Hey guys, I'm back! I want to say thanks to everyone who's read this and a huge thank you to Mage-of-Bl00d (I apologize if I misspelled your username) for adding my story to your story alert subscription thingy. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I, sadly, don't own Young Justice.
Ch. 2
Wally
I walk into the house, Bartholomew in one arm, and the folder and keys in the other. I drop the folder on the counter and put my keys in my left pocket. Then I put Bartholomew on the couch and pull out my phone and search up my contacts in the 'D' section. I quickly pick Dick's name and press call.
"Pick up the phone...Pick up the phone." I plead. It goes to voicemail. "Dick...!" I groan and put my hands on my head, running my fingers through my hair.
"Wally! Can I have some food now?" Came a yell from the couch.
I nod and go to the fridge and pull out a yogurt and an apple out. I really need to go shopping. I cut the apple up, pull out a spoon and hand it to him, opening the strawberry yogurt in the process.
I check my phone again and see a text message from Dick from about two hours ago.
Hey, Wally, going on a business trip with Bruce and won't be back for some time. No phone communication allowed, sorry for leaving you in such a time... I'll make it up to you.
~Dick
I sigh and throw down my phone, grabbing the folder and sitting next to Bartholomew. I pull out the first page.
Bartholomew Roy Allen-West.
Current Age: Two.
Date of Birth: September 7th, 2014...
I skip down the line.
Known allergens: Liquid Caffeine.
Same allergy as me. I look to him sympathetically, and look at the page again. Roy? That was his middle name? I smile and think of how, though they would never admit it, Artemis and Roy were about as close as adopted siblings could get, and more. I instantly sobered up at the thought of her and quickly shake my head. My eyes land on the clock. 3:46. I jump up. "Hey kiddo, what do you think about going shopping?"
He nods enthusiastically.
Hours later, all the food had been put away and I was sitting in the soon-to-be-Bartholomew's-room, surrounded by all his new stuff, attempting to put together his new crib together. Attempting being the key word.
"Screw on the bolt to the bottom left border..." I trail off. I stare at the instructions, turning the paper around and around. I groan. I had been looking at the wrong line the entire time. At least I wasn't reading it upside down. How do people do that in movies? I slam my forehead into the manual, trying not to cry cry in hopelessness.
"You can do it, Wally."
I turn to Bartholomew and smile. His eyes were rounder and he had a genuine smile on his face. His hair was in his face. Again, and he was in a red and yellow onesie, his new stuffed cheetah's head looked ready to pop off, as he was squeezing so hard. It better not. That thing cost me $20. It had taken all of Bartholomew's begging and pleading to convince me, so that toy better last a while. And lets not get started on the other toys...
"Thanks kiddo. That means a lot."
An hour and many breakdowns at the hands of a bed later, it was finished.
I stand back to admire my look, hand crossed across my chest. Bartholomew stands up and attempts to mimic my stance, dropping his toy in the process. I stifle a laugh and turn to him. "So, buddy, what do you think?"
He wrinkles his nose, deep in thought. "Well... It suwe took a while-"
"Well next time I buy a crib, feel free to build it yourself!" I throw my arms up in exasperation.
He laughs. "But you did a vewy good job, don't wowwy." He pats my leg reassuringly. "I'm suwe thewe's someone out thewe slowew than you."
My eyes narrow. That little- "You are most definitely Artemis's son, I'll give you that." I grimace at the way my heart sinks and decide to change the subject. "Let's put the mattress on, 'Kay?"
He nods and runs to the mattress, ripping at the thin plastic wrap. I sit down next to him and begin to pick at the plastic also. Finally I get bored and just rip it off and pick it up, placing it in the crib. "Can you pass me the sheet?" I call to Bartholomew.
Obediently he walks over to me, carrying the red sheet. I place it down and put the pillow in the bright yellow case. Lunging to the side in an attempt to not move my lower half, I fall against the carpet and huff at Bartholomew's laughter. I take a huge breath, let it out, stand up and walk to where the red and yellow comforter lays, bend over and pick it up. Then I trudge back to the crib and place it inside. Done. I smile in satisfaction. I then turn to Bartholomew. "Okay, kiddo, time to brush your teeth and go to bed."
"But Wally!-"
"Bartholomew. It's 11:30. I should have been in bed hours ago. Now come on." I pick him up and walk down the hall to the bathroom, where his new beige and red toothbrush sat. I squeeze toothpaste onto it and hand it to him. He takes it and stares at it. He then looks at me from my spot on top of the toilet.
"Now what?"
"Brush your teeth."
"How?"
I groan. I don't have time for this. I pick him up and put him on my lap. Tilting his head back, I put the toothbrush inside and start scrubbing at his teeth, Bartholomew making strangled noises of protest.
"Ow. Thwt Huwtz. Stowwwwp-Gahhh!"
I frown at him. Was I really like this when I was younger. Nah. "Now close." I demand. he clamps his jaws together and I scrub his front teeth.
"Bartholomew! Stop opening your mouth for goodness sake!" I press my lips together. "Child, please. It's only a toothbrush.
"Gahhhh!" Was all I got for a reply. I won't duct tape his mouth shut. I won't. Finally, I resort to pushing his jaw up with one hand, head pushing down oh his, and cleaning his mouth with the other.
Twenty minutes later I was tucking him in bed.
"Do I have to go to bed Wally?"
"Yes..."
"Five more minutes?"
"No, Bartholomew. Good night."
I shut the light off,and with one last glance, shut the door.
As I make my way towards my bedroom, I'm hit with the realization that this would be my first night sleeping alone in a long time. I had spent the last week and Dick's place, but now... I sigh and throw on my pajama pants and crawl beneath the white sheets. I stay there, staring at the ceiling for a good while until I fall asleep. But it was in no way a restful sleep.
Artemis was standing above me, smile on her face. "Common, Baywatch we have work." I throw the blanket over me in protest, but she pulls it off laughing. Grimacing I stare at the now overly bright world, I glare at her and fall face first into my pillow. "Wally..."
The scene changes.
"Wally, we can't just leave work. That is absolutely against the policy's of our employers-" I pull her in and kiss her, effectively shutting her up. "Since when have you cared about the rules?" She just smiles, but I know I've won. "Common." I take her hand and lead her away...
Again, it changed.
"Wally, are you
sure you don't want to go to the talent show?" "No." "But Wally-" "Artemis. Nooo. There is nothing extraordinary about a bunch of 3rd graders singing off key for over a hour." She laughs and kisses me. "Okay, fine. I'll see you later. But if you change your mind..." "Artemis. NO." She grins. "Alright. Alright. I'm going. Have fun with Dick." She hesitates. "I love you." I pull her into a hug. "Me too." She smiles at me and walks out of the house. That was the last time I saw her alive.
Later that night.
Somebody called me on the phone. "Is this Wallace West?" "Yes?" "We are very sorry to tell you but your fiance-Artemis Crock-West has been in a car accident, and she, well, she didn't make it-" I drop the phone, shattering the screen of the phone. "Mr. West? Mr. West, are you alright? Mr. West..." I stop breathing, and Dick grabs me. "Wally, dude. Breath!" He shakes me, and I look up in tears. "She's gone..." I fall over and Dick catches me, grabbing his phone and dialing 911. I feel a pounding on my chest. CPR... I sink deeper into oblivion. She's gone. My world is gone...
I jerk awake, sweat forming on my brow and chest. I stare at her side of the bed. Empty. I frown and grab a spare blanket and head to Bartholomew's room. I didn't want to be alone a second longer. Finding a comfortable corner, I lay down, letting the sound of Bartholomew's breathing lull me to sleep.
"Wally! You slept with me! I knew you wouldn't leave me!" Came an overjoyed voice from above me.
Blinking and then squinting, I look up to see an energetic Bartholomew standing up in his crib.
"Can we eat now?"
"Good morning to you too." I mutter. "Sure, kiddo, let's go." I pick him up and walk down the stairs. Setting him down on the couch, I grab some bread and toss it in the toaster. Sometime during this, Bartholomew had gotten off the couch and padded up to me. Sticking up his hands, he gave me the puppy dog eyes and I sigh and pick him up. Just then the toaster went off, and I take it out. "So, what do you want on your toast, kiddo?"
"Stwawbewwy jelly!" Came the enthusiastic reply. I sit him down in the green high chair I bought him yesterday and smear the sweet spread onto the bread. "Here you go." He takes it and devours it by the time I finished putting cream cheese on mine. I shake my head and take him down, after he announced he wanted to go play with his Legos. I turn my head and my eye catches the date on the calendar. Monday. I had to go to work. I looked to where Wally was playing. Crap.
Then I had a brilliant idea. I grab my phone and find the 'M' contacts. I press call and she answers.
"Hello?"
"Hey, M'gann? It's Wally. I have a favor to ask...
A/N: So...Thats chapter two. Tell me what you think! And yes, people, allergens to liquid caffeine is a thing. I'm allergic to liquid caffeine. All I'm gonna say is that it really sucks. Especially when all your friends are drinking coke and stuff and you're there drinking water like... Anyway, please review, I really wanna know what you guys think! Thanks!
~FanAdd