"Do not spoil what you have with what you have not; remember that what you have now was once among the things you hoped for"

Chapter Two: Authenticity

The nurse ushered the group through the narrow hallways, steering them up and down a few narrow turns before she sidestepped them to until she was at the front of the line. She paused momentarily, flashing the teens a reassuring grin. The smile was short-lived as a more professional calm washed down her features and she opened the door.

"Thank you for your time. Your families are trough here," She gestured outside, and numbly the Team slowly exited the hall.

Robin was the first to step out, gliding into the room cautiously. He'd never felt so unsure, not even when tagging along the darkened streets of Gotham. At least there he knew what he was walking into. This…whatever is was…reality, he supposed, was a foreign concept. He could hardly process the facts that the files had shoved down his throat, much less the prospect of-of his parents being alive.

The team huddled carefully into the space.

It was a typical waiting room setting. White-wash trim bordered the blue-gray walls, and spotless tiles clicked beneath their shoes. A few posters graced the walls, revealing peaceful and inspirational scenes, like a waterfall and an island. The normalcy of the room was nearly claustrophobic.

"Wait here, and I'll go get your guardians," The nurse said from behind them, and they hardly had the chance to look back at her before the door swished closed behind her.

Wally turned back and faced the group.

Robin was staring around, his face still hidden away by sunglasses. His hands were tucked away into his denim pockets, his head kind of lowered as though the gleaming tiles beneath him held the secrets of the earth. Wally couldn't remember the teen ever looking out of place – until now, anyway.

Next to him, Zatana was just sort of…there. One hand was tucked away, wrapped carefully around her shoulder, while the other played with a thick strand of her raven-colored hair. Her eyes darted around the room with interest, but Wally got the sense she wasn't really seeing anything.

Artemis had opted to take a seat in one of the cushioned chairs, her steel gray eyes fastened on the door. Their steely tint seemed to dare anyone to step through the door without her permission or without explanation. Her pose seemed to deflate slightly a second later though, when her watchful gaze met Wally's and she look away, her arms pulling up as she crossed them over her chest.

Megan and Conner were standing together, though Wally supposed it was more out of habit than anything else. They'd acted as each other's shields for so long (or had it been?), that the urge to stand together and support each other had become instinctual. The comforting hand that Conner offered the now peach-skinned girl with bright orange freckles was just as much an anchor for him as it was for her. Her acceptance of it and allowing her to draw her in and bury her head in his chest was just as much security as it was his.

Roy didn't anything but annoyed, his piercing gaze hitting everything with defiance as sharp as an arrow. But underneath it all, to the speedster's horror, tinges of acceptance lurked beneath his expression. How someone as usually questioning as Roy could accept that their life was a lie crushed Wally. After all, if Roy believed, there was at least the possibility that it'd been a lie. A hallucination brought on by science. And if it was, what happened now?

Aqualad – Kaldur, stood aside, part of the group and yet so detached. His fog-colored eyes trailed up and down his arms, tracing the eel tattoos that served as his only foundation for his old appearance. Wally couldn't imagine having lost whole parts of your body, and he felt sympathy crawl into his chest when the darker skinned teen rubbed his hand across his neck, lingering in the place where gills had once been, with fingers that had once had webbing. Or had they?

Wally suddenly felt claustrophobic. The air was hot, clammy, and all too thin. He ran his hands through his hair.

"Guys," Wally tried, glancing at all of them, but when their heads turned in his direction, his voice died. He couldn't grapple with trying to put his emotions into words. He couldn't form the right words of subtle disbelief and horrifying realization that the more he thought about it, the more possible it all became.

"I don't want to believe it either," Robin whispered.

Wally looked down. He knew about Robin's…Dick Grayson's past. The past he'd believed in the simulation, anyway. The one where his parents were dead. The one where he'd cried out as he watched their bodies collide with an unforgiving floor. The teen had just only begun to accept his parent's death, this being the first year where he hadn't hidden away from life on the day of his parent's anniversary of death. This…this uprooted that. Like tearing off an old scar.

"Rob…" Wally murmured, trying to offer his understanding and regret into the tone. But once again words failed him and silence took over.

However, it wasn't for long.

"You guys, if this is real," Megan squeaked in a hushed voice, "We need to keep in touch. Even if that was only a test, I know you guys are still my best friends," she hugged Conner tightly, waiting for everyone's response.

"Of course we're sticking together," Wally seconded immediately, and the rest of the team nodded, even Roy, though he only tipped his head down slightly. An acknowledgment.

Before anymore could be said, though, the doorknob made a snapping sound, and a short-lived speak pounced through the room and drew attention towards itself. The door swung open, and a horde of people calmly stepped in. Each person was eerily familiar, and each had a smile on their face.

"Dick!" A woman cried out from the crowd. She was a fairly tall woman, with curly dirty blonde hair she had fashioned into a ponytail behind her. She had laughing eyes that held a warmth in their big brown appearance. A man was beside her, a strong but trim body. His face was crinkled with laugh-lines and his hair was jet-black, only a little gray flecks passing subtly through the tresses. He had striking blue eyes, the kind that seemed to glow.

"Mom? Dad?" Robin murmured, but he was caught off guard as the women ran up to him, wrapping the small but sturdy boy up in her arms, pressing him into her as her hand ran loving through her son's hair.

"Oh, how'd it go? Did you like being a superhero?" His mother asked lovingly, her smile like penetrating the room like a thousand-watt light bulb. Her tone was filled with excitement, and her husband chuckled lightly.

"Hon, let the boy breathe. Look at him – he's pale as a sheet," The man joked happily, slapping his son on the back.

Robin's face had drained of color. The last time he'd seen his parents…he'd been watching them drop through the air, watching their eyes. Seeing their bodies crumple lifelessly against the ground. He'd watched them die, their expression dull, their mangled bodies go limp on the ground.

And now, they were here. They were here. Hugging and laughing like they had in his memories, like nothing had happened. Maybe…maybe nothing had.

Robin didn't think, but let his previously rigid frame relax into his mother's hug.

"I missed you guys," the boy murmured, and a tear slid down his cheek as he wrapped his arms around the two, "I missed you so much."

The whole team watched the scene unfold, and though only Wally knew the full effect of what was going on, there was a sense that they were watching something sacred, not meant for their eyes. They remembered Robin questioning his parents' life when the doctor had mentioned them. It clicked, and everyone watched, not sure what emotion they were experiencing, but positive that whatever it was, it was stronger than any known before.

Suddenly Wally was broken from the scene, feeling his body being jerked backwards into a playful headlock.

"Yeah, how was it?" he heard Barry's voice ask happily, "Did you save anyone?"

Wally's head whipped back instantly, his eyes catching hold of Barry.

"Uncle B?" Wally questioned, his eyes wide and green. His uncle didn't look like he'd changed at all. Aunt Iris was standing behind him, and she didn't look any different either, "Aunt Iris?"

"You okay sweetie?" Aunt Iris asked, "You were in there for an awfully long time. Nearly twenty-four hours!" his aunt exclaimed.

"A day?" Wally repeated in shock, "It…It had to be longer than just a day!"

Barry whistled, "Phew, technology today, huh? But I'll bet you're glad you don't have school for the rest of the week for recovery time, right?"

Wally bit his lip, "That sounds fantastic, but I'll have to as Dad. He had something planned this weekend. Mom's birthday, remember?"

Iris and Barry froze, exchanging looks.

"Wally, honey?" Iris asked, her voice suddenly gentle, "The doctors told me about your life in their…Those weren't your parents…"

Wally's eyes grew wide, remembering what his file had said. His parents here were abusive.

Artemis was about to come to the redhead's defense, seeing his discomfort, but she was stopped by a similar embrace as she heard Ollie's voice resound heartily through the room.

"No don't think you can just sulk over here. Roy got his hug, and goshed darn if I'm not going to make this a Hallmark moment," Ollie smirked, and Artemis felt his two arms constrict her into a large hug. She tilted her gaze up to Ollie, noting his smile that indicated he was fairly pleased with himself. Some things never changed.

Thankfully, Artemis saw Black Canary come to her rescue and lightly slap Ollie across the arm, "Stop it, Oliver," she scolded, "You'll embarrass her in front of her knew friends!"

"Thanks, Canary," Artemis muttered happily when Ollie released her and she went to stand by Roy.

"Canary?" The blonde asked in confusion, "Usually you call me Dinah,"

Artemis felt her cheeks flush and she glanced down.

"Right, whatever." She murmured. It shocked her when Roy put a hand on her shoulder. It was pretty apathetic, but it still surprised her.

Looking at Aqualad's awkward confrontation with his Uncle Orin, Conner tilted his head down. Te tile floor glanced back up at him, and Conner frowned until he saw two pairs of purple shoes click up to him.

"Conner!" A woman called happily, giving him a quick hug before returning to what she'd been saying, "Sorry your father couldn't make it. But you know how he is with his work," she paused, sighing, "That man is a workaholic." She stated firmly, flipping a lock of black hair behind her shoulder.

Conner eyed her. She stood up all the way to just beyond the tip of her chin. She was dressed in a professional long sleeved suit, though a matching tan pencil skirt replaced slacks. Her eyes were bright, and even though they darted up and down between Conner and her phone, when she looked at him, she actually looked at him. He remembered something about a Lois from his file. This woman…was his mother.

Conner didn't know what to say. Robin had gone right ahead and called his mother 'Mom', but that didn't feel appropriate with this stranger.

"Um," he trailed, and Lois met his gaze.

"The doctors said you would be disoriented, I understand, sweetie. But we'll take you home and you can get back on your feet. Maybe your father can take a brake and come visit you," She commented happily.

Conner said nothing but looked away over his shoulder. He caught the eyes of Zatana, but she quickly diverted attention away from him, her eyes focusing on a man that looked exactly like Zatara.

He was exactly as he remembered her, his face stern but worn with years of smile lines. His eyes caught hold of her, and his mouth began to open in greeting. However, she beat him to it.

Before he could force words through his mouth, Zatana lunged at him, wrapping her father in a firm hug, her hands digging into the material and pulling him closer. She buried her head into his chest, grateful that a brief spill of tears simply leaked into his suit.

"Well this is certainly a nice hello," Giovanni stroked his hand down his daughter's hair, his voice warm though confused by her sudden burst of emotion.

Zatana didn't comment on the bewilderment in her father's tone, but only hugged him tighter, her voice fragile when she peered up at him, "I thought I would never see you again," she murmured, digging herself back into his embrace.

Giovanni faltered but replied calmly, "I will always be with you," he promised.

Word Count: 2,184

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to get out – I'm on vacation currently, so I won't be updating with regularity for a while. But I promise I will as soon as I can. Next chapter is when we get to see more of their actual lives. Also, as pointed out by one of my viewers, the names were weird. In this story Zatana's dad is Giovanni Zatara (ignore first chapter until I can edit; thanks!). Conner's mother is Lois Lane, but Lois Kent (because she is married to Clark Kent). Just needed to clear that up! :D Thank you for ALL THE REVIEWS! That genuinely made my day! Also, tons of you gave me Alfred's cookies. I'm stuffed. And addicted. Anyone got his number? Or willing to send a few more? Also, thank you for the complements for originality. However, this is a fill for nancydrewgirl, who prompted this :)

Author's Mailbag:

Foubritt: Hey! You are my first reviewer! I am sending you an invisible, untouchable, brand new Batmobile. X) But seriously, thank you so much for your review! LOL, and don't you hate dreams like that? Or love them…I suppose it depends.

OneLifeOneLoveOnceChance: First off, I love your name. Second, thank you! Also, I am a huge fan of Spitfire, which tends to show in my writing. (:

Dextra2: Thanks!

Anon: Yeah, what can I say? I saw this prompt and my plot bunnies went crazy. Geez, I should own a farm and let my bunnies roam free.

Lilmissfashionista: EEE! I've missed you! And of course you almost did – great minds think alike. Thank you for the compliments!

Vesta Dragon: Aww, thank you so much! You are amazingly kind (:

DragonFairy16: I hope it lives up to your expectations. Thanks!

xAsClicheAsItCanBe: Oh, I have a bit planned for this…Pay attention to the quotes before the chapters. Some of them might be holding hints. Maybe about the chapter, maybe about the story.

NancyDrewGirl: You prompted this on The YJ Meme? Well, honestly, I sincerely hope I do this right for you! This is a very good prompt and the idea wouldn't leave me alone. Thank you for giving me this idea! I addressed your critiques in the Author's Note. Tell me what you think please!

Mixxi: My lips are sealed, but my story…is, well, an open book.

Adoglover: Oh, how I LOVE to see familiar faces! Your compliments mean so much to me, but you knew that! I can't wait to write all of this, and thank you so so so much for your review! High fives!

KaliAnn: Speaking of familiar faces, how are you? Haven't seen you since my last story! Thanks for your review!

BookCrazyGal: LOL, I love Rage Comics. Me gusta your review as well, LOL. And thank you – I'm so glad you like my writing!

TheL3monTart: I updated as soon as I could, as I'll always do! LOL, I love how sympathetic you are to the characters! I like your line of thinking. (:

Ghostdog401: HEY! What's up with you? I haven't seen from you in….FOREVER. (:

Argent98: OMIGOSH, thank you!

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RowanFall: HEY STRANGER! LOL, I AM ALIVE! It's good to be back and seeing from you guys! And how horrible! By-the-by is….It just IS, you know? Glad you liked Roy's reaction! Never written for him before so, good to know you liked it! And I can't tell anymore than that. I promise these chapters will get more exciting after this – Just needed introductory kind of stuff (: By the by, I plan on playing up those upsides.

DayDreamingOfYOu: Dude! Haven't seen you in ever! I'm glad you're so excited for this story! And you're so right, he does tend to get attached. Is it wrong I laughed when I read that? LOL, thanks for your comment!

Kandy Kaylor: Dude, that's how I feel when I get up. Ugh, just crazy! I'm so flattered you liked this! Good to see from you again!