Disclaimer: If I owned it I'd be Irish.

Quotes from the book are in italics anything else is what I have written. Meaning that things in italics also belong to Eoin Colfer

Some things from the books are not in italics only direct quotes are I my do some summarizing for parts. But those again do not belong to me.

(An: Sorry it took so long but my computer broke down again. My step-brother downloaded something on it that messed it up! AGAIN!)

Warnings: I changed the rating so Root and Holly are getting a bit more cuddly.

Chapter Five: Book two.

Holly rolled her eyes. Of course, her lover just had to show off. "I always travel in style". She wanted to strangle Julius for such a stupid cliché. Did he even realize how dumb he sounded when he made that comment? I still can't believe that I'm stuck in a shuttle with Public enemy one and two. I hate my life at this moment. Julius just gave her that sweet look that asked her to just for his sake play nicely. Artemis was drinking water,

"This tastes unusual," he commented. "Not unpleasant, but different."

"Clean is the word you're searching for," She said and couldn't help but add, "You wouldn't believe how many filters we have to put it through to purge the Mud Man from it."

As if on que her lover stopped it from getting to bad. Something about same sides and smooth mission. But she listened to the part about suiting up.

"Fowl, front and center." She called as she got the locker opened. After another mini fight over sizes they got to the fun part. Putting the gel on Butler. Julius looked like he was somewhere between protesting her doing it and laughing once he realized that Butler wasn't going to do anything to her. They all got themselves armed and dangerous even Fowl, though not without raising her lover's heart-rate a couple of points much to her dismay. Note to self, she thought, make Julius get back into shape and healthier. Maybe even some anger management classes. And those cigars of his would be going too!

She was snapped out of her thoughts about Julius' health when he started talking to her.

"Captain Short, bring up the rear. Feel free to boot any human backside if it lags behind."

Holly winked at Artemis. "No need to tell me twice, sir." She silently thinks about her kicking him if he lagged behind.

"I'll bet there isn't," Julius grunted, with only the barest hint of a smile playing about his lips. As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he leaned over and whispered "later" in her ear.

No one was talking as they made their way across the Arctic. Everyone was cold. Holly was using this time to think and she finally decided that she needed to ask Fowl something.

"Tell me something, Fowl," She said from behind the boy. Your father. Is he like you?"

Holly noticed him falter in step for an instant. "That's a strange question. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you're no friend to the people. What if the man we're trying to rescue is the man who will destroy us?"

There was silence for a long time, except for the chattering of teeth. Holly saw Artemis's chin drop onto his chest.

"You have no cause to be alarmed, Captain. My father, though some of his ventures were undoubtedly illegal, Was… is… a noble man. The idea of harming another creature would be repugnant to him."

Holly tugged her boot from eight inches of snow "So what happened to you?"

"I… I made a mistake."

Holly blinked. She wasn't sure if he was being sincere or if he was just pulling shit out of his ass to get her to help him. Julius gave her a look that made her know that he knew she was having trouble being around Fowl and if you looked closer you could see the longing in his eyes to protect her and pull her into his arms, even more times then not he would get punched in the gut or other unmentionable places, that would of course go unmentioned.

Suddenly at the same time. Julius, Holly, and Butler tensed.