It was Christmas Eve. Artemis Fowl II was in his room, meditating. Butler came in. “Artemis?” asked Butler in a concerned voice. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” answered Artemis. “It’s no big deal.” “Artemis,” said Butler sternly. “It’s a very big deal,” Artemis was quite for a moment. Then, he looked Butler in the eyes. “No, it isn’t,” he said in a quiet voice.
      At dinner time, he went downstairs. He took his seat at the table next to his younger brother, Myles. The Christmas tree was towering high above them. Artemis looked at it. It was pretty big. Artemis hadn’t been in the Christmas spirit lately. It had started when Beckett was in the hospital. He had pneumonia. He had got it from his last adventure with Artemis in the Himalayan mountain range. It had taken many days to get him to a hospital. But by then, it was too late. Beckett had died the next day. The remaining Fowls had hardly talked the next few days. Angeline Fowl tried to brighten things up by buying an oversized artificial Christmas tree, and hanging wreaths all around the house (Artemis came by later and threw most of them away). Things just hadn’t been the same without Beckett.

      They ate in silence and when they were all finished eating, they left the table one by one. All except Artemis. He just sat there staring at the seat where Beckett use to sit. He heaved a great sigh, got up, and went to the Christmas tree. He stayed there gazing at its beauty. He lay there into the late hours of the night. Gazing… gazing…

      Artemis was awakened by a knock at the door. He got up slowly and walked quietly to the door. He opened it. His eyes widened. “Beckett?” he whispered horsely. Beckett looked up. “Artemis,” he said. “There’s no time to explain. I only have a short time to see you.” Artemis’s eyes were filling up with tears. “I just wanted to say sorry,” said Beckett. “For all the things I did in my life. I’m sorry for everything I stole from you. I’m sorry for every midnight snack I stole from the kitchen. I’m sorry for cheating at every game that I ever played at. Tell them that,” “Beckett, I’m sorry for-” began Artemis. But before he could finish Beckett placed something into Artemis’s hand. He looked down. There, in the the palm of his left hand was a silver coin. On it was one word and one word only: Family. Artemis looked up, his eyes full of tears. But Beckett was gone. Artemis slowly closed the door. He went and sat once again, by the Christmas tree. There, Artemis Fowl II did something that he had never done before. He cried. He cried for Beckett. After many long minutes, Artemis got up, put the coin in his pocket, walked up to his room, and lay down. After a while, his eyes closed, and he drifted into sleep once more.

      Artemis woke with a start. It was Christmas morning. He lay there for a moment with his eyes closed. Then, he sat up. He was next to the Christmas tree. He slowly reached into his pocket, expecting to feel the silver coin. There was nothing there. Artemis was still for a moment. Then he walked into the kitchen, and sat down. One by one, his family came and sat down beside him. When they were all there, Artemis smiled. Family. He was with his family. That was all he wanted for Christmas that year, family. After all the presents were opened, they gathered around the Christmas tree. Artemis smiled at them all. He smiled at his family.

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• Another Small Update (8)
• OK
• Myles Bully Trouble
• Mulch, Don't Sue the Postal Service!
• The Diary of Myles Fowl