Conner is back.

For two days the thing most people felt was awkwardness. Mainly because Artemis was determined to talk about anything other than discuss what had happened. She went so far as to start a fight between Green Arrow and Black Canary about his commitment issues. Nobody was sure on how to broach the topic without causing Artemis to become defensive. The only problem was that Artemis's behaviour had become erratic. On more than one occasion she had been found exercising vigorously. Something she still wasn't supposed to be doing. She protested that she had to but refused to give reasons for the exercising. She had also had several nightmares and had been openly flinching around league members. The nightmares caused a lot of problems. It always took several of them to hold her down before they could wake her and someone always came away with an injury and still Artemis refused to talk about it. She was even pretending to be happy, a fact they all found to be really unsettling.

Three days after Artemis's breakdown the Team was called up for some mission. Conner hadn't paid any attention to the mission brief. Since finding Artemis terrified in the infirmary he had spent a lot of time pondering what he could do for her. Superman had caught him camped outside the infirmary at night over the past two days. He knew Artemis was being deliberately unhelpful. He also knew the last time she had been like this he had been the one who had broken through. Up until now he hadn't had a chance to speak privately with Artemis. Mainly because so many people had been worried about her the only time they had been alone together was at night when she was asleep. Conner was brought out of his musings by Batman clearing his throat.

"Now as you may have noticed all the League members are currently involved in a battle against Black Adam. I am leaving to join them. This mission needs to start immediately. Considering Artemis's condition I believe it would be best if one of you were to stay back with her and see if you can get her to open up about what is going on."

"I'll do it."

Conner spoke before anyone else could even think about the idea. He spoke with such confidence and so fast that the only person he didn't surprise was Batman.

"Very well then. Team move out."

As the team headed towards the Bio-ship Batman gave Conner a nod and headed out through a zeta-beam. Once alone Conner sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Well he was alone with Artemis now. All that was left was the hard part. It was a shame that emotional walls were harder to break down than physical ones. Conner turned and headed towards the infirmary his thoughts on the fiery spark that no longer danced in the eyes of the girl he was going to see. The girl he wanted to be with.

When Conner got to the infirmary he found the door wide open and the room empty. Knowing Artemis Conner raced for the zeta-beams. He caught up to her just after she had entered co-ordinates.

"Artemis."

She froze and turned to look at Conner with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Whoops. Busted."

Conner wasn't surprised about the upbeat attitude she was giving him. He was taken aback by the fact she was in civies and had managed to pull her hair back in a loose ponytail it was the first time she had done it herself since she had been brought back to the cave. Conner stood for a moment breathless. The girl was stunning when she wanted to be. He shook himself back to normal when he noticed her moving back towards the zeta-beams.

"Where do you think you're going?" Conner made it more of a demand than a question and strode forward. He placed himself in front of her and crossed his arms.

"Well that is a secret. And as far as I am aware I am no longer confined to bed and I'm not on house arrest so I can go anywhere I like." As she spoke Artemis leant forward. She was challenging him though the spark that should have been in her eyes was missing.

"That doesn't mean that you can just leave the cave on your own without telling anyone." He should have known he said the wrong thing the moment that smirk slid across her face but he was too busy staring into her eyes. The seemed empty.

"Well then I guess you will have to come with me."

"What?"

"Come on Conner. You, me, the big apple. No one will notice we're gone and I know for a fact you have never been to New York. Come on. Bright lights will do you some good."

Before Conner knew what was happening he was being dragged into the zeta-beam. He was caught off guard by the sky line. The G-nomes had shown him pictures of the place but it was nothing compared to standing in the middle of the city.

"Artemis this is- What are you doing?" He had noticed her doing something to the zeta-beam whilst he had been talking.

"Well I don't know about you but I don't want to have Batman come through after us. So I fixed the problem. Now you were saying?"

"I was saying the skyline was spectacular. That means the League won't be able to contact us if they need us. I don't have my ear piece."

"Perfect." Artemis didn't even look like she had registered what he had said. She just started walking forwards.

Artemis was about twenty feet in front of him when she realised he wasn't with her. She turned to look at Conner and smirked.

"Hey slow poke, you coming or do I have go it alone?"

Conner returned her smirk and started forward. At that point Artemis broke into a wide grin that for the first time in days reached her eyes before turning round and sprinting off. Conner was close behind her. He chased her across the city passing blurry landmarks. He didn't notice them. All his focus on the back of the girl he was chasing. An hour or so later they ended up in Central Park and Artemis was outraged to find that no one had ever taken Conner out for a hotdog. Once they corrected that Artemis insisted on taking a carriage ride round the park. He knew part of it was because she was tiring herself out and partly because she wanted to extend her time outside. Conner had already been cut off twice whilst suggesting they go back to the cave. He knew that by now the League and team would have noticed their absence.

When they got off the carriage Conner decided to try again. He was standing behind her whilst she looked around, as if she was trying to find something.

"Hey Artemis, I know it's only early but people are going to start worrying about us and you seem pretty tired so I was thinking maybe we should head back."

Conner phrased it as a statement masquerading as a question. He couldn't fail to notice the way Artemis deflated at his words. The way her whole body slumped, her arms coming up to fold over her abdomen. Conner walked forward and went to put his hand on her shoulder when she spoke. Conner was right behind her with only a few inches separating them. For a moment in time it was like there was no one else who existed. It was just the pair of them suspend in a void. The hustle and bustle of New York fell away until it was just them in this one moment.

"Please Conner. Can't I just have one day where I don't have to think about it? Where the fact that my life sucks at the moment doesn't matter? Can't you just give me this one day to pretend?" Cause some times when I pretend it doesn't hurt so much. Sometimes I forget even if it is just for a little while. Please don't make me go back, not yet. Please Conner."

If this were anyone else the pleading note to her voice would have sounded normal. Coming from Artemis it was unnatural. She should have been telling him no and then berating him for even suggesting it. Perhaps it was the pleading or the broken quality her voice carried that made him give in.

"Okay, Artemis. Okay."

They stood there a few minutes longer. At one point someone shoved some pictures into Conner's hand before the person took off. He would have looked at it but at that point Artemis took off. He was chasing Artemis again. He was surprised to find her headed towards the zeta-beam. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was setting when Artemis found an apartment block and began climbing to the roof via a fire escape. Conner followed her all the way to the top. When he got to the top he noticed Artemis sitting on the edge of the building watching the sunset.

Conner sat next to her. He didn't say anything when she yawned. Nor when she laid her head on his shoulder. He didn't make a noise when her hand found his and she slid her fingers in-between his. He finally understood what today was about. It had nothing to do with forgetting, it was about living. Artemis wanted to live and right now it seemed that she had no problem sharing these few moments with him. He wanted to tell her so much but right now didn't seem like the right time, so he squeezed her hand and hoped that she understood what he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for.

Sometime later Artemis moved so that her back was leaning up against Conner's shoulder. He quickly changed his position to match. The sun hung low in the sky and had someone been there looking at them on the roof they would have found the sun framed perfectly behind them. Conner hadn't known it when he moved but the pair were about to spend a long time on that roof. It would be well past sunset when they arrived back at Mount Justice.