Jade stood in the foyer to a large and old house. The walls were real wood panels engraved with box patterns. Jade's thin fingers traced over the patterns until she came to the archway of a living room. It was homey with the fireplace lit.
"One of many," Wintergreen said from behind her. "The house is too large to know what to do with. We have a very similar living room upstairs too that is connected to a study. I personally prefer this one though, it is much more of a family room. See here," Wintergreen crossed the room to above the fireplace, lifting a picture frame off the mantle. "This is him." Jade took the picture from his hand, staring into the face of the man. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the very same man she spoke to at the ice cream shop. He had the same face, the same eyes. "He was much younger then, of course."
Jade handed the picture back to him but Wintergreen shook his head. "You keep that honey, you deserve that."
Jade nodded, wiping her watery eyes. "What was he like?"
Wintergreen lead her through the living room into a sunroom with a small table. "He was a military man, your father. I don't know how much you know about him but he was always fighting with the Titans," Wintergreen said. He handed Jade a cup of tea. He took a seat across from her.
"He fought with the Titans?" Jade said in awe. "My mom said he wasn't a Titian."
"You've misunderstood," Wintergreen said apologetically. "He fought with them in battle, against them, not alongside them."
"… I don't understand," Jade replied.
"He was troubled. Very troubled. It is hard to understand without being there with him through it. He had a son, your half brother, and the boy had his throat cut right in front of your father. Your father saved his life but the boy was a mute after that. His wife at the time left him shortly after that. I think he feared that he would be left without any legacy. You do have a half sister but they didn't get along. Your father had become very obsessed with having someone to succeed him. That's how his troubles really began with the Titans. He wanted a successor and he thought they were strong enough to do it. He tested Robin and when Robin passed, he chose him to succeed him but Robin refused. The fight caused tension between him and the titans. He returned with Terra, wanting to train her. He showed her off to the Titans, displaying her strength and his success but she turned against him and killed him."
"So that's how he died, a girl named Terra killed him," Jade repeated.
"Yes. Terra killed him. He was given a second chance though. Your grandfather offered his life back to him and he took it. He did honestly try to fix his wrongs after that. He saved your mother's life and the lives of the Titans as they fought Trigon. He even helped Terra start a new life for herself, acknowledging that he deceived her."
Jade's phone vibrated. The words "Mom" lit up the screen. Jade opened the message to read: "Where are you?"
"I got to go," Jade said standing up. She shook Wintergreens hand, thanking him for the tea. She sent her mom an "im on my way now, sry" text.
"You're welcome back anytime dear," Wintergreen said. He stood up to walk her out.
"Are you sure he is dead?" Jade asked as he lead her back to the foyer.
"Unfortunately, I am positive. I attended the funeral myself," Wintergreen said.
"I… I think I saw him," Jade replied. She stopped to look at him to gauge his reaction. Wintergreen glanced to the floor, she could see him processing her words. "He spoke to me," Jade explained. "He said his name and he looked just like the picture…"
"I believe you," Wintergreen replied. "If he is alive, I can contact him. Can you come back tomorrow?"
"Yes," Jade replied. "I'll be here."
"I'll try to find him for you. I am always good at finding him."
/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\
"You cannot just wander off into a city that you DON'T know and just hang out – especially not defenseless when those people are looking for you," Raven yelled.
"Those people? Those red freaks? Mom they stand out a mile away. If I see them, I will run. I'm not stupid," Jade yelled back.
"You can't outrun them, Jade. You're grounded. That's it. You're grounded until this whole thing is over. I'll let you go to soccer practice with Flash if that makes you happy but no more of this wandering off."
"Are you kidding me?" Jade yelled. "You're going to ground me? Oh okay mother. God I didn't realize that moving to this dumbass planet meant that we had to play pretend. Since when do you ground me? Since when do you even NOTICE when I leave?"
"Don't you speak to me that way," Raven said to her.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Drop the act. We both know you're not a parent. You're just the hole that I crawled out of. I'm not playing this game. I don't give a fuck what you say and-" Jade was interrupted by a loud slap. Her face burned and she held her cheek, glaring at her mother. "Thought violence was never the answer? No wonder you never hung around Azarath long to visit me – you couldn't last without violence." Jade turned and headed up the stairs before Raven could reply.
A strong hand held Raven's shoulder. "That was rough." Cyborg patted her shoulder.
"I suck at this," Raven replied. Cyborg laughed.
"Everyone does, Rae. Especially with teenagers, you're always going to be the worst mother in the world," Cyborg said.
"I never hated my mother," Raven said. "I always understood."
"She told you everything though. You knew the truth." Cyborg lead Raven to the kitchen, pouring her a cup of tea. "Jade doesn't know the truth Raven. She can't understand."
/\\\/\\\/\\
"Please? Please I am begging you," Jade said.
"I can't, Jade. First of all, you're mom trusts me and I promised her soccer practice was not going to be dangerous. I can't help you sneak off," Melvin replied.
"Melvin, this is really important to me. Please," Jade begged. "Please."
Melvin folded her arms. "Don't start crying. Come on." Melvin sighed. "Why is this so important?"
"I just have to meet someone," Jade said.
"A guy?"
Jade nodded. "Yes, my –"
"That's so cute," Melvin cut her off. "Sneaking out to meet a guy. I'll help but I don't like it. And you have to eventually tell your mom. Just promise me you're always going to come back?"
"I promise. I won't run away or anything. I actually like it here," Jade promised. Flash's whistle could be heard downstairs, calling the team together. "Can this start today?"
"I have to go to the bathroom," Melvin said in the middle of a soccer game.
"Bring a friend," Flash replied. Melvin and Jade waited until he glanced back to the game before running up the street.
"Can you wait here?" Jade asked. "I'm going into the house across the street." Jade pointed to the house.
Melvin nodded and took a seat at the bakery, buying a cookie to eat while she waited. She watched through the glass window as Jade crossed the street and entered the house.
/\\\/\\\/\\\
"You were right," Wintergreen said as soon as she entered the house. "I found him. We spoke briefly yesterday and he is ecstatic, Jade. He was so happy to hear he was a father. He wants to meet you, if that's okay. He said tomorrow, at noon?"
Jade smiled. "Tomorrow at noon."
Slipping back onto the soccer field, Jade wouldn't stop grinning. The words replying in her head: He wants to meet you…tomorrow at noon.
A/N
I don't know why I felt like the fight with Jade and Raven was a little too much. I'm not really sure if it is still T rated but if it bothers anyone let me know so I can up the rating. Reviews please? Thanks for reading ! !