Author's Note: Hey, hey, hey! Thanks for you're awesome reviews for Chapter 2 and stuff! Dunno what else to say, so on with Chapter 3!

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Chapter 3: What if?

Closer...

And closer...

All through it, Artemis's heart was fighting to burst of his chest. His breathing was fast and excited, his head was whizzing. How he hoped that no one would barge in on them...

He was so close to her...he could count her eyelashes...every separate one...he could see her pupils...dark and mysterious with the slightest hint of a spark...and then...it happened.

Like two feathers bumping into each, their lips met.

And suddenly, without quite knowing it, their faces were interlocked, their arms wrapped tightly around each other and they were concentrating on the only real thing in the world...them.

We have to be together after this, Artemis began to think blissfully. We just have to...

He had never loved Holly so much in his life. Everything about her was so...well, to use a different word...hot! Her shining hazel and deep blue eyes, her supple, now grown long hair, her soft, nut brown skin...

And Holly? She thought about Artemis's raven coloured hair, mis-matched eyes that were the same as hers, his perfectly pale skin that all suited him so much...

She had heard other people saying they thought he was a handsome young Mud Boy though whenever they asked her opinion, she would deny it. But now, she would have given up all the money in the world just to say, "Oh yeah, he is. We're together now, you know."

Finally after what was possibly several heavenly days, they broke apart. Breathless and filled to the brim with joy, neither spoke a word. Instead Artemis gestured at the windows that had a spectacular view of the front grounds and jerked his head towards them.

Holly, understanding, nodded and they walked hand in hand down the stairs, oblivious to the shocked looks they were getting from Butler and Juliet who was visiting.

Artemis smiled. They didn't know what was happening...

---- (No it's not the end!)

Artemis had often sat beneath the large peach blossom tree to think. But back then, he only thought of criminal plans. His colorless little face would light up with glee at the thought of an idea, maybe about a nice piece of artwork, or a big bar of gold that he could easily get with a couple of tricky gambles...

It was so much nicer to be relaxing under it with a drowsy Holly by your side, listening to her gentle breathing and staring out at the Irish hills...

Suddenly Holly sat up straight. She looked round at Artemis with a kind of worried look on her face. Artemis tilted his head to one side.

"What's wrong, Holly?"

"I just had a thought Artemis..."

"Well of course you did, no one can think nothing except the word 'nothing' of course."

"Don't be smart with me right now Artemis. I'm serious!"

"Okay, okay, what's the problem?"

"Well...how are we going to tell everyone else? You know...about us."

Artemis nearly laughed. "Hmm...let me think...we tell them."

Holly wasn't pleased. "Do I have to keep repeating myself Artemis? I. Am. Serious!"

"Okay, I shall let you speak."

"Well what will the People say? What will the LEP do when their finest female officer runs off with a Mud Boy, even if it is you?"

"Runs off?" Artemis echoed, amused.

Holly rolled her eyes. "Heaven help me, I'm going out with a parrot."

"Look, you aren't 'running off' with me. You can still work at the LEP..."

"No no no, I don't mean that!" Holly exploded. "I mean what will they think? How will they take it? What if Foaly can't handle it or Commander Kelp? What if they forbid me to see you? Or worse...what if the People banish me for falling in love with a Mud Boy and I have to live above the surface but not with you? What if my remaining family hates me forever? What if we have to be apart? What if...what if...what if...?" Holly burst into tears.

Artemis, though he felt sorry for Holly, couldn't repress an impatient sigh. It was such an Artemis-thing, he couldn't help it. He squeezed Holly's shoulders and put on an as patient voice as he could.

"Holly, they'd never do that. Never. I met your family once, remember? They liked me. Foaly doesn't have a problem, I'm sure, seeing as he has Caballine around with him so he isn't one to talk. The People can't banish you. They can't. I've read the rules, Holly, I know. And as for Commander Kelp, do you really think he'll mind? After all, I have helped out of a few...eh...tight spots, if you catch my drift."

Holly did. She remembered the day Commander Kelp came up to Foaly, Artemis, Butler, a couple of other LEP officers and her with his underwear pulled tight over his whole body. It had been a dry-cleaning spell gone wrong and only Artemis knew how to undo it. The elfin maid gave a small giggle and wiped her eyes.

"I suppose. I'm just so worried Artemis...our races aren't supposed to mix..."

"It's different now. The People should owe me quite a list of things after those Opal Koboi fiascos. But I have changed, as you know Holly. So my only price...is you."

The teenage elf couldn't help but shoot him a genuine smile and hug him. It was such an un-Artemis thing but really...he could be very sweet sometimes...

---- (Yup it's the end...nah jokes)

"Right. I want to know exactly what you two were doing."

Butler confronted them the second the two walked in through the front doors of Fowl Manor.

"We've been discussing feelings Butler." Holly said.

Butler restrained rolling his eyes with great difficulty.

"And...?"

"Well, we came up with some rather good answers. Would you like to hear some, old friend?" said Artemis.

"Cheeky little madams!" Butler remarked but he was grinning.

Artemis opened his mouth to protest but Butler got there first.

"Yes, Artemis, madams."

Juliet, who had come to watch, gave a little laugh. Then she pushed past Butler and looked at the two young teens in such a way, that Holly began to blush without quite knowing why and, well...how.

"Let me take over from here, big bro." Juliet said blinking her mascara and shimmery green eye shadow covered eyes and the two guilty ones.

"Okay. I'm just going to get straight to the point. Did you or did you not kiss is Artemis's room?"

"We did."

"Right. Next question. Are you or are you not together?"

"We are."

Juliet repressed a smirk.

"Did you or did you not...do it?" she said very fast before bursting into peals of laughter. That is until she realized how childish she sounded and stopped immediately which was just...weird.

Holly and Artemis blushed and shook their heads wildly, not looking at each other.

Butler sighed and stepped in front of Juliet.

"Okay, you're free to go."

Artemis raised his eyebrows.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Really, really?" Holly joined in.

"Yes!"

"Definitely?" Juliet asked around Butler.

Butler just rolled his eyes and walked away. Juliet winked at the other two and flounced off after her brother. Artemis turned to Holly.

"So...what would you like to do now?"

"Anything."

"Like what?"

"Anything!"

"Do you want to go and see Foaly?"

Holly hesitated then nodded remembering what Artemis had said.

"Okay let's go!"

Holly smiled but it was forced. No matter what Artemis said, she was still nervous...

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Okay that really is the end! Seriously.

Chapter 4 coming your way soon!

Reviews please! Again, thanks sooooo much to those of you who have reviewed my other chapters!

X's to ya'll

Laters!

DreamWriter123

She got her own thing
That's why I love her
Miss Independent
Ooh the way we shine
Miss Independent

Lol I was just listening to it...