Chapter 7

The park was beautifully lit, rows and rows of simulated gas lamps trailing off for acres. The archer and the speedster took their time walking the main drive, enjoying the atmosphere as horse drawn carriages passed by them loaded with couples savoring the cloudless night.

They had been silent for a while, but their body language spoke volumes. They were happy. Wally finally comfortable not feeling as a burden to her, and she that he was finally at peace. There was a long road ahead, but she wanted to stay in the moment and enjoy it, a trick ironically taught to her years ago by a man that lived in constant motion.

"Artemis?" Wally began carefully. "What exactly do you do? you know… for a living?"

She cleared her throat, trying to find words that wouldn't make her sound like a total psychopath. "The easiest description is bounty hunter. I track down bad people that go on the lam and bring them to justice, for a nice profit I might add," she said proudly.

"Why the costume then? It's not just to protect your identity right"

"Who said you can't fight crime with a little style," she winked.

"So is this one of the things we did on this team? Is that what I was? Some super-speed bounty hunter?"

She had hoped to put this off for a while, but she couldn't avoid the topic forever.

"Wally you and I were a part of something special, a group of people who had gifts like us. We were trained to protect people, to fight for others who couldn't for themselves. We were a good team, but after a while we all went our separate ways, and kind of lost touch with each other. I only really keep up with one or two of them," and she took his hand and held it in front of them..."and now three."

"Were we all friends?" He questioned.

"Yeah,...more like a family."

"Can I meet them?"

"Absolutely, I know they'd love to see you, but first let's find your actual family. I think that should be our first step."

"Our," he asked?

"Yeah, unless you don't want me along?"

"Artemis I would love for you to, you're like my only friend, but to be honest I'm kind of...you know...nervous to meet them. I really don't want to do it alone, but I just hate to ask you for anything else, you've done so much already. Has it been a while since they saw me too?"

"I think so Wally, but I don't know for sure," she lied. Artemis didn't want to get into specifics about Wally's parents and extended family. That step was going to be very hard on everyone involved. There were still so many questions left unanswered. As much as she doubted it, what if he was a clone, how would they react? but on the flip side, what if he wasn't, what if this was the actual son and nephew that they had lost? Someone with no explanation to how he came to be, or why he couldn't remember anything or anyone. She had no idea how Mary and Rudy would react, and Bart and Barry still carried so much guilt. It was going to be tough reunion.

Finally the park emptied out and closed for the night. Mounted park police made hourly pilgrimages to disperse the drunks and the homeless, and also scare the shit out of barely clothed teens mistaking Gotham Central Park for Make Out Point. The patrols were fairly punctual and after months of living next to it, Artemis had their schedules memorized. They sat on the stone wall that bordered the park and listened to the hoof steps off in the distance.

"Wally you know most of my secrets, now it's time you showed me some of yours."

"Now?" he asked, looking around nervously.

"Yes. Now, she laughed. "No one's around, and it's not like I'm asking you to run stark naked through the park, just give me a little sample of what you can do."

Wally stood up cautiously and scanned his surroundings

"Dazzle me Mr. West," she playfully taunted.

Wally just stood staring off to distance as the park lights flickered around him. He closed his eyes lost in thought, feeling the warmth of the wind blow across his face. He looked so serene, so at peace, so completely oblivious to what his last name was.

"Wally?"

He shook himself back to reality. "Oh yeah…West ...Right… Sorry."

His embarrassment was cute she thought, easily seeing the awkward teenager again, tripping over his feet and mouth so many years ago. Get a hold of yourself Crock Tigress demanded.

He started rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, nervously looking inward for the engine that powered his gift. She saw a slight vibration forming on his body, the almost imperceptible electric current dancing across his skin. When she saw the sly cocky grin on his face, she knew he was ready.

"Here goes," he smiled and she swore she saw him wink when suddenly leaves and dirt burst into the sky near them, forced into oscillation by the powerful distortion wave he was created when his body blasted into motion.

He blew through the park and she quickly lost sight of him. Several minutes went by when Artemis started to grow concerned, until off in the distance she heard a horse whinny followed by a quick "Sorry" that faded into the night air. A smile pursed her lips at the thought of the joy he felt when his body erupted into motion, when the lights and sounds of the world blurred around him as he traveled at unthinkable speeds, the same experience he used to share with her time and time again. That smile began to fade when she realized the last time she had really seen it, the last time she heard the specific sonic frequency unique only to him when he produced that velocity.

Recognize Kid Flash B03, that was the last time she ever saw him alive, saw his speed in living color, till now.

Those memories brought up a hurt, a resentment that she had not felt in ages, quickly replaced by guilt for not being thankful for the gift that literally appeared at her doorstep, the gift that once again saved her life when she needed it the most, the gift that was 300 yards ahead and closing fast, without any idea how to stop.

Wally panicked as the shoes he borrowed fell to pieces, unable to survive the stresses currently forced upon them. Thirty feet away he lost his footing, trying to avoid Artemis and slammed into the rock park wall bouncing of it into a parked car, and finally slamming directly into one of the oaks that lines the main road of the park.

"Wally!" she screamed and ran to him as he lay on his back, dazed, confused, and slightly bloody, the car alarm blaring behind them.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he groaned, "that happens a lot."

"Maybe you shouldn't do that then," she softly chuckled.

"Yeah good idea," he gingerly agreed as she carefully pulled him to his feet.

"Let's get you inside and look at those cuts, before the owner of that Benz comes out looking for vandals."

"Ah man," Wally whined as he checked the damage to the $40,000 car with the custom speedster imprint on the driver's side door. From there he looked down at the road rash on bloody arms and elbows.

"It's ok. I'm fine," he groaned.

She dragged him inside her apartment and shut the door. "Wally, let me look at those," she demanded. Artemis wanted to yell, boss him around like she used to in her own unique loving way, but this was a different person and she didn't know how he'd react to her unique charms.

He reluctantly nodded and she walked him to the bathroom where she retrieved the hydrogen peroxide and wash cloth from the cabinet. Artemis held his hand and twisted his arm gently to get access to the wounds. There were gravel and dirt in both of them, so she led him into the tub and they both knelt down to wash them out. He followed her, accepted every command, trusted her.

"This is going to sting," she said as she lowered one arm into the rushing warm water. He never flinched, never winced. All he did was stare at her intently, watching her hands as they guided the wash cloth gently over the wound, while the other held his other hand, fingers delicately entwined. She touched a particularly deep wound and he winced slightly and she backed off a bit.

"Sorry," she spoke

"It's all right," he replied

She went to withdraw her fingers from his, but he held tight. Not threatening, not binding, just enough pressure to let her know he liked them there, wanted them there. Wally realized that she was trying to pull away and quickly let go feeling incredibly awkward at what he'd done.

Her heart fluttered slightly as she reached for the other arm and lightly picked out the remaining gravel and washed the wound.

They both got to their feet and she guided him to the mirror and opened the cabinet under the sink, removing a very professional first aid kit. She took out the tube of Neosporin and gracefully rubbed it on the damaged skin before bandaging it. She concentrated laying the adhesive bandage carefully on the damaged skin. Every time she glanced up to check his reaction, his eyes were locked on hers. The bathroom suddenly became quite small and warm.

Artemis could feel the heat radiating off of him, his heart racing, the blush forming on his cheeks. As she examined her handy work, she could sense him drawing closer to her ever so slightly. His hands gently touched her face and electricity shot through her body, a strong feeling of undeniable chemistry washed over the archer, one she could see he felt as well. He brushed a loose strand of blonde hair away from her eyes, and she swore she saw his lips tremble. They stayed like that for several seconds, locked into each other until she awkwardly broke them apart.

"All done," she smiled and quickly left the bathroom, leaving a very confused speedster standing alone. Wally looked in there mirror uncomfortably, looking at his face, trying to imagine who he had been. He did not like the image that looked back at him. This was the second time he had felt urges that he didn't understand, but realized were wrong. He cursed himself for thinking of her like that. She had shown him nothing but kindness, and he thanked her by stalking her, trying to make moves on her. She was his friend, his only friend, no wonder they had lost touch years ago, he was an insensitive prick, and he hated that about himself.

"I'll be right back," she announced and walked into her room, and shut the door. She leaned against and it tried to calm herself. The room was hot, her breathing haggard. She opened a window to let the cool air in. Feelings and memories rushed at her from every angle as Tigress screamed warnings inside her. Artemis sat on the bed and forced herself to mediate for a moment, to clear her thoughts and mind, just as her mother taught her. She awaited Zen, but it never came, but the effort alone was enough for her to compose herself.

There was a knock on the door and Artemis opened her eyes, walked over and opened it. Wally looked back at her and swallowed hard.

"I um…I'm gonna crash if that's ok."

"Uh.. sure," she replied.

"Thanks for dinner and …you know… patching me up."

"You're welcome," she smiled and Wally quietly blew out a breath, feeling slightly relieved that she did not seem mad from his inappropriateness in her bathroom.

"Sleep well Wally."

"You too, and…..um…I'm sorry about…that in there."

"Forget it, it's no big," she blew off.

He wanted to tell her more. It was big, at least to him it was. He felt awful, and more so of what kind of person he might have been, but she gave him an out and he decided he better take it before he said something to make things worse.

"Good Night Artemis." and he pulled the door closed.

That night, thoughts of each other would dominate their dreams.

xxx

The sun came up through the blinds, drawing Artemis from her slumber. With all the events of the previous day she forgot to set her clock. She reached over to her phone and saw the blinking light indicating a text had been left.

D. Grayson: Be in Gotham tomorrow, want to hit the streets?

With all of the recent events, she had completely forgotten about Dick coming back to his hometown. Was she ready to tell him? What would she tell him? Was Wally ready? Dick would want to take him to STAR or the Watchtower, find out who or what he was. Too many scenarios played out, and she didn't like any of them. Not now she decided. Not yet. She would patrol with Dick tonight, but stay the hell away from West Gotham, and then? She'd figure the rest out on the fly; she'd always been quick on her feet.

She got out of bed and pulled her sweats on as the aroma of bacon permeated her room. A satisfied smile crossed her lips as she opened the door to discover breakfast was ready.

"Didn't forget how to cook I see."

Wally smiled, "Evidently I am a man of man talents, plus your cookbooks didn't hurt either."

"You didn't have to ya know."

"Yeah I did," he said graciously. "I need to pull me weight, and …sorry again for last night."

"Wally it's o…"

Wally cut her off, quickly changing the subject. "Would you mind if we went back to the library today. I'd like to get some more books."

"You haven't even read the ones you got Wally."

"Yeah I did."

'When?" she questioned.

"This morning, kind of a quick reader," he answered.

"I'm impressed," Artemis smiled.

"Don't be. It's just reading, it's not rocket science or anything, plus I have a lot catching up to do. So do you think its ok? Maybe tonight we could… I don't know…get some ice cream, go for a walk. I think they might be doing a movie in the park, I saw them setting up some kind of screen over by the fountain."

She hated what she was about to say, what she was about to do. "Uh Wally…about tonight. I've…I've got plans. A friend from Bludhaven is coming in tonight, were going to….dinner. You think you can fend for yourself just for the night?"

She waited for the puppy dog eyes, the pout, the patented broken hearted Wally West look she remembered. It never arrived.

"Absolutely. No problem. You deserve a night off from babysitting. I'll be fine. Maybe I'll take advantage of the 24 hours policy at library or something."

"You sure, I'm really sorry to spring this on you, but I made the plans a while back before….you know…"

"Before I stalked you?"

"Before you arrived," she corrected. "We'll take a rain check on the ice cream and the park, how about tomorrow?

"That'll be great," he smiled.

The hours flew by as evening approached. He was inquisitive, but not about his lost memories, but about her. He wanted to know everything about his benefactor. She wove a delicate tale of truths surrounded by as little deception as she could. If he knew her, the real her, he'd never be able to get away from her fast enough, but she was flattered by the attention, it made her feel so….special.

It had been so long since someone had actually been interested in her just for her. Not for her sex appeal, not for her skill set, but who the person underneath was. It reminded her so much of the first time they bared their souls to each other, washed away all the darkness and lies. Artemis just wished she could have been as honest now as she was then. Their time together flew by too fast. She wished the sun would never go down; she wasn't ready to leave him yet.

Later she walked out of her bedroom in a pair of form fitting jeans, purple top and cowboy boots, her hair tied tight in a ponytail.

"What do you think?" She smirked enjoying the glances her gave her.

"Wow. You clean up nice," he sighed grinning at her.

"You sure you'll be ok? I can leave my phone if you like?"

"That would be great; I can spend the night calling all friends I don't remember."

"Ok smartass," she chuckled. "I have a house phone too, I'll check on you later." Artemis picked up her backpack, hugged him and stealthy placed the small microchip into his back pocket. She opened the door and made her way outside.

"See ya after a while," she spoke and stepped out the door.

"I'll be fine. Have fun on your date." The door shut and suddenly opened right back up as quick.

"Wally?" she glanced at the speedster curiously. "This….this isn't a date. It's just a friend. I'm not seeing anyone."

"Artemis it's ok…."

"Wally," she spoke calmly, but sternly, "It's not a date ok?"

"Ok," he sighed and she saw his shoulders ease slightly, a barely perceptible smile (to anyone else but her) quietly appearing on his lips.

"I'll be back before you know it," and then she was gone.

Artemis walked to the street, opened her large back pack and pulled out her helmet, the Tigress suit folded neatly underneath it. Somewhere on the utility best she wore would be the tracker for the chip she placed on him, just to be safe she told herself.

She started the bike and drove north to meet Dick for dinner and the extra-curriculars afterword. She had barely been gone five minutes and she already missed him. This evening couldn't end fast enough.

Wally looked out the window and watched her ride away. Once she was safely out of sight, he retrieved the book, carefully placed under the sofa. He opened Theoretical Physics of Magnetic Phenomena and re-read chapter 12 again in seconds. A frustrated scowl draped his face. So much of what he read didn't make any sense to him. There were still a good number of terms and definitions Wally just didn't understand…yet, but he'd solve soon enough. Of what he did know, the answers weren't there, the formulas, the data; None of it made any sense.

Wally loaded the books in the backpack he borrowed from Artemis and headed out to the library. The speedster stepped out and headed the opposite direction from the archer. He turned back and followed the road with his eyes to the point where she'd vanished over the horizon. He missed her. He couldn't understand the connection, and honestly didn't care. It just felt so right when she was around, so complete. A nauseating sensation suddenly came over him that maybe that's why they'd lost touch, because he felt something she didn't. He staed at the ground feeling empty inside, he'd only known her for days really, but already she meant so much to him. He took a deep breath and began the trek to the library, completely unaware her was being watched, observed, hunted.

xxx

Artemis pushed her plate away as she finished her Asian Shrimp Salad, one of the specialties at the Blackfire Cafe, a tradition between she and Dick when they got together.

"Good?" he asked, already knowing the answer from the pristinely bare condition of the plate.

"As always," she replied satisfied. The archer finished her water and tried to reach for the check the waiter brought, when Dick snatched it out of her hands with a smile.

"You get the next one Tigress." he smirked.

She shook her head in exasperation, "That's what you said last time."

"Yep and it's what I'll say next time too."

"Let's go change, she sighed in annoyance, but touched by his generosity.

Later they stood on the rooftop of The Gotham Stock Exchange monitoring police frequencies. Not a lot was happening this evening, and it disappointed them. They still had a unique chemistry, a fighting style and philosophy that complimented each other, learned years ago. It was not something that they had to practice, not something they'd rehearse. It was natural, organic. In many ways they were cut from the same cloth. They both needed the action, craved the rush, but it didn't appear either one was going to get that satisfaction this night, which Artemis felt strangely fine about.

The Exchange was strategically located for them, almost dead center of downtown Gotham, giving a bird's eye view and easy access to the buildings and the boroughs that stretched around them for miles in all directions. They had spent countless hours together up here over the years, observing, protecting, talking, sharing, and crying.

Tigress looked through the binoculars scanning west while Nightwing did north. They remained quiet, lost in their own worlds until Dick broke the silence

"Tim came to see me the other day."

There was something hiding behind his words, she couldn't determine if it was resentment, or guilt, but there was definitely pain.

"How's he?"

"Fine I guess. Called me out on the Cobblepot thing."

Artemis nodded and reminded silent. Tigress knew Nightwing had used too much force apprehending the crime boss during a recent tech company burglary. The Penguin now had months of physical therapy to go through while flattening out his sentence at Riker's Island. Dick joked with himself that it would give the old man something to do, something to help the time go by faster. It didn't seem as funny to him anymore.

The conversation quieted for a few minutes until Dick pushed it further. "You think I went too far too don't you?"

"Dick it doesn't matter what I think, and even if I did, who the hell am I to judge. You know what I do for a living"

"Tim said I was becoming more like Bruce."

"You're afraid he's right?"

"Yeah." Nightwing glumly replied.

Artemis tilted her head down to her boots, staring at the steel tips, the granules of rock and sand of the roof, at anything but her friend. She sighed, "Sometimes I'm afraid I'm becoming my dad."

A small automated beep went off on her wrist pad and she checked the reading momentarily, nodded slightly to herself and turned the device back to stand-by. Her friend was exactly where he was supposed to be. That relieved her for the moment, but not to the direction the conversation was heading.

"Dick you and I made choices, some good, some bad, in the end it only matters what we think, no one else."

"I know you're right, but I know he's right too. Tim's worried I've gone too far across that line, that when if I look back I won't be able to see it anymore. He might be right."

Their solitude was interrupted when the police radio crackled to life in their earpieces

"All units we have 459 in progress in the vicinity of Broadway and Newcastle. Officers on call please respond."

Tigress and Nightwing nodded and prepared their grappling gear. The disturbance was around 10 blocks from their current location. They could stay on the rooftops or get to ground level and reach their bikes, the quicker option. They approached the side of the building to begin their decent down when the radio burst again.

"All units cancel call to Broadway and Newcastle. The owner set off the alert. Alarm code confirmed."

Dick chuckled. "Is it bad that I want crime to happen so we can have something to do? We should have gone to Bludhaven," he grinned.

Artemis smiled. Cracking skulls had become their own personal therapy sessions. It was odd they needed the action to allow themselves to bear their souls sometimes.

The tracker proximity alarm sounded again and when she glanced down at the readout, a small shock shot through her body. The tracker was no longer in West Gotham, but instead on the outskirts of the city, near the old English District, specifically within meters of Wayne Manor. What the hell? her mind cursed.

xxx

Miles away Wally stared up the rolling hills, examining the mansion illuminated brilliantly like a beacon in the night sky. There was a reason Artemis had brought him here, and it wasn't for the sunset. There was supposed to be a connection, but the home carried no meaning for him, no feeling. Maybe the reason was more about her than him, she could be such a mystery sometimes, but who was he to talk. Wally concentrated so hard, searching, pleading with himself to find an answer, a clue. It just wasn't there. This was just a house, nothing more.

Nightwing was getting annoyed at her distraction. "What exactly are you working on over there? The Falcone thing?"

That name jolted her from the readout.

"How do you know about that?"

"I'm a detective remember. Word is he's gone dark."

"You know what I'm going to do if I find him?"

Nightwing nodded.

Artemis sighed and looked out to the city. "We're so broken."

Grayson came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder for support. "You were right it is about choice, but we've both seen what happens when these animals are allowed to run free, I think I've lost enough friends to finally admit we, us, the League, we're doing it wrong. Not anymore, and for the most part I sleep like a baby a night."

Artemis hated when Dick lied to her, but she wasn't exactly being forthright with him right now either. It wasn't the time, to tell him, not yet at least, but this one secret she didn't know how long she could hold inside much longer.

The silence between them soon became deafening.

"Artemis what's bothering you, we've known each other to long. It's not just about the job."

She rubbed her fingers across her forehead, feeling the smallest beginnings of a headache starting to form. "I don't know who I am anymore. Tigress is just supposed to be a call sign, a designation, but she…it's become almost another person….I'm another person when I wear this mask, and it's becoming harder and harder to take off. If I…if I ever met someone again, someone special, who would I be? The last few days I've….I've really had to look at myself, look at my choices. I don't like what I see."

Dick's heart sank. She's found someone. It was only a matter of time he realized. Artemis was a beautiful and caring woman, she deserved to be happy, and she didn't have to be an island. She needed to move on, he realized that, but it still hurt just the same. A new relationship meant Wally was really in the past for her, and in all honesty so would he. She was ready to move forward while he was stuck in park. Dick wasn't ready to let his best friend go, but sadly knew someday he would have to, like she had. Artemis had suffered so much loss even before she met Wally; it was time for her to move on, but not for Dick, not yet.

"No matter what I'm here if you need me and I will support anything that you do, you know that right?"

"Thanks," she said, lost in her thoughts.

"Let's call it a night. What do you think?"

"Yeah you're right, probably for the best," She broke down her crossbow and walked over to hug Nightwing goodnight with the knife landed at her feet, sticking hard into the ground.

They both dove for cover, scouring the nearby rooftops for their assailant. Artemis quickly reloaded her crossbow, while Nightwing pulled out his sonic batterangs. They both retrieved their infrared binoculars and scanned the area looking for heat signatures, movement, anything.

Nothing.

After several minutes of duck and cover, Artemis stood guardedly and walked to the knife lying on the ground, and immediately recognized its owner. A cloth note soaked in blood was tied to the blade. Written on it were five words.

Your Reckoning Is At Hand

"Deathstroke," Dick spoke coldly. "There's been mumblings he finally left The Light. They weren't very pleased he got duped."

"By me," she answered quietly.

In a sick perverted way, Artemis and Slade Wilson had grown close during their time together, him being the father figure she never had. He had been a good mentor, a good friend. She wished they would have met under different circumstances, completely different circumstances, but regardless of the side he fought for, she had betrayed him. She knew eventually this day would come. Tigress hadn't been afraid, had prepared herself for this, but Artemis wasn't sure anymore, not when Wally West just walked back into her life.

"You're going to need help."

"That's why I have you," she smiled.

She took the long way home, taking random and unexpected turns to ensure she was not being followed. She and Dick had scanned her bike for bugs, but she still parked blocks from her apartment just to be safe.

The lease on the apartment and all her utilities were registered under the pseudonym Linda Park, two first names of family friends that Artemis used as aliases from time to time. Finding her would be extremely difficult for the mercenary, she was incredibly vigilant, but when it came to Deathstroke, nothing was impossible. She was not afraid of Slade, not afraid of death, but part of her arrogance came from loss, and somehow that loss had made it back to her. That in of itself changed the rules. She wouldn't allow Wally to walk back into her life, just to be taken from his.

She came in through the window in her bedroom that she kept locked, armed with a sonic charge that she disabled remotely. Stealth and silence were her forte, but she still tried extra hard not to wake the speedster. She stripped down completely, all remnants of Tigress peeled form her body. She looked at herself in the mirror, examining every curve, every scar, making sure the ebony haired, steel hearted assassin wasn't staring back at her. She opened the drawer and retrieved the jersey she usually slept in, his jersey.

She cracked the door to look out into the den, but it was too dark. She had checked her tracker several times on the way home and it had assured here he had made it home safely. Why he had been at Wayne Manor concerned her, but she would have to feign ignorance for now until he was ready to tell her.

She quietly walked out to the den to find him, watching him sleep had become a nightly ritual that relaxed her. The room was silent; too silent Artemis carefully sat down on the end of the couch to search for his warmth, but he want there.

Adrenaline shot through her body, heightening her senses. She tuned on a lamp and scattered all over the floor were books, lots of books. Modern History, Meta-Human Studies, Biographies, Scientific Journals. Barely protruding from under the couch was a notepad littered with numbers and formulas, equations that made no sense to the unscientific mind.

What in the hell is all this? she asked herself. What is he looking …and her thoughts was interrupted by a flash of movement outside on her stairs. She ran to her room and frantically grabbed her crossbow and sword. Slade had found her, and Wally too. Fuck! she screamed in her mind as she loaded the poison tipped arrow into her weapon.

The archer stood to the side of the window and moved the curtain ever so slightly to glance out when she saw the speedster sitting on the stone steps outside, shaking. Artemis cautiously stepped on to the front stairs and looked down to see the moonlight glistening of the sweat soaked speedster's back. His head was down, his knees drawn into his chest; his breathing haggard. Another nightmare she realized. He had gone outside no to disturb her, not realizing she hadn't returned yet.

She grabbed the blanket off the couch and wrapped it around the Wally.

"Sorry, I was really trying to be quiet"

"Don't worry about that, are ok?" she questioned.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"No you're not, another nightmare?"

"Yeah." he answered. "When did you get home?

She saw him shiver once more as the cool spring breeze blew against his damp skin. She ignored the question.

"Let's go back inside Wally. We can talk about it in the morning."

"How was your night?" he asked trying to deflect his predicament.

"It was fine, don't change the subject. Come on," and she reached down and pulled him to his feet. She held his hand and walked him in. They passed the couch, but she held tight and pulled him into her bedroom

"Artemis I..."

She ignored his protest and laid him down and joined him. She rolled to her side and wrapped her arms around him. It should have been awkward; there should have been some conversation, but they both remained silent. She felt Wally push into her, and her body formed around him, protected him. She swallowed hard and bit her lip in equal parts sadness and joy. If this wasn't real, if he wasn't real, if this was all a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

His body relaxed, his breathing slowed, and as sleep began to take them, he spoke an almost imperceptible whisper.

"Thank you."