Areina sat in her room for 20 minutes just looking at the closed envelope, now having met her mother, even only for a few minutes, the 19 year old was curious as to what Reiena had written her. She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
Dear Areina,
I'm sure you've already gotten this and are curious to what I wanted to tell you. I'm sure Bruce told you about how your grandparents died, well I wanted you to know that if they were alive today, they would also be proud of you. When I discovered my fire powers, I wasn't sure what to do, but when Bruce offered your Uncle and I a chance to help him save innocent people, I knew that saying yes was the only thing. You don't know what it's like to watch someone you love fall to their death, and I hope you never have to learn.
Knowing that there is someone to take on the legacy of Batman's fire controlling partner makes me happy and I have no regrets. I wanted you to know that your father left a letter with me, and it's in this envelope.
I wanted you to have something that you could always hold, so I hid a very special relic from my childhood. If you ask Bruce which room was mine, he'll show you and I want you to check in the closet. There is a special compartment in the floor, I'm sure Bruce knows about it, but I told him not to touch it. My mother gave it to me, and now I pass it to you.
Ace had nudged Areina's door open and jumped on the bed. When he heard sobs coming from one of his masters, he whined a bit and licked her hand.
"I wish you had known mom, Ace, but you weren't around either. I'll read dad's letter before I ask Bruce about mom's room." Areina said to her pet, and then checked the envelope again.
Hey kiddo,
I want you to know that you would have had an older sister, but she died at a young age. Lian was wonderful, and I think you two would have gotten along very well. Seeing you that day in the Batcave, I was amazed, you looked so much like your mother, and I hope you didn't dye your hair that way. I wanted to ask that, but you left before I had a chance. I also want you to take care of your brother, Vincent.
You mother told me of a special item she wanted you to have, and so that you have something from both parents, there is something from me there. You'll find two of them, so give one to your little brother.
Meygan and Terry seemed nice, I hope Terry is keeping Gotham safe, but even Batman needs help at times. With Meygan, I could tell you guys were close, keep that up, alright.
More tears came, but they were not only grief tears, but happy as well. She knew now that her parents thought a lot of her, and that they understood about her joining the hero game. She remembered that Roy told her to take care of Vincent, and then she remembered about the secret compartment. Just as she and Ace got off the bed, there was a knock at Areina's door.
"I just wanted to check on you." Bruce said to his granddaughter.
"I'm okay, just a little overwhelmed. Which room was mom's?" Areina bluntly asked.
"It's the room next to yours, why are you asking about that?" Bruce answered, then questioned.
"Mom left me something, so did dad, I wanted to get the items." Areina said and with that Bruce moved aside to let her out of the room and headed to the next room.
She arrived, and located the closet, then started searching the floor closely. Soon enough, Areina found a spot that was cut through, or more like burned through. When the fire controller opened the panel, she found four things actually.
The items were: two old trick arrows, a small envelope, and a medium sized box carefully wrapped. Areina knew that the arrows must be from Roy and placed them aside. Next she opened the small envelope, and found a couple of pictures. One was of her mother and uncle with two adults on a trapeze stand in a tent. The other was of the same two kids with Bruce. After smiling when reading the back of the one under the tent, learning that the two adults were her grandparents.
The last item, a medium sized wrapped box. Areina was running all kinds of things through her mind as to what her mother would have left her. After she unwrapped it and opened the box, she was amazed. It was a large stuffed white tiger, and with it a small note.
My mother gave me this white tiger after my debut at the circus. When I lost her and dad, I only had it and your uncle left from that life. This tiger was there for me when Dick couldn't get there a first, and it also has a history. I think mom was looking over Saba when I had my nightmares because he never got burned. Please take care of him, and maybe he can be passed down to your child.
"I was wondering if she still had that. After you visited us in the past, it disappeared. I guess she wanted to preserve it for you." Bruce said, having come into his daughter's old room.
Areina didn't say anything as she pulled Saba out of the box. She inspected it and saw that her mother's note was right, there were no burn marks at all on it. She gave it a light hug before fresh tears fell to her cheeks.
"You saw me crying when I came back in time, that's why your attitude seems to have changed a bit." Areina said to her grandfather.
"I knew you would grow into the person you are now, and I have to be honest, the grandfather clock wasn't totally sealed, I wanted you to find the Batcave." Bruce said.
"Thanks, grandpa." Areina said as she stood up, holding Saba in one hand and she went over, hugging the man that raised her. "Oh, I need to talk to Vincent, did he go back to watchtower yet?"
"He and Meygan left about 10 minutes after you came to your room." Bruce said, and with that, Areina ran out of the room, after going back and grabbing the two trick arrows.
She headed to her room to put the Grayson family heirloom on her bed and grab the letter from Roy. When she had everything she needed, the young fire controller went to the banister and jumped over, flipping before she landed on the first floor, then she took off running toward the study.
Okay, so Areina's had her time, but she wasn't the only one that lost a parent they never knew. What happened with Vincent when he returned to Watchtower. You'll have to wait to find out.
