The night was as still as a corpse sleeping peacefully in it’s grave. In Fowl Manor all was dull except for one room that was never dull. This room belonged to Artemis Fowl II. He was twenty three now and in a very serious relationship with Minerva Paradizo. He had long since given up on the hope of Holly taking an interest in him. She had fallen for trouble and now they are married and Holly is pregnant with her first child, Artemis was to be the godfather. Artemis was trying to figure out how best to propose to Minerva. He was driving himself out of his mind! ‘What good is being a genius if you can’t even plan a stupid proposal?’ thought Artemis discarding yet another terrible plan. “I hate to do this but….” Artemis trailed off as he reached for the communicator. He pushed a series of buttons and waited. Trouble’s face appeared on the screen. “Oh hey Artemis! What’s eatin’ you?” Trouble asked seeing Artemis look so stressed made people worry. “How fast can you be here?” Artemis asked a hint of desperation in his voice. “An hour. Are you alright?” Trouble asked his brow creased with worry. Artemis nodded and shut the communicator off. “An hour?” he moaned. He was definitely not being himself. He groaned again. “Artemis?” came Butler’s voice from down the stairs. Artemis looked towards the door as Butler came in. Butler, while still having so much muscle, looked old. he strode confidently into Artemis’s room as if his age didn’t bother him. “I-I am perfectly fine, Domovoi.” Artemis said steadying his voice. Butler raised a brow. “I know you better then that Artemis,” Butler said sitting next to Artemis on his bed. “What’s going on with you?” Just then someone came pounding up the stairs. A male fairy in all black with helmet had his head bent, hands resting on his knees, and panting heavily. The visor went up on the helmet and Trouble gaze upward at Artemis smiling. “An hour?” Artemis asked. It was his turn to raise an eye brow. “Well I was getting Holly settled and then I told her where I was about to go as soon as she was comfy. She flipped out at me and made me leave right away. She told me to stop fussing because she can take of herself,” Trouble was still smiling. “Pregnant women.” he said laughing. Artemis nodded. Butler stared at Trouble for a second before walking out of the room. “So what did you need me for?” Trouble asked sitting beside Artemis as Butler had done. “I need you to help me propose to Minerva.” Artemis said. Trouble stared at Artemis all of two seconds before he burst out laughing. “That’s what you c-called me for? The great child Prodigy can’t propose to his girlfriend? Oh that’s rich!” Trouble said in between fits of laughter. Artemis glared at Trouble. Trouble was on the ground now. Tears coming from his eyes. Artemis’s face changed suddenly desperate. “Trouble please! This is serious!” Artemis said in exasperation. Trouble stopped laughing with some difficulty but he managed. “Why did you just ask your dad?” He asked sitting back up on the bed. “He’s in Hawaii with mother on vacation.” Artemis sighed and shook his head. Trouble thought for a moment. “Did you get permission from her dad?” Trouble asked, to his utter amazement Artemis nodded. “Alright then here is what you do.” Trouble got up and crossed the room to the phone. He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear. “Hello? Is this Miss Paradizo? Oh hello. This is Trouble Kelp. Yes you were at my wedding. Why thank you. Um Miss Paradizo? Oh ok Minerva? Will you please come to Artemis’s house? Yes, I’d say it was quite ergent. No he’s not hurt. You’ll see.” With that he hung up the phone. He turned to Artemis with a delightfuly evil smile. “You?…..what?…..How?….Why?….” Artemis was breathless. Had he just done what he thought he just did? “Well Artemis nothing like a timer to make you think harder eh?” Trouble said laughing. Artemis could have sworn he saw a spaded tail and horns on Trouble. Within an hour the door bell rang. Artemis had raked his brain and nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nodda. Light footsteps moving fast came up the stairs. Minerva threw open the door. “Arty? What’s wrong?” she asked. Artemis’s eyes softened. ‘She’s even beautiful when she’s worried.’ he thought in a daze. Trouble elbowed Artemis in the ribs. Trouble rolled his eyes and snatched the velvet box from Artemis’s dresser. He walked gracefully over to Minerva dragging Artemis behind him. Minerva looked slightly puzzled. Trouble yanked hard on Artemis’s hand pulling him down on one knee. He shoved the box into Artemis’s hand and gave him a “She’s not going to wait their silently forever” look. Artemis took a deep breath and when he looked into Minerva’s eyes he didn’t feel scared anymore. His heart raced. “Minerva….” Artemis began. Minerva looked as if she were about to faint. “Will you marry me?” He asked. “Oh Artemis! Yes, yes I will!” she cried wrapping him in a tight hug and covering him with kisses. Trouble smiled. Artemis slipped the diamond onto her finger. She smiled and her eyes seemed to dance. She kissed Artemis again. Trouble smiled and snuck out silently. He gave Butler the thumbs up and left the house. As soon as no one could hear him Butler grumbled, “Well it’s about time.”

Some other stories by Jade Malice:

• ~Hello everyone~
• ~Headstrong~
• And she's Back!
• ~Moluccella is the flower of rivalry~
• ~Black is the color of loneliness~