Jason couldn't sleep that night. The whole situation with Ruby had him worried and confused. She had promised she would always be there, so where was she now?

Around three in the morning he took a walk down on the beach at the base of the cliff behind Wayne Manor.
His shell glowed blue for a moment and Neptune appeared behind him.

"You're worried about her."

Jason jumped. "Don't do that!" he snapped.

Neptune held out several sheets of paper covered in writing. "She wanted me to give you these. She wrote one to each of you and the one on top is for all of you to read together."

Jason took the papers and looked down at Ruby's meticulously neat handwriting. "Thanks."

Neptune put a hand on his shoulder to get Jason to look him in the eye. "My advice? If you can't sleep, go swimming. It'll make you feel better. Trust me on this. And pass that bit of advice along to your older brother. It will help him too."

"Thanks again. I had better get back inside."

Neptune watched him go and whispered, "Goodnight, Jason. Sleep without dreams. I wish I could prevent what will soon come to pass, but the fates have decreed it and there is nothing I can do. Sleep well, my son. Sleep well while you can."

He melted away, leaving no trace of his existence behind.

Jason dashed inside and woke everyone up. Once they were all gathered in the living room, even Bruce, he passed out the letters. After everyone had theirs he read the one addressed to all of them out loud.

My family,

To you it must appear that I have changed sides. You must feel betrayed and upset and I can never apologize enough for hurting you like this. In truth, I had not planned anything like this. It was a spur of the moment decision made to save Damien. I could not let my little brother be hurt by those he still calls family. No, you are not allowed to blame him. The choice was my own. I wish there was something I could say to make it all better, but the facts are that the next time we see each other we will not be on the same side.

There is a purpose to this letter beyond apologizing, however, and that is to explain. When you next see me I will neither speak nor act the way in which you are accustomed. There is a simple, if not particularly logical, explanation for this. The person in my head is no longer, well, me. Her name is Onyx, and she is, essentially, my dark side. The person I become when I let my power take control. When it became known that my father is Neptune, doubtless you wondered why I never used the power I surely had. This is why. The sea has two sides, gentle and ruthless, and unfortunately so do I. Its not a part of myself that I like, but in this case it may be what keeps me alive.

Regardless, when we meet again do not hold back. Onyx will not hesitate to kill. Someday I may come back to you, but for now stay on your guard.

Loving always,

Ruby

Jason lowered the letter and looked at the expressions on the faces of his family. Dick and Tim were shocked, and Tim looked close to tears. Damien was resolute. And Bruce's face was, as usual, expressionless.

Jason set the letter down and left the room. He went outside and climbed a tree. It was what he did when it felt like things were crashing down. Like when Ruby almost died. "& $#&%, Ruby. Why'd you have to leave?" He looked down at the now crumpled note in his hand. The one meant just for him. Almost reverently he smoothed it out against his leg, opened it up, and began to read.

Jason,

Oh how you must hate me right now. And I'm okay with that. Not just because I deserve it, but because I will accept the thought of you hating me over the thought of you hurting because I'm gone any day of the week. Of the year, really.

For now, though, I need you to put feelings aside and listen to me. I have something really important to tell you. Remember how I never told you what my dad gave me for my birthday? Well I'm going to tell you now.

He gave me knowledge, Jason. Knowledge of the future. Your future. I saw you attempt to kill Batman as revenge for his refusal to kill the Joker, even though the Joker had killed you. You were alive in the future I saw, so my best guess is that someone brought you back.

I vowed to never let what I saw come to pass. I care about you. To see you in so much pain hurt me.

Then, three nights ago, father showed me a future where Damien was killed by his mother. Her design, if not her hand. I care about him, just as I care about you. (To be honest, though, I love you just a little bit more. Don't tell.) Because Damien is my family too, I couldn't let what I saw happen. So I intervened.

Do you understand now why I left?

I wish there had been a better solution. Something, anything, else that I could have done. But there wasn't.
The contents of this note are for your eyes alone. If you want someone else to know what I said, then please, just tell them. But I'm begging you to keep this note to yourself. I would never have allowed myself to speak this freely if there was a possibility that someone other than you might read this.

I know this has been hard for you, Jason. I'm sorry. (I really can't say that enough.) Chin up, Jay-Bird. You'll make it out of this. I'll make sure of it if it's the last thing I do.

Your sister forever and always,

Ruby

Jason hastily dashed away the tears and crumpled the note, sticking it in his pocket. "No one will see, Ruby. I promise."

Ruby's notes to Bruce and Alfred were generic apologies. Tim's note assured him that no matter how crazy she got she would always love him as if he were her own child. Dick's note contained a short and to the point confession that she actually did like him as far more than just a friend or family member, no matter how she had denied it. She told him that she wouldn't want to share her mark with anyone else.

It was Damien's note that stuck out. It read:

Dami,

I know how much you hate soppy stuff, so I'm not even going to try.

I hate to admit it, mini-bat, but I'm scared right now. You know why. You know how the League works. So far, though, I seem to be keeping Talia and Ra's happy. I think I impressed Talia in training today, but I'm sure you could do better.

Dang it, Damien. How did you deal with all this? The only way I can manage, the only way I can be who they want me to be, is to let my power, and by extension my dark side, take over. When we next meet it will be on the field of battle, and my name will be Onyx.

Bruce would have my head for this, but I want you to follow your training. Not the training you got from us, the training you got from the League. Shoot to kill, Dami, shoot to kill. For all your sakes.

Regretfully,

Onyx

Damien bowed his head over the piece of paper, understanding that the young woman he respected, even viewed as a sister, was gone.