A/N

Here's more and hope you Artie fangirls enjoy as he is my favourite in Shrek 3 besides Shrek-chan of course.

Shrek finds out from Artie the news about going back to Worchester and hopes to reassure him it'll be okay.


Shrek noticed that Artie wasn't joining in Snowgre and Brogan's snowball war game and was worried as he knew every Christmas Eve since Snowgre invented this odd family tradition, he'd joined in and normally on his team but the ogre male had a feeling something was eating him up inside and they needed to talk but found Artie sitting on the log outside the swamp house but saw sadness etched on his face as he wondered what was scaring Artie so bad.

Artie faked a smile seeing his surrogate older brother sitting beside him which made him feel a little better about the terrible situation he would be in after Christmas as he would be leaving on New Year's Day for Worchester but he pushed that thought aside for now.

"Artie are you okay?

Is something bothering ya?" Shrek asked.

"I'm fine Shrek, honestly." he lied.

The ogre male could tell that the sandy brown haired male was lying from his body lanuage as the young King knew he could trust him with anything especially after what Charming put them through but he took a breath and gathering up his courage to tell him what was on his mind.

"They're making me go back to Worchester, Shrek.

I can't do that." he told him.

The ogre male's hazel eyes widened at Artie's words knowing how much Artie had suffered being at Worchester from other kids but knew that being King might change things but had a bad feeling they hadn't but he had to stay strong for Artie's sake.

"That's terrible!

Does Lillian know?" he asked.

"Yeah.

She's the one who told me." he said.

Shrek saw that Artie was trying not to cry but could see the tears welling in the sandy brown haired teen's emerald eyes as he felt bad for him as he saw a tear fall as he wrapped his arms around him protectively.

"Hey it'll be okay Artie.

At least you can visit at the weekends." he told him.

"Yeah I guess." he told him sniffling.

But he wiped the tears away seeing Snowgre and the others join them as they wondered what was going on but Shrek decided not to tell them why Artie was feeling a little down but Fiona was nervous.

"I'll tell you later." Shrek whispered to her.

She understood as they went back inside...


Fiona was stunned as she listened to her husband tell her why Artie was so upset but was stunned that other kids made fun of him because he was different but saw a frown on her husband's face knowing he was deeply worried about Artie as they were like brothers, her husband the older, protective brother while Artie was the younger brother needing somebody to guide him.

"You can understand him, can't you?" she asked him.

"Aye honey.

He's an outcast among his peers.

Thank Grimm we're here for him." he answered her.

Fiona agreed but she hoped Artie would be okay at Worchester Academy but knew that at least Christmas would make him a bit better before leaving as she'd learned from her mother that he would be leaving on New Year's Day as Shrek saw the triplets playing as he knew they had to put them to bed but they frowned.

"Daddy do we have to?" Farkle asked.

"Yeah.

We wanna stay up and play!" Felicia told him.

"I know you do.

But the sooner you go to sleep, Santa will come." he answered.

"Okay Daddy." Felicia said.

He smiled as he and Fiona were taking them to their room but were putting them to bed but sighed as they went to bed themselves but Shrek was lying awake in bed as he was thinking of Artie remembering that night on Merlin's island when they'd been talking about their fathers but sighed knowing the kid would be in serious danger.

He sighed yawning as he hoped Artie would be okay.