BIALYA

SEPTEMBER 4TH 2010 21: 03 EEST

They managed to find a makeshift stretcher for Aqualad consisting of an old board and some sticks they found. It wasn't much, but it would do until they managed to get him to the Bioship. Kid Flash and Artemis were the strongest still amongst them, so they carried him with each taking a different end. Robin took the head, alternating between checking the GPS locator on his hologlove and looking for threats. Honeybee brought up the rear in case pf needing cover, clutching tightly to two stingers in each hand.

Honeybee's thoughts could not help by wonder back to Miss Martian and Superboy. Fear clouded her emotions as she walked; something had made Miss Martian afraid of leaving Superboy on his own. Something told her it had been a spike of pain based on the fear that had flashed in Miss Martian's expression. Honeybee wanted to know what was causing her friend so much intense pain that it could be felt through a physic link, and she wanted to put a stop to it.

She heard the rumbling of jeeps, and she shared a scared look with Kid Flash. The group turned to see Bialyan military jeeps headed their way, the tires sending up plums of sand.

"Quick, over there," Robin commanded quietly, leading them to a small rock formation. They discreetly managed to hide themselves, putting Aqualad and his stretcher back onto the ground.

"Tula, dena me ta. Etah en Atlantis ih ba ohse," Aqualad groaned in his sleep, and Honeybee put a comforting hand on his head and felt that his dehydration had lead to a slight fever.

"Ssshh, Kaldur," Artemis whispered. "Not right now."

Robin sneaked a peek over top of the rocks and came back down with a curse between his teeth, which told Honeybee some soldiers might be around them.

"We can't risk a firefight with Aqualad KO'd like this," Robin said. Honeybee nodded with him, and she could tell he was formulating a plan in that brain of his. Most likely they were about to be minus one Birdie.

"It's not just him," Wally said. "I'm way out of juice." Wally turned to Artemis, but Honeybee kept her eyes focused on Robin who nodded at her and disappeared over top of the rocks. Honeybee remained as most likely their was not enough time for her to get whatever device he was about to use.

"And I'm almost out of arrows," Artemis said, frustrated. She pulled around her quiver so that the others could see and sure enough she only had a couple arrows.

"I got just under a dozen stingers though, so we can probably get by for a small bit," Honeybee said. "I'm not sure what Robin's got left."

"Rob, what – ugh! I forgot how much I hate it when he does the ninja thing," Wally said, noticing his best friend's absence. Honeybee rolled her eyes and cast her gaze back down onto Aqualad. Whatever Robin was planning, he better do it quick.

"Hey, you never said why your dad wanted you to….." Kid Flash made a motion like he was slitting his own throat, "…..me."

Honeybee raised a brow but did not say anything, watching Kid Flash and Artemis as they conversed.

"I got confused by some, uh, old movie I watched last night…." Artemis trailed off, turning away from Kid Flash with her arms crossed. Honeybee wiped some of the sweat off of Aqualad's brow. "About a ninja girl who's ninja dad ordered her to kill her ninja boyfriend since he was from a rival ninja clan."

Honeybee supposed that might be one of the worst excuses she ever heard but did not comment. Honeybee really did not have a leg to stand on with personal secrets anyway.

"So…I'm your ninja boyfriend, huh?" Kid Flash said flirtatiously. Artemis made a disgusted noise.

"Hey, amnesia, remember!" Artemis said. "I forgot how truly annoying you are!"

"Oh, like you're some goddess of congeniality!" Kid Flash shot back. Honeybee sighed, and she felt a slight shift in the wind beside her.

"Yeesh!" Robin said next to Honeybee, appearing again. "Get a room!"

"Dude, where were you?" Kid Flash demanded. Robin smirked and pressed a button on his glove.

"Breaking radio silence," Robin said. They heard the iconic laugh of Robin's disks, and the rustle of the soldiers moving. Then an explosion and they were enveloped in smoke.

"That's our cue, move!"

Kid Flash and Artemis grabbed Aqualad's stretcher, and they took a disorganized version of the same formation as earlier. They run fast and hard, until their legs are out of oxygen and their muscles burned. They managed to shake the soldiers and found a clear path to the Bioship, which also meant they crossed back into Quaraci territory.

They boarded, Robin rushing to the front to try and start up the ship so they can get easily out when M'gann arrived.

"Wake up girl," Robin said, putting his hands on the controls. Artemis and Kid Flash put Aqualad on a table and then Honeybee reached for an IV bag and needle kept in the back of the ship.

"Tie his arm," Honeybee commanded, and Kid Flash pulled a piece of cloth and tied it around Aqualad's forearm. Honeybee hit the crook of his elbow lightly to try and raise a few veins, and then nodded when she one rise up. She handed the needle to Artemis. "You have the best precision out of all of us."

Artemis nodded and carefully stuck in the needle, Aqualad still groaning the whole time.

"It's okay Kaldur," Honeybee murmured, "it'll be alright." She put a soft hand on his forehead, and Kid Flash and Artemis looked solemnly at the scene of their leader before them. His fever had yet to break, but she could already see some life returning to his body as the water entered his system.

Back before Mom died, Honeybee had been helping her study to be a registered nurse. Mom had wanted to help people both in and out of costume, so in between vigilante activities and shifts at the local library, she had managed to find time to enroll in Gotham Community College to study for nursing. Honeybee had found it actually interesting, and she was glad she had poured over the material with her mom now. It turned out to be quite useful.

Artemis came forward with a wet cloth, putting it on his forehead quietly.

"Guys, I got Superboy!" M'gann's voice cut through telepathically. "He's back to normal, we're on our way."

Relief flooded Honeybee. Superboy was okay.

Kaldur suddenly flew straight up, eyes popping wide and panting as he looked around the Bioship. He eyed Artemis in confusion and clutched at his head.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "And how did you get in my head?"

Honeybee gently pushed Kaldur back down onto the table, and he was too weak to put up a real fight against her.

"Hello Megan!" M'gann said. "Aqualad's memories! I knew I forgot something."

"Hey, me too!" Kid Flash butted in. "I forgot a souvenir for the mission!"

Honeybee, Artemis, and Kaldur all gave Wally a confused and slightly annoyed look.

"Wally, read the room," Honeybee said. Wally grinned sheepishly and sped off to the front of the ship with Robin.

"Don't worry," M'gann said. "I've got the souvenir covered."

Today was a fairytale
All that I can say
Is now it's getting so much clearer
Nothing made sense
'Til the time I saw your face
Today was a fairytale

MOUNT JUSTICE

SEPTEMBER 5TH 2010 20:35 EST

Honeybee threw herself down onto the couch, her face straight down in the green cushions.

"I am going to marry this couch," Honeybee said. "This is the greatest thing I have ever sat on."

Honeybee supposed that was a little hyperbolic, but after a night sleeping on sand and trying to escape hostile soldiers, her body was sore as hell. And the Mount Justice couch seemed to be a fine place to park herself for the night. Or at least for a few minutes before she willed herself to get off the couch and go back to Gotham.

"Dude!" Wally's voice rang out. "I was gonna sit there."

"Well, I'm sitting here now," Honeybee said, not bothering to look up. Wally blew her a razzberry and sat down on the couch, sitting down just behind her legs so that his crossed hers horizontally.

"Well, then I sit here now," Wally said. Honeybee groaned but did not say anything else to try and get the speedster off of her. She heard M'gann's delicate laugh from the other side of the room but then she gave a yawn. M'gann was probably not far off from bed.

Honeybee and Wally sat in a quiet, drowsy silence for a long time. Honeybee knew she should try and shake the boy off of her and leave – Aunt Melody was expecting her – but she was just so tired. A few more hours to two days being gone wasn't going to make or break anything, especially since Betty had been sure to call once they landed to tell her aunt she was fine.

"This is like hella uncomfortable," Wally said. Honeybee scoffed into the cushion and turned her head so she could look at her friend.

"Then get up," Honeybee said.

"No, it's irritating you," Wally said. Superboy groaned from where he sat on the opposite couch, eyes shut as he looked at the sky.

"Both of you shut up," Superboy said. "I need to sleep."

"We'll be quiet," Wally said. "We know you need your beauty sleep."

Normally that would have prompted a stare down at least from the clone, but seeing as they were all pooped out, Superboy just let it roll right off his shoulders. Honeybee turned her head and shut her eyes, letting the tiredness overtake her.

Yeah, a nap did not sound too bad.

"Honeybee," a gravely voice said. Honeybee groaned and shook her legs to get Wally off of her. Wally picked up his legs so that Honeybee could slide her legs out from underneath him. She rolled herself off of the couch, landing in a crouch as she looked up at who had spoken.

Batman stood in the hallway leading into the lounge, looking unimpressed with the unprofessional state of the heroes. M'gann sat curled in a ball at the end of Superboy's couch, halfway asleep, while Superboy pretended to be sleeping at the other end. Wally was smiling smugly as he laid himself out where Honeybee had once been. Artemis and Robin had already headed home, while Aqualad had shuffled tiredly to his guest room at the Cave, and Honeybee was starting to wish that she had followed their lead.

"Honeybee," he repeated. Batman motioned with his head down the hallway. "Can I speak with you? Alone?"

Honeybee stood and nodded. A bubble of hope appeared in her stomach, waking all her senses from where they had been dulled from tiredness before. Was this about Jason? It had to be. That was the only reason she could think of for why he would seek her out.

"Yeah, sure, yeah," Honeybee said. She followed him out of the lounge and down the long hallway, where he slipped into a room just past the second right turn.

Batman positioned himself standing in front of two chairs, right in front of an empty coffee table. It was decorated in the same style as the lounge, with forest green chairs and wooden tables. A full-wall bookshelf lined the wall behind Batman, a flat-screen TV was shoved on a table in the corner. Honeybee doubted that it had ever been used before with all the empty rooms their only being two full-time occupants and one part-time one.

"Wh-what's up?" Honeybee said. "Is something wrong?"

"Me and Robin found Jason's address," Batman said bluntly.

Honeybee blinked and then smiled brightly, a smile so bright it almost lit the whole room in buttery sunshine. Jason was finally within her reach. After a whole month, she could finally see her friend and hug him tightly.

"Really?" she said. She brought her hands to her chest and stepped forward towards Batman. "Where? Tell me! Can I visit him? Is even in the –"

"Honeybee, slow down," Batman said. "You'll have time to visit him, just listen to me."

Honeybee tried not to roll her eyes. She doubted there was anything that Batman could tell him about Jason and this situation would surprise her. His mother had been purposefully evading her for a month now. Her mind had conjured thousands of scenarios, each worse than the other. Whatever was really happening could not be worse than what she had thought about.

"He's been staying with his mother's friend, Christopher Knight," Batman explained. He pulled a file folder from behind his back and handed it to her. Honeybee opened and began to flip through. Recently unemployed, laid off by a construction company that went belly up. Only child, parents' dead, lived on the south side of the Narrows. "They've been staying there for the past month. Knight was in anger management classes for a few months a couple years ago due to a court order but has not been back since."

Honeybee's blood turned cold, and she began to flip wildly through her folder.

"Any history of domestic abuse?" Honeybee asked. Batman shook his head.

"No. He's gotten into a series of bar fights, but no history of violence to those he's close to," Batman said. The warmth returned to Honeybee and she heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn't an ideal role model for Json to be around, but it was better than being around a known abuser. Honeybee supposed Catherine at least had a little better sense than that.

"That's good," Honeybee said. Honeybee hugged the file to her chest tightly, as if when she let go, she would lose all the information and she needed to try and absorb it into her body. "That's really good."

Honeybee looked up at Batman, and she smiled softly at Batman.

"Thank you, Batman," she said. And she meant it too. Batman had no real reason to help her, not after she had ignored him and hated him for months on end. Called him enemy number one and blamed him for her mother's death. Honeybee supposed that she still did blame him, but something had changed with this favor. Her anger had dissipated somewhat, that fire to make sure Batman paid with her silence was burning down too embers. Smoking coals that still kept her from touching for fear of pain, but not burning so bright that she could not see through smoke to the clear path.

The thinnest excuse for a smile crossed the man's face.

"You're welcome, Honeybee."

Today was a fairytale
You've got a smile
That takes me to another planet
Every move you make
Everything you say is right
Today was a fairytale

GOTHAM CITY

SEPTEMBER 6TH 2010 10: 54 EST

Betty stood outside Cristopher's apartment, clutching tightly to the strap of the small over-the-shoulder purse. Betty had attempted to call Catherine and tell her that she knew where the two were at, but she had declined to pick up her phone, and her voicemail box was still not set up (despite her phone being at least two years old).

Betty sighed and tried to build up the nerve to knock on the door. She was a superhero for God's sake! She had just survived in a desert with no memories. Taken on her supervillain father. Fought a robot that had sent tornados her direction. She was no coward.

And yet, she couldn't bring herself to knock on the door, out of fear of what she may find behind it. Batman had told her that there was no physical abuse suspected, but that didn't mean something was going on behind closed doors that she or anyone else could not see. What if there was no food, and they were starving the poor child? What if this Cristopher was making Jason feel worthless in some way?

Betty sucked in a deep breath to steady herself and then raised her hand to knock, knocking firmly to make sure that she was heard. The girl heard a rustling sound from behind the door and the metal clinking of something, as well as muffled shouts of an older man, most likely grumbling from the tone of his voice.

The door swung open and revealed a tall, brown-haired man in a white sleeveless t-shirt and jeans. This must be Christopher, and he looked angry at something. The world, most likely.

"Hello, my name is Betty," Betty introduced.

"Nice to meet ya'," he said glumly, shooting her daggers with his eyes. "I don't want whatever it is you're selling." Betty shook her head.

"Oh no, no," Betty said, shaking her head. "I, uh, I'm not a saleswoman. I actually came to see Jason." The man raised a brow, surprised and seemingly astounded that anyone would want to see Jason of all people.

"Jason?" he asked skeptically. "As in…. Jason Todd?"

She nodded her head.

"I'm, um, a, uh, friend of his," Betty said. "I just wanted to make sure –"

"Betty!"

A small form slipped past Christopher. It slammed into Betty's legs, wrapping their arms around Betty's waist and burying their face in the folds of Betty's dress. Betty could tell from their dark hair and small stature just who this was. This was Jason. Betty's eyes pinpricked with wet, hot tears and she wrapped her arms back around him.

"Hey Jason," Betty said softly. Jason buried his head deeper in her dress, and she could feel the fabric began to dampen with his own tears. Cristopher looked over them skeptically.

"How do you know Jason?" Cristopher asked. Betty hugged Jason closer to her body.

"We were neighbors," Betty said. She was not quite sure that she looked after him when his mom took off for days at a time, baked his cupcakes for his birthday because none of his family was anywhere to be found. She fed him mac'n'cheese when he was hungry and used to get him ready for school when his parents were missing. Neighbors and friends felt too small of word for what Jason was to her, but she could explain it no over way. "I just wanted to make sure he was okay."

Cristopher hmphed and went back into the apartment.

"Come back when you're done Jason," Cristopher said, shutting the door to the apartment. Jason finally stepped away from Betty, looking up at her with a tear-stained face.

"I thought you forgot about me," Jason said softly. Betty shook her head and kneeled down to his height, putting both of her hands on his shoulders.

"I would never forget about you Jason," Betty said. "I just had to make sure my apartment was ready, so you could come stay with me for a few days." Betty did not want to tell Jason his mom kept his location from her. Betty knew Jason most likely suspected it, but she did not want him confronting his mom about it. At least let him think it's a possibility than a real thing. Maybe it would hurt less that way.

Jason smiled.

"Really?" Jason asked. "I can come stay with you?" Betty ruffled his hair and scrunched her nose.

"Of course, you can," Betty said. "Just give me another week, we still got a few things left to unpack. But then you can come stay with us for a whole week if you want." Jason almost jumped up and down at the news, vibrating with happiness.

"That's so fu—"

"Language, Jason," Betty said, cutting him off before he could say his desired word. Jason did not say anything for once about it, just kept smiling at her. Betty caressed his face softly and looked at her friend with all the care she could muster. "I've missed you so much Jason."

"I've missed you too," Jason said. Betty wrapped him in a more level hug. Jason buried his head in her neck, and they remained there for a long while, just wrapped in a friendly embrace in the hallway of his new apartment building. Betty never wanted to let go. Once she let go, she stood the chance of loosing Jason all over again. Catherine may take him away again, take her where Betty could never find him.

And Betty could not lose Jason again.

Jason eventually let go, wiping a few salty tears from his red-rimmed eyes. Betty wiped at her own and stood up, taking his hand.

"Come on, all this crying has made me hungry," Betty said. "And I've got a yankering for some ice cream."

Jason's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course," Betty said. Betty began to lead him down the stairs (his apartment was on the second floor), shouting a quick goodbye and a message she was taking Jason through the door, which got her a grunt and yelled "whatever" through the wood. "I find my best friend and I don't take him for ice cream?"

It had taken her scrounging up all the money from their old couch, but she had enough for them each to get one cone. They may be moving and have a new job, but that new paycheck didn't start coming in for another two weeks when the diner opened. Money was still a little tight around the Bryons household.

Jason nearly skipped down the stairs, and before long he was dragging her down the stairs and to the exit of the building.

"Jason, slow down," Betty said with a laugh.

"No way," Jason said. "This is so freaking awesome, I'm so happy to see you."

Betty looked at him with the affection a sister would give a brother, squeezing his hand tightly as they entered the bright summer sunlight.

"I'm happy to see you too."

It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

GOTHAM CITY

SEPTEMBER 6TH2010 11: 34 EST

Dick leaned against the trunk of a tree in the Narrows park, keeping his eyes peeled behind his sunglasses for Betty. He knew it was a big risk for him to seek her out of costume, but he had to see. He had to make sure Betty had found this neighbor she was so desperate to find. Dick in the course of the investigation had learned the boy in question, Jason Todd, was only ten years old. And their was really only one place you could go in Gotham's Narrows with a child. Sixth Street Memorial Park, the best of the two parks in the area.

It was nearing noon, which meant the park was hopping with all kinds of people. Parents and children, teenagers hanging out a picnic tables with their skateboards and beanies. A few unsavory characters were out on the fringes, making not-so-discreetly made deals for drugs and various other illegal things. Dick made a note to add this area to be have a closer look made at it during their next patrol.

He shifted on his feet and watched the entrance closely, but also sent alternating looks at the unofficial ways to get into the park. So far nothing, and Dick feared he might be here all day trying to see the two of them. Or that they might not show at all. Patience was never Dick's virtue, even if he could practice it on occasion.

At about half past eleven, Dick finally got sight of a swish of a dress and a boy pulling a girl into the park excitedly. Dick saw Betty do the customary vigilante sweep of the area, making sure no threats were in the vicinity. Betty's eyes caught his form and Dick raised a small hand to wave. Betty smirked and shook her head.

She pulled the boy – Jason, Dick assumed – closer to her and said something to him, pointing at the ice cream vendor at the corner of the playground. Jason nodded solemnly and took a few dollars form Betty, taking off towards him. Betty turned back to Dick and smiled, walking towards him quickly.

"Birdie," Betty said. Dick smiled and pushed himself off of the tree trunk.

"Honey," Dick said. Betty raised a brow.

"Honey?" she said.

"New nickname," he said. "I'm trying it out." It was mostly for incognito purposes. Some people might catch on to him calling her Bee, and though he knew that was mostly likely him overthinking at that point, he also had good reasons to be paranoid at times.

Betty shook her head but did not lose her grin from where she stood in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Betty asked. She looked around nervously and leaned closer to him. "Do we have a who-know-what, because I'm kind of b—"

"No, no," he waved off. "Just wanted to come see you two. Make sure you found him alright."

Betty looked surprised, and Dick found that stung a little. Had Betty put so much distance between them due to the secret identity thing, she never thought he would come seek her out? It might be risky, but she was not just his friend. She was…. she was Honeybee. And Robin would do anything to make sure that she was okay.

"Oh, uh, thank you," Betty said. She hesitated for a moment, but then she leaped forward, wrapping him in a soft hug.

"Really," she said. "Thank you."

Dick did not know what to do for a second, eyes widening beneath his sunglasses. He had not expected this for sure.

"You're….you're welcome," he said. He could not tell if she was saying thanking him for his help in finding Jason, or in being here at all. Maybe it was both. For the barest of moments, he returned the hug. "I'll always be here, Honey."

"Really?" Betty said, letting go of him at last. Dick nodded and then smirked, putting his arms akimbo.

"Yeah. Someone's got to make sure you're still feeling the aster."

Betty laughed and Dick smiled, glad he made her laugh. Betty turned on her heel to go back to Jason, and as she did so, Robin felt a bubble of something unknown rise in his stomach.

Time slows down
Whenever you're around
I can feel my heart
It's beating in my chest

Did you feel it?

Chapter Bible Verse:

"Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death - even to death on a cross." - Philippians 2:7-8

In case I don't see y'all before then: Happy Easter! He is Risen! Let us rejoice!

I personally needed some Jason and Betty time, so this chapter came earlier than I expected. I'm really loving this story, so I'm updating a lot faster than I ever have before. This might be put on the backburner for awhile so my other fics can get some love to though.

And as for the shipping issues...I think I've managed to come up with something that is sort of a compromise. Don't worry, it's not a love triangle, but I think the idea is pretty cool. It won't come to fruition until late Season 2 though. So hold out with me until then if you can.

Review Replies:

MsRosePetal: I'm glad you liked it! I've been working really hard on this story, so it warms my heart to see reception to it being positive. I'll see y'all with a new update as soon as I can! Thanks for leaving a review and have a blessed day!

Guest: I just want to say thank you for the way you give your criticism in a very constructive way, rather than just saying "THIS SUCKS". I appreciate you taking time to point out thinks you think could be stronger, even if it isn't always what I want to hear. I'll look into that site as soon as I get a chance! It sounds familiar, I think I might have used it way back when for some Captain America comics back in high school. And as for Superboy, Robin, and Honeybee - I thought I had been making excplicit hints that something more might come from Robin and Honeybee, and that's a writing fumble on my part, as looking back I made them way too subtle. I'm attempting to make them a little more obvious in the future. Like I said, I think I made a fun compromise between the two pairings, but I'lll see how that works out. I'm attempting to rectify her relationships with the rest of the Team. I wanted to establish the main players before moving on to the others, so more bonding (especially Wally and Betty) is coming soon. And the Bereft transition was not meant to be smooth. It was supposed to be jumpy to mimic how Betty felt when she woke up, that's why I made the choice to jump so suddenly. And I'm glad you've liked the story so far! Thank you so much for leaving a review, and have a blessed day!

Questions, comments, or concerns? Let me know! Have a blessed day!

-PrincessChess