Aero *Completed Story*

Chapter 15

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

"Do you think this Lobo character shops at Bikers R Us?" Green Arrow's thoughts made Hawk laugh out loud.

"What are you Justice dweebs laughing about? It better not be about your main man." Lobo moved in closer to the three superheroes that now stood before him. Hawk lunged at him, throwing his fist at Lobo's face. Not even fazed, Lobo laughed at him before picking him up and throwing him a few feet away.

Green Arrow ran over to help Hawk up, he waved him away and gave him a knowing look. "Don't worry about me, hit him with an arrow." He pointed up at the alien bounty hunter that was slowly heading toward them.

Reaching into his quiver, Green Arrow reached for the one arrow that might give them an advantage. Placing the arrow into his bow, he pulled back the bowstring, hitting the ground in front of Lobo releasing an olive-colored gas.

"Gas, you ankle suckers are playing dirty now." Covering his mouth, Lobo coughed a few times, attempting to get the gas out of his lungs. Looking up again at the two men and woman in front of him Lobo shoved his fist into the empty car next to him. "Time to make you say uncle."

Before he got a chance to pick up the car and throw it, a white laser-like beam hit his shoulder, knocking him backward. Angry, he got back up quickly.

"Who hit me? Nobody messes with Lobo."

Lobo started intently at the girl superhero who stepped forward, separating herself form the two men who stood on either side of her. She wore a tight-fitting blue corset with a bird detail on the top edge. The white skirt she wore at her waist had a feather like hem that hit her mid thighs. A white mask covered her intense white eyes. As she walked closer toward him she pushed her brown-haired ponytail off her left shoulder, in a show of confidence.

"I did, and I will do it again if you don't leave here."

"Who are you to tell me to leave?" The irritation in Lobo's voice was apparent.

"My name is Dove. Now go back to whatever planet you came from."

"Ok, wow how badass was that?" Hawk's thoughts were always the loudest in the group. "That was like a drop-the-mic kind of moment."

Dove and Green Arrow both looked at Hawk with amusement for a split second before turning their attention back to Lobo.

"Yes, we can all acknowledge that my daughter is amazing later, right now we have to figure out how to get rid of this guy. He's as strong as Supes. Ideas?" Green Arrow revealed what they had all been thinking.

"So, are you going to just stand there looking at each other or are you going to try to make me leave?" Lobo tapped his foot impatiently.

"Dang I always forget we can fight and talk since no one can hear us." Running full speed toward Lobo, Hawk smirked. "Gotta love telepathy."

***

As Dove made her way to meet Flash on the upper deck of the Watchtower she sighed dreamily. This past year had been one of change and hope. Not only had she been accepted back into the Justice League, but she actually felt like she was doing good helping others while also doing a lot to help herself. What made her even more happy was the fact that she had her own team among the League. Finally, being able to control her telepathy was the reason she was able to work with Green Arrow and Hawk almost every day.

The joy she felt from Green Arrow every time they communicated telepathically made Dove's heart swell. While her telepathy was still only able to work with those she was emotionally close to, she didn't mind that. It made her relationships with those few people even stronger. Her telepathic connection to Flash hadn't taken any effort on her part, it came almost naturally. But it took a lot of time and effort to develop one with Green Arrow and Black Canary. Now that it was established, she couldn't imagine her life without that connection.

The real surprise in her life had been her ever developing friendship with Hawk. She had hoped that taking on Dove's mantle would allow a friendship to grow between them, but she never imagined they would be as close as they now were. They were so close that Dove could now speak to him telepathically as well. She cherished his companionship and knew that she and Hawk both felt that Don would have been proud at the connection they now shared.

All the recent developments in her life were exciting but sometimes overwhelming. With all she had been through she never imagined she would end up where she was today. And she could imagine no one greater to have by her side then the Flash.

As she approached, she saw his big smile greet her. He closed the distance between them, grabbed her waist and pulled her as close to him as possible. "Hey you." Leaning down, he brought his lips down to hers, gracing them casually. She grunted in playful frustration and grabbed onto the lighting rod covering his chest, pulling him the rest of the way down until their lips met in a short but passionate kiss.

They reluctantly pulled away from each other, but remained as close as physically possible. They stared into each other's eyes as they took a moment to catch their breath. Flash winked at Dove, causing a blush to rise in her cheeks.

"So, I have been meaning to tell you. Tomorrow is the annual Keystone Carnival again."

"Ok."

" I have kissing booth duty. I'm so sorry. I signed up to do it every year for like five years. I hope that's ok."

She chuckled. "That's just like you, to make sure you're not only the center of attention but that your kissed by at least a dozen girls a year."

Flash bent over at the waist, pretending to go in for another kiss. Just as he reached her lips, he turned his head and brought his lips up to her ear and whispered. "You know that's not true. You're the only one I want to kiss." He felt her cheek get hot as he slowly moved away from her.

Looking up at him Preston smiled. "I know."

"Besides, I want you to come."

"Flash I don't really want to watch you kiss a bunch of women."

"I know but it's where we had our first kiss." He blushed. "Just come." His eyes pleaded with her.

"Fine." She gave in, knowing she rarely found herself able to say no to him.

Flash picked up her petite body off the ground and hugged her to him. "You just made my day." His smile was so big it was contagious.

"Ok, ok. Put me down now." She hit his arms in an effort to be let down. When she was safely back on the ground standing in front of him she sighed and rolled her eyes. "What time do you want me there?"

***

Preston looked down at what she was wearing as she walked on to the grounds of the carnival. Not knowing why, she decided to wear what she wore the day she had last been here with Wally. The day they first met in person over two years ago. She struggled to tuck the Flash shirt into her jeans a little more as a group of young boys ran past her and to the churro stand. Making her way to the far end of the carnival she passed the Ferris wheel and smiled.

As she approached the area that the kissing booth was in, she paused confused. She looked up at the booth and saw Flash sitting there smiling to himself and whistling.

"Am I late? Where is everyone?"

Flash stood up and looked over at her. "Hey. No, you are right on time. I guess this booth isn't as popular this year." He shrugged his shoulders to emphasize the point.

"I'm sorry I know you look forward to this each year."

Looking down, Flash took a deep breath and responded in a low voice. "Buy a ticket."

Preston looked at him, her face revealing the confusion she was in. "What?"

"Buy a ticket."

Not knowing what else to do, she went over to the vendor and bought a ticket for the kissing booth. As she was handed the ticket, nerves started to nip at her. Why she was nervous to kiss Flash she didn't know, she kissed him on an almost daily basis. But that didn't do anything to stop the butterflies that swarmed in her stomach.

As she approached the booth, Flash walked up to her and stuck out his hand. "I need your ticket." His voice had taken on a somewhat seductive yet adoring tone.

When she handed him the ticket, he grabbed her hand in his and got down on one knee. Preston's heart caught in her throat and she could feel her face get red and hot.

"Preston. You are my best friend, the love of my life. You are my reason. The reason I have changed into the man that I am today. The reason I wake up in the morning, the reason I help other people and the reason I want to start a new life today, with you." Pausing, Flash looked up at her to see her free hand covering over her mouth and tears were running down her face. Taking that as a good sign, Flash nervously reached into his pocket and brought out a ring. He guided it on to her finger as he continued. "Preston, I wanted you to come to this kissing booth, so I could tell you that from now on you are the only person I want to kiss for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"

His heart was beating a mile a minute as he waited for her response. He gently stroked her hand, unsure of what else to do. Suddenly a wave of emotion took over him. In one instant he felt overtaken by love, friendship, admiration and joy. He closed his eyes and focused on the thoughts now in his head.

Unable to speak out of pure joy Preston answered in the only way she knew how to. "Wally. Yes, yes I will marry you." Her thoughts were clear and precise.

Ecstatic, Flash stood up and pulled her into a kiss. Through the kiss they both felt the joy each other was feeling. They pulled apart and leaned their heads against one another, smiling. Flash kissed her cheek then pulled away a bit.

"She said yes!" As he yelled this, people started to fill up the area. Preston looked over at the crowd that had appeared.

She spotted everyone she loved. As she looked at the faces of Oliver, Dinah, J'onn, Hank and Bruce, she blushed. They all looked at her with a pride in their eyes that made her even more sure of the choices she had made in her life.

Preston could have never predicted that it was through such hardships that she would find herself here. And though she sometimes wished she would have done things differently to prevent all the pain and suffering that had happened, right now she was thankful that her story had a happy ending.

The End