Chapter 46

To say Artemis Crock was shocked when the SCPD showed up at her doorstep was an understatement. Since her parents were out of town on some kind of work thing, she was looking forward to a chill night in, junk food and a movie marathon.

But those plans went out the window when she opened the front door to find two members of the SCPD standing there.

"Is everything alright officers?" Artemis asked, wondering what was going on here.

"Are you Artemis Crock?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes, what's going on?" Artemis asked, her first thought going to the fact that someone was in the hospital.

"I'm afraid we're going to need you to come with us." one of the cops said.

"Why, I didn't do anything." Artemis said honestly, since even though she was a teenaged girl, she did her best to keep her record clean, since she had dreams for her future, including becoming an Olympic athlete someday and she didn't want some prank in high school to ruin all that.

"You're not in trouble, but we do need you to come with us. It's about your mother." one of the officers said.

"What about my mother?" Artemis asked, since her father owned a sporting goods store and her mom worked as a personal trainer part time. Though she still didn't know why that required them to make so many business trips. Or why her dad seemed so angry all the time or why her older sister Jade had left home years ago. Honestly, the more she thought about it, the more questions she had about her family.

"It'll be easier for you if you just see for yourself." the other cop said as Artemis just nodded, since she wanted to know what was going on and hopefully things would make sense when they got to the police station.

But that thought went out the window when Artemis was led to the interrogation room of the precinct and was shocked to see her mother, sitting in a chair in handcuffs and wearing one of the most ridiculous outfits Artemis had ever seen.

"You sure this is a good idea?" One of the officers asked their superior.

"Crock said that she wanted to see her daughter one more time before she goes away, that she wanted to explain things to her in person instead of hearing about on the news and considering the fact that she turned herself in willingly, I'd say that giving her one last conversation with her daughter is more than reasonable enough." Police Captain Frank Pike said as Artemis was shown inside the room.

"Artemis." Paula said as she tried to stand up.

"Mom, please tell me the reason you're dressed like this is because of some freakish cosplay thing you and dad like to do when you're out of town and you're locked up because you got caught doing something that you shouldn't tell your daughter you do." Artemis actually begged.

"I wish I could, Artemis. That would be easier to explain than the truth." Paula said.

"Then what is the truth?" Artemis asked, honestly dreading the answer as her mother told her the harsh truth about their family. About how she and her father were criminals, in fact, judging by the costume her mom was wearing, she could be described as a supervillain, especially when she was told that the person who'd arrested her was the city's resident superhero and Justice League member, the Green Arrow. And then there was the fact that the reason her big sister Jade, who'd been her rock and best friend growing up, had left to become an assassin.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Artemis said as she started hyperventilating and it quickly went downhill from there into a panic attack. Artemis hadn't had one of those in years.

"Calm down Artemis." Paula said as she tried to comfort her daughter, who recoiled at her touch.

"Don't you tell me to calm down. Not when you've been lying to me for years about being a supervillain. And you let Jade go down the same path as you. And what, were you planning on turning me into something like you too?" Artemis asked.

"No, that was your father's desire, but I wouldn't let him. I failed Jade, but Artemis, I have made a lot of mistakes and bad decisions in my life and I have a lot of regrets, but one thing I don't regret is you. Out of all the bad things I've done in my life, and there are too many to list, especially in front of you, but you are the one thing in my life that I got right. The one shining light in all my darkness. That's why I tried so hard to keep you out of this life. I wanted you to be better. And you have been." Paula said as she began to hum a soft melody that began to calm her daughter down, the same song Paula had sung to her when she was a kid and had these panic attacks.

"So how were you caught?" Artemis asked.

"I wasn't. I turned myself in when Green Arrow and his team confronted your father and I while we were on a job. I've been wanting out of this life for awhile, but this is the only way I could truly leave it behind. Do my time and then hopefully salvage my life afterwards. But I want you to be better." Paula said.

"I won't be anything like you. But what happens now?" Artemis asked.

"Well, I've already cut a deal with both the Green Arrow and SCPD to give them information about my employer in exchange for a lighter sentence and I made sure that part of that deal included ensuring your safety. Especially since I still have to pay for my previous crimes." Paula said.

"How long will you be gone?" Artemis asked.

"I don't know yet. But in all likelihood, I probably won't be able to see you walk at your high school graduation." Paula said.

"What happens to me now? Do I go into the system?" Artemis asked, right as Detective Quentin Lance walked in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think that I actually picked a convenient time to come in." Quentin said.

"Please, can't I have a few more minutes?" Artemis begged.

"I'm not here to take you out yet. I'm here to inform you of what your current living situation will be until you turn 18, since your mother can't answer that question, but I can." Quentin said.

"She's already been given a foster home?" Paula asked, since she didn't think it would happen that quickly, as another woman walked in.

"Paula Crock, meet your new attorney, my daughter and your daughter's new foster mother, Laurel Lance." Quentin said.

"Ms. Lance." Artemis said, since she'd seen Laurel in reports on the news.

"Hello Artemis. It's nice to officially meet you." Laurel said.

"How did this happen so quickly?" Paula asked.

"My sister has some contacts in the system and when she heard I was taking your case Paula, she also recommended that my fiance and I take Artemis in as a foster child and we were more than happy to do it, since we have plenty of room and my daughter Jasmine would love a big sister. And I talked to a lawyer friend of mine who specializes in this kind of thing who got Oliver and I approved to be Artemis's foster parents, since we didn't want her to have to live in an orphanage or wind up in a bad foster home. Her life's been uprooted enough as it is and while we won't force Artemis to come and stay with us, Oliver and I would love to welcome her into our family." Laurel said, giving the cover story they'd perfected, since not only did they not want Paula to know their secrets, she was still trying to keep her dad in the dark, though they would be telling Artemis later.

"Isn't your fiance rich?" Artemis asked.

"Yes and our penthouse has one of the most advanced security systems on the planet and Oliver's asked one of his old army buddies, John Diggle, to shadow you until the threat to your life is over." Laurel said, since that part was true, John would be acting as Artemis's security until further notice.

"Thank you." Paula said.

"And Paula, I'm gonna do everything I can to get you a fair trial and a fair sentence." Laurel promised.

"It's more than I deserve, but thank you." Paula said.

"And I'd love to stay with you Ms. Lance." Artemis said.

"Please, call me Laurel. It'll be weird to have you calling me Ms. Lance in our home." Laurel said and Artemis nodded as other cops walked in.

"Time to go. The transport's here to take Mrs. Crock to Iron Heights." the officer said and Paula nodded as she let Quentin unchain her from the table.

"Can I please just hug my daughter one last time before I go, since I don't know when I'll get a chance to do it again." Paula said and Quentin nodded as Artemis was actually the one to hug her mom.

"I'll miss you mom." Artemis said, tears coming to her eyes, since despite everything, she still loved her mom.

"Be strong Artemis. Be better than your father, your sister or I." Paula said.

"I will." Artemis promised.

"And I'll miss you too, my little archer. And remember, no matter what happens, never doubt that I love you more than anything in the world." Paula said as she tried to stop tears from coming to her own eyes as she let go of her daughter.

"I promise I'll bring her to visit you soon." Laurel said.

"Thank you Ms. Lance. I look forward to seeing you again soon." Paula said, since she could tell that not only would this woman genuinely fight for her, but she'd tear apart anyone who tried to hurt her daughter.

"Time to go inmate." the cop said again as Quentin led Paula out of the room, leaving Artemis to collapse in Laurel's arms in tears.

"Why don't we go back to the penthouse now and then tomorrow, I'll let you take off school while we pick up any stuff you have from your old house that you want to bring with you to your new home." Laurel said and Artemis nodded as she tried to reconcile everything she'd just learned, since her world had literally just been turned upside down.

Artemis Crock is played by Olivia Holt.

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