I got the ten reviews I wanted! More than ten actually! I'm gonna have to bump up the challenge. Okay, here's the next chapter! A day early! As promised! Enjoy!

Zzzzip

Artemis was going home, and she was damn happy about it. She had woken up in her bed at the cave to a call from Black Canary telling her that she was free to train again, and so she was free to return home.

How she got in her bed in the first place was a mystery. All I remember is sitting with Wally in front of the fire, thawing out.

But she was too excited to see her mother again to worry about such trivial matters. Artemis heaved her duffel over her shoulder and headed to the zeta tubes.

The walk back to her apartment was simple and surprisingly refreshing. However as she turned onto her block, Artemis started remembering why she didn't want to be away in the first place. I wonder how Mom is doing. I hope she's been able to get the groceries okay, and get to work. Artemis bit her lip. The league said that they would check up on her…

The archer remembered the conversation she had with her mother over the phone a few days after she was put on lockdown.

"Hey Mom, how are you doing?" Artemis asked.

"Oh I'm doing great. Are you healing okay?" Her mother's happy voice came through the speakers.

"Yeah I'm fine. Are you getting around okay? Do you want me to come back? I'm sure I can-"

"Oh don't you worry! I'm being taken care of just fine. You know superheroes are so much nicer than villains. When superheroes visit they use the front door, and knock. Criminals don't bother knocking. Actually, they usually wouldn't use a door either." Paula joked. Artemis smirked.

"Okay that's good to hear. If you need me to sneak out and come home, just call," Artemis offered, though a bit sarcastically. She knew her mother wouldn't do it.

"Artemis you stay right there and get better. I know the reason you're stuck there is a good one. I wouldn't be able to keep you from sneaking out to train," She huffed. Artemis chuckled.

"Well I'll see you soon Mom,"

"Yes you will. I love you,"

"I love you too Mom,"

Artemis took the stairs up to their apartment two at a time. The hallway of the building didn't look any different. She hoped there weren't any drastic changes around the apartment either. Artemis whipped out her key and unlocked the door; shoving it open with her shoulder when it stuck.

"Mom?" She called out as she entered, "I'm home,"

Then she froze.

There, standing in the kitchen, doing dishes, was Wally freaking West; and he looked about as shell-shocked as she did.

"Artemis you're home!" Paula grinned as she wheeled into the living room. Artemis turned her head, her mouth still agape. Wally decided to continue doing the dishes like nothing was wrong. Like he isn't just randomly in my home doing chores. Artemis thought.

"Mom? What is Wally doing here?" She asked, pointing to the offending redhead. Paula just smiled some more.

"Wally started coming over every once and awhile after you were confined to the cave. He's been helping out around the house," She explained. Artemis wanted to complain, but her Mother's eyes were just shining with gratefulness.

"I need to borrow him," Artemis mumbled before snatching Wally's arm and dragging him off to her room. Wally bit his lip in worry for what was to come.

"Be nice Artemis!" Paula called out to her daughter before the door shut.

Artemis threw her duffel on her bed and turned to glare at the speedster with her arms crossed.

"What do you think you're doing?" She spat. Wally wiped his soapy hands on his pants before answering.

"You said you were worried about your mom when Bats put you on probation," Wally defended, "So I had Robin give me your address so that I could check on her," He ran a hand through his hair, "Is that so bad?"

"We don't need your sympathy," Artemis narrowed her eyes. Wally looked confused at first, but then recognition hit him.

"Really Artemis?" Wally frowned, "You think I only did this because 'Handicapped people have it so rough'?" He quoted in a fake voice. Artemis shifted her weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "I did this because I care. Because we're teammates; and teammates take care of each other on and off the battlefield. Because I consider you my friend, even if you don't," He crossed his arms. Artemis's glare went away. He…admits that he cares? Well I guess he if he can man up, I can too…

"Sorry," She sighed. "And…I do consider you my friend," Artemis adverted her eyes, "I mean, you did help me out last night. So thanks for that,"

"No problem Arty," Wally smiled.

"But you do understand that my mother is extremely capable, right? Even with her handicap," Artemis huffed, scrutinizing Wally. He laughed at this.

"Are you kidding? Your mom is so cool! She taught me how to throw knives the other day," He commented like it was no big deal.

"What!" Artemis shrieked, "She was throwing knives around?"

"Don't be such a fun sucker Arty," Wally laughed at her reaction.

"I am not a fun sucker," She defended. Wally just continued smiling.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Wally? Did Artemis kill you?" Paula's voice came through the door. Wally turned and opened the door.

"No ma'am," He grinned, "Artemis couldn't kill me if she wanted to," He smirked. Artemis frowned.

"I could to," She muttered.

"Well okay, I just wanted to make sure," She smiled, chuckling lightly as she rolled back to the living room.

"By the way," The speedster asked, turning around again to face Artemis, "How are you feeling?"

"What do you mean?" She rose and eyebrow.

"Well last night you were practically a popsicle when you came back from-"

"Shhh!" Artemis threw her hand over his mouth, looking to the hallway for her mother. Wally nodded to show he understood; so she took her hand away.

"-from that nightly jog," He finished, giving her an over exaggerated wink. Artemis rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Artemis pursed her lips, "Thanks for…taking care of me,"

"That's what I'm here for Arty, remember?" He grinned, tapping a finger to her nose. Artemis struggled with her lips, refusing to smile. Wally saw this and laughed, "Well, I probably ought to get going anyway. See you later Arty," He gave a small wave before heading to the door.

"Bye, see you at the Cave," Artemis said; she heard him say goodbye to her mother too before the door to the apartment opened and closed.

The archer crashed to her bed, her mind in a frenzy. What is he doing to me? She thought. I need to figure this out…

Artemis would have preferred a forest, but there aren't really any forests that close to Gotham. So she had to settle for inner thought delving in a tree in a park. Her mother was oddly unsurprised by her sudden leave. I hate how perceptive mothers are. Artemis frowned, climbing higher in the tree so that no one could possibly see her.

Now to figure out what's going on with Baywatch. Or rather, what's happening to me. I've become much too comfortable around him. We're friends now, when did that even happen? Artemis paused mid-thought, realizing something. Why is it so bad to be friends with him? I'm friends with everyone else on the team.

A bird landed on a branch a few feet away. Artemis stared. It was a Robin. She laughed and the bird flew away, started.

"Oh who am I kidding?" She put her head in her hands. It's different with Wally. I look forward to our bantering every time I go to the cave, his smiles are infectious, and I get butterflies in my stomach when he calls me Beautiful. Artemis smirked. Which he only calls me when he thinks I'm not paying attention.

"Augh!" Artemis let out her frustration.

It isn't supposed to be this way! I can't have a… Artemis couldn't think of what to call whatever she had for Wally was, because it was definitely worse than some stupid little crush. I shouldn't have even made friends with any of them! Artemis scolded herself. I forgot, and now they're like a family to me. Now they care about me. So now it's going to hurt them when I die. She frowned.

Artemis had long before resigned herself to the idea of dying young. With a villain for a father and superhero tendencies, she didn't expect to live past 20. She knew that she could probably give herself a much longer life if she just did what her dad wanted her to; but she would much rather die young doing the right thing than live a long life doing damage. And she would much rather die as "Artemis the superhero" than "Artemis the criminal's daughter who pissed off her dad too much".

So Artemis had joined up with the team of real superheroes with the idea that one day she could die in the place of one her teammates. Assuring that the true heroes could live on; and not the wannabe hero with a criminal past. It was her plan.

To fight crime as long as I can; and survive long enough to do some actual good.

Not that Artemis was suicidal; quite the opposite. But she was raised to accept death for the greater outcome, and has been close enough to it on multiple occasions that she no longer feared it. She had no plans for the future, unlike her teammates. So if anyone had to have their life cut short, Artemis figured she was the one with the least to lose. Green Arrow would take care of her mother. The League's sympathies would work as a kind of life insurance. Which was morbid, and kind of rude, but it would work.

But that Goddamn Wally West. He's screwing everything up! With these feelings and his stupid caring…It's getting so hard to keep myself at an arm's length away. For everyone even! I want to see Superboy work things out with Superman, and I want to see Robin get taller, and Wally become a brilliant scientist, and Kaldur learn earth humor, and M'gann reach her full potential… Artemis sighed. But worst of all I'm starting to dream of a future with Wally. And having dreams like that just really shoot a hole right through the heart of my original plan…

How am I supposed to be the sacrifice when the time comes if I start making all these wishes for the future?

I am sorry it's kind of short, but it was the best stopping place.

Okay, 15 reviews this time and I'll post tomorrow! If now, I'll post the day after tomorrow.

Thank you for reading!

-Nexa