Y'know, like the original...

[xhesika]

I wish I could write chapters and chapters of snuggly fluffy goodness between Kamen and Artemis like in the silver book, and I'm noticing it much more now that I've gotten into all the Haven scenes...well the ones where they're not running for their lives. I'm one chapter from the end of Book 1, and I just know things aren't going to be this adorable when Victor and Nancy get into the picture.

The ceiling of the bedroom of the Haven had been covered in a plethora of hanging dream catchers, each made from the vines of Celeste and giving the already dark room a claustrophobic feel. They had been successful thus far in keeping Van Dean out of Artemis' dreams, but it seemed to cause panic and desperation for the ruler of Dalia. Kamen surmised that Van Dean's increased threats and more frequent conferences with Clovis had been directly related to his not being able to reach Artemis through the astral.

Kamen let the corner of his mouth curl up slightly as he opened his eyes to the woman next to him, turned towards him in her slumber.

Rei had berated him on the subject several times prior—how it was incredibly hard for him to assure Sargasso that his daughter was in good hands when Rei always seemed to be catching Kamen in the midst of affections. More often than not Kamen could truthfully say that it had not been entirely his fault, and that morning would be one of those times.

He rolled onto his back and smiled at the recent memory of Artemis coaxing him to bed, Kamen had come to the conclusion many weeks prior that Artemis believed that he alone held the power to keep the dreams away. She had scoffed at the dream catchers when he brought them to her, and instead of accepting the items from him took he himself into her arms.

After glancing at Artemis one last time; Kamen rolled onto his other side, reaching for the holodex on the floor to check the time, his fingers grazing her stephane as he opened the small black machine.

"Artemis." Kamen whispered as he turned back to her, "Wake up. I have to get you to Parliament."

She took a deep breath through her nose and rolled onto her back, pushing the blankets from her torso.

"Sleep well?"

"Hmm." Artemis hummed with eyes closed, and arching her back to stretch. "Yes."

Kamen smiled, "You were right, I should never have kissed you."

"Hmm? When?" She opened her eyes and rolled onto her side to face him once more; propping her head up on her fist, "When Cassie was watching and you almost got us both killed? Or how about the handful of times when Papa decided to stop in for tea?"

Kamen groaned, "Yes, your parents think I'm an ass. I'm well-aware."

Artemis giggled, "I don't think they think that." She let out another small hum, "When do you mean then?"

"When you were just Artemis and I was just Kamen."

"I'm still just Artemis."

"My Dauphine."

"Awful pillow talk, Covington." She poked his nose with her index finger, "First you talk about how you wish you never kissed me, and then you go and bring politics into the matter. You've botched a perfectly prime tone once again."

He poked her nose in revenge, "I never said "I wish". Who's botching the tone now?"

"The one that woke me from a particularly nice dream." She turned back to lay supine and closed her eyes before opening one to look at him, "Why did you wake me again?"

Kamen raised an eyebrow at her, "Parliament. Today. Less than two hours."

She sighed and closed her eyes again, "Five more minutes."

PSSST. Also. Morpheus needs to understand that gifts in dreams don't cross over into the waking. Had another dream last night.