Jason stared down at the girl bowing before him. She was a foot and some inches shorter than him standing at a solid five feet. Her once milk chocolate colored hair was fanning around her face, but he didn't concentrate on that. No, he paid attention to the white strip curling through her hair. He had no doubt that if she were to look up then her eyes would be glowing green.

"My apologies for declining to answer your messages," she stated into the night. "I had not known that it was the Born-Again Prince that was attempting to contact me."

"Mila," he groaned exasperated. Jamila Al Ghul. Daughter of Nyssa Raatko and Slade Wilson after Ra Al Ghul decided to play mad scientist with his daughter's genes. Sister to Conner Hawke/Al Ghul/Queen whichever one he was going by these days. The only friend he had made while in Talia's care. "I told you to stop calling me that."

"Did you honestly think that I was going to stop, dear cousin," she questioned as she stood from her crouch. The two of them stared at each other before folding into a hug. It had been awhile since they had last seen each other. "Are the rumors true? Are you the new Heir to the Demon?"

Jason grimaced, "Yes. And before you ask, so are the rumors about Nyssa attacking Talia."

Jamila sneered, "I always knew Mother held no honor. Despite my resentment of him, I am thoroughly grateful that Grandfather chose not to reveal my existence to either of my parents."

Jason sighed and ran a hand across his face, "Despite everything, T is doing well and she's safe. I need a favor from you though."

His cousin slouched a little and crossed her arms, "The Big and Bad Red Hood needs a favor from mwah? Oh, whatever shall I be?"

"No need for the snark," Jason crossed his own arms looking at her. Her own eyes glowed with the power of the pit behind them. He didn't want to know how she ended up in such a predicament. He knew she could take of herself. He knew she could overcome the effects of the pit. If anything, it just made his skin crawl as recounted his own experience with the magical waters. "What I do need is for someone to be out there getting me intel. I need a link to the League so I can know Shiva's process on helping T and if she needs any backup. I also need someone with ears on the ground for whatever it is Nyssa might be planning."

"And pray tell, why you cannot do this yourself?"

"From what I've been told, I'm the reason that Nyssa attacked Talia. If I step outside of Gotham, then I'm going to have eyes on me everywhere. I need to keep a low profile."

Jamila hummed as she looked him over. She ran a hand through her hair. "The wishing well near Ivy's Garden. Whatever information I managed to get then that's where I'm going to leave it."

"Don't you want to be the Heir instead, Mila?"

"Not a chance in Heaven or Hell," she scoffed.

Jamila moved towards the edge of the rooftop the two of them were standing on. A slight breeze picked up and blew her hair through the air. She turned to look at him and the fierce expression on her face soften into something gentle, "Jason, do be careful. You may not be my cousin by blood, but you are the cousin of my heart. I will destroy the world thrice over if it meant that you keep some happiness."

She fell backwards off the edge before he could give promise to her words. But he watched as she appeared a few buildings over and heading away from the streets of Gotham and he wonders if she can hear his silent pleads that she do the same.

When Jason made it back to the manor, he slipped in through the window leading to his old room. A quick glance at his bed and he could see Talia still lying there sleeping peacefully. Even in her sleep, she still looked like a warrior princess.

He sighed deeply. He needs to find a way to help her get back to her rightful age asap. But… but a part of him wanted to delay it as long as it was possible. He wanted to give her the childhood she should have had instead of the one she was forced to live.

He removed his boots and armor from his body before walking into the bathroom to slip into more comfortable clothing. He checked to see if Talia was still asleep before carefully moving two of the floorboards and placing the minimum weapons, he had carried on his person back in their place. With one last check on his charge, he reestablishes the rigged security system on the window that he made. Bruce and the others were so sure that the motion detectors would catch anybody sneaking onto the premises, but Jason learned his way around those from the very first moment he put on the pixie boots. At least with his security, whoever might try to break it would lose their fingers and then their life when Jason arrived to catch them.

Talia sacrificed everything for him. It's only right that he repays the favor.

Jason made his way out the room with one more glance at Talia before softly closing the door. When he turned around, Cass was standing there. He quirked an eyebrow. "Guard duty," was all she said.

He nodded his head and the two of them continued down the hallway. Making their way to the kitchen where the rest of the family had gathered before Jason left to make contact with Mila. Three days had already passed with Talia being stuck as a toddler and he was no close to figuring out how to help her. They had no knowledge if it was magic, science or even technology that made her this way.

"Ah, Master Jason, welcome back. Have a seat. I'll bring out something for you," Alfred greeted, walking off before Jason could protest. He shook his head with a fond smile and made his way to the dining room where the rest of the family was waiting.

"I'm just saying Bruce, we shouldn't be distributing so many resources to help that-that woman after all she's done to this family. It'll be for the best to keep her as she is. At worst with our help, we can keep her from turning into the Talia we know today and at best, we can just ship her off to another family."

It had been years since Jason had felt any effects from the pits. Maybe it had ignited after seeing the evidence on his cousin or maybe the anger he was feeling at Barbara's words were strong enough to relight it. Either way, he could feel it nipping at the back of his mind... Staying there. Stagnant. It was more of a tool for him to use instead of a leash to control him.

"Look Gordon, I get you have your issues with Talia. But you don't know jackshit about her and if you speak another word about her, then I'd happily show you exactly just how you're not actually all that great."

The rest of them startled not having noticed him come in, but he only had eyes for Barbara. He looked up to her. Cherished her even. She was his batgirl. But Talia was his mother and he wont stand for any ill will to her.

"Jason, what Babs was trying to say—" Dick began, but Jason rose a hand in the air. "She can speak for herself, Dick, and she made it perfectly clear how she felt. I'm making it known how I feel, and I won't stand for any slander against her. You can speak about whatever problem you have with her on your own time, but so long as she's here… so long as I am here, then you will keep your thoughts to yourself or leave her wellbeing to me and go back to playing with your computers."

The two held a small staring match as she tried to gauge how serious he was, and he expertly conveyed the threat in his eyes to the next person that spoke on Talia negatively. She nodded her head at him before turning away. Jason took a deep breath and mentally pushed the pit away. He had been doing good and he didn't need a relapse.

He kept on to his seat and thank Alfred as he placed his food in front of him. He said a quick blessing over his food just like Talia had demanded of him before he slowly began to it.

"Um, Jason, what did your contact say," he heard Timmy ask from his seat. Jason looked up to see him typing furiously on his computer with one hand and reaching for the coffee cup that Cass was carefully keeping out of his hands.

"She didn't tell me much and I didn't press for much. What she did say is that the rumors about who the new Heir is and how fast the information surrounding Nyssa's attack is spreading."

Everyone's brow furrowed. To know that there was someone out there that might be getting ready to start the biggest war in the criminal world was frustrating. They didn't know who they were looking for or what to expect from them.

"Well, did she at least tell you who the Heir was," Stephanie questioned. All eyes turned to him and he narrowed his eyes at her. He took great care of what he alluded with his body language before he answered. Heaving a deep sigh and taking on a look of exasperation, he set his fork down and ran a hand through his hair.

"I already knew who the Heir was and believe me when I say they want nothing to do with the title."

Tim went back to typing on his computer, "Still it would be good know who the Heir is just in case they cause trouble later down the line."

Jason scowled at the brat, and here he thought Timmy was his favorite. He then sent a silent prayer of forgiveness to Jamila and he swore he could her sharpening her knives and cursing at him. Jason sighed as if he was exhausted with the topic and didn't want to let this particular amount of leverage go. "Her name's Jamila. You'd probably find better information on her if you looked up Death Demon. It's her code name, but she's even more of a ghost in the underground world than the Winter Soldier from your comics, Timmers. But she is real. I met her a couple of times while training with the League. She put a knife to my throat and told me to stop killing all of her teachers before she got finished punishing them."

"Am I the only one trying to figure out why Jason seems to be on first name basis with assassins," Dick exclaimed.

Jason snorted, "I was one myself, Dickhead. I worked directly under Talia before she let my leash go and set me out on the world. Hell, in some parts, I'm still considered one. There are many places that are living in fear afraid of the Red Ronin to come back and rain down vengeance."

"I don't think that's something to be proud of," Duke muttered from his spot at the table.

Small patter of feet caught everyone's attention and Jason looked over to the doorway to see Talia peeking in. Her features were twisted in a scowl and Jason was sure that only he and Cass could see the fear lurking in her eyes.

He rose up from his seat immediately catching her attention and then she disappeared. When he sat back down, he pushed his chair further from the table to catch the small body that landed in his lap.

"Hello, تاليا," he muttered as he scooted back near the table. She laid her head on his chest and whispered, "Hello, Jason" in English. Jason nearly cried with joy. In the past three days alone, she had spoken in French, Spanish, German, Greece, Swahili and Chinese. Sometimes she would switch languages mid-sentence. It was nice to know that she could speak English also though he still felt like a scolded kid whenever she rose a brow at him when he stumbled from her dialect switch.

He handed her the fork in his hands and let her eat the fruit off his plate. Another thing everyone learned was that she was a vegetarian. But she had spoken to him in silence and broken words that Ra had already been training such weakness from her and forcing her to eat meat. She hates it but she won't go against her father.

"Hi, Talia. I'm Stephanie!"

Right, despite that they had been here for three days coming and going because like hell was, he going to spend the night at the manor… Talia successfully managed to avoid everyone in the house. Everyone except Alfred and Tim that is. She had told him that watching them concentrate on their task was soothing and orderly. It reminded her of home.

She looked up at Stephanie with a blank stare before looking back at Jason. "It's up to you."

"Bright."

Jason nodded his head, "Hey, Steph. Tone it down a little." He looked backed down at Talia who nodded her head. "Hello, Stephanie." The girl in questioned almost squeal in delight before the rest of them started to introduce themselves.

When Damian introduced himself, Talia blinked before leaning his direction. She turned back to Jason, "He looks like Mother's brother. Family?"

Jason pretend not to notice the emotions in Damian's eyes. He knows that the boy knows little of his Grandmother's family. "He is my brother."

"Potential," she stated with a raised brow. "Worthy of Nobutoraname."

Talia smiled lightly at Damian before she disappeared from his lap and the sound of her feet were heard back in the hall as she headed back to the room. Jason turned to look at Damian who was staring after his mother with a shocked look on his face.

"She had never told me that before."

Jason crouched down beside him, "It doesn't mean it's not true."

He ruffled the kid's hair and gave thanks to Alfred for the dinner. He walked out of the room with everyone else wondering what Talia told Damian. "Call me if you get a lead or anything," he called behind him.

He needed to get back to his apartment and give Talia her bath before they settled in for the night. The Bats could handle patrol for one more night.