The parking lot at the Causeway, Friday night

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I kept my grades up all year, and kept a job, and didn't get in trouble, so... Triumph." Dinah beamed at her dad, still looking for his approval. "Isn't it cool?"

[for the phantoms]

Comments

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"Definitely cool," Larry admitted, studying the bike. "Also, tell me if I'm wrong, but this isn't exactly street-legal, is it?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Dinah tried, then gave him a sideways look. "..or, it's still perfectly safe?"

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"I'm stuck between, 'that is so cool' and 'do you want to break your neck?'" Larry said, marveling.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Just out of curiosity, how could you tell?" Dinah asked. "Not that I'm confirming anything."

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

From just outside the circle of streetlights, Carolyn watched Dinah and Larry, and strained to hear their conversation. Light, easy, happy.

For the tenth time, she tried to make herself walk forward. And couldn't.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Okay, watch how she handles, and then you tell me if it's safe," Dinah challenged her dad, putting on the helmet. She fired up the 'cycle, grinned and flipped down the visor, and roared off, weaving in between the parked cars, spinning at the end of a row, and then turning to go back.

At the end of the row she stopped, then flipped up her visor, staring.

Her mom was standing at the edge of the sidewalk, hugging herself and looking as shocked as Dinah felt.

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"Oh shit." Larry closed his eyes, opened them, then started to run, recognizing Carolyn even at this distance.

He'd tried to talk her into coming along. As far as you could do that, in his memories, in some place where arguing was difficult.

It looked like she'd changed her mind after all.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Mom?" Dinah shut off the 'cycle and parked it, ripping off her helmet and rushing toward her mom, who looked like she might run away at any moment.

"Mom. What are you--" Dinah wasn't sure what she was going to ask, so it came out as a small, pathetic, "You're here?"

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"Dinah." Carolyn's gaze went past her to Larry, and she pleaded with him without words. Say something. Fix this. Not fair. He'd barely known Dinah a day. "I... yes. I wanted to see you."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah took a step backward, shoulders hunching up defensively. "But you didn't want me to see you."

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"That's not true," Carolyn protested. Except for... "I was -- I saw you with your dad. I didn't want to spoil this for you." She licked her lips. "Dinah, the way we left things, the things we said before I-- I just wanted you to have a happy weekend. I didn't want to fight."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"It's always about you, isn't it?" Dinah was shaking, feeling the urge to pounce on her mom the way she'd thrown herself at her dad, but equally feeling the urge to scream. "How could you think I wouldn't want to see you?"

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

Carolyn looked completely crushed. Spine straight, hands clenched, but to Larry it was obvious that she'd just taken a hit to the heart.

He tentatively reached out and put his hand on Dinah's shoulder, and squeezed. "Hey. Take a breath. She's your mom. She loves you." He looked at Carolyn, and his voice softened. "Even when she's bone-headed."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I know." Dinah's voice cracked, and she wanted to reach out and hug her mom. Wanted to tell her it was all okay. But... Dinah crossed her arms, forcing herself to stay in place, teeth gritted.

"I love you. But I can't deal with you. Not when you stalk me and, and don't even give me a choice about seeing you and still treat me like I'm five."

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

Carolyn closed her eyes, resigned. "I understand. I'll go."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"What? No!" That wasn't what she'd meant, wasn't what she'd wanted at all.

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

"Carolyn, this isn't going to work if you leave." Larry reached out past Dinah, one hand still on her shoulder. "Please. I want to see both of you here. Together."

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

Carolyn vibrated in place, shaken. "I don't know how to do this," she said, and it felt like the admission was torn out of her. "I screwed it up last time. I don't want to do that again."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"The only part you screwed up was the dying. That's the part I'm still mad about," Dinah tried to joke, but it wasn't one, not really. "... forget that. Just. Stay. Please?"

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

Carolyn swallowed. Looked from Dinah to Larry, and then nodded, taking a step forward, and reaching for Larry's hand. Her face crumpled, but she stayed silent, shaking, as she put her arms around Dinah.

[gothamphantoms.livejournal.com]

Larry sighed, relieved, and hugged both women at once. And couldn't help the smile that broke out, even though both his girls were crying.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah closed her eyes and hugged her mom, felt her dad put his arms around them, and giggled even as she sobbed.

She wished, oh God she wished, that Barbara and Helena and Alfred were here. And felt guilty for wishing.