A Secret for Christmas

Chapter 3: Preparation

It was a cold day in the manor. The occupants of the house could tell. The snow had stopped to a halt during the night. Andrew woke up blinking. He stared up at the ceiling and wondered why he felt so… good. He felt complete; whole. So he blinked, then blinked once more... and he smiled for the first time in weeks. Was it because he actually had a good night's sleep? Was it because he knew what he was? Andrew's smile brightened. He didn't care. He was happy, and Christmas Eve was tomorrow. He then rolled over and groaned.

Christmas was not one of the Fowl's happiest seasons. Why? Well, nobody really knows. They just don't like it. Artemis's grandfather told him long before that it was because this was a season of cheer, and if you know the Fowls, you know they don't like cheer. Otherwise, Andrew felt buoyant.

Of course Angeline was ecstatic about Christmas. She liked cheer. She like happiness and she wanted her family to be happy. So the three children walked downstairs and put on happy smiles… okay, just two children. Artemis still didn't like cheer. Minerva coped with cheer, why could he? He liked to be happy; everyone does. But the singing carols, the shining tree, the huge feast, the merry laughing, the holiday music, and his mother's dreadful Christmas party- it was just too much. Skye, Andrew and Artemis the First tended to agree although Artemis Sr. liked the season better with his new outlook.

Artemis walked down the stairs at a very slow pace, letting his two cousins pass him. His face was composed with a look of boredom. What was there to do today? Maybe he would call Holly. Or maybe he would do nothing. He would call Foaly, but he didn't really feel like talking technical and Mulch was never fun to talk to. As a sever walked past him up the stairs holding a tray of goodies, Artemis scooped up a cookie. He paused in the stairwell and stared at the sever. How could he have gotten in here?

Artemis strode down the final stair and sighed when he looked out the window. Snow plows. He could see at least four snow plows. Of course his mother would want nothing to prevent her party from disaster. Artemis started mulling over what the party would be like for Andrew. He picked up his phone and right before he began to dial a number, it rang. His thumb covered over the OK button as he stared at the speed dial number. Minerva's number. Artemis sighed as he pressed TALK. "Hello?"

"Hi Artemis." Holly's voice. Artemis walked into an empty room and smiled as friendlily as he could at the screen with the elf's bright grin.

"Hello Holly. Is there something wrong?" Holly shook her head and he noticed that she was blushing slightly. She seemed cheerful enough, but she looked down in embarrassment and then back up at the screen. Artemis smirked; something was going on that Holly was self-conscious about. Something he didn't know.

"Well, you see, umm, I was kind of wondering if I could, err, bring someone else to your party." She said stuttering, frantically trying to keep her calm face. Or at least she thought it was calm. Artemis's smirk grew evil and more pronounced. So Holly wanted to bring a friend to the party. Or were they really just friends?

"So," Artemis said, gaining his confidence, "you found yourself a little boyfriend, did you?" Holly opened her mouth and raised her hand to protest, but stopped, blushing and hanging her head. Artemis chuckled. "Who?" Holly looked up to glare at him and then sighed.

"Just a guy at work. Now can he come?"

"Well…"

Holly grinned and gave him a pleading look. "Please, Artemis?" she begged, pouting playfully. Artemis rolled his eyes. He enjoyed his talks with Holly. She was generally a happy person and liked to have fun. It was true; she couldn't always come to the surface, but Artemis still considered her his best friend. He felt secure talking to Holly, like he could confide everything to her. Artemis hoped that she felt the same way.

He nodded laughing and Holly smiled with relief. "Thanks, Artemis." Something clicked in Artemis's head in that moment. He had been thinking about it before and now it was coming back.

"Holly?" he asked. For the first time he noticed she was wearing a white tank top and eating toast. She looked up to meet his eyes took a big bite of her toast which was covered in what looked like honey. "Is your brother still coming to the party?"

Holly nodded, swallowing her food before opening her mouth. "Damien? He can't wait! He doesn't really do a lot for Christmas either."

Artemis nodded, thinking very hard about a certain possibility… "Why do you ask?" Holly inquired.

"Never mind, Holly. Things are probably going to be busy around here, so I should go." Artemis couldn't help but notice Holly's smile fade just a bit.

"Well, all right. See you tomorrow Artemis." Artemis bid her goodbye and shoved his cell phone in his pocket. Another time, Minerva, he thought frowning. As he walked out of the room and down the hall, he slowed and then froze in front of Andrew. He looked depressed, and why was he wearing a hat? Artemis walked over and stood beside him, leaning on the wall like he was.

"What's wrong Andrew?" Artemis asked. He had been feeling better yesterday after he learned the truth, so why was he acting up now? Maybe he didn't want to be gay, or maybe he just didn't want to deal with the struggles of being homosexual. Many people, including the church, were against gays. To be honest, Artemis didn't know what all the fuss was about. The Bible stated that you had to except people for who they are, and not judge them, and yet being gay was so wrong in the standards of the Christians. Not only that, but many people did think it was wrong to like the same gender and labeled gays as the ultimate indignity. The saying says, opposites attract, but many people believe this not to be true. Artemis sighed. Minerva was much like him, but different in some ways. Would he what someone the opposite of him?

Artemis turned his attention back to Andrew. As he was pondering Andrew's dilemma, he saw him shrug in response to his question. Artemis's eyes softened when he looked at his cousin so distressed. "Andrew," he said, his voice filled with concern, "I know this is hard for you- finding out the truth. But you need to pull yourself together. You can't turn away from what and who you are." To Artemis, these words felt strange coming out of his mouth and rolling off his tongue, but they did. Artemis Fowl the Second was being sincere.

Andrew turned his head away and in a whisper, he said, "What am I?" Now Artemis was just confused. Andrew knew what he was and he was fine yesterday. This was just weird. He was taking this really hard. Maybe it was the aftershock…

"You have to face it Andrew; you're gay." Andrew stood up straight and walked away. Artemis frowned. Hopefully something he had said worked.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Servants came and went, and everything was about getting ready for the big Christmas Bash. Artemis looked at all the food and frowned. The ballroom would be turned into Mulch's personal heaven because of the buffet. Hopefully his large appetite wouldn't ruin his mother's party, or alert someone that he maybe wasn't human. No, nothing would happen. And the party was tomorrow anyway, so no need to worry about anything yet.

When people turned their astounded gaze toward the ballroom, they would gasp and smile at the lights and the garland and the hollies. When Artemis turned his lame gaze at the ballroom, he could only groan think one thing: my mother has overdone it again. The high walls had long wreathes hanging on the tops, with hollies and red garland. The room was currently being brightened by lights. Light on the walls, chandeliers on the ceiling, little bulbs in the bushes; in the trees; lights everywhere so that the room would sparkle brilliantly that fine night. This was going to be one heck of a party.

Artemis glanced over to a table where some Christmas goodies were laying. Artemis wasn't the one for sweets and he had a low tolerance for caffeine, but the sweets weren't what he was looking at. It was Andrew, pulled out of his dark mood, unlike before. He was smiling shyly at Butler who was explaining the different desserts on the tray. Andrew took a piece of a chocolate Yule Log. Artemis knew that that was his favorite dessert. No matter what season, Andrew would gladly consume a chocolate Yule Log.

But why had he been so depressed earlier? It had only been a couple hours ago and he was now happy. Artemis sauntered toward Butler and Andrew's table and smiled at them both, taking a piece of Yule Log. He looked down at Andrew sitting and waved the Yule Log in the air. "Is it good?" he asked sarcastically. Andrew rolled his eyes and shoved the rest of the little piece in his mouth. Andrew wouldn't care who made it or how they made it. He was a total sucker for the fake log made of sugary, mouth-watering pastry.

Artemis wasn't buying it.

Something was up. This wasn't just some weird mood swing. He took Andrew but the elbow and pulled him out of the room. Andrew swiftly grabbed another little cake and followed him with a smile and a puzzled look. "Artemis!" Andrew said, pushing his brother away. They were in the hall and Artemis looked worried. "What's wrong?" Andrew asked warily. He didn't want anything to take away his good mood. He had never felt so light and cheerful. It was like a spreading disease, but Andrew didn't want to stop it.

"What do you mean, 'what's wrong'?" Artemis said doubtfully. "You were so unhappy before, are you alright? How do you feel better? Not that I don't want you to be, of course." Artemis said hastily. His family had too many problems for his liking. Andrew looked at him as though he were insane.

"I've been feeling fine all day. I don't know why," Andrew smiled, "I'm just… happier." First, Artemis stared at him like he had two heads. No, no, eight heads. But then his eyes widened in horror at the big mistake he had made. Would Andrew want someone else to know? Could they keep their secret? Artemis turned to Andrew who was still confused.

"Andrew, I saw you earlier and you were sad. You had a baseball cap on and you only spoke once in a whisper. What am I? I thought you were just depressed but now you see…"

Andrew was thinking, and thinking hard. His eyes widened to match Artemis's. "Skye!"

"Yes."

"But how?" Andrew asked, putting a hand to his forehead dizzily. His sister had big mouth. A very big mouth. He didn't want his aunt and uncle knowing just yet. And of course, he didn't want his father to know ever. Telling Skye was like telling the world and they knew it. They had to talk to her. If not now, then soon. Andrew and Artemis started walking at the same time in a hasty pace. It was one of the minor living rooms in which they found her. "Skye!" they both exclaimed. She looked up cautiously at them both.

She looked down again at the family album. Artemis was six. He was writing huge math equations on a large chalking board. A bright smile was stretched across his face. Back then, he just wanted to learn. To learn and to know things. He loved math and science more than anything else. There was no crime, there were just brains. That was the Artemis she remembered. She turned the page to her mother, looking kind and soft and warm… She was holding a Yule Log in her hands. Little Andrew had his arms crossed, with a cute pout on his face. He was four. Then there was a picture of her, she was fourteen and she was laying on the floor writing something in her notebook.

"I was so worried…" she said, her fingers tracing her mother's face. "You know, before mum died, how she was so depressed because she knew she was going to have to leave with us?" Tear fell from her eyes on to the pages of lapsed memories. "We don't really know, eh? What if that wasn't it? What if she wanted to kill herself? But she was so happy. She loved to cook." Skye murmured. She looked up at the boys with sad eyes.

"I didn't know what was wrong, Andrew. You were just so lifeless." She closed the album and placed it on a shelf over a hearth. "I'm sorry for tricking you, Artemis." She added. Andrew walked slowly up to his sister and Artemis stared at them and grimaced. People say twins have telepathy over each other. They could stare into each other's eyes and see inside them; know what they were feeling. Skye and Andrew looked with such intensity into each other's eyes, sharing a moment of understanding. Skye would be quite, for Andrew. It was a moment where you just had to look away because it was so private and intimate as if they were sharing a secret.

But they were sharing a secret. The only catch was that Artemis knew. There was no reason for Andrew to be ashamed, and he wasn't. He just needed time to adjust as all people do when they find out things about themselves that he had never known.

Artemis walked upstairs at a very slow pace, letting his two cousins pass him. His face was composed with a look of boredom. And then he paused. A sense of great déjà vu of came him. He shook his head and continued up the stairs, where he went to sleep in his warm bed, dreaming about the source of his own problems.


You know the drill peoples.

Sorry it took so long to update! I've hardly touched my computer in two weeks and today it Joy Day so... Happy Joy Day! I hope you liked this chapter. I know homosexuality is a very touchy thing, so if anyone has any complaints, then please say so because I don't want to offend anybody. Please R&R

Your Evil Authoress,
Shannon