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May 26th, 2011"Am I the only one who still doesn't understand this situation?" Conner was staring at the shore where Wally and Artemis were playing and splashing each other."No, but I've chosen to start ignoring it," Robin pulled his sunglasses down slightly to look at them."I'd understand if they were just fucking, but this is weird." Conner was still looking, his eyebrows crinkling and wheels turning."We could just be happy for them," M'gann said lazily from the towel she sprawled herself on."I'm happy for them. Just confused," Conner shrugged."About?" M'gann rolled onto her stomach to look at him fully."They swear up and down they're not dating, but then they act like that?" He pointed at the couple again. Wally had picked Artemis up and threw her over his shoulder, Artemis had a wide grin on her face."It's weird but I think they're cute together," M'gann smiled at her friends. "Wanna go join them?" Her smile turned flirtatious, Conner returned the look and nodded.Artemis acted like she was going in for a hug from Wally but pushed him into the water when he outstretched his arms. Her laugh went wild until Wally yanked her ankle to trip her up, sending her tumbling into the water next to him. The laughing was contagious.Guess no one had to understand it but them, Conner mused to himself.June 13th, 2011Barry entered a quiet cave on the already blistering June morning. Wally's parents sent him to check if their son was there, as he hadn't let them know he was staying somewhere else that night.He raised his knuckles and rapped them on the door."Megs I told you we're not-" The blonde girl-Artemis was wrapped in a towel and still damp."I'm sorry I thought this was Wallys room," Barry averted his eyes."Artemis who is that-" Wally stopped dead in his tracks, equally naked and damp as the girl. "Hey," Wally stretched out the y and tried to sound casual."Could I talk to Wally alone?" Barry asked Artemis."Oh yeah I'll just-go die of embarrassment now," she ducked her head and speed walked down the hall."Well, there goes the rest of my morning," Wally joked awkwardly."So that's why you didn't come home last night?""I texted!""Check again Kid," Barry couldn't help the smile creeping into his voice. Wally picked his phone off of the desk and scrolled."Oh...I typed the message and didn't send it." Wally winced. "Sorry," he looked embarrassed for another reason now."Don't apologize to me, reach out to your folks.""Will do," Wally started quickly typing on his phone. "We done here?""So...you and archer girl?""Her name is Artemis and don't make it weird." Wally's ear tips started to redden."It's exciting, your first girlfriend.""She's not my girlfriend," Wally started to usher him out towards the door."As a grownup in your life I'm obligated to ask if you have protection," Barry resisted his nephew's urging."Oh my God please get out!" Wally was now full on pushing him, Barry leaned against him preventing himself from moving."Not leaving until you answer!" Barry teased in a singsong voice."Yes, now get out!" Wally got him through the doorframe."I'll make sure to put condoms in your Christmas stocking from now on!" Barry couldn't help but get that last part out before the door slammed in his face.Wally and Artemis, Barry found himself questioning in his own head. Stranger things had happened he thought while shrugging it off.July 4th, 2011Rudolph West liked Wally's team, he really did, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't confused about some of the dynamics of the group. Specifically, between his son and the blonde one.She seemed so serious so intense, a stark contrast between carefree easygoing Wally.Wally shamelessly had his arm slung around the girls shoulders and kissed her temple. She laughed and shouldered him lightly off of her to allow her to go inside to the kitchen."Artemis, right?" The girl-Artemis jumped and let out a yelp before realizing it was him."Yes, that's me, Mr. West," she finished clearing her throat awkwardly."Please, Rudolph," he waved her off. "Mind if I ask a question?""Sure," she said with a measure of question in her tone."Wally's my son and he's great but forgive me if I'm confused on the appeal of him to a girl like you," Rudolph looked through the sliding glass door to see his son"I'm afraid that I'm lost," Artemis laughed an uncomfortable laugh."Well like I said, he's my son and I love him but he's," Rudy looked for the right word. "Well you're a very smart girl and Wally is smart but..." He trailed off and looked over.Wally was trying to cram a third hotdog into his mouth on top of the other two that were already there."I'm still not following," Artemis crinkled her brows at him."It seems like a really mismatched relationship," Rudy finished his thought."We're not dating, why would you think that?""Artemis babe I beat my record!" Wally shouted to her through the sliding door."That's great Wally," Artemis called back while blushing. "Okay I see why you'd think that now.""I'm not questioning your judgement just curious I guess.""I don't know," Artemis blushed deeper. "If I'm being honest, I don't understand it sometimes either.""I'm going to try and beat the new record!" Their heads snapped up at Wally's proclamation."I'm going to go stop him from choking to death," Artemis decided."Please do," Rudy nodded."Wallace, don't you dare!" Artemis shouted while throwing the door open."Babe let me have this!" Wally responded indignantly."At least take them out of the bun so they fit better," Artemis demanded putting her hands on her hips and glaring up at him."Fine," Wally sighed with a smile.Artemis cheered for the redhead when he fit the four hotdogs into his mouth. Her hand hoisted his in the air and she kissed him on the lips."Wally's girlfriend and him are a bit mismatched right?" Mary West commented coming to stand next to her husband and watch them."No, I don't think so."August 28th, 2011"What's happened? Is Artemis okay?" Green Arrow burst into the med bay."Physically she's fine but-""What's happened?" He pushed past her and burst through the door. Kid Flash was laid up in the bed looking rather busted up.Artemis looked fine, just tired, he heaved a sigh of relief. Wally was laid up in bed, Artemis had her head laid on the bed next to him looking like she was dozing off."Hey, I'm sorry, I told them not to call you." Artemis picked her head up off of the bed and rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine.""You don't look fine," he responded."I'm fine Uncle Arrow," she joked, he allowed a smile at her nickname for him."Let me take you home," Ollie offered."No, I'm staying." Artemis looked to the redhead laying on the bed."He wouldn't want you to stay here like this," he tried."I don't want him to wake up alone," her hand held his."I'll sit with him for a while, at least go grab a shower." She hesitated while squeezing the hand hard, like she was willing him to wake up in that moment. "I'll let you know if he wakes while you're gone kiddo."Artemis finally nodded and stood; she hesitated for a second at the door but left.Ollie pulled up a chair and sat, sometimes staring at Wally, other times staring at the clock on the wall, the whole time trying to piece together his not niece getting a boyfriend without him realizing."Ollie?" Flash stood in the open doorway."Hey," Ollie didn't realize he'd dozed for a moment."What are you doing here?" Barry looked over his protege for a moment."Called me here for Artemis," he answered. Barry looked more confused. "Refused to leave his side for hours," he nodded to the speedster on the bed."Huh how about that?""When did they start dating?""I'd tell you if I knew what was happening there.""It doesn't make sense Wally is Wally and Artemis is so...Artemis." Ollie finished lamely."I've stopped trying to understand it for a while," Barry joked."Awhile? How long has this been going on?""I've only known about it since May, but to my understanding it's been happening for longer than that.""To be young and in love." Ollie said with a faux wistfulness."And denial," Barry joked."Artemis?" A hoarse voice asked from the bed."Hey Kid welcome back to earth," Flash patted his nephew's shoulder."Where is she? Is she okay I don't re-""She's fine don't try and sit up," he tried to push his shoulders back onto the bed."No, I need to see her," Wally was shoving against him and shouting."Wally?" Artemis rushed to his bedside with soaking wet hair. "I told you to call me once he woke!""He only just woke," Ollie defended himself."Artemis," Wally's hand curled around her wrist."Hey baby," she smiled down at him. "How're you feeling?" She grabbed his hand and held it close to herself."I'm okay, a little sore." Flash signaled to Ollie to back up and give the teens space."Okay so now I won't feel bad for throttling you!" Artemis dropped his hand and thumped the side of his head."Ow! Babe!" Wally shouted rubbing the side of his face."Don't do that again!" Artemis pointed an accusing finger at him. Ollie was holding back a laugh; puppy love could only tame her fire so much it would seem."Weird way to say thanks for saving you!" Wally shouted back; Barry gave Ollie a look filled with amusement."I don't need you to save me!" Artemis paced for a moment next to the bed."I needed to," Wally grabbed her hand and yanked her to sit on the bed with him. His hand caressed her face and held it inches from his own."I could've lost you," her whisper was barely audible."You didn't," Wally whispered back laying his forehead on hers."I'm still mad at you," Artemis gave a teary laugh."I'll make it up to you," he rubbed his nose along the bridge of her nose.The girl climbed into bed with him and snuggled into his chest.Barry and Ollie exited the room, deciding their proteges were in good hands."I take back what I said, they're perfect for each other." Ollie laughed once he was sure they were out of earshot.October 28th, 2011"Artemis your costume is...sorry can't fake this I don't get it," M'gann cocked her head to the side."Hugh Hefner? Founder of playboy?" Artemis spun and modeled the outfit with a tip of her captains cap."Oh that dirty magazine thing? Great costume but don't you need a scantily dressed bunny to go with it?""Got that covered, oh bunny?" Artemis called out loudly."No, I'm not coming out," Wally shouted back."Don't be such a baby!""I wanted to be Hugh Hefner!""Just come out!" Artemis demanded. Wally rounded the corner looking very done with the situation. His costume was just a t-shirt, jeans, and a set of white bunny ears."You look very adorable," Conner deadpanned."Artemis switch me!" Wally whined at her."Suck it up," the blonde kissed his cheek briefly. Wally followed her still complaining. M'gann exchanged an amused look with Conner."Couples costume?" M'gann asked Wally later while at the party."I suggested it, which is why I think I should've been Hugh Hefner." He pouted slightly crossing his arms."Guess that means you're finally dating?""I don't know...maybe." Wally shrugged."What's the hold up? You guys clearly like each other." M'gann nodded at Artemis who was moving her hips to the music and waving him over to come dance with her."I'll get around to it, for now I'm gonna go dance with my...girl," Wally decided jogging towards the archer.Artemis looped her arms around Wally's neck and smiled up at him, that sparkling smile that M'gann only saw her do at Wally."Still confused about them?" Conner placed a cup in M'gann's hand."I think I'm starting to understand it," she hid a smile behind her cup."Yeah, me too."December 31st, 2011"Wally," he lifted his eyes. "Ten minutes until midnight," Artemis said quietly."Just getting a snack," he told her showing her a half empty pudding cup.Artemis jumped up and settled herself on the counter next to where he was standing."I just realized something," Wally commented."What's that?""I'm pretty sure we're dating," he set aside the finished pudding cup and settled between her legs."Oh yeah? What makes you think that?" Her arms wrapped around his neck and settled there keeping him close."Well, we spend most of our free time together, some of it making out, a lot of it fucking." Wally pressed a few kisses to her jawline while he talked. "I hate not being around you.""Hmm what else?" She sighed into him."You've met my parents multiple times, by the way my mom asked about you." He stopped to run the tip of his nose along the bridge of hers."Your mom does love me, I'd hate to be the one to tell her I'm not your girlfriend. Although there is one technicality," Artemis said in his ear."Yeah? What's that?" He looked at her full on, catching her grey eyes."You never asked me," her lips stopped just short his."I didn't did I?""Nope," she nipped his lip playfully."I think we're far past that babe," he looked down at her soft full lips."Are we?" Her eyebrows raised at him, but her tone remained playful. "Ask me anyways," she whispered."Be my girlfriend?""Of course," she beamed at him.Wally tried to surge forwards to kiss her, but she pulled back."Save it for midnight," she weaseled her way from him. Her giggles bounced off the walls while she jogged away.Wally chased after her and picked her up from behind."Give it a rest love birds," Robin joked."Ooh sounding jealous boy blunder," Wally teased before he nuzzled Artemis's neck making her laugh."Artemis tell me what's the appeal here?""Hey!" Wally's voice jumped an octave."It's clear what the appeal is," Zatanna laughed."Tell us all knowing one," Robin mocked."Tell me if this sounds familiar," the mage cleared her throat. "Oh god, oh Wally, I'm cumming, I'm-" Zatanna ended it with an orgasmic scream."That's not how I sound!" Artemis was bright red and indignant."No, she's spot on," Wally chuckled."Careful, you'll gain and lose a girlfriend in one night," Artemis gave him a pointed look."Pay up bitches!" Kaldur shouted pointing between all of them."Dammit! You guys couldn't have waited until February?" Conner pulled a five out of his wallet and pushed it into Kaldur's hand."I had a week after new years!" Zatanna handed him a five."You guys were betting on us?""Yeah, and I would've won if you'd waited for even two more minutes," Robin slapped a five into Kaldur's hand."Thank you, my friends, this will be perfect for the swear jar," Kaldur joked. They went into a fit of giggles."Thirty seconds you guys," Rocky interrupted them.The countdown started, Wally watched the numbers tick down, arm still tightly around Artemis."This is our first new years while dating," he mused smiling down at her."Is it?" She joked with a coy grin."Not really," he shrugged."Well at least you finally asked me," Artemis nudged him lightly.The count kept coming.10...9...8...7...6...5"I should've done that a long time ago," Wally started to lean down.4...3...2...1"No kidding."