The next chapter will be the last I think. Thanks for reading.
They never found her and never would; Raven no longer existed, five years of nothing. Five years of never seeing her son, five years of pain and abuse. Five years of never being truly free of him. Jason Todd was dead and so was Red Hood, he had broke her so she had killed him. The Justice League had found his body but no clues that was three years ago. Two years spent trying to feel again trying to found the girl she used to be. She gave up on Raven and became Rachel and all Rachel wanted was to see her son. She knew they thought she was dead but it didn't matter. She was at the Hall of Justice going on the tour. She no longer looked like the old Raven or the old Rachel. Her hair was brown with white streaks that wouldn't go away no matter the dyes she used. She stood there in front of Batman's old uniform when a voice said, "You know I know him, he's not as great as you think." She turned to face Roy, "Oh Yeah?" "Yeah. Hey Rae." He was close enough to whisper it. She smiled, "You always know me no matter what huh?" He looked around and put his arms around her shoulders, "Of course I do even through you no longer look like Raven. Why are you here Rae?" She leaned into wrapping her arms around his waist, "To see my son Roy. It hurts not knowing how he's doing but I don't want him to see me like this. You know?" He nodded, "I have an idea come on." He pulled her out the door while two dark haired men watched. "I wonder where he found her."
He stood beside her going in to Wayne manor. He could tell she was nervous and really didn't want to do this and said as much, "I don't think I can do this Roy. I don't think I can see them." "Take a breath Rae let it out. Ok. You'll be fine." They walked in and a woman was looking Rae up and down, "I see you're a bat banger." She said it with venom, "He is a no good criminal and you should be ashamed of yourself." The woman walked off and Roy grabbed Rae, "Don't you're here to see JB remember?" She nodded as she smoothed down her dress. They made their way through the room over to Bruce, Richard, Selina, and JB. They were all dressed to the nines. As they made it to the front of the receiving line, Roy noticed JB was peeking around legs to look at them with a frown on his face. She wasn't looking at them she was on her phone trying to get some work done so she could stay longer. They moved just a little closer and suddenly JB took off running toward them while Dick called out to him. JB flew at Rae who had looked up dropped her phone and caught him, "Mommie." Was all he said before he wrapped his arms so tightly around her neck and laid his head on to her shoulder. She and Roy grinned down at the boy, "It doesn't hurt so much now does it?" She shook her head and closed her eyes laying her head on her son's. They didn't notice that everyone else had gone into the ballroom all except for three people. They stood staring at her while tears ran down her face.
Dick was the first to speak, "So you were alive the whole time?" he sounded mad. "No." she said. Selina cocked her head, "What happened?" she paused, "You were the one who killed Jason, weren't you?" "Yes." Roy was looking at Rae and knew she was holding everything back from them and her son. She would never tell them everything she had been through that she would allow them to assume the worse of her. "Look," he said. "I think we need to talk about this in private." "No," She put JB down and knelt in front of him, "I just came to see how he was doing. I won't interfere anymore." JB frowned, "But you just got here Mommie? I missed you." "I missed you too but I can't stay Jonathon. I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you. I didn't know you would recognize me." JB put his hand on his mother's face, "I'm part of you. I will always know you Mommie." She smiled and then frowned as he said, "I know you're in pain Mommie but Daddy can help and so can Auntie Selina and Richie." Rae shook her head at her empathy son, "Jon, I'm fine but I can't be in your life right now. I'm so sorry." He looked so sad as she turned him and pushed him toward his father and pushed him slightly. He went to his father and she stood, nodded and left. Roy picked up her phone, "She hasn't been the same since her time with Jason. This is the first time I've seen her in two years and she looks better but she's not whole and I don't think she ever will be." He left.
Bruce went through the party as though nothing had happened and this worried Selina. After the last guest left she turned to the two men standing like statues behind her. Alfred had put JB to bed earlier. She glared at them, "I can't believe you just let her leave did you see her. Did you hear what JB said?" Both men shrugged at her as they went to the study. Richard said, "What do you want us to do? She had a chance to come back earlier and she didn't. It's not our problem." Bruce was silent staring at the wall with his fingers laced. Selina was looking at him, "What's going through your head, Bruce?" He looked at her, "I don't recognize her Selina. She's not the girl I trained or the woman I had a child with. I want to ask and I want to comfort her but something inside me tells me that it wouldn't help that she's gone. I want my son to know his mother but she isn't there anymore." Richard was frowning, "I think she works for Luther now anyway. I think is really has gone darkside Bruce. So it's best if we just leave her where she is. She saw her son and that was it."
"No," Bruce stood. "I'm going to go find her and bring her back here and she will be in JB's life no matter what."