Chapter Six — Depths

" Tis a fearful thing, to love what death can touch. "


Arley had died once; long before the ring had ever graced Arley's finger. When her mother had given birth to her Arley hadn't been breathing due to birth complications. For all intents and purposes Arley Gluck had been dead. The doctor and nurses in the room had of course been able to save her and bring her back to the land of the living, but still, the first several minutes Arley had spent on Earth had been spent being dead.

Arley stepped out of her and Wally's bedroom with a duffle bag over her shoulder and her heart hammering in her chest. Wally was on the couch, Gordon Godfrey's show was on— the man was talking about Carol Ferris and the Ferris Aircraft launch —and Bodie was gnawing on a large metal pipe Arley and Wally had brought home for him weeks before.

Artemis had left for class hours before— just as she would every other day —and Lian had gone back to her parents once they had returned from saving the original Roy Harper from the clutches of the League of Shadows.

"Hey," Arley said, her back leaned against her and Wally's closed bedroom door and Wally's eyes shut for a moment. Arley's eyes traveled over the slope of his nose and the curve of his cheek; Arley knew she had Wally Wests face memorized— she had his smile and his laugh and the sound of his voice when he first woke up, all committed to memory —but still, she couldn't help but look at the speedster as she took him in.

The speedster clicked the off button on the remote next him and stood; Arley moved and the two for a moment stood facing each other. There was a thick tension in the air and Arley's hand twitched; the Lantern pressed her hand against Wally's cheek and Wally's hand cupped it.

"I'm not happy about this," Wally said.

"I know," Arley breathed. "But you know why I have to do this."

She couldn't continue to allow Savage to walk around, she couldn't wait for the immortal Neanderthal to make the first move and hope that, that would be when she caught him; not after what he had done to Wally and Artemis— and her —four years ago.

"I know but you shouldn't have to," Wally said, his eyes flickered down and Arley stepped closer. "Dick's my best friend-our friend, he shouldn't be putting you in this position. It's dangerous."

"Hey," Arley said softly, "In case you forgot Handsome, I'm a Green kriffing Lantern. If Dickie didn't come up with this plan I'm sure the Guardians would have at some point-and if they didn't I'm sure I'd still be in one dangerous situation or another."

Wally sighed.

"Wally," Arley said, "Nothing is going to happen. Kaldur will have my back the whole time, okay?"

"But what if it does, it's the Light-Savage. Arley—" Arley pressed her lips to Wally's. The kiss was firm; Arley's other hand threaded through Wally's hair and the speedster's arms circled around her waist as he pulled her close. Arley moved her lips against Wally's and when she pulled away she looked up at the speedster through her lashes.

"Trust me, okay?" Arley asked. "I'm coming back to you-no matter what I'm coming home."

"I love you," Wally said as he breathed, "I know I'm going to see you later but I love you," Wally told her in a desperate voice; like he wasn't sure he was going to see her later and that he needed Arley to know, "So much Glowstick."

"I love you more Genius."

Conner, Dick, Mal and Arley stood around the Mount Justice Meeting Chamber, Bart Allen and the Original Roy Harpers pictures were blown up wide on the computer screen. Roy's picture was of him sleeping in his Star City hospital room, the stump of his arm was bandaged and his head had been shaved; he looked younger than the fifteen he had been cryogenically frozen at.

The picture of Bart was of him smiling, one of his arms was around Wally's shoulders and the other was wrapped behind Barry's waist as Jay Garrick stood behind him. Iris was in the picture too, her hands were on her flat stomach and though she herself wasn't a speedster she was carrying two of them so Arley and Joan had ushered her into the second speedster family picture; the first being of just the men and Bart.

"They're both going to end up our responsibility, aren't they?" Mal asked; Arley snorted as Dick sighed.

"Not necessarily," Dick said, "Bart-Impulse, is staying with Jay and Joan Garrick in Central City. Roy the original Speedy is recuperating at Royal Memorial Hospital at Star City. Arrows, both Green and Red are watching over him."

"But when Bart settles in and Roy wakes up," Arley smiled, "They're going to end up being our responsibility, aren't they?"

Mal's lips tipped upwards, "Of course they are."

"But doesn't everything?" Conner said, Conner looked at Dick, "Where are we on identifying the Lights new partner?"

Dick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No progress," Dick told them and Arley shifted from foot to foot as the small smile she'd been wearing slipped off her face. They would have answers soon enough.

A giggle— M'gann's giggle —echoed through the hall and into the Meeting Chamber; Arley and the others turned to the Martian and the gilled Atlantean walk through the Meeting Chamber doors; a plate of crab cakes levitated in front of the Atlantean.

"La'gaan," M'gann laughed as her boyfriend threw two crab cakes into his mouth, "Don't eat so fast." La'gaan smiled at M'gann.

"I can't help it Angelfish. The idea of cooking crabs is amazing enough but the idea of making them into little cakes-" La'gaan cut himself off as he stuffed another crab cake into his mouth and M'gann let out another giggle.

"You're going to choke."

"If only," Conner muttered. Arley swallowed back a laugh as she shared a humorous look with Dick. M'gann picked up a crab cake and held it between her fingers, the Martian held the crab cake up to the Atlantean boys lips.

"Here let me," M'gann said as La'gaan swooped in and stole the crab cake from between the Martian girls fingers. La'gaan had barely chewed the food in his mouth before he half turned to Conner.

"If that's not true love, then I don't know what is, chum," La'gaan said.

Arley's brows quirked up at the Atlantean's borderline passive aggressive jab. Conner's back straightened and his shoulders rolled and for a second Arley thought the clone would say something to the Atlantean but instead Conner looked at Dick and Mal and Arley.

"Isn't it time for the briefing?" Conner wondered and Dick nodded; the former boy wonder's heels clicked and his chin tipped upwards. It reminded Arley of Kilowog and how the Bolovaxian would look as he went down the line of rookies each morning during boot camp.

Arley sandwiched Mal between her and M'gann as Conner stood on her other side.

"Right," Dick turned and pressed something against the computer monitor's keyboard; an image of the Ferris Aircraft rocket appeared and Arley couldn't help but beam at the sight. Karma-Tui, John's wife, was like Arley's mother and had been for years but long before Katma was anything more than a fellow Corpsmen it had been Carol Ferris who had been the woman to step up to the plate.

Carol had been the one to give Arley the sex talk— at thirteen Guy had told Arley about safe sex, it had been Carol, who when Arley was seventeen, sat the girl down and actually spoken to her about sex —and Carol had been the woman to help Arley buy her first box of tampons and though it had been Dinah who Arley first asked about birth control— because she knew some anti-depressants made birth control ineffective so she knew before anything she would have to talk to Dinah —it had been Carol who had gone with the girl to the pharmacy that first time.

"The mission is Cape Canaveral," Dick said. "It's a covert operation to safeguard the first Earth-to-Mars com-sat. There are people out there who don't even like the idea of aliens and will do anything to scrub this launch." M'ganns head hung low and Arley reached past Mal to grab her friend's hand, M'gann looked at Arley.

"Like I've always Megs, let them say something to your face-I dare them to." M'gann smiled at the Lantern and Arley's heart squeezed in her chest. The undercover mission was supposed to only last a few months but who's to say M'gann wouldn't hate her afterwards— no one could say M'gann would ever smile at her again after everything came to light —who's to say Conner and Artemis would still want her around?

Who's to say Guy or John or Hal would ever speak to her again when she reemerged from the grave?

"So why are you going?" Mal asked and with an impish grin Dick faced the taller man.

"Let's just say that after running this team for a year, I'm peckish for a little action."

Mal cracked a smile in Dick's direction and the ex-football players teeth peeked out from behind his lips. Mal looked at Arley,

"Won't Carol know it's you behind the mask?" Mal then turned to look at Conner, "And doesn't Carol know you too?"

"Arley won't be working with Carol directly, she's in charge of making sure all the astronauts aboard get to the rocket safely and unharmed," Dick said. "Superboy will be in the air disguised as Superman-Miss M will be disguised as her uncle; we can't let the world know that most of our heavy hitters are off-world." Mal tipped his head back,

"And you're sure they won't recognize you-Hal works with them doesn't he?" Arley nodded,

"Yeah but how well do all of your dad's coworkers know you?" Arley wondered, Mal nodded after a moment, "Besides, the three astronauts being sent up with the com-sat have probably met me ten times over the past twelve years so I doubt they'll see me and think, that's Jordans kid, you know? It's Carol that could probably uncover who I was under the mask from a mile away."

"Right," Mal nodded.

The three Ferris employees who had all been picked for the space mission were Quinton Blackwater, a thirty-two year old Native American man who Hal only ever sometimes mentioned, Harry Sullivan, a forty four year old Ferris Aircraft employ who had started with the company back before Carol's father had passed away and Juniper Harlow, a thirty-eight year old lesbian who constantly told Hal off for his late paperwork and was a mother of three children Arley had once gotten stuck watching over at a company Christmas party.

The sun was setting over Cap Canaveral. Arley could hear Carol Ferris' voice declare that they were at T-minute one hour until the launch as she led the three astronauts into the Ferris Rocket ship. Arley's hair had been pulled up into a ponytail and Juniper, who was at the very end of the line of Ferris employees, stopped as she and the others reached the rocket ship door.

"Mrs. Harlow?" Arley blinked, Juniper's short blonde hair was choppy and the dark roots were growing back in; the very top of her hair blew in the breeze. The other two Ferris employees ducked into the rocket ship.

"My kids, my youngest is five and my twins are eight; they're watching this at home and I was hoping maybe you could-before you leave, if you could autograph something for them and give it to Mrs. Ferris so that they could get it. They think you and the other League members are amazing and well, I know it'd make their day if they got your signature."

No, Arley wanted to say; there was no way she'd be able to do any of that because by the end of the night she would be dead but instead Arley smiled. "Of course, though I'm sure when you and the others come back your autograph will be worth more then mine is."

"You think so?"

"Of course, I mean, you'll be one of the people reasonable for founding an alliance between Earth and Mars."

"Thank you," Juniper Harlow said with a bright smile and she stuck her hand out so that Arley could shake it, and Arley did. It was more formal than the handshake Juniper Harlow had given her the few times they'd met before but Arley supposed that was good; formal meant Juniper Harlow didn't recognize her.

When Arley's hand dropped from the older woman the Lantern saluted the astronaut.

"Have a safe trip ma'am." Juniper Harlow saluted right back,

"Stay safe down here." The ball that's been caught in Arley's throat grew and for a second it was almost impossible to breathe. Arley's arm dropped, as did Juniper Harlow's and for a second both women looked at each other; the second passed and Arley stepped back, Juniper Harlow pivoted on her heel and turned back to the rocket.

The woman disappeared into the Ferris spacecraft and the door swung shut behind her with a hiss. Arley waited a moment and then another before she turned; her feet lifted up off of the catwalk that led to the rocket ship and the Lantern flew down to where Nightwing had instructed her to meet him once the astronauts were all safely inside the rocket.

"They're all safe?" Nightwing asked as Arley's feet settled on the metal flooring. Arley nodded,

"Yeah. Mrs. Harlow wants me to autograph something for her kids and give it to Carol-think the team could do that?" Nightwings lips pressed together, his grip on his binoculars tightened.

"I doubt anyone is going to want to be signing any autographs after this."

Arley blinked and turned to the setting sun.

"You know, if nothing else, we at least have a nice view. I mean a beach side view?" Arley peaked over her shoulder in Nightwings direction, a grim smile playing on her lips. "Totally to die for."

Nightwing didn't smile back at her but his nose twitched as if he was going to. Nightwing raised a finger to the communication in his ear.

"Miss M link us up," Nightwing said and Arley felt her mind splinter. She felt her friends and teammate's take their place in her mind; what had once been such a foreign feeling in the back of her head had become natural over the years.

"Link established," Miss Martian said. Arley formed a pair of binoculars with her ring; the construct glowed on her hand.

"Good," Nightwing thought, "Begin aerial sweep of the Capes perimeter." Nightwing raised his binoculars to his eyes.

"Hey Boss, I'd be happy to join my Angelfish on the assignment," Lagoon Boy said through the link and Arley thought of Wally and his smile in that moment if only to stop the Atlantean and Martian from sensing her overwhelming urge to roll her eyes.

The sun finally began to fully dip over the watery horizon. Aniell hummed on Arley's finger in reassurance. Everything will work out, Aniell said, Everything will be fine.

Of course it will be, Arley thought back to her ring, I have you with me.

"Negative Lagoon Boy," Nightwing said, "You're right where I need you. You're giving me maximum coverage down there in case there's any attempt of sabotage."

The stars began to peek out more as the sky constrained to darken and for a moment everything was silent.

Nightwing sighed.

"I know I'm not Wally's favorite person at the moment but for what it's worth I am sorry."

Arley peeled her eyes away from the construct in her hands and looked to one of her oldest friends.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for; stuff like this, it comes with the job." Nightwing turned to Arley fully, the small of his back pressed against the metal railing. "Besides when this is all over I'm the one that's going to have to be sorry." Everyone would hate her for her deception; after the mission Arley was sure she'd be alone.

"The team-Hal and Guy and John and the other Lanterns, they'll understand. I make sure they do," Nightwing promised and Arley shot the nineteen year old a hollow smile. Dick Grayson could do a lot of things but Green Lanterns were stubborn and bullheaded and if they didn't want to do something, nothing could make them.

"Heads up minnows," Lagoon Boys' voice echoed through Arley and the team's mind; for a second Arley could see— the Black Manta ships heading for the shores —through Lagoon Boys eyes. "We got bad guys; Black Manta's troopers. They're working some kind of Platform beneath the surface just off shore. I'm taking them down!"

"Delay that," Nightwing ordered, "Wait for backup."

"I'll scrounge a rebreather from the cargo and help the rookie out," Superboy said through the link; Arley felt Lagoon Boys anger spike through the link so much so that the Lantern could practically taste it.

"Rookie," Lagoon Boy snapped, "Neptune's beard! I don't need any help from the boy of steel!"

"Lagoon boy!" Arley snapped through the link as she felt the Atlantean attack one of Black Manta's men, "You have your orders, stand down!"

"Sorry you guys are breaking up," Lagoon boy said, "Chee-keeh—"

"—There's no static on a psychic link!" Nightwing snapped, interrupting the Atlantean's fake static. Black Manta's men rushed out of the water; their guns drawn as they did so. Arley turned to Nightwing.

"We got company," Arley jerked her head in the direction of Manta's men and Nightwing turned just as the henchmen had started to shoot in their direction. Arley held her hand out to Nightwing and the Bludhaven hero took it; Arley flew down off of the scaffolding they had positioned themselves on and dropped herself and Nightwing behind the wall that encased the launch sight.

"Superboy you have that rebreather?" Nightwing asked as he and Arley pressed their backs against the wall.

"Negative," Superboy answered, "La'gaan didn't restock."

"Then take the helm," Nightwing ordered, "Miss Martian gill up and help Lagoon boy. Superboy, we need cover fire down here."

"Acknowledged," Miss Martian said, "Bio-ship reconfigured for manual flight. La'gaan, I'm on my way!"

"That's our queue!" Arley peaked over the top of the wall when she heard the bio-ships' familiar blaster fire only to be pulled back down— and out of the way of a blast Manta's men had shot their way —by Nightwing.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Dick snapped. Arley felt a piece of her mind go dark; Arley didn't need to see the Atlantean to know Lagoon Boy had been knocked out.

"No but we're on the wrong side of this wall in case you hadn't noticed," Arley replied.

Arley caught sight of a missile shooting towards the Ferris Spacecraft; Arley fired a blast of energy at the weapon and exploded it before it could touch the rocket or the astronauts inside of it. Alarms began to blare and smoke began to emit from the rocket as the catwalk that the astronauts had taken to the ship began to pull back; Arley turned to look at the Warning sign behind her and Nightwing.

"We're really on the wrong side of this wall," Arley pressed.

A second missile fired from the ocean depths and before it had even fully emerged from the water Superboy had shot it; Black Manta's henchmen's flinched at the light that had come from the exploding missile.

Arley and Nightwing peeked over the top of the wall as the alarm behind them continued to blare only to drop back down into a crouch when the henchmen had begun to fire at them once more.

"Here," Nightwing said; the former boy wonder passed Arley a small green, pinky nail sized pill. Arley knew exactly what it was the moment Dick had produced it. With a heavy heart the Lantern took it. "Keep it under your tongue until your queue."

"Right," Arley murmured as she tucked the capsule under her tongue. It felt odd.

More smoke began to billow out from the rocket's engines and Arley looked at Nightwing, "We really need to get on the other side of this wall."

"The troopers helmets are designed to enhance vision underwater right?" Nightwing asked Arley; the Lantern's lips twisted upwards— the pill shifted under her tongue as she did so —and a small, bright glowing light began to form from her ring. The ball began to grow brighter as it swelled and Arley willed the construct over the wall.

"Move!" Nightwing had ordered when he and Arley had heard the henchmen shout. Nightwing jumped over the wall and Arley flew; both their feet landed on the sandy ground but neither hero stopped to pause, both Arley and Nightwing rushed towards Black Manta's men.

Another missile shot out of the water only for Superboy to shoot it down before it got too close to the spaceship.

Nightwing jumped at three of Black Manta's men; his escrima sticks twirled in his hands as he attacked. Arley— as another missile exploded overhead —brought her fist down on the helmet of the henchmen who had tried to sneak up behind Nightwing. The front of the man's helmet shattered under Arley's fist and the Lantern brought her foot up; she kicked him hard enough in the stomach so that he went flying back, his gun clattered to the ground by Arley's feet.

A glowing green bo staff formed in Arley's hand and the Lantern brought up the staff as another of Black Manta's men rushed at her; effortlessly the twenty-one year old hero batted the henchmen away. The bo staff disappeared as one of Manta's men took aim at her and Arley fired a shot from her ring at the man. Arley did the same to another henchman; the henchman flew back and skidded across the sandy ground.

Arley ducked and rolled out of the way as one of Manta's men shot at her. Arley swiped the gun of the man's hands and side stepped the punch he had aimed at her, a bo staff once more formed in Arley's hand as she jumped behind the henchmen and the Lantern brought one end of the staff down onto the back of the man's helmet.

Arley ducked out of the way from a blast and Arley spun; from the corner of her eye she saw the henchmen she had just taken down move. Arley caught a gleam of silver in the moonlight; the henchmen brandished a knife in his hand— Arley saw Nightwing start to run towards her —and just as the henchmen swung his arm out, Arley turned. Arley's leg swung up and knocked the weapon from the henchmen's hand and then the heel of her foot knocked against the side of his helmet.

The construct in Arley's hand had disappeared and Arley— as the henchmen stumbled back —fired a blast of energy at the masked man; the man landed with a thud at Nightwings feet.

Nightwing blinked at her.

"What?" Arley caught sight of blonde hair over Nightwings shoulder and the Lantern stepped forward; Nightwing turned with her and for a second the pair of them watched Kaldur'ahm— dressed in the usual Black Manta garb all the men under the villain wore —emerge from the Cape Canaveral coast line.

"They've taken La'gaan," Miss Martian panicked through the link, "I'm going after him!"

"The priority is the missiles," Superboy told her before Nightwing or Arley could. One missile hit the scaffolding Arley and Nightwing had been on earlier that night and then a second hit the scaffolding next to it. "There's too many, I'm not keeping up."

The mind-link went down and Arley felt the pieces of her mind that had taken refuge in her teammates minds snap back to her. Arley ignored her pounding heart; something had happened to Miss Martian.

Arley shared a look with Nightwing; they hadn't planned on something happening to Miss Martian, they hadn't planned on Lagoon Boy being taken. Like all their covert missions this one was falling apart.

"Kaldur," Arley stepped up, she could feel the pill in her mouth move as she spoke, "You don't have to do this!"

"I believe I do" The water around Kaldur began to glow as he moved his water barers and the team's former leader urged the water to shoot towards Nightwing and Arley, both of whom were thrown back onto the sandy ground.

Arley and Nightwing go to their feet; the Ferris spacecraft shoot into the air with a deafening roar. Scorching, yellow clouds of smoke rolled over the top of the wall and if it weren't for the projections her mask gave her Arley doubted she would have been able to look at the spacecraft as it shot higher and higher into the air.

"Arley!" Nightwing pointed and Arley caught sight of a small missile heading straight for the ship; with a blast from her ring Arley shot at the missile and the fire coming from the Ferris Spacecrafts engines swallowed the missiles explosion.

"Arley behind you!" Arley spun and saw Kaldur— with war hammers he had formed using his water barers —beat Nightwing away. The pill had tucked under her tongue settled in her cheek as the Lantern rushed towards her teen-hood friend. Arley blocked the hit Kaldur had swung towards her and the Lantern brought her fist up, aiming for the Atlantean's solar plexus, only for the sword Kaldur had formed to hit her side.

I'll see you on the other side, Aniell said in Arley's mind. We'll meet again.

Arley bit down on the pill Nightwing had given her behind the wall and her eyes widened at the bitter taste that flooded her mouth. She could feel the part of the sword Kaldur hadn't bent around her bite into her chest.

"It's good to see you," Kaldur hissed. They had needed everything to look believable and so Arley felt a sharp part of the watery blade slice into her as her uniform began to fade. Blood dribbled down her chest; the wound wasn't deep— it was superficial —but to everyone who would look at Arley it would seem so.

"Arley!" Dick shrieked; if he hadn't been a hero Arley was sure he could have been an actor.

The corners of Arley's vision went dark and as Arley stumbled back, away from Kaldur and into Dick Grayson's arms, she willed her ring— Aniell shot off her finger and into the atmosphere —to find Wally because if there was anyone besides her fellow Corpsmen Arley would trust with Aniell it was the love of her life.

"Hang on," Dick said, he sounded far away.

Ever since Arley had been sixteen and she had found out that the Lantern rings were sentient, Arley had always imagined Aniells voice would be the last thing she heard before she died; she pictured she'd die alone on the battlefield with only her ring to see her off.

She had never pictured she'd have her head in Dick's lap as the glow of the Ferris Spaceship illuminated the sky behind him. Darkness began to overtake Arley and as she began to fade Arley thought of Wally West's smile. She had of course always knew Wally West would be her last thought; she'd see him soon enough.

"I have you." Even if it was all fake; Arley had never imagined that those would be the last words she would hear.

Kaldur, with a callousness his men had never seen before, didn't spare Nightwing or the fallen girl a second glance. The former hero pocketed his water barers as he turned his head to the side, Nightwing kept pressure on the dead Lanterns wound; the masked hero kept muttering something none of Manta's men— or Manta's son —could hear.

"Move out, our mission is a failure." But just as he spoke several booming sounds echoed through the air and the Ferris Spacecraft— the one with three astronauts aboard —exploded. Nightwing hadn't even turned to look at the explosion; Kaldur'ahms expression turned grim at the fiery sight.

"We're done here," the ex-hero said. He and his injured men turned to the water and with a glance over his shoulder and a heavy breath Kaldur'ahm led his and his father's henchmen into the depths of the Pacific ocean.

Conner Kent jumped from the bio-ship; the clone didn't stop as he stumbled from his landing.

Dick began to give the dark haired girl CPR as M'gann shot out of the water; Conner skidded on the sand so that he was next to the masked hero, his shaking hands hovered over Arley's face and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Arley," M'gann gasped, Conner let out a choking sound, one Dick knew well. It was the sound people made when Dick and the others turned up on their doorstep to tell them their friend or family member wouldn't ever be coming home again. It was the kind of sound brothers made when their sibling was gone; it had been the same sound he'd let out when Jason had died.

"I don't hear her heartbeat," Conner said rawly and M'gann dropped behind both men.

Dick's hands hovered over Arley's bloody chest, his palms were lathered in Arley's blood. Dick Grayson knew that Arley would wake up and that she would be okay but in that moment— seeing her pale and lifeless and the dark grey t-shirt she had worn under her uniform soaked with her blood —he forgot and tears gathered in the corners of his own eyes.

Because his first real friend was dead.

Wally West had already been in Bludhaven when Arley's ring had found him. The ring hadn't slipped on his finger like it had with Arley when the Lantern that had come before her had died, but instead settled in his palm.

Wally had also been in Bludhaven when Kaldur and Dick had brought Arley's still unconscious body into the warehouse they'd all agreed to meet in. Arley had always been small— she herself was just five-three; her mother had only been five feet and her father had apparently been only a little taller than that —but in a bloody shirt and Dick Graysons arms Arley looked downright tiny.

"Why is she bleeding!" Wally demanded as he stepped up and took Arley from Dicks arms Arley's ring was around the speedster's neck. The ring had run out of power and died shortly after it had landed in his palm, "You said she wouldn't get hurt!"

"She's fine but we needed it to look believable," Dick explained. Wally took two steps back and kneeled to the ground, his back was against one of the crates. Wally propped Arley up in his arms, his free hand cupped the dark haired woman's cheek.

When Bart had come from the future and called her Mrs. West— when he had casually mentioned their children —he had only reaffirmed what Wally already knew; he was going to marry Arley Gluck and though Arley was alive— Wally knew that if he pressed his ear against her chest he would hear what Conner hadn't been able to, hours before —she was in his arms pale and dead to the world and just the thought of Arley being dead made the speedster's own heart sputter in pain.

Arley's lips twisted into a frown and slowly her eyes fluttered open. Air rushed into the twenty-one year old's lung and though it hurt to breathe she smiled up at Wally.

Kaldur, who had opened his mouth to say something, turned away from Dick and looked down at Arley and Wally. His lips tipped up at the sight of his two friends; it's been months since the four of them had been in the same room without a battle raging around them.

"I told you Genius," Arley said softly, "Nothing could ever keep me away from you."

With a choked chuckle Wally pressed his lips to Arley's; the kiss was both tender and breathtaking at the same time. It was the kind of kiss that made the young Glucks heart skip a beat and her toes curl in her shoes. When they pulled away from one another Arley turned to Dick; her palm was still pressed against Wally's cheek.

"How'd it go?" Arley asked softly.

"Successful," Dick said, "Almost too successful, the team and the League are in mourning. They'll probably never forgive me for orchestrating this."

Arley's eyes flickered to the concrete ground beneath their feet. Kaldur's arms crossed over his chest. When they had agreed to take on the mission they all knew they risked the team never forgiving them and yet the thought of Conner and Artemis never smiling at Arley, or joining her in their usual booth at Warriors pained her more then any injury the young woman had ever gotten.

"And still only we four know the secret?"

"Yeah," Dick nodded. "How'd it go on your end?"

"Successful as well," Kaldur said. "I've proved my loyalty to my biological father. He is moving me up the ladder, moving me closer to the Light, and their unknown partner."

"Not without cost Kaldur," Dick said. "La'gaan definitely wasn't supposed to be captured and the com-sat wasn't supposed to be destroyed—"

"—What?" Arley's gaze snapped up. She got to her feet; Wally followed behind her and his hands rested on her hips, "What do you mean the com-sat was destroyed?" Dick's brows turned downward.

"There was an explosion," Dick said and Arley pressed her hand to her mouth; Juniper Harlow's face flashed in the forefront of her mind. Juniper's wife and children quickly followed. Arley turned to Wally and the speedster pulled her against him; Arley buried her face into the speedsters chest.

"Capturing La'gaan was the only way to save his life and maintain my cover," Kaldur said. Dick, with a sigh stepped forward.

Arley's fingers curled into fists as she tried to will Juniper Harlow's smile from her mind. The thought of Hal and Carol having to go to four funerals struck Arley over the head and Arley bit her lip as she tried to ignore the thought.

"I'm not blaming you," Dick said. Wally's hands ran up her back. "I know you've been forced to make impossible decisions; like being forced between saving the Kroloteans on Malina island—"

"—Or saving my friends. And I will find a way to save La'gaan," Kaldur swore, "You have my word."

She had a mission to do; Arley needed to get her head in the game. The Lantern slowly moved away from Wally— though not out of his arms completely; Wally's hands fell from Arley's waist and his fingers threaded through Arley's —and turned to face Kaldur and Dick.

"So what now?" Arley asked, Wally's hand tightened in hers. Dick turned with an amulet in his hands, wordlessly he wrapped the necklace around Arley's neck.

"Uh, dude?" Wally blinked, "Why are you giving bling to the dead love of my life?"

"Glamor charm courtesy of Zatanna," Dick explained dryly. "Physio-morphic spell I think. She said it backwards."

Wally moved so that he stood next to Dick, in front of Arley. The speedster nodded.

"Wow babe, you look exactly the same."

Arley couldn't help but laugh as Dick nudged the speedster with his elbow.

"To the four of us," Dick said, "And only us but to anyone else—" Dick looked at Arley, "—You're an entirely different person."

Arley nodded; she had read the file Dick had given her on her new alias. Her name was Rosalie Dembitzer, an assassin for hire who used the name Morningstar when working; perhaps in space, on different planets the term Morningstar was used hopefully, because she was there to save the day but Arley knew when Earthlings heard the word— heard the word Morningstar —they wouldn't think of a hero, but rather the Devil.

It was who she had thought of when she had first been called that at eighteen; back then Arley hadn't realized that she was being idolized— immortalized —she'd been eighteen and just walked away from one of the bloodiest battles she'd ever had to fight in, back then she thought she was being called evil.

"You know I think the most impressive trick is how you got something like this from 'Tanna without revealing who or what it was for," Arley smirked; her voice had a French accent to it, it was higher pitched as well.

"Official League business, besides, I got Constantine sent on a three month mission last week so it's not like she didn't owe me," Dick said with a sly smile.

Wally snorted. Kaldurs watch beeped, the Atlantean picked up the duffle bag Arley had packed earlier that day and held it out to her. Arley looked at her former leader,

"It's time."

Arley looked away from Kaldur and to Wally and before her arms had even lifted from her sides the redhead had wrapped her in a tight hug; Arley's feet were lifted off of the ground. Arley pressed a kiss against the speedsters lips. One hand cupped the back of Wally's neck while both of Wally's hands pressed against Arley's back, pressing her closer to him.

Love; Arley and Wally were both trying to pour the reminder of how much they loved the other into the kiss. When they pulled away, both gulping for air, Wally's emerald green eyes were wet. Arley fingered the chain around Wally's neck and she pulled on it so that her ring had popped up over the collar of his shirt.

"Take care of Aniell for me, okay Handsome?" Arley requested rhetorically. "I'm going to need her back after this."

"Of course," Wally said, he smiled slightly, "Though I do have to say, whenever I've pictured you giving me a ring, I never actually imagined having to give it back-I always thought you'd just get a ring of your own, you know."

Arley's mouth dropped open at the confession and Wally pressed his forehead to Arley's. Arley's eyes fluttered closed at the contact.

"Come back to me, okay babe?" Wally told her, "I can't lose you."

"Never Wally, never," Arley swore. "I love you Wally West-and nothing, not even the Guardians themselves could keep me from you, do you understand?"

Wally dipped his head forward and pressed another kiss to Arley's lips. When they pulled away Wally's lips hovered over Arley's and the young woman smiled at him.

"Maybe—" Arley licked her lips, "—Maybe when this is all over you can tell me about all those times you pictured giving me other rings?"

Arley felt Wally smile and Dick stepped up and put a hand on Wally's shoulder; "She needs to change Wally. We need to go."

And for a second Wally's grip on Arley tightened almost painfully; almost as if he wasn't going to let her go, but Wally nodded and pressed a peck to Arley's lips.

"I love you Glowstick," Wally said.

"Love you more Handsome," Arley said with a ball in her throat. Slowly Wally followed after Dick, though the speedster paused as he passed Kaldur. Wally put his hand on Kaldur's shoulder,

"You'll watch her back?" Kaldur put his hand on top of Wally's, a small smile took over the Atlantean's lips.

"Of course," Kaldur swore without any hesitation.

Wally, with a nod, peaked over his shoulder and flashed a sad, heartbreaking smile in Arley's direction. Wally's hand fell from Kaldur's shoulder and the speedster trudged after Dick; Kaldur turned away from Arley as she crouched to open the duffle bag the Atlantean had placed between them. A yellow and black uniform and a mask that would cover over half her face was what greeted the Lantern when she opened up the bag.

Arley didn't bother to hesitate before she stripped her bloody shirt; slowly, the wake of Arley Gluck's death, Rosalie Dembitzer came to life.