A/N: I own nothing you recognize.

Wow, thanks so much for the reviews! All of them put a huge smile on my face.

Okay, I have plans for including texting between the Team members, so I need help coming up with screen names for the Team members. Let me know what you think would be good names!

Gotham City
Saturday, October 23, 2010
1700 EDT

Naomi's phone buzzed and she reached for it without checking the caller I.D. "Hello?" she said.

"Naomi, you need to meet at the Cave."

She frowned. "Bruce, I'm not talking."

He sighed. "Naomi, I think it's past time you talked to someone. And Canary is the best option."

"No," she scowled.

"Naomi..." Bruce said lowly, going into Batman-mode.

For a while, they were caught in a silent over-the-phone staring contest. Finally, Naomi ground out, "Fine."

Bruce gave a relieved sigh. "Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome," Naomi mumbled. She hung up and headed for the Cave.

When she arrived at the Cave, Red Tornado was standing in the mission room. "Everyone is in the kitchen," he informed.

"Thanks, Red," Lily said with a small smile. She walked past him, pushing her sunglasses up her nose, and made her way to the kitchen.

When she reached it, she saw everyone was looking as down as she felt. The Team glanced at her before going back to staring into space, though Kaldur held her gaze before she bowed her head and scurried to one end of the long sofa. She sat with her back to one of the arms and she pulled her knees to her chest.

For what felt like centuries, nobody talked. Lily was leaning her side completely against the back of the sofa, her eyes going in and out of focus as her gaze slowly made its way around the room. Eventually, Black Canary appeared.

"Conner," she said softly. "You're up."

Lily watched stoically as Conner scowled and stood. After only a minute or so, Black Canary reappeared, though without Conner.

Slowly, everyone had their turn with Black Canary. Finally, it was Lily's.

For a long time, she didn't speak. She sat at the back of the chair and pulled her knees to her chest. Eventually, Black Canary said, "Do you want to talk about it at all?"

"We failed to protect the planet. I watched one of my friends die. Another friend accused me of pretending to be a hero. Then I died," she drawled.

"Could you elaborate on anything you just said?" Black Canary asked.

"What's there to talk about?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You did just go through a trauma," Black Canary said cautiously.

Lily bit her lip to keep from snapping back. Instead, she ground out, "I know."

Black Canary sighed. "All right," she acquiesced. "But I can tell something is weighing on your mind."

Lily glanced at Black Canary but remained silent.

Black Canary leaned forward. "Lily," she said softly, "Batman hasn't told me your story, and I may not be able to see your eyes, but I can tell you're haunted by your demons."

A humorless laugh escaped Lily's lips. "Why do you think I chose the name 'Lilith' when Batman took me in?"

"Tell me," Black Canary said.

Liy raised an eyebrow. "Lilith is said to be the mother of all demons, or the demon queen," she said quietly. "And I don't think anyone has as many demons as me."

"But Lilith is the demon queen," Black Canary pointed out. "How do you relate to that?"

"They're under my thumb," she shrugged. "I control them."

"Up until recently," Black Canary guessed.

She scowled in her direction, and Black Canary's cool blue gaze remained steady, but she finally sighed in defeat.

"All right," Black Canary said quietly. "We'll pick this up next time."

Lily nodded and stood. She exited the room and wandered around the Cave before she found herself in the hanger. After a moment's hesitation, she made her way to her bike and climbed on. She started the engine and called, "Red Tornado, hanger door."

The door slid open without protest and Lily sped off.

A minute later, she heard Batman's voice in her ear. "Lilith..." he started.

"Not now," Lily sighed. "I'll be back later." She took out the earpiece and put it in her jacket pocket and continued her way to the beach.

When Lily reached the shore, she parked her bike and pulled off her helmet. She allowed her dark hair to fall down her back, and behind her, she heard someone whistle. She whipped around and saw a boy about her age with dark curly hair and hazel eyes approaching her.

"Um, hello," she said hesitantly as she climbed off.

"Impressive ride," the boy said. "I'm Alexander Masen, by the way. Well, Alex."

"Uh, Ana Lindon."

"So where do you live?" Alex asked. "I don't think I've seen you around here."

"I go to school in Gotham," Ana said slowly, setting her helmet on her bike.

"So what are you doing in Happy Harbor?" he asked with a laugh.

"I'm, uh...spending time with the family?" Ana said uncertainly. She mentally cringed. Get a grip, she scolded. You've lied before.

"All right," Alex said with a smile, even though Ana could tell he didn't believe her. She breathed a silent sigh of relief at how easy he was being as he said, "I had to get out of the house; too much family drama. Wanna take a walk with me?"

"Sure," Ana said, a slow smile creeping across her face. "Why not?"

"Great." Alex's smile widened and he led the way down the shore.

Ana found herself genuinely enjoying Alex's company. He was easy to talk to and her anonymity to him was refreshing.

"...and just like that, it was over!" he finished. Ana laughed at his enthusiasm and caught a glance at his watch.

"Crap," she muttered, scrambling to her feet and picking up her jacket. "I need to be heading back."

"Hey!" Alex called after her as she started to walk back the way they came. "Will I see you anytime soon?"

"I don't know," she called back honestly. "Maybe?"

"Hope I do, beautiful." Ana couldn't help the light blush that crept over her cheeks. She ducked her head before turning again and sprinting down the shore.

When she reached her bike, she threw her leg over and put her hair in its low knot. She placed her sunglasses on her nose before putting on her helmet and speeding away.

"You're back late," Batman commented as she walked through to the transporter room.

"Look, I'm sorry I left earlier," she started.

"Apology accepted," Batman said. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Lily said shortly.

"How did talking to Black Canary go?" he asked, studying her carefully.

"Fine, I guess," she said with a shrug, not meeting Batman's intense stare.

"We will continue doing this," Batman reminded.

"I can do this myself," Lily insisted, looking up at him.

"No, you need to talk," Batman said firmly. "I think Black Canary would be a good outlet for you. But eventually, you should talk to your team."

"No," she said stubbornly.

"Why not?" Batman asked.

"Because I'm scared!" she finally shouted. "Okay?" she whispered. "I'm scared."

"Why?" His tone was surprisingly soft for not being in the Batcave.

"Because I don't know how they'd take it," Lily said quietly. "I'm scared of rejection."

"Why?"

"Is that all you're gonna ask?" she snapped. Batman raised an eyebrow and she sighed. "You're right," she mumbled. "Sorry." She cleared her throat before continuing.

"For ten years, I worked on distance, on separation. I kept my emotions under control, and didn't form attachments. But then I came to you." She gave him a small smile. "And you taught me that I could be human, that I could have a normal life. And I let myself go. I let myself indulge in the...frivolities of being a kid, and then teenager."

Batman gave her an appraising look. "Something happened in there," he deduced. "Something beyond you witnessing Artemis's death, and experiencing your own." Lily nodded. "And that is what scares you." She nodded again.

When she made no move to speak, Batman stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Lily. She let herself sink into his embrace before he pulled away and gave her a small smile.

"You'll make it," he said, sounding more like Bruce than Batman. "I know it, because you're a survivor, a fighter." Lily nodded once more and Batman took a step back to gaze at his first ward. He kissed the top of her head and she gave him a small smile before he turned and walked to the zeta-tube.

"Recognized: Batman, 0-2."

Lily sighed and blinked hard to clear her misty vision. She took a deep breath and turned around. She stopped short when she saw someone standing at the entrance.

"How much of that did you hear?" she asked Robin softly.

"All of it," he said.

Lily sighed and her shoulders slumped. She closed her eyes briefly before straightening her shoulders and saying, "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone."

"Of course," Robin nodded immediately. Lily gave him the slightest of smiles and moved to walk around him. Robin's arms shot out and he pulled Lily to his chest.

"Wh-what's this for?" she asked, though she put her arms around Robin.

"Simple," he said quietly. "I care."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed.

As I said above: give me some ideas for names for the Team to use in their phones! And since it's a phone, it can be as crazy and inventive as you like!

In Demons, Alex didn't play a super huge role, but he has a bigger part to play in this!

Anyway, let me know what you think!

Until next time.