Finding Family chapter five: Big party, big news

+Authors note: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. Okay, a long while. I'm having trouble deciding how this chapter should continue. Maybe suggestions? Anyway, that's why this is so much shorter than usual, but I thought you would want something after so long. So here you go, again I'm sorry it took so long.

A week past, and before anyone knew it it was Valentines Day. Couples were ready to go out to fancy restaurants, get heart shaped candy boxes, big fluffy stuffed animals, and other such romantic practices (cough, cough). At Mount Justice, it was no different. Robin, Wally, Artemis, and Raquel all came to the Mountain that morning to talk with their teammates. Black Canary had suggested that sharing more of their personal lives, i.e. Valentines Day plans, would bond the team. Although the Team suspected that was just her excuse to spend the day with Green Arrow.

Artemis had noticed that over the past week Robin, Wally, Conner, and M'gann were spending more time together. When the Team started talking about their plans for the day, the four of them told their friends about their double date. They didn't get into details, but M'gann said she was excited to dress up. Artemis loved her friends, and she was happy they were getting along, but the clique they were forming was starting to irk her.

Since Kaldur was from Atlantis and didn't celebrate Valentine Day, Raqual was taking him out that night to show him what all the fuss was about. They were planning to go out to dinner, mostly to people watch, and observe the 'culture' of the romantic holiday. Raqual smirked at Artemis the whole time Kaldur spoke of their plans. 'He's being played,' Artemis thought.

Then there was Zatanna. Megan went out with her cheer squad a few weeks ago. Zatanna tagged along and met a very nice male cheerleader. They were going out for pizza and a movie for a Valentines Day first date. M'gann went on and on about how they would make such a cute couple and Zatanna would blush and mutter something about getting ahead of herself.

Which left Artemis all alone on Valentines Day. It wasn't a first, and she didn't mind, but listening to her friends talking about their special night, Artemis couldn't help but feel lonely and left out. Green Arrow had offered to take her to this dance that a friend of his was hosting, but she declined. It would just be Ollie flirting with Dinah all night while Artemis and Roy stayed out of their way and tried not to speak to each other or any of the other party guests.

But now she was considering it. Maybe it would be more fun than she thought. Seeing Roy in a suit would be funny, and maybe she could meet someone her age. Hell, this dance was in Gotham, maybe she would meet up with some of her new friends from Gotham Academy.

Artemis pulled out her phone and text Green Arrow that she would like to go to the Wayne Foundation's Valentines Day Ball. 'It might be interesting,' she thought.

That night, Artemis Zeta-ed into Star City to meet with Oliver Queen, Dinah Lance, and Roy Harper at the Queen Estate. The first thing to happened was Dinah helping Artemis change clothes. Apparently jeans were not suitable for this event. They came back in ball gowns and went up to Ollie and Roy fidgeting in their tuxes.

"Well," Artemis said with a smirk, "don't you two look handsome."

"Shut up." Roy grumbled, glaring at her.

"Be nice, you two." Olive scolded. "We need to be on our best behavior at Wayne's party."

"Why?" Dinah asked. "Mr. Wayne knows how you are when you get drunk. You guys have been friends for years."

"Well, the thing is," Ollie rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I may have forgotten to R.S.V.P."

"Ollie." Roy shook his head.

"This happen a lot?" Artemis asked him.

"Yes," Roy told her.

"Not a lot!" Ollie protested.

"Yes." Dinah sighed. "Can't you just call Bruce and tell him we're coming?"

"No!" Oliver said. "That would take away the surprise!"

"Oh, God, Ollie." Roy pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it!" Oliver Queen put his arm around Dinah Lance and led the small group to the door. "I'm sure it'll all go smoothly. Like Dinah said, Bruce and I are old friends."

Artemis and Roy shared a look before following him into the car. Within the hour, they were pulling up in front of Wayne Manor and making their way into the Ball Room.

Artemis looked around, mouth agape. The Ball Room was packed. There were hearts everywhere, on banners, confetti on the floor, heart shaped food. People were in every corner; the dance floor was over flowing. The women had on some of the most boisterous dresses Artemis had ever seen, with such a variety of colors and designs she couldn't keep track. 'Rich people', Artemis thought, 'always having to one up each other.'

Then she caught site of the buffet; Artemis was surprised she hadn't noticed it before. The table took up an entire wall. The food was all heart shaped, but the kinds differed from plate to plate. 'Wally would love this,' Artemis thought. Then, over the heads of black and gray of the older party guests, she saw a red headed teenager and a freckled face.

"Wally?" She asked aloud.

"What?" Asked Roy, still beside her.

"Is that Wally?" Artemis pointed to the buffet. Roy followed her finger to the teenager stuffing his face.

"Yeah," Roy said, shocked. "I think it is Wally. What's he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be with Robin?"

"Let's go find out." Artemis and Roy started making their way over to the table to investigate. It took them a while to navigate the floor, but the red head stayed in the same spot.

When he reached the table, Roy spun the red head around. "Wally!"

Wally turned around and faced them. "Roy? Artemis? Why are you here?"

Artemis scoffed. "Why are we here? Why are you here?"

Wally turned pale and looked around for an escape. "Um, well, you see…"

"Artemis!" M'gann came out of nowhere and hugged her friend. Artemis hugged her back and shot Roy a confused looked. "What are you doing here? Did Robin invite you too?"

"Robin invited you?" Roy asked.

"Well, yes." M'gann said. Wally shook his head furiously at M'gann, but she didn't take the hint. "Conner's joining his family and Clark and Bruce thought we should all come to the ball, right Wally?"

"Oh God, Megs, you're killing me."

Roy looked between Wally and M'gann. "Megan, you know Bruce Wayne and his husband?"

"And Conner's joining Robin's family?" Artemis followed up.

"Um," M'gann finally looked over to Wally, who shook his head again. "I-I don't know?"

Artemis and Roy glared at M'gann and Wally. Artemis asked, "Wally, what's going on?"

"What is going on?" The group turned around to find Bruce Wayne standing behind them. He looked them all over with hard eyes. He sort of glared at Wally, Artemis noticed, before smiling at Roy. "Roy Harper! How are you? I haven't seen you for months." Bruce took a step towards Roy and held a hand out for him to shake.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne, it's good to see you again." Roy shook his hand firmly, trying to smile.

"I didn't know you would be coming this year."

"Yeah, Ollie's eccentric like that."

"Right," Bruce smiled at him darkly before looking over to Artemis again. "Why don't you go get him now, Roy." Roy looked back at Artemis before walking off to fetch Oliver and Dinah. As soon as he was gone, Wayne's hard gaze went to Artemis. "Artemis Crook, right?" He held out his hand again.

"Yeah, hey." Artemis shook his hand. Even though he was paying for her to go to Gotham Academy, Artemis had never met Bruce Wayne. She saw him on the news, of course, but meeting him in person was different. On TV, he always seemed like a ditz; in person, Bruce was creepy. He gave off a powerful sensation that made Artemis anxious.

"How are you enjoying Gotham Academy?"

"Uh, great, I guess. It's nice going to school with out the metal detectors and locker searches interrupting the, um, education." Artemis attempted to laugh, and Wayne smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes.

He looked behind her at M'gann and Wally and said, "Megan, Wally, why don't you go and retrieve your dates for me."

"Yes, sir." Wally said. He grabbed M'gann and walked away quickly, leaving Artemis alone with Bruce. He still had his fake smile set up and it was really starting to creep Artemis out. His smile was a perfect representation of Gotham City: lying, cold, and aggressive.

Artemis coughed and broke eye contact. "So, nice party. Sorry Oliver didn't tell you we were coming."

"How do you know Ollie?" Bruce asked, smiling never faltering.

Ollie ran over, followed by Roy and Dinah, and clapped Bruce on the back. "Brucie! Nice party." Ollie put his arm around Artemis. "Where's Clark and Dickie? I feel like I haven't seen them in forever."

"Here we are!" Dick came over and hugged Ollie. He was followed closing by Conner, Wally, M'gann. "And Roy!" Dick let go of Ollie and gave Roy a hug too.

"Hey, Dickie." Roy said, hugging Dick back before pulling away. "Do you know all these people?" Clark had found the group across the room and, deciding to get involved, wondered over to join the group. He came to stand behind Bruce, eying him apprehensively.

Dick looked around him and replied. "Yup."

"How?" Roy asked, sharing a look with Artemis.

"The same way you do."

"Now that we're all here," Bruce said with a glare to Dick, "let's adjourn to the study."