Hola good people, I'm back from vacation! And guess what? I feel gooooood…

Anyway, I'm sorry for the crap-a-luscious chapter. I shouldn't have even posted anything but I didn't want to keep you waiting! Which is what I'm doing now by writing useless Author Notes. On with the story!

Chapter Ten

When The Stars Go Blue

Where will you go when you're lonely?

Where do you go when you're blue?

I'll follow you…

…When the stars go blue.

Cupid head was in his hands, shoulders rising and falling with every heaving breath.

"Will someone please explain to me, why the most ugliest, unsociable, sissy boy is winning this stupid game? He's a virgin for Frond's sake!"

"That's where you went wrong," Aries said, replaying the Janitor's Room scene again on the plasma. "You should've made him have to go doggy style with her."

Cupid glared at destructive goddess. "I was seriously thinking about it. But I didn't think…he'd even stand a fighting chance even pecking her…now this!"

"Maybe it's time you took it up a notch. Anything I do won't help, obviously. You need to be more creative." Cupid raised his head, and looked at his counterpart.

"Creative?" the fairy pimp asked, smiling. "I like that…" He stroked the stone on his cane.

"What?" Aries asked. There was an unmistakable glint in Cupid's eyes, the same Artemis got when he was about to pull something especially devious.

Valentino kept smiling. "I think it's time Voodoo Thursday repay me a favor…"

Artemis saw Aisling clearly. She was sitting on a picnic blanket underneath the multitudes of stars spanning across the ink sky. She was there. He was here. He needed to be there, but his feet wouldn't move.

Damn!

"What are you waiting for Mud Boy?" Holly snapped. "For the sky to fall?"

"Possibly," Artemis said smoothly. Holly rolled her eyes and pushed the tangible boy out into the open.

"Artemis?"

Artemis straighten his back. "Hello, Aisling."

"Let me guess," she said. "Thalia?"

Artemis nodded, brushing dirt off his Armani suit. There was no point in pretending anymore, they both knew.

Aisling sighed deeply, not a good sign.

"What are going to tell me, Artemis? That you don't care, that it doesn't matter?" From the Ops booth Foaly glanced down at the speech he prepared for Artemis.

"D'Arvit!"

Artemis, (un?) fortunately, had a back up plan.

"No, I won't. Because it does matter."

Right then Mulch opened Artemis's will; have a slight inclination it was all over.

Aisling gave Artemis the benefit of the doubt, allowing the boy to continue. "I know how it feels to grow up without a father…at least, for a little while. He disappeared for two years."

"I heard about that," Aisling said. "But, it's not the same Artemis. You knew your father. I don't."

"True," the genius agreed. "But for that time that I did have a father…I didn't really see him, or know him."

"What about now?"

Artemis cleared his throat, searching for an answer. It was lost when Aisling smiled, and looked off into the distance.

"For a genius, Artemis Fowl, you're one of the dumbest people I know." Artemis blinked. Didn't see that one coming.

"You came out here because Thalia told you where I was, thinking you could just sweep me off my feet and make everything better. You have no idea how it feels to not even know your own father. None."

"That's not true," Artemis replied.

Aisling bristled visibly. "This coming from who, Artemis? A millionaire with nothing to lose?"

"No. It's coming from a boy who grew up two years wondering why his father left him alone with his deranged mother, enemies from here to Sicily, and little none hope of ever returning." Aisling winced. Though Artemis remained perfectly calm, there was a perfectly visible look of anger in his eyes. She had touched a very delicate nerve.

Without warning she stood up, walked over to Artemis, and…rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I had no clue."

Artemis cleared his throat, trying to clear out the warning signs going off inside his head. "It's quite alright," he said patting her awkwardly on the back. Aisling held for a few seconds more then pushed herself off. The siren inside of Artemis's head stopped screaming 'Warning: Feminine breach on premises, shut down all systems and begin snide remarks! This is not a drill, I repeat not a drill!'

"Well…I better be going," Aisling was saying.

"Wait," Artemis said. "I…my family and I are going to The Phantom of the Opera and I would like for you to come."

Aisling raised her eyebrows. "And you just happened to have an extra ticket?"

"Perhaps," Artemis said, raising his own eyebrows. Aisling laughed and took a step forward. The warning signs were going off in Artemis's head again, but he ignored them. Time to finish this, he thought, leaning forward. For a brief moment he hesitated then felt her lips touch his…

Callie and Thalia were waiting for Aisling in her room.

"Well," The little sister asked, jumping up and down on the bed like she was three.

Aisling looked down smiling sheepishly. It took Thalia a second to realize it.

"Oh my GOD!" she laughed. "You kissed Artemis Fowl?"

"Maybe," Aisling said grin broadening, and then was tackled to the ground by two large hugs.

"It's over," Holly sighed, relaxing in her chair.

Foaly's tail twitched. "I don't think it is…"

"What do you mean?"

"Take a look for yourself." Holly leaned over, and watched the footage on the Ops plasma screen.

Her heart dropped. "Oh no…Artemis isn't going to like this."

Dun, dun, DUN! Sorry for the wait, and the cliffie. I'll update soon, promise. Until then,

Wandering Mind