Disclaimer: I don't own anything here. Just borrowing them from Eoin Colfer.

Humming slightly to herself, Holly Short sat down in her favorite chair. The reason for the redheaded elf's happiness was simple; she'd just been given a few days off work. It didn't happen often now that she'd been promoted to Major among the ranks of LEPrecon, an elite group of fairies who kept the Mud Men from discovering the People's hiding places underground.

For a few days now, it had been especially difficult to function in society. The reason? Mating season. All the males within a few feet - if they didn't already have a girl, that is - would do their best to convince her that they were the right male for her.

That wasn't strictly true. Holly's dear friend, Commander Trouble Kelp, had been very successful at not reacting like the others. Even the thought of him made Holly smile. She wasn't under Trouble's command now, strictly speaking, but they'd had a meeting yesterday and a chance to catch up. Trouble had always encouraged her and supported her - sometimes other fairies hadn't been as charitable.

Mating season. It was at these times that Holly envied human females. They didn't have to struggle to keep males off them during a specific season every twenty years.

Looking around her small house, Holly reflected that she'd never really spent much time at home. Now was her chance. She could rest after a long, harrowing time at a desk doing paperwork.

I miss Artemis, she thought pensively. And Butler.

Artemis and Butler were her human friends. Holly had gone on many adventures with the two, and they had bonded deeply. The elf couldn't help but smile at the thought of big, bulky Butler and tall but skinny Artemis.

Remembering the small Irish boy also prompted the return of uncomfortable memories. Namely the time she'd gotten turned into the equivalent of a teenager and kissed him.

Pushing such thoughts from her mind was more difficult than Holly had expected. She cared greatly for Artemis, but she didn't love him. She couldn't; if the Council got wind of it, she'd be exiled, and Artemis would be killed. It had happened before in the days when the People had first gone underground. A few unlucky ones - and their human mates - were exiled and punished severely.

Buzz, buzz. Holly blinked and jumped. Why would Artemis be calling her? He hadn't managed to get himself in trouble, had he?

"What's up, Mud Boy?" the redhead asked.

"Hello to you too, Holly. I just wanted to check up on my favorite elf."

She smiled broadly. "Not too bad down here, Arty. How's Juliet?"

The amusement in the Irish genius's voice was obvious. "She came back to Fowl Manor for a while, to visit the twins. Her manager wasn't too happy, but when he tried to complain, the twins frightened him with their vocabulary..."

Holly had a good laugh at the thought of the manager's face. "I wish I could've seen that..."

"I caught it on tape. Maybe if you got to come up for a visit, I could show you."

"I have a vacation no, actually. Is it a good time for me to visit now?"

Holly could almost hear Artemis shrug. "Everyone else is going away for a few days. They know I want to work on my project before taking vacations or leisure time. How soon would you be here?"

"Not would, Arty. I'll be up in a few hours, if that suits."

In his office in Fowl Manor, Artemis smiled. "See you then, Holls." Then he disconnected the call.

Below the Earth, Holly stared at the communicator ring. Artemis just called me by a nickname. He's really becoming a better person than I thought.

Well, hello everyone! I couldn't resist beginning a story about these two, because really, they're so cute together :)

Please tell me your thoughts and whether or not this story should continue.