Hey guys! Long time no see!

I want to sincerely apologize for not posting anything sooner. I kind of even forgot about this story for a few months. But I'm back now, and I promise I'll try and keep up with posts.

So, before I've actually posted this. I went back and updated all the other chapters. Some probably weren't even updated in the document.. but I updated the chapters anyway, since I couldn't really remember which chapters I improved. But I did improve a few of them.

They're not... Over the top, extremely noticeable improvements, but they're improvements. Although, Chapter Eight got a major improvement; two paragraphs of completely new content, so you can go check that out.

Again, so sorry for not updating sooner. But I really appreciate that you guys enjoy this story.

Now, with that said, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I mean really enjoy it. *mischievous grin*

Chapter Eighteen: Admittance

Gotham City

November 9, 15:00 EST (3:00 PM EST)

Gabrielle stood in a cemetery, staring at a set of gravestones.

She placed roses in front of each, and continued to stare. "Is this why he's such a jerk?"

Gabrielle was caught off guard when two people walked up behind her, and spoke. She jumped and quickly turned around.

One was a black haired man dressed in a suit, and the other was a kid about 13 or 14. She glanced at the both of them, none of them speaking.

After a few minutes Gabrielle cleared her throat. "Hi…"

"May I ask what exactly it is you're doing here?" The man replied.

Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder at the gravestones behind her. "Paying my respects I guess. I was also waiting."

The teen spoke now. "Waiting?"

Gabrielle turned back toward the man. "For him…"

Before either could speak, Gabrielle continued. "I wanted to thank you, for helping with my parent's funeral."

He was ready to reply when Gabrielle cut him off again. "I just don't understand one thing."

"What's that?" The teen questioned.

Gabrielle crossed her arms. "Why does Bruce Wayne, out of all people, pay for the funeral of a couple he probably has never met before?"

Bruce sighed. "Did you figure it out? Or did Clark tell you?"

"I kind of figured it out. But this does explain all the pricey gadgets."

The three stood in silence before Gabrielle began to walk away. "I should get home. I'll see you at Wally's party, bird boy."

Happy Harbor

November 10, 12:00 EST

Gabrielle lay on the couch in her apartment, happily sleeping, enjoying the quiet while Natalia was in Star City, having been left with the rest of the family since the fifth, when suddenly Roy walked into the apartment, carrying a bag of take-out.

He glanced at the couch and shook his head, as he shut the apartment door, placing the bag on the table in front of the couch. He crouched down next to it and smiled as he petted her hair.

She groggily moaned as she rolled over, and sleepily opened her eyes. He chuckled and smiled at her. "Why do you insist on sleeping on the couch?"

"Because, if I didn't, then you would have to."

"Careful, Anderson, you might start sounding like you care about me."

"Can it, Harper, it's just called being nice."

He smirked and stood up. "Come on, sit up. I brought lunch."

Gabrielle moaned as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What did you get?"

"Your favorite, chicken Lo Mein."

Gabrielle beamed. "How did you know?"

"You only mention it every time I ask what you want for dinner."

Gabrielle chuckled slightly. "Oh right, my bad."

Roy sat down next to her, and smiled as he pulled the containers out and they began to eat.

Once they had finished Gabrielle turned to Roy with a slight smile. "Thanks for lunch. It's… Been nice, having you around. I really got worried back on the fifth."

Roy smirked. "Why? Are you saying that you care about me?"

Gabrielle pushed him. "No! I was worried I'd have to find someone else to babysit Natalia!"

Roy chuckled. "Oh you can't pull that with me. Ever since the fifth you've been nice to me. You've even started blushing."

Gabrielle blushed slightly. "I have not!"

"Oh really? Then why are your cheeks pink right now?"

"They are not!" Gabrielle pushed him again. "And let's not forget, you're the one who freaking hugged me back on the fifth."

Roy leaned in closer. "Well I was worried about you."

"Y-you were…? Really?"

"Of course I was. I couldn't let you do anything stupid without me there to save your sorry butt."

Gabrielle hit him with her pillow and he laughed, blocking the attacks with his arm for the first five swings, before disarming her and grabbing her waist, pulling her close, which caused her to blush even more.

Gabrielle, attempting to regain herself, cleared her throat. "I'll have you know I can handle myself just fine."

He smirked as he leaned closer. "When will you just admit it?"

"Ad-Admit what?" She blushed an even deeper shade of red.

"That you like me."

"Of course I don't! Why would you even think that?!"

"Because, your face is as red as a tomato."

"I-it is?"

Roy nodded, smiling. "But I don't mind." He whispered. "Because I like you too."

Gabrielle bit her lip for a moment before speaking. "Just… Figuratively… If I did admit I liked you, which I'm not saying I do. What would you say?"

"I'd say nothing. I'd just do this."

Roy leaned in further, tilting his head to the side as he closed his eyes. Gabrielle blushed further and hesitated before leaning closer to Roy, closing her own eyes. Their lips barely touching before the phone rang throughout the apartment.

Roy released his hold on Gabrielle's waist, muttering swears, as she scooted away, blushing heavily as she answered the phone. "Hello? Oh hey Natalia, what's up? No way! You found a starfish?"

Roy watched from the couch as Gabrielle talked to the toddler with an excited tone, running a hand through his hair, before throwing away the empty containers, and heading to his guest bedroom.

Once there, he stared at himself in the mirror, placed on the wall over the dresser, and sighed once more, recalling how close he had just been to Gabrielle. But then he began to smile, realizing that Gabrielle did like him too.

Happy Harbor

November 11, 8:16 EST

Gabrielle finished pulling on her snow boots, before donning her fur lined jacket. She glanced out the window again and smiled a little as she watched the snow fall.

"I bet Natalia's having a blast in Star City, It's probably warm there." Gabrielle turned and stared at Roy as he stared out the window, from across the room.

"Why are you so sour today?"

"It's snowing, and you're going off somewhere."

"I'm going to the cave. It's Wally's sixteenth birthday, we're throwing a party at the cave. Sixteen's a special birthday."

"What'd you do for your sixteenth?"

"Well first I begged my dad to let me try for my license, passed the test, by the way, and then my brothers and uncle flew in and we had a big party in the back yard. My mom cooked everything, it was just awesome." Roy smiled slightly, shaking his head. "What?"

"Nothing, Gabrielle, nothing." He stared at her. "Why do you have to leave now?"

"I promised I'd help set up the party. Why are you being so whiny? It's not like we're dating. We've never even kissed."

"Almost did."

"Almost." Roy stared at her blankly with his arms crossed. "You can always come to the party, ya'know."

"No thanks."

"Then sit here all day and pout. See if I care." Gabrielle threw her hood up, and grabbed her house keys. "I'll see you when I get back." She walked out the door, firmly shutting it behind her.

Mount Justice

November 11, 16:05 EST (4:05 PM EST)

"When is he going to get here?" Gabrielle whispered. "I'm about ready to start eating his bloody cake!"

"Shush! I think he's coming!" Robin quickly whispered.

Wally walked into the darkened lounge, appearing to be talking to himself, when the lights are suddenly thrown on and everyone yells 'surprise!'

Wally holds his hands up to his chest and stares at the scene with a 'surprised' expression. "Whaaat?" He exclaims with in a high-pitched tone, before returning to his normal tone. "Aww you guys! You shouldn't have!"

Robin scoffed. "Right. Not like you haven't been hinting for days, or anything."

Wally sat in front of his two cakes, as Megan instructed him to make a wish. Gabrielle watched with an amused smile, as she stood next to Artemis, who suddenly glared at Wally's flirtatious behavior towards Megan as she cuts and hands him a piece of cake. Megan kissed the speedsters forehead, wishing him a happy birthday, which caused Artemis to grin again.

Gabrielle grabbed a piece of cake and leaned against the wall as Red Tornado walked over to her. "Why are you not interacting with your teammates?"

Gabrielle smiled a bit. "I'm thinking about how Natalia would be going nuts over this cake." She took a bite.

"Is Natalia still situated in Star City?"

"Yeah, the bros wanted to hang out with her, since they hadn't gotten the chance."

"Attention team. Suit up, polar stealth. Mission briefing in five." Batman's voice came over the comm. system.

The eight team members stood in front of the holo-screen in the mission room. Black Rose examined her 'polar stealth' which consisted of white leggings, light blue combat boots, white bustier-leotard with a light blue mini-skirt, light blue wrist length fingerless gloves, her usual choker necklace, light blue half-face mask, and a hip length, fur lined, hooded jacket.

She then stared up at the screen, as Batman briefed the team. Rose found it hard to focus on the briefing, as her mind continuously drifted onto Roy. Once Batman started giving out mission orders, she forced herself to pay attention.

"Superboy, use the Super-Cycle and rendezvous with the bat plane at Ice Fortress-1; you'll drop off Robin and Aqualand and continue on with Wolf and Black Rose, to meet up with Black Canary and Red Tornado at Ice Fortress-2.

"Miss Martian, Artemis, and Zatanna; take the Bio-Ship and rendezvous with Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter at Ice Fortress-3. Other leaguers will deal with fortress' four and five. Sending all coordinates now."

Rose smiled to herself at the prospect of fighting alongside her mentor. But her mind once again drifted onto Roy, wondering if he was still at the apartment, upset about her leaving.

She turned to Kid, who was no longer wearing his polar stealth suit, as he appeared to be upset about his assignment, which she hadn't heard what it was. She turned to the rest of her team which were gearing up, so she proceeded to do the same.

Not long after she was sitting in the Super-Cycle, watching as they left the cave, passing Wally before flying off toward the Rendezvous points. She stared at her lap as she tugged on the skirt, smiling as she remembered when Arrow had first seen her in the black version. He had stared at her for several moments before commenting that it was 'nice'. But she could tell that he thought it was more than just 'nice'.

Ice Fortress-2

The Super-Cycle made its way to Ice Fortress-2, avoiding the turret fire, getting close enough for Black Canary to execute a Canary Cry, which cracked the shields of the fortress.

Superboy and Wolf jumped out of the Super-Cycle, landing by the turret which Superboy pulled out far enough for Wolf bite the wires off. Superboy then threw the turret to Red Tornado who redirected it back at another turret, causing it to explode.

Rose aided her mentor in the destruction of three more turrets. Rose would draw the turrets fire, allowing her mentor to execute a canary cry, destroying the turret with a beautiful explosion.

With all the turrets disabled the four heroes and wolf then turned their full attention to bringing the Ice Fortress down.

Mount Justice

November 11 22:00 EST (10:00 PM EST)

"Well done on your missions everyone."

The team all high-fived and celebrated their victory, before Artemis spoke up. "Where's Wally?"

"He is still in Seattle, finishing up his mission."

Gabrielle raised her hand, but spoke anyway. "Does that mean we can eat the rest of his cake?" Everyone stared at her for a moment. "What? We just took down Ice Fortress' which was not easy, unless you've forgotten. And we would hate to let the rest of Megan's wonderful cake go to waste."

"I guess Kid Flash wouldn't mind."

Gabrielle jumped excitedly. "Yes! Delicious cake! Here I come!" She ran for the lounge, as the team and a few leaguers couldn't help but laugh. Flash was the first to follow her, which caused a few more chuckles.

Happy Harbor

November 13 14:37 EST (2:37 PM EST)

Gabrielle yawned as she walked into her apartment. Once the door was shut she stretched before peeling her jacket off, and tossing it onto the couch. She messed her hair up as she walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of root beer.

She opened the bottle as she shut the refrigerator with her elbow before turning to find Roy had suddenly appeared, and was standing across the room with his arms crossed.

"What did I do this time?"

"You left two days ago, how are you just now getting back?"

"Well. There was an emergency, so the team got called on a team-up mission with the League. And when we got back, I helped finish Wally's cake... And after that it's kind of a sugar-y blur. But according to the surveillance in the cave, and the team, I apparently used my sugar rush to train, before passing out. And when I woke up yesterday, Canary had an all-day training session scheduled for the whole team, so after that I crashed at the cave again… And then… I kind of woke up maybe an hour and a half ago."

"You could have called."

"Did you not just hear what I told you? When would I have had time to call you?" She walked toward the couch. "And since when are you so whiny?"

"You know I worry about you. If you get hurt it takes you how much longer to heal than anyone else?"

Gabrielle sighed and put her bottle down on the table before walking over to him and placing her hands on her hips. "Alright fine, I'm sorry I worried you so much. Happy?"

"Would it kill you to call next time?"

"Actually, yes, yes it might." He stared at her blankly, arms still crossed. She rolled her eyes. "You're as bad as Connor, being an over protective boyfriend, I mean."

"Except that, I'm not your boyfriend, which you felt the need to point out two days ago."

Gabrielle stared at him intensely, before grabbing his shirt and pulling on it, causing him to bend down to her height. Roy was confused for a moment, and his confusion only grew when Gabrielle swiftly placed her lips over his.

Once Gabrielle finally pulled back and let go of his shirt. Roy stared at her still confused before smiling slightly. "Does that mean I'm your boyfriend?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes before turning and beginning to walk back to the couch. "Oh, you are such an idiot sometimes." Roy laughed as he grabbed her arm, before pulling her back and kissing her passionately.

Gabrielle stared in shock for a moment before wrapping her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist. Neither really caring as the phone began to ring.

So I wasn't sure when I'd have them actually kiss. And originally when I was writing this chapter. I was only going to have it be the almost kiss. But.. Because there was a review which mentioned hoping there's a kiss soon (which by the way, that review made me laugh so hard because I did not expect that!) so I figured I'd actually throw in the kiss.

Thanks for reading!

~RadiantWolf