For the first time in a long time, Roy finally felt like the search for the original Roy Harper wasn't consuming his life. It was over. Cheshire's lead had been more promising than Red Arrow could have ever hoped for, and the moment he'd laid eyes on the "true" Roy Harper, Red knew that his obsession with justification had finally come to an end. Nothing more needed to be proven or earned. Respect, he now had. Honor, he'd regained. Justice, he'd executed. Exceptence, he'd been shown. The Young Justice team had welcomed him back with willing arms, and Speedy, though confused and insanely bitter for all that had happened to him, was still thankful for having been rescued by the very clone made to replace him. Things were as good as they were going to get. Well... almost.
...
"I still don't know why we had to take Lian along," Roy complaned as he re-entered his home to find Jade cooking with the baby slobbering on a toy.
"You're just mad the first word you actually heard her speak was 'daddas'," Jade smirked from the kitchen. It was true, 'daddas' had been the first word Roy had heard Lian speak, though Jade had assured him that she'd said "dadda" plenty of times when Roy had been away working out or training. Roy was still not convinced.
"And what father in his right mind wouldn't be!? All I know is that young, punk version of me better know to keep his boundries! I won't have our daughter confusing the two of us!" Roy spouted off.
"Calm down," Jade huffed, rolling her eyes, "Speedy has one arm. Lian isn't likely to get the two of you mixed up,"
"We still look the same. For a baby that's all that matters," Roy pointed out, charging forward to set his hands down heavily on the counter.
"Roy... listen to me," Jade sighed and stopped her chopping of vegetables to face him and set her hands down on top of his. At the physical contact, she had her husband's full attention, "You are her father. That other Roy is not. The genetics may be the same, but the human being isn't. You've had different experiences, and therefore they've made you different people. So stop having a pointless temper tantrum and tell me how the hospital visit went," she encouraged, turning away now to continue chopping. Roy sighed.
"Speedy is alright. He's in and out of conciousness a lot, but the doctor says he is stable. Apparently, the Light kept him cryogenically frozen, so his body's growth was impaired. Now that he's out, he should grow naturally though," Roy explained.
"That's good," Jade nodded.
"Also, I called Ollie..." Roy said, looking down.
"You had to at some point," Jade said softly, "How did he take it?"
"He was shocked. Shocked that I'd succeeded and even more shocked that Speedy was actually still alive, and not dead like the Justice's Leagues speculation," Roy informed. "He came down and we all had a talk together. Speedy actually came into conciosuness when Ollie arrived. Conversation was pretty of rough. Speedy kind of chewed Ollie out. I won't go over the details," he shook his head.
"Well, I'd be ticked too if I were kept in a tank like a fish for 8 years and none of my friends knew about it," Jade shrugged, "Things will all work out, it'll just take a bit of time," she promised. Roy smiled and walked around the counter to stand behind Jade where she was chopping. He was so close to slipping his hands around her waist, to pulling her small, curvy form against his and to leaning over her shoulder and pressing his cheek against hers. It was getting harder and harder these days to keep away from her. Sometimes, the attraction he felt and the need he had to be close with her nearly drove him insane. Thus far, he'd refrained, at most times just barely, but it was important he didn't invade her space when she wasn't ready. He'd made a promise to himself that he would not push himself on her until Jade had made it clear that it was what she desired. He didn't want a surface relationship with her anymore, and indulging in sensual interactions would only make it harder to discern what was love and what was selfishness. That was the mistake he'd made the last time.
"Roy..." Jade said softly. She could feel him close behind her, like a lingering shadow that was threatening to capture her within it. And the worst part was... she was thinking she wouldn't mind being captured... Quickly, she turned around to face him, thinking she might escape the tingling sensation that had begun to take over her. Big mistake. Roy was right there and he was looking strait into her eyes with the most gentle searching expression she'd ever seen from him. Suddenly Jade was lost in his eyes. He had arrested her and hadn't even needed to use one hand. He'd been working really hard lately to keep her and Lian both happy and provided for... and how had she been repaying him? Well... she hadn't left him again... did that count? She didn't think so...
"Roy... I.. I'm very proud of you," she said finally.
Roy smiled.
"Thanks," he responded, "That means a lot to hear you say that,"
Then, to Roy's surprise and concern, Jade's face suddenly darkened as she looked down.
"Look, Roy, I need to leave for a day on Cheshire business," Jade said suddenly, "My dad dropped by, and he says I have a suspicious Light member trying to track me. I wasn't going to tell you, because I wasn't planning on doing anything about it, but it's been nagging on me the last few days. I feel I just need to go out and take care of it once and for all," she stated resolutely. Roy nodded.
"Sure, sure, okay," he said gently, "Do you want my help with anything?"
"If you could just spend the day with Lian, that would be helpful. I'd drop her off at my sisters but Artemis is busy tomorrow," Jade said. Roy nodded again, very willingly.
"Of course. I have planned to go and spar with the team, but I guess it's time most of them should meet her anyway," Roy shrugged, "Plus we've already seen how much she takes to violence," he snorted. Jade smiled.
"Great," she responded then turned back to cooking.
...
When Roy left the bathroom to head to his bed that night, Jade was practically lying in the middle of the mattress.
"You gonna scoot over?" he asked in amusement.
"Why don't you make me?" she returned. Ahh... so that was what she wanted... Roy had no problem with that.
"You asked," Roy shrugged and jumped on, thus beginning the bed war. They wrestled around a little while, Roy cheating by deciding to use the tickleing technique instead of the usual roughhousing which he and Jade used to engage in. And of course every time Jade had to laugh, she slapped Roy and scolded him for trying to make her wake the baby.
"Don't laugh and we won't have a problem," Roy smirked, having captured her feet and was keeping them in an arm lock to tickle her souls with his fingers. She kicked violently, rolling over and doing everything to get out of his grip in delightful torture. Finally she decided to pull her self forward and grab Roy by the ear, turning it an uncomfortable way so that Roy was forced to move the direction she prompted in order to evade harsh pain.
"Ow, ow ow... that's cheating!" he challenged in quiet protest, so as to not wake the baby, "I was playing nice, why can't you?" he questioned.
"Becuase I don't want to," Jade grinned, letting go of his ear with a smirk.
"Good thing I love that about you," Roy remarked giving her this charming smile. Jade's heart was in turmoil. He was sucking her in and she was letting him! She promised herself she would NOT fall in love with him again. She'd payed dearly for having done it before and she couldn't make that same mistake again... but he was so different now. He was kinder, more considerate and selfgiving then he'd ever been before. He was attentive, and affectionate, paying full attention to her and Lian whenever he could... Jade had been trying to prevent the enevitable, but it seemed she was just getting further entangled in it. With a soft sigh, Jade looked on the face of the man she'd married and wondered deep down within herself, if love was worth risking the pain all over again. Roy was waiting, smiling patiently. They were close enough that she suspected he was wondering if she was about to kiss him. But was she? Then, the baby started whimpering. Had they woken her?
"Nice going Red," she smirked sarcastically, pulling away from him to go to her crying baby's crib. Lian had saved her from yet another snare she'd nearly fallen into... After taking the time to rock Lian back to sleep, Jade was too tired to want to play anymore. And Roy was already asleep anyway so she slipped in on her side and lie there till she too was sleeping.
...
When Roy woke that morning, Jade was gone. It was a strange thing, since Jade had been beside him when he'd woken for almost a month now. Roy had gotten very comfortable with having warmth on the other side of the bed again. Now that it was cold he did his best to comfort himself that this was just for today. She was coming back. He got up from his bed and rubbed his eyes then remembered Lian was waiting for him wide awake in her crib. When she saw him come over she bounced around happily and reached her hands up eagerly.
"Dadda!" she squealed excitedly. Roy felt his heart practically skip a beat at hearing his little daughter call him 'dadda' for the first time. He reached down and scooped her up.
"You get to spend the whooole day with dadda," he crooned to her, "Let's go get ready to meet the team k?" he said, using that baby talk voice of his. Lian just smiled at him.
There you go! Sorry this chapter I didn't get up till noon. I was busy this morning! Anyway, one might have noticed this story part took place after Bloodlines & Satisfaction. As a reviewer requested, I will be introducing baby Lian to Oillie and the team next part. Also, the action is still coming! It's taken me a few chapters longer than I wanted to set things up so that the climax was built up properly. Just continue to bear with me! Thank you!
-Stokin D Embers
