Chapter VI

Holly smiled weakly at Foaly as she entered Ops Booth. Julius sat beside the centaur, looking at the computer screen in front of them. He glanced at her, and then returned his attention to the 3D map of Haven that was displayed on the screen. But not a moment later, he looked back. His frown softened as he noticed her distressed look, though she tried to cover it with another poor attempt of smiling.

"Holly," Foaly started, frowning in concern. She looked like she might cry, but was trying her hardest to be strong.

Julius stood up and walked over to her. He squeezed her shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look. "What happened, Holly?" Julius asked, kindly. She finally looked at him.

"I don't know." Holly began softly, but honestly. "I really don't know." And then she started sobbing. She hid her face in her hands and couldn't stop crying. Julius led her over to a chair, and looked over at the concerned Foaly. 'Fowl?' He mouthed. The centaur glanced at him in surprise and would have snorted, had not that seemed like the most reasonable explanation.

'I'm going to kill him!' Julius mouthed again, grinding his teeth. He led Holly back to her room, and made sure she went to sleep before leaving. He made his way back to Ops Booth, and sat across from Foaly. "What do we do?" He asked finally, breaking the lapsed silence.

Foaly's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "I don't know." He answered. At any other time Julius would have commented, but now was not the time for sarcasm. Something had to be done.

When the plane landed, Artemis hurried towards Ops Booth.

Julius jumped to his feet when he saw him. "Explain to me, why one of my officers comes back from Fowl Manor, with a broken heart!" He roared.

Artemis looked down at his shoes.

"Silent, eh? Well, speak up!" Julius shouted, his face a beat red. Foaly shook his head at the elf. For the first time, Julius noticed Artemis's red eyes and noted that he looked exhausted and distressed. He stopped pacing, and stood in front of him.

"What happened?" Julius asked, his hard frown softening a little. Artemis shook his head, and avoided eye contact. Butler came up behind him, and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Go talk to Holly, Artemis. I'll explain what happened."

The boy nodded and started towards Holly's. He slipped into the room without a sound, and walked over to where she lay on the bed. He sat beside her, and looked at her silently.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she tossed and turned in her sleep. Her auburn curls fell over her face, and Artemis pushed it back gently. She looked so vulnerable in her sleep. Her forehead creased as a sob escaped her throat. "No. Please no, not him."

He squeezed her hand, and shook her gently. "Holly, Holly, wake up. It's only a dream." He told her softly. She woke and looked up into his face with a slightly puzzled look that asked why he was there, but a moment later the previous day's memories registered. Artemis wiped the tears away, and smiled slightly at her. "I take it back. You do talk in your sleep."

She laughed a little, then her face took up its sad look again. Artemis' smile disappeared.

He leaned over and kissed her lips gently. Her puzzled look only deepened. "Holly, I love you. It's taken a long time to accept it, but I do. I've always loved you." He kissed her again, but longer this time. Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she smiled for the first time in days.

"I love you, too." She whispered.

Butler was having a hard time avoiding the many prying questions that were aimed at him. He tried smiling innocently, but that didn't soften the hard frown on Julius's face. "I'm just a bodyguard, how should I know what happened between the two?" Okay, that didn't help; well actually, it only made the very scary frown on the elf's face turn into an all-out glare. Now many things didn't scare Butler, but Julius did, and he knew it.

"Answer the question!" Julius ordered.

The man shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Um, well, I guess-" Butler sighed. "All right, here it is. Holly loves Artemis, Artemis loves Holly, didn't want to get involved, didn't think criminals and officer go together. Changed his mind." Now this wasn't at all what Julius or Foaly were expecting. Julius's mouth fell open, and his eyes widened to an amazing degree. Foaly had a more, harmful, reaction. He fell off his chair, and scrambled to get himself up again. His tinfoil hat tilted and he pushed it back, looking from one to another to see if they were serious.

Butler nodded, smiling slightly. "It's true."

Julius straightened and shook his head, a small smile pulling at his lips and the lines around his eyes crinkling. Was that actually a twinkle in his dark eyes?

"Artemis and Holly, sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G..." Foaly chanted, grinning. Butler also grinned. It was an unlikely match, he admitted.

Artemis walked in a moment later carrying Holly. He set her down with a grunt. "You're heavier than I thought."

She smirked. "Nope, you're just too weak."

He frowned.

Foaly took up the chant once more, making Artemis flush and Holly grin.

"I see you told them." Artemis commented, looking over at Butler, with a not-so-happy-look. "I'll be teased for weeks."

"Oh, no, Mudboy. It'll be months." Foaly called out cheerfully.

Butler made a face. "It's not as if I had a choice."

Julius glanced at him smugly.

"You didn't tell them everything, did you, Butler?" Artemis asked, frowning. He shook his head. Foaly was clearly curious.

"What part? The one where you kissed me in the locked elevator, or the one where-" Artemis covered Holly's mouth before she could go any farther. Two extremely curious looks were thrown in Artemis' direction.

He glared at them."Don't even think about it." He warned.

Too late. An evil smile had already crept onto Julius' lips. "Oh, too bad you didn't bring, Juliet. I'm sure she would love to tell us all about it."

The End

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