Really short and kind of anti-climatic... Sorry...

Okay, so, the story behind this chapter's existence is that my BFF- Du'Varg- bribed me at school today with a Fruit by the Foot if I updated this tonight. At first, I was flipping out and even PM'ed her/him that I wouldn't be able to finish (Du's a Black Belt, so that is terrifying- though I fight kinda' dirty, don't I Du? *evil smirk* Poor, poor, Ryan and sad, sad, zipper... (inside joker between me and Du)) ANYWAYS!

HERE IT IS!

(I own nothing. :*(...)

"Richard John Grayson!"

Richard felt himself being shoved backwards a slight bit as a bloated gut hit his waist, two thin arms wrapping around his shoulders as the blonde stood on her toes to kiss his jaw and cheeks and lips and nose and- well, you understand.

Artemis pulled back, her eyes- once a deep navy, now edging towards forest green with sparks of cobalt- full of tears and rage. "Richard-" smack the arm "-John-" smack the chest "-Grayson!" smack the face.

Rotating his jaw, Richard turned and saw his wife better. She seemed tiny with her stomach so far out, so round and bloated. Her eyes, blood-shot, spread tears over her lusciously plump, reddened lips. "You left and- and Tim called me and said that- I called Roy and Bruce and- Hell, I called Connor and Megan! WHERE WERE YOU?"

He winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Africa?"

Her glare silenced him. Only a Preggo-Woman glare could beat the Bat-Glare.

"Richard, you dare leave again without telling me-"

"I didn't want to worry you."

Her quavering lips frowned, and she hugged him tightly again, not getting too close as her stomach was keeping her a good foot away. "Richard, just... Just don't leave me, okay?"

He sighed, taking in a deep whiff of her hair. She had been cleaning, he could tell, by the smell of baking soda and disinfectant in her hair. Amongst that, he could barely smell a faint glimmer of strawberries...

"I promise, Miss..."

She nodded, withdrawing, and left her hand gently trace his jaw. Then, she slapped him.

"Ouch!"

"Be thankful I'm not grounding you..."

A loud, harsh shout brought Artemis from her beautiful dreams.

"TO HELL WITH YOU-"

"INSULTING MY SON-"

"SCREWING UP EVERYTHING-"

"-AWAY FROM MY NIECE-"

"TAKE A LONG HIKE TO HELL, QUEEN!"

Then, Dinah's Canary-shriek rippled through the mountain. Even from at least halfway across the cave, Artemis winced at the shrill song. "BOTH OF YOU SHUT IT!"

The archeress curled over onto her side to see the clock- 5AM-

She swore and jumped up, peeling off her sweaty undergarments and replacing them with fresh ones, a tight white spaghetti-strap tee, and loose, saggy black sweats. Ignoring the fact that her hair was still slightly damp and cold, the young woman made her way- sprinting her way- towards the voices.

She soon found herself standing right outside of the Medical Bay. The Flash- his cowl down, revealing rather attractive green eyes and platinum blonde hair- had his arms wrapped around Oliver's chest, restraining the red-faced archer from attacking Batman, who was being restrained by Wonder Woman- of all people.

Their shouts and screams rippled around her, attacking the girl's ears like pistols and spears, digging into her eardrums and imbedding themselves into her brain. Her heart began to beat rapidly, and she felt her face grow hot, felt bile and dry puke rise in her throat.

Finally, she screamed, "Stop!" though it came out more a strangled cry through her veil of tears.

Even with her injured voice so quiet, the five Leaguers turned to attention. When Dinah saw the younger woman's appearel- red, swollen eyes, tangled and ratty hair, her slouching posture- not holding its normal cocky, arrogant and sexy air- she darted forward.

Artemis couldn't help but cry into her mentor's shoulder. Blonde hairs tangled together as Dinah pulled the girl tighter and tighter into her arms. Artemis's whole body was shaking as she cried rapidly- crying, crying, crying, crying, crying, crying, crying- into Black Canary's bare shoulder.

She didn't hear the footsteps until Oliver was behind her, both hands on her shoulders. He turned her around and tried to hug her-

But she began to beat his chest. She didn't know why she was so ticked at Ollie- she had no reason, right? (besides the fact that he had suddenly and recently developed a hatred for all things bat and bird related...)- but it felt so good to get that pent-up aggression, fury and anger out.

Oliver grunted at the first hit, then took them. Slurred words rolled off of his 'niece's' lips, even more aggressive than her fists. He didn't understand them, but something told him he deserved it.

Batman- cowl off (shockingly)- stood in the background. His whole face was stone, though his eyes betrayed his anger and pain and worry.

Then, Artemis had an epiphany.

She snapped around, holding Oliver's hand tightly in hers. "Dick-"

Barry nodded towards the doors. "Inside. He got out of surgery about two hours ago- we didn't want to wake you," he added quickly, "and the Team has already visited. They went out for a really early breakfast; Wally promised to bring you back something."

TMI, Barry, Artemis growled inwardly, wiping tears from her face and again becoming the rock-hard spitfire she had been beaten into. Alright... Squared shoulders, chest up, chin forward... "May I see him?" She wasn't stammering anymore.

Heads turned to Bruce, who grunted. Artemis took that as a 'yes' and went inside.

She swore.

Richard's prone body, the deep tanned Gypsy color, looked stark white against the other snowy things around him. He wasn't hooked up to billions of machines like he had been numerous times before (Artemis, too) but had only an oxygen mask, IV, and blood-bag up. His mental and heart scans showed regularity coming back, to the archeress's relief. His eyes darted beneath their lids, and his lips moved gently as he murmured in his subconscious.

Artemis slowly made her way over to his side, her whole body lifting as she got closer and closer.

"The surgery was a success."

The Dark Knight's voice jolted her from her thoughts. A heavy, Kevlar-covered hand gently- gently- sat her down in a chair next to Richard. Without thinking, her hand met his in a death-grip, slim fingers wrapping around that thick piece of plastic attached to his hand. Richard's eyes moved sharply, and a small tug echoed at his lips.

"They got the bullet out. It hadn't hit any major organs, thank God-" was that relief and compassion in the great Batman's voice? "-but he lost a lot of blood."

Artemis scoffed, remembering the thick, salty liquid on her tongue. On her tongue. "Duh."

Bruce's fists clenched, but he said nothing in reprimand.

There was a long, awkward silence that followed. After all, Artemis was holding Robin's hand with Batman standing right there.

Aaaaaaaawkwaaaaaaaaaard...

"He really cares about you."

Navy eyes shot open for a fraction of a second, and Artemis's breath hitched. "W-What?"

Bruce moved forward a long, strong step, his coal eyes dangerously peeling Artemis apart layer by bloody layer. "He must care about you a lot, if he took that bullet for you... Richard doesn't like guns- never has. His first day out in Gotham, he was shot in the lung."

She tried not to weep at this.

Silence.

Then, "What happened?"

Bruce grunted as he came to stand next to his ward, across from the girl. "It was Two-Face. Richard was only eight. He was in a coma for three days- I refused to let him back out. One night, he sneaked out after me."

Silence.

"Then?"

His eyes narrowed at her. "He saved my life." She didn't ask for details, no matter how juicy and enticing they might be. "I let him patrol with me- but he stayed with Superman and Flash when it got too dangerous."

A drunken giggle came from Artemis's throat, and the man shot her a look. She rolled her eyes and said, "No wonder he's not like you. With how dangerous Gotham is, he must have spent tons of time with Flash."

Despite himself, Bruce's lip twitched into a smirk.

There was yet another pause, then, Bruce sighed. "I don't like you-" Wow. Thanks. "-but he does... So I approve."

Nothing else was said. Artemis looked up from Richard's face to question Bruce- but he was gone. "Darn those Bats..."

"I find that somewhat offensive."

His voice was so soft, so weak and frail, that Artemis almost didn't hear it. She shrieked with glee when two pools of blue smiled up at her. Being careful of his gunshot, Artemis pulled Richard into a hug-

Then, she kissed him.

He was still groggy, still in utter shock from the 'incident', that he didn't react at first. He simply sat there while her lips moved over his, her warm breath forcing its way through his mouth and down his throat. Then, she wrapped her arms around his neck, licking and sucking on his lower lip. A groan of surprised pleasure came from Richard's throat, and his eyes widened before closing. He forced himself against her, manuvering his tongue past her lips and into her mouth.

She giggled, lips still attached to his, and bit down on his upper lip, making Richard gasp and withdraw.

"Let's take this slow, Tiger."

Still weary and pain-streaked, Richard's lady-killer grin appeared. "Who kissed who?"

"Shut it, Grayson."

Kinda' suggestive, SORRY!, but I wanted it to be special.

Maybe one more chapter. I'm kinda confused on where to go from here- BUT LOOK OUT FOR THE SEQUEL "Lies" (original, right?)

REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY!

RObin: You know what makes me happy? WHEN YOU'RE NOT FRICKIN' SHOOTING AND TORTURING ME!

Scotty: *intense sad-facing* But I liiiiike to torture you!

Batman: ... T_T ...

Scotty: JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING! *runs away screaming for her life*

Robin: *clears throat* Anyways, please review so that I can have more make-out sessions with Artie.

Batman: ... T_T ...

Robin: JUST KIDDING! WAIT UP, SCOTTYYYYYYYYYYY!