DISCLAIMER: 5 stories later and I STILL don't own Artemis Fowl. Depressing isn't it?

Here's the latest. Sorry it took so long to get up. I couldn't decide whether to put it on the heels of the last one or give it some space. I went for the heels. This is the morning Holly wakes up at the end of the last story. Enjoy and review. (Replies at end)

Dedicated to the people who reviewed my last Artemis Fowl fic (I was lazy, this is a list of everybody who reviewed the last chapter)—

Ariel, Captain Amy, Siriusforeva, Possessed Angel, TooMuchAnime, Debbie Fowl, Kelsey, Sam, WeaselGurl27, Paul, Princess Arwen Evenstar 77, CaptainRoseShort, Happynutcase1, SpikeTV58, and Elfin Emerald (by the way, Elfin Emerald, I think it'd be so awesome if FF.net had a convention for its writers!)

So…

Picking up where I left off…here we go.

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CHAPTER 1: Home Again

            Holly woke up and yawned, stretching. She looked next to her on the bed where her husband was still sleeping. He'd been sleeping when she came in during the night and he looked so peaceful sleeping there that she hadn't the heart to wake him before.

            She looked at the nightstand where the vials with the iris cams and the disks were waiting. She knew that she'd only show three people those disks while the Mud Boy was alive. Trouble, Root, and Foaly. Nobody else needed to see them. In a couple hundred years clips from them would appear home movies show and even be documented in the history of the Artemis Fowl cases. But for now, the boy deserved and would have his privacy. After all, on the inside he was just a soft emotional Mud Man.

            She leaned over and whispered in Trouble's ear, "Honey, I'm back."

            He looked up at her blearily and smiled. "Holly."

            She kissed him, but broke off the kiss after a moment. "I can't stay. I've got work soon."

            "Work? You've been gone for days."

            "I know, Trouble. I know. But I promised I'd be in."

            "I've got the day off," he said glumly.

            "Well, maybe you could stop by later and we'll have lunch together. And I promise to make a good hot dinner tonight."

            "No nutri-bars or protein shakes? Real food?"

            "Yeah. Real food."

            He considered. "Deal." He kissed her. "Go get ready for work then."

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            Holly knew he was reformed, or on his way to reforming. She wasn't sure how, and she wasn't going to spoil it by telling anyone, but gut instinct told her that the Mud Boy was definitely changing for the better.

            Holly walked into the Police Plaza.

            She ducked her head in Root's office to let him know she was there, on time, would see him at lunch about the tapes, and went to talk to Foaly. She pressed the intercom, "Let me in, Foaly."

            "Holly? Is that you back from the dead?" he asked sarcastically.

            "Open the door and find out."

            "I'd rather not. Corpses are unsightly."

            "Open the door if you want any of your equipment back, then," she said.

            He pressed the button for the door to open and studied her closely as she came in.

            "What is it?" she asked.

            "Nothing. You spent a lot of time above ground. I was just making sure Fowl didn't corrupt you or turn you into a Mud Girl or something," he said flippantly.

            She smacked him on the arm. "You want your stuff back or not?"

            "Hand it over. Come on, I took inventory so I know everything you've got."

            "Two iris cams and a condensable flat screen."

            "And what about the discs?"

            "I paid you for those and you can't have them back."

            "But don't I get to watch the Mud Boy make an idiot out of himself in front of the Mud Girl?"

            "At least he has a girlfriend, unlike some people," she teased. "You can see some of the videos later."

            "You're no fun," he pouted.

            "I'll be coming back in here at lunch with Root and Trouble. You can see them then."

            "Sure. Aren't you going to check your email from Fowl? He sent something."

            "Yeah." She strolled over and he pulled it up on the screen. "Give me some space. At least hold off snooping through my mail until I'm gone."

            Foaly huffed and went to put the iris cams away.

Captain,

           Thank you for all you have done for me this past month. Having access to my computer for the remainder of the summer I wish to continue our correspondence.

           All went according to plan. Alyssa saw you, though she's not quite sure what she saw. I was as honest with her as I have ever been with anyone, more so even. However, I leaked no secrets about the People. My parents and hers survived their first meal together when they came to pick her up. Her father seemed inquisitive, but not dangerously so. I do not believe he would stoop to searching the files of my computer or any such thing. She's only been gone three hours and I miss her already. Is that natural? It certainly can't be healthy.

           We are concocting another plan to have her over here again for a few days. Until such a time, we've decided to continue meeting every week. I hope you and Trouble are well. Send my regards to Foaly and Commander Root.

Sincerely,

Artemis Fowl II

            Holly read this through and grinned. It sounded like the Mud Boy was in love. It wasn't a ridiculous notion. Somewhere he did have a heart. Alyssa seemed like the perfect girl for him. She was kind and fairly sensitive, but not easily manipulated and certainly not going to take any attitude from Artemis or anybody else. She had spunk. Holly thought that if the girl had been born a fairy she would have made a good LEP officer. She was certainly a good influence on him.

            Holly sat down and typed out her reply.

Artemis,

           You're welcome. I think you're right about keeping in touch. Keep me notified about whatever goes on. They survived with no gunfight? More than I expected. Yes, it's natural to miss someone you care about, it's even healthy. Everyone here is well.

Holly Short Kelp

            She hit send.

            Holly got off of the chair and went to the door. "I'll see you at lunch, Foaly."

            "It's good to have you back, Holly."

            She turned around and quirked a smile. "It's good to be back." She went back into the rest of the Police Plaza, waiting for lunch.

            She got a few questions like, "Where you been, Holly?"

            "What's this 'leave of absence' we heard somebody spouting about?"

            She always just shrugged and replied, "I needed a few days to myself."

            Finally it was lunch and she grabbed something from the deli across the street and brought it back to the Ops room to eat with Foaly, Commander Root, and Trouble (who had stopped by as planned).

            "So now do we get to see the Mud Boy make a fool out of himself?" asked Foaly.

            Holly grinned. "You can see clips." She put the first disc in and showed off Artemis's rendition of Queen's Don't Stop Me Now and some of his dancing. Next she showed them a clip from Alyssa's dinner her first night at the Manor. She showed a clip of Artemis red and out of breath as he hiked. Next was clips from them watching the movie marathon and eating. She did not show them the conversation Artemis and Alyssa had in the kitchen. She showed off clips that Juliet got for her at the mall. They roared at that one. Seeing the Mud Boy dressed punk-ish was certainly a sight to see, not to mention seeing him being ordered around. She showed clips of them swimming. The last clip was the two of them sitting under the tree.

            Foaly just shook my head. "If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it."

            "I saw it and I'm not sure I believe," Trouble said.

            "Was it worth me being gone?" she asked.

            "Yeah."

            "For footage like this? Sure."

            "Yeah. But we did miss you."

            "Sure you did," she laughed.

            "It looks like her cares about her," Root said. "I didn't think that was possible."

            "It is possible. He does care about her," Holly said truthfully. "You think he'd put up with that sort of attitude if he didn't? She was gone three hours and he already missed her."

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So what did you think? Let me know by pressing the review button. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. I promise it'll get more interesting. This isn't necessarily in the next chapter and I might tweak the line a bit but here's a little teaser of what's to come—

 "What in Frond's name am I supposed to do with a baby?" she exploded.