AN: So, I think I have a problem. I can't read any story where Cam does not fit my head cannon because I get angry that it's "not right." Which makes no sense, because my head cannon is an entire back story based on one episode (I like to pretend Invasion doesn't count). But yet I get to a story where Cam's a jerk or something and I'm like, nope, wrong, can't do it. Is that weird?

Disclaimer: Head cannon would be cannon if I owned this show.

Acceptance

There are probably never good times to meet a girlfriend's father. There is, however, a clear-cut worst time to do so, and that is in the middle of a battle between good and evil.

The Shadows have decided, for some inexplicable reason, to launch a full-fledged raid on a governmental lab. As far as Robin could dig up, the facility was establishing the latest in chemical warfare, and apparently, nothing excites the Shadows more than chemical warfare. The Team had been sub-divided, and, either by coincidence or a sense of humor no one knew Aqualad had, Ice and Artemis had been paired. They're on search-and-rescue, getting the employees out as quickly and safely as possible, which is why they are currently the only members not flanked by villains—the others are keeping them well preoccupied.

It's on their third loop around that a voice calls, "Aren't you going to say hello to dear old dad?"

They turn, arrow taunt and icicles ready, as Sportsmaster jumps from the stairway and lands gracefully in front of them.

"Dad," Artemis says, not even dropping her weapon. "Big surprise you'd be in on this."

"Oh, don't be like that—you know you missed me, Baby Girl."

"Yes, I have so missed battling you. Those are such joyous occasions."

"The sarcasm isn't necessary."

"Leave her be." Cheshire appears from one of the rooms on the floor above and mimics her father, landing only a few feet from Ice. Playing absentmindedly with the sais, she adds, "Not in front of the boyfriend, at least. You'll scare him off."

"Boyfriend?" Sportsmaster repeats, turning to the cryokinetic and then back to his youngest. "You're dating Joar's kid?"

"Joar's kid has a name, and you will call him that," Artemis insists defensively, bow dropping to her side in anger. She glares at her sister. "You had to bring that up? I can't tell you anything!"

"You told her?" Cam whispers.

"She's my sister. Of course I told her."

"Oh, but I'm left out of this little information?" Sportsmaster interrupts. "That's how you treat the man you raised you?"

"I wouldn't use the word raised," Cheshire objects with a sort of hiss to the words. "And I, unlike you, actually check up on her."

"What happened to the speedster?" Sportsmaster question, obviously avoiding Cheshire's points.

"You told him that, too?" Artemis demands of his sister. "Jeez, Jade, for someone who doesn't work with him, you sure do blab a lot!"

"I never told him about Kid Flash," Jade protests. "Though I am pleased you dumped that loser."

"It was neutral, he wasn't a loser, and if you didn't tell dad, then who did?"

"Doesn't matter," Sportsmaster cuts in, but Ice can't afford a sigh of relief because the blonde immediately continues, "So, kid, you're dating my daughter?"

"Yes, sir, Mr. Sportsmaster, sir." He feels fourteen again, trying to get permission to take Artemis out on Christmas Eve.

Jade gags and Artemis rolls her eyes, but Sportsmaster just nods approvingly. "Has manners. Good. That other punk didn't."

"I'll be sure to reprimand him for failing to call you sir while you were trying to kill him."

"He could still show some respect. Besides, that doesn't even matter now. What does matter is how Cam here treats you." The assassin approaches Cam, who sucks in his breath and straightens his back. "You treat her right? Pay for her meals? Put her first?"

"Yes, sir. All the time, sir."

"You're a teenage boy—you look at other girls?"

"N-no, sir."

"You stammered."

"Because you're terrifying him," Artemis growls, tugging Cam back and stepping in between them. "If you remember, we're supposed to be fighting, not chatting!"

"Please, Baby Girl. We were just distraction measures. Besides, your little friends have things covered, I'm sure. Now, where were we?"

"Nowhere," Artemis protests. "This can't happen on a mission."

"Oh, calm down, sis," Jade says. "Cameras have all been disabled. Besides, if he doesn't do this now, he'll just track the kid down and make it an even bigger deal."

"Has he done this with your boyfriend?" the archer demands through clenched teeth.

"Boyfriend? Who the Hell are you dating?" Sportsmaster demands, whirling toward his oldest.

"It shouldn't matter! You lost the right to know anything about my life a long time ago!"

They go back and forth, and Cam just awkwardly watches, not knowing what to do. Artemis, however, sure does, slipping her hand into his and dragging him away. A javelin appearing before them stops that plan.

"Not so fast." Sportsmaster saunters toward the couple. "I'm not through with him."

"Dad—"

"No, Artemis, it's okay," Cam insists, offering a small smile. "I'm okay."

"Good," Sportsmaster says. "Now, do you plan on doing anything with her? And don't even think about lying because I will know."

Cam swallows hard and forces himself to maintain eye contact. "I won't ever do anything that she isn't ready for, sir. She calls all the shots."

"So you're a push-over? My daughter needs a strong man."

"I'm not a push-over, sir," he objects, wondering if this is for show or if Sportsmaster's reconsidering his position from months past. "But I won't force her to do anything if she doesn't want to do it. I respect her, all of her. And if I was strong enough to change my life for her and betray five hundred criminals who already wanted to kill me, I think that's strong enough. Sir."

There's a brief pause, followed by, "Good answer, kid."

"Alright, alright, enough of this." Jade takes to his side. "I want to see the real you. Unless, of course, this is the real you."

Cam glances at Artemis, who just shakes her head and mutters, "This is utterly ridiculous. Go on, Cam, I don't think she'll kill you."

It's really not reassuring, but he does drop ice mode. "Hmm," Jade muses, walking a circle around him. "Not bad, not bad. But he's so skinny." She lifts up his arm, lefts it fall. "Scrawny. Do you even feed him?"

"He is a person, not some stray animal," Artemis huffs. "And he's not scrawny, he's compacted."

"Yeah, whatever."

"He has a six-pack," Artemis adds, hands on her hips. "Does your boyfriend?"

"Of course. But yours does? Really?" Without hesitance, she lifts up Cam's shirt and inspects. "Huh. He does."

"Jesus, Jade, what are you doing?!" Artemis is blushing even harder than Cam. "You can't, you can't just, ugh! This is so embarrassing."

"He'll have to get use to the family if he wants to become a part of it," Sportsmaster intercedes. "Which, if you're dating my daughter, should be the final goal."

"Hopefully," Cam blurts. He realizes how eager he sounds, and he shrugs sheepishly. "If she'll keep me."

"Hey, you haven't been answering the mind link, and Megan said you were—" Robin, appearing the in the doorway, stops and observes the scene. "Um, should I be concerned?"

Artemis waves her hand dismissively. "No, just your normal father-older sister-boyfriend talk while assassins and heroes are fighting one another."

"Oh. Okay. Well, everything's taken care of. So, I'll tell the Team you'll come down in a bit." He starts retreating. "Have fun."

"Thanks, Robin." She rubs at her temples. "Are we almost through?" she asks after a moment. "Because we need to get going. And this is weirder than The Twilight Zone."

"Fine, fine, one more question." Sportsmaster stares him dead in the eyes. "You love her?"

Cam's heart skitters and stops, and he has to tell himself to breathe. He doesn't know what to say because if he says yes Artemis will think he's too clingy but if he says no Sportsmaster will kill him but if he says nothing he'll look like an idiot. There's no way around it, so he goes with the truth: "I think so."

Another approving nod from Sportsmaster. "Good. Now, we'll be going—wouldn't want to hold up the heroes from their oh-so important duties."

The next instant, Jade throws a smoke pellet and the two disappear.

"Wow, they don't call them Shadows from nothing," Cam jokes.

Artemis stays quiet. "Did you mean that?" she finally asks. "That…that you think you love me?"

He looks away. "Yeah."

Her hands slip around his waist, pulls him close so their noses are touching. She murmurs, "Good. Because that was my answer, too."

"Really?"

"Really."

Cam grins and twirls her around. She mashes her lips to his, and Cam never knew being breathless could feel so amazing.