Here's how the title came to be:

Me: What am I meant to name this chapter?

Dick: What you doing?

Me: Trying to think of a name for this chapter. Can you help me, it's meant to be Christmasy?

Dick: Bat-mas? On the first day of Batmas my true love sent to me, a Robin in a pear tree?

Me: Dick, I can't use that.

Dick: Why?

Me: Because it has nothing to do with the chapter.

Dick: Well what is the chapter about?

Me: (whispers the plot) It's about that.

Dick: You can't do that, she's my little sister!

Me: I probably won't kill her. I mean it is Christmas after all.

Dick: If you do I will set Jason on you. Okay, what about Merry Lex-mas?

Me: Good enough, thanks.

Dick: Don't worry, just keep it up not killing my sister.


Two weeks had past and it was two days before the party. Somehow Dick had managed to secretly decorate the manor, slowly at first, one decoration at a time. Then, when Bruce and Alfred went out buying party supplies, leaving Dick with Amelia, the elder proceeded to decorate the manor from head to toe. He also managed to teach Amelia to laugh and grab hold of things, mostly tinsel and other shiny things. The Batcave had become out of bounds after Amelia had become interested in a throwing knife and very nearly picked it up. However that very morning it was Bruce's turn to look after Amelia. Dick was collecting Jason from whatever random country Jason had got himself stuck in and Alfred was trying to get people from the airport to their hotels or flats. It meant that Bruce, who had work that day, had to take Amelia in with him.

"No, you can't just take it off." Bruce moaned as Amelia pulled off the Christmas hat that Dick had brought for Amelia. "I hate it as much as you do but Dick will kill us if you don't wear it."

Amelia giggled a bit and Bruce pulled on the hat.

"You're coming to work with me today. You'll like it in the office and I'm going to get you a lovely teddy and you can play with him."

Amelia looked at Bruce as he moved away and began to wriggle.

"Lucius would like to see you again as well." Bruce said as he began to push the pushchair down the path. "It's been a while. I bet you'll enjoy it."

Amelia didn't want to play with her teddy. She would hold onto it but enjoyed holding onto Bruce's hand more and it was clear that she wanted to be held. Then Lucius came in. He looked a bit breathless.

"I heard you had a baby in here! You brought Amelia!"

"Yes, Alfred is busy and Dick is out of town. We really had no choice."

"Luthor is going to like that."

"Luthor?" Bruce murmured.

He had completely forgotten that he was meant to be talking to Luthor about the two of them working together on a business deal. Bruce knew Luthor was bad news and was going to turn it down. He didn't want Amelia to be linked to Lex Luthor not getting his business deal. It would just put Amelia in more danger than she already was just because she was his daughter.

"Can you take her?" Bruce asked Lucius.

Lucius shook his head.

"I'm in the meeting as well. It'll be better if you look after her because you are a playboy after all."

"Lucius, Luthor might go all stop Superman on us." Bruce said.

Amelia tried to grab his chin from below. He smiled down at her and she laughed innocently.

"I'd be more worried about what he's going to say about Amelia that what he's going to say about Superman." Lucius replied.

Luthor wasn't pleased when he walked in. Bruce put it done to the fact that Amelia had started laughing because she was playing with Lucius' designer tie.

"Why is there a baby here?"

"This baby is my daughter." Bruce replied. "She's here because there is nowhere else for her to go."

"What about a child minder or a prison or with your butler?"

"Your business proposal?" Bruce hinted.

"Oh yes. I propose that..."

Amelia giggled, wriggling in Bruce's arms. Lucius looked at Luthor as he got even more annoyed at the baby's presence.

"Sorry, I cannot talk to you while you are holding that thing."

"That thing is my daughter." Bruce growled. "I suggest you show her more respect if you want my contract."

"I merely need you to sponsor the building of a factory making tools that would then be used to create weapons."

"And what would these weapons be used for?" Bruce asked, faking an interest.

"Stopping the aliens who are constantly invading our world, including Superman and the other supposed heroes."

"Mr Luthor, I do not want my daughter to grow up in the middle of a war with the people who try to protect us."

"Your daughter lives in Gotham. She's bound to die before she reaches her fourth birthday."

"For a genius, you clearly don't understand the first thing about this world." Bruce growled.

He looked down at Amelia and smiled. Then he looked back at Luthor and glared.

"With the greatest of respect, not that you deserve any, I suggest you get out of my board room."

Luthor got up slowly and turned away. Bruce looked back at Lucius and smiled.

"You know I was never going to work with him anyway. He just made it a lot easier."

Luthor slipped into his black limo and looked at his driver. His driver asked if he got that contract. Luthor shook his head.

"But there are other ways to get money from Mr Wayne."

Luthor smiled as the photos Clark took of Amelia flashed up on his screen.

"Merry Christmas!" Dick cheered as he bounced around. Jason shrugged and pushed past only to have a hat with the words 'bah-humbug' on pulled over his hair.

"It's been a while, Dick." Barbara said, pushing past.

"Yes, the two hours, fourty-eight minutes and twelve seconds felt like a life time." Dick said without needing to look at his watch.

He took Barbara's hand and went off to search for mistletoe. Tim walked in next, his arm linked with Stephanie's. Somehow the moment they had seen each other again, Stephanie had decided that they were dating once again. Tim greeted them all before getting pulled off to look at the decorations. Alfred smiled. He had been getting the door. Bruce should be there to welcome his guests but Amelia had decided that the moment the first car pulled up would be the best time to relieve herself.

"You know I'm only doing this party for you." Bruce said as he held Amelia.

He had just chanced her nappy and was sure that there was something he could do.

"You need to meet the people who will expect you to call them your aunts and uncles."

Bruce had become aware of that ambition when he had gone to his last JLA mission.

"I would rather be in the cave." Bruce added.

Amelia smiled and laughed, grabbed towards Bruce's hair. Bruce stopped her.

"Come on, lets go and meet them."

The main hall of the manor was full of heroes in their normal clothes. Clark (Superman) was standing next to Diana (Wonder Woman) and Arthur (Aquaman). Wally (Flash) was joking around with Dick and Jason and attempting to flirt with Barbara. Helena (Huntress) was standing close to them. Stephanie and Tim were talking with Dinah (Black Canary) and Oliver (Green Arrow). Hal (Green Lantern) was talking with Alfred while Conner (Superboy) and Cassie (Wonder Girl) were kissing in the corner. Cass (Black Bat) wondered around, looking a bit lost. Suddenly a hand landed on Dick's shoulder. He turned. Wally wolf-whistled.

"Who's this?" Wally asked.

The woman was dressed in a long black dress and looked like she was a model.

"Where's Bruce?" the woman asked, looking around.

Dick looked around and then realised.

"He's still checking on Amelia."

"Is he in the cave?"

"Unlikely." Dick replied.

The woman moved away.

"Who was that?" Wally asked actually shaking with excitement.

"That, my friend..." Dick began. "Is Selena Kyle; let's just say her and Bruce have a thing for each other."

"What I wouldn't give to be Bruce." Wally murmured. "So why is she here?"

Dick whispered the name she adventured under and Wally actually fainted with a smile on his lips.

Suddenly Bruce appeared on the balcony over looking the room. Amelia was in his arms, playing once again with his tie. Everyone looked up at Bruce and Amelia. A ripple of murmurs filled the air.

"She's so cute." someone called and Bruce began to walk down the stairs.

Amelia looked at everyone and clearly wasn't scared. Dinah reached out to stroke Amelia's cheek but Amelia grabbed her hand. The girl looked at the hand and then giggled.

"This is something you don't see everyday." she said. "Can I take a picture?"

"Go ahead." Bruce said.

Dinah took a picture and Oliver patted Amelia's head.

"We've heard a lot about this little angel." he said. "She's probably going to b the most spoilt child this side of the universe."

"At least the best protected." Dinah said, looking around.

She moved away to talk to Helena when Diana walked over. Amelia began to cry. She obvious didn't like being with Diana. Bruce tried to quieten her down. Clark walked over and took Amelia. She stopped crying almost instantly and smiled up at him.

"How could anyone on the planet want to hurt this bundle of joy?"

The boys has taken Amelia so she could be introduced to the others and it gave Bruce a chance to talk to Clark as the two stood alone at the drinks table. The two of them looked completely in contrast. Bruce was looking moody without Amelia and not wearing anything Christmas based at all. Clark had a Santa hat on his head, a bit of tinsel around his neck and a Christmas jumper on.

"This is healthy. We need to meet up out of costume more."

"I don't want to." Bruce snapped.

"Amelia's made you happier. The boys are happier too. Look, even Jason is dancing." Clark said.

Bruce watched in amazement as Dick managed to teach Jason a dance move that Tim was already doing. It made a smile reach Bruce's lips. Then he saw Amelia was in the care of Conner and Cassie who seemed to be holding and caring for Amelia as if she was their child.

"Maybe Amelia might want to see her uncles and aunties more." Clark suggested.

Suddenly Bruce noticed something. The drinks were rippling in rhythm, a thudding rhythm. He looked at Clark and then turned to Alfred.

"Turn off the music."

"What?" Dick called. "Bruce!"

"Listen."

The music was turned off and the hall fell silent. There were clear thuds. The thuds were getting louder. Selena raced over to the window and threw the curtains open. A battle suit stood in the garden, its weapons trained on the manor.

"What's happening?" Tim asked.

"Luthor!" Bruce called.

"Why is he here?" everyone asked, looking at Clark.

"He's here because we got into a fight two days ago." Bruce breathed.

"What should we do?"

Everyone had turned to Bruce. He wasn't their official leader but he knew how to get out of situations similar to that.

"We should get out and fight him."

"Won't he realise a certain person's secret identity, master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

"We take the tunnels and head in from Gotham." Bruce said.

Already heroes were making their way into the cave. Bruce turned to Alfred as Amelia was handed to him.

"Keep her safe." Bruce said.

Alfred nodded and let Bruce kiss Amelia's forehead. Then Bruce disappeared towards the cave.

Superman flew towards the robot. The other heroes were approaching it at the back but Superman had flown round so he came from that direction. He was facing the front of the battle suit while the others were going to attack the back.

"Come out, Wayne. Come out with the squealing piglets you call children!" Luthor ordered.

He fired his first shot at the manor but Superman blocked it. Suddenly the Wayne grounds were lit up with the green glow of Kryptonite. Luthor moved towards Superman who was grounded. Luthor didn't have chance to do anything. Other heroes appeared. Wonder Girl used her lasso to pull the Kryptonite from Luthor and Nightwing, along with Flash, launched an attack drawing fire away from Batman and Wonder Woman who closed in.

Alfred closed the curtains as the battle raged outside. He knew he would have to deal with the injuries of the heroes later but his current task was looking after Amelia. Alfred had left her near the Christmas tree so she could play with the tinsel. She laughed a lot and Alfred found the noise comforting. Then he heard something in the hallway. It was a series of gear grinding and creaking. Something was moving out there. Alfred scooped up Amelia and hushed her when she looked like she was about to cry. Alfred disappeared into the shadows behind the main door, hoping that he and Amelia were hidden. A robot walked in and then another. Alfred recognised the logo on the back – Lexcorp. He gasped. Luthor had laid the prefect trap, any heroes or security Bruce might have contacted to defend the manor when Luthor attacked would be too busy with him to defend Amelia. Alfred felt his heart thunder. He held his breath and prayed Amelia would stay silent. Whatever Luthor wanted her for, it wouldn't be good. Alfred kissed Amelia's forehead in the hope it would keep her quiet. She laughed about it. The noise was loud and noticeable. The robots turned and face Amelia and Alfred. If robots could smile they would have done it then.

Red Hood watched as Luthor hit into Nightwing, sending him flying backwards into Huntress and Green Arrow who had both been preparing to fire arrows. He fired his gun but the bullet bounced off with no effect. The battle suit turned and Red Hood saw Luthor smile as he released a rain of bullets at him. Red Hood knew he couldn't get away in time. Suddenly Superboy was between Red Hood and the bullets. They hit into Superboy's chest and crumpled.

"Help Red Robin!" Superboy said.

Red Hood looked around. Red Robin had, somehow, got onto the top of the battle suit but his leg had become trapped between two sections of armour. Red Hood looked at Black Bat who was standing nearby and got her to join him in his attack. He leapt forwards and, while Black Bat gymnastically drew fire, he began to work Red Robin's leg free.

"Thanks." Red Robin said after his foot was free. "Do you have some explosive?"

Red Hood nodded and handed one of his many explosive devices to his younger brother. Red Robin activated it and dropped the gap his foot had been stuck in. Then the two brothers leapt down. A bleeping noise sounded as they landed and as they high-fived the explosion took out one of the battle suit's arms.

Batman felt a wave of pride as he landed on the glass screen of the battle suit. Already his sons were regrouping together to start another fight. He punched against the glass but it didn't break. He felt anger swell up in him as he watched his friends fight to protect him from one of his mistakes. It was he, after all, who had prodded the tiger. He knew full well that this fight could end in the death of one of his sons. He briefly wondered whether he had trained them enough for them to survive the next fight. Then he found himself wondering if Amelia would ever be able to fight like them. He tried to imagine Amelia fighting as Robin but he couldn't. He could only imagine a grave, the grave of a child. Batman heard his own voice thunder through his head.

You're Batman. You can stop one of your kid from dying before they are Robin. You've managed it so far!

He realised that someone was calling his name and noticed Catwoman was shouting for him to turn around. He did. Luthor had two guns trained on him as he stood on the glass cockpit window. The Batman smiled, realised Luthor had made a massive mistake. As the guns fired, Batman leapt off the cockpit.

Alfred watched as the two robots reached out for Amelia. The little girl was in his arms and he held her close. He was not going to let them take her. Amelia was crying from pain of being pressed too hard against Alfred but he had no choice but to hold her that tightly. Alfred tried to quieten her down but it would take a miracle to get her to be quiet. The nearest robot grabbed out for her and managed to get a hold on one of Amelia's arms that she had been waving about crazily. Alfred had no choice but to let her go. The robot pulled Amelia back and held her tightly. Amelia didn't like the cold metal against her skin of the harshness of it. The robot ignored the girl's struggles and turned away. The other robot turned to Alfred and gave him what could have been a glare. Then it turned away with such a simpleness that it seemed to have disregarded him. Alfred looked around the grand hall. Bruce Wayne had been a collector of antique weapons. Dick and Tim had found them fascinating decorations. Jason had loaded them all. Alfred pulled the nearest pistol off the wall and checked it was loaded. He could tell there was a bullet inside. He looked at the robots and readied to fire. He just prayed that his days as a spy had left him a good enough shot.

Bruce had one hand on Tim's shoulder and the other around Selena's waist as they walked out of the cave. Tim was limping; having his leg stuck in the robot had done some damage but nothing a bit of rest couldn't fix. Dick had made jokes about Tim being unable to dance at the party a good thing and Jason had soon joined in. Clark and Diana were talking about what had happened after Clark had left Luthor tied up for Bruce and his sons to find. He wasn't going to take Luthor to jail and miss the party. Slowly other heroes began to emerge from the cave, thanking the people who had helped them and saying how relieved they were.

Then a gun shot echoed around.

Bruce looked at Selena and his sons, not even having time to offer the other heroes a look.

"What was that?" Hal asked.

"Some thing's wrong." Bruce said and rushed forwards.

Bruce ran into the hall and saw Alfred lying on the floor with a cut on his head. He rushed to Alfred's side and noticed the pistol lying on the floor next to the butler.

"Alfred, what happened?" Bruce asked.

"It was a trap. Lex has taken Miss Amelia." Alfred whimpered.

"He did what?" Dick exclaimed.

He looked at the other guests.

"We need to get her back."

"How?" Jason asked.

"We are here with the most powerful people on the planet. Luthor won't know what's hit him." Bruce managed.

Luthor looked at the pig-like baby. Amelia had been handed to him and in his eyes it was like getting given a farm animal. The baby was quiet and that was good. He had locked Amelia into a small cradle with a metal grate over the top. There was a cushion and a blanket to make Amelia comfortable but that was all they had done for the baby's welfare.

"I don't see why Wayne likes this child so much." Luthor said.

Around him and Amelia his robots were working on machines, monitoring the child and checking no one was attacking.

"Report." Luthor barked to the nearest robot.

"Report: Baby: female, healthy, ten weeks, slight bruising on arms."

"That doesn't tell me how much she is worth."

"Report: Normal human. DNA tests pending."

"We need to find out what makes this child so special."

The thunder of fingers on keyboards was deafening as the heroes searched for Amelia.

"Where would Luthor be holding her?" Wally asked.

"Holding being the proper word." Dick said.

When no one laughed, he began to pointlessly explain the joke.

"Holding, because she's a baby."

"Dick, your puns are stupid and we like to laugh at you but now is not the time." Jason said.

"Luthor is staying in the Gotham Central hotel but that is the first time he has stayed there." Barbara read out from a couple of sheets of paper in front of her. "He owns warehouses 7B and 9J in the warehouse district near the port but he hasn't been there personally. Our best bet is this base." She tapped a finger on a section of the map in the City Hall district. "He has a lab there and enough equipment to satisfy his needs."

"Too obvious. If Bruce Wayne went to the police then that would be the first place they searched. He would probably ditch Amelia in another hidden base and then go and work there." Tim said.

"So what are we going to do? There are millions of places that Luthor could have set up bases." Clark asked.

He turned to find Bruce. Bruce was gone. He had been standing to Clark's left but he had crept away. All eyes fell onto Clark.

"You lot keep working on this, I'll go find him."

Clark had asked Alfred where Bruce was and Alfred had seemed hesitant to tell him at first but had realised that it would be best for it. He had led Clark up to the corridor that was full of bed rooms and pointed at a door next to Bruce's. Clark gave Alfred a silent nod and pressed gently on the door.

"I don't want to talk to you, Clark." Bruce said, one of his hands resting upon Amelia's cot.

He wasn't facing the man of tomorrow and was looking out of the window at the destruction that had once been a garden. Luthor's broken suit lay disregarded in the garden and no one had thought to move it.

"Bruce, you should be helping us get her back."

"If we attack Luthor will hurt her."

"And if we don't he will kill her!" Clark roared.

A silence hung in the air between them. Clark felt guilty. He knew his friend, for all his emotionless outside, was really a very caring person. He made bonds that run deeper than any others. Clark knew that each of the Bat-family would be willing to die for each other simply because Bruce had brought them together and made such a big change in their lives. Finally Bruce turned to Clark.

"Do you ever think that I shouldn't be a father?"

"When you first took in Dick I thought you had lost it. He was eight, looked six, and the only thing that could save him from a group of criminals were puppy eyes. He didn't know if he was coming or going or getting hunted by criminals. Then I met him as Robin and at first I thought they were different people. He seemed taller, switched on, ready to fight. You changed him and probably saved him. You saved them all: Dick, Jason, Tim and even Damian. Think of where they would have ended up if you hadn't been there. Dick would have died at the hands of Zucco. Jason would have killed innocent people. Tim would have lost it, seriously, and Damian... What wouldn't Damian have done?"

"Dick spent years hating me, Jason died, Tim lost his father and Damian. My son's body is already in the ground. How messed up is Amelia going to be?"

"She's not going to be me..."

"Eighteen superheroes couldn't save her!" Bruce bellowed.

He turned away and looked down into Amelia's cot.

"I'm sorry. I just miss her. She's so per..."

He turned around and saw that Clark was no longer there.

"We need to get her back." Clark said, walking back into the cave.

The others looked at him and nodded.

"Way to point out the obvious, Big Blue." Ollie said.

He looked around but no one seemed happy with his comment. Tim and Barbara were still working on the map, crossing referencing buildings and getting rid of the one that clearly weren't Luthor's.

"What about this one?" Tim asked, showing Barbara a sheet of paper.

"Bruce has a base there, cross it." she replied.

Around them other heroes were getting them the facts and trying to research what was going on. Suddenly Diana called out that a video message was coming in over Wayne servers.

"Is it pre-recorded?"

"Yes."

"Then play it." Dick nodded. "And trace it."

They didn't want Luthor to have made some sort of trap for them and make a video of them flare up on his screen. It would give their identities away. Jason sat down and began to work on setting a tracking line out to find out where the video had come from. On the screen Luthor's cruel face appeared.

"Hello, Mr Wayne. I have a certain thing that belongs to you." Luthor said.

Behind him one of his robots was holding a basket. They couldn't see Amelia but they could hear the sound of crying.

"Come to this warehouse" an address appeared on the screen, "and sign over Wayne industries otherwise your little girl will be finding out what happens when burning hot metal touches flesh." Luthor sneered.

Then the footage went black. The heroes looked at each other and then at Jason. He was still working on the computer.

"If you can't get anything then we'll have to ambush them at the warehouse." Dick told his brother.

"Won't the warehouse be a trap?" Dinah whispered to Helena.

"Yeah but it's a trap for Bruce Wayne, not eighteen superheroes."

"Seventeen without Bats." Ollie added.

"I've got a trace." Jason cheered. "It's a solid one too. It's easy to follow and leads us directly too a warehouse in Miller harbour!"

"We haven't got a moment to lose!" one of the heroes called.

They all rushed off to get their costumes on.

Bruce appeared in the cave just as he heard the final vehicle disappear off into the distance. He frowned and realised that Dick had taken the Batmobile. No other car would be able to sneak up on Luthor. Bruce slowly moved towards the computer and saw Tim had thought to leave a note.

-B-

Saw ransom video. Gone to get Amelia back. Warehouse in Miller harbour.

-T-

Bruce looked up at the computer screen and ran back through the video.

Superman tried to use his X-ray vision to look through the large door but soon realised that lead was blocking him from seeing inside. He told Wonder Woman.

"So this seems like the right place."

Bruce waited until the video had run through fully and then he looked back through the video. He had the idea that they were missing something. Luthor wouldn't for through all that to get Amelia just to make it that easy to rescue her, especially when he knew that there were superheroes about. He knew there was something they were all missing. He was a detective. He would be able to find it.

He played the video through one more time.

Then a smile spread across his face. He ran out of the cave.

"Alfred, I know where Luthor has Amelia."

Superman flew into the room with the others heroes exploding in behind him. They looked around the warehouse and saw a basket in the middle of the room. There was the sound of crying coming from it. It was Red Robin who raced forwards first.

"What if it's a trap?" Huntress called.

"If it is a trap it's better that the kid and not Superman or one of the other heavy hitters." Green Arrow said. "No offence."

"Then what about me?" Nightwing asked.

A large scream coming from Amelia caused Red Robin to run forwards. He picked up the basket and then dropped it. All the heroes looked at him.

"Red, what's wrong?" Nightwing asked, running forwards.

He looked into the dropped basket and knelt down. He produced a note and a tape recorder. He handed the note to Superman.

Wayne

It's so simple it worked.

Sign over Wayne industries before I need a Guinea pig for my experiments.

Luthor

Nightwing looked at his brothers and then at the rest of the heroes. Batgirl entwined her hand with his and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"Luthor tricked us."

Bruce looked at Alfred as he raced towards the limo. He had his Batman costume in his hand and what could have been a smile on his face.

"I'll get changed on the way." Bruce said.

"Where are we going, Master Bruce?"

"Wayne Botanical gardens." Bruce called back, getting into the car.

"Why are we going there?"

"They missed something. There's a few plants in the background that aren't from America. The only place in Gotham they are found are in the botanical gardens." Bruce said.

Suddenly a figure jumped onto the Wayne limo. Bruce got out and looked at the figure.

"Selena!" Bruce gasped.

"Where are we going?"

"The botanical gardens."

"Great." Catwoman said and got into the limo. "I was waiting for you to get it right."

Batman and Catwoman had thanked Alfred and raced into the botanical gardens.

"What are we looking for?"

"Luthor, so I can deal with him."

"What are you going to do to him?"

"I was hoping to bring Superman to stop me from killing him. You'll have to do."

"You know I've killed before." Catwoman said.

"If I look like I'm going to kill Luthor, stop me. If you can't, take Amelia and run. I won't let a murderer look after her even if that murderer is me."

The was a grave tone to Batman's voice and Catwoman nodded slowly and gently. If anyone understood Batman's desire to protect Amelia then it was her.

Luthor watched as Amelia tried to grab a vine that overhung the cradle she was in. She had stopped crying and starting laughing. Luthor tried to ignore the baby. He wondered if the heroes had reached the warehouse and found his little trick. A robot breezed up to him.

"Report: the baby's DNA is human, 100% human." the robot said.

"That doesn't help." Luthor snapped.

"Report: newspaper media states that female child was abandoned onto Wayne's doorstep."

"Everyone knows that. Is it possible that Wayne took the baby in simply because he was a good man?"

"Media suggests this." the robot said.

Luthor was getting bored of the robot. He wanted answers, not to hear things that the newspapers said. He was about to send the robot away when a small sharp object dug into the robot's circuitry. Luthor saw the bat-a-rang and looked in the direction it had come from.

"Got another robot suit for him to destroy?" Catwoman called as Batman leapt from the tree they had climbed to get a better view.

Luthor moved towards and tried to pick up Amelia. Catwoman's whip beat into his hand and drew blood. Batman dropped out and grabbed Amelia. She snuggled into him and Batman realised that she couldn't tell the difference between Batman and Bruce Wayne.

"Kill them! Kill the brat!" Luthor shouted.

Batman began to back away as the robots closed in on him. He couldn't fight properly while he was holding Amelia. He looked at Catwoman and she tried to whip the robots that were closing in on her. Neither of them could do anything with Amelia in their arms.

"Just let me put her down." Batman said.

He moved towards the basket but the robots fired a beam and hit into the basket. The basket exploded and Batman felt his heart thunder. He was terrified that Amelia would be killed.

"This should be fun." Luthor said.

Batman pulled out a communicator and pressed a button on it.

A bat signal lit up on a screen in the limo. Alfred knew something was wrong; Bruce was in trouble. He looked at the screen and frowned. He knew that he had to do something. He turned around and looked into the back of the limo. He leant down and pressed a button in the foot-well of the limo. A section of the floor slide back and Alfred produced a rifle.

Batman watched as Luthor moved closer. Catwoman was forced to his side and had handed Amelia to her.

"Now I've got two more hostages. How long will it take for your friend, Superman, to turn up?" Luthor asked.

"Let us go." Batman said.

"At least Amelia, she's only a kid." Catwoman tried.

"Superman won't come for us. He knows it'll be a trap."

Luthor turned away and then looked back. He smiled.

"You're right."

He glanced at a robot nearby.

"Kill them all." Luthor ordered.

Batman pulled Amelia off Catwoman. He wanted to be able to look after his daughter. He kissed her forehead and then hoped that, if he died, Amelia would be safe and live. He felt the heat of the robots' cannons building in power.

Suddenly a gun shot echoed around the gardens. The robot in front of the three of them fell to the floor. Alfred was standing there holding a rifle.

"Master Bruce sent me to get Miss Amelia." Alfred explained, holding the rifle like a pro. "Mr Luthor, I suggest you let your three hostages go."

Luthor looked at Alfred and watched as the butler shot another robot. Alfred pressed a gun against Luthor's chest.

"Let them leave then and tell Wayne that if he speaks to the newspapers then I will kill each of his children slowly."

The four slowly moved away. Alfred look Amelia off Batman and handed Catwoman the rifle.

"Lets just get her back."

Huntress was trying to convince Red Hood and Black Bat to stop pacing the cave. Batgirl and Nightwing had their arms around each other, crying to comfort each other and also Red Robin and Spoiler. Superman and Wonder Woman were working at the computer, trying to work out what they had missed. Black Canary, Green Lantern and Green Arrow were talking quietly between each other. Superboy and Wonder Girl were holding the lead box that they had sealed Luthor's kryptonite in.

"How are we meant to get her back?" Superman asked.

"We convince Luthor to let her go." Nightwing said.

"Or we could just get her." Batman's voice rung around the cave. "Off Catwoman."

Catwoman walked down and smiled at Amelia. The little girl was wrapped in her favourite red blanket and all the other heroes ran round Amelia and began to celebrate.

"You know what? We should give out our presents today, now." Green Arrow said.

"It's not like we're actually going to meet up on Christmas day." Black Canary added.

"You're right." Nightwing said thoughtfully. "Okay, everyone upstairs, lets do presents."

Bruce remembered Dick's first Christmas in the manor. He had gone from being a famous but poor circus performer to having a pile of presents that had threatened to crush the small boy. Bruce had seen magic in Dick's eyes that first Christmas. Then there was Jason. The first time Jason came all he wanted to do was fight crime on Christmas but Dick managed to convince him that he had a family to spend Christmas with and brought the two of them closer. Tim had always loved Christmas and it had been him who had convinced Dick to come to Gotham that first Christmas after Jason's death. Bruce had always known his youngest loved Christmas. Damian would hide it but he would always seem not as reluctant to join in with family games or the other rituals that had been created throughout the childhoods spent in the manor. Bruce wondered whether Amelia liked Christmas. She was lying on a mat, near the tree, playing with a bit of tinsel. They were going to do presents when Alfred got back from collecting the random presents the boys had wrapped for the other superheroes. Dick and Jason were fighting over which song they wanted. Dick wanted a classic that sung of love and family, Jason wanted a more modern one. Bruce thought about letting Tim choose but Tim seemed content humming a Christmas song to Stephanie who, sitting with his arm on her shoulder on the sofa, sung along absent-mindedly. Bruce was sitting on the floor next to Amelia as Barbara walked over.

"Is she okay?" Barbara asked.

"Yes." Bruce said.

He, Alfred, Wonder Woman and Superman had all done separate checks on Amelia to make sure she was alright. They had to make sure Luthor hadn't done any lasting damage.

"You were really worried. You went into daddy bats mode."

"Daddy bats mode?"

"It's something Dick made up. It's when you lose one of your Robins or children and you go really protective and seem like you're going to murder whoever has taken them."

"Sounds like me." Bruce said.

Alfred walked in with a large cart full of presents behind him. He also had a video camera in his hands. He smiled at Bruce as he pulled the camera out.

"If it is alright with you all, I would like to make a video of Miss Amelia's first Christmas." Alfred said.

Bruce had been about to say no when he stopped himself.

"That's fine." Clark said with a warm smile.

Bruce nodded slowly. He walked over to Alfred and helped him unload the presents. Most of them were from Dick and Jason – Dick must have written the labels for the both of them because he knew Jason was not going to buy the others presents – but Tim also had a large number on the cart.

"Okay, who wants to go first?" Dick asked, closing his hands.

He looked at Bruce with a smile, suggesting that he was the host so he should give his gifts out first. Bruce paused and then nodded. Before he could turned to the pile of gifts from him that had amassed by his side, one of his bat-family pulled a Santa hat on. He didn't pull it off because Amelia laughed.

"My first gift is for Alfred. You all have to admit this man does a great job for me and the boys and Amelia. Today alone, he saved me and Selena and Amelia. So I think we should give him a round of applause to start off with." Bruce said.

Alfred began to go red as all of the heroes began to clap. Amelia didn't clap but she smiled at him as if to say thank you.

"Now on to your gift. Why don't you hand Dick the camera you so can unwrap it?"

"Master Dick, could you...?"

Dick took the camera off Alfred and then trained it on him, getting ready to take the video. Bruce walked over and gave Alfred a neatly wrapped package. Alfred took the package with a curt nod and then unwrapped it.

"It's some of the tools from my spying days. Look it even has AP engraved in some of the items." Alfred exclaimed.

Bruce smiled and explained that he had brought them and there was also a card from Her Majesty's Secret Service lying around somewhere.

"Clark." Bruce said, wanting to get it over with.

He produced a massive box and had to slide it across the floor. Clark picked it up and began to unwrap it, getting slowed down a little by the fact that Bruce had covered the box in sticky tape. When he opened the box he saw a lead lined suit in it.

"Thanks Bruce, this is actually really thoughtful." Clark said as if he was amazed. "You better have my gift now."

Clark handed Bruce a small parcel. Bruce opened it, hiding his excitement. There were four books inside: child care for the modern parent, how to deal with a daughter for single dads and teach yourself to parent but it was the final book that made Bruce really happy. He looked at the cover on the book.

"The best Batman and Robin stories known." Bruce read out.

"Dick told me you were telling Amelia them and if it falls to one of us to tell her a Batman story, I thought there should be a book on hand of stories that are suitable." Clark said wisely.

Bruce smiled.

"Thanks." he murmured.

He tried to ignore Dick wiping away a pretend tear and Jason pretending to be sick so he looked at Tim. Tim looked genuinely proud of Bruce.

"Tim, come here for your present." Bruce said.

Tim slowly got up and moved closer. Bruce handed him lots of small presents and then one large box. Slowly and neatly Tim unwrapped them.

"These are amazing!" Tim exclaimed, placing small boxes of chemicals down one by one.

He then opened the chemistry set while Helena studied the chemicals.

"I know I don't teach science but aren't most of those highly unstable and slightly explosive?"

"Yes." Bruce replied simply. "It's a batfamily Christmas, there are nearly always explosives under the tree. Remember that one year where the Joker had wrapped himself up in an attempt to kidnap you for his circus?"

Everyone took a step away from the tree.

"How could I forget?" Dick asked. "And that elf hat he made me wear was too big!"

"So I'm not the only one who thinks Dick is an elf!" Stephanie cheered.

Bruce suddenly slid a present across the floor to Diana, showing his anger at her again. She silently picked up the parcel and unwrapped it.

"Why are they angry at each other?" Ollie whispered.

"It's Bruce, does he need a reason?" Dinah whispered back.

Diana pulled out the decorative weapons that were inside the box. She offered Bruce a silent nod.

"Who next?" Bruce asked.

He scanned the group until he saw Jason was sitting rather detached from the group.

"Jason." Bruce decided on.

Jason looked up and asked what he had done as if he had been naughty. Bruce simply smiled and gently freed a large box from Amelia's grip. He handed the large but light box to Jason, who put it down and unwrapped the shiny wrapping paper to reveal a cardboard box.

"Look inside." Bruce prompted.

Jason opened the box and a smile spread across his face. Inside the box was a brochure for a high quality flat in Gotham and several sets of keys.

"You brought me a flat!" Jason exclaimed getting up and running to Bruce.

Suddenly father and son hugged. Bruce patted Jason's back.

"It's in Gotham so you're close and we can kit it out later."

"Now who?" Bruce said, looking around.

His eyes settled on Dick.

"We need to go outside for this present.

Dick had been blindfolded lots. Normally nothing good came out of being blindfolded but this time Bruce was by his side, leading him outside.

"Where are we going?" Dick asked.

He could hear the other heroes walking behind them, talking.

"You'll see." Tim said.

"No, I won't, I'm blindfolded." Dick joked.

Bruce looked at Barbara. She nodded and walked over to the garage door. She knew what Bruce had brought Dick because she had helped Bruce pick out her boyfriend's present. Tim and Jason looked in awe at their brother's present and then smiled at Bruce. They each nodded, saying they approved.

"Okay, you can look now." Bruce said, pulling down the blindfold.

Dick screamed. A girly piercing scream filled the air. Dick was fan-girling.

"That's a..." Dick began to cry. "Bruce, it's beautiful."

He hugged Bruce so hard that he threw him to the ground.

"That is one great motorbike." Ollie said in awe.

A perfectly red motorbike was in front of them. It had tools fitted to the front and was clearly fast and expensive.

"Thanks Bruce, thanks a bunch. This is the best present ever."

"Doesn't he say that every year?" Barbara whispered.

"Yes, Miss Barbara, he always does."

Dick finally got up off Bruce when Bruce reminded him that Amelia needed to be given her presents. Dick was up like a shot and scooped Amelia up off Alfred.

"I wonder what Bruce has brought you. Maybe it's a..." Dick paused. "Actually I have no idea."

"Bruce, what have you brought Amelia?" Jason called out.

"I bet it's something awesome."

Suddenly a car with a horse carrier turned up.

"Delivery for Mr Wayne." the driver called.

"That's me." Bruce smiled. "Bring it out here."

Bruce turned back to the other heroes and offered them a genuine smile.

"Among lots of other things, I've brought Amelia..."

"Is that a pony?" Stephanie exclaimed.

"Yes, it's a pony."

"You brought your daughter a pony."

"Now she won't pester me when she grows up." Bruce said simply.

He took Amelia off Dick and walked over to the pony. The baby gingerly stroked the horse and then turned to smile up at Bruce.

After nearly three hours of handing out presents and talking, Bruce stood out on the balcony. Selena came to meet him.

"You know that most of those presents she got will be no use to her until she can walk and, um, use weapons without killing herself or someone else." Selena smiled. "The pony was a nice touch though."

"Thanks."

"I've also got Amelia a little something that she might want. I didn't want her to not have something she can use right away."

Selena handed Bruce a parcel. Bruce looked at it and then slowly unwrapped it.

"It's a bib." he smiled.

"Look what it says on it."

"Daddy's little girl." Bruce read.

He looked up at Selena and smiled. Then he kissed her forehead.

"Thanks. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being there, for helping me get Amelia back. Any time to want to see her or me just come to the manor, okay. The door will always be open."

Then Dick leapt down from the roof and landed on the edge of the balcony. He held some mistletoe above Bruce and Selena. Selena shrugged and then smiled. She pressed her lips against Bruce's.


Merry Christmas!

By the way the gifts Selena was talking about that Amelia was given are listed here:

Clark – a teddy bear, a book of Kryptonian fairy tales and a contact device.

Diana – A robe, a couple of swords and a couple of books.

Wally – a science set.

Arthur – a necklace with a shark tooth on.

Stephanie – a teddy bear with a hand crafted cowl.

Barbara – a photo album containing pictures of the boys as Robin and a fresh photo album for new pictures.

Cassandra – a selection of knives.

Helena – a pretend and a real crossbow.

Ollie – an archery set and a real bow.

Dinah – a singing book.

Hal – an alien statue.

Dick – a set of fancy dress costumes.

Tim – a hundred cuddly toys.

Jason – a drum.

Conner – a box made of lead with Luthor's lump of Kryptonite inside. (He had got a teddy bear but this seemed cooler)

Cassie – a blanket woven from silk.

Selena – a bracelet and a priceless locket (they aren't stolen, merely brought with money from stolen goods.)

Alfred – (this is my favourite) wooden superhero figures carved out of the wood from the trees that were blown down in the storm Amelia was abandoned in!