Author's Note: Okay. I am a firm believer that Red X is Jason Todd. I also ship Red X and Terra. That means I ship Jason Todd and Terra. Got it? Okay.
Anyway, this chapter centers around their daughter, Briar-Rose. Her name comes from the original "Sleeping Beauty" and she lives outside of Jump City in a secluded house. her parents don't like people much. They also let the girl get away with a lot, one example being that she wears a lot of makeup. Jason wouldn't make a good parent, this I know. He's my favorite fictional character, DC or otherwise. That aside, remember the singer Aria? The one who turned out to be very close to the other kids, even if they didn't know it? Yeah. Bri is a big fan. Just so you know.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything found in this chapter(other than Briar-Rose, Aria, and Aria's songs) this wouldn't be fanfiction, now, would it?
Review if you love Jason Todd! Actually, review if you don't, too!
I roll out of bed, standing with blurry eyes and looking at myself in the mirror. My blonde hair is a tangled mess, my eyeshadow in streaks down my face. I really need to remember to take it off when I wake up!
Then I remember it's my birthday. Of course, the party's today.
I get my phone out, for once beating Spark at sending a "happy birthday" to him. I go out of the text and scroll down my contact list, and all of a sudden, I stop. Destiny's name glows in all of its electronic sparkle, and I sigh. She'd get up at midnight just to be the first one to text me, and I would do the same for her. Every one of her past birthdays, even after she left, I've sent a message.
My hair is brushed fifteen minutes later. The light curls I inherited from my father are already springing into the ends. I put on a pink and red tie dye top and jeans, hoping that it won't rain. The clouds have been threatening all week.
It's another hour before my parents are awake, so I use the opportunity to take a walk in the forest. The sunrise peeks over the trees by the time I return, my boots wet from the morning dew. My mom is awake, making something on the stove. I smile, giving her a gentle hug before sitting at the dining room table. She tells me, "I figured you'd be out there by now."
"I always am," I remind her, taking a glance at her belly. It's swelling more and more each day, a large bump in place of her usually flat abdomen. "Well, today that's coming in handy. We gotta be at the Tower by one and your father is taking you shopping today. I daresay you're long since ready?"
"Yep. Where is he, anyway?"
"Taking care of some last minute adjustments for the party. The-guess I should keep the surprise to myself, huh? Wait and see." She slips the eggs she's making on a plate, accuracy long practiced coming to light. "What is it?"
"Spark got you something very special. Plus, Dami and Mar'i's little-well, you'll see. Trust me," she says, handing me one of two plates and settling down with the other. I laugh a little. "I do, Mom."
She laughs, taking a bite before continuing. "Yeah. I just hope this new baby does, too."
"It will. I know it already."
Soon, my father arrives, stopping in the driveway only long enough to let me jump in. He turns around, spraying bits of gravel at my mother on the porch, and drives off. I laugh, gripping the door handle, and he drives faster. By the time we reach the city, we're going almost ninety-five miles an hour. We slow down on the outskirts, not really wanting a ticket, and we get to the mall soon enough.
The building is a huge grey brick one. The parking lot is on the east side, spanning the entire block. On the west is a huge outdoor dining area for the food court. Beyond that is the sparkling ocean, and it is our first stop. I play around on the beach for an hour and then we get Chinese food, and enjoy the warm midday air. "Happy birthday, baby."
"Tank ou," I say, my mouth full, and we both laugh a little. "Enjoying your day?"
"Yeah. It's a great day," I let out a huge breath. "Can't wait for tonight, though."
"Just wait until the surprise. I was setting it up this morning."
"What is it?"
Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and see, huh?" He stands up to throw out his tray, tapping my nose with his pinky. My face falls in mock disappointment, and when he returns, I tell him that it isn't fair. He sighs, putting one elbow on the table while I finish up. "A lot of things aren't fair, Briar-Rose. You just gotta wait, okay?"
"It's a long time to wait."
"It's four hours-actually, less than that. You're going to be shopping, too, the time will pass so fast."
"I guess so. Well, can we get going now?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
We clean our table and I check my purse. Exactly one hundred dollars, fifty from each of my parents, is inside. I have a folded up list, too, and I am ready to go. I read down it once, mentally putting down which stores are closest, and we start off. It's been like this for a few years - Mom and Daddy give me money, Daddy drives me to the mall and takes me to the stores. A ritual, of sorts.
It takes nearly three hours to gather everything-new clothes mostly, a couple of movies, some makeup. My favorite is the new Aria CD, released two weeks ago, which has her singles Highway to Home, Lock Me Out, Blazing On, and Apollo. It's a store-exclusive with a track only available there. I am so excited, and Daddy says we have time that I can go home to listen before the party.
Today is truly a great day.
