Hello everyone! Sorry so much for the delay! It's been a weird few weeks here, and I've been admittedly a bit distracted with a side project, so this hasn't been getting my full attention like it should. Anyways, I finished this up, and thought you all had been patient enough. Hope you all enjoy! :)

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Diana sat at the edge of Artemis' bed, giving him an expectant look. He had a lot of explaining to do, and that was putting it mildly. Artemis had sworn to her after her kidnapping he was done with crime for good, that he was going straight. Obviously all of that went up in smoke somewhere, and Diana was not thrilled about this turn of events in the slightest.

"Well?" she demanded.

Artemis sighed. "Diana, I'm sorry," he began. "So immensely sorry, and even that doesn't even begin to cover it."

"Why?" Diana continued to question, unable to hide the irritation in her voice. "Why did you even think that was a good idea?"

She could tell he was struggling with someone questioning his actions, but she knew if she didn't do it, no one would. It wasn't like he had other friends, and at this point she wasn't about to call his parents or Butler, although she was so tempted. Artemis stared at the floor, trying to think of the right words to explain his actions to her. Diana sat with her arms crossed, watching him bite his bottom lip for a minute before he finally spoke.

"My intentions when I stole the gem were good," he said quietly. "I wanted to use the gem as a means to help power a new invention of mine. You know it's been a long standing project of mine to help reverse some of the human-caused damage to the environment, and my last invention was destroyed before I could really use it. I... I thought if I had the gem, I would be able to harness its power for good."

"But you didn't anticipate it getting stolen from you," Diana retorted skeptically.

"Exactly," Artemis added, finally looking up at her. "The plan was to keep it safe until I needed to harness its energy. Since I am here, and not at home with my lab and proper safety protocols or safes, that meant me keeping an eye on it myself until then."

Diana nodded, arms still firmly crossed. "You couldn't have used a different power source for this invention of yours? I mean... there's so many different options- yet you chose to steal an important fairy artifact?" she questioned. "One that if it fell into the wrong hands could literally get us all killed?"

"It was a flawed plan," Artemis admitted softly.

"You don't say?" Diana went on. "My biggest problem with this 'flawed plan' of yours isn't so much that you stole the gem, but the fact you lied to me. You swore to me that you were done with the criminal lifestyle, and yet here we are. Why?"

Artemis honestly didn't have a good answer for that. "I suppose old habits are hard to break," he muttered. "I told you it wasn't a great reason."

Diana sighed, exasperated, unfolding her arms to rub her forehead in frustration. "You were doing so well! It's been over two years, Artemis. Two years. And now all of a sudden you want to steal things again?" she ranted. She was so angry tears were starting to form in her eyes. "How many more lies have there been?"

Artemis immediately moved over to wipe her eyes with his hands. He hated seeing her upset, especially because of him. "None, Diana. I swear," he answered her, making as much eye contact as possible. Artemis was unaccustomed to begging for forgiveness, and the words felt strange leaving his mouth. "It was a mistake; one I won't make again. Please forgive me."

Diana studied his face for a few moments. Was he actually sorry? Would her accepting his apology only lead to more lies in the future? After a few moments, she sighed, and she really hoped her response wasn't going to cause a larger downward spiral.

*****

Alex proceeded back to her room. She kept thinking to herself about how the walk from Artemis' dorm room to hers was getting old. He was on the complete opposite side of the building so it took a good ten minutes to get from her room to his. She needed the exercise, sure, but this was not how she wanted to get it.

As Alex got closer to her room, she noticed that there was a tall figure standing next to her door. Alex kept approaching and saw that Sebastian was nonchalantly relaxing against the wall, seemingly waiting for her to get there. Alex fondled around in her small black satchel for her key chain and Sebastian took instant notice of her.

"Hey," he greeted with that stupid smile of his. The left side of his jaw was slightly swollen and bruised from her punch earlier.

"What are you doing here, Sebastian?" Alex questioned as she reached her door.

"Just thought I'd stop by and thank you for a wonderful afternoon in the gardens," he replied, looking down at Alex's bandaged hand. "Looks like it hurt you as much as it did me."

"Maybe it wasn't a clear enough gesture that I wasn't interested," Alex snapped, unlocking her door but Sebastian stopped her from opening it.

"Look, I just came into a lot of money from selling this artifact and I was wondering if you'd like to just take a trip somewhere," Sebastian propositioned. He shot her a devious smile that made Alex's heart skip a beat. It was exciting and spontaneous all at the same time, and honestly, Alex loved it.

But what was that about an artifact?

She stared into his eyes longingly trying to decide what to do. A flash came across his eyes and they grew glossy again. Alex shook herself away from his gaze. "No thanks," she decided.

"We both know that you want to," Sebastian pressured, smiling again.

Alex sighed, frustrated and desperate to get him away from her before he somehow convinced her to run off with him. Since he didn't listen to violence, maybe she could try being nice. "Please leave," Alex said politely.

"Why do you keep denying me when you so clearly want me?" Sebastian began to pull Alex closer.

Alex put her hands between the two of them and shoved him away. "I am not going to elope with you- now or ever!"

Sebastian put his hands up in surrender. "Have it your way, sweetheart." He smiled as he continued to back away. "But if you ever change your mind, don't hesitate to call me." He flicked a ripped sheet of notebook paper at her and then continued to walk off down the hall and out of sight.

Alex grunted in frustration and shoved her room's door open, replaying the conversation in her head. Alex's eyes suddenly lit up with her sudden realization. Sebastian sold an artifact; Artemis had his stolen artifact stolen from him. Could it possibly be the same one? She relocked her door and took off down the hallway back towards Artemis' room, but not before grabbing the scrap piece of paper he had flung at her off the floor.

Alex reached the door in about five minutes. She didn't even pause for a breather or to knock before she opened it abruptly. What she saw was an intense makeout session between her two friends, and somehow she wasn't even shocked anymore. She dropped her bag onto the floor and put her hands on her knees. "Really?" she panted, causing the two to abruptly separate. "I leave you guys alone for no less than twenty minutes and you guys are already getting ready to do the nasty? You were supposed to be talking about him being a damn thief!"

"What the hell are you doing back here?" Diana questioned, shooting her a glare, ignoring her friend's comments entirely.

"Well I was going back to my room like a good college girl and I got there and Sebastian was waiting for me," Alex explained as she finally stood up and closed the door.

Diana's tone changed as she gave her a worried look. "Sebastian was at our room?"

"Oh it gets better," Alex answered, sitting down in the chair she had been in earlier. "He told me that he had recently come into some money and tried to convince me to run off with him somewhere."

"And you didn't go for that?" Diana asked, confused.

"I'm sorry but I fail to see the point behind you barging in here rudely," Artemis said, frustrated that he and Diana had been interrupted at such a critical moment.

"Uh the point I'm trying to make is that I think he's the one who stole that artifact from you," Alex snapped. "He told me he sold an artifact. You're missing an artifact. Coincidence? I don't think so."

Artemis stood up and began pacing. "So he possibly stole it from me, and then sold it... but who would want a fairy artifact?"

"He had this glossy look in his eyes, like he was distracted or distant. Maybe he was running from the very person he sold it to," Alex thought out loud.

Artemis stopped pacing. "Wait... you said his eyes were glossy?"

"Yeah, it was kinda creepy."

"Sebastian is under the influence of a fairy," Artemis declared, boldly.

"How do you know Arty?" Diana asked, trying to follow what was going on.

"Glossy eyes and knowledge of a fairy artifact only means that Sebastian is under the influence of a fairy power known as the mesmer. Humans are especially susceptible to it," Artemis began to explain. "They can influence you to do anything they want, make you see what they want you to see, or hear what they want you to hear."

"And I'm guessing that the side effects are something like glossy red eyes, memory loss, etcetera," Alex sighed.

"Yes, actually," Artemis said.

"Well now we know what to tell Holly come tomorrow," Diana yawned.

Alex massaged her temples. "I think it's time we head back; I've had about all the excitement I can handle for one day."

"I'm with her on this one," Diana muttered as she stretched and stood.

"I think that, for the time being, we should stay close. In case Sebastian surprises Alex with another visit," Artemis said.

"What? You don't think I'm capable of handling myself?" Alex said, trying to sound defenseless.

"I don't think you could- how do you Americans say it- jump him on your own," Artemis clarified.

Both Alex and Diana laughed at Artemis' attempt at slang. "Stick to your fancy words buddy, they suit you better." Alex stood and began to walk to the door. "Let me guess Di, you'll be right behind me?"

"See you back at the room," Diana said with a smile. "And I really mean that this time."

"Sure you do," Alex teased and then closed the door behind her.

"So," Artemis started as he walked over and wrapped his arms around Diana's waist, "what's going through your mind about all of this?"

"I do not approve of your criminal background and compulsive need to steal things from the fairy people," Diana said sternly. Artemis looked at the floor in disappointment but Diana put a hand on the side of his face and made him look at her. "But I do believe you when you say you can change and I intend to see it through. Just count on me keeping a much closer eye on you from now on." Then she reached up and kissed him tenderly. She pulled away slowly and with a smile, being sure to make eye contact to emphasize her point further. "You irritate me sometimes, but I do love you."

Artemis smiled, at a loss for words. "I love you, as well."

Diana opened the door and exited his room, waving goodbye before closing it. She rushed down the hallway until she caught up with Alex and they both entered their room to retire for the evening. Sleep deprivation wasn't going to help them in this situation, and they knew they had a long day ahead of them tomorrow.