Author's Note: I'm reissuing the warning: This story is nearing its end.
Only another chapter left. Review soon and I'll put the last chapter up.
I'm sooo evil sometimes.
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Trouble was seriously depressed. He was popular, good-looking, sure, and he could take his pick of the girls (except the one he really wanted). But he was not happy. He decided that he needed somebody to yell at. He saw a messenger coming toward him. "Get out of my way, I've got important places to be!" he knocked him down and headed for the Ops Booth.
"FOALY! Let me in!"
"Don't get your ears in a knot." He opened the door. He immediately noticed that Trouble's eyes were red from lack of sleep. "You look like a wreck."
"Can you blame me?"
"Well . . ."
"I can't stop thinking about her."
"Doesn't that tell you what you need to do?"
Trouble glared fiercely at him, the effectiveness of it doubled by the redness and strained look of him.
Foaly wasn't going to put up with it. "Tell her now."
"No, I won't. She doesn't care about me like that anymore. Besides, her shuttle's due to leave in less than an hour."
"Trouble!"
"I've got to get back to work." He started to leave.
"Oh, I forgot. Julius wants to see you right away."
"What's old Beetroot want to talk to me about?"
Foaly shrugged, hoping Root would be more effective than he had been.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Root was leaning back in his chair, smoking his cigar, when Trouble came in. Trouble didn't like the look in his eye.
"So, I've heard you're interested in Captain Short." He leaned forward so that the smoke was going right in Trouble's face.
Trouble knew there was no use playing games. Not with Root. Root was considerably over-protective of Holly. Judging by the stories Trouble had heard, Root had been a family friend for a long time. He looked him in the eye. "Yes, sir."
"Give me one good reason she should go out with a wimpy loser like you. I've heard stories and they aren't very complementary toward you."
"A wimp, sir? You said I was your second best officer."
"Of course you're a wimp compared to her! She's the best officer. Thinks on her feet and does what she's supposed to. Does what's right, even against orders and doesn't take guff from anybody. She's too good for you. Give me one reason, Kelp."
"I know, sir. But, it's because, sir, I care deeply about her. She used to care about me. She doesn't anymore. I'm leaving her alone to get on with her life. Even if I'm not ready to get on with mine."
"And you just gave her up with out a fight? What sort of man are you?"
"I wasn't going to force her to go out with me, sir. I only want her to be happy."
This was a major blow to Root. Kelp really cared. He really did, and Foaly was right. Root almost dropped the act and the gruff tone in his voice, but he didn't. Instead he just said in the same way, "She isn't happy."
"She's not?"
"No. You've got to tell her how you feel, numbskull. Then, MAYBE she'll be honest with IyouI."
"Sir?"
"It's a long ride back down her from the surface. Maybe you two can get some talking done. Go with her."
Trouble couldn't move. He was shocked. Things seemed almost too perfect, IF Root was right. But what if he wasn't? Then again, what-ifs could haunt you forever.
"Get outta my sight!"
Trouble started away.
"And one more thing, Kelp," added Root. "Don't break her heart."
Trouble nodded. He was practically skipping as he ran out the Police Plaza, down the streets, and just barely caught the shuttle Holly was flying.
"Root sent me. Thought you might like a little company after you ditch the Mud Men."
"How sweet," she said dryly. Who thought she might like a little company? Root or Trouble? "Get in."
He obliged.
Artemis was already sitting in the copilot's seat and Trouble didn't quite have the nerve to talk to Holly yet, so he sat back with Butler. He and Trouble talked, but all the while, Trouble kept glancing nervously at Holly.
These looks did not go unnoticed by Butler.
Butler spoke quietly to Trouble, changing subjects instantly, "You love her, don't you?"
Trouble didn't say anything.
"However you feel, you should tell her. I can tell that you do. Tearing you apart isn't it? Not telling somebody is painful. Tell her before it's too late."
Holly, not hearing their conversation, yelled, "Last stop! All Mud Men out of my shuttle!"
Butler squeezed Trouble's shoulder encouragingly as they stood up.
Trouble escorted Fowl and Butler out, after clearing the terminal of the few people there (the sun wouldn't go down for hours yet).
Holly sighed. Something just wasn't right; she could sense it in the air as Trouble sat down and strapped himself into the copilot's seat.
They didn't make conversation, though there were a few feeble attempts. Trouble got up and paced for a while. Then, Trouble took a deep breath and sat back in the copilot's chair. "Holly, these last few days have been torture."
She blinked in surprise. "Why?" Maybe now they'd get to the bottom of things.
He took a steadying breath. "Because, I've been around you so much, but I'm still just your friend again. I can't take that. I still love you, Holly."
She jerked slightly in surprise and had to steer the shuttle straight again to keep from crashing into a wall. "What do you mean 'still'? You never said it before." Her hands were shaking on the steering wheel.
"I didn't?" asked Trouble. He'd been in love with her for some time now. Just a little bit before they started to date, he'd realized it. Had he never worked up the nerve to tell her?
"No. You didn't. I would have remembered." She bit her lip. That wasn't the kind of thing you forgot, particularly when you wanted to hear it.
"Well, I do, Holly. I don't care if you love me or not, but I love you. I can't help it."
She started to cry, silently. She'd been waiting for him to say this, and now she couldn't speak.
"What's wrong, Holly?"
"Me too."
"What?"
"I love you too, Trouble. It's all I wanted you to say. And I felt like the relationship was going nowhere. I've heard from your past girlfriends. I didn't want to be another one of them, so I broke the relationship off on Imy/I terms."
"Holly, would you go out to dinner with me tonight?"
Holly saw that the tunnel stretched straight for a little ways. She put the shuttle on cruise control and leaned toward him. "Come here."
He leaned across the space between their chairs. "Yeah?"
Holly kissed him like she used to. "Does that answer your question?"
"I take it that's a yes?"
She grinned and went back to piloting the shuttle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I wonder if he's going to tell her," mused Butler.
"What do you wonder?" asked Artemis, coming out of his reverie. He was thinking of the unicorns. Maybe he should take up horseback riding.
"I wonder if Colonel Kelp will tell Captain Short how he feels about her. She cares about him too. I know she does. But he doesn't think so, so he's scared to say anything back."
Artemis blink, an extreme sign of emotion (for him), "I had no idea Holly and Trouble were involved. That does explain some things. How did you chance to find out?"
"They aren't, but they should be. You couldn't tell? Artemis, did you even look at them?"
"Of course I saw them. I spent two nights at her home."
"No, Artemis. I don't mean did you see them, I mean did you really look at them?"
"I suppose not. Especially after that incident . . . with Captain Short. I could hardly look her in the eye afterward and the looks Trouble Kelp gave me, made me positive that she had told him what had happened."
"What happened?"
"Nothing of importance." He wriggled uncomfortably in his seat.
"Artemis, you'll feel better if you tell me."
"I saw her coming out of her bath. I didn't expect her to be in there and she didn't expect me to be coming in. Our timing happened so that I was coming into the room just as she was getting out."
Butler looked at Artemis and found him to look embarrassed, something that he hadn't seen in Artemis in a long time (if ever).
"If you really looked at how they interacted, you'd see. The signs are all there. I told him that he should tell her. I wonder if he listened."
"If he did, he's either the world's greatest idiot or most courageous elf. Captain Short is pretty, I once thought she reminded me of a black widow sort of beauty. Clever too. And brave. But she does have a temper. Very Fowl indeed."
"I hope he listened to me."
After a moment, Artemis replied, "I hope so too. She deserves to be happy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trouble was seriously depressed. He was popular, good-looking, sure, and he could take his pick of the girls (except the one he really wanted). But he was not happy. He decided that he needed somebody to yell at. He saw a messenger coming toward him. "Get out of my way, I've got important places to be!" he knocked him down and headed for the Ops Booth.
"FOALY! Let me in!"
"Don't get your ears in a knot." He opened the door. He immediately noticed that Trouble's eyes were red from lack of sleep. "You look like a wreck."
"Can you blame me?"
"Well . . ."
"I can't stop thinking about her."
"Doesn't that tell you what you need to do?"
Trouble glared fiercely at him, the effectiveness of it doubled by the redness and strained look of him.
Foaly wasn't going to put up with it. "Tell her now."
"No, I won't. She doesn't care about me like that anymore. Besides, her shuttle's due to leave in less than an hour."
"Trouble!"
"I've got to get back to work." He started to leave.
"Oh, I forgot. Julius wants to see you right away."
"What's old Beetroot want to talk to me about?"
Foaly shrugged, hoping Root would be more effective than he had been.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Root was leaning back in his chair, smoking his cigar, when Trouble came in. Trouble didn't like the look in his eye.
"So, I've heard you're interested in Captain Short." He leaned forward so that the smoke was going right in Trouble's face.
Trouble knew there was no use playing games. Not with Root. Root was considerably over-protective of Holly. Judging by the stories Trouble had heard, Root had been a family friend for a long time. He looked him in the eye. "Yes, sir."
"Give me one good reason she should go out with a wimpy loser like you. I've heard stories and they aren't very complementary toward you."
"A wimp, sir? You said I was your second best officer."
"Of course you're a wimp compared to her! She's the best officer. Thinks on her feet and does what she's supposed to. Does what's right, even against orders and doesn't take guff from anybody. She's too good for you. Give me one reason, Kelp."
"I know, sir. But, it's because, sir, I care deeply about her. She used to care about me. She doesn't anymore. I'm leaving her alone to get on with her life. Even if I'm not ready to get on with mine."
"And you just gave her up with out a fight? What sort of man are you?"
"I wasn't going to force her to go out with me, sir. I only want her to be happy."
This was a major blow to Root. Kelp really cared. He really did, and Foaly was right. Root almost dropped the act and the gruff tone in his voice, but he didn't. Instead he just said in the same way, "She isn't happy."
"She's not?"
"No. You've got to tell her how you feel, numbskull. Then, MAYBE she'll be honest with IyouI."
"Sir?"
"It's a long ride back down her from the surface. Maybe you two can get some talking done. Go with her."
Trouble couldn't move. He was shocked. Things seemed almost too perfect, IF Root was right. But what if he wasn't? Then again, what-ifs could haunt you forever.
"Get outta my sight!"
Trouble started away.
"And one more thing, Kelp," added Root. "Don't break her heart."
Trouble nodded. He was practically skipping as he ran out the Police Plaza, down the streets, and just barely caught the shuttle Holly was flying.
"Root sent me. Thought you might like a little company after you ditch the Mud Men."
"How sweet," she said dryly. Who thought she might like a little company? Root or Trouble? "Get in."
He obliged.
Artemis was already sitting in the copilot's seat and Trouble didn't quite have the nerve to talk to Holly yet, so he sat back with Butler. He and Trouble talked, but all the while, Trouble kept glancing nervously at Holly.
These looks did not go unnoticed by Butler.
Butler spoke quietly to Trouble, changing subjects instantly, "You love her, don't you?"
Trouble didn't say anything.
"However you feel, you should tell her. I can tell that you do. Tearing you apart isn't it? Not telling somebody is painful. Tell her before it's too late."
Holly, not hearing their conversation, yelled, "Last stop! All Mud Men out of my shuttle!"
Butler squeezed Trouble's shoulder encouragingly as they stood up.
Trouble escorted Fowl and Butler out, after clearing the terminal of the few people there (the sun wouldn't go down for hours yet).
Holly sighed. Something just wasn't right; she could sense it in the air as Trouble sat down and strapped himself into the copilot's seat.
They didn't make conversation, though there were a few feeble attempts. Trouble got up and paced for a while. Then, Trouble took a deep breath and sat back in the copilot's chair. "Holly, these last few days have been torture."
She blinked in surprise. "Why?" Maybe now they'd get to the bottom of things.
He took a steadying breath. "Because, I've been around you so much, but I'm still just your friend again. I can't take that. I still love you, Holly."
She jerked slightly in surprise and had to steer the shuttle straight again to keep from crashing into a wall. "What do you mean 'still'? You never said it before." Her hands were shaking on the steering wheel.
"I didn't?" asked Trouble. He'd been in love with her for some time now. Just a little bit before they started to date, he'd realized it. Had he never worked up the nerve to tell her?
"No. You didn't. I would have remembered." She bit her lip. That wasn't the kind of thing you forgot, particularly when you wanted to hear it.
"Well, I do, Holly. I don't care if you love me or not, but I love you. I can't help it."
She started to cry, silently. She'd been waiting for him to say this, and now she couldn't speak.
"What's wrong, Holly?"
"Me too."
"What?"
"I love you too, Trouble. It's all I wanted you to say. And I felt like the relationship was going nowhere. I've heard from your past girlfriends. I didn't want to be another one of them, so I broke the relationship off on Imy/I terms."
"Holly, would you go out to dinner with me tonight?"
Holly saw that the tunnel stretched straight for a little ways. She put the shuttle on cruise control and leaned toward him. "Come here."
He leaned across the space between their chairs. "Yeah?"
Holly kissed him like she used to. "Does that answer your question?"
"I take it that's a yes?"
She grinned and went back to piloting the shuttle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I wonder if he's going to tell her," mused Butler.
"What do you wonder?" asked Artemis, coming out of his reverie. He was thinking of the unicorns. Maybe he should take up horseback riding.
"I wonder if Colonel Kelp will tell Captain Short how he feels about her. She cares about him too. I know she does. But he doesn't think so, so he's scared to say anything back."
Artemis blink, an extreme sign of emotion (for him), "I had no idea Holly and Trouble were involved. That does explain some things. How did you chance to find out?"
"They aren't, but they should be. You couldn't tell? Artemis, did you even look at them?"
"Of course I saw them. I spent two nights at her home."
"No, Artemis. I don't mean did you see them, I mean did you really look at them?"
"I suppose not. Especially after that incident . . . with Captain Short. I could hardly look her in the eye afterward and the looks Trouble Kelp gave me, made me positive that she had told him what had happened."
"What happened?"
"Nothing of importance." He wriggled uncomfortably in his seat.
"Artemis, you'll feel better if you tell me."
"I saw her coming out of her bath. I didn't expect her to be in there and she didn't expect me to be coming in. Our timing happened so that I was coming into the room just as she was getting out."
Butler looked at Artemis and found him to look embarrassed, something that he hadn't seen in Artemis in a long time (if ever).
"If you really looked at how they interacted, you'd see. The signs are all there. I told him that he should tell her. I wonder if he listened."
"If he did, he's either the world's greatest idiot or most courageous elf. Captain Short is pretty, I once thought she reminded me of a black widow sort of beauty. Clever too. And brave. But she does have a temper. Very Fowl indeed."
"I hope he listened to me."
After a moment, Artemis replied, "I hope so too. She deserves to be happy."