Stone Heart

Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis fowl.


"How can I prove to you that I'm telling the truth?" Holly asked.

Trouble considered this, thinking over all the possibilities. "There's only DNA testing."

Holly was shocked; "Isn't that a bit far fetched? She's a ten year old child for gods sake!"

Trouble sat back on the sofa, Holly tucked up her legs under her chin and stared at him with her round hazel eyes. She didn't want him to think she was guilty.

Then she spoke again, "But if it's the only way you'll believe me, then yeah, I'll do it."

Trouble smiled at her appreciatively, "Thanks Holly." He kissed her. Holly didn't respond, but she didn't pull away.

She drew back after 5 seconds, she raised an eyebrow "You don't trust me, remember?" She smiled and got up, "Gotta go, got things to attend to."


Operations Room, Police Plaza, Haven City

Holly would usually stay as far away from Police Plaza on her days off, but today was different. She'd told Foaly about the DNA testing idea on the phone last night, and he'd recommended Holly to a clinic where they specialised in that sort of thing. He'd also volunteered to go with her, for moral support. Lissy had said she would've come if she wasn't working, but Holly assured her she would be fine.

So, Holly walked to Police Plaza alone, to meet up with Foaly. Generally speaking, minors weren't allowed into the Plaza, so she'd left Amber with Trouble and the pair were going to meet them there.

She buzzed Foaly from outside the Op's booth. Around her, Foaly's minions scuttled about, clutching armfuls of paper, handfuls of disks or rolls of electrical wiring.

Foaly appeared in the doorway of the booth; he grinned at her, "Hey Holls!"

"Hey Foaly." She reached across and plucked the foil hat from his head. It was not a good idea to wear it out in public. Foaly was not what you could call a style icon. She tossed it aside, "You don't need that thing, who care's what's going on in your mind?"


Biological Clinic, Outskirts of Haven City

Amber was delighted to see her father again. Even if he had hurt her mother.

"We're going out Amber." He'd said, so there they were, outside the biological clinic.

Amber was not stupid, she knew what was going on, but only because she'd heard Holly and Lissy talking last night. Although she wasn't too sure what DNA meant, or how you go about testing for it.

She saw her mother and a centaur round the corner. She waved "Hey mum!"

Holly grinned, "Hi Amber, Hey Trouble."

Trouble smiled god why did Holly have to be so gorgeous? It really annoyed him, every time he saw her she seemed to get prettier. "Hey Holls, Hey Foaly."

Trouble's hello brushed over Foaly's head, "Hello Amber." He grinned at the small girl in Trouble's arms.

Amber was wary, "Hello."

Holly laughed, "Foaly you're scaring her, leave her alone." She checked her moonometer, "Come on people, or we'll be late."

Trouble raised an eyebrow "You're being a bit hypocritical Holly,"

She smiled, "You shut up!"

"I'm afraid you're not family, you'll have to wait outside." Said a nurse, ushering Foaly into a waiting room. He groaned at sat in a chair, trying to think up a gadget that would allow him to by pass the usual security measures. Well, at least he'd be occupied for a bit.

The nurse smiled at Amber, "You must be Amber," she said.

Amber nodded, "Uh huh."

"Right, well you've got it easy Amber, all we need is a fingerprint, and a hair cell from you."

The nurse led Amber into a side room leaving Holly and Trouble alone to wait.

"God I can't believe I'm doing this." Holly muttered, sitting on a stool to wait. "I can't believe a simple thing like you not being able to accept it that I am telling you the truth. How comes you accepted it when I told you, ten years ago?"

Trouble groaned. When Holly put it like that it did sound trivial. But he had to know. He wanted proof. He'd made up his mind last night; he wanted proof before he took Jennifer to court for harassment. He just hadn't been sure how tell Holly. He was about to give her the facts, when the nurse came back with Amber.

"Can I have the mother now please." Holly stood up and followed the nurse to her side room. She sat on a high stool opposite the nurse.

"Right, you're not afraid of needles are you?"

Holly shook her head. "Nope."

"You're not suffering from any medical condition?"

"No."

"And there's no possibility you could be pregnant?"

"No."

"Good, now if you lay your arm there…" The nurse rolled up Holly's sleeve and cleansed her arm with a clear liquid then pulled a band around it, so the blood would flow to that area. She plucked a small syringe from the rack and inserted it gently into Holly's arm.

"You've got a lovely daughter." Said the nurse.

"Thanks, I know. I just wish my husband was just as nice."

Blood began to flow slowly into the syringe. "Ah. Are things not quite rosy right now?"

"You can say that again. He's not the man I married. He doesn't trust me, the minute he sees an article in the newspaper saying that Amber isn't his child, he wants a DNA test."

The syringe was half full now. "You don't have to go through with this if you're uncomfortable."

"Oh it's not that. I don't mind doing it, but he's such a hypocrite, he doesn't trust me because of some stupid article, but I come home from working over time, and there he is kissing another woman."

The nurse removed the syringe and let Holly's magic seal her wound. "You will probably find you're low on magic, I'd advise you complete the ritual at the next possible opportunity."

Holly nodded, standing up, "I will, there's a full moon next week, so I'll go then."

The nurse nodded, "And as for your husband, I think you already know what to do."

Trouble went through the same sort of ritual next, and then they had to sit and wait for the results.

Foaly was eager to know what went on, as he'd never been subject to DNA testing. Trouble explained while Holly stayed silent, thinking over her situation.

She couldn't be involved in a relationship where she wasn't trusted with a person whom she didn't trust. She loved Trouble, but was it worth the risk of this happening again? Could she stand it if she was hurt again? Should she give Trouble one more chance?


A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, I was going to make it longer, but I thought I'd give you a cliff hanger instead. What do think Holly should do? Leave him or stay with him? Let me know, your opinion could make a vital difference.