And here we go! Love and fairy cakes to 3SmartGirl, ht4eva, xXBeetle Of DestinyXx, Anare Silvermoon, good ol country girl, bubbles, catsrae, .hard and Fanatic-girl92. You guys are amazing and your support is making me sniffle.
DISCLAIMER: Surely you get it by now.
On the way to the med centre, Trouble woke up. He blinked blearily – Grub was the first to see. "Trub!" He gasped. "You're awake! Oh, Trub!" He burst into tears and pulled his older brother up into a hug.
Trouble was sure he was dreaming, but that didn't make the feelings any less strong, and he sighed in Grub's arms. They were muscular. Yup – definitely a dream. Grub would never waste time in the gym. He was too whiny.
It's not a dream. Freda spoke into his mind, and a weary tear trickled from the corner of his eye.
How could it not be a dream? He asked. This is far too good to be true.
Holly's here.
Trouble's eyes flew open. Even in a dream he was eager to see Holly's face. He was mindful of his brother, however, and knew that saying Holly's name first would not be a good idea. Grub would probably tell Mummy. "Grub?"
His voice was cracked and hoarse, and the arms around him tightened, then let him down gently. "I'm here. You're alive, Trouble! You're really alive!"
"Yeah." Trouble coughed weakly, and turned his head slightly to see the most beautiful sight in his whole life – Holly Short smiling tearfully and holding a cup of water.
"I got him." She whispered, sliding her arm under Trouble's head and tilting it so he could drink without choking. His stomach flip-flopped – the first good feeling he'd had for what seemed like centuries.
"Hey, Holly." He breathed, unable to manage more volume.
"Hey, Trouble." She matched his whisper and lifted the cup to his cracked lips. "You look terrible."
He laughed weakly. "I bet I do." He took a gulp of water and sighed. He was exhausted.
"Go to sleep, Trouble." Holly whispered.
He shook his head. "I don't want to wake up. This is the first good dream I've had for months."
Holly smiled. "This isn't a dream, Trouble. Would a dream look this good?" She attempted a joke.
He sighed and smiled. "No." He admitted.
"Sleep." Holly ordered.
"Promise you won't go." Trouble swallowed as she lay his head back down and turned to look at his little brother. "You either. I don't want to be alone again…" Another tear carved a path through the grime on his face and he closed his eyes painfully.
Holly grasped his hand and squeezed tight. "Don't worry, Trouble." She told him in a fierce whisper. "We're not going anywhere!"
)O(
--BECAUSE I CAN'T DO SIMPLE SPACES...--
)O(
The first time Trouble heard Freda's voice with his ears instead of his mind was in his bed in the private bay of the Haven medical centre, a week after his return.
"How are you?" She asked shyly.
"Much better." He smiled. "Thanks to you."
"It's thanks to me you were captured in the first place." She said sadly.
"No." Trouble frowned. "They created you – it was their fault, not yours. How are you doing, anyway? What are you up to?"
She smiled cheerfully. "Number One and Qwan and the other warlocks are teaching me to heal fairies! And I met a human called Artemis Fowl." She shivered. "He was scary."
"He tends to have that effect on people." Trouble agreed wryly. "What was that like?"
"He talks very…" She frowned, searched for a word. "Coldly. His mind is full of numbers and confusion."
"Confusion?" Trouble raised his eyebrows. The great Artemis Fowl was confused? This he had to hear.
"Yes." Freda smiled. "But Qwan said that I shouldn't talk to other people about the insides of minds. Minds are private, he says."
Trouble sighed. There went his amusing story for the day.
Freda smiled guiltily. "I'm glad I figured that out before though."
"Why?" Trouble asked distantly.
"When we rescued you, on the med ship…" At Trouble's pained expression, Freda faltered, but forged on. "Well…I nearly told Holly you lo–"
"You didn't?" Trouble paled.
Freda laughed. "I said 'nearly'. But you know, I don't think it would have been a bad thing…"
"Trust me," Trouble stared into her eyes. "It wouldn't have been a good thing."
Freda picked up his fears and sighed. "What's the worst that can happen?" She argued, frustrated in the double knowledge that Trouble liked Holly, and Holly liked Trouble, and neither of them wanted the other to know. Relationships were so confusing.
Trouble looked away. I don't want any more pain. He thought, not wanting to say it out loud.
How do you know that's what would happen? Freda argued.
"I just do." Trouble said stubbornly.
"Fine." Freda sighed. Would it really be that bad if she told at least one of them that their feelings were mutual? Qwan had said that even good things had to work out on their own…but Trouble was her friend, and Holly was so nice…
"Freda?" A sprite came around the corner and spotted the hybrid child. "Qwan says that he needs you."
"Alright." Freda nodded. "Thank you." The sprite nodded and flew away. Freda turned back to Trouble and smiled sadly. "I'll visit. Get well soon."
Trouble smiled and nodded, though as she left, he sighed and turned his face to the wall. He wanted to get well, but coming back from the dead was such hard work…
Thoughts? From here the story will start to veer away from Freda and concentrate on Trouble. While I was writing there was quite a huge time-gap between the last chapter and this when my obession shifted from Arty Fowl to something else. Something like a year. Ulp. Can you tell?