Quick AN: Thanks for voting and commenting. This might be the last chapter for me to update (doesn't mean it's over, I have a lot in store for this) because finals are coming up and I have to study. But don't worry, I'll try updating once they are over. Have fun reading!

"I scraped my knees while I was praying, And found a demon in my safest haven."

Gotham City
August 10 14:45 EDT

Then...

Barbara's green eyes glowered at the man before her. The one who trained her, the one who acted like a father to her, the one who became a stranger in just a few weeks.

Bruce Wayne wasn't a bad man, of course Barbara always had known that. Bruce Wayne, the sole heir of the Wayne fortune, the science and martial arts prodigy.

Billionaire or not, no amount of money could save Bruce from the wrath of the fuming teen before him.

"Let me get this straight, the person you adopted, whom you raised, just up and left you without another word?" Barbara knew of course, it's been weeks since she had burned the letter. Something she didn't bother telling Bruce.

What she didn't know was that Bruce believed Richard was living with her during those few weeks of Hell.

Bruce's icy blue eyes glared back, yet the teen's anger towards him trumped his scare factor. "Barbara, Richard is gone, and why are you pointing fingers? I'm sure he left because of your relationship." He said.

Alfred sighed somewhere behind the duo, dusting off the pictures of the three at an amusement park of sorts. He smiled fondly at the photo, Barbara and Richard were laughing, their arms around each other, along with Bruce in the background in the middle of them, faintly smiling.

Barbara took a deep breath while closing her eyes before she faced Bruce once more.

"Our relationship is none of your concern, nor is it your business." Barbara said.

"It is my business when it involves my son." He stated.

Barbara rolled her eyes, "That said son packed up and left."

Bruce scoffed, looking at the ground. Barbara then noticed his slump shoulders and posture. Her glare softened, he was hurting just as much as she was.

"I'll let you know when I see him." Barbara said, quickly dismissing herself from Bruce's presence.

Bruce's eyes widened as he stared at the red headed teen. She was mature enough to put their petty feud aside to help him find Richard.

Bruce smiled at her retreating figure. Suddenly she turned half way around, "This doesn't mean I forgive you for what you said."

Bruce's eyes widened at her words, he seemed to forget her photographic memory, then he nodded to her. Barbara turned back around, headed for her bike.

She had, of course, forgotten that Richard was gone, well that wasn't necessarily true, she wanted to forget. She wanted to forget him entirely along with the suit that remained hidden between hanged shirts in her closet.

She sighed, the cycle's engine rumbling beneath her, her grip tightened on the handles.

She swiftly turned the bike with ease and sped off. The wind howled as she sped through the busy streets of Gotham. As she turned a corner, a bulky man smashed his fist into her stomach, sending her and the bike into the ground.

Barbara swore under her breath as she recovered her lost vision. The running blood on the side of her head matched her red hair. Something that she felt woozy about. Or maybe it was the lack of oxygen in her body.

The man strode to her in a few steps before taking her by the throat, making a scene of the whole ordeal. Several onlookers gave startled yells and screams. Barbara gasped and jerked her body, but no avail, she couldn't loosen his grip.

"Well, isn't it the Commissioner's daughter, such a lovely gal. Ain't she, Boss?" The man asked. He dropped Barbara on the ground, her legs wobbled before she went on her knees. From the shadows another man appeared. His eyes bright green, more so than anyone Barbara has ever met. Slick, ink black hair with grey streaks along the sides. A green robe rested on his shoulders, along with black plated shoulders and forearms.

"Ah, yes, Barbara Gordon. Friend of that Grayson boy, yes?" The man's voice had a sort of twinge of accent, though Barbara couldn't place a name to it.

"To whom does it concern?" She asked, panted heavily as she struggled to find her strength once more.

The man smiled, "If only I needed a female heir, then you would've been the prefect candidate, such manner along with your fierce strength, prefect for the League of Shadows."

League of Shadows. Barbara swore under her breath silently. "Ra's Al Ghul. The man who bathed in the Lazarus Pit, and become immortal, or so the legends say. But you and I both know the Demon only grants rejuvenation, it hates being kept in a single soul."

Ra's eyes widened, "Such knowledge of the League."

Barbara smiled, "Your daughter was much help Ra's."

Ra's growled, "Talia, so enamored with that Wayne fellow. Laxus, bring me the girl, we're taking her with us, now."

Laxus nodded, he went toward Barbara, as he did, she smiled. A weak spot at his left side.

She flipped herself backward off the ground, landing on her feet, then she ran toward Laxus.

The brute smirked, he reached to grab her, but her figure was gone before he could.

Laxus noted his mistake, but too late, Barbara had stepped into his weak spot and sent a kick to his side.

Laxus grunted in pain, but only for a short moment, Barbara sent a roundhouse kick to his temple, toppling him to the ground unconscious.

Ra's eyes blazed with anger. "Assassins, grab the girl."

At an instant Barbara was surrounded, she sighed. If this was what happened for being Richard's friend, girlfriend..ex? Barbara didn't know, but she disliked being targeted, then again she should have been used to it, her father was the commissioner.

She fought as hard as she could, but she was overwhelmed. She knew she wouldn't win. It was inevitable. She jabbed, somersaulted, flipped, punched, kicked, but all it took was a quick hit to the back of her head to make her fall into the welcoming darkness.

~Linebreak~

The last time Barbara could remember getting kidnapped, was a hell of a lot worse than this.

Her blurred vision slowly focused, her green eyes swept over the room, or penthouse.

Barbara also noticed her clothing was different, she wore the traditional robes of the League.

The sound of a lock made her head turn. Ra's came forward, along with a teen male by his side.

"Dusan, she is the girl I've told you about, the commissioner's daughter." Ra's said.

Realization hit her like Z did on her period.

"The White Ghost. Is it? Albino son of Ra's whom he deemed unworthy of being his successor." Barbara knew more about this family than her own father, though then again the information she had came from an inside source.

Dusan merely examined her, his pink eyes roaming over her figure, before stopping on her eyes. His pale features contrasted his father's dark complexion. Blond white hair that was peculiarly similar to Richard's style, pale skin over defined muscles. His features seemed to be sculpted by Fallen Angels themselves. He wasn't horrid looking, Barbara decided, he was handsome in a sort of sick angelic way.

"She's beautiful, of course. Her green eyes are very...wonderous. But why bring her here Father? I'm not your heir like she said, why bring her to me?" Dusan seemed nervous when he spoke about Barbara, almost as if he cared for her. Something not many would offer the daughter of James Gordon.

Barbara blinked before letting out the breath she had been holding, "Oh thank god I thought you were going to keep me."

Ra's turned to his son, "I bring her to you as a gift, Nyssa must be stopped if you stop her, you can claim the girl as a reward."

Dusan swallowed, his gaze to the ground, "Let me have time to think over this matter, it's important for the both of us. No?"

Ra's smiled, but it never met his eyes, "Of course, I'll let you and Miss Gordon keep each other company." Ra's turned around and headed for the door, Laxus opened the door for him, and shut it, but not before Laxus' gaze lingered on Barbara.

Dusan turned to Barbara, "I take it my father captured you?"

Barbara nodded, "Yes, and to think I was having such a wonderful day."

Dusan smiled, "Sarcastic are you not?"

"Quoting Yoda won't help you score any points in my book." Barbara stated flatly.

"I was trying to make you laugh." Dusan said, his gaze turned away from her.

"Why would you do that?" Barbara asked, unaware that she even asked.

Dusan sighed, "I like hearing beautiful woman laugh. And well I've admired your courage since the incident with that officer Jason."

Barbara blinked, her face flushed slightly, "I was 15 at that time, trying to convince my father that I could join the Force."

Dusan swallowed hard, "I know, I was also in your class, getting information on that Grayson boy. But then I found you in that class instead of him, and well, I didn't want to leave."

The teen sitting beside her reminded her of a football player. She than noticed the way his fingers were curling and twisting while he stared at them intently.

He was nervous, just sitting there beside her, no less! Barbara felt odd, she felt almost elated that he was.

"Dusan, are you alright?" She prompted. Dusan's pink eyes widened as she touched his shoulder gently.

"Yes, I am, it's just...I don't wish to hurt you in any way. I'd prefer not to hurt you but get revenge on that Grayson boy." Dusan's eyes turned cold.

Barbara's face turned grim, "Dusan, Grayson doesn't care for me. He left me alone. Please just let me go, he won't come." Her voice choked up at the last sentence.

She pleaded with her green eyes. Dusan watched her intently, he knew she was not the one to lie. Her eyes told him everything. Her heart had been broken by that Grayson boy, left her alone to pick herself up. Dusan despised teens like Grayson, of course he didn't know the whole story, but he knew that they used girls then left them.

He watched Barbara as she turned away from Dusan. Her eyes were shut tightly, trying to keep herself from crying.

"I'll let you go." He said after a moment of silence. Barbara couldn't help but smile. He was different from his kin.

Dusan turned away, heading toward the window, he used his strength to pry the window open. He then held his hand out for Barbara to grab.

"Through here, if you go down to the landing pad, you'll be able to find a pilot that owes me a favor, tell him I sent you." Dusan said. Barbara was speechless, no one would do this for her.

"T-Thank you." She said climbing through the window.

As she leaped, she had an urge to turn around and stay with Dusan, it was a sort of longing. The longing she felt for some sort of company.

When she neared the end of the slanted rooftop, she flipped herself with ease, her years of gymnastics with an Olympic champion did wonders for her.

She landed gracefully, her head subconsciously turned to look over her shoulder. There. On the window seal was Dusan, his pale features contorted in a saddened gaze toward Barbara.

Barbara shut her eyes to keep from staring, she turned away, and ran. Ran from the foreign boy that she knew better then the boy she had lived with. Ran back to where the memories served as a constant reminder of Richard.

Gotham City
December 24 04:35 EST

Now...

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack Thwack.
Barbara punched the bag in front of her with enough force to send someone to China. Of course nothing could be said to the man holding the bag for her.

Her friend, Conner, also known as Superboy, held it for her. Despite him being the clone of Superman, he swore the red head's punches hit him with enough force to knock him down.

"Okay, Barbara you need to cool down, the bag can't stand the pressure." He said.

Barbara stopped, getting out of her stance, "Don't you mean you can't stand the pressure, Conner?"

He rolled his bright blue eyes, "Ha ha, that was so funny."

She began unwrapping her knuckles that were no doubt bruised by now. She hissed as she took off the white wrap now slick, sticky with sweat. Her tan knuckles were swollen and purple, along with a bit of dried blood here and there.

Conner watched her with careful eyes, she had been calling him frequently for the past three weeks, to help her lose tension. Not only that, but having him come here on Christmas Eve? He knew something else was bothering his former teammate. Something that she had not cared to share with him.

Barbara grabbed her towel and slung it over her shoulder, chugging down a bottle of water in the process.

Conner narrowed his eyes, "You're hiding something."

Barbara paused raising an eyebrow,
"Is that all your deduction skills uncovered? You're pretty blind considering you have 50 different types of vision."

Conner clenched his fists, "For your information I don't need to use my 50 types of vision to see that you're falling apart." His gaze softened, as she turned away. He hit the soft spot. "It written on your sleeve Barb."

Barbara sighed, "I have a lot on my mind okay? That's all."

Conner feigned a sneeze, "Sorry I'm allergic to bullshit."

Barbara glared at him slightly, but her heart wasn't in it, Conner was right.

"I'll tell you over some coffee, my place?" Barbara asked.

Conner sighed, "Yeah, I can used some coffee, especially after seeing Megan and Lagoon Boy. She used her powers again, and harmed someone today."

Barbara nodded, it happened several times with Miss Martian, she used her power and intruded in the minds of her teammates. Needless to say, her power over the team made Barbara glad that she left. Though the way she had left wasn't as great as she made it sound.

They walked to Barbara's apartment in silence, their mind wondering to the days of The Team, at least when they were on it.

The only thing that stood in the way of returning was the feeling of doubt in their abilities. They hated the fact that they did. But it was from the cause of their feelings, their sense of responsibility for the team itself. They hated how easily it was for everything to fall apart.

Barbara thought of Wally in that moment, the glue that held the team together. She disliked having photographic memory, it was both a blessing and a curse, one that she would gladly trade. She remembered everything of the boy, his wild red hair, bright cat-like green eyes, along with the quirk of his, being overly confident like his own predecessor, Barry. She missed his cocky remarks, but in the end his death was absolutely inevitable.

She opened the door to the dark apartment, Conner opened his mouth to say something of the dimly lit room, but Barbara held her hand over his mouth to stop the him from speaking.

She walked in slowly, Conner following behind. Then the lights turned on. A shirtless Richard stood beside the light-switch.

Like before, Barbara felt waves of memories flood her mind. She turned away, then remembered that Conner just found out about Richard staying at her apartment.

She turned to say something, but Conner stood frozen.

"Uh, Conner? Earth to Conner?" She waved her hand in front of his face. He then blinked before he glared at Richard.

"You son of a.." He stopped talking, his fist swinging, hitting Richard square in the jaw.

Conner stood over Richard, "You left her alone. She had to go through Bruce's shit. How dare you come here. You bast-"

"Enough." Barbara interrupted, her body showing that she's had enough. The way her voice trembled as she spoke was more then enough evidence for the two boys.

Richard turned to Barbara as she looked away. He wasn't told this, any of this. Bruce had literally destroyed their relationship.

"Babs, is it true?" Richard asked.

"It's in the past, besides you weren't a part of it, so it's done." Barbara said, she walked past the two boys, heading toward her room.

-Five Minutes Later-

Conner and Richard sat across from each other. Conner glaring, Richard merely staring at the table.

"Give me one fucking good reason I shouldn't beat you into the next town over." Conner's eyes were steel, piercing Richard's own eyes.

Richard sighed, "I left because of Bruce."

Conner relaxed slightly seeing as the ex couple had more in common than he thought.

"Why?" Conner asked.

Richard ran a hand through his hair, "He hurt Babs, it was the last straw for me. With what happened with Jason, and getting Tim, he seemed to shut down." Richard sighed before continuing.

"He may be my adopted father, but that doesn't mean he can shut me out and order me around. Babs didn't quit The Team, Bruce made her leave." Richard clenched his fists tightly as he remembered Bruce's livid expression.

Conner groaned, "You mean to tell me that Bruce is an even bigger dick than you?"

Richard chuckled, "Yes."

Barbara walked in at the moment and felt the need to put in her opinion.
"Like father like son, right?" She said, steel in her voice. Both boys winced, they felt as if she was going to scold them like a mother would.

Richard nodded, "Yeah, I guess that's true." Conner then noticed how Barbara stood a ways off and how Richard kept staring at her longingly.

"Well, Barbara, this is some problem." Conner stated. "Richard's fat ass is going to eat your kitchen."

Richard's jaw dropped as he heard Barbara laughing. Conner was in for it.

"You little..." Richard began, but lunged at Conner, knocking him back.

The boys began to wrestle as Barbara continued to laugh. Her laughter to both boys was astounding, pure bliss in their ears. It had been years since she had laughed like that.

Unknowingly fumes of gas began to overtake the apartment complex.
Barbara felt as if her insides were going to explode, they burned from the lack  of air. She then started to cough, choking. Both boys stopped wrestling and went over to the gasping girl.

"Babs are you okay?" Richard asked, worry laced in his voice. He then began coughing and choking. The duo collapsed from the gas. The only person immune to this gas was Conner.

"Guys? What's going on?" Then the glass windows shattered. Debris and dirt flew everywhere. Conner reached over to grab his friends and fly out, but pain erupted from his head, knocking him unconscious, shoes were the last thing he saw.

~Linebreak~

The three awoke around the same time. Headaches are the worst, Barbara also knew waking up with one was even more of bother. As they woke they were met with similar images. The only difference? Barbara was staring at a familiar face.

Pink eyes, blonde nearly white hair, and pale God-like features.

"Dusan." She whispered, the sound of merely a whisper made her head pound. He smiled.

"You remember me? I'm flattered." He said, "I've thought about you Barbara, since your escape." Dusan smiled. The way he stared at her made Richard's blood boil.

Barbara smiled, "How could I forget, you saved me."

Richard blinked. This teen kidnapped them, but he also saved Barbara.

"How do you know us?" Richard asked, glaring at Dusan.

Dusan's demeanor changed at an instant, he grabbed Richard by the throat.

"How dare you speak to me. Much less glance at Mrs. Gordon's direction." Dusan's eyes went green, rather catlike. The sign of the Lazarus Pit in the blood stream.

Richard clawed at Dusan's hands, but his grip was iron. Barbara placed a hand on Dusan's shoulder.

One look. One look was all it took for Dusan to stop. Richard and Conner stared at the two. They had history it seemed.

"Dusan, this is Richard Grayson and Conner Kent." Barbara said, introducing them. " This is Dusan Al Gul." As she introduced them, Dusan had a sort of amused look.

"I know of them, Barbara. Kent, son of Superman, or rather a DNA strand of him. Grayson, adoptive son of Bruce Wayne." Dusan recalled.

Barbara flushed, she had gotten used to explaining The Team that she had forgotten that some individuals knew.

"I want to know, why did you capture us?" Barbara asked once she recollected herself.

"I wanted my revenge, and you Barbara." Dusan answered swiftly.

Barbara nodded slowly, she should of known. With Richard back, Dusan wouldn't have a problem acting on that promise. Barbara only wished that he wouldn't.

No matter what he did or has done, Richard knew her better than anyone and vise versa. And she would always be his first kiss just as much as he was hers.

Dusan neared Barbara, grabbing her hand and tugging her to stand.

"Please, be my beloved. I can treat you better than that Grayson boy. I will care for you more than him. And I vow to never leave you abandoned like he did." Dusan pleaded. Honesty was clear in his eyes. Not an ounce of deceit.

Barbara nearly choked at his words. Of course she knew he wasn't lying. He wasn't that kind of man. She knew that the achy feeling in her heart was the same of she had when she escaped. It was like her heart wanted her to be with Dusan, it wanted to be loved.

"I don't know what to say Dusan. This is unexpected, very unexpected." She said, a crimson tint had taken her cheeks.

Dusan smiled kindly, "It is fine, I will give you time to decide. And I also have something for you."

He pulled out a small box, and kneeled down, he presented it much like an engagement proposal.

"Here." He said, then opened the box gently. A ring, carved and etched so beautifully Barbara nearly lost her breath. At the center of the crafted ring was a green Emerald, along the edges was writing in Persian. برای همیشه لطفا برای و همیشه.

Forever and Always. At this point Barbara felt a bit overwhelmed by this gesture.

"I will need time to think and gather myself. I hope I'm not too much trouble." She said, acutely aware of Richard's solemn gaze.

Dusan shook his head, "I knew that this would overwhelm you so I shall have my men take you home so that you can decide over the matter." He smiled kindly at her. He grabbed her hand and kiss the back of it.

Richard felt the need to speak up, but Barbara quickly glared at him, silencing him rather harshly.

"Thank you Dusan." She said.

"Now as for your Kryptonian friend, he shall be set free with you, but as for Grayson, he has years worth of revenge to get through." Dusan's eyes began to flicker between the two respective colors, Pink and Green.

He pulled out a shining sliver knife, and placed it on Richard's arm, cutting slowly. Richard grimaced as Dusan slowly placed the knife deeper. At the sight of Richard's blood, Barbara began to think irrationally. Her heart dropped to her stomach, a sick, askew feeling.

"Dusan! Please, you must let him go, he was my friend before, so he must attend our wedding." The word wedding fell out of her mouth in panic. But it seemed to knock Dusan out of his trance.

"I suppose having friends from your side of the family would make this more official. Very well, I trust you, love." Dusan said, "But I expect your answer within a month's end."

"Y-Yes." Barbara said, watching as Dusan's hold slacken and let Richard go. He had someone wrap Richard's arm all while Barbara silently fumed.

-Several Hours Later-

Once the trio arrived home, Barbara desperately wanted to shut herself in her room and disappear for the next month or so.

Conner felt the need to leave, seeing his friend in a state of distress. He didn't want to bother her as she was thinking over what had transpired with everyone. This day taking its toll on her.

"Barbara, thank you for everything, but I have a feeling Clark needs me back at the farm." He pulled his friend into a tight, but not-break-her-in-half-tight hug. "It will be okay." He whispered in her ear.

Barbara nodded numbly, "Yeah thanks." At those words, Conner vanished.

Richard stood watching the girl he grew up with stay silent. She was going to break, and he knew it.

Barbara then began to walk to her room, not bothering to talk with Richard. She was angry, frustrated, but most of all, regretful. This odd turn of events had shown her just how she felt about Richard.

She had panicked and that put her in an awkward position with Dusan and Richard. She could have thought out her response to Dusan, nearly decapitating and defenestrating him.

Barbara closed the door of her room, leaning on it slightly as she began to cry silently. She slid down the door until she reached the ground. Her knees pulled up toward her chest.

Richard stood outside, his hand raised to knock. He hesitated his actions. His mind filling with doubt. He shook away his doubt and knocked softly.

Shuffling was heard and then the click of the door being unlocked. He then swiftly opened the door to see his former friend furiously wiping away tears, but he knew better.

"Yes?" Her voice croaked slightly. Her green eyes filled with worry and sadness. Her gaze trailed down to his bloody arm.

Richard followed her gaze and chuckled slightly, "That bastard nearly got my veins."

Barbara turned away, hugging herself tightly, nausea crawling in her throat.

"Babs?" Richard asked in a soft voice.

"I can't believe it. You could of died and..." She bit her tongue not wanting to further humiliate herself. She knew not to speak.

"Babs..I'm fine. Really." Richard said. His heart beating slightly erratic.

Something in his words made her snap.
"You don't understand! You could've been killed! Bruce isn't here to save us anymore! Can't you see that?!?" Barbara yelled, the rage she had on Richard finally was released.

"Babs...I." Richard began, but Barbara continued her rant.

"Don't Bab me! Do you know how worried I was?" Somehow Richard knew she wasn't talking about what had happened back in Ra's Al Gul's palace.

"Babs, I'm fine! I'm back!"

"You left me with a fucking note! Nothing else, nothing more! It hurt me Richard!" Barbara yelled.

Richard flinched slightly at her words, each one striking his heart figuratively. He opened his mouth, but something glistened on Barbara's cheek. A single tear slid down.

Barbara then allowed herself to cry. In her anger and rage, she had forgotten that for a brief moment, Richard had nearly died. Then once he spoke saying he was fine, and something snapped. The usual calm she had worked on all those years, vanished, all in a blink of an eye.

Richard felt his heart crack at the sight of Barbara's shaking figure. He pulled her wrists and embraced her tightly.

Barbara's body froze, her hands stuck between her own chest and Richard's. She then let herself fall apart in Richard's arms.

Just.........

Fall............

Apart........