At the begining everything was wonderful. Norm and Paula went out on dates at least three times a week. Going out for dinner, getting ice cream, walking through the park. (A pistol safely strapped to Paula's thigh of course.) Artemis was happy for her. She really was at the start. But something was in the back of her mind. A small voice that constantly nagged her that something was off. But Aretmis hadn't seen her mother this happy in years. But the warning bells were begining to ring. After two weeks of dating, Paula came home with no money in her wallet, something she had always tried to avoid. It happened every night for a week before Artemis said anything.

"Norm is running a little on cash that's all sweetie. He get's his paycheck in a few days and then it'll be fine." Not wanting to comprimise her mother's happiness, Artemis let it drop. But a few more weeks later, Artemis noticed that her mother was favouring her left arm while cooking.

"Mom? Is everything alright?" the archer asked gently before taking the heavy frying pan. Paula subconsiously touched her arm.

"Of course." She said firmly. Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"You're not having trouble with your left arm or hand?" Ok so not the most subtle interrogation technique, but she wasn't the dectective on the team now was she.

"No. Now go clean up for dinner." Taken aback by the harsh tone, Artemis qucikly fled the kitchen without question. She went into the bathroom and ran the tap before tip-toeing back down the hall. She peered around the corner and scaned the kitchen. Her mother had momentairly forgotten about the food and was hunched over in her seat. Her right hand cradled the left and the left sleeve was pulled back three quarters up her arm. Large bruises and angry red marks littered her arm. Without thinking, Artemis rushed back into the room.

"MOM! What on earth are those?" she demanded. Paula wheeled around to face her after yanking down the sleeve. Her face was livid.

"Artemis! I thought I told you to go clean up. These are nothing. I fell the other day, while you were on patrol with the team."

"Why did you lie to me?" Artemis asked feeling a bit hurt and a lot angry at the world. Her mother just narrowed her eyes.

"Because I didn't want to worry you. I know how it feels when you think a loved one is in danger." A deep feeling of guilt seeped into Artemis and her face flushed a bright pink. Since meeting Norm, her mother hadn't been waiting up for her after missions and training. That didn't bother Artemis much but she didn't realize it was because she was worried. She dropped her gaze and looked at her combat boots.

"I... I don't... I didn't know it worried you so much." Paula's gaze softened and wheeled her chair closer so that she could lift her daughters face.

"Artemis. I am so proud of you. Of course I going to be worried for you. But I would be so much more worried if you were following your fathers path. I just didn't want to add to your worries." Artemis felt the guilt seep in a little more.

"I know. I love you mom. Let's go to bed."

A few weeks later, the marks had long disappeared, and Norm and Paula were still going strong. Using some of the money that Paula had been left, the Crock girls cleaned up the apartment a bit. The furniture was replaced, new appliances were installed and the curtains were changed. But that voice in Artemis' mind was still nagging her. She had yet to have a real conversation with Norman besides the two words conversations before he and her mother went off for their date. One day, when Artemis didn't have a mission and Paula was running late, they finally sat down on the new couch. Artemis had answered the door and invited him in. He sat down on the couch, and turned to her. While he was sitting comfortably but still attentive, Artemis slouched into the comfortable fabric.

'So Artemis..." He tried bravely. Artemis was not going to humor him. Her natural distrust of people and her suspisions did not make her a hospitable host.

"Yes?" she said crossing her arms. Norm swallowed hard.

"Umm... your mother talks alot about you." Artemis roller her eyes.

"Considering that I'm her daughter that should be obvious." The sarcasam bitting into every word. Norm coughed.

"Uh do you have any siblings..." Artemis narrowed her eyes dangerously. 'Bad idea.' she thought. Norman got the idea and quickly changed his thoughts. "So what do you do after school?" She had to give him the fact he was persistant.

"I'm on the archery team." she said with a sigh. Norman nodded.

"Yes your mother told me about your team." Artemis bolted forward.

"What?" she said now sitting straight up. Norm chuckled and smirked in a way that infuriated Artemis. Even more so then Wally's smug look.

"Oh yeah. She couldn't shut up about how proud she was of her little girl. Especially after Jade left." Now Artemis was on her feet. Her mouth was already forming the words 'get out,' but Paula picked that moment to intrude on the conversation.

"Norman! I'm sorry I'm late! There was a huge accident on fourth." Norm stood up and went over to kiss her cheek. It wasn't lost on Artemis that Paula had an apprehensive tone hidden in her voice.

"No problem. Artemis and I were just getting to know each other. Why don't you go get changed for our date. Hurry back!" Paula nodded and went to her room. As soon as she was gone, Norm returned the superior look to his face. Artemis snarled.

"Don't you ever talk about my mother like that again." And she stalked off on her heel toward her room. Just before she could slam the door, he called out to her.

"Artemis. Let's keep the details of our disscusion to ourselves. We don't want anything slipping to the media now do we?"

When the couple left, Artemis was already on the roof, laying in the shawdows. She hated nothing more then having her misgivings proven true. The voice in her head screamed 'I told you so!' mimicking Wally. She followed them everywhere they went, always careful to keep her distance and not be seen. That was why she wasn't in costume when Robin caught her stalking a pair.

"'Mis? What are you doing in Gotham?" he asked smugly. Artemis glared and thought quickly.

"Visiting family member of mine." Robin looked down from the tree he was sitting in.

"So a better question is why are you in a bush?" He tried valiently to keep the grin off his face and only failed a tiny bit. Arty cracked each knuckle once before replying.

"I um saw a mugger from Star City and decided to trail him... yeah." she supplied before returning to her binoculars which were aimed across the street at a resturant that normally, they could never have afforded. Her mother was having a salad while Norm dinned on a rich steak. Artemis growled a bit.

"What's up?" Executing a flip, Robin joined her in the bush almost silently.

"Do me a favour? Find me all the files you can on a guy named Norman Oswald.

Robin blinked once behind his mask.

"Who is-"

"Please. I'll explain later I promise." She took a moment to give him a pleading look. Robin thought for a few seconds, before nodding. "Thanks. Now don't you have a clown, or penguin or cat to go beat up?" He smirked and dissapeared without a trace.

In the resturant, Paula was once again paying for the meals, even though she had eaten a far less expensive meal. Just before they got up to go, Norm belched loudly and haf the resturant turned to give him a distgusted look. Paula nearly hid her face in embarassment. They left quickly, and when they were about a block away, Artemis got up to follow. A few blocks into their neighbourhood, a man and woman with hood over their faces leapt out. The woman held a gun and the man stood behind her. Living in Gotham, you didn't need to hear what was being said to know what they were saying. Unless you had a certain MO or colourful costume, you tended to lack any originality. Not that the costumed villans were much better. Artemis wasn't shocked by the attempted mugging, but by the fact that the sleaze ball push Paula in front of the gun and tried to hand the attacker her wallet. The archer nearly blew cover and went to beat up the creep, but Batman interveined. After quickly dispatching the would be assailents, the Dark Knight and have a bat-glare to Norm. He impudently rolled his eyes, and wheeled Paula toward home. When they were gone from sight, Batman gave a single nod in Artemis' direction before fadeing intot he shawdows.

Panting from the sprint she took to get home before her mother noticed she was gone, Artemis flopped down onto her bed and fought back the urge to turn Oswald into her own personal game of Operation. She swalowed the urges when her mom poked her head into her room.

"Would you like to join Norm and I for tea?" Did she want to want to dress up as a Harliquinn doll and play stooge to the Joker? Hell no. But afraid of what might happen if she wasn't there, Artemis mutely nodded. She walked into the living room and positioned herself inbetween her mother and Norm. The kettle screamed and Paula went to get it. They sat in scilence, locked in a stare down that was quickly postponed whem Paula re-entered.

"Here we are." She said sweetly, passing out the cups. "So Artemis what did you do tonight?"

"Sharpened arrows. Nothing special. What did you do tonight mom?"

"It was great, we went out for dinner and-" Norm began.

"I think I was asking mom. I don't really care what you thought." Paula roughly set her tea down and glared at her daughter.

"Artemis. Apologize." she growled.

"No."

"Now."

"Really, it's alright. Just teenage hormones I assume."

"And presuming makes an ass out of you and I. But mostly just you here." Paula looked shocked and angry.

"Artemis Lian Crock, you apologize this instant!" Artemis put down her cup and folded her arms.

"I will not." Paula began to yell.

"SAY YOUR SORRY OR YOUR GROUNDED!" Artemis stood up, arms still folded.

"Don't make threats you can't enforce." Oswald coughed awkwardly.

"I think I'm going to just go. Call me later, Paula." And he slipped out the door, closing it over the sound of the screaming Crock girls. He turned to make his way outside, when he bumped into a tall broad blonde man, whose face was obscured by his baseball hat.

"Watch it." Oswald grumbled as me moved away.

Artemis stormed out of her window and up onto the roof to cool down. She had tried to accuse Oswald of taking advantage of her mother, but she fell on deaf ears. He mom simply told her that she was being paranoid and unjustly rude and nasty to Norm. Then she stormed away into her bedroom, leaving Artemis to clean up the mess. Out on the roof, a cool breeze swept her long untied hair around her face. Muttering curses under her breath, Green Arrow's second protege didn't hear the man walk up behind her.

"You're getting sloppy. A few months ago, I wouldn't have been able to breathe or you'd know where I was." The baseball cap was off now, and the wind pushed around his buzzed hair.

"Nice to see you too dad." Lawrence chuckled and stood beside her. "What do you want?"

"I want to help."

Yes I know his name sounds something like the Green Gobin in Marvel, but I feel that the name gives you an idea of his type of character! I hope you enjoyed chapter one! Tell me what you thought or if you have any ideas or constructive critisism by leaving a reveiw! :D