"Jay?" Dick asked.
"Yeah?"
"We're not going ice skating for a long time. She's coooooold." Dick moaned. Jason chuckled. Of course they aren't going ice skating.
"Dude she needs to get out of those wet clothes before she gets really sick."
"Right. Zee?"
"Ooh ooh! Can I try!?" begged June.
Zatanna smiled. "Alright, it's a pretty easy spell."
"Egnahc S'nilitiac Sehtolc!" June said. Suddenly, Caitilin's clothes shimmered and changed into a fancy blue dress and heels.
"Oops..." June said sheepishly. Caitilin mumbled in her sleep and rolled over in Dick's arms.
"She looks pretty in it." June shrugged.
"Yeah she does. Blue is her color." June smiled at Dick. He then put another blanket on her.
"Ok I'm going to go again! Egnahc s'nilitiaC sehtolc!" Caitilin's clothes changed again, but this time they turned into a pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt and some socks.
"Great job June your getting better-" But June was already asleep, curled up in Jason's arms.
Everyone looked at Zatanna. "When I was younger, using magic sometimes easily tired me out. June just must be already tired beforehand.
"That is true. Maybe we should take them to bed and give Caitilin a couple more blankets." They all agreed with Kaldur, knowing that he always knew the right thing to do. Dick and Jason picked up the girls and took them to the bedrooms so they could rest. When they came back the team all looked at them.
"What?" They said together.
"Dude you do know that we have to tell Batman, right?" Dick and Jason gulped. That's right, if he finds out that something happened to his 'little girls' he's going to kill someone with the BatGlare.
"Tell me what?" In his glory stood Batman.
Jason swore to himself quietly, earning a sharp look from both Batman and Dick. "This is all you dude!" Wally then patted Dick on the shoulder.
"We'll you see bats, we were outside and um...Caitilin kinda fell through ice.." The look on Bats' face wasn't good. He was angry. No he was more than angry. He was pissed.
"What..." The team gulped in fear.
"But she's fine now!" Jason was quick to add.
"And she's asleep! June is getting much better at spells now!" Dick said cheerfully.
Batman glowered. "Where are they?"
"Bedroom."
Batman then started to head to the bedroom to check on them. When he got there, he saw Caitilin an June wrapped up under the covers. He couldn't help but smile, they looked so cute. Caitilin was squeezing June who was hugging the pillow. They both were under a mountain of blankets. But the one on top had his bat symbol on it.
Batman silently slipped out of the door and turned to his sons. "You have a Batman symbol blanket?"
Robin blushed suddenly. "Uhhh, Uncle Clark got it for me."
"Mm hmm." Batman nodded, clearly not believing him. Robin huffed but ignored his flushing.
"So why are you here?"
"I can't come see my children Jason?" Jason just huffed. Batman looked at him with a weird look.
"The reason in here is because I need you kids to get home, get changed into nice clothes which means no messy clothes Jason and then we will allow the press to take some pictures and ask a couple appropriate questions. Then the party will start a couple hours later, an after the party starts, Caitilin and June will go to the watchtower with my signal." Dick and Jason both nodded.
"I think I can try to get Alfred to post pone the paparazzi Q & A to a little bit later since Caitilin and June need some rest."
"Just say they've got extra homework or something." Dick shrugged. Batman nodded wordlessly.
"Daddy?" Everyone turned to see June walking out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Yes June?" He asked.
"Nightmare." She murmured, fear flickering in her emerald like eyes. Batman gently picked her up and took her into the spare bedroom. When he got to the spare bedroom he sat on the bed and took off his cowl. He then put June on his lap.
"What was the nightmare about June?"
June's bottom lip trembled, the nine year old stared up at him. "I-I was back with him, o-only he was screaming at me h-how you wouldn't find me. A-and you and Dickie and Jay and Caitilin didn't want me back, and then he made me k-kill you guys." She started to cry.
Bruce then hugged her. I couldn't believe Deadshot could do so much emotional damage to a nine year old. "Don't worry honey that won't happen. I promise you that nothing like that will ever happen." June buried her face in Bruce's shoulder.
"P-promise?" She started to sniffle.
"Yes I promise."
"B-but what happens if he gets out of Belle Revve?"
"Then I'll track him down and throw him right back in there before you can say Bats." He answered firmly. June cracked a weak smile. He pulled her back into a hug. She didn't need to worry about him getting out of Belle Rev, she needs to worry about her innocence. She doesn't need to worry.
"Why don't you go back to sleep okay?"
"Okay," He got up with June in his arms and went back into the other bedroom where Caitilin was. When he opened the door he saw Caitilin sitting up in bed and was looking at the same direction as the door.
"Caitilin did you have a nightmare too?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why do you look like you seen a ghost?"
Caitilin shook her head. "Nothing, nothing." Caitilin stood up. "Hey dad, do you think we can throw snowballs at the bad guys today?"
"No."
"Aw why?" June pouted.
"Because the snowball game is only for thugs not villains."
"But Dick and Wally get to do it all the time!"
"That's because they are older." June then crossed her arms and pouted more, then smirked. "So we ARE going on patrol finally." she said smugly.
Batman stared at his daughter, feeling a mixture of anger and pride at her cunning. She looked at Caitilin who wasn't even paying attention. "Cay did you hear me? We finally get to go on patrol."
"Huh? Oh yeah sounds great." Something was bugging her and he's going to find out. June seemed to notice as well, but she didn't voice it. She happily ran back to Robin's bedroom and changed into her costume, beaming with happiness.
"Can I still go with Dickie next year to throw snowballs at bad guys?"
"Maybe, I'll think about it." Robin and Red Hood showed up in their costumes. They noticed that Caitilin was just sitting there.
"Cay? Are you going to get your costume on?" She looked like she was spacing out.
"I don't know." They all looked at each other. Robin have them a look saying 'leave I'm going to talk to her'. So Batman, Acrobat, and Red Hood left. Robin then sat on the bed with Caitilin.
"Caitilin what's wrong? You're like spacing out."
"I...I had a dream about my family."
"A good dream or a bad dream?"
"Good dream. They looked so alive. They were having fun and looked so happy. But I felt like it was my fault they got killed."
"How?"
Caitilin clenched her fists. "I just sat there, hiding in the corner, scared. I could've helped them, I could've done something, anything."
"If you'd tried, you wouldn't be here today. June wouldn't be back with us either."
"It was June who took Deadshot down."
"But you helped. You got her angry enough to get the energy to take him down." He said gently. "It wasn't your fault your parents and brother died, if you'd come out of the shadows it would have been pointless for your brother to hide you in the first place. And if you had died that night, then what about those people you've already saved? What would have happened to them?"
"Maybe your right... June and I wouldn't be here." He brought her into a hug.
"Yeah, and then Jay and I wouldn't have amazing little sisters to look after." He looked down and saw that she was smiling.
"See, now there's a smile. Now you got to get your costume on okay?"
"Ok." Robin left the room and Caitilin got up to put on her costume.
"Robbie! Is Cay feelin' better?"
Robin ruffled June's hair with a smile on his face. "You betcha' kid."
"Now let's go beat up the baddies." June raced off to the Zeta tubes.
"Well, its official, we have contaminated that nine year old's innocence." Red Hood sighed.
"You don't hear every nine year old scream in joy at the thought of beating up thugs in Gotham of all places." Robin agreed. Caitilin came out of the room in her costume.
"What's going on? You did what?"
"Nothing lets go beat up some thugs."
"Yeah! I wanna kick some ass." The three of them high fived and ran off to join June at the zeta tubes. Once they get to Gotham City, they started to jump roof to roof. Batman watched his four kids with an almost smile on his face. Just a month ago he would never have guessed he would be getting a second child, let alone three more. But he wasn't complaining.
Bruce was happy that he had kids. He was also happy that he had June and Caitilin. They were wonderful girls, and they got along great with their brothers. Sure they fought with them but they would have minor fights.
"Dad you coming?" Bruce then looked at Caitilin, a little surprised. She didn't call him 'dad' that much, so it always surprises him when she does.
"Yes, I'm coming." He put on his cowl and walked to the zeta tubes with his children.
That Saturday
"NONONONONONO!"
"JUNE GET BACK HERE!"
"Here we go again." Caitilin sighed.
"NO DRESS!"
"JUNIPER KNIGHT MOORE YOUR PUTTING THIS DRESS ON AND YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT!" Caitilin then started to chase June down the hall.
"NO!" June disappeared into the air vents. Caitilin stopped, there was no way she'd be able to fit in there, no matter how hard she tried. June crawled all the way back to her room, jumping right out of the vent in the roof. Unfortunately, Jason and Dick were waiting for her. They tackled her to the bed while she screamed bloody murder.
Caitilin then rushed to June's room and saw the boys trying to keep her on the bed. Caitilin then grabbed June's dress and tried to get it on her. After what felt like hours, Caitilin finally got the dress on her.
"Boys need to leave so we can get ready. Now shoo." Caitilin then shooed the boys out of June's room. She grabbed her light blue dress from the closet.
"Why is your dress in my room?"
"Because I knew that you would run so I decided to put my dress in here. Now, let's play with your hair and see what we can create." June screamed her lungs out again.
A few hours later
All the boys were waiting downstairs for the girls. They were all in their suits standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Here we come!" They heard Caitilin yell.
They all looked up at the stairs and saw both girls standing there at the top of the stairs. June's black hair was curled and had light purple eye shadow on that matched her dress with black eye liner. The purple and black made her green eyes pop. Her dress went down to her ankles and was wearing black flats. Caitilin's light brown hair was straightened and pulled back in a half up half down look with the piece pulled back curled. She had light blue eye shadow on with black eye liner, which also made her bright hazel eyes pop out even more. Her dress went down to her ankles too and was wearing black heels. They both looked amazing! Bruce couldn't even recognize them, neither could Alfred, Dick and Jason.
"You girls look great!" Dick smiled.
"Thanks. Do you like the make up? I did June's and mine. June, don't take off your lipstick!" She added. June scowled, looking like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar, which she has been known to do.
"But I don't liiiiiiiiikeeeee it." she whined. Caitilin rolled her eyes.
"Cute on her. Not so much on you." Jason smirked.
"Shut up Jason." Caitilin then walked over to June and pulled out a wet wipe. She then started to wipe off the lipstick and pulled out a tube of red lipstick and started to reapply it.
"Dot wipe it off this time or I'm going to use it to draw all over your face at night." June have her a 'you better not' look. Bruce came up behind them.
"We need to get to the press and do some questions okay?"
"Okay!" The kids answered at the same time.
"I don't like the eye shadow." June whined in the car, moving her hand to wipe it off only for it to be smacked away lightly by Caitilin. June pouted and sulked into her seat. "I'm only niiiiiiiine." June sniffed. "Why do I need it?"
"Hey, on you, it looks cute, on Cay, it looks-"
"Shut it, Jay." Caitilin growled. "June doesn't need that word being added into her vocabulary."
"What word?"
"Nothing June don't worry about it. And Jay, you try to insult me again I swear to god I'll-"
"Caitilin and Jason that is enough. Both of you no more arguing again tonight. If I even hear that you two are fighting again, you're both grounded for two months." Bruce glared at them, so both stayed silent.
When they got to the press conference outside city hall, Alfred opened the door and let them out. Dick, Jason, Caitilin and June were all on their best behavior.
Well, as best as they can be.
At the first sight of camera flashes, June nearly jumped out of her skin and kicked the nearest reporter. She restrained herself, and there were no accidents. Jason kept a firm hand in hers so she wouldn't do anything out of instincts or fear, and Dick glared at anyone who whispered and pointed at her. Caitilin, on the other hand, glare at June whenever she tried deliberately to kick someone, wipe of her makeup, or escape her brother's clutches.
Eventually, June escaped out of Jason's grip and bounded up to the first person she saw; Tim Drake.
"June!" Caitilin then saw who she bumped into. Tim Drake that kid she sits with at lunh everyday. What was he doing here?
"June? Hey what's up?"
"Nothing just this, I guess."
"Same I don't like these things too much." Caitilin walked up to them.
"You must be Caitilin. Hi I'm Tim." Tim then extended his hand for her to shake. She shook his hand.
"What're you doing here?" June asked.
Tim shrugged. "My dad runs Drake Industries, my parents just dragged me along to a party. Nice dress by the way."
June made a face. "I hate it. And the makeup."
Tim smiled. "I know, you complain about the girls who wear make-up every day."
"I don't know how they can wear this stuff."
"It looks annoying."
"Oh it is." They started to head in the building.
"So how did you get suckered into wearing a monkey suit?"
"Dad promised ice cream after this." Tim admitted.
"June!" Jason waved her over, indicating it was the Press Q&A time. She made a face before smiling apologetically at Tim and running over to her family.
"Who was that dork? Your boyfriend?"
June turned green. "Eww! No! He's my friend from school, his name is Tim and he isn't a dork! He lives next door."
"Whatever."
"Tim? Tim Drake you mean? That stalker kid next door?" Dick whispered.
"Tim isn't a... what's a stalker?" Before anyone could respond, the press Q and A began.
"Okay, this is a question for the girls. What's it like living with Bruce Wayne?"
"It's fun, knowing that we live with a millionaire." Caitilin said, the reporter then wrote down what she said and sat down.
"And what about you, sweetie?" She cooed at June. June beamed at her.
"I loooooove spending time with Daddy, Cay, Dickie, and Jay." She answered honestly. The reporters scribbled furiously, a few cooing.
"Pushing it a bit much, are you?" Jason whispered, his lips barely twitching from the smile on his face.
"Maybe." her green eyes sparkled. This time Caitilin have her a look.
"You're pushing it, kid, you're pushing it."
"Oh I know." She then gave them her 'I'm innocent and cute' look. They both grunted and turned forward.
"Okay this one is for Bruce." A male reporter said.
"Go ahead."
"Which one of your kids do you think would be able to run Wayne enterprises?" All the reporters turned to Bruce and waited for his answer. Bruce took a couple minutes to think about the question.
"I believe Richard would be a good fit for it, because he has been at Wayne Enterprises before and seen how it runs." The reporters quickly wrote down his word
"Aww, daaaaad." Caitilin huffed. Bruce rolled his eyes.
"You and June nearly destroyed the office last time."
"Jason gave us chocolate!"
"I did not!" Jason hissed.
"Did too." June chirped.
"Tattletale."
"I know you are but what am I?" she sang innocently, giggling impishly to herself.
Jason's eye twitched. "You- you little troll. You are sooooo lucky you're daddy's little girl." This caused a flurry of questions.
"Does this mean June is your favorite?"
"Is she really daddy's little girl?"
"Mr. Wayne does that mean you like her more than the others?" Bruce had enough there questions. He signaled his kids that it was time to leave. They all got up and went to the car.
June waved towards Tim, and he smiled and waved in return. Caitilin dragged her into the car and they drove off. Alfred parked the car in an alley and the Bats exited the car. They entered the Telephone booth and Zeta'ed to the BatCave.
With the Team
'Remember, report any suspicious behavior or activity.' Kaldur thought.
'We got it, Kal.' Raquel replied. 'Sit at the table, we'll look suspicious if we don't.'
The team were in pairs so they wouldn't attract attention by looking like a big group.
'Should we-' Zatanna stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Wally scarf down his food. 'Never mind.'
Kaldur hesitantly tried an interesting looking sauce, and found it tasted quite good. Raquel looked at what Kaldur was eating, and her eyes grew wide. 'Kal! Do you know what that is?!'
Kaldur frowned and looked at her in confusion. 'What is it?'
'That's caviar!'
A blank look.
'Fish eggs!'
Kaldur gave her shocked look and pushed away his plate, looking a bit green. He choked and drowned his water, trying to get the taste out of his mouth, gagging at the same time. There goes his appetite. At least he knows what to stay away from now.
They looked around and saw the Batkids. They were huddled in a little circle. Caitilin left then Jason then Dick and June. They all went into different directions. Megan then connected them to the mind link.
'Caitilin, Jason, and June are going to be walking around the inside keeping an eye on everyone. You guys keep watch from the outside and back got it?' Dick said to everyone in the mind link.
'Got it.' They all went to their posts.
'Did Kal eat the baby fishies?' June asked innocently.
Kaldur gagged again. 'Please, do not remind me.' June giggled. Raquel sent them a mental smirk.
Out loud June said, "Dickie? Can we eat now?"
"Sure, shortie."
A few people nearby cooed at them, and June put on a VERY forced smile. But her eyes locked into Dick's and they promised revenge. Dick looked at her and have her the same look.
With Caitilin and Jason
"This is kinda boring Jay."
"Yeah it is. But wearing a tux is horrible, worse than seeing you in a dress." She gave him a dirty look.
"Honey, dirty looks won't do you any good." Jason grinned. Caitilin walked off. Jason then turned around and walked away. But he didn't realize that the enemy walked right past him.
June sat in the chair of the long table next to her brother. She quietly ate Mac n Cheese Alfred had made specifically for the little kids. Her ears suddenly perked up when she heard voices.
"Still can't believe... Brucey... no more time... us... circus brats... street rats..." A confused and slightly hurt look appeared on June's face.
"Dickie?" She poked her elder brother.
"Yeah?"
"I hear some ladies calling me and you circus brats and Jason and Caitilin street rats." Dick looked more annoyed than surprised.
"Don't listen to them." Caitilin showed up behind him.
"Don't listen to who?"
"Some ladies called me and Dickie circus brats and you and Jay street rats. I heard them too!" Caitilin looked outraged. She looked around and saw two woman who looked like they were in there early 20s, and they were whispering. One of them looked up and down on Caitilin's dress and made a little face.
"That does it. You might want to get Jay, you're in for a show, June."
"Caitilin don't. You're going to cause attention. This is a bad idea." Dick warned.
"Then let the attention come." Caitilin walked over to the ladies. When they saw her coming over they put on fake smiles.
"Oh hello. You must be Brucey's oldest daughter."
"You got that right lady." Jason noticed Caitilin talking to them from where he was. What was she doing?
"You need some manners. I guess the street didn't teach you that." That sure did set Caitilin off. She then put on a fake smile too.
"Wow your funny. Did you know that the only reason your invited is because you're a whore? No I guess you didn't. Didn't society teach you that?" The woman's mouth was opened wide, like a fish. She couldn't believe it.
"Excuse me?!"
"You heard me! I suggest you leave if you're going to call my siblings a street rat and circus brats. Maybe next time you can pick on someone your own size." Caitilin walked away. There was a small group of people huddled around to watch. Including the team.
'Way to keep a low profile.' Artemis thought.
'She was messing with my siblings!'
'Ya know you're gonna be grounded by Bruce, if not, by Alfred.' Jason sighed.
'...Totally worth it.'
Bruce appeared in the room and dragged Caitilin out, but before he could do so, there was a loud crash. Everyone turned and saw Joker. He was holding a gun. He had his goons with him. Everyone ran away from him, screaming their lungs out, but his thugs surrounded the doors and windows.
"Hello Gotham's finest!"
"What do you want clown?"
"I want Batman to come forward and remove his mask for me! Oh and gimme all your jewelry and money too." One of the goons took out a bag and walked up to everyone. Bruce, Caitilin, Jason, Dick, and June then disappeared and changed into their costumes.
Miss Martian shape-shifted, Kaldur grabbed his water bearers, Wally took off his sunglasses and sped-changed, Zatanna performed a spell and changed her, Artemis, and Rocket's outfits, and Superboy... well he didn't really have to do anything. They all then ran over to joker.
"You're surrounded, there's no way out." Aqualad said.
"HAHAHAHAHA! It's Batsy and his kiddys! How cute is that?!" Joker's laugh was starting to annoy Caitilin. She got out a bat a rang and threw it. It cut the sleeve of jokers shirt.
"Now that isn't nice. Didn't anyone teach you any manners?"
"I don't know you tell me."
"I'd say, no." Joker grinned madly, and saw the team. "Oooh, more kiddies to play with!"
'Is he mad?' M'gann thought.
'Yes.' was the collective answer from the Batkids, Artemis, and Kid Flash.
"Acrobat, Blue Canary, crowd control." Batman instructed. The cousins both looked disappointed, and neither moved.
"No way Bats." Canary said firmly. Joker grabbed one lady from the crowd. A little boy cried out for his mother, and a man shouted furiously for his wife. Acrobat felt her stomach hit rock bottom. That little boy was Tim!
"Put the lady down now clown!" Joker then laughed at Caitilin.
"I said put her down!" She then took out what looked like a ninja star. Where did she get that? Batman was happy it wasn't a gun. But then he noticed that she didn't have her guns on her.
"I don't think so." He then took out a knife and put it up to the woman's throat. This isn't good.
'Team, get the civilians outta here!' Robin mentally shouted. The team didn't argue and left to lead the crowd outside.
The team then started to get the crowd outside. Once that was done, they ran inside to help. Joker had already killed the woman, and his gun was pressed against the woman's husband's temple. Acrobat saw Tim on his knees crying.
Acrobat wrapped her arms around Tim's shoulders, his eyes filled with tears of horror and fear. Tim looked at the girl with blurry eyes and got a good look at her. He looked directly into her white masked eyes and froze in shock. He could swear he could stare right through her mask, and swear he saw a shade of green only one person he knew had. He suddenly realized it. Everything fit. He saw a footage of Acrobat and Robin doing a quadruple flip off a rooftop, and the only people in the world to be able to do that were the acrobats at Haly's Circus, the one he'd visited when he was younger... and the same one Juniper Moore and Dick Grayson grew up in.
Had the circumstances been different, he would have berated himself for being so stupid, it seemed so obvious now; it was even in Acrobat's name!
"June..." Tim murmured, not loud enough for anyone but himself and Acrobat to hear. Her shoulders tenses up and the whites of her mask widened.
"June." he repeated staring at the young hero in wonder. He was sure of it.
The next thing they knew, they heard Joker laugh. They looked over and saw that Aqualad and Superboy managed to get the man away from the joker. But Canary looked like she was going to kill him, but she was too busy with the goons. As well as Red hood, Robin, Batman, Acrobat, and the rest of the team. Joker has a lot of goons.
"Canary behind you!" Canary then roundhouse kicked the guy coming behind her. Tim looked shocked.
"That's Caitilin." He whispered. June then looked at him with the whites of her mask wide in shock. This kid was to smart.
"A-and your brothers!" he continued, then he locked his eyes on Batman.
"Holy... Mr. Wayne is the-" Acrobat placed a hand over Tim's mouth.
"Secrets ID! Shut up, come with me, and I'll explain everything-" a loud gunshot echoed through the room.