"Artemis?" Wally said in shock.
"Wally?" She managed to get out.
Rory turned to her, confusion setting in on her face.
"Mom," She said, "What's going on?"
A large grin crossed Wally's face as he approached Artemis, giving her a friendly embrace.
"It's been years!" He said as he let her go. "What happened to you? It was like you dropped off the face of the earth!"
The paleness that had filled her face had begun developing a dark blush as she glanced over to Rory, who had picked Lian up off the floor and begun staring at the adults in confusion.
He doesn't know… She thought. She had never been so thankful for his denseness.
"I-" She started, "I resigned. I had personal reasons."
Wally looked back at Rory, "And you're a mother! Congratulations. I can't believe that it's been twelve years since I've seen you. It feels kind of weird to be all grown up now."
Artemis looked at the ground and nodded quietly.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Roy sent me to get Lian."
"Yeah, well… Remind me to kill him."
Wally's expression turned confused, the large elaborate smile leaving his face.
"What do you mean?" He asked, "What's the matter?"
"Rufina-"
"Go to my room." Rory finished, "I know." She got off the couch, taking Lian with her. Wally watched the back of the youths head as she walked away, flinching slightly when she turned around. "You know," She said, her face of freckles moving with her mouth. "I'm eleven and a half; I'm not a baby anymore."
"I am not arguing with you!" Artemis yelled. Lian started to cry. "Go. Now!"
At that moment, Wally's stomach dropped. He moved his eyes to the photos on the mantel. Her bright orange hair, her freckles, her large emerald eyes… Even her smile looked familiar.
Eleven years old…
Nine months of pregnancy…
Gone for twelve years…
Artemis had shame on her face, still unable to take her eyes off of the ground.
"I think you should go." She said.
"Arty-"
"Please!" She yelled. "Leave! If Roy wants Lian back, tell him to get her himself. Go! Now!"
With that, Wally was out the door.
"Shit." Artemis said as she collapsed on the couch. She felt like she could faint. This wasn't happening. This wasn't supposed to happen! Maybe if Rory had been an infant, but not now. It was too late, she was grown up, and that bonding period was over.
It was over.
It.
Was.
Too.
Late.
Wally was still in shock as he entered his apartment. He had almost forgotten that he told Roy that he could stay there until he got back.
He rested his elbows on the counter hard, almost hurting himself. As he set his forehead in his hands he wasn't sure if he was going to hyperventilate, or faint. His heart was pounding and his mind had gone blank.
Roy sat on the couch, his eyes silently looking out the window at the night sky.
"What the hell is going on!" Wally yelled, sitting down angrily and gripping his hair in his fists. "What just happened?"
Roy was silent for a moment. His face showed no emotion, but inside he couldn't help but wonder if he had done the right thing.
"Welcome to the 'Holy shit, I'm a daddy' club." He said.
A/N: I'm really sorry for how short this chapter is… I'm sick as hell and wasn't really sure if I wanted to write today or not. I would have been able to make it longer, but I really wanted to end it with that last line, it just seemed like such a good place!