A few days later, the team held a small service for Wally in the Memorial Garden in front of his holographic shrine.
Artemis sat alone in the back, avoiding meeting anyone's gaze and refusing to look at the statue of her former lover.
She decided she wasn't going to say anything because there was nothing to say, so instead she listened quietly as everyone on the original team said something about Wally. M'Gann went first.
"Wally was… well the best I can describe him is by saying he was Wally. He made me feel welcome when I first joined the team, and helped me adjust to life on Earth," her eyes filled with tears and she took a shuddering breath before continuing, "he always knew how to make me laugh… I'm going to miss him so much."
After M'Gann went Kaldur.
"Wally was a good man, a good hero… and a good friend. During missions he was always quick to react, and saved us countless times with his vast knowledge of all things scientific. I remember when I met him, on our first unofficial mission as a team. I thought he was rash, and a bit conceited… but even then I knew he had a good heart. The team will never be the same without him."
To everyone's surprise, Conner took the podium next.
"Um… I'm not good at this stuff, but Wally was my friend. He let me stay at his house when I had nowhere else, and I'll never forget when he helped save me from Cadmus."
After an awkward pause, he stepped down and Dick took the stage.
He cleared his throat and clasped his hands together.
"Wally… Wally was my best friend. I-" He broke off and looked away, taking slow, deep breaths and blinking his eyes before continuing, "He was such a good guy… I don't know anyone who's met him and didn't like him. There was something about his personality that just drew people to him. He was the first person I trusted with my secret ID, and he didn't make me regret it."
He paused and looked at a point in the distance. He seemed to be lost in thought.
"I remember when he told me he wanted to retire. I laughed… Wally, retire? Turns out I ended up eating my words. Between being so involved with the team, and going off on my own, I didn't realize my best friend had fallen in love."
Artemis looked up as Dick continued.
"And that love changed him. I thought that Wally would never give up the mask- it defined who he was… I was wrong. It was Artemis who made him who he was, and without her- that mask meant nothing- nothing meant anything… without her."
Dick looked up and locked eyes with Artemis.
"I know I was supposed to talk about my friendship with Wally… but what we had was nothing compared to what he had with Artemis... and since she decided not to talk on their behalf, I thought it would only be fair if I did- not for Artemis but for Wally… because it's my fault he's not here tonight, and because I know that he loved you more than you think he did… and I'm sorry I ripped you two apart before you could find that out."
A ringing silence hung in the air as Dick stepped off the podium, and walked out of the garden.