Thank you so much for reviewing the previous chapter! I have decided to continue, and hope this 'floats your boat.'

I do not own YJ.

Please enjoy, and review if you get the chance! :3

They sat in the sun soaked meadow. Wally brushed her hair as she leant against his shoulder, fixating on the windswept trees only metres in front of them. She shuddered slightly, as a gentle breeze played with the hair he held, and wrapped her golden arms around her legs, rocking slightly on her elevated soles. A sudden relief and lightness of her hair alerted that Wally had gotten bored. She gazed at him from the corner of her eye, a sly smirk forming on her lips- he was lost in his thoughts, though he was seemingly watching the cotton candy clouds above them.

Artemis grabbed his freckled fingers, intertwining them with her own. She 'watched' the bright sky too. Wally tuned to look at her, but lost himself in the blue reflection in her usually stormy eyes. He cleared his throat, and his stare trailed down her face, and towards her stomach area. His green eyes set on the small baby bump that she barely hid with her stretchy exercise clothing. For the fourteenth time that day, he sighed and smiled, "I'm gonna be a dad." Artemis nodded, hardly paying attention to him. She slowly drew her hand away from his, to rub her sun-baked arm. "I'm thinking old-fashioned names, you know." She stated, still not looking at him.

Wally stretched slightly, snaking his arm around her shoulder, "What, like Doreen? Myrtle?" Artemis snorted and pushed his arm away, raising herself up slightly, "Wally. Seriously? Not that there's anything wrong with those...names, but...c'mon."

Wally rubbed the back of his head and scrunched up his nose, "So, like Margaret and Josephine?" Artemis smiled, nodding slightly, "But who's to say I'm expecting a girl?"

"We're expecting." Wally blurted, blushing slightly. Artemis threw her head back, letting out a hearty laugh. The red-head regained composure, and sat up promptly, staring at his wife again, "We'll think of names soon enough, for now let's enjoy this."

Artemis arched her brow, "What, exactly?"

Wally grinned. He knew Artemis knew the answer. His father had passed away only months before, and some horrible part of Wally thought the same would happen to the love of his life. He wanted to be selfish, and have her all to himself, and though he knew that wouldn't occur, he at least wanted to hold onto her while she wasn't working, or learning or fighting.

"I guess I was right...to hold on." Wally slid down the wall, planting himself on the dirty street corner. He had no idea why that memory had flooded into his mind, but it had put things into perspective. It had been seven long and painful years, but he knew he hadn't let her go...and maybe that was why he felt so awful. Maybe everyone was right, maybe he did need to forget and move on.

He'd kept his promise to his mother, of course, last year he had told Irey pretty much everything- he'd explained that the bed time stories he told, were actually real events. In addition, he had removed boxes of Artemis' photographs from the attic, and had shared them with friends and his daughter. His mother was furious- she said it was holding him back.

Been the Wally he was, he chose to prove her wrong. That weekend, he found himself a date, went out and enjoyed a quiet meal at a semi-fantastic restaurant. He had refrained from eating his plate when he was done, he had made a lasting, good impression...and after a few more get-togethers with his new partner, she called it off.

Wally was kinda happy; more time with Irey, teaching her to ride her bike and swim, less time fretting over what to do to make another great notion. It was great, the breakup opened new doors, new opportunities flooded in- he was free again, he could do as he pleased! At least...that's what he told himself, and he was terrible at lying. The breakup just brought up more Artemis, and his guilt began consuming him. He felt like her had betrayed her, cheated on her by even been in the same room as another reasonably attractive woman.

Everyone thought he was stupid, and though another year had passed without any more women, his mother and friends still hadn't got the memo- he didn't want to look for anyone else. He hoped one of his old friends would understand, give him some lasting advice.

He knew he was always welcome, in the warm, inviting manor, owned by Richard Grayson.

Wally couldn't have been more incorrect. He sat on the slab of pavement, cursing under his breath as he watched fat splotches of water land near him. He shook himself off, and began to stand- he would have to go home anyway, and without even thinking about his choice, he decided that moment was perfect timing. The walk gave him time to let his hate for Dick sink in. He gritted his teeth, and put his raw with cold hands into the worn pockets of his coat.

He knocked once- the brass door knocker didn't entice him. He ignored the throbbing pain in his hand, from knocking on hard oak wood with gusto, and waited patiently, wrapping his scarf slightly over his mouth, trying to ignore the numbing cold.

The door swung open after a few long moments, and to no-one's surprise, a Butler stood in the spot his friend should have occupied. Wally introduced himself, and 'Francis' went to fetch 'Master Grayson'. In no time at all, he was face to face with a locked-jawed, grimacing business man. Wally acted oblivious, smiling warmly. He noticed the corners of Dick's mouth turning up; at least the guy still knew how to show emotion.

After that, everything happened in a flurry. Dick frowned, "What do you want?" His tone was unpleasant, and brash. A woman appeared behind him; Zatanna. She looked worn-out, and scruffy- though she was upholding her image with dangling earrings and a face plastered in makeup. Her clothing was lavish, but the look of bewilderment didn't look good on her. It was as if she had no idea who he was.

Wally felt a sharp pain in his chest. Dick has Zatanna. I have no one. Lucky stiff...He wiped the thought out of his head. He knew he was just been immature...but he had no idea how juvenile Dick could really be. The raven haired man motioned for Wally to get out, and with a shove, Wally was back outside the manor house, dejected and rejected.

He didn't even know why.

Wally snarled; he hated getting lost in his thoughts, but he had done it again. Luckily, he had walked from Dick's house, to his own, so many times in the past the action had become automatic. He stood in front of a sad-looking terrace house. Its flaking paint and cobweb covered features made it look abandoned. The boarded up window to the left didn't make things any better. Bricks were thrown around the front garden, in messy, broken chunks. A light orange power had sprinkled the leaves of the small willow, concealing the right of the home. Grass was knee-high, the path that had once led to the slightly un-hinged front door nowhere to be seen. Wally sighed, "Better mow the lawn sometime next week..." It hardly looked like it belonged to someone who could have done that very thing in a minute.

Wally's attention was grabbed by a knocking on the top floor window. It was so dirty, that only a small outline could be seen, waving frantically and yet Wally knew full well it was his enchanting offspring, named for her aunt. Wally re-arranged his features, so he looked happy, and waved back with passion. It was tough, keeping up the façade, but he would give himself up...he would sell his soul, any day, for his daughter.

Hope you enjoyed. The story will be set around that period from now on. Irey will be seven for a large part of the story.

Please review!

-fish