Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own anything DC, except for my Superboy shirt and Batman belt. So yeah…. Don't sue me. That'd be nice. Oh yeah, I was severely inspired by Secondhand Serenade for the title and idea.

"Oh God, oh God…" Artemis muttered to herself hysterically while she tried to scrub the offensive rod splotches off of her costume. Hyperventilating, she tried to stop the tears that pooled up in her arms. The usual sass and scowl she wore was nowhere to be found, as she scrubbed harder. Her hands shook as she pulled them away from her soaking green suit after she dropped it in the dirty tub water. Like a newborn foal, it took her several attempts to stand up with her shaking knees and approach the sink. Gripping with the edges of the counter with her sore, red hands she stared at her gaunt face and notes with annoyance that her face has ugly red splotches accompanied by stray strands of blonde hair.

Slowly, she turned on the facet and splashed her face. She felt the slightest tad bit better after putting her hair back into her usual ponytail.

Again and again, Artemis asked herself what she thought she was doing. Then a rapid knock on the motel door caught Artemis out of her spiraling thoughts. She didn't know how much longer she could keep running and hiding. It was getting ridiculous to be afraid of her own shadow and jump at every little noise. Her nerves had been long since frayed and shot after the first year of running from her family. She prowled carefully to the door with a crossbow in her hand.

Cautiously, she peeped through the hole and allowed herself to relax a little.

With a sigh she opened the door, she scowled at the teen who had nearly given her a heart attack, "Wally, I swear, I am going to shoot an arrow up your ass if you follow me again. For that matter, how the hell did you find me in Saybrook, Illinois for God's sake?"

"Oh, Gorgeous, I know you'd never hurt my ass. You wouldn't want to ruin its perfect shape." He teased as his friend crinkled her nose in feigned annoyance. They both knew that she enjoyed the spontaneous visits he made after she spent weeks in despair. His vividly beautiful green eyes made contact with hers and he spoke softly, sweetly, "Besides, M'gann checks on you every now and then. You know that. The only reason I don't come every time you move is because you don't always have a clear destination in mind."

Artemis shrugged before locking the door behind KF. She couldn't stop her nomadic ways just to please her sort-of-boyfriend. They both knew that if she ever stopped running the League of Shadows would try to brainwash her like they tried two years ago. Wally gave her a feral smile as he patted a spot on the bed right next to him and, amusedly, Artemis joined him. Confusedly, Artemis smiled shakily back, "What's the matter, Baywatch? Did someone finally get fed up and pulled your tongue out to end all our miseries?"

"Always the tease, aren't you, Arty?" Kid smirked back as pulled out a box from the shoulder bag he had unslung. Artemis took the box gratefully and wondrously. The colorful, shiny wrapping was incredibly eye catching and the bow was large and velvety. Slowly, Artemis looked up at Wally whose smile brightened up his sleep-deprived eyes and she asked him nervously, "What is this for?"

"This is a gift from The Team. All of us really miss you, even Roy and Conner. All of us know now that it wasn't your fault that your Dad is an asshole. We all had our secrets and we all are sorry for being unable to do more. We know you won't be coming back, at least for a while, but we still want you to know that you still matter to us and… I am rambling aren't I?" Artemis nodded in tiredly happy sort of way while Wally's face attempted to blend into his hair. He shook his head and tried to clear it of his confusing thoughts that ran too fast for him most to comprehend. With a big breath, he tried to summarize what he had been trying to desperately tell her, "We just want you to know that no matter what you are a part of us and Happy Third Anniversary."

Artemis couldn't believe that it really had been three years to this day since she first joined the Team.

Looking into Wally's eyes with her piercing green ones, she set the box aside and for once Baywatch was the one who was confused by her actions. She closed her eyes and thought back to when things were so much easier and she hadn't just murdered her older sister a few hours ago. So tired, was all that was all that she could comprehend clearly and allowed herself to lay her head atop the redhead's extremely warm shoulder as they wrapped their arms around each other. Wally had understood that she was too tired but understood his sentiment. He was grateful to say the least that they had this high level of understanding between them. The blonde had one last request before she allowed herself to succumb to sleep, "Hey, Wally, can you tell me a pick-up line?"

"Why?"

Artemis let out a snort, "It reminds of what a smooth nerd you are."

"Alright, um, I just got blinded by your beauty, may I have your name and number for insurance purposes?" She allowed herself to laugh a little at his corniness. Wally watched as her smile diminished but not completely as she slipped away into her dreamland. He hoped she wouldn't be leaving in the middle of the night. Her even breathing was soothing as he tried to imagine what it was that made her get swept off her feet by him of all people. Thinking about her perfect little feet made him smile a little and thought about how she was perfect for any worthy guy but he wouldn't be able to ever take for granted her perfection. Everyday, he wondered if he could ever do better for her sake. Falteringly, his heart dropped like a rock into his stomach.

But he had a feeling that everything will be all right in the end.

In the morning, the former archer pulled away from her sleeping companion and packed up as quietly as possible. As she unlocked the door she heard him rustle awake and gave up her stealth to just book it. Wally shot up like an arrow and ran after her before she could manage to give him the slip again. Some days, he forgets why he tries so hard to stop her from running and others he understands that the League of Shadows have already murdered her mother and Kaldur so she is trying in her own way to save him.

He super sped towards her before she could even start her motorcycle. Desperation colored his eyes; he ran faster than necessary and ended up skidding to halt in an attempt to stop her. Then Artemis followed suit and skidded to an abrupt stop barely avoiding a collision into her not-exactly-boyfriend. She pulled off her helmet roughly and allowed her long ponytail to cascade down her back before snarling at him. His hands rested on the front of her baby as he heaved out a sigh, "I know I'm an idiot and all that, but I don't think I could stand praying for you to stay just for one whole day in my arms like the old days when I know it's all futile."

"Wally, you know I—," Arty couldn't say it. Ashamed, she looked away from his piercing stare.

He clenched his fists, painfully, until his knuckles turned white. The slightest tremor in his voice gave away how nervous he was at prying, "I know what, Arty? What do I know? Because I'd sure like to know that for myself."

"Just move, West. I can't handle this anymore," She stared him down even while she pulled on her helmet. He seethed as he finally broke the unspoken stare down, but, even then, he stood before her, obstructing her exit. The blonde rolled her eyes as she maneuvered her bike slightly awkwardly to get around the motor mouth she still harbored feelings for. She snapped at him, "God, KF, can't you be mature for once in your life?"

"I'm immature? You can't handle this?"

"I think we're already established this."

"Enough with the sarcastic and degrading remarks, Artemis!"

She turned on her motorcycle and it roared to life as she yelled in frustration, "Well, I'm sorry that's all I have left!"

This time Wally went red with anger. He watched her, motionlessly, as she sped off. Discreetly, she wiped a pathetic little tear that had somehow escaped her iron will. But far behind her, Wally West was preparing himself to repeat the dreaded cycle that was changing ever so slowly. They would go through similar motions until they got a different result.

Until then, when she was able to come home, he would wait.

AN: Thanks for reading. Please review, if not that's okay too…. I wasn't really sure what I was doing with this.