A/N: I may have fibbed about the interaction. It won't be here til next chapter, since I am going to Europe this Friday and this is what I managed to write. I probably won't have frequent internet access there, but I'll bring my notebook along and handwrite chapter four. I had a lot of fun writing about their thoughts in this chapter, though :P

Kit Heart: Yes, I read your review before I uploaded chapter 2. This chapter also focuses bunches on thoughts and descriptions rather than dialogue. Thank you so much for your helpfulness! :3

All reviewers: You guys are awesome! Thank you so much :D All of the compliments and criticisms make me try much harder to write a good chapter.

Disclaimer: The reason that this is published on fanfiction dot net is because it's fan fiction...I get to write about someone else's (Eoin Colfer's) characters and make them do what I want. :3


"Artemis!" exclaimed Holly. She still felt as if she was walking on clouds, but in all fairness the Captain recovered quite quickly. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Nice to see you too, Captain. You look good."

Holly nearly blushed. However, she knew that if she showed even a single sign of her infatuation, Artemis would have her figured out in a heartbeat. And anyways, Artemis must be toying with her. Why else would he tell her that she looked good? It wasn't as if he could possibly feel any sort of attraction for her.

Wrong, actually. Very wrong. Artemis, who had long ago accepted his feelings for Holly, had meant the statement as a compliment. However, complimenting others was not in his nature, and as such his words came off as mocking. Not that Artemis had any idea. He had given Holly a compliment. Weren't women supposed to like compliments? He was a master at psychology, for Heaven's sake. A compliment on her appearance was supposed to convey to her that he was interested, and it was also supposed to fill her with confidence. But old habits die hard, and Artemis's vocal chords had a hard time deviating away from his normal manner of speaking to one in which sincere compliments could be given. Thus, Holly was none the wiser about Artemis's feelings toward her, and had to respond to his words with an icy stare.

She had also discreetly drawn her buzz baton, because after she had gotten over her daze, she noticed that the young Fowl had one hand behind his back. She shifted her weight warily, never abandoning her field skills and soldier's sense despite her affection for Artemis.

"Foaly said that I had something to pick up…certainly it couldn't be you. So where is it?"

Artemis stepped aside, revealing a small, open duffel bag with old LEP equipment poking out. His hand remained casually behind his back. Holly inched cautiously around him, keeping in mind exactly what Artemis Fowl was capable of. She was kidnapped by him once; she wasn't going to let it happen again. She poked the bag curiously, wondering if he had booby-trapped it. Had Fowl changed so much that he was willing to give up the stolen technology? Not likely. Either the old equipment was covering something unpleasant, or Fowl had used it to make some sort of deal with Foaly. Either way, Holly doubted she would like it.

"Put your hands where I can see them, Fowl," growled Holly.

Artemis chuckled inwardly. He adored Holly's macho attitude and assertive nature. She wasn't one to bend easily. It would be tough to gain her support for what he had in mind. No matter. Artemis Fowl could be very persuasive.

Donning an embarrassed face, he held his hand up to her.

"What in Frond's name happened there?"

Artemis grinned sheepishly. "I was making improvements to this LEP helmet and it got stuck on my hand. Foaly also mentioned that if I tried to remove it myself, it would release some sort of foul knock-out gas, apparently included as a precaution against rogue police officers." He gave Holly a significant look. "Foaly promised to free me from the helmet if I returned all of the old LEP technology that I had previously…acquired. So here I am."

All thinly-veiled codswallop, of course. It took Artemis and Foaly about fifteen seconds to think of a barely plausible reason for Artemis to get a shuttle ride with Holly.

Holly fumed. Great, just great. She would have to thank Foaly for this later. The very person that Holly had been trying to keep out of her daytime thoughts and life was now going to take a multiple-hour private shuttle ride with her. She shuddered internally at the thought of being alone with Artemis on that tiny shuttle. His body close to hers, his lips at her ear, whispering sweet-nothings and sending shivers down her spine, his hands caressing her – Ahem, said Holly's logical side, bringing her rudely back to Earth. Getting his hand stuck in a helmet was both careless and comical. Neither trait particularly pertained to Artemis Fowl.

"I don't believe you."

"Holly, please, won't you escort a poor old friend to get his hand fixed?"

Holly grinned in spite of herself. "Stop acting the victim, Arty, it doesn't suit you." Oh no, she had called him Arty. A slip-up on her part could spell hell later on. She resolved to remain stoic until she got the Mud Boy to Foaly. Easier thought than done, as it turned out.

Artemis turned up the charm. "Shall we, Holly dear?" He extended his arm, the non-helmeted one, for her to take.

He looked for all the world like a gentleman. He sported a suit and a tie, flawless posture, a bright smile, combed hair, good hygiene, the works. He radiated charm, warmth, and wit straight towards Holly, capturing her with his gaze; his extended arm an offer that she couldn't refuse.

Holly punched his shoulder, refusing the offerr. "Don't get smart with me, Mud Boy. I am not your 'dear'." For a fraction of a second, Artemis looked hurt. Holly blinked, and his features had once again arranged themselves to look smug, smart, and nonchalant. Mostly unbothered by the rejection, Artemis tried again.

"Very well, my lady. Lead the way."

Holly rolled her eyes and walked back to the shuttle. Artemis followed behind her, enjoying the view. It hadn't taken as much effort as Foaly had thought to persuade Holly to let him into the shuttle. Artemis, not being one to overlook the obvious, realized that Holly's resistance was in vain and that if she really hadn't wanted him with her, she would never have taken him. A feisty elf like Holly probably would have knocked him out and left him in a good-sized hole, helmet-hand and all, as punishment. He applauded himself and climbed into the shuttle.

Holly bit her lip. The pilot's and co-pilot's seats were awfully close together. Artemis didn't seem to mind and placed himself elegantly in the co-pilot's seat. He studied the controls eagerly – the shuttle was a new model that he had never seen before. Holly willed herself to ignore the way his dark hair framed his fair face, and the way his forehead creased when he was taking in new information, and the way he held himself – perfectly content and confident, and the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at her, and the way his soft, soft lips formed words…

"Holly? Earth to Holly! At this rate, Foaly's ego will deflate before we get to Haven."

Holly snapped out of her trance in time to catch Artemis joking -- an increasingly frequent occurrence. The People had had a truly wondrous effect on the Mud Boy. He was no longer cold, cruel, or calculating. He had lost all traces of heartlessness, and his spark of decency was now more like a small bonfire of decency. He had, however, kept his smugness, his wit, and his ability to give anyone and everyone a fright and a frightful headache. He had always been good at quickly infuriating Holly, but the way he was now making her swoon was brand new.

She lowered herself into the pilot's seat, glad to have at least some control over the situation. She grinned and grasped the throttle.

"Put your seat belt on, Mud Boy." Artemis paled a few shades. He was familiar with Holly's shuttle flying, and it did nothing good for his stomach. The craft roared to life. He buckled up just as they shot out of the station.

He looked over at Holly. Here they were, in a tiny shuttle, journeying thousands of miles into the Earth on a voyage that almost no other humans had ever taken, and all he could think about was the amazing person sitting next to him. The People had encouraged his change of heart, yes, but it had been Holly who had been the best influence on him. He respected her love of life and of all living things. He admired her courage and her willingness to risk her life for her friends. And on top of that, she made him happy. Her company was a gift; her joie de vivre contagious. If anyone had to take the blame (or reward) for Artemis's attitude adjustment, it would be Holly. And he was in love with her – or something very close.

Artemis leaned over, switched on autopilot, and swiveled in his chair to face Holly.

"I need you, Holly, to tell me right now. Do you feel something for me?"

Holly's eyes widened. Had she really been that obvious? Her heart willed her to tell him the truth, to expose her emotions to him. Her logical side fought fiercely for her to tell a lie. Her emotions must remain unknown to him and to the rest of The People. By admitting her affection, her career, reputation, and relationships would be jeopardized. She would be the laughingstock of Haven. She would never clear the way for women to enter the LEP because she, the crazy girly captain, had fallen in love with a Mud Man. The newspapers would write rumors about her, her family and friends would be ashamed of her, and the Council would never even give her career a chance. Artemis gazed into her eyes. He had lied to her once, and it had hurt. She couldn't make him experience the same pain.

"Yes, Artemis," Holly whispered, "I do."


I have three weeks to write the next chapter. I'll check for reviews *bats eyelashes* whenever I can, and the more I get, the more I can refine the chapter and the better it'll be when it's updated! Yay.

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