Return Chapter 14

The next morning Dick lay in bed watching as Artemis walked through the room in her bra and underwear looking for her costume, weapons, and her normal training outfit. After finding everything, stuffing it in her duffle bag and getting dressed. Artemis turned towards the bed seeing that Dick had been awake the whole time and had been watching her.

"Instead of watching me like a creeper you could have helped me find everything" Artemis said walking towards the bed.

Dick smiled "But that wouldn't be any fun for me, I was enjoying the view.

Artemis rolled her eyes setting her hands on her hips as she stood next to the bed looking down at Dick "Of course you did you creeper".

Dick playfully pouted "That hurts, you wound me Artemis Crock. And now you have to pay" he said before sitting up quickly and wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her down onto the bed making her make a very unusual squeal sound as she landed on the bed.

Dick laughed "Did tough, bad ass Artemis Crock just squeal?"

Artemis glared at him hitting his chest "No I did not and if you tell anyone I'll restrain sex from you for a week".

Dick sat up on his knees raising his hands in surrender "Alright I swear I won't tell anyone" he said with a smirk.

"I mean it Grayson" she said pointing her finger at him.

"Alright, alright I won't say anything I swear" Dick said lowering himself to hover over her. As he lightly kissed her jaw and neck he spoke "I like it when you show your softer side every now and then. Like that time Karion made it so that kids and adults were in different dimensions and you comforted all those kids, I think you amazed everyone that day".

Artemis laughed "I shocked myself that day".

"You truly are an amazing person" Dick said moving his head to look her in the eye "Probably the strongest person I've ever meet".

Artemis smiled "Are trying to sweat talk me into having sex before training?"

Dick smirked "Maybe I am. Is it working?"

Artemis laughed, in one quick movement she flipped both of them over so that she was now straddling his waist "It's working Grayson, you've got thirty minutes to pull it off, you think you can do that boy wonder?"

Dick narrowed his eyes gripping the back of her neck "I can diffidently do that" he said pulling her down into a rough passionate kiss.

Line Break

"We really need to get going, training starts in twenty minutes, where's Artemis?" Cassie asked as she put her plate in the kitchen sink.

"Probably having sex with my brother for like the fifth time" Tim muttered "I'll go upstairs and tell her we need to get going" he said standing up "But if I see anything I shouldn't I'm blaming you".

Cassie laughed kissing him lightly "You'll be fine, just keep your eyes closed".

Tim smiled pulling her into a deeper kiss before moving up the stairs towards his older brother's room where he hoped to god he didn't see anything he shouldn't be.

Knocking on the door he shouted at them "Artemis we really need to get going, training starts in fifteen minutes".

Hearing someone walking towards the door Tim immediately closed his eyes "You can open your eyes Tim, I'm ready to go, I was just getting ready to come downstairs" Artemis said smiling at the teenager who was paler then normal with eyes shut tight.

Slowly opening his eyes he sighed in relief when he saw everyone had clothes on, including Dick who was pulling his shirt over his head. "You alright Tim you look a little pale?" Dick asked with a smirk.

Tim glared at him "Just hurry up I'm not going to be yelled at because you two can't keep your hands off each other" he said heading back down the stairs.

Dick wrapped his arm around Artemis' waist "He's right I can't keep my hands off you".

Artemis smiled "I've noticed, when are you going to go pick up Damian?"

"I'm gonna shower and get something to eat first so probably in an hour or so, you still want to meet up for lunch after training?" Dick asked as they walked down the stairs.

"Yeah who knows how long training will go but I'll text you when it's over to see where you two are at" Artemis said as they stopped in front of the door.

Dick smiled at her "Sounds good babe I'll see you in a couple hours then" he said bending down to kiss her on the lips.

"Ugh come on, do you two really have to do that right here?" Tim said a look of disgust on his face.

Dick smirked "Yes I do, close your eyes if you don't like it" he said wrapping his arm around Artemis' body setting his hand on her lower back. Whispering in her ear Dick spoke "Convince Canary to let Tim be your partner today so you can kick his ass for me".

Artemis smirked "If you'd come with me you could do it yourself" she said giving him a pointed look.

Dick shrugged "You really think going with my shoulder is a smart idea?"

Artemis rolled her eyes "Your right, but you can't milk it forever Grayson. We really should get going though, I'll see you in a couple of hour's babe" she said kissing him lightly on the lips.

Dick smiled "Okay see you later" he said opening the door. "See you later Timmy-Boy" he called after them. Making Tim scowl at him and flip him off, only causing Dick to laugh as he shut the door.

Line Break

Artemis stood in the training room leaning against the wall as she watched Cassie and Connor fight one another.

"Dick say no to coming today?" Barbara asked quietly as she leaned up against the wall next to Artemis.

Artemis shook her head "No, I think he's scared of facing everyone again after leaving the team like he did".

"Yeah that's what I thought to, I don't know how to help him anymore, and it's driving me insane" Barbara said.

"I think he has to try and help himself on this, I know that I've somehow managed to help him, but I think with this he has to do it on his own" Artemis said softly.

Barbara nodded "Yeah that makes since, I just hate knowing I can't help my best friend that I haven't been able to in a year".

"I know, I think it's been tough on everyone, this past year has been something else" Artemis said shaking her head.

"I'm really happy that you and Dick have gotten so close, he's needed you" Barbara said with a smile. But before Artemis could respond Canary called Barbara to partner with Lagaan, smiling at her Barbara walked towards the mat leaving Artemis to her own thoughts.

Artemis knew how Dick felt about her, and that she was slowly changing him, putting him back together in a way. But she didn't realize he was slowly changing her, or more making her old self re-appear. She knew she hadn't been the same since Wally died but Dick was slowly starting to put her back to herself, she was actually happy again. Even though part of her felt weird for dating her dead boyfriend's best friend, she knew Wally would be happy for them, because the two people he cared about the most were happy again. Smiling Artemis stepped away from the wall when Canary called her to train with Robin.

"What's with the goofy smile?" Robin asked as they stepped onto the mat.

"You sure you really want to know junior" Artemis said with a wink.

Robin's grin fell "Ewe, no I do not want to know" he said before getting into a fighting stance.

Artemis smirked getting a stance as well. Robin made the first move, going for her legs, but she quickly dodged it hitting him once in the ribs before he rounded on her with a round house kick to the chin. Quickly getting her footing back Artemis charged back, acting like she was going to tackle him she jumped in the air instead wrapping her legs around his neck she pulled all of her weight towards the ground pulling both of them down, ignoring the loud crack from her back she quickly rolled them over straddling his stomach using her feet to keep his hands on the ground by his side. Artemis smirked as the computer announced her as the winner.

Getting off of the teenager Artemis offered her hand helping him up "Where'd you learn that?" he asked with a slight blush on his cheeks.

Artemis smiled "Your brother, he pulled that on me a long time ago".

Robin cringed "I don't think I needed to know that either".

Artemis rolled her eyes "Get your head out of the gutter he was like fourteen when he did it, it was extremely awkward though".

Robin laughed "I can imagine so".

"Alright everyone, you did really well today at training, so I've decided to let you out early. Go out and have some fun while you can" Black Canary said.

"The underling is that she has a hot date with Green Arrow tonight" Artemis said under her breath making Robin snort in laughter.

"I should get going, you wanna join me?" Artemis asked Robin as she picked up her duffle bag.

Robin shook his head "I've got plans with Cassie, tell Dick I'll call him tonight" he said grabbing his stuff and leaving the training room.

Artemis sighed knowing she needed to follow after him, grabbing her bag she quickly followed him towards his bedroom. Knocking on the door she called out "Open the door Tim".

"What do you want Artemis your supposed to meeting with Dick and the actual Wayne son" Tim said opening the door. Artemis rolled her eyes pushing him into the bedroom and shutting the door behind her.

"I know your upset about Damian suddenly showing up, but just because he's Bruce's flesh and blood doesn't mean he'd going to love you any less. You know Bruce loves you, Dick and Jason like you're his own son's, Damian isn't going to change that. Dick isn't going to choose favorites he never did with you and Jason, and he isn't going to do that now. Give Damian a chance, he's a little rough around the edges but so am I and you still love me" She said nudging his shoulder.

Tim smiled "I wouldn't say love but more like fondness. I know it's stupid of me to be jealous of Damian, but I can't help it".

"It's okay to feel that way, look if you ever want to talk I'm here for you, and so is Dick, don't forget that oaky?" Artemis said seriously.

Tim nodded his head "Yeah I know, thanks Artemis".

Artemis smiled "Anytime kid, I'll see you later. I'm starving" she said leaving the room and heading towards the zeta tubes.

Line Break

Artemis meet Dick and Damian at a pizza place where Damian was currently playing one of the video games, and Dick sat at a table holding his head up with his hand. He looked like he had just ran a mile and was ready to pass out, but when he saw step inside the restaurant his face lit up and a large smile appeared on his face.

Standing up he pulled her into a hug "God am I glad to see you" he said before lightly kissing her.

Artemis laughed taking the seat next to him at the table "Rough day?" she asked.

Dick groaned "I don't think I'm capable of taking care of a kid, like seriously the kid doesn't run out of energy, constantly going. We went to the arcade mall played some games won some toys, I was getting us some more tickets and he was supposed to be at the whack a mole game, but when I went back he wasn't there".

"Wait a minute you lost him?" Artemis hissed.

Dick smiled sheepishly "Only for like ten minutes, I was frantically searching everywhere, then I heard yelling and went towards it, I found him standing on top of the counter demanding that the arcade guy give him the race car, he was threatening to choke him. I had to pay the guy a hundred bucks in order for him to keep his mouth shut about everything".

Artemis punched his arm "I cannot believe you lost your little brother" she hissed at him.

"Ow, it was an accident, and I found him eventually" Dick said rubbing his arm.

"Yeah trying to kill the guy who works at the arcade" Artemis laughed shaking her head "I cannot believe you Grayson".

"I'm sorry it was an accident, I already feel really bad about it" Dick said setting his hand on her leg.

"Alright one large combination pizza and one mini cheese pizza" the waiter said setting it on the table.

Artemis smiled at him "Thank you".

"Damian pizza's ready" Dick called to him.

Damian turned towards them smiling when he saw Artemis "Hello Artemis".

Artemis smiled at him as he sat down next to her "How was your day with Dick?"

"It was good; I won a race car and a bunch of candy. I also threatened the stupid guy behind the counter because he wouldn't give me the race car" Damian said like it was no big deal as he ate his pizza.

Artemis shook her head "Well it sounds like you had quite a day kid".

Damian nodded his head "It was fun, thanks Dick".

Dick smiled "Anytime little man" he said wrapping his arm around Artemis shoulder and kissing her temple before picking up a slice of pizza.