A/N: Second update this week :D This chapter focuses on Arty and Holly. It's slightly shorter and fluffier than previous chapters, but I nevertheless hope you enjoy :)

-Kio

Chapter 5; Unfamiliar

Fowl Manor, Ireland

Artemis did not enjoy his journey home. The elf, Holly Short, did not appear to be overly concerned with safety, and had flown from the South of France to Ireland at a breakneck pace with little regard for his personal comfort. Flying clipped onto someone's belt was a jarring experience at the best of times, but it was particularly unpleasant when Holly was the one at the helm.

He staggered away from her as soon he was unclipped, tearing the cam foil off his frame and throwing up in a nearby bush.

The elf seemed amused by his discomfort. "Classy," she said, pulling off her helmet and raising an eyebrow.

Artemis shook his head. "You," he said, pointing a slightly trembling finger at the fairy captain. "Are a danger to yourself and others. You should be institutionalised."

Holly laughed. "Nonsense. That was great fun."

"Fun does not equal safe," muttered the youth.

"Safe is only a point of view," Holly replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "And you coped much better last time we did that."

Artemis's face lost some of what little colour it had left. "I've done that before?"

Holly nodded. "After Arno Blunt shot Butler in London, I healed him and carried the two of you home on my belt."

"Arno Blunt," said Artemis, frowning. It was difficult keeping track of all the adventures he had supposedly taken part in. "Jon Spiro's bodyguard, right? After he stole my cube thing?"

Holly gave another nod, then chuckled. The human raised a questioning eyebrow. "You would have hated someone calling it a cube thing," she said by way of an explanation.

Artemis looked around. Now that he didn't feel quite so ill, he could take stock of his new surroundings. His eyes widened when they noticed the huge manor in the background.

"I live here?" he asked, trying and failing to hide his incredulity.

"Yep," replied the elf. "You used to be pretty rich."

"Used to be?"

Holly regarded him, an odd look expression on her face. There was tenderness in her eyes, but something else too.

He waited patiently for her to explain, but she wasn't quite sure what to say. She had given Artemis the condensed version of their adventures, with some details missing and some deliberate omissions. She hadn't gone into great detail about their most recent fight against Amber – those memories still hurt – and she had been careful not to mention the specifics of what had happened when they had travelled to the past, or the way Orion had felt about her. She'd neglected to mention their final conversation before his death as well.

"You gave it up," she said eventually. "To help defeat Amber. She demanded gold. You agreed so that we would have a chance to outmanoeuvre her."

"And it didn't work?"

Holly shook her head sadly, remembering the death of Trouble Kelp, her long-time friend and commander. "No, it didn't. We lost the gold, and some good officers."

Artemis looked put out. "So now I'm poor? All because I tried to help someone else and it went wrong?"

"Not poor," answered Holly, giving a him a punch on the shoulder that was a little harder than normal. "Just not rich anymore. And isn't helping someone else worth your personal wealth?"

Artemis didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. It was mainly because his shoulder hurt really quite a lot. It didn't seem like provoking the elfin captain was a good idea.

"Can I meet my family then?" he asked, keen to change the subject and avoid further physical abuse.

Holly nodded and motioned for him to follow her. He was surprised when he realised they weren't headed for the manor.

"We're going to see Butler first," she explained upon seeing his confused expression. "I think he was closer to you than anyone, even your family. He refused to believe you were ever really dead. I suppose he was right in the end."

Holly led the boy to the front of the dojo. "Wait here," she instructed once they arrived. Leaving Artemis outside the entrance, she made her way into the old Japanese building, calling Butler's name.

"Holly?" came a gravelly reply from her left. "What are you doing here?"

She turned to smile at the giant manservant, but was instead struck by how old he looked. He seemed somehow… tired. As though everything he had been through was finally catching up with him. And there was the same emptiness in his eyes that had haunted Holly's until today.

"How's it going Big Man?" She would have hugged him, but he was twice her height and even if she could reach, there was no way her arms would have reached more than half way around his bulk. "There's someone here to see you."

Butler looked unconvinced. "You haven't been talking to Juliet, have you? Last week, she was insisting that I see a therapist." He shook his head in disdain. "Never again."

Holly rolled her eyes. "It's nothing like that," she told him. "Just trust me. You'll be pleased to see him."

Still visibly dubious, Butler accompanied the elf outside. He froze when he set eyes on the boy waiting for him.

"Artemis?" he whispered, as though he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

The youth tried to give a reassuring smile, but his heart wasn't in it. Despite Holly's stories, he couldn't remember ever having seen this person before in his life. All he could think as he looked at the mountain of a man was that he was glad he wasn't an enemy.

All of a sudden, the bodyguard charged forward. Artemis gave a highly undignified little yelp and tried to step back, but Butler was already engulfing him in a crushing bear hug. Holly looked on with a smile on her face.

"Artemis," said Butler, his voice thick with emotion. "I was starting to think…" He shook his head. "No. I always knew you would have had a plan. Found a way to come back to us. I knew you wouldn't leave us all like that."

With difficulty, Artemis extricated himself from the bodyguard's embrace. "Of course," he said, trying to sound confident. "I would never do that."

"So you did you survive? Holly was sure that it wasn't possible."

Artemis shot a sideways glance at the elf, silently asking her to help. He had no idea how to answer that question.

Holly sighed, resigning herself to having to be the one to break the bad news.

"There was a complication." She looked Butler straight in the eye. "He can't remember anything."

"You… you don't recognize me?" asked Butler, turning sharply to face Artemis.

The boy gave a slightly guilty shrug. "Unfortunately not. If it makes you feel better, I can't remember Holly either. So it's not just you."

Butler shook his head. "That doesn't make me feel better at all. How did this happen?"

Artemis couldn't resist raising an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I can't remember."

Clearly not in the mood for Artemis's attitude, Butler addressed Holly instead. "How do we fix it?"

Now it was the elf's turn to shrug. "I don't know. I don't even know if it can be fixed. I'll talk to Foaly. He might have some ideas."

Butler took a moment to think about it. "What are we going to tell his parents?"

"I don't know," Holly said. "The truth?"

It was clear that Butler wasn't entirely convinced by this suggestion. "Hmm," he said. "We'll figure something out, I suppose. They're away with the twins at the moment, but they'll be back in a few days. Does Juliet know he's alive?"

Holly shook her head. "I was going to tell her after you."

Butler grunted in acknowledgement and set off for the manor. Artemis looked at the bodyguard's retreating figure, trying to make up his mind what he thought of him. Meeting people for the first time and having them claim to be his good friends was disconcerting to say the least. And though he had no reason to doubt them, Artemis was a cynic by nature and they still felt like strangers to him. He was reluctant to simply trust Butler because he said that they used to be close.

Holly interrupted his thoughts. "Come on, Artemis," she said, gesturing in Butler's direction.

Artemis nodded and started trudging towards the manor. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he was finding it much easier trusting Holly than Butler. It could be that he had only just met the manservant, but he didn't think so. There was something about the elf that made him feel as though he could trust her.

Maybe it is because I remembered her name, he wondered. There is no way she could have known that I remembered the name Holly, and so it follows that she could not have lied about it to gain my trust. The only logical conclusion is that I had some kind of connection with her before I lost my memories.

Even so, just because they knew other before, didn't mean that he could believe everything she said. She said herself that he once kidnapped her. Perhaps this was all part of a convoluted plot for revenge.

That's absurd, he told himself. You don't believe that for a moment. And it was true: he didn't believe it. Somehow, he found himself trusting Holly Short. It was more instinctual than anything else. But he would reserve judgement on the others until he had more information, or until his memories returned.

They didn't end up having to actually enter the manor. Anxiously awaiting Holly's return, Juliet was posted up outside the front door. The pretty blonde girl rushed up to meet them, but once she was close enough to recognise Artemis, she slowed down, approaching him like a sleep-walker. She stopped right in front of him, lips slightly apart, expression disbelieving.

"Artemis? How… how are you… actually, never mind." Her expression hardened. To Artemis's eternal surprise, she slapped him hard across the cheek.

"Ow!" he yelled, stumbling back and clutching at his face. "What the Hell is wrong with you?"

"That's for leaving your entire family adrift!" she shouted back, stepping forward and slapping him again. "And that's for almost breaking my brother. And this is for all the pain you put me through."

The raised her hand to deliver a third blow, but Holly caught her arm and pulled her back.

"Leave him alone!" she shouted. "He doesn't remember any of that! He doesn't even remember you."

Juliet yanked her arm free, her furious expression turning to one of confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"He doesn't remember anything. Before you ask, we don't know why he lost his memories, or how he managed to survive the Nebula Facility exploding. All we know is that he's alive."

Juliet calmed down a little and turned to Artemis. "Is this true?"

The youth nodded nervously, rubbing his cheek. It was already a deep shade of red.

Taking a deep breath, Juliet raised her palms in a gesture of peace. "Listen," she began. "I'm sorry I hit you. I've just had a really stressful month, and I haven't had the chance to grieve properly. Not that I need to anymore, thank Frond. Anyway, I was just really angry with you for all the pain you put everyone through, but I'm OK now. The important thing is that you're alive."

Holly put herself between them and addressed Artemis. "Are you hungry? Do you want to go and grab something to eat?" she asked, eager to change the subject.

Artemis gave another timid nod, still reticent to speak lest he anger Juliet and end up being hit again. Why did all the women in his life feel the need to assault him? He certainly hoped his mother wasn't like this as well.

"OK," said the elf, turning to the Butlers. "Can you fix us something to eat? I'll show Artemis his room and his study. Maybe he'll find something familiar that can help trigger recall."

The two pairs began to go their separate ways, but before Holly and Artemis could make it to Artemis's room, she was interrupted by an urgent call from Foaly. She considered ignoring it so she could spend unadulterated time with Artemins, but there was always the possibility that it was something important.

She sighed and accepted the call. "Hang on a moment, Mud Boy," she told Artemis before turning her attention to Foaly. "I'm with Artemis. This better be good."

"I need you back at Police Plaza," the centaur told her. "Bring the Mud Boy."

"That's not how it works, Foaly. Consultants don't give orders to captains. Besides, Artemis doesn't remember anything. You can't expect him to come below ground."

"There's a situation," countered the technical consultant. "An Opal Koboi situation."

There was a brief pause. "I'm on my way. I'll see what I can do about bringing Artemis, but I'm not making any promises."

"No." Butler's tone was unyielding. "I am categorically vetoing this course of action."

"But this is Opal Koboi we're talking about," repeated Holly for the third time. "We'll need Artemis's brain to outmanoeuvre her."

"Once again," growled the bodyguard, refusing to be swayed. "No."

Holly shook her head in frustration. "It won't even be dangerous! We're only talking about Haven. He's been there before and nothing bad happened, remember?"

"I remember. But-"

"I don't," interrupted Artemis, who was sitting rather forgotten at the kitchen table. "And don't I get a say in this?"

"Nope," answered Butler firmly.

"That depends," said Holly. "Whose side are you on?"

Artemis smiled. "Yours, actually. My parents won't be back for at least a few days and this Opal Koboi person sounds dangerous. If I may be of assistance, it would make sense for me to go. And Holly is right: we're only talking about going to Haven to act as a consultant."

"But you can't even remember anything!" argued the manservant, frustrated that his charge had intervened on Holly's side. Artemis was a lot harder to argue against than the elfin captain. "You don't even remember defeating Koboi the previous times. How are you going to beat her now?"

The youth stood up and laid a hand on Butler's massive shoulder, preparing to play his trump card. This was his real reason for wanting to accompany Holly underground.

"Old friend," he began. "My amnesia is precisely the reason I must go. Exposure to the fairy world has a chance to trigger at least some limited recall, and I expect that the supposedly genius centaur – Foaly, is that his name? – would like to examine me. According to Holly, the People actually developed a means of artificially suppressing memories; if anyone can help me recover mine, it's them."

Butler sagged. Artemis was right and he knew it. But that didn't mean he liked it. He pointed a warning finger at Holly.

"One day." His expression made it clear that there would be consequence if the elf failed to return his charge in time. "No more. And I'm only allowing this on the condition that Foaly helps him get his memories back." He sighed. "One day. Understand?"

Holly nodded amicably and gave the giant bodyguard a light punch in the forearm. It was as high as she could reach.

"Don't worry, Big Man," she said. "We'll be fine. You do still trust me with your principal, don't you?"

"You're one of the few I do," Butler grudgingly admitted.

"Holly?" Artemis was looking a little nervous. "The thing is… I won't have to travel underground clipped onto your belt, will I?"

The elf laughed. There was just something comical about Artemis's pained expression. She shook her head. "K'Azir is sending a shuttle. It'll be here in a few hours I expect."

Artemis was visibly relieved. "Wonderful. In that case, I would like to change into some more suitable attire."

Butler looked at Artemis's jeans and heavy metal t-shirt and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you would," he said, the barest hint of a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. "I was going to ask about your clothing choice."

Artemis gave an exaggerated sigh. "It wasn't my choice," he insisted. "Or at least if it was, I don't remember why. I'm sure I had an excellent reason."

"Yeah," said Holly. "Sure you did." Artemis opened his mouth issue a scathing retort, but Holly acquiesced before he had the chance. "Alright, alright." She smiled. "Come on. I'll show you to your room. I'm sure you've got plenty of boring suits to choose from."

Artemis followed her dutifully out of the kitchen and in the direction of his room. Once they were out of Butler's earshot, Holly broke the friendly silence.

"When you were speaking to Butler," she began. "You called him old friend. I didn't tell you that you used to call him that."

"Did I?" Artemis thought for a moment, frowning. "I suppose I did." He shrugged. "It just came out. As though it was the right thing to say. I can't really explain it."

Holly broke into a huge grin. "You're starting to remember!" she exclaimed. "At least, a little. Maybe not consciously, not yet, but it's a start."

Artemis returned the smile. It was comforting to think that he would soon remember the people around him.

"I hope you're right," he told the elf.

"Actually, there's something else I was going to ask you," said Holly. She stopped walking and looked Artemis in the eye. "You called Fowl Manor, right? How did you know what number to call? And don't tell me it just felt right or something like that."

Artemis gave a soft chuckle and pulled the piece of paper with the string of numbers on it from his pocket. He might have been dubious about showing the others, but he felt able to trust Holly more readily with every minute he spent in her company. He held out the note to her.

Holly took a step forward, frowning. She reached out, taking the scrap of paper from Artemis's outstretched hand. The crease in her brow deepened as she inspected it.

"Where did you get this?"

Artemis shrugged by way of a response. "Originally? I have no idea. All I know is that it was in my pocket when I woke up. What do you think it means?"

"It means," responded Holly, her tone serious. "That your memory loss wasn't a mistake. This note must either have been written by you, meaning you were aware that you were going to lose your memories and prepared accordingly – which is unlikely, since I don't think this is your writing and, if you were going to leave yourself a message, you would probably leave something more informative."

"The second option?"

"It was written by someone else, probably the person who took your memories."

Artemis frowned for a moment, deep in thought. "You don't think I could have been mindwiped again, do you?"

Holly looked unsure. "I don't know. It's possible I suppose."

"But you think my amnesia was deliberate?"

"I think so," the elf replied, nodding slowly. "It's the only explanation for the note. Someone must have known in advance, whether that was you or someone else. And the only way they could know in advance is if it was artificially induced."

"Not necessarily," Artemis disagreed. "It may have been placed after I lost my memories, while I was unconscious."

Holly shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. How would they know who you were, or what number to write? Or even that you had no memories? And if they did know all of that, why not stick around? Why just leave a cryptic note and disappear?"

Artemis didn't respond, silently conceding that Holly was right. The elf closed her eyes in concentration, trying to make sense of it all.

"I don't get it," she said finally. "If someone went to the trouble of erasing your memories, why leave a clue that could help you to recover them?" She shook her head in frustration. "It doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps not," said Artemis, not looking unduly bothered. "But I hardly think it matters."

Holly was taken aback. "Why not?"

"If I am able to recover my memories – whether by a natural process or with Foaly's help – I will remember exactly who did this to me. Everything will make sense. If I am not, it would likely make minimal difference knowing the person responsible. Although I suppose it is possible that only they would know how to reverse the process, in which case access to their knowledge would be imperative. Still, it would be wise to pursue that option only if and when all other available options are exhausted."

Holly regarded him for a moment, an odd look on her face, as though she had just realised something.

"You're not speaking in fives," she observed. "I only just noticed."

Artemis's eyebrows shot up. "Why on Earth would I be doing that?"

"Sorry, I forgot you don't remember. Atlantis Complex. Speaking in multiples of five was a symptom."

"You forgot that I don't remember?" Artemis smirked. "Oh, the irony. And that sounds sickeningly irrational. I would assume that the Complex was linked to my memories – from what you said before, it was partly caused by them – and so without the memories to act as a foundation, it no longer affects me. If I am able to trigger full recall, it is entirely possible that the Complex could reassert itself."

A shadow passed over Holly's face and she turned away. "No," she muttered, more to herself than her human friend. "I won't let that happen."

"It's a mental disorder," said Artemis, raising a cynical eyebrow. "I don't see how you could stop it."

Holly spun to face him. Artemis was struck by how fierce her expression was. The determination in her eyes.

"I'll figure something out," she said resolutely, her tone daring Artemis to argue.

He didn't. Maybe he was remembering the punch he had received the last time he had angered the elfin captain, or maybe, just maybe, there was something about the glint in Holly's eye that made him inclined to believe her.

Much as Holly had grown tired of her human friend's determination to wear exclusively suits, the boy was undeniably more Artemis once he had changed into one of his Armani suits. The elf smiled as she looked at him.

He really is back, she thought. It didn't matter how many times she thought about it, it still managed to surprise her. It was a pleasant surprise, though. A sort of warm and fuzzy feeling in her gut. She had never dared to believe that she would see him again. Talk to him again. And though the legacy of his death was still raw and painful, she could feel the wounds already beginning to heal now that he was alive again.

But there was something troubling her as well. The last words she had spoken to Artemis before the Nebula Facility had exploded echoed around her head. She had thought she was going to lose him forever, and so she had spoken from the heart, desperate to say something that would dissuade him from throwing his life away.

Three little words. A truth she had denied for far too long had been acknowledged, and now that she was being honest with herself about her feelings, she wanted nothing more than to act on those feelings.

But he didn't remember. He didn't remember her admission. In fact, he didn't remember her at all. How could she have what her heart demanded when he didn't even know her anymore? All their times together might be lost to him forever. It was almost unbearable that after everything, all the hardships they had endured, all the times they had saved the world, they might be denied their chance at happiness.

Finding out that Artemis was alive felt like a second chance. A lifeline thrown down from the heavens. Holly was determined not to squander it, but at the same time, she didn't see how she could take advantage of the opportunity if Artemis wasn't able to reclaim his memories.

Well,she told herself, if he can't get his old memories back, we'll just have to make new ones. I won't give up on him again. I won't give up on us.

And so, as she watched Artemis emerge from his room, now clad in a suit and looking much more like his old self, she forced herself to smile. She pushed the fear away, ignoring the lingering grief and anxiety that clawed at her stomach. Because at the very least, Artemis was alive, and that was more than she would have ever dared to ask for.

"You look more yourself, Mud Boy," she commented. "So, you ready to go? The LEP shuttle will be here soon."

A/N: I know that not a lot happened this chapter, but I felt like it was important to do the whole Artemis meeting Butler and Juliet thing properly. We're getting steadily closer to some major action, which was really fun to write.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed, and would love to hear any feedback you might have.

-Kio