It was quiet in Keystone City the day that J'onn J'onzz made one of his most ambitious attempts at deceiving the human mind. The Martian Manhunter had been asked personally by Barry Allen, on behalf of Linda and the children, that Wally be buried without people realising he was the Flash. A list of mourners was assembled so that J'onn could provide a cover for each of them. Bruce had insisted he would come as Matches Malone or some other disguise, but Alfred and Dick managed to convince him that might be in poor taste. J'onn was already adept at both telepathy and shapeshifting, so for his own self turning into a normal human was no problem. However, it would take a great strain to make the entire city believe the funeral for the Flash was not ongoing on their streets. It was agreed that the church would be a private ceremony, for Wally's family and those who trusted him with their lives.
The day after the moonquake had been a shock to the system of the entire planet. In New Atlantis, many had suspected it was just the volcano, but Arthur Curry felt there was something more going on. In Central City, the Flash Museum shut its doors in recognition of a recent passing which they would not disclose. Barry Allen and Jay Garrick were using the cosmic treadmill to find Wally in the Speed Force. Not a sign of him. In Gotham, Dick Grayson cried all day and there seemed to be no consoling him. Not even Babs or Alfred who could usually break through his armour could come through for him. Roy Harper kept trying to ring Oliver Queen from San Francisco, asking for support knowing Wally was gone, but got no answer. No one had seen Ollie or John Constantine since just before the quake. He couldn't help but blame himself for this. Was Wally's death some sort of cosmic balance to be struck for Lian to live? On the morning after in Titans Tower, Bart Allen had received a call from his grandmother at not long after 2:30am. At 6am, Conner Kent had found him building and rebuilding a statue to Wally West in the Hall of Fallen Titans, evidently displeased with any completed attempt. When Conner had moved to put his hand on Bart's shoulder, all he felt was his friend weep into his chest for the next ten minutes as he did the only thing he could. Be there for him.
In Metropolis, Lois Lane ran the scoop of the century for the Daily Planet thanks to Jimmy Olsen's photograph, the most iconic since the D-Day landings. The banner headline ran "Fastest Man Alive Mourned by Man of Tomorrow…And World." Lois had cried typing it on the table of her mother-in-law's kitchen, while Clark had just sat in his old bedroom huddling his legs closer to his chest. In Iron Heights, the crippled form of Hunter Zolomon just lay there, with a single, solitary tear leaving him. Kyle Rayner, John Stewart and Guy Gardner had all descended to Earth at the moment they saw Clark flying above the Daily Planet holding the Flash's body. Kyle had been the one to take it from Superman and fly it back to Keystone City. It was a duty he would never forget, and it would always haunt him. The funeral was paid for by the Justice League…with every penny going into making sure some form of pension could be established for Linda, Jai and Irey should they fall on hard times. Eventually, the day came, when Wally needed to be buried. That was when J'onn J'onzz had returned to Earth and been informed by Bruce Wayne of everything. He was shocked to believe what Bruce was saying was true but agreed to help facilitate a private funeral for Wally before taking any action within the league.
The day came and the place was thronged by the hundreds. A Batwing flew all the way from Titans Tower, as the pallbearers; Barry Allen, Jay Garrick, Dick Grayson, Bart Allen, Roy Harper and Kyle Rayner carried their old friend to his final destination. The ceremony seemed traditionally Christian except instead of a priest speaking it was Zauriel, the angel who had once served with Wally on the JLA. In the front pew of official mourners were Linda, Jai, Irey, Wally's mother, Mary, Iris and Ira. Iris was standing in for her brother, Rudy, Wally's father. In reality, though, Wally would have been happy to know she was there instead of him. In Wally's mind, Barry and Iris took precedence over either Mary or Rudy, but that didn't stop tradition. Zauriel asked for all to stand. "We give thanks to the Lord, our God, for the life of Wallace West. He is survived by his wife, Linda, children Jai and Iris, parents Rudy and Mary, grandfather Ira, aunt and uncle Iris and Barry and their grandchildren Bart and Jenni." Zauriel hadn't even mentioned Iris' sister Inez or her husband and children who hadn't bothered to turn up, and no one could care less since, well, no one cared about them.
Barry Allen found it a struggle not being able to sit beside his wife and comfort her as she would him in kind. Especially when her father was asking "Where's Wally?" and about whether she'd be bringing her new boyfriend to the next dinner. He just looked beside him to Bart, who had refused to even make eye contact with him since Wally had died. Even when they were sorting how they should align the carrying of the coffin, Bart had not even deigned to engage with him, taking instruction from either Jay or Dick. Neither of them could have seen Wally dying anytime soon, but they both should have known that anything can happen, and that his death would drive a near unbreakable wedge between grandfather and grandson. Barry's thoughts drifted to the news that Roy Harper's daughter had arisen as well. Roy had kept the girl at the back of the hall, with Dinah looking after her, who was more than glad to see her granddaughter again.
Zauriel continued his sermon: "And so you see, the Lord moves in mysterious ways. In giving us Wally West, he also gave us a bright ray of hope. Wally came to us as the Flash, at a time when the world had lost hope. When a crisis had claimed the life of his mentor…" Barry could hear Bart's fists clenching in anger as he fought back tears beside him. "…Wally rose to the occasion, becoming the Flash. And he became not only a hero to the people of Keystone City, but to the world, as his uncle had been before him. He faced down some of the greatest villains to ever beset the world. And all this defined Wally West, almost as much as the love he bore for his friends, particularly his comrades from the Teen Titans, and his family be they cousin or surrogate grandfather." Barry could see Jay and Joan weeping like babies on the other side of him. "I was proud to call Wally a comrade of mine on the JLA. We fought off menaces such as Prometheus, Darkseid and Vandal Savage. He was always ready to make a witty jibe at the expense of the villains. I never really understood why mortals found so many things humorous till I met Wally." A bald Scotsman sitting behind Barry said, "That's not what I meant by that." Barry turned around to correct the man's rudeness and he seemed to glare back at him and say "Oh please, you wouldn't be alive if you weren't for me. Now listen to my angel boy!" His friend with long brown hair with an American accent who seemed to be all but salivating over Barry begged forgiveness for his friend. What a strange encounter. J'onn later told him the man was some author from Glasgow who had some connection to Zauriel and Animal Man.
"And now, Iris, Jai and Joan would like to lead us in prayers in Wally's honour." Iris held the hand of her grandnephew as he read his prayer, knowing he needed her strength. Joan seemed so solemn, and more stoic than Jay was, who was at the point in his grief that he felt as if he had lost a limb. Barry held the old man's hand, partly because he wanted to comfort him, and partly because he knew Bart would reject him if he tried the same on him. Zauriel once more took to the podium as if to ask those assembled for a new gift; "And now we call on Bart, Irey and Lian to give offerings in Wally's memory." Barry was surprised Lian had been included, since Roy had sent her to be with Dinah away from prying eyes. Then he remembered Wally would have wanted those mourning him to celebrate something like Lian returning. That was Wally. Ever the positive one. Bart carried up Wally's old ring containing his Flash suit and laid it upon the altar. Irey carried a picture of her family and placed it atop her father's coffin. Then, Lian brought something really simple up and held it close to her, before walking to Linda and giving it to her as the two embraced. It was a stuffed bear she had had since she was a toddler. Wally had given it to her all those years ago as a present for her birthday. It seemed to symbolise all of his nephew's kindness and courage in one simple package. Dinah went to retrieve Lian from Linda, but it took her longer than normal as Linda smothered the poor, young girl with kisses.
"And now, Richard Grayson would like to say a few words in honour of his oldest and dearest friend, Wally West." The handsome young man who Barry had been proud to know for almost as many years as Wally walked up to the lectern, cutting a figure most people couldn't hope to emulate. He had Bruce's strength, but Wally's courage, and an open heart thanks to his friendships with the Titans. "I first met Wally when we were about fourteen. I had to save his and Garth's ass from Mister Twister, that time. We kind of knew each other anyway through Barry and Bruce, but that's when we really bonded. We weren't wearing kiddy gloves then. No stabilisers on our bikes. Not long after that, the three of us met up with Donna and Roy and the Teen Titans were born. It was good fun. We had some good years. The Titans broke up, then got back together, but Wally…he had to leave. He wanted to go to college and his powers were affecting his maturing body. That's when I called him up and asked him should we start doing early vacations every year. As a way of keeping Robin and Kid Flash's crimefighting partnership going. They were always fun, always some new menace for Nightwing and the Flash to fight in the middle of nowhere. He was some guy. It was hard keeping people together after Barry died, and Wally moved from the Titans to the League. So, I made that effort to keep seeing him. After that, it was like we had always been the best of friends. He was there for me when Jason died…and when he asked Linda to marry him, I had the privilege to be the Flash's best man. In full costume, and everything. Awkward wedding for me, but my butt did look good." Barry had to crack a smile with the rest of the audience for that. "Then they had the twins, and they both grew up…well, way too fast. I don't even have kids yet and here's Wally nearly having them in high school." Dick paused uncomfortably at that. "Jai and Irey are two great kids. He'd be so proud of both of them. I'll never…I'll never forget that last time Wally and I saw each other. We were having a beer when I was in Keystone a month ago. I said to him "Boy, Wally, you really have everything, don't you?" He smiled back at me and said, "Yeah, and I wouldn't trade it for anything." Then I can't forget the time I told him I was gonna' be Batman. I was so nervous. I didn't want to do it, I wanted Tim or someone to do it. But I had to, and Wally just put his hand on my shoulder and said that I had to be there for my family. And I was, thanks to him. That was Wally West. My best friend…my…my brother. He's gone to be with Garth and Danny and so many other Titans who stood against the end of the world. I'll always love you man." Dick began crying on the altar as Zauriel gently motioned him to stand down from the altar. Linda ran up to him and hugged him. "He loved you too, Dick. So, very much." The whole cathedral erupted in applause as Jai and Irey rushed to hug Dick as well. Barry looked solemnly at his father-in-law who seemed to have come to the dawning realisation of his grandson's fate from Dick's words, while tears streamed to the floor like the Angel Falls.
Zauriel hushed the audience of the church then and said, "And now, to lead us out, Irey West would like to sing a song on her father's behalf." Barry smiled having heard so much from Wally the past while how Irey was coming along as a singer. Standing on the lectern, she opened her mouth and issued a truly heaven-sent rendition of a simple song she thought appropriate for her father, the Flash. No one could remember what it was called afterwards, but had an idea of what it was. Not a hymn, nor an aria. Just an ordinary song her dad liked, that reflected his great career as a superhero. Barry felt himself weeping inconsolably as he took his position with the others in raising the coffin and making their way out to the hearse outside to the rhythm of Irey's tune. Outside the church, Barry was more shocked than anyone to see the honour guard. He looked to Bruce with anger, but he and J'onn merely nodded their heads as if to say, this was a truce. The honour guard were the Rogues. Leonard Snart, Lisa Snart, Mick Rory, Evan McCulloch and all their comrades were lined around the outside of the cathedral and saluted the coffin as the pallbearers placed it within the vehicle. They then vanished as quickly as they had been there, and Barry saluted to the aether. He appreciated what they had just done. A final mark of respect for their fallen foe. Barry had to say he was kind of happy they could do something like this.
As the cortege advanced, Bruce Wayne walked up to Clark Kent and Lois Lane slowly but surely, Alfred trailing behind him. "He will not be forgotten, Clark. He's set me up in breaking a massive case. Wally didn't die for nothing…" "If it's all alright with you, Bruce, I'd rather not discuss business at a time like this. You can't know what killed Wally. And we're not going to solve that here." Bruce seemed perplexed that Clark could be so harsh with him, and promptly withdrew silently as he so often did without either of them really noticing. Lois seemed a little concerned at her husband's abrupt attitude. "Do you think that was fair, Smallville? Bruce was just as much Wally's friend as you were. He's just grieving in his own way." Clark looked down to his wife, amazed at how anyone could give Bruce the benefit of the doubt for what he had just done. "His own way, Lois, has always been the way that leads to his friends hurting the most."
Roy Harper and Dinah Lance, the woman as good as a mother to him, walked with Lian Harper. Dinah was distressed at the idea her ex-husband wasn't here. His son, Connor Hawke was with them and was knocked for six at what had happened to Wally. "This is so like Ollie," Dinah grumbled, "Leaving us in the lurch like this when we all want to mourn." "He's no saint," Roy said, "but I'm sure he has his reasons for not being here. Besides, Donna isn't here either and she was as close to Wally as any of us." "That's different," Dinah rebuked, "Diana made it pretty clear she can't even find her right now. She even asked Kyle and John and they said nothing." Meanwhile, Guy Gardner and John Stewart seemed to trail behind. "Y'hear Rayner got invited to a League meeting tomorrow? By Batman. And we're just here to what, look pretty? The nerve!" John couldn't really answer without bringing up the elephant in the room. "I suppose they'll want to know what's become of Hal. I can't believe no one's even asked."
"Do ya really want Superman shooting up Oa ta' get Jordan out of there?"
"Hal doesn't even know Wally's dead, and they were friends. It's not right, what they're doing to him."
"Well, it is how it is, John, and we did our best. Short of busting the guy out, I ain't got no clever ideas right now."
Bruce Wayne slicked back towards a dark man in a trenchcoat who was still busy concentrating on not making it apparent to everyone that this funeral was the Flash's, and that the people in attendance were not recognised as other heroes. "I should have been on the Watchtower, Bruce," was the solemn reply of the Martian Manhunter to his comrade's close presence. "No, J'onn, don't think like that," Bruce said curtly, "It was my fault for not trusting anyone. Have you been able to find Ollie?"
"His mind does not appear to be on this world any longer."
"Constantine might be blocking you with some sort of spell…though why he'd do that I don't know. Last I saw of them, I paid Constantine for his services and offered Ollie a ride home. Constantine convinced him to go for drinks with him to celebrate Lian being back. I haven't heard from either of them since."
"I believe you, Bruce. But the team will not, even by my word, believe a word you say."
"And why is that?"
"There are particles in the air, obscuring rational thought. Maybe they're the reason Wally went there in the first place, or why Ollie has disappeared. I have collected a sample in this vial." He handed it to Bruce covertly from one of his pockets. "I think it could do with some testing back at the Batcave."
"Excellent. I'll head str—"
"You are doing no such thing, Bruce Wayne. There are plenty of members of your family unacquainted with Wally West on patrol in Gotham as we speak. I think they can do without you for one day so you can mourn our friend."
"You're right, J'onn. I'm sorry."
"Sometimes it takes the firm but kind hand of someone who knows you well to lead one in the right direction, old friend. I sense darkness, in you, Bruce. You worry for your children."
"Today is not about me, J'onn. Like you said, it's about Wally."
The procession eventually reached the cemetery. The hearse was opened and Wally's pallbearers lowered him into the ground as Zauriel, whom J'onn had had to give the appearance of a fat, old priest began his graveside oration. Linda, Jai and Irey all held each other tight as Iris cared for her inconsolable father. The whole affair was just one waterfall of the saline atop the grave of a man beloved by the entire heroic community. Barry saw Bart was weeping and his two friends who had come with him, Superboy and Wonder Girl, were respectively distant at this moment to give the family space. Barry decided now was the time to be there for his grandson. And so, he placed his hand on Bart's shoulder…
"Don't you touch me! You should be dead, not him! You were dead, and we were all happy. Now Wally's gone, and you're still here!" The scene Bart had just caused ruptured the whole atmosphere of the graveyard. Conner and Cassie moved towards him then to try and assuage him. "Listen, man, it's okay to be upset," Conner firmly but fairly intervened, "But Barry loved Wally too." Cassie moved towards Barry. "We're sorry, Bar-, Mr Allen, it's just Bart doesn't know what he's saying." Iris then grabbed her grandson by the rough of the neck. "Bartholomew Allen, you apologise at once to your grandfather! Wally's death has nothing to do with him. He knew Wally longer than you, and if Wally were here, he wouldn't tolerate you talking about Barry Allen that way whatsoever. Now Barry's burying someone he helped to raise, and you dare to insult him, making this all about yourself." Bart threw her hand away. "You don't get it, Grandma. Everything's gone bad ever since he came back! Everything!" Bart then sped away. Before Conner or Jay could move to follow him, Barry just raised his hand. "Leave him be, he just needs some space. And so, do I…" Barry then slowly traipsed to another end of the cemetery. This cemetery was where his mother was buried as well.
The grave of Nora Allen was still well tended, even in the years her only son had been dead, Iris and Wally had made it their business to take care of her. Barry only wished his father could be here with her and not in some prison graveyard. He saw a young blonde man with a scraggly beard standing by the grave as he approached it. "Hey, wait!" he shouted, startling the young man who fled. Barry wasn't bothered to chase him right now. Looking at the grave, he saw that the young man had left a fresh bouquet, addressed to his grandmother. Barry wondered was this some sort of practical joke. Then he remembered Eddie Thawne. No, it couldn't be. How would he know a woman these many years dead was his grandmother? "He knows many things, Barry Allen," a voice said from behind him as he turned to face a woman with green eyes and a cloak, her hands outstretched and bleeding as if she had performed some dark ritual to summon a demon.
"Who are you? How did you know what I was thinking? Or is this J'onn trying to get me to open up to someone in one his weird ways?"
"I am not J'onn J'onzz. I am Pandora. Guardian of Life, the greatest sin of the world. And you…you are Barry Allen, the Fastest Man Alive. The man so irresponsible he murdered his own family to save his mother."
"That's not fair…"
"Oh, but it is! You're not an idiot, Barry. You must have known the consequences of your actions."
"Well, I've set things right. The world is better now, it's like it was."
"No, it isn't! Wally West is dead!"
"That's hardly my fault."
"You upset the timeline, Barry. Admittedly, things could be a lot worse. I witnessed one eventuality where your friend, Wally never even existed and you never married Iris…"
"How can you know all of this?"
"Time is nothing to me, Barry Allen. I have seen every timeline and I see that Eobard Thawne is destroying them all." That name made Barry wince as his face palled. "Eobard Thawne…is dead. I saw Thomas Wayne drive a sword through his back."
"A man who shouldn't have been alive killed another who shouldn't have been alive…you can see why life doesn't really care for that sort of logic."
"So…if Thawne is alive, then where is he?"
"Eobard Thawne is dead, Barry Allen. Or at least he can be…" The woman then vanished in a split second and Barry suddenly thought of something. This young man, this Eddie Thawne. He was Thawne's ancestor. All he needed was a push in the right direction. From what Iris had told him the Thawnes of the future were ultra-rich technocrats with little regard for human life. Barry knew that that must be nurture over nature. To kill Eobard Thawne, he needed to save the Thawnes from the trap of greed and ambition. That would be his mission. Iris then walked up to him. "Barry, dear. We're all heading to the hotel for refreshments if you want to come. It would mean a lot to Linda and the kids for you to be there, especially with Bart cutting off."
"How are you doing, Iris?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that your nephew just died and you've been spending all day worrying about everyone else. Are you okay?" She began shaking her head, with tears streaming through her makeup. "Oh, Barry, his beautiful life!" Husband and wife held each other in the knowledge that neither could truly express in words how much Wally West had meant to either of them. He was more than just their nephew; he was as good as their son. And now he was gone, just like their own children…
Gar Logan, Rachel Roth and Victor Stone all walked out of the cemetery together, silently thinking about the friend they had just lost. Rachel could sense the extremity of all the emotions around her, and as much as she missed Wally herself, she could feel the grief of all those who loved him more than her and she began clutching her head. "Ray, what's wrong?" her boyfriend said as he put his green hand on her pale one. "It's…it's just…I can feel all this…pain for people missing Wally. And I feel so awful about what I did to him." Victor turned his half-cybernetic head to face his friend. "You can't think like that, Raven." Rachel was of course referring to when she had first met them all, the Teen Titans. To reform the team to defeat her father, Trigon, she had had to resort to high levels of deceit. But none were lured in greater than Wally. She had convinced Wally he was madly in love with her when he barely knew the girl. She felt he was key, and unlike the others he had been so unwilling to even consider joining, because he cared so much about going to college and giving up on being Kid Flash. When this all came to the fore, Wally at first moved on, but later admitted being around Raven was the main factor for his leaving the team and distancing himself from pretty much every Titan except Dick. "Ray, he forgave you. We were all different people, then. We were kids. And besides, look…you didn't exactly ruin his life. He went on and was happily married with a family." Rachel nuzzled her head in her boyfriend's chest as Vic rested his gigantic left arm around two of his dearest friends.
"No sign of Kory and Donna then, Vic?"
"Donna's not picking up…and Kory seems to have vanished off the face of the galaxy. And all of that R.E.B.E.L.S. team of hers too." Gar stroked his chin in bemusement. "This whole thing seems fishy. The League Watchtower wouldn't just crash into the Moon." Vic then nodded in assent. "And Red Tornado couldn't have gone rogue enough to crash it. The boys at S.T.A.R. Labs and I made sure of that. But the Watchtower was empty, who could have done it?" These questions continued to plague the old friends as they all got into a car and drove to the hotel where their meal awaited.
At his grandparents' house, Bart prepared to pack a bag. He wasn't spending a minute longer with any of the Flash Family. He couldn't stand how they could all just stand how Barry was back, and simultaneously accept that Wally was gone. The only reason they had to believe Wally was gone, was because neither Barry nor Jay could find him in the Speed Force. But Bart would. He just needed a track to run for as long as possible and outpace himself till he was able to go further into the Speed Force than them. Maybe S.T.A.R. Labs. He'd head there as soon as he had a bag. Only problem was so much stuff, and in a family of speedsters he guessed they hadn't caught him yet because he was only giving them space. "Going somewhere, are we?" said a familiar voice as Bart looked around to see Tim Drake standing in the doorway.
"Tim, you're okay! Oh my God, we all thought you had vanished…or…or worse…or…"
"Hey, Bart. Don't worry. I'm just on a top-secret job with Oracle. I had to duck out today when I heard they were burying Wally. I couldn't come to the funeral, so I thought I might find you here."
"Why not? Dick's there, and Babs, and Bru—"
"Don't mention that man's name."
"Tim…what happened. You're so…so angry. And towards Bruce."
"He…it doesn't matter, Bart. I'm here to make sure you're alright. Last we spoke, you didn't seem that happy with your old granddad."
"Yeah, well, he's a good man and all…but everything's going upside down because of him."
"Take it from me, man. Barry didn't cause any of that. And he didn't cause Wally's death. You don't have to be his biggest fan, but if half the stories I've heard about Barry Allen are true, he's got a heart bigger than most heroes."
"Yeah well, it's a bit like a game of telephone. First Wally says Barry is nice to Iris. Iris says Barry is great to her grandchildren. I tell you all my grandpa was amazing. You tell Bruce, and Bruce tells Clark and next you know he's goddamn Jesus!"
"I think Bruce and Clark knew your grandpa well enough to form their own opinions. I think the problem for you is, Bart…your grandpa isn't perfect. You expected him to be. This man who gave his life for…well, all life. You thought if you got to meet him, he'd be larger than life. The fact is, like most people, he's not perfect. You can't go through your life being like Bruce and expecting everyone to live to your standards. That's never going to work."
"I suppose you're right."
"You should be directing your anger at whatever killed Wally instead of your grandpa. He's hurting too."
"So, then, what's the deal with you and Bruce?" Tim suddenly rushed to change the subject. "It's complicated." Bart saw some scars on Tim's wrist and hands as he drew away. "Did you do that to yourself?" "What?" Tim exclaimed, "no, no…this was in my undercover op. Just wounds. They'll heal in a while."
"Tim…just be grateful it's me and not Conner you're talking too, right now."
"Alright, then. Goodbye, Bart."
"It was good to see you, man."
"Me, too, man. Give the others, my love." With that, Bart Allen watched Tim Drake walk out of his life again and thought on his old friend's words of wisdom. He should lighten up on Barry. But today had been rough. He just felt like sleeping and forgetting about the Flash Family. Tim was right though. He couldn't just leave them on some selfish pursuit. They were after all…family.
At the hotel, a spread was on for all the guests, with a special catering company providing any who came with a single course meal, as these drab and dreary affairs where one buries the dead tend to do. Dinah went over to Cissie King-Jones, a girl she had just really been getting to know. The girl seemed annoyed, and Dinah figured it was because Bart wasn't here. "You sure you're old enough to be buying booze, kid?" Cissie made a laugh as false as margarine in response to that. "I came to give my condolences to Bart, and he can't even be bothered to come back." Cissie had missed the ceremony to avoid awkwardness, so Dinah realised she was unaware of recent events. "He had a bit of an outburst at his grandfather back at the cemetery…I think he's gone to blow off some steam." Cissie seemed concerned to hear her friend was this shaken by Wally's death, but understood the guy had meant a lot to him. "Family is everything, we shouldn't spoil it." Dinah hugged the young girl, knowing that the poor thing had just learned that Oliver Queen was her biological father. She may not be with Ollie anymore, but Dinah loved his kids, and Cissie had sought her out before anyone else connected to him. Dinah was always going to be there for one of the Star City kids Ollie was responsible for even if he wasn't. Ollie was being such an ass! Let alone not meeting the girl, but also, he wasn't even at Wally's funeral. What had she ever seen in him?
Cassie Sandsmark went to get a sandwich for herself after the meal when she felt someone tug at the hem of her trousers. She turned around to see two adorable little kids, a boy and a girl. She recognised them then as Wally's children. Jai and Irey West. "Are you Wonder Girl?" Irey asked. "Um, yeah, I guess I am," she said with false modesty, "I'm so sorry about your dad." Irey seemed to bite her cheek then. "Yeah, we know everyone here is. Thanks." Jai looked impatient. "Look, sis, just get on with it. For someone so fast, you're really slow! Just tell her what we want!"
"Okay, jeez. Anyway, uh, Wonder Girl…"
"You can call me Cassie, everyone does."
"Okay, Cassie. We um…we just thought that maybe since me and Jai will be thirteen soon. Well, we thought that we could well you know join you?"
"You mean you're asking to join the Titans?"
"We'll be really well behaved, we swear. And we won't make a mess!"
"Well, what did your mother say."
"We haven't asked her."
"Pfft. That doesn't matter. She's not got superpowers, why should we listen to her?"
"Well, to me it does matter, young man. My mom had to know about me being Wonder Girl, and I needed Wonder Woman's permission to join the Titans. Same went for all of us, except Robin…but he had Batman's approval."
"Sounds like he didn't have his dad's."
"That's…complicated. But he did…eventually." Conner then walked up. "Hey, Cass. Hey kids. Are you two guys doing okay?"
"We're no more kids than you, clone boy."
"Listen, kid, I know you're grieving but that's no excuse to be rude to someone you just met."
"Ignore my brother, I know how to rein him in. You guys are real good friends with our cousin, Bart, right? He can vouch for us."
"Much as I love the guy, he's hardly your legal guardian."
"But what about Uncle Barry?" Linda then walked up. "Oh, I'm sorry if these two are bothering you." Cassie put on her best diplomatic tone. "Oh, don't worry, Mrs West. They're both lovely. And they seem…eager to join the Teen Titans." Linda seemed annoyed by that at first, then she seemed scared. But before she could open her mouth to answer those emotions she simply said, "Well there's no stopping any of these speedsters. Is there? So long as they start off on a training basis and don't see action for another few years…I'll allow it." Cassie and Conner were as surprised as anyone to hear that.
"Aw yes! Jai, we get to chill with Bart." Conner snickered. "Better warn Bart to lay off Rose's hooch with these two around." Cassie giggled at that whisper. "Okay, then, Linda…I can call you Linda." "Of course." "Okay then, Linda, as leader of the Teen Titans I accept Jai and Irey West into our ranks as professional trainees. But that means you guys can only come to the tower every second weekend and you can only train when all your homework's done." Linda smiled as her children groaned. "So responsible for someone so young. I like you, uh, what was it?"
"Cassie, Cassie Sandsmark. Wonder Girl."
"Well, you and your boyfriend here seem like a fine pair to look after these two."
"Oh, he's—"
"We're not—"
Both Superboy and Wonder Girl tripped over their words like the dumb teenagers they were, pretty much putting paid to both their codenames. Sure, they could fly but that didn't stop them being awkward. Linda laughed and left with the two kids. Cassie distinctly heard Irey say "Denial is not just a river in Egypt." She looked Conner in the eye and they both blushed before awkwardly walking away from one another for a bit. It had been impossible to be a couple because of her method of leading the team. She had to admit she liked the idea of a partnership, working together more than being some kind of indisputable leader as so many others in the Titans had been before her. That's why she and Conner had broken up. She felt no one else took her seriously with him being concerned for his girlfriend in the field. In the end, they had both broken off the attachment knowing that as teenagers, relationships are intense, and they already have enough responsibilities to not have to care so much about one another over the rest of the team. Still, neither had exactly pursued anyone else since they ended it.
At the bar, Dick Grayson sulked over a pint as Barbara Gordon sat beside him. "You want to talk?" Dick looked away and turned to her. "I'll be fine, Babs. Don't worry. In our line of work, we're used to people dying." Barbara made that concerned frown as she put her hand on her boyfriend's back. "Yeah, but Wally was your best friend." Dick nodded as he took a swig from his drink. "He meant a lot to me, I'm not gonna' lie. But I'm going to be there for his family, and I'm going to live life like he would have wanted." "My sentiments exactly," Roy Harper said as he walked up behind Dick. They hugged. "Hey, we didn't really get a chance to talk earlier. It's good to see you, Dick. Wish this could have been better circumstances." "Well," Dick smiled, "I hope this hasn't dampened your good news. You can't blame yourself for this. Lian being back, doesn't have anything to do with Wally dying." Roy frowned as he thought about the guy he had met in Star City. Last time he saw him, Ollie and Constantine had taken him away, and now Wally was dead in a freak accident that had destroyed the Watchtower. Surely, this was just a coincidence…
"So, Bruce tells me you're palling with Jason, now? I hope you can set a better example for him than we have."
"Fat chance of that, man. Barbara, good to see you, apart from the circumstances. How's your father?"
"He's good. Being Police Commissioner in Gotham is a thankless job at the best of times, but we've got one another."
"Yeah…a father does need their child around sometimes. Keep them sane."
"I couldn't agree more."
"Those poor twins have lost a great dad," Roy seemed to say to himself as he walked away. "He's taking this harder than he should be," Dick said, "He should be happy he got Lian back. She was his world. This makes no sense." "Trying to make sense of grief are we, Boy Wonder?" Babs said nudging him in the side, "I know you were Batman for a while, but you're starting to think like Bruce. Roy's right to have mixed feelings about all this. He must feel guilty seeing the grief the likes of Linda and Barry are going through while he's got Lian back. It's only natural."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Why are you always right?"
"Because I've read more books than you, that's why."
"Oh, I've read plenty, I just don't really take in what that stuff is trying to say."
"Evidently. Still, you're the smartest guy I've ever dated."
"Weren't you and Ted Kord a thing once?"
"Oh, God know. If he were, I wouldn't have said that, now would I?"
"Ha, I suppose. Come on, I want to go home."
Dick said as he hoisted on his coat and made his goodbyes to the family. He didn't even bother talking to Bruce. Apart from him and Babs, Bruce was the only Batman Family member attending. Helena Bertinelli had sent a wreath in honour of her time on the JLA with Wally, but she hadn't known him as well as the three of them had. Jason would be reluctant to head out to any event filled with all these heroes. He wasn't into the whole Justice League side of things. But Tim not being here really stung in Dick's craw. Tim and Bart had been great friends, and Tim should have been there for him. Babs had insisted that Tim was cracking and what Steph had told them was still shaking him. Getting in the taxi, they slowly drove through Keystone City on the long drive back to the airport. Then they passed the cemetery and the mound of earth filled with flowers above where Wally's grave would be. "Wait, stop!" The cabbie pulled over as Dick motioned him to just wait for a couple of minutes. "Dick, what's wrong."
"Nothing, I just want to say one last goodbye to him, if that's okay."
"Of course," Babs said as Dick walked out of the car. He helped her back into her chair and they went to the grave. Kneeling by the little cross over the mound, Dick began weeping hysterically. "It's not fair, Babs! He was the best of all of us." Babs put her hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. Truth be told, they had only been back together a few weeks, but it felt like the years of breaking it on and off had never really happened. Since being Batman, Dick seemed a lot more mature than when he had first come running to her after splitting up with Kory. It was so sad seeing him this upset over Wally. His oldest and dearest friend. "This isn't meant to be fair. Wally had a good life, Dick. Look at all the people who came today. I mean, you saw the Rogues make a procession like that for him. So many folks respected Wally."
"He led such a wonderful life, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did. And we'll never forget him."
"But I want what he had."
"What do you mean, Dick?"
"What I mean is, that Wally had a great life. He had so many people who loved him and said they did. Jay, Joan, Iris, Barry, Bart…Linda and the kids. Apart from you, all I've really got for that is Tim. I'm not saying the others don't love me but everyone of our guys in Gotham are…well, they're such hard cases. Bruce has a fear of saying he loves anyone since the two people he loved the most in the world were shot in front of him. And I feel like such a failure there. I was Nightwing in Bludhaven for years, I was their hero. I was Batman for what? Less than a year. Being a hero is a thankless job, and we need someone to love us at the end of the day without expecting us to do our duty by them. The Titans was an escape for all of us, from the suffocating nature of our families, but Wally never needed that. He had so many people who loved him. But I'm not going to let life slip me by so I can't have that. And he was going to be the best man, like I was. Life really is slipping by…"
"Dick, you're rambling. You don't know what you're saying."
"No, Babs. I've never been clearer about anything in my life." Turning around to the woman he loved, Dick Grayson got on one knee and produced from his pocket a box. A dark box containing, believe it or not, a diamond studded engagement ring. "I don't want to waste my life not building a happy one for myself, or for the people I care about. Barbara Gordon, will you marry me?" Babs started crying. "You're such a cliché, Boy Wonder, you know that? Yes, Dick. Of course, I'll marry you." They both kissed passionately as on the other end of the cemetery, a blonde man with a scraggly beard smirked with the knowledge that the timeline was bending to his will satisfactorily.