Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Picture perfect memories

Scattered all around the floor

Reaching for the phone cause

I can't fight it anymore

Artemis picked up the phone and hit the contact that had been void from her life for nearly a month now. Tears dripping down her face as the rings increased and her hopes plummeted into a deep dark hole.

"Hey, you've reached the Wall-man, if I'm not picking up it's because I'm sleeping or doing something completely awesome. Leave a message and I'll get back to you in a Flash."

She cried harder, replaying the message over and over again. Finally falling asleep in his shirt and wrapped up in his scent, it took all her will power not to burn the house down to the ground.

And I wonder if I

Ever cross your mind

For me it happens all the time

Tigress walked down the halls of the watchtower, ignoring the looks of sympathy many of the league still gave her. She didn't want their pity- it would bring him back. Nothing could bring him back.

Not now, it was too late.

Far too late.

It's a quarter after one

I'm all alone and I need you now

I said I wouldn't call

But I've lost all control

And I need you now

It's the anniversary and she holes herself up in their room and brings out all the photo albums they had made over the years. The picture that she clutched to her chest was one of their first kiss in the watchtower…

"I should have done this a long time ago."

"No kidding"

…

Her tears dropped onto the pictures, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. The ink falling from place and clouding itself around their figures, and maybe that's what she wanted- for it to all go back to when it was simpler and the world wasn't out to get them.

And I don't know how

I can do without

I just need you now

The next mission she goes on they face Lex Luthor. And it takes Nightwing, Aqualad and Batgirl to hold her back. All she sees is red, and the evil man that she blamed for Wally's death, she would have her revenge. Sooner or later.

She had nothing better to do than wait for the right time.

Another shot of whiskey

Can't stop looking at the door

Wishing you'd come sweeping

In the way you did before

When Zatanna comes to check up on her she finds Artemis in tears on the couch with a bottle of whiskey in her hands. Upon seeing her magician friend she bursts into another dam of tears because she had a lover to love. And she didn't- why was the universe so unfair?

And I wonder if I

Ever cross your mind

For me it happens all the time

She spend that night crying in Zatanna's arms and slurring out different curses in Vietnamese and French. And she remembers the magician telling her that there was a way…

But for what she couldn't remember, the only thing in her mind was red hair and those beautiful field grass eyes- ones that she would never be able to see again.

It's a quarter after one

I'm a little drunk

And I need you now

Said I wouldn't call

But I've lost all control

And I need you now

She dials his number once again and is greeted with the bliss that is his voice. And maybe she is crazy if she pretends he's just on a mission and he'll be back for her soon. But it's all that she can hang onto without having her sanity ripped from her as well. And she leaves voice message after voice message, the next one getting more desperate until the last can only be heard with ears of an elephant.

And I don't know how

I can do without

I just need you now

The grave in Central City is still shiny and new, she places new flowers there every week. Asters. And it's because she wants him to remember all the fun times they had as teens and maybe it's the only thing that tethers her to the memory.

She's stopped going to the watchtower altogether now. Maybe that's why she doesn't want to forget.

Whoa, whoa

Guess I'd rather hurt

Than feel nothing at all

The storm clouds gather above Central City and she lets the tears fall with the rain. And her heart is thumping against her rib cage, like a bird trying to break free of their chains. Her legs no longer support her and she falls to her knees.

God, when did she get so weak? She thinks to herself amongst the bang of lighting and the thud of thunder.

It's a quarter after one

I'm all alone

And I need you now

I said I wouldn't call

But I've lost all control

And I need you now

She walks home in the rain, her hands stuffed in her hoodie pocket and hair stuck to her forehead. She offers a small smile to Brucely and gets out his food to fed him. She sits with the loved pet until he's finished with his food and goes to take a nap.

And I don't know how

I can do without

I just need you now

I just need you now

There's a sharp knocking on the door and she grumbles about how she looks before wiping the hair out of her eyes and dumping the hoodie on the floor. Walking solemnly to the door she looks through the peephole to see a mop of brightly coloured hair.

Her eyes widen and she tries to see the face but the tiny hole wouldn't permit her to see anymore that the gangly hair she had come to love.

Oh baby, I need you now…