Title: Falling Slowly

Premise: 12 months after Great Techno-Crash, 6 months after Artemis's resurrection

Other notes: same universe as Nervous Peace

Summary:

Holly sings her soul into one loving song.

FALLING SLOWLY

Fowl Manor, Ireland; Now

"I didn't know you could play."

Holly flushed slightly. "I started half a year ago." She turned away from the window and noticed Artemis staring at her. "What?" she asked, a little miffed.

Artemis smirked. "It makes you seem more...feminine." He fingered his chin as he pretended to search for the word.

Holly made a face at him for that. "As if you care." She cocked her head in a challenge to him. "Do I look feminine enough for you, Arty?" As she said his nickname, she dipped her chin, opening her eyes wide and fluttering her lashes in a way that would have made Juliet proud.

Artemis snorted. "If feminine is equivalent to bimbo, then yes."

Holly scoffed and lightly pushed him towards the door of the guest room. "Oh well, then I'm sure you'll have more fun talking with Foaly. He's far less feminine than I am." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but her eyes sparkled with good humor...and something else.

What Artemis didn't tell her, though - and what he was unwilling to say - was that she looked more than just feminine; she was magical.

In the year or so since the Great Techno-Crash, much had changed about both of them. Artemis, having regained his memories through Holly's meticulous efforts, found time in his life to simply appreciate the beauty of nature - the plants, the animals, and the eyes of one female LEP captain in particular.

In fact, he thought with a glow of disappointment, I wish I still had that eye.

Holly had spent half a month recounting their adventures together, from the planning of the kidnapping to his resurrection. On the final night - after eighteen days of vague pictures and unclear images - the dam broke, and all his memories came rushing to fill the empty voids.

For Holly's part, she learned to appreciate everything and everyone she loved. She had let her hair grow out to shoulder-length, and started wearing a T-shirt and jeans for more casual visits to the surface. Humanity and the People were finally living together peacefully, but that didn't mean the ideas of fashion were consistent with both groups.

She had also picked up the guitar, at Mulch's suggestion.

"What?" she asked, confused. "Why would I learn a human instrument?"

Mulch, in the process of devouring a chicken sandwich, snapped his fingers. "Easy," he replied, his words almost completely muffled by chicken-and-bread mush. "We're all lovey-dovey with the Mud Men now - we should demonstrate that we know and are willing to accept their culture."

Holly blinked, surprised. Mulch was not the type of person to be considerate, thoughtful, or caring of other people's cultures; his idea of politics and the like was "eat, dig, sleep, repeat."

And then: "Of course, you could also play for Arty-boy."

Holly blinked again, this time more in shock than surprise. "H-how do you know that-" she clamped her mouth shut, realizing what she was saying.

Mulch guffawed in between bites. "See? You do like him!" He leaned forward and licked his giant, hairy palms. "Look, he'll love it. He's got too much cold in him, even after his glory years with us." That earned a snort from Holly. "He'll probably never admit it, but Foaly and I agree that you're his soft spot - his chink in the armor."

Holly smiled weakly, fighting the tears threatening to fall. Truth be told, she realized what he meant to her just before his release from Dr. Argon's clinic. Of course, his sacrifice had left her heartbroken and in despair - until Foaly described the human's Plan B. Then, when the time came and the clone woke up, her heart was torn once more by his amnesia.

But she prevailed. She requested - and received - a month-long leave to Fowl Manor. With all that Artemis had done for the People, humanity, and the world as a whole, Commander Kelp could hardly refuse. She spent every waking hour with him, taking him to places where they had shared history and trying to jog his memory. In the end, she had woken one morning to a pleasant reality as her efforts came to fruition - a kiss on the forehead, a warm smile, and ice blue eyes.

Holly nearly melted right there, heart swelling in compassion and joy.

But…something was wrong.

Something was missing in Artemis's eyes - something that was there in the last month of his life.

Eventually she figured out what it was - Orion.

His loving, carefree personality was missing, and the revelation that came with that thought shook Holly to the bone.

Uncertainly, she asked Artemis about his stay at the clinic, who gave a puzzled smile and recounted his treatment sessions.

But not that day at Frond's.

Holly's heart ached for that boy - that man she fell in love with, the man who allowed Orion to enter his mind, but he was gone. In his place was Artemis, who for some reason retained everything except that fateful day. In his place was Artemis, who was everything he used to be.

Everything...except her lover.

"So, Holly, what do you think?"

Holly almost started. She had been remembering the last month - a roller coaster full of joy, despair, joy, and despair again - and forgot that Mulch was in front of her.

She gave a small smile. "Sure. Why not."

Mulch clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Y'know, we've always wanted to see you and Arty together - you two are complete opposites and completely complete each other!"

Holly raised both her eyebrows - one at the notions of his statement, and one at the dwarf's choice of words. "I wouldn't have taken you to be a romantic, Mulch Diggums."

He grinned back at her. "Ah, I've been talking to Butler too much. Besides; you two are among my best buds." He leaned forward again. "Have fun with it. Sing to him, make him love you, and you'll find time for music."

Except she didn't feel like having time for music. As soon as Artemis left the room, she flopped down onto the bed, crying softly.

As she turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling, vision blurred by tears, she thought about his stay in Haven, and what it meant for them. Artemis remembered everything - even the parts she had forgotten to tell him - but for some reason he forgot the one thing she wished he hadn't forgotten - his love for her.

And then, eyes red-rimmed and heart aching, she knew what she wanted to do.

She pushed herself to the edge of the bed, getting her instrument from its case. It was a Baby Taylor, meant for human kids or for travel, but perfectly sized for her. It was Butler's gift to her when he heard she had started playing. She gave it a quick tune, sharpening the B string a little, before closing her eyes and saying, "Oh, Artemis, if only you could remember." She took a deep breath and...

I don't know you, but I want you
All the more for that…

Artemis chuckled, shaking his head at Holly's closed door. He knew he would always get the last word, but it was still very entertaining to tease her. He turned to leave, but suddenly heard muffled cries from inside.

Smile disappearing quickly, he immediately became concerned. Had he said something wrong? He had his hand on the handle before he hesitated. What if Holly just wanted to be left alone right now? He would be seen as an intruder - not as a friend.

At least, he thought, frowning, if I were in her place I would see myself as an intruder. He paused, tormented by thinking about it, each second agonizing him as he heard his closest friend crying. Eventually, deciding that something had to be done, he applied pressure to the handle. He opened his mouth to call Holly's name, but stopped as she said his name.

"Oh, Artemis, if only you could remember."

He knotted his brows in confusion. Remember? Remember what? he asked himself.

Then Holly started singing.

I don't know you, but I want you.
All the more for that.

Artemis let out a small sigh. He recognized the song as "Falling Slowly" from the musical Once, one of his grudging favorites. Her voice is absolutely incredible. And then: Like tinkling bells. He stopped. He knew he shouldn't be here - that he really was an intruder now in Holly's grieving moment - but something about that last thought confused him. It wasn't the grammar; nor was it the false description of Holly's voice (he personally thought it was closer to an angelic choir than tinkling bells). No, it was the familiarity and the suddenness of the thought that bothered him.

He frowned. Where have I heard that before?

As these thoughts flew around in his mind, Holly was still singing.

Words fall through me and always fool me
And I can't react.

Artemis watched with a pounding heart as tears flowed freely down Holly's cheeks. Something wanted to break through his consciousness - something about colors. He tried to grasp at it, but it eluded him.

Much like how my other memories were, he thought bitterly.

Holly remembered the one week they had together in Dr. Argon's clinic - possibly the best week of her life. She started crying harder as she remembered how she felt - how she felt that anything could happen to the world, and she would remain content as long as she was with Artemis.

She took another breath as she went on to the pre-chorus.

Games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out.

Still closing her eyes, she preserved those memories by wrapping them in magic as she started strumming for the chorus.

Take this sinking boat and point it home.
We've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice. You have a choice.
You'll make it now.

Part of her wanted to wipe the tears from her face in an act of vanity, but the other part of her - the stronger part - wanted to let them flow in an act of love and pain. She shook her head impatiently as she slipped a little bit in the interlude, but kept going.

Falling slowly, eyes that know me.
And I can't go back.
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black.

And then - out of nowhere - she felt a hand on her face, caressing her. She was afraid to open her eyes - she knew whose hand it was, but was back to where she was the month before she lost him - what if she misunderstood what it meant? What if it wasn't even him? What if-

And then Artemis started singing.

Artemis opened his eyes wide. The dam broke and he remembered everything - his meditation, his conversation with his unconscious, Frond's, and-

Holly.

He felt an enormous surge of emotion at the thought of her, and remembered how she had almost died from a loose goblin and how he had saved her and how he had-

Then his attention snapped back to the Holly in front of her. Brokenhearted and depressed, he thought sadly. And no wonder.

As she finished the second verse, though, he had an idea. He knew the song by heart, and he knew the next line. Perfect, he thought, smiling to himself. He put his hand gently on Holly's cheek, and took a breath.

Holly's eyes snapped open, and sure enough, Artemis was singing and smiling at her, his inexplicably and suddenly mismatched eyes urging her to keep playing. Her heart melted ached again, but this time out of joy - for she knew somehow everything had righted itself.

You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself.
It's time that you won.

His tenor voice had a soothing quality to it - not something Holly would have expected from him - and was a perfect complement to her alto. Her heart swelled in elation, and she allowed the tears to come freely as she leaned her head against his hand and they completed the song as one.

Take this sinking boat and point it home.
We've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice. You have a choice.
You'll make it now.
Falling slowly, sing your melody
I'll sing it loud.

As they finished the last chord together and the strings faded to silence, Holly put the guitar to one side and pulled her lover into a fierce embrace. "Arty-"

"Shh." Artemis felt his own eyes sting, and did nothing to stop it. This elf, who had come to mean so much to him, had endured over a year for his sake - so he could do with spilling a few tears.

They sat there in each other's arms for a minute, emotions speaking where words could not.

Fowl Manor, Ireland; One week later

"Explain that again...slowly. And simply"

Artemis smiled at the elf in his arms. "Very well. Why I have two differently colored eyes, for dummies."

Holly rolled her own set of mismatched eyes. "Not that simple, Mud Boy." She stuck her tongue at him.

Since the return of this one specific memory, Artemis and Holly realized that he once again had her hazel eye. After speaking with Foaly - who was as stumped as they were - they decided to consult No1, who only managed to return from the moon a day previously (something about involving dwarves, tubes, and their natural talents). After he explained it to Foaly and Artemis, Artemis decided to share the reasons with Holly.

Artemis kissed her lightly on the nose in response to her faces at him. "When we switched eyes," he started, smiling as he reminisced about his now-treasured memories, "we switched more than just the physical." He let go of Holly to face her.

"Your soul imprinted onto mine - specifically, where your eye was." He pointed to his left cheek. "The spell detected this fairy part of my soul, and attempted to send me to the afterlife." Holly nodded in consideration, still following his explanation at the moment.

Artemis continued. "Now, a soul is but a collection of memories and emotions - basically anything metaphysical."

"Simple, Arty!"

Artemis huffed slightly. "Basically, anything not physical."

"Oh."

"Moving on; the Berserkers managed to retain their memories because of the powerful spell cast on their souls. They remembered their purpose - and why the afterlife was withheld from them, which is what made them so dangerous."

Holly shuddered, remembering the final battle, and how she had almost lost Artemis in its aftermath.

Artemis continued. "I, on the other hand, was under no such spell. In the six months that it took to grow the clone, I was losing my memories one by one, starting from my sacrifice." He looked up at Butler, who had been standing impassively by the door. "That's why I remembered Butler, but not the People. Butler has been with me my whole life, but you had only been with me for about five years, our time. Essentially, my memories were being erased chronologically in reverse order. I had forgotten everything from my sacrifice up to my kidnapping of you."

"But we restored your memories."

Artemis smiled at his elf lover. "Yes, you did - and by doing so, you restored my soul. Except…"

"Except where you told me you loved me."

Artemis scratched his head rather embarrassedly. "Yes, that is where metaphysics trumps physics and there is no solid explanation. But that is actually rather unimportant." He cleared his throat as he prepared to wrap up his explanation.

"You see, that one memory meant my soul was incomplete. You managed to restore all my other memories and faculties, but for whatever reason, you were not able to restore this one. Somehow, though, you managed to unlock it by...ah...that event last week." He decided not to reveal what happened last week, as that was another memory worth keeping private forever.

He cleared his throat again. "Anyway, by doing so, you gave me the last part I needed to complete my soul." He smiled at her. "You."

Holly started in surprise. "Me?"

Artemis nodded. "You," he said again. "As I said, you imprinted your soul on to mine. When you were restoring my memories, however, you were doing so in a semi-tangible and physical way, by using words - and your own memories - in combination with the emotional attributes attached to places of our shared history. In this way, everything fell into place simply because everything fit - logic combined with emotion, allowing each memory to fall in place. However, it simply was not enough. The return from Limbo served as a physical ascription - a medium, if you will - for the soul to accompany. In other words, the physical trip and your soul's imprinting on mine were the same event. Since we have not had any recent shared trauma or otherwise emotionally tense situations, my soul was incomplete; therefore, one memory was withheld from me." He smiled at her. "But last week, you let yourself speak with pure emotion - enough to unlock the final memory, imprint yourself on me once again, and return to me the hazel eye."

Holly had covered her mouth at this point, eyes glistening. In the corner of her vision she noticed Butler smile and leave the room, before all she saw was Artemis's face. She held out her arms, and he picked her up, holding her close.

She held onto him for what felt like forever, until she leaned back and took a shuddering breath.

"Don't ever die again, Arty," she said, voice cracking. "I can't lose you twice."

Artemis smiled as he pulled her in for a kiss.

"Don't worry," he replied, pressing his forehead to hers.

"I plan on making your life difficult for a very long time."