Deepened Sorrows [Theo]

Artemis had been off and away for several weeks. She had been traveling for 'business' or at least that was what she had been telling people. The real reason was, she had left the area and went on her very own vacation. She had a friend watch her dog and she removed herself from the grid. The only person she had tried to keep in contact with was Theo. The man she loved more than life itself. She couldn't imagine living in a world without him and to be honest, she didn't want to. So she wrote him letters and them every couple of days or so, telling him of her adventures. She was trying to be a better person for him because she knew that he was terrified of who she had become. A murderer, at least in his eyes. It was the reason she had left, the reason she had removed herself from the world. She needed time to think about who she really wanted to be.

After she came back, she sent one final letter to Theo, explaining why she did what she did, who she had become and who she really wanted to be. She wanted to be with him, and if that meant giving up her job as a hit witch, she was willing to do that for him. Theo had been the man she had been in love with since school. It was just that she never had the guts to tell him. Falling in love was scary for Artemis, it meant that people would have someone to use against her. She would have feelings and she would be vulnerable. She didn't want to be vulnerable, but now that she had thought about it for several weeks, she wanted just that. She wanted nothing more than to be with the man that stole her heart all those years ago.

The last owl that she had sent him, had asked him to meet her. It had asked him to meet her in the place that it happened, the day that he had seen what she really did. Hopefully he would show up, if he showed up, it meant that he cared for her as well. If he didn't, well she would let him move on with his life and she would go on doing what she did. Killing people and sleeping around just to feel a little bit of love.

She took a seat on one of the bar stools and waited. She ordered a firewhiskey and sipped on it as she waited. Her heart was pounding and it was the first time she had really ever been nervous for the outcome of her actions. If he didn't show up, she would feel real pain, horrifying abandonment, but as with all things, she would move on...She would let it eat a hole through her heart and she would harden herself to never feel that pain again. But as she sat there, in long lace red dress, she hoped that he would give her the chance to be vulnerable.

Life was weird when Artie was not around. Theophilus Dayton was so used to having this woman constantly around him. Since he saw her face when she was killing someone and finding out about what she did as a job, Theo was having a hard time just coping with things. Usually he was the most easy-going man around, but now he was even letting work get on his nerves. He spent most of his time coped up in his studio painting trying to get his mind off everything that was buzzing around that skull of his. Artie was writing to him. Sometimes he did not want to reply to her or even open the letters, but he could not do that to her. He was supportive of everything because that was him. The last few letters he did not reply too though. He ended up being busy with work and never even had a chance to tell her what he felt about everything. The final letter he received is basically her point of view about everything. He was more shocked that she wanted to give up everything for him. Nobody wanted to do that. That was just not Artie's nature. She was opening up to him more than her ever thought would happen. Hell- he always thought Artie would find some pureblood, fancy Slytherin guy and have tons of cute kids... but never with him. She wanted them to meet at the bar where he seen everything... that would make him nervous. Theo actually never stepped back into that pub since that day. He was more terrified of more things flowing through his brain. He knew how this seeing the future thing worked a little more, but still did not make anything less nerve-racking. He would do it for her though.

Theo was having a rough day at work already. He was working on an article about a new band that was coming out. He was already behind deadline and was past the time of him meeting Artie. He was becoming a little testy to everybody around him. He could not miss this. Finishing the sending the article off with an owl to the man editor in chief he was ready to go. He was not sure if should use the floo network cause it was faster or appearate. He was not very good at appearing where he should, but it was the best bet. He focused on the place and ended up two blocks away. He quickly ran as fast as possible. At least he was wearing comfortable clothes cause this run was already hard on him. Hopefully she was okay with him being late.

As he entered through the door he was already out of breath. Hopefully he was not sweating to bad. He checked his forehead for water, but it was fine. He noticed he sitting at the bar stool already with a fire-whiskey in her hands. She looked so beautiful in that long red lacy dress. He went up to her and grabbed her chin softly with two of his fingers. He turned her head to face his and then rest his hand on her cheek and laid a soft kiss upon her lips. He was gentle, only because he was afraid of seeing a new vision. He then pulled away from the kiss and smirked. His control was working. He was not seeing anything bad or anything really, just the lovely lady in front of him. "I missed you." He kissed her once more this time a little harder than the last. He pulled away once more. "You better not leave me again- deal?" He sat down next to her smirking.

"Where's my drink?" He put two fingers up to order himself a fire-whiskey and put his eyes back upon her. "So have you killed anybody lately? Kidding-- kidding..."

There was many other men that wanted Artemis to be theirs, but she wasn't interested in men that weren't Theophiluis. If she was being completely honest with herself, she knew while she was still in school that she wanted to be with Theo. But the idea of being tied down, of love, it scared the hell out of her. She wasn't ready for that kind of commitment then, but now, she was more than ready. She loved Theo and she wasn't afraid of admitting it to him now. He was an amazing man, a kind hearted man, he was pretty much everything she was not. Artemis Bane got off on pain, blood and hatred. Theo was the only man that made her feel like a human, unlike an animal that acted on instincts.

It was hard to sit there, waiting. What if he didn't show up? As the clock ticked by, she was beginning to think he wasn't coming. She stood up and looked across the room. He wasn't there, he wasn't coming, but then she saw him. He stood there in the door and he looked wonderful. He wiped his brow and she smiled brightly as he made his way towards her. When he reached her, he grabbed her chin gently and kissed her lips. She melted under his touch and she smiled as he pulled back. "Philly steak..." She whispered before he stated he missed her. "I have missed you as well. I am so  Sorry that I-" But before She could finish her sentence, he kissed her again. A little more passion behind it and she smiled nodding in agreement. "You have yourself a deal, mister." She kissed the end of his nose and wrapped her arms around him.

"I wanted to make sure you were coming first before I ordered you a drink." She smiled and sat back down, smoothing her dress out before sitting down again. She shook her head and smirked slightly. "No, actually. Since I told you about it, I haven't killed anyone. I meant what I said, Theo. I will give up anything to be with you. I love you, I have always loved you." She smiled and bit into her red stained lips.

"I better have a deal. You make you go crazy when you leave like that..." He bite his lip. "I don't know if someone got to you, or if you just hate me- or just I scared you off." He was terrified that him being a seer would change everything. He probably already made her hate him for him having a slight fear over her job. He was more scared that she was going to put herself into danger and not be able to get out. Theo would not be able to save her. He wanted to do anything that he possibly could to keep this woman safe. Artie was the one thing in his life he did not want to disappear.

She wanted to see if he showed up, he felt bad for not replying back to the letter. When she said she has not killed anybody and wanted to give up her job. He raised an eyebrow. She did not have to change her whole life for him. That was not what he wanted. He wanted her safe, but not to give up what she enjoyed. When she said she loved him, he smiled. "I love you too, more than anything. You the only woman that every filled that spot in my life."

That was true. Artie was the only girl that he dated long term. He had a few flings but most of the time he traveled and did not date long time. The only woman that ever put a smile on his face long term was Artie.

Theo already had plans what to do. He wanted to propose to her for years, but they were just friends. One day about two years ago he was shopping and found a perfect ring. Artie was always the woman for him. Even if she was just his best friend he got the ring to give to her, which he never did. He always tried to find the perfect moment, but none of them were perfect. He normally just beat himself up and never took the chance. He did carry the ring around with him, as weird as it sounded, that if the moment ever came along he would do it. He would take that chance and just jump on it. He felt like this moment was the best. "You are never leaving my life ever again." He pulled out a small black box and moved his body away from the stood and put one knee on the ground. He opened the box up and inside was a ring. It was simple with small diamonds on the band and the main stone was an emerald for her old house Slytherin. He cleared his voice and spoke up once more, "Artemis- Miss Artie Tartie... will you marry me?" He just hung on the moment. He was hoping that there was no slapping or no, but he was waiting.

She laughed slightly but knew exactly what he meant. He had a point, she just up and left, she needed time away to sort out what she was feeling. "Theophilus Dayton, you could never scare me off. I adore you, I love you and I you to know that." It had been hard for her to realize and admit to herself that she did love Theo. She couldn't live without him and wanted nothing more than to be his forever. "I know that you worry about me, love. But I am not going anywhere, and I'm very careful with everything that I do." She smiled slightly before leaning into him and kissing his cheek.

Artemis watched as he perked a brow at her, did he not want her to give up her job? His face lit up when she said she loved him. It was true, she did love him, she had always loved him. It was just a matter of figuring it out and saying it out loud. "I have always loved you, Theo. It was just hard to say it out loud. When you have someone you care about, it's easier to be hurt. But you're the only person that I have ever loved." She smiled at him and looked up at him through her lashes. She wasn't good at feelings but she was trying. She was trying to show him that she really did care about him. She needed him.

Artie took in a deep breath and was a little shaky thinking about all of this. It was hard to admit that she needed him but in all honesty, she never wanted to be without him. She hated when he was with other women and she hated herself for it. But when he started talking again her heart started to flutter. "I don't want to leave your life..." Then he pulled out a small black box and moved away from her. She watched as he knelt in front of her and tears welled up in her eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her palms were sweaty. The words came out of his mouth and she gasped. The question, marriage, love, a bond to that one person that she loved more than the world. "Oh, Philly steak!!! Of course I'll marry you!!" She waited for him to stand up before throwing her arms around him and kissing him. "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." The tears fell down her cheeks and it had been a long time since she last cried.

[OOC: @Theophilus Dayton ]