The following morning, neither Bruce nor Jason had come down for breakfast. Alfred mentioned that Bruce was called away on business but he was worried about Jason. Though Hailey hardly knew Jason's whereabouts it seemed like Alfred was usually on top of it except for that particular day. He resorted to asking Hailey if she knew of any plans he had. Hailey simply shook her head. The truth was, she had absolutely no idea.

At school, Hailey tried to say hello to Tim who she ran into in the entrance near the lockers. But Tim didn't see her. He seemed to be lost in thought about something. The last time she'd spoken to him was when he'd called to tell her his mother was fine. And so Hailey had no idea what was going on with him. She'd only started to say hello to him since the ordeal at the benefit but they weren't exactly friends. And they didn't talk to one another. Not because they chose not to do so. It was due to the fact that he was three grades ahead of her in school. This meant that his classrooms were on different floors than her own and even their lunch period was a different hour. Regardless of all that, Hailey didn't have to worry about Tim. She had her mind on Jason the entire day. She'd had the most horrid thought about their conversation the night before and she really hoped that it didn't come to pass.

The first thing Hailey did when Alfred picked her up from school was to ask about Jason. She felt her stomach drop when he told her there had been no word on the young master all day. So she almost screamed in surprise when she walked into her bedroom and Jason was sitting on her bed waiting for her. Jason raised his hands to his lips before she blew his cover and Hailey covered her mouth while nodding in acquiescence.

"Where were you?" Hailey asked in a harsh whisper as she approached the bed. "I thought you'd run away."

Jason grimaced and looked away guiltily. "I just had to clear my head. But I ran into an old neighbor. She told me that she kept some of my family's belongings," Jason said and produced a piece of paper to show her. "That's my birth certificate. I found it with everything else. It's water damaged and all you can see is the first letter of my mother's name. I thought Catherine was my mother. But I was wrong. I have a different mother than the woman who raised me. Hailey, what if she's still alive? I have to find her."

"But how will you find her? All you know is that her name begins with the letter 'S'. That could be anyone," Hailey said looking at the birth certificate. The name wasn't legible. It wasn't even possible to make out anything from the ink smear at all.

"I narrowed it down to three women that were listed in my father's address book. I know where they are. I'm going to track them down to find my real mother," Jason told her and took her hand is his. "I need to find my real mom. You understand, don't you?"

Hailey nodded but she couldn't help tearing up.

"Yeah, I get it."

Jason smiled widely. He was happy that she understood. He didn't like that he was leaving her behind. But Alfred and Bruce would take good care of her on the off chance that he actually found his mother and she wanted to be a family. He wiped Hailey's tears away carefully and leaned his forehead on hers.

"Wish me luck, sister," Jason told her.

"Good luck, brother."

Jason chuckled and jumped off the bed. He grabbed a bag from the floor and made his way to the window.

"Eat enough for the both of us until I get back," Jason said as he opened the window.

"But then I'll be as big as a house the next time you see me," Hailey protested.

"Hey, that'll just give us the excuse to force you to go out running with me when I get back."

Hailey smiled widely at that comment. It meant that Jason was planning to come back. That they'd still be brother and sister when he did. And that he was going to keep spending time with her. Hailey hadn't realized it until right then that she truly enjoyed running with Jason. And she was looking forward to him coming back so that they could do it again. Jason waved goodbye and was gone.

When Alfred served dinner that evening, he looked crestfallen at the empty seat that Jason normally occupied. She almost broke and told him that Jason had been by earlier. But she had to give Jason time so that he could get far enough away before Alfred or Bruce found out about his escapade. Hailey decided she would wait until morning to tell Alfred what Jason was up to. Her eyes drifted to Bruce's seat. Hailey couldn't help wonder where Bruce had gone. Why was he staying away? Before she went to bed that night, Alfred announced that Master Bruce had taken an emergency trip overseas and would probably take close to a week to wrap up his business before his return.

"Alfred, are you sure he's coming back?" Hailey asked uncertainly.

"Of course, dear child. Why would you believe otherwise?"

"It's just weird that he left without saying goodbye. I mean, if he was going to be gone for so long…" Hailey couldn't find the words to express what she meant. But she couldn't help but cry. Jason leaving to find his real mother had already been hard to swallow. But he'd said goodbye because he was planning to come back. But Bruce, he didn't even bother. Hailey swiped at her eyes angrily.

Alfred placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "I know you're worried about Jason. Believe me, this old man can't help but worry either. However, I know the boy will be perfectly fine and will return promptly," Alfred promised. "As for Master Bruce, I'm certain he didn't mean to leave without a proper goodbye. He simply becomes so wrapped up in his work that he forgets he needs to make time for the other people in his life. He will be back and he will apologize for being so ill-mannered, mark my words."

As Alfred walked away, Hailey could hear him muttering about Bruce being raised with proper etiquette and that his parents would be appalled by his recent behavior. She was so shocked at hearing Alfred speak about Bruce that way that she stopped crying to stare after the man in shock. She'd thought Alfred only had the highest praise for Bruce. But it seemed even Alfred knew that Bruce wasn't infallible.

On the drive to school the following day, Alfred informed Hailey that Jason had left a note behind explaining that he'd gone off in search of his birth mother. And by the look he directed at her, it seemed he figured out that Hailey was already in the know of that information but refrained in saying as much. But he continued by saying that he'd informed Master Bruce who said he would look for him.

Two days later, Bruce had finally caught up with Jason in Lebanon of all places. Bruce had called to speak with Alfred but spoke to Hailey as well. He apologized for not having told her that he was leaving but that something urgent had come up. Hailey said she understood. She was just happy to have heard from him. But then what he told her next left her speechless. Not only were he and Jason searching for his mother together but he told her that she and Jason were actually blood relatives.

"He's my cousin?" Hailey said finding her voice. Though it was small and it squeaked.

"Yes, he's your third cous—" Bruce was saying when there was sudden static over the phone.

"Just ignore him, you're my sister," Jason said and she could hear the grin in his voice. "My real sister."

"Yeah," Hailey breathed softly then giggled. "Now it makes more sense why everyone kept saying we looked like each other."

"Yeah, yeah," Jason said distractedly. He probably hadn't even thought about that at all. "Truthfully, I thought they were full of shit."

"Jason, language," Hailey heard Bruce say not too far away.

"How's your hunt for your mom going?" Hailey said carefully.

"Well, I knocked one name off my list. We're actually going to meet the second today. If that doesn't pan out, there's only one more person to track down and we already know where she is so it shouldn't be too long now before we're heading back home."

"Really?" Hailey said with so much hope it was practically visible on the other end of the line.

"Yeah," Jason said and sounded happy again. "Definitely."

...

Jason had been wrong. So very very wrong.

Bruce did return with Jason. But not for them to live happily ever after. It was quite the opposite. Jason was dead and all that was left for Hailey and Bruce and Alfred was to live mournfully for the time being. Just like after her father had died. Though she'd lived with Jasper for five years, she'd been closer with Jason than she had been with her father so Jason's death hurt a lot more. But she knew it wasn't going to hurt so damn much with time. And even though she knew that it didn't make her feel any better. So she didn't come down to eat. She didn't want to leave her room. Or her bed. Because she was so angry. Angry that Jason was dead. Angry that Richard didn't come home. Angry that it rained on their way home from the funeral grounds but that the sun shone brightly as Jason's coffin was being lowered into the ground. Angry that Alfred was fucking cooking and bringing her food to her room. And angry that Bruce hadn't said two words to her since he returned. Hailey screamed into her pillow until her voice was raw and then she was just sobbing. The sound of the thunderstorm raging outside drowned out her misery.

Hailey woke with a headache. There was a new tray of food by her bed. She ignored it and went to the bathroom. She showered, brushed her teeth, pulled her hair into a bun even though it was still wet, and dressed for school. It had been three days since Bruce returned. The funeral had been the day before. But she couldn't stay in her room anymore. She didn't want to accidentally run into Bruce just so that he would ignore her. And she was already all cried out. And even though her heart ached and her body was numb, her fucking mind was sharp and it was thinking useless things that she didn't want to think. So she decided that she would go to school and listen to the mindless drivel there. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to think about shit that was driving her crazy anymore. She grabbed her tray of food and walked down to the kitchen. Alfred was there drinking tea. He looked up at her with sad, tired eyes. Hailey set her tray down on the table and sat down. Mechanically she began to eat. The food tasted like ash. And it was hard to swallow it down past the lump in her throat. But she managed. When she was finished, she took her dishes to the sink and walked up to Alfred. She gave him a hug.

"Oh, dear child," Alfred said and wept into her shoulder. But Hailey didn't weep. She would do that later when she was alone in her room. Alfred released her and wiped his face with a handkerchief attempting to look proper once more though that shipped had passed since Bruce uttered the words, 'Jason is dead.'

"Why are you dressed for school?"

"I can't stay here, Alfred. I need to go to school," Hailey said looking right at him determinedly.

Alfred nodded and stood up taking her shoulder with a shaky hand. "I'll drive you. It will give me something to do. But please, child, if you need to come right back do give us a call."

"Okay," Hailey said and nodded. "I will."

Hailey didn't even bother going to her locker. She went straight to her first class and sat down. She didn't notice anyone. She didn't hear a thing her teacher said. And she didn't hear the bell ring. But she felt a hand on her arm as she was led to the office. She was made to sit in the therapist's room. But she didn't speak. She just sat still and waited. For what? She didn't know.

Bruce showed up sometime later and carefully pulled Hailey to her feet.

"Let's go home," Bruce told her and her eyes teared up.

"Okay," Hailey told him and followed him out. His hand was resting on her back the entire way to the car. Alfred was sitting in the driver's seat

"How is she?" Alfred asked tentatively as he looked back at her through the rearview mirror.

"She's mourning," Bruce said and allowed Hailey to cry as he pressed her to his side. "Just like we are, old friend."

"I shouldn't have allowed her to attend school," Alfred said and cleared his throat.

"No, I believe it was good that she tried," Bruce told him. "But maybe it's best to keep her home tomorrow."

"Of course, sir," Alfred said as if the idea had been his and not Bruce's.

It would have made Jason laugh but Jason was dead and couldn't hear Alfred from where he was. Hailey sighed and wiped her eyes. She remembered that Jason was at peace. With that thought, her mind settled and her weary body claimed sleep. And she didn't have a choice but to oblige.