Mother Dearest

A Batman Beyond FanFiction

Written by: Celestial Moon

E-Mail: ArmaniGirlAX@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I do not (sadly) own Terry McGinnis. This story is purely fictional. Some of the characters are my own, etc etc. This is just for the enjoyment of all of you. Please leave some feedback :D

Part 5

Monday 7:45 AM

Hamilton High School

Plaza

Terry sat on a bench with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees. His entire body felt unbearably heavy.

"Hi Terry," a voice breathed into his ear.

"Dana!" he sprang up. Dana was sitting on the bench next to where he was previously sitting, staring up at him sadly.

"Dana... I... Are you okay?" He enveloped her in a hug, not wanting to let go.

"Yeah, I... God Terry," she hugged him back fiercely, her nails digging into his jacket. He could feel her tremble with each sob that she heaved.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked softly.

Somewhere in the distance, the bell rang signaling the beginning of the first class.

She looked up at him, her lips shaking. "I couldn't even tell myself," she whispered.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I'm here for you."

"I know..."

Terry pulled her up from the bench, still holding her. "Do you want to go to class? We don't have to, you know..."

Dana smiled. "Yeah, I might as well. It'll distract me." She leaned against him as they walked across the Plaza towards the double doors.

They stopped in front of Terry's Psychology classroom. He had written his paper, but it was a last minute rushed, slipshod job.

"I'm really happy that I have you, Terry."

Terry nodded and looked away. Memories of Melanie had threatened to unveil themselves, but he pushed them back down again. He put his hand on the doorknob. "I'm always here for you, Dana. I'll meet you after class, all right?"

She nodded and kissed him on the cheek before turning away and walking down the hallway.

Terry sighed and pushed the door open. The entire classroom looked up in silence as he walked in. His footsteps echoed loudly, climbing in volume until he sat down at his desk.

She glared at him.

"Papers in, now."

There was a sudden wave of sound and movement as all the students reached into their desks, bags, or folders to retrieve thick packets of paper. Even though most teachers required research papers to be handed in on disks, she demanded them to be printed out and bound.

Terry pulled his paper out of his bag. It wasn't nearly as thick as everyone else's, he saw. He got up and walked to the front of the room with everyone else to drop off the paper.

He sort of wished that he had more time to work on it. But, life was just like that. Unfair. Terry had learnt to deal with the poor cards that life had dealt him.