So I was going to save this story for when I finish some of my other stories, but I decided to go ahead and post it before my mind forgot the ideas that I was coming up with. The first chapter is short simply because I want to see how the response is before I get deeper into the story, so please follow and review letting me know what you think or if I should continue
Disclaimer: I do not own DC, Young Justice or any of their characters mentioned below.
Artemis sat on the couch, the TV was on but she wasn't paying much mind to it, it had been 2 weeks since Wally had been gone, those 2 weeks went on like a blur. Artemis couldn't really even tell you what she had been doing, she had been going through the days like a zombie, just trudging through it and when it was time for bed crawling in alone for the first time in years it felt cold and unwelcoming. She ran her fingers through Brucely's fur, he was laying with her on the couch his head rested in her lap, he must have sensed Wally's absence because ever since he had been gone the dog's protection instincts had tripled. "You miss him too don't you baby" Artemis said softly the dog lifted his head up and looked at her with big droopy eyes. She leaned forward and kissed the top of the dogs head. When there was a knock on the door Brucely quickly jumped down and began barking.
Artemis slid of the couch "Who could that be at this time of night" she said to herself as she approached the door she looked out the peephole to see Wally's Uncle Barry standing there in his Flash uniform. "Brucely go to your pen" Artemis ordered, the dog obeyed and trudged down the hallway. Artemis opened the door for the speedster "Uncle Barry what brings you here?" She asked she hadn't seen him in the week since Wally's funeral
"Can I come in?" He asked softly
Artemis nodded "Oh yeah of course" she stepped aside so that he could come in and closed the door
Barry was already sitting on the couch, Artemis moved to sit in the chair opposite of him.
"What brings you here, not that I mind your company" Artemis said trying to send him her best smile
Barry pulled back his cowl making his face fully visible "You don't have to put on a brave face for me sweetie, I know your hurting just as much, if not more than everyone else right now" he assured her
"Thank you" she said softly it felt nice to have someone who somewhat understood her pain with her, she had cried with his parents and stayed the night at their house the night that she broke the news to them, but they had been pretty distance from her since. She figured it was probably because seeing her brought back memories of their son and right now that was just too much for them to bare, Nightwing AKA Dick Grayson and Wally's childhood best friend completely lost it in the past two weeks, leaving the team to 'take time for himself' the only time she had seen him was at Wally's funeral, he mainly stayed close to Barbara Gordon she watched as he would squeeze her hand tightly or burry his head into her shoulder during the service. They came and spoke to her momentarily after the funeral but Barbara did most of the talking.
"Listen Artemis, I came here tonight because there is something I feel you should know" Barry spoke he waited for Artemis to look at him. When she did he continued. "For the past week and a half I've been in contact with Star Labs, we've been working on a theory. If we go back in time we might be able to bring Wally back" he said
Artemis looked at him for a moment before speaking "How?" she questioned
"By going back to when he was 13, the night that he recreated my lab experiment and got his powers. That night he was in my garage" he explained
Artemis looked down again "You mean you're going to stop him from ever becoming a speedster?" she whispered
Barry nodded "Yes…it's the only option, if he never became a speedster he would have never joined the team and if he had never joined the team…."
"He will have never been disintegrated by the speed force" Artemis finished his sentence
Barry nodded "Precisely, I felt you should know since the change in history could change your relationship with Wally" he explained
Artemis whipped a tear from her eye and looked up at Barry "Because we could have never met, right?"
Barry looked at her sadly "Yeah, and I think you're a really sweet girl Artemis, I loved you being with my nephew and looked forward to getting to see Wally and you growing together" he told her grabbing her hand.
She looked at him for a moment before speaking, "I want to go with you" she stated
Barry was taken back by her statement "You what?" he questioned wanting to be sure he heard her correctly
Artemis nodded her head "I want to go with you" she repeated
"Artemis you do realize that if you go with me, when you get back if things are different the only people who will remember this timeline are you, me and whoever else comes with us back in time." He explained to her
Artemis nodded "I understand that, but that's a risk I'm willing to take if it means seeing him, I don't care if its him in a younger version or if I only get to see him from a distance I just…I have to see him, if this doesn't work it could be my last chance I get to see him alive" she said tears threatening to spill from her eyes
Barry gave her a small smile "I understand, the only reason I'm doing this is because I miss my nephew so much too" he whispered, he stood up and placed a hand on her back "I have to go back out on patrol, think about if this is what you for sure want to do, if it is come to Star Labs tomorrow morning at 9" he said handing her a pass key to get into the high tech lab before speeding off.
Artemis looked over at the picture on the coffee table, it was of her and Wally about a month after they had started dating. She picked the photo up in her hands and looked at it taking it in. "I know that if I do this it might mean we would have never met, and that I'll remember everything and you may not, but I have to, I can't let the amazing memories of us being together just go away, and if I can do anything to bring you back I have to do it. I'd rather live with you being alive and not knowing me than live without you here at all." She said to the photo with tears streaming down her face.