Okay, hooray! This is the last, really short, mushy, mushy chapter so you people don't have to suffer ANY MORE!!! First fic I completed, haha.
Now, I shall very quickly write my replies to the reviewers:
Black Aliss: Oh cool. I get it. Actually, no, I don't. What's Hanakah and Kwanzah? Forgive this immature little piggy, I'm terribly sorry. Thanks for reviewing! Foaly's old fashioned, muahahahahahhaha…
clairesie: Really, you're BRILLIANT. You must have written better than me when you were eleven… Thanks for reviewing!!! I love your story!
AgiVega: Really? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! You know, I really like drawing Artemis Fowl fan art but I can't draw as well as you on the computer, my drawings turn out sick. All wiggly and such. You draw very well! Okay, enough about drawing. Haha, I like the 'She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah', my sister once played it on the computer and I started laughing right away… G-rated romance… kiss on the cheek. ONLY… Root shouldn't get this worked up. Stupid Root. ((Sniggers)) Well thanks for your review!!!
Lils Evans: Hmm… people are still posting Christmas fics AFTER Christmas… I can't make Arty celebrate New Year because, HOW DO IRISH CELEBRATE NEW YEAR??? I mean, I celebrate it like, Chinese tradition, so yeah. Erm, that's not the subject. So anyway. NO THIS IS NOT AN ARTY/HOLLY FIC!!!! ((Looks pointedly at the big G)) It's G-rated. Nah uh. It's their fault they went under the mistletoe. So keep reading, I mean, this last chapter!!!
Aurum Potestas Est: Where else can they go… read and find out…. Hey if you submit any pictures please tell me I love Artemis Fowl fan art, there aren't enough of those!!! I'm getting sick of Harry Potter fan art, there are too many of those!!! Thanks for reviewing by the way.
VampirePeaches: Hey I finished typing the fic then I had to add YOU!!! You like Arty/Holly? GREAT!!! Sorry… haha. It's G-rated, ya noe… sorry!!! I would have liked to write that, but imagine. Holly wanting to kiss Artemis on the mouth? Never. Haha! Anyway… Artemis is so OOC here you can puke. Erm… well, thank Holly. Thank her!!! No they DIDN'T run away together… Holly dropped Arty at his manor and that's all. Haha. Well, this chapter is so stinky I promise you, you're better off without reading it. ((Waves fist at Holly)) WHO ASKED YOU TO KISS ARTY!!! I mean, HE'S SO OOC NOW! Holly: Aw, he's acting so sweet… thanks to me. Me: Erm. THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE LONGEST REVIEW OF ALL TIME!!!
Now on with the fic! Happy reading!
Chapter Five: And The Clock Strikes Twelve
Fowl Manor, Ireland
"Arty? Sweetheart?"
Angeline Fowl knocked on the door of the bathroom tentatively. No answer.
"Arty, you have been terribly long, dear, are you done yet?"
Again, no answer.
Angeline clasped her sweaty palms together. It was almost Christmas. Five minutes to Christmas, in fact. The pendulum in the grandfather clock beside her was swinging right to left; right to left. She put a white hand into the pocket of her gown and withdrew a key, inserting it into the tiny keyhole. She twisted it around and the lock came free. She opened it a fraction of an inch.
"Arty?" she said, peering behind the door. Then she gave a shriek.
He was gone.
Angeline Fowl dropped the key in horror. Where was her Arty? She ran over to Artemis Fowl Sr., who was presently having a friendly chat with a business associate.
"Timmy, darling, we need to talk," she whispered. Artemis Sr. nodded, smiling reassuringly at his wife.
"Excuse me for a moment, please," he said, nodding towards his friend and followed a near-to-tears Angeline to the bathroom.
"Yes, dear?" he said wearily.
"Arty's gone!" she screamed. "It's almost Christmas – he would never miss it!"
Artemis Sr. shook his head.
"Influenced from his father, I guess," he sighed, hobbling back to the living room, wobbling dangerously on his prosthetic leg.
"But what about Arty?" cried Angeline hysterically. "He can't miss Christmas!"
"We'll wait. He's probably disappeared somewhere," said Artemis, continuing his way to the room, leaving Angeline Fowl shaking with fear. Where was her son???
Everyone was waiting silently for Christmas to come. Everyone had their eyes fixed on the giant grandfather clock in the living room. Right, left. Right, left. Hands were clutched tightly around glasses of wine. Not even the buzzing of a fly could be heard. It was deathly silent.
Angeline's eyes were filled with tears. Artemis was going to miss Christmas; he was going to, he was going to…
Her eyes were fearful. The second hand ticked closer to twelve.
"Arty, please," she murmured. A tear dropped into her glass of red wine. Plop. Their first Christmas since Artemis's father had been lost at sea together, and yet her son wasn't here to celebrate it with them.
Closer, closer…
"No, please, Arty, come," she whispered fervently. Plop.
Five seconds more…
"No, no," she whispered. Plop. Plop.
One second…
The door flew open.
"Mother!"
The sound of the double doors banging against the wall echoed through the hallway.
Everyone's heads turned. The arrival of Christmas had been rudely interrupted. They glanced back at the grandfather clock. Too late. They missed it. No joyful exchanges of Christmas greetings this year; no wine spilling over the floor as their glasses clinked together; no nothing.
They glared at the person who interrupted Christmas; immediately their gazes softened.
A raven-haired boy was standing in the doorway, blue eyes glittering in the light of the numerous candles along the hallway. His hair was wet with melted snow; big chunks still lay on his head. His suit was unsuitable for a boy his age, an Armani suit, complete with tie and loafers. But snow was clinging on various parts of the ruined suit. Anyone in his place would have been shivering like crazy – he wasn't. He was standing there, fists clenched, something – something no one could explain was shining in his eyes.
Then he ran; yes ran, towards the large group of people staring at him open-mouthed. Was that the heir to the Fowl fortune? Was that Artemis Fowl junior? No, it couldn't be. Artemis Fowl NEVER ran. Artemis Fowl NEVER shone with that kind of… emotion? No. No, no.
He ran, his eyes burning, and he flung himself onto Angeline Fowl. Angeline's wine glass was knocked out of her hand, her son almost strangling her as he tightened his grip around his mother's neck.
"Merry Christmas, Mother," he whispered, fighting back tears. Angeline gave a watery smile, then broke into a fresh wave of tears, mingled with relief and pure happiness. The glass shattered a few feet away, pieces of broken glass flying in all directions, wine spilt messily over the floor. People didn't care; some glass pierced their skin, but they didn't feel it; they only felt washed over by a wave of happiness, something they could never explain, as they watched mother and son embracing.
Artemis Fowl Sr. hobbled over and hugged his son tightly. Artemis pressed his cheek against his father's crisp, ironed suit and returned the hug.
"Merry Christmas, Father," he whispered. His mother joined in. For a few minutes everyone basked in the warm glow that was engulfing them; the spirit of Christmas.
Artemis smiled, feeling the comfort of both his parents. The feeling was so strong. He felt his cheeks wet. Maybe it was from his parents; maybe it was his own tears.
Merry Christmas, Holly, he thought. Thank you, so much.
Plop.
END