Heyo! I thought we should check in on how our girl Artemis is doing after all these years. Its a bit short but our girl deserves her rest.

Artemis woke up in cold sweat. It took every ounce of control in her to keep from screaming. Even then, she couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears as she struggled to regulate her breathing. Focus on your breathing. It had been years since her last nightmare.

She reached out instinctively, fingertips grazing the skin of Wally's back. A comforting heat radiated off of him, calming her nerves. The idea of waking him crossed her mind. Back when her nightmares were more frequent, she would occasionally call him after the most intense ones. He had always answered the phone. This time, she decided against it. He had a chemistry exam in the morning and needed his sleep far more than she did.

Slowly, she crept out of bed, trying not to wake the other occupants. Despite her efforts, Brucely raised his head to watch her leave before curling up once more against Wally's legs. Artemis didn't bother to turn on the kitchen light when she entered the room. Instead, she relied on muscle memory to fill up a glass of water. The familiarity of their shared apartment helped to stave off the panic inflicted by the dream.

She gripped the countertop for support as she willed away the image of Johnny Sorrow. This nightmare was different from the ones of the past. Those had preyed on her fears and insecurities. Her subconscious had made up terrifying scenarios as a result of her trauma.

This one was more of a memory than a dream. She was back in the cabin all those years ago. Some things were different, but the fear was the same. Ollie, beaten and bloodied, staring down Johnny Sorrow, defiant as ever. In the dream, she begged for her mentor's life, promised Sorrow anything he wanted. But this time, he wasn't interested in her. She had woken up right as he pulled the mask from his face.

She relied on the advice Wally had given her when her nightmares had been their worst. Focus on your breathing. Ground yourself in reality. Remind yourself that you're safe.

"Babe?" Wally's voice startled her, causing her heart rate to pick back up. He stood in the doorway to their bedroom, still rubbing the sleep from one eye. He moved closer and noticed that she had been crying. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he ducked his head to meet her eyes. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." She wiped a hand across her cheek and nodded. The tears had stopped but she knew she must look like a mess even in the dark of their kitchen. "You should go back to sleep."

"Can't sleep when you're not there," he mumbled, pulling her into a hug and brushing his lips across hers. She captured his face in her hands and pulled him in for a proper kiss. Ground yourself in reality. He was her reality. When she pulled away, a lazy grin pulled at his lips, reassuring her that the nightmare was the past. They were safe and happy and alive.

She let him lead her back into their bedroom. As he climbed back into bed, she checked the time on her phone. 4:00 am. She had less than four hours to sleep before she needed to wake up and prepare for her 9 am lecture. Before she could put her phone down, she noticed the date, mentally berating herself for forgetting. Promising Wally she'd be back in a minute, she ducked back out into the kitchen. She pulled up a contact that she didn't call near enough as she shut the door behind her. The line rang, unanswered, before finally going to voicemail. It was four in the morning, after all. She hadn't expected him to pick up. In fact, she was glad that her call didn't wake him. But, that didn't stop the memories of the morning Ollie was abducted by one of Sorrow's henchmen. For years, she had panic attacks anytime she couldn't get a hold of him. She had thought she was past that but tonight proved that effects of Johnny Sorrow had lingered. Remind yourself that you're safe.

"Hey, Ollie," she said after the tone. Whether from the nightmare or the realization that she was a terrible daughter, her stomach was in knots. There was a shakiness in her voice that she tried to control. The last thing she wanted was to worry him. "I'm sorry I haven't called in a while. I'll call you after classes later so we can talk for real." She paused and mentally criticized herself for hesitating. Still, emotionally stunted, aren't you Artemis? Somehow, she willed herself to continue. To say why she really called. "I guess, I just needed to say how grateful I am for everything you've done. I don't say that enough. I'll never get to say that enough. Happy Birthday, Dad. Love you."

Fun fact: when I started INCYD I thought it was going to be some father/daughter fluff for Ollie and Artemis with no real plot... It seemed fitting that this chapter be hella fluffy.

Thank you for reading, reviewing, and favoriting. Thank you for all your support. Thank you for allowing me into your life to tell a story. It really does mean a lot to me.

Also, call yo' parents.