Pathetic! Fucking pathetic! That is exactly how Artemis felt. Here she was sobbing into Kaldur's chest when it was him that had been injured. He was thrown into a building then had the damn thing collapse on top of him. Artemis remembered every little detail down to the bloody gash on the side of his head. Yet here she was standing in front of him without the ability to quit blubbering. Kadur kept consoling Artemis to the best of his abilities as he continually massaged her back with the palms of his hands running them up and down her back giving her weary frame support. She must have lost track of time because the next thing Artemis realized was that Kaldur was laying her in their bed. He took off her shoes and socks for her and laid her down and got her a bottle of water while she dried her face off.

"Here you go."

"Thanks Kal. I'm sorry for freaking out on you."

"You can always come to me about anything you need to Artemis."

Artemis knew what she wanted to ask him next, the question however was still dried in her throat. The bottle of water was doing very little to help loosen it neither was the air which felt deadly as if it could strangle her at any moment making her every breath feel sticky. The air was heavy and all too suffocating even by Gotham's low standards. She half wished she could take them back as soon as they were finally spoken, Artemis could tell that those few syllables pierce Kaldur's thoughts.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm afraid"

"Afraid?"

"Yes afraid. Afraid there was ever a moment that I could have lost you. Even if it was before I met you."

"Kal?"

"I love you Artemis, all of you. Even the parts you think I don't."

"How… how can you Kal? Even I don't love those parts of me. They are so ugly and wretched."

"Because they are parts of you Artemis and no matter how ugly you think those parts of you are I see the beauty in them."

Artemis ran her thumb over the scars on her wrist. Kaldur sat down beside her and took her arm in his hands and brought her wrist to his lips and kissed it several times. The look that Kaldur was giving her told Artemis everything she needed know. The truth was he loved her, hell of a lot more than anyone else did or possibly could. She took her hand and ran it over his shaved head. She could feel that her heart was pounding against the inside of her chest like crazy. Out of all the times she wished she had heard those words they just meant so much more now coming from him. He took her feet into his lap and began to rub them.

"It was a kamabit."

"What was?"

"The kind of knife I used. It was a kamabit. It's a curved knife that is pretty useful when you're doing close quarter combat… just never mind. "

She couldn't help but smile at him as he gently lifted her foot and kissed her ankle as a silent sign of understanding.

"I take it that your father was the one training you and your sister."

"Yeah."

"I remember Jade."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I remember how Roy loved her. How proud he was when he found out he was going to be a father."

"Just be happy you never had to deal with her while she was pregnant."

Kaldur knew just enough about Jade to make both him and Artemis burst out with a fit a laughter. She knew that Kaldur could easily connect the dots and she was sure that was why he brought up Jade. He still didn't press her for information even though you could see the question evident in his eyes. He wanted to know why she was leaving him and for how long.

"I don't know how long it will be. I just know that my dad is asking for my help and trust me that has me worried enough as is."

"I understand. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"It is all pretty much wrapped up until we get into the field. Anyway I don't want to have to worry about the roaches the size of sport-utility vehicles that have been running around here or the junkies shooting up in the alley again or any of the other bullshit. I want my last night in Gotham to be more like this."

She leaned over and kissed Kaldur. The truth was the act was an absurd way to try to end the conversion but she could tell by the flowers and the food from Tony's Kaldur was trying to make their first night together since they told each other they loved each other special. Plus if you really had the chance to ask Artemis she would tell you she would rather have Kaldur in her pants too then going over every inch of her past with her.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Kaldur kissed her back as she laid back upon their bed. He planted a trail of kisses along the side of her neck to right below her ear. One of his favorite spots on Artemis her response was a throaty moan. Artemis didn't often slow her vulnerable side but when she did it was always with Kaldur. He was the only person that she ever sat aside all her barriers for. She could count on him when she really needed it. Not some of the time or even most of the time but every time she needed him he was there. It was sad to admit it but, she never had that before. Now that she had it she was going to treasure it and never let it go. Her thoughts were only getting murkier as Kaldur's lips roamed her body. Artemis put her hands on his strong chest and flipped him over on the bed. She pinned him to the bed with all her weight. Her heavy blonde locks falling over her shoulders making her seem as if she was fairytale princess. He could tell by glint in her eyes that she had devised a way to please him endlessly.

"My turn."

Kaldur's body was chiseled out of granite to all those who didn't know were his soft spot was and Artemis knew it all to well. She bent her head and ran her tongue along his gills and back again. Kaldur let out a belt of moans and flexed his body upward grinding his groin into Artemis's. She could feel his arousal harden between his legs. She then sucked on the space in-between his gills and he groaned again and repeated his pervious action once more.

"You like that!"

"By the god's Artemis!"

"I want to hear you say it Kal!"

"Artemis… More!"

"Nope not close enough", she teased.

"Artemis… I love it when you kiss me there!"

"See was that so hard and as a reward I will take this pesky thing off!"

She reached around herself and removed her bra from her body. Kaldur immediately started to suckle each of her nipples one at a time.

"Oh god Kal! Yes, yes, yes! Take off that damn shirt right now!"

They both sat up and Kaldur removed the shirt from his body and tossed it to the floor. She loved his tattoos every single one of them and to watch them flex under his skin when they made love was a desire she had come to have. She pinned him back to the bed and began assaulting his chest with her mouth. Steel nips here and there smoothed over the cool touch of her tongue. She worked her way down to section of his ribs which had been bruised then, gently worked her lips over every bone and traced the outside of the bruise with her tongue much like Kaldur would work over her scars which wasn't lost on him. She moved her hands around his belt and unfastened his pants. She kissed the crevices of his stomach muscles to his waist.

"Kaldur I love you, I know I have said it a thousand times by now but, when I am with you nothing else seems to matter and I never thought another person was capable of making this happy."

"Artemis…"

Before Kaldur could reply to Artemis's confession she had pulled down his pants and briefs with one swift movement and took his harden penis into her mouth. Kaldur's eyes rolled into the back of his head as Artemis's head bobbled back and forth engulfing him in pleasure.

"Artemis.", he could only say growling.

Kaldur never fathomed a person could love him like this. He always saw Tula as the object of all his desires and couldn't replace her even when she chose his brother Garth over him. Then she entered his life, the fiery blonde vixen known as Artemis. When he first saw her it was as if someone jumped started his heart. The part of him he no longer thought he had, had suddenly returned. Even now he could not make sense of why it was her that caused his heart to open back up but, the more he was around her the more he felt for her. She was more than any Atlantean could want in woman. She was incredible to say the least. She was a woman of strong will, incredible smarts, and more then capable of handling herself in a fight. After all strong Atlantean men sought strong Atlantean women he found Artemis. She hummed alone the length of his girth making him moan out loud again.

"By the god's…"

Artemis knew she was doing a great job because Kaldur started to speak in his native language. She never thought that she would be at this point in her life. She had completely surrendered herself to someone. She was doing her best to focus on him, after all no one mattered to her as much as he did right now. Kaldur could feel the pressure vary along his shaft as she bobbled her head. Even if she wasn't dating him she had to admit that she was never closer to anyone else. She slowly took her tongue and swirled it around the head of his penis several times making him squirm beneath her body. She moved her head rapidly back and forth all the while watching every emotion that passed over Kaldur's face. With a loud slurping sound she removed her head from his groin. She then stood up and wiggled out of her jeans and her underwear leaving her completely nude. She then climbed back over Kaldur on their bed. She pressed her nude body against his and kissed him. She could feel Kaldur's tongue roam the inside of her mouth all the while grinding against him. She once again assaulted his gills leaving him moaning her name out loud again. After a minute Kaldur rolled the two of them back over with him back on top of her.

"Let me make love to you."

"Is that a request or a demand Kal?"

"A demand."

"You know I don't handle demands very well."

"That's why I didn't make it a request."

"Trying to be a smart ass eh?"

The smile on her face meant she understood the joke and more than loved him for understanding her sense of humor. She kissed him again and whispered her approval in his ear.

"I am yours Kal. I always have been I just didn't know it yet."

"And I yours my beloved."

He entered her with easy and pushed until he could grind his hips into hers. She let out a ragged breath she didn't know she had held. Kaldur moved back and forth making her quake with pleasure. She felt so good with him inside her like this. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rocked her body against his in time with his rhythm. He kissed her again and again down her neck and the top of her chest over her breast. She felt her climax approaching and could feel Kaldur's waist grounded against her clit.

"Kal. I'm so close."

"I'm right here with you."

It was as if the universe imploded, at that time no one mattered but her and Kaldur. Her body seemed to burn with pleasure as her climax washed over her. The same familiar sensation of heat lit her skin. Her body incapable of finding enough oxygen to sustain her. She could feel herself contracting around Kaldur's penis squeezing him at regular intervals while washing him in her fluids. It was as if her body didn't want to let go of him. Her nails still griped Kaldur's body leaving tiny cuts in his skin as he still softly and tenderly continued his movements back and forth upon her body until he too felt his world shift. Thank god for birth control pills because Kaldur's climax inside her was always an added bonus of sex Artemis thought it was just .

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The rest of the night Artemis found herself more than comfortable atop Kaldur's chest snuggling close to him. Artemis fell asleep with her hand dancing softly across Kaldur's chest. She still reveled in the contrast her hand made against his chest. Kaldur fell asleep laying underneath her beautiful body while combing his webbed hand through her hair. Hours later she awoke knowing that she still had one minor detail to handle. She reluctantly slipped from Kaldur's arms and out of their bed. She watched how Kaldur's body shifted uncomfortably without her. The sight made her homesick already. She walked throughout their small apartment and retrieved the burner phone from the duffel bag. She looked at the phone once more before hitting speed dial one. Her father picked up after the first ring.

"Babygirl?"

"Yeah dad."

"I didn't think you were going to call."

"I am not up for chit-chat dad?"

"Just meet me over the Bob Kane's Memorial Bridge. We can go from there."

"Got it."

"Bleep"

The moment would have been sad if it was anyone else but, it wasn't it was Artemis and her good for noting father. The one who just hung up without even a goodbye. She berated herself for thinking that he would do anything other than what he did. She crawled back in bed trying to erase the last few minutes of her life before the memory made its way to her long-term memory. She began to doze unsuccessful. A few more hours and light was just starting to peak over Wayne Tower. The alarm started to blare trying to wake both form their slumber.

"Artemis."

"…"

"Artemis?"

Kaldur turned over to see her still snoring softly with the covers spilled over her. He never was one to deviate to far from the plan or the normal for that matter but, she was leaving. Not for good mind you but, she still would not be here tonight when he got back. He took a moment to just look at her before speaking in Atlantean.

Artemis felt a tickle on the inside of her leg and tried to remain sleep as she brushed it away. She felt the something again but this time it moved in between her legs. After a few moments she felt the soft intrusion of a tongue entering her core. It took her a few more minutes till she fully understood what was happening.

"Kaldur?", she moaned.

"Yes"

"What are you doing?"

"You didn't wake to the alarm."

"So what made you want to eat my… oh my god!", she groaned again as Kaldur's tongue circled her clit.

"I wanted you."

"You have me!"

Kaldur drove his tongue in and out of her body as fast as he could while his webbed hands pulled her back into him by her hips. He then gripped a hold of ass while sucking fiercely on her clit. She mercilessly humped Kaldur's face trying to find her climax. When Kaldur pulled back on her clit while grinding his teeth back and forth she lost it. She came with such force the bed moved. Kaldur could taste her in his mouth even after she finally let him go. He slowly kissed his way up her body lingering some places and bypassing others completely. He made his way up to her lips and kissed her. She slowly let him draw out her tongue into a French-kiss, she loved that she could taste herself inside of his mouth. They only broke for air.

"Fuck me."

"There is no time."

"Kal. Fuck me."

"We have to get to the Watchtower."

"Fuck me!"

"You know we all can't be Wally and show up at the last possible second."

"You're a sadist.", she said with a smile.

"Just think about what you have to look forward to when you come back"

A few hours later the teams were gathered in the ready room. All of them were there. The core of the team Connor, Megan, Wally, and Dick. Then you had the beta, gamma, and delta teams along with all their subgroups. It had been at rare times like this when you saw the amount of faith the League put in Kaldur by giving him command of all the people in the room. He could mix and match them at will, suiting any need they had on a mission. It was just the fact if you didn't see all the teams gathered together like this you often lost sight of the responsibility Kaldur had.

"Lets keep this short, we all have work to do. Artemis you have the floor."

"Thanks Kal. Well I wanted to call this meeting to tell everyone that I have to take a leave of absence effective immediately."

"What!", Beast Boy yelled.

"It won't be forever."

"To be the blunt one in the room , you are not knocked up are you", Wally asked.

"No! Guys I am just taking a little time off. Dismissed!"

Afterward a few people were standing around taking and waiting for the next assignment. Kadur watched as Garfield grilled Artemis about her leaving. The green boy known as Beast Boy was the closest thing Artemis had to a bother. Right now he could see his green eyes fighting back tears. After a few more minutes he fell silent and simply hugged her as tightly as he could.

"I am coming back B.B."

"My mom said that."

"No Garfield! Don't you dare think like that. I have to come back because who else is going to give you tips about dating Raven."

"Yeah. Thanks about that I really like her."

"See. Have a little faith in me okay?"

"Got it. See you soon."

"See you soon."

After a few more goodbyes she was staring at the floor with her duffel bag under her arm with Kaldur walking her to the transporter platform. She still couldn't lift her eyes to meet his when they arrived.

"What is wrong Artemis?"

"I am not used to missing people. It is a new feeling for me and I don't like it Kal."

"You know what you do then?"

"What?"

"Come back."

The laughter was short and sweet, just what she needed. She looked up as he stood in front of her smiling. It wasn't a fair choice she thought Kaldur or her crazed family but, family was family after all. The whole blood was thicker then water cliché came to mind and she realized what a bad pun it would be if someone really had said it. He gently pressed his lips against hers and watched her step up onto the platform. He watched how every particle disappeared only hearing her last few words not knowing if she heard his reply.

"I love you Kaldur."

"I love you too Artemis."