"I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about this," Captain Marvel said to the man hovering in the air next to him; A man who was quickly becoming his mentor.

"Don't worry about it, there's nothing to be nervous about. Just be yourself. Answer questions honestly and directly." Seeing the worried look on the young heroes face he added. "You know this isn't a grand jury. They'll just want to get to know you."

Captain Marvel nodded. Kal said, "Well, let's be on our way." In a friendly tone he added, "I'm sure you can keep up." He flew away.

Soon they arrived. Superman had arranged this for a time when the league would be meeting. He had Captain Marvel wait outside.

The others of course had seen Marvel, so before other business the issue came up. "So, I'll say it if no one else will," Flash said. "Who's the guy in the red suit?"

Superman answered. "He goes by Captain Marvel."

"Kind of a self-aggrandizing name."

"What do you call yourself again?" Flash said, "Oh yes, Wonder Woman."

Diana smirked, he had a point. "Well Clark, does he live up to the name. I mean I assume he's here because you want to nominate him for membership."

"Is he another Kryptonian?" Aquaman asked.

"No, but let him speak for himself."

Superman opened the door and called Captain Marvel in.

"Well Captain," the man of steel said. "Tell them a little about yourself."

No point hiding anything here. Superman knows, might as well come clean with it. Billy thought. "Okay. Well my name is Billy Batson. And we might as well get this out of the way, I'm a lot younger than I look."

"How young," Wonder Woman asked.

Marvel sighed, then said, "Shazam," the others, except Superman and Batman, jumped back slightly as lightning, or something like it, hit Marvel. And then a teenage boy stood in front of them.

"Like I said, my name is Billy Batson. I'm fourteen years old. I was given my powers by a wizard named... Well I can't say his name, but you just heard it. He spelled it out. S,H,A,Z,A,M. He said he had wanted to wait but I had to have the powers now to save my own life."

Clark chimed in. "Shazams last champion had come back and was going to eliminate his replacement."

"We heard about the fight," Batman said.

"You say the wizard Shazam gave you this power?" Zatara said.

"You've heard of him?" Aquaman asked.

"Yes." He turned to Billy. "You may not know the magnitude of the powers at your command young mister Batson. You must learn to use them properly," Zatara urged.

"Yeah, I got a taste of them from the other side when we were fighting Black Adam."

"So, tell us about your powers," Wonder Woman asked.

"Well I'm still learning about that," Billy said but was then interrupted by a familiar voice. "I'll tell you about that." They all turned to see a very large tiger walking toward them and talking to them. "Quick rundown, the name is an acronym. Wisdom of Solomon, Strength of Hercules, Stamina of Achilles, Power of Zeus, Stamina of Atlas and Speed of Mercury."

"Where did you come from?" Flash said with some apprehension, he didn't want to become giant cat chow.

"Just chalk it up to magic," he added. "By the way, haven't you heard that predators can smell fear."

"Oh, come on Tawny. You wouldn't hurt him."

"If he really does have the full power of each of those, he would be a useful addition," Wonder Woman said.

Batman asked. "Are you sure this Black Adam is gone?"

"Not at all," Tawny said. "Like I told them earlier, people like him and the Captain here don't go down that easy. It wouldn't surprise me if we saw him again."

"But he crumbled to dust," Billy said. It was still hard to believe that there could be a way back from that.

"You've still got a lot to learn about magic Captain."

"I really hate magic," Superman said.

Tawny chuckled. "Of course, you do. The same way you don't like a certain green rock. But the Captain here can help with those kinds of things."

"He has a point," Hal said.

"I know," Superman said. "I am the one who brought him here."

"We're missing one thing," Wonder Woman said. "No one has asked him if he wants to be a member."

"Well Billy?" Superman asked.

"Are you kidding? I've looked up to each of you all my life. I'd be crazy to turn it down. I mean, if you guys want me here."

"We're missing one other thing," Hal said. "What do your parents think of this?"

Superman answered that. "He doesn't have any." He explained further. "I first met Billy when I was doing a story about homeless kids."

"How have you survived?" Green Arrow asked.

"I do odd jobs when I can. I find ways."

Tawny changed to the human appearance that he'd been using since he'd identified Billy. "I promised Shazam I'd step in if he ever got in over his head."

"I'm not going into the foster system," Billy said. "If that's part of the deal then don't bother."

"There are other options," Batman said. "One of us can at least guarantee you a place to stay." He added.

"Don't you think we should go through the formality of voting first?" Martian Manhunter said.

Superman asked Billy and Tawny. "Could you step out for a while?"

They nodded and Superman showed them out.

As soon as they stepped out, they met some younger members of the league. Kid Flash, Stargirl and Firestorm walked by. Surprised by these visitors they stopped to talk. "Waiting for a bus?" Kid Flash asked.

"Nah," Billy said. Waiting for them to vote.

"Both of you?" Firestorm asked.

"No, just the Captain here. I'm just here watching a friend's back," Tawny said.

Stargirl walked up to Billy. "Really, tell me about yourself. What can you do?"

"Well I don't think I should brag too much," Billy said.

"Go ahead brag," Firestorm encouraged.

Billy wasn't sure but found that he didn't want to disappoint the pretty blond standing so close he could feel her breath. "Well okay. Uh, stand back."

"Stand back! But he doesn't want to brag," Kid Flash said but jumped when he heard "SHAZAM" followed by thunder and lightning. Then, where Billy had stood, was a man who, at a glance, could have been mistaken for Superman, except for the different colors.

"Wow!" Stargirl said.

The door opened. Superman looked out. "Is everything alright out here?"

"Our fault," Kid Flash said. "We wanted to see what he could do."

"They'll be time for that later. Billy, change back."

"Yes sir," Captain Marvel said, "SHAZAM"

Superman smiled as he closed the door.

"Sorry guys," Billy said.

Stargirl quickly responded. "That's okay. I like this version of you better anyway."

Kid Flash got the hint from Stargirl and called over to his other friend. "Come on Firestorm, I'll race you to the lounge. We'll leave Stargirl here to play hostess to our new member."

The two left. Tawny just chuckled lightly as the two young people talked while waiting for the decision.

In the conference room Wonder Woman asked. "What was that all about?" Not much really. I think Stargirl's found a new friend."

"Asking him to show off a little, is she?" Green Arrow asked, only to get a response from Black Canary. "It's not like it's hard to do. Just bat your eyes a little," she said, teasing her boyfriend.

"As I was saying," Wonder Woman continued, "my only reservation is which team he should be on. Billy is about the same age as some of our young justice members but as Captain Marvel he wouldn't fit in with them; yet as Billy he doesn't fit in here."

"We allow young justice to choose their own members," Batman said. "But I think he'd be helpful on both teams."

"A liaison between the two. That could work if young justice is willing to go along with it," Superman said.

"We have to decide first if he's a member of the league. Is everyone ready to vote?" Batman asked.

They all nodded.

Although some still had reservations, in the end they agreed to admit Billy. Martian Manhunter nearly voted no because he felt like a hypocrite for his reluctance to admit M'gann. Zatara expressed similar feelings about Zatanna. But he felt it was extremely important for Billy to have guidance and the right people to support him given the power the magician knew the boy would wield.

With the vote over Superman opened the door to see Tawny leaning against a wall patiently waiting. Nearby were Billy and Courtney sitting together and talking, with more than a little flirting.

"Billy," Kal said with a kind smile. "Vote's over. Come on in."

The two young people got up. Courtney said, "Good luck." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. As she walked down the hall she called back. "Remember, lunch in the lounge when you're done."

"I'll be there," Billy told her; then walked into the conference room.

When the door closed Billy asked. "Well what's the decision?"

Batman answered, "We're offering you membership but there would be some conditions."

"Like what?"

"Well for one you're going to school," Black Canary told him.

"Where?"

Superman answered. "I'll get you into a school in Smallville."

"That's a long trip to make," Billy said.

"That is the other thing. You cannot continue to live that way. You must have more than a condemned apartment building." Zatara told him.

Billy didn't like where this was going. Clark relieved his fears. "You can either stay with the Kent's or you can stay in your quarters here at the watchtower. We can set up a Zeta point in Fawcett city."

Billy thought about it for a minute. He might have to accept this until he was old enough to get his own place in Fawcett city. But he had to address one other issue. "One more thing...I have a friend back in that building." He turned to Kal. "You met her, miss Bambi, I can't abandon a friend. I mean she came through for me a few times when I didn't have anything to eat. I can't leave her behind."

Tawny spoke up. "I knew you'd be worried about her; Another reason you're the Captain." I guess you won't believe it unless you see it." He opened the door and Billy's very mature friend walked in. She was dressed more conservatively than usual. "Hi Billy," she said blowing him a kiss.

"So, wait, is she a tiger to?" Flash asked.

"No," Tawny answered.

Bambi took it from there. "I was a street kid just like you Billy. Tawny found me before I had to resort to really doing what you thought I was doing." She told Billy

"She helped in two ways. She helped me keep an eye on you and she gave you a test. Would you look down on someone like her," Tawny said.

Bambi then said, "Shazam did give me one power. I don't change into a tiger but I do change to a smaller cat. You know Billy, the one that sometimes comes to your apartment on cold nights. I snuggled up with you under your sweater and purred you to sleep." She smiled at the young hero. "So, you see I'll be fine. I'm going to keep checking in on you though."

"Stargirl isn't going to like that," Flash said.

"She's got nothing to worry about. We're just friends."

Superman then said. "Well it sounds like everything's settled." He held out his had to shake Billy's. "Congratulations Billy. Welcome to the league."

"Thanks, Um, can someone point me toward the lounge," Billy asked.

"Straight down the hall," Wonder Woman said. As Miss Bambi added, "Get going Billy, you don't want to keep a girl waiting."

Billy gave her that big grin she found so charming and trotted down the hall.