~Earth-16~

It had been about a month after the combination of Earth's heroes and villains alike had defeated the Reach.

A month since Wally had 'disappeared'.

Almost an entire month since they proclaimed Wally 'dead'.

Over a month since the last time anyone on the Team and the League had truly laughed or smiled.

Sure, they've laughed when sharing stories, or to try to lighten the mood. But those laughs had all been absent of any true mirth.

They had all been drained of emotion.

They were lifeless.

Empty.

Haunted.

Artemis sat on the couch in the TV room in the Mountain, curled up, hugging a pillow, when Nightwing walked in.

He sat next to her and the two sat in silence for a few minutes before Nightwing opened his mouth, but was cut off by Artemis latching onto him, suddenly sobbing.

Nightwing was shocked for a second, then placed his thick arms around her, rubbing soothing circles on her back, murmuring soft, comforting words into her ear.

~Earth-16~ ~The Watchtower~

The League was in the middle of another meeting.

They'd been having meetings weekly since the Reach invasion, making sure everything was back to normal on Earth and its surrounding area, making sure that the Reach was fully gone, and there was no trace of them left behind.

Barry sat in his chair around the main Leaguer's meeting table, staring at his hands, which were clutched together on top of the table.

"What do you say, Barry?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Huh? About what?" Barry hadn't caught the question, just his name.

"Barry." Batman began. "I think you need to take some time off. Forget the meetings. We can handle them without you. You're grieving. Take some time off to grieve. Spend some time with family." Bats suggested.

There was an unspoken 'take it from someone with experience'.

"Yeah." Barry agreed softly, as he got up and walked, not ran, to the nearest teleporter, every eye on him until he turned the corner.

~Earth-16~ ~The West-Allen Residence~

"Barry" Iris was surprised when her husband tackled her in a tight embrace. "You're home early. I thought the JLA meeting was supposed to go from another hour. I would have started dinner sooner."

She got no response.

"Barry?"

Silence.

"Iris?" Barry pleaded almost silently. "Iris? I-I need..."

Barry wasn't sure what he needed. Just that he needed it.

Iris nodded, understanding.

She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his muscled torso.

"Come on. Let's go lay down." Iris said as she lead them into their bedroom.

They just laid there in bed, wrapped in each other's arms for the rest of the night and well into the next day.

Wally's 'death' had been hard for everyone, both none more so than Artemis, Barry, and Iris.