Chapter 46

Haven and Home

RECAP:

I threw the doors open and let the light from the glow-strips in. Arty's eyes widened a bit as he took in everything that was visible. "Amazing," he nodded approvingly.

I grinned in spite of myself, glad that he liked what he saw. For some reason, I really wanted him to. I took his hand and led him out of the door and into the city. "Welcome to Haven!"

Artemis's POV:

We emerged from the shuttle port and into the small Haven street. Haven seemed just as picturesque as I remembered. The glow-strips produced a light that was very like sunlight. However, it would sadly disappoint anyone who had seen the genuine article.

The streets were nicely paved and almost seemed to be brand new. All of the buildings that I could see weren't very tall. That is except for one in the distant that I would think is Police Plaza.

As I glanced around, I noticed that there was absolutely no one around us. Yet, the time was around midafternoon and the streets around a major shuttle port should be occupied to some degree. Obviously, the LEP had something to do with that.

"So.. what do you think?" Holly asked, shaking me from my musings.

"It's lovely and the name is quite fitting."

And as I said that, Holly's face lit up with a bright grin. "I'm glad that you think so. Wait until you see some of the sights."

I was unable to hide the smile that was threatening to spread over my face. She could be so exciteable at times. Almost like a child in a candy store. "I await that moment with baited breath."

"Must you always use sarcasm when you speak?" she asked, leading me towards Police Plaza.

"Perhaps." And I replied with my best vampire smirk, to which she just rolled her eyes.

"C'mon Arty."

"Yes master."

"The attitude is not nearly as cute as you think it is," she mumbled.

"Of course not," I 'agreed'.

"It's not," she repeated, justifiably frustrated.

"No, it's not." And I readily agreed, knowing that Holly was getting to the end of her extraordinarily short leash. "Hmm, why are there no faries about at this time of the day?"

"Well, at this time most adults are at work and the children are in school. Besides, this street is never really very busy because no one likes for the shuttle port area to be crowded. Things'll pick up as we get closer to home." I nodded. Some of what she said made sense. She continued to lead me downa yet another street. We were mostly silent, but the silence was very comfortable. Every once in a while she would stop and point at something to explain to me what it was.

Suddenly, her grip on my hand. Until this moment, I had paid little attention to the fact that she was holding my hand. But at this time, it came to me with a vivid clarity. I tried to stop the blood that was rushing to my face, but it was to no avail. "What's wrong Arty?" she asked.

And this was perhaps one of the few things that I did not know. What was wrong with me? Ah well, it's best to say nothing when you know nothing. "Nothing. Just contemplating the mysteries of the universe."

"You mean that there are mysteries even to the Great Artemis Fowl?" she gasped in amazement. And to think that they call me the sarcastic one.

"Perhaps," I replied, knowing how much Holly detests that word. It left too many possibilities. And she at least liked to try to stay ahead of me, even though most of the times she was already two steps behind.

Surprisingly, she did not join in any verbal sparring. No, she just rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Here we are," she said, about five minutes later. "Home sweet home." She stopped, pointing up at a green, one-story house with green shutters.

Obviously, it was smaller than what I'm used to, but still a normal size by most people's opinions. There was a small weeping willow tree that shaded part of the front yard and the luscious green grass. They couldn't have grown without sunlight unless Foaly's plans for trees had been finished. Of course, this could have also been a faux tree.

I was still examining the area when Holly stamped her foot in impatience. She tugged me up towards the house and up the stairs to the front porch. She bent down, picking a key up from under the mat. I smirked wickedly. "A key under the mat? How quaint." After all, even Fowl Manor is a bit more sophisticated. I expect a lot more from the fairy race.

"I don't recall asking for your opinion," she huffed.

"You didn't have to. My comments flow freely and easily."

"Greeeat," Holly moaned as she rolled her eyes.

"As long as we're talking about my comments... you do realize that you make your home an obvious target for criminals when you keep your key there."

She snickered loudly. "Ha, Artemis. Don't worry. I'm very well protected."

"How so?" As far as I could see, there was nothing else present. However, I have learned that fairies have many tricks up their sleeves.

"This 'key' as you called it is coded to my finger print. But not just that. No, it's also configured to the strength and temperature of my hand." Ahh, interesting.

"Yes, though I doubt that that small difference will stop a determined burgular." Meaning one such as Mulch Diggums who could steal the pants off a fully alert LEP officer.

"True, but first of all, there aren't a lot of burglarers down here." And she was right. According to statistics, most of Haven's crime came from the smuggling of illegal contraband.

"Why is that?"

"Well, there's the old ways. We just walk into a house uninvited and begin to vomit. It's just ingrained into us now." A very good point.

"Very well," I nodded as she agreed with the point that I had not said aloud. "You said 'first of all', so I'm assuming that there's a second."

"Yes, there is."

"Would you tell it to me?" I sighed in frustration. Just as she always does when I do so.

"Most fairies are good and peace-loving creatures." With the obvious exception of most goblins.

"Yes. I'm sure that Opal Koboi, Briar Cudgeon, and Ark Sool would fit the bill," I snorted.

She smacked my chest, gently. At least, it was intended to be gentle but she missed the mark by a great bit. "They were exceptions to the rule."

"Well, you and I seem to have a knack for finding those exceptions."

"Thankfully," she grinned, pushing back a lock of her now long auburn hair. I couldn't help but notice the way that it glinted in the light. It shined in a way that was almost enticing.

Though at the moment, I was raising my eyebrows and looking at her like she had gone mad. "Who else has our style?" she joked.

"No one."

"Hey. You do want to come inside don't you?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Obviously."

"Well, come on. We have plans," she ordered wrenching the door open. She entered in front of me and snapped the lights on so that I could see.

We stepped into an open hall. The walls were a nonconfrontational beige with an elegant white trim. There were pictures on the wally, but unlike Fowl Manor, the pictures seemed friendly. And... happy. There was one picture of an elfin woman. Her slanted were hazel, her lips red and turned up in a mischevious smile, and her auburn hair that seemed eerily familiar. Obviously, this had to be Holly's mother. Coral Short.

There was another picture fo the woman standing next to a man with a small child in front of them and in the middle. The man had vague similarities to Holly. His eyes had a slight slant, but nothing like Holly's. He sported a strong Roman nose and jaw, very much like Trouble Kelp. And his long hair fell down into his eyes, and perfectly accented his face.

Little Holly looked like I had expected. She was wearing what looked like a pink dress, and seemed to be tugging at it irritably. Yet, she was still looking out at the watcher. She seemed to be teasing me and enticing anyone who was watching forth with her eyes. Very much like how she is today.

The hall continued with a small, wooden table that held a small, golden lamp perched on it. The floor was covered with a beighe rug that seemed to sparkle in the bright light. "Are you jut going to stand there looking all day?" Holly demanded, her hands on her hips.

"I apologize. Lead on, I'm quite ready to see the rest of your home."

She rolled her eyes, but grabbed my hand and grabbed me forward. I was a bit surprised at how quickly she had done so. It was difficult for me not to notice how warm and strong her little hand felt in my grip.

"I suppose I'm getting the guided tour," I remarked dryly.

"Of course," Holly snickered. "What kind of hostess would I be if I didn't show you around?"

" A very poor one indeed." Though Holly is very rarely poor at anything. And of course, I could never tell her that. She always teases me about my ego, but she is not even aware of her own.

"And I wouldn't want that," she said. "This room is the 'living room."

"I suppose this is where you live," I replied as I glanced around. This room's color scheme was identical to the hallway. There was a dark couch in the center of the room and an armchair that was angled slightly away from it. A large flat-screen televsion which sat directly in front of the couch.

Holly seemed to own a large number of coffee tables. One was next to the couch and held the remote control and a small vase of seemingly fresh flowers. more pictures covered her walls, and all of these also seemed to be watching me with an easy familiarity, as if we had known each other for an eternity.

"And your're the intelligent one?"

"Obviously."

"Remind me again," she sighed, pushing her hair back yet again. "Why did I invite you here?"

"It must have been my charming personality," I smirked. Charming. Just what all of the females and males that I know call me.

"Of course. How could I have forgotten that?" she murmered. "C'mon. Let's finish this tour."

"Lead the way," I suggested. Holly decided not to dignify that with an answer. She just walked through a side door which led to a kitchen area that was rather spartan.

There was an oven, a sink, and advice that looked like a microwave. The floors seemed to be wooden, but knowing fairies it was probably a very good substitute. He mahogany cabinets gleamed and a refridgerator quietly hummed in the corner.

I glanced at the small rectangular table that Holly had set up in the center of the kitchen. It was more of wood-like material due to the fact that elves would find the idea of using real wood somewhat useless when there were convincing falseties. The chairs looked rather big, but I wonder if they will support my weight. I'm sure that Foaly may have improved them for my benefit. Though he may have left them as is to get a bit of pleasure from my humiliation. And it's not like I wouldn't do the same to him for the same reason.

"What do you think?" Holly demanded. Apparently, my opinion was very important to her.

"I think that this room is never used," I chuckled at the very thought. Holly in a kitchen with an apron on, cooking something? Not likely. In fact, it's nearly impossible to believe.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with anger. Needless to say, that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"Come now, Holly. You hardly seem like the type to be domestic."

"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly capable of being 'domestic'."

"I'm sure that you are," I lied. Of course, Holly automatically knew that what I said wasn't the complete truth. Or rather, it wasn't the truth at all.

Her eyes narrowed again in anger. "Fine. I'll prove it to you," she challenged.

"We were going to go out for dinner, but now I'm going to cook."

Hmm, perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully. Yet, she's very confident. Perhaps her cooking abilities arent as bad as I thought. I suppose I could be wrong. I'll just have to find out when the time comes. "You don't have to do that," I pleaded as a last ditch effort to change her mind, though I knew that it would come to no avail.

"No way, Arty. We're eating here and I'm cooking."

"Fine," I sighed, knowing that she was not going to be bedged. "Do you even have any ingredients here?" As far as I know, she spends a lot more time at work than home, so it would be quite reasonable for her to not have any ingredients.

"Hahaha." She went over to her refridgerator and opened it to reveal that it was bursting with food. Lovely.

"That's fine. I'm looking forward to sampling your cooking." Yet another lie.

"Don't think that your placating goes unnoticed," she warned. "Let's continue the tour."

"Of course not." And I once again followed her through a second door in the kitchen. This one led to a long, straight hallway. There was another entry that most likely led to the living room.

"This is my hallway and leads to all extra rooms and et cetera."

"A hallway. How surprising."

She rolled her eyes again. "I'm going to ignore that and move on," she replied. She stopped at the first on the right and opened it.

"This is the guest room and where you'll be staying for the next week and a half." It was a nice room, though not quite 'Fowl' nice. The floor was covered with same beige carpet and the walls were also beige with white trim. The bed that took up the center was colossal by normal standards. It was a human's king-sized bed. It must have been nearly impossible to find. Yet, I was thankful for any trouble that she went to. The comforter on the bed was a deep crimson and so was the long canopy that flowed from the black metal, bed post.

"I take it that this isn't the original bed."

"Actually it is," she replied with a grin.

"Why would a fairy have a human-sized bed?" I asked with raised brows. Fairies. They never cease to surprise me. Of course, I'd never tell them that.

"It's not human-sized," Holly chuckled as if I was a complete idiot..

"I would greatly appreciate an explanation," I replied, through gritted teeth. For there is nothing worse than feeling like an idiot. Especially when one is a genius.

"Fine," Holly giggled, walking over to one of the bedside tables. She picked up the remote, pointed it at the bed, and tapped the screen. The small screen was about the size of an average credit card. It lit up and a robotic feminine voice spoke up. "Welcom Holly. Please adjust settings."

"Settings adjust. Program one, Holly," she said loudly and clearly. At the sond of this command, the bed started to move. It shortened and grew thinner and thinner until it was of typical fairy size. Then the canopy was sucked in and the black bars were replaced by white faux wood. The comforter was also vacumed into the center with a loud 'pop'. A second later, the deep green sheets and pillows spread themselves over the bed and even pulled tight around the corners.

"Quite impressive," I murmered. Hmm, perhaps I'll be able to acquire one of these handy devices while I am down here. It would be quite useful for company at Fowl Manor. Though I'd have to pretend to have invented it myself if it were to be used in my home.

"Tell Foaly. It was his invention," Holly shrugged. Ahh wonderful. It would be almost impossible to take credit for his invention. Almost. "Change the parameters and anyone can sleep in this little baby."

"Once again impressive," I commented. "Perhaps I may acquire one."

"Maaaybe," she sing-songed. Maybe, which most likely meant 'no'.

"Really?" I asked, somewhat hopeful. Though, my usual tone of boredom covered it rather nicely as it always does.

"Probably not, but why not try anyway?" I sighed deeply. I had been sure of the answer and was once again proven right. Ahh, the joys of being a genius. "Settings adjust. Program two, Artemis." And the bed reverted back to its original form.

I chuckled a bit to myself and Holly heard it. "What's so funny?"

"Perhaps it's the fact that I'm your number two," I grinned as I waited for her to stammer in that angry and baffled way that she had.

"Oh please," she scoffed. "No." Yes, though she'd never admit it.

I raided my brows and put on my 'skeptical face'."Okay fine," she surrendered. "You are my number two."

"Oh really?" I asked innocently.

"Of course. You are my best friend, aren't you?"

I deliberated for a moment. I considered bluffing first, but quickly decided against it. Sometimes, it is better to validate people than to use sarcasm. "Obviously." Holly truly is my very best friend, though neither of us says it nearly enough. Perhaps that will be something that I begin to work on doing.

"Oh come on. Let's go cook some dinner," she ufffed.

"Absolutely. I can't wait." I chuckled. Ahh, anything to annoy my dear friend.

She grunted then turned on her heel and strode out of the room. "Oh Holly?" I called.

"What?"

"I'd just like to thank you for the accomodations."

Her face immediately settled once her mind registered the fact that I was not going to tease her and that I was actually serious. "You're welcome. Now come on, and let's get cooking."

"Do we have to?" I complained very much unlike myself. There's something about Holly that's always able to pull out my... uncultured side. The part of me that almost no one knows exists.

"What do you think?" she asked mischeviously.

"I think that you'll forgive me and we'll go out to dinner," I replied with my award winning smile.

Holly just chuckled to hersef. "Wrong thought."

"Cheer up, Arty," she teased. "I'll race you."

"Race?" I asked as though I had never heard the word before. And for the record's sake, I knew the word 'race' in twenty-nine languages.

"Yes race. You know, to run as quickly as possible and try to get to a certain place before the others."

"I know what a race is," I snapped irritably. After all, I had known and said that word since I was an infant.

Thankfully, Holly isn't hte type to let a bit of irritability bother her. "Pwwwease," she begged, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout and looking up at me with her seemingly watery eyes.

Honestly, this sort of thing should be illegal. It's almost impossible to resist and Holly knows that. "Fine," I submitted. She giggled and clapped her hands.

Then, Holly asuumed a professional running stance. Apparently, she had done this before. Perhaps in college or maybe even high school. "On you marc," she said as I tried to get somewhat prepared. Though there was no way that I could possibly win. "Get set... Go!" And Holly took off like a lithe body was moving forward so quickly that it seemed to flow through the air.

I also sped off. Over the years I have gotten more physically fit. Butler makes sure that I spend at leas an hour a day in the gym or in the stables. Even though I have gotten better I am sitll nowhere near Holly's degree of athleticism. And chances are that I never will be.

However, whe should have been evenly matched. Holly was much more atheltic, but my legs were longer so that two of her strides equaled to only one of mine. It was this advantage that allowed me to catch up with her. I should have been able to pass her, but Holly was expecting that. She moved from side to side, keeping me safely behind her.

A moment later, we burst into the kitchen, and Holly barely had a hitch and her breathing. No, I wasn't panting like I would have been two years ago, but muy breathing was still rather loud and deep. "Cheater," I commented trying to get my breathing under control.

"I didn't cheat. I simply did things the Artemis Fowl way," she smirked.

I must admit that she had piqued my interest. "And what way would that be?"

"Winning at all costs." Cute and true. She was quite clever at times, which is probably why I find her so... fascinating.

I couldn't help but chuckle. People say that I'm the clever one, but they obviously never met Holly Short. I may be intellectually smarter, but she was on par with me when it came to sarcasm and wittisicm. "Touche."

"It was good, wasn't it?" Holly preened. I suppose, she wasn't used hearing positive comments about me.

"Pride cometh before the fall," I reminded her.

"Hmm. No wonder you're so clumsy." Holly. only Holly can make me laugh like this. Her witty retorts and easy banter are like gems in their own rights. Gems almost as valuable as the ones that I used to steal.

"Perhaps."

"Well, enough of that," Holly said. "Let's cook!" she repeated yet again. Obviously she was excited, because that last statement was said with such fervor and her eyes were sparkling so brightly.

As I looked at her face, I wondered: what in the world have I gotten myself into this time?

A/N:

Whoo-hoo! Another Chapter down. So, I'm so sorry about that last incident with those two chapters. I was in such a hurry to post online that I accidentally skipped chapter 44. But, it's been fixed. Oh, and I can't update all that often with my AP classes, band stuff, and lack of working computer. So, be patient, I haven't abandoned anything, and don't plan on it.

Okay, so I hoped you enjoyed that one. I plan on updating soon. Note that this is my main focus at the moment and that I have a ton of stuff all ready written for it. Yes, the Haven parts are almost done at the moment.

So, yeah, thanks to all of my reviewers and people who added me or this story to favorites. I love you reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and remember to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette