Hey everyone, i hope you liked the last chapter or were at least intrigued by it! Not too much to say about this chapter so as always if you have any feedback leave me a review or pm me :)

enjoy!

The first Fall frost had swept through Gotham, covering the streets and houses in a thin layer of ice. Whilst the chilly Sunday morning kept most of the city's residents indoors, Artemis walked briskly from Gotham's Zeta tube to her family's apartment. She tucked her hands in the pockets of her brown trench coat, avoiding the harsh air. The terrain around her seemed oh so familiar yet there were also parts which were unrecognizable. The archer came to a stop, taking the time to admire the tall oaks of Gotham park. She couldn't help but think they were all that remained of those spring days she'd spent with Wally. Without a hint of emotion, she kept walking.

The rest of the team were still at the cave, as much as Artemis wanted to be with them, all she found there was the harsh reminder that Wally was gone. She wasn't sure where she could escape it, once again she wasn't sure where she belonged. It was at this point a horrid thought crossed her mind. Was her father right? Was she meant to be an assassin all along?

Artemis walked up the stairs to her apartment and unlocked the door. She was immediately greeted by her Mom who was in front of the television.

"Oh, Artemis you must be freezing, I'll make you some tea."

"Thanks Mom," she sighed back.

"Is everything alright?"

"I just… don't know Mom, I don't know what to do, I don't know where to go, I don't know anything anymore."

"Artemis, it's normal to feel lost at this time but you can't just neglect your emotions, the only way forward is to address them."

"I know, and I've tried, but what if I don't want to?"

A look of concern spread across Paula Crock's face. She wheeled herself over to the kitchen counter and jotted something down on a piece of paper. She then turned to Artemis and handed her the note, "you're not the only one who misses that boy."

"That's the third museum this month, Bruce, you can no longer deny who is responsible for these crimes," exclaimed Wonder Woman.

"We don't know for sure Diana, there are plenty of other explanations."

"First it was the kryptonite, then the Mongolian sword, the Greek spear and now the meteorite sample. If not Savage, then who?"

"Not even Savage has the ability to make those items vanish into thin air."

"They're remnants from his former lives Bruce! He must be involved in some way."

"I don't like this Diana; Vandal Savage is above petty crimes."

"Just look into it alright."

"Fine."

Batman left the control room of the watchtower, knowing his efforts to try and convince Wonder Woman were futile.

Artemis looked down at the piece of paper in front of her and then up at the house she was standing in front of. Her mother had given her an address in Central City, and it seemed she had nothing to lose by going there. The neighborhood was a classic American housing estate, the type that threw block parties and put up Christmas lights. In short it was the type of neighborhood which Artemis despised.

Despite this she approached the quaint house and rang the doorbell, then once again slid her hands into her coat pockets. Not once did she think she would be on the doorstep of one of these stereotypical homes. In a change of heart Artemis turned to leave the house but just as she did so, the door opened to reveal a lady with curly red hair.

"Hi there," the lady said cheerfully.

Artemis turned back around revealing her face, "uh hi," the archer managed to get out.

"Can I help you?"

Artemis couldn't help but notice the lady stood before her looked familiar, "um I think so... I'm Artemis."

"You're the Artemis?"

"I guess so."

The older lady reached in and hugged Artemis, "oh honey I'm Wally's mom Mary. It's so good to finally meet you, please come in."

In that moment everything became clearer to Artemis, this was Wally's house. She couldn't believe she hadn't realized earlier; it was exactly the type of house she had imagined Wally growing up in. Upon entrance Artemis noticed the dozens of photos of Wally and his siblings hung up all over the walls, she couldn't help but feel out of place, like she was invading Wally's privacy.

Artemis took a seat on the living room sofa while Mary naturally put on a pot of tea.

"you know, I was surprised Wally hadn't invited you over before… the incident," Mary spoke from the kitchen.

"I'm not sure what to say Mrs. West, it's been a complicated year."

"believe me, I know where you're coming from, but I also know my son. That boy may act like he hates something, but it's his only response to any kind of actual emotion."

Artemis stared at the coffee table in front of her, "I uh… may be guilty of that myself."

Mary placed a cup of tea in front of Artemis and sat down on the sofa opposite her, "it's okay honey, you're still young, you have all the time in the world to figure out what you want."

"I just… couldn't accept it you know? I mean I'm an ex criminal from the bad side of Gotham, I couldn't fall for someone who lives this kind of lifestyle," Artemis motioned to the elegant room around her.

"Oh nonsense, if there's a reason you couldn't accept it, it's probably because he's so immature," For the first time that day Artemis responded with a smile, "I guess that had something to do with it as well."

Artemis glanced at a school photo of Wally on the wall behind Mary and the smile on her face quickly faded. "I'm just so angry at myself for only realizing once he was in danger you know?"

"Unfortunately, grief often shows our true colors," Mary said.

"If you don't mind me asking Mary, how are you so calm about all of this? I've been so lost the last six months."

"Look Artemis, when people like you and Wally become heroes, you're aware of the risks. So, when things like this happen all we can do is stay positive because at the end of the day its part of the job." Mary could see this didn't really lift Artemis' spirits. "The second thing is to never lose hope," Mary added.

Dinah and Oliver were on the highway direct from Ivy Town to Gotham city. Batman had tasked them with escorting a truck to a Wayne Enterprise Warehouse at the Gotham Docks.

Oliver was evidently frustrated with the task, "what could be so important that it needs two members of the justice league to escort it around?"

Dinah looked at her counterpart who was driving, "come on Ollie, I think it's nice we get to spend some quality time together."

Oliver didn't seem to share her opinion, "any word on when the junior team will be back taking on missions?"

"The kids are still distraught, I don't know if they'll ever be ab…," at that moment the truck the heroes were tailing veered off the side of the road and into a ditch. Oliver immediately pulled over and the two got out of the car to see the truck turned on its side with the back door pulled open.

"Come on let's get down there," Oliver said as they began to navigate off the side of the road and down towards the ditch.

As they neared the truck, the pair began to hear noises coming from inside. Oliver pointed his bow and arrow towards the back door while Dinah stood ready, "we know you're in there, come out with your hands behind your head and we won't need to use force," she shouted.

A figure began to emerge with a wooden crate in their hands until they were standing in view of Oliver and Dinah. The pair scoped out the individual standing in the back of the truck. He wore a black, almost military looking uniform and a matching mask. What couldn't be hidden however were his dark eyes and fiery red hair.

"Wally?" Dinah stepped closer for a better look.

"Wait Dinah!" Oliver yelled but it was too late, the perpetrator had swept her legs out from underneath sending her to the ground. Before Green Arrow could react, his bow was already taken from his grip and lay broken in half on the ground next to him. Dinah got up off the ground and looked around, there was no sign of the crate or what may or may not have been Wally.