Barry and Iris were still in the med bay with Wally when I finally put myself together enough to make my way over. Tear streaks were evident on the trios' faces but the wide smiles and bright eyes made a good job at hiding them. Wally was the first to notice me fidgeting by the door. The sudden wide smile that took over his face not only left me breathless but also made my presence known to the two others present. The change was immediate. Barry and Iris went still as soon as they saw me but Wally didn't seem to notice.

"Are you going to stand there all day? Come on, idiot." He laughed while moving over in the bed to leave me room at his side. Trying to ignore the tension in the room, I silently made my way over and sat at the very edge of the bed. Oblivious, Wally snorted and pulled me by the waist until I sat fully fledged to his body.

"I won't bite you." He snorted once he finally deemed I was comfortable enough, arm still around my waist. I was still tense to which Wally rolled his eyes but decided to ignore it. He looked back up at his aunt and uncle who were looking at our interaction with confusion and worry written all over their faces.

"So, what did Bart do when he saw his father as a baby?" Wally continued their previous conversation making Barry blink out of his stupor. The older speedster opened and closed his mouth a couple of times but uttered no words. Iris' eyes were still on me.

Wally tensed beside me. It seemed that he had finally noticed the tension surrounding us. He looked between his aunt, uncle and me confused. It was the most quiet it have ever been in a room with a speedster present, let along two.

"I think I'll go." I blurted out after five minutes of painful silence.

"What?! No! Why?" Wally asked holding on tightly to my waist.

"It's ok Walls, I'll come back later." I promised but the speedster only held on tighter. "Seriously Wally, I am sure your family would like to have a moment alone with you."

"You are family, Dick." Wally whispered making me abandon my weak attempts at escaping his strong embrace. My eyes finally connected with his and I could see he meant it. 'Oh Wally, if you only knew' I thought but nevertheless his puppy dog eyes were enough for me to settle once more besides him. Silence and tension be dammed!

Barry and Iris had remained silent during the exchange between Wally and I but their confusion and worry had only seem to increase. I decided to slump against the bed in an effort to hide as best as I could from their line of sight. Wally noticed.

"Aunt I. Uncle B." Both adults snapped out of their thoughts to lock eyes with their nephew. "I know that it may seem weird to you seeing Dick and I like this again considering how we left things but I also think you know it was inevitable. I believe sooner or later Dick and I would have fixed our differences." My head snaps up at this. 'Really?' At the time I would have bet on Batman's becoming the Joker's best friend sooner than Wally forgiving me. "We love each other too much to have left things the way they were." My heart clenches at the word. Specially since I know he doesn't mean it the way I do. "Also, we all know that Dick didn't meant to hurt me. He was just hurt himself." He finished in a whisper and sort of begging tone. What he was begging for I ignored but it seemed that he got it because soon a wide smile took over his face. Encouraged, I dared to look at Barry and Iris. To my horror, both of them had tears in their eyes.

"Oh God, no! Don't cry. I'll leave!" I yell in panic while finally wrenching myself away from Wally and stumbling up but before I could take a step towards the exit, I was enveloped in a couple of strong arms. It takes me a minute to realize it's actually Barry and not Wally who is currently hugging me. Hesitantly, I wrap my own arms around him. My actions fuel Barry on and he holds me even tighter. Iris saves me from oxygen deprivation.

"You are crushing the boy, dear." She says and Barry reluctantly lets go.

"I don't understand." I say confused after receiving a hug from Iris as well.

"What don't you understand sweetie?" She asks and her voice is so motherly that I have to use all of my strength to avoid crying.

"Why?" Is the only word I manage to say but the seem to understand me.

"We have missed you kid." Barry answers simply and this time it's me who wraps them both in a bone crushing hug.

"I missed you guys too. I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't mean too. I am so sorry." They held me while I sobbed and through my confusing babble.

"It's ok sweetie" "All is forgiven" "We love you" Their comforting words managed to bring out even more tears.

Finally, I managed to contain myself enough to let go of them.

"Sorry." I say once again and somehow they understand I am not talking about the scene they just witnessed.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, sweetie."

"Let the past be the past kid"

They say and by some miracle I manage not to break down again.

"So...I don't know about you guys, but I think that the guy that disappeared for almost a year deserves more hugs and kisses than this idiot." Wally breaks the silence making us smile.

"Meh, we missed Dick more." Barry teased to which Wally gasped dramatically.

"I am your nephew!" He exclaimed clutching his chest.

"But he is so much well mannered." Iris joined in the teasing making Wally pout.

"Fine, I see how it is. And they say blood is thicker than water." We manage to stay quiet for three seconds before we all burst out laughing.

The laughs are interrupted by the arrival of Batman.

"Hey Bats!"

"Wally. I see that you are feeling better."

"Everything is great! So...can I go now?" The redhead begged. Batman's glare was answer enough. "Fine." He pouted making me giggle. Wally took revenge by tickling me.

"Dick." Batman interrupted our tickle war.

"Yes, Bats?" I asked half listening half watching out for Wally's quick slender fingers.

"The Team's here."

"Oh." The room once again felt cold but this time I was the only inhabitant aware.

"Ok. I'll explain everything and bring them here. Is that ok?" I asked Wally who nods half heartily. Surprisingly, he also looks slightly worried.

"Hey, everything is going to be ok." I assure with a hand squeeze even thought my heart is beating fast enough to beat a speedsters'.

"Sure. I know. Well, what are you waiting for? Go get them. We can't keep them away from this master piece much longer." He says with a fake confident smirk while indicating to himself. I pretend to believe him and with an eye roll exit the room.

The fall of a pin could've been heard in the silence that followed my confession. Understandably, confusion and denial prevailed in the faces of my old team mates. Miss M's eyes begged for me to explain how could this be possible but I found myself terrified of disturbing the silence I was sure soon would be lost to make way to the storm. Superboy and Kaldur's expressions were easier to look at. Besides their confusion, they seemed unmoved by my words even though we all knew they were not whelmed at all. I forced myself to look at Artemis' eyes. Predictably, the confusion and denial that had overcome them at first soon turn to a new emotion...rage.

"Explain." She ordered quietly but it had the same effect as if she had bellowed the single word. The others didn't dare to move or make a noise. Evidently, they didn't want to come between Artemis' and the source of her anger, me.

"Wally is alive." I repeated not knowing what else to say. It seemed that words had failed me. Sadly, this only managed to anger her even more.

"How?! How is he alive? Where has he been? How did you find out? When did you found out?" She spat furiously with clenched fists and stepping closer with each question until we stood face to face.

"Why does it matter? The important thing is that he is back!" I spat back losing my cool. The others flinched, probably guessing correctly my answer would not be welcomed by the young archer.

"Why does it matter?! It matters because for the last months I have been mourning the death of my boyfriend who apparently is now miraculously back. It matters because he for the last months I've been blaming myself for him having to risk his life to save the world in the first place. It matters because I've been living with a black hole inside of me that has slowly being sucking the life out of me. And now you are telling me that he is back! Just like that! It matters. So answer the damn questions?!"

Not for the first time, I feel the weight of my actions heavy on my shoulders. This was my fault. It was my fault Wally left the team. It is my fault Artemis returned to the team. It is my fault Wally sacrificed himself. It is my fault my friends had to experience the loss of a teammate, friend, brother and lover. It is my fault Artemis quit her dreams to return once more to a life full of darkness, deceit and hopelessness. Ad what did I do to atone for my sins? I quit the team and left them alone to deal with the consequences of my actions. I turned my back on my family because it was too hard to be around them knowing we were not complete. And by doing so, I robbed them of another piece of what was the puzzle of our mismatch family. I was selfish. I didn't thought about how Wally's death would affect them. I only thought about myself and my pain and my guilt and now I was paying the price.

"I am sorry. You are right." I interrupted Artemis' ramble creating silence once more.

"Wally is alive. He was never dead in the first place. He just disappeared into something speedster's call the speedforce that's apparently their source of power. He was able to come back when an evil speedster from the future, Hunter Zolomon, tried to kill him. Upon touching him, both Wally and Zolomon broke free of the speed force. Realizing he was on Earth once more, Wally immediately ran away before Zolomon could kill him. He ran to Bludhaven to find me. I helped him find Zolomon and after shamefully being kidnapped by said evil speedster, Wally rescued me and defeated him in the process. Afterwards, we called Batman who proceeded to interrogate us and verify the legitimacy of Wally's identity. Zoom has been placed in a secure proof cell with a recently wiped memory, courtesy of Martian Manhunter and Wally is in the infirmary with his aunt and Flash." Miss M, Kaldur and Conner didn't wait to bombard me with questions about Wally's well being, our encounter with Zoom and the events of the past week once they realized I had finished. However, before I could answer any of them, Artemis killed the chatter by asking, "Why did he come to you?" The question was spoken with a little anger but mostly confusion.

"I don't know." I answered honestly because no matter how many times Wally tried to reassure me I would never understand why he had decided he could trust me once more.

"Why didn't you asked us for help?" She asked then. The others inquisitive gaze also flew to me.

"We didn't knew anything about Zoom or what he knew. We couldn't risk him finding out where Wally was..." I tried to justify. It sounded weak even to my own ears.

"You think we would have done anything that would have put Wally in danger?!"

"Of course not but.."

"But nothing! I am his girlfriend! We are his friends; his family! We deserved to know he was alive and in danger. We could have helped him."

"I know that Artemis but this wasn't about deserving. This was about Wally and what was best to keep him save. We couldn't risk..." I exclaimed getting angry at my inability to explain Wally's and I decision to her. Why couldn't she just accept that Wally was ok and ask questions later? Why was she so furious at being sidelined. If it was me that just found out Wally was alive I would have not wasted a single second to be by his side. But it wasn't fair to compare my would be actions to her.

"And why could you be there for him? What makes you so much better than us? Do you think you love Wally more than any of us do? Because last I remember, he couldn't even stand the mention of your name." She spat angrily stomping away towards the infirmary and ignoring Miss M's gasp and Kaldur's reprimanding 'Artemis'.

"She is just hurt ad confused. She didn't mean that." Miss M tried to comfort me. It didn't work.

"Miss Martian is right. Soon she'll be able to understand you were only looking out for ours and Wally's safety." Kaldur joined in.

"I know." I lied with a false half smile and proceeded to usher them towards the med bay,

"You are not coming?" Conner asked just before leaving the room with an inquisitive confused look.

"Nah, I already had my time with him. Besides, I need to contact Roy." We both knew I was lying. I could spend every second of the rest of my life with Wally and it would not be enough. Thankfully, Conner just nodded and left me alone to drown in my self-pity.

"Are you ok?" I startle at Tim's voice and turn to see him stepping out of the shadows.

"I am fine." I answer as he collapses besides me on the couch.

"She's wrong you know."

"No she is not." Tim doesn't bother trying to convince me otherwise. Instead he sits beside me in silent support. He knows too well that by giving me space, I'll eventually speak up. He knows me too well.

"I know you've heard the whispers about my friendship with Wally and rumors about its abrupt end. However, nobody really knows the truth except for those that lived it and even they don't know all. Wally and I, we were not just best friends...we were a part of each other. We met at a very young age and our bond as two of the firs sidekicks only grew stronger as we shared our secrets, fears, dreams and eventually pasts with each other. I was the first person he confided in and in exchange I eventually bared my soul to him. There were no secrets between us and we both took comfort in having each other to rely on in the lie that was our life and I...I betrayed that bond by using his fears he had shared with me to hurt him. Everything changed after that. I've achieved and gained so many things in the last few years. I became the Team's leader, I became a police officer at Bludhaven and I even got a new baby brother but I lost so much too. By my own actions, I lost my team and friends. I lost the will to honor my parents by protecting the world. I lost my best friend and other half, the person I wanted to share everything with. So, yes, Tim. I deserve everything and more of what Artemis said. Especially since through all my failures and loss I've only been thinking about myself. I failed to think about how much my decisions have caused suffering and loss not only to Wally and I but also Conner whose first link of friendship and trust came through Wally; Kaldur who I led towards a father he could never really have; Miss M whose innocence and blind faith was lost when I took away her family one by one; Artemis who experienced happiness and joy for the first time only to discover it was all a lie and you guys, the team, who I robbed the chance of having one of the most loyal friends I've ever met. So yes, she is right. I've dug my own grave and now it's time for me to lie on it." Tim had remained silent through my whole confession. His face never betraying any emotion. He didn't interrupt me, knowing that I needed to blurt out my thoughts and feelings as some sinner confessing to a priest nor did he tried to comfort me knowing that I would not welcome it. Instead, he took the best course of action when dealing with a defeated stubborn bat family member...logic.

"Dick, why did Wally came for you for help?" He asked so calmly that I didn't hesitate to answer.

"He didn't know who else to go to and he didn't want to put his family in danger." I answered automatically responding as a well trained soldier to his batman like tone.

"Why not go to Aqualad, Superboy, Miss Martian or Artemis then? Why not go to the Justice League? They would have been able to protect Iris and the twins. Why come to you? Especially considering how things had ended between the two of you."

"I don't know. He trusted me to help him, I guess."

"He also trusts the rest of the team. He was even dating Artemis."

"He...I don't know, maybe he didn't want them involved in something so dangerous."

"Would he prefer to put you in that kind of danger before Batman, Green Lantern or any other League member?"

"I don't think so..."

"Then why did he picked you?" He asks once more, still calm.

"I don't know Tim!"

"Yes, you do Dick."

"I don't!"

"You do. Come on Dick. Why would he come to you? Why would he ask help from someone who broke his trust? Why would he want your help? Why would he come to you? Why would your face be the first one he would want to see?" Tim pressured and suddenly Dick knew why. As sudden and unpredictable as a speedster the answer came to him.

'I tried to tell Uncle B to tell you, to tell you that I forgave you because I knew you would never forgive yourself if I didn't but I was too late.' Wally had said. 'I believe sooner or later Dick and I would have fixed our differences." We love each other too much to have left things the way they were.' He had told his aunt and uncle.

"He came to me because he forgives me and he is my best friend and he loves me. He came to me because he missed me." I came embarrassingly close to bursting into tears once more because Wally really missed me and he is really back.

Suddenly it didn't matter what the future hold. It didn't matter if our lived took a different path from Zoom's future. I didn't matter if Wally became a hero again, staid retired, married Artemis or even had the sudden urge to become a ballet dancer. It didn't matter because I knew that through it all I would be there for him and he would be there for me. We would always be there for each other because no mistake was terrible enough to keep us from loving one another.

"Thank you." I smiled hugely at Tim while he tried to escape from my bone crushing hug and complained about me being a hug monster. The laugh that broke out of my throat made him smile fondly though.

"I am going to go to the med-bay now."

"Great. I'll call Roy for you then. Oh and Dick? He called out just before I stepped out.

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry about the future too much. Destiny always tends to come through swinging," He said with a wink and with that last words the second best detective in the world left through the Z tube leaving my gaping self behind.