Summary: Dick gives Donna away on her wedding day.
Love, Fate, and the Multiverse
By Syl Francis
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Wedding Day
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The day of Donna's wedding to Terry Long, Dick felt as if he saw her clearly for the first time. He had spent the better part of the previous weeks investigating her life. He had returned to the burnt out building from which Wonder Woman had rescued her. The Amazon had taken the toddler home to her mother in Themyscira. The queen had been so taken by the beautiful child—especially her remarkable resemblance to Diana—that she had promptly adopted her.
Other than that, Donna had little knowledge of who she was. What was she doing in the burning building? Who were the two dead people in the apartment? Were they her parents? Did she have any other family? Who was she?
Who was Donna Troy?
Proving once and for all that he was the foremost protégé of the World's Greatest Detective, Dick's methodical investigation led him to finally determine Donna's background…
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Shortly before dying of cancer, Donna Hinckley entrusted her baby daughter Donna to the Willowbrook Orphanage.
"Really?" Donna squealed, tears flowing freely. She gave Dick a smile that rivaled the sun. "My name is really Donna?" She had selected the name when she first visited "Man's World" in order to fit in. The name had somehow felt right, but she hadn't understood the reason until now.
Dick nodded, basking in her happiness at this new discovery. "You were soon adopted by a young couple, Fay and Carl Stacy. You lived with them for about a year, but sadly, Carl was killed in a work-related accident, and Fay couldn't support you. The funeral costs alone almost bankrupted her."
Donna nodded sadly. She didn't want to pass judgment, as she had never been in her adoptive mother's shoes. Still, Donna wondered what she would have done under the same circumstances. Would she have given up as Fay had, or would she have fought to her last breath to keep her child?
She felt her heart breaking—two mothers before the age of two, and each had given her away due to circumstances beyond their control. She turned back to Dick, concentrating on his words.
"Harrison, the lawyer for the Willowbrook Orphanage—later convicted of child trafficking—basically coerced Fay into turning you over to him." Dick placed his hands gently on Donna's shoulders. "D…he probably scared her. Fay wasn't the only one. Harrison was running an extortion racket—leaning on the adoptive parents, frightening them into giving up custody of their kids."
Donna looked shattered. "But she gave me away, Dick."
"D, I know you feel betrayed, but she was all alone and scared. I'm not saying that what she did was right—it wasn't—but I know how victims of extortionists feel: frightened and alone, having nowhere to turn. She couldn't have known what Harrison was up to." Dick caressed her cheek with his thumb. When she was able to look at him, he gently cupped her face.
"I questioned Harrison yesterday. I convinced him it would be in his best interests to talk." His expression darkened briefly, channeling Batman. "Harrison admitted turning you over to his go-betweens. The night of the fire, you were supposed to be sold for twenty grand, but the apartment furnace exploded and the entire building burned to the ground. Who knows what might have happened to you if not for the fire and Wonder Woman showing up when she did." Holding her closely, he asked with a smile. "Now…how would you like meet Fay Stacy, your adoptive mother?"
Donna gasped. Her shocked expression quickly morphed to one of sheer joy. "My adoptive mother? Dick…you found her? You know where she lives? Where? Tell me—!" Her emotions mercurial, she was hesitant the next second. "But, what if she doesn't want to see me? Dick, she gave me away. I…I don't know if I can—"
Dick ran his hands soothingly up and down her back. "Hey…we don't have to do anything you don't want to do." He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and held her at arms length. "Look, all we have is that shark's side on what went down. If you really want to know who you are—the whole truth and nothing but the truth—then I think you should go see this woman. Hear her side of things." He placed a finger on Donna's chin and lifted her face until she was looking at him. "D, you'll always wonder otherwise."
Nodding at the truth of his words, she agreed to see Fay Stacy.
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…That was two days ago, and Dick still smiled at the pleasant memory. The reunion with her adoptive mother, now Fay Evans, was every bit as joyful as he had wished for Donna. To add to her happiness, Donna discovered that she also had a new stepfather, stepbrother, and stepsister. The Evans family was currently waiting downstairs along with the rest of Donna and Terry's friends and loved ones for the bride's entrance.
Stepping up to the door leading to the bride's changing room, Dick took a deep, calming breath and knocked.
A quiet voice inquired from within. "Yes?"
"It's me," he said softly.
The door opened slowly. About to walk inside, Dick halted in mid-step. Gazing at the stunning goddess before him, he had to swallow a couple times before he was able to speak coherently. Who was this vision standing there—surely not his dearest friend and sister?
In self-defense, he went for the pun.
"Donna, you look…wonderful!" He smiled at her answering grin. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he held her eyes and spoke softly. "If you weren't already spoken for, I'd have taken you off on my own…Donna, we've gone through so much. I feel as if I've known and loved you my whole life. Terry is a remarkably lucky man."
"I'm the lucky one. I've known so much love my entire life, and now all my loved ones are here today to share my happiest day." Stepping into Dick's arms, she looking lovingly into his eyes. He was her best friend, her brother, her lifeline in an uncertain universe. Like Dick, she felt as if she'd known and loved him all her life. "I love you, Dick Grayson. I'm so glad that you're walking me down the aisle. I wouldn't dream of anyone else."
Holding her carefully so as not to muss her wedding dress, Dick whispered in her ear. "C'mon, D…let's get you married." Even as he spoke these words, Dick felt a slight pang, wondering what he was doing. He was about to escort his best friend and confidant down the aisle and just hand her over to another man.
He had never really analyzed his feelings for Donna. He knew they ran deep, that there were hidden layers he had never had the courage to explore. That he loved her went without saying. It was as certain as the sun rising in the east, and Alfred having coffee and hot chocolate awaiting the Dynamic Duo's nightly return from patrol.
As they walked down the aisle, Dick felt Donna trembling on his arm. Turning to her, he gave her a reassuring smile and a light squeeze of his hand on her arm. She in turn smiled gratefully and immediately settled down.
Soon, he was kissing her on the cheek, whispering, "I love you, Donna," and placing her hand on Terry's before stepping away from her.
The next minute, Donna had eyes only for Terry, and feeling strangely bereft, Dick knew he would no longer be her best friend and confidant. Terry would now fulfill that role. Today, he had finally seen her with not only his eyes, but also with his heart.
Unfortunately, it was too late. He had let her slip away from him forever.
End of Part 2
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Acknowledgements: Some dialogue and story ideas borrowed from the following: The New Teen Titans #38; Tales of the Teen Titans #50; Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3; The Return of Donna Troy #1-4; Blackest Night: Batman #1-3; Justice League of America #41; Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1-3; The New 52: Batman and Robin #10
Copyright: February 2013