Home. It had been too long since she had come back, too long since she was at peace. Retirement. Maybe it would stick this time. Not very likely.
Wally was scared. He hid it with relief, but with every brush of skin meeting she could feel his fear of losing her. He acted as if she had really died. She held him tight that night, reminding him she would always be there. If only that wasn't a lie.
Paula cried when she saw her daughter. No words were exchanged, just tears and embraces. It didn't matter. The message was sent from both of them: I love you. Dinner was good. She promised never to leave again. Another lie, another loved one.
Gar took to being underfoot. He was always there when she visited the cave, offering her drinks or favors. She declined. He didn't stop. She took him aside, told him she wasn't going to die, wasn't going to be a hero anymore. Lies just keep piling up.
Nightwing took her and Wally to dinner. He apologized, pleaded forgiveness that had already received. They traded jokes; Dick threatened to bring out The Picture from junior year. At the end, she told him that she was done with heroics, that she wasn't going to save lives anymore. One more lie for the stack.
Jade held her close for two long minutes. Lian smiled at her in that way only a baby can manage. Jade gave her marriage and baby tips. She blushed and insisted Wally wasn't close to proposing. Her sister laughed and told her to wait. She promised not to go back into battle. Lying is too easy.
Ollie and Dinah acted like fussy grandparents. Dinah made a dinner of roast beef; Ollie ate messily. Both asked questions about her health. Ollie took her aside to ask how she could think of doing something like that. She replied it was one last act of heroism. She was lying through her teeth.
On May 26th Team Year 6, Artemis Crock-West died rescuing civilians from an earthquake in LA while on her honeymoon. She wasn't wearing a mask. She died a hero anyway, breaking her vows in the process. Lies are so easy to tell.