Chapter 12: Everything is going to be okay

"Miss Queen!" Nat rubbed her eyes tiredly behind the dark windows of the limo where she could already hear the reporters who always called her Natalie Queen, they didn't care if that's what she went by or not. Taking Kaldur's hand Nat tiredly laid her head on his shoulder. "We could run away to Atlantis," Nat teased and Kaldur chuckled.

"I've seen you fight creatures three times your size and you're afraid of a little party?" Kaldur teased. For the night he'd be known as Kalvin Jackson a boy that Nat had met on her tour of Yale.

"Not afraid of it, I'd just rather stay here with you," Nat sighed watching as her driver opened the door. The flash from the cameras was blinding as Nat nearly stumbled out of the car grateful for her driver's hand keeping her steady. Trying her best to smile Nat was a bit overwhelmed as her name left the lips of multiple reporters.

"Natalie what are you wearing tonight?" One shouted.

"Natalie how does it feel to be sixteen?" Another yelled and Nat plastered on her smile taking Kaldur's hand.

"I'm wearing Versace it was a gift from my Father," Nat explained, "and it feels like I'm still fifteen since I have yet to get my license," Nat teased. Kaldur seemed a little overwhelmed. As a hero he was used to people trying to ask questions and take pictures, but he never had to stop and actually pay attention to them.

Oliver chuckled and walked over to his daughter and the young Atlantean. "Alright let these two have some fun tonight," Oliver told the reporters as he ushered both Natalie and Kaldur into the grand banquet hall of Queen consolidated. Ollie was still a partial owner, and had exclusive rights to throw galas, especially since he was slowly taking the business over again.

Nat smiled gratefully hugging Ollie who pushed her off towards Dick and Wally. Nat took Kaldur's hand with a happy smile. "I'm sorry about the reporters…"

"It is no problem," Kaldur smiled. "I just cannot imagine having to always deal with them," he shrugged smiling at Wally.

"There she is!" Wally grinned but made no move towards her as he stood by Dick who was grinning.

"I'm Dick Grayson," Dick smiled holding his hand out to Kaldur.

"Kalvin Jackson," Kaldur smiled and looked at Wally who gave an easy smile and held out his hand.

"Wally West."

Kaldur shook both their hands and smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet both of you."

"Geez Nat where'd you find the stiff?" Wally asked with a smirk. "No one talks like that."

"I found him at Yale Wallace and just because you don't talk formally doesn't mean someone with above average intelligence can't," Nat huffed gently bumping Kaldur's shoulder causing him to smile easily.

"She got you," Dick laughed and looked up waving as Bruce walked over.

"I don't know Nat I'd say he's more like a fish out of water," Wally laughed and Kaldur rolled his eyes.

"Oh shut up," Nat laughed looking away from her friends to Bruce. "Hiya Brucie!" Nat grinned.

"Nat, Wally," Bruce smiled and looked at Kaldur. "And who is this?"

"Kalvin Jackson Mr. Wayne," Kaldur said holding out his hand.

"Does Natty have a boyfriend?" Bruce teased shaking the boy's hand and looking at Nat.

"No, he's my friend…" Nat laughed pushing Bruce away it was weird to see her worlds colliding. Kaldur had no idea Bruce Wayne was Batman… Bruce also refused to allow Dick to tell any of the team his identity. Nat couldn't wait until the team knew Dick and not just Robin she felt like it would take a load off her friend and allow him to be a normal teen with them.

Bruce smiled a bit before staggering off no doubt in search of something that looked like alcohol. That seemed to be how Batman played off these nights in the limelight, impeccable acting, and lots of fake alcohol to convince the public he was nothing more than an idiotic billionaire playboy who got extremely lucky when running his business.

Dick shrugged as Kaldur looked at him curiously. "What can I say? Bruce isn't the type to avoid a good party," Dick rolled his eyes.

"Well at least he's having a good time," Nat smiled and gently bumped Kaldur again as the music started. The two of them had spent hours practicing simple ballroom dances. Wally was horrible when it came to ballroom dancing and Nat was determined Kal would be better, and the Atlantean managed to prove himself quickly after mastering the waltz within one song.

"Natalie!" Roy called holding his hand out to his sister who looked apologetically at Kaldur who looked like he was trying to get up the nerve to ask her to dance as well.

"I'll be back boys be nice!" Nat called before taking Roy's hand laughing as he led her straight into a fox trot. "You're so mean," Nat scolded lightly as Roy laughed.

"It's not my fault he was literally standing there fumbling over his words. I had to ask you or you would've stood there all night," Roy teases looking back at Kaldur who seemed to be getting teased by both Wally and Dick.

Nat smiled and followed his gaze, "You were right… he's sweet," Nat smiled and Roy grinned.

"I'm sorry did you just say I was right?" Roy teased his little sister. This was the Roy that Nat would do anything for. When Roy was calm and himself it felt like there was nothing that could get between the two of them. It was when Roy was a complete and total hard ass to everyone including her friends like Artemis that Nat couldn't stand to be around him.

"Don't let it go to your head," Nat laughed pushing away from Roy as soon as the song ended only to get claimed by Ollie for the next song as he grabbed her hand and spun her out onto the dance floor.

That was pretty much how her night went someone was always there to claim the next dance and she'd smile apologetically to Kaldur as she danced with Clark and Barry and Bruce and person after person until she had to announce the money they'd raised and what lucky charity would get it this year.

"Who is that man Nat is dancing with?" Kaldur asked as he watched the man dance with his friend.

Wally looked up from trying to scratch his casted arm with a straw just to see Ted Grant looking Kaldur over and he laughed. Dick had gone off to talk to Bruce and claim Nat's next dance and it was just the two of them standing together. "That's Ted Grant, formerly known as Wildcat, he's retired now but he's still one of the best fighters in the world. He trains Natalie and he trained Dinah he can even take down Batman," Wally said quietly.

"Ted be nice you're going to make him run away," Nat teased the man who'd practically been her grandfather since she was eight.

"I'm just sizing him up… he may be an Atlantean but I can take him," Ted announced with a soft smile as he met Nat's eyes. "In fact I bet you could take him yourself if you've kept up with your training."

"Look at who you're talking to Ted, of course I kept up with my training," Nat laughed.

"Course you did," Ted smiled and looked back to Kaldur and Wally. "West is just lucky I haven't beaten his ass to a pulp for being a little prick."

"Look I'm the one that broke it off with him Ted there's no need to hurt him," Nat said with a slight shrug.

"Fine…" Ted smiled softly and Nat laughed as the song ended stretching up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

Before she knew it Dick was in front of her leading her for the next song. "Is there some plot to keep me from dancing with Kal that I don't know about?" Nat teased and Dick laughed.

"Of course not Natalie we just all want your attention," Dick joked and Nat rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah I'm so sure," she laughed. "At least Wally is injured and can't dance… without him I may be able to get Kal to dance the last dance with me,"

"I'm pretty sure he's dying to dance with you," Dick grins. "He's been watching you all night."

"I feel awful that I haven't gotten the chance to dance with him yet…" Nat sighed and Dick shrugged.

"He and Wally are fine together."

"If you say so," Nat said nervously allowing Dick to lead her across the ballroom floor until finally he spun her right into Kaldur's arms as a new song started.

"Finally," Kaldur laughed and Nat smiled up at him.

"Finally," she agreed with a smile as they moved into a simple waltz. "I'm sorry I thought I'd be able to be around you more…" Nat sighed.

"I understand you are very popular," Kaldur teased with a smile. "Don't worry at least I can say I danced with a pretty girl."

"Am I only pretty to you?" Nat smiled playfully. "Because I can make myself beautiful."

"You're looks are stunning but they do not make you beautiful Natalie, that is your heart. No matter what you will always be beautiful to me," Kaldur smiled and Nat's cheeks colored as she looked away from him.

"Very smooth fish boy," she said her voice quieter than she'd wanted it to be. She didn't realize it when the song was over she was so wrapped up in her thoughts. She didn't even realize that this was the last song of the night until Kaldur finally managed to get her attention.

"Are you ready to go home?" Kaldur asked again and Nat shook her head blinking as she met Kaldur's eyes.

"Sorry yes I am," Nat smiled and Kaldur chuckled the two leaving to go to the limo. Inside the darkened car Nat laid her head on Kaldur's shoulder and watched as he played with the charm on his wrist.

"I'm proud of you for wearing closed toe shoes," Nat teased.

"Yes well I was informed sandals aren't appropriate dress attire," Kaldur smiled playing with one of Nat's curls absentmindedly.

The Limo dropped them off at the mansion where the two went down to the lower level of the garage and through the Zeta tube back to the darkened cave. "So Tornado is really back huh?" Nat asked with a slight smile. Yesterday the team had gone on a mission, one that Natalie had been banned from going on.

"Yes… it wasn't what it seemed and both the reds died in order to defeat their baby brother Red Volcano… We may also get a new team member her name is Zatanna not as skilled in magic as her father, but she's passable enough. Helped us find Red Tornado," Kaldur filled Natalie in as they walked through the cave hallway back to the rooms.

"I'm glad Tornado is back… It was nice to have him, and I'm glad he wasn't a traitor but that means we're still looking for our mole…" Nat rubbed the back of her neck as she pulled off her heels tiredly.

"I'm not so sure there is one," Kaldur shrugged and Nat laughed.

"You aren't stupid Kaldur'ahm… Don't allow your feelings to get in the way of your judgment. I trust my team, but I know that the information about our mole was likely viable and I keep up my guard."

"You trust the team? Do you even trust me?" Kaldur asked meeting her eyes and changing the subject.

Nat smiled and looked away feeling slightly warm stirring feelings in her stomach. "Of course I do Kaldur… you're our leader if I didn't trust you I wouldn't stay with the team," she tried to defend and Kaldur's green eyes flashed for a moment an emotion Nat couldn't place before he looked away from her his features schooling carefully.

"You're a leader too Natalie… in fact I think you're a better one than I am…" he sighed and Nat shook her head.

"You do an amazing job Kaldur… You're a little bit too reckless, and you're too self-sacrificing, but those are also traits that make you a good leader." Nat stopped at her door and gently bit her lip as she looked up at Kaldur. "I would never ask to be in your position… it's too big a burden, but if you ever really really want me to… I'll take up that burden with you that way you don't have to carry it all on your shoulders."

Kaldur looked down at this headstrong, confusing, and wonderful girl and his lips quirked into a small smile. "I'll only do that to you if I have to… I don't want you to be forced into something because I'm too weak to try and handle it."

"You aren't weak Kal… I don't think you can ever be called that, and asking for help makes you strong," she said with a soft smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked with a slight head tilt.

"Tomorrow," Kaldur nodded and turned from her those blue green eyes burning into his back.

YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ

October 16 2010 for some reason Natalie knew that day would be seared into her head for the rest of her life. The team stood in the debriefing room watching as the Lanterns made first contact with the aliens who'd flown to close to the earth. Nat and Kaldur stood together watching with Red Tornado. Something told Nat that no matter what happened they would be okay… and she didn't know why but she trusted that feeling at least for the moment.

Natalie watched in silence as they lost the league's heavy hitters including Batman, Superman, the Lanterns, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, and J'onn… Rationally she felt like there should be something, that she should feel something for the loss of their mentors but as Tornado turned to the team she felt nothing but determination. The team would stand ready no matter what.

"Tornado did you…"

"Yes Zatara we saw, celestial defenses have failed initiate all terrestrial measures," Tornado told the transmission and Nat took a deep breath. It would all be okay her mind reassured her everything including the deaths of her mentors and friends. At least Canary and Ollie were okay… At least Roy was still running around somewhere the team could handle this and so could her family.

"Affirmative, see you in the field," Zatara told Tornado and Nat rubbed her face.

"I must join the league," Tornado said turning to face the teens, "We will protect the planet at all costs, but should we fail the responsibility falls to you," he said and Nat felt the sentence hang in the air before Kaldur stepped forward.

Looking at his team and meeting Natalie's eyes Kaldur looked back to the android, "We stand ready."

The attack went on and Nat just took a deep breath with every death she watched. It'd be okay… Dove and Hawk fell, Flash just managed to save Iris and Nat felt like maybe the heroes had a chance but then Flash got blasted away and Iris saw the whole thing only to get vaporized in the next instant and Nat looked at Wally who didn't even seem distressed. That's when the report went to Ollie and Dinah and the Hawks…

"C'mon Mom…" Nat whispered as Dinah opened her mouth using the Canary cry to take down two of the ships and Ollie shot down a few others but from the smoke another ship was aimed at them and Nat bit her lip as her parents were blasted away. Kaldur put his hand on Nat's shoulder and Nat took a deep breath as Kat Grant listed the heroes they'd lost. Everything was going to be okay.

That was when the camera cut to Smallville, Red Tornado and Wonder Woman kept fighting but as Wonder Woman fell Tornado called into the cave as the mother ship landed.

"Red Tornado to cave I fear I am all that is left of the league…" Tornado's voice sounded over the com.

"RT," Robin started only to watch the last hero get vaporized.

"We are Earth's heroes now…" Kaldur said standing a little taller.

"What are we waiting for a theme song?" Superboy asked raising an eyebrow and Nat shook her head.

"A strategy," Kaldur corrected. "Earth's weapons are ineffective and it has been made tragically clear a direct attack will not succeed…"

"Checking satellite imagery," Robin said pulling up his hologram and a hologram of the earth appeared beside them. "Here's where the aliens are now," he said looking at the red spots.

"This one get lost?" Superboy pointed to the lone Red spot in the artic.

"That's Superman's Fortress of Solitude!" Robin gasped.

"Superman has a fortress of solitude?" superman frowned and Nat tried to reach him but her link wasn't working. There was nothing and she frowned at that new development. Why couldn't she talk to Kon?

"It's power source must've attracted the Alien's attention… at least enough to send a scout ship to investigate," Robin explained and Nat bit her lip staring at the map. This was no longer home… she wasn't even sure if they had a home front advantage with how advanced the Alien's weapon systems were. No this was a warzone and she had a feeling they'd be losing a lot more people and yet that voice in her head told her it'd be all right no matter what.

"Must be some fortress," Supes grumbled.

"Connor…" M'gann reached out.

"No it's okay… I guess there's a lot about Superman I'll never know… eh y'know now," Superboy shrugged and Nat rubbed her face.

"We will target this lone ship," Kaldur said.

"Yeah break it down, build more! Hit those ugly aliens with their own mojo," Wally's fist hit his hand as Artemis elbowed him, "Ow!"

"Martian and Kryptonian in the house," Artemis reminded him and Nat smiled softly at the exchange. Artemis was good for Wally whether he saw it or not.

"Uh huh," Wally laughed a bit with a sheepish smile, "not that all aliens are automatically ugly," he told the two alien members of their team.

Nat rolled her eyes and met Kaldur's gaze. "You are being quiet…" he told her gently taking her hand.

"October 16, 2010 we'll always remember this day," she whispered and Kaldur nodded grimly.

"We will, but first we have to ensure we'll be around long enough to help others remember it," Kaldur said softly and Nat smiled a bit.

"I defer to your better judgment Kaldur," she joked and looked at the team. "Make sure that if you use gadgets you're loaded… It won't help you if you run out of arrows or bird-a-rangs out there… this isn't like normal we stand together and we fight together and we have to be fully stocked." Artemis and Robin both nodded their agreement.

Nat took a deep breath she looked at Kaldur and rubbed her face tiredly. "I'm going to get another belt that way I know I have enough for my jayguns… let's just hope I can actually use my telekinesis and stay useful," she sighed.

"You're always useful even after you use the full extent of your powers," he said with a laugh and Nat smiled a bit before turning to get to the weapons room where they stashed extra belts and uniforms.

For this mission the team was in stealth mode, which meant Nat, got to use her snow-white stealth tech for cold and artic temperatures and terrain. As soon as the bioship got close enough in camo-mode the team split up. Kaldur was about to jump into the frigid waters before Nat grabbed his hand. "Don't do anything stupid fearless leader," she told him sternly before turning away to wait beside Artemis.

'Communications disabled,' M'gann's voice came through the link. After Nat heard the crash as the ship was forcibly pushed to the ice.

'And ET's are locked inside,' Artemis grinned as her polyurethane foam arrow sealed the exit. Nat dragged her down as the canon started firing looking up in time to see Wolf and Superboy save Kaldur.

'I told you not to do anything stupid,' Nat huffed as Superboy held the canon stable.

'Identifying weapons structural stress points and link to the ship,' Robin's voice filtered through. 'Here, here, and here,' he pointed out each section while Miss M. took care of them.

Superboy started pulling and Nat had both Jay guns one loaded with a shocker clip the other an ice clip. That's when she heard the sound of something activating and looking over she gasped as wolf saved Superboy from two dislocated disks.

'Wolf,' M'gann thought staring at the place the monstrous animal pushed Connor from.

'There was no indication of feedback. I'm sorry,' Robin thought looking at Supes who looked down. Nat had that feeling again and found she had no tears or no thought of mourning…

'Can't do anything for him now,' Supes finally muttered and got back to work removing the canon. 'Let's go…' he jumped onto the bioship.

'Rerouting systems to integrate weapon into ship's biomatrix… we'll need to decamoflauge for a few minutes…' M'gann informed the team.

'We may not have a few minutes,' Robin said watching two new ships.

'Miss Martian open fire,' Kaldur said.

'Can't weapon systems are offline to incorporate the new canon and that's not fully integrated yet either…'

Nat looked to Artemis, 'Got you covered,' Nat informed while Artemis loaded her bow and Nat used every bit of her strength and telekinetic ability to send one ship crashing into the other. It hurt and she was quickly becoming zapped but as she destroyed the ship closet Artemis suddenly was running at her forcing her down and back while the almost orange Ray disintegrated her and Nat felt the anger and the heartache and disbelief as her oldest friend was taken from her not five feet away.

"Artemis!" M'gann screamed and Nat stood shakily weakly everything hurt from the amount of energy her telekinesis used and she hadn't even gotten the second ship destroyed. No that was Kaldur who managed to blow it up using the water he'd formed into ice.

"Artemis!" Wally cried out as Kaldur scooped up Natalie she needed to gather her wits she was going into shock and she could almost feel it as she fought the effects.

"Get inside," Kaldur ordered and Nat removed herself from his arms. Maybe it wasn't shock… maybe it was just grief. This was the first time today she could mourn… the first time she had even the slightest feeling that she needed to. Gone was that voice telling her it would all be okay. No now Natalie understood… There was a good chance they would all die…

"They're dead every single alien… if it's the last thing I do," Wally swore and Nat wondered if he was realizing like her how likely that outcome was going to be.

In the ship M'gann was crying and Wally was murderous making incoherent sounds as he hit anything he could. The rest were quiet but Nat… Nat couldn't afford to cry Nat had no energy to cry. Inside she was torn apart she was raw she was emotionally compromised in every way. Her best friend had died in order to save her… When would she stop letting people die for her? Now seemed to be as good a time as any. She refused to allow any of her friends another death, at least not while she was still living.

'You okay?' Kon asked Nat reaching out through their link and Nat blinked.

'Tired of the noise… Did you have me blocked earlier?' Nat frowned.

'No I never block you… not anymore at least," Kon frowns and Natalie nodded looking away contemplatively. Finally M'gann's sobs and Wally's screams pushed her over the edge.

"Stop it!" she told Wally and M'gann both. "Whining and crying isn't going to bring her back!"

"She is right, there will be time to mourn later now we have a job to do… defending the earth," Kaldur said standing up. "And ensuring Artemis' sacrifice was not in vain."

"Back to the cave?" M'gann asked her voice steady while Wally glared at Natalie.

"The Hall of Justice. The human race must know that there are still heroes defending them," Kaldur corrected.

"Some heroes! Nat let Artemis get killed," Wally spat and Natalie looked at him coldly.

"That's not true," Superboy said immediately defensive.

"Oh no? Then how come she destroyed one ship and let the other kill her supposed best friend?" Wally yelled and Natalie stared down at him.

"You don't know anything! I thought the other ship would be out of commission longer, Artemis saved me!" Nat yelled.

"Yeah well we got a bad bargain then because it should have been you!" Wally spat venomously. "We would have one competent team member if you'd died, instead we lost our archer and gained you… All you can do is fail at using telepathy and let our teammates die!" Wally said.

Nat lurched forward her fist up but Kaldur held her back. "Stop it both of you. We are a team… Wally it's not Natalie's fault Artemis is gone. It's not anyone's fault."

Robin glared at his best friend they used to be the three amigos. In the superhero world before the team the three were together every spare chance they had. Whether it was playing video games at Wayne Manor, crashing in the movie room at the Queen mansion, or raiding the kitchen at the Allen home they were the best of friends but ever since Wally and Nat tried dating… Dick had been pulled between his two best friends and that wasn't fun. Usually he didn't choose sides usually he tried to spend time with both but right now Wally had gone too far he was acting like his Father and that pissed Dick off the most.

"Back off leadfeet, you're upset and angry but you have no reason to blame Nat and if Artemis was here she'd beat you to a pulp for even saying Nat was worthless. You're lucky I don't."

Wally sunk back into his chair staring out the window and Nat was shaking slightly she wanted to cry and scream she wanted to lock herself in the cave and never come back out. She wanted to mourn but she had no time for that now… No one had time for that now.

It didn't take long for the Bioship to land at the Hall of Justice taking out a few alien ships with the new camera the team was able to save the soldiers who seemed to be trying to hold down the front lines. Superboy deployed first taking down one of the ships with his raw strength. 'You're sure you're okay?' he asked her repeatedly so many times Nat stopped talking to him. He could feel the raw emotion through their link, he had his answer he was just trying to get her to verbalize at least to him. Nat had never once blocked him out he didn't think she knew how, at least not fully, ever since he'd been in her mind he always felt her. He knew she was there she was just part of his mind almost.

As the ship landed the soldier's were cheering and Nat went straight to Kon. "See I told you Superman wouldn't leave us out here alone," one of the soldiers whispered.

"I don't know he looks a little young… and where's the cape?" another asked.

"I'm not Superman," Kon frowned.

"Son I don't care who you are, you wear the 'S' and you get the job done," the General said.

"I'm not Superman," Kon muttered quietly and Nat bit her lip.

"Tell that to the enemy." Turning to Aqualad the General saluted, "General Wade Eiling, U.S. Air Force," he said.

"Aqualad, Justice League. We'll help you salvage as many of the alien's canons as possible then we start taking back what is ours." Aqualad told the General the soldiers around them cheering and Nat bit her lip as they loaded back into the Bioship. The soldier's followed them to the ruins of the Hall of Justice.

Nat walked quietly behind the rest of them the ruined statues of their mentors further serving to solidify the fact that they were the only heroes left now. "They're really gone," Robin whispered and Nat put her hand on his shoulder.

"We'll have time to think about that later…" she said softly not allowing herself to think about her Mother and Father.

M'gann did not get that memo as she flew to the head of Martian Man Hunter crying until suddenly she picked the statue up with her telekinesis and there underneath the rubble was J'onn.

"Uncle J'onn," M'gann tossed the statue away moving to fly to him but Kaldur intercepted her.

'M'gann check his mind...' Kaldur ordered. 'Make sure he is whom he appears to be…'

M'gann nodded and it seemed like no time before her voice came back, 'It's him, he's real, and he's alive.'

"But we saw you get disintegrated, you and Superman, and everyone…" Supes said in confusion and Nat blinked. This made no sense…

"Yes, I remember. But… I cannot remember how I survived." J'onn said his hand to his head. "Or how I arrived here."

"Maybe you were density shifting and the beam passed right through you," M'gann provided.

"Scrambling your brains along the way," Robin added.

"My mind is clouded," J'onn said. Nat stayed back inside she was jealous… God she was jealous that J'onn was alive she wanted her Mother, she wanted Ollie to hold her and tell her it would be okay and right in front of her was J'onn the leaguer she had little contact with and the man who was most definitely not her family. Why did M'gann get her Uncle back when she couldn't even have Artemis?

"I feel certain I had something important to tell you," J'onn frowned.

'Hello Wally,' Wally said hitting his head in a M'gann type way. 'Come on!' he told the team.

Nat followed Wally and Robin out to the ship while Robin ran a scan of the canon. "I knew it! It's giving off Zanophemes the same thing that powers our Zeta Tubes… This thing doesn't disintegrate it teleports! Artemis is alive!" Kid gasps and Nat rubs her face.

"Maybe but…" Robin tried.

"No maybes they're all alive!" Kid Flash interrupted and Nat felt the hope spread through her warm and gentle but it didn't change anything not if they couldn't save them…

"That must have been what you wanted to tell us!" M'gann said excitedly.

'Uhm guys' we have company!' Nat told the team dropping behind one of the military cars with KF and Robin as more Alien ships came at them.

'We are on our way,' Kaldur said.

'Negative we can't win this… M'gann camo the bioship,' Robin informed, but the action was too late as the bioship was hit.

'M'gann!' Superboy gasped.

'We're falling back!" Robin informed while Nat covered them her brain hurting as she forced her telekinesis even further. Two ships crashed into the third but there were still more coming and Nat ran after the soldiers and her friends she was slower than usual and she felt sluggish but she had to push herself.

"We're trapped," the General said and Kaldur opened the door.

"Maybe not…" Kaldur said and looked at the exhausted Nat.

"Get them to the Zeta tubes… J'onn can grant us access." Nat said her head pounding and her vision dimming slightly before clearing again.

"I can only authorize one at a time," J'onn said as they ran into the library.

"Send the soldiers first…" Kaldur said.

"Belay that you seven are assets we cannot afford to lose," the General said.

"Nat you first," Kaldur said but Nat shook her head.

"No." Nat said stubbornly and Kaldur groaned while Nat stood with the soldiers using her already tapped out strength to fuel her. M'gann went then Robin, then KF, and right before Superboy and explosion went off the trapped a soldier but would've been worse had Nat not managed to contain it. Superboy helped him up.

"Him first," Superboy said.

"Fine then you," Kaldur agreed. "Nat get going!"

"Not until you're gone," Nat said stubbornly as the alien ships nearly broke through. "Stop acting like a soldier! You're their leader go act like it Kaldur. They need you more than me," Nat nodded to J'onn and she pulled Kaldur down for a simple kiss. "If Wally's right… I'll see you soon," and she pushed him into the Zeta looking at J'onn. "You're more important than me tell the team I love them in case Wally's wrong," and she pushed J'onn into the Zeta before the orange Ray disintegrated her and then all she knew was black. Wally was wrong there was no one there with her she was gone.

"I can't hear her," Superboy frowned and Dick and KF looked at him.

"What do you mean?" Kaldur asked and Superboy looked at his teammates and M'gann. Kaldur seemed just as determined as Wally to get on the mother ship and save the captives but Connor couldn't hear Natalie and that'd never happened. They always have an awareness of the other except the one time Connor was too angry to open up and he just.

"Natalie and I have a separate link that developed in Bialya… I've been in her mind seen some of her worst memories, and we have a link that seems to go on no matter the distance and typically consciousness doesn't matter, but I can't hear her. I always have an awareness of her it's like I know she's okay, or hurt, but this time it's empty there's just this void almost and what I feel is almost nonexistent like she's not here anymore…"

Kaldur took a deep breath and he looked at Wally who shook his head. "You two have had this link and just chose not to share?"

"Nat wanted to keep it quiet… Roy still thinks there's a leak… or I guess there was a leak on the team, now I don't know who anyone would tell," Superboy tried to explain and Kaldur frowned. "I can't reach her when I get really angry and I hear her best when I'm happy, or scared… Especially when I'm scared, or when she's upset I always get a twinge of her emotions I don't know if the link works that way for her but M'gann is the only other person that knew..."

"Maybe there's something in the ship to prevent you from connecting," Wally suggested. And Kaldur frowned he could feel it in his heart. Superboy was right Natalie the girl who'd kissed him and saved his life was gone.

"Robin… I'm emotionally compromised," Kaldur said softly pulling Robin away from the rest. "I will still be the leader but I need your input your help and when we get to the ship I'll be outside attracting the attention to me."

"Kaldur no..." Robin started and Kaldur shook his head.

"If Wally is right you can come save me… if not then lead the team well my young friend," Kaldur said with a gentle smile and Robin huffed.

"You're only a little older than me," he tried to joke Kaldur only gave a wane smile before turning to the others who were still discussing Superboy and Natalie's link.

"Our next move is only logical," Kaldur started. "If we truly believe that the Aliens have been teleporting people…"

"Which we do," Kid butted in and Kaldur sighed.

"Then the only reasonable holding place is here," Robin finished pulling up a hologram schematic "Their mothership atop of what used to be Smallville," Robin looked at J'onn.

"Does any of this sound familiar J'onn?" Kaldur asked softly looking at the dazed Martian.

"No… I'm sorry," J'onn sighed.

"Superboy… you'll be with me outside creating a distraction," Kaldur decided looking at the young Kryptonian. He hated dragging people down with him but the distraction would be best with the two of them.

"No! He's offering you as a sacrifice," M'gann told the stone faced Kryptonian. "Blue Jay would've never allowed that!"

"No Natalie would've sacrificed herself, a decision which allowed us to keep our leader," Robin told M'gann coldly. "Superboy and Aqualad are the two most likely to be perceived as threats motivating the aliens to deploy."

"Worst case they're teleported inside and we set him free along with Artemis," Wally paused "And Blue Jay and everyone…" Kaldur narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't say anything.

'It's okay M'gann, it's what Superman would do… What he and Jay and all the rest of them have already done,' Superboy told the Martian quietly.

Robin sighed and looked at Kaldur wondering if they were thinking the same thing.

"We need to send out a broadcast… Humanity must know there is still hope," Kaldur said softly and Robin nodded his agreement. "Robin… We both know what the likelihood of this mission is going to be… What I have ordered Superboy to do with me will likely end in our deaths and I need you to be the leader in there. I'm sorry to put this burden upon your shoulders, but I am unfit… if Natalie is not in that ship… if Artemis is not in there, and my King then I do not think I will be able to do what needs to be done. You have to decide what that is and do it, you are acting leader now." Kaldur said softly.

"Okay," Robin said knowing there was no argument that could be made to change Kaldur's mind. Inside Robin was hurting he'd lost Artemis, he'd lost Bruce, Alfie, and Natalie… God Natalie and Artemis hurt the most. Now he was allowing Kaldur and Superboy to be sent off to their deaths. The only thing keeping him going was the reminder that this is what Batman would do… the mission must go on and he wanted be Batman… When he was nine that was the only thing in the world he wanted, and now knowing his friends were going to be sent off to their probable deaths knowing he was the one who was going to lose them it made him ache even worse. Sure he'd always wanted to be Bruce to do what it took so that the mission would succeed but now he knew one thing. If he survived this, if he made it through to the end he didn't think he wanted to be The Batman, not anymore…

Kaldur was a wreck emotionally unable to perform his duties, and he knew how disappointed Nat would be in him. God he knew how upset she'd be that he was forcing Robin to take the mantle but Kid and M'gann were both too compromised as well, and Superboy… Kaldur wasn't sure what was wrong with Connor but there was something weighing on his mind. He had to keep going at least just a little while longer and perhaps he'd see Natalie inside the mothership, perhaps she'd kiss him again… Maybe he'd be able to hug Artemis and bow to his king and apologize to Batman for acting like a soldier instead of a General. God he never even wanted to be the General in the first place. He took it because the team offered it to him it was only supposed to be until Robin was ready, and he sure as hell wasn't ready right now. Robin was likely just as compromised as the rest of them. Natalie was his best friend, and he'd just lost her like he'd lost everything. This wasn't fair to him but how could Kaldur do anything else but give up leadership to the one person who'd been groomed for it since the beginning. Too young… he's too young and Natalie is going to be so upset with him. He should be stronger… why was he not stronger?

"And though we know all seems lost," M'gann said into the camera that would broadcast their message all over the world in every major language. "The one thing the Aliens cannot take is hope," M'gann stood next to Conner and Kaldur watched the two of them.

"Hope survives because the battle is not over," Connor started, "Not as long as even one of us is willing to fight."

"It doesn't matter how many fall for new heroes will always rise to carry on. Bringing all their resources, their skills, their talents to bear, to defeat the enemy," Wally added. Kaldur didn't want to be in front of the camera as he helped the other heroes suit up and armor up looking at Roy who didn't speak to him didn't.

"Roy…" he started but the red head just glared bringing him to a full stop.

"The people of Earth will survive this. We will rebuild and we will thrive, never doubt and never forget. The Earth will never surrender," Robin said walking up to Wally's side.

"We are all heroes and our hope will lie with you, you will pick up our fight if we are to fall you are Earth's heroes," Kaldur ended and looked at the camera as it cut out.

Darkness covered the team as they looked at the mothership carefully. Kaldur and Dick stood side by side and Kaldur rubbed his face as they both looked to M'gann. "Stay close to J'onn he's still…" Robin trailed off as all three of them looked back to the Martian.

"First team deploy," Kaldur said watching M'gann and J'onn fly off J'onn helping M'gann density shift into the ship.

'Ready and in position,' M'gann came through the link. 'Be careful Connor… I love you."

Kaldur looked to Robin and sighed at the slight smile and Superboy's face. As happy as he was for the young couple it stung that he and Natalie would likely never get that, that he'd likely never get that from anyone. Robin nodded to the two and Superboy helped Kaldur using a super jump to get them both on top of the Mothership and behind separate canons.

"Alright you glorified trespassers you want to see how a real alien fights?" Connor yelled while Kaldur worked at causing as much damage as possible to get some attention.

As expected the doors lowered and ships started flying out allowing Robin and Kid Flash inside. Connor looked at Kaldur and the two grimly nodded to each other. Connor knew Natalie was gone he didn't know how he knew but he knew. He kept firing the gun and part of him felt like he should be sad. He felt like he should be devastated Nat was gone, Wolf was gone, and he was leaving behind his girlfriend. Instead he felt peaceful he was alright with his fate. Connor had always been intended to replace Superman or destroy Superman. His destiny was to be Superman and that's all he ever wanted, at least to strive to be as like him as he could possibly get. Right now this was the closest he'd ever get to being Superman. People were calling him Superman people knew who he was… He wasn't some weapon, wasn't some clone that'd been created illegally, he was Connor yes, but more importantly he was almost exactly like Superman to the people of Earth and he was content because he could be killed or teleported with that knowledge, the knowledge of finally knowing what it was like. He felt so guilty for being peaceful… what kind of person was he that he was peaceful in a war like this?

Not ten feet from him Kaldur screamed as the orange ray of energy left nothing of him, and Connor knew it was his turn. He was okay with that... at least he thinks he is, he almost welcomed it even wishing he could kiss M'gann maybe one last time as he was disintegrated.

M'gann gasped knowing Connor and Kaldur were gone. 'No… they're gone, he's gone,' she fell to her knees Wally helping her.

'It's alright, we'll find them with Artemis and Natalie…' Wally said softly. 'I know it.'

'No… my mind is clearer now… the disintegration beam is exactly that. There is no detention facility no prisoners to rescue, our mission holds no purpose.' J'onn stood staring down at the last three team members.

'No, you're wrong! The zeta radiation proves she's alive. She's…' Wally gasped as Robin grabbed his suit.

'Stop it KF! I've been scanning for league and team signals since we got inside they're not here. Artemis is gone, and Natalie our best friend is gone, and Kaldur our leader is gone, and Connor our friend is gone and so are our mentors! But our mission still holds purpose, to destroy this mothership.'

M'gann stood while Robin started off J'onn following him she only stopped for a moment to put her hand on Wally's shoulder. Wally closed his eyes before following she was gone. She was gone. They were gone… Natalie died thinking he blamed her for Artemis, and Artemis died thinking he hated her and now he was probably going to die knowing he never told her that she wasn't just a pain in the neck. Kaldur was gone thinking that he was a royal ass for how he treated Blue Jay and Connor probably thought the same. Wally hadn't meant to be cruel but his mind to mouth filter wasn't always the best especially when he was upset, and Nat looked so cold. She wasn't mourning no instead she told them to stop. In his mind she'd deserved what he said that was until he reflected upon his words. Jeez no wonder she dumped him he was a class 'A' prick for treating her that way, and Artemis would've beat him for it. Now whatever hope he had left inside him was dead, he was mission minded he wanted to save the Earth and that was what he kept thinking as he followed Robin to the core.

'This is the power core, blow this and the whole mothership blows,' Robin told them and they continued to run towards the gigantic yellow core. No one anticipated the core having it's own gravitational pull and as Robin went Down Wally slid on his stomach trying to grab him. He'd lost everyone else he refused to lose Rob too. The two of them moved toward the power core and Robin shot his grappling hook holding Wally's hand tightly as M'gann came and gently lowered him and Wally down to stabilized ground.

Robin immediately removed the belts on his chest rigged as a bomb easily setting them Wally looked at his bestfriend dumbfounded.

'You knew… all along you knew why we came in here,' Kid Flash couldn't quite believe it.

'Four minutes, let's go,' was all Robin said back.

Kid and Robin tried to run out but the doors to the outside were closing and the giant robot Alien things were trying to blast them and Robin looked to M'gann and J'onn, 'sixteen seconds and counting Man Hunter take Miss Martian and go,' Robin ordered.

'No we won't leave you,' M'gann argued.

'That's an order we'll follow as soon as we get those doors blown,' Robin lied and Kid stared at him the two weren't going down without a fight at least as M'gann and J'onn disappeared.

M'gann felt each loss keenly in her mind the silence was deafening and she was distraught. Artemis, Natalie, Kaldur, Connor, Wolf, and now Robin and Wally… 'Don't tell me the mission was a success, the price was to high.' M'gann didn't know what to do didn't know how to lead or if she even wanted to go on but as she looked at the flaming mothership dread settled into the pit of her stomach as one even bigger landed in it's place. This war would never be won and now she was alone except for her Uncle J'onn. 'No… no…' the mission wasn't a success afterall, 'We have to get out of here now!'

'No we have to end this now,' J'onn said stabbing his hand through her chest and M'gann gasped.

Natalie sputtered and her eyes flew open looking up at the cave ceiling God her head sitting up the first person she saw was Artemis and just at the sight of her Natalie wanted to cry. That was her best friend the person who'd had her back since she was five and they first met, the person who took beatings with her, and went days in timeout at her side. The girl who'd died to save her life and the girl Nat wanted to mourn but who was alive and well. The moment she tried to get up she almost fell and Batman put a hand on her shoulder her table was beside Dick's. Nat put her hand to her head sitting up in exhaustion. How was she alive?

Kaldur was staring at Nat and as he moved his body ached but she was right next to him and standing on shaky legs Kaldur took her hand the one closest to him. Nat looked at Kaldur and he was alive… she thought she'd never see him again and here he was and Kaldur jerked her into his arms he couldn't take the distance right now.

Kaldur could've cried in the moment Natalie was in his arms and she was alive and so was he. They had their lives she was okay, and that was when he finally heard M'gann sputtering it seemed to have taken her a second to fully snap out of it, and looking to her he gently let go of Natalie who refused to remove his arm from her shoulder.

"You're all alive," M'gann sounded so cheerful, but Nat felt like she just went toe to toe with Superman.

"What happened in there?" Batman asked J'onn.

"The exercise it all went wrong…"

"Exercise?" Robin asked and Nat reached out taking his hand in her own he gave her a small smile just so glad to see her alive.

"Try to remember, what you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the seven of you within an artificial reality you all knew this going in. What you didn't know was that it was a train for failure exercise. No matter what the team accomplished the scenario was designed to get worse, still you were aware that none of it was real including the deaths of the entire Justice League," Batman started explaining and vague memories flashed through Nat's mind

"That is why you hardly grieved, even when Wolf was disintegrated before your eyes, but all that changed when Artemis died. Though consciously Miss Martian knew it was not real her subconscious mind could not make that distinction. She forgot it was only an exercise, and her subconscious took control making all of you forget too," J'onn continued and Nat frowned.

The entire team looked at M'gann and Natalie took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry…"

"This isn't her fault! Why didn't you stop the exercise?" Superboy defended his girlfriend holding Wolf's head.

"We tried but M'gann had a death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis who should have awakened upon her death was so convinced she had passed she slipped into a coma. I realized I would have to wrest control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within…" J'onn looked down, "But upon entering the reality I was overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much noise to think clearly, to remember why I was there. The deaths of Blue Jay, Aqualad, and Superboy helped but only when the Mothership exploded, and Kid Flash and Robin were silenced did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose, to shock M'gann out of the exercise before your comas became permanent. My apologies… I had no idea a training exercise could be so dangerous, so damaging." J'onn turned from the young heroes but with on step he nearly crumbled to his knees.

Batman and Red Tornado caught him "As bad as all that?" Batman asked.

"Perhaps worse," J'onn corrected.

"Yet this is not what troubles you," Red Tornado frowned.

Kaldur could care less what the leaguers were talking about he heard M'gann crying and he saw the tears that Natalie would not let fall shining clear in her eyes. He took her gently into his arms and swallowed a bit thickly. "Natalie…" but before he got another word out Natalie had her hands against his cheeks and she kissed him this time it was a real kiss it was a kiss that Kaldur believed he would remember for the rest of his life.

Natalie pulled away and Dick had a small sad smile on his face as he met her eyes. M'gann was crying into Captain Marvel's chest, and Wally was staring at the ground under Artemis. Artemis gave Nat the same sad smile Dick had and the leaguers they didn't think they could question her reaction.

Batman looked at the team and took a deep breath he'd call in Canary and allow her to be like a therapist, he assumed Natalie would likely want to talk to her mother, and she couldn't be badly scarred or traumatized she was kissing Kaldur. Robin and the others were uncharacteristically quiet and Batman assumed M'gann would be the one to need the most help. Everything had gone wrong, but how much harm could truly have been done… He hoped that it would be a few days and the team would rally. He didn't know how wrong he was.

As Natalie watched her team quietly she rubbed her face. October 16, 2010 this day would be seared into her mind for the rest of her life.


I've decided to continue on at least for this story I love it too much, and I know where I'm going with it now. I hope you all enjoy it, and I can't wait to read the reviews for those of you who like to read this story please please review please I promise I'll work on whatever critiques but reviews literally make me feel better about life. Please forgive grammar mistakes. I love you all thank you again.