Chapter 3: "Friends"
"Welcome to your home." Wally smiled.
"Cosy." Garth replied.
The Justice League decided on giving Garth an apartment in Gotham City considering his injury. They didn't think he was ready to learn about his super-heroing and living at Mt. Justice until he gained all of his memories back, there was no telling how he might react despite him being trustworthy before, they were still wary of his time away.
"It's all you could really afford, at least it has nice wallpaper." Dick shrugged. Garth shuffled further into the living room and looked around, it must have been his apartment considering the organized mess he seemed to have left. "It certainly feels like home..." Garth murmured.
"Do you need anymore help or are you good?" Dick asked. Garth shuffled over to the coach and slowly sat down, "I don't suppose it's possible to get in touch with my dad is it?" he questioned. Wally gave Dick a concerned look and Dick paused for a brief moment, "Your dad is in rehab Garth. He wanted to get clean from his alcoholism before he spoke to you again. He said he wanted to be a better father to you..." Dick lied. Wally was now giving his friend beside him a questionable look, Wally would have told him the truth but Batman decided that lying to Garth was a better idea. Garth thought for a moment, he didn't know his dad sank that heavily back into his addiction and it hurt him "How long has he been gone?" Garth asked concerned.
"Just a few weeks. He'll be back in touch though don't worry, He knows you care." The black haired teen answered. Garth nodded and silently informed that the two could now leave him to his own devices.
"If you need anything Garth, just ask. I'll be here in a flash." Wally smiled.
Wally and Dick left their friends new apartment and began to make their way down the buildings stairs. "Do you and Batman really think lying to him is a good idea? Because it isn't. All of the team think this is a mistake." Wally challenged. Dick didn't turn to his friend while replying, "It's the best thing we can do for him right now. Do you want to be the one who tells him that his dad was murdered, his throat cut with a smashed bottle? Do you want to be the one who tells him what he did in London? Do you want him to remember how he earned all of those scars across his body? He is probably better off not remembering any of it." he coldly stated.
Wally stopped moving and grabbed his friends shoulder tightly, stopping him as well. "That's your plan? To not give him the chance or option to get his memories back? What the hell Dick?" He objected. Dick removed Wally's hand from his shoulder and turned to him, "My plan is to keep him and everyone else as happy as they can be for as long as possible." he retorted.
"That isn't your call. He has a right to know about his life! You're becoming more and more like Batman everyday." Wally accused. Dick gave him a cold stare and began to walk off, Wally can run home for all he cares.
"Sure Dick, Walk away. You know I'm right." Wally called.
Four Days Later...
"Have you heard about this?"
"Heard about what?"
"Dick! He and Batman refuse to give Garth the shot to remember anything about the last two years!"
"No, I haven't heard about this." The Redhead replied as she slowly sat down into her couch.
"And? Are you going to say something to him?" Wally quickly replied.
"It's not my call Wally, you know that. Whatever I say is going to go though one ear and out the other." Barbara sighed.
"If it's anyones call apart from Garth's it's yours. Since, you know..." Wally replied as hi gestured towards Barbara's belly. She sighed, she didn't agree with what Dick and Batman were doing. Nobody really agreed with it and she refuses for this child not to have a father.
"You're right Wally, which is pretty rare. I'll say something to Dick, Batman too if I have to." She stated. The speedster released a sigh of relief and ran his hand through his hair with a smile, "Thank you Barbara.". An expression of thought appeared across his face "What are you going to do about Arty?" he questioned.
"Wally, I've just got back from hospital and you're asking me all of these questions. I don't have a clue about Artemis, if she wants to brood and not be mature about it then she can do just that. I don't care." She seethed.
"Geez, they do say not to anger pregnant women." He reeled. "Sorry Barb, I shouldn't have asked. Do you need me to get you anything?" he asked. Barbara thought for a moment, "I'm fine wally, thank you though." she replied. Within a flash and a blur Wally reappeared with a grin before her, carrying strawberry ice cream. Barbara had a huge smiled on her face and took the ice cream and spoon from his hands, "Thanks Wally, for someone so thick headed you really are caring."
"I get that every now and then. I'll let you rest now Barb, let me know what Dick says." he nodded and then bolted. Barbara let out a sigh at the thought of arguing with Dick. She then let out a bigger sigh as she thought about arguing with Bruce.
The Next day...
Artemis sat in the room where it all started. She was back with her mother now that she has a break from her studies, her mother has no idea as to what has been happening to her. Artemis felt like she should tell her, if anyone can relate to suffering with life problems then it is her mother.
Artemis held the prom photo in her hands, creasing the edges of the photo with her grip. When she realized teardrops were landing on the picture she threw it beside her and wiped her eyes. She could then hear the creak of her mothers wheelchair move up towards her door and with a light knock she asked for permission to enter. Artemis sniffed her nose and croaked a "Come in". Mrs Crock moved in front of her daughter and grabbed her hands and smiled a caring smile at her, "What's wrong? You haven't been the same Artemis I remember since you came home."
The black haired woman then looked at the photo beside her daughter, she reached over and grabbed the photo from the bed. She squinted her eyes and turned to Artemis, "Isn't this that boy from your time at Gotham Academy? What was his name... Gary? No, Gareth?" she questioned. Before Her mother released another name from her mouth Artemis interjected, "Garth. His name is Garth."
Mrs Crock rolled back a few inches as she leaned back into her wheelchair, "Ah I remember him now. He was a lovely boy, very pleasant. What happened to him?" she queried. The Archer's voice cracked when she went to reply, she retreated her face for a moment and then looked at her mother once more, "It's a very long story mom." she mumbled.
Artemis' mother reached a hand onto her cheek and wiped away a tear with her thumb "If you don't want to tell me then that's fine but would you at least tell me what it is you're crying over?"
Before replying the Archer pulled some of the hair hovering over her face behind her ears, showing her pink face and puffed eyes. "I'm crying over him." she replied. "It's always him." she added. Her mother didn't speak a word, she just continued to look at her daughter understandingly.
"I love him Mum, I really do. When things are going well they are perfect, they really are and I'd rather be nowhere else than with him. But the bad times outweigh the good, something always goes wrong." she released. She then took a deep breath and released a sigh, "I don't know what to do she croaked.
Her mother grasped her hands once more, "He must be special if he has had you like this. So why aren't you with him now?" she asked. Artemis stress-fully rubbed her forehead, as she recalled why, "Because he got my best friend pregnant that's why." she snarled. "Right after we met again after two years." she added.
"Then I don't see why you are wasting your tears Artemis. If I were you I would have broken him by now. But I'm not you, you are everything good in my life. I need you to ask yourself this Artemis. Is all the pain, all this suffering worth a man who would do this to you?" she advised.
Artemis looked over to the prom picture and smiled as she recalled the good parts of the night.
"No. No he's not." she hesitantly answered.
Authors Note: Sorry for the long delay. I have had an extremely busy month getting everything sorted with my job and University that I haven't had much time to write so you'll have to excuse the fact that this chapter his half their usual size, I'd rather release something now while I have the time. For those that intend to continue to follow this story, thank you for your patience. I'll be writing more now that I have finally settled down in my new place.
