The apartment is quiet. Too quiet. Ever since our trip to IHOP this morning it's been pretty much constant giggling from my friends and my niece. Somehow I've managed to get some work done despite the noise but now it's stopped and I've found myself distracted. This can only mean something bad. I try to tell myself that leaving the children together And unsupervised for half an hour was fine but the more realistic part of my brain is screaming to get put before something explodes.

My phone rings disrupting me from my paranoia. Unknown Caller. Paranoia back on full blast.

I pick up hesitantly lifting the phone to my ear.

'Hello?'

'So, now you pick up?'

'Jade?'

'In the flesh, well, so to speak.' I can hear the grin in her voice. She's playing with me.

I roll my eyes, 'Nice to know I'm an aunt.'

'I thought you could use the bonding time.' She pauses, 'How is she?'

'How is she? Her mother just left her in a strangers office and then she had to go home with said stranger and her crazy roommate! Honestly that kids been her for like two days and it feels like a year! She's fine.' I say frostily, 'Do you want to speak to her? I can call her-' I take the phone away from my ear getting ready to shout for Lian when I hear Jade's frantic shushes down the line.

'I'm trusting you with my daughter please don't make this more difficult.'

'Make what difficult? Jade I don't understand?'

'You know, I explained everything in my second letter, you should have got that one when you were alone. She was supposed to give it to you.'

'I haven't got round to reading that yet.'

'You haven't- urgh hold on two seconds.' Jade stops talking as I hear the screech of a car in the background followed by yells and a few sounds which I'm choosing to believe are a round of 6 backfiring cars.

'I'm back, okay, okay, read my god damn letter it explains most of this. I just need Lian with someone I can trust, someone who can keep her safe. I wanted to keep her out of this life. She's 6 she should not have seen half the stuff she's seen. I don't want her to grow up like us.'

I sigh, ' you make that sound like it's permanent.'

The line crackles as I hear a string of foreign curse words trickle through the call, I think it might be Portuguese,'It was hard enough being on the run the first time. I used to go days barely eating, I can't do that to a kid, I tried for three weeks it's no life for her.'

'Are you in trouble again?' I pinch the bridge of my nose.

She chuckles darkly, 'When was I ever out of trouble?'

'So what? I'm just supposed to keep your child? What about putting her in school I'm not her guardian? She's 6 she needs to be with kids her own age not just Dick and Zatanna.'

'Read my letter Artemis I've already thought of that.'

'Jade.'

'Look Arty, I thought I had more time but I've got to go. Read my letter I'll call back when I can.'

'Jade wait-' I'm cut off by a dial tone.

Fuck sake. I let my head fall to the table. My sister is such a pain in the ass.

Great now I've got to go find this stupid letter.

It's still too quiet as I walk through the apartment. I walk into the kitchen there's a bit on the counter,

Arty,

Gone to the roof pool thought you could use the quiet.

Will try to keep D L in line.

Hugs,

Z

P.s. guess who found a pen

Great I've literally just got off the phone with Jade after she said how safe Lian would be here only for her to drown simultaneously to that conversation.

I ring zee.

'Yello'

'Just checking none of you are dead.'

'Nope,' she says popping the 'p','still alive although Lian is definitely trying to drown Dick.'

'Nothing new then, come back down in about an hour and we'll get whatever lunch you guys want.'

I hear Zee calling to the others, 'sounds good, I gotta go show these idiots how a pro dives.'

She drops the phone on her towel not even hanging up, I can hear the splash as she enters the pool screaming 'cannon bomb!'

I go to Lian's room next, looking for the envelope with my name on it's still in the fron pocket of her rucksack, like it was yesterday.

Dear Artemis,

Long time no speak. I tried calling but you ignored my calls or got a new phone number or whatever. I'm in some pretty big trouble. Unfortunately I can't take Lian with me as I'm going off the grid and it's pretty hard to do as she's pretty recognisable and being on the run is no place for a kid as you well know from that time mom tried taking us with her when she ran.

So I did the right thing left the kid with a responsible adult. After all you're the one who went to college right? If you're wondering why I can't leave her with her father or who her father is. Well he's not really the child rearing type. And don't try to track him down because he's not listed on the birth certificate for safety reasons hers, mine and his. I'm leaving my daughter with you because I trust you to do right by her and give her opportunities we didn't, according to my research you don't exactly use that 5 figure salary for much else than eating and drinking beer anyway.

I resent that Jade, I donate to charities too and pay for my own Netflix.

Also that Somalian charity you support that's supposed to help save young girls and educate them is a a front for an underage prostitution ring. And seriously how have you got so much stuff on your Netflix queue?

I'm getting off topic, enclosed are the correct forms signed with my signature turning guardianship to you. Also there's a couple of variations of my signature and writing style enclosed, from what I remember that's all you needed for a good bit of forgery. It was like your super power. There's a detailed copy of Lian's medical history, please read it. Her birth certificate and passport are included I have no doubt you'll put them somewhere safe. Please take care of her, her name is your middle name for a reason. I've told her about you all the bits I remember. You always were too good for our family and she is too.

Love's for suckers,

Take care,

Jade

My sister sucks. Now I have to find Lian a school how the hell does one select a school for a child to attend. What makes a school good of bad? Is there a ranking system for elementary schools?

I text Megan, if anyone can find out it will be her.

She texts back a smiley face and that she'll drop off her information later along with a fresh batch of cookies.

I love that woman.

I sit on The bed in Lian's room. It already seems like her room, like it was always meant to be hers. The railing of clothes has been bought in here and half put away. I'm guessing that's what they were doing before they went swimming.

I need to talk to Lian about all this, it's not fair to her for Jade to keep making all these decisions and not letting her know what's going on, she's smarter than anyone gives her credit for.

Mind you I don't know how smart or dumb six year olds are supposed to be it's not like I spend a lot of time with them.

I stare at the guardianship form in my hand. I'll need to take this down to the courthouse and get a hearing in family court for custody it should be a straight forward uncontested custody transfer. But when has anything in my life been simple.

I hear the sounds of voices coming from the elevator and stand to greet them. I put the papers in my briefcase. Out of sight out of mind right now I just want to eat lunch.

Merry Christmas! I don't own YJ although it would have been an excellent gift. If you don't do Christmas just Happy Holidays in general I'm sure you all understand that's it's more the sentiment of cheer rather than a non inclusiveness thing on my behalf sometimes it's easy to forget that other people don't celebrate Christmas but other traditions instead.