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Chapter Text

The Dead

September 12, 2014-Haven

Trouble stood at the head of the procession. He wore his dress greens and his head was held high. Behind him ranged the entirety of LEPRecon. To his sides and far forward stood two long rows made out of the rest of the LEP and, behind them, the citizens of Haven.

He had done this before. Not often, but on occasion. He'd even stood beside Commander Julius Root for the ceremony once, though no other time had hit him this hard. Nor had there ever been such a turnout. Any criminal that could still avoid the shame of walking the streets in the last few days would find their job disturbingly easy. The Commander even suspected that the skeleton crew on the prisons was criminally understaffed, with the guards skipping duty to join the crowd.

The lights all over Haven were turned off, leaving only this one long street—beginning at Police Plaza and extending to the outskirts of Haven—to dimly light the cavern. Beyond the LEP, Trouble knew most of the People were also standing. Foaly, Mulch, and the rest would be at the end of this walk. Seeing them...

Trouble did not want to move.

At his back, a soft, slow tattoo began on a single snare drum. Counting down. Prompting him.

Despite his desires, Trouble was a well-trained officer, drilled in the academy to follow the drum. But he did not want to think about this journey. He would disgrace himself if he did.

So, following the insistent orders of the beat, Commander Kelp took the first step and let his mind go, freeing him from his body and journeying to the past.

September 10, 2014-Outside Fowl Manor

Oddly, Butler helped them.

When he brought the Bentley around the final corner and into the sight of the LEP, he did not turn the car around or even stop it in the middle of the road. Instead, he let it come to a smooth stop in front of Trouble.

He sat in the car for nearly a minute, ignoring the orders and questions from Mr. Fowl, as well as Mrs. Fowl's frightened moans. Then, grimacing as if the age of his joints had just caught up with him, the bodyguard opened his door and exited to stand in front of the Commander.

His words were simple and he said them as if he already had the answers. Given all of the years he had devoted to the protection of this family, perhaps his charges were so much a part of him that he did already know.

"Artemis is dead?"

Mr. Fowl stopped yelling for Butler to get them away from this strange army. Angeline, sitting in the back seat, wrapped her arms around Myles and Beckett, who began to tremble.

After a long pause, Trouble nodded once. "Yes. Holly, too."

"I couldn't go through with the trip. I knew something was wrong." Butler hung his head. The light wind played with the edges of his coat. "You'll be mind-wiping us, then?"

"Yes," Trouble agreed. "We can't afford to leave any memories that might spark a vendetta. Foaly assures me that he's strengthened the mental blocks. Nothing should be able to get through."

There was a pause, during which Butler turned to look at the Fowls. He licked at his lips, as if trying to clear the way for an apology for not protecting them from this attack. It did not come, so he merely turned back and sighed. "Good. I don't want to remember any of this."

Relieved at the easy acquiescence, Trouble raised a fist into the air.

From strategic spots along the road, five snipers raised their guns.

Before Trouble could move again, Butler spoke. "I'm sorry...for your loss."

Trouble stood there, unflinching. What could he say to this man that was true? Certainly not a return of the sentiments. Fowl was dead. The People would sleep easier. Trouble knew he would spend every night of the rest of his life alone, always waking with the expectation of holding a small, soft mocha body that he was only allowed to embrace once. A woman that he was never really sure was his.

Commander Kelp lowered his fist.

Five tranquilizers struck five targets, sending them to sleep in seconds. For them, it was all over.

Actually...for them, it had never even begun.

September 12, 2014-Haven

Trouble was halfway there, but the end of the procession had yet to move. It would take them hours to complete the circuit of the LEP and citizens of Haven, but at least his duties would be done quickly. Then he could go, leaving Wing Commander Vinyáya at the end of the progress.

Trouble clenched his fists. HER.

September 10, 2014-Outside Fowl Manor

"I never meant for this to happen," Vinyáya whispered, looking across the lawn. Butler and the Fowls were being carried into the Manor. The wipes had taken hours. The sun was now peeking over the horizon, tying to fight its way through the morning mist.

Commander Kelp looked at her, eyes blank. He was done yelling. IA would take over on that front. For a moment, he wished Ark Sool was still in the service. That damn gnome might have been able to convey at least some of the rage Trouble felt.

Vinyáya crossed her arms, patting her shoulders to bring back some warmth. How had the People ever thrived in this climate? "We couldn't let him go to trial. You know that. He's a human. We have no jurisdiction, and we already failed to mind-wipe him once. This was the only way to keep the People safe."

Trouble considered this and nodded. The world—both above and below—would be safer without Artemis Fowl on the loose. If Trouble had entered the Manor alone, perhaps he would have made the same decision.

Yet he hadn't been the one to go in. Holly had.

Trouble looked away from Vinyáya and squinted at the rising sun. "How long have you been in the service, Wing Commander?"

She paused, considering this. "About...530 years."

"Straight into a supervisory position, then the last 200 years heading Section 8, plus fifty years on the Council. I even heard Principality Hill began courting you last season."

Vinyáya frowned. The socialites on the Hill had begun suggesting she take a vacant town house in their community. She hadn't even considered it, except as an indication that her triple salary had finally pushed her into the status of nouveau riche. "I wasn't interested. Too uppity. I'd have them asking for my vote every day."

Trouble grunted in approval. If there was one huge compliment you could give to the Wing Commander, it was that she followed Julius Root's philosophy of complete service to the People. "Good. That means you're doing well for yourself." Turning so that his entire body now faced Vinyáya, he pulled himself up to full height. "I want your resignation on my desk within twenty-four hours. You can stay on until the ceremonies are over, but you will be out of the force by the end of that day, or else I will make your suggestions to Holly a part of the Internal Affairs investigation.

Vinyáya gave a long gasp, letting it out again in one long, shuddering breath. She wasn't even middle-aged by fairy standards, but the deep lines around her mouth and eyes were etched in place by years of stress and responsibility. She nodded. "Yes, sir. May I suggest Ash Vein to take my place as Wing Commander? He may be from Recon, but he's the best pilot we have, now that..."

"I will consider it," Trouble assured her. "If you will excuse me, I have to supervise the cover-up. Do you know what those daft pixies came up with?"

Vinyáya shook her head. What could explain away a neutrino blast to the chest?

"A cooking fire." He let out a short, snorting breath. "The great Artemis Fowl, dead from a bit of burnt casserole." He was smiling, but it was sad and didn't last. "Dismissed, Wing Commander."

Vinyáya saluted, trying not to tremble as Commander Kelp copied the gesture and turned on his heel, walking stiffly onto the Manor's long driveway.

She watched him go, shivering as the cold wind brushed long strands of silver hair along her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Trouble. I never meant for this to happen."

September 12, 2014-Haven

The street was now almost full of marching officers. Only a hundred feet between Trouble and his final destination, with over a mile behind him. Normally he would have been proud of the rumble of the ground and the sharp crack that came with their every simultaneous, steel-toed step. Each swing of a leg was accompanied by a hiss as their uniforms slid against themselves, multiplied several hundred times over. Hiss-crack-pause. Hiss-crack-pause. Over and over, following the now drowned-out rhythm of the drum.

Except for a few sobs, the rest of Haven was silent. The procession would be broadcast by every television station, but the ratings would be horrible. After all, everyone in Haven was here, standing on the main street. A sizable portion of Atlantis, as well. No one would miss the chance to say—

Trouble clenched his fists, relieved as the small object he held jabbed into his left palm. It was a distraction, at least. It would help him remain in control for these last steps.

Commander Kelp forced himself to focus ahead and found he had to squeeze his hand again. Not now...

Foaly stood, entire body convulsing with sobs, leaning against his wife, who was also breaking apart. In front of them, a blond, tousle-haired foal looked at the approaching army, flipping his tail about. The child tugged on his father's black suit jacket, hoping for an explanation, but no one was paying any attention to him today. The boy's father had already struggled enough talking to the Commander.

September 10, 2014-Operations Booth, Police Plaza, Haven

"You know why she did it. Don't you?" Foaly asked as he reclaimed the two drained neutrinos and placed them on his crowded desk in the Ops Booth.

"No," Trouble admitted, though he wasn't really interested in what the centaur had to say. What did it matter?

"Holly didn't love Artemis. He lost his chance. Under different circumstances...maybe. But...they were meant to be together, in a sense. If not in life, then in death."

"They will not be together in death," Trouble rumbled, taking a step towards Foaly, ready to put the interfering techie back in line. He understood systems and programs, but not this. Not Holly. "He will rot in whatever hell his god reserves for murderers and madmen."

Foaly let out a soft puff of air, running a hand through his tangle mane. "I doubt death is really the end for Artemis Fowl."

The thought bothered Trouble greatly. It should be the end for him. Or at least the beginning of an eternal torment. "What do you think he's going to do? Pop back into his body? Is someone going to clone him for their own purposes?"

"That's absurd," Foaly cut in, finally looking angry at his Commander's petulance. "He's being cremated, and a clone would be useless. Soulless. A body with a big brain, but a big, empty brain."

"That's a relief," Trouble muttered, "but he was soulless to begin with."

"Don't fool yourself," Foaly said, beginning to send out a few inter-office messages, moving on to shut off his monitors. His support team could handle clean-up. The official crisis was over for him, but he had to get home. His family had to be told. "Artemis always had a soul, but it was Holly who made it a good one. Without her by his side... Goodnight, Commander. I should get home to my wife. She'll need me."

September 10, 2014-Haven

Trouble took the last dozen steps while constantly on the verge of collapsing, forcing himself to not just run ahead and away from what came next. Instead, he went up three shallow stairs and across a small platform, stopping in between two ornate, rectangular depressions filled with grey mud. Then, still moving with the drum, he lifted one foot and set it down again, backwards. On the next beat, he lifted his other foot and spun to face the procession.

There were two sets of honor guards walking side by side in full dress greens. Each of the two-dozen officers held a black strap, which curved under their burdens, held at the other side by a partner. Six straps in all were needed to carry the figures. They were wrapped in shrouds made from woven grass, the covering so featureless that you couldn't tell which was male and which female. Or which should be lacking a head, but was disguised by the addition of a prosthetic.

A prosthetic head. It had angered Commander Kelp when he had noticed the wrappings, but the thought of the alternative—allowing Mr. and Mrs. Verbil to see a headless shroud taken through the streets of Haven—had calmed his protests.

The honor guards ascended the stairs and walked past the Commander, their lines of six stopping on either side of the two pits. They turned as one to face inward. Four drumbeats later, they grasped the straps with both hands. Another four beats, and they brought their left legs back, stopping with just their toes on the ground, heels up at perfect 45° angles. Another measure's pause, then they sunk slowly, taking to the end of the next measure to touch their right knees to the ground, heads bowed.

The unseen drummer gave the next section of the procession—the ranged entirety of the LEPRecon in ten perfect rows—enough time to reach the foot of the stairs. Then he gave a short cadence and brought them and the rest of the LEP filed behind to a last thundering step.

There was no crying from the civilians, now. All strained to hear, focusing on Commander Kelp.

He was not a natural public speaker and he had certainly never addressed a crowd this large, but Trouble's voice carried over the massed fairies. "Captain Chix Verbil," he began, tongue clumsy around the posthumous promotion. "Retrieval, first class. Knight of King Frond. Protector of the People."

The highest honors he had yet announced for any officer. His record in the LEP, a title given by the last of the Frond family, and a final honor from the Council.

Trouble snapped to his right in one movement, so fast there was no noticeable transition between the positions. A perfectly executed about-face, leaving him looking down at Chix's shroud. With another sharp movement, Trouble raised a hand to the brim of his hat, the rest of the LEP copying his salute. Exactly ten seconds later, he lowered his hand, the LEP following, and faced forward again.

Now...the part he was not sure he could complete, but also the part he would forever regret, should he fail.

"Major Holly Short. Reconnaissance, first class. Lady of King Frond. Hero of the People."

Hero of the People. The highest honor ever given to any fairy. To date, only a dozen had received the honor, with King Frond being the first, and Julius Root the latest...until now.

Again, the turn, the salute, the return to forward, but Trouble didn't even think about it. His mind had shut down, allowing muscle-memory to take over this last task.

There was no call for a 21-gun salute or cannon-fire. No sad song. Just two loud beats on the drum, followed by a short pause, repeated over and over again. The echo of a long-silenced heartbeat.

The honor guards lowered their charges until they floated on the mud, then folded the straps over their bodies. Hands free, one rested in a fist on the ground to stabilize them, while the other was held over their chests, tapping along with the drum-beat.

As the shrouded bodies began to sink, the drum slowed and softened. Soon, the ranged crowd could not hear it. Then, the officers lined up between the podium lost the sound. Finally, as Chix and Holly's faces fell into the decomposition vat, the drum gave one last tap. A heart stopped mid-beat.

Trouble looked down and opened his left hand, examining the old acorn held within. He had taken it from the cellar of Fowl Manor, longing for at least one thing to keep with him.

But it was no use. It was not now and never would be enough. He was too late. Too late to really say it...

September 9, 2014-Trouble's apartment

Trouble regulated his breathing for several minutes, the abnormally deep and long-spaced breaths making him a little dizzy. Then, once he was sure the woman lying on his chest was well gone into sleep, he opened his eyes.

The room was only lit up by the dim 11:15 a.m. glow from his alarm clock, but Trouble didn't even need that to see the face before him. He had stood by her side so often in the past few years that he could bring up a perfect likeness in his mind's eye.

Very carefully, Trouble raised his head off the pillow, angling it down until he placed a soft kiss on Holly's forehead.

She gave a small moan and lightly clenched her hands, but stirred no further.

"You know," Trouble whispered, laying his head back down, sighing contentedly, "it might be a bit early to say something like this, but...I think I love you, Holly Short."

That said, he allowed himself drift off to sleep, excited about the future and truly content for the first time in his life.

The Mended

July 4, 2014-The Stratosphere

Like human doctors, the warlock medics were bound to help all injured parties, regardless of villainy Once they were firmly secured by the LEP, Opal and Koboi were doused in healing magic.

Opal awoke and began to demand a lawyer.

Koboi did not.

Once Opal realized this fact, she became very quiet.

When N°1 and Qwan stepped out of Vinyáya's craft—shocking Minerva and Artemis, who hadn't seen the rapidly growing imp in years—she stirred, looking at them through the thin reflective band that had been placed over her eyes to halt any attempts at a mesmer. Her arms were shackled behind her back, keeping the pixie from removing the stray locks of hair that had fallen across her face. The two guards at her sides, who were busy aiming their guns at the kneeling woman's head, did not seem inclined to help clear her vision.

She looked between the demon warlocks, trying to decide who would actually speak with her. She settled on N°1, despite their violent past, and said, "Can you do it quickly?"

N°1 flicked an ear that was just beginning to develop the points of a full-grown demon, though he would never gain a full demon's body. "Yes. If you cooperate. I can have you back to your own time in under three hours."

Opal turned her body (making the LEP officers nervously adjust their aim) to look over her shoulder at the form laying behind her covered in a white sheet. "Good," she whispered. "I miss her."

Slowly, N°1 crouched in front of the woman. He lightly grasped her chin, bringing her face back around to focus on him. The warlock slid Opal's visor off, brushing the hair out of her eyes. "No," he said, his voice—which had only recently cracked into the deep tones of adulthood—dropping lower as he wrapped the pixie in his mesmer. "You don't miss her. In fact, you don't even remember her."

Opal's eyes were wide as the hypnotic words sunk in. Soon they lost focus, going soft and calm as the memories were removed and N°1 hit her with a magic-induced sedation. When he was done and stepped away, she stared into the distance, as if she were enjoying a particularly good daydream. Soon after, the techies came to take her away for a full mind wipe.

Artemis looked at N°1 as the demon walked to them, frowning, but curious. "Isn't using the mesmer on another fairy against the Book?"

"Do you see anyone who would prosecute me?" The demon's voice rumbled, his short, thick tail whipping about like a cross cat's. "Besides...she needed that. Foaly's mind wipes are good, but they can still leave you feeling like something is missing. And Opal Koboi is missing enough of herself already."

Artemis nodded, remembering how his own mind wipes had been incomplete, leading to a pair of fairy-related escapades. Perhaps two types of mind wipes would be more effective than one. He certainly didn't favor the pixie, but he understood N°1's charity. She had a little over a decade to live and it wasn't right to let her live in grief, even if she had no idea why.

"I think this should go to one of the demons," Artemis said, handing over the silver dagger. "A...non-violent one would be preferable, for obvious reasons."

The young warlock took it and flipped the blade about in his hands. Then his spiky ears flipped forward, focusing on the relic, as if it was making a sound. "Is this...is this the knife that wounded you, Holly?"

Holly was watching the blade carefully, nervous of it even when it was in the hands of a known friend. She gestured to her recently injured knee. "Opal hit me with it again. It's the one."

With undisguised enthusiasm, N°1 brought the dagger closer to his face, analyzing each line and muttering words under his breath, speaking so softly that even Holly's excellent elven ears could not pick out anything more than a syllable here and there. Very soon, he seemed unable to contain himself, pounding a foot rapidly on the floor, like a rabbit giving the alarm.

Qwan did not look nervous at the sound, but it certainly caught his attention. He came up to the adventuring party and his apprentice, pulling himself up to his full height. Despite the good posture, N°1 seemed to already be a few centimeters taller, and Qwan was obviously not enjoying this new quality in his ward. "What is it?"

They dropped into the demon cant, momentarily puzzling Artemis, who hadn't heard the odd pronunciations in years. The other humans were completely befuddled, but Holly was squinting, as if this would help her adapt to the accent, and it seemed to help. By the time Artemis's mind switched dialects, Holly's eyes were widening again, jaw dropping in increments with each exchange.

"—relatively simple," Qwan seemed to be confirming. "It's warlock-made, but likely by a rather flighty apprentice. That's why it didn't kill her."

"So you think I could do it?"

"Boy, Qweffor could unravel this during his coffee break. At least on paper. The actual procedure will be complicated by the deep-tissue damage, and that could take weeks to heal. You'll need to find a doctor willing to pair with you to cover that."

"Dr. Ginko worked with me when the injury was made. I'm sure he'd help!"

"Well...in that case, it's just a matter of asking Major Short."

All present understood that they were talking about Holly, and all turned to look at her.

N°1 suddenly seemed to remember that there were other people involved. He ceased resembling an enthusiastic student discussing a breakthrough with his professor and bounded over to Holly. He knelt in front of her, sinking so low on his digitigrade legs that he nearly struck the ground with his stubby tail. The appendage was wagging so enthusiastically that his entire body shook, though he tried to steady himself as he took Holly's hands. "Are you willing to try? I'm sure I could do it."

Holly shook her head, but not in negation. Confusion had overtake her. "Do what?"

Laughing at the elf's disbelief, N°1 gave a small bounce, shaking her hands as he did so. "Now that we have the blade and can study the spells placed on it, I can create a counter-curse. Holly...do you want to remove your scars?"

She went blank at these words. Everyone studied her, trying to avoid unnerving the woman, yet unable to contain their curiosity. Even Artemis and Minerva, the experts on body language and psychology, were unsure of what she was thinking.

Holly looked down, taking one hand from N°1's grip and rubbing it on the right side of her face. Then, as if she has just realized what she was doing, she stopped rubbing, hand falling to her side, and took in a deep breath.

When she looked up again, she was grinning devilishly. "Can I...keep part of it?"

N°1 considered this and turned his head to look at Qwan, who nodded. He returned to his small friend. "Yes, I suppose so, but...why would you want to?"

Holly traced her scar from cut-off ear-tip to collarbone, illustrating the portion she intended to keep. "I makes me look badass."

Qwan shook his head in disbelief. "Holly Short needs help looking 'badass'?" He said the last word with extra pronunciation, like a parent meeting out slang to fit in with his children.

Holly nodded, trying not to laugh at herself. "When you're as small as me, you take every advantage you can get!"

"Splendid! Superb!" N°1 stood, pulling her along behind. "Come with me. I need to do a bit of study on your body chemistry so I can get started. I'll only need you a few minutes, but I want to try things out on that knee. Then you can return to your little sidekicks."

Artemis frowned at being called "sidekick," but found he couldn't remain mad when he realized that Holly was laughing with the sort of genuine mirth he hadn't heard since before Shana's birth. He wondered if anyone had heard that sound from Holly in the last six years. So he let her go, glad for this small gift. Holly would need healing beyond her physical wounds, but she had friends who could help with that. Including himself, hopefully.

In the meantime, however, Artemis had a different set of wounds to deal with.

"Minerva?" He turned to his lover, who stiffened at his attention, taking a step closer to the still-dazed Juliet (yet another portion of pain to address tonight). "Can we talk in private?"

"Ah. I think Juliet needs—oof!" Minerva curled up sideways as the other blond elbowed her none-too-gently in the ribs. She considered moving back to the Butler's side, but a slit-eyed glare from Juliet made her rethink that decision. "Talk. Yes, I suppose so." She walked to Artemis's side and they linked arms, making their way along the circular path until they were on the opposite side of the disc and free of the LEP.

"Minerva," Artemis began, unlinking them so they could face each other. "Back when Holly needed to be healed, you—"

"Artemis," Minerva broke in, head already hanging low. "You owe me something."

Artemis paused, trying to figure out what she meant. Then he remembered the third-party-promise from Holly and sighed, shaking his head. "Not now. Weneed to talk about this."

"Just...just give me a few seconds." Minerva looked up at him and lifted her hands until both rested on Artemis's cheeks as she leaned forward. "Just...a few..."

Their lips touched lightly, parted the smallest of degrees in one of those soft, long kisses enjoyed by familiar lovers. Those who realize they have all the time in the world to spend together, and who want to take all of that time.

When they parted, Artemis tried to speak again, but was halted by a single finger placed on his lips.

Very, very softly, Minerva spoke. "Goodbye, Artemis."

He scowled. "On, no. You are not getting out of this talk that easily. Besides, the LEP won't even let you off the tower, yet."

"No," Minerva said, shaking her head, bright curls catching the multicolored casino lights and taking in the hues, tinting her hair fantasy shades. "I meant...farewell. I can't do this anymore. Us."

This was the last thing Artemis had expected to hear and he scrambled for an answer. "Minerva, no! If this is about Holly, I just wanted to talk to you about hesitating to heal her." He laid both hands Minerva's, which had remained on his cheeks, pulling his girlfriend closer, as if holding her there would counteract her words.

"Stop it, Artemis!" Minerva shook him off, taking a step back, finally removing her hands and pulling them to her chest. "It isn't about Holly. Not really."

"Nothing is going on, Minerva."

"Dammit, Artemis, will you listen to me?" She glared at him, but there was still a tenderness in her eyes, though they soon looked to the heavens, as if again appealing to them, this time to enlighten the oddly slow-moving man. "I know nothing is going on between you and Holly. You're not the type to do anything like that, and I highly doubt that Holly is, either.

"It's just...you have something I don't. This entire incident, you were going into things without hesitation. Eagerly, in fact. You said it yourself: you missed this. Having your life in danger, facing off against a villain, saving the damsel in distress." She grimaced at this all-too-accurate description of herself. "You loved every second of it.

"And when the time came for me to step up and do the same...I flinched." She shrugged, as if this was all the explanation needed, but then went on. "With Koboi, I knew Juliet was there to help us, and we just needed a few more seconds. With Opal to face and no one around to help... I could have stayed by your side or lived a little longer." She hung her head. "I decided to live."

"Minerva," Artemis said, trying to reason with his...was she an ex already? "It was just instinct. You're wired to live. I'm supposed to protect you."

"Don't give me that macho bullshit, Artemis!" Minerva glared at him, truly insulted. "You plot and plan, but you are not some action hero. If you are going to continue getting into things like this, you need someone to stand beside you when things get bad. Not a woman to stand behind you. And...that's not me."

Artemis reached out to the woman and found himself catching her hand quite easily. Yet it was only because she had reached out as well, giving his fingers a light squeeze before letting them go.

"Adieu, mon héros." Minerva said, taking advantage of Artemis's shock to walk away, leaving him alone over a thousand feet in the desert air.

"Well...what do you have to say?" Foaly clopped a hoof, arms crossed and watching Holly via mini-hologram. He needed 3D to get the full effect in this conversation, and d'arvit to the cost.

The elf shrunk into herself, trying to guard against the 10cm tall projected figure. "You aren't a hard-mouthed mule. You are a full Clydesdale among centaurs." She was muttering, but more in the way a thoroughly chastised toddler will apologize than in the tone of a sulky teenager. She glared down at N°1, who was holding the seated elf's outstretched leg, immobilizing her while he worked on her third-newest set of scars. It had been a productive night, as far as battle wounds went.

N°1 was trying to avoid looking too amused, fully aware that making one leg unable to move in no way disarmed the often temperamental fairy. Really, she had begun to acquire an almost Mud Man-ish temper.

"Aaaaaaand?" Foaly leaned forward, which actually made Holly lean back. He'd acquired that fatherly talent of utter intimidation not too long after Flashdrive was born.

"Aaaaaaand...I'm really sorry for being so distant." Holly suddenly realized she was sorry. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Foaly outside of the Ops Booth.

"And how do you plan on making that up to poor, little Flash?"

Holly knew what he meant for her to say. Caballine and Foaly were on the lookout for it almost constantly, and Holly had been their main supplier until two years ago. She just...she didn't want to. It was so...beneath her.

"I could...babysit him," she finally said, sullen.

Foaly whinnied in joy. "Excellent! Are you available tomorrow night?"

"No," a rough voice answered for her from the shuttle's doorway, "she isn't." Commander Kelp strode in, glaring way down at his holographic techie. "She still has a few days left on duty at Tara. Possibly more."

Holly gasped. "More, sir? I thought...is Chix alright?"

"Oh, perfectly," Trouble chuckled, thinking of his be-winged friend. "Sneaking his hand up the skirt of every nurse in the hospital. The thing is, he's going to need a lot of down-time and flight therapy to recover correctly. Which means we need someone else at E1 to help him along. Someone who can really push those new wings of his." Trouble inspected the slowly disappearing scar on Holly's knee. "Someone who also needs a little down-time for healing would be efficient. Would you be interested in temporarily sharing his post?"

Holly looked to her knee just in time to see the last red tinge disappeared, replaced by smooth brown. "I...Tara..." The middle of Ireland. Less than an hour's drive from Fowl Manor. An absolutely negligible flight time. "I...yes, Commander Kelp! But...just until both of our recoveries are over. Then I want back in Recon."

"Excellent, Major Short!" Trouble took her hand, shaking it and pulling the elf to her feet. "Now, go find that Mud Boy and tell him." He gave Holly a shove towards the door. "The patrols tell me he's off being—what do humans call it?—emo."

Holly smirked at this image and dashed out, head darting about to find her friend. It took a hint from a passing patrol gnome for Holly to narrow down her search. When she finally crossed to the opposite side of the disc, she found Artemis leaning against one of the upper railings, looking past the city lights and into the dark sands.

Levity. That was what she needed. "Do you know what excuse Foaly is giving for Juliet's fall? A rogue bungee jumper. It's the worst excuse he's made yet, but it might...Artemis?"

He hadn't moved. Tentatively, Holly went to his side, laying a hand as far up on his back as she could reach.

Ho looked down at her, startled by what seemed to be her sudden appearance. "Holly. Minerva...just broke up with me."

Before Holly could say anything, Artemis lay is head down on the cold metal railing and began to sob.

Artemis composed himself before the next LEP patrol arrived and informed them that it was time to leave. The adventurers (minus Minerva, who had opted for a slightly less socially awkward exit on Vinyáya's craft) were standing by the elevator when the shuttles began to swoop away, threading a thin path through the beginning of the firework's display.

"Tell me, Holly," Trouble said over Holly's helmet, "does this make for a fine Hollywood ending?"

"You mean the clean-up crew flying off into some colorful explosions, leaving the heroin to take a four hour drive back to a little putt-putt plane?"

Artemis glared at Holly, resolving to berate her for insulting his Cessna later.

She could almost hear Trouble pouting. "We did offer you a seat. That would have been dramatic. The heroin leaving the Mud Men behind to find their own way home, standing at her Commander's side. The People would highly approve. Would do wonders for the romantic sub-plot, too."

Holly scowled. "Hey! You promised to never mention that part of 'The B'wa Kell Rebellion' movie again!"

Now he was laughing and Holly dearly wished you could punch someone over a helmet feed.

Artemis and Holly looked at each other, having only heard half of the interchange. She waved them off as the elevator pinged with its arrival. "Poetic license driving my reputation into the ground." She muttered something about "not sleeping my way to the top" and shielded, stepping into the elevator.

It was a swift ride down and a short walk out of the casino. The trio was ready for a quick escape, yet they were almost stunned when the truck was brought back from the valet with no incident. It was the only thing to go right in the last day.

All were sliding their seat belts on when a bright red Mustang screeched up behind them and a black-haired man tumbled out. "Juliet!"

The young Butler paused, key in the ignition and ready to go. Her jaw dropped. "Jimmy?" Rather ungracefully, given all of her training, Juliet tumbled out of the truck. Ignoring the glares of the valets, she ran to her lover, jumping into his arms. "How did you get here?"

"I drove." Jimmy said flatly and held her at arm's length, glaring. "What the hell were you doing? I had my radio on coming up and they said some blond had bungee jumped off the Stratosphere. I pulled over to find a TV, and of course it was you and of course the video showed a cord, but...that was not the angle of a fall when you jump. What is going on, Juliet?" He wasn't sure whether to be furious or relieved. Juliet was alive, but there was something much more dangerous going on here than she had led him to believe in LA.

Juliet felt her insides beginning to shatter, but not in an unpleasant manner. In felt much the way that a doctor must sometimes re-break a bone in order to set it correctly. Yes, this was what she needed. A Blue Diamond to coach her through...the kill. And a lover to hold her. "I'll explain everything over dinner." She paused, actually managing to grin. "Maybe a movie, after."

Jimmy had opened his mouth to ask a further question, then it was like something had just hit him in the chest. "Wait...that sounds like...a date." He wasn't sure what to do. Eight years waiting, and then she blindsided him?

"Yes. A date. Which means you're buying!" She pointed a finger at him accusingly, but the bartender didn't seem to mind the finances, raising his hands in surrender. "Just...one second." She put her hands to his chest, as if commanding 'stay,' and darted back to the truck.

"Please, please tell me you can find your way home without me." Juliet begged, leaning into the driver's seat.

Artemis eyed the steering wheel. "I hate trucks." At Juliet's falling face, he sighed, waving her out of the doorway. "But I can certainly drive this monstrosity. Go."

Juliet bounced with glee, taking a last moment to whisper, "Holly?"

"Go!" Holly laughed, giving the woman an invisible push. "But nothing about the People."

Juliet snorted. "He's a Blue Diamond, Holly. You think he doesn't understand 'need to know'?" That said, she popped back out of the truck and ran back to her...well, boyfriend, she supposed. With a relieved sighed, she buried herself in his arms, not minding the extra warmth he gave off.

Looking at the steering wheel like it was a pair of his father's dirty drawers, Artemis took the driver's seat and got them on their way.

Traffic was horrible as tourists rubber-necked at the exploding sky. Eventually, however, they made it through the city and into the nearly empty desert to the south. Holly unshielded, taking a stretch so thorough that Artemis was sure he heard every bone in her body pop.

"Another wild adventure over," Holly said, looking up at her friend, content.

"Status quo maintained," Artemis nodded.

Holly also looked ahead, bringing her legs up so she could wrap her arms around her knees. "I've got to disagree. Koboi dead, Opal back in her own time, Juliet finally dating that guy, and you...what happened with Minerva?" Holly had her suspicions, and none were too flattering for the elf. She wondered briefly about visiting the man's ex to set the woman straight. Artemis's words removed that idea.

"She said...she couldn't take the danger. She thinks I need someone who can go into a situation like that without a second thought. I suppose she's right. I need someone who..." He gripped the steering wheel tightly, making the plastic covering squeak. "Someone who will take a bullet for me."

Holly pulled her legs closer, head nestled between her arms to hide her face. "Do you mean...?"

There was a silence of several minutes as Artemis considered her hanging words, during which Holly felt her heartbeat shoot up with anxiety, drifting back down when nothing happened, only to shoot up again whenever the man opened his mouth. Finally, he began to speak.

"Logically...I know what I want." Another pause for consideration, during which he took his eyes from the empty road to look at his long-time friend. "But...I'm in a lot of pain right now. I just...can't." He almost looked ashamed as he turned back to the road.

Holly didn't need nearly so long to think. "I'm being stationed at E1 for a while. A year of so, I think. So, in my time off, maybe we could...hand out?" She held her hands out in the 'balancing surfer' position. "'Chill' as they say?"

"Chill..." Artemis smiled and nodded. "I think I'd like that."

Holly breathed out lowly, a ball of tension slowly unwinding in her stomach. "Me, too." That last unresolved issue set aside for the day, Holly suddenly felt the past few days' worth of frantic activity slam into her. Yawning, she stretched out across the seats, head not quite touching Artemis's, but close enough to feel his warmth. "Good night, Mud Man."

Artemis Fowl glanced down at her and smiled fondly. "Sleep well, my captain."

He expected the elf to remind him of her promotion, but an impressive snore was her only response. Artemis chuckled and reached down, tapping her jaw closed. Tentatively, he stroked her scar before returning both hands to the wheel.

The pair continued into the night, feeling whole for the first time in years.

The Living

May 15, 2014-Fowl Manor

Lucy seemed uncertain for a second. Then she summoned her Fowl resolve and stomped across the room. When she reached Artemis, she stopped, glowering. She didn't even need to glower up. They were exactly the same height.

"How could you?" She whimpered, lower lip quivering and tears coming to her eyes.

Artemis swallowed. He had expected...what? To be gone before his siblings awoke, leaving his parents to explain? Doubtless they would have had to report him as a missing person again until he was eventually declared legally dead. Would the younger Fowls be told the truth of what he had done, or would his parents take the emotionally easier lie and say he was dead? "Lucy...I had to—"

"It's not fair! You didn't tell me!"

"I didn't tell anyone, excepting Butler, and that was just hours ago." His should have prepared an explanation, but Artemis had not wanted to think of this altercation. His words seemed useless, only further irritating his little sister.

Lucy was left enormously confused, squinting at her brother. "Why would you need to tell Butler? He was there, wasn't he?"

"Well, yes, but..." Artemis stopped, suddenly realizing that two very different conversations were taking place.

Everyone descended into rapid thought, trying to figure out what was going on. It was Holly who understood first. She tried to hold in her laughter, making her shoulders heave with the effort. "Oh...Artemis! You are such a bad big brother!"

He glared at the smaller elf, annoyed that she had caught on before him. "What did I do?"

"It's what you didn't do," Lucy whined, stamping a foot. "You never told me about Rathdown Park!"

Artemis wasn't really sure if his youngest sibling was serious. His twin brothers didn't, either, looking at each other and shaking their heads in a very exasperated manner.

"Lucy..." Artemis began, pointing to his ears. "Don't you think there are more important things for you to worry about?"

She tilted her head sideways. "Noooooo...?"

"I'm an elf!" More jabbing at his ears.

"...so?"

Beckett began to laugh. His slightly more controlled brother just briefly raised an eyebrow, looking rather like an Artemis on the opposite end of the hair color spectrum.

Artemis winced, really wishing to rub his nose, but that was still a bit tender, despite the magic. Women. Always defying his expectations and turning his carefully structured plans on their heads. If it wasn't his mother remembering the People or Holly refusing him, it was Lucy taking the entire world in stride. She was shaping out to be an amazing Fowl, what with her constant calm. Briefly, Artemis hoped she would make her future spouse take her last name and add another line to the empire.

Still, he could not keep on that train of thought long. He shook his head. "I. Am. An. ELF, Lucy. Doesn't that bear some sort of comment?"

She looked up, thinking about this, then shrugged. "No. Bedtime stories come first." At her brother's continued astonishment, she relented. "Besides, you were going to do this anyway, right?"

"I...what?" Artemis appealed to Myles, who was also taking this rather well, all things considered.

Myles nodded. "The way you fawn after her?" He said 'fawn' rather dismissively, making all in the room foresee his own set of dating issues in the future. "Personally, I always thought it would be Holly to switch. It was that or us having an elf/human relative, and that really did not sit well with us, mental-image-wise, after we figured out where babies come from."

Angeline looked terribly concerned. "You know...where babies come from?"

"Duh, Mum," Lucy said, giving a little disgusted sigh and roll of the eyes that hinted rather frighteningly at her teenage years. "I'm five. Plus, we have the Internet."

Angeline seemed highly put-out.

Artemis looked between each member of his family and gave a small grunt. "So the only two people here who seem surprised by this is my father and Holly. Don't I normally get to do a big reveal, or is that perk over?"

On-screen, Foaly raised his hand. "I think," he began, ears flicking about rapidly as he tried to ignore the screaming from the Council, "that the entirety of the Lower Elements is a bit...off-kilter. Or they will be, when the Council tells them."

Artemis nodded, somewhat eased. "I imagine so. Yet, still..." He looked to his mother, still finding her to be the one person who didn't seem to be acting as he'd expected. No emotional outbursts or accusations, beyond a little squeal of joy when he'd mentioned his profession to Holly. It did not fit into what he had mapped out in his head, and that bothered him greatly. "Mum...why are you taking this so well?"

Angeline studied her hands, as if they were the source of this vexing question. "To start, I think I'm just relieved your little note wasn't as dire as it sounded."

Artemis winced. "Ah, yes...I thought you would find a way to contact the People if you found out what I truly intended, and I needed as much time as possible for everything to proceed."

The nod she gave him was understanding, but still quite sad. "You are my son, Artemis. I always...I always knew you were different. And that those differences would one day take you away from me." She gave a quick exhale that was halfway to a laugh. "Admittedly, I never thought you would do so over a woman, but...you do love to defy expectations."

Artemis was going to agree when he noticed Lucy's quick glances between Angeline and himself. She frowned in a manner that was quite impressive for a five-year-old. "What does Mum mean, Artemis? 'Leave'? Isn't Holly going to move in with us?"

Myles and Beckett looked at each other again, though this time without any trace of amusement. They had certainly let Lucy in on their theories about Artemis doing the ridiculous thing of changing his species for Major Short, but hadn't expanded on the consequences. She would have worked them out on her own, given enough time. Now events had come to pass far sooner than they had expected and she hadn't had the time to mature enough to work out the logical conclusion of such a switch.

Thus, it was left to Artemis to explain, and he did so as gently as he could "Lucy...Holly always has to hide when she visits, so humans won't find her and realize fairies still exist, remember? If we stayed here, we'd be...prisoners. Not because of the family, but to save the People. Staying hidden like that, in one house...it would kill us. So we...I have to live among the people. In Haven."

Lucy shook her head, hair flying about. She again stamped her foot as she cried out. "No! It's not fair! You didn't ask me if you could leave!"

Artemis did not want to feel selfish for having made this sacrifice, but he couldn't help it. Lucy was right. He hadn't consulted any of the family, unless you counted his revelation to Butler. Given that the manservant had spent a good potion of the rest of the day trying to halt his plans, he doubted even that really counted. Certainly he had been conscious of what the change meant, but once it had taken place, he found that facing up to his shattering family was far more difficult than even the post-surgery trudge had been. "Lucy, if there is anything I can do—"

"No!" She screamed. "You can't do anything! This is all her fault!" She turned on Holly, storming to the seated elf and glowering down at her. "You took my brother away from me!"

Holly, who regularly faced down hordes of goblins, demons, and even a few rooms full of humans, backed away from the child. "I didn't mean to!"

"Then take it back! Give me back my brother!"

Holly looked at Artemis. The arrogant, often immoral man that had once kidnapped her, faked an interrogation, and held her for ransom, nearly destroying her career in the process. Who had gone behind the People's back to invent the C Cube, then kept his plans a secret from her until she had passed the point of no return and defied her own moral code by mutilating (even if temporarily) a human. Who had convinced her that she was a catalyst for a plague that could destroy both fairies and humans.

Artemis Fowl with another 1,500 or so years to live. With a veritable mountain of gold at his disposal and the newest fairy technology within his grasp. The biggest threat to the People since...well, ever, and he was about to gain resources that no human had ever even thought of. He could expose them with another moment's negligence, like he had nearly done with Spiro.

Then she remembered the countless times he had placed his own life at risk to save her or the people. Crawling through a tube of plasma. Going with her to Hybras. Flying over Ireland with Koboi on his tail. Crawling across the high lawn covered in blood.

And, though she tried her best to deny her strongest motivation, she felt the touch of tentative lips on her own, looking for the place they belonged. And finding it.

"Even if I could," Holly said, speaking as strongly as she could and looking Lucy straight on, "I wouldn't change him back. I..." She swallowed. Why couldn't she just say it?

Lucy seemed to be considering this answer, her dark glare growing deeper all the while. When Holly didn't squirm or shrink further, she leaned in, speaking in a guttural growl that was all the more unnerving from a little girl. "Fine. You had better be good to my big brother."

Holly sighed, relaxing a bit at this, but Lucy was not done.

"Because, if you hurt him, I will end you."

Holly's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously. "Yes, ma'am!" She wasn't being facetious with the title. There were echoes of the old, unscrupulous Artemis in that threat. The Council would be wise to keep a close eye on this girl.

It wasn't permission, precisely. Permission comes before events are set into motion. This was a grudging, threatening acceptance. All seemed to simultaneously unwind as they realized a sort of peace had been negotiated. Minerva and Foaly signed off, the blond collapsing back on her bed before the computer even finished shutting down, leaving the Fowls and Holly to work through the rest of the day.

The daylight and its accompaniment of humans made travel to the Hill of Tara impossible. Over the next several hours, Artemis and Holly told Lucy (with the rest of the Fowl clan ranged behind her) about the rest of their adventure back in time. A few bags and boxes were packed. Dozens of hard drives were copied to a data crystal in the Ops Booth for later pickup, then wiped clean. Holly tried to coach Artemis through suppressing his magic so he could eat, but the mouthful of sparks defied his efforts, making the young man look like an Irish Godzilla.

Every minute seemed to be filled with a thousand questions.

"Where will Artemis live?" Angeline asked, eyeing Holly sternly.

Holly had been flustered at that, but Artemis stepped in to say he intended to buy a small house near Foaly and Caballine.

Mr. Fowl was infinitely practical. "How will you make your money? Noting your tastes, that much gold won't last forever."

Artemis easily had enough money to establish himself for a few decades, but beyond that he could probably find a position in any of the tech companies. Holly could imagine Foaly becoming a bit worried at this and envisioned the centaur espousing a Fowl-Foaly alliance to avoid inconvenient competition.

Butler was also focused on life logistics, but of a more physical nature. "Won't the People be hostile to you, after all you've done?"

Perhaps, but not all of them. Holly was sure most would welcome the new elf, thanks to all he had done for them. In fact, the demons considered him to be the savior of their entire species. And if the demons wanted you to stay safe, you stayed safe.

Lucy, who had been watching Artemis's unsuccessful efforts at eating, wrinkled her nose. "What do fairies eat in Haven?"

Artemis shuddered. "You do not want to know."

The last question was, of course, the hardest one, and the one which no one wanted to bring up. It was Beckett who decided enough was enough and blurted it out. "How often will you be able to visit?"

Artemis looked to Holly, who chewed on her lip, thinking. "I've only been able to visit so often because I was the liaison for the People and the Council never really took that job away after Koboi was caught. With both of us in Haven...I'd be surprised if we could arrange an overnight once a year, when performing the Ritual."

"Once a year..." Beckett repeated, looking to the rug.

Lucy took Artemis's hands and began to sniffle.

While Artemis's pupils began to dilate with rising panic at the idea of another outburst, Beckett jumped in to save the day. "If it's going to be that long, you should show Lucy how to take care of Acorn. She's an easy horse. I think she should be Lucy's, now."

"Excellent idea!" Artemis responded quickly, taking off towards the coat closet in search of an umbrella to guard against the sun.

All the younger Fowls and Holly were about to exit the Manor when a deep cough caught their attention. Artemis Fowl Sr. stood in the kitchen, evaluating this quartet of short people. The lights in that room were still out and the sun had already passed overhead, leaving only a dim, reflected glow to come in through the windows.

"Major Short," he said, sweeping his hands towards the back of the kitchen to draw her inside. "May I have a word with you? Privately?"

Holly looked to Artemis. Not for permission, but for reassurance. At his nod, she swallowed and left the party to their adventure in the stables.

For a moment, she thought the Fowl patriarch was going to sit her down for a drink and negotiations. Instead, she followed him most of the way across the kitchen until she realized where he actually intended to go. Then she stopped, watching as the man opened the doorway to the cellar stairs. He clicked on the light and Holly's ears began to itch at the cold hum.

Fowl Sr. didn't even pause to look back and see if the elf would follow. He stepped down the stairs with a confidence that defied his lack of one leg.

Holly looked around to see if anyone was watching, but all were too involved in last-minute preparations to notice this meeting. For a brief period, she considered going for her neutrino, then scolded herself. This was Artemis's father, not Koboi or Cudgeon.

Still berating herself, Holly tapped down the stairs and across the hall, but she couldn't bring herself to take the final steps and join him in the room at the end of the hall. Her old cell.

Artemis St. was standing inside, hands clasped behind his back. He studied the cot and the hole where a brash female LEPRecon officer had smashed through to soil.

"A metric ton of gold for one fairy," he said, turning to Holly and raising an eyebrow. "It seems rather...odd."

"Odd?" Holly said, no idea where this conversation was going, but not entirely sure she was going to like it.

"My son got his gold...and still managed to keep his fairy."

Holly swallowed nervously, but did not glance away as she wished to. This wasn't a battle for dominance, but she felt that something needed to be proved here. "I believe...the People got to keep him."

"Indeed." Artemis Sr. reached up to bat at the pull-chord of the single lightbulb, looking altogether feline.

Holly had to wonder if she was the mouse. Again she berated herself, but remained wary.

"My son. My heir." He looked to the elf, an odd little smirk on his lips. Not amused, but...incensed. "I passed up several business alliances because company owners expected me to pair my son with one of their daughters. They always said my refusal was an effort to...hide something about Artemis. I suppose I can now just tell them he was a fairy."

For a moment, Holly didn't understand and felt her stomach sour at a threat against the People. Then her Gift of Tongues tried a less literal translation and she began to giggle. Still wary of Mr. Fowl's reaction, she covered her mouth with the back of a hand, hiding her amused face, even if she couldn't stop the sound.

However, Artemis Sr. had already finished his stern act, letting out his own amused chuckle. "You are a fascinating creature, Major Short. I can see why Arty has been drawn to you."

Finally at ease with these words and the camaraderie created by the subject of the younger Artemis, Holly entered the cell. "Despite my best efforts, yes. It's...'Holly,' if that's okay, sir." She prodded the frame of her cot with one foot, then played with the dirt, still wanting something else to focus on.

"Well. In that case, you must call me 'Timmy.' Or 'Pop.' Preference?"

She kicked a loose shard of concrete under the cot, then looked up to him. He was harder to face than Artemis when he had first kidnapped her. "'Timmy,' I think. I'll leave the other for..." She trailed off and coughed. No sense in thinking too far ahead.

Timmy seemed to feel it was time to finally address his real problem. "My son...doesn't know what he is getting into. Does he?" The man appealed to Holly to defy his conclusions, but the elf just nodded.

"Artemis knows a lot about the People, but that's all from texts and a few short visits to Haven. He might know a lot about us, but he doesn't really understand how to be one of us." She gave the father an apologetic look. "I mean...he didn't exactly fit in as a human, and he was born to that."

"Too true," Timmy said, waving off her guarded tone. "That is why I wanted to speak with you." He leaned over slightly to massage his knee, trying to relieve some of the strain placed on it by the artificial leg. "Life with the fairies is not going to be the series of adventures Angeline told me about. It is going to be...well, as close to average as you can get when you're my son. Which means he is going to have to do some very quick growing up and adapting. He'll need to learn to cook, clean, socialize, hold down a real job..."

Holly gave a little cringe at each task. Artemis could get a maid or manservant to help maintain his style of life, but it would be an enormous pull on his resources. One metric ton of gold was a lot, but you could not live on it for a pampered lifetime. Even Foaly couldn't afford hired help, and he was one of the best-paid fairies she knew. "So...why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you talk to Artemis?"

"Perhaps," Timmy agreed with a shrug that said he actually didn't agree in the slightest. "Unfortunately, my son is...adverse to such activities. He must be forced into them, I think. And since you so kindly made him become a fairy—"

"I didn't make him become a fairy! He did that without asking me."

"I understand that, Holly." The elder Fowl watched his new elven acquaintance and gave an annoyed grunt. "I am not going to berate you for what has happened. I'm here to ask...a boon. On my son's behalf."

"A boon?" Holly pushed down a little suspicious twinge. She really needed to work on that response to the Fowls.

Artemis Sr. knelt in front of Holly and took her hands. "Will you...take care of my son? Teach him to be a fairy? Bring him out of his shell and put him into the real world? Make him take in some culture?"

It was a daunting task. Make Artemis into a normal fairy? Holly considered refusing. Then his last request tickled something in the back of Holly's memories. She smirked. "'Take in some culture...' I think I can do that."

"And one more thing?" Timmy looked as grave as Holly had ever seen him. And she had seen him standing at gunpoint in the arctic.

"Yes?" She asked, readying herself for the real request.

"If you and Artemis have a child..." Timmy took a deep, steadying breath. "Do not name it 'Artemis.' You have no idea what a cross to bear that is."

Holly had to laugh at this. "Well, your son bears it well." Still, she nodded in agreement. "I couldn't use that name, anyway. My great-great-grandaunt would kill me."

"Your...why?"

Holly savored having the upper-hand for the first time in this conversation. She patted the Fowl patriarch's forearm. "Have a seat. This is going be a bit of a shock..."

The drive to Tara was cramped, but no one complained or asked Butler to bring out a larger car. The Fowl family sat all together in the back seat of the Bentley, asking final questions and giving advice to their journeying son. Holly sat up front with Butler, nodding automatically at the various threats he urged her to watch out for. She was just trying to figure out why lobster attack was so important when the car stopped on the side of the road, close to a lone cow.

They all piled out and weighed Artemis and Holly down with duffel bags and a box each. The rest of Artemis's belongings (namely his gold) would need to be transported over the next few days. For now, the fairies staggered under books, laptops, and a few personal effects. They looked like two college students about to move into the dorms.

It seemed like the Fowls had been saying farewell all day, so they made this last goodbye swift. There was brief speculation on a Christmas visit. Then, before Lucy or Angeline could descend into tears, Artemis and Holly walked into the field and entered E1.

Chix Verbil, who was leaned back in his chair with both feet on the desk, opened one eye and closed it again as they materialized. Then both eyes shot open and he sprang to his feet, unholstering his neutrino and aiming at Artemis's chest. "Freeze, Mud Boy!"

"It was 'Mud Man,' Verbil," Artemis grumbled, not even bothering to break stride, merely following Holly across the shuttleport. "And even that isn't correct, now."

Chix looked to Holly, demanding some sort of explanation for why she was bringing Fowl here and why he was so...small.

Holly glared at Chix. "Lieutenant, do you ever check your messages?"

They passed by the officer's desk as he pulled up his full inbox and found the pertinent memo. "Holy..." Whatever he thought was sacred was lost to stunned silence as he watched the two elves take their place at the departure gate.

Both set down their boxes and bags, Artemis giving a little groan of relief and Holly rolling her eyes at him. "Be glad you don't have to move the gold. A few books is nothing."

Artemis sat on a box and rubbed at his arms. His suit was unacceptably creased by carrying so many things. "Remind me of that in the morning."

"Rather presumptuous to think I'll be there to remind you." Holly chided, taking a seat across from him on her own box. The view provided by the flimsy seat proved quite worthwhile when Artemis presented a pleasing blush.

"I didn't mean...you could call, Holly." He nodded at this, hoping he had back pedalled far enough out of a potential insult or presumption.

Tutting, Holly said, "You are going to be far to easy to mess with, Arty."

"Oh, so it's 'Arty' again?" He seemed to like this, hoping it was to be his new nickname, saving him from something more questionable.

"Only when you're being particularly immature." Holly gave an inward cheer at Artemis's offended look.

"I am not immature. I have never been immature. I am wise beyond my years." He raised his head, playing the worldly man. Sadly, he was still far too young to pull this off, despite his generally intimidating mien.

"I'll be sure to tell people that when I talk about my twenty-three year old boyfriend. I'm sure no one will say I'm 'robbing the cradle' if I claim you're 'mature.'"

Artemis started and his already complete focus on Holly became intense, pinning her down. All except her hands, which flew to cover her mouth. Had she gone too far in saying that? Artemis had said he changed for her, and certainly she had received every indication that he hadn't changed his mind, but was Artemis the sort of man that had to make everything official before saying something like that so casually? Would he feel the need to make all the advances in their relationship? If so, he was in for a harsh time with the aggressive female.

Rather than address her slip, however, Artemis took one of Holly' hand's in his own, looking down at the mixture of pale and dark skin with obvious fascination. "Right. That. I...I need to ask you something, Holly."

She felt dizzy, all of a sudden. It took Holly a moment to realize she wasn't breathing. When she managed to get enough air in, she squeaked out, "Y-yes, Artemis?" Surely he wasn't planning on asking...that. Surely?

"What I did...there is no turning back. I know without a doubt that this is what I want. Forever." He squeezed her hand and nodded to himself. "So, knowing this, do you...am I..."

Artemis looked up, fear clear in his eyes at they met Holly's. He had several more false starts before finally managing to get the words out. "Am I everything you ever wanted, now?"

She couldn't help it. Holly let out a great, relived sigh, laughing a bit at the end. "Oh, Arty...Artemis...of course." She brought their hands up, fingers still entwined with his, and placed it on his cheek. "You always were. Everything and more. I was just too scared to see it."

Artemis smiled and wrapped his other arm around Holly's waist, pulling her across the small gap between them until she sat at his side, angled so they could face each other. He shivered as Holly wrapped her free arm around his neck, fingers twining into his hair. Her scent overtook his senses. Pheromones. Now that was unexpected. And quite pleasant. "Really?" He asked again, their heads moving closer.

"Yes..." Holly breathed, her lips parting and eyes nearly closed, leaving her just enough sight to watch this young man who was bringing her inexorably closer to his body. With each syllable, their lips brushed together. "Always. I...I love you, Artemis Fowl."

He smirked in triumph, the twitch transferring across to the woman pressed so closely to his chest until they were both smiling. "Ah...excellent. I love you, Holly Short." Then, with the slightest squeeze, he brought her forward until their lips met.

Holly was vaguely aware that Chix was cheering them on in the background, but she couldn't really be bothered to focus on him. She couldn't focus on anything beyond Artemis's cheek under her hand, his hair between her fingers, his arm about her waist, and their lips moving so smoothly together. If their kiss under the oak had been intense, this went far beyond, powerful enough to burn away every sense but touch and every emotion but desire and love. After years of tentative approaches and awkward, mis-matched meetings, they came together and finally fit each other perfectly.

They even breathed together, avoiding all those awkward splutterings and gasps for breath common with inexperienced kissers. They went on like this for what felt like only seconds, but proved to be a bit longer when a shuttle pilot emerged from the chute and called for the last passengers, giving them a pointed glare.

They broke off with apologetic smiles and began to gather the luggage. Once Artemis's arms were full, leaving him undefended, Holly paused before lifting her own items. She turned to him, grinning. "Don't think you being 'everything' and all is going to stop me from giving you elf lessons." She reached out and poked Artemis's nose, making him briefly cross his eyes and lean back. Then she hoisted her portion of the luggage and began to stride towards the shuttle.

Artemis watched her a moment, then jumped forward. "Holly, wait! What do you mean 'elf lessons'? What do I have to learn?"

Holly laughed like a mad scientist, refusing to inform the confused man. He would know soon after they landed.

May 15, 2014- The Lower Elements, Haven, "Juicy Burger" diner

"No," Artemis said, crossing his arms and shaking his head with finality.

"Come on," Holly persisted, pushing the item in question across the table towards her new boyfriend. That word...was going to take a lot of getting used to. But there were more important things to worry about. "You have to do it. You'll get sick real quickly if you don't."

"Holly, I can balance things. I'm sure there are other fairies in Haven who don't..." He couldn't even bring himself to say it. The entire idea was repugnant.

"Artemis," Holly said, laying her hands flat on the table, as if showing all of her cards and making it apparent that she had won the entire pot. "Yes. There are vegetarian fairies. However, you had no problems eating meat as a human, so you are not getting out of this. Do it."

Artemis's eyes darted down to the plate. He tried to push it away, but found the path blocked by Holly's hands. "I will not."

"Artemis," Holly said, a cutting edge in her voice. She yanked a piece of the dish off, brandishing it at the man's face, trying to poke it past his lips before she was batted away.

Artemis had sudden, horrible flashbacks. He backed against the wall on his side of the two-sided dining booth and shook his head. "No! Go...go tell Foaly to find me an artificial pituitary. It's not worth it!"

Holly seethed. Then, with a rippling change that seemed to travel from her pointy ears to her toes, she smiled sweetly. Delicately holding the tidbit between her fingers, she left her own seat and slid into Artemis's side of the booth.

He clamped his jaws closed and turned his head away. She was going to attack, and there would be no escape! This was it!

Holly straddled Artemis, their bodies fitting together from chest to hips. Firmly, she grabbed his chin and wrenched it forward until his wide eyes looked into her half-lidded ones. "Oh, I assure you, Artemis," she purred, trailing her hand down his chest, moving with agonizing slowness. It stopped at his navel, eliciting a pained groan from the pinned man. "I am entirely worth it." She presented the new elf with his first meal in Haven. "Now...eat the spider."

Artemis whimpered, appealing to Holly with rather impressive puppy-dog eyes. When she merely shook her head, Artemis sighed and opened his mouth, letting Holly pop the tarantula leg inside. He chewed disconsolately. It wasn't as bad as he remembered, but that didn't keep him from sulking after he swallowed. "You are going to enjoy tormenting me, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Holly murmured, giving Artemis a quick kiss as his reward. "I really am."

The End