An Artemis Fowl Fanfiction

Fiction rating: T (for a reason)

Pairing: ArtemisXHolly

Once again Holly found herself upside down being lowered into the little well by Butler and Beckett. Even Artemis had joined in to help. Myles had been shoved back owing to his lack of hand eye coordination. Only one officer was holding the rope, the rest of the force stood by idly. Holly felt a smidge of pride that the LEP weren't this useless, only a smidge of course, they weren't immensely better either.

Once more she was swallowed by the wretched dark. Holly felt constricted, she couldn't breathe, the walls of the tunnel pressed into her sides. She could hardly see. Her hands were shaking, thanks to the cold. The blood pounding in her ears, her heart was an excited tennis ball on the court that was her ribcage. Yet still she persisted.

As soon as she was near the girl she tried again.

"Noël, listen to me, you have to hold onto me okay?" Holly tried to be reassuring and clear at the same time.

"Daddy? Where's my Daddy?" Noël cried.

Suddenly Holly saw drops of water fall on to Noël's upturned face. How was the rain getting in? And then Holly realised that they were her own tears.

Instead of falling down her face as they should they ran up onto her forehead and dripped onto Noël's face.

Holly felt a lump in her throat. Why now of all times?

"Noël, please hold on to me?"

"I want Daddy..." now the girl trembled. Holly felt herself sob; it had finally come down to this? Well what could she do? She had to save Noël.

"Come on Noël," She coaxed gently, "Hold on to me now, Hold on to Mummy?" And with that Holly reached out to grip Noël under the arms.

"Mum-my?"

"Hold on to Mummy Noël? Just hold on..." Holly cried, holding onto the toddler as hard as she could. Oh but she was cold. Holly felt her joints popping from the strain; the ropes cut her sides excruciatingly

"Pull us up!" she yelled feeling the ropes tighten even further as she was dragged upwards.

"Mummy? Mummy? Mummy?" chanted Noël. Holly tried to transfer if any heat to the little girl's body. She was just too cold...

Before long they were out in the open. The crown erupted into cheer and Noel was wretched out of Holly's arms.

"Daddy! Daddy!" the little girl cried.

"Oh Noël!" Artemis now sobbed holding onto his daughter as if for dear life.

Holly found herself in the arms of Beckett Fowl who gently, if a little awkwardly put her down. Shaking off the ropes Holly looked down at herself, the white shirt was drenched in mud almost unrecognisable, she need a shower... Beckett went to give Artemis and Noël a hug.

Almost immediately the paramedics descended on the scene. The crowd was in a stay of euphoria and all eyes were trained on the reunited father and daughter and so Holly wasn't missed as she quickly shielded and slinked away.

All eyes except that of two nineteen year olds, who suddenly found themselves with a mirage of unexplainable memories.

Artemis felt a hundred years old. He couldn't believe his own incompetence! When had he become so…so vulnerable? But as he looked upon the sleeping form of his daughter he realized when. When he found that he was about to become a father.

He sighed. Noël was safe now. He would never let anything happen to her.

True he had just frozen when she had been in danger but there really what more could anyone have done to save her. He had calculated every possibility.

Closing the nursery light Artemis left the room. He stood outside the door for an instant. Then quickly peeked back in, Noel was breathing. He only did it to make sure.

He ran a hand through his tousled hair as he walked to his own room. Other that a slight case of hypothermia Noël had been fine. The heating was set to high in her room and Artemis had stayed up three hours to observe her condition. The twins had collapsed in the living room around one and Butler had left early. It had been an exhausting day.

Artemis entered his room ready to collapse on to his bed when he noticed that the bathroom door was open. He locked the bedroom door behind him. His heart was in his throat as he approached the door way. Suddenly he saw the silhouette of a girl and then an elf materialized in front of him.

She wore nothing but a large white shirt which Artemis suspected was borrowed from his closet. Her red hair hung wet and down.

"I helped myself to a shower…" She said nonchalantly taking a step forward.

"Holly." He breathed.

"Artemis."

They stared into each other's eyes.

And then together in an almost fluid motion they moved forward to embrace on another. A hug that turned into a passionate kiss. And then his hands were in her hair and her lips were on his and they didn't know where one began and the other ended.

And then they were on the bed and he groaned into her hair. "Holly…"

Trying to stop tears from falling she whispered "Oh I missed you! I missed you…"

"Every single day." He added.

"Every single minute…" she amended before kissing him again.

"Every single millisecond." he finished before she kissed him again murmuring "Same old Artemis Fowl..." against his lips.

"I'm sorry..." he said quietly his arms loosening from around her waist.

"What for?" her arms tightened around his neck. "Artemis it could have happened to anyone."

"Yes but I should have-"

"Should have, would have..."

"But-"

"But nothing, our daughter is safe now and that all that matters! She-"

Artemis shifted to bring Holly to his side. "I heard her saying Mummy..."

Holly rested her head on his shoulder. He didn't need to finish, the understood without words. They stayed like that for a while simply glad to be together.

A while later Holly said "She tried to mesmerise me..."

"Yes...I have to teach her to control herself..."

When Holly said nothing just held her breath he continued "She isn't bound by the same laws as you, she can enter any dwelling or mesmerise another fairy without fear of losing her magic, she doesn't need the acorn or bend in the river either."

Holly sighed and nodded.

"Did you get my letter and the pictures?" he asked. She nodded silently. Then Holly propped herself on her elbows and looked at Artemis. "You know Arty..." she stated looking into his mismatched eyes. "I can't remember why I let you come back to the surface without me." She dipped her head down to kiss him again.

"You will remember again, Captain." He replied but she continued to pluck at his shirt so he amended "In the morning, perhaps."

Holly groaned "It's Major now Mudboy..." she said referring to her old nickname for him.

When he raised an eyebrow she just muttered "Roll over, Arty... just Roll over."

And he did.

The morning light crept through the windows, almost as if it were afraid of waking the occupants of Fowl Manor. Myles awoke with a start. His hand had no feeling in it whatsoever. He blinked and sat up, scowling as he pushed off his twin, who had somewhere in the night decided that Myles was a pillow.

That would explain the pins and needles in his arm.

Beckett rolled over and fell off the sofa.

"Ow..." he whimpered getting up.

"What were you thinking when you decided to sleep on me?" Myles asked, sitting up.

"Uh...Leonardo...maybe Rafael?"

"What?"

"I was thinking of Leonardo..." Beckett muttered standing up and turning off the T.V.

Myles stood up as well and sighed "My suit is ruined..."

"No shit..." Beckett muttered.

It does suffice to say they weren't morning people. Myles stretched and then shuffled off to the kitchen. Beckett stared at the blank television screen for a moment and a half deliberating whether to turn it back on or not. Deciding against it he too lopped after his brother.

One coffee for Myles and three and a half with treacle for Beckett later they had both woken sufficiently enough to look at the time.

"It's ten already?" Myles yawned, blinking at the clock.

Refreshed Beckett stood up and grinning yelled "Race ya to wake up Arty!" Then he sprinted from the room, Myles fast on his heels.

And they were little boys again, running to their elder brother's room to present their latest experiment or discovery, falling up the stairs, pushing and shoving.

They only difference was this time there was no mother telling them to stop before they broke their neck, they were eighteen, and they had to keep quiet lest they wake their niece.

Beckett crashed into the door which was locked, but as Myles came racing up he twisted the door knob just so and the door unlocked. Chuckling they burst through the door into Artemis's room and froze.

Though the sheets covered the couple it was clear to see they were in a complete state of undress. It was also clear from the short red hair and chestnut skin that the girl was from yesterday who had indefinitely rescued Noël. Only now they could see she wasn't a girl but a young woman.

It was also crystal clear that it the twins did not leave the room quickly and quietly Artemis and his "Lady friend" would wake. Feeling like burglars in their own home the two tiptoed out of the room, Beckett quietly closing the door behind them. AT the click of the door Holly shorts eyes snapped open.

Outside Beckett chuckled nervously and asked "So uh...How's London?"

"Oh don't try to avoid the issue Beck!" Myles scowled as they entered their own room and began to change.

"What?" Beckett shrugged blushing and turning away to hide his face.

"If I'm not mistaken..." Myles went on pulling on a clean suit "And I'm not." He began to knot his tie "Then that is Noël mother!" he finished with dusting off his clothes.

"What?" replied Beckett stupidly from under a pile of paint splattered shirts and an arm full of socks.

Myles sighed "As long as you stay on your side of the room I don't mind the mess..." he said staring pointedly to the pile of years old dirty laundry that had accumulated in the corners of Beckett's side of the room.

"So what do you think?" he continued on impatiently beginning to pace beside his bed.

"Think about what?" Beckett insisted on trying to find a sock that seemed to elude him, conveniently averting his eyes from that of his brother.

"Her eyes Beck! Her eyes! They're exactly like that of Artemis and Noël!" Myles all but shouted.

"So?"

"So." Myles finished.

"Well I doubt Artemis would just sleep with anyone..." Beckett replied from under the bed.

"But-But she hardly a teenager!" Myles scowled, his brain wasn't helping, why did fuzzy images that never seemed to focus swim around his head? He was concerned for his brother yet even more so curios about the mystery that besotted him.

"Maybe that's why he never told us..." Myles said slowly emerging from behind his bed, a pair of foot ball boot clutched in one hand and a lone sock in the other. Dust bunnies settled in his dark hair.

Myles scoffed "You look ridiculous Beck!" he marched over to dust of his brother.

Beckett's eyes widened slightly "Mum and Dad will be coming home soon!"

"Oh well I'm not-"Myles began.

"Neither am I!!" Beckett finished.

They looked at each other. "Only one way to decide..."

Holding out there hands they proceeded to play a rather complicated version of rock, paper, scissors.

"Gold! Radium! Mercury!"

Myles scowled as his brother began to grin. "Gold doesn't always wins Mye..." he chided

If possible his brother scowled further. "Don't call me that...you know it sounds like a girl!" he stopped off muttering "This is why I left for London!"

Artemis woke alone missing the warmth. Warmth of what? He stretched out a hand and then as the events of yesterday caught up with him he sat up straight.

Noël?

Holly?

He jumped out of bed dragging on a pair of trousers and grabbing a shirt. It was the shirt Holly had borrowed and her cinnamon scent still lingered.

Artemis opened the door of the nursery to see a most enchanting scene.

An elf hovered two or three feet off the floor, gossamer wings shimmering like a hummingbird, too fast for the human eye to catch. In her arms she held a sleep child. Their hair scarlet and raven was in stark contrast but made the scene all the more mesmerizing.

Tears dripped down the elf's face, like liquid crystal refracted in the morning sun. Artemis felt his breath leave him. He stood there unable to move just captivated by the achingly beautiful scene in front of him.

The morning sun filtered into the nursery accentuating the soft pinks and whites and casting a red glow on mother and child.

"Holly..." he could say no more as she landed wings folded.

He walked forward to embrace her from behind feeling the sobs roll out of her. Artemis wasn't a tall man and Holly being a little more than half his height somehow they fit together perfectly.

"I know we decided that whichever species she resembled the most she'd live in their world but...I...I...I just miss you so much Arty!"

"The world isn't ready to accept us yet Holly..." He sighed feeling his heart break in two again. Of course that wasn't going to make either of them feel better.

Holly turned to face him, Noël a sleeping bundle in her arms.

"It's just- It's not-"

"Fair I know..." he finished "But when has the world ever been fair to us Holly." He gave a dry laugh and she leaned her head against his chest.

Then she sniffed and wiping her eyes put Noël back down in the cot.

The girl was half asleep but murmured "Mummy? Daddy?" and suddenly gripped onto Holly hand, clutching it tenderly. Holly's shoulders shook and Artemis gently pried Noël's chubby hand away.

Holly took a step back.

"I guess I better leave now, or it'll hurt more later."

"You always did have terrible grammar Holly..." he shook his head and closed his eyes knowing that when he opened them again she would be gone and he would try to forget everything.

He felt a feather light pressure on his lips and his eyes opened in surprise. Holly's arms went around his neck.

They put everything into that kiss. As if saying 'Good bye' 'I love you' 'I miss you' 'I need you' 'Goodbye' all at once. The bitterness of separation stinging them raw.

All too soon she moved away. And then the window was open and she was disappearing. Artemis held her hand until that too vibrated out of existence.

"Good bye he said silently "My friend."

"Who was that Arty?" A voice said.

Artemis whipped around to see Beckett leaning against the open door way, arms folded. Noël cried out then and woke up blinking.

"That Beck... was Holly Short." Artemis sighed, gathering a squirming Noël in his arms he continued "And she" he looked at Noël tenderly "...is nothing short of a miracle..."

And then he walked right out Noël wrapping her arms around his neck and mumbling sleepily.

Beckett stared out the window for a second sure he saw a shimmer in the morning sky. A shimmer with a vaguely human shape, a shimmer that eerily reminded him a woman e had just seen in that room before she vanished.

Then he crossed the room and closed the window, undeniably barring any fairy from entering. Turning a little he saw that Artemis had done some redecorating. On one of the wall of the nursery was the replica of a famous rediscovered painting. "The Fairy Thief"

A chill went down his spine as he gazed at the green sprite perched outside the window, looking in at the child in the cot and with such longing. Oh the expression on that face.

He shook his head.

"You're hallucinating Beckett!" he chided to himself "Too many all-nighters...Seeing things..." And yet he couldn't deny to himself the truth he had seen with his own eyes.

Down stairs he heard the door close and Angeline Fowl exclaiming dramatically "Oh where is my baby?! A house full of men! How can they possibly take care of her?"

Beckett turned and followed his elder brother down the stairs. "Forget it....Beck...just forget it..."

Holly walked into the operations booth quietly. There was no sign of Foaly and she hoped to be able to silently leave the equipment and then slink off home to have a good long cry. Crying did always make her feel better afterwards.

But no such luck. The centaur appeared as if my magic. Turning in his swivel chair to face her, hairy arms folded. "Foaly..." she winced. "Thanks again for helping me out... I'm sure you saw on the mudman T.V...." She wanted to be gone already. Being away from Artemis was almost like a physical pain, so bad it demanded that she fly straight back up to the surface and throw herself in his arms demanding that he never let go. But she couldn't do that, hadn't they promised?

"Holly..." Foaly sighed. "You do realize that the only reason why we don't have pictures of you across all mudmen media is because it was too dark to see your ears? That and I erased every trace of you from their records. Still there were actual witnesses, Holly"

Holly only gave him a sullen look in return.

"And you stayed top side overnight! I almost had an embolism trying to keep the council from finding out!" when she didn't reply he softened his tone.

"Holly..." he said tentatively. "I know..."

He eyes which had been half closed staring at the floor snapped open in suprise.

"You still had the iris cam..." he offered.

Holly's face was as pale as death.

"Don't worry I turned it off once you... once you took your shower. A-and I deleted the file too so... so..." the centaur had difficulty getting the words out and neither could he look Holly in the eye.

Of course this made the elf wonder exactly how far he'd seen. Never the less she let out a breath.

Foaly was still stumbling over his verbs, when the reality shook down on Holly. Scowling she asked "Well aren't you a smart pony for figuring that out?" She didn't know where the meanness came from but anger boiled beneath her skin for the injustice of it all.

Tears threatened so Foaly let the 'Pony' comment slide.

"Look Holly, I was only worried, I didn't mean to pry-"

""What do you want Foaly? You want me to be ashamed of wanting to save my own kids life?"

"I didn't mean-"

But now the flood gates had been opened and everything came spilling out. "Or maybe it's the fact that I have a child?"

"Holly!"

"That's right I have a child, a mud child, his child!" The tears fell free now, escaping from between her eyes, rolling down her skin in rivulets. "And I love her..." she sobbed "Just like I love him!"

"Holly..." Foaly walked over to gently pat her shoulder. He'd never seen Holly like this. She just stood there letting the tears fall freely down her face, sobbing. Making not one move to cover her face or hide her emotions.

Foaly had suspected for some time now a situation like or close to this, but never in his wildest dreams had even he in all his paranoia though that Fowl's child could be Holly's.

"I'm sorry Holly...I never meant any of it like that..." he said quietly, patting her shoulder. He wanted to say more but just didn't find it in him.

"I won't tell a soul, I swear."

This was breaking and not for the first time, Foaly was a genius after all yet still he just couldn't bring himself to say what he really wanted. 'Go, go back to him.' Foaly wanted to say but he just stood there a hand on her shoulder, letting her cry.

A minute or two later she raised a hand to wipe her face. "I'm sorry Foaly...I just... I just..."

"Holly maybe you should just take some time off..." he said lamely.

All was silent for a while as she tried to compose herself. Then she sighed.

"Yeah I probably should." She nodded, and then abruptly walked to the door. Just before leaving she turned around. "Thanks, Foaly... you for keeping quiet...and for-for understanding."

He just nodded thinking 'I understand more then you know my dear...'

And then she was gone, she wouldn't be near anyone for the next while he knew, just alone , with herself. Lamenting over all that could have been.

I am warm.

I am clean.

I have Mummy.

And I have Daddy.

And I am happy.

Unca Bekeh and Unca Myes are here too.

And Gandmama

And Grandada.

And Butler.

But where is Mummy?

Oh well.

She is important.

She is very important.

My Mummy is very very important.

She can't be here always.

I am warm.

And I have Daddy.

I love Daddy.

And I love Mummy.

I am happy.

I am warm.

Lilly: Il y a la Fin!

Laurry: French exam soon =.='

Lilly: Well there it is people!! ^-^

Laurry: Very long and very late but we now have a three-shot!!

Lilly: *woot* um...Some of you have concerns over the name Noël. Ya well first of all Noël is a girl's name actually it can be used for both ganders. Secondly Doh! I decided to stay with the Christmas theme when naming her. You know Carol, Holly, Noël. And then realised that elf names are plant name and Carol was actually Coral.... Opps! So i'd go with either Fearne or Ivy. But Noël kinda stuck so meh... whichever you prefer....

Laurry: In other news we have our French Oral on Friday the 13th.

Lilly: Help!!

Laurry: Also now that we are done this story... Look out for updates on Artemis Fowl the second and a half!!

Lilly: Tho' if you ask nicely enough I might continue thins one! ^-^ Also Sorry for any spelling mistakes I really need to get this out. Learning french confuses my languages... seriously I know too many of them...I mean..urdu, english, japanese and then blasted french! gah! Anyhoo....I'll fix emm... later...