Christmas Day

Artemis and Wally – 8:37am

His bed was warm with the scent of Artemis still in his sheets. Part of him wanted to open his eyes and look upon her lying next to him. The other part of him wanted to keep his eyes closed in fear that it had all been a dream. Taking the chance, Wally reached over to where she was sleeping and felt for her. His eyes shot open when he found her to be gone and instantly set up.

"Artemis?" he called out. "Arty?"

There was no sign of her anywhere in the room. Her clothing, weapons, and armor were missing and her spot on the bed was cold. The only proof that she was there was the scent of soapy water coming from the bathroom, evidence she had used the shower what he was still asleep.

"Please," he said while letting out a sigh and sitting up, "don't let last night be a dream." He ran his hands over his face and let out a moan.

"It's not." Walking into the bedroom in her Tigress pants and a sports bra, Artemis took a seat beside him and handed him a glass of juice. "And if it were, it was the best one I've had a long time."

"You and me both." He took a sip and looked at her as she put her hair back in her usual ponytail. "So, you're ready showered."

"Yeah."

"And already halfway dressed."

"Yeah."

"So you're…nearly ready to go."

"What are you getting at, Baywatch?"

Reaching around his girlfriend, Wally sat his half empty glass on the nightstand. "Arty, I don't want you to go back."

"Wal-"

"I can't help but feel as if something bad is going to happen…again. Kaldur may or may not have gotten off lightly considering what we've led the others to believe as M'gann could have done far worse to him. We're playing a dangerous game here, one I don't think we can win."

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and leaned her head in the crook of his neck. "Babe-"

"Don't, don't change the sub-"

"Babe."

"Arty, I'm serious. I-"

"Wally."

"What?" he asked with a sigh.

"Merry Christmas." She pulled his face close to hers and gave him a deep kiss. They wrapped their arms around each other as they surrendered themselves fully.

"I thought you had to go," Wally told her.

"I do," she said as she lay on top of him on the bed.

"Thought you took a shower."

"Did that to."

"And got dressed."

She looked down upon him as she lay on his chest. "I prefer, halfway undressed."

The two went back under the covers.

12:07pm

Standing in the frame of the back door to the house, Wally and Artemis, now with her gear and charm on, once again engaged in a kiss. Snow fell outside with some of the soft powder making its way inside the open house. Every time one would try to separate, the other would hold them and continue the embrace. If it wasn't for their dog, they most likely wouldn't have stopped.

"Artemis, be careful," Wally told her as their foreheads rested on each other.

"I will." She looked down at their "kid" and gave the animal a pat on the head. "You take care of him now. Keep Wally out of trouble."

"Very funny," the speedster couldn't help but say. He kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too." She took a step back and slid her mask on. "Merry Christmas, speedster."

"Merry Christmas, archer."

He watched as the disguised and armed woman known as Tigress took to the neighborhood rooftops. Before she vanished from sight, she stopped and turned back to blow Wally one last kiss then leapt away. With her gone from view, the red headed young man leaned against the doorframe and stared in the direction she ventured off in as the dog next to him rubbed his leg and whined.

"I know boy. I miss her already."

Before he went back inside, he looked up into the bright blue sky overhead. "If there's a higher power up there, please watch over her and keep her safe. I need her back. Thanks for the Christmas present."

Conner & M'gann – 9:37am

They didn't mean for this to happen. It was the farthest thing from their minds. They were so close together on the couch that it seemed inevitable it would happen, given their past. It just got so cold in the room and they felt so warm being next to each other like they were.

Conner was the first to wake up. He inhaled deeply as he stretched his free arm and legs. When he opened his eyes, it was to see the face of M'gann sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face. It had been a long time since they fell asleep together and she had been this close to him. Her perfume, which surprised him as she had never worn any since he knew her, smelled so incredibly good as he continued to remember how it felt like to always wake up with her in his arms, similar to how he found them both right now.

After a moment of watching her sleep, Conner looked around the room where they fell asleep for a wall clock to check the time. It was then when the Martian woke up and stretched like he did prior. She was a bit surprised to see him that close to her and blushed when she saw he still didn't have a shirt on.

"Morning," she said softly.

He didn't answer. He only stared back at her.

"Conner?"

He still didn't say a word.

"Conner? Is something wrong?"

Moving his free hand slowly from his side, the Kryptonian tapped the side of his head.

M'gann's eyes widened. "You mean… Are you sure?" She saw he had a nervous look on his face, even though he nodded.

She formed a private mind link between them and carefully spoke to him mentally. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, with what I did-"

"If we're going to start over on a clean slate… I got to trust you."

She grinned at his mental words and snuggled up closer to him. Despite her still wearing her jeans and sweater from last night, she still preferred the warmth of his body. They again joined hands and entwined their fingers together as they stared into each other's eyes.

"About time you two woke up!" Garfield yelled as he ran into the room where the party was.

His sudden entrance into the room made Conner and M'gann jump. The Martian girl nearly fell off the couch they occupied but was caught by Conner before she hit the ground. She mentally sent him her thanks as he helped her to her feet.

"Been waiting for you two to get up. Come on, it's Christmas! Time for presents!" Garfield ran over to the tree as Conner and M'gann watched him fish for his gifts.

"Well, go ahead," M'gann told Conner, "I, uh, I got you something."

"Cool, a new iPod from Nightwing," the teenager exclaimed. "Five hundred gigs! Party time!"

"I sort of got you something to," Conner said while rubbing the back of his neck. "Hope, hope you like it."

"Guys, come on!" Garfield beckoned. "I'm already a present up on you two. Oh yeah, here, these are for you." He got up and handed them each an envelope. "Merry Christmas. You can thank me later."

"You didn't have to get me anything, Gar," Conner said. M'gann gently nudged him with her elbow. "But thank you. I appreciate it."

Tearing the envelopes open, both Conner and M'gann removed near identical cards. One had a turtle dove facing right and the other had a turtle dove facing left. It was exactly the same way the two team members were standing beside each other. Although the outside picture was slightly different, they both contained the same message. "Look up." Both Conner and M'gann raised an eyebrow and did as the card said. When they looked above them, they found yet another batch of mistletoe.

"Gar," M'gann said, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"He did it again," Conner said. "That little green monkey did it again."

"He can't keep this up all day."

"But he will. Look what he did to us all last night."

Realizing he was right, M'gann stood up on her tip toes and gave Conner a quick peck on the cheek, much to his surprise. "You win, Gar," she announced with a red face.

The two stood there awkwardly when they heard the Green boy yell, "That was weak!" They both blushed horribly.

"Gar," M'gann yelled. "Just come on out and-"

"Fine," Conner shouted as he grabbed M'gann and pulled her into a kiss. It didn't take long for her to melt into it and soon both fell deeper into it.

A gust of wind blew past them a moment later as Bart entered the room faster than the computerized Zeta Tube voice could announce his arrival. He came to a stop in front of the couch where Conner and M'gann were and saluted them both.

"Impulse reporting with a Christmas dinner invite to Aunt Iri- AGH! MY EYES!" The young futuristic speedster slapped his hands over his eyes. His words forced the Kryptonian and Martian to separate immediately.

"Bart?!" Conner exclaimed when he saw him. M'gann looked away, embarrassed.

"Come on," Garfield said as he came up behind Bart and guided him out of the room to the nearest Zeta Tube. "We can unwrap the rest of the presents later. Let's eat. Conner, M'gann, when you two are done playing under the mistletoe…"

"GAH! The image…it burns! It's burned into my brain!" Bart yelled as he entered the Zeta Tube with Wolf and sphere quickly joining him.

"Before I forget…" Running over to a bag, Garfield took out a green sweater and tossed it to Conner. "You're gonna need a shirt and since it's Christmas and you're known to be grumpy sometimes…"

"Gar," Conner said as he held up the sweater that was at least two sizes too big for him, "I think it's too big."

"But it does fit you in another place." M'gann snickered as she watched Conner turn the garment around.

He looked directly into the yellow eyes of The Grinch who had a mischievous smile on his green face and the words, "Mean One" above him.

"It's big enough for you both!" the youth yelled as he Zetaed out of the building.

"Gar!" M'gann yelled after him as Conner turned red and quickly slipped the sweater on.

"Well, I, uh guess we should…" Conner nervously looked at the Martian as he wore the oversized sweater with The Grinch on the front.

She gave a laugh at the way he looked and nodded. "Yeah, let's…let's join them. Let's go eat."

"Yeah," Conner said with a small smirk as he followed her out.

"And maybe we can play more under the mistletoe later," she mentally told him while nibbling on her bottom lip.

He grinned as they entered the Zeta Tube together. "You read my mind without even trying."

They disappeared as they went to join the others for Christmas dinner at the West's house.

AN: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!