Author's note: Hi, Guys. Fast updates-This story, for the moment, is a one shot. I might add onto it later, but I wanted to write this story and get a tiny bit of Spitfire feels post angsty, dear lord where's Wally (unintentional pun is unintentional). So Emerald story idea on hiatus until… until I finish the damn thing. Again, please let me know if you'd like to see anything in particular for a story, I will credit you.
Artemis's hands reach out, searching for her husband's warm body. Coming up with empty sheets, she slowly peels her eyes open. Brittle December sunlight trickles through the curtains, spreading across the patchwork quilt. Blonde hair falls into her eyes as she slips out of bed. Grabbing a ponytail holder from her dresser, she passes by the bedroom mirror and pauses.
Her normally slim figure seems warped, particularly her middle. Artemis's belly protrudes out and her t-shirt is slightly too tight . Her hands drift over her torso, where her and Wally's baby lives. Artemis smiles, closing her gray eyes. She pulls up the image of a young man she had met three years ago. A bright smile, curious gray eyes under messy dark red locks, a constant bubbling energy that seemed to affect everyone around him. Her Matt.
Two muscular arms wrap around her and a pair of warm lips press against her neck. She turns, opening her eyes, and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Good morning, beautiful," Wally murmurs against her lips," Or maybe good afternoon would be closer. It's almost 12:30."
"Good morning," She sighs happily, ignoring the teasing in his last comment," Been working on the nursery?"
Wally chuckles," What can I say? I'm nervous. And when I'm nervous, I need to work on something."
"I know, I'm nervous too," She gives him a half glare," Though I'm not allowed to see the damn nursery let alone help with it."
Wally gives her the lopsided grin that she fell in love with all those years ago. One that's infuriating as well as calming.
"Well, would you like to see it now?" Artemis raises her eyebrows in surprise.
"You finished?" She asks.
"Just now. Come on." He gently pulls her down the hall, each stopping to pet kent, their mixed boxer. Down the hall, Wally opens the door to their old office.
"Oh," The small exclamation seem to say it all. The walls are a soft, calming evergreen. The crib and dresser a clean white. Artemis drifts inward, one hand on her pregnant belly. The sheets in the crib are dark red and she sees the small teddy bear she had once mocked Wally for keeping on top of a small pillow. A rocking chair sits in the corner next to a white bookshelf crammed full of books. Artemis looks at Wally, who smiles shyly.
"Do you like it?" He asks. Tears in her eyes, she nods, quickly walking back to him and pressing her face into his shoulder. He holds her," Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," She pulls back to look at him," I just...I can't believe you did all this."
"Well I had help," He admits sheepishly," My mom gave me most of the books and your mom helped choose the paint and-"
Artemis cuts him off with a kiss. He immediately presses back, his hand settling on her hips. Artemis pulls away," Thank you, Wally."
"Well, you're creating a kickass mini us so I figured this is something I can do for you," He rests his forehead against hers. They stand there for a moment, each content with the other's presence. Artemis winces as she feels a sharp kick in her side.
"Matty doesn't like Mommy and Daddy being together?" Wally teases.
"Mommy and Daddy being together is what made Matty," Artemis retorts. She takes one more glance at the room, a small smile on her lips, before following Wally out. Despite the inevitable arrival of their son, today is going to be busy. Artemis is graduating from college this afternoon and there's a party celebrating everyone who's graduated this last year. Wally's about six months from finishing his bachelors in Gamma Radiation, and then onto the Master's degree. Artemis had technically finished her degree in June and had been working at social services since then.
As Wally changes his clothes, he grins to himself. Almost three and a half years ago, he had been sent to an alternate plane. He had spent six months not sure where he was or what was going on. Then a certain blonde save his life. Not artemis, though she had tried her damndest. No. His daughter. The girl with her mother's shining hair, a smirk on her lips, and his mischievous green eyes.
Both Wally and Artemis are sad that they already know how many children they would have and how they looked, but they're still excited still. They had seen their nearly adult children, but they still get those early days. The giddy and terrifying days of being a first time parent.
Jesus, after years of being shot at, kidnapped, tortured, nearly murdered, it's becoming a father that scares him. Artemis and he came from completely different homes so their ideas of parenting are probably going to clash. Also they're heroes again. There's still this need to protect their children and also to make sure the children can protect themselves. The league has already taken precautions. Artemis had been forced to take maternity leave, which pissed her off. More so that they ordered her rather than asking.
"Ever my little spitfire," He grins. He pulls on his nicer button down shirt and begins tying his bright red tie.
"Wally…" A rather defeated Artemis comes out of the steaming bathroom, damp hair pulled into a messy bun. Artemis gives him a pouting look that makes him stifle a laugh," I can't zip my dress up."
Wally helps zip up the dark green fabric, which catches a bit as he pulls it just over her belly. Artemis murmurs a thanks, wincing.
"He really likes kicking you, doesn't he," Wally laughs.
"He's impatient, like his father," Artemis shoots back.
"I believe it was his mother's impatience that got us to this point," Artemis flips him off, which makes him laugh. She goes back into the bathroom and he hears her hair dryer going. Wally leaves their room and goes into the living room. Their old team would be here soon to catch up and hang out until they had to leave for the graduation. Wally looks at kent, who trots up, tail wagging happily," Hey, Buddy. Ready to be a big brother?"
Kent barks, nuzzling Wally's Leg. Wally scratches him behind the ears. Kent jerks away, grabbing a rope with a knot in it (the longest lasting toy he had)
"Kill it, Kent, Kill it." Wally Watches as the dog slams the toy into the ground. BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM! Kent looks at his adoptive father waiting for instruction," It is dead? Huh, did you kill it, Kent?"
Kent seems a little confused, but then Artemis comes around the corner, shaking her head.
"That at me or the dog?" He asks as she sits next to him on the couch.
"Yes," She answers. Kent jumps up beside his surrogate mother, resting his head on her knee," So many things to do."
"Yep," Wally bumps her shoulder," But we like a challenge."
Artemis snorts," Maybe you do. I'm dreaming of sweats and reruns of shitty cop shows."
Wally laughs at that image. It's actually how he's found her on her off days since June. Artemis looks at their apartment. He grins, before whispering in her ear," Hard to believe we've been here four years, right? If these walls could talk-"
"Wally, I really hope you're getting the sex jokes out now because I swear to god if you say something like that infront of our parents or the league, I will strangle you." She gives him a proper glare.
"You know, I'm sure you're going to be great mom when it comes to that glare," Wally says with a wink and a smile. Artemis sticks her tongue out at him. Wally laughs," and I'm the childish one."
Artemis shoves his shoulder with hers. Wally kisses her before moving to the kitchen. He pulls out some of the food they made a few days earlier, after the busy christmas season. Wally grunts," Why the hell did they decide to have your graduation on the 30th?"
"I don't know. They probably thought that families would be together or whatever," Artemis rolls forward, stumbling as she stands," Damn. After this I will never complain about training ever again."
"So you'll find something else to complain about?" He asks innocently.
"Fuck you, Mr. West."
"You already did, Mrs. West," He can't see her, but he knows she's rolling her eyes. Artemis's arms wrap around him, leaning over her rotund belly to press her cheek to his back. He covers her hands with his. They stand there silently, each relishing the others warm embrace. Wally feels a dull thump to the middle of his spine," God damn, he's active today."
"You're telling me," Artemis groans.
"One more day," Wally reminds her.
Artemis snorts," Yeah, one more day and then we're getting less sleep than we already are."
"Then baby number 2," Wally wiggles his eyebrows.
"Let's get Matty here first before we start on Jani." Both names, the latter having once been hard and bitter to say, feel at home in her mouth. Her son and daughter. Her Matt and Jania.
"We both know patience is not our forte," Wally teases. Artemis laughs at the joke this time, and he memorizes the sound. It's not the sharp heh she had occasionally given him before they could stand each other and not the soft giggles after they started dating or the sexy throat laugh that she gives him in the bedroom. It's a rich belly laugh that she only gives him.
"I know," She kisses his neck, her warm breath leaving goosebumps on his skin. The bell rings forcing them apart.
"Hey, guys," Their martian friend beams as she steps in followed by her husband, Conner. M'gann hugs Artemis tightly," You look amazing."
"I look like a blimp," Artemis says with a snort before hugging Conner.
"I'm sure that comes with carrying any kid, but I can see it being worse with a speedster's kid," Conner muses," I mean, we've seen how much Wally eats."
"HEY!" Wally protests from the kitchen, a carrot hanging from his mouth," I resent that remark."
"Wally," Artemis laughs," You're turning red."
There's another knock. Kaldur and Dick join the party. M'gann asks to see the nursery, so Artemis shows her to the room.
"So, Wally, are you nervous?" Kaldur asks.
"About what?" Wally grins cockily," I don't do nervous."
"He's terrified," Dick says with a half laugh.
"Dude," Wally gives him an annoyed glare," Do I need to remind you about your kids? Or one in particular?"
Dick smirks," Mine are about a year or so away so please do."
Wally simply retorts with," My son ends up with your daughter."
"Fuck you," Dick rebuttals.
In the nursery a similar conversation takes place.
"So you aren't worried?" M'gann asks.
Artemis runs her hands across her belly as she rocks in the rocking chair," I guess, but I've been working with kids that have physical and mental abnormalities, so it's not as scary as it once was."
"Still…"
"M'gann, Matty having Asperger's is the least of his worries," Artemis winces as a sharp pain comes from her lower abdomen," though with this kick he's got, I'm sure he'll be fine no matter what."
"How's Wally handled the whole pregnancy?" M'gann asks," Something tells me the cool, calm act that he's had isn't totally true."
"He's… I'm not sure. He's supportive and has put up with my even shorter temper well. Some nights I'll wake up and he'll have his arms around me, one hand on Matty. Then he's annoyingly protective and I have to physically stop myself from punching him in the damn face," Artemis looks around the nursery," But he did all this for our family. I can't complain I guess. What about you and Connor? Thinking about kids?"
"Sort of. We're not 100% sure if we can have any, but I'd love to have one or two."
"You were always good with Gar," Artemis notes.
"Things were different with Gar though. I met him when he was 9. He was barely 10 when his mom and dad died. It wasn't so much as being a mom as being his sister and friend." M'gann sighs as she thinks of her 17 year old brother.
"Are things okay with him and Raven?"
"You're guess is as good as mine. Dick lives with them so he probably knows." Both women hear arguing from the living room," Is that Wally or Dick?"
Artemis grunts as she rises from the chair," If we hear the word aster, probably Dick."
"Or traught," M'gann giggles. Artemis laughs along as they remember the odd things Dick would say at 13. They leave the room and find Kaldur chatting with Connor in the kitchen while Dick and Wally bicker.
"What's Going on?" Artemis asks, taking a sandwich from one of the plates.
"They seem to be arguing about which one of them would adapt the best if sent back in time," Kaldur informs her. Artemis rolls her eyes, then winces.
"You ok?" Connor asks.
"Wally's son has been kicking me all fucking morning," Artemis explains, rubbing her throbbing side with a grimace.
"He's probably saying 'Mommy, I'm ready to come out now,'" M'gann teases.
"Well, Mommy says that he had 10 hours to go," Artemis murmurs.
"You're an ass, Dick," Wally half shouts.
"That's my queue," Artemis moves to her husband and his best friend, shoving them apart. They open their mouths to argue, quickly shutting them as she glares at them," Do you really want to have your ass kicked by a pregnant woman?"
Neither says anything. The friends all settle into the seats around the room, talking about jobs and missions, reminiscing about the early days. Wally laughs as he remembers how much he and Dick tried to prove themselves to being leader. Dick thanks them for the billionth time for helping him with Halley's circus. M'gann nearly cries when they talk about finding out about her true heritage, still shocked they accepted her. They recount how much they had changed and talked, hopefully hypothetically, about who could win in a fight. Artemis leans against Wally at several points, a grimace on her face.
"You ok?" Dick asks," Is Wally's kid already a pain in the ass?"
"Well, genetically it was bound to happen," Artemis says dryly. Wally chuckles nervously," I'm fine. He's not suppose to be here til tomorrow."
"Still Mathew Isaac?" Kaldur asks.
"Of course." Wally answers. Artemis's eyes widen suddenly. Wally instantly freaks out," Are you ok? Is it Matty?! Is it time?! OH GOD!"
"Wallace West, Get a damn hold of yourself. I just remembered that thing we talked about last week," Artemis rolls her eyes.
"Oh! That thing," Wally's freckled cheeks turn bright red," You want to ask."
"Ask what?" The others look between each other confused.
"M'gann, Wally and I wanted to know if you'd like to be Matty's godmother." Artemis smiles at her best friend's surprised expression.
"But your sister…"
"It's really the most dependable," Her words are clipped as she says them," You've always been there for me, especially after Wally… after Antarctica."
"I agree with Artemis." Wally says," We know that if something happened to us you'd take the best care of him."
The martian's eyes overflow with tears," I'd love to be his godmother."
"Perfect," Wally turn to his male friends," Kaldur, we'd like you to be godfather."
"I would be honored," The Atlantean beams," Are you planning on to baptize?"
"No, but we figured once he's born we'll do some kind of ceremony or part or whatever," Artemis glances at the clock," Oh my god! We've got to go!"
The friends grab their coats and head to their cars. After a twenty minute drive, the ceremony itself lasts three hours with all the speeches and a thirty minute delay. Wally and friends cheer loudly as Artemis crosses the stage, robe tightly hugging her midsection. She finds them soon after.
"Congrats, babe," Wally kisses her, which mostly doesn't work because she's beaming," Guess I need to look for someone else's Vietnamese Lit papers to read."
"Oh, Shut up. Don't we have a part to go to?" Artemis asks as they steer through the crows. Outside she recognizes a few friends and goes to congratulate them. Wally watches his wife, smiling to himself. Her blonde hair pokes from under her hat, shining like polished gold. Her graceful limbs as she throws them around friends. Wally watches her and slowly falls in love all over again.
"Sorry," She gasps as she slides into their warm, beaten up station wagon," God It's cold out."
Her hand slide into his, her skin feeling like silk against his. Wally Lazily trails his thumb across her rough knuckles. They sit in a warm comfortable silence until they arrive at the hidden zeta tube. Wally and Artemis walk a short distance to the tube, waiting from for the rest to arrive.
"Aren't speedsters suppose to be warm," Artemis complains, shivering as she moves closer to Wally.
"December's a bitch," He chuckles, kissing the top of her head," come here."
He pulls her into a warm hug, his body vibrating slightly. Artemis smiles to herself, burrowing closer to him. This is one of the moments she loves him most, though last December, It was the two of them curled together on the couch, his hands tracing patterns on her back. Something similar happened in March and now she has a watermelon on her belly.
"Ugh, you two are so disturbingly cheesy."
"maybe you should find something turbing cheesy," Wally says with a wink. The team enters the Zeta tube and there is a slight tingling feeling. They all wince slightly when the noise hits them. Wally and Artemis remember how sensitive to noise the older version of their son had been and wince again. There's lots of movement going on, from people moving between food tables to Barry's twins, Dawn and Donny, chasing each other around the groups of adults.
"Auntie Artemis!" A small girl with dark red pigtails sprints at her. Wally catches the kid as she launches herself at Artemis," Uncle Wally!"
"Sorry, Lian, but Aunt Artemis can't do a running jump right now," Wally says, tickling his niece's belly. She giggles as her parents appear.
"Well if it isn't my little sister," Jade smiles that chesire cat grin. Roy takes his daughter, casually tossing the six year old over his shoulder.
"Hey, man, it's been a while," Wally shakes his brother-in-law's hand.
"I can see that," Roy nods at Artemis, who shoots sisterly barbs at Jade, with a grin.
"Well we had to catch up to you," Wally laughs.
"Boy or girl?"
"Boy."
"Well congrats, man," Lian wiggles free, dropping to the ground, rolling up until she stands and takes off running," and good luck."
Roy takes off, calling for Lian to stop. Wally notices Bart talking to Jaime in a corner. He slips through the crowd, nodding hellos to those who call his name.
"...Just weird seeing him…"
"I know, hermano, but we're close to figuring out how to get you home."
"If there's much of a home to go back to," Bart rubs his eyes in frustration," Not that there was much to begin with."
"Hey, Bart," Wally gives his cousin a quick hug," something wrong?"
"Just ready to go home," Bart admits with a shrug.
"I get that, man," Wally sympathizes," But now you have a degree that's going to help make life easier when you get back."
"An Associates degree in Human Services isn't exactly going to save the world," Jamie points out.
"No, but he'll be able to figure out what needs to be accomplished and how to accomplish it." Wally retorts.
The men talk for a while about school and missions. Jamie explains the workings of a rescue mission when both Bart and Wally's stomachs roar.
"Damn, you speedsters hungry," Jamie snorts.
"Metabolism," They grumble, moving towards the eating area. Wally notices a young woman with red hair speaking enthusiastically to Garfield and his girlfriend.
"That's Kor'i," Dick appears next to him.
"JESUS!" Wally jumps," We need to reinstate that rule where you wear a bell."
"Sorry," Dick says, clearly not meaning it," You were staring at her, so I thought you'd like to know her name."
"Kor'i," Wally takes a second to place the name," Koriand'r is the full version. She's your girlfriend?"
"Fiancee," Dick corrects.
"No shit?"
"Nope. I proposed on Christmas," Wally grins.
"Well, I'm happy for you, dude." Wally claps him on the back," Little circus bird brain is growing up."
"Jackass," Dick grins. Kor'i turns around. She beams when she sees Dick and flies over. As she lands in front of them, Wally notices her eyes are green all the way through. Dick kisses her and turns to wally," Kor'i, this is my friend Wally West."
"Yes, you have told me some about him," Kor'i's words are choppy and hesitant, like english isn't her first language," It is the most pleasure to meet you."
"Same," Wally catches Artemis's eyes as she talks to Zatanna and waves her over. He pulls her close, keeping his arm at her waist," My wife, Artemis West."
He loves those four words. They're second only to 'I love you too' and 'I will marry you.' Artemis shakes Kor'i's hand.
"Dick's mentioned you a few times. Congrats on the engagement." Artemis grimaces.
"Are you alright?" Kor'i asks kindly.
"Yeah," Artemis rubs her belly," My kid is just being a douche."
"How far are you?"
"9 months," Kor'i's eyes widen.
"I forget how odd you humans are."
"How long are pregnancies on…" Wally blanks on where she's from.
"Tameran," She supplies, smiling warmly," Approximately 1 earth month."
It's Wally and Artemis's turn to widen their eyes in surprise. Kor'i is called over by someone else and flies off, humming what sounds like a lullaby to herself. The couple looks at Dick before roaring with laughter.
"How the hell did you end up with her?" Wally snorts as Artemis holds onto his arm for balance.
"Oh, shut up." Dick grumbles.
"Seriously. Compared to her, you're a goddamn demon," Artemis wheezes. Dick flips them off before stalking away. Artemis and Wally each grab food and spend the next two hours talking with others. At 11 pm, when many of the partiers mull over excitement for the next year, the speeches start. A good portion of them come from the mentors, each praising the level of commitment and fortitude with their balance of being heroes and their civilian lives. The younger heroes make jokes at their friends, talking about bets made on who would crash first and who would break into the professor's' computer for answers and who would quit to be a hero full time. Just before midnight, Wally pulls a protesting Artemis to the stage.
"Hello everyone," Wally says to the crowd, a mischievous grin on his face," I wanted to say something about the beautiful woman beside me. I meet her when I was fifteen and a half, and to be completely honest, I hated her. I mean couldn't freaking stand her."
"The feeling was fairly mutual," Artemis says dryly, making the crowd laugh.
Wally continues," I thought that she was standoffish, a smart ass, and overall a massive bitch. The I meet this guy named Kent Nelson. For those who don't know, that was the original Dr. Fate. We, my team and I, were investigating his castle and Artemis and I were, naturally, fighting. Basically trying to one up each other and make the other feel like an idiot. She won most of the time. Anyway, we both grabbed for his cane. We went on a side adventure, kicked Klarion's ass, and I got the best advice in my entire life. 'Find yourself your own little spitfire, one who won't let you get away with nothing. For example, that-' and that was it. Considering he only meet Artemis, it should have been really easy to figure out what he meant. But it took like four months to get it through my thick skull that I like her and that was probably, no, definitely the best discovery of my entire life
"I know I have messed up and I've hurt her plenty of times without meaning to. We both left each other for months at a time and were both terrified that the other would be a body in the morgue before we saw them again. I know because there were nights I didn't want to sleep because I was convinced if i fell asleep, she would be dead by morning. Then there were the mornings I woke up and I swore I could hear her in the kitchen or in the shower, then I remembered and it felt like the whole world just shattered," his voice cracks a bit," When I was in Antarctica, when I realized I was going to… when I was going to disappear, I regretted never flat out telling Artemis how much I lover her."
Artemis takes his hand. He looks at her and everyone sees so much adoration and comfort in his gaze. He seems to speak only to her," At 15, I couldn't imagine a girl like her falling for a guy like me. Someone so intelligent, so confident, so stunningly gorgeous. Now at 25, I can appreciate all that she does for me and how fucking lucky I am to have her. I can't imagine having anyone else as part of my life or anyone else I would want to have a family with. And I couldn't be more proud of her for everything she's done-in school, as a hero, as a friend, a sister, and aunt. I couldn't be more proud of you, Arty, and I couldn't love you anymore than I do now."
"Wally…" She rests her head on her husband's shoulder, her hand sliding into his. Anyone who looks at them sees the purest form of love. Suddenly Artemis doubles over in pain. Wally grabs her to keep her from falling to the ground. One hand comes up to her stomach," Wally."
This time she say his name with fear rather than love. Artemis gasps in pain and both of them hear a dripping noise. Artemis squeezes Wally's shoulder in pain," Something's wrong."
Wonder Woman and Black Canary run onto the stage. Artemis fights them as they try to help her away from Wally. Painful tears fall from her eyes as pain flares in her lower abdomen, similar to what she had felt all day, but worse. A million times worse.
"Wally!" Artemis pleads. He hates seeing her cry and even more seeing her cry in pain.
"I've got you, Babe, I got you," Wally scoops her up into his arms bridal style. He's avoided doing this since he found out she was pregnant, terrified of dropping her and hurting the baby. Now's not a time to be afraid though," Do we have time to get to the hospital?
Artemis shakes her head, Canary voicing her agreement," If we try to move her now that she's in active labor, it could hurt the baby."
The last five words shoot arrows of fear into their hearts. Artemis cries out in pain, making even the most seasoned fighter wince," Fine, we'll do it her. But get him out. Please get Matty out safe."
"Take her to the med bay," Wally walks as quickly as he can without flashing. He hears garbled words of encouragement, that are drowned out by Artemis's pain. He kicks himself mentally, realizing now that some of what they believed to be kicks from their son were actually contractions. He gets to the med bay and helps her out of the dress and into a paper gown. Sweat and tears are already mixed on her face as Wally holds her hand.
"Make it stop, Wally," She sobs. Years of her father's training had left her with an unusually high pain tolerance, but the contractions from earlier could no way in heaven or hell prepare her for this. Wonder Woman and Canary arrive a few seconds after a particularly nasty contraction. Artemis feels safe with these women, knowing they will do everything in their power to help her deliver.
"Ok, Artemis," Wonder Woman says, as she looks between her legs." You're fully dilated, which would be concerning considering your water only broke a few minutes ago, but considering this kid's genetics-"
Artemis screams as a contraction forces all her muscles to tighten to the point that they must be ripping. She feels her son moving downwards.
"Artemis, the next contraction is going to be a bitch," Wonder Woman tells her," But I need you to push as hard as you can, focusing on the muscles in your lower back."
Wally adjusts her grip on his and kisses her gently," I love you."
"I love you too," She grits her teeth and pushes once the next contraction starts. Time slips away as Artemis focuses on the insurmountable task ahead of her. She's told to stop and start, push harder and faster, push slower and softer. Wally murmurs encouragements and squeezes her hand, just as hard as she squeezes his. Finally, finally, they hear a loud piercing cry.
"Congratulations, Mom and Dad," Wonder Woman smiles, holding a bloody baby in her hands," It's a boy."
"He's here," Artemis beams at her husband. Damp hair sticks to her pale face, yet Wally can't help but find her completely stunning.
"Dad, you want to cut the cord?" Wally's hands shake as he takes the scissors and cuts between the clamps. Wonder Woman hands the crying child to Black Canary.
"Wally, you go with him," Artemis commands. Wally kisses her and goes to the other side of the room. Canary washes the baby boy before weighing and measuring him, his wails bouncing around the room, his fists flying around his face. Tiny wisps of strawberry blonde hair cover his tiny head. Canary looks at Wally, laughing.
"You look like a first time, Dad," Canary hands him a box of tissues. Wally hadn't realized he was crying. Canary puts a diaper on the infant and wraps him in a blanket. The boy-his son- slowly stops crying as he observes the world around him. Canary picks up the bundled baby," Who wants to hold him first, Mom or Dad?"
"I do," Artemis says. Wonder Woman had cleaned her up so her legs are now covered with a blanket. Wally nods, wanting to be more composed before he holds his son. Canary hands the boy to his mother. Artemis looks at her child and Wally sees a softness to her eyes that he's only seen a handful of times before. Artemis strokes their son's plump cheek," Hello, Matthew Isaac. I'm the one whose kidneys you've been kicking for the past 9 months.
Wonder Woman and Canary start to leave, but Wally hugs them both before they get too far. He murmurs," Thank you. For everything."
Both women look at the young man before them. They can remember when he was a cocky, arrogant teen who believed her could do no wrong. They remember when they found out about the darker feelings that he had hidden away from those he loved. The harmful things they know he did to himself. The look of despair and hate and anger in his eyes when he looked at himself. Now they see this man before them, in love, alive, a father. Both women look at him and admire his growth from that teenager to now.
"It was our pleasure." They leave. Wally goes over to his wife, who scoots over in the bed so he can sit next to her and look at Matt. Now that he isn't crying and screaming, his pale blue eyes examine both his parents, head cocked to the side. He already looks like his mind is moving at ten thousand miles an hour.
"Hey, buddy," Wally whispers," I'm your daddy."
"Wally, we made this, him," Artemis looks at Wally," He's ours. Completely ours, no one else's."
"I know." Wally's scientific mind screams to argue with her about genetics and ancestry, but his heart shouts for his brain to shut the hell up," He's perfect."
"He kind of looks like a potato," Artemis giggles. Her son's tiny wrinkled skin did remind her of the starchy plant.
"Then he's our perfect potato." Wally kisses the top of her head," How does it feel to be a mommy?"
"Scary." She looks at him with those intelligent gray eyes that he fell in love with all those years ago," How does it feel to be a daddy?"
"Terrifying. But we're heroes. We do all sorts of things that scare the hell out of us."
"You should go tell everyone the news." Artemis tells him, smiling as Matty coos in her arms," Not that I don't love or trust Canary to do it, but I think it would be better if you did it."
"Of course," Wally beams. He kisses her and, as gently as he can, kisses the top of his son's head. The baby coos happily. Wally walks out of the room, pausing for a second in the hall. He's a father. All those months of waiting and hoping for the woman he loves to get through this just as safely as their child did, all the errands he ran to help with the cravings. All the times he held her hair back as she vomited into the toilet or the sink when she couldn't reach the bathroom in time. All of the bitching about her clothes not fitting. The several times that he found himself being at the dangerous end of her bow. It all resulted in that perfect baby boy.
"I'm a father," The words are warm and familiar on his lips. He's down the hall when he hears a scream," Artemis!"
He flashes down the hall. The doorway is covered in ice so thick that no matter how hard he smashes his fist against it, it won't crack. He looks up, hoping he can see into the room. Artemis is curled up on the bed, clutching Matty to her chest as tightly as she stares at a little boy. He can't be much older than five if that. His messy black hair falls into his face. Artemis seems to be pleading with him. The boy reaches for her and Wally watches in horror as a thin blue light appears around her. She's frozen. Wally begins vibrating his hands, trying to phase through. The little boy takes Matty from Artemis.
"NO!" Wally roars. The boy appears in front of him, holding his son. The boy's brown eyes have a shattered aspect to them, literally. Tiny cracks of light that split the irises in half. Wally can't help but look at the prominent strangulation marks on his tiny neck. The boy gives him a pitiful look, like a child forced to do something that he doesn't want to, before he vanishes. Taking Matt with him. The wall evaporates as Wally slams his shoulder into it and he tumbles to the ground. Artemis unfreezes, looking at her empty arms. She screams so loudly that it alerts every hero in tower. In the matter of minutes before two dozen heroes find Wally on the ground yelling and hitting the floor in frustration and Artemis sobbing, holding her arms to her chest.
"What happened?" Batman asks.
"Someone-Someone stole him," Artemis sobs, thinking that the pain of child labor was nothing compared to this," Someone stole my baby."
M'gann flies over and comforts her wailing friend. It takes Kaldur, Dick, and Connor to get Wally to stop yelling and beating his fists bloody. It takes ten minutes for both new parents to calm down. They tell them what happened. Immediately, the younger heroes bristle with agitation and are ready to run back to the zeta tubes to find Matty, but the older heroes stop them.
"If you all try to find the child now while you're like this, you'll be putting him in the line of fire. He could get hurt or worse killed." Batman snaps. Artemis cries harder, burying her face into M'gann's shoulder.
"Don't call him that." Wally growls. Everyone is shocked at his tone. Anger rages in his eyes and several of his friends lean away from him," Don't call my son the child like you don't know who he is. His name is Matthew Issac. He is eight pounds four ounces and twenty inches long. He has light blue eyes and light red hair. He is not some randomass civilian's kid who you will never have contact with again. He's our son and I swear to fucking God or whatever the hell is out there, if you think I will not tear that planet apart brick by brick with my bare fucking hands until I have him back safe with me and his mother, you have another thing coming."
His tone had risen until he was practically screaming at the mentors. Everything thing about him seems to be shaking as he stares them down. Batman's facial expression doesn't change in the slightest. Wally doesn't have time to move as something sticks him in the back of the neck. Wally's vision goes fuzzy and someone catches him. Artemis cries harder and the last thing he hears before blacking out is her begging for someone to save her family.
Wally wakes up more pissed off than when he was sedated. Artemis must have gone through a similar break down, because she lays still on the bed, in her hands his teddy bear from the nursery. Wally remembers her grabbing it and shoving it in her purse for sentimental reasons. Wally sits, rubbing the back of his head. A soft voice to his left whispers," Wally?"
He looks and sees M'gann," Have you all found Matty? How long have I been out?"
"It's almost seven in Palo Alto. So about three hours." She looks at the ground," He hasn't been found. They want me to take you back home when you woke up."
"Why? They don't trust me?" Wally asks bitterly.
"They want to make sure your family is safe, Wally." Artemis groans as she starts to stir. Wally stands up, ignoring the dizziness in his head. He strokes her hair back as her eyes open slowly.
"Where's our baby?" She slurs," Is he ok?"
"Babe, go back to sleep," Wally whispers gently,"Matty will be ok. I promise."
"mmmkay." Her eyes droop down," You're such a good daddy."
Wally kisses her forehead, holding his lips there so long that he hopes when he pulls away, Matty will be there. When he does, the only thing in Artemis's arms is the stuffed bear. His throat swells shut as he follows M'gann away from his wife.
"I want to stay." Wally protests weakly.
"Wally, they want you at home right now." M'gann punches her code into the zeta tube and they vanish.
"Why? So I can stare at the wall and wait for a phone call that goes one of two ways." He shoves his hands into his pockets searching for the keys to his car.
"Wally, I know you're angry-" M'gann begins but is interrupted by his scoff of disgust.
"M'gann. I got to see my child for less than ten minutes after he was born. I didn't get to hold him or anything. He's less than four hours old and he's spent most of his life in danger. And you expect me to be just angry?"
"Then what are you feeling?" M'gann asks. Wally runs a frustrated hand through his dark red hair.
"Helpless. I should be out there. Matty is alone, right now. He's a baby and he can't protect himself. Right now someone could be hurting him and we don't even know it. I can't help my son and that makes me feel so incredibly fucking useless." Wally feels a familiar build up in his chest, something he hasn't felt since he was sixteen. He bites down on his bottom lip, but can't bring himself to say anything else.
"I'm sorry." The car ride back to the apartment is silent. Wally stares out the window, trying to figure out the mathematical probability of him seeing Matty again. As infrequently as he and Artemis tried to think of their time traveling children from a few years ago, from the way Matt looked at him and Artemis, he seemed like he had hundreds of happy memories. He had to be ok. Didn't he?
They pull up to the apartment and Wally stares up at the window that he knows shows into the nursery. He had been so proud of himself just yesterday for finishing it, for doing something special for his child. And now he doesn't know if Matty will ever spend a night in that room. Wally cuts the engine and gives M'gann a tired look," You want coffee?"
"Sure." She follows him up," Do you want me to wait with you?"
"Why not? I don't have anything else to do." He opens the door. A sudden ringing noise reaches their ears. No, not a ringing noise, a crying noise. Wally tears down the hallway, yanking the door to the nursery open. His heart swells with joy and he bursts into tears. There laying in the crib he spent a week putting together is his son. M'gann shows up a second later, taking a sharp breath as she sees him.
"Wally. Give me one second. I want to make sure it's him," Part of Wally wants to punch her, the other half chids that half. He steps aside and for a minute, a solid minute, he watches M'gann lean over the crib with her fingers on his forehead. She sighs with relief," It's him. Wally, it's Matt."
Wally practically shoves her away. He gently picks up the crying baby, kissing every part of his son's tiny face that he can reach. The baby's skin is ice cold and he swears he sees dried blood behind his ear. Wally wraps his son in the warmest blanket in arms reach. Wally rocks side to side until the boy stops crying.
"Wally," M'gann smiles happily at him," I think we need to call the tower. Let them know."
"He needs food first. Let me heat up a bottle and then we call." Wally promises. In the med bay of the tower, the drugs finally release Artemis from their hold. Her hands go to her torso, so use to waking up and feeling her rotund belly. Where her son is safe. Her belly is flat now and the events from a few hours before hit her like a train. She can't breathe, and thin streams of tears fall from her eyes. She covers her mouth so anyone nearby won't be able hear her. She held Matty for five minutes. Five minutes, she held that precious little boy, whose eyes were gray like her's but curious like Wally's. His body was so warm that she can still feel his warmth against her chest.
The door opens and she stops crying immediately. Dick, Kaldur, and Conner stepping hesitantly into the room. Artemis uses the controls on her bed to sit up,"Hey."
"Artemis, you have a video call." Dick hands her his cell phone. She doesn't want to take it," It's Wally."
She shakes her head. She doesn't want to talk to him. Not after last night. She needs just a minute to think. Kaldur places his hand on top of her's," Artemis, He found Matty."
Artemis practically rips the phone from Dick's hand. On the screen she sees Matty, tiny and perfect and in his father's arms, sucking on a bottle. Artemis can't help the tiny sob of relief that escapes her. The camera moves up so she sees Wally's tear stained face.
"I got him, Artemis. He's- he's perfect. Hungry little kid, this is like his second bottle of that formula Cisco made."
"Where…" She can't bring herself to finish the sentence.
"He was in the nursery when M'gann and I got home. He had a cut behind his ear, but other than that, nothing. M'gann, can you put the camera back on the real star of the show." The camera moves back to Matty. Artemis takes in every single detail of her baby's face. His skin is a bit blotted and the warm blanket around him, something her mother made her when she found out Artemis was pregnant. Tiny green arrows on a thick yellow fabric. Artemis touches the screen," I already asked the League, you can come home at noon today."
"Wally, you're sure it's him right?" Artemis asks.
"M'gann checked. It's him, babe. It's him." Matty finishes the bottle. Wally picks him and burps him before adjusting the baby so Artemis can see both their faces," Matty, you see Mommy? Can you wave at Mommy?"
Wally waves Matty's hand at her. Artemis smiles, blinking tears back, waves. Those are both the men in her life that she will love more than anything else in this world. She looks at her family and feels a few happy tears fall down her face. She laughs when Matty yawns, quickly followed by his father," You two should get some sleep."
"Isn't that my line," Wally asks with a smile.
"Normally," She smiles," I love you two."
"We love you too." Wally looks at Matty," Don't we, buddy? Don't we love mommy?"
"I'll see you soon." She hangs up the call. Wally looks at his son's droopy eyes.
"Come here, bud," Wally stands up and gently rocks the baby as he goes to the nursery. Wally changes his son's diaper and pulls on a warm pair of footed pajamas. Wally takes the boy back to the living room, where M'gann seems to have stepped outside to make a call. Wally lays down on the couch, mindful of his son's body. He pulls a blanket over the two of them and adjusts the pillow beneath his neck. It hits him just how long he's been awake and, despite the drug induced nap, his body is worn out. He slowly nods off with Matty resting peacefully on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
When Wally wakes up a few hours later, M'gann is asleep in one of the chairs. Matty begins fussing on his chest. Wally sits up, rubbing his eyes and checking the time. He heats up a bottle, trying to keep Matty from waking his aunt. He takes Matty into the Nursery and sits in the rocking chair, feeding his son. Matty suckles on the bottle happily. Wally chuckles to himself," Careful, kiddo, you'll give yourself a tummy ache."
Matty finishes the bottle quickly before nestling into his father's arms. Wally rocks back and forth in the chair, feeling his son's warmth spread through his pajamas and Wally's dress shirt. Wally kisses the tip of Matty's nose," Matty, You've had an interesting life so far. Been alive not even twelve hours and you've already been kidnapped. I'm sorry about that. Mommy and Daddy were so terrified when you were taken.
"Matty, I'm going to let you in on a secret. Mommy and I love you so, so much. But we live a very dangerous life. We've been shot at, nearly drowned, nearly burned to death, and plenty of other things. Daddy almost died a few years ago and Mommy was hurt really badly by that," Wally strokes his son's wispy hair," The world is a really scary place. It's full of bad people who will do things that will hurt other people and they will never ever feel bad about doing that. Hell, one of your grandfather's is an assassin. There's going to be people who are mean without reason other than the fact that they think they're right. There are people who do the wrong things for the right reasons. The world is scary and dangerous and full of hate. There are people are in the world who only enforce that philosophy. I'm sure you're thinking 'who is this weirdo and what the hell is he talking about?' or maybe 'Daddy, if that's all true then why did you and Mommy decide to have me?'
"The world is horrible, yes, but there are so many beautiful things in the world. Your mommy included. There are people who are going to love you without limits. There's a girl that's going to look at you like you put the stars in the sky for her and you're going to look at her as if she is heaven and hell. You're going to have a sister that you won't always get along with, but you two will love each other so fiercely that neither of you could ever truly hate the other. There are going to be times that you are going to be lost and confused and the world won't make any sense. And I'm sorry, buddy, that there's not much I can do to help but I can promise you this." Wally adjusts his son so the little boy lays flat out in front of him, holding his head as carefully he looks over every single detail of his tiny face.
"You are never going to be alone. You have me and I will love you no matter what you feel or what you do or what you want to be when you grow up. I will love you when you're scared and crying for help. I will love you when you're happy, angry, sad, whatever. You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not for me or your mommy," Wally chuckles," No, you're never going to have to fight for your mommy's love. You see, Matty, your mommy is tougher than steel. She can seem heartless at times and there are times that she closes herself up to the world. That's ok. Because your mommy is beautiful inside and out. Her skin feels like velvet and she smells like vanilla and when she kisses you, or gives you a hug, or even just smiles at you, it's like you can feel the earth moving at thousands and thousands of miles. Like you are the only thing in this world that she would fight just to keep you from flying away alone. Your mommy is intelligent and kind and loves deeply. She loved you the minute she found out she was pregnant with you and will love you with every fiber of her being until she's dead. Our family is big and confusing, Matty, because so many of our family members are the heroes that we've fought with for years. Our biological family is smaller and more confusing. But let me tell you this. Mommy and I have made our own little family. It's the two of us, your uncle Kaldur and your uncle Connor and uncle Dick and Aunt M'gann and Aunt Zatanna. They were our first team and they've helped us both so many times. That's what you deserve, Matty. You deserve to find a group of people who you love and who love you. Families aren't always biological and the ones that aren't tend to be stronger. Love is infinite, Matty. It's the only thing that can't be completely destroyed because love is what you allow yourself to feel."
"Wally?" He looks up and sees M'gann.
"How much of that did you hear?"
"A good portion of it." She sits on the foot rest that came with the rocking chair," Wally, I'm sorry for what happened."
"He's here. He's alive. He's safe. It's fine." Wally adjusts Matt back so he cradles him again. He sees her giving him a weird look," What?"
"Just," M'gann smiles," Remember when we were kids and you kept flirting with me?"
"God. Why didn't you stop me?"
"Because I knew what you really thought about yourself and I knew that it was all a facade. Honestly I'm just happy that Artemis was able to help you."
"She didn't just help me with that," Wally admits shyly," When she found out what I was doing, what I was feeling, she didn't make me feel like shit or dump me on the spot. She held her own arm out and told me that the only way she would give up on me is if I took that knife and cut her like I cut me. I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't-can't hurt her like that. I love her so damn much because she taught me that I deserve good things in my life. She taught me that I deserve to have a family."
"So what are you going to do about that?"
"Same thing I told her in our vows. I am going to spend the rest of my life proving to her how much I owe her for saving me from myself," Wally smiles at the baby in his arms," I have a son because of her."
"I'm happy for you both," M'gann smiles, gently taking Matty's hand," And for my godson as well."
Wally smiles. They hear the front door unlocking and Artemis's voice calling out," Wally?"
"Let's go see Mommy," Wally and M'gann are halfway down the hall when Artemis sees them. Wally closes the distance and kisses her fiercely. Artemis wears the spare civie clothing that each hero keeps in the watch tower. She looks at their son and tears spring into her eyes," Here, you hold him."
Artemis takes Matty and kisses her husband," I knew you'd find him."
She carries Matty into the living room where Dick, Conner, and Kaldur are. M'gann goes to her husband's side smiling. Wally puts his arm around Artemis.
"Gentlemen, I want you to meet my son. Matthew Isaac West." The baby coos as he's passed around between his uncles and aunts,"Take a good look, Dick. This is the kid that's going to be dating your daughter."
"Wally, I will stab you," Dick says, holding Matty. He looks down at the little boy," You treat her right and we won't have any problems."
Their friends stay for another hour before they decide to let the new family get some rest. Wally and Artemis change into more comfortable clothes. Wally builds a small wall of pillows while Artemis rocks Matty to sleep. She sets the baby down and lays down next to him. Wally cuddles up next to his wife. Artemis presses her back against his chest, both of them taking a second to admire their child for another minute. Despite all the craziness of the past twelve hours, despite feeling like they might have lost their child, despite the fear, they have their son. They have a family. Wally kisses just under his wife's ear," Babe, we did good work on this one."
"Yeah, we did," They fall asleep, each with a hand on their son, each smiling softly.
If anyone was to look at them, they would see a family bound in blood and in love.
