Artemis replied calmly, "We're just fine as you can see."
Eva ignored his assurances and swept Pfeiffer up into her arms sobbing with relief, "Oh, my baby! I was so worried about you and Artemis!"
Pfeiffer rolled his eyes again, "But mom! We're fine! Please put me down now!"
She sniffed a little, but complied with his request.
Artemis studied Butler, noting the worry lines that creased his forehead imperceptibly.
Butler, aware of the intense scrutiny, made a visible effort to relax his face, "I am glad all is well, master Artemis."
Artemis nodded once, "Not all Butler, not all. But close enough."
Eva and Danny took Pfeiffer back to the house and Rod lingered behind for a moment, "I don't know what happened, but whatever it is, thanks. I know you had something to do with saving Pfeiffer."
With that, he turned and walked back to the house.
Artemis frowned, thinking 'Less than you think, Uncle Rod. Much less than you think.'
Butler stood strong and silent beside him, knowing better than to prompt Artemis.
Finally, Artemis sighed, "I suppose you want to know what went on here tonight, don't you?"
Butler hesitated, then nodded.
Artemis opened his mouth to begin, but was interrupted once again by Holly Short, "Well, let me say one thing to you, Butler. It was a moment to remember. Fowl here actually acted like a human being! Can you believe it? He actually showed an emotion."
Butler said nothing but simply looked to Artemis for confirmaton.
Artemis sighed for the second time that night, "Captain Short, must you be so vindictive? Do you still hold a grudge over our little mishap?"
Holly leered at him, "Mishap? Oh no, why would I hold a grudge against you for kidnapping me and nearly costing me my life AND job? Grudge, certainly not."
"Ah yes, your well known sense of humor has once again asserted itself."
"What did you expect, Fowl? A thank-you card and roses?"
"Not really, I've always considered you more of a chocolate fan."
She scowled, "You should be thanking ME right now. Because not only did I save you, I saved your little cousin as well."
He gave her a wry look, "I should think you know me better than that, Captain Short."
Holly looked him over doubtfully, then smiled, "Alright then, have it your way. Until next time."
Artemis stepped forward impulsively, he couldn't help himself, "Holly- Captain Short. . . ."
She paused, "Yes?"
He relaxed, tried to make himself believe he meant to blurt this out, "Thank you, for, you know."
"Yeah I know. One last word of advice, don't ever tangle with the fairies again. Be careful, and you might just live to see the ripe old age of 18. If you're not careful, you could be forever 14. And I don't think you want to end your life there."
"No, I don't, Holly. Friends then?"
She turned her gaze on him, "No, " she said finally, "Not friends, but not enemies either. Goodbye, Artemis."
Eva ignored his assurances and swept Pfeiffer up into her arms sobbing with relief, "Oh, my baby! I was so worried about you and Artemis!"
Pfeiffer rolled his eyes again, "But mom! We're fine! Please put me down now!"
She sniffed a little, but complied with his request.
Artemis studied Butler, noting the worry lines that creased his forehead imperceptibly.
Butler, aware of the intense scrutiny, made a visible effort to relax his face, "I am glad all is well, master Artemis."
Artemis nodded once, "Not all Butler, not all. But close enough."
Eva and Danny took Pfeiffer back to the house and Rod lingered behind for a moment, "I don't know what happened, but whatever it is, thanks. I know you had something to do with saving Pfeiffer."
With that, he turned and walked back to the house.
Artemis frowned, thinking 'Less than you think, Uncle Rod. Much less than you think.'
Butler stood strong and silent beside him, knowing better than to prompt Artemis.
Finally, Artemis sighed, "I suppose you want to know what went on here tonight, don't you?"
Butler hesitated, then nodded.
Artemis opened his mouth to begin, but was interrupted once again by Holly Short, "Well, let me say one thing to you, Butler. It was a moment to remember. Fowl here actually acted like a human being! Can you believe it? He actually showed an emotion."
Butler said nothing but simply looked to Artemis for confirmaton.
Artemis sighed for the second time that night, "Captain Short, must you be so vindictive? Do you still hold a grudge over our little mishap?"
Holly leered at him, "Mishap? Oh no, why would I hold a grudge against you for kidnapping me and nearly costing me my life AND job? Grudge, certainly not."
"Ah yes, your well known sense of humor has once again asserted itself."
"What did you expect, Fowl? A thank-you card and roses?"
"Not really, I've always considered you more of a chocolate fan."
She scowled, "You should be thanking ME right now. Because not only did I save you, I saved your little cousin as well."
He gave her a wry look, "I should think you know me better than that, Captain Short."
Holly looked him over doubtfully, then smiled, "Alright then, have it your way. Until next time."
Artemis stepped forward impulsively, he couldn't help himself, "Holly- Captain Short. . . ."
She paused, "Yes?"
He relaxed, tried to make himself believe he meant to blurt this out, "Thank you, for, you know."
"Yeah I know. One last word of advice, don't ever tangle with the fairies again. Be careful, and you might just live to see the ripe old age of 18. If you're not careful, you could be forever 14. And I don't think you want to end your life there."
"No, I don't, Holly. Friends then?"
She turned her gaze on him, "No, " she said finally, "Not friends, but not enemies either. Goodbye, Artemis."
