Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

Epilogue

Dora, Tim, and Mona were in the garden of Wayne Manor, playing basketball on the court Jason and Richard had set up years ago for all of them to play together. It had almost been a year since Mona had come to live with them and by then, they were all very accustomed to doting upon the six year old.

The basket was fixed at a greater height as compared to normal since all the Wayne boys were quite tall. So each time Mona wanted to score, she would agilely climb up on Tim's shoulders, throwing the ball in the basket with ease.

"That's not fair," Dora remarked when Tim passed her the ball, "I can barely even reach the basket and you let Mona score each time."

He glanced down at Mona and the two exchanged a smile, knowing that they were thinking the same thing.

"Okay, wait, what is brewing up in you two's minds?" Dora got alarmed, realizing that both father and daughter were definitely up to something.

"Nothing," Mona's smile widened.

Without warning Tim had lifted her up, holding her by the waist, "your turn to score, Dora."

She got startled, dropping the ball as she squealed, "hey, put me down!"

"Why? Didn't you want to score as well?"

"He said score, Mumma, not drop the ball!" Mona was laughing hard as she picked the ball up and gave it to Dora, "here, score!"

Dora threw the ball in the basket and the little girl cheered in delight while Tim spun her around and then put her back on her feet.

Mona gave her a high five, "alright, another round and this time it's my turn."

Talia Al Ghul stood in the living room, right in front of the window that presented a view of the basketball court in the garden. She had come just a few minutes earlier and Damian had met her, though he hadn't yet taken her to meet Mona but right then she could see the child very well.

With the window right in front of her, she was watching the scene with an unfathomable gaze in her emerald eyes. The little girl she had sent away from her about a year ago was in no way reminiscent of what she used to be as Talia looked at the cheerful child.

The picture in front of her was that of a complete happy family but it tugged at her heart to realize that if she continued with what she had decided before coming there, that family would no longer be complete.

She felt as if she was being selfish in thinking of taking Mona back with her. And though she had returned with that sole purpose, seeing the child laugh and play freely made her conflicted.

Mona had barely even smiled back when she used to live at the base of the League. But right then her bright blue eyes were shining in delight, her cheeks rosy red as she clung onto her father's shoulders, hugging him tightly.

Damian had come to stand beside his mother and observed the expressionless look on the woman's features, his eyes trailing down to the slightly clenched fists.

He knew she was trying to compose herself, intentionally shutting off each expression because she didn't want him to know how she felt.

But after all, he was her son; he knew her better than most.

"Mother, are you alright?" He asked at last, emerald eyes noticing a flicker of longing break the tough exterior of the woman for a slight second before she shut off the emotion again.

She tilted her head, reluctantly tearing her gaze away from the happy little family in the garden as she looked at her son, forcing a smile on her lips, "of course. Why do you ask?"