Robin pov

I woke up feeling great today and head to the kitchen to see of breakfast was ready. I walk into the kitchen to see Kaldur sitting at the island with his head down and looking pretty upset. I walk up to him and place my hand on top of his.

"Morning Kal," I said cheerfully trying to boost up his spirit.

"Good morning Robin. How are you?" He asked looking up slightly.

"Good. Great actually. How about you?"

"Not feeling good this morning. Just a little sickness if you may."

"I hope you feel better. Have any plans today? Batman gave us the day off."

"No plans. Maybe just stay here. I-" he cut off by Wally zooming into the room.

"Morning guys. What for breakfast? I'm starving," Wally said quickly will raiding the fridge.

"Good morning everyone," M'gann said happily as usual.

"Morning, "Conner said groggily as usual.

"If you all will excuse me I will be taking a walk on the beach. Enjoy your breakfast," he quickly getting out of his seat and walk to the front door entrance.

"Was it just me or did Kaldur kind of freak out," Artemis said slowly still trying to figure out what happened.

"A little. Maybe. If you want I could read him mind." M'gann asked.

"Make it quick," I said not wanting him to find out as her eyes became green before hunching over in pain.

"Something's defiantly wrong. All I could hear was a boy screaming," she said shakily while Connor came to her side.

"Maybe it was a bad dream. People get them you know," Artemis said plainly while sitting down with her bowl of cereal.

"Let's just keep an eye on him just in case," They nodded as we started to make breakfast.

No pov

"I can't do. There is no way I can be here like this," Kaldur thought.

He sat on the sand of the beach and just watched. He looked down at his necklace Shalina, his mother, gave him and let tears spill over his eyes freely, not making a sound. As they fall from his chin and land on the sand making a small puddle of pain and sorrow, Kaldur began to wonder what tonight would bring for him. The memories of the past would come to haunt him like the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. The way fear rose in his heart, beating so radially you would think it would burst right out of his chest. The way shivers would roll slowly, painfully down his spine, hitting the wound repeatedly. The unbearable pain he would be in by just laying down on his back felt as if he was laying on a cactus. The way his eyes move quickly scrolled under his shut eyes, trying to find the demon he knew is no longer there. The feeling of the bloody knife being ripped for my back as I hear myself scream in pain. My throat would burn trying to find air as I choke on my tears. I would find myself sitting alone in my bed sweating bullets trying so desperately to find some safety in my room. I realize then I could not sleep for the night. I would stay awake reliving the day over and over like a song on loop. Hearing myself scream of bloody murder shock my body like the wind shaking a tree. I couldn't go to my team of this. I am the leader I should have no fear. But then I realize, what leader am I to fear one night. The night no- the nightmare I'll never forget. Never.

Robin pov

The rest of the team and I were in the rec room watching "Body of Proof" (Artemis chose) when Kaldur came running back in the cave and into his room, slamming the door shut.

"What just happened?" Wally asked.

"I hope Kaldur's okay," I said.

"We should go check on him," M'gann said.

"Maybe? Meg, you go check," Artemis said.

"Alright," she got up and flew to Kaldur's room.

M'gann pov

I went to Kaldur's bedroom door and knocked lightly. I was so worried about him. Whatever was bothering him must be, as they say, "too hard to swallow". All I want to is try to make this a little easier for him.

"Kaldur, are you ok? Did something happen?" I asked softly, getting no response from his room. "Kaldur, I know you're in there. I just want to make sure you okay. Just open the door and let me in. Kaldur," I begged as the door opens slightly.

"M'gann, do you need something?" Kaldur asked shakily.

"Are you okay? What happened? We just want to be sure the nothing's wrong."

"Today is not a good day for me. That is all. I am sorry to worry you."

"It's fine. How about you come a watch a movie with us. It's Wally's pick so it might be a comedy. It's ok if you don't want to." I tried to coax him.

"Very well I will join. Just give me a few moments." Kaldur said smiling sadly.

"See you in a bit," I said smiling back at him and flew to the rec room.

Robin pov

"What happened?" Conner asked.

"Kaldur is gonna watch the movie with us."

"Sweet! I'll make the popcorn." Wally said popping the popcorn in the microwave.

"Hi," Kaldur said softly.

"Hey, Kal. Nice to see among the living."

"What movie we'll be watching?" Kaldur said sitting in his usual chair.

"Hop!" Wally said happily.

"No! Please, anything but that." I groaned.

"My week, my movie. Get over it."

"Can we please watch something else. That movie stinks. How about Transformers 3. Who doesn't love a good action flick?" Artemis reasoned.

"Fine with me," Wally said as he put in the movie.

As we were getting deeper into the movie Kaldur moved from the chair to the floor. In the middle of the movie Kal fell asleep. He looked peaceful and younger. Then he started to moan and jump in his sleep, kicking and twisting his body in pain.

"Guys something's wrong with Kal," I said pausing the movie.

"Should we wake him up?" Wally asked.

"Maybe. I don't know."

"No! Stop, stop, No! Please n-no," Kaldur mumbles in his sleep.

"He's having a nightmare," M'gann said getting off Conner's lap and to Kaldur's side.

"Kaldur. Wake up. It's ok. Wake up. It's time to wake up. Wake up. It's just a dream. Wake up," she tried to soothe him while keeping her voice soft.

All he did was fight against her touch each time she reached to shake him.

"No, no, no. Stop, please. Mother pleases don't. F-father please stop. No! No!" he screams as Megan touches his shoulder.

"Sh. Sh. Sh. It's ok. Calm down. It's ok. Relax," I tried to calm him down.

Artemis and Wally took his hands, while I, M'gann, and Conner try to talk him out of the dream.

"Kaldur. Wake up, wake up." Conner said. Kaldur screams then his eyes snap open. He looks like he just saw Bloody Mary herself before his eyes.

"I-i'm sorry. What happened?" he asked, slightly.

"You had a nightmare. Are you ok? I can hear your heart beating rapidly. You're having a panic attack." Conner said with worry in his voice.

"I am sorry to worry you. It was only a dream. I need a minute," he got off the ground and ran somewhere.

"M'gann, did you see the dream?" Artemis asked.

"All I felt was the pain. All I could see was blood like he got into a fight or something."

"Who did it?" Conner asked.

"I think it was the Black Manta but he called him father."

"How? Why Black Manta?" Wally asked confused.

"All I could see was the silhouette of the figure and it reminded me of Manta."

"You don't think that," Connor said drifting off.

"That the Manta is his father?" Artemis finished for him while connecting two and two together.

"Kaldur said he was that today isn't a good day for him," I remembered from this morning.

"You think he meant today something happened to his family."

"We need to find him. Check the pool."

We spilt up and search his room, the pool, library. Everywhere he would go to hide. Then finally Conner found him. He was one the balcony crying silently. We look over his shoulder to see a hologram image of a woman. She looked just like Kaldur.

"She's your mother isn't she," M'gann asked softly.

All Kaldur could do was nod slowly.

"Kaldur what happened to her and your father?" Wally asked.

"You do not want to know," Kaldur said with anger and sadness in his voice.

"You don't know that. Tell us. We're your friends Kal, we have a right to know if our friend is hurting. " I explained while walking to stand next to him.

"Let us just say that I find it difficult to look certain League members in the eyes. I do not trust men the same. That is all you need to know for now," Kaldur said almost as if he was dead.

"Ok. It's ok. How about we eat dinner and head to bed ok." M'gann said placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Very well," Kaldur mumbled as he took off his necklace and walked to the kitchen.

We ate dinner as usual and cleaned up the TV room. It was about 10 o'clock and decided to head to bed. I understand what Kaldur is going through to an extent. He has to re-live the worse day of his life every single day and it was even worse on the anniversary. I prayed that Kaldur would at least get some sleep tonight.

I open my eyes to see the team in the living room. Everyone looks happy. I find myself at ease until the alarms went off. The team was taken by surprise. The Black Manta goons came and attacked. One by one they all died. The Manta came to me and dragged the rusted blade down my chest.

"Sh. My son. It will be quick," Manta growled in my ear.

"No! No!" I screamed.

He plunged the blade into my leg. The pain was too much to bear. He pulled the knife up to my hip while it was still in my leg. I screamed louder than before. Hot tears brimmed in my eyes but refused to fall. I kept screaming bloody murder. The pain in my throat began to swell. He pulled out the bloody blade and waved it to close to the shell of my ear, cutting it as a result.

"No more pain Kaldur." He growled in my ear.

"Leave my son alone." A woman voice said. I look to see my mother, Selene

"Ah, Shalina. I have been expecting you." he walks to her.

"No! Please leave her be! She has nothing to do with this!" I beg him through my tears.

"It is alright my son. Know that I will always love you," my mother said looking at me smiling fearfully.

"Say goodbye Shalina," he thrust the bloody blade into her stomach.

"Ah!" She screamed as she fell to the ground.

"No!" I shout fighting my binds to try to save her.

I saw my mother, the good thing I had left in this world gone. Her small gentle hand clenched in a fist. Her long snow hair I used to run my fingers through fanned out of the ground around her. Her white gown cover in blood as it pools around her. I look over to my team to see them dead. I'll never be able to taste M'gann's overcooked cookies. Never be able to hear Wally and Artemis bicker, or Robin's laughter. Never be able to see Conner fall asleep on the couch watching static. Never be able to see Wolf curled in a ball next to Conner on the floor. My family was gone forever.

"Now it is your turn to die," he walked to me slowly like a wolf stalking its prey.

"Kaldur wakes up," a voice said as something started to shake me.

"Kal wakes up you're dreaming," another voice spoke, this time, sounding like Wally.

"Wally," I moaned through the pain.

"Kaldur please wake up," a third voice called out, sounding like M'gann.

"Kaldur wake up. It's not real. It's not real. Wake up." I heard Robin yell.

I feel something tug on my arm. I look to see, my mother is pulling on me. She looked so helpless and vulnerable. I felt something rip my open. I scream so loud my throat crack. Something was pushing me down to the ground. I felt my body shudder against the beast on top of me. As it claws dug into my heart I began to black out. Darkness fell over me like a sheet.

Kaldur's pov

I woke up with sweat dripping down my face along with tears and my team standing around the bed. It took me a few minutes to steady myself and remember where I was. I look to see my team around my bed. They look at me with worried and surprised looks on their faces. I sat up closer to the headboard, drew my knees to my chest, and bury my face in my arms. Trying, hoping it would bring me comfort. I felt the bed dip and a soft hand on my foot.

"Kaldur, are you ok?" M'gann asked as I shake my head, curling deeper into myself.

"What's wrong? Was it a bad dream?" Artemis asks sitting on the bed. I nod slowly with a strangled sob.

"Oh. I'm sorry. You want to talk about?" Wally says softly.

"N-No," I whimpered like a puppy.

I felt the bed move twice and a callous hand on my leg. I knew it was Conner as I recall the first time he shook my hand.

"Was it about your mom?" Conner said.

I nod lifting my head to rest on my arms.

"Were we in the dream?" I nod slightly in response.

"Did we die in the dream?" I nod with tears slowly rolling down my face.

Conner places his hand on my shoulder and rubs it softly. He shushes me softly as tears fall freely down my face.

"Hey. Stop crying. It's ok. Just calm down. You're ok. It was just a dream."

"Sorry," I mumble under my breath.

"Don't apologize. Take a breath. You don't have to tell us about the dream if you don't want to," he soothes to me while he handed me a tissue from my bedside table.

I took a breath before I spoke again."I was abused for several long years. He tortured my mother mentally while I was beaten. If my mother stopped him than I would have died. She didn't have chose. I was 6 years old when that last beaten happened. He took a knife and plunged it into my back. My mother knocked him unconscious long enough for the police to arrive and take him into custody. Then I was put in emergency surgery to get the knife out of my back. I passed out twice during the operation. Then I was put in recovery for ten weeks. My mother was put into a mental home ever since. Aquaman adopted me and rest are history."

"Kaldur. We're so sorry. We had no idea. No one should have to go through that. How come you never told us." M'gann asked taking my hands in hers.

"Thank you, M'gann and to answer your question, you never asked."

"Kal you should go back to bed. It's late." Artemis said.

"I can't. If I do then I'll see again. I can't see it again." I begged with tears brimming my eyes.

"We'll stay with you. We're not leaving you. We'll wake you up if you have the nightmare again." Robin said as he made a spot for himself in the bed.

"Really. You don't have to.." I start but didn't finish.

"We're staying with you. Now go to sleep." Wally said taking a seat on the floor.

M'gann laid down next to me and kisses my cheek in a maternal fashion. She the blanket over us as the rest of the team got comfortable in my room. Conner took the computer chair, and Artemis curls up next to Wally on the floor. After about five minutes, I feel asleep in the bed feeling safe. I woke up three times in the time span period of two hours. Each time I woke up my team came to comfort me. They wiped my tears and told it was okay. Out of all the times, I told myself after the dreams I would be okay, this time, I believed it. The dreams would always come back, now I know I don't have to face them alone.

FIN!