So here's something a bit more normal to make up for my whacked out drabble. Enjoy! (I swear Artemis gets less lame very soon)

Did I mention how awesome a beta ilex-ferox is?

Chapter Three: Making A Point

Trouble stalks the hall outside the Council room. His face has taken on hues to make his predecessor proud. An unfortunate sprite laughs too loudly as he and a co-worker pass and, consequently, gets such a dressing down as leaves the be-muscled, rugby-loving retrieval captain closer to tears than he's ever been. Including that time his pet cockroach drowned in the bubble bath bottle...

Foaly approaches the seething elf with caution. 'Err, Trouble?'

'What?' snaps Kelp without looking up from the floor. 'Oh, it's you, Foaly. Sorry, I...'

'It's okay,' the centaur replies quickly, backing up a step. Trouble gives him a rueful smile and Foaly steps forward again. 'What have they decided?' he asks.

The Commander sits down on one of the benches lining the walls. 'They came this close to having her wiped,' he holds his thumb and forefinger so close together Foaly is sure they're actually touching. The centaur can feel his stomach going into freefall.

'But they didn't?' he asks, voice a little desperate.

'No, they didn't.' He smiles suddenly, 'Not after Vinyáya got up and threw Poole bodily into a bowl of fruit punch, at any rate.'

Foaly blinks. 'She did what?'

Trouble smiles wryly. 'Sometimes I'm really glad she usually agrees with me. Poole's going to smell like durian fruit for weeks.'

Foaly snickers appreciatively. 'So, what's going on now?'

Trouble shrugs, 'They're discussing whether or not to fund a search for the cure. Mindwiping's a security procedure so I got to stay, but this isn't and they don't want me throwing my weight around in directions they don't want it to go. They're not going to fund anything. They'll probably ban it. They want to make up a retirement cover story, or something stupid like that.'

Foaly's shoulders slump. 'I can't believe I'm going to have to rely on Artemis for lab space. Frond, that chafes. But what about... is she...'

Trouble closes his eyes. 'Exiled? Yes. I have to take back her copy of the Book.' He swallows, 'Foaly, how can I possibly do that to her?'

'She'll understand,' Foaly lies.

Trouble looks at him in amazement. 'It's a betrayal. I feel like scum and I haven't even done it yet. And besides, you saw her last night, she was off her hinges! Who knows how she'll react to this.'

'She's had a day to calm down. She'll understand you're just doing what you have to.'

'How can I expect her to understand, or ever forgive me for that matter, when I can't myself?'

Foaly opens his mouth to speak but closes it without having said anything. What do you say to a question like that?

Silent, they wait there until the Council comes filing out.

Angeline is oddly nervous as she and Artemis walk to Holly's room. Behind the door at the end of the hall is the woman who restored her sanity, her husband, her life. Who made her son what he is today, who gives her son a reason to be good. She owes this woman much more than she will ever be able to repay.

'Mother has some things for you to wear.' Artemis is all business, not bothering to knock, going straight to his laptop. Completely different from the frustrated young man who had sat on the edge of his mother's bed only minutes before.

Angeline watches as a slight, dark woman uncurls from the sofa. Angeline can understand why her son is so smitten. A good haircut and a bit of eyeliner and you could send this girl onto the catwalk. Angeline catches herself thinking about exotic-looking grandchildren and shakes her head, returning to the present.

'I - I thought perhaps you would rather stay close to the Manor,' she smiles at Holly, 'so, if it's alright with you, I can simply lend you some things from my younger days, just for the time being, of course. I had the most beautiful outfits then and they've been wasting away in the attic for more years then I care to think about. I just couldn't bear to part with them, I knew the minute I did, I'd want them for something. I'll have someone bring them down and Marguerite can do a few alterations, how does that sound?'

'That... er, that'd be wonderful, thank you,' Holly smiles, and Angeline can see that the other woman is even more nervous that she is. 'I really appreciate this.'

Angeline laughs lightly, 'Not at all. Besides, after what you have done for me and my family, it's the least I can do.'

Holly's face goes very still. 'Just what exactly have I done for her and her family, Artemis?' she asks, deceptively calm.

The other woman laughs again. 'I'm afraid I know the whole story. I had Artemis tell me everything after the incident with Ms. Koboi.'

'Artemis...' Holly's voice holds that very familiar undertone of swiftly approaching death.

'It hardly makes a difference, Holly. She's had Opal in her mind, after all. She already knew something was amiss.' Artemis' voice is authoritative but, unconsciously, he has backed further into the corner.

'But everything?' Holly nearly wails, feeling a blush rising to her face.

Artemis blinks, comprehension dawning. 'Is that what you're worried about?'

'The fact that yet another human knows about the People is obviously kinda more disturbing but seeing as what's done is done, I'm going for damage control here,' Holly replies caustically.

'Obviously I didn't include everything,' Artemis tries to say this with dignity, but is somewhat undermined by the violent blush spreading across his cheeks as well.

'Oh?' asks his mother, 'And just what did you leave out?'

'Nothing!' Holly and Artemis reply in unison.

'Nothing important, at any rate,' Holly amends.

'Utterly insignificant,' Artemis confirms.

Angeline frowns.

'Never mind Mother, it was nothing, really,' Artemis waves his hands dismissively.

'The lady doth protest too much, methinks,' mutters Butler.

Unnoticed by Angeline, Holly gives him a rabbit-punch to the knee. He just chuckles.

Angeline takes Holly across the manor to her room. Marguerite, a pretty, freckled little thing from Brittany is already waiting for them in the dressing room beside two dusty boxes.

Opening one of the boxes, Angeline brings out several dresses and eyes them speculatively.

'I don't suppose you've just got an old pair of trousers kicking around?' Holly asks.

Angeline chuckles. 'Afraid not. I was vehemently anti-trousers until after Artemis was born. A girl has to live it up while she can. It's a pity I haven't anything left from my teens, I was closer to your size then. Oh well, these will do for the time being. Now, come here and put this one on, and Marguerite will take it in.'

Holly wriggles out of the old nightgown Butler had found for her that first night and pulls the proffered dress over her head. Marguerite winks at her at starts pinning. Her fingers are deft and Holly isn't pricked once. She's impressed.

Angeline, meanwhile, circles, chin in hand. 'A little more on the left, I think, Marguerite. That's good, yes.' She catches Holly watching her and smiles a little sheepishly. 'I know every mother must say this, but I've always wanted a daughter. It's selfish, but I just love dressing people up.'

Holly chuckles. 'It's too bad you didn't have a girl first. I think it would've been good for Artemis to have had an older sister who forced him into her dresses when he was four or five. Just to put the world into perspective a bit.'

Angeline gives a delighted giggle, 'That would have been a sight to see.' But then her expression sobers and she is quiet.

'Angeline? What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' Angeline's mouth quirks upwards, 'just... it would have been good for him to have an older sister for other reasons. To take care of him when... when...'

'Your illness was not your fault.'

'He was a child. And I... I just... a mother is supposed to protect her children. Not the other way around.'

'Most mothers don't have children like Artemis, or husbands that disappear off the Russian Coast. Besides, if you hadn't... if things hadn't been the way they'd been,' Holly doesn't want to say 'if you hadn't gone crazy', 'he never would have kidnapped me and then we never would have met and he would have turned out terribly anyway. So really, you did him a favour,' she smirks, crossing her arms – right into one of Marguerite's pins. 'Ouch!'

'Be careful, Miss,' Marguerite chuckles.

'Thanks for the timely warning,' Holly grins.

The girl smiles back. 'Here's another one – I'm going to pull this off now, arms up!'

Obediently Holly raises her arms, holding very still and feeling like she's a child again.

Holly sits in the bay window of her room, watching the sun sink into the clouds. Angeline made a concerted effort to keep her day busy with clothes and tea and dainty sandwiches and Holly deeply appreciates this. She has too many things to think about to want to spend any time thinking about them.

But now she is alone, with only herself for company. Now night is coming and, with it, Trouble and the Council's decision. Now seems like a horrible eternity.

She takes a deep breath and leans her head back against the window frame, grimacing at the thought of another interview with Trouble. No more snapping people's heads off, she tells herself. Butler's right, you've got to get a grip. No more excuses. This is not Trouble's fault. You've got to be nice to him, he's doing all he can. You've got to tack a smile on and stop making him, making everyone, worry. They're doing so much for you already. Be happy. Or at least look it.

She knows she behaved horribly last night, and she's ashamed of herself. It's just so hard, she thinks, one minute I'm okay, everything's under control, and then bam! some tiny thing makes me realise the enormity of what I've lost and it all wells up again and spills out before I have a chance to think. She shudders to remember the things she said. To Trouble, to Foaly. To Artemis.

Speaking of whom.

Holly sighs. Not now. Artemis is one thing too many. Baby steps. If only he'd stop being so... so generous. Frond, he's such a jerk he can't even be a jerk when I need him to. She runs that sentence back through her head and laughs quietly. The sun sets completely and Holly Short, without realising it, stares into the night, smiling.

Foaly meticulously places half a dozen carrots next to his keyboard, in a line from biggest to smallest. Next he aligns all his monitors, microphones and various doodads at exactly 90 degree angles to each other. Finally, he takes a sip of water from his bottle, licking his dry lips as he does so. Indulging his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder helps him to relax.

Very delicately, so as not to disturb anything on his newly rearranged desk, he sits down and types in the Fowl number. He takes a calming breath. He checks his reflection in a monitor to make sure his eyes and nose aren't still red from crying. He runs through his pre-arranged list of carefully carefree wisecracks.

He doesn't want Holly knowing just how much this hurts. He doesn't want anyone knowing. She could barely keep herself together last night as it was, if she thinks he's going through hell, she'll only fret and feel guilty.

And he'll be damned if he causes her any more pain. But Frond, he may never see his best friend face to face again.

This time Artemis pre-empts Foaly and has the laptop up and running before the centaur calls.

'Not gonna give me any sass about this being a private call, Arty?' Foaly drawls the pet name, knowing just how it gets under Artemis' skin.

'Your theatrics wreak havoc on my software,' replies Artemis placidly.

'Oops, sorry about that,' A carrot appears, seemingly from nowhere, and Foaly makes a point of chewing loudly. 'I always forget how delicate your antiquated mud man technology is.'

Artemis rolls his eyes. 'You're even more insulting than usual today. Someone get their budget slashed lately?' he shoots back.

Foaly cringes involuntarily, 'Don't say things like that! Someone touch some wood!'

Holly raps on the coffee table, which also has the effect of focusing their attention on her. 'Knock it off Foaly,' she says.

'Sorry,' and, as he tosses the carrot top off screen, he actually seems to mean it. 'How are you doing up there? Trouble's going to take some blood samples from you so I can start running a couple of tests.'

'You will be sending me the results, I presume,' Artemis comments.

'Well, since you asked so nicely,' Foaly replies snippily, but he is smiling, 'of course I'm sending you the results. Painful as it is to admit, I'm going to need all the help I can get.'

Artemis nods without commenting.

Holly feels a surge of gratitude shoot through the crushing weight of her utter certainty that they'll fail.

'Sorry I'm late.' Right on cue Trouble comes in from the balcony, taking off his wings as he crosses the floor. 'Council was, well... being the Council.'

Holly sits down beside Artemis on the sofa. She has the feeling she won't want to be standing. 'What did they say?'

Trouble sighs, running a hand through his buzz cut. 'Holly-'

'I'm not allowed back, am I?'

Trouble shakes his head. 'No. D'Arvit, Holly, I'm sorry. I tried-'

'I know,' Holly speaks softly, consolingly. She can see the guilt on his face. 'You did your best, Trubs. It's what I expected after all.'

Trouble does not look at all satisfied with his best. 'Someone'll package up your... your personal effects and they'll be shipped here, to the Manor. I'll make sure I get someone trustworthy. I can at least do that much.'

'As long as it isn't Mulch,' Holly smiles.

Trouble rolls his eyes, 'I'm not a complete moron. No, I'll have someone official do it, Maize or Verbena.'

'Actually, speaking of Mulch, has anyone told him?' Holly asks.

'Yeah,' Foaly replies. 'I saw him this morning. He...ah, he didn't take it so well. I'll have him call soon. And by "have him call soon", I mean he'll probably be coming by in a couple days, as soon as he can sneak aboveground.'

Holly nods, silently biting her lip. Artemis watches her teeth drag and release her skin, until blood wells just below the surface.

Suddenly Holly laughs, 'Wait, you mean you actually spoke to Mulch of your own free will, Foaly?'

The centaur shrugs, a little abashed. 'He's a smelly, uncouth, obnoxious, immoral wastrel, but he does care about you. Come to think of it,' Foaly adds as an afterthought, 'you may be his only redeeming quality.'

Holly smiles, imagining Mulch's outrage at that particular character sketch.

'Reminds me of someone else we know,' mutters Trouble, unheard except by Butler.

'Artemis doesn't smell,' Butler mutters back, as primly as a man of his proportions can.

Trouble raises his eyebrows. 'All mud men smell.'

Butler just rolls his eyes.

Meanwhile, Holly has other questions. 'So, what does this mean exactly? Am I not allowed contact with anyone? Or am I just not allowed back underground? They're not going to wipe me are they?' Her voice wavers then, becoming thin and uneven, like rice paper.

Trouble shakes his head. 'No,' he frowns. At length he admits, 'It was suggested though, by Poole. But Vinyáya threw a fit. Literally. I've never seen her so mad. It was scary, to be honest.'

Holly smiles at the thought. 'And contact?'

Trouble shifts uncomfortably. 'It depends, they really haven't decided yet. I don't know. You know how paranoid they get.'

'Be that as it may,' Foaly interjects, 'it's not exactly like I, for one, am going to listen to them, so don't worry. After all, if you can slip Mud Boy here a fairy communicator without getting caught, I can definitely keep a line open to you. Talk about basic,' Foaly has taken up another carrot and is waving it to underline his point.

Trouble sighs. 'And as your commanding officer, Foaly, I really do not need to hear that.'

'Oops,' says Foaly, as always failing utterly to look penitent.

'What about research on a cure?' asks Holly, 'surely the Council didn't approve that?'

'What do you think?' Trouble's face hardens. 'They want this whole thing hushed up completely. Say you've retired to Machu Picchu or something.'

'Great,' Holly sighs.

'As with the issue of communication, I fail to see how their permission matters,' Artemis puts in. 'I have perfectly adequate lab facilities at my disposal. I can conduct the research above ground, or however you wish, Foaly.'

'If we hook up a live feed maybe,' Foaly gnaws his carrot thoughtfully.

Artemis nods, trying to ignore that little voice urging him not to do anything at all. He has to at least pretend to be trying. He sighs inwardly. Holly deserves more than just pretence. She deserves the real thing, and he knows it. But, as he watches her gnaw her lip again, he recognises, to himself at least, just how fully he does not want her to be cured. He knows this is a terrible thing to want. He knows this is despicable, tantamount to a betrayal, but he can't help himself. He is what he is.

He wonders how long he will have to pretend before she gives up hope. And then he cringes at his own contemptibility.

'Foaly said he wanted some blood samples?' Holly looks at Trouble.

'Oh yeah, oops. I've got the syringes here with me somewhere. Good thing you remembered.' He fumbles in his pockets, his expression distracted. 'Ah! Here we go.'

Holly makes a face as he swabs her arm, tightens the tourniquet and slides the needle home. 'I've always hated needles.'

'Who doesn't?' asks Trouble. 'How much do you want, Foaly?'

'Two vials, just to be sure.'

Holly raises her eyebrows. 'If you slip and break them, I'll still be here; you can always take more blood.'

'I'm just being cautious, okay, Holly? Need I remind you that the last time my paranoia was disregarded goblins nearly –'

'Alright, alright, point taken. Though I still say the tinfoil hat was overdoing it.'

'I ditched the hat didn't I?' Foaly whinnies, indignant.

'Only because you knew Caballine wouldn't go near you if you didn't!'

'Yeah, so?'

Holly opens her mouth to retort but Trouble interrupts, before his courage fails him.

'There's... there's one more thing, Holly,' he looks determinedly at the floor.

Foaly's face falls and he bites his lip.

'What?' asks Holly, innocent and smiling.

'Because you are officially no longer a member of the People,' Trouble's voice catches, 'I have to... I have to take your Book.'

Holly's smile freezes in place.

'No,' her hands fly to her neck, closing around the tiny book 'You can't.'

'I'm so sorry Holly.'

'Trouble please,' she whispers, 'there's no reason to- it's not like I'd ever show it...'

'The Council demanded it.'

'What a pity they didn't demand it of that sprite in Ho Chi Minh City,' Artemis comments.

Trouble glares at him. 'That sprite was still a sprite. Besides, do you think we can keep track of every fairy that slips away? This is different; Holly is actually no longer a member of the First Family. The council knows Holly exists and they know she's human now. It's not the same at all.'

'Why are you defending them?' Holly demands, still clutching her Book.

'I'm not!' Trouble throws up his hands, 'I'm just trying to explain.'

'Trouble, I can't. Please don't make me. Please, Trouble.'

Trouble feels ill. He fights down bile rising in his throat. 'I have to Holly, or someone else'll be sent up here. It's against the law, Holly; you know humans aren't allowed to keep copies of the Book.'

Artemis clears his throat pointedly.

'Well, if we could find all your copies of the Book we'd take them,' Troubles informs him witheringly. 'I'm sorry, Holly, I really am. You have to believe that.' He feels like a traitor. He hates the Council for asking this of him, he hates himself for acquiescing, he even hates Holly for making it difficult. He knows that's ridiculous, but he can't help himself.

Holly can see how unhappy Trouble is and it's that, more than any feeling of duty, or fear of reprisal, that makes her take the necklace off and place it in his hands. 'I know you are. I believe you.' She takes a deep breath, 'I know this isn't your fault. I'm sorry they made you do it.'

Artemis can't believe her. If I were Trouble, I would have found her a way out. And if I were her, I certainly wouldn't forgive him.

Trouble had wanted her forgiveness but, now that he has it, he only feels worse. He needs desperately to leave. 'Thank you, Holly. I'd better go. I... I'm sorry.' He lifts a limp hand in farewell and tries not to run as he heads out to the balcony.

'Poor Trouble,' Holly's hand is still closed over the place her Book used to hang. However, she finds that all of last night's anger is gone. In its place there's only sadness, and the feeling of inexpressible loss.

'He's doing his best, he really is, Holly. Foaly has rarely sounded more earnest.

Holly smiles sadly, 'I know.'

She yawns suddenly, and stretches. 'If you guys don't mind, I think I'm going to call it a night. I haven't been sleeping well.'

Foaly nods, 'Sure thing. I'll phone tomorrow about the bank. Good night, Holly.'

''Night.'

He nods to Butler and Artemis and disconnects the line. Artemis, disbelieving, shuts off the computer manually.

'Are you alright?' Butler turns to Holly. 'Want a cup of tea? Midnight snack?'

'Nah,' she shakes her head, 'bad for the digestion. I'm just going to hop right into bed.' She speaks softly, slowly, but steadily.

Butler looks sceptical but is fully prepared to support her attempt at normality.

'Alright, well, good night then.' He leans down and places a fatherly kiss on her dark forehead. 'Sleep well.'

'I will,' she lies.

'Good night Holly,' Artemis tucks the computer under his arm, reconsiders, and holds it out to her. 'Would you like me to leave this here? In case you can't sleep?'

'No, no, take it with you, I'll be fine. Really.' Holly can't see the joys of trawling through human websites. Just another grisly reminder of her new family tree.

Artemis nods. 'Good night then.'

'Good night.'

He lingers a moment longer, before turning abruptly on his heel and leaving with Butler.

Holly heaves a sigh. Silence echoes around her, filling her head, blocking up her ears. For a moment she wants to run after Butler and Artemis and ask them to stay but her pride, to say nothing of her exhaustion, keeps her in her seat.

Minutes pass. Impossibly slowly they become hours, which also, eventually, pass. Holly paces her room. She turns the taps in her bathroom on and off. She inspects the toilet and shakes her head in wonder and disgust. She looks through her closet, so recently filled with the bright clothes of Angeline's youth. But in the dark the colours are only shades of dark and darker. She moves to the bed.

There is a window above her pillow that looks out onto the Manor grounds. She discovers that if she presses her forehead to it and looks way, way down to the ground, it's nearly like being in freefall. It's nearly like flying.

Holly steps back from the glass, rubbing her face. Nearly like flying. Who is she trying to kid? Silently, tears fall at the thought of never flying again. She wipes them away in surprise, she hadn't meant to cry.

Rubbing her eyes, she looks at the clock. 2 am. With a groan she presses her face back against the window.

There's a knock at her door.

'Come in.'

Artemis shuts the door quietly behind him, seemingly unsurprised to find her standing on her bed fully dressed at two in the morning. 'Still awake,' he remarks blandly.

'Give the boy a hand,' comes the acid reply. 'What, you thought you'd just knock on my door for kicks?'

'No, you've been a nocturnal creature for over 80 years. I was relatively sure you wouldn't have been able to readjust in only two nights, despite your earlier false confidence. And I thought perhaps an entire night of solitary insomnia to contemplate your new life might not be quite what you wanted.'

Holly blinks at the uncommon thoughtfulness of the gesture. 'You just couldn't sleep either, could you?' she crosses her arms and frowns.

'Does it matter? I'm here now.'

'Are you just going to try again to con me into staying? Because if that's your plan -'

'I just thought you might want company. I can go, if you'd rather.'

Holly sighs. 'No, no, you're here, you might as well stay.' She gives him a wan smile. 'As usual, you're right; I wasn't looking forward to spending the night with me, myself and I.'

Artemis perches himself delicately on the edge of the bed. 'What were you doing just now when I came in?'

Holly purses her lips, feeling a little silly. 'I was... I had my face pressed to the window. Come over here and try it.'

Artemis removes his shoes and steps up beside her.

'You see? If you just look straight down to the ground it's nearly like you're falling.'

'Which is nearly like flying.'

'Yeah, exactly. Give the boy a hand,' Holly repeats herself listlessly.

'Do you miss it?' His face is impassive, giving away nothing of the sudden flood of ideas spilling into his head.

She sighs. 'Yes. Well, in theory, I guess. I didn't get to fly every day after all. I could've though. I loved it...' she draws a circle in the condensation on the glass. 'I can't really make myself believe I'll never do it again, I keep thinking that it's just that today I don't need to. But, every now and again, it sinks in and... well, that hurts. When that happens, I miss it.'

Artemis nods. It is something he seems to be doing a lot of recently. Too much. He wants to speak, make conversation. Make an excuse to be here. When they worked together there was always something to talk about: the latest near-death experience, what his newest master-plan was, exactly how impractical said plan was. Now, he has nothing to say.

A sudden fear shoots through him. We never get to hang out. What if that is because, in truth, they have nothing to say to each other? What if all this is false closeness and they really were just bonded by trauma? But then he remembers her glassy eyes staring up at him as the universe staggered around them. It isn't even relevant anymore, he discovers; however dissimilar they are, or were, they have become so much a part of the other that it wouldn't matter if they sat in silence for the next five decades, just so long as the other was there.

So then why, he thinks, and after all we've been through, why can't I comfort her now? Why am I suddenly mute? What is the point of unfathomable intellect if I can't think of something to bloody say?

Of course he knows perfectly well what the problem is: the problem is that he has many things to say, but doesn't want to say any of them, possibly even less than she wants to hear them. So the words are left hanging between them, growing heavy and waterlogged in the shadowy space between their bodies. They ignore them as best they can, but awareness grows like a mould, continuing until the smell is impossible to ignore.

'Holly...' he begins.

'Let's not,' she puts a hand over his mouth.

'Let's not what? Talk? You don't even know what I'm going to say yet.'

'No, but I could see you thinking just now. And when you think I never want to hear the end result. It always ends up in one of us nearly dying.'

'No one will die, I swear.'

'You say that now.' Holly licks her lips, feeling herself about to acquiesce. I need to get a backbone, she thinks. But that is difficult when, very deep down, she really does want to hear what she already knows he will say. 'Fine,' she sighs at last, 'talk. But I take no responsibility for the consequences.'

Artemis opens his mouth. He'll start off with something safe. 'Please, stay here.'

She raises an eyebrow. 'Did the great Artemis Fowl just say please?'

'Don't mock me.'

'Artemis, we've had this conversation. I am not staying here.'

'How will I know...' he pauses. How to finish this sentence without sounding desperate, paranoid or obsessive?

'How will you know what?'

'I miss you,' he snaps, then frowns. Already, this isn't going to plan.

Holly blinks. 'Artemis, I'm right here.'

'But you're not, are you? It's been so long since we were... how we were... before.'

'What? Sworn enemies?'

'Friends.' He swallows. 'I miss that.'

'Well, you did lie to me.'

'And you did kiss me.'

Holly's eyebrows shoot up at his audacity. 'Oh, this is my fault then, is that what you're saying?'

'No. No. And it's not that that was a bad thing-' Artemis screeches to a halt. 'I mean... What I meant to say was...' he pauses, fumbling for words. He is flustered and frustrated, sighing in exasperation as he chafes against his unaccustomed difficulty. 'Holly, I don't know what I mean anymore,' he snaps. 'Things have got out of hand.'

'You shouldn't have lied.'

'I know. If you had any idea how excruciatingly aware I am of that...'

'And I told you, your elf kissing days are over.'

Artemis knows what he is about to say is pushing it, but once you start it's very hard to stop. 'Technically, I wouldn't be kissing an elf any longer.'

Holly doesn't say a word.

'I probably shouldn't have said that,' he allows.

'Since when do you do what you should?' Holly replies, her voice simply resigned, not accusatory.

'I'm sorry, I'll go. I just... I want to say that when I thought... when I thought you'd died again, I realised that I couldn't... that I couldn't...' he shrugs, palms raised in a silent gesture of defeat, 'not without you.' He moves away from her, his words too close to the truth for him to be comfortable.

Holly swallows. The sound echoes across the room.

'You're only fifteen,' she says, with a small, self-deprecating laugh. 'Why on earth am I letting you say things like this? Anyone in their right mind would smile and pat you on the shoulder and tell you, "That's nice honey, but why don't you find someone your own age?" Why am I not doing that right now?'

'Because I'm not that kind of fifteen year old. Not to mention that I'm actually sixteen now. Or nineteen, depending on how you look at it.'

'No,' Holly agrees, 'I suppose you're not. And I'm sorry I missed your birthday. Happy belated.'

'Just stay,' there is a pleading note in his voice that he doesn't like but can't control. His ever diminishing rationality says it will probably only further his cause anyway.

'No,' she shakes her head. 'I need to sort myself out. You still lied to me. You still made me believe... Artemis, look: it doesn't matter what I feel, it's going to take time for that to heal. Never mind that it's going to take time for me to get my life sorted out.'

'But what do you feel?' Artemis licks his lips. 'Do you...' His throat becomes suddenly and inexplicably clogged. Try as he might, four letters refuse to leave it.

Holly gives him a wan smile. 'Let's just say, I've never been very strong on common sense, especially when it comes to you. But I'm telling you now, don't push it, Artemis. This is so much more than you deserve.'

'I know.'

'And it's going to take me a lot of time.'

'I'm very patient.'

Holly grimaces, 'Tell me about it. The number of things that would still be secret if you had been just a little more impatient as a child.'

She sobers again, 'The point is, you're going to have to work for this one. I am not going to just roll over,' she grimaces again, 'like I usually do.'

Artemis's mouth twitches. 'Hardly usual. It takes me ages to convince you of anything.'

'Probably because most things you try to convince me of are insane!' Holly retorts.

'Genius and madness walk a very fine line,' he sniffs.

'Don't flatter yourself, Mud Boy.' Holly sits down, leaning against the wall. 'It's getting late,' she comments.

'Yes,' Artemis sinks down beside her. 'Would you like me to go?'

Holly tilts her head to the side, watching him out of the corner of her eye. 'Would you get any sleep if you did?'

'Doubtful,' he admits.

'Me neither.' She tugs a pillow towards them, 'You might as well stay a little longer. You can't do any more harm than you already have.'

'Never say never,' Artemis quips.

'Very true. Especially about you.'

They sit in silence, revelling in the sensation of their sleeves touching while both pretend not to notice. A few minutes became a few more, and then a few more again, right up until the next morning at eight o'clock when Butler knocks, enters, and finds them fast asleep once again curled horizontally and fully clothed across the bed. He smiles and quietly goes down to the gym.