She never got to tell him she loved him.
In those five wonderful years, she never told him, really told him. Sure, she said it through keeping the pantry stocked or cooking his favorite meals, but she never said it out loud.
Wally was the most verbal in their relationship. He constantly babbled about school or science, and she always found it endearing. In his own goofy way, he always knew exactly what to say, even if it was mixed up in his awkward jumble of words. She loved that about him, even though she constantly complained about it.
She remembers when one of his famous babbles revealed that he loved her.
It was two years after their kiss at the Watchtower and they were having dinner with Wally's Aunt and Uncle. Aunt Iris had taken a shining to Artemis as soon as she had met her. Aunt Iris already considered Artemis as a part of the family and constantly invited her and Wally to dinner at her house every Sunday evening. It quickly became one of the few traditions in Artemis's life.
It was after a Sunday dinner and Artemis and Wally were doing the dishes. Wally was rambling on about some scientific theory when he suddenly blurted out, "Artemis, I love you."
Artemis dropped the plate she was drying. Thankfully, Wally caught it before it shattered against the tile kitchen floor. Artemis was frozen in place.
"Art? Arty? You okay?" Wally asked. The speedster set the plate down before grabbing Artemis's hand. His touch broke her out of her reverie.
"W-what did you say?"
"Are you-"
"No, before that."
"Oh. I love you."
Artemis's eyes met his and Wally gave her one of his famous grins.
"You love me?" she asked, her voice small and fragile.
Wally kept smiling and gently began to wrap his arms around her. He leaned down a bit to look into her eyes as her hands came to rest on his chest.
"Yes Artemis, I love you."
Artemis burst into a huge grin and pulled him in for a kiss, her left hand coming to grasp the hair at the nape of his neck. Wally kissed her back with the same amount of fervor, his hands pulling her closer to him. That night, Artemis showed him how much she loved him, but she never once told him.
Now he was gone. He was gone because he was doing what he loved most, being a hero.
When Flash told her that Wally loved her, she fell to the ground in a sobbing heap. She cried as M'gann held her, clutching her friend in comfort because even after he was gone, he still found ways to tell her he loved her.
And she never got the chance to say it back.