Changes
Chapter Four, Christmas
Disclaimer: I do not own any Artemis Fowl characters. I do own Amber.
A/N: As I promised, Hopefully a longer chapter.
Over the next few months, Grub's health gradually declined. He was now back in hospital after being at home for six months, as he needed extra care.
The Kelp Family Apartment
Christmas was definitely in the air and Trouble had decided that they too, had to get in the spirit of things. Amber seemed to enjoy all the Christmas related things that Trouble roped the family in to doing, like hanging Christmas decorations and Christmas shopping. Holly never used to bother about Christmas until she met Trouble. As she was an orphan she never had anyone to celebrate it with. But for the last two years, Christmases had been looking up. The year before last it had just been her and Trouble celebrating in troubles apartment. Last year had been Ambers first Christmas, but being only one month old, she couldn't really celebrate it properly, and adding to that, Trouble had had to work which was a shame. But this year looked more promising, Christmas fell on Trouble's day off, and Amber could understand what was going on around her.
Holly was humming Jingle Bells to Amber one early December morning, when Trouble emerged from their bedroom in his black Retrieval jumpsuit.
"Are my ears deceiving me, or can I hear you humming Christmas carols?" He asked, grinning.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Are you going?"
Trouble glanced at his moonometer, "Yeah, I don't want to be late, or else Root will be on my back, again!" He laughed. "You're a bad influence on me, sweetheart!"
He kissed Holly on the cheek, then ruffled Amber's hair.
"I'll be a bit late tonight, Holls, I'm going to see Grub, is that Ok?" he asked, on his way to the door.
"Yep. Hey, How about I fix dinner tonight?" Holly suggested.
"Sounds great to me!" Trouble grinned again. "Right, see you later." He called on his way out the door.
It clicked shut after him.
"Someone's in a good mood, eh Amber?" Holly said.
Amber giggled in response.
Police Plaza, Haven City
Trouble shut the door of his second floor office, and headed downstairs to the Lep canteen. He was starving, but that was his fault for skipping breakfast. He ordered a nettle smoothie and a prawn salad, but he was distracted from eating it, by a notice.
'The LEP Christmas Party, 19th of December. All officers invited, Retrieval attendance is compulsory. Bring your partners. 7.30 onwards' he read. Great. Something else he had to go to, at least Holly would have to suffer it too! Then again, it might be fun. By the time he'd finished his food, his lunch break was almost over, so he headed back upstairs to his office. On the way he crossed paths with the Commander,
"Afternoon sir," he greeted the Commander,
"Why are you so happy, Captain?" Root grumbled.
"It's almost Christmas sir." Trouble explained.
"Oh." Root was not the slightest bit interested in Christmas.
"I heard about the party," said Trouble.
"Oh that."
"It might be fun."
Root raised his eyebrows, "I doubt it. Are you bringing Short?" By rights, Holly's name was Kelp, but seeing as Trouble was also a captain, two Captain Kelp's would be confusing, so Holly remained Captain Short.
"If she wants to come."
Root glanced at his moonometer, "Kelp haven't you got work to go, your shift begins in 45 seconds."
Typical Root, all work and no fun.
The Kelp family apartment, Haven City
Holly had just arranged the Italian take away she'd ordered, on two plates, and thrown away the wrappings, when the door opened, and trouble walked in, looking unusually cheerful.
"Hey, How's Grub?" She asked, rummaging in a drawer for some candles.
"He's coping. I gave him your love. Whoa, this looks good." Replied Trouble, distracted by the plates of steaming pasta.
"Of course it does," said Holly, "I made it!" She withdrew two red candle stumps from the drawer. "D'Arvit! We'll have to manage without candles, is that Ok?"
"Sounds fine to me," Trouble answered, pouring two glasses of sparkling water, from the cooler and setting them down on the table with the food.
"Where's Amber?" he asked, pulling out a chair for Holly to sit on, then sitting in front of the other plate.
"She's asleep, for once!" said Holly, grinning.
The couple made small talk over dinner, and when Trouble went to comfort a crying Amber, Holly set about washing up. She had almost finished when Trouble re-entered the kitchen. He put his hands on Holly's waist and spoke softly into her ear.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing on the 19th?" He asked.
"Nothing, as usual. Why?" Holly replied, relaxing back, into Trouble's arms.
"I was wondering if you'd accompany me to the LEP Christmas party?"
"Of course I will, I'm sure Olivia (Troubles mother) will have Amber for the evening. How did you get roped into going?" Holly accepted his offer.
"All Retrieval has to go. And before you ask, yes you have to wear a dress." Trouble had anticipated this question, so he answered it before it was asked.
"Oh, Trouble, you know I hate dresses, do I have to?" Holly wheedled.
"Yes, it's expected of you." He hadn't heard anything of the sort, but Holly looked fantastic in dresses, although she rarely wore them.
"I don't have any dresses." Holly said, finally.
"Then," he said, pausing, then producing a handful of gold pieces, from a pocket, "You can buy one when you have time." Holly relented; she'd never win the argument anyway.
"Ok, Ok, you win, I'll get one at the weekend, ready for Monday."
December the 19th
The Kelp Family apartment
Holly emerged from their bedroom to a waiting Trouble. He was wearing a black suit; She was wearing an ivory dress embroidered with cream thread.
"Hey gorgeous, I told you look wonderful in dresses, now do you see my point?" Trouble grinned and the pair walked out of the apartment with their arms around each other.
"I hope Amber will be Ok." Holly fussed. Trouble had taken Amber to his mother's earlier that day to give the pair time to get ready.
"She'll be fine. Don't worry." Trouble assured her.
Police plaza, Haven City
The main lobby was decorated in holly and mistletoe.
"Wow!" said Holly as they stepped through the doors, "It looks amazing!"
"Just like you!" Trouble said; Holly blushed.
The decorations were even more elaborate in the main hall, with ivy and a huge Christmas tree covered in sparkling lights, as well as more holly and mistletoe.
There was a huge table laden with Christmas food, and carols played through speakers.
When Holly had gone to speak to Foaly, Jennifer approached Trouble,
"Hey Trouble, why are you here alone?" she asked.
"I'm not, my wife, Holly is over there." explained Trouble, pointing, "Here she comes now."
Jennifer's face dropped. "Hello Holly, Nice talking to you Trouble." She tottered over to Lili Frond in her stiletto heels.
"What did she want?" Holly asked, curiously, as everyone took their places at the table. But Trouble didn't have a chance to answer.
Commander Root stood up, "I would to thank everyone for coming, especially the members of Retrieval, who have had a terribly busy week, with an out break of security breaches across England. But I would also like to propose a toast to our female Recon Captain, Holly Short, who will be rejoining us in the New Year after giving birth to a lovely baby girl. To Holly!"
"To Holly!"
Holly blushed scarlet. The Commander sat down on the other side of Trouble to Holly.
Just as everyone was about to start the main course, Linda, the evening receptionist approached Trouble and whispered in his ear. Trouble gasped, and scraped back his chair, he stood up and rushed from the hall, Holly too, stood up and followed him. Linda explained what was going on to Root.
"Trouble, Trouble, what's wrong?" Asked Holly when they were outside the hall. She put her arm around his shoulders.
"It's Grub, he's ..." Holly understood.
"Come on, let's go home. Wait here, while I tell the commander where we're going." Holly walked back into the hall. She could feel everyone's eyes on her.
"Commander, Trouble and I are going back to our apartment." Holly explained.
The Commander nodded. "Give Trouble my condolences."
A/N: I promised you a longer chapter didn't I? Please R&R. The Last Chapter is coming up.
Chapter Four, Christmas
Disclaimer: I do not own any Artemis Fowl characters. I do own Amber.
A/N: As I promised, Hopefully a longer chapter.
Over the next few months, Grub's health gradually declined. He was now back in hospital after being at home for six months, as he needed extra care.
The Kelp Family Apartment
Christmas was definitely in the air and Trouble had decided that they too, had to get in the spirit of things. Amber seemed to enjoy all the Christmas related things that Trouble roped the family in to doing, like hanging Christmas decorations and Christmas shopping. Holly never used to bother about Christmas until she met Trouble. As she was an orphan she never had anyone to celebrate it with. But for the last two years, Christmases had been looking up. The year before last it had just been her and Trouble celebrating in troubles apartment. Last year had been Ambers first Christmas, but being only one month old, she couldn't really celebrate it properly, and adding to that, Trouble had had to work which was a shame. But this year looked more promising, Christmas fell on Trouble's day off, and Amber could understand what was going on around her.
Holly was humming Jingle Bells to Amber one early December morning, when Trouble emerged from their bedroom in his black Retrieval jumpsuit.
"Are my ears deceiving me, or can I hear you humming Christmas carols?" He asked, grinning.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Are you going?"
Trouble glanced at his moonometer, "Yeah, I don't want to be late, or else Root will be on my back, again!" He laughed. "You're a bad influence on me, sweetheart!"
He kissed Holly on the cheek, then ruffled Amber's hair.
"I'll be a bit late tonight, Holls, I'm going to see Grub, is that Ok?" he asked, on his way to the door.
"Yep. Hey, How about I fix dinner tonight?" Holly suggested.
"Sounds great to me!" Trouble grinned again. "Right, see you later." He called on his way out the door.
It clicked shut after him.
"Someone's in a good mood, eh Amber?" Holly said.
Amber giggled in response.
Police Plaza, Haven City
Trouble shut the door of his second floor office, and headed downstairs to the Lep canteen. He was starving, but that was his fault for skipping breakfast. He ordered a nettle smoothie and a prawn salad, but he was distracted from eating it, by a notice.
'The LEP Christmas Party, 19th of December. All officers invited, Retrieval attendance is compulsory. Bring your partners. 7.30 onwards' he read. Great. Something else he had to go to, at least Holly would have to suffer it too! Then again, it might be fun. By the time he'd finished his food, his lunch break was almost over, so he headed back upstairs to his office. On the way he crossed paths with the Commander,
"Afternoon sir," he greeted the Commander,
"Why are you so happy, Captain?" Root grumbled.
"It's almost Christmas sir." Trouble explained.
"Oh." Root was not the slightest bit interested in Christmas.
"I heard about the party," said Trouble.
"Oh that."
"It might be fun."
Root raised his eyebrows, "I doubt it. Are you bringing Short?" By rights, Holly's name was Kelp, but seeing as Trouble was also a captain, two Captain Kelp's would be confusing, so Holly remained Captain Short.
"If she wants to come."
Root glanced at his moonometer, "Kelp haven't you got work to go, your shift begins in 45 seconds."
Typical Root, all work and no fun.
The Kelp family apartment, Haven City
Holly had just arranged the Italian take away she'd ordered, on two plates, and thrown away the wrappings, when the door opened, and trouble walked in, looking unusually cheerful.
"Hey, How's Grub?" She asked, rummaging in a drawer for some candles.
"He's coping. I gave him your love. Whoa, this looks good." Replied Trouble, distracted by the plates of steaming pasta.
"Of course it does," said Holly, "I made it!" She withdrew two red candle stumps from the drawer. "D'Arvit! We'll have to manage without candles, is that Ok?"
"Sounds fine to me," Trouble answered, pouring two glasses of sparkling water, from the cooler and setting them down on the table with the food.
"Where's Amber?" he asked, pulling out a chair for Holly to sit on, then sitting in front of the other plate.
"She's asleep, for once!" said Holly, grinning.
The couple made small talk over dinner, and when Trouble went to comfort a crying Amber, Holly set about washing up. She had almost finished when Trouble re-entered the kitchen. He put his hands on Holly's waist and spoke softly into her ear.
"Sweetheart, what are you doing on the 19th?" He asked.
"Nothing, as usual. Why?" Holly replied, relaxing back, into Trouble's arms.
"I was wondering if you'd accompany me to the LEP Christmas party?"
"Of course I will, I'm sure Olivia (Troubles mother) will have Amber for the evening. How did you get roped into going?" Holly accepted his offer.
"All Retrieval has to go. And before you ask, yes you have to wear a dress." Trouble had anticipated this question, so he answered it before it was asked.
"Oh, Trouble, you know I hate dresses, do I have to?" Holly wheedled.
"Yes, it's expected of you." He hadn't heard anything of the sort, but Holly looked fantastic in dresses, although she rarely wore them.
"I don't have any dresses." Holly said, finally.
"Then," he said, pausing, then producing a handful of gold pieces, from a pocket, "You can buy one when you have time." Holly relented; she'd never win the argument anyway.
"Ok, Ok, you win, I'll get one at the weekend, ready for Monday."
December the 19th
The Kelp Family apartment
Holly emerged from their bedroom to a waiting Trouble. He was wearing a black suit; She was wearing an ivory dress embroidered with cream thread.
"Hey gorgeous, I told you look wonderful in dresses, now do you see my point?" Trouble grinned and the pair walked out of the apartment with their arms around each other.
"I hope Amber will be Ok." Holly fussed. Trouble had taken Amber to his mother's earlier that day to give the pair time to get ready.
"She'll be fine. Don't worry." Trouble assured her.
Police plaza, Haven City
The main lobby was decorated in holly and mistletoe.
"Wow!" said Holly as they stepped through the doors, "It looks amazing!"
"Just like you!" Trouble said; Holly blushed.
The decorations were even more elaborate in the main hall, with ivy and a huge Christmas tree covered in sparkling lights, as well as more holly and mistletoe.
There was a huge table laden with Christmas food, and carols played through speakers.
When Holly had gone to speak to Foaly, Jennifer approached Trouble,
"Hey Trouble, why are you here alone?" she asked.
"I'm not, my wife, Holly is over there." explained Trouble, pointing, "Here she comes now."
Jennifer's face dropped. "Hello Holly, Nice talking to you Trouble." She tottered over to Lili Frond in her stiletto heels.
"What did she want?" Holly asked, curiously, as everyone took their places at the table. But Trouble didn't have a chance to answer.
Commander Root stood up, "I would to thank everyone for coming, especially the members of Retrieval, who have had a terribly busy week, with an out break of security breaches across England. But I would also like to propose a toast to our female Recon Captain, Holly Short, who will be rejoining us in the New Year after giving birth to a lovely baby girl. To Holly!"
"To Holly!"
Holly blushed scarlet. The Commander sat down on the other side of Trouble to Holly.
Just as everyone was about to start the main course, Linda, the evening receptionist approached Trouble and whispered in his ear. Trouble gasped, and scraped back his chair, he stood up and rushed from the hall, Holly too, stood up and followed him. Linda explained what was going on to Root.
"Trouble, Trouble, what's wrong?" Asked Holly when they were outside the hall. She put her arm around his shoulders.
"It's Grub, he's ..." Holly understood.
"Come on, let's go home. Wait here, while I tell the commander where we're going." Holly walked back into the hall. She could feel everyone's eyes on her.
"Commander, Trouble and I are going back to our apartment." Holly explained.
The Commander nodded. "Give Trouble my condolences."
A/N: I promised you a longer chapter didn't I? Please R&R. The Last Chapter is coming up.