I'm still not Eoin Colfer, so I don't own anything here except the plot. (Hah! Plot!)

Artemis's parents and siblings have been away visiting Juliet - I mentioned it briefly in Double Trouble, but it never hurts to recap.

Forbidden Fruit

Holly suddenly came to her senses and pulled away from Artemis. She'd kissed him! Again! And she'd told him…

She staggered to the swivel chair and sank into it. If this got out, her career was over.

Artemis, looking highly confused, knelt in front of her. He was about at eye level with her, but she wouldn't meet his gaze.

"Holly? What's wrong?"

For once, he didn't have a clue what was going on. Give him physics or maths, and he was fine, but women…

Holly sighed and looked him on the eye.

"Nothing."

He raised an eyebrow at her. He didn't believe her. She waved one hand in the air, trying to explain.

"It's just, well, I'm… and you're…"

She sighed again and dropped her hand. Artemis thought he understood.

"It's because you're an elf and I'm human?"

She nodded almost imperceptibly.

"It's not just the species difference. Fairy/human relationships are forbidden."

Artemis rocked back on his heels. Relationship? Was that what they had? Well, alright, a working relationship, and a friendship, but could they actually have more than that?

He'd just admitted how he felt (he still couldn't quite process the fact that he'd verbalised his feelings - what was wrong with him?), and she'd reciprocated.

Artemis felt a fierce joy - Holly loved him. After all their adventures, and despite of all that they'd gone through (or maybe because of it), she felt for him the same way he did for her. What did their differences matter when they loved each other?

Then he realised what she'd said. Forbidden. Holly could get into serious trouble if anyone below ground saw them together, or heard what they'd just said.

"I could lose my job for this." she muttered. Artemis got the impression that he wasn't supposed to have heard that, but he replied anyway.

"You've risked your job before."

"Yeah, for the good of the People. It's like Julius said, it's what's best for the People that matters."

Artemis risked laying a hand on hers where they rested in her lap.

"Maybe you should think of yourself for a moment. What's best for you?"

Holly looked at him oddly. Artemis was never this open with his emotions, or this tender. What was up with him?

Artemis, of course, was reeling. Firstly, from the revelation that Holly loved him, secondly from the realisation that now he might lose her. If she went back below ground now, in this state, she might realise that she was better off without him, and he didn't want that. He wanted her to stay.

Holly gave up on trying to figure Artemis out, and glanced up at the study window. Her eyes widened and she jumped to her feet.

"D'Arvit! It's too light, I can't go back now."

Artemis hauled himself to his feet.

"What's the problem? You can just stay here today. It's not like we're crowded, exactly."

She turned to him, considering the chances of Trouble skinning her alive if he found out that she'd stayed at Fowl Manor. Pretty high, she reckoned, but she saw little alternative. She nodded slowly.

"Alright, Arty. I'll stay."

Artemis didn't hear her. She rising sun reflected off her auburn hair, making it shine. He realised that she was waiting for him to say something, and hurriedly closed his mouth.

"What, sorry?"

Holly tried not to smirk. For some reason, it didn't annoy her as much when Arty stared at her as when, say, Chix Verbil did so. Then again, Chix would flirt with anything if it stood still long enough, so perhaps that had something to do with it. Or perhaps she just really did love Arty.

"I said, I'll stay. Is there somewhere I can sleep? And shower?"

He led her to the next floor up, to a room painted a pale green.

"It's the only guest room with it's own en-suite. Is this alright?"

She laid her wings and helmet on the bed and smiled at him.

"It's perfect. Thanks, Arty."

"No problem. Err, if you need me, my room is next door."

He'd actually said err. When Artemis started saying things that weren't actual words, you knew for sure that he was nervous. It had just struck him that there would be only one wall between him and Holly, that he was having a girl to stay at the Manor. Well, it should make his mother happy - she was always going on at him to 'find a nice girl and have some fun'.

Artemis realised that he was lingering in the doorway, and stepped out into the hall.

"Goodnight, Holly."

"Day, actually, but never mind. Goodnight, Arty."

He shut the door and walked into his own room. He sank onto the bed, shaking slightly. He, Artemis Fowl, was acting irrationally. He was losing his train of thought in the middle of conversations, talking in colloquialisms, and staring. He shook himself mentally. Maybe some sleep would help him get his head back in order.

Holly undressed and took a warm shower, feeling the sweat and blood accumulated over the last few days trickling off her body. She slicked her hair back off her face, contemplating whether to get it cut or not. Arty likes it. Maybe she'd leave it.

She got out of the shower, redressed, and examined her newest scar in the mirror. It was pink, shiny, and star-shaped, but with too many points. She pulled her top down in an attempt to cover it, and climbed onto the bed. It was huge, being both human and king-size. However it was comfortable, and soon she felt sleep's soft tendrils reaching for her. She relaxed, and allowed herself to be washed away on a tide of lethargy. He last waking thought was of Artemis's lips on hers, and she smiled.

Artemis had been asleep for about two hours when he felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake. He groaned, but opened his eyes. Butler was standing over him.

"Your parents are home."

The full impact of that sentence took several seconds to penetrate his sleep-addled brain. When it did, he sat bolt upright, wide awake.

"But they weren't supposed to be back for another three days!"

"They cut the holiday short. Apparently, Beckett was getting too aggressive - you know how he picks up bad habits."

Artemis scrambled off the bed and to the door.

"Stall them, Butler. Holly's in the next room, and we can't let my parents find her here."

He left the room without waiting for Butler's answer. He knocked gently on Holly's door and went straight in, closing it behind him. Holly was fast asleep in the middle of the bed, curled on one side. Her scar was clearly visible, and again Artemis saw her lying on the rubble of Koboi Labs, bleeding to death. He blinked to dispel the image, and sat on the edge of the bed. She moaned and shifted, but didn't wake. He laid a hand on her shoulder and shook it gently.

"Holly? You have to wake up."

She woke up enough to shake free of his hand and roll over, then slipped back into sleep again. Artemis sighed and leaned over her. Holly evidently wasn't a morning person.

He pushed a hunk of hair away from her face, and whispered into her ear.

"My parents are back, Holly. You have to wake up now, because if they find you here we're going to have a lot of explaining to do."

She rolled onto her back, groaning, and opened one eye.

"Your parents?"

He nodded.

"D'Arvit."

"My sentiments exactly. Now, hide. I'll keep them downstairs. As soon as it's dark, you can sneak out the back."

Holly nodded and sat up.

"Gods, I haven't done this in a decade."

Artemis looked at her, and she winked at him.

"It'll be fine. I'll stay up here, and they'll be down there. I've done this before Arty. Worst case scenario - they walk in here and I have to hide under the bed."

Artemis nodded, then leaned down and kissed her gently.

"Good morning, by the way."

He turned around and froze. They weren't alone.

Who's there with them? Review, and tell me what you think! Virtual cookies to anyone who guesses correctly!