A/N: 2022.12.18

And now... the aftermath.

SUMMARY: After meeting with her mother, Michelle grieves over the catastrophic visit, but soon realizes she's not alone, in the best way. Post-"So Far Away".

Never Again – Part 2

After Michelle got back to the airport, she bought a plane ticket back to Gotham. After buying the ticket, Michelle sat in the terminal to wait for her plane and cried. She cried a lot. But not more than when she lost Bruce or Waller. This hurt but it was a different pain. One she couldn't explain and one she wasn't ready for.

"Tissue?" Basem asked.

Michelle gasped and looked to see Basem smiling at her, holding an open packet of tissues.

"B?" Michelle asked. "When did you…"

"I've been following you since Gotham," Basem answered.

"And I've been following you since you landed here," Terry added.

Michelle shot her eyes over to see Terry, standing on the other of her and smiling.

"Terry?!" Michelle breathed out.

"What's up, Shell?"

"What are you doing here?"

"B called me," Terry said as he and Basem sat down on either side of Michelle.

"Aww, Terry," Michelle said, guilt running through her. "I didn't want you to worry about me when you got everything else going on."

"I wanted to be here, Shell. I'm not coming back to Gotham yet. But… I wanted to check on you."

"Thanks." Michelle looked at Basem, "Ya know, I thought I saw you when I landed, B. But… I thought I was going through it."

"Well, you did. And you are." Basem presented the packet again. "Tissue?"

"Thanks," Michelle took a tissue and blew her nose. She sniffed, folding the tissue. "Well, this is attractive."

"I won't tell Hayate."

"I might," Terry joked.

Michelle let out a bitter chuckle then exhaled. "How much did you hear?"

"Most everything," Basem answered. "We were close enough and I had my microphones on me. We wanted to listen in case we heard any trigger words."

"Nothing you heard was a trigger word?"

"Oh, we heard damn near all of them!"

"But you kept your cool," Terry pointed out. "I'm extremely proud of you, Shell."

"Me, too," Basem agreed. "Everyone will be." He smiled. "Bruce and Waller would be, too."

Michelle felt the tears start again. "Th… thanks…"

Terry and Basem looked at each other then back at Michelle.

"Whenever you wanna talk about it…" Basem said, "we're ready."

Michelle stared at him then at Terry, who nodded. Michelle looked at the floor. "I don't know what I expected. I don't know… what I thought she'd say. I guess… I hoped… at the very least… she'd miss me." She sniffed. "I just…" She looked at them both, "Don't… take this the wrong way. But… I see you guys with your parents and I… get… jealous."

"Sorry," Basem said.

"Do not… ever apologize for having badass parents! I just meant… I wish I could've had that. No matter how angry or annoying your parents get… they're still there." Michelle sighed. "Even Bruce. He was a dad. Even to me…" She looked at Terry. "If… that's okay."

"More than okay," Terry smiled.

"Thanks. That's what made me do this. The father he was to… all of us. He had no reason to trust me. To care about me."

"He loved you, Shell," Terry reassured. "Even if he couldn't say it."

Michelle felt the urge to cry come back. She fought it but nodded, "I know. It's why… I wanted to give her a chance. Bruce… had every reason to not trust me. But he did. Margaret didn't have one reason to throw me out of her life. And she did." She took a deep breath. "I just wanted my mom to love me. And… she didn't."

"Her fault. Not yours. Never yours."

Michelle kept her head bowed. "I'm trying to believe that. It's just… so hard."

"I know," Terry admitted.

"I didn't have any siblings," Basem reminded. "That's one reason why I'm glad Stevie and Auggie have each other." He looked at Michelle. "Despite what you just went through, I know you think you're alone. But… after I moved to Gotham, I gained a brother in Terry. I always had family in Paris but… I didn't realize how big my family was until Terry and Hayate. And you have siblings now, too. Always, Shell."

Michelle looked at Basem, tears falling again. "You guys really love me like a sister, don't you?"

"We'll tell you more often if you need to hear it," Terry assured.

"I… might."

"You got it."

Michelle paused. "My uncle… my aunt. A woman who recruited me from prison. A guy who had the biggest secrets in the world. Two guys who don't wanna bang me, and some of the most beautiful women I've ever met. Not to mention a man who actually waited for me and never pressured me for sex. All these people… all loved me… more than my own mother!"

"Aw, Shell…" Terry said, sympathetically.

Michelle started crying again, "She never wanted me! Why? Why didn't she want me?!"

Basem put his arm around Michelle's shoulders, and she cried against him. Terry rubbed Michelle's shoulder.

"It just hurts…"

"I know," Basem whispered. "Let it. It's all good, Shell. We got you."

An hour and many tears later, Terry's plane was about to board, and Basem and Michelle's plane was due to arrive in another twenty minutes. The trio stood as Terry was about to head for his terminal.

"I'm really sorry you lost a day because of me, Terry," Michelle apologized. "I'll make it up to you and Max. I promise."

"This is family, Shell," Terry reminded. "Max understands. 'Sides, she wouldn't let me have any peace if I didn't come see about you. Plus, she gets to shop and not worry about me."

"With two kids in tow?"

"Shop online," Terry shrugged. "Until I get back. Then shopping in person."

"Still with two kids," Michelle reminded.

"What can I say? That woman is magical."

Michelle smiled, "Yeah, she is." She hugged Terry. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."

Terry hugged her, rubbing her back. "My pleasure." They broke the hug.

"Tell Max I said 'thanks', too."

"Absolutely. Please call her later. I really won't get any peace if you don't."

Michelle laughed, "That's a promise."

"Call us when you get back to Hawaii," Basem said to Terry.

"You got it," Terry nodded. "Let me know when you're back in Gotham."

Basem and Michelle nodded.

"Terry?" Michelle said.

"Yeah?" Terry asked.

"There's no one… ever… who can be the man, the hero you are. All you've been through… and you're here for me? You're the best. I mean that."

Terry smiled, appreciatively. "Second best. Hayate wins out."

"Well, duh!" Michelle chuckled. "I'm marrying him."

"And that is a conversation I need all of the details to," Terry smiled, "but we'll talk later."

"You got it."

Terry nodded at her, "Seriously, Shell… I am so damn proud of you. For all of this. I knew it took a lot to even look for her, in the first place. From start to finish… you proved how much of a better person you are. And you better be damn proud of yourself."

Michelle felt her eyes mist again. "Thanks, Terry."

Terry headed off for his terminal and Michelle and Basem sat back down to wait for their plane. As they sat, Michelle's phone rang. She looked at it and laughed.

"Hayate?" Basem asked.

"Nope." Michelle answered. "Hey, Chelsea."

"Am I cuttin' the bitch?" Chelsea asked, immediately. "'Cause I'll do it! I'll cut the bitch!"

Michelle laughed. "No. Don't do that. She proved she's not worth it."

Chelsea was silent for a while. Michelle's tone told her all she needed to know. "Coffee when you get back? Maybe shopping?"

"I'll call you."

"Whenever you want. You know where to find me."

"Thanks," Michelle said. "You're a real friend, Chelsea. I hope you know… that means the world to me."

"I do," Chelsea replied. "You're a great friend and person, too. I don't care what that bitch said."

Michelle laughed, "I didn't even tell you anything yet!"

"I can tell by your voice. And she's a bitch. Let me know when you're back in town."

"Will do. Just waiting for the plane now. Thanks, Chels. You're awesome."

"Back at you, girl," Chelsea replied. "Love you much."

"Love you much." Michelle ended the call.

"Ya know, when you think about it," Basem said, "Chelsea might be most dependable person we know."

"No argument from me."

An hour later, Basem and Michelle were on the plane, bound for Gotham. Michelle just stared at the clouds and landscape. Her sadness was still there but she also felt at peace with everything. She looked over at Basem, who was reading a magazine.

"So, why'd you come after me and not Hayate?" Michelle asked.

"Because he's made it clear, several times, he'd probably break his code and attack your mother for how she treated you," Basem answered. "It doesn't help that your Uncle Mitch cosigned on that. More like begging Hayate, instead of giving permission."

"He talked to Uncle Mitch? For me?"

"Did you not say you wanted to marry him? This is Hayate we're talking about."

Michelle stopped. "God, I love him."

Basem smiled. "I noticed. And who could blame you?"

Michelle leaned back in the seat and exhaled. She looked over at Basem, "I told you guys to leave me alone to do this and you didn't listen. I've never been so happy people didn't listen to me."

Basem looked at her, "Let me be clear: I didn't follow you because I didn't trust you. I followed you because I didn't trust her. And in case you needed a friend."

"So, this is what loyalty feels like? In and out of the mask."

"Yep."

Michelle smiled. "It's pretty freakin' awesome."

"Isn't it, though?"

Michelle exhaled. "Well! I'm an orphan." She looked at Basem, "Want a sister?"

Basem looked her over. "Hm. You're bit extravagant for a French-Algerian."

Michelle chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"But… the right clothes, I think Mom and Dad will adopt you." Basem scoffed, "What am I saying? My folks want to adopt you anyway."

"Seriously?! Why?"

"Mom said you reminded her of herself in her younger, crazy days, and Dad said you annoy me, so that makes you family. Which is why I think he loves Terry so much."

Michelle laughed. "Tell your parents I accept their offer without any conditions."

Basem smiled. "The fact that you think you're not already a sister to me is hilarious."

Michelle stared at him and smiled, tears forming again. "I knew. Just… I like hearing it on repeat."

"Well, then…" Basem put his arm around, playfully yanking her closer and causing her to laugh. "…it's like this little sister!" He smirked. "I got some time to make up for! Plenty of sibling torture coming your way!"

Michelle kept laughing. "Works for me!"

A few hours later, Michelle and Basem were back in Gotham and were on the elevator to Michelle and Hayate's loft. They found Hayate standing at the threshold of the elevator as soon as the doors opened. Michelle locked eyes with Hayate and, immediately, rushed forward and hugged him. Hayate threw his arms around her in return. Basem set Michelle's bag in the loft and got back on the elevator.

Hayate looked up at Basem.

Basem held his hand up and shook his head.

Hayate inclined his head and mouthed, "Thank you."

Basem smiled and nodded. He hit the button and the elevator door closed.

"My own mother didn't want me," Michelle whispered.

Hayate hugged her tighter.

"Why do you love me? What's so special about me?"

"What isn't?" Hayate countered.

Michelle scoffed.

"Your mother is wrong, Michelle. You're special. Through and through. Margaret choosing to cast you out of her life is her error, her sin… and her loss."

Michelle moved a bit and stared into Hayate's eyes. "I love you. So damn much."

"I love you, too," Hayate replied. "Can I do anything?"

She embraced him again. "Just let me stay like this for a minute."

"As long as you want."

She sighed. "It's funny… I still love her."

He exhaled.

"I really do. And… I think… I can even forgive her. Some day." Michelle felt a tear escape. "But you were right. Everyone was. I can't do that to myself again."

"Right or not… you did the right thing for you. I'm so proud of you." Hayate closed his eyes. "I'm just… I'm sorry it didn't end better for you."

"It went how it was supposed to. And now… I don't have to wonder anymore." Michelle smiled a bit. "The silver lining is… I've settled my past…" she looked up at Hayate, as they stared in each other's eyes, "…and I can't wait for the future."

Hayate smiled at her.

"You in for the ride?"

"Without question."