Return Chapter 13
"Took you long enough, what'd you two go do go make out in the closet?" Tim asked as Dick and Artemis stepped into the dining room. The statement completely shocked Artemis, she was used to Tim at the cave, as Robin he's much more serious and hardly ever cracks jokes unless he's with Cassie or Barry.
"Ha ha just because you caught me in the closet with Zatanna one time does not mean you can bring it up all the time. Remember I have a lot of dirt on you too little brother" Dick said with a smirk.
Tim immediately stopped teasing Dick "It's nice to see you outside of the cave for once Artemis" Tim said smiling at her.
"I'd like to say the same but it's weird seeing you in civies, I'm used to the costume and covered eyes" Artemis said as she and Dick took their seats at the table.
Tim shrugged "You know how old man Bat's is, he's crazy about the secret identity thing" he said with a smirk.
Bruce rolled his eyes "I'm pretty sure Cassie wouldn't like it if hundreds of teenage girls showed up at our house wanting to have sex with you every day" Bruce said with a smile as a joke. Shocking Artemis even more with the fact that Bruce Wayne also known as Batman knew how to crack a joke.
Tim laughed "She wouldn't but I would".
"Alright that's enough of that. Let's have a peaceful meal and get to know Damian" Silena said.
"And when have we ever had one of those?" Dick asked with a grin as he helped Artemis into her chair.
Silena rolled her eyes "Sarcasm is still your favorite go to response I see".
"You know you love it" Dick said throwing a wink at Silena as he sat down.
"Is it always like this?" Damian asked Artemis.
Artemis shrugged "Were in the same boat kid, this is my first Wayne/Bat family dinner as well".
"It's always like this, trust me I've been around enough to know it is always this way" Barbara said as Alfred brought in the dinner.
"Oh come on Babs our family dinners are always entertaining" Tim said as he loaded is plate with food.
"Yeah if you count and Dick and Jason arguing over everything and almost always ending up in a food fight that resulted in all of you grounded" Barbara said.
Dick laughed "Yeah those were a lot of fun".
"Not unless you get mashed potatoes in your hair, it took me forever to get that crap out of my hair" Barbara said.
"Wait so if we end up in an argument we'll have a food fight" Damian asked with a grin on his face.
"We most diffidently won't be having a food fight tonight Damian" Silena said smiling at the little boy.
"So Dick tell us why exactly you've decided to grace us with your presence for the first time in a year?" Tim asked, Artemis would think he was seriously upset if it wasn't for the smile on his face.
Dick looked down at his plate obviously not liking how the conversation had taken a turn towards him. Artemis didn't say anything as she set her hand on his leg trying her best to give him comfort. "While I was away I missed you guys like crazy, and when it started getting closer to the anniversary of everything I realized that I needed to go home and be with the people who meant the most to me. I had been outside of Star City working undercover when I was discovered, I received a stab wound, a dislocated shoulder, and a popped out of place knee cap during the fight. It took me two days to get to Artemis' apartment since I could only travel at night".
"Of course the idiot decided to break into my apartment instead of calling me or knocking on my door, so I shot him in the shoulder with an arrow and round house kicked him in the chest sending him crashing onto my glass coffee table" Artemis said with a grin.
Tim laughed "God I would have loved to see that. You always were the only one who could kick Dick's ass".
"Why don't you try getting an arrow in your already dislocated shoulder and see if it's funny" Dick said frowning.
"It was pretty funny babe" Artemis said laughing.
"Alright let's get to the important stuff, how the hell did you two get together?" Barbara asked.
"Yes I'm interested in knowing that as well" Bruce said grinning.
"That's easy she couldn't resist my amazing charms" Dick said with a smirk.
Artemis rolled her eyes "It diffidently wasn't that, I was helping Dick with his training, when things got a little heated I guess you could say. We decided that Wally would want us to be happy, and we make each other happy. Both of us will always care about Wally in our own way but we have to move on and be happy".
"What do you mean by a little heated?" Damian asked innocently.
"Oh uhh, they were having an argument, that's all" Bruce said quickly.
Tim snorted, as Barbara giggled, Dick and Artemis both blushing slightly.
"Well I think you two are amazing together, I'm happy for you guys" Barbara said smiling.
"Thanks Babs" Dick said smiling at his friend.
"I think that all of us are happy for you two. I agree that both of you deserve to be happy. It's nice to see smile's on your faces again" Bruce said smiling at his oldest son.
Dick smiled "Thanks Bruce".
"Alright who wants desert?" Alfred asked.
"I do. Alfred made my favorite. Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream" Damian said slightly bouncing in his seat.
Artemis laughed leaning over to whisper in his ear "That's my favorite desert too".
Damian's eyes widened "Really?" he asked.
Artemis nodded her head "Really".
"That's so cool" Damian said.
Dick smiled at the small interaction; Artemis seemed to be the only one who could get Damian out of his shell. For someone who normally seemed so cold she really was great with kids.
"You're really good with him" Dick said into her ear wrapping her arm over her shoulder.
"You will be too once you get to know him" Artemis whispered back.
"Okay if you two don't stop making googily eyes at each other I'm going to throw up" Tim said.
Artemis just rolled her eyes "Like you and Cassie don't make googily eyes at each other when were at the cave".
Tim blushed as Dick and Barbara laughed. After desert Dick went to Bruce's office to finish talking about a couple work things. So Tim, Barbara, Damian, Artemis and Silena went into the living room.
"I know you're staying with Dick and Artemis tonight but don't forget you have training with the team in the morning Tim" Silena said.
Artemis groaned "I totally forgot about that, and it's at like seven in the morning".
"I hate morning workouts, I honestly think Black Canary never sleeps" Barbara said.
"Who's Black Canary?" Damian asked.
"She's our hand to hand combat instructor and she's the leader of the Justice League" Artemis said.
"Is she the one dating Green Arrow, your old mentor?" Damian asked.
Artemis nodded her head "Yes she is, and Green Arrow is still my mentor but as Tigress now, not Artemis the hero. Green Arrow has always been more than a mentor to me".
"Like a father figure since yours was never really around except to train you to be in the League of Shadows?" Damian asked.
Artemis laughed ruffling his hair "Yes Damian, for a six year old your way to smart, you'll fit right in at Gotham Academy".
Damian frowned "That place is going to make me wear a tie, I hate ties".
"At least it's better than a skirt with horrible stockings" Barbara said "Those uniforms are horrible".
"There was only one good thing about those uniforms" Artemis said wiggling her eyebrows.
Barbara laughed nodding her head "Yes that was diffidently the only good thing, for us and the boys".
"Yes hideous school uniforms and teenage boys, always a good time" Silena said winking.
"Oh someone's got some good stories to tell" Artemis said.
Silena laughed "Trust me I do, but I don't think we should be talking about them in front of Damian let alone Tim. But we could have a girls day, and we'll diffidently share then".
"That would be perfect, I haven't had a day to relax in forever" Barbara said.
Damian shook his head "I'm have no idea what's going on right now".
Tim snorted "Trust me you don't want to know".
"Oh and what is it exactly that your thinking about over there Timmy?" Barbara asked.
Tim blushed "Nothing" he said quickly.
"Are you sure it isn't Cassie in a Gotham Academy uniform?" Barbara asked with a smirk.
Tim's cheeks turned a brighter shade of red as he stuttered out a no.
"Oh what's got Timmy boy in a state of embarrassment?" Dick asked as he walked into the room.
Artemis smiled up at him "He's thinking about Cassie being in a Gotham Academy uniform".
Dick laughed flopping onto the couch next to Artemis "Don't worry Tim I used to have to see the girl of my dreams in it every day, trust me it's a lot worse".
"Eww you were having dirty thoughts about me in high school?" Artemis said pretending to be grossed out, when really she was slightly flattered.
Dick shrugged grinning "I was a teenage boy what'd you expect".
"Okay I'm really confused, can someone please explain to me what's happening?" Damian said with an annoyed expression on his face.
"You're a little young to understand what's going on, but trust me you'll understand in a couple of years. Hey I've got an idea, what do you have going on tomorrow Damian?" Dick asked.
Damian shrugged "Nothing, I don't start school until next week".
"Well I say we hang out, I'll show you around Gotham while Artemis and Tim are at training" Dick said trying to find ways to get to know the kid who was now his younger brother.
"Okay sure" Damian said nodding his head.
Dick smiled turning his head to look at Artemis who was smiling at him "Good job babe" she mouthed at him.
"Thanks" he mouthed wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her into his side kissing the side of her head.
"Well I'm going to call it a night; I'll see you two at training tomorrow. Damian it was nice meeting you, I hope we get to hang out again soon" Barbara said standing up.
"I'll walk you out" Silena said standing up after everyone said their good byes.
"So you ready to head out Tim?" Artemis asked.
Tim nodded his head "Yeah just let me get my bag" Tim said standing up and leaving the room.
"I'll pick you up in the morning after breakfast Damian, sound like a plan little dude?" Dick asked.
Damian nodded his head "Yeah it sounds good".
"Come on Damian I'll help you get ready for bed" Bruce said from the doorway.
"I'll see you later Damian, maybe we can all do lunch after training" Artemis said smiling at the younger boy.
"I'd like that Artemis. Good night Dick, good night Artemis" Damian said following Bruce out of the room.
"Night Damian" they both called after him.
"That was really sweet what you did making plans to get to know Damian" Artemis said as they waited for Tim to come back.
"I was open to Bruce adopting Jason and Tim and I spent a lot of time with them, just because he's actually Bruce's son doesn't mean I'm going to ignore him. Besides he seems like a good kid underneath the hostility, he seems to really like you though" Dick said.
Artemis shrugged "What can I say Wayne boys love me".
Dick laughed "That they do Artemis Crock" he said pulling her into his chest to kiss her.
"Okay gross, are you guys ready to go?" Tim said coming into the room with a duffle bag over his shoulder.
"Yeah let's get going, it's a long drive" Dick said.
"So is it alright if I have Cassie meets us at your apartment?" Tim asked as they climbed into the car.
"Sure but there will be no underage sex in my house" Dick said trying to hide the grin on his face.
"Jesus Dick just because you're a sex addict doesn't mean I am too" Tim said.
"Sex addict, something you want to tell my boyfriend?" Artemis asked.
"He's just being a trouble maker. Look I don't care if Cassie comes over just be responsible, and don't let Wonder Woman know either I prefer not having that conversation with her" Dick said.
"Sweet, so I'm not going to be hearing any noises tonight that a younger brother shouldn't right?" Tim asked.
"Probably" "No" Dick and Artemis said at the same time.
Artemis glared at Dick "Trust me you won't" she said as they pulled into the parking garage.
"Okay good. Cassie's upstairs so I'll meet you go guys up there" Tim said running towards the elevator.
"Dick and Artemis slowly followed behind him "He really likes her doesn't he?" Dick asked.
"They've been together over a year, I think their getting pretty serious" Artemis said.
"It's kind of sad that my younger brother has been in a longer relationship than I have in my entire life" Dick said as they stepped into the elevator.
"Are you serious?" Artemis asked.
"Yup. But I'm kind of hoping you could break that streak" Dick said looking at his feet.
Artemis smiled wrapping her arms around his waist and making him look at her "I would love to be the person who breaks that streak Dick, I really care about you Dick".
"I care about you to Artemis, I always have" Dick said softly.
"Come on let's get inside so we can scare your brother" Artemis said dragging him out of the elevator.
"Hey Cassie, make yourself at home. See you in the morning" Dick yelled as Artemis dragged his upstairs.
"Uh what just happened?" Cassie asked.
Tim shook his head "I have no idea, but I think we should probably sleep with ear plugs in".
Cassie just laughed at her boyfriend following him through his brothers expensive pent house to the guest bedroom.