Artemis leaned back in his chair, thinking about what he had just read. Some nation was trying to threaten him with threats of war when they and he both knew that they couldn't beat his armies. It was an insult to his intelligence.

"Artemis, look at my new pin," a dark-haired child of about six or seven bragged. He wore a military uniform like his father's although he would not serve in the army for many years. Artemis smiled.

"And what is that for, Demitrius?" he asked, looking down from his work. Demitrius smiled proudly, showing off the pin.

"I passed a test my instructor gave me," he said, smiling. Eisenhower, Demitrius' brother, walked over and took Artemis' hand.

"Whatcha doing, Artemis?" the young brunette asked, pulling at the man's hand.

"Writing a letter to the Jergens," replied Artemis. Eisenhower and Demitrius' father was Sutton, a friend of his. When Sutton was in a meeting, which happened every so often, Demitrius and Eisenhower were watched by their mother, Leah Maria. Today, however, Leah had taken them to Artemis' and asked him to watch them, saying she didn't feel well. So he was.

"Demitrius, if you succeed in your studies, you'll be just like your father in only a few years," Artemis declared, giving the singing Eisenhower a piece of candy to suck on. That kid always needed something to keep him quiet.

Demitrius turned a light shade of pink and bowed respectfully. "I want to be just like Father some day," he told Artemis. The blond nodded, although he wished, for Demitrius' sake, that Sutton would not make him grow up so quickly.

Eisenhower chewed his candy and swallowed it, crawling into Artemis' lap. "I wanna be like Artemis," he announced, "I'm going to make my hair yellow." Artemis raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Demitrius. He did not think Sutton would appreciate Eisenhower's goal very much.

"I have yellow hair," a girl's voice stated. Demitrius looked behind him to see a young girl standing in the doorway with long blonde hair and a sundress and sandals on. He smiled. He had watched his father with women often and now had one his own size to mimic him with. Demitrius walked over, took the girl's hand, and kissed it lightly.

"I am pleased to m-" The girl pulled her hand away, eyes wide.

"Ew! You spit on me!" she cried, wiping her hand on her dress, "Why would you do that? You're so mean!" Demitrius blinked.

"It was not mean, Miss. It is tradition." The girl frowned.

"It's an icky tradition," she told him. Artemis gave her a warning look.

"It is not!" Demitrius exclaimed. He was insulted that she would dare say things like that about his father.

"Yes it is!" she cried, not backing down. Demitrius lost his temper and shoved her into the wall. Eisenhower cried out and jumped off Artemis' lap. The Immortal King rose and made his way to the two.

The girl looked surprised at first but retaliated, shoving Demitrius back. Demitrius blinked and pushed her over.

"Demitrius Adrien George!" a distinguished voice said harshly. Demitrius gasped and stood up straight, blushing a bit. He knew his father thought less of him now for striking a girl, but she was hardly a lady.

Sutton walked over and helped the girl up. "Are you alright, Miss Adea?" he asked, sounding a little worried. He had never been so embarrassed for his son. Adea nodded a bit, straightening her dress. Sutton looked at his son, crossly. "Demetrius Adrien, apologize to Miss Adea."

"I'm sorry Miss Adea," Demitrius said, reluctantly, "Sorry you're so dumb." Artemis grabbed Adea's arm to keep her from running at the prince. Eisenhower stifled a giggle. Demi was funny when he got mad. Sutton, on the other hand, looked livid.

"I'm not dumb!" she yelled, trying to get past her father, "It's not my fault you spit all over my hand! You're the dumb one!" She paused. "And you're really short!"

Demitrius ran at Adea and tackled her to the ground, girl or no girl. Adea screamed and clawed at Demitrius, struggling to get out from under her. Demitrius pulled at her hair, yelling intelligibly. Sutton pulled his son off the princess, but not before the young girl burst into tears.

Artemis lifted his daughter into his arms, stroking her back gently. Sutton did the same with his son, but he was not gentle or comforting.

"Artemis, Miss Adea," Sutton began, struggling to keep his composure, "I apologize on behalf of my son. I do not know what has gotten in to him." Artemis nodded.

"I apologize also," said Artemis, as Adea snuggled closer to him. She wasn't sorry. She hoped Sutton would bash his head into the wall. He pulled her hair.

***

"Blondie!" Eisenhower exclaimed, running into Adea's room. The two had become very good friends in the two weeks since they had met in Artemis' study. Adea sat up on her bed, grinning devilishly. Her big blue eyes were filled with mischief.

"Ike, I need you to do something for me," she said, using her nickname for him. It was the same one Demitrius used. Eisenhower jumped on the bed, ignoring one of Artemis' number one rules: absolutely no boys were allowed in Adea's room. Adea said the Eisenhower was exempt because he was more of a girl anyway.

"Whatcha gonna do, Blondie?" the young prince asked, bouncing on his knees excitedly. Adea held up a small balloon she had filled with water and tied off.

"Is Demitrius still sleeping?" she asked, grinning. Eisenhower nodded with a cheery, sing-song, 'uh-huh'. Adea gave him the ballon. "Go throw this at him from me," she said.

Eisenhower laughed. He couldn't wait to see Demitrius' reaction to this. The children giggled in anticipation as Eisenhower cast a spell and disappeared.

The brunette prince appeared in his twin brother's dark room. He could barely see the outline of Demitrius, sleeping deeply. Eisenhower approached Demitrius carefully and shook his should gently.

"Demitrius." he said softly. He saw his brother's eyes flutter open as a soft moan escaped his lips. "Here. From Miss Adea." Eisenhower dropped the balloon on Demitrius' face and ran out of the room screaming, Demitrius right behind him.

Sutton walked down the hall of the palace, going over his day's agenda with his Captain of Orders, Narykabo Deliquior. He paused when he heard a high pitched screaming, which sounded a lot like his son.

Just as he'd expected, Eisenhower came running up to the men at top speed, darting under Sutton, through his legs and down the hall. Demitrius soon followed, yelling at Eisenhower to stop. He ran around his father and continued down the hall.

"Those are your children?" Narykabo asked, sounding amused. Sutton shook his head.

"I am not quite sure. I will be back, Mr. Deliquior." Sutton went after his sons, determined to stop them before they wreaked havoc all over the palace.

Eisenhower appeared in Adea's room and dove under the bed. Adea blinked as Demitrius appeared less than a second after. "Where's Ike?" he demanded. Adea only laughed at his dripping wet face and hair. He looked so ridiculous. "Shut up!" he yelled, furiously. When she didn't stop, he took a pin from his jacket and threw it at her. Adea cried out as the pin hit her face, scratching it.

She yelled and tackled the prince to the ground, strangling him just as Sutton appeared. Demitrius pushed her off and beat his fist on her shoulder, causing the younger girl to cry out in pain and Artemis to run in. Sutton pulled Demitrius off of Adea fiercely, shaking him. "What in the Gods in wrong with you, Boy?" he demanded.

Demitrius turned away, hiding his face in shame. He hit a girl. Actually hit one. Artemis walked over to his crying daughter and scooped her up in his arms. He looked at Sutton.

"At least they'll grow out of it someday," he said, trying to sound optimistic. Sutton nodded. He was looking forward to that day.