"Did you have a good time, dear?" Angeline asked, looking up from her work. A fundraiser, Artemis recalled, for animal shelters. The world was a different place now than it had been when Angeline Fowl had last graced the world with her events and causes, but she was the same as ever. People forgot, in these times of hardship, that smaller issues still existed, that they were worse than ever and in need of fixing. Angeline had focused her attention on just such problems.
"I did," Artemis said, coming to sit across from her. He absently picked through the scattered papers—his mother was never an organized planner, and she liked it that way. He found pages of scribbled numbers in need of computing and logistics in need of solving. He worked silently on these as his mother puttered along doing whatever it was she did to breathe life and love into her receptions.
"So," Angeline said with a sly smile after an hour of comfortable work. Artemis knew to fear this smile of hers, and he braced himself for whatever she was about to ask of him. "Aren't you going to tell me?"
"'I'm sorry?" Artemis stared at her blankly, completely lost, as he always was when social cues or hints were dropped.
"About Holly, love." Angeline giggled, probably at the look on Artemis's face. He could tell he must be making an exceptionally foolish one. "Beckett says you went on a date with her?"
"Traitor," Artemis muttered, but he should have expected it.
"I wondered when you'd mention it yourself," Angeline sighed. "But it's been months. You're playing love songs, going on dates, and now, if I'm not mistaken, living with Holly. Don't you think it's time you tell me about it?" Artemis didn't know what to say. Of course his mother had known something was going on.
"Yes," Artemis sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yes, I do. I was planning to tell you today. Only I couldn't think how to do it."
"I always thought you liked her, you know," Angeline commented idly, which just made Artemis groan. He was struck with the strange desire to bury his face in his arms and tell her to stop being embarrassing. "I just couldn't imagine such a relationship working, since she lives so far away and is…well, not human. You're always so lonely when she's not around, Arty, I wanted you to have someone that could be with you and make you happy," Angeline sighed. "But I knew Daphne, or any other girl, would never stick in your heart the way that fairy has."
"Mother," Artemis narrowed his eyes, "Did you intentionally push a redhead on me?"
"Oh, you noticed that, did you?" Angeline laughed. "I thought it worth a try. I'm not surprised it didn't work. I'm just so happy that you're happy, Artemis."
"I'm afraid you've misunderstood," Artemis said, his skin prickling with the knowledge he was about to disappoint his mother again.
"Oh?" Her eyes were sharp, all her attention on him.
"Holly and I are," Artemis paused, flustered. Angeline seemed all the more intrigued by this. "That is to say, accidentally, you understand…"
"Artemis, I don't think I've seen you this tongue-tied since you were two."
"Holly and I are married," Artemis forced out in a rush. "By an ancient fairy magic. It was, however, completely unintentional. Holly and I only recently found out ourselves."
"You…accidentally got married?" Angeline asked him, torn between amusement and concern. Artemis hastened to explain, lest she come to her own conclusions about how such a thing had happened. Angeline seemed troubled still, however, as Artemis had known she would be.
"You've been married so long, and I never knew."
"Nor did I, until very recently."
"You were too young to get married, Arty," Angeline scolded, as though he could help it.
"I know," he said, instead of pointing out that fact.
"We'll have to have a proper reception," and her eyes gleamed with the thought. Artemis was sure she'd love nothing more than to plan his wedding.
"Holly said you'd say that," he said, a smile gracing his lips as he thought of her, and of their time together last night and this morning. Angeline only beamed wider upon seeing this, and Artemis quickly schooled his face into something more himself. "The trouble with that, Mother, is that we don't plan to stay married." Angeline's face fell at once.
"Why not?"
"It was a mistake, we didn't mean to marry. It's only natural that we'd seek annulment." Artemis said, producing a frown from Angeline.
"But you love her, don't you?"
"I've no right to," Artemis said bitterly, but didn't allow his mother to reassure or question. He no more deserved reassurances than he did the feelings to begin with. And she'd feel terrible if she knew his one and only chance to be more to Holly had been lost forever when he'd lied to her in order to ensure he could save none other than Angeline herself. "We've never had a romantic relationship, and the marriage bond between us is—not what she wants."
"But then why are you dating her? Living with her? That seems counterproductive, dear, if your goal is truly to divorce her."
"It seems that way, doesn't it?" And he explained this further, too. He told her of the magical properties and sanctity of his marriage. He even mentioned the sickness he'd experienced with Daphne. And he told her of the situation in the Haven, of his and Foaly's half baked plan to deal with it.
"So," she said, brows scrunched together. "You're acting in love so that these council people will tear you apart?"
"It's more nuanced than that," he sighed again. "But, essentially, yes."
"But don't you know," Angeline smiled, "that love always wins?"
Telling the Butlers was not as bad as telling his mother had been. Juliet had laughed madly, and even Butler had cracked a smile, but he seemed concerned, too. Artemis had the uncomfortable feeling that Butler knew how he felt about Holly. But he had more tact than to mention it.
Angeline had promised to tell his father, which relieved Artemis greatly. He was least sure what to expect from Artemis Senior, and was glad to allow his mother to buffer it for him. He was rather afraid his father might see fit to deliver a long-overdue speech about girls and love. As if Artemis were a teenager in need of such a talk. It was quite a different spiel, however, that Artemis ended up receiving from him.
"Come walk the grounds with me, won't you, Arty?" Artemis Senior asked, and Artemis knew better than to blow off the summons, genial as it may be. A part of him was still that young boy, eager to impress a distant father who treated him more like a subordinate than a son. Getting to know his father again had been one of the hardest and happiest things Artemis had ever done. They were better now than they had been before, and their relationship was strong and loving. But Artemis could never forget the father he'd known for the first ten years of his life. And, sometimes, Artemis couldn't help but fall back into the skin of that child. Like now, when he dropped what he'd been doing and came to attention, rigid and formal, before falling back into this new role as the son. He tried to cover it up, walking casually with his father out of the mansion, but he didn't miss the deep sorrow in his father's eyes. He knew that Artemis Senior regretted his decisions regarding Artemis Junior all those long years, but there was nothing either man could do to erase them. So they did all they could; they moved forward, together.
"Is something on your mind, Father?" Artemis asked, suspecting he already knew what this walk was about.
"Your mum has just told me some interesting news," Artemis Senior said, his tone light and amused. Artemis didn't know how he was expected to respond. So he didn't, instead waiting for his father to go on. He did. "I should congratulate you on your marriage, if you'll please excuse my lateness."
"Hilarious," but he smiled, "I assume Mother also told you that my marriage is doomed, and so deserves no congratulations."
"Marriage," Artemis Senior said, some of the joviality leaving his voice, "is a difficult thing, son. It can be hard to keep such a union strong. And yet, you and this Holly of yours—,"
"Holly doesn't belong to me," Artemis interrupted, which was not like him, especially when speaking to his father.
"No, of course not," his father smiled. "Your mother raised you right, even if I didn't. I only meant it as an expression, Arty. Nothing more." Artemis nodded, abashed now at his outburst. "As I was saying, you and Holly seem to have kept your marriage strong and well, and that was without you knowing of it. It's endured a lot, your relationship, and you shouldn't count out the possibility that it will survive through your schemes as well."
Artemis had not expected his father to buy into his mother's hopeless romantic ideas.
"Now," Artemis Senior cleared his throat, and Artemis could feel his father's mood shift to something more serious. "I have some concerns about your relationship with Holly."
"Concerns?" Artemis almost laughed, despite his father's tone, devoid as it was of all amusement. "You and the entirety of Haven. And Atlantis, too, I should think."
"I'm serious, Artemis. All this fairy business is beyond your old man, but if I remember correctly, isn't Holly quite a lot older than you?"
Artemis stopped mid-step, turning to stare at his father with a slackened jaw and wide eyes. This was why he was worried? "The People have longer life spans than humans," Artemis said slowly, not sure what his father wanted to hear. "But comparatively, she's not that much older than I am. And that gap closes each year as I age while she, essentially, does not. She's hardly any older than she was when I met her, and I've grown a good deal since then."
"My point precisely, actually. You were a child when you met, and she an adult. Angeline says this marriage happened when she fell ill?" Artemis nodded stiffly. "You were a child, then, too."
Artemis was suddenly very glad his father didn't know of the kiss Holly had bestowed on him shortly after their marriage. Even if ages had gotten…confused during their trip to the past.
"I only worry that she's—,"
"What?" Artemis cut in once more, furious at the implication. "Taking advantage of me? A predator? I'll admit any romantic advance at the start of our relationship would have been inappropriate, but I assure you there were none. When Holly overcame her hatred for me, we became friends. And, after undergoing numerous traumas and saving each other countless times, we grew close. But there was never any possibility of romance in her mind. Even still, she has no interest in pursuing such a relationship."
"You really do care for her, don't you?" Artemis Senior asked, looking over his son. "Alright, I won't mention it again. I'm sorry to have upset you, Arty, but you have to understand that I worry about you. It's my job as your dad, you see."
"I know," Artemis said haltingly. "I apologize for my abrasive behavior." He paused. "I find it increasingly difficult to tolerate even a single word against Holly." His father nodded sagely, then his demeanor shifted back to good-humored and light. He clapped a hand on Artemis's shoulder and smiled wide.
"You'll have to bring her around soon," he said. "Intending to divorce or not, I'd like to meet your wife."
"I'm sure Mother has already planned tea," Artemis said, glad to have this conversation behind him. "As soon as she informs me of the time and date, I shall invite Holly over."