The next day, Holly walked into the Police Plaza on the arm of
Lieutenant Colonel Trouble Francis Kelp. She was so happy and couldn't stop
smiling. She almost felt like giggling. She saw Lili Frond standing
unhappily between Chix and Grub, who were staring wide-eyed at Holly. They
had stopped fawning over Lili the moment Holly walked in. Eat your heart
out, she thought. I'm happy and you're annoying losers.
She saw Foaly nudge Root in the ribs and nod in their direction.
Trouble smiled broadly at the little assembly (others had come in from different parts of the Police Plaza). "We have an announcement. An important announcement. We're getting married."
Somebody called, "It's about time!"
"We wondered how long the two of your were going to pretend you didn't like each other!"
"Didn't I tell you it was going to happen any day now?" asked one of the Gnomes to his friend.
Vinyaya stood there and surveyed them. "Congratulations to you both."
Trouble approached Root. He wasn't Holly's father, but they both knew it was his blessing they wanted.
"Well, Kelp," he growled. "What makes you think you're good enough to marry Captain Short? You weakling. Worse than a Mud Man. Wimp. Sissy. Brainless child. Arrogant twerp. What makes you think you're good enough?"
The entire room held its breath. Was old Beetroot seriously going to do this to them? After how long they'd both been fighting against what everyone else knew was right as if it had been destined by fate?
Trouble was ready for him. "Because, sir, she loves me as much as I love her. And I can't imagine life without her."
Root was silent. His face unchanged until he roared, "Right answer, Kelp!" He stuck out his hand and shook Trouble's.
Peace.
Foaly did something he didn't do often and gave Holly a hug.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Root was talking to Trouble and Holly was in the Ops Booth with Foaly.
"I told him you two were perfect for each other."
"You stood here and told Root that Trouble and I belonged together?"
"Well, yeah, Holly. Stood right here and said it. I told him the truth. Neither of you were happier than when you were dating."
Holly fiddled with one of her buttons.
"You're really happy, Holls?"
There were a few people (not many) that sometimes called her "Holls". But Foaly only called her "Holls" when he was worried, or serious. "Of course I am, Foaly. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I guess I just worried that all of us pushed the two of you together because we thought you should be together."
"Don't worry, Foaly. You don't know half of what goes on in my mind. I love him and you had nothing to do with it."
"Good. Are you going to ask Root to give you away?"
"Well," she was fumbling for words, "You or him."
"What?" He genuinely shocked. "Me?"
"You're one of my few real friends, Foaly. I'd be honored if it were you, or him."
"Pick him." Foaly said quickly, truly touched. "He's been anxious over you throughout this whole thing. He was worried about you. He thought that Trouble might break your heart. We didn't want that to happen. We love you, Holly. You're a sister to me and a daughter to him."
She nodded. "Alright, Foaly. But if you're my brother (sorta), then that would make you Trouble's brother-in-law. I'll see if I can wrangle you the best man spot."
"What about Grub?"
She snorted a laugh. "He'll live. I was a little shocked at how well Trouble stood up to Root's grilling like that."
"It wasn't the first time."
"What?"
"Root's done that to him several times at least in the past week."
"Poor Trouble. It's a wonder that he survived."
"I knew he would. I knew he'd be able to do it for you, Holly. He'd do anything for you. Even stand up to Julius Root a thousand times if need be."
"Is it true that he was going to resign?"
"Yeah. But Root didn't want to lose his second best officer."
"Second best?"
"Root said you're the best. I agree."
She blushed.
"So, I want details."
"Well, I'm sure you knew Root sent him with me in the shuttle yesterday."
"Go on."
"Well, Trouble was acting kind of strange, and then he finally just came out and said it." She smiled.
"What exactly did he say?"
"That he still loved me. But the thing is, he'd never told me before that he loved me."
"I take it, that's what the break up was about?"
"Yes. It just hurt to feel that way myself and not have him say it."
"You never thought about saying it first?"
"No. I don't let my heart get broken, Foaly. I'll core dive, dodge lasers, and fight goblins, but as far as emotions go: I don't take risks."
Foaly was silent. The girl had a heart of steel.
"So, he said it. And I said it back. We went out to dinner afterwards. He came completely clean. Explained how he was too terrified to tell me how he felt without knowing how I felt. Told me that he'd considered resigning just to get away from me. Then he proposed. We were sitting at the table, he got down on one knee, took my hand, and said, 'Holly, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be yours forever. Will you marry me?' " She had a glazed look on her face and was smiling dreamily.
"I suppose you said yes?"
She snapped back to reality. "Yes."
"And you couldn't take a few minutes to call me?"
"I wanted to tell you in person. We debated who to talk to first and what to say at work today. Last night we went to see my mom and Trouble's parents as soon as we left the restaurant, Grub wasn't home so it wasn't like he was going to blab or anything. They were the only ones we told. Then, today, we just . . . announced it. We knew we couldn't tell more people before you and Root found out. That wouldn't be right."
"I'm happy for you, Holly."
"Thanks, Foaly."
"Did you set a date yet?" He opened up a calendar program on the computer.
"Yeah. Go to early spring. April 9th."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
SPRING
Holly knew that Butler preformed bomb checks on the car before ever getting in. That's why she knew to tape the note to the bottom of the car and make it just visible enough for Butler to see it.
Butler had gotten up that morning to drive to get Artemis home for the Easter holidays from his school. Butler checked the car before getting in (as usual); he saw the note and plucked it from where Holly had secured it.
He opened it. Gnomish. He knew a little of the language, enough to understand that something very good had happened.
As soon as Artemis entered the car, he gave him the note. "I believe it's from our friends."
Artemis unfolded the odd paper carefully. He read, "Dear Butler and Artemis, we have great news. We're getting married in a couple of days. Sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but Trouble just told me what you said. Thank you, Butler. Thank you! Butler, I am SO glad you talked to him. Other people talked to him first, but he didn't say anything to me, until after he talked to you. After you left he told me he loved me, and that night he asked me to marry him. We've been engaged 4 months now and will be getting married the day after tomorrow. Maybe our paths will cross again. Happily, Captain Holly (soon to be Kelp) Short." He folded up the letter. "I'm very happy for them."
"Me too."
"Just what did you say to him?"
"I just told him to tell her the truth about how he felt."
"He listened to you."
Butler chuckled, sorely tempted to ruffle Artemis's hair in a brotherly fashion. But that was not very bodyguard-like. "Maybe when you're Trouble's age, I'll help you with the ladies."
Artemis blinked. He was not quite sure whether or not he was pleased to hear this. He said the first thing that entered into his mind. "Butler! Trouble's in his 80s!"
Butler laughed again and Artemis smiled wryly.
THE END!!!
(Please read the author's note at the end if you're interested in another story to follow this one)
She saw Foaly nudge Root in the ribs and nod in their direction.
Trouble smiled broadly at the little assembly (others had come in from different parts of the Police Plaza). "We have an announcement. An important announcement. We're getting married."
Somebody called, "It's about time!"
"We wondered how long the two of your were going to pretend you didn't like each other!"
"Didn't I tell you it was going to happen any day now?" asked one of the Gnomes to his friend.
Vinyaya stood there and surveyed them. "Congratulations to you both."
Trouble approached Root. He wasn't Holly's father, but they both knew it was his blessing they wanted.
"Well, Kelp," he growled. "What makes you think you're good enough to marry Captain Short? You weakling. Worse than a Mud Man. Wimp. Sissy. Brainless child. Arrogant twerp. What makes you think you're good enough?"
The entire room held its breath. Was old Beetroot seriously going to do this to them? After how long they'd both been fighting against what everyone else knew was right as if it had been destined by fate?
Trouble was ready for him. "Because, sir, she loves me as much as I love her. And I can't imagine life without her."
Root was silent. His face unchanged until he roared, "Right answer, Kelp!" He stuck out his hand and shook Trouble's.
Peace.
Foaly did something he didn't do often and gave Holly a hug.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Root was talking to Trouble and Holly was in the Ops Booth with Foaly.
"I told him you two were perfect for each other."
"You stood here and told Root that Trouble and I belonged together?"
"Well, yeah, Holly. Stood right here and said it. I told him the truth. Neither of you were happier than when you were dating."
Holly fiddled with one of her buttons.
"You're really happy, Holls?"
There were a few people (not many) that sometimes called her "Holls". But Foaly only called her "Holls" when he was worried, or serious. "Of course I am, Foaly. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. I guess I just worried that all of us pushed the two of you together because we thought you should be together."
"Don't worry, Foaly. You don't know half of what goes on in my mind. I love him and you had nothing to do with it."
"Good. Are you going to ask Root to give you away?"
"Well," she was fumbling for words, "You or him."
"What?" He genuinely shocked. "Me?"
"You're one of my few real friends, Foaly. I'd be honored if it were you, or him."
"Pick him." Foaly said quickly, truly touched. "He's been anxious over you throughout this whole thing. He was worried about you. He thought that Trouble might break your heart. We didn't want that to happen. We love you, Holly. You're a sister to me and a daughter to him."
She nodded. "Alright, Foaly. But if you're my brother (sorta), then that would make you Trouble's brother-in-law. I'll see if I can wrangle you the best man spot."
"What about Grub?"
She snorted a laugh. "He'll live. I was a little shocked at how well Trouble stood up to Root's grilling like that."
"It wasn't the first time."
"What?"
"Root's done that to him several times at least in the past week."
"Poor Trouble. It's a wonder that he survived."
"I knew he would. I knew he'd be able to do it for you, Holly. He'd do anything for you. Even stand up to Julius Root a thousand times if need be."
"Is it true that he was going to resign?"
"Yeah. But Root didn't want to lose his second best officer."
"Second best?"
"Root said you're the best. I agree."
She blushed.
"So, I want details."
"Well, I'm sure you knew Root sent him with me in the shuttle yesterday."
"Go on."
"Well, Trouble was acting kind of strange, and then he finally just came out and said it." She smiled.
"What exactly did he say?"
"That he still loved me. But the thing is, he'd never told me before that he loved me."
"I take it, that's what the break up was about?"
"Yes. It just hurt to feel that way myself and not have him say it."
"You never thought about saying it first?"
"No. I don't let my heart get broken, Foaly. I'll core dive, dodge lasers, and fight goblins, but as far as emotions go: I don't take risks."
Foaly was silent. The girl had a heart of steel.
"So, he said it. And I said it back. We went out to dinner afterwards. He came completely clean. Explained how he was too terrified to tell me how he felt without knowing how I felt. Told me that he'd considered resigning just to get away from me. Then he proposed. We were sitting at the table, he got down on one knee, took my hand, and said, 'Holly, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be yours forever. Will you marry me?' " She had a glazed look on her face and was smiling dreamily.
"I suppose you said yes?"
She snapped back to reality. "Yes."
"And you couldn't take a few minutes to call me?"
"I wanted to tell you in person. We debated who to talk to first and what to say at work today. Last night we went to see my mom and Trouble's parents as soon as we left the restaurant, Grub wasn't home so it wasn't like he was going to blab or anything. They were the only ones we told. Then, today, we just . . . announced it. We knew we couldn't tell more people before you and Root found out. That wouldn't be right."
"I'm happy for you, Holly."
"Thanks, Foaly."
"Did you set a date yet?" He opened up a calendar program on the computer.
"Yeah. Go to early spring. April 9th."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
SPRING
Holly knew that Butler preformed bomb checks on the car before ever getting in. That's why she knew to tape the note to the bottom of the car and make it just visible enough for Butler to see it.
Butler had gotten up that morning to drive to get Artemis home for the Easter holidays from his school. Butler checked the car before getting in (as usual); he saw the note and plucked it from where Holly had secured it.
He opened it. Gnomish. He knew a little of the language, enough to understand that something very good had happened.
As soon as Artemis entered the car, he gave him the note. "I believe it's from our friends."
Artemis unfolded the odd paper carefully. He read, "Dear Butler and Artemis, we have great news. We're getting married in a couple of days. Sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but Trouble just told me what you said. Thank you, Butler. Thank you! Butler, I am SO glad you talked to him. Other people talked to him first, but he didn't say anything to me, until after he talked to you. After you left he told me he loved me, and that night he asked me to marry him. We've been engaged 4 months now and will be getting married the day after tomorrow. Maybe our paths will cross again. Happily, Captain Holly (soon to be Kelp) Short." He folded up the letter. "I'm very happy for them."
"Me too."
"Just what did you say to him?"
"I just told him to tell her the truth about how he felt."
"He listened to you."
Butler chuckled, sorely tempted to ruffle Artemis's hair in a brotherly fashion. But that was not very bodyguard-like. "Maybe when you're Trouble's age, I'll help you with the ladies."
Artemis blinked. He was not quite sure whether or not he was pleased to hear this. He said the first thing that entered into his mind. "Butler! Trouble's in his 80s!"
Butler laughed again and Artemis smiled wryly.
THE END!!!
(Please read the author's note at the end if you're interested in another story to follow this one)