I do not own Young Justice. Or Eminem's music.

The story is loosely based on the song Mockingbird, and a long-time idea.

Hope you enjoy. Anyone who had read, The Art of Parenting, be warned, though this is still the same slice of life concept, it is far from the happy stuff I write.

Hope you enjoy.

Wally rattled with silent tears. He shut his eyes, squeezing what he hoped was the last one, out of his system. He breathed slow, trying to bring his shaking to a stop. He had to stay strong. He had to stay breathe, and even though it hurt, he could at least keep with him the thought that he had done it before. And what a horrible thought that was.

Yes, he'd been parted from his soul-mate before. Sometimes for a week, and sometimes for far longer. He took the undercover mission, during the Invasion, for example. He had made it through that, without Artemis by his side, and he would make it through this, even though he could no longer anticipate her return.

He listened as Dick stumbled into the room. Wally turned, stony faced. He was angry; and he had no reason to be. Perhaps he would explain once he was in the right mind. Dick pressed a hand to Wally's stiff shoulder, biting his lip. Wally nodded curtly. Just leave us alone. The thought popped into his head, and he tried to shake it away, but by then, Dick was already gazing at his curiously, and he followed up his action, with standing up, and retreating from the room.

Wally balled his fists, and looked at the wooden cot in the dark room. He couldn't bring himself to believe it was real- but if it was, and it felt like it, then Wally would do his best. He stumbled upwards, his breath hitching slightly as he scraped his back against the bed. He slowly made his way to the child's bed, reaching into it.

Wally removed a bundle from the enclosed cage-like structure, and pressed it to his chest. He let out a ragged breath, while he hugged his one and only child, his only connection left to Artemis, "Daddy's here. Shh...Don't cry." He rocked the child, who was quite silent, until it dozed off. Wally placed it back into the cot, stroking its fine red curls. He thumb brushed the button, freckled nose of the child, and Wally knew what he had to live for.

Five Years Later.

Central City.

"DAD!" How many times would she need to call him? That was already...what...the fifth time? She sucked in the air around her, about to call out once more, but her Grandmother strode into the room, and bent down to her level. "He's working, Irey. Can I help out?" The little girl nodded, her red hair swinging with the action, "Homework help, please?"

Mary's laugh lines creased around her mouth and eyes, and she hoisted her grand-daughter upwards, placing her to a desk. "Pencil, book?" The green eyed woman questioned the bewildered child, and pulled out a pen from her dress pocket. Iris reached for her paper, and sighed. "I have to make a Family Tree. It's so Miss Walker can get to know us." Irey grunted and placed a hand under her chin. Marry frowned slightly, and drew the outline of the tree as the girl gazed out of the window. Her attention was taken to the doorway, however, as a figure leaned in through it, to peek into the room. Irey lit up, "Dad! Can you please help?"

Mary smiled sadly; that was probably the better idea. She brushed past Wally, as he sat down next to his daughter, running a hand though her carroty red hair, "Alright, Chuck, what have we got here?" Wally picked up the assignment sheet smugly. Irey watched his eyes move across the page as he skim-read it. His mouth became a thin line, and he placed the sheet of paper back onto the table. He tried to smile as he looked back at his daughter, but it was wavering, "Didn't Nan do a nice outline, Irey?" Wally asked, semi-changing the topic.

The silver eyed child nodded slowly, and looked to the paper once more. She glared at it, wouldn't dare go near it. Wally began to scrawl words onto the tree, and his daughter waited patiently. Most possibly, her father would re-draw the outline on a separate piece of paper, and get her to copy it. He handed it to her after a few minutes. She cocked her head, to read the slanted writing of her father.

I am Irey.

My father is Wallace-Rudolph West.

Mary West is Wallace's Mother. She is married to Rudolph West.

Rudolph has a sister, Iris West-Allen. Her husband is Barry Allen.

The language was primitive, and it was hardly set out like some of the drafts her friend's had created in class. Irey sighed, and handed it back her father, crinkling her nose, "Dad, why don't you write Mommy down too?" Wally struggled to keep his poker-face on, as he began to scrawl once more on the page. It took him far longer to write, but with the new additions, he handed Irey the sheet.

I am Irey.

My father is Wallace-Rudolph West. He is married to Artemis Crock. Artemis is my wonderful mother. My mother has a Sister called Jade, and parents called Paula and Lawrence.

Jade is married to Roy, and they have a daughter- my cousin- Lian.

It continued in the same way. Irey gawked at the page. That was probably the most information she had ever received from her father about her mother's side of the family. Wally knew it was wrong to keep his daughter in the dark, but she was still young, and he wasn't quite ready yet himself. He hadn't healed; and writing those three lines had reopened scars.

The red-haired girl squirmed in her seat, and, with her gaze locked on the paper, she spoke in a low voice, "Where is Mom?" Irey didn't know why, but asking that question already brought tears to her eyes. She suspected it was because all her friends had two parents, while she had one. Maybe she felt left out...though she heavily doubted it.

Wally inhaled with gusto, and exhaled just as much. He looked to the hallway and bit the inside of his cheek. How long am I going to hide this from her? Wally didn't even realise he was asking himself the question his mother asked him every day. He doubted Irey would understand though...but then again, he had underestimated her before. He hadn't thought she would run at three years old, he had no idea she would get his powers...and so, when she did, Wally thought that she would be unable to hide them, and unruly while using them. And he was so wrong. She could run by his side now, and she hadn't spoken a word to anyone about what she could do.

Wally shuffled, and twiddled his thumbs, "Yeah...I know things might not always make sense to you now, Irey. But you have to stay strong,...and just be grateful for what you have. You have Nana, and you have me."

Irey nodded slightly. She was upset that Wally had yet again averted the topic, but she promised herself that she wouldn't let it go. She would ask again, and she would find out. With a one-sided smirk, she pushed herself up, and returned to her desk, beginning to work on her tree now she had the plan.

Wally shook his head slightly, and ran a freckled hand through his dull, dishevelled hair. He shut his eyes, and massaged his rigid neck with his free fingers. He would tell her about how Artemis had passed on after giving birth; he would introduce her to that side of the family...but only when he was ready. He knew she was, and for her sake, he would try to get over the pain.

He stole one last look at his daughter, who was sniffing at her desk, barley keeping hold of the pencil. Wally rushed up, and looked at her, eyes full of concern, "What are you crying about?" He asked, pacing towards her.

Irey shook her head, biting her lip, "Nuthin'." She got back to work, trying her best to ignore her father, who lurched over her, vulture like, before swooping away, down to the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled, but she ignored it. For some reason, she didn't feel like approaching her father.

Wally wavered around in the kitchen, unsure of what to do. His mother sauntered in, hands on hips, and repeated her slogan, "You can't keep hiding this from her." She pursed her lips as Wally pressed his face against the wall, and slid down dramatically. His hands grabbed his head, and he shut his eyes. "I'm so confused." He sounded it. "I-I don't know w-what to say, what to...I'm just- lost. I can't even..." Wally shook himself, regaining composure. He chuckled half-heartedly, and lifted himself from the floor. His fingers clung to the peeling paint as he stood, careful to fixate on the floor.

Mary sighed, "You'll do what's right. I know you will. You'll tell Irey about Artemis. You'll throw out her damn pillow, and you'll clean yourself up, and go fishing." Wally grunted and arched his brow. He looked to the fridge, and then at his mother's peachy face, "You know I don't fish."

Mary groaned, "And you know I'm referring to the term, 'Plenty of fish in the sea', right?"

Wally nodded and cracked his knuckles, locking his jaw, "And you know, Artemis was the only one for me. And who say's I'm not clean? I've got a job, I'm still a Flash on the side, and I'd break bone and back for Irey." Wally almost growled, but refrained from losing himself again in front of his mum.

Mary tapped her foot impatiently on the linoleum floor and crossed her arms over her chest, "You will tell Irey about Artemis, properly, within the year, or I'll die of heart-ache, Wally. When you beat yourself up over it, it kills me too." Her pained voice sounded strangled, and Wally grabbed her, pulling her into a consoling hug. He buried his face into her broad shoulders, her scent drawing him in, "I'll tell her within the week." He mumbled, shutting his eyes. Irey can't do this. I need to stop taking Mum for granted. Irey can't hug hers... Wally hissed slightly, and pulled himself out of his thoughts. He then pushed away from his mother, smiling, and took his jacket from the clothing rack to his side. He threw the garment on, while making his way to the front door, "I'll be back...I need to pay someone a visit."

Mary sighed and looked around the room, "I might as well make dinner." She told nobody but herself. She absent-mindedly took out the chopping board, her thoughts far from cooking, but more on the conversation she had just had with her son, and his sudden change of demeanour.

Should I continue? If not, please leave me a review or PM me to let me know what you thought.

Hope you enjoyed,

-fish.