A/N; Okay, so...very short Chapter. Just for the purpose of telling you that I'm still alive, and I haven't given up on this.

Cheers!

•

Future Artemis P.O.V

My way back was ready and waiting in the form of an LEP transport shuttle and a dozen human guards keeping a weary eye on it, and Trouble and Mulch were no doubt directly above the dome right now. But there were too many human guards here. And all of them had weaponry. I had considered this inevitable although the success of our plan really depended on how well Foaly's new shielding equipment worked.

I walked past the aisles on security men, paused for the sake of it to give them a sarcastic grin, before opening the door to the already-hovering transport shuttle.

"I hope you're keeping track of time," I said to Trouble and his temporary comrade over the intercom. "You have five minutes and twenty nine seconds."

"Over," added Trouble, irate. "You're supposed to say over when you're done talking."

"Over," I shrugged, terminating the link. "Something like End would really suit the situation better."

"And I couldn't agree with you more," said the pilot, looking over a shoulder to me. I was seated at the back. "This isn't just your mission, Fowl."

I sighed. Of course she'd find a way in. "It's primarily for your own safety–"

Holly kicked the throttle up, made the shuttle jerk into the air, before flicking the autopilot switch and leaving her seat to join me in the tech-cramped rear of the shuttle. She sat, and removed her helmet. Short auburn hair fell onto her shoulders.

"I don't know what your deal is, Mud Boy, but–"

"I cannot have you interfering in a time that you don't even belong to," I crossed my arms. "And there's also the matter that, however insensitive my words were earlier, this is the end. After we get your youngest version back, we will all travel to our respective times and we will have to forget all of this if we really want to move on with our lives."

Holly scowled. "You're making it harder than it has to be."

"I'm being honest, Captain, not sugar-coating everything up. You and I simply cannot have the endings we want after this misadventure."

"Yeah," Holly placed a hand on my knee, but she sounded far from understanding. "And that's exactly why I don't want you acting like a bipolar jerk on this misadventure. Do you have any idea all I'm risking just to be here? Getting my younger self back is only one reason."

I rolled my eyes. "Captain, stalking me isn't going to alter either of our timelines."

"Stalking," Holly laughed bitterly. "No, it won't alter anything. Think, genius. What could I possibly gain by stalking you?"

I sighed. "I can understand, Holly, but you can't afford to get attached to me again. It's a maximum of a few days until we bring her back and it's goodbye then, no more timeline-skipping and having tea together."

"I know that," groaned Holly, coming slightly forward. "Frond, why can't you just get the point? I don't care. It's about the here and now. What's even worse is I'll regret not getting attached to you once I'm back home."

It quietly dawned on me why that made a lot of sense.

"Holly, you'll only hurt yourself–"

"I don't care," snapped Holly, grabbing my collar and pulling me forward. I didn't try to resist. It would be fruitless. "And you should seriously tell that brain of yours to shut up for once."

"I have no reason to be lying–"

"If you don't shut up right now and kiss me, Fowl," growled Holly, tone threatening. "I swear I am walking out on you even before I have to."

I was quiet for a moment, but she was taking this too far. She wasn't even trying to understand the downsides she'd feel when she returned to her own time. "Just–"

There were tears brimming in her eyes by now. This wasn't Holly. But of course. She was serious. And I had crossed a line with my little lecture earlier.

"Alright," I said at last, relenting. "But not in the shuttle."

Holly let go of her grip on my collar, sinking back into the opposite bench. She didn't say anything, merely crossed her arms and waited for an apology. I had no choice but to give it to her.

"Look, I know my refusing sounds very insensitive..."

Holly looked away.

"Holly, if you really want to spend some time with me, maybe you should just drop by at my quarters rather than start an argument in the middle of an operation."

A slow grin spread on her face upon hearing exactly what she wanted to hear. I pressed on, because this was probably the last time I was going to say these things.

"We could talk about Dawn if you like," I said. "Maybe catch up on the things we should've done after we married."

"I'm kind of running out of patience, Fowl."

"Be at Fowl Manor tonight."

This time Holly actually grinned. "How're you going to explain your dead wife turning up to your parents?"

I sighed. "Does it really matter?"

"No," Holly smirked. "It really doesn't."

••—

Author's Note; It has been ages since I updated this. It's getting very difficult to keep up with fic, but this my fanfic with the most followers and I can't let you guys down. I'll try my level best. I swear. However, you're all welcome to read my new fanfic, "Artemis Fowl: Key to Ethos". My writing had come a long way since I started this fic and I would even rewrite it if I had the time. Sadly that isn't a possibility. But I WILL try my best, and I thank every one of you for all the support shown so far. As always, please encourage me with a review so I know you're still reading, it's going to make updating easier, too :D!