Chapter 6: Reconciliation

The blonde haired archer stood staring at the door, she was nervous and she knew why. This would probably end up in a screaming match. But it had to be done. She raised her fist and hesitated for a brief moment before lightly knocking with her knuckles. A few moments passed and the door opened with the chain lock still in place, Barbara's face looked worried as she saw who was stood on the opposite side of the wood. Artemis pressed her lips together and gave a fake smile.

"I'm just here to talk Barbara." she commented.

The door closed and Artemis sighed, she was about to walk away but that was when she heard the chain being moved from the lock and the door squeek open.

"Come in." The redhead coaxed.

Artemis walked past her old bestfriend who locked the door behind her. Knowing what kind of area she lived in. Artemis stood between the kitchen counter and the couch not knowing where she should be going or how she should position herself. Barbara walked into her open kitchen and leaned her backside against the counter, "Listen Artemis, I'm sorry about everything. I really am." she apologized.

Artemis didn't care.

"And yet you continue to do it." Artemis sassed. Barbara looked to the floor, not knowing how to react.

"How far along are you now?" The archer then asked out of the blue.

The redhead placed her right hand onto her stomach which had started to grow larger, she rubbed her thumb up and down lightly. "Near two months." She hesitantly answered. Her old friend nodded, "You didn't think to, I don't know. Maybe take a morning after pill or were you intending on letting him do that to you?" Artemis asked with a hint of anger in her tone.

Barbara felt cheap after that comment, she knew what Artemis was calling her. A whore. A piece of meat. A manipulative bitch. She didn't retaliate, she knew Artemis had every right to talk to her like that.

"I wouldn't put it past you to be honest, I could tell from back in the Academy that you liked him. You didn't try to hide it, did you?" Artemis shot.

The redhead didn't know whether she should allow Artemis to let out all her grievances to her, to let her barrage her with insults to get it out of her system.

"I don't want to fight with you anymore." The blonde then confessed. Barbara looked at her in shock. That was the last thing she expected to hear.

The redhead finally spoke up, "Why not? I deserve it. Go on, let loose!" Barbara croaked. They could see the pain on eachothers faces, they both knew the other was hurting. A lot.

Artemis moved into the kitchen and stood on the opposite side of Barbara, "I used to consider you one of my closest friends. Did you know that?" she asked.

Barbara silently nodded.

"When I called you and you were throwing up, that was morning sickness. Wasn't it?" she said, asking another question.

Barbara wiped one of her eyes, smudging a bit of her eyeliner. "That was the day I found out." she confessed.

The archer's lip quivered. When Artemis was having the morning she dreamed of for so long Barbara was in her apartment discovering that she is carrying a child, and not just any child. It was Garths. Artemis forced her eyes shut for a few seconds to process this information.

"I didn't intend for him to get me pregnant. I didn't intend for that night to happen. I'll admit it, I love him but you have to believe that I was never going to pursue him. I wanted my two best friends to be happy and if they were happiest together... Then so be it." Barbara admitted, leaning heavier against the counter.

Barbara then pointed her thumb beside her, towards the fridge on her right. The fridge had photos plastered all over it, hanging there with cheap magnets. "The one in the middle, do you remember that?" she then asked.

Artemis looked to the right of the redhead and stepped towards the collage of pictures. Some of the pictures were old and the others were new, she scanned over them. Some were with Dick where the two were in fancy clothing, mostly likely at a Gala. Some were of Barbara, M'gann and Zatanna doing their girly stuff that she never joined in on. And some were of the whole team goofing off inbetween missions. But in the center... In the center of the array of pictures was the photograph that Barbara's father had taken when the two were dressed to the nines for their Prom Night. The two were stood at the bottom of a staircase both posing, both looking beautiful and both happy in each other's company, they were like sisters.

A tear dropped from Artemis' eyes. "I remember." she smiled a pained smile.

"Do you remember how happy we were? You were complaining about having to dress up but you soon became quiet when you looked in the mirror. I've never seen boys blush so much as Dick and Garth did when they saw the two of us. Do you remember walking into the venue? Everyone turning their heads to me and you?" Barbara laughed as she remembered herself turning behind her to see Artemis hating the attention but Garth taking it all in. Artemis let out a laugh herself, she could recall that night to every little detail but this time it was only the good memories in her head for once.

"And Garth's dancing!" Artemis chuckled, "There's a curve in his dancing, it goes from good to embarassing." she laughed and Barbara did the same. Once the humour in their system died out Barbara spoke once more.

"I know there is only so many times that I can apologize before it means nothing but I need to say it again. I'm sorry." She apologized. Artemis looked to the ground and stepped forward, she placed her arms around her friend and hugged her.

"I know." she whispered. She could feel the redheads breath escape into her shoulder, "I'm sorry." she repeated. Artemis then tightened the hug, "I'm happy for you Barbara. I'm moving on from him, There is only so much crying and heartbreak that I can take." she confessed.

Barbara then slowly broke from the hug and then looked at her friend innocently, she couldn't believe the words she just heard. Artemis is "Happy" for her?

"I just hope he doesn't treat you the way he treated me." Artemis warned. She then smiled and made her way towards the exit of the apartment, "I wish you all the best Barbara." Artemis approved. Barbara didn't know how to take that comment, was it advice? Understanding? Or a snide comment? But in the end it didn't really matter. She felt like Artemis had forgiven her, even if the archer doesn't forget what happened.


"Attention all passengers. Within five minutes we will be reaching Bludhaven Station. Please be sure that you have all your belongings with you when you exit the train. Thank you and have a good evening."

The the voice coming through the speakers had a bored and fed up tone to it. Garth could relate. He turned to the old man sat next to him who stunk of urine and apologized as he asked to get past him so that he could exit his seat and move to leave the train. A few minutes went by and Garth stepped onto the solid, dirty ground of Bludhaven city. He then pushed his ticket through the scanner which then allowed him to exit the station, as he left the building he looked at the state of the city. It was worse than Gotham, Why Dick came here he didn't know.

Garth looked at the paper in his hands and reviewed the address he had been given by someone Dick works with, a Shawn Tsang. Garth simply told her that he was looking for Dick to catch up with him, she was more than happy for the idea of Dick having a quiet evening. He had spent the last few days in search of where Dick works or lives, he wanted to catch him by surprise. If he was going to ask him for the truth then he wouldn't give him the chance to form anymore lies.

It took a few minutes but Garth managed to hail a taxi who looked a bit worried when told which part of the city Garth was headed, which was probably why the driver was trying his hardest to get Garth out of the car as quickly as possibly.

The dark haired, bearded man stood in the pouring rain staring at the rundown building. Garth walked to the number pad and buzzed the numbers one and seven. After a few minutes a voice came out from the old speaker.

"Dick Grayson, How can I help?" it buzzed.

"Dick, It's Garth." Garth answered.

A small pause came from Dick's end until he spoke once more, "Alright, Come on up.". With a loud buzzing noise and a clink of multiple locks the door loosened and Garth stepped in to the small apartment building.

Garth walked into the rundown building and and made his way up two flights of stairs and then finally came up to Dick's room. The unelectric man knocked lightly onto the wood and the black haired teen opened the door.

"Hey, What are you doing here?" He spoke.

"I got some questions that need answering." Garth returned.

Dick raised his eyebrows and then motioned his friend to enter where he lives. Garth walked into the living room with a limp, then placing a hand onto his injured hip.

"That still hurt?" Dick asked with a hint of concern. "Just sit anywhere." he added.

"Yeah, and Cheers." Garth thanked.

The black haired teen locked the door and walked over to the chair opposite the sofa where his visitor sat. He then clasped his hands together and looked towards his friends, "What do you want to know?" he suspiciously questioned.

Without missing a beat, "Why you have been lying to me?" Garth replied with a cold tone. Dick wasn't surprised that much, after his encounters with Wally and Barbara it was just a matter of time for this to happen.

"I have my reasons" Dick commented. Garth chuckled, "And none of them will be good enough."

Dick leaned back into his chair, "No?".

"What about if I was doing it to protect Artemis? To protect Barbara? To protect the Team." he added. Garth looked around Dick's small apartment, he noticed some jazz records stacked in the corner by his television. He didn't take Dick as a Jazz listener, more of someone who would listen to pop. Although Garth noted to himself that when Dick does get into a fight his style is like Jazz.

"Then I'd still call you a liar." Garth argued.

"You think I don't know you Dick but I do. You're a good man, you really are and I know you live to help people, to help your team. But that's the thing about everyone else. You don't care about the them as much as you think you do. If you cared about the team you would have been there for Artemis when I left to protect all of you. If you cared about the team you would have stopped Barbara from finding me. If you cared about the team then Kaldur would not have run off with Black Manta. If you cared about the team you wouldn't be attempting to hide two years of my life from me. Would you?" Garth scolded.

Dick sat there taking in every word that came out of Garths mouth until he finally finished. "You're right." he retaliated emotionless.

"I make mistakes, everyone does. My last real mistake was letting you come back to us." he insulted.

Garth stood up from his seat and winced a little at his pain, "Like you had a fucking say in it. Don't pretend to be Batman Junior to me Dick. I'm not scared or intimidated by it." Garth seethed.

"Listen, I know you don't like me and I know you don't trust me. I've caused a lot of problems for you and I never meant to be a hinderence to anyone. I just wanted to be a superhero like every other kid dreamed. I didn't come here to argue with you I just want an answer to my question and I want it to be a good answer." The unelectric boy described with anger.

The first boy wonder stepped up and put his face a few inches from Garth and stared him down before barging past him and leaving the room. He returned a few moments later with a stack of papers placed in a brown folder. He slammed the stack onto the table with a thud.

"You've almost answered the question for yourself Garth. Because I don't like you but it isn't just that. After everything you have done to Artemis and Barbara I don't trust you and I don't respect you. All I want is for my friends to be happy. My real friends to be happy." he answered as he straightened his back after placing the papers down.

"All of this here." Dick said pointing to what he placed onto the table. "All of this is all of you. Everyone in the Justice League has their own files. You don't remember what happened to you before you were five do you? The answers to that question starts here Garth. All I ask is that you fix-." Dick sighed.

Garth frowned, "You're joking right? I have a fucking kid on the way!" he cursed, cutting Dick off from continuing what he was saying.

"I'm not asking you to abandon your child. I'm giving you time to think about what you really want. This file is giving you a chance to find out who you really are, what you really are." Dick offered.

Garth looked to the ground away from the files and the man stood before him, "Don't you think I'm broken enough? Do you know how fucked my head is right now? To me I was at school a few days ago and now I have memories of me beating people to a bloody pulp! I have memories of me in car chases, standing on roofs getting shot at! Shit man, I woke up worrying about my teachers fucking homework that is now more than two years late." Garth fired.

The dark haired man collapsed back into the seat, "Do you honestly think I can take finding out that I had a shit childhood because I remember enough of that. I remember my mum dying in my arms. I know my parents weren't my biological ones but Jesus Christ did I love them." He sobbed.

Dick sighed and sat next to the man on his couch, "Garth you're misunderstanding me, I know that you're broken. I want to help you fix yourself, Barbara's child deserves a good father and a normal childhood. You can't give her either of those with the way you are right now. So take this and decide what you want to do." Dick consoled.

Garth looked at the younger man next to him and nodded. He reached onto the table and grabbed the file with his name on it. He then walked over to the door and turned to Dick.

"I'm sorry for everything Dick. I hope you know that, I've always wanted to be like you. To be like Robin." He painfully smiled. Those words pierced Dick's chest, he didn't know how to respond so he just tilted his head forward a little. With the clank of the door shutting Dick sat their in silence wondering if what he just did was the right thing.


Authors Note: So a lot of character progression just happened (Hooray!). Just want to throw this our there, Some of you might be thinking that I have turned Dick into a bit of an asshole and if you think that then you don't really understand the bad parts of the character in general. He is too honest and too caring.

Also thanks to those who have shared kind words about my story, You had me feeling really proud of my work. So thanks for that guys, I really appreciated it and I'm sure my shit eating grin would have shown that.