Chapter Three.
When Holly and Artemis arrived back at the Manor, Butler had prepared an afternoon tea for them, but when the giant Eurasian manservant offered it to them, they both said that they weren't hungry, and would rather go to the study to have a chat.
"So…" Artemis began, once they had seated themselves on office chairs.
"Does this make us technically "going out"?" Holly finished for him.
"Yeah…"
"Well that all depends."
"On?"
"Do you really want to?"
There was a brief silence between them, before…
"Of course I do Holly; I love you more than anyone."
Holly smiled a radiant smile, which infected Artemis, whose lips spread out into a wide smile.
Holly drew herself closer to Artemis, and whispered in his ear. "I love you to Artemis." And kissed him lightly, but passionately.
Suddenly, the door to the study flew open to reveal a squat, very hairy man eating a colossal sized sandwich.
"Mulch!" Exclaimed Holly. "What on earth are you doing here?"
The dwarf shrugged, and plonked himself down on an office chair.
"I was just under Dublin, and I thought to myself, hey, why don't I drop in on my old friend Artemis Fowl, only to find him lip-locked once again with captain holly short."
This made Artemis remember the paradox, which had made Mulch Diggums a much older friend than previously thought.
Mulch swallowed the rest of his sandwich in one mouthful.
"So what did you two lovebirds get up to this time?" The dwarf inquired.
"We just went hiking." Answered Holly.
"Hiking eh?" Said Mulch, grinning widely.
"Don't say it." Holly warned.
"So how did you get in here anyway?" Questioned Artemis, who doubted very much that Butler would let in an uninvited guest, and then let them find their own way to Artemis, especially someone as stealing-prone as Mulch Diggums.
Mulch grinned mischievously, not a pretty sight.
"Back door was unlocked." He put simply, not fooling anyone.
"So anyway Holly." Said Artemis, not much wanting to know exactly how Mulch got in. "Before we were interrupted, I was going to ask if you would like to stay the night."
Holly smiled.
I'd love to. I'll just have to let Foaly know not to expect me back anytime soon."
And at that, she lifted herself of the chair she was on, and left the room, leaving Mulch and Artemis alone.
"So you and the captain eh?"
Artemis blushed, not something you'd normally find him doing.
"It would seem to be that way."
Mulch grinned widely, showing his tombstone teeth.
"About time too, I've had to wait almost a decade for you two to finally work it out. You have no idea how happy I am that you finally got it."
"Just how happy are you then?"
Mulch shrugged.
"You wouldn't happen to have any turkey would you?"
"Ah Holly." Said Foaly, in Holly's helmet screen. "Did you enjoy your hike?"
The centaur couldn't keep the grin off his face.
"It was just great, thank you for asking. I just called up to let you know that I'll be staying the night."
Foaly sighed. "The council isn't going to be too please. I think you might have to cut down a bit on your Mud Man visits in the future, Trouble can only persuade so far."
"Yes yes, of course." Said Holly, knowing full well that there was no chance of that happening. "It's just important that I stay tonight."
'What, did little Arty propose to you or something?"
Holly scowled.
"Okay Holly, but make sure you're back in Haven by noon."
"Of course, see you then."
"Behave yourself girl. Bye bye."
And with that, Holly switched off her LEP helmet, and went back to the study, to find Artemis looking vague, humming to himself what sounded a lot like Beethoven, and Mulch, stuffing his face with what seemed to be a whole turkey.
