Chapter 5: Family Reunion

Dyna stayed up half the night, thinking of how she was going to explain all of this to her parents and she still hadn't thought of a good excuse when she passed out from exhaustion. She slept through her alarm and the morning sun, pulling the covers over her head and the knock at the door. She suddenly regretted bringing her parents up, she could live in Lisa clothes just fine. She had no reason to go talk with her parents and feel five years old ago and getting in trouble for something she had no excuse for. She was adult but her mother always made her feel like a stupid child, like every choice she made was irresponsible, like she couldn't live her own life. Leaving her job, and her apartment with no warning and suddenly showing up with a new friend out of the blue...well her mother was going to blow up. There was no bigger control freak in the entire universe.

Another knock and then the covers were thrown off her bed and she groaned, grabbing a pillow and slamming it over head. She heard Lisa sigh, and shot up when cold hands were placed on her sides.

"Lisa! That isn't fair." Dyna whined, laying back on the bed, arms over her face. She felt the bed dip in when Lisa sat down, and leaned into her with a sigh. "Can I just say we went...I changed my mind I really don't want to do this."

"We could or you could just say no and we don't go. No one is going to be upset that you didn't, this is for you. But what I think we should do, is go, grab your stuff and who cares what your parents think. You are an adult. You are allowed to do what you want with your life." Dyna sat up, sighing deeply and running her fingers through her hair.

"Yes...hey guys, you remember that particle accelerator incident, and all those metahumans that are popping up and trying to kill people. Well I'm one of them but I'm still a good girl...I just had to leave my job and everything because I tried to be a super good person and basically got myself kidnapped and now I leave with my rescuer who is a very talented thief. Oh and this is his sister, my best friend...yup that will go over really well...so well they might put me in a mental hospital." She got up off the bed and started to get dressed, and brushing the knots out of her hair.

"Really? Are they that bad?"

"Pretty much...my mom is a control freak...my dad isn't that bad but he won't speak up when she is around. I've never even dated before because she demanded I be focused on my job and that all that would come later. I still can't believe I listened to her."

"Why? Being secure in a job doesn't sound like a bad thing?" Lisa came up behind her and started braiding her hair, it was something Lisa loved to do and Dyna didn't mind all that much. She had never had anyone do that for her before.

"I never learned how to make a mistake or what being with someone would be like. Barely any friends, I'm terrible around people...My parents got married because they come from pretty rich families, not for love. I was adopted because my mother doesn't believe in sex or being touched or anything like that. I wouldn't even know how to act if someone said they had feelings for me. I am probably going to die single." She scoffed. "Anyway, ready to go get this over with so I can give you your clothes back."

"Sure but you look better than I do in my clothing...and I don't think you are going to end up alone. You are a very touchy person and you are not bad around people. You speak your mind, that isn't a bad thing. You just need to find someone who likes that part of you." Lisa linked her arm with Dyna's as they walked out. Dyna's parents lived a couple blocks down, so they were planning to take the bus to get there, maybe even walk if the day was nice enough. Dyna smiled as they walked out the door. It was nice to hear that she was normal every once and a while. She had heard so many times that either she was too independent or too mechanical. Now if she could just find a guy with Lisa's perspective, then she wouldn't have to worry. They talked on the way over and she stopped as they reached her childhood home. She found it funny that after all that had happened that it still looked like it always had. She thought for some reason, it would be different. That after its absence for so long that she would see it differently, but it looks just the way it had the last time she had been here.

"Wow...I know you said your parents were rich...but snobby much. This house is the biggest fucking house I have ever been this close to. I didn't even think they made places like this in New York." She chuckled as she watched Lisa look over the front porch while she climbed the small set of stairs and knocked on the front door. She waited, biting at her lip before reaching for the doorbell. The door opened and she put her hand down at her side. A older man looked at the two of them.

"Well it can't be, is that my Dyna...I've been so worried." The man had dark brown hair with grey mixed in and brown eyes.

"Hello Dad. I meant to stop by earlier but a lot has happen-" She found herself embraced in a hug and she relaxed into it. It had been so long and she had missed him so much. He was the happiest part of her childhood memories.

"Oh your mother is going..well she was just as worried. Come on in...your friend too. Your mother is in the study. I'll get her. Why don't you go show your friend to the living room." Dyna nodded, basically dragging Lisa who was looking at everything like a target. When it came to stealing, it was in her blood and she was more likely to steal something because it was pretty and for no other reason. She wasn't risking her setting an alarm off.

"Everything is monitored...don't even think about it. Your brother would even have trouble stealing from here."

"Oh I highly doubt that. No security system is that good."

"This one is, anything that passes through the doors or windows will set off an alarm and the coding is put into the paint or thread...just keep your hands in your pockets." She sat her down, just as her mother came into the living room. The look on her face was vivid and filled with anger, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I was in a meeting...you couldn't call ahead or did you think it would be funny to spring this on your father and I? Because it isn't."

"Hello mot-"

"Do not hello me...you disappeared off the face of the earth, you quit your job which we worked hard to get you into. All that schooling and what, did it get to regular for you, to boring? Your apartment was just left, no message or anything. We picked up your stuff, paid the last of your rent. What in the world were you thinking?! All that hard work and now nothing."

"I should have called...I just didn't think about it and when I finally did...well I didn't quite have access to a phone." Dyna leaned lightly against the couch as she stared down her mother, fingers digging into upholstery.

"And where exactly were you that you didn't have a phone?" Dyna struggled for something to say, she knew if she told them the truth, something bad was going to happen. Before she could say anything, Lisa spoke up.

"She was traveling with my brother and I. Seeing the world, getting some miles under her wings before she works on settling down. After all, doing the same thing every day can get a bit boring." Dyna's mother scoffed. "It builds stability and responsibility."

"It also can make someone very unhappy...she's been spending the time finding herself and I think she has bloomed quite awesomely. She's still needs a little more time but she is getting there." Dyna smiled softly, looking over at Lisa who had a wide grin on her face, as she got over to stand by her. "We're just here to grab some of her stuff before we head back."

"Oh and who are you? As far as we knew Dyna doesn't have very many friends." What she meant was none, she had been too busy trying to live up to what they wanted her to be to have any at all. "And where exactly are you staying?"

"I'm her one and only best friend...she's living with my brother and I for the moment. So where is your room Dyna? Lets grab your stuff and get going." Lisa tugged on her arm but her mother stopped them with a clearing of her throat. She had her arms crossed and was glaring to the point Dyna was sure Lisa was just going to drop dead in front of her until she remember that she was the only one with that kind of ability. Her mother was just a normal woman, unaffected by the particle accelerator.

"You can come back later tonight, join us for dinner. We would love to meet your friends then you are welcome to go on your way...Does that sound appropriate? Its the least you could do after disappearing."

"Yes...come on Lisa, let's go." She all but dragged her out before it could get any worse. She moved quickly down the street, with Lisa struggling to keep up. Lisa grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop.

"Hey...we don't have to come back tonight. We'll go on a shopping spree...its not worth it, especially if you don't want to deal with it." Dyna stopped taking a deep breath, clenching her fist to keep herself under control. She was on edge from the whole thing and it wasn't Lisa's fault, she didn't want to accidentally hurt her.

"I've always ran away, every time she tears at me. And every time I run on back and do exactly what she wants. She controlled my entire life, my school, my career, where I was going to live and how I was going to live. Look at my life before all this crazy happened to me, I was alone. I had no friends, never had a boyfriend, never even kissed before. All I did was work, and come home and do nothing. Just sit and watch TV and wish my life was like that when all I had to do was be myself and make the decisions for myself. I need to do this in order to get a hold of myself and to get out of that pattern. I need to be able to make my own decisions and she needs to know that I am an adult and I don't need to be told what to do anymore."

"Okay. Well I am definitely coming with you and we are so inviting my brother. After all she invited us all, it would nice for once to have a rich meal." Lisa smirked, sliding her arm around Dyna. "And one more thing." She grabbed her shoulder, pulling her closer and gave her a soft kiss. Dyna stood in confusion for a few moments before blushing.

"Lisa..."

"Its not like that not that I wouldn't be interested but you said you had never been kissed and it is my job as your best friend to give you an example of what it is like. After all, one day you are going to fall head over heels for someone and I don't want you to be going in blind." Dyna regained herself and rolled her eyes, pulling her down the street.

"What should I wear?" Lisa poked her head into Dyna's room. It was about two hours before they were suppose to head back and Dyna was having second thoughts. Snart had left a note that he would be back soon, so she had yet to ask him about coming with them tonight. She was a little nervous about it, not once had she ever seen him just go out for a social occasion.

"Whatever you want to is fine."

"Okay what are you wearing? Maybe we could match tonight?"

"Are you two going somewhere?" Both girls jumped and looked out into the hallway. Snart gave them a raised eyebrow, with a small smile. Dyna threw one of the shirts she had laid out on the bed at him with a roll of her eyes. Lisa jumped forward even more Dyna could get a word out.

"We are going to meet Dyna's family tonight. They invited us over for dinner...all of us, including you. They are pretty mean but we only get her stuff if we go to dinner and she wants to show them up and we have about an hour before dinner." Dyna gave her a look before looking through her clothing. She really didn't want to get Leo involved. He had done enough for her...but dealing with her family that was something else.

"Okay...I'll be ready then. I'm assuming its formal...?" Dyna looked up briefly, her skin prickling as she felt his eyes on her. She nodded, picking up one of the dresses and heading into the bathroom. Snart watched her with a puzzled look. "Something wrong?" Lisa pulled him out further into the hallway.

"They are pretty mean people...I mean her dad seemed very nice but her mom. I don't think that woman had one nice thing to say about her, her own daughter. She reminded me of dad but worse."

"Well I am adopted...that might be it, after all they don't have to love me just make sure I survive." Lisa jumped at Dyna's voice behind her and Leo looked over at her. She looked beautiful in the dress, it was floor length with no sleeves and it was a dark blue which made her skin and eyes more vibrant. She had her hair down and it flowed over her shoulders, some of it hiding her face which held a distraught expression.

"Its not anything that I am not use to by now."

"Adopted or not, they are still your parents. It doesn't give them any excuse not to make you feel loved. Trust me...they can have all kinds of excuses but it doesn't make it right...I'll meet you two downstairs." Leo walked down the hall and the girls stared after him.

"This night is going to be long..." Dyna moved back into the room to get shoes on and sat on the bed while she waited for Lisa to get ready before heading down to the living room together. Dyna's step faltered when she walked in, she had never seen Leo dressed up before. He normally wore his normal clothes but this, this was a whole new level. He cleaned up very nicely and she couldn't help but look him over a couple times before dragging her eyes away. Lisa gave her a wicked smile as she pulled her towards the door.

"Maybe it won't be such a long night after all...miss I am going to be alone forever...I know that look very well. You may not know what attraction looks like but I sure do and you wear it very well."

"Shush." Dyna smacked her as Leo followed them out, and she remained ahead, leading the way so he wouldn't be able to see how red her face was. She knew he was attractive but she didn't know what was attractive to her, what she wanted in someone and she had never thought about him like that. She had never thought about anyone that way but now she couldn't stop and Lisa couldn't stop grinning at her which was not helping in the least.

"Would you knock it off." Dyna mumbled under her breath. "You couldn't be any more obvious...I don't like him that way...I've just never seen him dressed up. I was taken by surprised."

"Uh'huh, keep telling yourself that sweetie. I know that feeling very well. Give it time and you will know exactly what I mean." Lisa knocked her shoulder into Dyna's playfully before moving forward to go up the stairs and ring the doorbell.

"Nice place." Leo followed her up the steps to catch up with Lisa.

"Don't steal anything...its impossible. Trust me, this is not a place you want to try and rob."

"I had no such plans. I'm here to back you up and give your parents a wonderful impression. I don't plan on stealing anything that is theirs." He smiled at her as the door opened and her dad gave them all a warm smile.

"We are so excited that you could all come tonight...your mother is in the dining room. Dinner is almost ready, come in and relax." Dyna gave a small smile before leading everyone into the living room.

"You could have mentioned you were rich..and you ran away with me. I'm a downgrade." Leo leaned before her and whispered in her ear before taking a seat. She remained standing, leaning on the back of the couch.

"You aren't." She leaned over and whispered to where he could hear her before straightening back up. Her mother walked into the room and Dyna turned to meet her as the woman gave a small grimace as she looked over her present company. She didn't even bother a fake smile and Dyna's heart felt heavy. She hadn't expected her mother to like them but she had expected the good hostess act and from the way it was already going she doubted she was even going to get that.

"Hello Mother."

"I see you were able to make it as were your..friends. Well dinner is about to be served if you would like to take a seat at the table, after all the living room is only for entertaining guests." In other words she didn't consider them anything close to that. Dyna bit her lip as she moved into the kitchen, she didn't even dare look back to see if the Snart siblings were following her. She was going to do everything possible so that the evening go as smoothly and quickly as it could. Her mother sat at the head of the table and her father beside her, she sat opposite of her father and Leo and Lisa sat on her other side. Leo touching her shoulder softly as he sat down. She didn't even realize how tense she was until she felt his hand. The food was already on the plates but she sure as hell wasn't hungry, that sure didn't stop Lisa from digging in. Free food and all.

"So I heard my daughter has been staying with you recently...I hope she isn't trouble considering everything." The questioned was aimed at Leo, who didn't miss a beat and answered smoothly.

"Everything? And what would everything be?"

"Well she's crashing at your place, no job, no money and no use. She's a squatter while she decides what she wants to do with her life."

"She's not squatting and she is definitely not useless. She's helping me with my line of work while she makes her own decision about her own life. There is nothing wrong with that. She is wonderful to have around, she makes my sister smiles and gives her someone to talk to and she is incredibly smart. Everyone needs time now and then to take a break."

"Is is a permanent break Dyna? Because you don't seem in a hurry to get back to your job...which is waiting for you. But don't thank me." Dyna suddenly felt the urge more than ever to throw something in that woman's face. She never asked for her to go get her job back, she wasn't even sure herself she could work in a normal job now.

"I'm not going back...I haven't decided if this is what I want to do or not." She took a sip of her water, and held her breath.

"Well you aren't going to get anything else. This is the only thing you have a degree for and the only thing you are good at."

"I'll get another degree, once I figure out what I want to do I can go back to school. Or since my degree is in advanced medicine and biology, there are a million areas of that field that I could go into. I don't have to work at that hospital in this area or even in this city. Its completely up to me and I could work in an entire different part of medicine. I don't have to be a doctor. I will figure it out on my own time." Dyna felt the zap of electricity play across her fingers and she held her hands tightly clenched in her lap. "I am not incompetent."

"Well I would be surprised by that. Without me adopting you, you would never have learned English. You would still be in an orphanage in Russia, asking for your mother and father who clearly knew you would be a waste of their time. You would never have gone to the best schools that my money paid for and never would have gotten a job so easily. You don't know how to hold yourself, you are a fumbling mess of a woman. The best thing for you was to have a job to back you or to be married. The first was much more easy than the second. You are a devil among men. You think brains are impressive and you never show off what you have. Men do not care about what you know or what you are interested in, they only care about one thing and you don't have it. Just look at you, all dressed up. You tried for modesty. You aren't a nun or a child, you are a grown woman. The dress is too long and not tight enough, its no wonder you are single and you probably always will be." Dyna opened her mouth and shut it, she had nothing to say. All the speeches she had practiced in her head before tonight were thrown out the window. Like always, she would bow like a wilting flower.

"That's not true. That isn't all a good man is looking for. Someone who actually cared about her wouldn't care about how she looks and for your concern she looks absolutely drop dead gorgeous. She doesn't need to be a slut to be beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful, whether she is in a dress or just jeans. There is nothing wrong with the way she acts or talks, she is who she is and she is a beautiful woman who is incredibly smart. Something you can't teach, that is something she just is. Smart and talented. Another thing being Russian would not make her anything less than she is, I would love to hear her speak in her actual tongue not the one you forced down her throat in an attempt to look better than you are. You don't adopt a child to better yourself, you do it because you want a child. We'll be taking her stuff back with us...I think we are done here." He got to his feet as he talked to he could stand behind Dyna and placed his hands on the chair. Dyna held her breath before forcing herself to breathe, she had never heard anyone in her life defend her. She saw the anger that crossed her mother's face and everything in her froze.

"Who do you think you are?! Coming here to my home and telling me how to treat MY daughter!"

"Your daughter who is an adult and deserves to be treated like one. She's not a possession, you don't get to control her life. Its her choice...Dyna...what is is you want?" He looked down at her and she slowly got her feet, and his hand went from her shoulder and down to the middle of her back. It lingers there before he dropped it to his side.

"I just came here to get my things, just some clothes and books."

"Have Lisa help you and we'll go home." Leo said softly and Dyna nodded, taking Lisa's hand as she walked over to her and lead her to her old room. She let out a slow breath as she looked around the room. She never knew he was capable of that. He dominated the room, no one had ever talked to her parents like that before and if they had she had never been around to see it. She moved around the room, grabbing stuff and throwing it into one of the boxes she kept stashed away in her closet. She turned to see Lisa watching her.

"They almost make my dad look like a saint. Almost. I'm surprised you are the sweetest person considering who raised you. I am so sorry." Lisa pulled her into a tight hug, and Dyna laughed softly hugging her back even tighter.

"Well I don't think I will ever have to worry about them again, your brother gave them a run for their money. He said some pretty nice things, I didn't know he had that in him."

"If he said it, then he means it. He really thinks that of you...told you someone would take a liking to you." Lisa winked and Dyna rolled her eyes. "Let's go. Before we get into a conversation I'm not ready to have." She picked up the box and walked back into the living area. She nearly walked into Leo who took the box from her.

"You don't have t-"

"Neither do you. Don't worry about it, I've got it. Just lead the way back home."

"Okay." She didn't look back as she walked out of the house and back to her new home. Once they got there, everything fit back into place. Leonard disappeared for a little bit and Lisa helped Dyna set her stuff up and they talked in her room before Lisa went to bed. She threw her shoes in the back of her closet and got dressed in some more comfortable clothes before heading into the living room. She was going to sit down on the couch a read for a little but she noticed Leo and moved to sit nearby.

"I wanted to thank you for earlier. I've never heard anyone stick up for me or say anything nice about me...at all before. Thank you..."

"I meant it. Every word. You are a part of this family now, no one should speak to you that way. Family should mean more that that, I don't like people with attitudes like that."

"Your father? Was he like that?"

"Not like that but he was abusive more physically than verbally...you should believe what your family said about you. They were wrong. You are more than what someone else thinks about you." He looked down at the ground and she moved to sit closer to him. She didn't know what to say about any of it.

"You are a lot more complex than you let on. I would never have thought any of this about you a couple of weeks ago. You are very sweet." He chuckled and looked over at her, giving her a small smile.

"Don't tell anyone." She smiled back and knocked his shoulder with her own and he repeated the action, his arm moving to rest of the couch behind her. She relaxed and smiled at him, her legs curling under her as she placed her book in her lap and opened it. She could feel him reading along with her and she relaxed completely. This was the most comfortable she had felt in a long time, it was a feeling she didn't want to ever loose. She didn't remember falling asleep, but when she woke up she had her head resting against his shoulder and his own had fallen around her. She smiled before letting her eyes fall closed again, and the next time she woke she was in bed, her book on the side table and a blanket laid over her.

This chapter took me a lot longer than I had thought it would. I also want to say thank you for all the readers who are following this. When I started, I didn't think anybody would read it and it amazes me how many like it so far and it encourages me to keep writing. I also would like some chapter ideas. I have my main plots but working on getting them together and writing about the small things, I don't have any ideas for that so far. I would love any and all ideas from you guys and a million thank yous for follows and favs and reviews.