A/N Hello again, everyone. Apologies for the 2 week wait, but work and life have been kind of crazy and then when I went to post the new chapter earlier today, our internet went out, so yeah. I think I might just start updating on a bi-weekly basis. I am doing my best to make all the chapters minimum 9 pages single spaced so there is enough new content per update for you to actually enjoy it without it feeling too long or too short. I know some of the Titans influences have been bleeding in lately (I had actually planned some of these plot points for the sequel, but was hitting a total writer's block on how to progress with the YJ-based plot without incorporating those elements, especially since most of my knowledge of the DC universe comes from my having read some of the New Teen Titans, watching the show as a kid, watching Young Justice, and then watching Arrow and Smallville, so it's a bit limited), but this next chapter focuses exclusively on the first 7 members of the Team. A few explanations, notes of importance, and answered questions:

As I mentioned, I know the Titans influence has been bleeding in a lot lately. It's not what I originally intended, but given the course the story's gone, I have recategorized it as a Young Justice (cartoon) x Teen Titans (comics) crossover. The setting is still Earth 16 and I intend to keep doing what I've been doing in trying to give a pretty equal balance to the four components of the story mentioned in the summary: Artemis and Wally's return, Megan and her specific role in the unfolding events, Bart's role (which will be increasing next chapter), and then the relationship/story between Zatanna and Raven (Zatanna will be assuming focus for awhile while Raven takes a step back for a bit). I really am trying to balance everything to the best of my ability, but like I said, writer's block sometimes takes me in unexpected directions.

In the next order of business, I'd like to use this space to reply to the reviews from last chapter.

Chance, Taeniaea, readingisdabest, Windninja1000, leena1445, Irenerb, and Player Zero: Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story/chapter.

Bren: I understand your concerns regarding the relationship between Paula and Artemis, however Artemis is referring in chapter 7 to a specific incident mentioned in chapter 4 of this story which will be expanded upon in the coming chapters. As for Paula not acting like herself, quite a few of the characters have and will find themselves struggling with bottled up or unusual feelings, particularly impatience and anger (you might have noticed Chaos rather thrives on these emotions). As for Lian's hair color, it's a bit of a minor issue, really, but in the comic books Lian is depicted with both red AND black hair depending on the illustrator. In the Young Justice show, she is shown with reddish-brown or brownish-red hair depending on one's interpretation, but I referred to Lian as a redhead for simplicity's sake. Given that Artemis is half Vietnamese and has her Caucasian father's hair color, I don't at all find it unlikely Lian could inherit her Caucasian father's hair color given that she is only 1/4 Vietnamese.

And to the unnamed Guest: It's a little later than you hoped for, but here is that update! I hope you like it.

Thanks to you all for reading and for your feedback. I do read and take into consideration each review, and I value everyone giving their time to this story as both silent and vocal readers. And so, here is chapter 8.

Saturday November 19, 2016 7:00PM EST

After almost a century of life, Jay Garrick figured he'd just about seen it all. He was born on the edge of a new era, lived through the Great Depression, the second World War, had seen man land on the moon, empires crumple, countries divide and reunite, and most recently had survived an attempt by alien forces to destroy the Earth. At 98 years of age, both Jay's mind and body were still going strong. He could remember his first battle like it was yesterday, tell you the exact dress his wife Joan had worn the first time he saw her, and could even recite the old Justice Society Code of Ethics word for word. Yet he never could recall whether the green or the red cable connected the computer to the phone line.

Joan shook her head as her husband toyed with the wires behind the large 1990's monitor in their office. She reentered the living area where another woman sat waiting.

"I've been telling him to get WiFi for ages," Mrs. Garrick said with an apologetic glance toward their guest. "He says he doesn't trust the security of it."

Artemis smiled and and bent over as far as her stomach would allow to help Lian remove the sneaker she seemed particularly eager to be rid of. "It's fine, Joan. I appreciate you having me over on such short notice."

Artemis wasn't usually the patient sort, but today she felt nothing could bring down her mood. Not the traffic jam or the overpriced cab ride to the Keystone suburbs. Not Lian's sudden tantrum near nap time. Not even her boss's call stating the article she'd worked on for the last three weeks was getting cut from the news center's weekly paper. Artemis had smiled through it all like a crazy person.

And maybe she was crazy. How else does one explain finding her dead boyfriend raiding the refrigerator and leaving cryptic messages about coming back to life?

But Artemis knew one thing for sure: she hadn't put that ring on her own neck. And besides, if magic, aliens, and time travel could happen, why shouldn't she have a ghost fiancé and be perfectly sane? It wasn't even her first time dealing with life-forces beyond the grave. If she and Zatanna could crack the ghost girl Secret's mystery, surely Artemis could discover what Wally meant.

Joan took a seat beside the young woman on the couch while Lian sat on the floor stacking magazines from the coffee table on top of one another like blocks. "Don't be silly, Artemis. Our door's always open for you."

"Eureka!" Jay's triumphant shout echoed down the hall.

"Sounds like he's got it working," Joan said. "Now to wait for the dial up to get going…"

As soon as Artemis had been able to collect her thoughts after her conversation with Wally, she knew who she'd need to call. So she'd traveled with Lian to the nearest place with a direct line to the League: the Garrick's home. The first Flash and his wife hadn't questioned why Artemis had suddenly needed to message the Watchtower rather than call Diana, Oliver, or one of the heroes directly. The truth was, Artemis feared they wouldn't believe her. She needed someone closer than her mentors and teachers. She needed someone that understood. She needed the Team.

She thought of calling Dick, but wasn't sure how her friend might handle the news that Artemis was receiving dream visits from his dead best friend. Then she remembered Wally's specific instructions to inform M'gann. Artemis had been trying to use her telepathic link to Megan all day, but clearly the Martian's mind was elsewhere. Artemis wondered if that might have something to do with Wally's warning. We're running out of time. She shook her head and pushed the troubling thought aside.

Once the internet was up and running, Artemis left Lian in the Garrick's care and shut the door to the office. She typed in the necessary addresses and codes hoping someone at the Watchtower would answer.

"Conner?" Artemis asked as Superboy's face appeared on the screen.

"Artemis! Long time no see. So you did cut your hair. And I hear that's not the only change."

Artemis smiled. "Megan told you, huh? I figured she would."

"Cat was pretty much out of the bag the moment she saw you. If there was ever such thing as a telepathic mass message, I think that was it." Conner offered his friend a rare smile. "Congratulations, Artemis."

"Thank you. Speaking of our Martian friend…Not that I'm not glad to see you, Conner, but I was hoping to talk to Megan. It's a bit of an emergency."

"Uh…" Conner glanced nervously over his shoulder. "We're sort of dealing with several emergencies at the moment."

"What?" Artemis tried to keep her mind from jumping to dark places. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, everyone's fine now. But there was an…incident on one of the missions earlier. Something made Static start attacking the squad."

"Is that what's got Zatanna so fired up?" Artemis asked, pointing to the left of the screen where the magician stood behind a glass wall having what was clearly a heated, animated conversation with several members of the League.

"Yeah," Conner said. "Zatanna's younger cousin was on the mission. She's been out cold the last few hours."

"I think Megan mentioned something about Zee's family the last time she was here, but I'm fuzzy on the details. Mind filling me in?"

"I forgot, you've been pretty out of the loop. It's sort of a long, strange story…"

"Somehow I doubt I'll find it all that strange."

"I told you she wasn't ready for missions!"

Zatanna Zatara, usually cool, calm, and collected, was anything but as she directed her anger toward a certain Dark Knight.

"You said you had confidence in her," Batman said.

"That's not the same as giving you permission to send my cousin into the lion's den!"

Batman didn't react to his younger colleague's yelling. "It was necessary for the sake of the mission."

Zatanna took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice level. "That isn't your call to make. She's my cousin. My student. My charge."

"You agreed to let her be part of the Team."

"After she completed her training. Rachel's magic might be advanced, but her control over it isn't. And she's barely begun to train her psychic abilities."

"Zee," Dick said, treading carefully so as not to take sides between his adoptive father and his on again/off again romantic interest. "I know things almost got bad, but everything worked out in the end. The mission was a success and everyone will be fine. Your own first mission didn't go too smoothly, remember? A few more assignments and I'm sure-"

"A few more assignments?" Zatanna repeated, rounding on Nightwing. "You think I'm going to let her go on even one more assignment after what just happened? She's twelve, Dick. She's too young for this."

"She turns thirteen in just a few weeks, Zatanna," Dick said. "You were almost the same age when you joined. Bart started at that age. Gar and I started even younger."

Zatanna crossed her arms, set her mouth in a firm line, and glared at the dynamic duo with icy blue eyes. Uh oh, Dick thought. He knew that look too well. As diplomatic as she usually was, Zatanna could be frighteningly stubborn when she wished.

"Zatanna makes a fair point," Wonder Woman spoke up. "We have rules about minors and crime fighting for a reason. It's dangerous. You need the legal guardian's consent-

"Which you didn't have and won't be getting anytime soon," Zatanna interjected. "So until such a time as I deem fit, Rachel is not to hear one more word about joining the Team. I'm taking her home."

"Do you really think that wise, Zatanna?" Wonder Woman asked. "In light of what happened to Static and what Cyborg has told us regarding Raven's parentage?"

Zatanna paled at the reminder. "I understand you have…concerns about what her father might be," the magician said carefully, "but Rachel is my flesh and blood, too."

"This isn't about your affection for the girl," Wonder Woman said. "It's about keeping her and everyone else on our planet safe. Now that we know of the probable connection between Sebastian Blood and Angela Roth's disappearance we must take extra precautions. I fear Blood's trial will make his followers bold. What is to stop them from harming Raven?"

"Me," Zatanna said. "I'm there to stop them. It's my job to keep her safe."

"You underestimate the magnitude of our enemy's influence," a deep voice with faint undertones of Zatanna's father said as Dr. Fate joined the group. "The forces of Chaos are usually conquered due to their random, impatient nature. But now our enemies are biding time, forging alliances. The darkness strengthens its numbers by the day. You are but a single homo-magi. You lack the skill and ability to defend the half-demoness. If the forces of Chaos sense the same dark energy in the girl that I do, our enemies will continue to try and bring the girl to their side. If you were truly wise, you would send the child elsewhere. Let her curse fall upon a less fortunate place."

A sudden rage seized hold of Zatanna, filling her body with a fire she couldn't suppress.

"Don't you dare try to tell me what to do with my family," she hissed at the golden helmeted sorcerer. "You already took my father away. You're not taking anyone else from me."

Zatanna turned toward the group. "I'm taking Rachel home. And that's the end of it."

"How did you think she'd take it, Dick?" Megan asked from her spot on the couch in a Watchtower break room. Her eyes followed her friend as Nightwing walked restlessly about the room. "How did you think any of us would take this? My younger brother almost got caught in that explosion. So did yours. And then some of our newest recruits had to try and overpower Psimon? Even I have difficultly fighting his influence. Static's mind could have been permanently damaged. He could have hurt the others or destroyed himself trying."

Nightwing placed his head in his hands and took a seat on the couch as well. "At least you're not yelling."

"Only because I don't have the strength to," Megan said. "First we hear about this Blood trial, then the League tells us the Lanterns have intel from New Genesis, then this thing with Static…"

"Not to mention Cyborg dropping that bomb about Raven's dad."

Cyborg, Miss Martian, and Superboy, as founding members of the Team's Jump City base in key leadership roles, had joined Nightwing and Aqualad for a briefing on what the League had uncovered about Blood and his possible affiliation with the alien planet known as Apokolips. Superboy's acquaintances on New Genesis had reached out to the Earthlings upon noting an increase in military activity on New Genesis' neighboring planet, which had grown to harbor many dangerous villains in recent months. The meeting dragged on for hours with videos, history lessons from the Green Lantern Core on the strategies behind various alien alliances, news clips, theories and strategies proposed by League members. There was no pause or lull in the rush of information until Cyborg received an alert from the Tower regarding the incident at LexCorp.

Burdened by the guilt of the harm that had befallen Static and the Team, Victor shared the information Static had recently uncovered regarding Raven's parentage and her mother's probable connection to the Church of Blood. Zatanna, who had been observing the meeting in silence, looked almost ill at the news. Megan could relate to her friend's anger and fear over what transpired on the mission, but could only imagine the burden Zee was feeling at learning the dark history of her family.

"Oh," Megan said. "Yeah. That was…a big shock."

Nightwing narrowed his eyes. "You're a terrible liar, Meg. How long have you known what Raven is?"

"I didn't!" Megan said defensively. "I mean, I didn't know for sure. I knew her father was cruel, but I didn't know what he was. I saw a vision of the destruction of Azarath the night we first found Rachel in the woods. But I read her mind, Dick. She's not in on whatever the forces of Chaos are scheming. I didn't press her because it didn't seem urgent."

"And does it seem urgent now?" Nightwing asked. "After all we've been through, I thought we were past keeping secrets, M'gann. Those dreams you've been having. You knew something like this might be coming."

"I didn't know. I've barely begun to make sense of those visions." Megan gripped her knees, trying to keep a handle on the unusual amount of anger boiling inside her. But she was tired and worried and, yes, angry over the day's events. Every ounce of her usual peaceful nature seemed to have transformed into an overwhelming urge to unleash her frustration and Nightwing was practically begging to be the target.

"Don't you think you're being rather hypocritical, Dick, lecturing me about secrets?" she asked. "You keep more secrets than all of us. Always taking off without a word and popping back up again. Like you didn't make the connection between Rachel and Blood days ago when you hacked into the Gotham City Police's database?"

Dick started to protest, but Megan didn't let him get so much as a word in. "Don't deny it. I knew as soon as Barbara mentioned which files went missing. She knew it too, but didn't want to rat you out even though that virus had your name all over it. "

"Static hacked the file on Angela Roth first," Dick said. "I only wanted to know what he and Cyborg were digging into-"

"Because you don't trust us to handle things on our own."

Nightwing didn't deny it.

"If you felt that way, maybe you shouldn't have stepped down as leader." There was still a hard edge to Megan's voice as she fought to keep calm, but also a sense of hurt. "Don't you know us better than that? Don't you think if I'd connected the dots between Blood and Rachel and this thing with Static, if I'd had the ability to stop our friends from getting hurt, don't you think I would have done everything I could to stop it?"

Dick sighed and studied the ground. "I know you would have. As for me taking off all the time, it's just sometimes too much to handle, being with everyone, laughing and talking like nothing's changed. And it's just…easier to stay distant, not to get too close because-"

"Because you're afraid," Megan finished. "You're afraid to lose someone again. I understand, Dick, really I do, but do you think you're the only one that's scared to lose somebody?"

"I know you are," Dick said. "That's why you keep the kids on such a short leash-"

"It's better than taking risks!" Megan's shoulders tensed as her defenses rose again. "It's better than giving them their space and having them suffer for it, as we clearly saw today-"

"You can't protect them from everything, Meg," Dick said.

"I can damn well try."

"That's enough," Kaldur said in his firm, but calming way as he entered the room. "Are we to keep fighting amongst ourselves while our enemies unite? Clearly we have all kept secrets which have hurt one another. We all have people we care about affected by today's mission. Arguing will not change what has already occurred."

"I don't want to fight," Megan said, her voice strained with exhaustion. "I just want to go home and check on everyone. I need to see for myself that they're safe."

With everything that had happened in the course of the day, Megan felt overwhelmed. Now she understood why Raven could grow so testy in such a short time. Megan's skull felt like it was splitting in two. She needed space and time to clear her head. "I'm not sure I can handle one more bit of bad news right now," she confessed.

"Uh, M'gann?" Conner called from the doorway, looking hesitant. "Artemis is on the line."

For hours Artemis had felt so eager to share her news, like a soda can that'd been shaken and was ready to burst. But looking at the rings around Megan's eyes on the screen and her tired smile, Artemis didn't have the heart to further burden her friend. Not just now. Not like this.

"This is really something we should discuss in person," Artemis explained after assuring her friend both she and the babies were fine.

"I hope it's good news," Megan said. "We could use some about now."

Artemis forced a smile. "It's…more good than bad."

Megan sighed. "I guess I'll take what I can get."

"It is something we should talk about soon, though," Artemis added. "Since the Zeta tubes aren't much of an option for me right now, do you think Zatanna could teleport me to where you are?"

"I'll talk to her about it," Megan promised. "It might be a few hours at least. Conner explained the situation?"

"Yeah, he did. You guys go on and check on your families. I'll sit tight with Jay and Joan for a bit."

Artemis hung up on the other side of the connection just as Victor entered the room.

"Zatanna says she's ready to go to the Tower," Cyborg said. "And she doesn't look like a woman you want to keep waiting. Should I go on ahead with her?"

Nightwing rose slowly from his seat, like he was carrying a thousand pounds on his back. "No. I'll-"

Megan rose from her seat and crossed the room ahead of Dick. "Let me handle Zee. Your last conversation didn't go too well."

"M'gann, you're exhausted," Superboy said.

She gave a weary smile and waved off his concern, but Conner insisted on accompanying her. Megan had no strength left to argue, and so the two set off together to speak with Zatanna leaving Kaldur, Victor, and Dick alone.

"I've got something you both oughta see," Cyborg said. His expression told Dick and Kaldur this wasn't a matter that could wait.

Victor used the small screen on his left arm to show the footage Tim had sent the cybernetic man from the Tower's security feed. The video showed the boys' bedroom hallway shrouded in shadow from the night before. For a few moments Dick simply stared at the screen wondering what he was supposed to be watching for when suddenly a slither of motion caught his eye. It swam through the air like a stream of smoke and vanished through the door to Static's room. Cyborg rewound the film and paused, enlarging the mysterious image. Six glowing red eyes stared back at Dick and Kaldur from the screen.

"What in the hell is that?" Nightwing asked.

"'What in hell' is exactly the question," Cyborg said. "For lack of a better term, it looks like some sort of ghost or shadow, the same kind Tim says he saw leave Static's body after Raven used her spell."

Dick leaned his chin against his hand as he thought. "A spy wouldn't likely go through the trouble of driving out whatever was possessing Static if she'd put it there herself, especially not if it meant leaving herself totally defenseless."

"I told you Rae's not a spy. Nothing about that adds up."

"Is there any chance Raven led that creature to Static without her knowing?" Kaldur asked.

Cyborg paused to consider this. "It's possible. The girl's got all kinds of weird powers and the bad guys seem compelled to obey her, or at least not hurt her. Maybe she's drawing the creepies in like some sort of magnet. My question is how does this fit in with Psimon and Apokolips?"

"They're all working toward the same goal," Dick said, crossing his arms. "If only we knew what their endgame is."

"I suggest we pool our resources and knowledge and do just that," Kaldur said. "I have been amiss in the affairs of the Team for too long."

"Let's head back to the Tower then," Dick suggested. They did exactly that.

It was the first time in almost half a year that six of the original seven original members of the Team had assembled in one place.

After all the greetings, the hugs, and introductions had been made between the new and old members of the Team, Artemis sat beside Megan on the couch flipping through different sonograms of her unborn twins. Megan smiled and commented when appropriate, draining several cups of coffee in between and trying to keep her mind from wandering. Try as she might, the Martian couldn't fully focus on what her friend was saying. Megan kept thinking about how Gar had squirmed out of her hug, claiming he was fine. He'd been glad to see Artemis and had greeted the blonde with his usual enthusiasm, but Megan knew too well when her adoptive brother was forcing a smile, usually to mask some darker mood. Beast Boy retreated upstairs well before Cyborg went to the lab to examine the data Tim obtained from LexCorp and Nightwing and Aqualad sent the others on their way.

"I did not get the chance to say a proper hello earlier," Kaldur said approaching the girls.

"Kaldur." Artemis rose to embrace the friend she hadn't seen for so long. "It is so good to see you again."

"I am sorry our reunion is not under happier circumstances," Kaldur said. "How are you, my friend?"

"Better than I've been in a long time," she replied with a smile. "But what about you? You dropped off the radar almost the same time I did. Where have you been?"

"In Atlantis." Kaldur'ahm explained he'd spent the last few months at the Conservatory studying under Queen Mera to further his skills in sorcery. The underwater kingdom had taken extra precautions of late to safeguard their oldest, most powerful magical relics. "The League has raised concerns regarding a string of activity in recent months concerning cross-dimensional travel including Victor's accident and, most recently, Raven's appearance."

Zatanna was the last to make her way down having headed straight for Raven's room the instant she'd arrived at the Tower with Artemis. She'd refused to leave her cousin's side until assured the girl was unharmed and simply required rest. Kory had agreed to stay by Raven's side to relieve Zatanna's worries for the empath's health and safety. Despite his weakened condition, Zee didn't like it one bit that Virgil rested just one floor below the girl he held so much animosity toward.

"So, the gang's all here," Conner said as the magician joined the group.

"Not everyone is present," Kaldur said, gazing sadly toward Artemis. Megan placed a comforting hand on the pregnant woman's shoulder.

"Enough, already!" Dick said with a blunt, bitter edge to his voice. "We all miss Wally. Things aren't the same and they never will be. We've all lost people we care about, but rehashing it every time we gather together won't change things. Wally isn't coming back."

"Actually," Artemis said with a knowing smile. "That, Boy Wonder, is where you would be wrong."

"Well, this is one day we won't forget," Megan said laughing out loud. It was either laugh or cry. She barely registered Conner's hand on her shoulder.

As if she hadn't dealt with enough shock in one day, now she had to wrap her overworked, overloaded mind around the possibility that Wally was alive. She couldn't reduce Artemis' story to hormones or grief. Her description of her encounter, the details like it being noon in her dream while midnight in the waking world, were consistent with what Raven had told Megan about the intermediary realms between the living and the dead, the physical and the spiritual, as well as consistent with the teachings of the Martian priests.

The more Artemis said, the more that clicked into place for Megan. That familiar presence Megan had sensed in her dream about the vortex of color and lightning was Wally's way of trying to communicate with her. She remembered Bart waking at nearly the same time, unwilling to discuss whatever troubled him. Had Wally been trying to reach out to this cousin with the same dream? Had he been trying to reach out to them all and they'd simply missed the signs?

Megan's mind raced with information as the pieces of the puzzle began to assemble, forming a dark, devastating picture.

For awhile, everyone was quiet.

A sudden wave of fatigue forced Artemis to head to bed. Zatanna kept silent, staring at the shifting shadows of the city lights pouring in through the windows into the darkened room. Shifting. In flux. Transitory. Like the physical plane that was rippling with foreign energies and magics she could suddenly sense. Like the peace Zatanna had hoped they all might finally find.

Dick stared out at the night, an odd smile on his face, strange and a little unsettling like Megan's tired laughter. Like the whole day had been one giant cosmic joke. Kaldur wore a slight frown as he studied the floor, waiting patiently for the news to sink in.

"Not that I'm not happy," Conner had said as soon as Artemis was out of earshot. "But I'm getting sick of finding out my dead friends aren't actually dead."

Megan agreed. In her current state, she wasn't equipped to handle an emotional roller coaster ride. She wanted to believe Wally would come back. She did. But the endless cycle of grief caused by watching her friends die, only to have them return through plot or plan or twist of fate was taking its toll. We're running out of time. That was Wally's message to the Martian. It echoed the chilling words Raven had told her upon waking that first night, the words Megan had tried to ignore: There's even less time than I feared.

"How do we deal with all this?" Megan asked aloud.

Kaldur, as always, had the answer. "The same way we always have. Together."