Luke knocked on the door to Steph's dorm, eyes flickering towards his wristwatch. It was their last day in the campus at New Haven and they were all packed up to leave for home as their semester had ended and summer break awaited ahead.

Luke had to take the train to Bludhaven while Steph had to take the one to Gotham but just last night Luke had informed her that they would be going somewhere else together before going back to their own cities.

"Just coming," she opened the door and dragged out her bags, "you still didn't tell me where you're taking me."

He smiled, taking the heavier bag, "you'll see."

"Why are you being so mysterious? Is this like a surprise date or something?"

"It's not a date though we could make it one if you decide to stay there longer," he remarked lightly as the two walked to the gate where the buses were waiting to drop the students off at the station, "I'm just taking you to meet someone."

"Okay, but you're not telling me who I'm meeting and that's kinda suspicious?"

"Someone very very important to me," he remarked vaguely, knowing full well that all the suspense was getting to her.

However, Steph couldn't refrain from guessing, "let's see. You're taking me to meet Rose?"

He shook his head, a smile playing upon his lips, "nope, you've already met Rose. Save your guesses because I am hundred percent sure you won't be able to pick the right one."

She looked at him speculatively, "that does not help in any way and has made me even more intrigued."

"Calm down, you'll see when we get there."

At the station, he gave her a ticket and she read out the name of the place they were going to. "Cranbury?"

"Yup."

"Lucas, you're making me too curious for your own good," she warned but he only chuckled, leading her to their compartment.

She kept asking him in every possible way throughout the ride but he kept delaying the answer, chuckling softly.

"You'll see, Steph, wait for just a little longer."

At last, they reached the small town and got out at the platform. It seemed as if Luke had visited the place often as he knew exactly which bus to take and shortly after they entered a place that had a very countryside touch to it.

At the bus stop, Luke helped Steph take out their luggage and led her down the rough paths to what seemed like vast expanses of greenery. Tiny cottages were dotted around the site and there was a medieval church in the center as well.

"Lucas, tell me now, why have you brought me here?"

He shook his head, "five more minutes, love. You'll find out yourself then."

He had led her to the backside of the church where a beautiful garden was blooming with the fresh scent of blush peonies drifting in the air.

Steph didn't ask him again as she revelled in the pure beauty and simplicity of the place, looking sideways at Lucas who looked as if he had just come back home.

His featured were so tranquil, almost as if being at that place gave him peace. And seeing him like that sent a smile on her features as well.

"Here," he took her hand and went up to the small house in the corner of the garden, knocking on the door politely.

Steph waited and was quite intrigued to see who was the one Luke had wanted her to meet and brought her all the way there from New Haven.

At last, a feeble voice sounded from inside, "yes, who's it?"

"Lucas," he replied and the door opened immediately after, revealing a woman who's face lit up on seeing them.

"Lucas, my boy, come in. You finally visit after so long," she had stepped forward and hugged Lucas and then her gaze traveled to Stephanie, "and you've brought a friend too? Excellent... Come inside, dear."

Her voice that had been feeble before had swelled with happiness and a bright smile played upon her lips.

She had opened the door wider for them to step in and Steph's curious gaze lingered on the woman.

She had light grey eyes that were wrinkled with fatigue and her hair were greying as well though it seemed as if her natural hair color must have been deep brown, just like Luke.

She looked at Lucas then back at the woman, noticing the striking resemblance between the two.

"Yes Steph, I brought you to meet my mother," he whispered in a barely audible tone to her.

Steph was about to ask a question but Luke dipped his head in a nod as if to let her know that he will explain everything later. He knew Steph thought his mother had died from what he had told her earlier about the attack after which Deathstroke had taken him with him when he was just four years old.

But the truth was that Melisina had survived the attack and Luke had found out about her when he had visited the town in his third semester along with his photography group an year back.

"What would you like to have, dear?" She seemed rather overjoyed to have them with her, "tea, juice, or lunch even? I was hoping I could get company at lunch and how God granted my prayers... So grateful right now "

"Let me help you," Steph smiled, taking the plates from her as she laid them out on the table, "I'm Stephanie."

"Stephanie... Such a pretty name for such a beautiful girl," Melisina's eyes crinkled in joy, "I can't say Lucas has told me a lot about you because this boy visits me so less. But I can see you must be a very good friend of his."

"Actually, she's my girlfriend," Luke remarked, "and I brought her over to meet you specifically."

"Oh," her eyes shone as she looked back at Stephanie, "that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you two. So Stephanie, you can call me Melisina, okay? Or Sina for short, however you prefer."

"What does Luke call you though?" She asked, curious to know because she had judged there was something different in her behavior towards Luke. And even Luke hadn't addressed her as freely as he would have if she was really his mother.

"He calls me Mother because he says I remind him of her," she sighed softly, "he's a very good child though. His mother would have been proud if she were alive."

Steph looked back at Luke in alarm, eyes widening in disbelief. He nodded once again in that silent request to not ask further and that he would explain later.

"Can I call you Mother too, then?"

"Of course darling," her smile widened as she brought out the food, "come now both of you, sit and eat."

When Melisina went to the kitchen again to full up the dish of rice, Luke turned to face her, "she doesn't know I'm actually her son."

He was speaking in a low tone again, as if not wanting Melisina to overhear them.

"She survived the attack but lost her memory. So she doesn't remember me nor Father nor anything that happened to her."

"Oh..."

But the woman had returned and Luke looked at her with a smile, "the food is delicious. Thank you so much."

"Oh no dear, thank you for stopping by. I am so glad whenever I get to meet you. And it was such a pleasure to meet Stephanie here too."

Steph nodded, "the pleasure is all mine."

They stayed with Melisina till evening, much to her delight and when they were finally leaving, she packed two separate lunchboxes for them upon finding out that they would be taking different trains.

"Have a safe travel, children," she sent her blessings with them as they left her house at last.

Luke was silent as they walked back to the bus stop to catch the bus which would take them to the train station. He was waiting for Steph to question him, keeping the answers prepared in his head.

"She's very sweet," Steph spoke up at last, "and I see now where you got your good looks from."

He was not expecting that remark and his features broke into a smile, "oh come on..."

"No really, you resemble your mother a lot. Anyone who saw you two would point that out."

"That's precisely how the town people recognized me," he spoke up, "when I first visited, I hadn't known she was alive. I had come to Cranbury with Milo and the rest of our photography group. The town looked very familiar to me and I took them to the church, right in that garden where I took you today as well. It was then Mother invited us in for tea and I immediately felt drawn to her, like I had known her from years ago. I went to the church after that to see if there was anyone else I could recognize. And instead the Abbess there recognized me immediately. She told me how Mother survived when our house was attacked and father took me away from her. She also told me that she might not remember me at all but would be glad to know me nevertheless. The nuns over there had taken great care of her after the incident but her memory loss was permanent."

"Oh..." Steph could sense the traces of hurt in his tone as he spoke.

"But it's alright. She does consider me a son and that's all that matters. I've kept visiting her as often as I can since then and I really look forward to the last days at campus because I come here first then go back home."

She nodded, her hand gently resting on top of his, "and you brought me to meet her because...?"

"Because we don't have any secrets between us now," he smiled, "and I really wanted you to meet her because she's very important to me, whether she remembers me or not."

She squeezed his hand gently, "looks like she really approved of our relationship. I could bet that she loves me already."

He chuckled and nodded in agreement, "true, she does like you a lot. Or else she wouldn't have firmly told me never to let go of you."

Surprise crossed her features, "wait, she said that? When?"

"When you were too busy talking to her parrots," he replied, "she said and I quote: Lucas dear, don't ever let go of her and don't you dare even think of hurting such a precious angel or else you'll have me to account to."

She laughed, "precious angel? She gives me too much credit."

He shrugged, leaning closer to lightly brush his lips against hers because the station had arrived and they had to part their ways, "she's right though. You are a precious angel to me, Steph."

She laughed, hand lightly placed on his chest, "and now you're being a precious romantic."

"Guilty as charged," he remarked with his adorable chuckle punctuating his words.

***