Jason's Love

Part 3

Jason tried to calm the butterflies in his stomach. 'Maybe I shouldn't have asked her. No . . . I can't back down now.'

Jason parked his cycle and hopped off He had ten minutes before they were to meet up. There was a flower shop next to Valentino's. He decided to go over and grab a bouquet of roses. Jason wasn't aware that three people were observing him. One of them, the very person he came to see.

Scarlet was nervous. She saw Jason Todd enter the flower shop next door to the restaurant where they agreed to meet. Before he exited, she went inside and requested their usual table. They had been there before, but not like this. She didn't know if Jason would like her once he saw her. 'I wanted to get back what Professor Pyg took from me . . . Jason gave me a purpose and he gave me something to live for. And I fell in love with him the moment I saw his face. I know he loves Scarlet, but will he love me?'

Jason walked out with the roses and waited near the entrance of Valentino's. 'I haven't seen Scarlet in forever. I'm looking forward to welcoming her home.'

Scarlet decided to text Jason to let him know she was waiting inside and at a table near the back.

Jason picked up his phone as he received a text. It was from Scarlet. 'I hope she didn't cancel.' Reading the text that she was already inside, Jason gathered himself and headed in looking for her.

Scarlet watched as Jason entered. She wore the colors that she knew Jason liked. She kept her face down, suddenly feeling shy.

Jason spotted her in the back. 'That must be her with her head down. She was always self-conscious about her looks.' He walked over slowly and hid his face behind the roses then tapped her shoulder.

Scarlet looked up into sea green eyes that were so familiar to her. "Jason . . ."

"Scarlet," Jason started to say something when he looked into her face. 'Oh...my…goodness... She looks so...so... Beautiful.'

"Surprise."

Surprise indeed. Jason held out the roses; a light blush tinting his face. "These are for you..."

Scarlet took the roses and breathed in their sent. "Mmmm . . . My favorite . . ."

Jason took the seat across from her. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. "I...I missed you..." Jason took Bruce's advice and started with what he already knew and felt.

"I . . . Missed you too," Scarlet replied.

"So how are things with you?" Jason started to relax, realizing this was his partner, not a stranger. She looked beautiful, but looking into her eyes, she was still the same person.

"I wanted to tell you . . . You've done so much for me . . . " Scarlet leaned in. She wanted so much to tell him and now was her chance. "I love you, Jason Todd."

Jason's heart jumped. He leaned in slightly. "I love you, too."

"I didn't have them do everything . . ." Scarlet moved her hair aside to show a scar along her left ear running to her jaw. "I wanted a reminder. Something to remind myself what I am fighting for."

Jason lifted his left hand to lightly touch at the scar.

Scarlet pressed his hand against her cheek. "Do you want to get out of here . . . Take a ride . . ."

"Sure, what ever you'd like." He'd do anything for her right now.

Scarlet picked up her roses and linked her arm with Jason's and they exited the restaurant.

As Jason and Scarlet exited the restaurant, two hooded figures watched them from across the street on a nearby rooftop.

"Dick look," Tim stated and pointed down to the street. "There's Jason . . . Is that . . . That can't be . . . She's . . . She's gorgeous."

"My god! You said her face was scarred," Dick said.

"It was . . . But that picture was taken over a year ago . . . You don't suppose . . ."

"I don't know what to say," Dick said.

"Well if she makes Jason happy . . ."

Dick wondered if Jason was going to bring her over to the manor one day. He watched as the two headed to Jason's motorcycle.

"Won't Dad be surprised?" Tim asked.

"About what?" Dick questioned back. "The fact Jason brought a girl home for the first time or that it's his partner, who happens to have a record."

"A record?" Tim questioned.

"Yeah, she ended up spending some time in jail for assault."

"I didn't read that far back. Maybe it was wiped clean after she testified against Professor Pyg," Tim said. "He doesn't have to know about that . . . I certainly won't tell him."

"I won't mention it either," Dick said.

"Let's head back to the Manor . . . I think they want to be alone."

"Fair enough..." They climbed down from the roof and Dick started the car and headed back towards the manor.

"Do you think either one of us will find someone special like that?" Tim asked.

"We will . . . we can't rush it . . . but we will."

Valentine's Day was supposed to be a day where it was spent it with someone special. Tim's thoughts turned inward. 'I guess seeing Jason with a girl got me thinking of Stephanie. I just wish we could work out our differences. I couldn't help remembering how she faked her own death. It just wasn't right.'

Dick suddenly felt lonely. 'Barbara wanted her space. Meaning she didn't want to be with me and Kory is dating Roy now. Looks like I'm going to be single for a while. Jason's so lucky.'

Tim looked over at his brother and realized he did have someone special to be with, just not what he expected. "Hey how about we watch a movie then you can help me with my science project."

Hearing Tim snapped Dick out of his funk. "Yeah, that sounds cool. An action movie sound good to you?"

"Yeah . . . One with a mystery to solve too . . . Can I tell you about my science project?" Tim asked

"What's it about?"

"What Crystal Meth does to the brain," Tim replied.

"Interesting... why that?" Dick asked.

"I knew someone once who over dosed when I went to Brentwood."

"Oh . . ."

Tim went on to tell Dick about his project while Dick drove them back to the Manor. It would prove to be a very interesting Valentine's Day for the two of them.

End