Okay, so I rewrote this whole chapter. I actually like how it came out this time. While it's all the same thing, this version makes more sense plus it just works better with where I want the plot to go. So enjoy.
Artemis relaxed in her living room talking with Wally and Dick. She was now 3 and a half months pregnant and had started to show it. She had started to wear bigger, baggier clothes and even some of Wally's shirts to get comfort. Not that Artemis was very big, but you can certainly tell how big she had gotten. Artemis stretched back in her recliner while the boys shared the couch.
"So what exactly got you pregnant?" Wally wondered.
"Our anniversary, remember?" She answered. "You really put the charm on me that night." Artemis rolled her eyes.
Dick snickered. "More like in her." They both glared at him with unamused expressions. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again. But uh, which anniversary are we talking about? I know its not your wedding one."
"The New Years one. We celebrate that one if this one," Artemis points to her husband. "forgets or screws up. It's Wally's chance to make up for his stupidity."
"I'm sorry for being an idiot... most of the time." Wally deadpanned. "But didn't we use a condom?" She shook her head.
"We kind of forgot about that. Besides, it would've happened eventually." She shrugged.
"Not if you used protection, it always works." Dick said with a satisfied smile.
Artemis raised a brow. "You do know condoms are only 97% effective, right?" The two men's heads snapped up to look at her. Their eyes as wide as baseballs.
"What?!" Dick and Wally shouted in shock.
"Yeah, duh."
"They should put that on the box!" They continued to shout.
Artemis smirked. "They do. It's part of why women don't like to have sex as much as men, increases the chances."
"What?!" Dick asked.
"No they don't." Wally said, welcoming denial once more.
Wally ran to the bedroom and retrieved his box of condoms. While Dick took out his wallet and checked out the roll he had. After evaluating, they were met with unfortunate results.
"They should put it in huge, black, bold letters!" Wally yelled.
"Even bigger than the word 'Condom'." Dick stated as he underlined the word on Wally's box.
"Just forget about the condoms." Artemis rolled her eyes.
"I did!" Wally exclaimed. emphasized, throwing his hands in the air.
Artemis rolled her eyes. "You know there are much bigger things to worry about." Wally huffed. "What we should be worrying about is all the baby things we need. Like a crib, diapers, bottles..." She started list items.
He sighed "Oh yeah, we have so much to do and buy, and we haven't even started yet." Wally turned to his friend. "What do you think, Dick?"
"How can they not work 3% of the time." Dick eyed the roll he was stuffing in his wallet. "They're suppose to be full proof.
"He's hopeless." Artemis stated.
"And I thought you already knew. Look, you guys never have to worry about the money." Dick said plain and simple, causing them both to look at him. "You have a multi-millionare playboy's adopted son by your side, money isn't an issue."
"Dick, we couldn't possibly-"
"Yes you are. I've got to let this baby know that Uncle Richie's always there." He leaned down toward Artemis' abdomen. "You hear that, kiddo?"
"Uncle Richie?" Wally smirked.
"What? I can't have it say Uncle Dick. That's just inappropriate." Wally and Artemis laughed at their friend's antics.
"Hmm." Artemis strectched and looked at the time. "I've got to go."
Wally resisted the edge to protest. "Where are you going, babe?"
"M'gann wants me to tag things I need for the baby shower she's throwing me."
"Okay. Want me to take you there?"
"Nah, I'll be fine, I'm gonna Zeta to her place first then we'll head out." Wally nodded slowly.
"Isn't it a bit early? You're only.. what?" Dick wondered.
"Uh 3 months, but it's M'gann." She shrugged. "I can't say 'no' to her. Besides I think she's more excited for this baby than anyone, even my mom."
Wally shook his head and crossed his arms. "My mom too, but that's M'gann for you."
"Well I'm heading out too." Dick chugged the rest of his soda and stood up.
"Got a hot date?" Wally fist-bumped him.
"You know it. Ah, Bette. Something about our flings is so much fun." He smirked with a mischievous glint.
"Gross/Dog." The married couple said in unison. Wally kissed his wife goodbye.
Not long after Artemis and Dick walked out that Wally found himself slightly glaring at the door. He tightened his fists before sighing and sitting back down.
"Stop worrying so much." He said to himself.
"Artemis, what do you think about this? Isn't it cute?" She held pointed toward a Flash styled crib. "It has little lightning bolts all over it." She turned to see Artemis leaning against a changing table, arms crossed and eyes shut.
"Adorable." She deadpanned. "Look, we've been at this for over an hour now, can we get something to eat, I'm starving."
"Oh, sure." She collected their stuff and followed her pregnant friend out of the store. M'agnn could tell that something was bothering Artemis. Something had been off since they met up earlier.
They ate in a comfortable silence making small talk here and there. M'gann studied Artemis as she ate. She expected to see her eat a little more thanks to her speedster baby but she had a slowless to her that made M'gann slightly worried. One would suggest that the baby was throwing her off today but M'gann knew better.
"Are you going to tell me what's up or do I have to read your mind?"
Artemis looked up at her for the first time since they sat down. "What?"
"Tell me what's up. You know you can tell me."
Artemis sighed. "Maybe you can tell me what's going on." M'gann shook her head, giving Artemis a look and letting her know she wasn't judging.
"I don't know what's up with Wally. I mean a few weeks ago we spent the whole day in bed and talked about baby names. Wally even started talking to the baby." A small smile grew on her face. "He read that it could hear our voices and wanted to try it out."
M'gann nodded, "That sounds nice."
"It was." The smile faded. "But I don't know. Lately Wally's been really over protective."
"Well you are pregnant."
"No. He's been going overboard. Wanting, almost needing to be around me 24/7. Not wanting me to go anywhere. Something is up with him."
"Well that's weird." M'gann admitted.
"Exactly. He's been like this for a while now. I-I think since the last time I monitor duty on the watchtower. Don't you remember?"
M'gann put her head in her hand. "Actually, now that you mention it. Wally was acting kinda strange that night. He was all for you doing monitor duty since you couldn't go on missions anymore. And he knew you'd be okay especially since I stayed with you. Then he went off somewhere and he returned a little jumpy and afraid, he really wanted you to come home with him."
"Then he got irritated when I wouldn't and you had to reassure him. He was even against me leaving to see you today." Artemis added.
"Is it me?"
"No. There's no way it would have to do with you. He's scared of something." Artemis paused to think. "Wait. Who did he talk to on the watchtower?"
"Um, I think it was Impulse." M'gann answered.
"Hmm, looks like I have to pay Bart a visit." Artemis concluded.
"Are you sure this isn't all in your head? I mean you're acting like you're solving a case for a mission."
"Why does everyone think I'm mission crazy? I was retired you know and for a few years too! What is up with people?" Artemis exclaimed. Passerbys looked at her strangely and she gave them glares in return.
"Maybe we should continue this back at my place."
"Yeah cause I'm starting to get really pissed off for some reason. Damn hormones, I can't even get slightly emotional without going overboard." M'gann chuckled.
"Word on the street is that, thanks to you, I'm going to be an aunt. So how is the mother-to-be?"
Wally had been in his recliner slowly falling asleep as he watched TV. He just about to nod off when he heard this familiar voice and he turned around his chair to greet it.
There, sitting in the kitchen, was his sister-in-law. She was eating whatever desserts Artemis had left him before leaving.
"I wondered when we'd hear from you." He addressed Jade. "And I guess she's okay. Just spent the whole day planning a baby shower."
"That's good to hear, I was afraid she'd be too freaked out."
"Who told you?"
"Roy. News spreads pretty fast around the league, even I know that."
"I don't know how long it'll be before he finds out. I do know he won't be happy, his little girls are moving on in life and he doesn't like that."
"You make it seem like he cares."
"Oh he cares.. about his rep. Artemis already kind of ruined him when she joined you guys and he could deal with that. But then she married you and is now having your baby."
"Do you think he'll try something?" Wally stiffened a bit.
"I doubt it. I'm sure as much as he hates the situation. He would never do something that rid him of a new accomplice. Plus he knows his limits. He knows if he does anything, he'll have to deal with Artemis, Me, our mother, you and Roy. That's too much heat even for him." Jade explained.
"Well now you've got me paranoid. What if he hires someone to go after Arty? And none of us are around to help her? I know Artemis can hold her own but she'll be a bigger, slower target."
Jade sighed as she sensed his anxiety. "Don't worry about that, I assure you that won't happen. You should be thinking about whether or not you'll be dealing with a speedster."
Wally felt a rush of new wave paranoia wash over him. His eyes widened as he thought about it. An accelerated appetite means more changing. Which means more diapers, which leads to more crying and more sleepless nights for him and Artemis. Oh, and he hadn't even gotten to 'The terrible twos' stage yet.
"Jeez," Jade appeared next to him. She gently grabbed his arm to gain his attention. "You are really on edge. Seriously relax, I was joking. You look like you're about to have a panic attack."
"I can't help it!" Wally exclaimed. "Everything has me paranoid and I can't stop."
"What's bothering you now?"
"Something Bart said. It was probably nothing though. That kid has always been weird."
"Define weird."
"Like I said, it's nothing. I think all the stress is starting to get to my head." Jade looked at him.
"Starting?" She questioned. "Are you sure it's nothing though? Isn't that kid from the future?"
"Yeah, but half the stuff he talks about doesn't make sense so maybe I'm taking it the wrong way." He dismissed.
"Well in either case, chill the hell out. Whatever happens, happens. Being paranoid isn't going to help anyone." Wally looked at her with tired eyes. "And get some sleep. You look like you haven't slept in while." She walked toward the open window, looking around. "Trust me, when that baby comes you'll regret it."
And within the blink of eye she was gone, leaving Wally to stew in his own problems.
'It's better that she doesn't know. ' He thought as he sat back in his chair. 'She has own problems with Lian and Roy.'
It was one of those nights. Nights where he would that same nightmare that haunted him since he was 15. He never woke up screaming or crying, just in a cold sweat yet feeling overwhelming heat in his chest.
'Same ol' nightmare, huh?' Wally thought as he rubbed his eyes. His arms resting against his knees.
Wally took on a deep breath as he leaned over making sure she was still there. That his current present wasn't just a dream, thanks to his denial.
Wally laid back down, snaking his arm around Artemis. His hand resting softly against her growing abdomen.
'Why am I so worried about Bart? The kid spoils things all the time, this couldn't be one of them?'
Wally rubbed his hand against her stomach. He continued to feel the uncomfortable heat in his chest that wouldn't go away.
'What the hell does he know?'
"What Bart said still bothers me. I don't know what he knows and it's freaking me out. I know you don't go on anymore missions. So I shouldn't be so worried but I can't help it." Wally paused. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."
He listened to the soft breathing of his wife and sighed. He snuggled into her and finally fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to Wally, Artemis remained awake. She felt confused.
Artemis quietly got out of bed and went to the bathroom. She listened to see if she had woken Wally. She sighed in relief and went to wash her face.
Artemis stared at herself in the mirror afterwards. 'What did Bart say that's got you so worked up?'