HappyVerse Christmas

[sylph_fics]

Yes, more HappyVerse... and no, we don't care that it's early.

Title: Mele Kalikaimaka, or 'Merry Christmas to you'
Cowriter: merfilly
Characters: Bats, Arrows, the Bird, Lanterns, and a very special guest or two
Rating: R?
Word Count: 7,756
Continuity: Thanksgiving fluff, Gathered Here HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official…HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.



Late at night on December 21st, a sudden alert shrilled into Oracle's ear, startling her away from the surveillance she was running for Huntress. //Natural disaster tone, where? How bad?// flicked through her mind as she pushed away from the one bank of computers and slid to the other, pulling up the report, "A new flow on Kilauea? At least there's nothing there but the ranger stations..."

Just to be certain, she tapped into a satellite, boosting it's low-light spectrum to better examine the late-evening slope. Kilauea was always active, but the magnitude of this flow, and that it had hit without any warning made her nervous--the Park Service was generally on top of what its' baby was doing--//what the? What could be out in the lava?//

"Oh, my god," she breathed, staring as she zoomed the image in, narrowing down to a few square meters... "It can't--" She set a routine half the world would be enraged at her possession of running in the direction of that image.

//Of course it can,// the rest of her reminded the incredulous part sternly. It wasn't like this was a new thing... though the half-impression of a single flame in the shape of a kneeling woman that was there only a moment was harder to credit. //Trick of the light...// She reached up, flicking on the line to her best operative. "Canary, detour."

"Oracle, what? I'm in the middle of the Pacific..."

"I know. Good. Turn south, you're going to Hawai'i. The Big Island. You'll have clearance to land before you ever get there, but get there fast." //There're probably a hundred people there, please let the Service be clearing--oh, yes.// They'd issued an evacuation warning for the observation area, given the strength of this sudden eruption. //That makes my life easier...//

"Why?"

The program chimed, confirming her supposition, and she kept her voice level as she spoke to Dinah. "There's a kid laying up on the slope of Pu'u O'o crater, practically in the middle of an eruption that came out of nowhere, and he looks pretty damn familiar."

"Laying--how in the middle of?"

"Very. My recognition programs are tagging a match." //Stay asleep, kid. Just stay asleep...// "You're going to have to go up on the lava, don't forget a respirator and a cane."

"Yes, Babs..." she could hear the blonde rolling her eyes. "I do remember how to deal with lava--though I wish I could call in someone it's not going to hurt..."

"Just... be careful."

"Anything else?"

"No, I think that's it."

"All right. I'll contact you once I've got the kid."

~*~*~*~

//Ooh... Ow... Where am I? What happened? Where's--// adrenaline surged and he snapped his eyes open, scanning--and found nothing above him but darkness and stars, heard nothing but...//the ocean? That's not...//

He was so confused, and his head was throbbing, it was hard to focus... Hadn't he been fighting? Then the thick smell of sulfur and burning rock drew his attention, made him look at the ground around him. //Lava rock? That doesn't... I don't...// A new, thick ribbon of lava flow was running down the plain, burbling up from a fissure not far away... //Kilauea... Pu'u O'o.... I know this place... I'm home... How did I get...?//

He sat up slowly, rubbing at his forehead... and realized he was completely nude, and flushed crimson. //I... what happened to my clothes?// What he didn't notice or realize was that ash was smeared over his skin thinly. He stood, thankful of the darkness, and tried to pull his power around him. It flickered weakly... not near enough to fly. //Ow... so drained... Guess doing this the long way...// He wrapped it around his feet and stood, starting to make the long walk down the flow, headed towards the ranger cabins on wheels, hoping they'd have a little pity for a hero that had somehow lost his clothing... and his memory of the last little while. The last thing he remembered was--//flash of heat, strain, can't let this happen, I can't!//

//I was fighting. Who, what? Why can't I remember?// It plagued his mind as he walked.

*~*~*~*~

The park ranger tasked with blocking the road at the bottom of the Kilauea cliffs watched the single headlight coming towards him in the darkness with a blank, frustrated expression. //How many times to do we have to announce it's not safe right now? The flow already made us move the shacks and has eaten more of the road...//

The bike came to a halt where he was, a fishnet-clad leg kicking out to balance on as the rider turned her gaze toward the ranger. "Hi there; I need access up there. Are you the man that can get it for me?" She gave a smile to the man, knowing he was just doing his job, and wishing she had more leverage to sound official.

"Ma'am, it's just a bit dangerous out there, so no, I can't get you access." //I am not letting some chick in a black leather leotard and fishnets up on an active lava flow, are you insane?//

Dinah pouted at him faintly. "Sorry, sir, but see, there's a friend of mine who is most insistent I get up there, right now. It involves...meta human affairs." She wished, for just a moment, that she had let J'onn get her into the DEO when he made himself a back door there.

He studied her clothing again--living in Hawaii you saw some of everything, but her getup was special even for his relaxed state. "Ma'am, who are you?" The only hero they'd ever had, they'd lost in what everyone was calling the Crisis... and if there was a metahuman villain running around, they were going to need help, but who the heck was this?

"Black Canary, former JSA/JLA, currently an on the spot global troubleshooter." She nodded up toward the cliffs. "There's something up there very worth my attention, Ranger, I promise you. The fact this flow gave no warning should be an indication of that." She controlled her smile as she repeated Oracle's words in her ear to the man.

He studied her for a few more, long moments. then slowly nodded. "All right, ma'am. Do you know anything about lava?"

A sudden yell of shock rang out from the shacks several hundred yards away, incoherent and glad, and he whipped around to stare in his partner's direction, peering towards the lights.

"Might not have to now," she muttered, looking that way. "Let me go check on that."

He nodded, and pulled the barricade back to let her through, then hopped on his own vehicle to head back right behind her. Weird things with Kilauea just might need hero assistance, he'd take the flack for it.

Kon looked at the woman who had shrieked bashfully, looking over the counter-like thing, standing close enough to it that he wasn't flashing her. "Um, yeah, hi... have you got anything in there I could wear, please?"

His head hurt, her screaming hadn't helped, and between using his powers and god-only-knew-what had happened, he really just wanted clothes, food, and sleep, please... The woman clapped her hand over her mouth, trying to get a grip. She searched for the emergency ponchos, trying hard not to let his resemblance to their lost hero affect her.

"Kon? Kon-El?" The voice came from behind him, and held just a bit of amusement.

He jumped, started to turn--then just looked over his shoulder, flushed crimson at yet another female voice, //Damn it...// Then he managed to process who was standing there, "Uh... Black Canary? Right? Hi..."

He felt something fabric-ish hit his arm and looked back, then beamed at the ranger and dragged the neon plastic poncho over his head, thankful it wasn't one of the cheap clear ones they sold up on the caldera. Covered, finally, he turned around, still flushed dark in the light from the shack. //What a way to meet one of the senior heroes, even if she doesn't look any older than Kory... Buck naked and covered in ash...//

Black Canary was torn between wanting to hug the stuffings out of him, and being vaguely amused that he was blushing like the boy he really was. She then smiled broadly. "I'm your ride back to the mainland, Kon. I'm sure we can get you taken care of if you want to come with me."

"How'd I...? I... Canary, I'm a little lost, so... slow down?" He realized then that he sounded about as miserable and confused as he felt, and winced. "Sorry, whining..."

Now she did give way to her impulse, and stepped over to his side, gently hugging him. "It's okay, Kon...really, truly it is...just let me get you somewhere with clothes and food, and you'll see."

He leaned into it, breathing a scent that wasn't ash and heat, then nodded sharply. "Please? To both? Soon?" Someone else even mentioning food had his stomach growling--and he completely missed the low-voiced, excited conversation behind them.

Canary looked over his shoulder at the rangers. "Yes, it is him. And right now, he's starving. Anyone got something to feed a growing boy before I get him home?"

The man standing there frowned a moment then nodded and let himself into the shack, digging into something below the counter. He came back up with a couple of granola bars and a bottle of gatorade. "Here, it's not much, but..."

"Thanks, man." Kon'd decided to speak for himself and took the offered food... and it was gone like Bart'd been at it, nothing left but the wrappers as he cracked into the gatorade, wondering why they were so surprised--okay, he was kinda startled to be back in Hawaii with no clue how he got here, but she looked like she wanted to cry, and Canary was acting kind of weird... He finished the bottle, then looked around, "So... how're we getting home?"

"Bike back to my ride home," she told him. "Thank you, Rangers...he's in good hands now." She kept an arm around Kon's waist and escorted him out to her bike.

Kon looked at the bike, the poncho, and her, and fought the blush down, figuring his TTK was up for that much... He waited until she was on, then settled behind her, arms wrapping carefully around her waist.

"Roads are twisty...oh, you know that, d'uh, Dinah." She grinned over her shoulder. "Hang on; I don't have a slow gear." As promised, she took off like a shot, her bike handling expertly even with his presence.

He shut his eyes and hung on, head tucked against her shoulder--he didn't want to see any of this when he wasn't sure his TTK was strong enough to keep him from being turned into paste if she lost control...

She had them at a small airfield in short order, pulling up to a bird that resembled the AWACS, if that lumbering bird had been redesigned by Kord and Wayne Industries. "Help me get my bike locked down, so Zinda can lift?" She asked after pulling into the cargo bay.

"Who? Nevermind, sure... what do you need me to do?"

She talked him through rigging the bike into its cargo locks so it would not shift and so its weight was centered in the bay. She got the ramp up, then started leading him into the plane proper. "Ready, Lady B. Taking the passenger to the galley." Canary had touched her ear lightly. "Roger that." She looked at Kon as the plane started rolling forward. "She says there might be a pair of sweats in her bunk. You want me to look?"

"Please? Pants would be nice..." He kept his balance easily, even as the plane moved, though he kind of wanted to be down before they took off...

She guided him to a fairly nice cabin that had a huge array of electronics in it, most of which were powered down. There were low couches, and she nudged him to one. "Be right back."

"Okay..." Kon dropped onto the couch, his head still screaming, and he looked around, //Tim'd be in heaven with this...//

Canary walked on, going out of this cabin, talking to herself. "No, not a word. My call, O. I want it kept quiet...just a few days..." he heard her say before she was out of earshot without concentrating.

He didn't have the energy to concentrate, and just lay there waiting through the takeoff and the leveling out. //Fast bird...// She came back not long after it had leveled out, offering him sweats and then turning away to grant him privacy.

He slid into them, sighing with relief to have real clothes on even if they were a little big. "Thanks. ...How'd you know where I was? Hell, how'd I get there?"

Canary dropped on a couch opposite him. "First part...I work for Oracle. She sees a lot of stuff, and I am one of her people for making sure the things she sees gets taken care of. We weren't about to leave you hanging, Kon." She sighed softly, a smile touching her lips. "The second...I have no idea. But then, it's not without precedent, the whole back from the grave after saving the world thing."

"Say WHAT?!"

Canary winced, as she caught flak for that in her ear as well. "Okay, Oracle...shut up and let me talk to him then!" She concentrated on Kon, tuning out her partner. "Last thing you remember?"

"I... Superboy-Prime beating the shit out of me... and then at the labs, Tim and Cassie... then... Nightwing? Needed me for, something... a tower... Had to... oh, god, my head..." Trying to remember was making his headache worse, and was like trying to look through lead, except it hurt worse...

She moved over to him at the look on his face, petting his hair gently. "Okay, stop that, it hurts right now. I'll give you the version I heard. You went to the tower that they were using to screw up the universe, and you fought with every bit of courage you had. Then...you saved the world, but it cost you." //And so many who loved you, boy.// "It's been about half a year. Things are fairly quiet...a lot of low key events but nothing major, since...since we lost you."

He leaned into her hand, biting his lip at the pain. "I... I died?"

She drew him to her shoulder, flashbacks of holding another hurting teen this same way crossing her mind. "Yes, Kon. You died. Wonder Girl and Robin...Tim...were at your side."

"Tim.. oh, GOD. Isheokay?!" //Oh no. Oh, god, as if he hadn't lost enough already?! That chick at his school, his dad, Steph...//

That reaction endeared him more than anything to her right then, but she was conscious of Oracle listening in. "He is better than his family had feared, but he's not one hundred percent...yet."

Kon winced, "But... he's okay, right? Safe? ...What about Cassie?"

Canary drew in a deep breath. "Tim is safe. He's been traveling with the Wayne family this year." She tried to find the right words to use next. "Wonder Girl was rumored to be involved in an effort of a cult to bring you back...but she's been mostly quiet."

Kon tilted his head, trying to figure that one out, "Why would Tim be.... Nnh. Head hurts too much to figure that out..." Then he stared at her, shaking his head slightly, "She's a demigoddess, what's she thinking? She knows better..."

"It's been a rough time for some people. I think Donna or Diana took her aside," she added.

Kon nodded. "Good... As if the Titans don' have enough trouble with crazy cults, she has to go find one?" He muttered... and his stomach rumbled again, making him flush. "Sorry..." He hadn't stirred off her shoulder.

Dinah chuckled. "Sorry, Kid. Forgot to make your food." She shifted him gently. "Wanna clean up? Small shower closet two doors through that passage."

"...shower. Shower. Yeah... I'll do that. Food when I get out?"

"Promise you." She stood and walked the other way, to the small galley, and began preparing a meal for him, glad Zinda kept it stocked. While she was at it, she made herself a salad, and then a sandwich for Zinda, delivering that after securing Kon's food in the main cabin.

Kon dumped himself into the shower, wrinkling his nose at the floral smell of the shampoo and soap--but anything was better than the reek of ash and sulfur and vog all over his skin... //What was I doing on the volcano?// and not thinking about anything but the way the water felt was helping his headache--even if he had to stop himself from thinking about what she'd said a lot... He got back out pretty quick, driven by his stomach, and pulled the sweats back on, walking out still scrubbing the towel over his hair.

Dinah noted the improvement, tried not to think about the fact her sons had a knack for finding really hot bodied lovers, and pointed to the food as she ate her salad.

Not that Kon actually had to be pointed at food right now. He'd already been in motion towards it by the time her hand moved, and he settled close enough to start eating--and once again, the food vanished like Bart was around, leaving him looking around for more. She smiled. "First trip's on me. Second...all you." She pointed toward the galley.

Kon picked his plate up and headed that way, opening cabinet after cabinet, looking each one over for edibles. Zinda kept a large supply of snacks, all American meal items, and general groceries on the plane, plus the healthier stuff her crew sometimes lived off of. Kon attempted to be restrained, still came back with a completely overstuffed plate--especially after he'd reached the refrigerator--and sat back down to polish it off too. "Thanks, Canary..."

"Dinah." She smiled at him. "Please."

"Okay. Dinah." He nodded once, filing that. "So... where're we headed?"

"Metropolis." She held up a hand to forestall any questions. "One, Clark is temporarily grounded...completely zapped his reserves, and has not recharged yet, so he won't know right away. Two: I am asking you to stick with me, and follow my suggestions for the next few days. I don't want you getting swamped with media...oh shit...O?" A long pause. "Thanks, Oracle. I don't want the media swarming you so soon, and there are some who should not find out over the news feed. The rangers were notified to keep it mum for now, in case you aren't the real deal."

Kon blinked at that news, eyes widening worriedly, but he stayed quiet until she was through talking. "...okay. I mean, I don't know you, but I heard a lot of good, so I might as well... and yeah, I don't wanna deal with freaking reporters, either..." He then tilted his head. "So. Why're you so sure I am? I mean, I am, but..."

"Because Oracle is never wrong." She placed her faith solidly in her partner. "And I have my own reasons to be happy you are you."

"Okay..." he sounded uncertain, but willing to take her word for it. "I... I still don't really believe it, I mean, I know Clark came back, and Donna, but... I'm not... Six months?"

"Ollie and Hal took longer." Her voice was soft; she knew what this was going to be like for Tim, firsthand. "You deserved it, Kon. In the cosmic scheme, quite a bit." //And Tim definitely does.//

"Arrow and Lantern," he placed the names after a few moments, and nodded. "Yeah, guess they did..." then he flushed at her last words. "I... don't remember..."

"Don't worry about it so much, Kon. You'll have a few days to adjust before we go anywhere." She paused and looked annoyed. "Yes, I am...He's going with us, and I want to wait til then..." She rolled her eyes, looked back at Kon. "Sorry, pesky partner in ear." She smiled widely at him.

"What about... and where am I going?"

"I'm due in Gotham on Christmas Eve...wanna help me be the best damn Santa ever?" Her eyes sparkled in deep amusement.

Kon had to think a moment, //Gotham, Santa...// "So am I a present, or an elf?"

"Definitely a present, to a kid who needs his...best friend back." Dinah's voice implied a real warmth toward Tim.

Kon couldn't help but smile, "Okay, I can handle that. I mean... I don't have enough TTK to do anything about trying to find him on my own, and trying to find him online gets me some really nasty viruses, so if you're gonna get me to him, I might as well help you..."

"You won't regret this."

Kon shrugged a little, //not like I have another choice, lady.// then was caught by surprise as he yawned... "Nnn... got a tanning bed on this thing?" The lack of strength in his TTK, in his own body was scaring him, reminding him of the last time--and he didn't want to stay like that!

"How about a green room, with solar lamps? Once we land."

"That sounds even better," Kon nodded, covering his mouth as he yawned again.

"Lay down, Kon...that's why we have couches in here." Dinah curled her legs under her.

Kon nodded and curled up, tucking his hands under his cheek... and it wasn't long before he was deep in sleep again. She got up long enough to find a blanket, covering him gently.

"Sleep well, Kon." She then went to get her own rest. The sleeping boy merely shifted under the blanket, curling up under it.

"Why are you pushing things this way, Dinah?" Oracle's voice was curious as she walked towards her bed.

"For Steph, O. I want Tim happy for her sake," Dinah said, a partial truth. She had been very careful not to reveal her relationship with Bruce to her partner.

*~*~*~*~
Dec 21st, far, far away from Earth

Kyle stalked across the compound, flinging the written roster at Guy. "I told you, I'm going home!"

Guy lazily caught the pieces of paper with his ring and sent them back to the training room. "Rayner, I say you should be patrolling, and I'm in charge of setting patrol schedules."

"Gardner. Let me make something real clear. I'm going home, If I have to go through you. It's not like we don't have more than enough Lanterns whose major holiday isn't less than a week from now. I'm going to be pushing it to get back as-is..." The younger man's face was dead calm below the mask, as was his carefully level voice.

"Looky...trying to do you a favor man..." Guy shook his head. "Believe me, the last thing in the world you need is to be on Earth at the sappiest time of the year," the red head sneered.

"Gardner, you may not have anyone to get home to, but I do, so back it off and reassign someone. I'll swing their next shift as soon as I get back, probably the day after New Years."

//Who...oh yeah, the old man. Kid, you are making a huge mistake...// "I say you stay. You're a Corps member...you patrol what you're given."

"Actually... I'm a Corps member, my duty is my sector... which, officially, is Earth's. I just lend a hand elsewhere because I can. One more time, Guy." Each of those words sounded more like a complete sentence, and under the level tone was sharpened steel. "I'm off Christmas, and enough time to get there and back."

"No." Guy puffed up, bullying presence at full power as he loomed into Kyle's space. "You patrol what I assigned."

The punch came out of nowhere, completely non-telegraphed, and slammed into Guy's jaw hard enough to send the bulkier Lantern sprawling. His lover and adoptive "father" would have been proud to see it. "Fuck. Off. Gardner. I'm out of here."

Several Lanterns who were around stared in shock to see Kyle lose his temper. Kilowog walked over calmly, reaching down to pick Guy up and slapping a green hand over his mouth. "Go on, poozer. You earned it."

"Thanks, Kilowog. Let me know who pulls my shift, so I can pay it back," he threw over his shoulder as he took off. //God, presents...// flickered through his mind as he got out of the base and headed for Earth as fast as he could push the ring and his will.

Guy rubbed his jaw, eyes vexed. "Doesn't understand," Guy growled.

Kilowog nodded. "Poozer's gotta learn for himself." They walked off together, as the alien plotted what they'd do this Christmas to keep the memories of Ice at bay for his friend. Kilowog did wonder just who could make Kyle that adamant, since he just could not see the artist being that devoted to his dead girlfriend's family.

*~*~*~*~
December 23rd, evening

Dinah worried if she had everything ready, fussing around her apartment. She had already called Alfred to be sure all her gifts had made it there, worried that she would have lost one in the mail. As she shook her head, sighing, she heard the click of Oracle activating their link. "Don't you dare say you have a mission for me."

"...I believe that would be taking my life in my hands," Babs replied mildly. "You're making yourself crazy, what is wrong?"

"I just want things to go smooth." She bit her tongue against the thoughts of seeing Bruce and Ollie for the first time since Thanksgiving. She had only crossed paths with Roy the entire time.

"Dinah..." Bab's voice was gentle. "You have the world's best Christmas present sitting in your spare bedroom. Barring that Bruce may be... annoyed at you for basically revealing his identity to the kid, everything is going to go fine. Settle down."

Dinah smiled to herself. "Bruce will be fine; Tim's interests come first."

Babs didn't bother to argue aloud, if she disagreed. "How is the kid doing?"

Understanding that not everyone was as comfortable with surveillance as her partner was, she'd shut off most of the cameras in Dinah's home while the boy was there.

"He's good, Babs. Been soaking up the sun in my green room. Eating like food will go out of style. And trying on every outfit I've bought for him, 'breaking' in the the jeans..." Dinah said, laughing.

Babs shook her head, smiling slightly. "And you're enjoying spoiling him... why?" It wasn't as though Clark wasn't living right across town.

"Haven't had a teenager to take care of in a few years," Dinah rattled off.

"...Feeling maternal, or something?" Babs asked.. and it wasn't the jab it might have been from someone else.

"Babs...Do you know how good it feels to be able to pay forward the joy I felt at hearing Oliver was alive? All problems aside, I had missed him."

"...Aah. And, I know you had, Dinah," Babs replied, finally understanding at least part of why her partner had been bouncing off the walls for the last two days--practically since the moment she'd gotten the boy onto the back of her bike.

"So we're picking up your father in the morning and going right over?"

"That's the plan," Babs agreed.

Dinah nodded to herself, too excited by the prospects.

Kon stuck his head out the door finally, "Dinah, is somebody--nope. You're talking at your necklace again. Okay. I'm gonna head back in with the plants, okay?"

"All good, Kon...up for Thai tonight? We'll be flying out early."

"Sounds great, Dinah," Kon nodded as he walked through the room, heading for the sunlamps. Stupid northeastern winters...

Babs was chuckling softly in her ear at Kon's commentary. "You need to stop making me giggle," Dinah told her partner, biting it back. "You and your father will only be there for the dinner on Christmas Eve?" Dinah was wondering how long she was going to have to behave.

"Yeah. We're going to do our own thing, afterwards... But you know you're welcome, if things get... weird..." She didn't understand why Dinah was so willing--downright insistent about--to join her ex's family at the Manor. That was another thing she wasn't quite understanding.

Dinah laughed softly. "I told you, things will be fine. Ollie and I have...worked through it."

"If you say so, Dinah."

Dinah had flashes of the feel of her lovers holding her, holding each other, and flushed at the thought. "Yeah, Babs." She drew in a deep breath and glanced at her email, noting Mia had sent her one promising they were on schedule.

"All right. I'll see you in the morning," Babs said warmly.

"Good night, Babs." She clicked off and placed an order for Thai, then went to the green room to tend her plants for the long absence. Kon was stretched out under the bulbs, basking in the light, soaking up the power... and he was apparently testing his control by floating an empty pot, only a fingertip on it.

"Nice. Pretty soon, you won't need my jet," she teased him.

"Gonna be nice to fly on my own again," he agreed. "Can't happen soon enough--not that I don't like the jet!"

"Honey, if I could fly, you think I'd stay in that tin can? There's a reason I prefer bikes and convertibles," she told him. She steadily worked through the few plants she had chosen to raise herself, rather than special order in.

Kon couldn't help grinning as he rolled to watch her with the plants. "Huh. Guess so... I think I could probably play taxi for you, if you want, once I get my strength back..." After a moment, he kept talking. "You remind me of Kory, the way she's always in her garden..."

Dinah laughed softly. "Roy told me that once."

"Yeah?" leading tone in his voice. Kon was always eager to hear more about the older Titans, the ones they were named for...

Dinah finished caring for one of her orchids and nodded. "We were talking about the team that replaced his, the new ones...at least they were new back then. Nightwing had finally persuaded Roy to meet them, and he was looking for things that stood out about them. Kory's open honesty and her garden made him think of me."

Kon nodded, "Makes sense... Weird to think about her being new to the team, I mean, to me she's always been there... I hope she's okay." Finding out how many they'd lost (or had missing) had been a hard blow to the reborn teen... but the hero world did seem to be surviving okay.

"They're trickling back in. The Corps is doing great about searching." Dinah had faith in the Corps' ability to work through the mayhem.

Kon nodded. "Yeah. You said so..." He pretty much had to take her word on things, at the moment.

She sighed softly. "Tim will be far more up to date, actually, on the big picture. He keeps up. I'm so busy pinch hitting small fires, under the noses of the world governments."

"That's m--that's Robin," Kon agreed, "Though getting him away long enough to get filled in might be a problem. ...Are you sure I've got nice enough clothes to be wandering around in that guy's house?" The very idea made him kind of shaky, no matter how many times she told him it would be okay.

Dinah smiled. "You have the suit for dinner, and casual clothes are good enough for everything else." She heard the bell as the food arrived; they served her fast since she had cleared out the local gangs. "Food's on."

Kon relaxed, then perked up at the sound of the doorbell. "I'll let you get it," he said with a grin as he set the pot down and followed her out to go get dinner. Dinah nodded at that wisdom. She soon had the food and was setting the cartons out for them both, sampling some of everything, and leaving most to him. She had hit her expense account hard for the Super Teen, and considered it money very well spent.

Once she'd selected hers, Kon settled in to go after the food, oddly comfortable with this woman. He still couldn't remember everything about those last hours, but she was helping. She had done all she could to brief him gently, to make him feel at home, and keep him entertained. Now, it was all going to pay off in less than twelve hours.

*~*~*~*~
December 24th, midmorning

Alfred heard the doorbell ring not half an hour after he had ordered the last of the temporary staff out of the building, and was thankful he had managed to finish all arrangements before this point. That was indubitably the Arrow family, and the peace of his family would not be disturbed by some young busybody looking to make easy cash. He moved rapidly down the decorated hallway and pulled open the doors, smiling slightly at the sight that met his eyes--Master Oliver, Master Roy, Master Connor, Miss Mia, and Miss Lian were on the doorstep, mostly carrying the coats and wraps they'd come up from the car in. He swung the door wide, beckoning them in and shutting it behind them. "May I take your coa--"

"ALFIE!" Lian squealed as she wriggled down from Master Roy's arms and flung herself at him, breaking off his words.

Roy looked embarrassed, but Alfred recovered with aplomb, one hand going down to stroke her hair and settle on her back, a soft smile on his face. "May I take your coats, now that Miss Lian has staked out her claim on my legs?"

Connor merely smiled at his niece's clinging hug, holding his hands out for his family's outer wear. "Let me carry them, and you show me where they go."

Mia peeked into the cavernous room ahead and swore to herself that there was no way she was going to not embarrass herself. Ollie nodded politely to Alfred, thinking it was funny to come inside through the front door.

Alfred considered that a moment, then nodded. He would allow it. He watched as they handed over coats and scarves and gloves, shifting down to lift Lian into his arms.

Tim had heard that shriek and came down from his room, a smile on his lips. "Hey, guys--and Mia. Good trip in?"

Dick rounded a corner of the hall and headed their way, towel around his shoulders and in nothing but shorts and wrist-wraps, sweat and chalk all over his skin. "Morning, all..."

"Master Dick...do remember that civil people do not parade themselves so casually as the full family is arriving," Alfred scolded.

"Tim!" Mia looked happy to see him, and he knew from earlier texts the males in her family had been driving her insane. Roy had no problem with Dick's lack of attire, his eyes feasting on the acrobat. Lian hugged Alfred's neck tightly. "Missed you, Alfie...Daddy still can't make good cookies."

Dick shrugged a shoulder, "What, I was supposed to stay away and let them think I didn't want to see them? Yeah, right, Alfie, and I'm not done working out yet." He had eyes for no-one but Roy, much as he might be talking about/to all of them, smiling at the hunger in his eyes, //Yes. I missed you, too.//

Tim grinned at her and went closer, opening his body-language to invite a hug. "Good to see you, Mia." She moved over and gave him a quick hug, not wanting to get Connor or Ollie started again on her relationship with the boy. "Brought my latest game."

Bruce walked to the railing of the second-floor stairs, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in Japanese. He smiled at all of them, then turned to go back to his study. A sharp-eyed observer might note that the back of his hair was disarrayed, as though he was running his hand through it repeatedly.

"No? Well, that won't be a problem here," Alfred replied, touched by the strength of her hug.

"I'll join you," Roy said, but Ollie cleared his throat. "After I help Connor get our stuff in."

Alfred frowned slightly at the thought of guests bringing their own bags in, but his arms were very full of a small child who was chattering at him brightly. She paused talking long enough to look all around as they moved towards the coat closet; the house was so big. Connor took care hanging everything up where Alfred showed him.

Dick glanced out the window near the door and shivered theatrically, "I'll wait..."

Tim grinned slightly. "Sounds good, I'm getting tired of beating up on Dick in mine," he said over his brother's loud, indignant protests.

The Arrow boys made their way back out, while Ollie smiled at the Bat Boys. "Good to see you both. Think he'd mind if I go up while he's doing business?"

Mia rolled her eyes at that cool, understated tone he was using.

Dick smiled. "Good to see you, too, Ollie," then snorted. "Riiight, he'd mind. If he hadn't wanted company, he wouldn't have surfaced." //You've known him how long and don't know that?// Tim had grinned at Ollie in reply, but let Dick handle that one, smiling at Mia, equally amused.

Mia shook her head, knowing that Ollie had been on pins and needles the whole month. He was not used to being the one waiting at home, so to speak. Roy had brought her out to New York to help with Lian for a week and filled her in on a lot of back history. When he got to the part about abandoning Dinah for an entire year...Mia had wondered how in the world this was going to work now.

Ollie walked up the stairs at a sedate pace, smiling more the higher he went. When he reached the study door, he found it cracked slightly open. Ollie slipped in, standing by the door to wait for Bruce, rather than assuming anything.

Tim tilted his head at Mia, curious, and watched as Roy and Connor came through the door, laden with present-sacks. "Tree's this way, guys," he called and led the way in. He still thought 20+ feet of Douglas fir was excessive, but Alfred hadn't asked him.

The archers unloaded one time, then went back for the personal effects.

"Ollie's more unsure of this trip than anything I have ever seen," Mia told Tim in confidence as they left again.

Tim stayed in the room with the tree for a moment, amused by the fact that once again, Alfred had absconded with Lian. //So buying him a 'grandpa' shirt...// He nearly laughed outright at the way Dick trailed the two out the great room door, knowing exactly where his brother's eyes were probably locked. Once they were gone, "Is he really?"

Bruce walked over and ran a hand down his shoulder, saying hello with his eyes even as his voice went slightly lower at whoever was on the other end of the phone, then moved towards the overstuffed leather couch and sat down, palm of his free hand turning up towards Ollie. //Come here.//

Ollie had to suppress a chill along his spine as he took in that confident pose, the open demand for his closeness, and walked over, settling on the couch within Bruce's reach.

"Yeah...you know Canary has been real busy, right? She's seen Roy all of twice in the month." Mia shook her head. "And neither time during Ollie's visits. Think he's worried how they're both gonna act now."

Tim closed his eyes, saying something that was all hard consonants and swallowed vowels, and didn't sound pleasant.

Roy and Connor made a contest of stacking and getting the most luggage inside, coming in to see Dick waiting. "Lead on, Short Pants. This shit's heavy," Roy said.

Alfred reappeared as though by magic, Lian with a sugar-cookie reindeer in hand--and she ran to Dick with a cry, tossing herself up into his arms before Roy could even finish his words. Dick pulled her close, settled her against a hip, and smiled at Roy, "C'mon, then, Alfie already showed me which rooms," as he headed up the stairs. If he'd thought he could take a bag without causing the entire pile to fall, he would have, but... best not to chance it. He'd settle for carrying the baby. //Not that she really was anymore...//

Bruce reached over and wrapped his arm around Ollie's ribs, tugging him in as he continued his argument. Ollie purred low in his throat, eyes closing as all the doubts fell away, soothed by knowing his Bat still wanted him.

"Cursing in Russian now?" Mia teased him. "Seriously, why do you Gotham people seem to pick up languages like crazy? I'm having trouble with Japanese," she complained.

"Good ear," Tim replied. "As to why? Because we're paranoid. Well, that and we get about every culture on the planet's criminal element, and it's nice to be able to know what they're saying when they don't think we do. And Dick's probably the worst of us at it--but don't tell him I said that. Why're you working on Japanese? Star City having another Yakuza influx?" That was going to go over real well with Dick...

Bruce's hand moved on him lightly, just enough for him to know Bruce was paying attention to him, and slowly his voice warmed again, and a formal round of pleasantries began, finally ending the conversation, and he sighed as he hung up. "That was an exercise in frustration," he growled softly.

Ollie grinned at him, amused. "Usually is, in Japanese...too many damned honorifics and inflections."

Mia nodded. "Actually, yes...of the business sort. Big Corporation and their associated bullies."

"Oh, great." Tim was so not impressed.

Connor and Roy unloaded luggage at each room, juggling the stacks, Dick sliding forward to help when he could.

Luggage fully unloaded, Dick looked at Connor, head tipping to the side, fighting the urge to ask something. "Welcome to the Manor, Connor... if you can think of something, it's probably stuck somewhere in this place. Any plans for the afternoon? Or thoughts about plans, as the case may be?" It was falling on him to play host, apparently, much as he wanted to get back to his workout... He'd missed their own equipment, even just the upstairs set, though he really wanted to get downstairs and on the traps...

"I will be glad to try and be of assistance to Alfred and keep an eye on our junior family members," Connor said, gracefully withdrawing after coaxing Lian into taking him to Alfred. He had no wish to intrude on Roy's reunion.

Bruce sighed softly, "True enough--and too much circling the topics..." He then shook his head once, sharply. "Enough of that.... I missed you," he told his lover, pulling him closer, hand sliding up over his hair... Ollie went with that pull, mouth open and inviting as he met Bruce's.

Roy sighed softly as his brother did his serene fade. "Kyle's not on Earth yet...at least we don't think he is," Roy said in a low voice, just before he slid into Dick's personal space, demanding his attention with a kiss.

Mia nodded slowly. "I may try to get a job with them soon," she added. "So I need the language."

"Yeah, you would. Okay. Why didn't you tell me you were working on this? I'd have helped..." Robin was annoyed at her lack of use of a resource, Tim just wondered why she'd left him out of the loop

"Oh, that--" and whatever else he was saying was wiped out as Roy's mouth covered his and he pressed tight against Roy, moaning softly at the feel of his body against him again... Too god-damned many lonely nights in the last month... Roy took the kiss as deep as he could without promising sex then and there.

Bruce kissed him deep, frustration held on a tight leash so as not to take it out on Ollie, holding him close as he kissed him deep. Ollie pulled Bruce's shirt free enough to get one hand under and on his chest...inviting him to unwind.

"I don't like to talk that stuff to you when I know you're not getting to go out yet," Mia answered honestly. "Figured it could keep."

"Still, I could have helped. Can if you want," Tim offered.

Dick kissed him back just as eagerly, a half-step shy of demanding their reunion happen right here, right now--aided by the fact that this wasn't supposed to be Roy's room.

Bruce growled again, low and deep, and twisted, pinning Ollie down against the couch, hand still in his hair to hold him tight against him, other hand sliding under Ollie's shirt, a small flicker of thought about the maturity level of pinning his lover to a couch in a den, but... He didn't care. Ollie's low moan told him that he was very happy to indulge any level of immaturity in the reunion...he just wanted Bruce now, and the way hands slid over his skin and the low, hungry noise that moan brought from the Bat's throat promised that Ollie was going to have exactly that, and very soon.

Roy finally broke it and ran his hand through Dick's hair. "Let's go work out, lover, before I have my way with you now," the redhead said in a low, intense voice.

Dick shuddered slightly, leaned back into the feel of Roy's hand, then nodded. "Yeah... I need the workout, I haven't been near a real gym in.. too long..."

Mia nodded. "I'd like that. I need to be conversant."

"No problem," Tim replied with a shrug, then headed for the game room. "You said you had your new game?" he suggested.

Connor rejoined Tim and Mia, Lian with him, as he studied everything around him. Mia grinned, and held up her back pack, with the game equipment. "Join us, bro?"

The challenge of a three-way game brought a spark to Tim's eyes and he joined in encouraging Connor to play along, all of them missing it when Dick and Roy walked past the game room on their way to the upstairs gym.