Me: *soaking wet* Hey everyone.

Robin: Uhhh, why are you all wet.

Me: Well, when you went off to help Batman, Wally and Arty caught me and hung me over that tank.

Robin: You mean they actually did it?

Wally: *zooms in and hides behind Robin* Rob, you've got to save me.

Robin: Save you? From who? Nara Lover's right here and...

Artemis: WALLY! *stomps in room*

Me: I think I'm gonna go over here. *walks to other side of room*

Robin: What's going on?

Artemis: *to Wally* HOW COULD YOU DO THAT!

Wally: I... I... *runs out of room*

Artemis: Get back here! *runs out of room after him*

Robin: What the heck did I miss?

Me: *giggling and walking back toward Robin* I'll tell you after the readers read this chapter.

Robin: *to readers* Please hurry up and read the chapter.

Me: Don't be rude.

Robin: What? I want to know why Arty wants to kill Wally.

Me: Be patient. *to readers* Enjoy the chap.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Artemis walked into her room and threw her book bag into a corner. "That little troll. I can't believe he did that," she said ticked.

"Who did what?"

Artemis jumped and turned toward the voice. Wally stood next to the bag she threw into the corner smiling. "Sheesh, Wally."

Wally just smiled, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the wall. "Sorry. So who did what to you?"

Artemis turned back around and continued to her dresser to grab some clothes to change in to so she could get out of her school uniform. "Grayson." Wally smirked and tried to hide his laughter. Artemis never looked back at him. "He came up behind me, took another picture of me and him, then wouldn't let me see it, but showed it to everyone in the school."

Wally was having a hard time keeping his laughter down, but managed to speak without giving his laughter away. "The whole school?"

She finally found a shirt and a pair of jeans and closed the drawer. "Well, maybe not the whole school, but close enough. Everyone I came across seemed to have a comment about it," she said as she walked to the bathroom and then closed the door.

Wally quietly laughed once the door was closed. "Man, I wish I wasn't checking up on the others when that happened. I bet her face was priceless when he did that."

After another minute, Artemis came out of the bathroom and looked straight at Wally. "What are you smiling about?"

Wally just kept smiling. "Nothing. So why'd he do it?"

"Who knows. He probably just wanted to be annoying."

"Or maybe because he likes you."

Artemis froze. "You're crazy. He's just being annoying. He's been that way since I got there." Wally just kept smiling at her. "No, you said Robin liked me, and there's no way Grayson is..." Again Wally tried to hold back a laugh. "No, he can't be... Can he?"

Wally finally uncrossed his arms and walked toward her. "Face it, babe, you got trolled by Robin."

Artemis sat down hard on her bed shocked. "Grayson is Robin?"

"Yep," Wally said smiling as he sat down next to her. He then turned her head so she would face him and became serious. "Artemis, I can't be with you anymore..."

"You're here now," Artemis said quickly as she jumped up and stepped away from the bed. "You were here last night."

"Yeah, but I don't have much time left here. I have a feeling that after the funeral in two days," Artemis looked away from him sadly at the thought of that, "I'm gonna leave and I don't think I'll be able to come back." He stood up and wrapped Artemis in his arms. She just cried in his chest. "I just don't want you to be alone."

"Why did you have to die?" Artemis asked still crying.

"I don't know, babe. Maybe because you and Rob were meant to be together, or maybe it was just my time," he said trying to comfort her.

"But it's not fair. I just got you and now I lost you."

"I know." He looked her in her tear filled eyes then leaned down and kissed her. "I don't want to lose you to my best friend, but we both have to realize that there's nothing either of us can do."

Artemis pulled away from him reluctantly, walked over to the nightstand, and picked up the picture of her and the team. "So how long has he liked me?"

"Well, I'm not totally sure, but he told me right after the whole Reds incident."

Artemis turned and looked at him. "That long and he never said anything?"

"He knew we liked each other and he didn't want to mess things up for us."

"Right, that's what you said," she said looking back down at the picture.

"Arty, if you think you may like him, you don't have to hid it from me. In fact, I would be happy because then I'd know you will be happy when I'm gone."

"Don't say that!" Artemis yelled as she threw the picture at him.

Wally tried to move out of the way, but wasn't quite fast enough. "Oww!" Artemis then stomped up to him and punched him hard in the face, sending him to the floor. "Geez, Arty, what's your problem?"

"Don't you ever say that I'll be happy that you're gone!" Artemis yelled.

Wally got up and with his hands out in front of him, walked slowly toward her. "I didn't say you would be happy that I'm gone, I just meant that you can be happy even though I'm gone."He wrapped his arms around her and she burst into tears again. "Dick's a good guy. I know he can make you happy," he said sadly.

No one said anything after that. They both just stood there. Finally Wally got Artemis to lay down, and after a few more minutes, she fell asleep.

YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ

Artemis woke up at five thirty-seven the next morning and looked around the room. It was still dark and when she pulled back the covers and sat up, she saw that she still had her jeans and shirt on that she put on after she got back home from school.

'Did I really sleep through the entire night?' She glanced at her clock on the nightstand and saw that it read five thirty-eight. 'Well, I don't think it would be dark outside if it was still yesterday.'

She stood up, walked to her closet, and pulled a fresh uniform shirt and skirt off the hooks. She then walked into the bathroom to take a shower.

After she finished her shower and got her hair fixed, she walked back in her room, sat down on her bed, closed her eyes, and sighed. She then opened her eyes and spotted the broken picture frame on the floor.

She stood up, walked over to the picture, and carefully picked it up. She then removed the picture from the broken frame, laid the picture on the floor, picked up the rest of the broken glass, threw them in the trash, picked the picture up off the floor, sat on her bed, and just stared at it.

She heard a knock at the door and looked up to see her mom coming in. "I wanted to make sure you were up and ready for school," her mom said.

"I am," Artemis said looking back down at the picture.

"Is everything all right?" her mom asked concerned.

"I just really miss Wally. His funeral is tomorrow," she replied not looking at her mom.

Her mom rolled her wheelchair over to Artemis and placed a hand on Artemis' knee. "I know it's hard, but I'm sure he wouldn't want you to be acting the way you have been since he died."

Artemis looked up at her and smiled. "You're right, mom, he doesn't like it that I've been avoiding everybody. He wants me to find someone I can be happy with and it happens to be someone I already know."

Her mom looked at her a bit confused, not really understanding, but just smiled and patted Artemis' knee. "I'm glad he has convinced you to move on."

"I don't think I'll ever get over his death, mom."

"It will take some time, and yes, you'll never truly get over it, but the important thing is to continue with your life and not let this stop you from being happy."

Artemis leaned over and hugged her. "Thanks, mom."

Her mom smiled and hugged her back. "You're welcome, and don't forget that I will always be here for you."

Artemis leaned back. "I know."

Her mom smiled and then rolled back to the door. "I'll have breakfast ready in a few minutes."

"Ok, I'll be down in a minute," Artemis said as she watched her mom leave.

Once her mom was gone, Artemis looked back at the picture in her hand, smiled as she looked at Wally and Robin, then placed in on her bed and got up and got her stuff together for school.

After a few more minutes, she had all her stuff in her backpack, including her hero outfit, and walked out the door to go eat with her mom.

YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ

The first half of school was the same as always for Artemis, boring. She did ok in those classes, but she was anxious to get to the cafeteria. She wanted to talk to Dick about everything Wally told her, and to find out if it was all true.

The bell rang and everyone in the classroom gathered up their books and started heading out the door. "Remember, your paper is due next week," Mr. Kyles said.

'Right, maybe Dick can help me on that,' Artemis that as she walked out of the room.

She got to her locker, and as she was putting her books away, she heard someone come up behind her. "Hey, Crock."

Artemis smiled, closed her locker, and turned to her visitor. "Hey, Grayson."

"So, you headed to the cafeteria?" Dick asked.

"Yeah."

"Mind if I walk with you?"

"Actually, I was going to try and find you."

Dick looked at her a bit surprised. "You were?"

Artemis chuckled. "Yeah," she said as she started walking toward the cafeteria.

Dick just started at her for a second then ran to catch up to her. "Why?"

"Hmmm?" she asked playing dumb.

Dick rolled his eyes. "Why did you want to find me?"

Artemis smiled. "Oh, I just wanted to talk."

"About wha..." Dick started, but got interrupted when Randy ran into him and knocked him to the floor.

"Hey, watch where you're goin', charity case," Randy said as he looked down at Dick. Dick just glared up at him.

Artemis got angry and pushed Randy hard. "Hey, buzz off. You ran into him."

Randy caught himself before he fell into his friends behind him and gave Artemis a dirty look. He then looked down at Dick, who was still sitting on the ground and a bit shocked that Artemis was standing up for him. "What's wrong, orphan boy? Need your girlfriend to fight your fights for you?"

Artemis balled up her fists as Randy and his friends laughed at his question. Dick saw this and grabbed Artemis' wrist. Artemis looked down at Dick and Dick just shook his head. She then helped him stand up.

"Awww, you even need your little girlfriend to help you get off the ground." Again Randy and his friends laughed.

Artemis clenched her fists again and took a step forward, but Dick stopped her. She looked over at him still aggravated, but also a bit confused.

Dick shook his head again. "You'll only encourage them," he told her quietly.

"But..." she tried, but Dick just shook his head again. Artemis closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked at Randy. "Ok, one, I'm not his girlfriend, and two..." she took a step toward him angrily which caused Randy to take a step back in fear and Dick reach for her arm to stop her before she started a fight, "... you're not worth it."

Dick smiled, let go of her arm, and laughed as Artemis pushed Randy so hard he fell to the ground. She then just walked past Randy and his shocked pals. Dick just ran after her.

"Hey, thanks," Dick said once they were far enough away from the group.

"No problem," Artemis said smiling, "but why do you just let them do that to you?"

"I've already got in enough trouble for fights about other things, and I promised Bruce that I wouldn't get into any more fights." Artemis just nodded in understanding. "Why did you stand up for me?"

"I don't like it when people pick on my friends."

"You think of me as your friend?" Dick asked a bit shocked.

Artemis looked at him accusingly. "What, am I not good enough to be your friend?"

"No... I-I mean yes... I- I mean..." Dick's face got red from embarrassment.

Artemis just laughed. Dick was silent for the rest of the trip to the cafeteria and through the lunch line. It was only after both of them sat down at a table and started eating when he got brave enough to talk again.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked then took a ite of his ham and cheese sandwich.

"I wanted to talk about something Wally told me."

Dick looked down at his tray sadly. "I still can't believe he's really gone."

"Yeah," Artemis said equally as sad.

"So, what did he tell you?" he asked after the few minutes of silence between them.

"Oh, we talked about how he doesn't want me to be unhappy not that he's gone, how you're a little troll," this got a smile out of Dick, "and who you really are."

Dick was in the middle of taking a drink when she said the last part and about choked. After he calmed his coughing, he looked up to her shocked and very surprised. "He told you what?!"

Artemis laughed at his reaction. "I don't think Bruce would like us talking aobut this with all these people around."

Dick looked around at the crowded cafeteria. "Yeah, probably not."

"Hey, listen, I need some help on my history paper and it's due next week. Do you think I could come over after school? You can help me with my paper, talk about this with Bruce, and then go hang out with our friends."

"You want to hang out with us again?" Dick asked surprised.

"Geez, what is it with you? Am I not allowed to hang out with them either?" she asked jokingly.

Dick blushed a little. "Sorry."

Artemis just laughed. "It's alright. Wally wants me to move on. I know it's going to be hard, but I want to try." She looked down at her tray. "You know, he said something else about you too."

Dick quickly gulped down the piece of sandwich that he was chewing. "Like what?" he asked a bit scared now.

"About... us," she said hesitantly not looking up at him. She really wasn't sure if she should be doing this yet. She didn't even know if she had feelings for him in that way.

This time Dick did choke on his food. He got sat the sandwich down, not sure if he could finish it now, and got his coughing under control. "H-he told you about that?"

Artemis put her half eaten sandwich on her own tray and finally looked up at him. "He doesn't want me to be alone, you either, and he said you told him you kinda liked me after the whole Reds thing. I guess he just thought if he gave his permission to like you back that we'd be able to take care of each other."

They were both silent for a few moments, neither one of them touching their food. Dick pulled out his phone and looked at the time. They only had about fifteen minutes left for lunch, and he knew that they needed to tell Bruce everything, but they couldn't just skip school to do it. "Ok, you'll come home with me after school, I'll help you with your paper, and we can talk to Bruce about this whole situation."

Artemis didn't look too thrilled at the idea, even though it was her idea, but nodded in agreement. They then got up and went to dump their trays. They then went off to get ready for their next class.

YJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJYJ

After school, Dick waited in the courtyard for Artemis. When he saw her, he waved at her and she walked over to him. "You ready?"

She looked over at the limo and saw Alfred standing there waiting for them and took in a deep breath. "As I'll ever be."

Dick just smiled. "Come on." He then grabbed her hand and drug her over to the limo.

"Good afternoon, Master Dick. How was school?" Alfred asked as he opened the back door of the limo.

"Ok," he replied then motioned for Artemis to get in first.

Alfred raised an eyebrow. "I take it we're having company tonight?"

"Yeah, she needs some help on her paper and I told her I would help her with it," Dick replied

"Will she be staying for dinner then?" Alfred asked not pushing the matter further.

Dick smiled then looked at Artemis who nodded. "Yeah," he said looking back at the older man.

"Very good, I will make sure to make extra."

"Thanks," Dick said then got in the car and Alfred closed the door.

"You didn't tell him?" Artemis asked quietly.

"Nah, I figured it'd be best if he didn't know until we decided to tell Bruce." Dick smiled. "It'll make a great dinner conversation."

"Oh yeah, 'cause that's exactly what he's gonna want to hear while he's eating," Artemis said sarcastically.

"Just let me handle it, ok?"

"Fine, whatever, but if you get me killed, I'll never let you forget it." Dick looked away sadly and hurt and she immediately regretted saying that. "I'm sorry, it just came out."

"It's ok," he said with a forced smile. He then turned away from her and looked out the window.

The ride back to the manor was quiet, and they only started talking to each other again when they started working on her history paper. After a few hours, they had the paper pretty much done and Bruce finally walked in the door.

Bruce was surprised to see Artemis sitting on the couch with Dick. "Dick?"

Both Dick and Artemis turned around to face him and Dick smiled. "Hey, Bruce. You remember Artemis, right?"

"Of course."

"Well, she needed help on her paper, so I told her we could come here and then she could have dinner with us."

"Well, I was hoping to leave pretty quickly after we ate, but I guess we could wait a little longer to go out."

"If it's a bad time then I can just go on home. We can do this another time," Artemis said.

Dick looked at her like 'What are you doing?' "No, we have to do this tonight," he said a bit sternly.

Artemis looked at Dick with the same attitude. "No, it can wait. I wouldn't want to keep Mr. Wayne away from whatever he has planned. It could be important."

"But this is important too."

Bruce looked at them trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind their bickering. "Alright, alright, calm down. Artemis, it's fine. It's not that big of a deal."

Artemis looked back at Bruce. "No, I can really come back another time," she said as she stood up and began to gather her things.

Dick stood up and grabbed her wrist. "No."

"Dick, stop," she said angrily.

Bruce took a step toward them. "Dick."

Dick sighed, let her go, and turned toward Bruce. "She's knows we're Batman and Robin."

Artemis froze and looked at Dick completely shocked that he just came right out and said it. She then looked at Bruce who now had his eyes narrowed at them and his arms crossed, and she could've sworn the temperature in the room went down several degrees.

"Start talking," Bruce said in a very serious voice.

"It's kind of hard to explain," Bruce just narrowed his eyes even more, "but simply put... Wally told her," Dick said.

"So she's known for a while?" Bruce asked not too happily.

"No, just since last night," Artemis replied.

"That's not possible. Wally's dead." Dick and Artemis flinched at his words. "Dick, tell me the truth."

"That is the truth, Bruce. Wally's been visiting us for the past couple days, or rather his ghost has."

Bruce sighed frustrated. "We both know there is no such things as ghosts."

"But, Bruce..."

"No," Bruce said a bit too loudly causing Dick to flinch away from him a bit. Bruce sighed when he saw a tear run down Dick's cheek and tried to calm himself down then knelt down in front of Dick and placed his hands on Dick's shoulders. "Dick, Wally is gone."

"He isn't," Dick said loudly as the tears now fell more freely. Dick looked over Bruce's shoulder and saw Wally standing there sadly. "He's here."

"Dick, sometimes when people miss someone that's died, they think they see them, but it's only an image that their mind created to help deal with the lose." Dick just continued to stare at Wally.

"But he's here, Bruce. He's right there," Dick said pointing at Wally.

Bruce looked down and away from Dick then back up at him. This time Dick looked at Bruce pleadingly. "There's no one there."

Dick angrily pushed Bruce's hands off his shoulders and backed away from him. "He's right there, Bruce, look at him!" he yelled, tears falling from his eyes again.

Bruce looked at where Dick was pointing, but saw no one. "I see no one."

Dick looked at Wally angrily. "Why don't you show yourself?"

"Dick, I told you, only you and the rest of the team can see me."

"Dick, stop," Bruce said now angry at his behavior. Dick looked at him surprised. "Wally is gone. There is nothing you can do about that. Now if you don't want to tell me the real reason why Artemis now knows our secret, fine, but don't go blaming it on someone who can't defend himself anymore." Dick looked hurt at his words. "Now when you're ready to tell me the truth, I'll listen, but until then, I'll be in the study."

Dick, Artemis, and Wally all watched at Bruce headed for the study and then slammed the door. Dick fell to his knees in anger and frustration and Artemis came over, knelt down next to him, and wrapped her arms around him.

"It's going to be ok, Dick. We'll just tell him that I accidentally overheard you talking to him about it on your phone while you were at school or wherever."

"Or you can just tell him that I told her right before I passed out in the warehouse."

Dick sniffed and whipped his eyes. "It's not the fact that he doesn't believe the story, it's that he doesn't believe me."

"Maybe that's why the adults can't see me," Wally suggested.

"But have you been around adults to prove that?" Artemis asked.

"Yeah," he said looking at her, "Black Canary came to the cave to check on M'gann, Conner, and Zatanna, and I was standing right in front of her."

"So they others saw you too?" Dick asked finally starting to calm down a little.

"No, they were in another room when I tried to see if Canary could see me."

"Oh," Dick said a little disappointed.

"Well, just tell him that Wally told me at the warehouse just like Wally suggested," Artemis said.

Dick just nodded and they both got up and headed to the study and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Bruce said.

They both looked at each other then back at Wally who just smiled at them for good luck. Artemis then grabbed Dick's hand, which surprised him a bit, but made no move to let go and they walked in.

"Bruce, Wally really did tell Artemis our secret," Dick said.

Bruce narrowed his eyes and looked down at their hands, but said nothing allowing them to continue.

"Before Wally passed out in the warehouse, he pulled me close and told me so quietly that I barely heard him. It wasn't 'til today that I finally got brave enough to tell Dick that I knew."

Bruce still said nothing and the silence was driving both teen crazy.

Finally he broke the silence. "Dick, I'd like to speak with Artemis alone."

Artemis looked at Dick a little scared, but Dick just smiled and squeezed her hand to reassure her that everything would be fine. He then let go of her hand, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry I made things worse for you."

"It's not your fault," Dick said as he walked over to the couch and sat down.

Wally walked over and sat down next to him. "No, I should've talked it over with you so that we could've had a plan for this."

"I probably would've just said the same thing. I wasn't thinking when I said that. I should've known that he wouldn't believe in that sort of thing. He's to..."

"Batman?" Wally suggested with a smile.

Dick chuckled and smiled. "Yeah."

They both then looked up at the study door. "So, what do you think he's saying to her?"

"He's probably just telling her the danger you've put her in and how she could now die because of it." Wally looked at him completely horrified, which only made Dick laugh. "I'm kidding. He's probably just telling her that if she wants to patrol with us that she'll have to train with us and that she does need to be more careful now."

"Artemis was right. You are a little troll."

Dick just smiled wider. "And proud of it."

"Look, I heard her tell you that I told her your secret 'cause I didn't want either one of you to be alone, and she's right. After the funeral tomorrow, I probably won't be able to come back, and I want to make sure you guys are both taken care of."

"Well, I think we just became closer friends, so I don't think you'll have to worry about that." He then became said again. "I'm really going to miss you."

"I know, and I'm gonna miss all you guys too."

Dick looked like he was about to cry again. Wally looked at him sadly and put his arm around Dick's shoulders. As soon as he did, Dick just leaned into Wally's chest and cried. "I don't want to lose my best friend."

Wally rubbed Dick's back. "And you never will. I'll always be with you, just like your parents have always been with you."

Dick sat back up and whipped his eyes with the back of his hand and smiled. "Thanks."

They sat there for another five minutes or so just talking about the past and all the good times they had together until Artemis came out of the study.

"Bruce said to come and get him when supper is ready," she said as she closed the door and walked toward the boys.

"Ok,"

"Well, I better get going. I'll see you both tomorrow at the funeral," Wally said and was just about ready to leave.

"Hey, KF, the teams meeting at the mountain before the funeral tomorrow if you want to stop in then," Dick said.

"I might. See ya." He then jumped into the air and disappeared through the ceiling.

Artemis sat down next to Dick and they both just sat there thinking. "So, what did you two talk about?"

"Just about the fun times we had together."

"That's all," Artemis asked a little skeptical.

"Yeah, what else would we talk about?"

"I don't know, but you just looked like you had been crying again."

"It doesn't matter," he said then was about to turn on the TV when Alfred walked into the room.

"Dinner is ready."

"Ok, thanks," Dick said then stood up.

Artemis stood up as well. "I'll tell Bruce."

Dick nodded then headed off to the dinning room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Me: Well there you...

Robin: Ok, they're done reading. Tell me.

Me: Ok, ok. Well, like i said, they caught me and hung me over that tank. Well you remember how Artemis wanted sharks in the tank?

Robin: Yeah?

Me: Well there was something in the tank that had a fin sticking out of the top of the water, but it wasn't sharks.

Robin: Then what were they?

Me: Dolphins. *grining*

Robin: Dolphins? Really? If she wanted sharks, why did she get dolphins?

Me: Why do you think she's trying to kill Wally?

Robin: She let Wally get them? Well that was her mistake.

Me: Yeah, but she told him to get the sharks.

Robin: Why didn't he.

Me: Something about dolphins being better.

Robin: Well, they do have sharp teeth and can be a very dangerous predator if they want to be.

Me: Well I'm just glad dolphins are on our side. *to readers* Well, how'd you like the chapter.

Robin: Tell her in a... hey!

Wally: *speeding by* Sorry, Rob.

Robin: *getting up* Tell her in a comment while I go kill Wally my self. *runs after Wally*

Me: Hmmm, I wonder where Arty went... Oh well, I'm gonna try to get the next and last chapter up. See ya. Thanks for reading :D

Artemis: *runs in room* Wally!