Angeline and Artemis I
"Maybe time stood still for you, big brother, but it didn't for the rest of us."
"Good morning Mrs. Fowl."
Looking up from her novel, Angeline Fowl saw her son's bodyguard standing at the parlor door with a steaming cup of tea balanced on a tray in his giant hand. It was early in the morning, but the man was already dressed in a freshly ironed, button-down shirt, slacks and shoes that were so polished they gleamed.
"Thank you Butler, please set the tray over here," Angeline said softly, unable to keep the surprise out of her tone. She watched carefully as he shuffled (How unlike him, she thought) to the coffee table and placed the tray, trying to gauge his emotions.
"No cream and sugar?" She asked with a smile.
Butler's smile in return was weak, "Already added Ma'am, just the way you like it."
Angeline placed the book she had been reading on the coffee table and reached for the cup, "We're not as 'poor' as we used to be Butler. We have maids to fetch tea." It wasn't an insult, she was curious.
Butler coughed nervously then said, "They don't know how you like your tea made Ma'am. They haven't been here as long as I have."
"I'm sure they could figure it out eventually," Angeline commented quietly, then, "Please sit down Butler."
"Are you sure Ma'am? Is there anything else you'd like?"
"Dear Butler you have done more than enough. Now, please sit and tell me what's bothering you so much," Angeline gestured to the seat across from her, normally Arty's.
Butler sat down with some difficulty in the fancy, too small armchair. Angeline could tell he felt out of place. This room was normally only used for when important guests visited, but Angeline had retreated here looking for some peace and quiet.
"There's nothing wrong Ma'am. Please don't worry about me," Butler said.
"I will stop worrying if you stop lying to me. Ever since Arty left for that trip in Taiwan, you've been acting strange. You're concerned about him aren't you?"
Butler looked straight into Angeline's eyes so she knew he wasn't lying, "No Ma'am, I've left him in very capable hands. He'll be perfectly fine."
"Then why are you acting so differently?"
"Differently, Ma'am?"
"Don't play dumb. For the past two weeks you've been moping around the house, holing yourself up in the gym for hours on end or else doting on Mr. Fowl and I as though we were your principles and not Arty. Why, look at this," she waved a hand towards the silver tray and the cup in her hand, "Serving me tea without being asked to?"
Butler shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "I'm just worried about the baby Mrs. Fowl."
"The baby?" Angeline laughed, "Is that what it is now? You've become a terrible liar. Madam Ko would be ashamed."
Butler's face contorted at the insult but he didn't move from his chair.
Angeline sighed, "I'm sorry Butler that was mean of me to say. Please just tell me what's wrong. I know you're not worried about the baby, because I'm the mother and I'm not. I've got the best team of doctors in Europe on call every minute of the day, able to be here in minutes if I feel even the slightest pain."
"Mrs. Fowl," Butler said, his voice strained, "I doubt you'll believe me if I tell you."
Angeline's smile was warm, "Not long ago my husband was found outside a Helsinki hospital after having drowned two years before in the Bay of Kola. I think I can follow along well enough Butler."
The bodyguard's eyes were wide and he leaned towards Angeline, almost pleading, "Ma'am, if there was any way you would just believe that Artemis was in Taiwan and safe and-"
"But he's not!" Angeline cried and stood up, knocking the empty tea cup on to the carpet, "Butler, this is my son we're talking about. I demand you tell me where he is and what's been going on! Please…" She sat down again, suddenly weak, "Please tell me, for Arty's sake."
Butler's jaw clenched and unclenched and Angeline watched as he took deep breaths in through his nose, like he did when he was meditating, "Do you wish me to tell Mr. Fowl too?"
"Tell me now and I will decide that later. There is no need to worry him unnecessarily."
"Yes Ma'am," Butler nodded and then said, "Well, it all began when Artemis was 12 years old......."
****
"Angeline, are you ready to go?" Artemis the First called from the bottom of the stairs.
Angeline checked her make-up over once more in the bathroom mirror before calling, "Yes, I'll be right down!"
Picking up her purse and jacket, Angeline walked quickly out into hall and to the stairs. She was only three steps down when Artemis ran to meet her, grabbing her by the elbow and waist.
"You really shouldn't be running downstairs Angeline, you know that," he scolded.
Angeline sighed, "I wasn't running and besides, I'm not even in heels today," she stuck out her foot, showing a swollen appendage fit into a clog, "See? I'm being a good mommy."
Never the less, Artemis led his wife down the rest of the stairs and out the door. A driver was waiting for them beside the Bentley.
Minutes later the car was zooming along the freeway, headed to Dublin. Angeline and Artemis sat in the back seat beside each other, holding hands. Artemis was looking out the window at the Irish countryside while Angeline was watching her husband.
Two days ago, Arty's bodyguard had told her a horrible secret, a secret she had barely processed since. It was as unbelievable as anything she had heard in her entire life, including every fairy tale and fiction novel. An underground city with elves and dwarves? Arty kidnapping a fairy police officer for ransom and then saving her husband from the Mafia in Russia? Time travelling to another dimension to save a bunch of demons? It couldn't be true.
Artemis must have felt her cringe and turned to look at her, the perpetual worry knitting his brows. Angeline shook her head and squeezed Artemis' hand with a forced smile. He smiled in return and went back to looking out the window.
Deep down Angeline knew she would have to tell her husband the truth. Trips to Taiwan to visit physicists could only last so long, especially without a call home. She would probably worry him more if she didn't tell him.
"We've arrived Mr. and Mrs. Fowl," the driver said from the front seat, parking the Bentley smoothly.
Angeline and Artemis stepped out of the car and looked up at the clinic. Today was Angeline's first ultrasound.
'I can't tell him today,' Angeline thought, 'Not yet. He has enough to worry about.'
****
Artemis Fowl the First was overjoyed. His hands shook as he held the ultrasound photographs. Two tiny bodies were clearly visible amongst the dark mass that was his wife's womb. He felt the sting of tears in his eyes. Twins.
The photographs had been held and caressed so many times they looked much older than they were, yet Artemis still held them. He didn't care if they ripped. They could get another copy, and besides, soon enough, he'd be holding the real thing.
At first, Artemis had been completely shocked to find out that his wife was pregnant. Not that he suspected her to be unfaithful -he vividly remembered that first month after he had come home from the hospital- just that he and his wife had been able to conceive again, at both their ages. Artemis II was almost 15 now; there would be quite an age gap.
Artemis I hardly remembered his first son's birth. It's not that he was too old now to recall it, just that he hadn't been present at all. He remembered staying with Angeline through the beginnings of labor, then –he recoiled at the thought now- had left for an impromptu business meeting halfway through. When he returned, Artemis II had been born and he was officially a parent.
'This one is going to be different though,' Artemis promised to himself, his eyes fierce as he clutched the photograph, 'Everything I've missed, everything Arty's missed, it'll be our second chance.'
"Are you going to let anyone else see those pictures?" Angeline's laugh pierced Artemis' thoughts as she walked into the dining room.
"I'm sorry Angeline. They're just so beautiful. I don't know if I've ever seen a piece of art this lovely in all my years, " Artemis said softly, his fingers tracing the shape of the twin's backs.
"You've really changed Timmy," she said and sat down beside him, "You were never like this when I was pregnant with Arty."
"I know."
"I'm glad you're different now. It's going to be healthier for us as a family."
"Yes, family," Artemis said, the word still seeming foreign to his tongue.
Angeline was silent for a few moments then said, "Timmy, there's something I have to tell you, and please promise you won't overreact or start worrying-"
"Just by you saying that you make me nervous. What is it dearest?"
Angeline twisted her hands in front of her and stared at her wedding ring, "Butler told me where Arty is. He says it's the truth but I don't know. I'm worried about him. Butler, I mean. The whole story just sounds…insane."
Artemis turned in his chair and took his wife's face in his hands, "Please tell me Angeline."
And so she did.
****
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update everyone. I'm sure anyone who attends school around this time of year understands the extreme pain in the backside that is exams. Anyways, thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. The positive feedbacks is really helpful and as always, feel free to critique or suggest things you might want to see in future chapters. See you next time and happy reading!
