Hey guys this is a five-shot series. Artemis/?, Artemis/Dick, Dick/Zatanna

Summary: "Hey, Kal… is this how you felt when you saw your best friends together?" Artemis inquired; her eyes still on them. "Does the pain ever go away?"

Leaving

"Are you not enjoying the party?"

Artemis turned her head to the side and she smiled. She had never seen him so relieve before and she was glad. Kaldur had given up so much, sacrificed so much for the sake of the world and his team. She had to give him props for sacrificing so much to keep up the charade with his father and fooling the Light at the same. It was only a year that she began playing the henchwoman for Kaldur as Tigress.

And now there was party in order, of course not before Nightwing introduced two of original members at the party. Of course, some people weren't happy that their leader would hide such important information. They were even more surprised that they even kept this from the Batman; the man who knows all.

Kaldur had apologized for his actions while he was undercover. He knew he hurt many people, but even so, his old team had accepted him back. His mentor, Aquaman was just glad that his protégé did not really turn to the dark side.

When Nightwing had re-introduced her to the team again, she engulfed with many hugs from others. The one who refused to let her go was her mentor, Green Arrow, who didn't take her death that well and was hell bent on getting revenge on the Atlantean.

"Never do that again, you hear me?" Green Arrow said, withholding tears. His grip around her tightened. Artemis let a glistening tear run down her face and nodded. She knew her adoptive father would take it the hardest.

Soon enough, they were engulfed by Black Canary, whispering the same things to her. Roy joined in too; threatening her never to do it ever again and how Cheshire had almost gone her way to avenge her. To her, it felt like a family reunion and she could never ask for a better family than this.

Artemis had apologized to him, her adoptive father who had taken her in after the death of her mother. She knew that Green Arrow had always seen her as a daughter he never had.

Everyone who had greeted her cried as soon she took them to her arms. M'Gann cried; realizing that she had almost killed her sister and apologized so many times. Superboy almost hugged her to death, just to familiarize himself with her heartbeat again. Batgirl had slapped her before turning into a crying mess. Zatanna embraced her tightly; saying that she never did believe she was dead and she was glad that her best friend was alive and well.

Now it was two hours into the party and Artemis was starting to get bored. She looked around the room and oddly felt left out for some reason. Then Artemis turned her attention to the couple from afar and she grimly sighed.

"Are you not enjoying the party?" Kaldur inquired. He had found her in the same spot he left her two hours ago.

"Not really. I kind of want to go home now."

It pained her just to see her two best friends were together. She was always watching, but never acting. She stood in the sidelines for far too long and she just let go of Dick without even fighting an inch for him. Artemis never learned how to convey her feelings to other people and was frightened to the core that she might mess up the one friendship she treasured.

And now… they were…

"I have good news to tell you!" Zatanna announced excitedly when she dragged the blonde off the side of the room.

Artemis could only smile and replied matching her excited-ness with Zee. "What is it?"

And when she saw that object wrapped around her best friend's finger; her smile almost faltered. "I'm engaged! Dick purposed to me last night!"

Engage.

Her best friends are engage.

"Hey, Kal… is this how you felt when you saw your best friends together?" Artemis inquired; her eyes still on them. "Does the pain ever go away?"

"The pain of seeing Tula and Garth still gets to me. It never goes away."

She tore her gaze away from the newly engaged couple. She needed to get away, far away from all this. Artemis had been thinking of quitting the team for a while.

Artemis found Nightwing in the kitchen, preparing drinks. She stepped right behind him and noted that the boy hasn't even noticed her presence.

"Congratulations on your engagement~" She said and smiled once Nightwing whirled around with a startled expression sketched on his face.

He chuckled lightly. "Thanks, Artemis. You know I could never do it without you if you haven't told me what kind of ring she wanted."

She almost, almost let out a bitter laugh. Because even though she did picked the ring that Zatanna liked, it was also the ring she liked also. And to think the only guy she like gave it to her best friend killed her. But Artemis knew it was going to happen sooner or later and she didn't think it would be this soon.

And once more, she congratulated him before leaving him to get his drinks.

Finally making up her mind, Artemis turned around from everything, everybody, and him. She gazed straight into the Atlantean's eyes as if they were telepathically talking with each other. "Tell them I'm sorry, Kaldur."

The Atlantean nodded; understanding what the archer was planning to do. He had known for quite a while during his time with the Light. Artemis had confided in him; telling him her feelings about leaving the team for a while. And the Atlantean didn't think she would leave so soon, just right after they had defeated the Light. Kaldur watched the retreating back of his comrade and he could only mutter,

"I hope I see you one day again, my friend."