Paula Nguyen-Crock

It had been four days since the death of her mother. Dick refused to leave her side, he didn't go to work and he didn't do any missions for the League. Tim and Damian also refused to leave her side, Damian stayed with her at all times, and the only time Tim left was when Batman made him go to training with the team. Artemis had spoken with Jade and the two meet at Artemis and Dick's apartment where they made plans for her funeral. Dick and Roy were in charge of not letting Damian and Lian kill each other. They planned a small grave site funeral at Gotham Cemetery. Jade had sent Dick and Roy out to get ice cream with the kids so that she could talk with her sister alone.

Jade and Artemis sat on the couch together as Jade spoke "Artemis I know this is hard, especially for you, but you can't let it consume you. Dick told me you haven't been eating as much as you should be" Jade set her hand on Artemis' barely showing stomach "Your pregnant Artemis, you're not just taking care of yourself anymore".

Artemis looked down at her stomach where her sister's hand lay; Artemis intertwined their fingers and looked Jade in the eye "I know I need to take better care of myself".

Jade smiled "Good, because I want to meet my healthy niece or nephew. Lian has talked non-stop about having a new baby to play with. She keeps asking Roy and I if she can have a baby brother or sister".

Artemis smiled "What do you tell her?"

"That right now we want to spend time with her, and that she'll have one soon, just not right now" Jade said.

Artemis smiled sadly "I just keep thinking that mom will never get to know him or her, and then I think of how Dick's parents will never get to know him or her either".

Jade squeezed Artemis' hand "You can't think like that, you need to think of the positive. You and I will both make sure that our children will know about mom. And Dick will make sure your children know about his parents".

Artemis nodded her head "Thank you Jade".

Jade smiled "It's what sisters are for, and I wasn't there when you needed me the most, but I promise that isn't going to happen again".

Artemis smiled "I don't blame you for that anymore Jade, I'm just glad you're here now".

Jade smiled pulling her younger sister in for a hug "So am I". The two sisters's continued talking until Dick and Roy came back with two hyper children, and a laughing Tim.

"So how was your sister bonding girlie thing?" Roy asked sitting down next to Jade.

Jade rolled her eyes at her husband "Good actually, and we all know that Artemis and I don't do the girlie nonsense crap".

Everyone laughed and Roy said "Yes I know honey".

Dick sat down next to Artemis kissing her hair and whispering in her ear "You alright 'Mis?"

Artemis turned to look him in the eye she kissed him lightly before whispering "I'm good". Dick smiled pulling her into his side as they listened to Roy and Jade bicker.

Tim sat on the back of the couch behind Dick and Artemis he whispered in Artemis' ear "Are they always like this?"

Artemis nodded her head "Yes they are". Tim smiled shaking his head.

The next day was Paula's funeral; Artemis dressed in a black dress with black flats. She stood in front of the mirror staring at her reflection. She barely got any sleep last night; she just lay there with her head on Dick's chest listening to his steady breathing and strong heartbeat. Today was going to be one of the hardest days of her life; she was not ready to bury her mother. Dick came in the room wearing a black suite; he was fixing his tie when he saw her staring into the mirror. He forgot about his as he stepped towards her, slowly he wrapped his arms around her waist setting his hands on her stomach.

He looked her in the eye and smiled "I know today is going to be hard, but I'll be there by your side through the whole thing".

Artemis nodded her head setting her hands on his "I know you will be that and our baby are the only things keeping me going right now".

Dick moved so that he was standing in front of her pulling her into a hug. Artemis rested her head on his chest closing her eyes. They stayed like that for a long time before Tim and Damian came in the room. Artemis pulled away from to Dick to look at the two brothers, they were both wearing black suites and had their hair slicked back like Dick. Artemis smiled and said "You two look incredibly handsome".

Damian and Tim smiled as Dick playfully pouted "Hey you didn't say I looked handsome".

Tim and Artemis laughed as Damian stuck his tongue out "You look handsome as well Dick" Artemis said.

Dick smiled wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her closer. "Bruce and Alfred are here with the limo?" Tim said.

Dick nodded his head "Alright you two go downstairs we'll be there in a minute".

Tim nodded his head setting his hand on Damian's shoulder and steering the younger boy out of the room. Dick looked Artemis in the eye and said "You can get through this 'Mis, I know you can, and you've got everyone who loves you by your side".

Artemis closed her eyes "I know, let's just get this over with please, so I can come home and stay wrapped in your arms".

Dick nodded his head before kissing her on the forehead. He grabbed her hand and led her out of the apartment where the limo was waiting for them.

It was quite a sight to see one blond woman along with Bruce Wayne and his three sons. Jade and Roy were already there with Lian and sitting in the front row. Artemis took a deep breath her eyes never leaving the coffin where she knew her mother was now lying in. She sat down next to Jade who instantly took her hand; Dick sat next to her on the end of the row. Alfred, Bruce, Tim, and Damian sat in the row behind them.

Soon Wally arrived who gave her a long hug, he didn't say anything, he knew there was nothing he could say, he just held her and then kissed her cheek before taking his seat behind Dick. Ollie and Dinah came and each gave her and Jade a hug before taking their seats. Soon everyone from the team arrived showing their support for their team mate.

Artemis sat through the whole service tightly holding on to Jades hand and resting her head on Dick's shoulder. After the service everyone came up to her and hugged her telling her how sorry she was, she wasn't sure how much more she could take of it. But true to his word Dick stayed by her side never once leaving it. About half way through the people who showed up Jade lost it and completely freaked out screaming at everyone that their pathetic words didn't help, it didn't bring their mother back. She ended up breaking into tears and almost falling to the ground if it wasn't for Roy quickly catching her. Lian was so scared that she started crying as well, she ran towards Artemis who picked her up hugging her to her chest. Artemis picked her niece up and sat down in a chair rubbing her back and comforting the little girl.

Dick sat down next to her wrapping his arm around her shoulder and whispering to the little girl "Its okay Lian, mommy is just really sad right now. She didn't mean to be mean, or scare you".

Lian wiped her tears and looked at Dick "Is it because grandma is gone?" she asked.

Dick nodded his head "Yes sweetie it's because grandma is gone, Auntie Artemis and mommy are really sad that grandma is gone".

Lian looked at Artemis "You're sad to Auntie Artemis?"

Artemis nodded her head "Yes sweetie I'm sad to, I really miss grandma, but don't worry mommy and I will be just fine, you wanna know why?" Lian nodded her head "It's because we have a lot of people who love us, like your daddy, Uncle Dick, grandpa Ollie, and Dinah, and the new baby that Dick and I are going to have".

Lian smiled "I'm really excited about your new baby?"

Artemis laughed "I am to sweetie. I think your mommy is feeling a little better, why don't you go give her a hug and make her feel better".

Lian smiled "Okay" she jumped down from Artemis' lap and ran towards her parents. Jade immediately wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her tightly.

Dick kissed the side of Artemis' head and said "That was really sweet what you did".

Artemis smiled "She needed to be cheered up, you did great as well babe. Let's go home I don't think I can take anymore of people telling me how sorry they are without having a break down like Jade did".

Dick smiled "Alright, it's probably a good thing I made you keep your crossbow at home".

Artemis smiled "Yeah probably" they stood up heading back to the limo where the Wayne family was waiting "Hey guys, why don't you go home with Bruce today?" Artemis said to Tim and Damian.

"But we want to stay with you and make sure you're okay" Damian said.

Artemis smiled "I promise you I'm okay, I just want to spend some time with Dick, but I promise Dick and I will come to the mansion for dinner okay?"

Damian sighed "Okay".

Artemis pulled him in for a hug and kissed his head, she did the same to Tim before they got in the limo and drove to their apartment.

When they got home Dick made Artemis some soup and the two sat on the couch together eating soup and sharing stories of each of their dead parents. Once they were done with their lunch they cuddled together on the couch. Dick was lying on his side with his back to the couch, Artemis' back was flat against his chest and his hand was on her stomach, with her hand on top of his.

"I want to name the baby after the people we've lost" Artemis said.

"What do you mean?" Dick asked.

"Like if it's a boy we could name him John Todd Grayson, after your father and Jason. And if it's a girl we could name her Mary Paula Grayson, after your mom and my mom" Artemis said.

"I like it, I really like how you put Jason's name in there that means a lot to me" Dick said.

Artemis smiled "I thought it would, I can't wait to meet this little guy or girl".

"Me either" Dick said kissing her head. The two of them continued lying on the couch talking about their future.