Author's notes:

GRR! If it's not the chickens; it's the feathers! Seriously, my computer monitor crashed on my laptop. Now of course, for those of you who know anything about computers, if the monitor on a laptop crashes one basically has to buy a new computer. So since I'm poor as a church mouse, I had to wait to afford a new one. Well, my prayers were answered in the form of my brother to make a long story short. He not only gave me a new monitor, but sold me a new computer. Yea, he built it for like 150. You can't find one at that price so I was like "sold!"

Any way, don't think I slacked on the story, though. I am currently working on chapter eleven…the final chapter. How sad, right! Don't worry, though, I'll be back with more of this series after Neppyman's story. We're going to write book 3 together and I am definitely planning on writing other fan fiction besides this series. So hopefully, enjoy!

S'Eleene Paris

Chapter Ten

Boughs of Holly

Burdeh Memorial Hospital

"Healer Knott, please report to Trauma Room One. Healer Knott please report to Trauma Room One." The intercom rang and Artemis Fowl the second barely acknowledged anything else other than the fairy beyond the glass window of the Metamorphosis Care Unit.

Captain Holly Short lay in the hospital bed and the only thing which moved was the rising and falling of her chest. This was the only thing indicating she was still alive other than the monitoring machines she was connected to. "For the time being," Artemis thought to himself, "her condition could change at any given time. After all, like Commander Root mentioned, the first seventy-two hours are the worst."

As he waited for Butler to return with his release forms, Artemis watched the Lower Elements Police officer sleep. "No matter what happens beyond this point," he rationalized, "my life will never be the same."

"Sir," Butler tapped on his employer's shoulder, "they need you to sign these forms."

Artemis took the clipboard and scanned through the terms and conditions of a general release form. He signed his name in Gnomish on most of the pages and initialed where needed. When he handed the clipboard back to his bodyguard, he sensed the unspoken question upon his lips. "What's wrong, old friend?"

"Are you sure you don't want to stay the few extra days to make sure she pulls through alright? She's still in danger; she still could die."

"There is no point to just sit here and wait for an outcome when it will eventually happen anyway. Especially, since I need to be getting back to school to complete my upcoming assignments. I have procrastinated long enough on them already."

Knowing the answer he received was a pitiful excuse to return to the surface to allow his principle to immerse himself into his work. The bodyguard said nothing in protest of the answer he received, but he did give him a glare which told his charge exactly what he felt of his coward's escape.

"Take these downstairs to the discharge counter. I will meet you in a moment. There is still one thing I need to do before we head out."

Butler nodded and headed back down the hallway with the signed paperwork. Artemis sat there in front of the window and pressed his hand to the glass. He kissed his fingers then pressed it back to the glass; hoping this wouldn't be the last time he would get to see her.

Police Plaza

Captain Holly Short glanced upward at the L.E.P. building. It was going to take a while to rebuild, but the plans (according to Foaly) were well worth it. At least now the minimal damage to the lower floors had been repaired and the building for the most part was usable again. Holly knew the lower floors would be crammed, but she never expected lines.

It had been a half a month since she had went into the hospital due to her Metamorphosis. She had been released from the hospital two days ago ready to assume active duty. However, Commander Root had other ideas as he sent her on a sabbatical leave.

"You need to take some time off to get of this shock. In fact, take the next month off. I need you in top shape when you return. I remember what a friend of mine went through during her Metamorphosis. It wasn't very pretty. I don't need you to have to go off during a surface mission because you feel like you're going to puke. Don't worry about your job; you're the most valued member in Recon."

Holly sighed and allowed her hand to wander to her lower abdomen. She still hadn't come to terms with the fact she had a life growing inside of her. Especially one that was half human. She was alive and therefore knew her pregnancy status even before the doctors confirmed it with a test.

As she climbed the stairs and entered the lobby, she quickly flashed her badge at the secretary and entered the security code into the key pad to get into the office section of the first floor. She passed by several cubicles to get to the staircase which lead to Foaly's labs. She climbed down the stairs and followed the hall to the centaur's work shop, but not before she overheard comments being made about her by a few of her co-workers.

"Yea, I heard she went though her Met. Just look at her! She's practically glowing."

"I wonder who the lucky guy was. She's probably the hottest female in the L.E.P."

"Agreed. I had heard from Lili Frond that it was Trouble Kelp."

Holly chuckled on the way down the stairs. If Trouble Kelp was the best they could come up with, then she wasn't in too much trouble with the rumor mill. When she arrived at Foaly's lab, she went through his security checks after confirming it wouldn't do any harm to her unborn child. Once she was cleared for entry, he met her at the door. "Well, there is the ma-ma-to-be. What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you wanted to go to lunch."

"Are you sure you want to do that? The last time you went out and ate with someone; you ended up getting pregnant by him," he chucked as he put down his clipboard on his chair. He straightened his tin foil hat as he exited the lab.

Holly laughed and teased back, "I don't think you'd take advantage of me; especially in this 'fragile' state."

"You and fragile are not words I would put together in the same sentence."

The duo laughed as they exited the L.E.P building. "Where are we going to eat? Pepper's?"

"No, I think that new place on Frond Avenue sounds good."

"Salty Dawgzs?"

"Yea, that's the one."

"Having cravings already I see."

"No, just hungry."

"You know, I heard their mushroom, carrot, and potato soup is worth the wait in line by itself. Let alone their soda bread," Foaly mentioned as they walked down the street toward the long line. It winded its way down the blocks to get into the Salty Dawgz restaurant. "So, how is Artemis taking the news? Have you guys talked about what color to paint the nursery?"

Holly hesitated before she spoke. It was that exact hesitation which told Foaly her answer. "He doesn't exactly know yet."

"What," The centaur exclaimed as he stopped her in front of The Queen of Hearts boutique. "You mean he doesn't know that he's going to be a father?"

"He left for the surface only an hour before I woke up. The healer mentioned something about him returning to school." Holly's gaze went to the window display where an emerald ceremonial dress with cosmetic wings clung to the body of one of the mannequins. "He doesn't even know I'm alive."

Foaly shrugged, "I really don't know what to say, Holly, except for the obvious. You need to tell him."

"I know." Her eyes went downcast.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "Look, in a few weeks it will be the human's All Hollow's Eve. The Fowls are throwing a masquerade party. You can go topside and tell him then."

"A masquerade, Foaly, at the risk of sounding like Lili Frond, what would I wear? Not to mention, the rather small issue of me getting a surface visa. I'm on leave."

"Leave the surface visa to me. As for the issue of what to wear, that dress in the window looks nice."

"Hello, earth to pony boy, let's take a dose of reality here for a moment. I am a fairy. It's a mud men party. Don't you think they'll figure it out that I'm not one of them?

"That's the beauty of it. The whole point is that everyone will be in disguises. No one will suspect a thing unless you use your magic. Artemis probably planned it that way."

"Fine," Holly knew she was defeated. Her gaze went back at the dress in the window. She sighed then pulled the centaur into the shop by the sleeve of his lab coat, "but you better hope they have that dress in my size. Foaly glanced down the sidewalk to the winding line at the Salty Dawgz restaurant longingly and he knew at that moment they wouldn't be able to try their famous mushroom, carrot, and potato soup.

Fowl Manor

Domovoi Butler kept a watchful eye on his charge as he entered the foyer to the manor. Even with the white mask covering his face, he knew his principle well enough to know the short, thin man in the tailored Armani suit was Artemis Fowl the second. The giant bodyguard climbed the stairs to the second floor landing to hand him a glass of punch.

"Who are you, Butler? William Wallace?" Artemis noted the tartan on the kilt he was wearing, "because I highly doubt he would wear a Campbell tartan."

The bodyguard chuckled, "and who are you trying to be, Prince Charming?"

"The only reason I am even throwing this party is to find out if Holly survived or not, you know that."

"Yes, I know. Your parents nearly wet themselves when they found out you wanted to throw this party." When Artemis rolled his eyes, the bodyguard laid a hand on his shoulder. "I knew once you suggested the party to your parents you were looking for a way to get word about Holly. One way or another, Artemis, you'll know."

"How is the new gun your contact sent you to 'field test'?"

"Honestly, I haven't been able to get use to the lack of weight. The Sig Sauer P250 only weighs about 24oz." Butler said as he pulled out the slim gun from his shoulder holster. "In that way I miss my old P225."

"Anything positive about it?"

"It has several interchangeable parts. Not only have the handle, but it can change caliber." Butler shrugged. "It's a neat little toy. It doesn't have much recoil either."

"I'm not surprised. Most pistols don't have much of one."

"Speaking of pistols, you're going to be shooting one off to your parents soon."

"Why do you say that?"

"Look downstairs."

Artemis' eyes followed his bodyguard's gesture to the doorway. A smile played on his lips as she entered the foyer. Suddenly the room around him grew blurry and Butler's future words were garbled at his ear. He breathed. "Holly."

I know, I know. I'm evil, but I had to keep something for the final chapter. Well, okay, so I also have a few other lovely things up my sleeve too. What can I say though; I can't tell you all of my surprises now can I?

Now I know a few of you know that Neppyman and I know each other in real life and are currently working on this series together. I also know some of you are wondering about his story. I know he's planning on taking a bit of a sabbatical this weekend so he can come have a visit with me and my gang of crazies, so we may work on the stories then.

One more chapter doesn't mean I plan on stopping writing. Heck no! I have a lot of ideas coming your way.

So, until then…

S'Eleene Paris