Chapter Text
Artemis awoke to what was perhaps his least favorite sound in the entire universe.
Nestled in the crook of his arm was Holly, her caramel skin glowing in the morning sunlight which filtered through the bedroom window. But she was crying. And they weren't happy tears. He knew her more than well enough by now to tell the difference. Their decades together had ensured that. Holly's happy tears were reserved for special occasions. Their wedding, the birth of their child, the birth of their second... Her tears of joy would always fill the room, and his heart, with secondhand exuberance. This was not that.
His stomach lurched at the sight and sound of her distress, and so he started stroking her auburn locks and holding her closer, as if this would help whatever was the matter.
"Holly, what on earth's the problem?" He racked his brain for the possible cause, even as Holly attempted to compose herself and speak, now that he was awake.
"I... I woke up... and then I was watching you sleep, and... and... I saw it."
"Saw what?" Artemis scanned the room for anything out of place, holding her protectively, the distant tendrils of fear creeping up on him. It didn't sound like the children were up yet. The morning light was normal. Neither of them were injured. If there had been an intruder, surely she'd have woken him...
Holly wormed her way out of his grasp to sit up beside him. She nodded pointedly at his own head. "It's your hair. Oh gods, your hair, Arty."
Artemis was puzzled, a feeling he was not too keen on. He'd suspect he was being joshed if her tears weren't so real. He ran a hand over his head to make sure his hair was still there. Yes, there it was. Messy from the night, perhaps, but still plenty of it. He'd inherited a slight widow's peak from his father, but nothing too serious. He looked about the pillows for any hairs that might have fallen out. None immediately jumped out at him. He stroked his face, feeling the correct amount of morning stubble.
"I think you should take a look in the mirror," she said, with the bearing of a person breaking the news to a man that his wife's been killed. Sadly, during her career at the LEP she'd had to deliver just that type of news, to far too many people, on far too many occasions.
Holly's dread taking hold in his own bones now, Artemis climbed out of bed and fastened a silk robe about himself.
Holly remained on the four-poster, hugging the bedding tightly around her as a substitute for her Artemis' warmth. She watched him trudge away, into their bathroom, and saw the bright light spill out from the doorway now. Doubtless Artemis was presently peering into the looking glass.
"Ah," he muttered. "I see."
When he emerged from the bathroom to climb back in bed, Holly was watching him expectantly. "You see?" she urged.
Artemis sighed. "It's only a grey hair, Holly." He absent-mindedly ran his fingers over his right temple, where the offending hair had appeared overnight.
Holly's mournful expression indicated she somewhat disagreed as to the severity of the situation. "No, Artemis, no it isn't only a grey hair. It means you're mortal."
"I don't believe that was ever in question, was it? Sadly, I'm only named after a deity... I could dye it, if it detracts from my attractiveness."
Holly frowned. "For one second, Artemis, can't you take this seriously? I'm losing you, slowly, every second of every day, and it hurts. Oh, gods, it hurts. And now the evidence is right there in plain sight."
Artemis gathered her into his arms. "I take it more seriously than I do anything, love. And that's the truth." His voice broke a little. "If I were to let it, the guilt... it would consume me, knowing that one day I'll be forced to leave you behind. It was you who convinced me to love openly despite it, I'll have you recall..."
Holly kissed him then, as if to say I know, and I don't regret it. Artemis' kiss of reciprocation was one of relief at her resolve. Their decades together had allowed them to become quite sophisticated at communicating through a kiss. One time, they had foiled a plot because their captor had allowed them one kiss before being sent to their deaths.
After the kiss, and after a minute's contemplation, she sighed. "I know, I know... 'better to have loved and lost' and all that... But boy, is it hard sometimes." Artemis nodded in agreement. And then Holly clung to Artemis for dear life, as if this would keep him alive beyond his time. If holding him close would actually extend his life, she knew she'd never let go.
He kissed the top of her head, and held her tight in return. "As long as you won't regret our life together."
Holly didn't hesitate. "Never. And you know that."
"Never ever?"
"Never ever," she confirmed.
"Then that's all we can do. And besides, I made it to fifty with no grey. That's quite good for a human male. The widow's peak isn't too pronounced either, no?"
"No," Holly was forced to admit, pulling back to observe his hairline, and the speck of grey. "But now that the reality of it is in front of me, I'm really not liking the term widow's peak."
"Too foreboding?"
"Yeah."
Artemis nodded. "Well, the reality of it is hardly in front of you. With the amount of magic I've been exposed to over the years, and the simple act of marrying a fairy, combined with the therapeutics I'm developing with Myles, I'm quite certain that you'll not be a widow anytime soon. You will be stuck with me for another century or two at the least." He grinned. "If you can handle me, that is."
Holly made sure he saw her eyes roll at that, but what she said was, "Arty?"
"Yes, love?"
"There's no one I'd rather be stuck with. For any length of time."