-Athena's POV-

I unlocked my warehouse. 

After Dick and I finished cleaning up Bludhaven -- which was still in shambles, but we were ushered out after working for 72 hours straight -- Dick and I went to get drinks at an old bar we used to go to when we were dating. 

"So..." Dick said, sipping on his beer, "...your boyfriend tried to kill me."

I chuckled. "He did, didn't he?"  I leaned back in the booth. When Dick and I were together, we always sat at the bar in the uncomfortable stools, laughing, drinking, and arguing over whatever game was on the TV. Back then, we were both underage, but our notoriety was enough to get us past any bouncers. 

Now, I had chosen the booth. Almost on instinct, we both gravitated to the bar where so many drunken make out sessions occurred. I had to remind myself of everything that we both had been through. It wasn't that easy to forget.

Neither of us made eye contact. We both just fiddled with the ice in our glasses. "Did you know that Jason was...?"

"Yeah," I nodded, keeping my eyes trained on the single caramel colored ice cube floating in my whiskey, "he told me everything."

"Did he know that we...?"

"Yes. I told him everything, too."

"Everything?" Dick's voice wavered. He looked at me, waiting for me to make contact. I could hear the pain in his tone and the desperation in his heart. I still refused to glance up. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see those ocean irises trained on me. 

I knew what he was thinking. It had taken months for me to tell Dick the full truth about me and I had to use a video to do it. Even then, I still had so many things I had shared with Jason but still hadn't told Dick. The weird thing was I felt just as close to Dick as I was to Jason. They both meant the world to me. Even though I was so fucking pissed at Jay.

"Jason is just as fucked up as I am, Dick. We both shared things that no one else would understand," I vocalized, finishing off my whiskey.

Dick sighed and nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm sorry. I understand," he pushed his beer to the side, "you know, I don't think I've ever felt worse about anything than I feel about you and Jason." He laughed. I looked up and grinned.

"Jason died and everyone around me was killed. We had a lot to bond over," I fired back.

"Except you got over your crazy phase. He exploded Bludhaven." Dick was criticizing Jason. His argument was valid, but I couldn't help but feel fiercely defensive. I kept my mouth closed, though. I was mad at Jason too. But, he was still my friend, if nothing else. 

I crossed my arms and stared at the TV over Dick's shoulder. A hockey game was on. 

"Next time I see him, I have to arrest him," Dick decided, "he's my brother and all, but he's a criminal now. I can't believe he went down this path. Can you?"

"Yes, I can," I snapped, sitting straight up and glaring at him a little, "Jason had some pretty awful experiences. If you aren't put in the right place when things like that happen, you end up doing some pretty bad things." 

Dick looked shocked. He leaned back. "Well, maybe you believe that, but you weren't there when that bomb went off or when all those people were killed. Jason has changed. I can acknowledge that it isn't his fault, but he's still the way he is. And the place for people like Jason is jail."

"Whatever, Dick. You know that I will protect him. Even if I have to protect him from you." My words were sinister and ferocious, conveying my fierce attitude.

Dick was silent for a moment. He tilted his head, considering me. A small, warm blush crept up my neck. He appeared so young and curious. He looked like he did when I first met him. I always treasured those glimpses inside his childish personality. Ever since I got back, Dick had become a shell of his former self. No more jokes, no more funny gestures, and no more youth. I wondered if he would ever be the same. I could barely bare to think about the damage that I had caused. 

Finally, he awkwardly half laughed half sighed, rubbing his neck. "I have something to confess to you."

"Go on." I was as cold as ice now. It was better for him this way. I couldn't egg him on, he didn't deserve that. Maybe I didn't deserve anyone. I had chosen to leave Jason to his own devices to prevent him from getting hurt by me, like I had hurt Dick. Now, I was alone. Probably forever.

"When I found out about your secret..." Dick paused, "...I kind of trashed your warehouse." 

I gasped. Reaching forward, I slapped his arm. This encouraged him to laugh. He pushed his long hair out of his face, his chuckles still filling up the booth. I played along. Favoring him with a sneer, I pouted my lips. His string of laughs continued. I couldn't bare to stop him.

"I can't believe you! That's my personal living area! Grayson!" I shouted, trying to continue his giggling. He did.

"I-I-" He wheezed, "I-I'm sorry! I was-" He wheezed, "I was angry!" His face was slightly pink and he was clutching his stomach. I didn't laugh with him. I watched him, enjoying it all.

His alarm went off. Dick tried to hide it, immediatly swiping at his wrist to turn it off. He shrugged his shoulders and returned to look back at me like it never even went off. But I heard it. And he knew it.

I flashed him a tight lipped grin. "Well, I should be going," I scooted over to the edge to stand up. 

"No, no, wait--" Dick reached for my arm, but I was already out of reach, "Athena, I--Just stay. Really. Its fine--"

I almost stayed. Almost. He was practically begging me. His eyes were so pleading, so desperate...but I couldn't do that to him. He didn't deserve it. 

So I stood up. 

"I'll be seeing you, Grayson," I parted, shoving open the bar doors and leaving Dick behind in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

-

Just as Dick had confessed to me, my warehouse was trashed. I scanned the room. All the things that I had left there were scattered around. Dick had dug through all my stuff looking for the tape I made. I hadn't accounted for that.

The whole unorganized place made me feel depressed. I walked in, sifted through my overturned cabinets, and grabbed my house keys.

Riding my motorcycle, I arrived at my apartment. As soon as I entered, I collapsed on my couch. I closed my eyes for a moment. Everything was still sinking in. Bludhaven...Joker...Red Hood...Jason...I still hadn't gotten it into my head that it had all happened. 

I picked up my work folder and began researching. The natural light from the window casted my entire apartment in a soft, orange tone. I enjoyed it. It made me feel safe and calm. For once. I read through files, wrote about files, and thought about the files. 

Barely, I could hear a small clang from outside my window. I didn't turn, though.

A few seconds later, a crash drew my attention. I snapped around and was face to face with the Red Hood himself. "Jason! Jesus, you scared me!"

He crossed his arms over his muscly chest, removing his helmet. "Really? I scared you?" Cocking an eyebrow, he smirked cockily. I missed seeing that egotistical smirk. Especially after knowing what true greatness it was covering up. 

"Of course not," I chuckled, sitting up on the back of my couch, letting my legs dangle right in front of the windowsill he stood on, "I heard you climbing my building. What are you doing here?" I had been so angry at him in my head. I had screamed at him in mental arguments for days for doing what he did, but now that he was in the flesh, I just couldn't help but smile.

He was okay. He had survived.

After I returned from Bludhaven, I had basically interrogated Bruce on what happened at Crime Alley. No details were spared. Especially not the detail about Jason's second death. Bruce had explained to me how Jason had blown up after his plan went awry and that he spent hours searching through the wreckage for a body. He hadn't found one. Now I knew why. 

Jason glanced down at his feet, staying silent. Guilt and sadness rolled off us both. I knew why he was here.

"Saying goodbye?" I guessed.

Jason sighed. "Yeah...I should be leaving Gotham after what happened with the Batfamily."

"I could come with--"

"No," Jason stopped me immediately, his tone stern and his face set, "You are a protector of Gotham. You have to stay here. I have to be the one that leaves. I almost killed Batman and Nightwing wants me in a cell, I bet." Jason laughed casually, running his fingers through his hair. In the sunlight, it sparkled auburn. I smiled to myself. I loved Jason's red hair more than anything. 

I made one last attempt. "Jason, you can still stay. As long as I'm here, they won't do anything to you."

"I think we both knew this was going to happen sooner or later," Jason met my eyes, a small grin on his lips, "We both know that we lasted longer than we both thought we would."

I sighed. "Agreed."

"And we both know we wouldn't work out."

I searched his eyes. There was so much emotion there, so much caring. I hope mine conveyed the same. "Yeah."

"We are so alike, Athena. I doubt this will end our friendship."

"You're crazy if you think we won't be friends," I giggled, staring up at him. He stared back. For a moment, we just looked at each other. We were letting go. I could feel us both shaking off the last remnants of our romantic relationship so that our friendship could finally grow to the amazing heights it was always supposed to. 

Jason bit his lip, looked out the window, and then settled his gaze back on me. "All I can say is that Dick is one lucky guy."

"Are you sure you have to go?"

Jason nodded. "Yes. But, I want you to know that you can call me for anything you need help with on anytime. Or even just to talk. Or for a drunken one night stand. Or all of the above." Jason smirked, his cheeks lighting up.

I giggled loud and high. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind." My eyes roamed down his face. His perfect, strong chin, his full, soft lips, his symmetrical, crooked nose, his emerald, enchanting eyes, and his curly, colorful hair. Jason was created by angels. Jason was an angel. 

"One more? For the road?" I asked, my heart still beating in time with his.

"Of course," Jason responded.

Slowly, Jason squatted down in the window sill. Our eyes were level with each other. His hand reached out, capturing my face in his palm. I pressed my cheek to his hand, kissing his fingertips. Jason's eyes scanned over my face quickly like he was trying to remember how I looked. Then, he smoothly inched forward. My eyelids fluttered closed as our lips made contact. I could feel the merging of our souls. Our deep connection to each other would never be broken.

As our lips touched, I knew in my heart that it was going to be the last time.

We both pulled away. We inhaled and exhaled at the same time. I could feel our hearts beating in the same rhythm. Jason still held my face in his hands.

He rose to his feet, flashed me a smirk, and shoved on his helmet. Jason dove out the window. I watched his form go. My heart swelled watching him leave. My tongue stung. I opened my mouth. Words had to come out. I couldn't stop them. 

"I love you!" I shouted at him. He looked behind him at the window -- at me -- and stopped running. He made a heart with his hands. It was cheesy, but I found myself blushing anyway.

"I love you too!" Jason called back. I swiped at my eyes. I saw him pull out his grapple gun. I couldn't watch. I closed my eyes and didn't open them until Jason was gone.

We didn't say I love you in the sense of how we used to. No, the whole meaning of the word was different. We both did love each other as lovers, but our love had changed. When I told him I loved him and he said he loved me, we were telling each other we cared about each other. 

We were telling each other we would always care.

~~~~~~~And that's a wrap! Guys! This story is over! I can't even believe it. Its so crazy to think that I have officially written two books in this series now. I once couldn't write more than 1000 words and now I'm writing novels lol. I really hope you guys enjoyed Lost Stars and continue to support my other books as they come out. I love you guys so much! I'll be writing the novella I talked about just to tide you guys over until the third book. I hope the ending satisfied you or dissatisfied you enough to satisfy you ;) Thank you all for reading and I will see you all next time!~~~~~~