Disclaimer: I do not own the Artemis Fowl series or any of its characters.

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Chapter 11: Departure

Warm, morning rays hits Artemis's eyelids, rousing him from his deep sleep. Groggily, he shields his face with his fore arm. Soft, hushed whimper jolts him. He looks to his side, and sighs. Artemis was used to being alone in bed.

Half-covered by the thick comforter, she faces the blinding gold window; the light outlines her body. Moaning, she rolls on her stomach and stretches like a cat. Slender fingers fit for pianist, glides over her curves. Her eyes flutter open. She smiles at him. "Good morning, Archie."

Angeline treated pancakes for the entire family. The matriarch's cuisine skills lacks any form of taste, but everyone humored her with large gulps of freshly squeezed orange juice. The young couples' glowing skin and Artemis's looseness provided plenty ammunition for snide comments from his parents. Blushing, Faith kept her eyes on her plate while Artemis sips his tea with a smirk. Savoring their short union, they steal kisses and hold hands under the table. Artemis twirls her semi-curly hair, and she teases his seldom-present dimples.

Myles debated scientific theories with Artemis but the boy was no match for his older brother. Yet. Beckett hounds Faith about the tree-climbing competition they would soon have, laughing and joking. Though Myles kept quiet when regarding the young woman. Less guarded than last night, Butler joined the morning gathering. Arms crossed, the bulking man stood behind his charge. His presence protectively looms over Artemis like a fortress protecting a damsel.

Noon was Faith's departure, and the entire household stood at the entrance to say their goodbyes. Kisses from Angeline plasters over Faith's face, Juliet playfully punches her shoulder, and the rest, except Artemis, were handshakes of varying strength.

"Next time, we meet your family," Angeline chirps, pinching Faith's cheek.

"They would like that very much," Faith smiles.

Chivalrously, Artemis offers his arm to escort his girlfriend down the steps. Faith clings to his arm, giggling.

"Finally that happened."

"A long time arriving, " Artemis smirks.

The limousine driver opens the door for the lady. Tightening her grip on his arm, she frowns. Last night was a wonderful blur of laughter, strong drinks, and tussling in sheets laced with lavender. As all good dreams it was quick and harder to accept that it was over. She buries her nose in a crease of his grey blazer, and pockets the memory of the fresh-ironed cashmere, and lavish cologne.

"You'll visit soon, right?" Her hushed voice pleas.

Artemis kisses her forehead, "I'll do everything in my power to see you."

"You better," Faith tugs his tie and lassoes him into a kiss.

Juliet whistles, breaking Faith into a giggle against his lips. Mr. Fowl burst out into a hearty laugh and the twins chorus an immature, disgusted "eww." Deepening the affection, the couple gave a show; Artemis protectively embraces her, and Faith hands links behind his neck.

Wine and sea salt on her lips, she sucks in her bottom lip to taste him. "Don't go back to your plans of world domination after I leave."

He sighs. " I was going to surprise you for your next birthday, and wrap it in a pretty red bow."

"Purple is better."

"Red."

"Brat." Faith rolls her eyes, and kisses him again, " See you soon."

"Soon will be a short time to wait, I promise." Artemis smiles and helps her inside the vehicle. After she settles in, he dips his head inside the tight insulated space. "Don't forget when I see you again, your promise of rocking my world."

The tip of her tongue slides across her teeth, and she winks at him. Artemis lets her go, and the limo disappears past the layered redbrick gate. Sadness creeps in, but the look she gave was enough to forget the distance for a little while.

Myles and Beckett drag Artemis by the sleeves to hang out. Mr. Fowl wrapped his arm around Angeline's slender shoulder, and leads her inside the Manor with the Butler siblings close behind. The twins kept Artemis busy with their shenanigans and spoken long, fast monologues about the trouble they get into with their hijinks. Angeline and Mr. Fowl were suspiciously missing for half the day and Artemis forces himself not to overthink but thinking was his specialty. Being a genius had its downsides, along with being a human with sentiments.

Nightfall, a crescent moon hovers against a velvet black sea and speckles of dull stars. Stillness lingers in Fowl manor as the inhabitants retire to bed. Yawning, Artemis swings his bedroom door close, and loosens his cobalt tie. He drudges to his tidy bed, and collapse. Soft, lemon scented sheets embrace him. It's over. We're free from hiding. Artemis untangles his tie and let his hand fall on his chest. Underneath his breast pocket, a lump presses against his palm. Springing off his back, he checks his pocket and feels silk. He tore it out then sighs in relief. The mystery object was Faith's black pantie. The scent of sex and sugar emanates from the fabric. She must have planted it on him when he wasn't paying attention after they had their fun. Now I have something to remember her by…

"Interrupting something?" A voice said behind him.

Adrenaline jolts him off the bed. Instinctively, he braces into a fighting stance, raising the fist clutching the panties.

The voice chuckles. "Cool it, Mudboy. It's me." Holly ripples into visibility, and flashes him a Cheshire-cat grin.

"A call would have been nice," Artemis huffs, lowering his hand.

"Just dropping by and…" Mismatched eyes squints at his fist. "Is that underwear?"

Artemis realizes he holds Faith's underwear in plain sight. Bright rouge stains his pale face, and throws his hand behind his back. "No…absolutely not! This is a…handkerchief! It was quite warm in the room so I took it out. Does it feel warm in here because I believe it's sweltering!"

Holding her knees, Holly roars with laughter. "Those are hers' isn't it!"

Artemis shoves the garment back in his pocket, "Uh, erm…no."

"You don't have to lie to me, you know." The elf puts her hands on her lips.

"So what do I owe this wonderful unannounced visit?" Red-faced, he crosses his arms. "Casual catch-up. Death defying missions?"

"Nothing too serious…at least not that serious." Gnawing at her bottom lip, Holly bows her head. She heeds Foaly's warning about Artemis snapping at her if she says something wrong. Though it would be difficult because the elf is notorious for pushing buttons. "You see… It's about your girlfriend."

That drop of information definitely caught his attention. Artemis's thick eyebrows furrow. "What about her?"

"You see," Holly began carefully, "Foaly found information about her…"

"Such as?" He already doesn't like it.

"Where she came from…what she does for a living."

"Holly-"

"Do you love her Artemis," Holly blurts. Her mismatched eyes examine his skull, hoping for a genuine answer.

The doubtful question struck him. Did the elf not see at the mall how he feels? Holly and Juliet had a front row seat of his affection. He kissed Faith in front of them. They cracked inside jokes and shared humorous tales of their romantic adventures. Coming from an anti-social intellectual, if those were not signs of love, he didn't know what were. "Of course I do."

"I mean…do you love her, for her?" Holly struggles to say the right words without sounding harsh or worse a cop to her best friend.

"You are stumbling over your words. Clearly, you have something to say."

Holly hopped on his bed, and placed her helmet to the side. She took a deep breath, "I don't think you're in this relationship for the right reasons."

"Excuse me?"

"She's very pretty…well, according to human standards."

"Yes, she is…"

"And you two are very… close." Holly gestures circular motions with her hands, hoping he catch her drift.

The drift bounces off of him and lands nowhere. His vacant expression hardens for a direct answer. Holly drops her hands and groans.

"Is sex clouding your judgment on her?" The elf blurts.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Artemis exclaims.

Holly draws circles on his bed covers. "Well…I noticed how…different you act with her…and coincidently you two are sleeping together. It's just that with her past and her present all this seems a little… fishy."

"You also think she's using me" Artemis hands tighten to fists, his eyes slant and brewing.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Holly said in a gentle tone. "I don't want to see you hurt by a felon."

"She is not a felon." He punctuated each word with harsh authority.

"I know it's hard to hear, but her record says that she is. She might have killed people Artemis. You have to admit that's bad."

"I am aware that it's a possibility," Artemis shakes his head, "But she has her reasons."

"What could justify murder," Holly raises her voice.

"The same justification I made for stealing: family."

Holly bit her lip, and gazes down.

"I confess, later on it became more about thrills, but when I lost my father, mother was ill, and my livelihood was at stake. I was a child being pushed against the wall and forced to act."

Cold calculating eyes plucking at your mind, and frightening determination. The elf thought Artemis was driven by greed, but when she found out about his father Holly saw him in a completely different light. A boy doing everything he could to save his family.

Artemis pockets his hands, and gazes down. "When she and her family came to Ireland, they were lost children. Had nothing. She found an opportunity and snatched it regardless of the price. Was there another way? Maybe. But she needed to make a choice. And she didn't have the luxury of time to think it over. It was do or die."

"I don't blame her for trying to survive. I just don't want to see you resort to your old ways."

"I'm not." Those days were over for him. He had seen too many people get hurt over his criminal schemes. "She doesn't tempt me to do criminal actions if that's what you are implying. Faith hates crime just as much as you do. She is good. You saw it for yourself."

At first glance, Faith Holloway intimidated Holly. The elf saw a woman who won the affection of Artemis Fowl, a prodigy prone to peril and grand schemes since they first met when he was twelve. Except the elf and maybe Minerva, a genius rivaling him, Artemis had shown little interest in women. But this new girl was a mere mortal capable of keeping a man like Artemis grounded.

Holly grabs her helmet and tucks it under her arm. "Looks like you're serious about her. You might be right that she is good. Or good at pretending."

Artemis shakes his head. "You underestimate me, Holly. By now you should know that is a huge mistake."

Holly snorts. "Remember who hits harder between us, Mudboy." She slams her fist into her palm.

Flashbacks of Holly socking Artemis twice hit him. First time happened in his manor when he kidnapped her for gold. Second time when they were on a rescue mission to save his father in the Arctic. Holly's mean right-hook was enough to leave a person dizzy for weeks. She flashes him a mischievous toothy smile. He shivers. Best to keep on her good side.

"So violent." Artemis mutters. "Goblins must be trembling with fear of you by now."

"If only I got the chance to arrest them." Holly sighs, "This new Commander Rhubarb is a major stickler. "

"Rhubarb? Like the dessert pie?"

The elf slides on her helmet, "Yeah, except he's totally not appetizing. He's been a suck up to the Council for ages, and they put him at the head of my unit somehow over Trouble."

"He is a favorite." Artemis hates to admit it because him and Trouble were definitely not on buddy-buddy terms. But the genius does admit the young commander was good at his job. "Popular among the council and other officers. I assume he didn't take the news well."

Holly snorts, "What do you think. He wanted to slam Rhubarb against the table in front of the Council."

"Do you suppose that it's about time for them…to pass the torches to a new generation."

"Don't start that with me again," Holly rolls her eyes. "The Council has been around for ages comprised by the best."

"Hundreds of years ago," Artemis argued. "The ones who put them in their seats are long gone, and this Council are on medication for bowel movements."

Holly flips the goggles over her eyes. "They are wise…"

"Old, is the best description. Old men stuck in their ways. You had to put up a fight to earn being a captain. And when we were together they went out of their way to make sure we would fail."

Holly frowns and tightens her utility belt around her tiny waist. "The council wasn't the only thing, Artemis."

Artemis combs his raven hair back. It would be best to not open this can of worms. "Right…"

Holly ascends with her wings to be at Artemis's height, her lips smile at him. "Everything is going good, right? Judging by those black undies."

The genius turns away, blushing profusely. "It was a handkerchief…"

She purses her lips and blew creating a funny cackling sound. "Yeah, right. But do something about that job of hers. It's dangerous."

Artemis rolls his eyes. "You sound like Butler."

"Me and Butler care about you. Neither of us want you on that dark path again."

"You're intentions are always good, Holly. That's what great about you." Artemis smiles. It was not smug or straining, but genuine.

"You said it was my ass," Holly chuckles and throws her arms around him.

"That was nice too." He hugged her back, kissing her forehead. They might be too complicated to be together, but they loved each other regardless. They said their goodbyes and Holly flew out. Her form faded into the night sky. A chill blew at Artemis' face and stood in front of the window. He admired the crescent moon for a minute or two before closing the window.

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