piled high. A variety of syrups and toppings were spread out in little glass bowls and a tall glass of different juices were in front of the crystal plate.

Artemis groaned as he got up, holding his head. The sting was still blazing in his face. "I made you breakfast." He said behind the towel pressed to his face.

"Why?" I put my hands on my hips and raising an eyebrow at him. What was he buttering me up for?

He rolled his eyes, taking the towel off his nose and going to my bathroom in the hallway. "Because it's a nice gesture." He came out, his hands and face clean, but wet. "I wanted to do something for you. Don t you like it?"

I sighed, looking away. He was right. He was only trying to be nice. It wasn't like he was trying to serve it to me in bed naked and lick it off of me. Gods, the thought almost made me shiver, but I swiped it aside. It was just an innocent breakfast. "You're right." I admitted, looking back in the kitchen. "Where did you find my mother's things?"

He shrugged, walking around me and going into the kitchen. I followed him and he pulled out my chair. Cautiously, I sat down in the chair and looked over the spread again. It really did look extremely good. My stomach grumbled. "I found them in the attic last night." Artemis sat across from me, straightening his tie. "I can be quiet when I want to, Major." He sighed. "You're not upset that I touched them, are you?"

I looked at the crystal plate in front of me. The last time I had seen the china was years ago, before my parents passed. It gleamed in the light above us and I sighed. "No." I breathed, my finger running across the smooth white edge of the plate. "I'm not upset." He smiled right as I looked up. It was the same smile he used right before he kissed me for the first time the other night. My body immediately relaxed and I couldn't help but to smile back. Gods, I hated the good effect he had on me. "I didn't know you could cook."

Artemis smiled, gesturing to the pancakes and I took two of the chocolate chip ones. "When I decided to come down here and...Visit you, I made myself learn how to cook."

My hand paused as I gripped the handle of the syrup, looking up at him. "Really?"

He nodded, "I wanted to..." Artemis trailed off and sighed, biting his lip and grabbing a few blueberry pancakes. "When I said I would take care of you, Holly...I really did mean it."

I looked down. "Artemis...You're public enemy number one, a mud man, and you kidnapped me all those years ago." Pouring the syrup over my pancakes, I dared a small smile back up at him. "I have to admit, Artemis...You're very sweet, and...You are very good at making me feel.." I stopped, feeling the tips of my ears and my cheeks flare with heat when I realized what I was starting to say.

He smiled back at me, only causing the redness to deepen. "Why, thank you, Major." He chuckled softly, taking a bite of his food. "However, I'm nothing compared to you."

I took a bite of mine, "Did Butler show you how to make food this good?" I asked, running my fork through the syrup on my plate gently.

"No." Artemis' voice was suddenly cold and cut off. I looked up and had to stop myself from shrinking back in my seat. I nodded, not saying anything. He sighed, looking away and frowning. "I made you a lunch." He nodded to the counter, a brown bag and thermos sitting on it.

I nodded again, getting up and straightening my tank top slightly nervously. "Thank you." I said quietly, turning and walking back to my room. I made sure he didn't follow me, and I locked my door. I took a deep breath for my sanity when I was finally alone, closing my eyes as I leaned against the wall.

After taking a shower, I got dressed and dried my hair. I thought and thought about Artemis again. At least he wasn't trying to get into my pants, like yesterday morning, but he had gotten so cold all of a sudden at the mention of his older bodyguard. It was strange, but I couldn't focus on that right now. I had to get to work before I was too late.

I walked out of my room and passed Artemis, still at the kitchen table, as I grabbed the lunch. I would only imagine how Blaize would like it. I didn't look at the genius as I left.

Walking to work, my mind was still on Fowl. He would be gone tomorrow and my life would go back to normal. No more sex on my mind, no more breakfast, and no more of those calming smiles. It was satisfying, but also slightly depressing at the same time.

I decided to stop by Foaly's office before heading over to my own. He was on his computer when I walked through the clear sliding automatic doors of the Ops Booth. "Hey, Centaur." I smiled at him.

Foaly smiled back, adjusting the tinfoil hat on his head and swirling in his chair to face me. "Hey, Holls. Long time no see."

I pulled up a chair to sit across from him, careful to pick it up so the screech sound I knew he hated so much didn't echo through the enormous white room. I plopped in it, and sighed. "Where do you want to go out to lunch today?" I asked. He and I usually went out to lunch, and it was a question I often asked him first thing in the morning before I went to my office.

The centaur gave me a weird look that made me raise an eyebrow at him. "Umm, Holly..." He looked at the bag I had in my hand. "It looks like you brought lunch today."

D'arvit. Most of the time, I dropped my lunch off to my office or Major Evan's office before he asked for it. Dumbly, I looked down at the brown sack and silver thermos. "Umm, yeah..." I shrugged, "This is my dinner. Probably not going to get home until late."

Thankfully, Foaly believed me and he nodded. "So...Sprouts? Veggie Garden?"

I shrugged, leaning back. It was my turn to choose, but my stomach was too twisted up to think about food. The heat of the pancakes and the conversation with Artemis still burned inside me. "Sprouts sounds pretty good to me."

Foaly nodded, turning back to his computer. "All right. Pick me up at the usual time?"

I nodded back, returning the clear chair back to its desk and leaving the Ops Booth after the short visit. The next thing I knew, I found myself in front of Major Evan's office door for some strange and random reason.

"Come in." I heard him from the other side of the door once I knocked. I was sort of glad that his assistant wasn't outside at her own desk. Turning the knob, I opened the door and paused.

Blaize looked up at me, half dressed with the top of his LEP uniform off. He smirked, panting slightly as he punched the bag that hung in the middle of his office again. Sweat glistened slightly off his body and I looked away.

"Hey, Cutie." He wiped his forehead with his arm and walked over to me, taking the lunch from my hands. "Thanks."

I had never been in his office before, but he was certainly right yesterday. His was twice as big as mine, and even had a nice view of Haven from a window wall to my left. He was a floor higher than me, and a nice pleather couch and armchair sat in front of the window, opposite to his desk. A nice carpet lay under my feet.

Watching him put the lunch Artemis had packed me on his desk, I sighed. "So, what are you working out for?"

Evans smirked and I frowned, knowing I shouldn't have started up a conversation. Looking back at the closed door behind me, I should have just opened it back up and left. But that opportunity was gone. He sighed, "I have to go on the surface for a very exciting mission."

I tried to keep the envy out of my body language and voice. I was one of the senior Majors in Haven's LEP and he was getting the mission. Typical. He always got the missions, and I always got the paperwork afterwards. I hadn't been on the surface in so long.

"Here, sweetheart." He put his shirt back on and slid into his green, technological LEP uniform. Blaize grabbed the two huge stacks of paperwork on his desk and put it in my arms. "I saw you finally finished all of yours, so I told the council a small little lie." Dumping the folders and papers in my arms, he smirked. "I told him I finished my paperwork and you still had a ways to go." Evans winked at me. "You'll do mine, wont you, peach?"

I looked down at the paperwork. "Why the hell would I do your stupid paperwork, Evans?!" I growled lowly. It only made Evans smirk more.

"Because. If you're a good little girl, I might put in a good word with the council. You could get a mission just like mine." Patting my head, he left his office.

I looked at the paperwork and sighed. Looks like I was in for a long day after all. However fair it wasn't though, I knew he was right. I would get a mission bitching how I didn't get along with my coworkers to the council. Gods, I hated when he was right.

That paperwork fit in perfectly with the rest of my miserable day. The AC was apparently malfunctioning in my office for some strange reason, so I was frozen and trembling by the middle of the day when Foaly called me.

"What's up, Centaur?" I greeted, leaning back in my chair as I shivered. It squeaked loudly, driving the tension inside me to tighten even more. "You ready for lunch?"

I heard Foaly pause and sigh, causing me to frown. "Do you mind if I take another rain check, Holly?" He asked me, "Cabelline just asked if I was up for a lunch date."

This only caused my frown to deepen. It was the third time this week my four-legged friend had stood me up on our lunch plans. Honestly, I hated sitting at the table in the restaurant alone. However, I knew that those two centaurs were crazy about each other, and that I would be a selfish bitch to get in the way of them spending time together.

"No, it's fine." I murmured into the phone, eyeing the stack of paperwork I still needed to go through. "Have fun, Foaly."

I could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke up again. "Thank you, Holls. I promise you I'll make it up to you sometime."

Rolling my eyes, I gave my goodbye and hung up the phone. Don't get me wrong, Foaly is my best friend, and I want him to be happy, but my day was crummy already. I sighed, the papers in front of me made me made me feel sick to my stomach by just looking at them. The whole pile wasn't even halfway done. After a moment of silent contemplating, I couldn't take it anymore. I needed a long lunch break. Grabbing my wallet, I left and locked my office door behind me.

It came across my mind that I could just walk my way home and eat lunch there, but I decided against it as I opened the front door of the LEP building. Artemis was still there, and I did not feel like seeing him at all, even more so because of the mood I was in. That, and I would have to explain where the lunch he had made me was.

I walked across the street to Sprouts. It was a small little diner, really popular and busy with LEP officers at all times. I looked around first, making sure that Foaly and Cabelline weren't there. I didn't want Foaly thinking I was trying to impose or was jealous of the time they were spent together.

Thankfully, he wasn't there. Probably because Foaly wanted to impress Cabelline and a diner wasn't the best place to do that. I walked to a blue table next to the window, the padding in the chair making a whooshing sound as I sat down. I sighed heavily, leaning back in my seat and looking at the menu in front of me. I already knew what I wanted, but it kept my mind busy for a little bit by looking at all the different kinds of fruits and vegetables.

"What can I get you today, officer?" A waiter asked as he walked up, looking over my uniform. He was wearing a lime green polo shirt with the restaurants insignia and khakis. A small handheld digipad in his hand as he watched me, waiting for my order patiently.

I nodded, his calm attitude and being away from the office and paperwork in it made me feel better already. "I'll take a nettle salad, light on the nettles and dressing, and a water." I gave him the menu and he nodded, scurrying back to the kitchen.

A smooth chuckle came from behind me as I watched the busy streets outside. "And what can I get you, Major?" Verbil leaned against my table, crossing his arms over his chest and smirked viciously down at me. "Perhaps a side of Chix?"

I rolled my eyes, the smidge of good mood inside me squashed like the bugs in my salad. "Go away, Verbil." I muttered grumpily, not giving him the satisfaction of looking up at the sprite.

"You're no fun, Short." I heard him pout, leaning over me some more. "Come on, you're all alone having lunch. Isn't that a bit pathetic? We could-"

Alright, he pissed me off with that pathetic comment. I stood up, mildly shoving him out of the way as I walked to the counter. The waiter I had talked to before made eye-contact with me almost immediately. "Make my order to-go." He nodded, bagging up my food for me.

"See you later, Holly." Chix brushed past me, making sure to make contact to my back with his shoulder. I sneered down at the marble counter I was somewhat leaning on.

"Go to hell, Verbil." I grumbled, snatching my food and paying for it quickly before stalking out the door.

I stomped through the LEP building, clutching the styrofoam box in my hand so hard I made indentations on the top of it with my nails. Slamming and locking my office door behind me, I plopped back in my seat. The squeaking noise it made only soured my mood more as my sensitive ears rang from it.

Ignoring the papers lying in the corners of my desk, I put my food on an empty spot and opened the box, my stomach growling at just the thought of food.

However, when I opened the box, I grimaced in disgust. The nettles and dressing were not light, the nettles looked oozy and gross, and the salad itself...I could tell it was mushy just by looking and prodding at it with my fork.

This was totally unusual and strange for Sprouts. Their food was never this bad. It was extremely busy today what seemed to be the worst day of my life.

I looked at my watch and groaned. I couldn't walk back now, my lunch break was over. Shaking my head, I threw the box in the little wastebasket by the side of my desk. I was starving and my stomach growled continuously, but I had to go back to my endless paperwork.

It took hours to sort through all the aggravating paperwork, the only thing helping my hunger were a couple of energy bars from the bottom of a desk drawer. Finally, I signed the very last document, ending the biggest pile of paperwork I had ever seen. Stupid Evans, manipulating me and the council. I huffed, resting my head on my desk for a moment and looking out the small window to my right. It was dark out now, and it was most likely that I was the last one left in the building again. I stretched as I got up, getting ready to leave when Root walked in.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I left the LEP building five minutes, steaming and growling to myself as I walked home. Root had caused my behavior, of course. He told me that the council was appalled that my paperwork was just now getting finished. Can you believe that? It really pushed me over the top as I stormed down street.

It wasn't Root's fault though, I reminded myself, forcing myself to calm and slow down. It was Blaize and the Council's fault. Root was just the messenger. Still, I was incredibly upset as I unlocked and opened my front door only to see Artemis sitting on the couch.

He looked up at me when I opened the door. I guess he saw how mad I was and thought it was because he was still there. Artemis stood up, his clear blue eyes wide. "I promise, I'll be out tomorrow. I set up-"

"Shut up." Interrupted distractedly. Gods, I had such a bad day and the concern and care in his eyes...The pleasure I had by being with the genius two nights ago suddenly came flooding back. The hot, burning need of his hands on me as I closed my front door and locked it.

"What?" Artemis asked, obviously caught off guard. I strode up to him, biting my lip as I strode up to him.

I shook my head, my head clouded and I couldn't think straight anymore. I was like a whole different person when I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pushed him back down on the couch. "I said shut up." His eyes widened as he looked up at me, taking deep breaths as I straddled him and came eye to eye with him. I licked my dry lips before whispering. "Now kiss me."