A/N: Artemis Senior, Angeline, Artemis Junior, Butler and "Butler's Uncle" are all property of Eoin Colfer. Artemis's classmates and teacher(s) are my own characters, please do not use without permission.
PROLOGUE : DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITIES
"I don't want Arty to have to go to some far-away private school where we'll never see him. He's only five, for heaven's sake! Why can't we send him to the local primary school, until he's just a little older?" Angeline pleaded her husband.
"It's not just his education I'm thinking of, Angie, it's the security. Anyone could just walk into that school, grab Artemis and run off with him. You know we have... enemies. Do you want to risk our child like that?"
"Send Butler with him."
"I'm sure the school would appreciate Butler sitting at the back of the class and scaring all of the children," said Timmy, raising an eyebrow.
"He doesn't scare Artemis!"
"Artemis is... different. Besides, Butler's been looking after him since he was born - of course, he's not scared, he knows him!"
Angeline sighed. "I just don't think it would be good to pack Artemis off to boarding school when he's this young."
Artemis Senior placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "To be honest, neither do I. But I don't want anything to happen to him."
"I know, I know," said Angeline, and then there was silence in the kitchen of Fowl Manor. The two of them stood there, thinking over the half-choices they had. Angeline was pretending to suddenly be very interested in the counter-top she was leaning on. Both of them were trying to annoy the aggravating "tick... tick..." from the clock on the wall.
"It's just..." she started up again quickly, turning to look at her husband, but he pressed a finger to her lips.
"I'll tone down my activities for a while, and we'll send Artemis to the local. Butler can transport him to and from school. Once the other children have seen him around, he can join Artemis's classes to look after him." He paused. "Sound good?"
Angeline nodded, smiling. "Sounds good." Artemis slid his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her on the forehead. "Sounds very good," she muttered happily.