Madelyn Myriam Watson

06

When Maddie reached her porch, she saw Talia and Nyssa. "Talia. What's up?" Maddie asked, pausing as she saw that Talia was nervous.

Now. Talia wasn't one to openly and vulnerably express her emotions, that's how Maddie knew something was up.

Talia stayed silent. "Talia, honey. What's wrong?" Maddie said, looking at Talia, trying to make eye contact, which Talia pointed avoided.

"Remember when I left Damian with yourself and our Beloved?" Talia asked, her voice was just above a mumble.

"Yes? What about it?" Maddie asked. "So, you know my father thinks a bit less of women than he does men, right?" Talia said, getting a nod out of Maddie. "What about it?" Maddie asked.

"I had twins, one was a girl, looked exactly like Damian, but she had heterochromnia, one eye red, one eye green, when she trained, she was significantly more adaptable, more agile, more powerful, she had more strength than Damian over all. Our father. He, for lack of a better word, abhorred her. He wanted me to exterminate her." Talia said, her voice lowering into a whisper all the while Maddie tried to keep her breathing in control.

"And what happened?" Maddie asked. "I could not do it, so I sent her to a place my father wouldn't find her, I always checked up on her and told her stories about yourself, Damian, Bruce, Olivia and the rest of the Bats, because she had know about her family. Her real family. I wanted to know if you'd rear her? As she is your daughter as well and I can't keep her in danger being near my father and all."

Talia had asked this question with hesitation. "What's her name?" Maddie asked, all she received in reply was,

"Huh?" Came from Talia before sh processed the question, she hadn't expected Maddie to agree so easily because Talia had kept this from her.

...

"Oh, yes. Athanasia. She's currently in Bristol with one of my personal assistants."

"Tell them to get here as fast as they can. This is as far away from Nanda Parbat as we can get her. I will alert Bruce and call everyone over. Then please, stay for a while? I'd love for you to meet everyone, everyone non-family related. As in SMP members." Maddie smiled, she knew no one on the SMP, except Techno and Punz, were her friends. Talia and Nyssa meeting them is just a way of sharing them but, she had heard Quackity yell about wanting to lock her back up.

"Are you sure?" Nyssa said before Talia could answer. "Of course, come inside, I'll send a message to the family and get the boys away from the stream." Maddie said gesturing to the front door and the steps that led back down the mountain.

Talia and Nyssa nodded in sync, it would have creeped Maddie out had she not gotten used to it by now.

The two walked into the house, while Maddie packed down the stairs, opening the holopad screen, she sent a family wide alert to meet at her house.

Soon enough she reached the stream, finding that Dick had, obviously, gotten the alert and was helping the boys pack the picnic blanket and fruits.

"What was that alert for, mom?" Dick asked. "Talia had turned up at the porch. She's currently in the house with her sister, Nyssa. She had a request that involved all family available and although I already agreed to the request, I thought it best for everyone to know what I agreed to." Maddie explained.

"Is it life threatening?" Tommy asked. "No." Maddie said, Tommy just nodded, he realised that she didn't pay any mind to, or didn't notice, him involving himself in the 'family' conversation.

They packed the last of the fruits up and went back to the house. They walked in and awkwardly greeted eachother.

Then Maddie and Dick heard the zeta-tubes go off.