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Jason stood there in front of the man who had once been his dad. The man who had made his childhood hell. Willis Todd was right in front of his son and he wished he could take it all back. Take back everything he had ever done to hurt him. Jason was furious and was never going to forgive Willis for what he had done. He had stolen something so very precious to him. Willis had kidnapped Jason and Artemis’ baby boy. He was only a few months old. Apparently, Willis had been keeping tabs on Jason and his new family. Jason stood there with a pistol to Willis’ head. He wasn’t in the mood for games. He was out for blood and it was obvious whose blood Jason wanted. The man who had taken his child from him and Artemis. He and Artemis found out about the pregnancy before getting married. The pregnancy was very unexpected but they both knew they wanted the baby. There was never any other option for them. This was their chance to have a family and no one was taking that away from them.
“Just do it. Kill me. I deserve it.” Willis said, staring down at the floor. He couldn’t even raise his eyes to look at his son. Well, Jason wasn’t his son anymore. Not really.
“You have no idea how much I want to.” Jason replied, anger apparent in his eyes. Willis didn’t need to look at him to know just how angry he was.
“But I need to know why. Why take him from us. He’s our son!” Jason said as he watched Willis stiffen in his chair. His hands and feet were zip tied and Jason made sure Willis was able to talk but if he had it his way, not for long. “You think I would hurt him? I would never! Yes I kidnapped him but I had my reasons.” Jason rolled his eyes. He didn’t want this man anywhere near his child. His little boy. How dare Willis Todd show up again after all this time and then have the audacity to take Jason’s child from him. That was completely unacceptable.
“I had to make things right. I had to make amends and I had to do that by starting over.” Willis said. “You don’t know how sorry I am that I fucked up with you. I messed up so bad and I can’t fix it. I hurt you and your mother and neither one of you ever deserved that.”
Jason had to fight the urge to hit Willis across the face. Yes, he did hurt Jason and Catherine but why apologize now? Why make his son think he was dead and why come back just to take one of the best things in Jason’s life away? Jason just wanted his family safe and Willis Todd was never a safe man to be around as far as Jason was concerned.
“So, why show up now? Why make me believe you were dead? I was better off believing you were dead and now you want to come back just to take my son away from me? You are dead wrong if you think you can do that.” Jason spat. He was becoming angrier at the fact that this man he once called dad was alive and trying to take away his happiness. His son and Artemis meant the world to Jason. They were his happiness. Jason had made a family of his own and he loved them so fiercely he would kill for them. He always heard you don’t understand a parent’s love until you are a parent yourself. He knew that was true now. He couldn’t imagine life without his son.
“What does it matter now? I wanted to find you but something stopped me. Or should I say someone. I just wanted to make everything up to you but I knew I lost my chance. I knew you would never forgive me or let me get close to you so I thought I could raise my grandchild and do better with him.” Jason sneered at Willis’ words. Did he really think kidnapping Jason’s kid was acceptable?
“You know what? Maybe I would have. Maybe I would have forgiven you. Maybe I would have given you a second chance if you really wanted to make amends but you just destroyed any chance of that happening.” Jason replied, still holding the gun.”
“No. You know damn well you wouldn’t. You never would have given me a chance at all. You wouldn’t have given a shit about me. Why would you? I don’t deserve it. I was wrong to take him but he’s my grandson. He deserves to know me. We could have had a relationship that you and I never had. I could have been a better father to him than I was to you.” Willis explained.
“I know it’s messed up. I know I don’t deserve jack shit after what I put you and your mother through. I just had to make amends.”
“And you think this is how to do it? Taking my son away from me?”
Willis looked up to meet Jason’s eyes. “I was going to find you but someone tried to kill me. I had to hide out to stay safe. I let you think I was dead because I knew you wouldn’t want anything to do with me.” Willis wasn’t far off. Jason knew where he was supposedly buried but never cared to visit.
“Jason?” Jason heard Bruce’s voice come from behind them.
“I’m not finished, old man.” Jason sneered, pressing the gun to the other man’s skull.
“Don’t do something you might regret.” Bruce said, taking a step toward Jason.
“Why would I regret this? He’s gonna pay for what he’s done.” Willis flinched. He knew it was over for him. All he wanted was to make things right.
“I just wanted him to know his grandpa.” Will explained.
“He already knows his grandpa. He has a big family who loves him and you have no fucking right to take him away from them. Especially not from his mom and I.”
“You don’t understand. We could have had a connection. We are blood related. He can’t have a connection like that with anyone else. Your family might be good people but they can’t love him like I can.” Jason fought his rage. Was this man for real?
“You think blood makes you family?” Jason laughed “You never had an idea what a real family is. You don’t get to say shit like that.”
“He’s the only family I have left. I lost you long ago. I at least could have had him to start over with.”
Jason could no longer hold back. He hit Willis hard in the face, drawing blood. “Taking my son from me is not acceptable! You’re going to pay for all your sins. Especially this one.” Jason pointed the gun to Willis’ head once more but the voice behind him made him pause.
“Jason, I know you’re angry and you have every right to be but don’t do this. He needs to be in prison. He’s better off going back and I think you know that. You’re better than this.” Jason listened to Bruce’s words and although he hated hearing it, Bruce was right.
—
Jason sat on the visitor’s side of the glass. Willis had requested his presence and Jason was curious to hear what he had to say for himself. Jason would have been happy knowing Willis Todd was dead but he had to come back to wreak havoc in Jason’s life. Jason didn’t know if the man truly wanted to make amends or if he just wanted something he couldn’t have.
“Nice to see you, son.” Willis said, taking a seat.
“I’m not your son.” Jason said, not amused at all by being here.
“Ok, I deserve that. Look, I’m sorry for everything. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Willis started. “I just don’t want us to have bad blood. I want us to have a decent relationship. I know what I did was not fair and I will do anything to make it up to you.”
Jason sat there, quiet as a mouse. Not moving. He wasn’t sure how to say what he wanted to say. He never imagined Willis ever coming back into his life and he was completely fine with that. He didn’t need him.
“Let me make one thing clear.” Jason said when he finally found the words to explain some things. “I don’t need you or anyone else and I certainly don’t want you in my life. I have the two most important people and I can’t live without them. They are the only people I need. They make life better. They make life make sense. So, maybe you should just accept that you’re not getting out this time and you lost your chance to have a family years ago. That’s all on you.”
Willis nodded in agreement. “I know that and I take responsibility for it. I’m not asking for forgiveness but I’m your father. I was hoping we could at least try.”
“You might be my father but you’re not my dad. It’s not the same thing. I already have a dad. Bruce and I have a complicated relationship and that will never change. We drive each other crazy and we both have unresolved trauma that causes us to lash out at each other for even the smallest things but we have something you and I never had. We always have each other’s backs. We are family and nothing will change that. We learned a lot from each other and I’m grateful to be where I am now. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have my son.” Jason said, keeping his eyes on Willis the whole time to see his reaction. Willis didn’t blink or look disappointed. Willis took a deep breath and smiled slightly.
“That’s what family is, I suppose. Very imperfect but always there for each other. I didn’t do right by you and I wasn’t there for you like I should have been. I never deserved you and I sure as hell don’t deserve to raise another child.” Jason was glad that at least Willis could admit that. At least it didn’t end in Jason storming out and cursing Willis to no end.
Jason entered the manor to hear the laughter of his family. The sound brought him comfort and reminded him of who he truly was. He didn’t know what he would do without them. Family is always being there and never giving up on each other.
Jason entered the living room to find Dick, Barbara, Tim and Steph in front of the tv, his son in Steph’s lap. “Hey,” Jason greeted them.
“Hi, how did it go?” Dick asked, turning to look at his brother.
Jason let out a heavy sigh. “About as good as expected. Not as bad as I thought. I mean I didn’t get blood on my hands, so that’s a good thing.”
Dick smiled at his brother. “Well, someone missed his dad.” He said while Stephanie stood up and walked over to Jason to give him his son.
“Hey, little man.” Jason said, kissing his son on the head. His jet black hair matched Jason’s perfectly. “Been good today, buddy?”
“I think he’s tired.” Tim said. Stephanie rolled her eyes at her boyfriend.
“He’s tired? He kept us busy. We’re the ones who are tired.” She laughed. But it’s never boring when he’s around.”
“He woke up from a nap a few minutes ago so maybe he’s hungry.” Barbara said, lightly rubbing her nephews back. Jason smiled down at his son. Only a few months old and he was already a handful but he was loved by everyone. “Thanks for watching him, guys.” Jason said.
“Let’s go get mommy and we can go home.” Jason said, his boy looking at him like he was the world. Jason loved that feeling.
“Leaving so soon?” Bruce said, walking into the room. Artemis right behind him, walking up to Jason to kiss him.
“Yeah, I’m dying to get home so we can get some rest.” Jason replied, yawning. It had been a busy day for the Todd-Grace family. Jason wasn’t planning on staying for Patrol. He decided to skip that just for tonight so he could stay home with his wife and son. Jason gave their son to Artemis and she happily carried him out to the car.
“So how did it go at blackgate?” Bruce asked
“Not as bad as I thought it would. I walked out without them putting me in handcuffs.
“See? I told you you were better than that.” Bruce stated, proudly.
“Hey, just wanted to say thank you, old man.” Jason said, turning to Bruce
“For what, exactly.” Bruce asked, wondering where Jason was going with this.
“For everything. I never said as much but… ya know.”
Bruce chuckled. “I know, son. I feel the same.” A moment went by before Bruce spoke again. “I know I haven’t always been a good dad. I know I screwed up, too. I’m not gonna pretend to be better than anyone else. You deserve better than him and me both. I know he’s your real dad but I’m so glad to have you as my son.”
Jason looked down at the ground before looking up at the man who chose to be his dad. Who had chosen to love him. “I don’t know. I mean, you did something for me no one else ever did. You took a chance on me. You chose me.” Jason said, before starting to walk to the car to avoid any emotional talk. “Willis is not my real dad. I’m met my real dad when I was jacking tires from his car.” Jason said and he swore he saw tears in Bruce’s eyes.
“Take care son.” He said, watching Jason drive away with his family.