A/N: Sorry, I forgot to update on Wednesday. Things have been really busy lately. Enjoy the new chapter and leave a review to let me know what you think!

Roy stood with his arms crossed, watching Connor and Mia shoot. Connor was working on speed, shooting as many arrows as he could in two minutes; while Mia was working on improving her aim. The smile on Roy's face quivered a little as he eyed the sheet Mia had safety-pinned around her neck. To 'prove archers could wear capes'. It was kind of endearing; even if he was hoping she'd eventually give up. (Although knowing Mia, that wouldn't happen.) He checked his timer and stopped it. "Ok, Connor, time's up," he said. "How'd you do?"

Connor frowned as he quickly counted the arrows. "16," he answered, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"That's really good."

"It's 8 arrows a minute."

"That's still fast, Connor."

"It's not nearly as fast as you."

"Well, I've got a few more years of experience than you."

"How fast can you shoot?" Mia asked, pausing in her own shooting.

"…36 arrows a minute."

"36?! That's like…one every two seconds! There's no way!"

"Wanna bet?" Roy smiled playfully as he picked up his bow and gestured for Connor to step back from the target. The teen complied and Roy stepped up. He took a deep breath and shook his arms out. He could see Mia on his other side from the corner of his eye. "Connor, time me."

Connor grabbed the stopwatch and nodded. "Got it," he said. "Ready…go!"

As usual, Roy didn't think, he moved. He let his fingers jump from the arrow to his bowstring, barely even aware of the fletchings as they grazed his fingertips. The only sound was the snap of his bowstring as he fired arrow after arrow into the center of the target. A calmness settled n his stomach as nothing seemed to exist except him and the arrows. It was where he felt most comfortable, despite everything in his past (or maybe because of it in some way), with his bow in his hand and a target in front of him. He was so in the zone that he had to grope at his empty quiver for a few seconds before he realized there were no more arrows left. So, he let his hand fall and lowered his bow. No one spoke or moved for several seconds until Connor clicked the stopwatch.

"One minute…" he said quietly.

Roy nodded, then turned to the two teens. He blinked and stepped back at the astonished looks they were giving him. "So-"

"Holy shit…" Mia whispered. "That was the craziest thing I've ever seen! You're amazing!" she looked at Connor, who only nodded agreement. "You must be like…the best archer in the world!"

"I wouldn't say I'm the best in the world-"

"Well, who would be better? Name one person who could outshoot you."

'Ollie…' Roy thought automatically. 'I might be good, but Ollie will always be better.' Except Oliver wasn't around anymore. He was locked away in the Green Lantern prison on another planet. And he was never coming back. "Let's just get back to work. Connor, I'll help you with your form so you can shoot faster and Mia you still need another 10 bullseyes before dinner."

"What happens if I don't make it?" Mia asked as she wandered back to her own target. "No dinner-"

"No!" Roy's stomach curled and his chest tightened. "No, definitely not!"

"Sorry, sorry. It was just a joke, Roy."

"Well, …let's not joke about that."

"Sorry." Mia turned away to focus on her shooting. 'Jeez, I didn't think he'd react like that.'

Roy took a deep breath and turned to Connor. "Ok, so the key to shooting fast is all in the fingers. You have to grab the arrows on the very edge of the nocking point. It also helps if you're comfortable enough to nock the arrows without looking directly at them." For a while, he helped Connor with his form, then set him back to shooting in two-minute intervals. Then he moved on to helping Mia, doing his best to fix her stance and arm movements without actually touching her. By the time he looked at the time again, he decided to call it. "Ok, guys, let's go home."

"11 bullseyes," Mia bragged as she retrieved her arrows. "11."

"13 arrows a minute," Connor added. "At this rate, I'll catch up to Roy in…10 years?"

"If you're lucky."

They laughed and Roy couldn't help but smile. It was nice to see them getting along so well. "I think you guys earned a break from training this weekend," he said as he put his bow and quiver away.

"I can't take a break! I've only been working on this for a week!"

"And you've been making great progress in that week. You can't rush your training, Mia. You'll get there eventually, I promise. Besides, it's summer. You guys are 14, you should be enjoying yourselves too."

"Yeah, summer school. Real fun." Mia rolled her eyes as she put her bow and quiver away.

"I'm sure you guys are doing more than just summer school and training. Connor?"

"I'm doing the summer reading program at the library," Connor said as he put his bow and quiver away. "I also volunteer there, putting books away."

"He's a real party animal," Mia remarked.

"Be nice," Roy told her as he corralled them up the stairs.

"What did you do during the summer when you were our age?"

"…Well, when I was your age I was severely traumatized and recovering from abuse. Before that, I was being abused. And before that…I would spend my whole summers outside. Shooting, hiking, camping."

"Didn't you live in the desert?" Connor asked.

"I did."

"You were in the middle of the desert and you were outside all the time?" Mia asked. "Gross."

"I loved being outside. Still do."

"Why?"

"It's fun. Fresh air, exercise. Nothing better."

"Sounds boring to me."

"That's because you've never- Wait, you guys have never been camping, have you?"

"Nope."

"Connor?"

"No," Connor said.

"That decides it then. It's a holiday weekend because of the 4th, we're going camping!"

"Why?" Mia asked.

"Because camping is fun. We can hike, swim, shoot. We can even make it educational and double as wilderness survival training."

"Why do we need-"

"Because I said so, Mia." Roy looked at Connor. "What'd you think, Con?"

"…I've always wanted to go camping."

"Great!" Roy put an arm around each of the teens, but Mia shoved the arm off. "It's going to be great. You'll see."

— —

A few days later, Roy couldn't stop smiling. He had a hiking bag on his bike, with his bow in one hand and a waist quiver strapped to his body. It wasn't the desert, but it was hot and muggy. And the forest scenery of the mountains was a nice break from the city. Plus, he had his two kiddos with him, even if one of them was having a harder time getting in the spirit.

"No one ever said anything about hiking with a 100lb backpack on," Mia muttered as she tried to scramble up a rock face.

"I think it's fun," Connor said as he turned around to help her, trying not to lean too far forward.

"You also thinking sitting in one spot for two hours is also fu-" Mia's foot slipped and she stumbled back, pulling Connor down with her.

Luckily, Roy heard her shout and spun around in time to snag the back of Connor's backpack and pulled him. He grunted as he pulled the two teens onto the boulder. "You guys ok?"

"Mhm," Connor nodded.

"Mia?"

"Are we almost there?" Mia asked.

"We are." Roy pointed to a break in the trees. "Through there and down the path for about half a mile. There should be a clearing where we can set up camp."

"Connor, go first."

"Why?"

"I want a meat shield between me and the mountain lions."

Connor frowned. "…Fine, but you're walking in front on the way out." He got a shrug from Mia, then walked between the break in the trees Roy had pointed out. It was slightly cooler here, with the trees so close together they formed a canopy of shade over the small pathway. It was filled with rocks and tree roots, so he had to go carefully, but compared to the hike up the mountain it was a breeze. Connor took a deep breath of fresh, mountain air and smiled a little. They were so far from the road that they couldn't hear anything besides nature. 'Reminds me of the monastery,' he thought. 'Star is so loud all the time. Cars, people, sirens. It's nice to be somewhere slower and quieter. Where everything is so much calmer.' It was honestly very refreshing. They emerged in a small clearing and Connor stopped.

"This is it!" Roy told them happily. He slung his bag off his back and set it down.

"Finally!" Mia sighed as she undid the straps on her bag and let it fall to the ground.

"First, we're setting up camp."

"We didn't bring any tents."

"Don't need them. It's July and the weather forecast is clear as it can be all weekend. Just roll out your sleeping bags, then we can set up a fire pit."

Connor shrugged as he knelt beside his bag and fished out his sleeping bag. He undid the elastics keeping it rolled tight, then unrolled it. As he smoothed it out, he saw Mia kneeling beside him from the corner of his eye. When he looked he found she was setting up her sleeping bag next to his. He stared at her for a few seconds and she stopped when she noticed it.

"What?" Mia asked. "I'm not sleeping alone when we're in the middle of nowhere like this." And she'd found that lately, she slept better with the gentle sounds of Connor nearby.

"You guys ready?" Roy asked as he stood.

"We are," Connor replied as he and Mia stood.

"Ok. You two gather some stones we can line the fire put with. We want them to be at least three inches across. Got it?"

"Got it," the two teens said in unison.

Connor fully expected Mia to go off on her own, but she stuck close to him as they walked into the woods. It didn't take long to start finding rocks. Soon Connor was holding them as Mia piled them into his arms. "Hey, Mia," he said.

"Yeah?" she replied.

"Are you…scared?"

"Of course not." She picked up another rock and put it in Connor's arms. "I've lived on the streets, Connor, do you really think the stupid wilderness would scare me?"

"Sorry. Just asking." He looked down at the pile of rocks in his arms, then back at her. "Why do I have to carry them?"

"Because you're stronger."

"But you're working on strength training, so shouldn't you be the one carrying them?"

Mia made a face. "Then I just don't want to."

"…Fine, but you're carrying the next heavy thing we have to find."

"Deal."

'Hope it's a huge log,' Connor thought as Mia continued to pile rocks in his arms. 'But this is a good strength training exercise. Is that why Roy's having us do it?' At least this weekend wouldn't be wasted, as long as he focused on picking up as many skills as he could that would make him a better hero. And getting physically stronger was part of that. Thankfully, they returned to the campsite not long after that. Connor carefully dropped the rocks onto the ground, trying to avoid dropping them on his toes.

"Great job," Roy said. "Now arrange the rocks in a circle." While Connor and Mia did that, he dug through his bag and produce two trowels, which were normally used for gardening. He turned back and couldn't help but smile. Connor kept rearranging a few stones, only for Mia to move two more on the other side of the circle. 'Hopefully, I can get them to work together this weekend,' Roy thought as he watched them both trying to make the circle perfect, but working against each other the whole time. 'They'll need to be a strong team for my new strategies to work.' Eventually, he had to stop them. "Ok, good enough. Now you need to dig a hole inside the circle, at least a foot down." He held out the trowels and the two teens took them so they could start digging.

"When does the fun start?" Mia asked as she piled her dirt next to the rock circle.

"You saying this isn't fun?"

"Not in the slightest."

Roy laughed. "We'll do some more fun stuff tomorrow, but for now we need fire, drinking water, and food or we'll be in trouble."

Connor stopped momentarily in his digging to give Roy a confused look. "But we didn't bring any water or food with us," he said.

"Astute observation. Now keep digging or we won't be able to cook anything for dinner."

Connor caught Mia's eye as he went back to his digging. 'He's being usually cryptic. Maybe he expects us to figure it out on our own?' Roy was always looking for ways to improve their detective skills. Occasionally, Connor's trowel hits his Mia's as they dig, so he just keeps trying to dig around her.

When Roy thought the fire pit was deep enough, he nodded to himself. "Ok, that's good," he said. "Now you guys need to gather twigs, sticks, and kindling."

"Kindling?" Mia asked.

"Anything small and dry, Like tree bark and leaves."

"Why do we have to do all the work?"

"Because I'm not the one with no survival skills."

"I have city survival skills."

"But you might not always be in the city. Being a hero can take you to many different places. It's important to be prepared."

"…Fine." He had an excellent point, but she didn't want to admit it. So, Mia followed Conor into the trees so they could find the stuff they needed for the fire.

While they were gone, Roy retrieved the flint rocks from his own pack. 'It's good to be outside and in the fresh air,' he thought. 'They need it to. Some laid back training that's also fun will be good for them.' He paced a little until the teens returned. "Ok. I'm going to show you guys how to start a fire."

"Can't we just use a lighter and some gasoline?"

"Nope." Roy knelt down beside him and gesture for Connor and Mia to join him. "Ok, first you have to put the kindling in the pit. The drier the better. Then hold the flint like this." He showed them how he was holding the rocks, then started string. "Just add a little air…" Roy blew on the sparks gently coaxing them into a flame. "And slowly add more kindling and twigs, then small sticks." He nodded as Connor and Mia followed his instructions. "Not too much at once. You have to feed the fire gently." A smile played on his lips as those exact words echoed in his head; from when Brave Bow had taught him to start a fire at the age of 7. When they got the fire small but burning, Roy stood; not even bothering to burst off his knees. "Ok, now we're going to get dinner ready."

"What're we having?" Connor asked.

"Mia and I will have whatever we can shoot. I'll show you plants that are safe to eat."

"Wait," Mia said, holding up her hands. "We have to hunt our own food?"

"Yes. Or…gather our own food in Connor's case."

Mia snorted and Connor gave her a confused look. "Hunter, gatherer." He just kept staring. "I'm learning world history at summer school. Don't judge me."

Roy rolled his eyes. "We'll take turns to we don't leave the fire unattended." He grabbed his bow from where it was editing against his back and double-checked his waist quiver. "I'll take Mia hunting first, then get her set up and cook, then I'll take Connor…gathering. Understand?" There was collective nodding in response. "Ok. Let's go."

Connor watched Roy and Mia leave the clearing, then sat on the ground beside the fire pit. He gazed into the fire, watching the flames eating away at the wood of the sticks. After a few minutes, he moved his legs so he was sitting cross-legged and settled his hands on his knees. 'I can at least mediated for a little while until they come back.'

— —

Meanwhile, Roy was showing Mia different animal tracks and how to search for rabbits. "They're fast, so you have to really sneak up on them," Roy whispered as he crept through the undergrowth. "It's a good chance to work on your stealth."

"Ok," Mia whispered back. She kept the tip of her tongue between her front teeth as she followed Roy, only stepping where he stepped to avoid snapping twigs or tripping on a root. It took a lot of effort on her part to move her feet like Roy had taught her (stepping down with her toes first, then rolling her foot down to her heel), but she was able to follow without making any noise. Something moved in a nearby bush and Roy held up his hand. The two archers waited for a few seconds a small, brown rabbit hopped past them. Roy glanced back at Mia, whose hand moved to her quiver, but he shook his head. She frowned at him as the rabbit continued on past, then they resumed their walking. "Why didn't we shoot it?"

"Because it's too small," Roy answered. "It's probably young and it wouldn't have had enough meat to feed both of us."

"Oh…" Mia wanted to curse. 'Of course, it was too small. Think, Mia. Think. You won't get to be as good as Connor and Roy if you don't use your head.' Between walking stealthily and looking for potential food, Mia's laser focus was incredibly preoccupied and she didn't really have time to appreciate the wilderness around her. When they finally stopped again, she let her hand fall down to her quiver. The waist quiver was awkward, especially when all she'd practiced with so far was a normal quiver on her back, but she grit her teeth; determined to improve herself. As soon as her fingers touched the fletchings of an arrow, a large rabbit hopped out from behind a tree. 'Got him,' she thought with a smile. A glance at Roy gave her the go-ahead, so she carefully pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it to her bow. She took aim and fired after only a second. The arrow hit the ground next to the rabbit, which took off running. "Damn it!"

"It's ok. We can find another one and try again."

And they did. Five more times. After the sixth rabbit evaded her arrow, Mia growled and wanted to throw her bow down in frustration. "I don't see why I have to shoot the bunnies!" she snapped at Roy. "You're such a good archer, why don't you do it so we can eat sometime today?"

"Because it's good for you to practice. You have to take shots that are just as hard on the streets. And if somehow…you get stranded or lost…it makes me feel better to know that you'll be able to survive on your own." Roy put a hand his hand on her shoulder, then quickly pulled it off when Mia glared at him. "Sorry. Connor likes it when I do that. Look, you'll get it. I have faith in you."

'Damn, is this what it's like when people believe in you?' Mia wondered. She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "Ok. Let's keep going."

"Try keeping an arrow nocked to your bow so when we find another arrow you can shoot it faster."

"Right." Mia nocked an arrow to her bowstring, then followed Roy. She tried to keep a hold on her frustration because she wanted more than anything to impress Roy and shoot a rabbit. It even prompted her to start looking for a rabbit herself. A few minutes later she spotted something moving in a bush. Her breath caught in her throat from anticipation and she looked at Roy, but he was still walking and at least 15 feet in front of her. 'If I tell Roy I might scare it off,' she thought. 'I'll just have to go after it myself.' Mia nodded to herself, then stepped off the path. It was slower going because she didn't have Roy forging a silent path ahead of her, so she had to step slowly and cautiously, using her toes to find a safe place to step. She got within five feet of the bush, but there was no sign of a rabbit. "Hmm…" Mia slowly knelt to grab a rock, then tossed it gently into the bush. She jerked up as a rabbit hopped out of the bush. It didn't see her though, so Mia lined up her shot, then let go of the arrow.

It killed the rabbit instantly and she gave herself a small smile. "I did it…" That pride from when she'd hit the target for the first time blossomed in her chest. "Sorry, Bugs," she said as she took a piece of kitchen twine from her pocket to tie the animal's legs together. "But I have to eat and impress my new mentor. He only agreed to train me by the skin of my teeth and it's the first worthwhile thing I've done in my life. You understand, right?"

"Mia?!"

"Over here!" Mia stood as she grabbed the other end of the twine.

Roy ran over to her, stopping when he saw the dead animal hanging from her hand. "You got it?"

"I did."

"Greta job, but I would appreciate you not wandering off like that. You don't know the area and-"

"Uh-huh. I'll stick close."

"Good."

Mia smiled as she followed Roy back to camp, eager to show Connor that she'd shot the rabbit herself. When they got to the campsite though, it seemed the first thing Connor noticed was the rabbit. "Don't give me that look," Mia said at the way he frowned and his green eyes seemed to widen a bit in sympathy. "I shot this all by myself and I'm very pound of it."

"…But…did it have to be a bunny?" Connor asked. "I mean, even a squirrel would be better."

"We're not eating squirrels," Roy said. He grabbed several small knives from his bag and gestured for Mia to follow him to the far side of camp. "Ok, I'll skin it for you and then show you how to cook it while I take Connor hiking for his dinner. Watch carefully because you have to do it by yourself tomorrow."

Mia's eyes followed Roy's every move as he skinned the rabbit and used water from his canteen to clean it. After cleaning his hands with hand sanitizer, Roy stuck the pieces of meat on sticks and stuck them in the sides of the fire pit so the strips of meat were over the fire. "How long will it take to cook?"

"A few hours. Just be patient. Stay here and keep an eye on dinner." Roy looked down at his pother protege. "Ready?" Connor simply nodded in response and stood. "Let's go."

"Watch out for bears!"

"There are no bears, right?" Connor asked Roy.

"Uh…probably not. Just stay close."

"Ok." The hike was quiet for a few minutes as Connor took in the nature around him. "I like this. It's nice to be away from the city for a little bit."

"It is," Roy agreed. "The town where I grew up on the reservation was small, especially compared to Star. Traffic wasn't a thing, it wasn't loud, or crowded."

"Reminds me of the monastery."

Roy smiled a little. "Ok, play close attention, because if you grab the wrong plant on accident the best-case scenario is you'll just be really sick."

"Got it."

— —

Mia was absolutely not scared of being alone in the woods. Even if the woods were full of bears and mountain lions. She'd lived on the streets by herself when most girls were listing to boy bands. She wasn't scared. But she was happier when Roy and Connor returned to the campsite. "Get your grass?" she asked as Connor sat by the fire.

"Mostly berries and a few nuts," Connor conceded. He showed Mia the food he'd gathered in his small container. "But none of it's poisonous."

"…Well, that's something then." Mia's stomach growled. "Ugh! Roy, when will our dinner be done?"

"Hm…" Roy studied the rabbit and poke did a little with his finger. He tore off a piece, examined it, then ate it. "It's done." He pulled out the two sticks, then handed one to Mia. "Meat on a stick."

"Honestly I'd eat Connor I'm so hungry." She almost smirked at how Connor gave her a concerned look and moved away form her. Mia took a bite, then made a face. "…What an interesting taste."

"It's not so bad when you get used to it."

"God, I hope that never happens." But it was this or try to steal some of Connor's fruits and nuts, so she kept eating her rabbit. "If I ever get stranded in the wilderness I might have to eat my own limbs to survive." Again, Connor gave her a concerned look, but there was a hint of amusement this time.

"I bet vegetarianism doesn't look so bad right now, does it?" he asked quietly.

"You be quiet."

Roy smiled as he ate his own dinner. 'I'm glad it seems like the distance between them is finally closing,' he thought. 'That's exactly what I was hoping would happen on this trip.'

"How do you know all this stuff?" Mia took another bite. "Did your adoptive dad have you hunting rabbits on the reservation when you guys went camping?"

"No. Not long after I left Gotham, I started taking camping trips by myself and I taught myself all this."

"Of course you did…"

Connor ate a few berries, then looked at Roy. "So…once Mia is trained, do we get to join your sidekick team?" he asked.

"A sidekick team?" Mia asked with a frown.

Roy swallowed. "Uh…I don't know," he replied evasively. "I want you guys to have experience before I throw you onto the Team."

"What team?"

"….There's a superhero team made up of the proteges of the Justice League." Roy looked down for a moment to eat some rabbit, then looked up to see Mia in shock. "What?"

"You mean you we could be real superheroes?!"

"What do you mean- Vigilantes are real superheroes."

"But like…with people who have superpowers!" She looked at Connor. "And you knew about this?"

"Mhm…" Connor nodded. "I want to be on the Team really bad."

"Me too!"

Roy sighed. "Not yet. Mia just started her training and Connor still isn't ready." And the hero community wasn't ready to be introduced to the son of Oliver Queen quite yet.

"But, soon?" Connor asked.

"I'll let you know."

Mia stole a berry out of Connor's container and popped it into her mouth. "Were you on this Team?"

"I helped found it."

"Really? How?"

Roy looked up again and found the teens were staring at him. He smiled and waited until he had swallowed his bite of rabbit. "Ok. It started on the 4th if July…three years ago-" Connor and Mia listened with rapt attention as they listened to his story. The eager smile that made it's way across Mia's face when he talked about breaking into Cadmus, and then fighting their way out later, unnerved him a little. He could practically see the thought bubble over her head and it concerned him. There was a similar look to Connor, though he wasn't as obvious about it, his body leaned more toward Roy when the story got more exciting. When Roy finished, the sun had gone down and the fire provided them with light in the settling twilight.

"Wow…" Connor whispered.

"That's so cool," Mia echoed. "And we really can't join right now?"

"Definitely not," Roy confirmed.

"…But you'll let us know as soon as we can?"

"Yes. I will."

"Isn't Kaldur the leader?" Connor asked.

"Who's Kaldur?" Mia asked.

"His boyfriend."

Mia gave Roy a smirk. "Nice."

Roy simply sighed and threw his stick into the fire. He laid himself down onto the grass and put his hands behind his head. "Time for your next lesson. Lay down," he said. "I'm going to teach you guys the constellations."

"Why do we need to know the constellations?" Mia asked as she and Connor laid down on the grass.

"Because I said so. And…my adoptive Dad taught me. A- A long time ago." Roy took a deep breath, then lifted his arm to point at the sky. "Ok, so, see that really bright one slightly to your guys left? Start there-"