AN: Thanks so much for the follows, favorites, views, and reviews! I'm going to be away on vacation for a week, so I may not get to update until I get back. Also, for anyone who hasn't voted the poll is still open!

Previously:

"So, have you been to the Cave before?" Raven asked (obviously, she had kept her monotone while talking to Beast Boy). "Nope, this is my first time here. Maybe you can show me around?" "Well, I don't know about the lower floors, you'd have to ask Artemis or Robin about those, but I can show you all the rooms you'll actually need to go to." Raven informed, half-expecting him to decline and ask someone else (someone who could give him a full tour). "Sure, sounds good." He replied.

And for the first time since their conversation started, Raven offered him a genuine smile.

Chapter 7: Corny jokes and Wally's apology

"And this is the back entrance to the Cave, bringing us to the end of our tour." Raven drawled as she showed Gar the waterfall at the back of the Cave that overlooked the Cave's private beach.

"It's pretty nice, if you're into that kind of stuff. You know; Sun, the beach…" Beast boy joked, lightly elbowing the Team's darkest member.

Raven let out a small, melodic laugh. "You know, you're actually kind of funny." She said with a small smile on her face (a rare feat for the empath).

Gar's eyes seemed to sparkle with the complement, the unspoken pain hidden in them pushed to the back of his mind. "You think I'm funny? Sweet! I know some jokes! Why was 6 afraid of seven?" he chirped, causing Raven to inwardly groan.

What had she just gotten herself into?

While Raven was busy giving the green shape shifter a tour, Artemis had been lounging in the common room (Wally had retreated to his room after the introduction). She was currently playing checkers with Robin while munching a sandwich, and surprisingly had actually won two out of the four games; hence the winner take all tiebreaker they were currently involved in (Artemis idly wondered if anyone had ever beaten the miniature ninja and lived to tell the tale). The game continued for roughly ten minutes, both sides being evenly matched, before Artemis managed to gain the upper hand and win their 'two person tournament' as Robin phrased it. After rubbing it in just a little and finishing her sandwich, Artemis left for her room to get her bow and arrows for target practice. Upon entering her room, however, she found a note neatly folded on her bed.

'Artemis,

I know you're still really mad at me (to be honest, you have every right to be) but at least hear me out. Meet me on the roof of that new apartment building on 4th Street, Gotham at 7:00pm so we can talk.

Wally'

Artemis read the note over and over again, just to make sure she hadn't missed anything due to Wally's untidy scrawl. Should she go meet him? His comment hurt her more than she'd let anyone know (which is why she was using her emotionless fallback whenever they were in the same room) but he was making an attempt to apologize. Finally, after much internal debate, she decided to hear him out and just walk away if she felt his apology was insincere. After all, it wasn't as if Gotham was unfamiliar territory. She traded her usual brown jacket for a black leather one (there was a history behind her leather jacket-which is why she never wore it around the Team-she was trying to forget her past) before walking out towards the zeta tubes with her bow and a grappling arrow to get onto the roof.

When she arrived, she was expecting to be bombarded with awkward apologies from the speedster. To her surprise, there was a cliché red and white checkered tablecloth and a picnic basket, as well as a few lit candles. The Sun was beginning to set, streaking the sky with gentle pinks and oranges and shades of yellow that looked more like gold. The city lights were beginning to turn on, making crime filled Gotham City look peaceful, elegant and (if Artemis was being completely honest) beautiful. She could still hear the faint wails of police sirens in the distance and the occasional whir of a helicopter, reminding her that she was still in Gotham and not in a different world.

Her silent awe at the transformation of her home town was broken by none other than Wally West, the annoying speedster who invited her up here.

"I knew you'd like the view." He claimed with a soft chuckle.

"Why exactly did you invite me up here?" Artemis asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why would you go through all this trouble?"

"Because Artemis, I knew if I apologized to you without showing that I really meant it, you'd think it was for the Team, and not because I felt bad about what I said. So let me just say I felt horrible about it. I regretted the words the second they came out of my mouth and I'm seriously sorry if I hurt you. I wasn't thinking."

"No kidding." Artemis smirked. "But since you went through all this trouble just to give me a real apology, I forgive you. Say anything like that again though, and you won't be able to win me over with a nice view."

"It won't happen again, promise. Now since all is forgiven, does that mean I get to eat all the food?"

"Not a chance, Baywatch. What sort of food did you make anyways?"

"Spaghetti, and no, I didn't burn the house down. I also bought breadsticks and garlic bread." Wally answered.

"You can have the garlic bread, since I'm allergic to garlic. Now let's eat, I'm starving!"

"Careful Artemis, you're beginning to sound like me!" Wally joked.

After that, the pair of teenage heroes ate heartily (Artemis actually admitted the food was good) occasionally teasing each other about previous missions. Artemis would remind Wally of a time when he tripped over his own two feet or blew their cover, and Wally would respond with a reminder of one of the rare cases where Artemis would miss a shot (but was smart enough to not mention the mission in the New Orleans). The duo felt better knowing that tomorrow they would go back to their usual dynamic of arguments and insults (not serious ones of course) but for now they could be friends enjoying dinner.

"So Artemis, out of curiosity, where did you disappear to in the fight against Adonis?"

"Don't worry about it. It's got something to do with my past, but I'm not in any trouble and I can handle this myself. Maybe one day I'll tell you, but that day is not today."

"If you're sure, then I won't push you. But you have the Team, Artemis. You're not alone unless you choose to be." Wally stated, the words echoing through Artemis's head. She knew that for once he was right, but she wasn't prepared for the Team's judgment.

'My past is in the past, and I intend to keep it that way.' Artemis thought as the night came to a close and both teens headed back home.