Disclaimer: I do not own anything owned by Eoin Colfer or anything to do with the Artemis Fowl books or anything like that. I only own what I own/made up/created/ thought of. Got it?
WARNING: any part of this story from this point forwards (and probably some before it) may contain OOCness. I'm sorry, but I couldn't make it work any other way.
A/N: I am so so sorry. I didn't update. Grabs hockey stick and starts hitting something hopes it wasn't valuable sorry. Yes, I have an excuse, but you aren't going to want to hear the rambling of a raving lunatic with computer trouble. I'll just say that everything was stuck on the computer I am using at this exact point in time, and I couldn't get turn it on. Hence I've been submitting a lot of unsigned reviews moaning about computer trouble. I'll stop moaning now, and get on with the chapter. The next update will be on Friday as usual. Unless this breaks again, which is highly likely. grabs hockey stick and whacks fingers so she must stop typing the absurdly long AN.
---------------------------------------
Chapter Ten
'I won't tell if you don't Julius.'
'Deal,' replied Julius, and with that they stepped inside. Barely another word was said as Julius gave Holly a coffee. She liked it exactly the same way as him (black with two sugars) which just served to scare both of them more. They were both beginning to think that they were more and more compatible. It was a scary thought. Both believed that the other would never like them in that way.
When Holly had left his apartment Julius began to think about what Holly had said about him looking much better now. He had known he looked older, but not that much older. He decided it was time that he went to the gym, got in shape, made himself look better. Maybe then he would stand a chance with Holly. Not that he held out too much hope. She was one hundred and one years younger than him. He was one hundred and one years older than her. Sure, it wasn't unheard of for people with that age difference to date and even marry, but Holly was a beautiful elf. She could have any hot young guy she wanted, why would she want an older elf who had been mean to her for years?
He resolved to start going to the gym for an hour a day, starting the very next day. He would, of course, go to a gym outside of the LEP. He didn't need all of the guys to know what her was doing. Or Holly for that matter.
So Julius started going to the gym. He went every day of the week he had been forced to stay home from work. He was surprised at how quickly he was changing and bulking up. By the time he went back to work the next week he had clearly visible muscles and dark brown hair with no grey. To top it all off he was much fitter and felt better than he had in years. He was even not as red as usual, almost a normal coffee colour. Of course, not as good a complexion as Holly, her skin is perfect; he couldn't help thinking to himself.
Holly was very excited; Julius was coming back to work today. She was, of course, expected to call him Sir or Commander, but she could think of him as Julius, and it meant a lot to her that he had asked her to call him Julius.
Trouble, as usual, escorted her to work. He looked relieved not to be in charge anymore. He wondered why Holly was so excited that Commander Root was coming back to work. They hated each other, didn't they?
They walked up to Commander Root's office to report in. Trouble was amazed at how much younger he looked. He was also amazed that he didn't yell at Holly, but actually asked to talk to her.
'Short, can I have a word?'
'Sure sir. I'll see you after work, O.K. Trouble?'
'Yea, see you. Nice to see you back sir,' said Trouble as he departed. He could tell that the two of them wanted to talk.
'What did you want to talk about sir?'
'I wanted to thank you Holly, for everything. Taking me home last week and coming to visit me and leaving that note. It was really good of you. You never had to do that, especially not after how I treated you. So thanks, and I'm sorry.'
Holly was absolutely dumbfounded. Julius was thanking her, and APOOGISING, to her. This was a first. Not to say she was disappointed. She secretly liked Julius, he was a very nice elf, and was looking way better than half of the models in the fairy magazines. The surgery had done him good. He looked like he actually was one hundred and eighty five, and he looked really hot. But Holly knew he would never want her like that, he could have any elf he wanted. Why would he want her?
Besides, office relationships are unprofessional, they both thought at the same time.
Holly left Julius' office slightly after this and went to work. Later than day she was given a very easy and straightforward field assignment, incidentally the only one that came up that day.
Over the next few weeks it was very difficult for them not to tell each other that they were infatuated with each other. They didn't try or anything. They had both convinced themselves that the other could never possibly want them, so they just had to keep reminding themselves of this when they were caught staring at each other.
Trouble was worried about Holly. She had been different ever since Julius went into hospital. And now she didn't even seem to hate him as much as she used to. It was odd. And Julius didn't seem to get angry as often now and never got angry with Holly. It was weird. Something was wrong. For one of the first times in his life he had been left out of the loop. He tried asking Holly what was wrong, but she insisted that nothing was wrong. He decided not to press the issue, but couldn't help himself worrying about his sister.
It had been weeks since Julius' ulcer had been removed and he and Holly were almost over their infatuation when the phone rang.
'LEP Headquarters, How may I help you?' asked the receptionist.
A muffled voice issued through the speaker, 'I know about a gang or crooks who are selling illegal surface weddings for 50,000 gold coins (50,000 gold coins is the equivalent of $500,000NZD). They're ferrying young couples up to the surface illegally and dangerously…' he went on to give the name, address and place to find these people to the LEP. The telephone call was recorded. At the end of the call the informant hung up, never to be seen again.
Holly spoke for everyone assembled in the room (herself, Commander Root, his receptionist, and a Cadet who had been sent to tell him about an exploding sewer (covered in purple sludge with pink dot's, not orange gel, as she had just been about to point out to the Commander) when she breathed, 'wow.'
It wasn't everyday that the LEP got a tip off like this, and it was most likely a trap. Commander Root turned to Holly.
'Come into my office Holly.' Holly obediently followed him into his office where he turned to face her.
'We are going to need a female to go in undercover. There is only one other female in the organisation Short, and I will not trust something this important to Frond. You know how important this is, it could lead to the discovery of the People if these fairies are caught on the surface. Will you do it? Understand this mission is completely voluntary.'
He knew that Holly would agree, how could she not? She was prepared to do anything in order stop the mud people discovering the People.
A furious storm raged in Holly's mind. She did not like the prospect of having to pretend to be going out with a random guy, she liked even less the prospect of kissing him, but she was being offered a mission and a good one at that. Plus she wanted to protect Haven. It was an easy decision really.
As if on cue Holly replied, 'Anything to stop the mud people discovering the People.'
'Thank you Holly.'
He turned to a nervous looking intern 'O.K. call me a meeting, all Captains and Majors of the LEP.'
'Yes sir,' said an intern as he scurried towards the door.
Within five minutes a message had gone through the LEP that all Captains and Majors should assemble in the Situations Room.
Commander Root was not a happy elf. This was urgent, but yet he would not send Holly with any elf, he would not put her with someone who would take the chance to kiss her and not do his job, apart from it being too much of a risk he would not put Holly through that. He cared about her too much. He would at least send her with a competent partner.
Review Replies:
Stiggy - Thanks. Hehehe words. I have an obsession with interesting words. You can run away now if you like. Sorry I took longer than normal to update. To my eternal shame. Thanks. If I develop multiple personality syndrome can I add my name more than once?
-anon-anon-anon- - Thank you. I am eternally honoured by the praise. I thank you so much.
hidden and forgotten - I probably used the word confuzzled somewhere. I like that word. To my eternal shame I'm afraid this does go rather OOC in some places, but this was as good as it got.
sergeantstan - hahaha. Wow, thanks, I'm honoured. Hmmm, did you ever update? As long as you do eventually, I suppose. Marching band. Lucky. We don't have them where I live. Sad, really. You don't play the funny tuba on the shoulder thing do you? I find them so funny. And the oboe, hehe, an ugly clarinet. OK, rant about random musical instruments over. Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Now I'm going to sit here and respond to each of your reviews. Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing.
refloc: Not all Holly/Root I've seen has been that bad, but even if this is a failure I'll just rewrite it and finish earlier. But not before posting it, of course. I did write it, after all, and this was the best there was.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing. True, but it was the only thing I could find in the books that Root actually had, and the only thing I could invent a plausible excuse for the ageing with. Unromantic: yes.
refloc: Thanks for reviewing. Whoopsies, I just resist cliffies.
refloc: Hmm, maybe he wouldn't giggle… the things drugs do to you.
EarthyGrl: Hmm, since you asked. I might just do that. I'm debating possible Root/Vinyaya in one of my other stories. But I might just write one centring around that. Can't guarantee it will be the best ever though. I've never tried that pairing.
Jakarutia: Thanks. I saw him on TV, does that count? No, I didn't get any drawings that you sent me. But I would be honoured to see them if you wanted to send them again.
lalalalala - thanks for reviewing.
Potter-Dork: I was scared that people were going to be yelling at me for not updating when I got your review. Ohhh what pairing? If there's good fanfiction I must read. I have nothing to do for three weeks. Except write, of course. You don't have to wait long it would appear. Thanks for reviewing.