Disclaimer: I don't own the Titans, or Slade, or anyone related to DC.

Notes: Nothing horrid this time, not like 22. hehe.

New Titans:

Chapter 23:

Rose panted, and blocked another blow coming from her right. Grabbing her bo-staff, she quickly used it to block the next hit and rip off the assaulter's arm. Swinging the staff around, Rose came in contact with another one. Somersaulting off the wall, she grabbed her dagger and punctured the chest area of the attacker.

"That's enough Ravager." Slade commanded, and Rose let out a sigh. She walked over to him, and waited for her lecture.

"You may be excused." Slade said with little interest, and waved his hand towards the door. He turned his back to her, and began to replay the training tapes over on the screen.

It had been eight months since Lillian was presumed dead, and her case was left unsolved. Now in the dead cold of December, Rose was getting tired of her father's training. He never looked her in the eye, nor did he call her by her true name. She was just another apprentice to him.

"And how was your training, Miss Rose?" Wintergreen asked, as he walked out with a towel draped over his left arm and he was holding up a spotless glass.

"Fine." Rose snapped, and stormed off towards her room. She was getting sick and tired of this routine. 'I just want to be normal.' She thought, and placed her hand on the doorknob of her father's study.

"Slade, you must listen, she is still a girl! She is only thirteen! Placing her up against the new Batgirl is murderous!" Wintergreen pleaded with his master, as Slade turned around in his chair to face him.

"She's been trained to handle this type of pressure, Will. If she fails, then she'll learn from her mistakes. It's that simple."

Wintergreen shook his head, "She is your daughter, Slade. Do not lose her like you did Grant and Joey."

Slade banged his fist on the table, "Don't! Leave my sons out of this, Will! They're dead."

Wintergreen shook his head, "No, Grant is dead. But, Joey is still alive! He has a daughter! YOUR granddaughter! Slade, you are destroying the only family that you know."

Slade closed his eye, "Then so be it. Get the jet ready, and call Rose. We're going to Gotham, tonight."

Rose pulled her hand back, as if something burned her and let out a gasp. The only reason he was training her was so he could beat Batman! Rose fumed and stormed off into her room, grabbing everything that she needed she threw it into a large bag. Dropping the bag out of her window, she left her room.

"Wintergreen, I'm going out for a run." Rose said, and Slade stepped out of the shadows instead.

"No you're not, you're going back to train."

Rose whipped around to face him, "No. I'm not."

Slade's hands balled into fists as he looked at the girl that was defying him, "I'm your father, now you are going back to train. Got it?"

Rose glared, "Oh I got it! Now get this! I'm gone!" She stormed out of the house, and out onto the sidewalk. Walking down the street, she stuffed her hands into her jacket.

Wintergreen walked up beside Slade, "Give her time, sir. She'll come around, you're the only family she has left."

Slade shook his head, "Family doesn't matter to her, and trust does. And I'm the only person she trusts." A sick smile appeared on his face, as he walked back into the house and shut the door.

Rose hid behind a tree as she waited till Slade's shadow disappeared from the window, and she knew it was safe. Sneaking over she grabbed her bag, and kicked the snow around. 'Fuck you, dad.' She sneered, and walked away. Slowly the Wintergreen Estate looked like a small dot in the horizon, as Rose made her way to the bus stop.

It was getting dark, and Rose pulled her jacket closer to her body. Jump City was colder than Harlem had ever been during their winters, and Rose hated the cold.

Reaching inside her bag, Rose pulled out a piece of a newspaper. 'Titans Save City From Slade Again!' The title read, and Rose stuffed it into her pocket. Rose sat down on the bench, and a girl with black hair and hazy blue eyes took the seat beside her.

"Do I know you?" The girl asked, and Rose shook her head.

"No, I don't think so."

The girl held out her hand, "Cassandra Cain, ward to Barbara Gordon. And you are?"

"Rose Wilson Worth, daughter to Slade Wilson." Rose waited for the girl to gasp, and run off. But instead, Cass smiled.

"I know, Batman sent me for you," Cassandra flipped her hair, and smiled serenely at Rose. "He wants you to get the training you deserve."

Rose shook her head, "No more training! I just want to be normal! I won't be like him! I wont!" Burring her head in her hands, Rose let out a sob.

Cassandra moved over to Rose's side, and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I know how you feel, Rose. But, you don't have to be like him."

Rose stared at Cassandra in shock, "What do you mean!? He's my father, I don't want to disappoint him."

Cassandra smiled, "I know, my father is David Cain, and my mother is Lady Shiva. But, trust me, disappointment is the last thing I care about."

Rose stared in shock, and then finally she hung her head in realization. She only wanted to please the father she never knew, she only wanted to be loved.

Cassandra sighed, and placed her hand gently on the girl's shoulder. "You can come with me, or stay with him. You have a choice this time, Rose." The bus came, and Cassandra waited at the doors.

"I'm sorry," Rose whispered, and walked away from Cassandra. She headed back to Slade, a small plan forming in her mind as she walked off.

Cassandra sighed, and hung her head. Placing her index finger to her ear, she flicked on a switch. "She's gone." She stated, and heard a female sigh over the earpiece.

"Batman did say this was going to be harder than it looks, you might just have to fight her after all." The Oracle responded.

"Babs, I don't want to fight her," she said, and then something clicked in her mind. Taking off after Rose, she forgot all about Oracle, who was screaming nonsense in her ear. "ROSE! WAIT!"

The teen turned, and stopped in her tracks as Cassandra caught up to her.

"If you don't want to come now, here," Cassandra handed Rose a little earpiece, and offered her a smile. "I'll only be a call away."

"ARE YOU CRAZY! IF BRUCE FINDS OUT! HE'S GOING TO-" The Oracle paused as a tall dark figure swept into her living room.

"I think it's a fine idea, Barbara. Now, stop yelling at the girl and let her continue with what she is doing." Batman responded, and Babs sighed. She hated when he did this.

"Oh alright, Bruce!" Waving her hands in the air, Babs sighed and placed her hand back on the speaker.

"Sorry, Cass."

Cassandra just chuckled merrily and watched in amusement as Rose took this all in.

Rose finally smiled, and slipped the piece into her pocket. "I have a plan, but I'll contact you with the details later," she told Cassandra, and the dark haired girl nodded.

"Goodbye, and good luck." Cassandra whispered, and backed up. Rose watched in amazement as the girl literally disappeared from her line of sight.

-Two Weeks Later-

-Gotham City-

-Clock Tower-

Cassandra walked into the flat that was hidden in Clock Tower, were she and Babs lived together; she threw her keys on the counter and waited as Tim walked in after her.

"I hate the snow." He muttered, and shook off some white snow that contrasted with his ebony colored hair.

"Stop whining, Tim, no one wants to hear it." Came Babs voice from the living room, in her lap was some popcorn and she smirked at him.

Tim stuck out his tongue at her, and plopped down next to her on the couch. "You hear from Dick, yet?"

Babs rolled her eyes, "Someone's anxious to get out of Gotham," she muttered, and snacked on some popcorn. "You were just there last week."

Tim laughed, and grabbed a handful. "Yeah, and then Bruce called me back here," he added, and smiled at her. "Plus, Cris and I have to go Christmas shopping. You know it's next week!"

A shock of jealousy surged through Cass' veins and she snorted. Tim looked at her oddly, and she just glared.

"Anyways," he said, looking back at Babs. "Dick said that he and I are taking over patrol for a while, so that'll be fun."

Rolling her eyes, Babs snickered at Tim. "Please, we all know that you just want to go because Kory is making her famous Christmas cookies and you want a fresh batch."

"Who said anything about her cookies?" Tim said, with a mischievous gleam in his deep blue eyes.

"If Dick heard you say that," Babs warned, and Tim laughed.

"But, he didn't."

"But, I can call him. Now can't I?" She sneered, and held up the Titan Communicator that Dick gave her.

"You wouldn't!" Tim said, his face was etched with complete horror and a bit of amusement.

"Oh, but I would!" Babs retorted, and in a flash the communicator was snatched out of her hands. Tim looked shocked, and both of them turned to face Cass.

Cass smiled her trademark smile, and flopped down on the couch in-between Babs and Tim. "No bickering, it's movie night. Save it for later." She chirped, and snatched the remote from Babs.

Both Babs and Tim sulked in the fact that their fight was over, and Cass had won. But, the intriguing plot of the movie soon won their attentions and their previous fight was forgotten for the time being.

Cass, unlike her two companions, couldn't stand the mindless drama/action flick that was playing in front of her. She felt a sudden vibration in her pocket, and her little earpiece was alerting her that someone was calling her. Slipping out of the room, she locked herself in the safety of her own room.

"Hello?" Cass said, and she could hear the faint sound of someone's breathing on the other end.

"Cassandra? It's Rose…I have some bad news." Rose sounded upset, as if she'd been crying.

"What's wrong, Rose?" Cass asked, and took a seat on the bed.

"I…I killed someone."

Cass' eyes grew wide, and her breathing increased. "You what!?" She exclaimed, and couldn't believe what was being told to her.

"My…my father's step-brother, Wade DeFarge, h-he came after me. My f-father was out, doing God only knows what…It's all a blur…we were fighting and then he p-pulled out his dagger. Slade trained me well in swordsmanship…I-We fought, and then…I-I killed him…"

Cass took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, "Rose, I need you to calm down. Now, when did this happen?"

"About thirteen minutes ago." Came the soft reply, and Cass sighed again.

"You need to come to Gotham,"

"But!" Rose protested, and Cass snapped back.

"No buts! You took a life, Rose! You are not your father, now I need you to come to Gotham. Now. I'll give you directions to the Batcave."

Rose muttered a reply, and Cass sighed. "Now I need you to take a left…"

-Twenty Minutes Later-

Rose walked in the Batcave, and saw Batgirl and Batman conversing quietly. Robin was seated in front of a large computer screen, which Nightwing was talking to him on.

"Ahem."

They all turned to her, and Batman took a step forward. "Rose." She expected coldness, she expected him to use is normal stolid manner. But, his voice had sympathy etched in it, along with some concern.

"Batman." Rose responded, and looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry." She whispered, and Batman walked over to her.

Placing his hand on her shoulder, he sighed. "You're just a child, and doing something of that great of measure is going to take a huge toll on you," he paused, and then continued in a harder voice. "But, what you did was wrong, and I'm not going to baby you. You took a life, and that's something that is not something to be proud of."

Rose looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "But-"

Batman held his free hand up, "No, Rose. I understand, he was going to kill you. I've been in those situations, and I do understand that your father trained you to fight that way."

"Sadistic bastard." Nightwing muttered, and Batman only nodded in his direction.

"You are not fully to blame, Rose. You had a choice; you could of taken up my offer. But, you chose not to. And that had its consequences. But, if you are willing then we'll help you."

Rose sighed; she knew that she needed help. She felt horrible, she was becoming her father and that was something she didn't want. Not at all. "I am."

Batman nodded, "Good, now let's get you out of those blood soaked clothes. Cass," he summoned, and Cass appeared at his side.

"Yes," she replied and waited for her order.

"Take Rose upstairs, show her the bathroom and Alfred should have a room set up for her. I assume that Babs has already informed you that you are spending the night?" Seeing Cass nod, Batman continued. "Good, then tomorrow you will take her to get new clothes and we'll discuss her new uniform. Right now, I have to talk to Nightwing and Robin about a few things."

Cass nodded, and led Rose by the arm out of the room. Pulling off her cowl, Cass shook her hair free. "He's so bossy at times," she complained, and chuckled a bit.

"Look Cass, I-"

Cass stopped and looked at Rose, "If you are going to ask if I am going to judge you, then the answer is no. And neither will Robin, or Nightwing. There are things that we've all done, that we aren't proud of. Granted, the Bat Boys have never taken a life, and neither have I. But, we won't judge you because of it."

Rose smiled softly, "Thank you."

Cass giggled, "Trust me, you won't be thanking me after two hours of only one of Batman's training exercises."

Both girls laughed, and walked off. But, down in the cave, the three Bat Boys stood talking.

"I'll have to talk to her about it, this isn't something that she'll instantly agree too. You know that, Bruce." Nightwing said, and Batman nodded.

"I'm aware that this is a fairly large decision for her," he was cut off by Nightwing.

"Not only for her, Bruce. But for all of us too, as a team and as a family. And what about Gar?"

Batman sighed, and tugged off his cowl. Robin took this as a sign to remove the mask, and sighed as he could see Nightwing do the same. All three pairs of deep blue eyes stared at one another, in some shape or form.

"Dick, you don't seem to understand that I adopted three children myself. I do understand what I'm asking Raven, and what I'm asking all of you to do."

Dick sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. "I know, Dad. I know."

Tim took this as a sign for him to pip in, "I personally think that Raven will agree, sure she won't jump at the offer. But, nevertheless, she'll agree."

Both men turned to the teen, and smiled. "He's right." Dick stated, and Bruce smiled.

"And he knows it," pausing for effect, Bruce turned to face his eldest son. "He's been spending too much time with you, Dick. The cockiness is just emanating off him now."

Dick grumbled at his father, then smirked. "At least he's learning something from me."

Tim stuck his tongue out at his brother, "I learn!" He paused, "Some of the time."

"My point exactly." Dick crossed his arms in a defiant matter. Bruce just shook his head as his two sons began to bicker with each other, but if you look closely you could see the small smile that was turning his lips upward.

"Dick. Tim." Bruce said sternly after a while. And both boys turned to him, "I need to make a call."

Both boys nodded, and Nightwing signed off and Tim left the room. Leaving their father to make his call by himself, both knowing that they would be informed of the nature of his call later on.

In the dark, Batman took in a deep breath and did something he'd new that he'd regret later. Never in his life had he done this before, and somehow he knew it wouldn't be the last after this.

Before he could make a call, there was a knock on the wall. Batman looked up, and he noticed that someone was at the hidden door. Swiftly he made his way over, and opened the door quietly.

Catwoman strode into the Batcave, and took off her cowl. "Bruce, it's all over the news. They found Wade DeFarge's body." She exclaimed, and Batman just nodded.

"I know Selina, and I also know who did it. But, those matters will be taken care of later. Now, I need to make a call so either you go home or go upstairs and wait with Alfred, Babs, Tim, and our guest."

Selina ran her hands through her ebony hair, and her blue-green eyes twinkled. "You want me to play nice with your kids?" She asked in a teasing tone, and Batman just shook his head.

"Selina." He said in a warning tone, and Selina giggled.

"Bruce," she said, mimicking his voice. "Aw, come on you know I was just kidding, dear." Kissing him gently, the heroine walked out of the Batcave, giving her lover one more look before shutting the door.

'Women.' Bruce thought with a sigh, and he knew very well that this particular woman had him by the ears, and she wasn't planning on letting him go.

Finally getting some peace, Batman took a seat in his chair, and typed in a set of numbers. A moment passed, and then a man appeared on the screen. Batman's face was expressionless, and his voice was it's usual monotone.

"Slade."

Notes: So I compacted this chapter, and the next chapter will be the last chapter to focus on Slade and Rose. Then we'll have Christmas with the Titans, and then about...five more chapters or so till the end..or beginning of the sequel. You never know, if people vote on it. Then we'll continue, I have the plot all lined up and the name is pending.

Review/ers: Ah, it has clicked for you all. The story's title is NEW Titans, and I'm bringing in the NEW Titans. ) Good job, Saoirse! You, my dear, get a cookie!! YAY! -claps- Wow you guys rock, I'm not kidding.

IMPORTANT Forewarnings: Oh, Grant (Slade's first born) will be mentioned next chapter, and his death. So I'm forewarning you that it's going to get bloody, and the FINAL chapter has some BB/Rae and Star/Wing action...just because so many people asked. Not that I mind, it's easy for me to write it.

Now, Review because we has some freakin slackers last chapter. -tisks-

REVIEW. NOW! POOF! HIT THE BUTTON!

Royal.