The First Phonecall

Two days after they returned to their worlds, Artemis finally called Holly.

"You'll never believe this!" he exclaimed as soon as she answered.

"What?" the elf replied with a chuckle.

"I have two younger brothers! Twins! Almost three years old!" the genius was ecstatic

"That's fantastic! I have a new niece. She has no idea who I am." Artemis sensed the disappointment in her voice.

"I'm sorry Holly." He replied softly.

"It's alright. You didn't have a choice. Either we died or we lost three years. I'd take losing three years over dying any day."

"Yeah, but I could have brought us back at a more reasonable time." He sighed.

"It's alright. Oh! Guess who the new commander is?"

"Who? Foaly?"

She laughed. "No! Trouble Kelp!"

"That's why you were an assignment." Artemis added teasingly.

"Excuse me?"

"You have to know he has a crush on you."

Holly laughed again. "He does not. He's just a friend. Apparently it was between him and Vinyaya, but she did want it. She still runs Section 8."

"I never would have guessed him." Artemis mused.

"I did." Holly said confidently. "I thought he should have been Commander after Root."

"I knew you liked him." He teased.

"I do no..." Artemis laughed. "Oh shut up!" The elf exclaimed. "How's Butler doing?"

"He hugs me every time he sees me."

"Foaly's the same way; it's like he can't believe I'm really back."

"Yeah..." Artemis trailed off.

"Things have gotten pretty serious with his girlfriend. He's dropped the 'm-word'."

"Really?" Artemis laughed.

Holly paused. "Speaking of 'm-words', how's Minerva?"

"She's great! You won't believe how much she's grown up! I haven't seen her yet, but I talked to her on the phone yesterday and I'm going to go see her next weekend. I did see some pictures of her, she is so pretty now."

"Hmm..."

Artemis paused. Holly's kissing him on the cheek hung between them. "How's that eye working for you?"

"It's fine. I get some weird looks sometimes. How's yours?"

"I think it sees better than my other eye."

"That's great." Holly's voice had a flat tone. "I should probably turn in. I've got some meeting tomorrow."

"I'll let you go then. Good night Holly."

"'Night Artemis."

When he thought she'd hung up, he whispered, "I miss you."

Ever so faintly he heard, "I miss you too."