July 3 2017
Big Surprise Chapter 36
A week later Artemis and Dick had just gotten back to Artemis' apartment from visiting her mom. They had gone straight from the airport to the hospital to see Paula. But both of them were jetlag and just wanted to sleep.
"You wanna practice some more before we go to sleep?" Dick asked grinning as he unlocked the door.
"You know for someone who was a major playboy since the age of seventeen you're completely incorrigible" Artemis said shaking her head.
Dick just grinned as he threw their baggage in the apartment before grabbing her and pulling her into his chest "If my memory serves me correctly your just as bad Mrs. Grayson" he said before kissing her hard on the mouth.
Artemis quickly returned the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck as Dick grabbed her butt lifting her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Dick walked through the apartment door slamming it shut with his foot. He went to move towards the bedroom but he sensed something was off. Opening his eyes he saw Barbara sitting on the couch with her arms covered over his chest, glaring at the two of them.
Artemis pulled away when Dick stopped moving his lips "Babe what's wrong?" she asked but when she saw Dick's eyes wide open and his mouth parted in shock she untangled her legs from around his waist turning around to see a very angry Barbara Gordon sitting on her couch.
"Barbara what are you doing here?" Artemis asked.
"Why is it that I had to learn about your eloping from Damian? That you didn't tell me about face to face" Barbara asked standing up and walking towards the two of them. Dick immediately backed up until he hit the wall. Barbara walked past Artemis her eyes and death glare set on Dick. "We tell each other everything Richard Grayson, and I have to find out that you're married from your little brother" Barbara hissed poking him in the chest.
"Babs please…." Dick said putting his hands up in surrender.
"Don't Babs me Richard Grayson…You can't sweet talk your way out of this one" Barbara said ready for another rant.
"Barbara please just listen to us" Artemis said from behind her. Barbara turned around still glaring but she didn't start yelling. "We didn't mean to upset you, we were going to tell you in person when we got back. Were sorry we didn't tell you sooner but everything's been completely crazy. This week has been the only time we've had together. Between work, and being at the hospital every day I hardly see Dick except at night. And there's still nights were I don't get to see him because he has to stay in Bludhaven. Were sorry we didn't tell you but everything has been completely crazy. But were still going to have the big wedding, we wanted to make sure my mom could see us get married before she died" Artemis said pleading with her friend.
Barbara sighed stepping towards Artemis and wrapping her in a hug "I'm sorry I didn't think about how hard all of this is on the two of you. All I could think about was my best friend getting married to the girl he's loved since thirteen and me not being there".
Artemis smiled pulling away from her "I know and I understand but we promise there'll be a big wedding that you, Zatanna, and Megan are going to be in".
Dick set his hand on his oldest friends shoulder "We really are sorry Babs".
Barbara shook her head "I know, and I'm sorry for freaking out, I didn't think clearly".
Dick just smiled wrapping his arm around her shoulder "It's okay your allowed to have an occasional freak out".
"I have to go, I have a scouting mission with Tim and Cassie but I think it's more of a babysitting job than anything. I really am sorry for freaking out on you guys" Barbara apologized again.
Artemis smiled "It's fine we understand and your welcome here anytime, you know as long as you knock" Artemis joked.
Barbara smiled hugging her again "I'll see you guys later" she said hugging Dick and kissing his cheek.
"See ya Babs" Dick called after her.
"I still think it's weird that you two are so close after dating and being each other's first" Artemis said flopping down on the couch.
Dick just smiled sitting down next to her "And it's not weird for you and Wally, you two were almost married and you two are still close".
"True, but I think all of our lives are weird" Artemis said laying her head on his shoulder.
"And it always will be, especially since you just married Bruce Wayne's ward" Dick said laughing.
Artemis hummed lifting her head to look at him "I know but that's exactly why I married you boy wonder" she said kissing him.
Ring, ring, ring
Groaning Dick picked up the phone "Hello" he answered his voice thick from sleep.
"Dick are you home, I want to come see you and Arty?" Damian's voice rushed through the phone.
"Damian why are you calling so early?" Dick asked sitting up in the bed.
"It's nine at night Dick why are you asleep?" Damian asked.
"We just got home Damian were tired" Dick said trying to avoid the little boy coming over so he could just cuddle with his wife and eat at the table wearing whatever the hell they wanted.
"You two got home almost five hours ago that's plenty of time to rest and be ready to see your favorite little brother" Damian said.
Dick sighed rubbing his eyes "What if I promise you we'll come hang out with you tomorrow after we get some sleep?"
"Come on Dick I want to see you and Artemis now, ever since Miss Paula got really sick I barely get to see you guys" Damian said using his whiny voice.
"Who the hell is that?" Artemis whispered glaring at Dick like it was his fault.
"Damian he wants to come over, you can talk to him" Dick said giving her the phone and burying his head in his pillow to go back to sleep letting his wife take care of his dirty work. Little did he know that his wife was diffidently not taking care of his dirty work.
Artemis hung up the phone snuggling up to Dick and kissing his neck.
"What'd you tell Damian?" Dick asked pulling her on top of him.
"That we were tired and that we missed him" Artemis said between kisses.
Dick flipped them over so that he was hovering above her kissing her neck "Good" he mumbled moving to kiss her lips but Artemis pushed on his chest stopping him.
"It is good because he's going to be here in ten minutes" Artemis said smiling at him.
"What I thought you were telling him no" Dick said.
"Come on babe we haven't spent very much time with him and he's upset he wants to spend time with his big brother" Artemis said.
Dick sighed rolling over onto his back "No I get it".
Artemis smiled kissing him "Good now what do you want for dinner? I'm starving".
"Tacos" Dick said smiling.
Artemis laughed "Tired of Italian food?"
"I never thought I'd say this but yes I'm tired of Italian, now if only you knew how to make some homemade Romanian food, then I'd really be happy" Dick said smiling.
"I can't read Romanian which means I can't read your mothers recipes" Artemis said getting out of the bed and moving to the bathroom.
"You're slowly starting to learn just like I am with Vietnamese babe" Dick said following her into the bathroom "You know we can speed things up if we take a shower together" Dick said grinning at her.
Artemis laughed as she pulled his shirt from earlier over her head "Good we were thinking the same thing boy wonder, now hurry up and join me" she said stepping into the shower with Dick quickly behind her.
Ten minutes later Artemis stood in the kitchen wearing running shorts and a grey tank top as she made tacos for dinner while Dick sat the kitchen table typing furiously on his computer.
"What are you doing?" Artemis asked turning to face him.
"Writing a report for work that's due tomorrow" Dick said his eyes never leaving the computer screens.
"And how long have you known about this report?" Artemis asked.
Dick shrugged "About two weeks" he said like it was nothing.
"You act like your still in high school" Artemis said shaking her head.
Dick just shrugged again "If I remember correctly I only did my homework last minute because I was saving the world every other night".
"And what's your excuse now that you're an adult?" Artemis asked.
Dick actually stopped typing on his computer and looked up at her "Well as an adult I'm still saving the world every other night, but I just got married last week and went to Italy for a brief honeymoon. So my life is still if not crazier as it was in high school. Besides it's for my own department which I happen to be head of".
"Oh so by us getting eloped which might I remind you was your idea makes your life crazier?" Artemis asked setting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
Dick just smiled as he stood up walking towards her "Yes I remember that us getting married was my idea and it was the best idea I've ever had. By us getting married my life has diffidently gotten crazier but I wouldn't change it for anything, I knew what I was getting into and I know once your father finds out he'll try to kill me but I love you Artemis and I wouldn't change anything about my life because it lead me to you" Dick said setting his arms on her waist and pulling her to him.
Artemis rolled her eyes wrapping her arms around him "You always know how to defuse my anger".
Dick smiled "I'm still trying to figure out if it's a good thing or bad thing".
Artemis laughed "In this case it's a very good thing for you. I love you to Dick".
Dick leaned down and kissed her but right as their lips touched the front door was thrown open.
"Arty" Damian cried running towards her and wrapping his arms her waist in a hug.
Artemis laughed hugging the little boy "I missed you to Damian".
A smiling Bruce stood in the doorway "I tried to stop him".
Dick just shook his head walking towards Bruce "I'm sure you did" he said as he hugged his father figure.
Bruce at least pretended to be hurt "I truly did I told him once the elevator stopped not to barge into your house, he just choose not to listen".
Dick laughed "Ya you tried really hard".
"I'll be by tomorrow to pick him up for training. Are you going to join us?" Bruce asked.
"I'm training with the team tomorrow, I'm not sure about Artemis" Dick said looking at his wife and brother.
Artemis looked up from Damian's very interesting conversation "I'm training with the team also after I visit my mom".
Bruce nodded his head "Okay, make sure Tim works on his reaction times, he and Barbara will be joining you as well".
"Yeah okay I can do that. We'll see you tomorrow Bruce" Dick said giving him another hug.
Bruce moved towards Damian and Artemis where he hugged Damian "I expect you to be on your best behavior, I'll see you tomorrow".
Damian nodded his head "Okay see you tomorrow".
"Thanks for taking him" Bruce said to Artemis giving her a brief hug.
Artemis just smiled "We love having him over it was no problem".
Once Bruce was out the door Dick went back to the kitchen table finishing his report for work, while Artemis made a plate for herself and Damian of tacos.