Author's Notes: Fourth Chapter in Three Days After, this is the last chapter. I have finally completed a fanfic. I'm so proud of myself. I really enjoyed writing this story. It was a great way to expand on the relationship between the Birds. In my opinion I really don't think that Dinah would be horribly upset about her mother's death. They were strangers. She didn't even know her own mother. I hate to say this but, just because someone is your mother doesn't mean you have to love them. A biological mother isn't always the best kind. From the way I'm talking you probably think that I'm a person who doesn't know her own biological mother and who is in foster care but this all NOT true, I'm just empathic. If you don't know what this means than go look it up in the dictionary. Thanks again for reading this ficcie and I hope you like it!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BIRDS OF PREY, WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT!
The day was bright and sunny. Dinah thought that this was a clash. Today was Carolyn Lance's funeral. Today was the day that they would pack the Black Canary into the cold, unfrogiving ground and seal her away forever. Dinah had declared herself an atheist, the Redmond's had been very religious and Dinah had lost faith in any higher being. Carolyn's will requested that Dinah make all the funeral decisions. Dinah had decided that there would be no church service. The priest would administer the last rites and Carolyn would be lowered into the ground. Barbara had requested that Dinah not participate in the viewing. The doctors had done there very best to return Carolyn to her original appearance and it was a gory sight. The coffin had remained closed the entire time.
Dressed all in black, Barbara, Helena and Dinah sat down and listened to the mass. Dinah sat in between Barbara and Helena, holding their hands. Many people had turned up for the event. Carolyn was awarded the Hero's Medal for her time as Black Canary and as a government agent. Dinah did not shed one tear.
"Carolyn Lance was a great woman, a terrific fighter and she had one hell of a right hook. She will be greatly missed by everyone she knew." Dick Grayson, Nightwing said at the podium.
"Carolyn was everything we all said and so much more. She was beautiful and deadly. She was a true hero and a terrific mother. We will always cherish her short time here on Earth." A man said. Dinah squeezed Barbara's hand. It cam her turn to speak. She took a deep shuddering breath and started.
"Carolyn Lance was a true fighter. She gave up everything for the job, including her own daughter. I hated her for so many years and then she comes back and expects me to just forget everything she ever did to me and start a relationship. You all talk about her as if she was some great hero, a fighter and she was. She just wasn't a mother. She was an awful mother. Black Canary sacrificed me for her own heroic deeds. Some mother. The only thing I wish is that I had never met her," Dinah said. There was a deafening silence. Everyone's mouths hung open in shock. Barbara and Helena looked sadly at Dinah. Dinah slowly walked across the field and into the Hummer. A hundred pairs of eyes watched her go, they were all confused, except for two.
"Umm, that's the end of the ceremony. Thank you for coming. If you would like to drop a flower in before we bury this amazing woman please come to the front." The priest ended the ceremony. Everyone tossed a flower into the grave. Barbara and Helena deteered from the funeral crowd and went straight over to the Hummer, where Dinah was. They got into the Hummer and put on their seatbelts. Barbara started the engine. Dinah was slouched in the front seat, looking out of the window.
"I'm sorry for what I said, Barbara." Dinah mumbled.
"Don't be sorry for the way you feel Dinah." Barbara replied, squeezing Dinah's hand.
"I think you shocked a lot of people Kid." Helena commented, putting her head in between Dinah's and Barbara's seat.
"Helena sit down!" Barbara said strongly. Helena leaned back.
"Spoil sport," Helena mumbled.
"What did you say?" Barbara said sharply.
"Nothing!" Dinah continued to look out the window. The Hummer was disturbingly quiet.
"Who's hungry?" Barbara asked trying to lighten the mood.
"I am," Dinah said quietly. Helena nodded in agreement.
When the Birds got home that night, the smell of lasagna greeted them. The table was set and an Italian style dinner was on the table. Dinah ate a little and in the middle of the meal asked to be excused. Barbara nodded and Dinah walked out onto the terrace. Barbara and Helena could see her from the table and wanted to go and comfort her but they knew her need to be alone.
"I'm sorry for what I said mom." Dinah mumbled to the wind.
"Actually I'm not sorry, everything I said was true! You gave me up for your own heroic needs! You weren't strong enough to give up the adrenaline rush, you were adicted to it. So much that you gave the second most precious thing in the world away. I just couldn't compare to the rush! I can't believe you! How could you! I've only known Barbara for a year and I know that she's a better mother than you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Dinah screamed.
"How could you?...How could you?" Dinah whispered. She sat on her knees and laid her head in her hands. A tiny peck caused her to lift up her head. A little, tiny yellow canary sat on the ledge. It's head turned quizically. Dinah glared at it.
"Go away," Dinah growled. The canary pecked her again. Dinah tried to shoo it away but it kept on coming back and pecking at her head.
"You're as bad as Carolyn," Dinah grumbled. The bird looked at her sadly and flew away. Dinah sat there for a few minutes and rose. Barbara came outside.
"I found this letter in your mother's will. It's a letter addressed to you." Barbara handed a well-worn envelope to Dinah and went back inside. Dinah looked at it and sat down on the ledge. She opened it up.
My Dearest Dinah,
If you are reading this letter then you must know that I am dead.I know that you wished for this moment. I wished for it too. The only reason I ever visited you was because I thought that I'd have one last chance to apoligise before I disspeared forever. I saw you fight, I saw how great you were and it filled me with intense sadness. I had missed you becoming a hero, becoming everything I couldn't be. I hate myself. For everything I ever did you. I should taken better care of you or just given you to Barbara. She had always been a better mother than me. If there was one thing I could do over it would be giving you to Barbara, letting her raise you. I wouldn't know if you would've turned out the same though. I love you forever Dinah. I know you'll have the best life you can with Barbara and Helena. Tell Barbara that I love her and that she was right. Tell Helena, that I'm sorry for every awful thing I said to her and to her mother. But most of all, I'm sorry Dinah, for not being the mother you deserve. I'm with you always, Dinah and I will watch over you forever and make sure you don't become like me. I promise you that, I forgive you I love you Dinah. Good bye.
Carolyn Blake Lance
P.S. Do you remeber when you were little? You told me you loved the rain.
A raindrop fell on Dinah's nose. Soon it began to rain, Dinah stretched out her arms, looking up at the sky. A smile appeared on her face and she whooped. Barbara and Helena came running outside.
"Dinah? What's wrong? What happened?" Barbara asked, worried.
"It's raining!" Dinah said happily. A real, genuine smile appeared on her face and she walked inside, side by side with Barbara and Helena. The rain had given Dinah forgiveness, it had washed away all her problems. It had given her new hope.
P.S. I don't mean to seem like there is a God or that Carolyn made it rain but that's the way it turned out. It's not supposed spiritual at all, it's just a way for Dinah to feel clean again.
P.P.S. It took me two long, tiring days to complete this fanfic. I'm bushed