I'm trying to update maybe once a week with this story, but I'm trying. I hope you won't hate me with this chapter, because proofreading this twice made me hate myself twice. Don't worry, no one dies in this story/chapter. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Never have I ever owned Young Justice! Good day to you sir! XD

The Daughter's Diary

Chapter 2: Ever Before

Zatanna was still freaking out. Nightwing wanted to comfort her, but he let Artemis, M'gann, and Raquel do it. He was too busy trying to find his daughter with the rest of the batfamily.

Batman's monotonous voice started to talk, "Someone must've used those fire bombings as a distraction to get Mary Ella." He narrows his eyes again, "This person has to be a master mind to get through the hard security installed inside and out of the house."

Damian pounded his fist, "Master mind or not I'm still going to kill the ones that took away Mary E."

Nightwing scrumbles his hair more as he tries to look and see if he can spot anything unusual in his video cameras before it blurs up into nothingness. So far, he sees no clues or hints to anything.

They went through hours of insomnia to find their little girl, but even a family of a great detective couldn't find a single trace about her. The footprints and handprints weren't seen in any of the surface areas that they assume would be touched upon.

Dick and Zatanna were back in their house, because everyone else had to either go to their civilian life or help their city. Tear stains were visible on Zatanna's cheeks while bags were surrounding Dick's eyes. He moves slowly towards her as he tries to touch her jowl. He moves slowly from her cheeks to her shoulders and finally to her hips. He hugs her tighter than ever before.

If this moment isn't the darkest as it can be, then what is?

...

4 Years Later

Richard Grayson walks through the streets of Gotham. He's looking down at his touch screen phone while he imbibes on his cappuccino. Lots of people noticed him and said some of their "hello" or "hi." He greeted them back, as usual. He notices another old man greeting him, but he got a little distracted, until he turned around and waved back.

The ebony haired guy looked back at his direction, but he soon bumped into someone unexpected. The torrid cappuccino spills all over her blouse as blue eyes met one another. He soon puts his phone back in his pocket, "Zatanna."

She looks down to her gray shirt and tries her best to wipe off some of the foam, "Uh yeah."

He looks down to her shirt, "Oh, sorry about that."

"No, it's-"

"I didn't see-"

"I know and it's no harm done, rea-"

"I can make it up to you."

She's already taking a few glances while she's still drying her shirt at least a little bit, "You don't have to."

"No, it's okay. There's a store right there. I think it's one of your favorites?"

"Uh yeah, I think."

He awkwardly touches her back and walk next to her. Zatanna picks out a good shirt for her, which was easy because this was her favorite store in Gotham and she pretty much looks good in anything she wears at all.

She acknowledges him in the counter, "You know, I can just pay it myself."

"Yeah, but I at least owe you a shirt."

She didn't say anything else after that. She's already wearing the shirt, so they just scanned the tag, paid for it, and left the store with the tag off already. She looks back at Dick and sees that his appearance actually hasn't changed that much, "Well, since you owed me a shirt. I think it's just fair that I owe you coffee."

He smiles back at her, "I'd like that."

They walk across the street to an awesome coffee place that had just opened up. The former Robin coaxed the magician into getting her cup of coffee, too. They both sit down on a table with a red and white striped umbrella outside of the coffee place.

"So, uh, Zee. How've you been doing?"

She holds her cup loosely, "Well, my magic shows have been really good ever since I started touring."

"How long are you staying in Gotham this time?"

"Umm I think it might be a week or a week and half. We're all still deciding on it."

"Okay, maybe I'll see your show one day."

She smiles, "Thanks, but I warn you. There can be a lot of rabbits on stage."

He smiles back at her, "Is one of the rabbits Mr. Wabbit?"

Zatanna started to snort and then gives out a laugh, "Yeah."

He laughs along with her, while he sips some of his coffee. They started to talk about normal things and anything mirthful. Minutes turned into hours and soon the rain started pouring from above them.

Zatanna couldn't find her car through the bustling of the wet street, but Dick suggested on getting a ride from him. She instantly agreed to it, considering how wet she already is.

She's pointing the directions to her apartment, that she rented for a while. She's smiling because he's been a big gentleman lately. Dick got out of the car and held the umbrella to her and he made sure that she wouldn't get wet than she already is. Their feet squished through puddles of rain on the few stairs going up to the apartment.

They finally made it to her front door. He looked at her while she scans her bag for her keys, "Zee?"

Her face was sort of glowing through the rain, "Yes?"

"I don't know if you don't want to, but maybe you could drop by my house for a dinner? Maybe tomorrow?"

Zatanna got the lock open to the door, "Hm, I can try."

That answer puts a smile on his drenched face, "That's great."

Nowadays, their lips weren't as close as they could be, but right then and there, they were as close as ever before. They both mumbled something about saying goodbye, but the more they talked, the more their lips approached each other with ease. She puts her forehead down, but Richard touches her chin softly and brings their lips only centimeters apart. She swallows hard.

His thoughts collapsed into a million pieces. And then, she did it. She pressed her lips upon his. Just like how they use to do it. How they've always done it. They could only wish that this moment would freeze for as long as they want.

Their lips parted with hatred. They looked back at both of their crystal blue orbs and gave each other a smile, until she went back to her apartment.

...

Dick has been smiling ear to ear. He was waiting for his chicken to get ready. He made the dining room table look really good for her. He would do anything to get her back. Even though they got a bad divorce a year and a half ago because of Mary Ella, he still and always will love her.

The timer dinged and the chicken was finally done. He sets the table neatly like a fancy restaurant. He checks his watch again because she should be here soon. He works hastily while he fixes himself up in the mirror. He sits down on the chair and checks his phone.

Time passed by and she still hadn't come. He waited a little longer because he guessed that she might be late or something must have distracted her. He waits longer, hoping that she might come. Hope is all he has.

Dick leers to his side and sees the bottle of wine. He snags it into his hands and started to drink it. His mind was already blowing into a million fragments. He starts to get up from his seat while he still grips the bottle of wine in his hand.

The living room phone started beeping and lighting up. Dick gets a sip from his wine and then presses the button. He stops dead on when he heard her voice.

Muffled crying was heard through the voicemail, "I-I can't do this. I-I can't do this. I'm sorry for just ditching you like that, but I r-really can't do this." He heard her breath heavily, "I just miss her so much. And-and being with you just...just made me remember. " He went closer to the phone, "Just the way that we talked about Wabbit, made me remember when Mar named the animal and all the pressure finding her just..." Crying was heard again, but much more painful than the last, "She...she was suppose to be ours...I-I miss her. Being with you...made me remember."

The red light stopped and the noise made a beep. The voicemail had ended. The ebony haired man was angry. He smashed the bottle of wine to the mirror on the wall that was next to him. He looks straight at his broken reflection and saw himself as a beast.

His fist were balled up like he was ready to destroy something else, but he didn't. He did the other thing that no one ever thought he would do. Dick Grayson crumpled himself down to the floor and pushed his knees to his chest while tears went out his baby blue eyes. To him, missing a person was terrifying, but missing a family was a nightmare.

...

2 Years Later

"Again."

Sweat was beading down a ten year old girl's forehead. She raised her fingertips again, "Etativil eht kcor!"

The boulder only levitated in the air for a few seconds until the sound of the gigantic structure crashed to the metallic floor with a loud thud.

"You can rest now, Maris."

Maris was breathing really hard. She headed back to her lonely quarters. As far as she knows, she's the only one living there. Well, Maris is actually smart enough to figure out that the place she's always called "home" is also a work facility. The outside world is faint to her. Cadmus has always kept her hidden from the world and seeing who she really is. Old flashbacks would come back to her about going outside and having real fun, but it was too long ago. The little room was filled with essentials that she only needs.

For some reason there was a feeling in her gut that they were getting her ready for a certain task ahead. She's always been here ever since she was a toddler. Fading memories allure her, but they were always faint. Maybe the electric chairs she's been put on a lot might've fried her memories on purpose. Cadmus would always try to find a way to test her special abilities and then restore her health back to normal.

She sets her head on her bed. The books that she's read about were so abnormal to how she would spend her day. Her brain started to deem about her life in Cadmus. The sirens started to go crazy in the hallways. Someone's trespassing into Cadmus territory.

...Please say you don't have torches. Well, I hope you are charmed by this hypnotic story (yeah, I've been trying to do big vocabs lately) and I hope to hear that you are linked on. Can you guess who Maris is? ;)

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