It's been two months since that fateful day. Artemis has stayed at head quarters mainly because she doesn't want to be alone and because all her teammates are only eager to help. They told everyone a few days after she found out. Barry hugged her tightly, Zatanna cried and planted kisses all over her face, Garfield smiled brightly and was so excited, and Bart had laid a hand over her stomach and smiled sadly. She wondered if he had seen this coming. The two people she hadn't told yet were Rudy and Mary. She had no idea how she was going to tell them and she feared she'd break down again, spiraling into another depression when she was slowly pulling herself out of the first bout.
She had also decided to pull out of missions. Though she was still very much part of the team, and though she absolutely hated staying in a doing nothing while everyone else risked their lives, she didn't want to do anything to put her or the baby in harm's way. This was the last piece of Wally she had; she wasn't about to risk that.
The crippling nausea and puking had started about a week after she found out. Most of the day she was bent over the toilet puking her guts out, but everyone was increasingly caring. M'gann stayed with her every time she could, holding her hair and gently rubbing her back. Dick wasn't really into the though of watching her puke, but a few days later he brought her warm milk with honey. He said Alfred had recommended it as a home remedy for nausea. She almost cried tears of happiness when that night she was able to keep her food down.
The insatiable hunger and the cravings had only started a week ago. She was eating everything in sight and gaining weight steadily. At night she craved things she previously hated, like donuts and Slurpees. Sometimes her angered soared when Dick told her she shouldn't head out at two in the morning to get her treats, saying it was too dangerous. She had to forcefully remind him that she could take care of herself by grabbing his arm and flipping him onto his back. She was so eager to get away from her mood swings that he offered to get her the snacks himself. Another time she'd almost punched Conner in the face when he suddenly asked why she was gaining so much weight so quickly. M'gann covered his mouth and pulled him out of the room so she could explain how pregnancy worked.
She hadn't really given much thought to her increasing appetite until M'gann brought it up one day while they were watching TV.
"Have you ever thought that maybe you're carrying a speedster in there?" She'd asked.
Artemis had dropped the spoon she was using to dig into the ice cream pint. She hadn't thought about it.
"What?" She asked.
"I mean," M'gann started, "maybe that's why you're hungry all the time. What if it isn't you, what if it's the baby being hungry all the time?"
"That…" Artemis whispered, stunned, "could be possible…"
"Maybe it's time to call Dr. Randall."
Now here she was, waiting on the bed as Dr. Randall came in and set up his medical equipment.
Dick and M'gann had insisted in being there with her, to her extreme mortification. Thankfully Conner had decided to wait outside. Even so, she really wasn't looking forward to spreading her legs in front of two of her close friends.
"What exactly are we going to do today?" She asked Dr. Randall as he placed her feet up on the stirrups and Dick's face started turning bright red.
"We're going to make sure everything is fine." Dr. Randall started, "We'll do an ultrasound and listen to the baby's heartbeat."
Artemis' hear thundered in her chest. She was going to hear a heartbeat. The only proof she could have that there was a little person growing inside her.
Dr. Randall started putting lubricant on the ultrasound probe and Dick almost fainted.
"Is that-?" he started.
"Going inside her?" Dr. Randall said in a very clinical voice. "Yes."
At least Dick spared her the mortification by turning his back for a little while.
It was incredibly uncomfortable, but Artemis held onto M'gann's hand and gritted her teeth.
"There we go." Dr. Randall said excitedly.
They all turned to the screen and saw it, a tiny little baby about the size of a finger.
"There's your baby." Dr. Randall smiled at her.
Her eyes filled with tears immediately. It was real, this was real. Wally had left, but she got the best present she could ever ask for. M'gann turned to her and smiled, tears also filling her eyes. She gently wiped away Artemis' tears. "Congratulations" she said.
Dick continued staring at the screen, his mouth making a small O shape. "What's that over there?" he asked suddenly.
Dr. Randall looked at the screen and suddenly moved the probe gently to one side. Artemis winced.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Dr. Randall didn't answer, he took another strange instrument and put it on her belly. It made sounds, it sounded like…a heartbeat!
"Is that the heartbeat?!" Artemis exclaimed.
"Yes, but-" Dr. Randall started.
"But what?! What's wrong?!"
"There are two heartbeats." Dr. Randall said calmly.
Two…heartbeats?
Her confused look must have given her away because Dr. Randall clarified.
"Twins."
M'gann gasped loudly and brought a hand to her mouth, Dick just continued to stare at the monitor.
"Wally West, you just had to go and leave me here with twins didn't you?"
That night, after the shock had worn off, Artemis laid in bed, her hand gently cradling there barely-there bump on her stomach, and cried. She curled up on herself and asked Wally how she could do this without him. How could she take care of two possible speedsters all by herself? Dr. Randall said her insatiable appetite could be because she had twins or because one, or both of them could have inherited their father's power. She didn't know anything about this power. What could she teach them? How could she be a good mother? How could he leave her now?
She cried and vowed she would protect them.
The next morning she was at Mary and Rudy's doorstep. Mary opened the door and gasped. It has been months since she'd seen Artemis.
"Artemis!" she exclaimed, before wrapping her in a tight hug. "Where have you been?"
Tears were already invading Artemis' eyes. "I'm sorry Mary, I just need time."
She nodded and ushered her inside where Rudy also wrapped her in hug. Inside she sat at the table with them, a mug of hot chocolate in front of her. Wally's favorite.
"Is something wrong, Artemis?" Mary asked.
"I just-" she started, "I have some news."
"Oh?"
Artemis stood up, slowly taking off the jacket she wore. She had purposely put on a tight fitting black shirt so her bump could show through.
"Artemis?" Mary asked, confused, before her eyes spotted the bump. She looked up into Artemis' eyes, questioning.
Artemis smiled sadly and nodded.
In seconds she was wrapped up in a hug; she could hear Mary's sobs. Rudy still sat at the table, looking incredibly confused. Both women turned to him, tears in their, eyes and smiled.
"Congratulations, grandpa." Artemis said.