A/N: I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Did ya miss me :grin grin: you know you did. Well like a good little author I updated as soon as I got home. Enjoy loves, thank you for your reviews! Keep 'em comming.

9:00am, Downtown, Holly's Apartment

A loud, annoying scream pierced the quiet of the morning and a thoroughly annoyed moan followed by a smash accompanied it; the smash serving to silence the loud screaming.

"I hate alarm clocks." Holly Short muttered to herself as she opened a tired looking, slightly bloodshot hazel eye. "Damn mud men and their stupid inventions…." She grumbled as she literally rolled out of her low lying bed onto the floor, where she paused for a moment to stretch out. Still mumbling and complaining to herself, Holly got up and dressed herself in "normal" cloths, no more LEP uniform, how depressing.

Holly moved around her two room, one bathroom apartment without opening her eyes more than once. She sat down at the table finally once dressed and ate a bowl of lucky charms still with her eyes closed. "It's too early to be awake…." she moaned at no one as she cracked her eyes open experimentally. 'Not as if I have anything better to do than sleep.' It had been a few days, nearly a week, since her expulsion from the LEP and she had had no luck whatsoever at finding a job. She spent most of her days wandering around downtown looking in shops and sitting in on different shows and such. Pretty boring compared to risking her neck flying a shuttle up to Tara to quell a goblin uprising.

Today Holly had no plans at all, she hadn't seen anything the previous day to go to and so she was winging it. Still groggy and irritable Holly finished off the last of her lucky charms, glaring at the leprechaun on the front as she put the box away and scurried out the door at 10am, not really caring what she looked like. A mess or an angel, Holly's attitude was 'screw that' today…it was not a good day, she could tell.

Fowl Manor, 9:00am

Beep, beep, beep

Artemis Fowl the second sat up almost at once, his deep blue silk pajamas hanging loosely on his thin, but lightly muscled frame. Hitting the offending alarm clock slightly harder than necessary he cracked his neck and yawned, swinging his legs off the side of the bed and standing up. He stretched a bit to get some blood flowing and then went about getting ready for his busy day.

At 9:30 a sharp knock on the door told Artemis breakfast was ready and to come down. He did so immediately, greeting his mother and father before eating his Benedict Arnold and Meiosis quickly. Despite the fact that he was no longer a child, Artemis still got excited before a show and always had a twinge of stage fright, though he would never admit it to anyone. He excused himself from the table and Butler followed him into the foyer. "Are we ready to go Butler?"

A small nod from the man servant and he opened the door for his principle. "Everything is set Master Artemis."

Climbing into the Bentley, Artemis checked that all his required illusionary devises were in the car and that his solitary white dove was safely perched in her cage in the seat next to him. Quietly Artemis cooed to the bird, telling her of the important show she was to help him with today; he had become quite fond of his feathered friend in the two years he'd had her. He'd named her Holly; Artemis didn't know why he'd named her that, it just sort of…came to him when he saw the fire in her eyes. She was a very smart bird, Artemis had known from the start.

With everything accounted for Artemis nodded to Butler who pulled out of the long driveway and headed downtown to the pub that Artemis was to perform at later that night.

Downtown, 11:00am

Butler parked the Bentley outside the pub and loaded Artemis' things backstage, as Artemis found the owner and instilled a good deal of fear in him as he insisted that the man take most excellent care of Holly for him. His show wasn't until 6 that night so he had plenty of time to wander around, shopping for additional items he could use in his show, or just in general look at things. Holly cooed softly as Artemis stroked her head a few times with his finger and said goodbye to her, assuring her that he'd be back later.

Butler appeared by thedoor and cleared his throat causing Artemis to turn and smile slightly. "Off we go then." He said and strode out of the pub into the downtown streets for a few hours of shop hopping.

Holly walked slowly down the sidewalk, her eyes half-lidded. She yawned for about the hundredth time that morning and stretched again, almost tripping as she did so. Cursing under her breath she turned into her favorite shop for a look around. Not that she could afford anything, she just liked looking.

The sign above the store read MARTIN'S MAGIC MULTI-STORE and it was full of random mystical items. From tarot cards to actual fairy artifacts that Holly found to be very valuable back in Haven. A second or two later, as she made her way back to the amulets section the bell above the door tinkled again and Holly poked her head around a large book shelf to see a most amazing sight. Her stomach gave an odd lurch as she starred, for the first time in years, at the mud weasel, Artemis Fowl.

Holly nearly dropped the charm in her hands as he turned away from the counter and looked right at her. For a second she thought recognition flashed in his eyes, but then she saw that it was just a light trick caused by the many crystals hanging from the ceiling.

Artemis felt her eyes on him and starred at her for a second before nodding curtly and turning toward a display.

'Ah…so he doesn't remember. Good…I suppose.' Secretly though, Holly had somewhat hoped Artemis would recognize her, at least it would give her a friend on the surface. Slightly flushed she buried her face in a nearby book and sat down on the floor, pretending to read, but really peaking at Artemis through the many rows of displays and shelves.

"This could prove useful for our next show." Artemis said to Butler, emphasizing the word show, as if hidden meaning were in it. However Holly couldn't see what he was holding. She found herself somewhat puzzled now. Why would Artemis be in a magic shop? He didn't strike her as the magician type.

After nearly an hour of eavesdropping on them, Artemis and Butler made their purchases and went back out onto the street to look for a bite to eat. Holly pushed herself up off the floor, irked that her feet and rear were somewhat numb and marched up to the counter.

"Do you by chance know him?" She asked the lady working the register.

The young woman looked up and smiled her bright emerald eyes twinkled in the crystal light. "Yez, 'e iz a v'ry talented ma'jision. 'is name iz Ar'himis Fow'. 'e iz performhing tonigh' at ze pub down ze street."

"Thank you." Said Holly hastily and rushed out of the shop to follow him. Something told her, he was up to no good. Catching sight of him a ways down the street, Holly began her pursuit, a familiar and comforting adrenaline surge taking hold of her.

Outside the Pub, 5:38pm

The day had past now and Artemis yawned, leaning his head to the side slightly as he stood outside the pub. He had noticed a short, auburn haired woman following him all day, the same one from the magic shop. He didn't mind her much, perhaps she was just a fan of his, and Artemis' calm demeanor helped to chill Butler out, who had been very tempted to break the girl's neck.

Artemis took a final drag of his cigarette and tossed it down, grinding it out with his foot. He sighed lightly and turned to enter the backstage door, catching a look at the woman one last time.

It was somewhat muggy in the pub, the smell of smoke and alcohol was very prominent and Artemis was immediately concerned for Holly, and therefore went to go get her from the manager's office. Butler, meanwhile set up Artemis' act and secured the area. In a few minutes Artemis returned, dressed in his act attire with Holly perched contently on his shoulder, nuzzling her white head into his neck affectionately. The curtain would rise soon.

Holly peaked out from behind a car across the street as Artemis walked in the backstage access door, as soon as he was out of site she ran across the street and into the pub, pushing her way to the bar and ordering a tall scotch as she watched the stage.

At 6:00pm sharp the curtains rose and their, center stage stood Artemis Fowl the second, in a black suit, with a deep purple shirt visible under it. On his shoulder a beautiful white dove sat motionless.

"Welcome." Was all Artemis said before jumping right into his act. The first thing he did was pick up the bird on his shoulder and make it disappear, this served to wow the crowd right away. Artemis went about his routine, looking somewhat bored; every once in a while though a smile would cross his face.

Finally after several feats of illusionary mastery Artemis raised a scarf above his head, making it levitate, for a few minutes before covering his shoulder with it. He smirked out into the crowd and pulled the scarf away quickly, their on his shoulder, just as when he started sat the magnificent white dove. The dove cooed loudly and Artemis bowed, the curtains closing on a standing ovation.

Holly smiled lightly 'He's good.' Getting up and draining the rest of her scotch, Holly left the pub in search of more interest. The night was still young after all.

Artemis yawned back stage, petting Holly affectionately as Butler packed everything up. "It was a good show, wasn't it Holly?" He asked with a grin. He slipped her into her cage, hanging a thick gold chain from the top bar for her to play with. "You earned it." He patted the lump in his suit pocket, all of it stolen jewels and money from the night's show; all of it stolen, by his dove. She was indeed, an intelligent bird.

"Now…I think a bit of social fun is in order, Butler. What do you say?" Artemis looked over at his man servant questioningly. The look on Butler's face was comical, he was shocked. Artemis didn't normally enjoy venturing into public for anything other than business.

"Where do you suggest sir?" He asked with interest.

"The dance club I believe with serve well. Many pockets to pick with everyone jammed up against each other."

Ah…so that was his reason. Artemis just wanted to make a few more pounds before calling it a night. Butler nodded and they made their way to PAROLE the hottest club downtown.

A/N: Next Chapter comming soon. R&R to make chapters come faster!