Author's Note: Neeeext chapter! Sorry for the wait, I've just been assigned a ridiculous research essay and my English teacher is completely demented. Not to sound like Remy here, but I honestly feel smarter than her haha. Anyways, to make up for the wait I made this one a bit longer. And wow guys, almost two hundred reviews! That's seriously so amazing. Thank you so much for all of your support :) Just a few more chapters to go before the sequel!

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.

Chapter Twenty Eight: Home is Where Your Heart Is

You are alone.

Now you are chosen.

The game begins now.

We are Occulta.

"I wasn't expecting this," Remy admitted aloud. "This is cryptic and entirely too noticeable to be the work of the League of Shadows."

Artemis nodded, placing her elbow under her neck. "What could 'the game' be?"

Remy stared at her flatly. "I won't know until they send me something else. A message or instructions." The brunette rolled over onto her back. "Until then, I'm going to have to drop off the radar. The Shadows are going to be looking for me."

"I'm surprised they haven't tried to contact you or—"

"Kill me?" Remy asked, running a hand through her hair

Artemis sighed. "What about your mom?"

"I'll have her buried next to my father," Remy said. "I'll stop by my old church tomorrow and make the arrangements."

Artemis nodded and the two fell into a thoughtful silence.

Remy wasn't sure what Artemis was thinking, but her own thoughts were full of turmoil. She was pretty sure this was one of the worst days in her life, hands down. Kicked off the only team she'd ever been a part of, completely burned an un-burnable bridge—unless you wanted to die of course—with the Shadows, and she'd lost her mother. Not to mention the fact that the reason her mother was dead was because these Occulta people wanted something from her.

The only positive that Remy could see was the fact that she'd managed to rescue the Prince of Monaco. And that had been the start of all this misfortune!

"Remy?" Artemis broke her train of thought. "I really think that you should take this to Batman. He might reconsider your susp—"

"How did I know you were going to say that?" Remy sighed, rolling her eyes. "This is something I need to deal with myself, Artemis."

"You say that about everything," she snapped. "You handle everything on your own."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Remy sniffed.

Artemis huffed. "Look, I of all people know where you're coming from. It's how I was raised. But you are way in over your head with this. The Shadows are going to be gunning for you and so will these Occulta people."

Remy could see the obvious stupidity in taking all of this on alone. Perhaps, it was time for her to give up the charade. For a charade it was. Since joining the team, Remy had allowed herself to actually care about something. She'd made her first real friend in years and found a way to fit in with the do-gooders she had only dreamed of associating with.

Maybe Remy did need help.

Remy relented, her mouth forming a small smirk. "Then it's a good thing I've got a team to help me out."

Father Lawrence was unusually quiet as Remy explained what had happened to her mother. By the time she had finished her tale, she was sure that Father Lawrence was expecting her to burst into tears at any moment.

The apocalypse would sooner come, Remy thought blackly.

"As soon as the police turn over the body, I want it encased and put next to my father's in the crypt," Remy said. "I should be back in Star City tomorrow so I won't be able to—"

"No funeral?" Father Lawrence's eyebrows practically shot up into his hair.

"My mother didn't have any friends Father Lawrence," Remy said slowly. "There would be no point."

The elder man shook his head and sighed, leaning back in his office chair. "Remington, it pains me to see you like this. Wouldn't you at least like to say goodbye to your mother?"

Here we go.

"I said goodbye to my mom when they put her in an asylum," Remy held up her hands. "She hasn't really been my mother for quite some time."

Father Lawrence laced his fingers together and placed them on the desk in front of him. Remy remembered that he had always done this before beginning some long-winded lecture on spirituality.

"I'm surprised at you Remy," he admitted. "I had thought that even though you no longer attend church or actively worship our Lord, you would still show some level of respect for the dead."

"I'm not disrespecting the dead simply because I don't want a funeral," Remy said flatly.

"Your father had a lovely turnout when he—"

"My father was a local hero and my mother insisted."

"Remy, I understand that you are upset about your mother, anyone in your position would be, but I must be the one to insist this time. Your mother would have wanted you to be there when we commend her spirit to the Lord."

"Father Lawrence," Remy started, struggling to keep her voice civil. "I am trying to be as pleasant about this as I possibly can. But after all that has gone on I feel like I deserve some peace."

Father Lawrence nodded. "I couldn't agree more. But think of what your mother would've wanted."

"It doesn't matter what she wants," Remy sputtered. "She is dead. Dead as can be. Kicked the bucket, the fat lady sang, whatever you want to use. It doesn't make a difference anymore."

Father Lawrence looked appalled at her outburst and even Remy was a bit surprised at herself.

"While your mother is no longer on this earth, she is still alive in spirit," Father Lawrence said fervently. "Lacey was a wonderful person, and a devout follower of Christ. I have no doubt that she is with our Heavenly Father now."

Remy shook her head and stood up. "My decision is final, Father. I'm returning to Star City tomorrow morning and there will be no funeral."

Remy slid her arms into her winter coat and turned for the door.

"Remington."

Remy turned out of courtesy and stared expectantly at Father Lawrence. "What?"

"Keep in mind that God is always watching, whether you want him to or not."

Remy shook her head. "As far as I'm concerned, there is no God."

Remy had expected her apartment to seem vastly different when she walked through the door. But it was still the same old apartment she'd left behind. Her bamboo tree was still in the corner next to the television, her tea pot was still sitting next to her stove, and her bed was still impeccably made.

After dropping her bags next to the bag, Remy decided to make some tea. As the kettle was heating up there was a knock at the door.

"Not even here five minutes and someone's already bothering me," Remy muttered yanking the door open.

"What a surprise," Remy snorted, stepping aside to let her red-headed neighbor through. "Come on in. I'm making some tea."

Roy raised a suspicious eyebrow as Remy shut the door behind her and walked over to the stove. The chair at the breakfast nook made a screeching sound on the tile as Roy pulled it out.

"Do you like sugar in your tea?" Remy asked, absentmindedly examining the sugar packets on the counter. She turned around and held up a packet.

"Sure," Roy shrugged, watching as she leaned against the counter.

"I only have Splenda," Remy told him. "I hope that's alright."

Roy's eyebrow once again shot up. "Okay, are you sick or something? I've been here thirty seconds and you haven't insulted me."

"I'm afraid I just don't have the energy today," Remy sighed, turning away as the tea timer went off. "Come back in about a week and I'll be more chipper."

Roy was silent as Remy poured the earl grey tea into two mugs. She quickly ripped open the Splenda packets and mixed them in before sliding the mug over to Roy.

Remy lifted the cup to her lips as Roy finally spoke.

"Seriously, what's wrong?"

Remy lowered the cup and set it back on the counter. She searched his eyes for any signs of insincerity. Sure Roy had been nice to her, taken care of her bamboo tree and given her rides to school…

But could she trust him with anything more serious? He had handled her holiday angst in a reasonable fashion…

"You really want to know?"

"I do," Roy said seriously.

How can I put this without giving away my secret identity? Remy wondered. She walked over to the other side of the counter and pulled out the chair next to Roy.

"Well, I was—uhh—fired from my job."

My job: superhero.

"I'm sorry?" Roy said it like a question, with no real sincerity, eliciting a glare from Remy. "I didn't even know you had a job to be honest. Why were you fired?"

"Well I did have a job," Remy muttered. "And as to why I was fired well, it's kind of all my fault, which is unusual because—"

"You don't make mistakes," Roy snorted. "You've said that before. Trust me I get it."

Remy narrowed her eyes, but chose to otherwise ignore him. "I thought I could handle this big project—"

Saving a Prince from a League of Super Assassins who I also happen to work for.

"—and I really didn't think it through. My boss—"

Batman.

"—basically told me I was taking my position for granted so he said that until I learned some appreciation, I couldn't come back."

Roy snorted. "That's not so bad."

Remy held up a hand. "Oh believe me there's more. My ex—"

Criminal employer aka the League of Shadows.

"—boyfriend is really mad at me for breaking up with him—"

Because no one betrays the Shadows.

"—and now he's stalking me."

They're going to gut me.

Roy let out a low whistle. "I'll admit that sucks. But I'm not sure exactly what you want me to say."

"There's nothing to say," Remy told him firmly. "It's a shit load of trouble I really don't need right now."

Roy elbowed her in the ribs. "Hey at least no one died!"

Remy's expression went carefully blank.

"That's not entirely true. My mother, she—" Remy's voice grew quieter now "—passed away a few days ago. That was the cherry on top of all this wonderful luck."

Roy's expression softened at her statement and his blue eyes searched her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

Remy nodded. "It's fine, honestly. My mother—" Remy paused to clear her throat "—has been in a mental institution for the past few years. I guess I said goodbye to her a long time ago."

Roy nodded and tentatively reached for Remy's hand. Remy glanced up at his eyes and realized he was asking for permission.

Oddly enough, for the second time, she didn't pull away as he laced his fingers through hers.

I've said no my whole life, she reasoned, and where has it gotten me? Absolutely nowhere.

"Were you close?" Roy asked.

"Once upon a time," Remy thought, thinking of all the time she and her mother had spent together. Her father had been gone a lot, which Remy had never really thought on until now. After all, when Remy was younger she had always shown an obvious adoration for her father and had definitely preferred him to her mother.

In retrospect, she realized that she should've been kinder to her mother, visited her more often, tried harder to find a doctor who could cure her.

Of course, it was all moot now that she was gone, but Remy couldn't help but feel guilty about how she had treated her mother.

"I mean, I'm not exactly the warm and fuzzy type," Remy sighed. "I was never that affectionate with my mom."

"I can't imagine you that way," Roy admitted. "But honestly? I wouldn't like you so much if you weren't—well the way you are."

"Well that's a nice way to lighten the mood." Remy raised an eyebrow at Roy's serious expression. "No bull? Not a joke? You like me?"

Roy narrowed his eyes. "So what if I do."

"Well shit," Remy said. "That's… different."

"Different? Just what every guy wants to hear," Roy snorted. "Under normal circumstances I would've asked you out but now is obviously not the time."

Remy patted his hand and stood up from the chair. "You're not a complete idiot."

"Gee thanks," Roy said getting up as well.

Remy smiled slightly and grabbed the mugs—still full and no longer warm—and dropped them in the sink. "Seriously though? I'm sorry to dump all of that on you."

"Hey, everyone needs to vent sometimes," Roy shrugged, "and I am the one the ladies run to with their problems."

"Don't start being a jerk now," Remy warned.

"Well, seriously though," Roy walked over to the sink to stand next to Remy. "I know just the thing that'll help you cope."

Remy raised an eyebrow. "If you're going to say sex, then get out of my house. No alcohol either."

Roy snorted. "You're getting a little ahead of yourself. I was just going to recommend my step-dad's girlfriend's method for coping with her problems?"

"And that would be?"

"Eat shitloads of ice cream and watch sad movies," Roy finished with a grin.

Remy rolled her eyes. "Roy, I don't think that works for lost loved ones. It's a break up thing."

Roy pretended to be hurt. "You mean you're not the type to cry your eyes out at the sappy movies? I never would've guessed." Remy glared and Roy held his hands up. "Hey I'm just throwin' something out there."

Remy bit her lip, deciding something. "Well…it would be better than just hanging out here by myself."

"I'll make some popcorn then," Roy said, reaching for the cupboard. "Where do you keep your bowls?"

"Uh, no junk food," Remy informed him.

Roy sighed and retracted his hand. "I'll be right back then. Pick a sappy movie while I get real food."

Remy shook her head, smiling slightly as Roy walked out her apartment door.

What have I gotten myself into?

Late that night—or early in the morning depending on the way you look at it—Remy was awoken by a knock at her door.

Groggily, she glanced around the room, noting the empty popcorn bowl on the floor next to her head. She turned her attention to a sleeping Roy was sprawled out on the end of her couch, head tipped back, hands gripping Remy's feet.

Kodak moment? Remy thought sardonically as she carefully extricated her feet from Roy's iron grip.

Remy stumbled to the door, yawning all the while, haphazardly glanced through the peephole and pulled the door open.

"Hello?" Remy called, her voice carrying out into the empty hallway. It was then that she noticed the vase of white lilies sitting on her doormat.

Remy bent down and picked up the flowers, closing the door behind her as she walked back into the kitchen. Curious—and suspicious—she opened the card.

Dearest Remy,

You'll be pleased to know that there are many more where these came from. Definitely enough to cover your dead, rotting body by the time I'm through with you. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Kisses,

Jade

P.S. Your new boyfriend is cute! I'll have so much fun playing with him when you're gone.

Of course. Remy should have known. She set the card down with shaking hands and hurried to lock the front door and close the windows.

As if that would help, she thought darkly.

She knew in her heart of hearts that Jade was going to make her suffer slowly.