Well I've been working on this for a while and since I'm going to be really busy for the next little while I thought I'd post this and finish the story. I do have some ideas for a sequel so if I get enough reviews I just might write one. I'm not as happy with this chapter as with my previous ones but I do love it all the same, so let me know your thoughts. I hope I still remained true to the characters. Once again I got such nice reviews I'm going to do personalized comments.

Snoopas: Oh I love it when people compliment my writing and point out their favorite lines. That just makes me so happy because that really is the best part of writing - figuring out quips. Thank you for commenting on how I write about the sex in the relationship I'm actually really bashful and when I write that stuff I blush and it always sounds so awkward but at least it sounds as good as I try to make it. Thanks.

shana_rose: (it wouldn't let me write the period weird)Yes. Wally knows she's a hero. All will be revealed. Thanks for the review.

sunflower13: Thank you for the comment. You make an interesting point about Artemis and her mother's relationship. If I write a sequel I have a whole elaborate plot for how they reconcile, but that's for another story. Thank you for reading my story.

Celetron: Thanks! Yeah double reviews!

J-Bird: Your positive feedback brought a smile to my face.

fixati0ns: Here is the update. Hope you enjoy!

RoyalVictory: Thank you. I'm glad you think I've captured Artemis, sometimes I wonder if I push her too far into one persona but I feel given the depth of her character she can pull off a lot of different moods. To me Artemis this chapter seems a little off but then again who knows, maybe I'm just insecure. Thanks for the kind review.

chasingfireflys: Always a pleasure to get a review from you. Well this is the big reveal. Hope it's all you expected and more.

Dextra2: Thanks for the review!

Keepmovingforward2: Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

Samian: Thank you for the kind review and compliments. Enjoy the final chapter.

Irenerb: Thanks!

randommonkeyz998: Coldhearted, one word, ssswwweeetttt (sweet)! I hope there's more spitfire in the future now that Wally knows about M'gann and Conner.

Thanks to the silent readers as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or its characters.

Good Night

The fire had been unexpected. As the blaze engulfed her bakery Artemis quickly ushered all the patrons out the exit. Could her luck get any worse? How had it even started? She wondered if maybe this was some sick joke and in five minutes she'd wake up from this bad dream safe and secure in Wally's arms. But it appeared dreamland was not forthcoming as the flames danced in the windows. She let out a silent curse realizing she had left her recipe book inside – to any baker their recipe book was the holy grail and hers was about to go up in smoke.

Can anyone say dumb idea.

She had not entirely thought through the consequences of diving into a burning building until a beam had fallen blocking her way out and she had inhaled so much smoke that she was becoming light headed and disoriented. She sunk to her knees hacking and coughing, the smoke stinging her eyes unpleasantly as she tried to focus her addled mind.

She wondered briefly if it would be the smoke or the fire which killed her first as she sunk to the floor, which felt uncharacteristically warm. She wondered who would break the news to her mom...if anyone told her at all. Oh god, how would Wally take it? For all his flirtations and bravado he was extremely sensitive and infantile. How would he cope with her death? All of a sudden she felt a whole new wave nausea hit her as she thought about how her incarcerated family would feel – they'd probably throw a party or something. Jerks.

She had to get out of here. She didn't want to die. Not like this, not without telling Wally how she felt. Why had she never told Wally how she felt? All those opportunities lost. Her body protested against every thought she yelled at it to move, only managing to twitch her fingers a little as dark smoke billowed into her vision. Why had she come back in here? She had nothing to show for it – her cookbook was ashes by now.

All of sudden the smoke dispersed, forced away by a typhoon strength gale which caused her hair to whip around her face and lift up from the ground. Two strong arms securely gripped around her middle hauling her up from the floor and shaking her,

"Artemis!" the disembodied voice shook her harder, "ARTEMIS!"

"My..cookbook..."

"You have got to be kidding me!" yelled the voice, "A cookbook! You risked your life for a fucking cookbook. Why the hell am I not surprised!" The voice – which clearly belonged to a man who also apparently had a body cradled her in its arms she had barely registered that fact before she realized she was outside clumsily standing. She looked over at the bakery and made out a red whirlwind that was swirling around her shop to deplete the fire of oxygen. For a moment she thought maybe Red Tornado was doing her a favor but as the winds dispersed and the burnt, charcoal black store front came into view the "hero" responsible slowed down enough for her to make out the form of Flash. Artemis inwardly groaned that was the last thing she needed; she did not want to have to owe a favor to flashy pants.

A bout of dizziness hit her but almost instantly a figure was propping her up, pivoting her body so she was pushed flush against their chest. Flash was cupping her face studying it intently a worried frown etched on his features as his eyes scanned every crevice and plane.

"You're ok," he said with raw relief and before she could even comprehend what was happening Flash had pulled her close and pecked her on the lips. At that moment she wanted to deck him, knock him flat on his back and stomp on his stupid face but this was Flash and she was civilian Artemis who had just been saved by Flash so instead she attempted to disentangle herself from his iron-like grip which appeared to cause the hero more alarm as he tightened his hold.

"Let go," she eked out between clenched teeth.

"No." He stated adamantly. "I'm never letting you go again, beautiful." That sent her over the edge, no one except Wally was allowed to call her that. That was his pet name, Flash had no right to be touching her. Ever.

"Let. Me. The. Fucking. Go! You are not allowed to call me that or kiss me," she hollered, "I'm a civilian you red wearing weirdo!"

"What are you talking about?" he snapped clearly irritated by her reaction, "I just saved your life Arty!" But all of a sudden a strange sort of dawning appeared to occur to him as he looked down at her. "Oh right..."

Before Artemis could even comprehend what was happening the world had shifted into a panoramic smear of colors as he sped away from Gotham. Annoyed at herself for the way she clung to the hero's shoulders Artemis decided that wherever he was taking her would be where he would be buried; even it meant she had to walk all the way home from another continent.

All to soon their trapeze across the globe ended Artemis opened her eyes and was shocked to find herself on the same tropical beach Flash had brought hero Artemis to over a month ago. Confusion lit her features as she turned toward the spandex clad man,

"What the hell..."

"Artemis Crock," he addressed her and Artemis whipped her head around inhumanly quickly to stare at him, "I'm Flash." He pulled his cowl down to reveal the red hair and green eyes that Artemis adored as she stared into his the hero's unmasked face. Her lips parted and she uttered two syllables,

"Wal...ly."

"In the flesh." Artemis socked him in the arm. Hard. He lied. She felt so betrayed and violated. How could he do this to her? He'd been lying since the beginning about everything. How had he even found out her identity? True, Artemis wasn't a common name but still what happened to anonymity. Letting out a frustrated strangled yelp she pointed an accusing finger at him,

"God Flashy couldn't you have given me a hint?"

"How could I possibly have given you fewer hints?" he huffed crossing his arms, "I was practically throwing my secret identity at you by the end of it."

"You call wearing Flash boxers a clue?" she cried exasperated, "You can buy them in a five pack from any local department store."

"The ring?" he said pointedly waving his hand in front of her face, "It's where I keep my costume."

"You keep your costume in a ring," she scoffed pushing his hand out of her line of vision, "Green Lantern much? Point being you said it was Flash club member thingy."

"No, you said that. I merely agreed with you."

"And that makes me the wrong one?"

"It makes you the dumb one."

"Well excuse me for not keeping inventory of every single item of cheesy merchandise they sell in your honor."

"By the way nice gift," he sneered, "Giving me my own autograph. Classy."

"Hey! Do have any idea how much effort it took me not to slap you in your face during that degrading exchange."

"Excuse me, princess. I'm the one who has suffered the most in this relationship. Do you know what it's like to see the love of your life surrounded by drooling superheroes and still be loathed."

"If you had just told me who you were this never would have happened!"

"That's right but I wanted it to happen!" he angrily stamped his foot vibrating slightly, "I've had some sort of messed up crush on you ever since you walked onto the Watch Tower with your stupid bow and arrows, cupid. But no matter what I tried you just kept shooting me down and I've never been good with women I always tend to miss the target but with you for some reason all I get is bull-eyes and heart palpitations. We're just somehow miraculously compatible but I will not be Maid Marion in this relationship."

"There were way too many archer puns in there for any one human being to possibly endure," she retorted, "You're missing the whole point of my anger. You lied to me for months. You broke the rule of secret identities and instigated yourself in my life uninvited. I liked you Wally! I really liked you!"

"Can't that be enough?"

"What?"

"We both like each other. We both know we have excellent chemistry. Can't we just be happy."

"No we cannot just be happy," she snapped, "You're...you're Flash."

"It didn't bother you before."

"Well it bothers me now!" He shot her an angry look which slowly morphed into Wally's usual impish one before he burst out laughing. It was just so comical. There they were standing on a beach yelling at each other like usual but it all seemed so different. This was probably the most serious conversation they had in the entire course of their relationship and all he could see was the beautiful seething Artemis glaring at him her eyes narrowed and annoyance wafting off her in droves.

"What pray tell is so funny?" she questioned.

"Look at us, Artemis," he gestured between them, "Is it really so bad that I'm Flash? It really doesn't change anything." She pursed her lips glaring at him more than a little miffed.

"It changes everything," she crossed her arms sourly, "I...you lied."

"So what? You keep secrets."

"That's different," she hissed darkly, "Besides you know all my secrets now anyway. God how could I have trusted you? Some stranger who wandered into my shop. The worst part is you knew all along who I was didn't you!" He nodded slowly his expression becoming sterner.

"That doesn't change how I feel about you!"

"Well then tell me Wall-man how do you feel about me?"

"I LOVE YOU! I tried to tell you who I was but I was terrified of what you'd do." he hollered his voice reverberating into the distance, "What can I say to make you understand. I didn't want to lose the best thing that had ever happened to me. I'll admit I first went to your shop knowing who were you and I had every intention of making your life miserable because my god you were a pain in the ass. But you...you were nice...are nice and I just never got to see it until you handed me that stupid brownie."

"You fell in love with me because of a fucking brownie!" Artemis said shrilly poking him in the chest before blushing slightly. In a way it was a very convoluted compliment that stressed how much he loved her baking. But this was not the time to be influenced by misplaced compliments. "Ugh, I don't have time to play tête-à-tête with you. What you did was wrong end of story. Now take me home or point me in the direction of the nearest airport."

"No."

"Excuse me?" she asked bitterly.

"We aren't moving from the beach until we come to some sort of understanding. Preferably one that ends with you kissing me shamelessly."

"Keep dreaming Flash." He shrugged passively looking at the waves green eye squinting.

"I love you," he said evenly, "And I'm not just going to go away because you tell me to." Artemis sighed thoroughly exasperated with Wally's stubbornness.

"What do you want Wally?"

"You to realize we're perfect for each other and to get over being angry at me."

"Do you understand how hard that is for me!" she exclaimed, "Everyone in my life has always lied to me, used me, and you expect me to just forgive you." She bit her lip looking at his form. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to love him, but he'd broken her trust. "Can you give me time?"

"Not really," he stated, "I don't think I could cope with you hating me more than you already do."

"I don't hate you," she sighed fidgeting under his intense (almost happy) gaze at that statement. Deciding she didn't much like being the only nervous one she chose a different line of inquiry.

"On a more serious note how did you find out my secret identity," she asked changing the subject and sharply glaring at him, "Pretty sure that tidbit of information wasn't on my resume."

"Well you know Nightwing?" he asked.

"Wally I live in Gotham on the nights I'm not trying to fend off Flash's pathetic attempts at flirting I'm trying to avoid bird boy who just so happens to like to pop up at the worst possible times."

"Yeah," he stated wistfully, "The ninja thing. But I digress. Him and I go way back and he owed me a favor."

"And?"

"And what?"

"How does knowing Nightwing elaborate on how you figured out who I was."

"Well first as the ex-protégé of Batman he knows everything about anything League related and secondly he loves messing with people." Artemis just stared at him an eyebrow raised and a disbelieving look are her face daring him to continue, "Fine. Okay he hacked the Watch Tower computers."

"See now that's more believable," she sighed, "I can't believe you had to use a lifeline to get a love life."

"So do I still have a love life?" he asked hopefully a grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Well I'm not single if that is what you are implying."

"So we'll both be not single together?"

"I suppose but you are so not forgiven yet."

"Oh come on!" he huffed, "I'm groveling here."

"You have to make it up to me."

"Anything for you, beautiful."

It took a while for Artemis to come to terms with what Flash, no Wally, had done. But she had to give him credit for being persistent and (surprisingly) patient. Upon their return to Gotham Wallace West had been evicted from her apartment temporarily but that hadn't deterred him from being a bigger pain than usual.

It took months of dedication and hard work for him to weasel his way back into her affections as she tried to salvage her business. Showing up with coffee on the cold mornings when she picked through the wreckage picking out plates, threatening the insurance people that he'd use a new chemical compound to make them bald permanently if they didn't accept her claim, magically sneaking into her apartment to leave flowers or a bowl of cereal (because he blew up the stove when he attempted to cook an apology dinner), and eventually after much mending Artemis trusted him again. She could acknowledge that he hadn't lied to her with malice. His actions had been fueled by his feelings and insecurities which seemed to govern everything he did anyway. However, he still owed her.

So in recompense for his misdemeanors Artemis had thought up the most creative punishment she could think of. Walking around the Watch Tower a hundred times wearing a pink uniform courtesy of a thrilled Miss Martian who was in love with the idea of a costume change. Artemis watched the severely agitated man as he was whistled at by different Justice League members who thought his new outfit was hilarious.

"What bet did you lose?" catcalled Green Lantern.

"Please only a true man can pull off pink," sneered Flash in response.

"Find one and point him out to me," cackled Huntress. That raised a lot of hoots from the Leaguers who were watching Flash's peculiar activity. Flash sent Artemis a plaintive look to her perch on one of the walk ways his eyes pleading. She merely shook her head sending him a saucy smile and mouthing at him later. He whined slightly appearing to physically struggle against his desire to run his way through the hundred laps. As an act of defiance he pointed blatantly at her and placing his hands dramatically over his heart facing Artemis with a love stricken expression,

"The things I do for love." Needless to say he quickly became target practice for the ticked off archer who was blushing furiously at now being the fodder of ridicule.

Artemis didn't do apologies. Ever. So she didn't cook Wally a feast after his embarrassing display on the Watch Tower because she felt bad she did it because she had a whole lot of leftovers and ingredients that she needed to use – there was no other reason. After dinner, he had washed the dishes, which she really appreciated because he could perform the entire task in minutes, then they had both dove under her covers to enjoy each other's company. Once they finally came up for air she sweetly kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear,

"I love you too." All of a sudden the bed shook violently before a dull thud reached Artemis's ears and blinking away her lust induced haze Artemis began laughing.

"Wally did you just vibrate through the bed?" asked an amused Artemis as she stared at the space Wally had occupied moments before.

"No," came a muffled response, "I turned invisible."

"Oh good," she said sarcastically, "I was thinking about jumping on the bed with glee like a giddy little school girl."

"Aww, come on Arty," whined the speedster, "Don't do that you'll damage the merchandise." Artemis snorted.

"Not much to damage if I can't see you," she sang mockingly as she felt the bed quake beneath her as Wally attempted to navigate out of the tight confines.

"Sheesh you've already bruised my ego and now you want to bruise my body all within twenty-four hours is there some record I don't know about?" he asked his head appearing from under the bed to stare up at her, his eyes full of mirth and his hair a little dusty. Smiling at him Artemis leaned over the side of the bed pecking him on the lips her untied hair fanning out like curtains around them.

"So the vibration thing a fun little side effect of being a speedster or did I just embarrass you, sweetheart." Wally's eyes dilated, his cheeks turning pink as he looked up into Artemis's stormy irises.

"Hey," he grumbled, "I'm the flirter you're the flirtee. You're throwing off the whole dynamic." She shrugged her naked shoulder good humorly and rolled her eyes.

"Please of the both of us I'm the better flirter. You merely throw the phrases around without any sort of thought." He pouted cutely and she kissed him again lingering a few centimeters from his lips taunting him as he craned his neck to try and close the distance between their faces.

"Not fair."

"That's not the point of flirting," she riposted. "Come and get me West." Artemis had always appreciated that Wally definitely took the time to train and as he practically bench-pressed the bed and her high enough for him to squeeze out from underneath the wrought iron frame and she felt herself ache for his contact which he happily supplied within seconds.

"Say it again," he whispered as he showered kisses along her collarbone. She laughed merrily,

"No random disappearing acts." He nodded his head against her skin taking that as a safe sign to continue she stated, "I love you."

"You have no idea how long I've wanted you to say that," he groaned.

"Well you better cherish this moment because it won't be happening again anytime soon.

"Is that a challenge?"

"No, it's a guarantee."

"We'll see about that, babe," he laughed as his fingers traced patterns on her upper thigh and she shuddered at the feather light touches, "We'll see." Artemis was about to form a retort but Wally silenced her by clamping his mouth over hers swallowing her protests and blissfully making her forget where she ended and he began.

One night she managed to catch Nightwing. He was skulking outside her window camera in hand attempting to collect some salacious blackmail material on the couple. He had been very much shocked when she had out ninjaed him appearing behind him on the fire escape a pointed look on her face.

"Hello bird boy."

"Woah!" he had exclaimed twirling around away from the window, "Didn't see you there archer."

"I'm only going to say this once so listen good twerp."

"All ears."

"Thanks," she then proceeded to punch him in the face, "If anyone asks I beat the crap out of you for tricking me and tossing the red haired pain into my life." Running a free hand through her hair she helped the younger man up, "But in all honestly best prank you ever pulled."

"Next time get me a card," he joked rubbing his sore cheek, "Yeash, no wonder Flash needs all those trips to infirmary."

"And don't you forget it," she nodded smugly as the man began to fade into the shadows, "Also you've earned a free cupcake come get it sometime, Dick."

"How did you?"

"Sex." It was followed by an exasperated sigh.

"I'm starting to feel sorry for Kid Pervert."

"Now that's interesting," she responded devilishly, "Free cupcakes for a month if you elaborate more on that little pet name."

"I think you and I will get along just fine," cackled the voice from the shadows. "Double chocolate fudge by the way." Artemis rolled her eyes.

"Scram bird boy go stop a criminal or something." When silence reached her ears and she was pretty sure it was just her on the fire escape she opened her window crawling into the comfort of Wally's warm embrace.

"Where you been, beautiful?" Wally asked groggily hugging her tighter so that her form curled around his. "And how'd you get back in your clothes?" He frowned as he fingered the fabric as if it was the most obtrusive pointless object in the world. Slipping his hand underneath her shirt so he could feel her skin he let out a sigh of contentment.

"Better?" she asked her eyebrow quirked.

"Meh," he mumbled, "Ditch all the clothes and I'll show you."

"Smooth one Kid Pervert." He instantly stiffened, alert and attentive.

"How did you..."

"Good night."

"Hey, wait a minute!"