Disclaimer: I don't own YJ
A/N: parts in italics are Wally's thoughts
The Justice league had decided to give the teenage superheroes a break from their missions for the holidays. But now New Year's Day had passed and the team had gathered at Mount Justice again to await their next mission. While everyone else was describing the great times they had with their families and friends, Artemis sat alone in a corner, not saying anything. Wally noticed first. He decided to go and talk to her, because he felt sorry for her and a little guilty that he had been ignoring her recently.
"Uh, hey Arty…" There was no reply. " So, how was Christmas at your place?"
" Great, just great," she grumbled, glaring into midair.
Wally wasn't sure how to answer this, so he just scratched his hair and thought of what to say. He realized something was wrong and Artemis probably needed comforting, but he didn't know how and anyways she probably hated him. So instead he just borrowed a line he had learned from different tv shows.
" You know sometimes its better to talk about it. If knew what was er…bothering you maybe I could help… possibly?" he trailed off into an awkward silence. Wally was about to get up and go hang out with Robin when she started talking.
" It's just family problems," she sighed, " We, me and my mom, went to visit my dad in jail last week." Wait, her dad's in jail, who knew " And its just like every time I see him he knows exactly what to say to tear me down. That's all he ever did to us as kids" Who the heck is us "He thought he could make us stronger by pointing out all of our flaws and causing us to hate ourselves." Her voice was growing fainter, " I know we're supposed to love and respect our parents but I just can't. I hate him, no I loathe him and I hate myself for it. My mom always says he was different before. Before what, I never knew him before I was born, but it seems like he's acted the same way my whole life." She broke off and sat there holding her knees to her chest and staring blankly at nothing. Wow, I can't believe she just told me all of this.
It wasn't like Artemis to confide in anyone. Wally didn't have a clue about what to say but he knew he had to say something so he just let his mouth do the talking. " Every Christmas my Uncle Barry makes his homemade sweet potato pie, and let me just say it tastes awful, but for some reason everybody loves it. I can tell they're not just trying to be polite because they keep coming back for thirds fourths. I think I'm the only one who hates but I eat it every year hoping it will get better or maybe I feel that if I eat enough maybe I'll like it. But in truth I just can't stand that revolting sweet potato pie. Sometimes I wonder why I keep eating it, and finally resigned myself to hating it." Wally stopped speaking after noticing the skeptical look on her face.
" So you're saying that I shouldn't try to force myself to love my dad, because he's never going to change," she said.
" Er, no, I was just warning you before I offered you a piece of that pie. Uncle Barry made two extra ones for the team. I thought you might like some to um take your mind off things." Wally felt embarrassed that she had actually been trying to teach her a valuable lesson. But she was smiling now, a bit sadly, but still it was an improvement.
" Sure, I'll have some pie," she followed him to join the rest of the team. Then she tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to look at her. She smiled, "And thanks Wally."