Chapter Twenty-One: A Small Reunion
The middle age woman wheels her way up to the Team as she continues talking.
"Roy shot it with an arrow in an attempt to save her," she finishes.
"Mom!?" Artemis exclaims when she recognizes the woman's voice.
The Team parts so that Paula can roll her way up to the counter, to see her daughter.
"Oh, my sweet, sweet little girl," she says calmly, holding back tears. "Just look at what he did to you."
"Not that I'm not excited to see you or anything," Artemis starts, grinning slightly. "But why are you here?"
"Batman called," Paula replies sternly. "Said something happened to Jade. Is she...is sh-she alright?"
She starts to glance around the room. Her worry and fear start to take over when she doesn't see her other daughter. "Where...?" she asks frantically.
Noticing her oncoming panic, Aqualad steps forward to put her at ease.
"Mrs. Crock," the Atlantian states calmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Your daughter is fine. Roy and her left after we helped Atom restore her stature. Most likely to...umm...celebrate...in private."
"I see," Paula replies smirking. "And please, call me Paula. Paula Nguyen. I never want to be associated with the monster my ex-husband, Lawrence, has become."
"Of course," Kaldur concludes.
"I'm so happy to meet you," Megan says quickly and slightly filled with joy, as she places a hand on Paula's shoulder.
"I am glad to meet you, too," Paula replies gladly. "All of you. I just wish that circumstances were better."
"I'm glad to meet you guys, too," the African-American male says nervously.
"Oh. Hey Luke," Robin says to the stranger casually. When the Team stares at him curiously, he quickly adds, "Guys this is Luke Fox. He helps Agent A with maintaining the equipment in the Batcave."
He turns back to Luke and asks, "Why are you with her though?"
"Batman has had me taking care of Paula for the past week in her daughter's abdence," Luke says bluntly. Even though, she appears to be fully capable of taking care of herself."
Paula just scoffs as the Team and the tiny couple chuckle to themselves.
Paula then turns toward the Team and her helper and asks for a moment alone with the tiny couple. They agree and go sit in the living room. They think about all that has happened in the past hour.
Paula turns back to her little girl. Tears well up when she says, "You know...seeing this on the phone is a lot different than seeing this in person. It's like it's...not real."
She reachs out with her left hand. Artemis walks up to it and grabs Paula's forefinger with her tiny hand. She presses it to her cheek.
"Mom," Artemis says softly, "This IS real. This is happenning...and we are going to get throu-"
The tiny archer's voice fails her, as a line of tears falls down her cheek.
Paula sees this, and all she wants to do is to draw her daughter into a comforting hug. But she can't, due to certain physical limitations. All she can do is hold out her hand, so that her daughter can nuzzle into it.
The entire nature of the situation causes Artemis to completely break down. She falls to her knees, and buries her face into the palm of her mother's hand. After a few seconds, she starts to speak.
"I...I can't do this!" Artemis exclaims trying to calm her nerves but failing.
Wally sees this and runs toward her-bringing her into a hug. As she cries into his shoulder, her mother slowly backs her hand away. But Artemis lashes out, and violently grabs her giant hand with an iron grip. She pulls the giant appendage back over, using it like a giant stiff, but warm, blanket to cover her back. For in order for her to do what she has to do next, she will need the support of both her boyfriend and her mother.
"I...I can't lie to you anymore," she says weakly as she glances back to her mother. "Not to you...or Wally."
She takes a deep breath and continues, "This situation is just...eating away at me...inside...and I...I can't keep everything bottled up anymore."
Artemis lets go of Wally and steps toward her mother. She sits down on the edge of the counter, and she tells her mother everything. From how she is truly feeling, to the fact that her father almost killed her and Jade, and the fact that she watched Jade nearly die in her hands. She says that it is all too much. And that she might not be able to take anymore.
Not baring to hear anymore of her daughter's self-degradation, Paula reaches out with her other hand and scoops her daughter off the counter. She draws her in so that they are face to face.
"Artemis," Paula says softly. "Artemis, please, look at me."
Artemis tilts her head up to face her mother. Tears streak down both of their faces.
"Artemis," Paula continues endearingly, "You are a Crock, and Crocks are strong. But you, my dear, are the strongest one of us. You found the strength to forge not only your own path, but one that is not shrouded in darkness. Although I don't know exactly what you are going through, just know that I will always be there for you, no matter what. And I know that you are strong enough to get through this."
"Thanks Mom," Artemis sniffles as she wipes her tears.
"No problem, my dear," Paula says with a small smile.
Paula leans forward slowly and kisses the top of her daughter's tiny head gently.
"Now," Paula starts cheerfully. "Why don't you introduce me to your friends? Starting with that cute little boyfriend of yours."
Artemis blushes slightly as she beams a huge smile at her mother.
"Sure," the archer replies happily.
Paula leans forward and gently sets her daughter on the counter. Artemis then rushes over and pulls Wally over to formally introduce him to her mother.
"Wally," she starts confidently. "I know that you know this, but this is my mother. Her name is Paula. Mom, this is Wally. A.K.A. Kid Flash."
"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Nguyen," Wally says nervously. "In person that is."
Paula chuckles at his nervousness and replies, "It's nice to meet you, too, Wallace. I see that you like my daughter."
"That would be an understatement," he chides, smiling at Artemis-who smiles back. "She is the most beautiful and most talented person that I have ever met. I love her, and I want to spend every day with her."
"That's good to hear," Paula smiles back. She holds out her hand and gestures for the two to climb onto it. "Now lets go talk with the rest of your friends, shall we?"
Wally excitedly picks up Artemis and carries her bridal style. This causes her to blush intensely and let out a small squeal as her mother chuckles to herself. He climbs onto Paula's hand with Artemis still in his arms, and he sets her down as Paula wheels them over to the couches on the otherside of the room.