AN: I will be uploading two more chapters today! That's right! Two more! Have a great day everyone. Please read and review. Constructive Criticism is welcomed with open arms!

Chapter Nine: "Mommy, Daddy"

Titans Tower

08:00 CDT, December 5,

"Is this crash or what?" Bart exclaimed, leaping over the furniture as he ran through the rooms.

"Don't break it this time, Bart." Robin laughed.

"Hey," Stephanie said, twirling a finger on Robin's chest. "What say we go tour the bedrooms?"

Robin raised an eyebrow.

"Go Robin!" Bart said.

Robin glared at the speedster while Stephanie smirked and dragged her boyfriend away by the shirt collar.

Watchtower

9:00 CST, December 5,

"Recognized: Huntress, 24."

Batman didn't even look up from his computer.

"Dick." Artemis's call rang clear through the station causing everyone to look up.

"We need to talk."

"I don't like the sound of that tone." Green Arrow said.

"Yeah, better get over there." Black Canary added.

Batman glared at them and approached Artemis.

"Was that really necessary?" he growled.

"It was the only way." Artemis said. "Now listen up, and listen good."

Minnesota

8:57 CDT, December 5,

Suzanne whistled as she walked to the car. She slung the bags in the backseat and closed the door.

"So Huntress lets you use her car?" a voice asked.

"Mom!" Suzanne whispered, spinning around in horror.

"I'm surprised you recognized me after having me thrown in that mental institution!" her mother exclaimed, walking up to her.

Although Suzanne was only sixteen, she was still taller than her mother. She also had much better looks. Bonnie King was a full three inches shorter than her daughter with short, messy blonde hair she didn't do a very good job of dying. Her blue eyes darted back and forth and she was dressed in white speckled with red. Suzanne was terrified.

"Speaking of which-" Suzanne began.

"They let me out on 'normal' behavior." Bonnie interrupted. "But we need to talk."

"What?" Suzanne asked, opening her arms wide as if she were asking for a hug she would never receive. "I'm a superhero. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I wanted you to live up to the name Arrowette." her mother replied, jabbing her pointy fingers into Suzanne's chest. "You're not doing that."

"Artemis says I'm good. And she was Green Arrow's protege for four years!"

"Good, not best." Bonnie said.

Suzanne hung her head.

"And the outfit. Dear God it looks awful."

"But-"

"No buts! It looks nothing like the original!" Bonnie snorted. "Pants. Red and purple pants at that."

"Everyone likes my costume!" Suzanne interrupted.

"Likes. Likes because it shows off your figure!" Bonnie exclaimed.

"Yeah, and a skirt and gym top aren't!"

"Are you sassing me young lady?"

"Sorry." Suzanne whispered, hanging her head again.

"We need to go over some more things as well." Bonnie started. She began to Drabble on, Suzanne barely paying attention. She looked up and saw Bart walking along with Wally licking ice-cream.

Suzanne sped behind her mother so her back was turned to the two speedsters. "Please not right now." Suzanne begged. "If Huntress ever finds out my mother is still alive, she'll kick me out!"

"You told her I was dead?"

"You told me to!"

Bonnie looked as if she were going to scalp her own daughter, but she took a few deep breaths and walked around for a minute. Suzanne glanced at the speedsters. They were almost out of the parking lot.

"Come on, come on!" Suzanne muttered. Wally looked up at the last second and pointed at Suzanne. He and Bart started walking her way.

"Oh no," she muttered.

Bonnie walked back up to Suzanne and was about to say something when Bart walked up.

"Hey, Cissie!" he exclaimed. "Fancy meeting you here!"

"It's my town, Bart." Suzanne replied somewhat angrily.

"Sorry?" Bart asked. Wally walked up next to him and glanced at Bonnie. An emotion flashed across his face, but was gone before Suzanne could figure out what it was.

"Who's that?" he asked.

"Oh-um... She is...new in town! Yeah! She wanted to know the best place to...buy...food!" Suzanne said, praying her mother would play along.

"Yes, thank you dear girl." Bonnie said, clasping her daughter's hand. "You were a lot of help!"

"No problem?" Suzanne asked as her mother walked off.

Wally gave her a look that said "We need to talk" while Bart tried to shy away.

"Sorry, Bart." Suzanne sighed. "I'm-having a bad day."

"Not as bad as Batman." Bart said.

Suzanne raised an eyebrow.

"Artemis reamed his butt on the Watchtower today. Told him he was acting too much like Bruce and to cool off. Then he had to leave to stop not-so-Amazo."

"What about Robin, Tigress, and Batgirl?"

Bart snickered. "Tigress is outta town and Timmy got lucky."

Suzanne and Wally looked at each other.

"Wow." Suzanne said. "That really didn't need to be told."

"Batman!"

"I'm busy Ollie," Batman said, turning from Artemis. "Can't you-"

"That Amazo guy! He's in Gotham!"

"I've got to go." Batman said.

"We're not finished." Artemis said, grabbing his arm.

"We are finished." Batman said. He glared at the Justice League as a group. "I'm going where I'm appreciated."

Dakota City

23:47 CDT, December 5,

"Static!" the guy called.

"Sorry! I'm late for supper!" the superhero replied, running down an alley. He turned around to run flat into a wall.

"Oh man! I should've recognized this alley!" Static said. "I'm stupid!"

"And outta juice."

"What do you want, F-Stop?"

"It's Hotstreak." the man replied, indicating his flaming palm and hair.

"Why? Your breath so bad it makes-"

The hero was interrupted by a man grabbing him from behind.

"Hold him steady." Hotstreak said. "I'm gonna finish him. Slowly and as painfully as possible."

"Unh! Ugh! Oof!" Static coughed, then began to spit blood as Hotstreak punched him as hard as possible. Over and over.

Static felt bones crack.

"And now for the unmasking." Hotstreak said, reaching for the hero's mask.

"Hey!" a new voice called. Hotstreak and his gang buddy looked up. Ravager was crouching on the building, a wicked smirk on her face. "Why don't you and pretty boy get outta here before you get hurt."

"If you think he's pretty-" Hotstreak said, pointing at his gang member. "You are blind."

"I was talking to him." Ravager smirked.

"I wield fire, girly." Hotstreak said. "Run along."

"I wield swords." Ravager replied, leaping from the building and stabbing one right at Hotstreak. He felt the icy blade slice his skin as Ravager kicked the other man in the face.

"Ten seconds." Ravager said, pulling out her other sword. "Ten, nine, one."

"Ahhhhh!" Hotstreak yelled, running away, tripping over his own baggy pants. His "buddy" followed.

"Virgil." Rose said, grabbing the boy's arm gently and lifting it over her shoulders. "You okay?"

Virgil grinned a bloody mouth with a few teeth missing. "Just fine." he said.

Rose felt his chest and he winced. His arms, legs, face she checked as well. "Looks to me like a broken jaw, three teeth gone, four broken ribs, fractured wrist and a sprained ankle."

"Don't forget the humiliation that's terminal." Virgil replied.

"I won't tell anyone." Ravager said. "You've got enough on your plate."

"Rose Wilson? Being nice? I'm dead and in heaven!" Virgil exclaimed.

"Come on, prankster." Rose said. "Let's get you home."

"Not in uniform." Virgil muttered, slipping into unconsciousness. "Only Dad knows..."

"What?" Rose exclaimed. "How'm I supposed to change you into civvies?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Virgil grinned. "Go to the address in my pocket."

"Which pocket?"

"Back." Virgil replied, and Rose had to set him on the ground.

"Yeah, your back pocket." Rose muttered. She flipped him over and slid her fingers in. She pulled out a piece of paper and his wallet. Replacing the latter, she unfolded the piece of paper and read it.

"IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: Go to following address and press third button from doorway." Below was an address.

"Robin, zeta me and Static to these coordinates." Rose said.

"Roger."

A moment later, the two were standing outside of an abandoned gas station.

"This is your hideout?" she asked the unconscious boy. "Fits."

"Please don't tell Artemis!" Suzanne pleaded.

"Your mother was there! She's supposed to be in a psychological institution!" Wally exclaimed.

"You knew?" Suzanne demanded.

"Of course we did!" Wally said. "We ran a background check the day you showed up!"

Suzanne glared at him.

"What did she want anyway?" Wally asked.

"I'll be in my room." Suzanne said, walking toward the stairway.

"Hey! I asked you a question!"

"I said I'll be in my room! Now leave me alone!" Suzanne slammed her door and locked it. She fell on the bed and started crying, burying her face in the pillow.

"Recognized: Huntress, 24."

Artemis walked out of the basement slipping off her black gloves. "Where's Suzanne?"

"In her room." Wally said. Artemis started for the stairs, but her husband put a hand on her shoulder. "She's had a rough day. Just let her be." Artemis nodded and stepped away from the stairway.

"How is he?" Rose asked.

"Backpack is analyzing him." the blonde haired Caucasian replied.

"So you're Virgil's homie?" Rose asked, standing up and looking around.

"Hey! We speak the same language!" the boy replied. "Do you think maybe-"

"No." Rose replied, picking up a picture of Virgil and the boy.

"You're Richard?" she asked.

"Richie." he replied.

Rose raised an eyebrow.

The computer beeped and Richie ran over.

"You probably better take him home."

A sharp rapping came at the door.

"I'll get it daddy!" Sharon yelled.

"No! I've got it!" Robert Hawkins called from the kitchen. The last place he needed to be, given the size of his belt. He opened the door and Rose dragged Virgil in.

"Virgil!" the father exclaimed, helping Rose lay his son down on the couch. "Was he in costume?" he whispered to Rose.

"Yeah." she replied.

"Virgil Hawkins!" Sharon yelled from the kitchen. "I'm going to take your head and nail it to a wall if you don't take out the trash!"

"Now if only I could get away with saying that." Rose muttered.

"Sharon! Call an ambulance! Now!" Robert yelled.

"What- Oh my God! Virgil!" the sister yelled.

"Go call an ambulance!"

The sister ran off and Robert turned to Rose.

"You're a Titan?"

"Yes, sir."

"What's the cover story for all this?"

"He was mugged." Rose said. "Static stopped the muggers and I..." the female dug around before emerging with Virgil's wallet. "Found this."

"Smooth." Robert replied.

"So who are you supposed to be?" Sharon exclaimed, walking back in. "His girlfriend or something?"

Rose's eye widened in laughter and she snickered, covering her mouth with her palm.

"What?" Sharon demanded. "What did I say?"

"Me-" Rose said. "His-girlfriend?" she burst out laughing.

"What?" Sharon demanded.

"I'm sorry. That was too funny." Rose said, pretending to wipe a tear out of her eye. She cocked her ear and the rest of the Hawkins heard it. Police sirens.

"I better go." Rose said, standing up, suddenly serious. "Got a back door?"

"That way." Robert said, pointing to the stairway. Rose nodded and was gone.

Sharon raised an eyebrow, but her father shushed her.