Butler was also not surprised when Foaly and half a tech squad was in the manor lobby to meet them, along with his parents.
“Mother, Father?” Artemis said quizzically, accepting his mother’s embrace.
“Oh Arty, we missed you. Where were you? We were feeling so lonely in this big empty house with no fairies in it at all. Artemis tossed Foaly a withering look.
“My, you’ve grown,” his mother went on. her beautiful furrowed a bit in recognition. “you remind me of someone.” Holly and Artemis blanched. “I wish I could remember who.”
“No, no you don’t,”Artemis insisted. “Now, mother, if you’ll excuse me.” He stalked toward where Foaly bemusedly stood. “I need to talk with the fairies that aren’t here.”
“the demons?” Holly asked immediately when they were out of earshot.
“Picked them up a week ago.” Foaly huffed. “Thanks for the warning, by the way. Nearly lost them all in the ocean. If it hadn’t been for Major Kelp’s quick thinking…”
“Why are you here, foaly?” Artemis asked. “I mean. how did you know WE’D be here?”
“You left quite a time fingerprint.” Foaly explained. “Though I expect you tried hard not to. I figured from their you’d try to survive, though I really didn’t expect to see you again, Mudboy.” Foaly admitted apologetically. “Until Qwan told me you stole some magic, I thought you wre a goner. And even then, I questioned.”
“Well, I’m here, and so are the demons.” Artemis Fowl II sighed as he walked them to their shuttle. “Happily ever after.”
Holly stood with him till the rest of the fairies were in the shuttle.
“I guess this is it.” Artemis prompted lamely.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” Holly replied. Then, she reached up, pulled down his face, and kissed him on the cheek. “Oh,” they breathed in unison.
“I probably shouldn’t have…”
“Relax,” Artemis chuckled, “I think I’ve outgrown puberty by a few hundred years.”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “Well, bye Artemis.”
“Call me,” he called after her, suddenly feeling rediculously like the teenager he physically was. she smiled.
“I will.” She said, as the door slid closed. It hadn’t been an hour before his ring phone vibrated softly on his finger. He jumped slightly at the feel. It hadn’t done that in five hundred years.
“Hello?” He said into her phone.
“Hi Artemis.”
“Hi, Holly.”

THE END.

Some other stories by iesnoth:

• STORYLINE CONTEST!!!!
• Artemis Fowl: the forgotten times