The day that Artemis was released from the medical ward was a Friday night. So over the weekend, Batman and Aqualad decided that team bonding would be an appropriate course of action. Which meant everyone was sleeping over at the cave. Robin had somehow gotten his ninja hands on her new schedule and homework assignments that she had missed. Everyone else had their own homework to finish, so the first part of the evening was spent in the living room pencils scratching away at paper. Not really wanting to spend the entire evening doing school work, everyone worked together to get all different subjects finished. Artemis was fluent in both French and Vitminese, Robin was unsurprisingly a genius at math, Wally was the science prodigy, Connor had the history of the world implanted in his mind and Kaldur had near perfect english. The homework was finished in record time, and the team fell asleep together in front of the tv, a Disney movie marathon still playing.

The next day, the team invited Roy and Zatanna to a picnic on the beach. Even Roy had a good time, though he pretended to scowl. M'gann had made a spectacular feast and Kaldur taught them all the names of the sea creatures living around the mountain. Sunday was calmer with everyone either just lounging around, secretly making out or hacking into secret files. Guess who was doing what. Artemis was in the kitchen looking around for a snack when he came in. Wally was wearing a Flash t-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was messed up and his eyes were still bleary.

"Afternoon, Kid exhaustion." she handed him a glass of milk that he downed in one gulp. She made a bit of a disgusted face and grabbed the waffles that popped out from the toaster. "I think I know the answer, but do you want some lunch?" She sighed as his head snapped up at the word lunch.

"You know I do Blondie!" Artemis noticed there was no hostility today when he spoke. It was a nice feeling so she started to make five sandwiches while taking a bite of her waffles. When they were finished Wally thanked her and they ate in silence for a while. It wasn't an awkward one, they were just too busy putting food in their mouths to talk. She finished and put her plate in the dish washer. She went to leave for the training room, when Wally grabbed her hand. "Wait... I just wanted to say, I'm sorry, again."

"Wally, I told you! It's fine! I was probably just pmsing or something like that! If you bring it up again I'm going to have to hit you. Hard." She gave him her 'I am dead serious look'.

"Nice to have you back Harpy!" he winked and sped off toward the tv. Artemis just smiled. It was good to be back.

Monday came all too soon and Artemis' alarm clock was once again dragging her from her peaceful dream involving friends, family and a certain speedster. She gently disentangled herself from the bed sheets and tentatively placed a hand to her ribs. The bruising had already gone down significantly, but the doctor had told her that her rib were still tender and too much aggravation to her lungs wouldn't end well. Mildly she probed each injured rib and bruise. They were still fairly sore, but she had discovered he could perform to almost the best of her abilities minus her endurance and anything twisty. Still she cursed herself for letting her emotions dictate her actions. Damn hormones. Pulling her mane into it's normal position, she slipped into her Gotham Academy uniform and put some toast in the toaster. I came out a little but too charred for her liking, but it was edible and tasted fine with some butter and jam. At seven fifteen, she kissed her mother goodbye and headed to her bus stop. It had been the same driver for years now, so Artemis had a more personal relationship with her.

"How you been Arty?" Melinda the driver asked.

"Fine! How bout you? Your arthritis any better?" Melinda smiled and nodded before refusing to take Artemis' money. Artemis moved to the back of the bus and sat down on one of the few seats without chewing gum stuck to it. It was only then that it occurred to her that she was heading to the same school that Tyler and the rest of his meat-headed friends attended and beat her up for going to. Groaning she buried her head into her bag and remaining like that untill her stop. She got off and the bus pulled away leaving a cloud of dust. Glancing around like a hunted animal, Artemis scanned for danger. Seeing nothing as obvious as football players, she moved as fast as she could without bothering her lungs toward the main building. About halfway there, a stray foot stuck out and sent her hurtling toward the ground. Thankfully on instinct, she had pulled her bag between her ribs and the ground. Laughter ranging from snickers to Joker like cackling rang out across the courtyard. Feeling her face grow slightly hot, she tried to pull herself up only to be stopped by her ribs screaming at her. All of a sudden there was a pale white hand attached to the arm of a dark haired boy in front of her face. Shelving what pride she had left, she accepted the smaller boy's assistance with only a glare.

"Uh thanks I guess..." she mumbled still glaring.

"No problem! I'm Dick Grayson!" the boy chirped flashing her an adorable grin that was hard to glare at.

"Artemis... and your that kid from my first day!" she realized. Dick's grin turned cocky.

"Guilty as charged. So know where your new classes are yet?" The school was fairly large and had three different buildings to navigate.

"No, I've been out a week and only just got here." she muttered feeling a bit irate. As she went to brush past the kid, he linked arms with her swinging her toward the other building.

"Actually your first class is this way." Ok so now this peppy kid has turned into a creepy stalker kid... why is that familiar?

"Uh how exactly do you know that? And let go of my arm!" Artemis extracted her arm from his grasp and looked at him skeptically with her hands on her hips.

"Ahhh, because I noticed during roll call your name was on it. I have most classes with you so I also picked up your homework for you! Did you get it?"

"Um yeah... so why are you in a grade ten AP science course when you're like two?" The kid's answer made some sense but she was still suspicious.

"That's what happens when you're as brilliant and charismatic as me!"

"Kinda full of yourself for being a half pint don't you think?"

"I'll have you know I am a perfectly normal height for a boy my age. In fact, I'll bet in five years I'll be taller then you in five years!"

"Ha! Yeah and me and Kid Flash will be dating by that time too!" Dick laughed and Artemis found herself joining him. It was nice to have a friend at this school. No one ever talked to her outside of class. The pair continued into the chem room and sat down together. They were the only two in there because the bell wasn't going to ring for another ten minutes. They kept talking, and were so engrossed in their debate over the better super heroe, Batman or Green Arrow, that they didn't even notice that the rest of the class had come in and sat down.

"AWW look guys, freshie's finally found someone who'll sit with them. Charity case and North trash, what a pair." Tyler was leering over them like a storm cloud, a malicious grin on his face. Artemis shot him an evil glare but Dick smiled pleasantly.

"Actually we were just wondering how a football player got into this class. I was under the impression that you had to have an IQ above seven to be in an AP science class."

'Oh snap! Dang this kid is good!" Artemis thought, laughing aloud with the rest of the class. Dick leaned back and out his hands behind his head to accepted the laughing praise. When Tyler tried to hit the smaller boy, Artemis found herself gaining respect for the kid, who easily ducked and swerved to the other side of him. "Not much with the verbal comebacks huh? They do require some type of brains." Dick smirked and jumped out of the way of another punch. Just then the teacher walked in and everyone leapt to their seats. He took the roll and began the class while Tyler and his friends glared at the still snickering partners ahead of them.

The rest of the week passed by quickly and without incident. Thanks to the homework Dick had dropped off at her mother's and Robin had brought to her, she found she understood everything and wasn't floundering in her work as she had feared. It turned out that Dick had five out of six classes with her: AP science, AP math, AP history, AP French and Drama. He was pushed ahead in all his subjects and options were split between all the grade to 'promote school wide friendships and tolerance.' Gym was the only class that they didn't share. Things at the Cave were going great. WHile Canary refused to allow Artemis to spar with the others, she was allowed to do some target practise beside them. Once she even tried to hit her friends while they dodged the rapidly flying arrows. The only thing that worried her was Tyler. All week he had been making threats against her and her new found half pint. SHe wasn't worried for herself, but Dick was half Tyler's size height and a third his muscle mass. There was no way he could defend himself if Tyler and his friends decided to gang up on him. But Dick had waved off her worries saying that Tyler was making empty threats and was all bark no bite unless he had the entire football team behind him. He seemed confident, so she had let the matter drop. He had yet to do anything more then make the first and second cuts to the new football team anyways. On Friday that changed. It was AP science when it began. Dick had gone to get something from his locker and Tyler and friends had gone to the 'bathroom.' Artemis didn't think anything of it and just plugged in her iPod and continued working. A quarter of an hour later, Tyler still hadn't returned and Artemis felt her phone buzz.

From: Dick

Message: Help! Jocks cornered me in West Gym! Pls hurry!

Artemis read the text quickly. She knew Dick cut through the smaller gym to cut time off the commute to their lockers. She tried not to look desperate as the teacher slowly pulled out the bathroom pass. As she rushed toward the gym, she felt her lungs burn slightly. Her injuries had healed for the most part, but her lung was still bothering her. She figured taking a hit to her chest would probably take her out pretty quickly. But theoretically she should be able to take out Tyler and his usual five goons that hung around him perpetually. SHe rounded the corner and slipped into the dark gym, listening for the sounds of flesh being pummeled. She heard nothing untill her phone buzzed again.

From: Dick

Message: Gotcha ya! :)

The lights suddenly came to life and lit up the gym. There wasn't the usual four or five guys hanging around the football captain this time. This time there was at least twenty five well built guys. Probably the entire football team.

"Welcome to initiation boys. To be officially welcomed back or to the team you have one simple task. Convince North Trash here that Gotham Academy is not for filth like her." Artemis starred flabbergasted at Tyler. He was holding up Dick's phone aimlessly fiddling with the buttons. She desperately wanted to wiped the smug look off his face, but the others had formed a tight circle around her. "What? No clever comment? No half assed taunt? Guess you're wishing the freshie was trapped inside a locker huh? At least he tried to say something smart. Too bad he was out before he could finish." Poor Dick. She'd have to find him after she got out of this. The only thing was getting herself out of this mess first. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweater and started to blindly text. Maybe fighting wasn't the direct answer here. Maybe it was time zones.

"Hold up. You want me to make fun of you in front of all these guys? Really? Ok then... Your ugly, stupid and really Tyler? Those shoes with that shirt? Does your mother tell you what to where?" I just need to buy some time, Artemis thought, staring at Tyler and ignoring the rest of the jocks moving toward her. Tyler growled and drew his finger across his throat. Now the mob was moving faster toward her. Hands still in her pockets, she typed one last message. Dick's phone buzzed loudly and Green Arrow's self created theme music blared through the phone's speakers. (From JLA Unlimited) seizing the moment of confusion, she used Tyler as a vault to throw herself over top the horde and land outside the circle. unfortunately she had landed as far away from the door as possible.

"Why you little!" Artemis had put her knee into his face and his nose was now pumping blood. "You are so dead! Don't just stand there! Go to plan B!" The rest of them moved toward her again, this time pulling out brass knuckles and what looked like metal rods. And here she was in a skirt. This will not end well... Just before they reached her though, there was a rush of cool air and a ginger wearing a blue shirt and jeans appeared in the door way arms folded over his chest. Then robin walked in, wearing his civvies and dark glasses. He was followed by Kaldur, who was wearing a turtle neck to cover his gills and Roy who looked fairly weird in casual clothes. Then M'gann and Conner entered behind them still wearing their school clothes.

"Got your message Arty! Is it too late to join the party?" Robin cackled staring down the now nervous wanna be football players.

"Is there a problem here buddy?" Roy growled menacingly. Some of the freshman took a step back and glanced between the door and Tyler. Artemis couldn't help but smirk.

"None you your business, soulless. Now get lost so me and North trash can continue our 'discussion.'" Tyler tried to take a threatening step toward Wally, but the red head only raised an eyebrow. Calender man was more threatening then this kid.

"We'll just go then... Come on Artemis! Rob promised to buy us sodas!" M'gann smiled and motion for Artemis to follow, but one of Tyler's friends hit her in the top of her stomach, making the air rush out of her. The smirks fell off the team's face. Conner nearly hit the wall.

"I'm not done with you yet North Trash. You and Grayson are gonna pay. Nobody makes fun of me!"

"Yeah so what have we been doing all week? Complimenting you? And Dick thought you had at least a little bit of brains." The sarcasm rolled off her tounge so thick you could slice it with a knife. Tyler glared and moved to strike her, but all of a sudden Wally was blocking his path.

"Out of my way freak!" He went to hit Wally, so Wally did a pre-emptive strike and kicked him in the shins.

"That is no way to treat a beautiful lady. Now apologize." Instead, Tyler growled and pointed to the team before re drawing his finger across his neck.

"It looks like they all need a lesson on respecting their betters. Get them!" He roared catching Wally off guard and punching him in the mouth. The rest of the football team moved towards the incognito heroes still brandishing their weapons. Connor just grinned.

"Finally!" Suffice to say they didn't last long. Using far less force and no super powers, the fight went quickly. Let's face it: Artemis could have taken them all out by herself if she was performing at her best. Robin swerved and flipped around the sloppy punches, Kaldur and Roy calmly knocked the linebackers into one another and Connor went crazy scary rage, scaring them more then he was hurting them. M'gann however, used her psychic powers to make the younger boys leave the gym. She knew they just wanted to fit in and be accepted. Finally it was down to Tyler and Artemis. She had relieved Wally of the fight and now he was causally leaning against the wall, smirking in anticipation.

"You bitch. You just had to call in your freak friends and ruin their initation! Why do they hang out with you anyways, are they loners at their schools too? Their just as pathetic as you!"

"Seriously? There's just so many things wrong with that statement!" By now the others had gathered near Wally and were all watching with the same expression on their face. Robin was even recording the fight on 'Dick's' newly recovered phone. Tyler threw a punch that Artemis blocked then returned. "Firstly, you're the one who couldn't carry out you stupid threats without the entire football team behind you." Tyler tried to throw her to the ground by grabbing her pony tail, but she whipped him with it then hit him the the stomach. "Second, they didn't ruin your horrible initiation, you did that all by yourself." She placed another punch to his lip. "Thirdly, if we're so pathetic why're we kicking you and your team's ass?" Now Tyler was backed into a corner. "And finally, their not my friends... Their my family. Connor. He's all yours. Try not to kill him." Conner didn't say anything but the happy look on his face made Tyler whimper a bit. Connor hit him as lightly as he could, but the black eye was still as dark as his t-shirt. Tyler sat down and started to cry. He already had a bleeding nose from before, but now Artemis and Conner had added the black eye, a bruised cheek and a split lip. It was nothing compared to what he had done to Artemis, but the team still felt satisfied.

"Thanks guys! I owe you one." Artemis said over the link. M'gann pulled her into a tight hug.

"Like you said! We're family. Your my earth sister!" They both grinned. Then Artemis suddenly slapped her forehead.

"Crap! Dick's still stuck in a locker!"

"I'll go find him! What's his combo?" Robin smiled his I-know-someting-you-don't smile.

"5-36-12." Robin disappeared into the shadows. "One other thing. What's Batman going to say when he hears we beat up civilians?" She didn't want her friends to get into trouble for her.

"I don't think he's the one you need to worry about. You haven't been in class for almost an hour. What's your teacher gonna say?" Roy chuckled thinking of all the times his teachers chewed him out for playing hookie. Artemis cursed and turned to go when Wally grabbed her arm.

"One more thing! Yo! Crying football ass. Apologize now." Tyler snapped his head up, looking terrified of the team.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I'll never bother you again I swear!"

"Good. Because if you do we will show that tape to the principal and I have a suspicion that he won't be to happy about what your forcing the team to do." Wally turned back to Artemis. "We'll always have your back! Just like I know you'll always have mine- I mean we"ll know you'll always have our backs..." His cheeks turned as red as his hair.

"Oh don't get mushy on me Baywatch! See you back at the cave!" She turned and ran back toward her class room.

So this came from an idea that came to me from reading the reviews! That's why suggestions are great! So thanks to candi711 for the idea! Thanks for reading!