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.

(A/N: Sorry the last couple of chapters have been quite short. I think this one may be a little longer. At least I hope. And if anyone has suggestions for a better title…)

Review Replies:

FetishFemale: Thanks for reviewing all of those chapters. You pronounce Xanthe's name Zan-thee. Or at least I think that is how it meant to sound.

Sweetdeath04: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I hope you like this chapter.

RaevanDawn: Poor Holly. I think yes, she wouldn't let Xanthe give her a makeover if Commander Root didn't order her.

Out of touch with Reality: Yes, poor, poor Holly. Thanks. This is quicker than my last update.

Knight of the Eternal Darkness: Sorry about cliff-hangers, I have a slight issue with them; I can't help but put them in some chapters. I hope it's funny. This will be quicker than my last update.

lutefa: Don't we all hate makeovers. I have the 'people won't stop attacking me with a hair-straightener issue', I agree, I hate make-up and makeovers. Thanks.

Chapter 11: Makeover

Holly's POV

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

Of course it was Commander Root who shouted them. Anyone who wasn't me would think Commander Root wasn't capable of ordering anyone to have a makeover, but anyone else didn't know Commander Root the same way I did. Anyone else didn't know him as an Uncle, as a great family friend, with a soft side he showed only to those he really trusted. That was the problem I had with Trouble, he knew me before I changed, before I became hardened by the death of my father. I suppose I should open up to Trouble. Uncle Julius has showed me something, inadvertently I'm sure, but he still showed me. You can still open to people that you associate with the dreadful past, it doesn't have to be painful, it can help to ease the pain.

I didn't tell anyone, but since my dad died I have been in constant pain, but seeing Trouble has helped to ease that pain, and Xanthe will as well I am sure. But a makeover I ask you? Ahhh run away screaming.

'Are you coming Holly? Or do I have to drag you?' Xanthe was advancing me, a childish grin on her face, a reminder of all the times missed when we were children.

'Fine,' I grumbled and let her grab my arm and drag me at an amazing rate of knots through Haven City Centre towards the Haven City Shopping Centre. I was thoroughly depressed at the thought of a makeover, but I did not disobey orders. I would never admit it but I was pleased to do this with Xanthe, don't get me wrong, I was really angry about the makeover part, but spending time with my sister I only just met, that was a different matter.

Xanthe's POV

'Fine,' Holly grumbled as I grabbed her arm and dragged her towards Haven City Shopping Centre. I didn't go slowly, in case she changed her mind, but I didn't think she had been in her job long enough to disobey orders. If she was a smidge like me once she had become established in her job she would start to disobey orders.

I didn't know what was running through her head but I was definitely grateful to finally be spending time with the sister that I had seen for the first time lying in a hospital bed in a possibly fatal condition.

All pensive thoughts vanished from my mind as I dragged Holly into the mall. I was in my element. First stop for Holly was my favourite shoe shop in Haven. I selected a pair of black boots for Holly. They came halfway up her shins and had a very slight heel. She wobbled slightly in the heels, but she would learn. And they fitted perfectly with the image I had in mind for her. Next stop was a specialist jeans shop.

Holly's POV

I couldn't believe the shoes Xanthe picked out for me. They had heels! They were boots. I had never owned a pair of shoes like that in my life. They were not in the least bit practical. The only shoes I had ever owned were sturdy work boots and my school shoes when I was younger.

'Come on Holly, let's go. Gotta get you some jeans,' Xanthe grabbed my hand and enthusiastically dragged me off towards yet another shop. NO, I wanted to scream. I hated shops. A weekly dart to the supermarket for fresh vegetables was the most time I ever spent in a shopping centre if I could help it.

Total panic setting in. People staring at me in my LEP kit, not that I'm self conscious, of course not. What will Trouble think? We he laugh, oh God I hope not, but then again he is so cute when he laughs. What am I thinking, the shopping mall is driving me crazy, I'm becoming almost like a girl. And what will Trouble think? I don't care what he thinks do I? Of course I do. No I don't. I reached a hand up, realising I hadn't combed my hair for ages, since before I went into to hospital. What would Trouble think of that? But I don't care what he thinks, I don't. But he's so hot. What? Where did that come from? I'm going crazy, I am.

'Holly, calm down, they're only jeans,' Xanthe managed to snap me out of it. Good, I never want to lose my mind like that again?

'What were you muttering about Trouble being hot?' asked Xanthe, a huge grin now on her face, 'I knew it, I knew you liked him,' she looked triumphant.

'Of course I don't like him,' but it sounded lame and untrue even to me, especially as I realised just how strongly I did feel about Trouble.

'Sure,' said Xanthe, 'just try the jeans on why don't you?'

So I took the jeans from her and walked into the fitting rooms to try them on. They were very tight jeans and a very dark blue. They were very … low, hip huggers I think the younger elves call them. Who knew they were still in fashion? But Xanthe was the one who was more likely to know fashion.

'How are they?' called Xanthe.

I stepped out of the changing room to show her, and her face lit up.

'They're quite tight,' I started to complain.

'That's a good thing. They look so good on you. I'm sure Trouble will find you really hot.'

'But...'

'No arguments Holly, you heard what Commander Root said,' so I ended up with that particular pair of very tight jeans. At least she wasn't trying to make me wear a skirt.

Xanthe's POV

I ended up selecting a dark very tight pair of jeans for Holly. I didn't fancy my chances of getting her into a skirt, and besides. That wouldn't work with the 'look' I had planned for Holly.

The next stop was my own fashion store. There was a top there that would look perfect on Holly, her muscles being a lot more toned than mine, her being into physical fitness. I just care that I'm not fat.

The top I am talking about I designed shortly after meeting Holly. Something about meeting her inspired me to design it. It is black, with indistinct grey scribbles on it, has see through long sleeves, and looks like it has been through the mill and been patched up with a black see through material. Perfect for Holly, and perfect for the look I want to create for her.

I took her into the shop and pulled it off the rack. She actually liked this top. As she tried it on her eyes lit up. 'Just my style,' she said.

'My gift to you.'

A questioning look from Holly.

'I own this shop. This is where I work. I designed that top,' it looked as if something had just clicked for Holly. I thought for a moment she was going to storm out of the shop. But she just nodded.

'O.K.'

I hadn't expected her to be so accepting. But it felt good, she didn't want not to know me just because I had a job she would never want.

Holly's POV

Xanthe took me into a top and picked out the best ever top for me. It was just my style. I learnt a lot about her in the following few minutes. This fashion store was her own. She was a fashion designer. I would have expected myself to explode when I found myself in the company of a fashion designer, let alone a fashion designer who I was related to and who looked exactly like me. To my utter surprise I found myself nodding and simply accepting what she was saying. We had overcome a major obstacle in our relationship as sisters. It felt good.

We walked out of Xanthe's shop a lot happier. We were now definitely sisters.

'Still a couple of stops to make,' stated Xanthe as she grinned.

Great, more time in the mall. I thought glumly. Even the newfound sisterly affection I felt couldn't get rid of my utter loathing for shopping. Not a bit of it. But then again maybe I would look good for Trouble. What was I thinking? I seriously need to get out of here. But Xanthe said we still have a couple of stops to make.

'No time to dawdle Holly,' said Xanthe as she dragged me into another shop. I looked at the walls of the shop. They were lined with jewellery. I nearly screamed.

'No Xanthe. I'm NOT wearing jewellery,' I stated bluntly. And quite loudly. People were staring at us.

'I'm not going to make you get you ears pierced Holly, not today. Just a nice pair of clip on earrings,' she replied in a quieter voice. It was a very soothing voice.

I slumped defeated. I couldn't argue with Commander Root's orders. However much I wanted to.

I stood aside while Xanthe picked out a pair of dangly shiny black earrings. She held them up to the side of my face.

'Perfect,' she said, 'they even elongate your facial features.'

So now I had shoes, jeans, a top and earrings, very much against my will of course. What else could she possibly have left to torture me with?

Xanthe's POV

After a slight argument (people were staring at us - how embarrassing) I managed to choose a pair of earrings for Holly, lovely dangly black earrings. They fitted perfectly with the 'look'.

Only the last stop left. Holly wouldn't like this, I knew, but her hair had grown while she had been hospital, it was now just below shoulder length. And it turned out she had perfectly straight hair, just like me. But it looked way better on her, of course. I was thinking, since that hair was there I might as well take advantage of that…

Holly's POV

'Just one more stop left,' said Xanthe. I sighed, thank the lord. But Xanthe was grinning evilly. Oh deer.

'The hairdressers.'

'What! But what can you do with a crew cut. This is insanity. Not the hair. Not the hair.'

'Holly,' replied Xanthe almost gently, 'while you were in hospital your hair grew.'

'Well then I'll cut it off again at home. Let's go.'

'Commander Root,' coughed Xanthe.

Orders were orders. How much did I hate the perfect military training my dad had given me at this moment? A lot. But orders were orders. So very reluctantly I let Xanthe drag me into a hairdressers.

'Hey Xanthe,' called an overly friendly male elf, 'you're back soon. Woah, there are two of you.'

'Meet my sister Holly.'

'You have a sister? Cool. Hey Holly.'

The elf was obviously gay. But who cared? The People had gotten over gayness a long time ago. Why couldn't the mud people?

'Holly's in need of a haircut,' stated Xanthe. That was obvious, I thought, I had just got a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I looked like I had been dragged through brambles backwards.

'I can see that. What you want Holly?'

'A crew...' I started to say a crew cut but Xanthe interrupted me.

She was saying stuff about layers, shoulder length, kind of spiky, just got out of bed. For some reason I found this worrying.

'Cool, for some reason I thought she was going to say crew cut,' the hairdresser laughed, 'but that's gonna look awesome.'

Then Xanthe leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Something that I couldn't hear.

Xanthe's POV

I managed to persuade Holly into the hairdressing salon, without to much argument, which was surprising. I only had to cough the words 'Commander Root'.

She didn't have a problem with my gay hairdresser mate, but I didn't think that she would. I carefully explained what I wanted for her. Then I leaned over and whispered in his ear one last detail. It had to do with the 'look' just like everything else.

Half an hour later Holly looked completely different. Her hair looked great and was devoid of knots. All that remained now was to take her to my house, get her ready, and take her up to the LEP academy to meet Trouble. I knew he would be impressed and I wanted him to be. They will make a perfect couple.

Holly's POV

It took him half and hour to cut my hair. Half an hour! Usually only takes me five minutes. But Xanthe finally seemed satisfied.

She took me back to her house and started getting me ready to take me up to the LEP academy. She had a great apartment, it was really modern. Typical of Xanthe.

I ended up being dressed up in my black boots, tight dark jeans, black top designed by Xanthe, dangly earrings and with my way too long hair out and hanging around my face. I looked way younger.

'Finishing touches,' said Xanthe as she advanced on me with black eye shadow and eyeliner. And a bright red clown lipstick.

I actually screamed, got up and ran away from Xanthe. I drew the line at makeup.

'Holly, it's O.K. It's only makeup,' said Xanthe, trying to hide the amusement in her voice.

'No,' I managed to get out. This I wasn't budging on. I was already dressed like I had never dressed before. I was wobbling horribly in the heels. I drew the line at makeup.

Xanthe's POV

Holly was utterly shocked at the prospect of makeup. She screamed and ran away from me. I knew I was never going to get her to wear all of it.

'Holly, what about your orders? How about we compromise, no lipstick?' Of course I had never been planning to get her to wear the lipstick, but I knew she would object to makeup so I had put it in to bargain with to make sure she wore the eye makeup.

She looked like she was being made to swallow her pride. 'Fine,' she mumbled. She sat so I could apply her makeup. Now the look was complete. It was time to take her to show Trouble. I knew they would fall for each other.

Holly's POV

Xanthe managed to persuade me to wear the eye makeup. No clown lipstick, though somehow I don't think she would have made me wear that. Just because of the way she backed down, she hadn't done that all day. Even when I had said I didn't want vegetarian sushi for lunch.

It was a very uneventful trip to the LEP academy; I still couldn't believe Xanthe had had the nerve to make me dress like this. And Trouble would see me.

I nearly chickened out when we got there. But Xanthe pulled me up the stairs. I muttered directions to Commander Root's office for her. Finally we were outside the door.

'Xanthe, please,' I said desperately. I didn't want Trouble to see me dressed up like this.

'Don't be nervous, you look great,' said Xanthe.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

'Come in,' called Commander Root.

(A/N: That is the end of that chapter. Aren't I good, updating for the second day in a row? And this is one of the longest chapters I have written. Thanks for reading. Please review.)