Disclaimer: I do not own the Artemis Fowl series.

~Enjoy~

Chapter 10: Out of the Closet

The luminous moon overpowered the blanket of stars as the night carried on its hymn of excited frogs, owls, and crickets.

Inside Fowl Manor, glasses were half full, and the couples mature and young divided themselves with Angeline on Mr. Fowl's lap sharing an armchair, and Artemis and Faith sitting close to each other with their fingers entwined. The young couple engages in a conversation full of whispers, and it bothered Angeline to no end. Mr. Fowl was shamelessly sneaking a hand under her skirt, rubbing her thigh.

Angeline springs off the couch, shoos away her husband. Mr. Fowl rolls his eyes, but obeys. The blonde woman clears her throat, and tilts her head toward their oldest son's direction. Artemis whispers to the young woman something so amusing she had to cover her mouth to restrain from laughing.

The patriarch beckons his son. Artemis eyebrows rose. He hurries to his father and found himself being herded out by the man. Angeline waggles her fingers underneath her diamond chin at Artemis. The genius was going to protest but the door slams at his face

The matriarch claps excitedly and hops on the faux leather couch next to the younger woman. "Alone at last," she sings. Angeline notices Faith's stiff posture and pouts. "Don't be so up-tight, you're with me now. You can let loose."

"Yes mad-"

Angeline tuts and wags her manicured finger, "No more of that madam or ma'am stuff. Angeline for now on."

"Of course…Angeline," Faith blushes.

Angeline turns her attention to the half empty champagne glass on the coffee table. With her dainty fingers she lifts the glass. Even the slightest of gestures was like seeing a professionally trained ballerina. She twirled the neck of the glass between her fingers. "You hardly touched this, or the drink Timmy gave you."

"I don't really like alcohol that much." Faith pick at her cubicles.

"No," Angeline chirps, "Girls your age would jump at the opportunity." She hops from the couch, skips to the mini bar, and grabs a wine bottle from the tiny refrigerator.

"I forgot to tell you how beautiful your home is," Faith blurts. She wanted to kick herself for not saying it sooner. Though maybe it was a redundant statement. Anyone with eyes can tell that the manor was the epitome of classic beauty and elegance. The walls adorned with paintings and tapestries that date to the Renaissance. Floors so polished it was like walking on mirrors, and a color palette of gold and burgundy.

"It's not really mine. I only have it through marriage, much to my father-in-law's displeasure." Angeline grimaces at the memory of the deceased patriarch that came before Artemis the First. She held two wine glasses in one hand, and a bottle in the other. Faith objected to the offer of wine, but Angeline was a Fowl and did not take no for answer. Angeline made the argument that it was a special occasion that deserved drinks. The matriarch pours the white wine, and gives the glass that was as big as bowls.

"While the men are out of our hair, I wanted to get to know you one-on-one," Angeline kicks off her heels and folds her legs. Faith's feet throbbed in pain from wearing her heels for hours. She wanted to copy Angeline, but the couch they were sitting on must be the price of two years worth of rent so she buries the urge.

The matriarch studies Faith's face like she was trying to decipher something cryptic underneath her skin. Her analytical stare daunts the young woman to squirm and stare at her bounded fists. The room hummed with air conditioning but hair stuck on the back of Faith's neck from sweat.

"You have been such a mystery to me. I didn't know what to expect because of Arty's past." Angeline rests her rosy cheek on her palm as she lounges, and signals the young woman to drink.

Faith sips her wine. Am I disappointment? Not good enough? What did you expect?

"My boy is not easy at all and being a genius and a Fowl too. He can be quite a handful."

"My specialty," Faith grins behind her glass.

"It's apparent," Angeline giggles. "But here's a word of advice from a woman who has to put up with an abundance of Fowls." She leans closer to Faith, mere inches apart from each other. Her eyes twinkle like a patch of water under a burning sun, "The thing about Fowl men," Angeline gazes down, "is that are they are incredibly gifted but terribly flawed."

Faith thought retrospectively about Artemis. His mind is his ultimate asset though it was equally his setback. The man can solve any problem, knows the gritty details of any subject, and has his hand on the pulse on everything that is innovative. But because his mind is so vast everyone around him is minuscule (at least in his opinion).

"They are sad creatures. So much ride on their shoulders, and are surrounded by people who lie and would betray them."

Tight knots twist in Faith's stomach, she was part those people who lie and backstab. She remembers the criminal party where she and Artemis had their first verbal encounter. The party was filled with people with records the size of bibles. Artemis floated around not quite blending in but also familiar with the setting. She was a demon enticing a lost angel in the garden of evil.

"A majority of Fowls are plaque with vices such as greed and corruption." Angeline lowers her eyes.

Faith remembers what her boss spewed about Artemis. She almost couldn't believe what she heard based on his actions that she has seen, but in his eyes that were confident and filled with hope, she saw the spots of affliction and guilt underneath. And she was aware that crime was the foundation of the Fowl Family, and Artemis was following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

Tears threaten to fall down Angeline's fair cheek, but she fights it with a smile. "They are not easy to love, but when they love and it's like the moon colliding with the sun. It's passionate but can be cold at the same time."

"I feel it," Faith agrees. The matriarch so eloquently encapsulates how it feels to love a person so complex.

Angeline balances the wineglass on her lap, ands rubs her wedding ring with her thumb, "My boy, was he…does he seem happy to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Arty would do everything else before he tell me the truth about his feelings. He's a private boy, but I suppose Timmy and me earned that privilege. We weren't the best parents to him…" Angeline squeezes her eyes shut to force the tears down. Wondering if the woman was going to break down, Faith readies her body to embrace Angeline. The older woman touches her refined pink lips, "I just wanted to know if he was alright. Does he smile and laugh?"

"Yes, he does. A lot actually." Faith reassures, massaging the matriarch's arm.

Angeline laughs in relief; a tear drops on her hand. "I'm glad, thank you."

"Has Artemis been sad before?"

The matriarch swings her feet on to the ground and places the glass on the coffee table. She huffs and shakes her head. "Arty would never plainly show it, but a mother knows. After a break up, he was a zombie. He worked on project after project covering his feelings. I tried to help him, but he has this pride he gets from Timmy."

"He was depressed after a girl left him. Was her name Holly?"

Angeline shifts her eyes to Faith. Her mocha eyes were as wide as the circumference of the wine glasses. "He told you about Holly?"

Faith shies away and drops her gaze to her hands. "Yes. Is that a bad thing?"

The older woman lurches and grabs Faith's hands. Jerking her chin upward, Angeline forces Faith to look at her. "Has he told you everything? All of it?"

Faith swallowed. "He told me he loved Holly very much, but it didn't work out." She folds her arms at her stomach, and shies away. "I didn't think it would be that bad."

"Has he told you bizarre stories," Angeline urges, her hands quivering.

"Artemis likes to rambles on about quantum physics and weird government conspiracy theories." Faith leans away from Angeline's frantic grasps.

"But has he talked to you about…fairies?"

"Fairies," Faith repeats bewildered. Tilting her head, she narrows her eyes at Angeline. "No. I don't recall he has."

Angeline blesses the Virgin Mary, and reclines into the chair with a hand over her heart. "He didn't screw this up."

"Should I be concerned about him and fairies," the young woman asks.

Sitting up, Angeline waves her hands and laughs nervously. "No! Nothing to fret about, it's a fascination of his. He loves fairy tales, and…fantasy stuff. Never stops talking about to the point where it gets boring." Angeline rambles, and snatches her wine and chugs.

The strong reaction did not feel like nothing to fret about. She knew from training the telltale signs of someone being secretive. The wild shift in emotion, Angeline's furious tapping on the glass as she drinks, and her body twists away from Faith.

Shit. I'm losing her. Acceptance was slipping from her fingers. She can discuss the topic of fairies and fantasy with Artemis after she gets over this hurdle of receiving approval. She needs to veer her way back to good graces.

Faith swipes her dark hair from her shoulders, and leans toward Angeline.

"Artemis talks about you all the time," the young woman blurts.

Lowering her glass, Angeline's eyes brighten, "He does?"

Faith nods, "He said without you he would've turned out a lot worse."

The matriarch giggles, "That's understatement."

"Artemis-"

"Don't you ever call him Arty," Angeline cocks her head as realization hits, "we all do."

Blush pink fills Faith's cheeks, she chuckles, "I want to give him my own nickname. Something cuter."

"Arty is cute," Angeline pouts.

"It is, but I want to call him something that will drive him up the wall," Faith crosses her legs and rests her chin on her palm. Her pointer finger covers lips that were perky in mischief.

Angeline returns the waywardness in the young woman's smile. "Have anything in mind?"

"I'm stuck between Poppy and Archie." Faith bites her finger to contain herself from laughing.

Angeline claps, and bounces on the couch. "Ooh Archie! That one would craze him!"

"Perfect," Faith smirks. "Archie it is."

They high-five each other, and Angeline tugs Faith forward in an embrace. The newcomer was overwhelmed with scent of lilies as her nose buries in the matriarch's shoulder.

"Welcome to our zany little family, my dear," Angeline whispers in Faith's ear. The feeling of being held by a caring mother was familiar, yet foreign to Faith.

She holds Angeline so hard she can feel the other woman's steady heartbeat, "My specialty."

"Okay, Cat, Izzy, and Lizzy are going to be with you for the night. Go to bed on time, and make sure the door is locked…I'll be back in the morning…" Balancing the phone between her shoulder and ear, she kicks off her heels and massages her sore foot. Artemis gently brushes her hair to the side, and unzips the back of her dress; his hand rakes down her spine. She giggles at both his hand and her brother's sharp wit.

"When I come back, we'll go to that breakfast place you guys like…I'll think about it when I come home…alright I'll see you guys in the morning. Goodnight. I love you." She hangs up her cellphone. Artemis's fingers dig under the shoulders of the dress and slide it down her bosom; he nuzzles his nose against her cheek. Faith reaches behind and ruffles his hair; her eyes travel around his bedroom.

"I can't believe I'm here," she chuckles.

"You've been here a good number of times," Artemis kisses her shoulder.

"But this time it's not in secret; they actually know I exist," she spun around and latches her arms around his neck, her aqua eyes were bright with joy, "We're out of the closet. I can't believe it! I almost don't know what to do now."

"I do," his hands scaled up her legs, bunching her dress. He sits on the edge of his bed. As she stood his eyes were staring at the tops of her breasts that were peeking out of her dress. Hungrily, he kisses them, and breath in her essence. God, he missed her.

"Artemis," she moans, and tilts her head back, "We can't."

"Why… not…" He said in between kisses.

"Having sex with them near by…I just met them…I don't want to give the wrong impression."

"Come now, it's not like they're outside the door," Artemis chuckles and hugs her hips. "I've missed you."

He gazes up at her with an innocent expression, which was strange because Artemis was everything but innocent. Faith awes and kisses him softly, her hand tangles in his raven hair. Muscles untighten and she melds into him, clutching him against her chest. Artemis drags the dress down off of her body, and it pools at her feet. Rosy pink nipples were peeking through her lacy black bra. Artemis glances at the rest of her, and his jaw dangles. Underneath her dress she wore black lingerie set with garter belts.

"My god," he lost it. They tumble onto his bed, and Artemis was on top passionately attacking her neck with open mouth kisses.

Faith arches her back, but she was still hesitant, "Artemis…no...I don't have my birth control."

"We'll be very careful," he kisses the side of her mouth.

"You said that last time, and we had a false alarm," she rolls from underneath him, her legs folds underneath her bottom. "Let me be the responsible one."

Artemis frowns. Faith hops off his bed, plucks out her hairpins, and lets her locks cascade down her back. She desperately needs a ponytail holder, but Faith knew Artemis would be the last person to have one in his room. Messy hair, here I come. "You don't mind if I take a bath, do you?"

Artemis eyes gleam mischievously. Reading his lustful eyes, she chuckles. "Alone. You may be a genius, but you're not that clever."

Disappointment was engraved onto his face, he sighs brashly. "Go ahead."

Faith hums and grazes her knuckle against his cheek, "Don't be grouchy. When you come over, I'll rock your world." She traces his lower lip in a smooth, sensual motion. Waves of heat swell down his loins; he playfully bites her finger, and she giggles. She waltzes into his bathroom and closes the door; Artemis strips off his tie. A robust knock echoes in his bedroom, he answers the sudden interruption assuming that it is Butler checking on him.

He swings open the door, and his eyebrow arches. It was his father, and the mischievous grin on his face sent a chill down Artemis' back.

"What is it Father?"

Mr. Fowl leans on the frame of the door suavely, "Just checking to see if Faith has everything she needs."

"I assure you she's comfortable; she's currently running a bath."

Mr. Fowl chuckles victoriously, "I knew those bath bombs would come in handy. Your mother thought you two would get going straight away, but we're quite the romantics."

Artemis stomps through the door and into the hallway with his father, and quietly shuts the door. He glares at Mr. Fowl, "What type of traps did you and mother put in my room!"

Mr. Fowl shrugs innocently, "Nothing, just the essentials bath bombs, scented soaps, candles, massage oils…handcuffs and condoms."

Roughly, Artemis drags his hands down his face, "You two are the absolute worst…wait did you say condoms?"

"Yes, first drawer in your nightstand."

The desire to be angry with his parents for taking such incentives disappears. For once, he was entirely thankful for his parents' openness to sexuality. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank you."

Mr. Fowl grins, "Happy to promote safe sex."

"When did you even find time to plant it in my room?" Artemis hisses.

"Easy. While you were tormenting the caterers," Mr. Fowl frowns, disapproving of his oldest son's tyrannical behavior. Like a child, Artemis gazes at the ground. The older man fell back to his jovial self, and clasps his son's shoulder. "Have fun tonight, son."

Artemis smiles and covers his father's hand with his own, "Thank you, fath-"

"Dad."

"Not you too," the genius groans.

Mr. Fowl coils in laughter, and taps Artemis's cheek. "Just kidding…but I do prefer dad. Father is too…impersonal."

"Fine…Dad." Artemis felt more child-like which is something he always tried to avoid; he wanted to be like his Mr. Fowl when he was younger. Always taken seriously, and respected. But Mr. Fowl has changed a lot over years and transformed into being lighthearted and free.

"Was that so hard," Mr. Fowl pinches Artemis' face, "Goodnight, Arty." He strokes his cheek before retiring to his bedroom. Artemis touches his cheek. Mr. Fowl's hand was cold from holding icy scotches, but the love was there. The love he always wanted from his father.

Artemis closes the door and locks it just in case the twins or even Butler bursts in during mid-coitus. The rushing water in the bathroom hums soothingly, a faint scent of bath bombs creeps inside the bedroom. The genius approaches the nightstand near his bed, and yanks the drawer open. As promised there was a box of condoms and handcuffs (Artemis cringes at the thought that it belongs to his parents); he rips open the box and tears off a condom. He creeps to the bathroom door, and slides the tiny packet underneath, and knocks. From the space between the door and floor, her shadow emerges and the condom vanishes. Dashing to his bed, he plummets on the edge.

The knob twists, and Artemis crosses his legs suavely. The door cracks open, and he saw a sliver of her. Her arm went through the crevice and beckons him. Artemis bites his lips, and follows the young woman into his bathroom. He swings open the entrance, and she was slipping off her robe and stepping into the warm water. The bathroom was fragrant with the scent of roses and candied fruit. Faith submerged into the water; her hair was pinned up in a messy up-do, and her make up was wiped clean. Artemis moans in desire from the sight of her. He was boiling with pent up aggression, and needed to pour it out. Faith half–swam to him, and his thumb strokes her lower lip. She kisses it.

"I learned a new trick," Faith purrs.

Artemis raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Faith gives him a coquettish smirk. She unfastens his pants, and tugs down his red boxers. His erection sprung free and it was angry from lingering neglect. Unable to resist, she kisses the engorged head then slid her tongue underneath the shaft. Artemis' knees threaten to buckle but he kept his feet square. She reaches for the condom beside the soap dish, and tears open the wrapper. She places the tiny rubber between her lips, and grabs his hips. The rubber meets the tip, and it stretches around the flesh as her mouth devours. His hand claws at her hair, and he gasps. His cock reaches the back of her throat, and she pulls away. The condom didn't cover the entire length so she rolls it all the way back with her hands.

"There," she smiles, and kisses the throbbing flesh.

"Masterful," Artemis catches his breath.

She floats away from him in his pool-size tub, challenging him to chase her. Artemis peels open his shirt. This is going to be fun.

Worn out from their long session, Artemis and Faith were dead to the world as they slept. Night creatures were singing a lullaby outside the window, lulling them to a deeper rest.

A cute jingle of bells mixed with electric humming annoyed them. It was Faith's cellphone spilling out of her white handbag on the nightstand. Her instincts told her it was her brothers, so she snatches the phone. The caller ID displays Eli's name.

Groaning, her body rotates off of her stomach to sit up against the fortress of pillows. Artemis was sleeping on her lower back, and grumbles when he had to shift onto his back, and continue to snored.

Faith mashes the call button, "Yes, Eli."

"Faith," Eli's voice cracks and it was not a fault of the phone.

"It's late. This better be important," Faith mumbles, she gazes at Artemis' chest as it rose and fell. She spots a dark purple bruise on his rib, and smirks at her handiwork.

"The mission to Russia. We have to have a meeting tomorrow."

Faith sits further upward. "That soon?"

Eli sighs, "Yes, I'm sorry. Is it bad timing?"

"Terrible timing. Did the associates change their demands again?" Since the beginning the Americans that Chad decided to do business with were wishy-washy, and spits out too many demands. Which was justifiable since Chad insisted they tread on Russian pathways.

"No, but they still show signs of cold-feet."

"Good. Maybe they'll drop the entire thing." Faith hisses. She has been against this big deal Chad has been trying to broker with these American businessmen who were shadier and less transparent than Chad, which made them more dangerous, in her opinion.

The Shadower organization was sitting on gold mine of cocaine and methamphetamine from a previous deal with a drug cartel. Chad has been looking for the highest bidder and it came in the form of "loyalists" of the incarcerated Jon Spiro. The vultures reaped a lot of gold from the crumbled Spiro Needle, and saw the booming drug business and wanted a piece of the profit. The Irish in Chad couldn't let the gold run away and selling drugs wasn't the most lucrative due to competition much to his chagrin; therefore, he was adamant for the trade.

"But Sir Bennington is passionate about this venture."

"And I'm not so passionate on stepping on enemy territory." She voiced her concerns on this scheme, but it fell on deaf ears. The organization was not a friend or an enemy to the Russian mafia. But sailing through with five ton worth of drugs would certainly put them over the line of enemy. "If we go through with this and we're stopped we can lose more than just millions."

"Correction. I look through all data of the canals and they have been neglecting it for a few years now. If there's a time to cross, now would be the opportunity."

"Maybe they'll laying low, it's not wise to leave a gap in your defense. And they're not fools or sympathetic." She shifted her eyes to Artemis. The rhythm of his chest undulating was steady, and rebellious locks of raven hair swept over his eyelids.

"Oh…Oh! You mean-"

"Shhh. Exactly."

Clacking like someone was dancing over a keyboard droned through the speaker, and an off-distant cough. "The meeting is held on 4 p.m. Owen and Grayson will be there to discuss arrangements and member selections."

"We were down to two hundred and thirty on selection, right?"

"Sir Bennington wants to up the number with an additional seventy-five."

Faith groans. The meeting would no doubt take hours into the night, especially when arguing with the brusque Grayson. "Fine, we'll talk further tomorrow."

"Yes," Eli squeaks, "Goodnight, Faith."

"It's morning, but goodnight," she yawns, and hangs up before the poor fellow could babble an apology. She reaches to put the phone back in her handbag. The air vent above them blew unrelenting cold air. The bulky, yet warm comforter beckons her so she sinks underneath.

She stares at ceiling, a heavy sense of dread overcomes her. This whole ordeal with those businessmen did not sit well. Since the first moment she saw their navy suits reeking of cigars and pungent cologne. One had a face of a wily fox, and the other a temperamental bulldog. She wrinkles her nose, and sweeps the thoughts to the back of her mind. The covers brush against her nose, and she can smell the man beside her in the fabric. As always it was sweet and virile.

"A strong wind seems to be heading your way," Artemis' eyes cracks open. His azure orbs shone through the darkness. Faith should have none better than to think he was fast asleep.

"Seems like it." She rolls to her side.

"He's really going to go through with it, is he?" His gaze scorches at her, but the emotion wasn't toward her.

Faith bit the inside of her cheek; she nods.

"The man grows more and more odious every breath he takes." Artemis combs his fingers through his unkempt hair. He turns over and kisses her shoulder. "You're not considering on going, are you?"

"If those businessmen pull through, then yes. If not, no."

"They won't back out. A deal of that magnitude is too profitable to pass. But you can't risk your life for that man's greed." Artemis was aware of the project. Not from Faith, but from contacts who are tittering on the line between legitimate and criminal. The news was too juicy to not be spread around some circles.

"For him, hell no. But this could be a huge step toward getting out." If she can help rake in the riches for Chad, she can ride out his prospering disposition. Gain more trust, and earn some sympathy from him to consider freeing her. She knew the trip to Russian would be dangerous, but it was a chance she was willing to take. It could be the risk to change everything.

"Sweetheart," Artemis' voice was honeyed, "You mentioned it…you didn't say it out loud, but you know. Years ago my father encountered the mafia in Russia. I lost him, and I had nightmares that his body was black and blue in the bottom of the water. Or tortured in the most revolting of ways. I don't want to go through that again with you."

His eyes were far way, deep in his memory of those hard times. Salty tears overwhelmed her vision. She buries her hand in his hair, and rests her cheek on his shoulder. "I will never let that happen. You just have to trust me."

Artemis sighs. He drapes his arm over her him, and rolls her onto her back. "Remember what I taught you, always be five steps ahead."

Faith nods. She lifts her head and kisses him. It wasn't long for the innocent kiss to turn into sweaty skin-on-skin and wordless, gasping declarations of love.

Thanks for reading. Please favorite, follow, and pretty pretty please leave a comment.

Very special shout-out to ThatbloodyTartaus for the constructive criticism. I have noticed many of the problems I created that you have mentioned, and I'm going to correct them in further chapters. And hopefully I succeeded at least a little bit in this chapter, but this is only the beginning. Again thank you so much.

More critiques are still more than welcomed. Don't be afraid to let me have it.

~Until next time.~