Changes

Chapter one, A gut feeling

Disclaimer: I don't own any Artemis Fowl characters mentioned in this fic. I don't own any named brands I might use. I do however, own Amber.

Dedications: Robert. (You know who you are!) Not only did you inspire a character in Endurance challenge, your gerbil's name; Amber, earns you another dedication. Lauren. Without you, I wouldn't be writing this. All the people out there who have read and / or reviewed Family Tree. Your support helps. A lot.

A/N: No, I haven't died. (Fortunately or Unfortunately depending who you are!). I have been neglecting my duties as an author. I have, however, recently posted chapter two of: This is the Start of the Rest of My Life. Anyway, here it is; what you've all been waiting for (I hope!) the third in my current (unfinished) series.

Holly, Trouble and Amber's apartment, Haven City

It was the middle of the night. Holly was nursing Amber in the spare bedroom. Trouble lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It wasn't Amber's crying that had woken him, it was a feeling of dread, like a sixth sense, that was swirling around his gut. He had not mentioned this to his wife, because she had enough on her plate with Amber. He didn't leave Holly to care for Amber twenty four seven though. He looked after her on his (rare) days off, and when he wasn't at Police Plaza. While he cared for his daughter, Holly caught up on missed sleep.

Holly cradled the small bundle of baby in her arms. Rocking her gently. Amber was swathed in pale blue blankets, only her tiny face peeped out. Holly had chosen the blue. Trouble hadn't bothered to say that blue was usually associated with boys. Holly didn't care; she hated stereotypes. Amber might be a tomboy, she had said.

"Ssh, now." Holly cooed. It amazed her that she was so patient with her daughter. She was usually really moody when awoken in the night. Trouble had helped as best he could. There was one thing that Holly missed. Work. This totally freaked her out. Ok, she didn't think she'd enjoy maternity leave, but she didn't think it could be this bad. She missed being above ground, on recon missions. She missed Foaly's (bad) sense of humour. She missed her cramped, crumby cubicle. She was startled to realise that she even missed her commander! Scary.

Trouble was sure he'd only just gotten back to sleep when the phone rang. He opened his eyes, seeing that Holly was still dead to the world (or just the noise of the phone); he hauled himself out of bed. Trouble strode into the kitchen and removed the phone from its holder on the tiled wall. He thought he had moved fast. But not fast enough.

Amber was rudely awaked from dreams of waiting, waiting for something to happen. She didn't know it, but she had just made her first prediction. One of the many she was to make in the future. Not that she could predict that. She screwed up her face, opened her mouth, and let out a wail. She wasn't hungry, just lonely. She knew someone was awake, she could hear them talking. Not that she could understand what they were saying. No one seemed to reply though. That puzzled her. Why would someone have a long, complicated conversation with him or herself?

Trouble gasped into the receiver, ignoring Amber's cry. She couldn't be hungry. Holly had only fed her about an hour ago.

"Trouble!" barked the voice on the other end of the line, jerking Trouble back to the grim reality of the news he'd just heard. It was his commander. He'd obviously been listening to the (short) conversation that Trouble and the rather nice (female) receptionist at Police Plaza.

"Yes sir?" replied Trouble, jumping to attention.

"I expect you're worried about the condition of your brother." This wasn't really a question, more of a statement. "So I will allow you to skip this mornings shift, and fill in this evening." The commander paused. Not to let Trouble reply, as his mind was already made up, but to think of something sympathetic to say.

"Let me know how Grub is, tonight." Was the best he could come up with.

Trouble replaced the receiver, his hand shaking. He turned round in time to see a bemused Holly, stumbling from the bedroom.

She rubbed her eyes and ran a hand through her cropped hair. She yawned.

"Who was that?" she enquired, still half asleep. She didn't notice Trouble's tearful eyes.

"Commander Root. He had some news for me. Us." Trouble corrected himself. Of course this would affect Holly too.

Holly looked expectant. She wasn't sure what to think. It was obvious, now her eyes were in focus, that from the tears on the brink of falling, from Troubles eyes, that the news was bad news.

"It's Grub." Trouble gulped. "He's been diagnosed with cancer of the brain."

In fairies, cancer in general, is a mild disease. But get it in the brain and you're a gonna. It is in curable and totally drains your magic. Symptoms include: Tumours, lack of magic and prone to other illnesses, (because of the breaking down of the victims immune system).

Holly was shocked. Whenever she saw Grub, he was his normal self, vain and complaining. Boy, he hid it well. She put her arm around Trouble, comfortingly.

Troubles tears fell.

"Why does this have to happen now, when everything's so perfect?"

A/N: There you go. Chapter one is complete. Let me know what you think. The idea struck me when I was writing the last line of family tree. Root was explaining his gift. 'It was to record all the additions in their family.' If there could be additions, surely there could be subtractions too? Please review. Read my profile page for all the info on the fics in this series.