“Can I give you two a ride then?” said Dia, “You never know when the rain will pick up again.”
“Could you mom?  That’d be great,” Artemis said.
Morgoth and Artemis clambered into the back seat of Dia’s truck while Daewen got into the passenger seat.  Dia shut their doors, and circled around to the other side of the car.
“Got your tie,” Daewen said as Dia climbed in the drivers seat and started up the truck, “You want to see?”
“Sure.”
Daewen reached into one of her bags and pulled out the tie she bought.  Dia glanced at it before turning out of the mall parking lot.
“Looks good.  What else did you buy?”
“Collar for Watcher,” Dae said.
“I’m sure he’ll like it,” Dia assured her.
“So you’re looking into concealment spells for the little guy?” Artemis asked, leaning against the front seat.  She wasn’t exactly behaving safely, but admittedly, it would take more then a car crash to damage her.
“Well, it wouldn’t physically turn him into a dog or a cat,” Dia admitted, “Just make him look like one to humans.  Anyone who tried to pet him would find he’s not as furry as he looks.”
“That’s cool,” Artemis said, leaning back, “You can go ahead and dump us off here.”
Dia pulled up to the curb and Artemis and Morgoth jumped out.
“You be good Morgoth,” Daewen said as her brother pulled his bag out from under the back seat.  “Don’t stay up too late.”
“I won’t!”
“Don’t worry about him, Dae,” Artemis said, picking up Morgoth’s toaster.  “We’re gonna have a blast, aren’t we little man?”
Morgoth nodded frantically.
“Can you drop him off before school tomorrow?” Dia asked.
“Sure thing.”
“All right,” Dia said, “We’ll see you guys later!”
They waved and Artemis shut the door, signaling Dia to pull out from the curb.
“So how is Artemis?” Dia asked.
“She’s okay.”
“What was she doing at the mall?” Dia asked.
“Avoiding Blaze.”
“Now why would Artemis be so worked up over staying away from that boy?” Dia asked, “It’s not like he’s torturing her.”
“She hates being attached to him,” Daewen explained, “A lot.  More then a lot of things, it seems like.”
“I don’t think she hates it,” Dia said, “I think she’s afraid of it.  She’s afraid of being tied down, afraid of him getting hurt because of her, and afraid of having to trust him.”
“That’s a really pin-pointed statement.  Do you think that, or do you know that?” Daewen asked.
“I try my best to stay out of people’s thoughts, Dae,” Dia said, chiding her, “That being said, I think that.  I can see it in the way she acts- I don’t have to read her mind.”
“Doesn’t that make you feel weird?” Daewen said quietly, looking out the car window.
“What?”
“Aren’t you and I like her and Blaze?”
“Obviously not, Dae.  Our relationship is different.  We are not at odds with each other all the time.”
“Doesn’t it bug you though?”
“Daewen, if it doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother me.”
“That’s a crappy answer,” Daewen sighed, “That didn’t sound like a whole person talking, that sounds like only half of one.”
“You’re right, Dae,” Dia said, “I don’t sound whole.  That doesn’t mean I’m not okay with it.”  He parked the truck outside the apartment and turned off the engine.  “I knew from a very young age that who I was could only be a part of something more, and I was okay with that.  And even if I had never met you, never known what whole felt like, I still would have been fine.  Just because you and I are linked doesn’t mean I’m any less of a person, and it doesn’t mean I have any less of a life.  So maybe I’ll never be able to remember feeling complete, maybe my relationships will suffer, maybe I won’t know what to do with myself without you, but I’m still a whole person- just with half a soul.”
“Dia… is something wrong?”
Dia said nothing, deciding to rather stare out the windshield at nothing in particular.
“Are things okay with Sin?”
“She…” He had to pause.  This was it- he had to tell Daewen eventually.  Rather sooner then later, since it was obvious something was bothering him.  He couldn’t hide it forever.  “She called off the wedding.”
“Oh Dia…” Daewen sighed, at a loss as to what she could say to make it better.  “I’m sorry” didn’t exactly cover it… neither did “better luck next time.”  As usual, common tongue was falling short.
“It’s okay Dae,” Dia said, shaking his head.
“It’s not okay!” Daewen said, shocked, “Here I am, bitching about Arty’s problems, and your wedding is being ruined!”
“It’s not like we had a date,” Dia said, trying to rationalize it.
“She’s not…” Daewen was careful about her next words.  “Sin’s not leaving you, is she?”
“I don’t think so,” Dia whispered, eyes going dark, “At least… not yet.”