What If?

Awake

Artemis:

I can't believe it! Will and Jade are gonna have another girl! I'm so happy for them! I know Will wanted a boy, but hey, girls rule. Jade seems pretty excited. She started decorating part of Lian's room all Peter Rabbit style. Will was puzzled at first, but its cute. I think it seemed kinda soft for Jade, but babies bring out the best in most.

On a sunny afternoon, Jade is painting the baby's side of Lian's bedroom when Will walks by.

"Hey baby. Looking good." Will grins, leaning against the doorway.
"Thanks. But I don't know how I'm gonna paint forest animals. I'm not even good at painting circles." Jade replies.
"Well you won't paint anything good with the windows closed. The smell of paint is already giving me a headache. It can't be good for you or the baby." Will says as he walks over to the windows, opening them.
"Thank you. I meant to do that earlier."
"No problem. Oh, and you missed a spot." Will smiles.
"Just come in here to critique?" Jade glares.
"Maybe. No, actually I came in here to check on my lovely wife."
"Oh really." Jade smirks, standing up.
"Mmhmm." Will grins.
"Prove it."

Immediately Will picks up a wet paint brush, quickly sliding it across Jade's nose.

"Hey!" Jade giggles, chasing after Will.
"Try and get me!" Will laughs.
"You better watch out!" Jade smiles, aiming her paint brush at Will.
"Oh yeah?!" Will says before grabbing ahold of Jade's wrist, pulling her in for a passionate kiss.
"Are you guys ok?! I heard yelling!" Artemis runs in before seeing them.
"Ooook...doesn't look like anyone in here is hurt." Artemis blushes, walking away.

(As Artemis walks out, Lian runs up to her.)

"Auntie Mouse! Auntie Mouse!" Lian shouts.
"What is it, baby girl?" Artemis replies.
"Doorbell!"
"Oh. Ok, sweetie. I'm coming."

(Opening the door, Artemis is greeted by a tall, black haired man with bright blue eyes.)

"Hi Richard. What's up?" Artemis grins.
"Hey Artemis. Will here?" Richard replies.
"Uhh...yeah. He's in Lian's room." Artemis says, pointing inside.
"Thanks. Mind if I come in?"
"Not at all. But beware."
"Beware?" Richard raises a brow.
"Never mind." Artemis giggles.
"K. Thanks." Richard smiles, walking into the room, seeing Will still intimately kissing Jade.
"Ahem. Will? Mind if I interrupt?"
"Dick? What are you...uh...what are you doing here?" Will asks, clearly embarrassed.
"Hey. I'm here to talk to you about you know who."
"It's ok, Dick. Jade knows."
"Oh. Well that does make it easier."
"Yeeeeaaah..." Jade uncomfortably replies.
"Don't worry, Jade. You're not the first assassin I've walked in on kissing someone." Richard grins.
"That's just...great." Jade growls.
"Heh. All vinegar."
"Oh yeah." Will smiles at Jade.
"Whatever." Jade replies, walking away.
"Where are you going?" Will asks.
"You two want special talk time. I'm just giving you privacy."
"Don't worry about that. Come back." Will smiles.
"Sigh." Jade smirks with her arms crossed.
"So. What is it, Dick." Will says, putting his arm around Jade.
"Wally woke up last night."
"What?! That's great! How is he?!" Will replies excitedly.
"He is doing very well. He wants to see Artemis." Dick interrupts.
"I'm sure he does." Will continues.
"I came by to ask if you two wanted to tell her."
"Yeah. We'll tell her. Right Jade?"
"Of course." Jade replies.
"Great! Let's go!" Richards says excitedly.
"Oh boy." Will exclaims.

(Slowly Richard, Will, and Jade walk to the kitchen where Artemis was attempting to bake raspberry muffins.)

"Hey guys. I swear. I don't think I'll ever be as good as M'gann no matter how hard I try. Well, they aren't pretty, but they taste good." Artemis sighs before taking a bite.
"Sis." Jade says.
"Yeah?"
"We need to talk to you." Jade nervously grins.
"What's wrong?!" Artemis anxiously asks.
"Hey, calm down. It's not bad, Ok." Will replies.
"Yeah. Just sit down. We have something to tell you." Richard smiles.
"O...k?" Artemis hesitantly responds.
"Sis, Wally is alive." Jade smiles.
"W...what?"
"And we'll tell you the whole story." Richard says.

(After about an hour of questions and fighting back tears, Artemis agrees to go see Wally.)

"Ready Sis?" Jade grins.
"Sigh, no." Artemis replies.
"Don't worry." Jade smiles, gently touching Artemis' shoulder."
"Come here, Lian." Jade says.
"Yes mommy?" Lian smiles.
"Hold mommy and daddy's hand. We are all going on a little trip. Ok?"
"Ok!"

(Thirty minutes later outside Wally's hospital room)

"You ready, Sis?" Jade asks.
"I...I...I can't do this!" Artemis breaks down sobbing.
"Sis? Come here." Jade says, hugging Artemis tightly.
"I know you're scared. You've been through so much these passed years. You've always been stronger than me. I know I couldn't have handled what you did and if you don't want to go inside, then don't. It's ok. Whatever you decide." Jade says.
"It's just so hard! I've grown to care for Jason! I can't just break his heart!" Artemis cries.
"Then don't. Wally risked a lot that day. And though it's not his fault what happened, neither is it yours. Go in there as a friend and come out a friend if that's what you want right now. If that's what you need. And if Wally truly loves you, he will understand."
"I saw him, Jade! The day Zatanna took me to him. He told me to move on. And now I'm confused!"
"Artemis, it wasn't real. Ok. Will told me. Zatanna did that for you because you weren't moving forward. She did it to help you." Jade replies.
"I...I guess I understand. Sigh. Ok. I can do this." Artemis says, wiping her tears away.
"Alright. I'll be right out here if you need anything." Jade grins.
"Thank you." Artemis smiles.

Slowly Artemis opens the door, revealing a young, red haired man sitting in a hospital bed.

"Ar...Artemis?" Wally beams.
"Wally?" Artemis replies, slowly walking towards him.
"Wow. You've grown up." Wally smiles.
"You too." Artemis laughs lightly.
"Come here." Wally says, patting his bed.
Carefully Artemis walks towards Wally, gently sitting next to him.
"Is it true? Are you really..."
"Alive? Yeah." Wally interrupts.
Immediately Artemis hugs Wally tightly with tears beginning to flow.
"Oh Wally! I can't believe this is happening!" Artemis cries.
"Hey. It's gonna be ok. Everything is gonna be alright." Wally says calmly, embracing Artemis tightly.