Chapter Twenty-Five

Haunting...

The first day of Spring Break hit and Kara was super excited. Not just because of being able to spend a week with her folks with no school, but because Wally had convinced Artemis into going out for dinner. At first, the former archer had repeatedly shot down the idea of going out until Kara revealed she had never been to a restaurant before. After making a few calls, Friday night found the three of them at one of the nicest restaurants in Gotham.

"This place is beautiful." Kara whispered as she looked around.

"Yeah, I remember the last time your mom and I was here," Wally said looking around a little, "Dick invited us to celebrate Barbara's birthday."

"Speaking of our friends," Artemis said looking across the room, "Looks like our redheaded friend was right."

Wally looked over and sighed before asking, "Are you sure I can't haunt him? I mean he doesn't even know I'm back yet."

"And you are not going to tell him you're back," Artemis said glaring at him, "Tonight is for the three of us. Got it?"

"Ok. Ok. I got it." he said before they heard a crash. They looked over to see their friend being helped to his feet by a waiter before turning his chair upright.

"I thought I said no haunting, Kara?" Artemis said looking at her daughter.

"He asked for that." Kara said not sounding too happy.

"I don't doubt it." Artemis said as her phone started ringing.

"I thought we agreed to no cell phones tonight." Wally said leaning back in his seat a little.

"No, we agreed to have them on silent," she said checking the caller ID, "That's weird."

"What is mom?" Kara asked looking at her mother.

"It's Robin," Artemis replied before answering it, "Robin? What's wrong?"

"Please tell me you know where Dick is." the young detective said sounding a little worried.

"Yeah, why?" she asked looking at Wally and her daughter.

"He and Barbara got into a massive fight about him cheating on her….." he replied before a different voice came on the phone, "Artemis, its Karen. If you know where that jerk is, you better tell me right now."

"Calm down Karen." Artemis said a little surprised.

"I'll calm down as soon as I kick his head in." Karen growled.

"I have a feeling he said a few things he shouldn't have." Artemis said with a sigh.

"You don't want to know all that got said," Karen said before a third voice came on the line, "Do not tell her or anyone where he is."

"M'gann, what is going on?" Artemis asked a little puzzled.

"From what I understand; Barbara tried to tell him something about Wally and he suddenly replied Wally coming back to life is like her trying to save their relationship. Not happening." the Martian stated.

"Oh that's it," Artemis said sounding upset, "M'gann; let everyone know to stay away from Grayson. He's mine." She ended the call and put her phone away before relaying what she had been told.

"I'm going to hurt him." Wally said glaring over at his friend.

"Actually, I have a better idea;" Artemis said with an evil grin, "Remember that 'ghost' version of you Kara made the night your parents found out you were back? What if we paired it up with that speaker you hid in his sunglasses?"

Wally started to smile as he realized what the blondes ideal was then asked, "Have I ever told you how much I love your evil side when it comes to trolling him?"

"Tell me later," she said before looking at her daughter, "Sorry for asking you to do this, sweetie."

"Its fine," the young girl said glancing at her mother before looking back over at her parents' friend, "Just be sure to record this."

They waited a few minutes till the woman their friend was with left for the bathroom before Wally pulled out his phone.

"Show time," he said punching in a number sequence.

Once the phone linked to the speaker, he gave his daughter a slight nod before saying, "You're a real piece of work, you know that Dick?"

Artemis placed a hand over her mouth to try not to laugh as she recorded what was going on.

"I'm talking about what you said to Barbara," he said sounding cross, "Don't give me that crap, Grayson. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Telling her your relationship is about as salvageable as me coming back from the grave."

"Sorry dad." Kara said as the ghost construct disappeared.

"It's ok, sweetie." her mother mouthed at her.

Wally hit a button on his phone before putting it down and looked at his daughter saying, "And you were perfect, munchkin. You really were."

"Thanks dad," Kara with a slight smile.

"Well that's a new one," Artemis said looking at her boyfriend, "She lets Barry call her Pixie, Jade and Roy will call her Cottontail, and Bart keeps call her squirt."

"Bart's an idiot," Kara said as the waiter walked up with their orders.

"Why do you have so many nick names?" Wally asked as they started eating.

"Aunt Jade said hers is because I like bunnies and Barry said it's because I remind him of one," the young girl said looking at her father.

"Now why do you say Bart's an idiot?" he asked looking at the young girl, "Besides the obvious."

"The Tylenol incident," she said pushing her carrots to one side of her plate, "And he comes off as a know it all."

"There's kind of a reason for him being like that." Artemis said a little leery.

"Please tell me isn't not because he likes me." Kara asked looking at her mother.

"If he does, it's because you're family," he said glancing over at his friend, "Hold that thought."

He hit the button on his phone before saying, "Seriously, this is who you cheated on Babs with?"

He hit the button again and tried not to laugh as Kara asked, "What are you going to do with the recording, mom?"

"Send it to Barbara." her mother replied with a slightly evil grin.

They continued to eat as they made small talk for the rest of their meal, with them stopping occasionally to pick on their friend. Kara had about finished eating when Wally asked, "How come you haven't touched your carrots, munchkin?"

"I'm allergic to them." she said as one of the carrots started to glow a soft white before standing up.

"Kara, what are you doing?" Artemis asked in a hushed tone.

"You'll see," she said as more of her vegetables started to stand up.

They started to dance around on her plate before suddenly jumping to other tables and attacking different customer's silverware. Her parents watched as each of the customers started to scream before running out. As the each one raced for the door, the carrots quickly moved from table to table till they started going after Dick's date.

"My god, she's a miniature of us," Wally said trying not to laugh as the woman ran from the room.

Not wasting a moment, Wally quickly zipped over to the empty seat and asked, "Still think you're not being haunted?"

"You better be thankful you're not alive," Dick said glaring at his friend, "Because I would make you wish you were still dead."

"Just because I made the chick you're cheating on Barbara with run out?" Wally asked with a slight smile, "No offense, but I don't feel the least bit sorry for doing that."

"Why are you even here?" Dick asked.

"To haunt you for as long as it takes for you to apologize to Barbara." Wally said simply.

"Me apologize to her?" Dick asked as he started to get upset, "She is the one that started that whole argument."

"But you made her cry." Wally said calmly.

"She should have kept her nose out of my business." Dick retorted placing his hands on the table as he stood up.

"You shouldn't have cheated on her." Wally said watching his friend.

"And this is coming from the biggest flirt I've ever met," Dick said with a slight laugh.

"What can I say? Women like a man that doesn't hide behind sunglasses." Wally said with a shrug.

"Is that so?" Dick asked letting his angry flare, "Then tell me, WALL-MAN, do you think Artemis still loves you considering you-" The detective's sentence was cut short when the speedster's fist connected with his jaw. The impact of the blow had enough force that caused Dick to spin one hundred eighty degrees before falling to the floor.

"What the heck, Wally?" Dick said as he rubbed his jaw.

"Felt real, didn't it?" Wally asked walking over and kneeling next to his best friend. Dick opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as he realized something.

"By the looks of it, that punch jump started your brain." Wally said with a smirk.

"It can't be?" Dick whispered looking at the speedster, "W-W-Wally?"

"Surprised? Good," Wally said before punching his friend again, "That's for Barbara and what you were going to said about Artemis. Now you better go apologize or I'll do something worse than hitting you. Oh and thanks for footing the bill; got to run."

Giving his signature grin, Wally quickly stood up and picked up his family before running from the room….after leaving their check with a dumbfounded Dick Grayson.