Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Except Willow. And she doesn't do anything but drool and cry, so who really wants her anyway?

Author's Note: Hey, I know it's been awhile school stress + other fics lack of update. Meh, I'm not too fond of this chapter but it's longish, and better than a kick in the pants. Hopefully you like it better than I do, if not, I guess you'll really be looking forward to the next update.

Chapter 18: Fowl Manor

Holly docked the shuttle at E1. Verbil was looking a little greener around the gills than usual. She took her blackout suit out the diaper bag and put it on over her jumpsuit. She wasn't taking any chances. She slung the diaper bag over her shoulder and picked up Willow.

"Goodbye, Private Verbil."

"Goodbye, Cap'n." Chix said, waving and heading toward the pilot's seat. "Are you sure you don't want me to escort you to wherever you need goin'?"

"I'll be fine, Chix. Get this shuttle home," Holly said. She left the shuttle and looked around the shuttle port. At this time of day, there weren't many people there. Authorization from below had come and given her leave to exit the fairy-fort despite the broad daylight she'd be stepping into. She carefully covered Willow up to keep the sun off of her skin and shielded her own head with her helmet.

Outside, she found Butler waiting by the Bentley. She was relieved that Fowl had sent him or she might have waited 'til nightfall. She wondered if Artemis was waiting inside the vehicle. Unlikely. She scanned the area for any sign of goblins. None. Apparently they hadn't gotten wind of Willow's departure.

She approached.

Butler glanced at his watch. "You're a few minutes late, Captain."

"Blame it on the traffic. Is vampire boy in the car?" she asked, a slight grin on her face.

"Artemis is at home."

"Great, then I get to sit in the front seat," she said cheerfully. She climbed around to the left side of the car and got in. She stashed the bag on floor (her feet didn't reach the floor anyway). Willow was still wrapped up in her arms.

"What's that?" Butler asked, starting the engine.

"This is the reason I'm up here." She uncovered Willow's face.

Butler glanced down and was momentarily startled. "That's a baby. Is it human?"

"Of course not. Elfin. But it's not mine. Her house was burnt down by a gang of goblins; one parent is dead, the other a captive. She's in police custody at the moment."

Butler was silent, staring at the road.

"Is the house empty?" Holly asked.

"Juliet and Artemis are the only ones home. Mr. and Mrs. Fowl are away on a trip. Alyssa was at the house, but Artemis sent her home."

Holly just nodded. Artemis had sent his girlfriend home so that he could do her a favor? The Mud Boy had certainly changed in the last two years.

It seemed to be in no time at all that they reached Fowl Manor. Butler got out of the car first and took the diaper bag from the floor. He helped Holly down from the car and offered to carry her inside.

"No thank you. I can walk," she said.

They walked, Butler in front to provide shade for her and Willow. Butler walked in the door and Artemis was waiting at the entrance. He'd seen them pull up.

"Welcome, Captain Short. You may enter the house."

Holly nodded but the moment she stepped over the threshold, she felt Willow jerk in her arms. She stepped backwards. "Invite her in."

Artemis looked confused for an instant, but amended his invitation. "You and any with you may enter the house."

Holly and Willow entered again, this time without any reaction.

"If you'll follow me into the den? No outside light enters there, so our chat will be the most comfortable there. Juliet has set up snacks." He turned to Butler. "Would you please take Captain Short's, excuse me, Captain Kelp's belongings upstairs?"

"Yes, Artemis," Butler replied.

Holly followed Artemis to the downstairs room where he and Alyssa watched movies together at night sometimes. It was the most casual room in the manor and not one that the family tended to spend much time in, though they'd been there more in the last two months than ever before.

Artemis and Holly seated themselves at opposite ends of the couch.

"Now, if you'll kindly explain the bundle in yours arms, Captain? I have a feeling that I know what it is based on your letters and your reaction upon entering the house. Please remove your helmet as well; it's terribly bad manners."

Holly pulled back the blanket from over Willow's face and took off her own helmet, not fearing that he'd give her any commands.

Artemis studied the infant's tiny head and pointy ears. "Elfin, I assume?"

"Yes."

"And not yours?"

"Of course not." She snorted.

"I think you ought to explain the whole story to me while we enjoy some carrot sticks that Juliet has prepared for us. There's Irish mineral water as well," he offered, pointing to the pitcher, glasses, and plate of carrot sticks on the coffee table.

Holly proceeded to explain the circumstances that had brought herself and Willow to Fowl's doorstep.

"Do you have any idea how long the two of you will be residing here?" Artemis asked, making mental notes as the conversation went on.

"We aren't sure. Things seem to complicate themselves repeatedly. Most fairies respect life enough not to kill. This gang appears different; it seems they've watched too many Mud Man films."

"Fairies and humans tend to have more in common than those of you below ground would like to believe, I think," Artemis said. He wiped his nails against his trousers, getting rid of imaginary dust.

"How long ago did Alyssa leave?" Holly asked, settling further back into the chair.

"She left immediately after I received your email," Artemis said, attempting to appear nonchalant.

"I'm sorry," Holly said. "I had no intention of spending anymore time with this baby, but—"

"But circumstances being what they are, you couldn't avoid it. Don't worry about it; she was leaving today anyway."

They sat in a few moments of silence.

On impulse, Holly asked, "Would you like to hold her?"

"Excuse me?"

"Trouble named her Willow. We don't know her given name, didn't bother to ask. Would you like to hold her?"

Artemis hesitated before answering. "I'd rather not. I've never had much experience with infants. For that matter, I don't believe I've ever had any experience with infants."

"Then now is a fine time for you to learn." Holly slid off the couch, walked over to Artemis, and put Willow in his unwilling arms. She'd been surprisingly good today and hadn't cried much at all, until now.

Willow wasn't crying her loudest, but it was enough to cause Artemis some discomfort.

"Why don't you take her back?" he offered, holding his armful of baby out to her.

"No. I think she really likes you. She screamed twice as loud the first three days that I held her."

"Oh, that's comforting," he said sarcastically. "I'm giving you a place to stay, I am not babysitting."

Willow started to wail more loudly.

Butler appeared in the doorway. "I heard noise, is everything alright?"

"Yes, Butler, as you can see, everything is just peachy," Artemis said sarcastically.

He noted the odd angle at which Artemis was holding the infant. He recalled holding Juliet when she was young. He wasn't home much, but when he was home he saw to his sister. He descended down the steps and into the den. He approached Artemis. "May I?"

Artemis nodded, expecting Butler to remove the crying child from his arms. Instead, Butler redirected Artemis's arms so that he was holding Willow correctly and giving her the support she needed.

Willow quieted somewhat.

"See, Arty? Nothing to it," Holly grinned.

"And how have you been faring with her?" he shot back.

"About the same as you, or worse. Anybody who brings up that crock about 'maternal instinct' is a moron," she said, snorting.

"That can't be completely true," Butler said. "She didn't cry in the car."

"Butler, Foaly and Root have more maternal instinct than I do. Trouble absolutely loves her. I think he wants to quit his job and be a stay-at-home-mommy."

Artemis glanced at the plate of carrots. "Does she eat solid food yet?"

"No. Her formula is in the diaper bag."

"Along with your guns?" queried Butler.

"Did you check? I never go anywhere without them. We thought there could be trouble on the way to the shuttle or when we got off."

"It's my job to check," Butler pointed out.

"Butler, didn't you yourself warn me that a woman's purse was dangerous territory?" Artemis said, a hint of a smile on his face.

"There is a difference between a woman's private purse of personal items and a diaper bag of weaponry," Butler pointed out.

"In all fairness there are diapers, clothes, and baby formula in there," Holly said. She reached out and took another carrot.

The bodyguard took a seat on a chair near the couch.

"Butler, why don't you take this?" Artemis said, indicating the baby.

Butler complied, gently lifting the infant out of his employer's arms. Willow silenced herself and cooed in his arms.

Holly watched in amazement. "Huh. Maybe she just likes men," she said thoughtfully.

Artemis shot her a glare. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing, Mud Boy. She was probably just afraid you'd drop her," Holly teased. It was so good to have company other than Willow, even if that company was two Mud Men.

Artemis gave her an icy stare, but said nothing for a moment. "Besides this new gang, how are things underground?"

"The same as ever for the most part. Getting more crowded. And Alyssa?"

"I probably did some damage this morning in rushing her out of the house," he said, sighing. "But it's nothing I can't undo."

"Is she going to be here for your birthday? I know that's only, what, a few weeks away?"

"How did you know my birthday was so close?" Artemis asked.

"Your stats are public knowledge on the force. A necessary thing to know."

Juliet walked in then. "Arty, do you need me? Justin just called to ask if I wanted to go eat with him. He'll be by in fifteen minutes." She caught sight of Holly and greeted her. "How are you?"

"I'm doing alright. Yourself?"

"Same old, same old." She looked over at her brother and saw what he was holding. "Aw. So cute. Holly, is this yours?" She went over to Butler and picked Willow up, tickling her.

"No, she's not, thank goodness."

"Why? She's sweet."

Willow gurgled. She liked the attention.

Artemis had a triumphant smile. "There goes your 'she only likes men' theory, Holly."

"What's her name?" Juliet asked.

"Willow."

"Hmm. Willow," Juliet said experimentally. "I like it. It fits. Oh, so, Arty, are you going to be needing me?"

"No, you're welcome to go enjoy yourself," Artemis said.

Butler added, "Be home by six, Juliet."

"You're such a kidder," she said, handing the baby back to her brother and leaving with a cheery wave.

Butler looked rather put out. He hadn't been kidding. "If you don't mind, Artemis, I'm going to go have a little chat with Juliet's, ah, friend."

Artemis smiled. "Be my guest, old friend."

Butler handed the baby to Artemis as he left.

"What exactly is she capable of?" Artemis asked, looking distastefully at Willow.

"Crying, eating, crying, sleeping, crying, and going to the bathroom in her diaper," Holly said.

"Does she do anything else?"

"She likes to be sung to, and I think she responded when Trouble played peek-a-boo with her. I think she sits up, but she doesn't quite crawl yet. Other than that? She mostly just cries."

"Charming." He grimaced.

"My thought exactly."

Artemis experimentally placed Willow on the coffee table. Sure enough, she managed to sit up on her own. "Fascinating. That's about as interesting as she gets?"

"For the most part," Holly agreed. "I've been locked up with her for a week." She put her feet on the coffee table, leaning back casually.

"I suppose you'd like a break from watching her, then?" Artemis asked, looking at the tiny elf baby.

"It would be nice, but I'm not expecting it," Holly agreed. She really wasn't. She was glad the Mud Boy has given up time with Alyssa in order to let her and Willow come stay. "Why don't you call your girlfriend and soothe things over for any injured feelings from this morning, hmm?"

"That's not a bad idea," Artemis agreed.

"Go on. Willow and I will wait here. I'll just watch her sit and drool," Holly said.

"I'll return later then, Holly. Feel free to turn the television on." Artemis left, taking the stairs two at a time. He wished he could tell Alyssa the truth, but he couldn't just explain to her that he had an elf and an orphan elf staying with him for a few days because some goblins were after them. Even if he tried explaining it all to her, she'd never believe him.

He passed by the entrance where Butler was very thoroughly scaring Juliet's date and headed up the stairs to his room.

Curiosity got the better of him and he looked in Holly's bag. After all, Butler had already done it. There was nothing truly alarming in it. Weapons, clothing, diapers, baby formula, those ingenious wings were just about everything that was in it.

He put the contents of the bag back inside once more and closed it, putting it back in his closet. He picked up his cell phone and called Alyssa.

After three rings, she picked up. "Hello?"

"Alyssa, it's Artemis."

"Is everything alright?"

Artemis sat down on his bed. "Oh yes, everything is fine." He lied down and stared at the ceiling.

"Are you sure?"

"Quite."

"And your police friend?"

"She's well. An infant ended up in her custody—the parents are missing—and she hasn't had much experience with infants. She required some assistance. She hasn't been feeling well," Artemis said, speaking as truthfully as he could.

"I'm glad it wasn't anything worse than that," she said, setting down into her sofa an hour and a half away from him.

"I'm sorry I had to rush you out of here this morning. She said she needed help and I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was that she needed immediate assistance. She overreacts on occasion."

"I understand."

"How has your day been?"

"It's not even three yet. I only left you a few hours ago," she said laughing a little.

"I know, but I'm curious nonetheless. Solved any world problems? Or caused any?"

"Not today. Just had lunch with my mom and my brother, and since then I've been listening to music."

They talked awhile longer. Artemis loved hearing the sound of her voice. It wasn't particularly angelic, or silky, but it was her voice and it was golden to him.

Holly remained downstairs, watching videos. She moved Willow off of the table and onto the floor. Willow mostly just sat there, occasionally attempting to crawl. These attempts led to her falling face forward and crying for a few minutes. Then she would sit up and after a few minutes try to crawl once again.

She wondered how long she would have to stay at Fowl Manor, and what she could possibly do to pass the time. It was going to be a long few days. She open the communication line on her wristband.

"Foaly? Are you there? Foaly?"

"Yeah, right here, Holly. We expected you to call in two hours ago. What happened? Did you just arrive?"

"No. I got here right on schedule, no problems, but I've been watching the Wizard of Oz."

"Where's the Mud Boy?"

"Upstairs, talking to his girlfriend."

Foaly's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "There's another human there?"

"No, no. They're on the phone. I've mostly just been sitting here and watching Willow drool on herself."

"Oh, that's alright then," he said flippantly.

"Any news on the hostage situation?"

"None yet. The gang was furious though when they realized that Willow was gone. I'm still not quite sure how they figured that one out." He scratched his head. "They set fire to Spud's, but unfortunately we got the flames out quickly. That place might be better off if it were burned to the ground. No one was hurt, but most of the gang members got away. We've got one in custody but he's not talking just yet."

"Yet?"

"We figure we'll him stew in a cell for a couple of hours and then let Root have a crack at him."

"I almost feel sorry for the little bugger; almost being the key word there. I've spent too much time dealing with the Willow to actually feel sorry for him," Holly said, wrinkling her nose and looking over at the aforementioned baby.

"I didn't tell you we found out her really name?" Foaly asked in surprise.

"You didn't," she confirmed.

"Oh it's…" Foaly typed something in. "Hyacinthirina."

"Hyacinthirina? What sort of a name is that?"

Foaly shrugged. "I didn't name her."

"Poor kid'll be teased forever. I think I'll just stick to calling her Willow."

Foaly mused for a minute. "Probably a good idea."

"Now, is there any news about when I can go home or when I can get rid of Willow?"

"Uh, neither yet, but we'll keep you posted," Foaly promised.

Holly heard a crunching sound, followed by a "mmm." She growled. "Foaly, are you eating while talking to me?"

"Um…no," he said, his mouth clearly full.

"That's disgusting. Call me when there's good news." She closed the communication and settled into the oversized couch for a nice nap.