I deserve to just crawl away and die, I know, but here is the second chapter! weak cheers. I haven't updated at all for like the past month because I lost heaps of documents, and I was so sad that I wasn't in the mood to write at all, so SORRY! And I had a piano exam to practise for, but it's all over, so voila...

n.b. disclaimer: My sister just reminded me. I don't own Artemis Fowl, Holly, Butler or Angeline at all as much as I want to own them. However smiles I do own Ruby, so there...

Chapter 2- Rendezvous

St Bartlebys School for Young Gentlemen

The girl tossed and turned in her bed. If not her, who was it? Did anyone else know about the Fairy Haven? Who else would know? Who else other than herself would be able to find them? She turned over and pulled her quilt up to her chin, and tried to go back to sleep…

The next day, Artemis spent a restless time during school. There was another new counsellor, and his mother decided to set an appointment. An appointment, Artemis thought dryly, that would drive him out of his business like all the others.

When it was time for him to meet the counsellor, Artemis left the classroom without any mention of where he was going, and walked towards the counsellor's office. To his most slight surprise, it was a middle-aged lady with a firm and decisive face.

"Ah…young Artemis Fowl junior, isn't it? Yes, your mother set up an appointment. She seemed to think you needed it, eh?"

"Indeed, Mrs Luxington," Artemis replied tonelessly, barely glancing at the lady's name badge. She clucked her tongue.

"Mmm…polite, yes quite so. I believe your mother thinks that you have trouble communicating with others."

"Personally, I believe I am quite capable of doing so," Artemis replied coolly. Mrs Luxington nodded with approval.

"Yes. You seem quite able to talk to others, so far as I can see. Perhaps it is your social behaviour? I've been reading your report; it seems that is the only subject the teachers think you need to improve on. Out of a very hazard guess, would it be because you think your fellow classmates are too immature, juvenile? Yes?"

Artemis said nothing. This was a counsellor who seemed to not be on the opposition, but on his side. Odd, he thought.

Mrs Luxington discussed the matter further, and Artemis found himself answering all her questions, and reluctantly agreeing with them. This lady, for some reason, seemed to get all the reasons. When the appointed was at an end, Mrs Luxington stood up, and said cheerfully,

"Well, that went alright, didn't it? I wouldn't say you went off with the fairies or anything like that, eh?"

Artemis looked up.

"Of course not," he said smoothly, then stood up too, and left the room.

After school, Artemis headed straight outside to the Manor gardens. The gardens were always a comfortable place to spend the afternoon, thought Artemis rarely visited it. It was summer, and the open lawn was freshly mown and a bright green. Whenever one of the People met at the Manor, they always had met under the large oak tree by the pond. Not that Artemis had met with them often. Sure enough, as Artemis peered about, he saw the shimmering haze by a nearby rose bush.

"Holly," he said, striding towards the shimmer. The shimmer was replaced by someone short, though taller than the last time he had seen her, with pointed ears and auburn hair, which had grown longer throughout the years. Major Holly Short.

"Artemis," Holly inclined. "How nice to see you all these years."

"The same to you," Artemis answered, and motioned her to sit on a bench nearby. There was an awkward pause. Then Artemis remembered the topic of the rendezvous.

"Ruby," he said steadily. Holly nodded her head.

"Yes," she said almost briskly.

"Tell me about her."

"Well", Holly began carefully, "She's been in contact with us since she was seven. She was always a good friend to the People, and we are all very fond of her."

"How did she make contact?" Artemis asked, feeling ever so slightly beaten, but pushed the feeling away.

"She met us by one of the ancient oak's too, only, you know, she did not abduct me and hold me ransom for the hostage fund." Holly accentuated the "she", and Artemis winced.

"I gave half of it back, you know," he said defensively, and Holly glared at him.

"Anyway," she continued, "She's the same age as you are, maybe a couple of months younger, though, I'm not sure. How did you find out about her? The People always made sure she was well protected."

"I met her at a musical workshop at her school," he said shortly. To his surprise, Holly smiled.

"How apt. I should have guessed. She was always a musical type of person. She plays the piano, you know."

"I assumed so." Artemis almost smiled. Just an ordinary person.

Holly nodded. "So are you going to talk to her?"

Artemis thought charily.

"I…don't know," he said finally, and Holly smirked.

"Does she know about me?" Artemis asked without thinking.

Holly raised her eyebrows.

"Of course not. Why would you have thought so?"

"Idiotic question," mumbled Artemis to himself, and Holly didn't quite catch what he said.

Artemis was feeling quite ambivalent now. What was he going to do about it? He had always assumed that he was the only human to have stayed in contact with the People, but he was mistaken. A rare happening for a prodigy like him.

"I should go now," Artemis said, after a while of consideration. "I have some work to complete."

"Go as you like." Holly waved a hand at him, and Artemis turned and headed back inside.

Holly stayed a good while after Artemis had left, musing under the great oak. The Mudboy had been surprised, Holly had seen with some satisfaction. Holly slipped out of the bench and took a once familiar ramble in the gardens, ignoring her mind's thoughts on all the paperwork she had to put through soon back at the Haven.

Should she have told him all of the truth? Holly wasn't sure. Told him about Ruby's hidden geniality, as a secret prodigy? That once Ruby found out about Artemis' doings with the People, she would become his equal rival, or more? That she played the violin just like Artemis, and more importantly, that Ruby wasn't always the best friend to the People like she had told him? That they haven't been in contact for years, like Artemis himself? Should Holly have told him?

"No," she thought. "No, not now. They can find out for themselves what's in stall for them."

If there are any typos, please tell me...sorry again if you are mad at me-anyone who is reading this story. And please review... pleads I will upload soon-tomorrow! promises