Three: What To Do?



"She's talking to her mother," Neridian grins to Batman, Captain Atom, Doctor Fate, Siren, both Green Lanterns and the Team 


"Hana's mother died when she was a child," Siren recalls. Her eyes widen in realisation. "Unless she's in the Never Kingdom. She may be talking to any number of people in her life who have died."


Neridian only gives a black lipped smile.


"Her mother's name is Madeline. A cousin of yours, Hal Jordan," she smirks, continuing to braid Hana's hair like she had been doing for the past eight hours.


"Tell me. How do you really think this'll work out?" Captain Atom asks.

"Oh; how it goes is not up to me," she smirks. Her eyes go back to Hana.

"How so?"

"It's up to her."


~


"Mom?" I whisper in disbelief. She smiles at me. 


"Hana." 


She wears a simple, beautiful white dress. "Is it...really you?" I ask softly. She smiles the familiar expression.


Her eyes are a warm brown that remind me of Hal's. Her hair is a light brown bob.


"It is me my little flower," she says, walking closer. Hana is Japanese for flower. That's why she used to call me that.


I'm not stupid though. I take a large step back.


My mother looks hurt by this. "She said you may react in this way," she tells me. Her voice sends tingles across my skin; I have missed that voice my entire life.


"Who told you?" I ask quietly.

"Melisse."

"The Goddess?"


She nods with a small smile. I blink and look at the floor.


"If you really are my mother, what was my favourite movie as a child?" I ask. She lets out a light laugh and looks at the floor.


"You adored Alice in Wonderland. But then, you told me Brother Bear was you favourite. Not long after it was Beauty and the Beast. In all honesty I think every Disney movie was you favourite," she laughs. 


I don't meet her gaze for a while, slightly embarrassed.


"Why are you here mom? Why am I here?" I mumble.


"The Goddess is allowing this. You are almost at your breaking point. All I bring you is a last chance to see me and...one piece of knowledge."


Before I know it, my arms around my mother's waist for the first time in eleven years and the last time forever.


"Mom. Thank you for al of the things you did for me. I would not be the person I am today without them," I say. 


Guess what? I'm basically taller than her! Finally.


"And what a wonderful person you are!" She smiles, kissing my forehead. "I am so proud of you, for everything you have become. A hero. A saviour. A Doctor. A Model. A smart, young woman. You also could not have found a more perfect man. I certainly approve," she smiles.


"The fact that you're proud is...awesome," I gush. Then I frown. "But the Emerald Star ring. It was destroy-"


"You know the Guardians can make a second."

"Doesn't mean I'll get it back," I sigh.


She smiles and touches my cheek. "There's something I never told you. Someone I never told you about," she admits.


"You mean Isaac?"

"Not exactly..." she trails off. I blink with a frown.

"Then..."


Suddenly, she looks over her shoulder, then back at me. "His name is Cody Shiloh, alright? C-O-D-Y." Her tone is slightly rushed.


"Y-You have to go now, don't you?" I ask quietly. My mom smiles at me gently. 


"I am so proud of you, my little flower. My little Star. My little Hana."


Her hand goes behind my head and she kisses me for a final time. I close my eyes, trying to remember this feeling. When I open them again, she is gone.


~


"Does she have any other family?" Hal asks seriously.


"There's only you and Carrol. She has a half brother, belonging to her father. Her father is Isaac Fletcher, the Electrocutioner. Other than that, you were her family," Siren replies, looking at the team.


"Where does she live?" Daphne asks.


Siren smiles softly, before looking at Nightwing. "With you, Nightwing. The two of you have lived together since you were eighteen."


As expected he shows next to no emotion in reacting. Batgirl seems put off.


"Is there a way for the memories of her to return?" Karen asks. 

"That will depend on Hana."


They walk back over to the prison. Midnight pushes Hana out of her lap like a potato sack and jumps up. "What are you glaring at me for?" She asks Zatanna.


The magician says nothing back, making Neridian roll her eyes.


"No wonder Catherine and some of the other girls tell Hana they don't like you."


Zatanna gasps, before her eyes snap to Karen, Alice and M'gann. Both girls stumble over words. All Midnight can do is laugh, before she notices Nightwing's serious expression.


"You know, you're much better with Hana. For one you don't sleep around with members of your team and random girls from your school. Poor Hana had to watch all of that happened when she took your memories away."


Mixed reactions erupt from the Team. Nightwing finds himself stepping closer to turn the volume off. Midnight continues speaking though.


"It's cute, really. You two went to Paris one time. She saw this ring, and when she was asleep at the hotel, you went right ahead and bought it for $28,000. Course she found it. Managed to squeeze out of 'Wall-man' that you were going to propose..."


Her eyes turn on Tigress. "Of course, he also revealed to her that he, too, planned to propose to his girlfriend. Hana was supposed to take him shopping for a tux, though he was a little busy on the day, you know being dead. Disintegrated. Obliterated."


Artemis leaves the room, telling the others not to follow. Midnight suddenly gasps, bringing the attention back to herself.


Her mouth is agape as she stares at Batgirl. She jumps and laughs down at Hana. "He replaces you with the Bat-bitch! Well done to your spell; 'put all the replacements in all the right places'! Oh dear," she chuckles, wiping away non-existent tears. Her eyes go back to Nightwing. "You down-graded, really," she smirks.


Even Siren and Doctor Fate glance at Nightwing in surprise. Midnight suddenly hums.


"She's talking to Mary and John Grayson. Your parents."


~


I am not sure why, but I continue walking through the white nothingness. This is so lame; I have absolutely no idea what to do.


Another portal-like screen opens in front of me. A scene plays out; I am at the Logan Animal Sanctuary with Robin, Superboy and Miss Martian. 


We watch Hello Megan!, when M'gann walks out. We try and shield the television, when I begin fading. The TV is smaller, making it easier for just Robin and Superboy to block M'gann's view.


"I do believe you are the best choice he has ever made," a cheerful voice says from behind me. When I turn around, two familiar people are standing there.


It takes a moment, but I realise that it's Dick's parents standing in front of me right now; Mary and John.


"W-What am I supposed to say?" I whisper, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. Both smile at me; Mary with green eyes and black hair, John with blue.


"You don't have to say anything, dear," Mary (or Mrs Grayson?) says, stepping forward. She takes my hands in hers and I am utterly speechless.


"It is we who have words for you," Mr Grayson says, standing beside his wife.


"We just want to thank you for being with Richard for the past six years. He may have had Bruce and his friends, but you mean more to him than you know. And we are so glad of his choice to propose to you," Mrs Grayson smiles.


Okay seriously. What do I say?


"I love him," I blurt out. They know that, you idiot. Follow it up! "And I...I promise that I always will. He means the world to me. I'll always protect him. Always."


Mary and John smile at each other, then me. "We know he feels the exact same way," Mr Grayson says. "And well done. Not many people can handle this kind of thing."


I laugh nervously. "Thank you, Mr Grayson. It wasn't the most easy thing to come up with..."


He grins and places a hand on my shoulder. "Please, call us John and Mary, Hana."


I nod slightly and smile. This is so nerve racking. "We have one mrs thing to tell you. A gift of enlightenment," Mary begins. "When all is lost it is the most important memories we share with the one we love, that help us find our way again."


When I go to ask what she meas, she kisses my cheek. "You would have been an amazing daughter-in-law," she says, before turning around and walking away into the white, fading.


John then kisses my cheek. "Please take care of our son, Hana," he says. He then turns around to follow his wife. Before he disappears, he says, "Welcome to the Grayson family."



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