I thought, Why should we be wondering about Holly’s past when I can write it? So, here it is. Enjoy it. Oh, and please review.

10 year old Holly flew out of the kitchen and latched onto her father’s leg. “Daddy, where are you going?”

“I’m going to work, Holly.” replied her father, Adrian Short.

“Where do you work?” Holly said, clutching his leg ever tighter.

“I work at the LEP. Holly, please let go, you’re going to make me late!”

Holly’s mother rushed out of the kitchen and began to pry her fingers away. “Holly, let your father go to work.” Virga Short said.

“Daddy, can I go to work with you?”

“Not today baby.” Adrian said, heading out the door.

“Daddy-”

“Holly, ask me when I get home!” Holly waited patiently for her father to get home. No sooner was he through the door then Holly rushed up to him and said

“Daddy, can I go to work with you tomorrow?”

“Yes! Holly, let me sit down., please.” The next day Adrian came into work with Holly on his shoulders. On his way to the office, he saw one of his coworkers. “Julius, over here!”

Major Julius Root stopped and came over. “And who is this?” He asked, ruffling Holly’s hair.

“This is my daughter Holly, Major.”

“Well isn’t she cute.” he said.

“Your skin is really red!” cried Holly, noticing his trademark flushed complexion.

“Holly!” said her father hurriedly. Root just chuckled. Then he straightened up.

“Short, I’m not paying you to run a daycare center! Get back to work!” he said gruffly. But there was a smile on his face.

“Yes, sir!” Adrian said, and carried Holly towards his office. That night, Adrian got an urgent call from police plaza.

“I gotta go!” he said, kissing his wife and daughter on the cheek. “There’s some type of emergency at work.”

“Can I come with you?” Holly asked, her hazel eyes piercing his.

“Not right now Holly. Maybe some other time.” Holly’s father never came home. Virga broke it to her gently.

“Holly, Daddy has gone somewhere.”

“Where did he go, Mommy?”

“He went to heaven.”

“How long will he be there?”

“He will be gone for a very long time.” Holly’s face fell.

“Why did Daddy have to go to heaven?” Virga looked into Holly’s innocent young face.

“I don’t know why, Holly.”

“Is heaven a good place?”

“Yes, Holly, it’s even better than here.” Holly’s features brightened.

“As long as Daddy’s happy.”

LEP Recruitment Office, 50 years later

 

Holly walked into the LEP recruitment office. Trouble Kelp groaned internally. Not another girl! This one couldn’t be more than 60. First that bimbo, Frond, and now this girl. What was the LEP? A Playboy photo shoot?

“Name?” he asked without even looking up.

“Holly Short.” Something in her voice made him look up. There was so much determination and drive in that simple statement. Trouble instantly took more interest in this pretty elf.

“And why do you want to join the LEP?”

“When I was ten, my father Adrian Short was killed by a common criminal. Ever since then I’ve wanted to join the LEP to prevent that from happening again.” Holly noticed the expression and her fiery temper arose. “And nobody is going to stand in the way of that!”

“Okay, okay! I see that your feisty! I’ll see what I can do. Your father was Adrian Short? He’s literally a legend in the LEP!”

Holly blushed. “I don’t remember him much. Mom said I inherited his personality.” Holly noticed his nametag. “Trouble?”

It was Trouble’s turn to blush. “Yeah, I just joined the LEP and I chose that name at my manhood ceremony.”

“I like it.” Holly said. She turned to leave.

“Wait! Holly!”

“Yes Trouble?”

“Do you- do you want to meet me for dinner tonight?”

Holly smiled. “I’ll call you.”

 

20 years later, Holly was kidnapped by the child prodigy Artemis Fowl.

30 years later she gave birth to Trouble’s child, Hazel Adrian Virga Kelp. As Holly held her newborn baby girl, she looked into Trouble’s caring face and thought, I wish Dad could see me now. I dedicate this story and most of my others to Vinyaya, who has read and reviewed all of my stories so far and has been of great support. Thanks for being there. 

 

Some other stories by 1crazyhollyfan:

• Shifting Sands
• Still here.
• Heaven at Christmas
• "Foaly's Visit" announcement
• The Long Awaited Part 3 of The Breakup!