Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters owned by Eoin Colfer, I don't own anything I didn't create, but I own everything that I made up/created/thought of.

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Sweetdeath04: Thanks a lot. Sorry if this isn't soon enough, updates will become more regular soon, I hope.

refloc: Thanks. I'll try. I'm working on the romance thing at the moment. So am I.

RaevanDawn: Thanks. I agree.

teky1389: I'm trying, hope this is soon enough, sorry about the VERY long wait.

Holly Rox: Thanks. I'll try.

livinitup…: Thanks. Sorry if it has taken to long.

JayJayde: Working on the less rushed thing. And wishing I had time to work on the longer thing. I will be trying that though. Thanks a lot.

MeMyselfandI: Very, I've been trying too; there are a few good ones out there, not many. Thanks a lot. I'm trying to update soon.

Out of touch with Reality: Thanks. I will try, I am trying. Sorry it's short.

FetishFemale: Sorry about that, this one is too. But 'm going to try and write some longer ones. Slow but steady wins the race, as they say.

(A/N: Sorry for the length between updates. I know I have been dawdling in the hospital. So next chapter I promise the hospital will not be the setting for the entire time, and now, on with the story. Eeek, so so long since I updated, sorry, I got side-tracked with exams, writing.)

Chapter 10: Emotional Overload

Trouble's POV

I can't believe it. They make me stay in hospital for three days, just because of one collapse. It simply wasn't fair. It is Holly I should be worrying about, not myself. And they would only let me see her twice a day for half and hour, it simply wasn't fair. Of course, now I am out Commander Root has given me permission to basically live next to Holly's bed during visiting hours, and live in my apartment until she is ready to return to the academy. So today I am walking along the hall to see Holly, a week after I was let out of hospital, we all hope that today she will be let out. I met Commander Root in her room. Curtains were drawn around Holly's bed, I remembered her rage at the curtains around her bed, and smiled briefly.

'Who told you she was coming out today Kelp?'

'What?' I spluttered, coming out of my stupor of memories.

'Why else would you be smiling?'

'Just remembering something, Sir.'

Commander Root tried not to grin. I couldn't work out why. I decided to leave it.

Holly emerged from behind the curtains about five minutes later, fully dressed in what else but her LEP issue shorts and t-shirt.

Xanthe chose that exact moment to walk into the room. 'Holly!' she exclaimed, 'what are you doing out of bed?'

'Woah, am I, like, looking in a mirror or something?' spluttered a totally confuzzled Holly, who had no idea that Xanthe existed, having not been conscious when Xanthe visited her (Xanthe had been out of town for two weeks). 'When did I start dressing like that? And MAKEUP?

I nearly burst out laughing, I covered my chuckle with a cough, I had been waiting to see Holly's reaction to Xanthe, hadn't we all been waiting to see that? The flummoxed look on Holly's face was comical; next to me Commander Root was also struggling to keep a straight face.

Commander Root's POV

I was standing next to Trouble, trying desperately to keep a straight face and not laugh at the totally confused look on Holly's face, Holly having just found out that she had a twin sister, or more accurately, was about to find out.

'Holly's just been released from the hospital,' I managed to choke out.

Xanthe seemed to understand and was about to step forward and introduce herself to Holly when Holly spoke over her, 'What on earth is she wearing?' This was the final straw for me, and I cracked up.

Both of the females were staring at me, and I was starting to see the family resemblance, the stony glares were identical. 'What's so funny?' the said in unison. I simply couldn't stop laughing, Trouble was doubled over next to me in fits of silent laughter, so a few seconds later the both gave up and turned away from us.

Xanthe held out her hand to Holly, 'Hi, I'm Xanthe; I don't think you know this, but I'm your twin sister.'

'Holly Short, I have a sister?'

'Yea, I suppose I am your sister, not a mirror image.'

'Why was I not informed I had a sister?' Holly screamed

Holly's POV

It was just too much, first I wake up, get told I have been in hospital for God knows how long, then I find out I have a sister. Not just a sister, a twin sister I never knew existed.

'Why was I not informed I had a sister?' I screamed at the top of my lungs. Trouble and Commander Root stopped laughing abruptly. An overwhelming hatred, and a feeling I could not describe, almost like the feeling you get when someone has let you down, but worse. My dad must have known, why hadn't he told me?

'Holly',' said Xanthe almost gently, 'if it makes you feel better your dad never knew I existed either, your mum never told him.' The unknown feeling was gone now, but the hatred had increased ten fold. How could my mum do this to my dad, to me.

'Holly, it's great to meet you,' said Xanthe as she stepped forward and gave me a sisterly hug. I smelt a flowery perfume. Then I pulled away.

I stood there shaking, not a tear rolled down my cheek, but it was total emotional meltdown time. This never happened to me, what was happening? Trouble stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I didn't fight it; I just leaned against him and began taking deep breaths to compose myself. After about three minutes I had regained by composure and I stepped away from Trouble.

'Thanks Trouble, hi Xanthe, sorry about that,' I said stepping towards Xanthe.

'Its fine Holly, take all the time you need.'

'Thanks.'

I couldn't believe I had had an emotional meltdown, how embarrassing. And letting Trouble comfort me, what is happening? Next thing I know Commander Root will be a family member. Stranger things have NOT happened.

'Should we be getting back to the academy Commander?' I asked Commander Root as I turned to face him.

'Not just yet Holly,' I was interrupted, by Xanthe.

'What?'

'You're coming with me, we need to find you something other than the uniform to wear.'

'What? NO. Commander?'

'Actually Holly, I think it would be a very good idea.' I couldn't believe what was coming out of the Commander's mouth.

'You take her Xanthe? I'll see you two at eight P.M. my office at the academy. O.K.? And that's an order Short.'

Xanthe grinned, Trouble grinned, 'I'm not going,' I spluttered, but Xanthe grabbed my hand and was dragging me out the door.

'Commander Root said you had to come.'

'But..'

'Makeover time.' She grinned.

'That's an order Short,' were the last words I heard as Xanthe dragged me out of the hospital.

(A/N: I'll be trying to update soon. Sorry it is short but I wanted to get something up. Something different in the next chapter, and thanks again to those of you who review.)