48. Missed Chances

Artemis stood in front of her full length body mirror, examining the clothes she bought with Barbara, her only friend she kept in touch with in Gotham Academy and knew about her ex-hero life. Her life was normal as it can get with Artemis. Her mother passed away peacefully with no worries that her daughter was in good hands. She was now working as a reporter in Star City after her mother's death, finally finding peace. It was a few years after the whole Vandal Savage and the Light taking control over the League that Artemis decided to quit the hero gig; things were awkward between herself and Wally.

Wally, who had been dating Linda Park for a few months now, rejected Artemis's confession (gently). Artemis's throat felt dry and her inside churned and she felt humiliated, but she didn't let it show. The blond archer nodded and said she understood, left for Gotham to be alone so no one could see her burning hot tears. New members for the team started to show up, that's how she met Barbara and blurted it out. M'gann was sweet, but it just felt awkward for her to talk to the Martian who was dating the Kryptonian. Zatanna was with Robin, so basically it felt alright to talk to Barbara who knows about her secret identity, the hero business, and being single.

The two females formed a strong bond with each other, Barbara was actually in the same boat as her. It was surprising to find out that the red head had been crushing on their Boy Wonder, but puberty was doing him good. Sooner or later, he was going to be a lady killer.

Now, back to the point on hand. Artemis soon felt awkward with Wally, the way he would talk about Linda and how he would smile when he was talking to her on the phone. It was like being killed with the same painful, rusty knife over and over again, finally, she decided to quit her life as a superhero and lead a normal life. The team was surprised, but not as much as Wally was. He tried to talk to her before she could leave with all of her stuff, but she snapped at him. Her goodbye with Wally turned into a huge fight.

A great way to end it, don't you agree?

Artemis sighed, rubbing her forehead and cursing herself how stupid she was back than, but she was so intent on not getting hurt, she hurt Wally instead. She ended her friendship with Wally by acting like complete bitch. Every since that day the two cut off any communication with each other and Artemis never heard a word from him since.

Artemis smoothed out her light green cocktail dress she bought with Barbara. It was a simple strapless light green dress that flows down to her knees and very spacious, and there was a black ribbon tied around her waist. She wore a pair of black strapped heels complementing her long legs. No matter what she wanted the color green for her dress, it was always her favorite color to begin with, and she looked good wearing green in her hero uniform. Her hair was let down today (Barbara's idea, she thought it was a waste to have that beautiful hair all tied up) letting her bangs free and her shoulder length hair were swaying around as she moved.

Someone knocked on her door.

"Artemis! Are you ready?" It was Barbara.

"Yeah, hold on a sec!"

Artemis grabbed her matching clutch and left for Gotham Academy for the high school reunion.

Everyone was gathered around the gym. They were all having a great time, chatting with their old friends, old feeling of competitiveness sparking, and some just getting drunk. Barbara and Artemis stood next to each other, talking to themselves.

"So, hows they new team?"

"Oh, they're doing great, but things are a bit tense with Conner and Megan. They broke up."

Artemis blinked in surprise. "Really? What-why? They were so good together." And perfect. Artemis always knew them as the perfect couple ever since she was a teenager. The two balanced each other out and they were happy.

Barbara shrugged. "I don't know, it was out of the blue...well...they were drifting apart I guess. Oh hey, it's Dick!" She smiled.

Artemis turned around. Dick Grayson was one of her good friends from Gotham Academy, best friend even (a guy best friend). He was always a little troll when she first met him, giving her this strange smile and a very familiar laughter that she can't seem to wrap her fingers around, but puberty hit him hard during the years she knew him. Dick started to have a growth spurt, his body was slowly building out, and his voice...well, lets just say his change started to attract the opposite sex (and same sex) to him like a magnet. But Artemis already knows, she smiled, she knows how head over heels he was for their certain female red headed friend.

The familiar tall black haired boy was talking and smiling to a red head that his back turned towards them. For some odd reason, that red head looked really familiar. A cold feeling dropped into the pit of her stomach as she felt a lump forming in her throat and her breath catching, Artemis tensed up as she finally realized who that red head was.

"Oh my god...you have got to be kidding me."

"Artemis..." Barbara cast her a worrying glance.

It was Wally, she knew it was Wally. The familiar red hair, the broad shoulders, the lean muscles, and tall. How? How was he here? He didn't even go to this school!

"Why why why is Wally here Barbara? He didn't even go to this school! What's he doing here!"

Barbara put a hand on her shoulder. "Artemis breath, you need to calm down. It's not going to help if you start having a panic attack." She started to rub Artemis's back. "It was probably Dick who invited him, they're best friends." The red head started to explain.

"What?! How is Wally best friends with Dick Grayson?"

"I don't really know, but you might want to calm down."

"Why?"

Barbara nudged her chin toward Dick's and Wally's direction. "They're coming our way and don't bother trying to hide, they already saw you."

Artemis swore under her breath.

"Hey Barbara, Artemis." Dick greeted them with a smile.

"Hey Dick, Wally, its been a while." Barbara greeted back.

"Hi Dick," Artemis avoided his green eyes.

"..."

"Do you mind if we sit down with you?" Dick asked.

Artemis glanced at Barbara who in turn gave her a look saying 'don't be rude'. Internally sighing, Artemis shook her head. "No, we won't mind you joining us."

"Great," Dick smiled. "Artemis have you met my friend Wally? He's my best friend since high school."

"Yeah, we've met before. It's nice to see you again Wally."

"...You too Artemis." He mumbled.

"So, what have you been up to Babs?" Dick asked, turning his attention to the red headed girl.

The four started their conversation, what they were doing, what they have been doing, and how things were. They started to tell each other the funny moments in life, they laughed and chatted with each other, but Artemis was avoiding a conversation with Wally. It felt awkward to talk to him, even be with him after not talking to him for so long.

"Barbara, lets go dance." Dick stood up and held his hand out. Barbara smiled and took his hand.

"Sure," she turned to look at a panic looking Artemis. "You're going to be okay."

The two were left alone as they watch their best friends left to go to the dance floor. They sat in silence, not knowing what to say to each other. Throughout the night they were letting Dick and Barbara do the talking and they would talk to them, letting them break the ice around them, but the ice was coming back and had no idea what to do. Artemis rubbed her hands nervously, not making eye contact with Wally.

"Do you want to dance?"

Surprised Wally suggested that Artemis stared at him. He shrugged and stood up.

"It's better than sitting here and letting the awkward silence suffocate us."

He had a point.

Artemis sighed before taking his hand and went to the dance floor. They started to sway with the music and Artemis tried to ignore the fact that Wally's hand were warm and noticing how they felt large and safe. She tried to ignore the heat from his body and just how right it felt for her arms to be around his neck. And trying to stop herself from letting her face fall onto his wide chest.

"So, how's Linda?" She finally asked that's been on her mind since all night.

"I don't really know, she and I broke up." He answered easily.

"Really?" How strange, she always thought Wally was head over heels for Linda Park. "Why? I thought she was 'the one'."

"It...just didn't work out I guess." He shrugged, pulling in Artemis closer. "There was no more spark between us."

The tense atmosphere around them slowly started to dissolve around them.

"Wally, I'm sorry I said all those things to you." Artemis finally blurted out.

Wally sighed. "I should also apologize for the things I said to you too. I guess we're both sorry at how sour it ended between us."

"Wally-"

"The spark between Linda and I ended the day you left."

That was really surprising. "What?"

"I took you for granted," replied Wally who stared into her eyes with great intensity. "I always thought you would have stayed on the team for a really long time, always be there for me, and I felt so happy to be with Linda that I didn't care you there or not." Okay, it was killing her to hear this, but he wasn't finished. "So when you left the team I noticed that nothing felt the same without you there, when I was with Linda all I could think about was you and dream of you. As cliché as this sounds, everything felt gloomy and dark, I could barely eat and focus on the team, it was hard having a life without you. It took me a while and a lot of talking for me to realize that...I love you Artemis Crock." Wally was serious, he was completely serious about this. "And I'm so sorry for everything I did and missing the chance to be with you. Can we start this all over again?"

Artemis let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She smiled and shook her head. "Is it really this easy?"

"Only if you make it easy." He smiled.

Her smile widens, tip toes on the ground and kissed him on the lips, letting the warmth from his lips spread through her body. Wally eagerly kissed her back and smile against their kiss. The two broke apart, smiling at each other.

"...I love you." She whispered. "Wally West, I love you."

She was not going to let go of Wally, Artemis will not miss this chance.

Barbara and Dick watched their two best friends finally make up with each other. She let her head fall to his chest enjoying the beating of his heart. He chuckled and leaned his cheek on top of her head.

"I'm glad they made up." Barbara smiled.

"Yeah, they make a good couple." Dick twirled her around.

"Do you think Artemis will take up the hero job again?" She asked still watching them.

Dick shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I think they will be too busy to go on missions." He smirked.

A long chapter for being away for so long! I didn't feel like writing it so I've been pushing it off. Not to mention I have been watching How I Met Your Mother. I'm on season 6, lol!

I've watched the new episode of Young Justice...Jaime...Jaime no! ;A;

Please let him be pretending or make it out fine, I don't want one of my favorite characters to become evil, that's not fair! I'm glad that Mal and Karen (that's her name, right?) finally made up, their argument had to be the hilarious things of all in the episode. Oh, and a new ship appeared apparently, Wonder Girl and Arsenal, lolz! My heart dropped when Blue Beetle knocked out Impulse with that crystal thing...*sniff* Please let everything be okay.

Hope this chapter wasn't too bad. I tried my best...actually, this isn't really my best but I worked hard on it.

Please, review! :)