#I lost my hair when I was SEVENTEEN I'm TWENTY TWO now it's been FIVE YEARS

[imissthembutitwasntadisaster]

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[mpregandproud]

Isaac II (Part 1)

Twenty years ago my life took a 180 degree turn. After separating from my ex-wife Sandra, Isaac came into my life, and with him an adventure that if someone told you about it you would not believe. In just five years I went through five pregnancies and gave birth to seventeen children, no more and no less. With my husband I had eleven of them, and we adopted the daughter I had with my ex-wife, whom I got pregnant before our separation. And we decided to be surrogates for our friends Lucas, Ray and Tom, six more children. Oh yes, I forgot, I am a man, a man who got pregnant. I know, I'm kind of a weirdo. Although Isaac prefers to say it's a “gift given to me by nature”.

While Isaac and I adore our children and thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancies, we decided to stop making babies. With twelve boys and girls per household we had more than enough. We had dreamed of having a big, happy family, especially since neither of us had grown up in large families. The dream of our lives was more complete than ever. Or so we believe at the time.

After having the sextuplets we decided to leave the city and move to the town where I grew up. There we bought a big house in the country. Isaac and I could work from home, and being close to my parents and sister would help us raise little quintuplets Dylan, Nate, Philip, Edward and Cristina, sextuplets Bruce, Ken, Patrick, Charlotte, Ivana and Jason, and Sandra, the oldest of all our children.

This change allowed me to make a major change in my life. I started to take up sports again and regain a healthier way of life. With Lucas, Gary, Samuel and Frank, my former soccer teammates when I was young, we started participating in the veterans' league. Although I never regained the shape I had before I gave birth, I lost my belly and my muscles started to show after years of being hidden under fat. My ass, two large spheres, and my hips, wide as proof of having given birth to a full soccer team with its starting and substitute players included, were living witnesses that inside me the party of life had taken place.

Isaac and I have strengthened our relationship a lot over the years. He is my soul mate. If I ever had any doubts about our marriage, seeing him day in and day out taking care of our children made me fall in love with him like I did the first day I saw him on that soccer field. Now in his 50s, he is the sugar daddy I once dreamed of as a teenager, when I was still trying to convince myself that I liked women. His athletic body and the gray hair that has slightly whitened his hair is like a dream come true. When he comes home from working in the garden, sweaty and dirty, I have to hold back my desire for him to slam me against the wall and plant his potent seed inside me again.

This is not to say that Isaac and I have stopped fucking, in fact we do it more than ever. The years have made us wilder. And now that our older kids are in college and our younger ones are in high school, we have more time to live our passionate love intensely. Maybe we have too much time, and too much passion for no good.

Yes, as you can imagine, the inevitable happened again. Sixteen years after I had last been pregnant I felt morning sickness and a general feeling of discomfort in my body again. I didn't want to believe it at first. Remember that we had decided not to have any more babies, but Mother Nature had other plans. That's why a condom broke, there was a plan to get us pregnant again. Apparently twelve children was not enough, so a new litter was about to arrive. I was pregnant again.

For the first time in all these years I saw Isaac worried. In spite of having experience in the matter, this was going to be my sixth time pregnant, it was not the same to be pregnant when I was 30 than when I was 50. And I wasn't sure that my body would work the same way either.

“What are we going to do, Isaac, do you want to become a father again?”, I asked him the night after we confirmed the pregnancy.

“Daniel, I don't know. I really don't know, it was no longer in my plans to be a father again. I adore our children and I love you madly, but I have more doubts than ever”, he said cuddling up to me on the bed. “I remember when we found out you were pregnant twenty years ago it was you who had doubts, and me who reassured you. But look at me now, I don't recognize myself, I'm scared of what this pregnancy might mean for you, especially knowing that we tend to have many children at the same time”, he was shaking as he told me, so I grabbed his hand and shook it tightly to try to calm him down.

I gave him a little kiss on the crown of his head. “I didn't expect to find myself gestating a child again either at our age and after going through this so many times. I already felt complete with what we had. But today, when the doctor confirmed that we were pregnant, something changed in me. I have doubts, lots and lots of doubts, but also the desire to be a father again with you”, I told him without being able to look at him because I was so nervous. “I think it's clear to me that I want to have this child, or children. It may be our last chance to be parents again. Who knows. And, I'm not going to lie to you, I love how much the pregnancies brought us together before. So, yes, I want to be a father”. I looked down and saw him crying emotionally, as much as I was. Both with tears in our eyes.

Isaac sat up, grabbed my face and said in a breathy voice, “I love you so much. We're in this together, let's get to it”. We kissed passionately and sealed that night by fucking like animals again.

The following week we got our children together. Taking advantage of the fact that the older ones had returned from college that week for summer vacation, it was the ideal time to tell them all the good news. Isaac prepared a barbecue in the garden. We also invited Esther and her children Svetlana and Boris, the children she had with Yevgeni, who died last year in a helicopter accident.

Our best friends, Lucas and Adam, and their children Daniel and Isaac, the first ones I had as a surrogate, also came. They are also our family, our chosen family. For little Daniel and Isaac, our sons are their cousins, and we are their uncles. Lucas and Adam wanted us to be in their lives from day one. I will be eternally grateful to them, as it helped me cope better with the strange feeling of having given birth to children that were technically not mine. I still have a very close relationship with the other children I had as a surrogate, but they live farther away, so I see them less often. And also, Daniel and Isaac were my first, it's something special, hard to explain.

When they were a little older Lucas and Adam explained to the boys that I was the one who gestated them because they could not. Far from being scared, the children became even more fond of me. They say that I am their favorite uncle. When they tell me that in front of Isaac he gets jealous. I love to see him like that. He looks so sexy in those funny moments.

Before we got to desserts I sat for a while with my sister Esther and Lucas, my childhood friend. She has always been very perceptive, so it didn't catch me by surprise that she was the one who asked me the question, “You're pregnant again, aren't you?”. Lucas was silent and staring at me with wide eyes. “The first time you got pregnant you did something similar in Isaac's apartment in the city. You will have many children, but originality is not your strong point,” she said teasing me as only a sister knows how. I sipped my soda and nodded my head. “But don't tell anyone yet, we want to announce it to all of you today”, I winked.

Both Esther and Lucas were concerned about a pregnancy in my fifties. “Are you sure? You and Isaac have sky-high fertility, so knowing your backgrounds it's possible you're expecting a whole basketball team. Isn't that dangerous at your age?” said a very concerned Lucas. “Yes, we are aware of the complications that may be involved, but we want to give it a try. It could be our last chance to be parents again. It's not a planned pregnancy, but we agree that we want to try. We take all the risks”, I told them.

They both gave me a big hug in that very moment. They are the two people who understand me best. Apart from Isaac, I can talk to Esther and Lucas about anything. Their hug felt comforting, they were giving me their approval and support. I knew that in the face of any difficulty I could count on them in this adventure.

From across the garden Isaac was looking at us. I knew that without explaining anything to him, just by seeing the three of us hugging, he was aware that Lucas and Esther knew about the pregnancy and that they were giving me strength. His smile at the sight of us made me feel even more confident in the decision we had made. It would not be a planned pregnancy, but it would be a desired pregnancy.

After desserts we gathered everyone around the table and Isaac was in charge of telling everyone. “Thank you for coming to our house today. For us it is very important to have the family close to us in all our steps as a couple and as parents. We are about to start a journey with many doubts, but that will once again fill this house with love”. He then grabbed me with his left hand and put his right hand on my belly. In case anyone did not understand his gesture, he proceeded to clarify it by shouting it from the rooftops. “We are going to be parents again. We are pregnant!”, he announced with the same joy with which twenty years ago he told that we were pregnant for the first time.

Everyone started squealing with joy and celebrating. If there were any doubts, our family cleared them all. Our children hugged both of us, some of them crying with excitement as Isaac and I were. Sandra, our oldest, gave me a huge hug, then told me that “mommy would be as excited as I am right now. I can't wait to have new siblings". I think a lot about my ex-wife Sandra, and as my daughter said, I'm sure that on a day like this she would have liked to be with us celebrating. I miss her, I hope she is proud of the family we have given our daughter.

Be that as it may, come what children may, we are on this journey together, Isaac and I. Together about to become parents again. Living the best of our lives.

Go to Part 2

[yamithediaperdork]

Being a role model SUCKS (Inuyasha)

Spending time in the future was usually fun and a break from the stress that the feudal era gave out but the bucketful. Usually but not this visit. Inuyasha should of known something was up when Kagome A) kept talking about how upset and babyish Souta felt needing bedtime diapers as of late (and some day time pull ups, there had been little leaks) but also B) was giving Inuyasha all the instant ramen noodles he could handle and more.

Sadly, nothing quite clicked till they had arrived and then he'd been cornered not only by Kagome, but her mother as well while Souta was playing out behind the house.. and from there everything had gone downhill.

After a long talk (Well the women had talked, Inuyasha had argued but they seemed to ignore any points he made) Inuyasha found himself making a deal that he would give Souta the confidence boost he needed by having someone bigger then him be more BABYISH then him.. and in return Inuyasha got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it next time he visited.

"And let me tell you right here and now, My list of demands are gonna be HUGE!" Inuyasha growled.

Kagome however just smiled and patted his head like he was already just a huffy baby and had lead him off to get dressed for the part.

Souta huffed as he kicked the soccer ball at the goal post, catching it and kicking it back over and over. It just wasn't fair that his bladder was betraying him like this when he was -9- years old! without a doubt in his mind, he was the biggest diaper baby in the whole town, heck maybe even the whole freaking country!

That thought was interrupted as he heard a LOUD crinkling noise and turned to see what it was.. and his ball hit his shin as his jaw almost hit the ground.

Waddling out behind behind Kagome dressed in a red onesie that did NOTHING to hide the thick, massive diaper(s) he was wearing and a pair of sandal's was Inuyasha!

The Half demon was beet red and seemed to be tugging on Kagome's arm, making it clear he'd rather go back inside even as he looked this way and that until, heh, she stopped and gave him a swat on his padded backside and shook a finger at him, talking clearly.

"No Inuyasha, you've been hiding inside for 2 weeks now, you need some fresh air and that's why we're in the future." She scolded.

"But..but.." Inuyasha whined.

"It's ok Inuyasha, I'm sure Souta won't tease you just because you can't control yourself right now." Kagome said in a motherly tone, then turned back to Souta. "Isn't that right Little guy?"

"heh..hehehehe yeah no, I won't at all Little yasha!" Souta said, a big silly grin breaking out on his face now."What even happened though?" he asked, coming over to the pair.

Kagome let go of Inuyasha's hand though gave him a look and the huffing diapered half demon plopped his butt onto the soft dirt of the back yard.

"Oh, we got attacked by a crazy priest who figured the only way to redeem demons was to teach them humility." Kagome started, a well practiced lie. "Basically Poor little Inuyasha, heh, or yasha as you called him..I like that! Anyways, he lost a lot of power and well control of his tinkles and uh-oh's for 3 weeks.Not to mention he's become a lot more..childish as you might of noticed." As Kagome said that with her back to the half demon Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at her and Souta covered his mouth to keep from giggling. Kagome turned to see what was so funny but Inuyasha had stopped JUST in time and was looking away, trying and failing to whistle. "...Anyways..I've been trying to deal with it in the past but frankly he's been stinking up his cabin and I'm sick of washing his diapers. figured why not let him spend the last week of it here and enjoy the freedom to play outside AND the wonders of disposable diapers." she finished.

"oh well, shucks , Little yasha could of came here sooner! I would of helped look after him!" Souta said, swelling with big boy pride since heck he was just in a nice and slim pull-up AND he didn't stink up his diapers! "If you wanna take a little break I'll even watch him for you right now." Souta added.

"Will you? that'd be great!" Kagome gushed and ruffled his hair. "Oh, one thing, with Inuyasha starting to get his control back, you'll have to keep asking him every so often if he need to potty or needs a diaper change. about once a hour. I'd worry more on the diaper change though myself."

the fact that Souta was suppose to be doing a potty check himself once a hour flew right over his head and the little 9 year old nodded and gave a thumbs up.

"Don't worry sis, I got this!"

Inuyasha was mentally adding heaps on his list of demands as his new nick name caught on and Kagome went out of her way to make him seem even more helpless.

with his 'darling' girlfriend retreating inside, Souta came over to him and smiled, then bent down and sniffed, confusing Inuyasha for a second.

"Hmm, you SMELL clean for the moment at least." Souta said and then patted Inuyasha's head. "Good boy!"

If he made it thought the week without having to kill someone Inuyasha wanted all the good damn treats.. but knowing the role he was SUPPOSE to play he gave a silly grin (And the heat pats kinda sorta maybe felt nice too.)

"Well little yasha, what do you wanna do? I was playing some soccer but if your muscle control and stuff is all messed up I don't think that's a good idea. sides you likely can't move too fast in your diapies." Souta said.

'So nice but still being a jerk..it must run in the fucking family.' Inuyasha thought then put a thoughtful look on his face. "Ummm we could play hide n seek!" Inuyasha offered up, putting a doopy childish twinge to his voice.

"ok, You hide and I'll seek. I'll give you to the count of 20." Souta said and went to cover his eyes when Inuyasha tugged at his shorts. "Hmm? what's wrong?"

"How many is 20?" Inuyasha asked, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, not having to force a blush as the pure humiliation of this all was taking care of it for him.

A big grin broke out on Souta's face and he bent down and took Inuyasha's hands in his.

"20 is this many.. and then" and Souta let go of Inuyasha's hands and tapped a finger on the exposed toes since Inuyasha had gone sockless in the sandals. "and this many. Can you keep track of that?"

"Ummm I think so!" Inuyasha said and nodded his head, having to admit that was all sorts of cute.

"Ok then, when I hit 20 you'll hear me say, ready or not, here I come anyways in case you lose count." Souta said and with a last head pat, he stood up and closed his eyes, starting to count.

Of course Inuyasha could of scaled a tree or taken to the roof top even with the bulky diapers he had on, he decided to play fair and also, knew it would ruin the whole plan and he hadn't of put up with it THIS far just to fuck it up now.

He needed what would seem like a good hiding spot to a toddler but clearly wouldn't work for him and now up on his feet he scanned the yard.

"One...two...three...four.."

Jesus, this wasn't like a life or death battle but for Inuyasha he found himself frozen on the spot, trying to figure out what would work, his natural instinct to win was messing up his need to lose!

"Five...six..seven.."

ok this was just getting stupid! he fought the urge to face palm and then spotted a narrow opening under the steps to the back porch, it would hide him from Souta's direct line of sight but would of gotten him caught as soon as the little guy came close.

"Eight...nine...ten, That's half the count yasha!" Souta called.

'heh, he really is a fair sport.' Inuyasha thought, then as stealthy as he could (read, not at all) waddled his way over to his chosen hiding spot even as his tummy started to feel a little bit weird.

'Must be that glass of icky juice they insisted I drink before coming out so I don't get dehydrated.' Inuyasha thought, crinkling loudly and having to speed up.

"Fourteen...fifteen...sixteen..." Souta called out, a big goofy grin on his face.

Waddling with all the speed he muster and keep up the lie, Inuyasha drove to get into the hole.. and found out that while he had been right he could of squeezed in there normally.. he hadn't taken into account the triple diapers. His upper half was in, but his padd butt and legs stuck out and he knew if he tried to force himself in,he'd end up losing them.

'fuck my life..'

"seventeen, eighteen..nineteen...twenty! Ready or not here I ..pffft.. come..heh. Did you get stuck little yasha?"

Inuyasha had been about to push himself back out but with Souta's suggestion, figured that worked and started to give out a sheepish yes, but his tummy cramped and it came out much more panicked.

"Yeah! Uh.. Please help me git out!" he said, one hand keeping him from going into the dead leaves and the like under the step but the other was on his tummy, and he kicked his legs a little more to try and work out the cramp.

"hey, it's ok! don't worry! I'm coming over, though you have to stop kicking your legs. I'm gonna grab you at the waist and pull you back, so watch your head!" Souta called, and Inuyasha could hear him running over.

"O-Ok." The half demon whimpered, the cramps were getting worst and he semi pushed back a little giving Souta a better place to grip though he didn't take into account with the building cramps he might not want someone wrenching on his midsection.

'oh god, this feels like that time I ate those clam's that had gone bad right before I..I..Oh those fucking bitches!' Inuyasha thought, cluing in to why the ladies of the house had grinned so big when Inuyasha had downed his drink to get the icky tasting thing over and done with.

he had a brief second to think about just calling this off, he'd get himself out and whine to Souta that his tummy hurt and try and shit himself somewhere private, but by then it was far, far too late.

Souta's little arms and hands were trying to pull him out and the extra force on his tummy tum meant that while he did get free, pushing himself back to make it look like it was all Souta, he banged his head on the step knocking him loopy for a split second and also started to filled his diapers.

As he loudly farted and giggled, he wore a blissful stupid derp face.

Souta was shocked at just how strong he was as he freed the poor trapped little guy, though it was soon replaced with amusement and disgust as Inuyasha started to let out massive wet fart and then more then that, a stupid look on his face.

"Uhhh yasha, are you going boom boom?" Souta asked, holding his nose. it was rhetorical question at this point as the diaper was starting to swell, so Souta didn't figure he was gonna need to do a sniff check.

"Hehehe Ya! Going PBBBBBBTTTT!" Inuyasha giggled and stuck his tongue out, blowing a raspberry.

"heh, you surrrre are buddy. but it's ok. You uh.. stay here and finish up and I'll go get Kagome ok?" He said/asked, coming over and patting Inuyasha's head.

"OOOOOOTAYYYY!" the diaper pooping derp coo'ed.

"heh..wish Kagome would of worked me you went all derp when you unload. kinda cute." Souta giggled, then dashed up the step's to stick his head in the back door.

"Kagome! You need to come and get your boyfriend, he's pooping himself silly, Literally!" Souta called.

Yeah, wearing pull-ups sucked, but as Souta pulled his head back out of the back door and looked down at Inuyasha, at least he was a stinky diaper derp.

The end..for now

[st1ckart1zt]

The Lost Princess and The Thief Chapter 1

This is the story of a girl named Charlotte, and it starts with the sun. Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell to the ground. A magic, golden flower grew from this drop of light. This flower had a magical power; the power to heal the sick and injured.

Centuries passed, and a kingdom was made nearby. A kingdom that was ruled by a beloved king and queen. Queen Mercedes (my oc) was about to have a baby, but she wound up getting deathly ill. King Hubert knew that the only way to save his wife would be with the magic golden flower, so he and his men set out to find it.

However, they didn’t know about TerrenceSuave. He had been hoarding the sun’s gift for years, in order to keep himself young and beautiful. All he had to do was sing a song to it. Unfortunately for him, the king's guards found the flower. It was quickly uprooted, made into a brew, and given to Mercedes.

Thanks to the magic of the flower, not only was Mercedes healed, her new baby girl had beautiful, brown hair. And this baby was of course, Princess Charlotte. To celebrate her birth, Hubert and Mercedes launched a flying lantern into the sky. For that one moment, everything was perfect. And then that moment ended.

That night, Terrence snuck into the castle and walked over to the sleeping baby.

“Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine…” he sang.

Charlotte ’s hair began glowing, and Helsa took out a pair of scissors.

“Make the clock rever-,”he continued, as he snipped a lock of Charl’s hair. To Terrence ’s shock, the hair he had cut stopped glowing. As he started turning old again, he realized there was only one thing he could do. Hubert and Mercedes woke up to their daughter crying, and before they could stop him, Terrence disappeared with Charlotte.

The entire kingdom searched for the princess, but no one was able to find her. Terrence had brought Charlotte to a tower deep in the woods, where no one would be able to find her. He also nicknamed her Charlie.

Six years later, Charlie’s hair continued to grow longer, since Terrence wouldn’t dare cut it again. He brushed the little girl’s hair as she sang.

“Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine. What once was mine,” Charlie sang.

Terrence had found his new magic flower, and this time, he’d be sure to keep it hidden.

“Why can’t I go outside?” Charlie asked.

“Because it’s dangerous out there. It’s filled with disgusting, selfish people. That’s why you have to stay here. Where it’s nice and safe and nothing ever happens. Got it?” Terrence asked.

“Yes, Daddy ” Charlie nodded.

However, the walls of that tower couldn’t hide everything. Each year, on her birthday, the king and queen released thousands of lanterns into the sky. In hopes that one day, their lost princess would return.

Charlie didn’t know what they were, or why they only appeared on her birthday, but she always stayed up to watch them. And she always hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to see them in person one

By the time she was seventeen, Charlie’s hair had grown to be thirty feet long. The day before her eighteenth birthday, Charlie was playing hide and seek with her chameleon Ellie. She hid on the window ledge and blended in with the flower pots, hoping Charlie wouldn’t see her.

“Hmm…..well, I guess Ellie isn't ’t hiding out here,” Charlie said.

The lizard sighed with relief. Just then, Charlie used her hair to grab her by her tail.

“Gotcha!” she exclaimed. She smiled before lowering her back onto the ledge.

“That’s twenty two for me….why not twenty three out of forty five?”

Ellie gave her a bored expression.

“Okay then, what do you want to do?” Charlie asked.

Ellie used her tail to point outside.

“Sorry, Ellie. You know we can’t. Besides, I really like it in here! Don’t you like it too?” Charlie asked.

Ellie shrugged.

“Aw, come on, Ellie! It isn’t that bad in there,” said Charlie.

She picked up her chameleon and headed back inside to get started on her morning routine.

“Seven a.m., the usual morning lineup

Start on the chores and sweep 'till the floor's all clean

Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up

Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15,” Charlie sang, as she finished up with her chores.

“And so I'll read a book

Or maybe two or three

I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery

I'll play guitar and knit

And cook and basically

Just wonder when will my life begin?” she continued. Charlie did everything she mentioned in her song, then she realized a part of the wall she hadn’t painted yet. She smiled and decided to put a painting of the floating lights there.

“Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking

Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess

Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making

Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb

Sew a dress!” sang Charlie. Once again, she did everything she listened, ending it by sewing matching dresses for Ellie.

“And I'll reread the books

If I have time to spare

I'll paint the walls some more

I'm sure there's room somewhere

And then I'll brush and brush

And brush and brush my hair

Stuck in the same place I've always been,” she added.

“And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'

And wonderin' and wonderin'

When will my life begin?” Charlie sang.

She walked over to the window and gazed outside.

“And tomorrow night

The lights will appear

Just like they do on my birthday each year

What is it like

Out there where they glow?

Now that I'm older

Father might just

Let me go,” she continued.

Charlie looked at her painting she had made of the lights in the sky. She added a figure of herself, watching them from the ground below. She just had to go see the lights. She could only hope that her father would approve.

[misspandalily]

I'm your suicide blonde

Here’s my Valentine’s Day gift for @wearehurricanes as part of the @yjficexchange! 

The title was based on Lana Del Rey’s ‘Live or Die’, as was most of the story, save for some bits and pieces - tiny details, really. This story is rated T, because of some themes, but I tried to keep it as safe as possible while sticking to the prompt. Enjoy!

“Bonnie and Clyde AU. Go Wild.”

It's twilight, twenty miles south of Gotham City, when they hear them coming.

By then, there's a half-eaten sandwich making it's way into her mouth when she realises too late that it'll never reach it's destination.  

Artemis is always too late.

They meet when she's seventeen, fresh out of highschool and still sore from the wounds left behind by her renegade father and sister. An invisible reminder of everything she’s lost, and everything she still has to struggle for. By then, Artemis is aiming for the big leagues.

Stanford, Yale, Harvard Law - fight for justice. She plans to get through university first, and then life can throw everything it wants at her again.

Only it's too early. She hadn't anticipated being enamoured by his crooked grin or his taste for a life of fast-paced self-indulgence. He has freckles dotting pale white skin and hair the colour of flames, drives a red sportswear - stolen, she learns later - and rarely ever drops his speed limit below one hundred. His name is Wally West, the man who runs at light speed.

“Why let others dictate what we can and can’t do? We’re only on this earth once,” he says, when they’re speeding down Route 66 with the car hood pulled down and the wind biting at their cheeks.

“We have to find our own rabbit holes,” she agrees, taking peace in the lack of paranoia that’s been haunting her ever since she left home. Her only regret is leaving her mother behind, so she aims to rectify that as soon as she’s back in Gotham City.

And then she realises, with a jolt of pain, that she’s become the other half of her family without even realising it.

It’s her eighteenth birthday when it happens - shots firing into the night sky like fireworks on New Year’s Day. And the distinct sound of metal scraping against metal, deathly silence, then the roar of an explosion. She hears a scream, sees Wally crumpling down before her, writhing in pain and clutching at his leg.

Wally went down for her.

There’s another one, disjointed and piercing, that erupts from her lips, and it draws the attention of the two policemen standing before them, guns ablaze.

“How ironic,” the taller man sneers, “The nation’s two most elusive thieves, caught on the job.”

“It ends here, Artemis,” the stockier one says, with finality, “Surrender now.”

Except she doesn’t. Crock women never surrender.

She picks up her pistol from the ground, hearing Wally’s groans echo louder in her ears than the sound of stones crunching under her boots.

One, two, bang. The tall cop’s head is flung back from the force of her gunshot, arms shooting forwards then backwards as he falls to the ground. His silhouette, darkened against a backdrop of car lights and fire, imprints itself in her mind forever.

Breathe, Artemis.

He comes to hours later, back slumped against the wall of an abandoned house she’d found while driving away from the crime scene in a frenzy. There’s bandages on his legs; the ones she’d managed to salvage from their car and throw into the police vehicle.

Artemis rushes over with a water bottle and tips its contents into his mouth, ignoring the sounds of protest he makes, and doesn’t stop until it’s empty.

“Woah, babe,” he says, voice raspy, “Calm down.”

“I am calm,” she protests indignantly. She doesn’t have to look at him to know that he really doesn’t believe her, but considering the past few hours, and the thump-thumping of her heart that hasn’t had time to die down yet, Artemis really couldn’t care less if she was lying about something minor. “How are you feeling?”

“Better than I was… how long ago was it?”

“Five hours.”

“What happened?” Artemis glances at the side of his head for a second, staring holes into the peeling wallpaper. “After I went down.”

“Nothing,” she says, too quickly. “I managed to get you into the car, and then I drove away.”

“The Flash? Didn’t it…explode?”

Slowly, drawing out all syllables, “Yes,” she moves her hands down to the bandages on his legs to remove them. “It did.”

“So,” he replies in the same tempo, “How did you manage to steal their car, without them arresting you on the spot?”

Artemis purses her lips, unfurling the last of his bandage and allowing the silence to fall over them as she replaces it with a new one. He continues to stare at her with his apple-green eyes, impressed grin turning lopsided.

Wally silently brings his hand up, which she slaps down, and then he repeats the motion. She’s still looking down, shoulders drooping, hands frozen where the knot has yet to be tied, when his fingers make contact with her chin.

It’s wet, unexpectedly, or maybe she’s just been too emotionally catatonic up until this stage to realise that she physically aches from the driving and the knowledge that someone died by her hand.

He slides his hand up to cup her cheek, pulling her into his embrace and willing her to stay put. Her knee consciously moves away from his wounds, because all of a sudden she’s aware that this is their first hug - or, the only one that hadn’t entailed shielding each other from shattering windows or vaulting up to the top of skyscrapers on a single cable.

Distantly, she registers the feel of his other hand stroking her golden hair, covered at the tip in his dried blood.

“You saved my life,” Wally says hoarsely.

“You saved me.”

In the sea of realisations she’d made over the space of a few hours, the final one that hits her as he moves in closer and presses their dry, cracked lips together, is that there’s a special place in Hell for them. One that’s made for people who kill to save a life.

And she’ll gladly go to Hell, as long as it’s with him.