Authors Note: Warning! Suicide is mentioned in this chapter! If you are uncomfortable please do not read. Nothing bloody or gory, nobody dies, but an attempt was made. Again if you are experiencing any type of severe mental distress please seek help!

The plane touched down on the outskirts of Gotham, its quiet hum fading into the familiar sounds of the city. Aubrey's heart raced as the plane's ramp lowered, revealing the sprawling skyline she once called home. She hadn't expected to feel this way—anxiety, hope, and fear all swirling in her chest like a storm. She had left to protect Jason, to protect everyone, and now, knowing it had all been a lie, she was terrified of what she would find.

The moment the ramp was fully down, she turned to Dick and Bruce, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said, her voice tight. "For everything."

Dick gave her a soft smile, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Go to him, Aubrey. He needs you."

Bruce remained silent, his stoic expression a mask as always, but there was something softer in his eyes—a silent understanding. Aubrey didn't wait for any more words. She turned and sprinted toward the city, her mind racing as fast as her feet.

The penthouse was eerily quiet when she arrived. Aubrey's pulse pounded in her ears as she knocked, her hands shaking with a mixture of nerves and dread. The door swung open, and dread settled into her gut as she realized Jason NEVER left the door unlocked, let alone open. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of him. She stepped forward, slowly walking into the space, shutting the door behind her. Dropping her bag on the counter, a hand written note caught her eye.

It was Jasons handwriting, his neat cursive sprawled across the page. She picked it up to read it, and her heart dropped.

Dear Aubrey,

Not sure if you will ever read this, it may be years before you come back to this damned city. And im sorry, i really tried my best to get better, but i couldn't do it. I was hoping i could be here if you came back, but I can't. Life isn't worth it if i don't have you, i can't ever be as happy as i was with you. And whats the point of living if I spend the rest of my second chance at life wishing i'll get a third one with you. So i guess this is goodbye. Don't blame yourself, i was broken long before you found me. I love you Sunset, and thank you for showing me what light looks like.

-Jason

She stopped breathing. She tried to scream, but nothing came out.

Oh god. Oh no no no no no NO! He can't be gone. I can't be too late. I CANT be!

"JASON!"

She whipped around, searching the space for any sign of him. His gun was sitting on the coffee table, and she grabbed it, quickly dismantling it and throwing it across the room. It was still fully loaded, but he also could have done something else.

Please. Please please please baby. Please don't be gone.

She searched the kitchen, and Outlaw came up behind her and nudged her leg. She dropped down on her knees and looked up at the big cat.

"Hey buddy. Where is he? Outlaw..." her voice cracked. Tears filled her eyes.

And then she heard it—a faint, heart-wrenching sound coming from the bedroom.

Her feet carried her there before she could think, and when she pushed the door open, her breath caught in her throat. Relief filled her, because there he was. Alive.

Jason lay tangled in the sheets, his bare chest rising and falling erratically as tears streaked down his face. His expression was twisted in agony, his body thrashing as he fought whatever nightmare had gripped him. The sight of him—so broken, so lost—made Aubrey's heart shatter all over again.

"Jason..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as she stepped closer to the bed.

He didn't hear her. His hands clenched the sheets, his body trembling, as another cry escaped his lips. Aubrey couldn't stand it any longer. She rushed to his side, sliding into bed next to him, and wrapped her arms around his thrashing form. Her hands stroked his back, her touch gentle but firm, as she pulled him into her embrace.

"It's okay," she murmured, her voice soft and soothing. "I'm here. I'm right here."

Jason's eyes shot open, wild and unfocused, as he jerked awake with a choked scream. His body tensed, his breathing rapid and uneven, as if he were still trapped in the nightmare. Tears streamed down his face, and he began sobbing, his cries raw and heart-wrenching.

"I'm here," Aubrey whispered again, holding him tighter, her hand running through his hair. "I'm back. You're safe, Jason. You're safe."

Jason buried his face in her chest, his arms wrapping around her like a lifeline as he sobbed uncontrollably. Aubrey felt the full weight of his grief in that moment, the sheer agony of it breaking her heart all over again. She had done this to him—her leaving, her fear, had driven him to this place of torment.

"Shh, it's okay," she whispered, kissing the top of his head. "I've got you. You're not alone anymore. Im not going to leave ever again, so you can't either okay? You have to stay." Her words trailed off as she started to sob, thankful that he was alive and torn to pieces that he was in this state.

Slowly, Jason's sobs began to quiet, his body trembling against hers as he cried himself back to sleep in her arms. Aubrey held him close, her hand moving in slow, soothing circles across his back. She pressed her cheek to his hair, her own tears slipping down her face as she wondered how things had gotten so bad so quickly. How had he unraveled this much in less than a month?

She whispered to him, soft words of comfort, promising that she wouldn't leave him again, that she was home for good. Her fingers traced the scars on his back, scars she knew had come from years of pain and trauma, from a past that still haunted him. She wished she could take it all away, but all she could do was be here, in this moment, holding him together.

A few hours passed before Jason stirred again, his body shifting against hers as he slowly woke. Aubrey felt him tense, his arms tightening around her as his breath hitched in his throat. For a moment, he didn't say anything, and then he whispered, his voice thick with disbelief.

"Aubrey?" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

"I'm here," Aubrey whispered back, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. "I'm real."

Jason blinked, his eyes wide and unfocused as he stared at her. It was as if he didn't believe what he was seeing, as if she were just another dream that would vanish as soon as he reached for her. His hands tightened on her arms, his voice cracking. "You're back?"

She smiled, nodding as tears welled in her eyes. "I'm back. For good. No more running, no more leaving. Im so sorry baby, im so SO sorry. I never should have left. Im so sor-"

Jason's breath caught in his throat, and before she could say anything else, he crushed his lips to hers in a desperate, hungry kiss. It was a kiss filled with relief, with love, with everything they hadn't been able to say in the weeks they had been apart. Aubrey melted into him, her hands tangling in his hair as she kissed him back just as fiercely.

When they finally pulled apart, Jason rested his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy, his eyes filled with raw emotion.

"I'm home, Jay," Aubrey whispered, her voice soft but sure.

Jason's arms tightened around her, pulling her down onto the bed with him as he kissed her again, softer this time, but no less passionate.

"So am I," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "So am I."

He buried his face into her neck as the tears started to fall again. Aubrey couldn't hold her own back as she pressed her head into his shoulder.

"Im so fucking sorry. God Aubrey... I almost..." His voice broke as he tried to speak.

"I know. I know, and we will talk about all of that tomorrow. Believe me it will not go unaddressed, but for now im here and im home and your okay, and i need to sleep knowing that before i deal with anything else." She murmured, running her hands through his hair soothingly.

Jason nodded, pulling her tighter against him before closing his eyes, praying the nightmares would let him have peace tonight.

They lay there together, tangled in each other's arms, the weight of the world outside the penthouse fading away. For the first time in weeks, Jason felt like he could breathe again, like he had something to hold onto, something real.

Aubrey was home. And so was he.