M'gann paced in front of the bathroom door with a worried expression. It had been 3 weeks since Wally passed away and, though Artemis had shown a brave face while on team missions, M'gann knew the wound was still fresh and that she was going through a severe depression. This week she had asked Kaldur if she could stay in the team's new headquarters for a while. She said she needed to surround herself with people or she would "go down the drain". That's what she'd said. Dick, whom no one had seen since he gave took his leave of absence heard Artemis was there and had decided to stay with the team as well. M'gann wasn't sure, but she thought that through Artemis Dick could feel the last pieces of Wally that remained in this plane of existence So he took this as an opportunity to be close to Artemis, to grieve with her, even though he said he was just looking after her. At around 1am M'gann had woken up to signs of distress from Artemis, her mind was screaming out. When she came out of her sleep M'gann could hear her sobs through the walls. She had hugged Artemis, held her tight, and then she'd asked if she could shower, so M'gann helped her into the bathroom and closed the door. But she couldn't go back to sleep. She was so scared Artemis would do something crazy in her grief, so she just paced outside the bathroom door, listening to the water from the shower hit the tub.

"M'gann?", she jumped at the sound of her name. It was Dick, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he walked towards her. "What are you doing up so late?"

She looked down. "It's Artemis. She…she wasn't doing very well. She asked me to help her to the shower so I did but-", she hesitated "I'm afraid she'll do something crazy so I'm keeping an eye on her…"

Dick looked down, a pained expression coming into his eyes. "I thought she was doing better…"

"I think that's what she wants us to believe." M'gann said quietly. "But at night…she misses him so much and she just-"

The tears came into M'gann's eyes and she brought her hand up to her mouth, surprised at the sudden pain she felt for her friend.

"I'm very worried about her, Dick." she said. "And I'm worried about you. I haven't seen you cry once and it's not healthy to hold everything in like this!"

"I can't- M'gann you don't understand-"

Dick was suddenly interrupted by a slam. The sound of something hard hitting the edge of the tub. The sound of a body slamming to the floor.

"Artemis!" M'gann exclaimed. Dick threw his body against the door and opened it by force. And there she was, Artemis, naked, vulnerable, and unconscious on the bathroom floor.

"Artemis!" M'gann exclaimed again running to her and assessing her vital signs. She was breathing and she seemed otherwise unharmed except for the bump on her head when she had fallen and the fact that she was unconscious. "She's fine." M'gann sighed with relief. "I think she just fainted."

Dick approached Artemis and covered her body with a towel before picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom. "M'gann, call Dinah and Dr. Randall. Let's make sure she's alright." he said, falling into the leader role.

"Right."


When Dinah and Oliver arrived, Dr. Randall was already seeing Artemis. Dick and M'gann waited silently outside the door.

"How is she?" Dinah asked.

"She conscious now, Dr. Randall is checking her." Dick answered.

Dinah put her hand on Oliver's shoulder before heading to the door. "I'll check on her."

When she entered the room her heart constricted at Artemis' appearance She had bags under her eyes and she looked so pale and tired. Oh Artemis, she thought, Why have you been hiding from us?

"Hello Dr. Randall." Dinah said before turning to Artemis and giving her a smile. "How is she doing?"

"I'm fine." Artemis said in a weak voice.

Dr. Randall gave Dinah a small smile. "She seems to have just fainted, but could I talk to you for a moment. In private."

"Of course." Dinah said, following the doctor into the next room.. "Artemis, I'll be right back."

Once the door was closed Dinah let out of a sigh and turned towards the doctor. "It seems she's going through more distress than she led us to believe."

"Why that may have certainly been the cause of this fainting spell," the doctor started, "there may be a physical cause for it as well."

Dinah frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean Artemis is pregnant." Dr. Randall stated simply.

Dinah stared at him, her eyes closing as she thought about Artemis and what was happening. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." said Dr. Randall. "I believe she's about 4 weeks along."

Dinah felt the sadness constrict around her lungs, taking the breath from her body. "Does she know?"

"No." the doctor said. "I thought it best if you informed her."

"Thank you, Dr. Randall." Dinah said.

The doctor nodded and left the room.

As Dinah walked back towards Artemis she wondered how the girl hadn't noticed any signs, but then realized she could've easily thought they were part of the pain she was going through.

"What did he say?" Artemis said, interrupting her thoughts, "Do I have some terminal disease or something like that?" She laughed bitterly.

Dinah gave her a small smile. "No, it's actually good news."

"Unless you're going to tell me Wally is alive, I fail to see what good news a doctor could have for me."

Dinah sat on the side of the bed and held her hand. "Artemis," she started, making the girl look into her eyes "you're pregnant."

Dinah say her eyes instantly fill with tears as she took the information in. "What?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Dinah held on tightly to her hand. "You're pregnant. About 4 weeks along, the doctor says."

"No." Artemis shakes her head as the tears start flowing steadily. "No, no, you can't do this to me now!"

"Artemis…" Dinah starts, pulling her closer.

"Why now, Dinah?!" she sobs, her eyes wild. "Why did I have to find out now?! Why couldn't I know before?! If I'd told him he wouldn't have gone, he would've stayed with me that day! He would still be here!"

Dinah just lets her cry out and holds her tightly to her chest.

"He always wanted this!" Artemis cried. "It's what he always wanted, I wasn't sure, but he wanted to have kids so badly…why did you leave now? Wally…"

Artemis crumbles against Dinah, her whole body becoming heavy as the sobs and the pain erupts from her. How could he do this to her? How could he leave her now when she needs him the most?

"Artemis…" Dinah starts, "You have someone to live for now, someone to fight for, someone to protect. Wally would've wanted you to do that. You've been given a little person that has a little bit of Wally in him…or her, someone to remember him by. A chance of a new life."

Dinah smiled at Artemis through her own tears.

Artemis gave a watery smile back. "Looks like we might have another speedster, huh?"

Dinah smiled.


It had taken Artemis a few hours to calm down and accept what was happening, but when she had she asked Dinah to call M'gann, Dick, Kaldur, Conner, the team that was at headquarters, and Oliver into the room so she could deliver the news.

They were gathered in a circled around her bed, all worried expressions and sadness. She felt on display, but she also felt safe. She felt at home.

"Don't look so worried, I'm not dying or anything." Artemis said as she stared at them through puffy eyes. "I have good news."

They seemed confused.

"I'm pregnant." and her eyes watered as soon as she said. Come on Artemis, you need to be stronger than this, someone else is depending on you know.

It was quite amusing to see their faces of shock and awe. How M'gann brought her hand to her mouth and tears flowed from her eyes. How Kaldur gave a small reassuring smile. How Oliver seemed completely shocked. How Conner was confused, and how Dick's eyes filled with grief yet no tears flowed.

M'gann recovered first. She ran towards Artemis and hugged her tightly offering a quite "Congratulations."

Everyone else followed with well wishes except Dick, who stayed against the wall, staring at Artemis but seeing right through her. As everyone started leaving the room he finally approached her, sitting softly next to her.

"So there's a little bit of him growing inside you?" he asked, and for a moment she saw a little boy rather than a grown up one.

"That's how it works." she smiled, putting a hand gently on her abdomen.

Dick suddenly turned to her, a serious and intense look in his eyes.

"I will protect you." he started. "Both of you. I swear, nothing will ever happen to either of you."

"I know you will." she said.

"Artemis, I-"

"Hey," she put a hand of his cheek. "You can let go now Dick, I'll be strong this time."

And finally the tears flowed from his eyes as a primal sound tore itself from his throat. There was much pain he had been holding back because he had to be the strong one. But now Artemis was holding him and a little speedster was growing in her belly. It was the strange mix of pain and sadness and pleasure and just missing him. He was so glad he could finally give in.

Artemis ran hers hands through his hair and held him until morning, and he just cried and touched her belly to reassure himself Wally was there.

And Artemis finally felt hope fill her up, hope for a life she thought she'd lost forever.

All was well.