Here is chapter 3. Please R&R! Thanks to all my reviewers so far.

On with the story…

Outside Fowl Manor

Artemis wasn't sure how long he was there, but it was long enough. This was too much. Holly couldn't love him, she just couldn't. They were worst enemies for heaven's sake. He pulled away quickly and stood up.

Holly looked up into his deep blue eyes, a questioning look about them. "What-" she began.

Artemis interrupted her. "No, I think the question here is what are you doing, Captain Short? This isn't the Captain I knew a year ago. This isn't the friend I thought I knew. You can't just give me five seconds to recall all my memories of the past and then declare your love for me. What are you thinking?"

Holly's eyes filled up with tears, but her eyes never left Artemis's. "I don't-"

"How can you possible think this way?" Artemis cut in again. "I'm a human, you're an elf. We're two totally different species. Surely you've thought of this? You mind wiped me seven months ago, to get rid of me. I'm not objecting to having my memories given back to me, but what is the commander going to say when he finds out about this? And all the other members of the LEP, for that matter? Holly Short, one of the best officers that Root's got, and she's given the away the People's existence just to tell a human that she thinks that she's in love with him and-"

"I don't think I'm in love with you," Holly blurted out before she could stop herself. "I know I am. And how would you know anyway. You don't know about things like this." Holly felt a familiar anger bubbling up inside her. "You're Artemis Fowl, criminal mastermind who has no idea about the emotion involved in love. How could you possibly know anything about how I feel about you?"

Artemis didn't answer; he just glared a piercing glare.

"You know, you're right. I shouldn't have come. You haven't changed at all. You're still the same obnoxious kid that you always were. I don't even remember why I said you had a spark of decency inside you back at the Artic, because you certainly don't. Goodbye."

And with those last words she shielded and flew off, leaving Artemis alone again, in front of Fowl Manor.

Artemis stared at the spot where Holly had just been standing. He stood there for a while, replaying the moment in his head, over and over again. The first part of their meeting was just a blur to him at the moment.

Then it hit him. He couldn't believe it. He had kissed Holly Short! He, Artemis Fowl, had just kissed an elf!

It was just at that moment in time that Juliet Butler poked her head out from around the front door. "Artemis, who was that?"

Artemis turned slowly to face her. "You saw!? You saw Holly?"

"Holly?"

Artemis gritted his teeth in disgust. Not only had Holly just kissed him, Juliet had seen it happen. He felt blood rush to his cheeks. "Holly Short," he said weakly.

Juliet looked at him, uncertainly, for a few seconds, before her eyes widened in shock. She gasped loudly. "So, that girl, was actually Captain Holly Short? And you just-"

"Juliet!" Artemis stopped her from finishing the sentence. "Listen to me. You can't tell anyone about this, OK? Not even Butler.

Juliet was trying and failing to stifle a laugh. "Ohhhhh, Arty doesn't kiss and tell. Smooth, Artemis, very smooth."

The look on Artemis's face was enough to make a lion drop dead. Juliet's giggling finished immediately.

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "So, er, why did you yell at her?"

Artemis's eyes narrowed. "Because…" He never completed that explanation, because he didn't know the answer. All the things he had told Holly before meant nothing to him now. He couldn't believe he had even said them in the first place. He couldn't believe in had just let her go like that.

Holly Short's apartment, Haven

Holly threw herself into her apartment, sobbing loudly. How could she have been so blind? Of course he would have felt that way, how else would he have reacted. It was Artemis for Frond sake. Did she actually expect him to run into her arms, and return her feelings?

She forcefully kicked the end of her bed; which was a big mistake, has she now had, to add to the rest of the awful things that had happened that day, a throbbing foot.

She lay down on her bed, face buried in her pillow, as she always did when she was upset. The feeling she was having was almost unbearable. She didn't see the point of living anymore.

A gentle knock on the door, disturbing her thoughts. "Come in," she said, miserably.

Trouble Kelp entered the room, a concerned look on his face.

"How did you know I was here?" Holly muttered, turning her head to the other side, so he could no longer see her tears.

"I've just come back from the Ritual. I saw you leave the pod."

There was an awkward silence. "So, how did your meeting with MudBoy go?"

"How'd you know?"

"Had a hunch when you stormed out of the office. What did he say?"

Holly sniffed. "He said that he thought I was being stupid, and that he couldn't believe that I was giving him back his memories just to tell him how I feel. Then I got fed up with him and flew away."

"Not surprising. Look, Holly. The MudBoy's right. Yes, you may feel that way, but you've ruined it for the rest of the LEP who will have to deal with this. Personally, I find it hard to believe that Artemis Fowl of all people said that, but he's right."

"I hate it when he's right."

"Exactly. You would have got fed up of him, and then you wouldn't even be friends."

Holly felt the tears coming again. "We're not even friends now," she sobbed, burying her face deeper into the soft pillow, which was now rather damp.

"If it makes you feel any better," Trouble continued, "I haven't told anyone about it."

Holly looked up and smiled gently. "Thanks. You're right. I shouldn't be so upset over a MudBoy. It's stupid."

"Are you going to deal with mind wiping him?"

Holly stared at him. "Mind wipe him? No. I can't. And neither can you. If anything happens, like, he invades Haven, we'll do something about it. But not yet." Holly paused. "How could you even think about that at a time like this?"

"OK, OK Short. It was just a question. I guess I'll just leave you to sob your eyes out. I take it you'll be back at work tomorrow?"

Holly nodded slowly, with a disapproving frown etched on her face.

"See you tomorrow then, Captain." Trouble grinned, and left.

Holly lay on her back. Maybe Trouble had a point. Maybe it was stupid that she did that just to tell Artemis that she loved him. But the more she thought about it, the more determined she became to prove Trouble wrong. She hated it when he was right.

Fowl Manor

The Fowl family, plus the Butler siblings, were sat around the huge dining room table, eating dinner. Artemis hadn't touched his helping, choosing only to toy with his food.

"What's wrong, Arty?" asked his mother softly. She had been eyeing him for the past fifteen minutes.

Artemis looked up at her. "Nothing, Mother. I was just thinking. Would you excuse me for a moment?"

His mother nodded and Artemis made for his study. He had only just switched his computer on when Juliet entered.

"Mrs. Fowl wants to know what you're doing." she exclaimed.

"I'm going to find Holly."

Hehe! Chapter three is finished! Hope you liked it! Please review. Chapter 4 is much longer, I think. Well, it should be, anyway.

PLEASE R&R!!!!!!!