MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Holly was looking up at the ceiling of Artemis' bedroom for a while after she had settled down. The Butler siblings had gone back to help Mrs. Fowl with more decorations. The elf started recalling the feeling of Christmas when she entered Fowl Manor before.

Even though the Irish air was nippy, given the fact they were so up to the north, the house was as warm as coffee. The huge space was covered with garland and tinsel, wreaths and glitter from ceiling to floor. Holly smiled, remembering how her parents used to decorate their house. It was always festive, and always smelled like her mother's Christmas cookies and...family. It was always hard for Holly to categorize that. The sweet smell of her home, of the earthy freshness that came along with it.

Of course, elves never had a real Christmas tree. It was against their nature. That reminded Holly…

"Where's your Christmas tree?" She asked, pushing herself onto her hands to look at the genius in front of her. Artemis, who was typing about a million words a minute.

"We put that up the day before Christmas eve." He replied slowly, trying to not break his conversation or focus with his work. "So the boys don't topple it over."

"Oh."

"You should start unpacking." Artemis said, his focus still on the computer screen in front of him. "I believe you have been here long enough to know where things go."

Holly sighed, nodding even though Artemis wasn't paying attention to her movements. "Yeah..I guess." She walked by him to get to the suitcases, but the genius grabbed her wrist.

"I was joking, Holls. Relax, everything is going to be okay." He looked up at her with complete and utter sincerity.

The elf bit her lip, "I'm trying, Artemis. I really am. I'm just..so tense, like one little thing is going to ruin it." She sat on the edge of his desk, looking back at him while he still had a grasp on her wrist.

"Don't think of this like you are deceiving my family." It was like he could read her thoughts. "You are one of my dear and close friends. I consider us very close. You've saved me more times than I count, and for that I am very thankful and know that I love you dearly." He stood up and put the hand that wasn't hold hers against the elf's cheek. "I'm glad I can actually touch you without having to stoop so low."

"Art-" She was about to pull away when Artemis tightened his grip defensively and the door to his room burst open for the second time that day.

"Artemis, Myles' trying to steal my toy!" Beckett started, but stopped dead when he saw his brother. "EW!" He shouted, "You two are kissing!"

Myles walked patiently into the room after his twin brother, rolling his eyes. "Artemis is a grown man, Beckett. You are the one who went into the room without knocking." At least they weren't doing anything that would scar my dear, ignorant, brother.

Holly, still shocked, didn't say anything as Artemis peeled himself off of her. "Boys. What are you doing?"

Beckett ignored his older brother's question. "Does mom know you're doing this?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips like someone way older would do.

Myles bowed his head at the blonde's arrogance. "You must be Holly." He greeted politely. "Welcome to the Fowl residence. I'm Myles, and the idiot is my twin Beckett, we are Artemis' younger brothers."

Holly nodded with wide eyes, weirdness of this whole situation setting in. "Thank...you." She replied slowly. It was like she already knew them-oh wait! She did. They just didn't remember the elf due to a mind wipe.

Myles was dressed in his regular attire, a suit just like his brother. If the young boy had a bit longer hair and another foot and a half in height, he could easily be mistaken for Artemis.

Beckett, on the other hand, was wearing jeans and a red sweatshirt. His posture was that of a regular 8 year old boy with his wide eyes and hands in back of him shyly in front of the pretty girl. His blonde hair was curly and he had a big smile on his face-one he could have only got in genetics by Angeline Fowl.

Artemis glanced back at Holly. "I suppose it is time you met my family as a whole now." Even an imbecile could see the fear and determination in the elf's eyes as she nodded and took his hand. "Come on, boys."

Beckett pouted as they other three left the bedroom. "Myles still has my toy!"

Angeline and Artemis Sr. were in the living room, sitting on the cream color couch across from the matching loveseat. The woman was marvelling in her long day of hard work decorating the house and Artemis Sr. was listening with a smile. Her voice faded, however, when Artemis, Holly, and the twins entered the room.

"Father, as I'm sure mother has told you already, this is Holly." He gestured towards her, making the woman to his side blush ferociously.

"Pleasure to meet you." The man stood up and offered his hand, which Holly took gratefully.

"You as well, Mr. Fowl." She returned. Artemis put his arm around her shoulders, and Holly went tense for a moment, only to relax moments later. "It's nice to finally meet you."

The older man went to go sit down next to his wife, gesturing to sit across from them. They did hesitantly and Holly snuggled deep into Artemis' side, much to the genius' surprise. The boys sat on the floor, Beckett still pouting over his toy.

"Well, I don't want to say much, so there won't be any awkward silences at the dinner tomorrow, but I do want to say that it is a pleasure to have you here this week." Angeline chimed. "I hope you have a wonderful week."

"Thank you, Mrs. Fowl." The elf replied, laying her head on Artemis chest lovingly.

"Although, I must ask...How long have you two been seeing each other?"

Artemis looked down, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, I have certainly lost count over-"

"A year and six months, starting tomorrow." Holly answered immediately. She rolled her eyes at Artemis and looked at Angeline. "Men. They are so forgetful."

The older woman chuckled and nodded, leaning towards Holly as if it was talking in secret between the two of them. "Oh, don't I know it."

Holly leaned back against Artemis and looked up at the genius. He shook his head and muttered, "Amazing."

The elf giggled, "Why, thank you, darling." She looked him in the eyes intensely.

Beckett scowled, "Are they going to kiss again? I found them kissing in Artemis' room. It was gross."

Artemis held back rolling his eyes and instead clicking his tongue as if disappointed. "Neither Holly nor I approve of public displays of affection to that extreme." He held her closer, as to reassure her.

Angeline, however, was too caught up on what her other son said. "When did you catch them doing that?"

"When he ran into Artemis' room like a stampeding bull, like always." Myles snickered. He was doing an experiment with test tubes on the floor, which Beckett was eyeing warily, with him being so close next to it.

Mrs. Fowl's jaw dropped at that. "Beckett! You can not go running into close doored rooms like that! Especially when your brother has company!"

"Why?"

Even Artemis had a hard time holding back a chuckle at that. His mother sighed, "Because people do personal things behind closed doors. Things that young boys should not see."

Holly had to fight back the urge to gag again. The thought of actually having sex with the Mud Man was out of question unless she wanted to barf all over the place. Very unlady like.

Again, Beckett asked a question, "Like what?"

"Things you will never find out about until you are...30." Artemis Sr. dictated, knowing how athletic the boy was. It would be harder with girls for him then his other two boys who would much rather read or even write a book.

Angeline nodded her approval, looking at the watch on her right hand. "It's getting a bit late, boys." By boys, of course, she was talking to Myles and Beckett, who both pouted-even Myles.

"But mom!" Beckett protested childishly. "It's not eight yet!"

"It is 7:59. Close enough. You aren't going to prosper in that 30 seconds you have left." Angeline argued. "Juliet, will you make sure they actually go to their room?"

"Yes, Mrs. Fowl." The butler nodded, "Come on, boys." She said, leading the two eight year olds out of the room.

Artemis piped up once again, once the boys were completely gone. "Well, I think that it's time Holly and I got to bed as well, right, Honey?" The pet name, although he tried to make it roll off his tongue like Holly did with "Darling" came out almost at a stutter.

The elf in disguise nodded, standing up and walking with Artemis out of the room. However, just when they were about to be in the clear, Artemis' parents cleared their throats. The "couple" looked back.

"Be responsible, you two." The two married couple said at the same time, a smirk hidden beneath their serious faces that made even Artemis flush with panic.

"O-Of course." He said, rushing Holly down the hallway until they couldn't be seen or heard anymore.

Artemis had to admit, he was rather surprised at Holly's behavior. She was sweet and kind, being loving. The genius expected her to crack under the pressure. But then again, the pressure was mainly on him the entire time. She, however, played the part to perfection.

"That was wonderful, Holly." He complimented, walking through his bedroom door and closing it behind Holly. The genius made sure to lock it this time, just in case the little twerps known as his brothers decided to barge in again.

"Thank you, Arty..But your family is so sweet, it isn't really that hard." She dug through the suitcases to find a set of pyjamas Artemis put in there for her. "How did you know my sizes?"

Artemis went through his dresser, making a beeline for the bathroom and shutting the door to get dressed. "I went with Juliet's size. There should be undergarments in the side pocket."

Holly's cheeks flared up. As if it wasn't embarrassing having someone get underwear for you. She grabbed what she needed and started changing. "So..How are the sleeping arrangements going to work?" She was curious about the genius' plans on that. "Like, I sneak into a bedroom close to here and come back early in the morning."

"You can sleep here, if you would like." The water was running from the sink in the bathroom. "The bed is big for both of us."

The elf looked at the king size bed in back of her. She sighed, "Ugh, fine. But you better stay on your side."

Artemis peeked out of the bathroom, a toothbrush midway to his mouth. "Of course, Captain."

"I mean, if it wasn't for you, then this whole 'sleeping in one bed' thing wouldn't have happened in the first place!" She stated, starting to pace.

The genius then exited the bathroom, his hair freshly combed back and dressed in silk sleeping attire, much like the ones he had given Holly. "Short, it is not like I am asking you to have sex with me tonight." He thought about something for a moment, a dazed look on his face. "However, a few moans here and there for about an hour wouldn't hurt." She smirked his vampire smirk at her.

"You are sick, Fowl." But she couldn't help but smile back at the joke. A silent moment passed before she asked quietly. "Why don't you joke around more often? You actually do have a sense of humor."

"Me? Have a sense of humor?" Artemis threw his hands up defensively. "I think you have the wrong person, Holls." He tried to walk past her to the bed, but Holly stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"I'm serious, Artemis. You can actually be very funny if you want to be. Especially after you became an adult." She scoffed, "It's actually kind of cute." Down right hot, really. She thought.

Artemis shook his head and sighed, "Captain...I am a businessman. Not to mention one of the smartest people on the face and under the face of this planet." The man shrugged, "I can't let people think that I am some sort of joke."

"Except me." She corrected.

The mastermind smiled, "Except you. You have seen me on some of my worst days and still, you are willing to help me." He took her hand again, "And for that, I am eternally grateful."

"Hmm…" Holly mused, "It might be useful having a genius wrapped around my finger. I think that's what I was thinking when I decided to help you with that C-Cube incident." They both smiled at the memory. "Were you serious before, about holding me that way before the boys came in? Or, did you just know they were coming."

Artemis nodded, "When Myles said Beckett was running like a bull, he was very correct. I can't believe you couldn't feel the ground moving." He brought his hand up with her and kissed the knuckles of the female's hand. "This whole thing is pretend, Holly. You needn't worry about me falling head over heels for you." Gods, I wish that were true.

"Well then, let's go to bed, Arty." She pulled away from him and crawled into the warm sheets, turning away from the mastermind on the other end.

"Goodnight." She heard him from behind.

"Night."

It wasn't long before they both fell asleep.

REVIEW FOR CHRISTMAS! (Unless you are on your phone and can not *wink wink*)