A/N:Two words on the portrait drawn by Martha Wayne are most puzzling. What do they mean? Sammie is in her sixth month of pregnancy and she suddenly comes down with a mysterious illness. Tim is with the Titans talking to new recruits, and one of them is from a far different place. Does he hold the key to Samantha's mysterious illness?

Neptune's Daughter

By

Part 13: The Need To Know

"I want to go now," Samantha demanded like a spoiled child.

"I've never been to Atlantis," Tim argued back. "I don't know how to get there."

"That Aqualad guy does," Samantha countered. "Don't you want me to find out where I came from?"

"It's not that Sammie . . . "

"Then what is it?"

"Our wedding is in a few weeks and . . . "

"Timmy, I'm not going to endanger our children. I just want to find out where I came from. Besides, you're wrong about our wedding being in a few weeks . . . '

Tim wasn't exactly listening. "I just came back from Titan's Tower," Tim whined. "I wanted to spend that time with you, and now that you're feeling better, and now you want to leave?"

"I'm sorry, but this is the first time I'm finally finding out where I belong."

Tim couldn't argue any further. Samantha was right. She needed to know where she came from. Maybe even why she ended up with two human parents. Had she been abandoned and adopted? Had she been kidnapped when she was a baby? Those were questions that needed answering before they could even consider getting married, but the plans had already been made. They wouldn't be able to postpone them now. Even if they tried.

"Samantha, I know what you're going through . . . "

"No, you don't Timmy . . ."

"Yes, I do. You're not the only one who found out that the parents you've known all your life turned out to be someone else. I thought Janet and Jack Drake were my parents. They were the only parents I knew. Despite the fact that my Mom wasn't all that great, and my Dad could be thoughtless at times, never even having a clue how she treated me, they were still my parents. I'm glad for one thing, that they didn't discover who my real parents were before they died. It would have crushed my Dad and my Mom would probably go ballistic."

"Your parents would not have understood?" Samantha asked.

"No, they wouldn't," Tim said quietly. "My Mom was very proud of being who she was, very proud, having come from a family that supposedly played a part in helping to build Gotham. My father was proud of saying that his father had built a business that came close to rivaling that of the Waynes, but Dad though wasn't interested in business so much. He preferred archeology and humanitarian causes, even tried to out-do Bruce on several by actually going to those places that needed aid. Even so, we lost everything from the quake that hit Gotham and an accountant who saw a way to steal everything legally."

"You know everything about your parents. I don't know anything about mine, not really. You know what my father did, and my mother just stood there and let it happen."

Tim wrapped his arms around Samantha, hugging her tight. "If it means that much to you, I'll arrange it with Kaldor, but it still might not happen until after the wedding."

"Fair enough," Samantha stated. "I'm hungry."

"Everyone's going to be glad that you're feeling better."

"Yeah, can we come in and visit?"

Samantha and Tim looked up to see several pairs of eyes watching them.

"They make such a cute couple," Sasha said. She held her newly born twins in her arms.

"Why didn't you tell me my niece and nephew were born," Tim exclaimed.

"You were busy with the Titans," Jason explained.

"Not too busy to receive a phone call."

"True, but what if you were in the middle of something important. Besides, we wanted to surprise you."

Tim and Samantha went over to Sasha and Jason to take a look at the twins.

"This is Jaylyn. She was born first. And this is Jaxon," Jason introduced them. "Samantha and Dr. Thompkins helped Sasha through the worst of the pain. We were on our way to pick up the cribs when Sasha's water broke."

"Now you'll know what to expect when you're twins come into the world," Sasha added.

"I wish I'd been there," Tim stated.

"During the birth?" Jason questioned.

"Maybe not," Tim said. "Can I hold one?"

Sasha handed Jaxon over to Tim. The little tyke's eyes were wide and curious.

"I bet Dick's going bonkers over the fact that he's also an Uncle."

"Golden Boy's blabbering it all over creation, though he's also been worried about Samantha as well. Everyone has," Jason said. "We're all glad to see you're back on your feet."

"I'm recovering quite well, thanks to Kaldor."

"Kaldor?" Sasha questioned. "Who is Kaldor?"

"I'll explain later," Tim stated. "Where were you two?"

"We just came back from seeing Dr. Thompkins. Twins are healthy and they had their first inoculations."

"Yes, and they are tired as hell. They've had two feedings since this morning. We had to wait at the clinic for what seemed like hours. Jason neglected to set an appointment."

"Hey, she said to come in at any time," Jason replied. "How was I to know she would have a waiting room full of patients."

"She runs a free clinic in the middle of Crime Alley. You've got to expect there will be a lot of people."

"Um, do you really want to be arguing in front of your kids?" Tim stated. "Besides, I think this little one needs changing." Tim wrinkled his nose.

"Let me take him," Sasha stated and she took Jaxon back in her arms and headed back to her and Jason's room.

"So, Replacement, you home for a while?"

Tim cringed at the nickname. "Yeah, I guess."

"Good, because you, Golden Boy, and me need to celebrate."

"Celebrate?"

"Bachelor party . . . " Jason said. "You are getting married."

"Not for a couple weeks," Tim replied.

"Wrong, buddy," Jason replied. "That's the other surprise."

"You moved the date? Sammie was sick, how could you move the date."

"We didn't," Jason said. "You stayed longer than you said you would."

"What?" Then it dawned on Tim. "Oh man the Time Master. He messed with time. No wonder when we got finished with him I thought someone had messed with the chronometers at the Tower."

"Yup." Jason said. "Your wedding is day after tomorrow."

"Tonight is going to be a night you'll never forget."

"Should I be worried?" Tim felt a slap on the back and looked up to see Dick standing there behind him.

"Don't worry little brother, we won't be doing anything that will get you into hot water, but it will be fun, trust me."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Continues with Part 14