Innocent (A Treacherous Novel)

15

Washington D.C., Maryland

December 31, 2004

To say Ashley's depression wasn't affecting her family that had stuck around her was an understatement. They hated that every time she asked about her father or Dick she would get no reply and a sad gaze from her aunt. Without fail for the first two months was the hardest though for both of them when every week Ashley would excitedly ask her aunt if Dick would be visiting. It would always be a simple 'no' or 'I haven't heard anything, I'm sorry Ashley' and every time, she would feel more defeated. When the third month came was when Ashley knew she wouldn't see Dick or her father again so she locked herself in her room and gazed sadly out her window while she tried to stop the tears from falling. By December though, everyone did everything to keep her preoccupied even though they could see it wasn't exactly what she envisioned when she left with Dinah. Even Oliver with all his planning and his involvement in teaching her to run a business couldn't stop her sadness and melancholy as she thought about returning to Gotham. 

"You're going to be thirteen!" Dinah said excitedly as she put the Carhartt beanie on her niece to keep her ears from freezing. "Leave that on and also Zatanna will be at the Hall tonight, so don't worry about not seeing her. I know how close you two are" Dinah said. 

"And Dad and Dick?" Ashley asked hopefully, even though she knew the answer. 

"Clark and Diana haven't said if he RSVP'd but don't count on it" Dinah sighed and apologized. 

"It's fine" Ashley said and attempted to look as if she had shrugged it off. "Bruce made his choice, obviously" She huffed. "Do I have to wear that stupid coat?" Ashley asked. 

"There's still snow tonight" Dinah sighed. "I know you hate big coats, but I also happen to know you'll end up spending most of the night down by the river with all the other kids, and just because there isn't a blizzard happening this year doesn't mean you get to catch a cold or the flu" Dinah told her. 

"How do you know about that?" Ashley questioned with wide eyes. "We make it a point to go quietly" She said, obviously exasperated.

"I'm not your father, Ashley" Dinah said and raised an eyebrow. "I actually pay attention to what you kids do and I'm the one who checks on you" Dinah said and grabbed a brush. "Come on, we'll get your hair in a braid and get going" Dinah said a made a quick French braid of Ashley's wavy hair before ushering everyone into the zeta tube so they would arrive on time. 

"You would think we'd be having Ashley's birthday at home, since she's turning thirteen" Roy said as they walked through the League meeting room into the hallway. 

"We are, it's just tomorrow night" Dinah said. "I told the other parents that she was visiting her father but would be home in time for the party on the first, not the thirty-first" She said and ushered them inside. 

"You know for superhero kids, we sure don't look the part" Ashley snorted as they walked into the room, where the New Years' celebration had just started to kick off. "Where's Zee?" Ashley asked, not able to see her friend with all the new League members in attendance. 

"I don't know" Roy shrugged and walked off, no doubt in Ashley's mind that he was about to start eating all the finger sandwiches he could without being suspicious. 

"Hey Donna" Ashley said as broke away from her aunt and uncle, who had begun to mingle with various League members and tugged down the zipper of her coat. 

"I'm surprised they got you in a coat that big" Donna said with a snort. "Roy taking over the food table?" She asked. 

"Yeah" Ashley laughed. "You would think he doesn't eat with the way he attacks the table" Ashley said and shook her head.