Chapter 10

Artemis awoke the next day and started the kettle to make tea. She grabbed her clothes from the night before and went to get dressed. When she came out William was pouring the water over teabags in two yellow mugs.

"I didn't expect you to be up yet." Artemis took a mug.

"I heard you get up, so I came out," William said.

They both stood sipping their tea. "I need to go ahead and head out." Artemis lifted the bag in her hands.

William took her hand. "I can walk you out, and don't worry about the mug. I'm sure you'll get it back to me."

William walked her down to her car as his land lady opened the door to her apartment. "I knew you two would get a room. Old people always know." She shut the door with a proud, smug look on her face. Artemis laughed.

When they reached her car she gave William a kiss good bye. William watched her go and headed back to his apartment. He knew something was off the moment he entered.

His mother was standing at his counter holding a dark purple mug with yellow flowers on it. He didn't particularly like that mug. A former coworker had given it to him as a gift, he'd gotten along with her and had never gotten many gifts, so he kept it. It was his and he wanted her to put it down.

"Hello mother. How long have you been here?" William approached slowly sitting on a stool to face her with the island between them.

"I was surprised to see you walking a girl out. I took my people off you almost a year ago and it seems I was wrong to do so." She took a sip from the mug and switched it to her other hand. "Who is she?"

"She," William emphasized, "is college educated, and not looking for a fight."

Shiva sneered, "So she isn't a passing fancy. If she were you wouldn't bother to tell me about her."

"Are you passing at your fancy, Mother? Or should I expect you for dinner Saturday?"

His mother's expression soured. "I am still your mother. Do not speak to me so disdainfully."

William sighed, "Mother. I don't know why you're here. You don't see me. I send you letters you that you don't respond to. You don't like how I'm living. What are you here for?" William stood and walked over to his mother standing nearly a foot away with his arms crossed.

Shiva set the mug on the counter. "I miss seeing you."

If William thought those were the words that would be coming out of his mother's mouth he would have told himself he was dreaming. "I miss you too Mom." William relaxed against the counter. "It's hard to be around you though."

"I know things are complicated. I'll write more I suppose. And I'll be looking into that girl." Shiva began to walk towards the door.

"Come to me with what you find Mom. I probably already know," William called, picking up the mug and turning to watch her leave.

Shiva turned to look back at her son. "We'll see." She opened the door walked out leaving it open.

William then had to walk to the door and close it. Why villains and heroes felt the need to make dramatic exits he would never understand. Twenty minutes away Artemis walked in on a different situation.

Dick Grayson was asleep on the couch with Brucely. Brucely being asleep on the couch was nothing new, but why Dick was at her place was a different story. Artemis walked to the couch and knelt down to begin gently waking Dick up. "Hey sleepyhead. Time to get up."

Dick yawned, "Hey bedhead, where have you been?"

"I slept over at my date's place. What are you doing here?"

Dick shot up on the couch revealing his black slacks, wrinkled button up, and blue socks while sending Brucely to the floor. Brucely gave him an annoyed look and huffed to Artemis's room most likely to fall asleep on her bed. "You had a date!"

"Yeah I did. And I will be seeing him again, but you get nothing more until you tell me why you're here."

Dick set his feet on the floor to make room for Artemis to sit. "I proposed to Barbara."

Artemis didn't say a word. "I assume it didn't go as planned considering you're on my couch."

"Well, I was tipsy. Did it in front of the entire league. And didn't actually have the ring on me."

"You didn't lose that ring did you? It took us a month to find a good one."

"No I didn't lose it. It's just I was planning to propose like a year and a half ago, but then she got her legs back and we had to get her better and through therapy. It's just been a lot and I'm ready, but I feel like I screwed up. I mean will she think it's all a joke now? Plus she just ran off." Dick looked at Artemis hoping for an answer.

"I don't think she'll think it's a joke, but you better prepare one hell of a proposal if you want to make up that night to her. And she was probably really embarrassed. I would have said no too. Nobody wants a drunken proposal without a ring." Artemis stood to go see what she had for breakfast. "How did you get here by the way?"

"Used a zeta tube and a taxi."

"Well I will make you breakfast, but you need to explain why you came here and tell me what you are going to say to Babs."

"Fair," Dick stood and went to sit at her breakfast table. Artemis pulled out eggs, some spices, mushrooms, and spinach.

"Hope you like omelettes." Artemis pulled out a pan and a bowl.

"I do. I came here because I needed a girl's advice. I've dated Zatanna and Raquel, so they were out. I needed to talk to someone who wasn't a teenager. M'gann is great, but she does have a tendency to talk to the girls about everything and I want to keep this quiet and you take that seriously. Plus you're you." Dick smiled after that last comment which brought a smile to Artemis's face.

"You always were a charmer. Now what do you think Babs will think when you go home?"

"She'll probably ask me where I was. I can say I slept on your couch which she'll be cool with."

"Okay." Artemis pulled a spatula out of her utensil drawer and pointed it at Dick. "Now explain to me why you did what you did last night."

Dick sighed. Artemis smirked. She could feel his embarrassment.

"I was excited and having a good time. New Year's has always been a good time for us and I guess I was riding the high. I thought about how happy I was and I was like what could make it better? Barbara."

"Ha, so then your drunk brain took over?"

"I guess." Dick threw his hands up.

Artemis took a moment to turn her omelette and move the first one to a plate. "Here. Eat up then head home."

"Wait, I thought I was going to hear more about this date of yours."

Artemis huffed at him, "What do you want to know?"

"Well who is he? How did you meet? Criminal record? The important stuff. You don't like me doing back ground checks on everyone all the time, so I have to get this from you."

Artemis side-eyed him. "He is a criminal defense attorney. We met on a blind date and his name is William Wu."

"Wait, as in Oliver's son William Wu."

"Yes." Artemis slipped her second omelette onto a plate and went to sit by Dick who was already finished.

Dick's shoulders had straightened and he was looking at her intently. "Are you sure about that?"

Artemis glared at Dick. "Right now, yes. We met outside of the league and actually clicked, so I know it's not just adrenaline or whatever. Plus it's nice to relate to someone with a similar family history."

Dick had learned Artemis didn't like other people's opinion on these matters, so he was quiet.

"What are you thinking Dick?" Artemis picked up a fork and took a bite of her breakfast.

Dick took a breath before speaking, "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I appreciate that, but I need to see where this goes. It's kinda nice to try something really new."

"Okay boss, you're in charge." Dick leaned back and smiled at her. "But just know I'm here."

Artemis smiled taking the last bite of her omelette. "Thank you. Also you should head out. It's almost eight, and you have some explaining to do."

Dick stood and gathered himself. "You're right, and you're the best. Bye." Dick leaned over, kissed her cheek, then headed out the-

"DOOR!" Artemis called. Dick back tracked the few steps he'd made it out of her apartment, sheepishly smiled, and closed the door he'd left wide open.