Butler put three rounds in the door frame while Alex stood a few feet behind him with his hands clamped over his ears. The door itself was steel and would have sent the Devastator slugs ricocheting straight back at him. But the frame was the original porous stone used to build the manor. It crumbled like chalk. It was actually a tactic he'd borrowed from the younger boy; last year he'd sleepwalked out of the house despite the coded locks by removing the hinges and sliding through the small gap provided- he ended up climbing one of the higher trees by the barn.

Master Artemis was waiting calmly in his chair by the monitor bank.

"Nice work, Butler."

"Thank you, Artemis. We were in trouble for a moment there. If it hadn't been for the captain…"

"What was that anyway?" Alex piqued as he followed Butler into the office.

"Healing, one of the fairy arts." Artemis said to his brother, then to himself, "I wonder why she did it."

"I wonder too," said Butler softly. "We certainly didn't deserve it."

Alex's agitation at the second half of his brother's statement (Artemis had made a habit of cutting him out of conversations since the Fowl Star) was instantly soothed by Butler's words. The manservant expressed discomfort about as often as he expressed fear. At least in either boy's presence.

Artemis glanced up sharply, apparently having the same train of thought. "Keep the faith, old friend. The end is in sight."

Butler nodded; he even attempted a smile. Even if Alex were only as good at reading emotions as Artemis was he would've seen right through it. It was at that point he decided to do what he did best besides beating security procedures: lightening the mood.

"'The end is in sight'? But I just got here!" He exclaimed.

Artemis's gaze swung to him, seeming to fully acknowledge his brother's presence for the first time. "So I noticed. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

Alex cocked an eyebrow, mimicking Artemis's expression. "Aren't you?"

The left half of Artemis's mouth twitched up in what could be considered a smirk. The small crack in his usual composure lasted barely a second; he didn't seem to realize it happened. His dark blue eyes swept over the younger boy, assessing him.

"Alex, how much sleep have you gotten tonight?"

He thought for a second.

"None," the 8-year-old answered promptly. "Unless, of course, you count right now."

Artemis groaned slightly and held his head in one of his hands. 'This child is testing my patience' he imagined him thinking. Not many emotions could slip through the mask's filters, and things along the lines of annoyance and exasperation among them. Soon enough, his usual cold composure returned, but not without some effort.

"Well that doesn't matter, the negotiations are over. One way or another Captain Short will be returned to her kind." He told Alex sternly. Then Butler, "no harm will befall upon her. You have my word."

The manservant glanced at Artemis. "And Juliet?"

"Yes?"

"Is there any danger to my sister?"

"No. No danger."

Alex cocked an eyebrow, both skeptical and curious. The scene downstairs fit just about anyone's definition of 'dangerous'. And it was only going to get worse, well… if his sleepwalking was any indicator he was known for having vivid dreams.

"The fairies are just going to give us this gold and walk away?"

Artemis snorted gently, a humorous gesture that very rarely got through the mask. "No, not exactly. They're going to bio-bomb Fowl Manor the second Captain Short is clear."

Alex's eyebrows popped up. He may not have been a genius, but he was well aware of what a bomb was.

Butler took a breath to speak, but hesitated. Obviously there was more to the plan. Master Fowl would tell him what he needed to know. So instead of quizzing his employer, he made a simple statement.

"I trust you, Artemis."

"Yes," replied the boy, the weight of that trust etched on his brow. "I know."

At this Alex's shock passed. Ever since they'd been in this Batman situation Artemis seemed to think it was his job to be both overprotective big brother and concerned parental figure to his little brother. He often forgot the toll that sort of thing took on someone so young. So he decided to do his second-best thing.

"You know, most twelve-year-old boys play football in their free time. You ever thought about doing that?"

Artemis scowled.

Holly hovered beneath the portico. Orange shards of light striped the blue. The time-stop was breaking up. There were only minutes left before Root blue-rinsed the whole place. Foaly's voice buzzed in her earpiece.

"Okay, Captain Short. The gold in on the way. Be ready to move."

"We don't bargain with kidnappers," said Holly, surprised. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing," Foaly replied casually. "Straight forward exchange. The gold comes in, you come out. We send in the missile. Big blue bang, and it's all over."

"Does Fowl know about the bio-bomb?"

"Yep. Knows all about it. Claims he can escape the time-field."

"That's impossible."

"Correct."

"But they'll all be killed!"

"Big deal," retorted Foaly, and Holly could almost see him shrug. "That's what you get when you mess with the People."

Holly was torn. There was no doubt that Fowl was a danger to the civilized underworld. Very few tears would be shed over his body. But the girl, Juliet, and pajama-clad little boy—they were innocents. They deserved a chance.

Holly descended to an altitude of six and a half feet. Head height for Butler. The humans had congregated in the wreckage that used to be a hallway. There was disunity between them. The LEP officer could sense it. Well, most of them at least.

The younger boy that was previously on the banister was currently settled in the crook of Butler's arm, rubbing his eyes and yawning slightly- it would seem the adrenaline brought from the troll was leaving his system. He was a small child; he looked like a toddler in Butler's gigantic arms. He didn't appear to have a clue what was going on. For some reason that just made her angrier.

Holly glared accusingly at Artemis. "Have you told them?"

Artemis returned her stare. "Told them what?"

"Yes, Fairy, told us what?" echoed Juliet belligerently, still a bit miffed over the mesmerizing.

The dark-haired boy hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'd like to be the first to ask that question without the sarcasm."

Holly opted to ignore him. "Don't play dumb, Fowl. You know what I'm talking about."

Artemis glanced upward to briefly meet his apparent brother's gaze from the boy's spot in Butler's arm before turning back to her. He could never play dumb for long, and they both knew it. "Yes, Captain Short. I do. The bio-bomb. Your concern would be touching, if it extended to myself. Nevertheless, do not upset yourself. Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"According to plan!" gasped Holly, pointing to the devastation surrounding them. "Was this part of the plan? Butler almost getting killed, and your brother being placed in the line of fire—all part of the plan?"

Artemis glanced upwards again as the younger boy suddenly tensed at Holly's words. He relaxed nearly the instant he met his brother's eyes.

"No," Artemis admitted. "The troll was a slight blip. But irrelevant to the overall scheme."

Holly resisted the urge to punch the pale human again, turning instead to Butler- and, by extension, his younger charge. Through hooded lids the small boy was looking at her with curious, but calculating, eyes.

"Listen to reason, for heaven's sake. You cannot escape the time-field. It has never been done."

Butler's features could have been etched in stone. Pajama Boy, however, was considerably more open. He shrugged, unfazed.

"There's a first for everything," he said. "And if Arty says it can be done, then it can."

Holly already knew it was pointless to argue with him—he was a child, still held tight by the bonds of family loyalty. She knew she'd have a far better chance on his bodyguard.

"Butler—your sister, are you willing to risk her life out of loyalty to a felon?"

"Artemis is no felon, miss, he is a genius. Now please remove yourself from my sightline. I am monitoring the main entrance." He said.

Holly buzzed up to twenty feet. Alex practically bent his neck backward trying to keep her in his sightline.

"You're crazy. All of you! In five minutes you'll all be dust. Don't you realize?"

Holly noticed the younger boy opening his mouth to say something, but Artemis sighed and beat him to it. "You've had your answer, Captain. Now, please. This is a delicate stage in the proceedings."

"Proceedings? It's a kidnapping! At least have the guts to call it what it is."

Artemis's patience was beginning to fray, and Alex looked disgruntled at, once again, being cut out of the conversation.

"Butler, do we have any tranquilizer hypodermics left?"

The giant manservant nodded, but didn't speak. Alex remained silent as well, but his was accompanied by an eye roll. He was confident his brother wouldn't actually shoot the Captain and he was only kidding himself to think of the idea (another crude attempt at humor). A genius Artemis may've been, but is still had the patience of the boy he really was. Besides, even if the order to sedate did come, he doubted Butler would, or even could, do it—not after the troll fiasco. Luckily Artemis's attention was diverted by activity in the avenue.

"Ah, it would seem the LEP have capitulated. Butler, supervise the delivery. But stay alert. Our fairy friends are not above trickery."

"You're a fine one to talk," muttered Holly.

Butler set Alex down and hurried to the demolished doorway. The younger boy turned to his brother with questioning eyes.

"What's capitulated mean?"

"It's the ransom," Butler shouted from the doorway. Alex immediately came running up, his drowsiness stunted by eager curiosity, though the manservant prevented him from getting to close.

"Check for booby traps." He heard his brother say.

Butler stepped cautiously on to the porch. Alex followed, much less so, dancing nimbly around the stone shards that used to be gargoyle statues.

"No hostiles. Seems to be self-propelled." The bodyguard reported.

Alex leaned in for a closer look and the trolley lurched over the steps, making him jump back.

"I could drive better with a game controller." He said. It was more a statement of fact than an insult- Alex had harbored a deep love for remote-controlled helicopters and cars since he was five.

Butler bent low to the ground, scanning the trolley's underside. Alex used his preoccupation to climb onto the cargo hold.

"No explosive devices visible."

He extracted a Sweeper from his pocket, extending the telescopic aerial. Alex didn't pay any attention to this, leaning over the side and tapping something along the trolley's frame.

"No bugs either. Nothing detectable at any rate." Butler continued.

"What's this?" Alex asked, pointing the object he'd previously been obstructing from Butler's view.

"Uh-oh," said Foaly.

"A camera." Butler answered, reaching in and pulling the fish-eye lens out by the cable.

"Sorry," Alex said to it.

In spite of the load it carried, the trolley responded easily to Butler's touch, gliding across the threshold into the lobby with Alex still swinging his feet idly over the side. It stood there humming softly, as though waiting to be unloaded.

Butler lowered Alex to the ground again, and the younger boy immediately went back to his brother's side. Artemis was in a rare state of nervousy. Now that the moment had come, Artemis was almost afraid to seize it. It was hard to believe that after all these months, his wicked scheme was minutes away from fruition. Then Alex slid his small hand into his limp one. Artemis looked down at him and pulled himself together- these last few minutes were the vital ones, and the most dangerous.

"Open it," he said, his voice laced with the most subtle tremble he had no doubt his observant little brother noticed.

It was an irresistible instant. Juliet approached tentatively, spangled eyes wide. Alex's hand tightened slightly while his spare one flew to his brother's wrist. Even Holly closed the throttled a notch, dropping until her feet brushed the marble tiling. Butler unzipped the black tarpaulin, dragging it back across the cargo.

Nobody said a thing. Artemis imagined that somewhere the 1812 Overture was playing. The gold sat there, stacked in shining rows. It seemed to have an aura, a warmth, but also an inherent danger. There were a lot of people willing to die or kill for the unimaginable wealth this gold could bring.

With that, Alex finally understood the meaning behind the family motto, "Gold is Power". Something that'd eluded him up to this point.

"They paid," Holly breathed. "I can't believe it."

"Neither can I," murmured Artemis. "Butler, is it real?"

Butler hefted a bar from the stack. He dug the tip of a throwing knife into ingot, gouging out a small sliver.

"It's real all right," he said, holding the scraping up to the light. "This one, at any rate."

"Good. Very good. Begin unloading it, would you? We'll send the trolley back out with Captain Short."

Hearing her name brought both Alex and Holly out of their trance.

"Artemis, give it up. No human has ever succeeded in keeping fairy gold. And they've been trying for centuries. The LEP will do anything to protect their property."

Artemis shook his head. Amused.

"I've told you…"

Holly took him by the shoulders. "You cannot escape! Don't you understand?"

Pajama Boy poked her arm. "Even if he can't it's a little late now," he whispered, his hand over one side of his mouth as if to block out his brother.

The older boy didn't hear him, or at least pretended he didn't.

"I can escape," he said simply. "Look in my eyes and tell me I'm wrong."

He had her. They both knew she wouldn't say such a thing in front of his brother. Still, she looked. Captain Holly Short gazed into her captor's blue-black eyes and she saw the truth in there. And for a moment she believed it.

"There's still time," she said desperately. "There must be something. I have magic."

A crease of annoyance wrinkled Artemis's brow. But Alex's bleary eyes suddenly snapped up with curiosity. With hope.

"I hate to disappoint you, Captain, but there is absolutely nothing."

The hand in his own tightened almost painfully. Artemis looked down at his younger brother and the boy's eyes flicked meaningfully upstairs to the converted loft. He could practically hear the boy's thoughts. 'Do you really need all this gold, Arty?' 'Riches or not, you're not going to feel right about this in the morning. We both know that.' 'Please! We need Mum as much as we need Dad.'

Artemis shook himself. Stick to the plan. Stick to the plan. No emotion.

'Drop the Mask! Just this once!'

Artemis felt a familiar hand on his shoulder, breaking the spell.

"Everything all right?"

"Yes, Butler. Keep unloading. Get Juliet to help. I need to talk to Captain Short."

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

Artemis sighed, his brother's gaze burning a hole in the side of his head. "No old friend, I'm not sure. But it's too late now."

Butler nodded, returning to his task. Juliet toddled along behind him like a terrier.

"Now, Captain. About your magic."

"What about it?" Holly's eyes were hooded with suspicion.

"What would I have to do to buy a wish?"

Holly glanced at the trolley. "Well, that depends. What do you have to bargain with?"

Captain Short was leading the trolley back out what remained of the front entrance, about half of the ransom stacked on it. Dividing the amount 50/50 had been Pajama Boy's idea, and unlike his brother he was quite agreeable. The front of the trolley was about a foot away from the entrance when she heard a voice over her shoulder.

"Wait!"

She looked back and saw the younger human racing to her. Neither Artemis nor Butler were in sight.

"Yes?" she asked, puzzled.

He stopped a formal distance from her. "I know Arty never meant for me to get involved in any of this, so if he ever gets into trouble again I'm not gonna be around. We're probably not going to see each other again after tonight, so I wanted to say thanks." He held out his hand. "For everything."

Slowly, Holly took the outstretched hand and shook it.

"For the record, Arty'd say the same thing. If he let himself," He said ruefully, rubbing one eye with the sleeve of his shirt in a gesture Holly had a feeling she would come to associate with him.

"Really?"

"Trust me, I'm his brother. I know him better than anybody."

"And you really think he can escape the time-field?"

"If anyone can, it's Arty."

She didn't answer and he continued.

"And regardless of what I believe, he's family. We're stuck with each other no matter of how we feel about each other. So we have to show a little faith."

She paused, slightly thrown by his sincerity.

"Then what do you think is going to happen when the bio-bomb goes off?"

He shrugged, "I'm assuming that's when I'll wake up," he said simply before turning back the way he came.

"Thanks again. And don't worry, if Arty's future schemes can slip by our Mum, Butler, and myself, he deserves to get away with it."

With that, he reentered the hallway and disappeared from view, and Holly resumed pushing the gold-filled trolley out the door.

Butler and Artemis were talking when Alex returned to the main hallway, thankfully his conversation with the captain was brief enough that neither had noticed he was gone. Butler looked more than a little surprised.

"You gave it back?"

Artemis nodded. "About half. We still have quite a nest egg. About fifteen million dollars at today's market prices."

Butler usually wouldn't ask. But this time he had to. "Why, Artemis? Can you tell me?"

"I suppose so." The boy smiled, his brother returning to his side. "I felt we owed the captain something. For services rendered."

"Is that all?"

Artemis nodded. The younger boy knew he wouldn't talk about the wish, it could be perceived as weakness.

"Hmm," said Butler as he saw Alex roll his eyes and mouthed 'I'll tell you later' to him over his employer's shoulder.

"Now, we should celebrate," enthused Artemis, deftly changing the subject. "Some champagne, I think."

The boy strode to the kitchen before the bodyguard or younger boy's gaze could dissect him.

By the time the others caught up, Artemis had already filled three glasses with Dom Perignon and a fourth with skim milk.

Alex immediately knew who the fourth glass was for. "Why don't I get any?"

"Alex, you're eight years old." Artemis said calmly.

"And you're twelve! If you have some I should too!"

By now the younger boy was practically yelling so Butler decided to intervene. "Let it go, Alex."

The angered boy crossed his arms and frowned, but relented.

Artemis grinned softly, he often forgot how adorable the little boy's fury could be. "We'll talk more when you're older."

"As in nine?" Alex asked hopefully.

Artemis paused. "Ten."

Alex frowned again but took the crystal flute offered to him as Butler and Juliet did the same.

The girl looked at her brother.

"Is this okay?"

"I suppose so." He took a breath. "You know I love you, don't you, sis?"

At Butler's words Artemis discreetly looked sideways at his own sibling. Alex met his gaze and, if the onlooker looked closely enough, nodded slightly.

Juliet, meanwhile, scowled—something else that the local louts found endearing. She smacked her brother on the shoulder.

"You're so emotional for a bodyguard."

Butler looked his employer straight in the eye.

"You want us to drink this, don't you, Artemis?"

Artemis met his gaze squarely. "Yes, Butler. I do."

Without another word Butler drained his glass, Juliet followed suit. The manservant tasted the tranquilizer immediately, and although he would have had ample time to snap Artemis Fowl's neck, he didn't. No need for Juliet to be distressed in her final moments, nor for Alex's delusion that he'd dreamed the night's events to be shattered.

Artemis watched his friends sink to the floor. A pity to deceive them. But if they had been alerted to the plan, their anxiety could have counteracted the sedative. It was then he noticed Alex hadn't yet taken as much as a sip of his own drink. He was looking at Artemis as squarely as Butler had. Alex was a very open boy, he wore his emotions on his sleeve and allowed them to play freely on his face. Once again Artemis could practically hear the boy's thoughts in his own mind. 'I'm going to tell myself this was all a dream for the sake of coping, but don't think I'll forget this. We both know better.' Artemis sighed and closed his eyes, is was going to take a lot more than a glass of faux champagne at his 10th birthday to get Alex to forgive him for this. He opened his eyes, met his little brother's gaze coolly, and clicked his glass with his in a silent toast. With only the barest hints of hesitation on either parts, both boys swallowed their respective tranquilizer-laced drinks.

Artemis waited calmly for the drug to take hold of his system. He wasn't worried about Alex's anxiety fighting it, the boy had had an eventful night and was long overdue for a nap—the sedative would tip him over the edge and his own fatigue would keep him asleep for hours afterward. As his thoughts began to swirl, it occurred to him that neither of them would awaken again. "Even if you can't it's a little late now"—Alex's words from earlier, which he used to chastise himself as he sank into unconsciousness.

Artemis could hear a voice calling his name. There was a face behind the voice, but it was blurred, hard to make out. His father, perhaps?

"Father?" The word was strange in his mouth. Unused. Rusty. Artemis opened his eyes.

Butler was leaning over him. "Artemis. You're awake."

"Ah, Butler. It's you."

Artemis got to his feet, head spinning with the effort. He expected Butler's hand at his elbow to steady him. It didn't come. Juliet was lying on a chaise longue, dribbling onto the cushions. Obviously the draft hadn't worn off yet. Alex was in a similar one next to her, curled up on the cushion like a contented cat.

"It was just sleeping pills, Butler. Harmless."

The manservant's eyes had a dangerous glint. "Explain yourself."

Artemis rubbed his eyes. "Later, Butler. I'm feeling a bit—"

Butler stepped into his path. "Artemis, my sister is lying drugged on that couch. She was almost killed. So explain yourself now!"

Artemis realized that he'd been given an order. He considered being offended, the decided that perhaps Butler was right. He had gone too far.

So he explained. He explained the sleeping pill's necessity, the overall plan, how he came up with it, and even threw in a bit of fairy history. Though neither of them knew this was about the point Alex's dosage wore off. Alex's young mind absorbed information like a sponge, he took note of every word and shoved it to a dusty corner or his subconscious to review on another day.

At the end of it Artemis paused so that Butler could process the information.

"Well, am I forgiven?"

Butler sighed. On the chaise lounge, Juliet snored like a drunken sailor. Alex smiled slightly in his sleep, as if the sound soothed him. The manservant smiled himself suddenly.

"Yes, Artemis. All is forgiven. Just one thing..."

"Yes?"

"Never again. Fairies are too…human."

"You're right," said Artemis, the crow's feet deepening around his eyes. "Never again. To be honest, I don't think Alex would have it any other way." At his name, the younger boy snorted loudly—not an infrequent reaction. "We shall restrict ourselves to more tasteful ventures in the future. Legal, I can't promise."

Butler nodded and the corners of Alex's mouth twitched ever so slightly. It was close enough.

"Now, young Master, shouldn't we check on your mother?"

Artemis grew paler, if that were possible. Could the captain have reneged on her promise? She would certainly be entitled to. And if she did there was no telling how Alex would react. His faith in others—one of his best qualities—would be beyond repair.

"Yes. I suppose we should. Let Juliet and Alex rest. They've earned it." Another snort.

He cast his eyes upward, along the stairs. It was too much to hope for that he could trust the fairy. After all, he had held her captive against her will. Of course it was only now he could come up with such a persuasive counter argument. Really, he should've known better: parting with all those millions for the promise of a wish. It really should bother him how much influence his little brother had over him.

Then the loft door opened.

Butler drew his weapon instantly.

"Artemis, behind me. Intruders."

The boy waved him away. "No, Butler. I don't think so."

His heart pounded in his ears, blood pulsed in his fingertips. Could it be? Could it possibly be? A figure appeared on the stairs. Wraithlike in a toweled robe, her hair wet from the shower.

"Arty? Alex?" She called, "Boys, are you there?"

Artemis wanted to answer. He wanted to pull an Alex and race up the grand stairway, arms outstretched. But he couldn't. His cerebral functions had deserted him.

Angeline Fowl descended, one hand resting lightly on the banister. Artemis had forgotten how graceful his mother was. Her bare feet skipped over the carpeted steps and soon she was standing before him.

"Morning, darling," she said brightly, as though it were just another day.

"M-Mother," stammered Artemis.

"Well, give me a hug."

Artemis stepped into his mother's embrace. It was warm and strong. She was wearing perfume. He felt like the boy he was.

"I'm sorry, Arty," she whispered into his ear.

"Sorry for what?"

"For everything. For the last few months, I haven't been myself. But things are going to change. Time to stop living in the past."

Artemis felt a tear on his cheek. He wasn't sure whose tear it was.

"And I don't have presents for you two."

"Presents?" said Artemis.

"Of course," sand his mother, spinning him around. "Don't you know what day it is?"

"Day?"

"It's Christmas Day, you silly boy. Christmas Day! Presents are traditional, are they not?"

Yes, thought Artemis. Traditional. San D'Klass. His brother must've thought the same, he snorted softly enough that his mother didn't notice and his lips twitched again.

"And look at this place. Drab as a mausoleum. Butler?"

The manservant hurriedly pocketed his Sig Sauer.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Get on the phone to Brown Thomas. The platinum set number. Reopen my account. Tell Hélène I want a Yuletide makeover. The works."

"Yes, ma'am. The works."

"Oh, and wake up Juliet. I want my things moved into the main bedroom. That attic is far too dusty."

"Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am."

Angeline Fowl linked her eldest son's arm.

"Now, Arty, I want to know everything. First of all, what is your brother doing still asleep?"

"I decided to let him sleep in." said Artemis. "He had an eventful night."

"I see. Would it have anything to do with what happened here?"

"No, remodeling. The old doorway was riddled with damp."

Angeline frowned, completely unconvinced. "I see. And how about school? Have you decided on a career?"

While his mouth answered these everyday questions and his brother snoozed on the couch, Artemis's mind was in turmoil. He was a boy again. His life was going to change utterly. His plans would have to be much more devious than usual if they were to escape his mother's attention, an added dosage of luck to escape his brother's. But it would be worth it.

Angeline Fowl was wrong. She had brought her boys a Christmas Present. Both of them.