An/ A couple of other leaguers thrown in here for good measure ;)

Twelve Days of Comfort and Joy

Chapter Ten

Dances with Masks

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Ten Lords-a-leaping.

Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas and the expanded Justice League were busy planning a party, a last minute get together before everyone parted ways to spend the holiday with their families and loved ones. The invitation had been simple and everyone had received one, the only conditions being that the party was to be themed on a Masquerade ball, an ideal solution to protecting secret identities. This rule however even stretched to those that no longer bore secret identities or had just never had any to protect, John Stewart was one of those people.

Having always held a dislike for the prospects of wearing a mask, John was slightly dubious as he looked down at the emerald green eye mask he was to don for the night. Half of him would be more than content to spend the night with Shayera, they were getting closer and closer and he was in retrospect finding it hard to keep his hands off of her. Letting out a breath he put the mask on the side unit and picked up his jacket, a dark coloured one to match his trousers, his usual look along with a coloured dress shirt...green as was customary. People might suggest that he was unoriginal but he knew what he liked to wear and he was more than content with that.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Shayera entering the room, an emerald gown hugging her shapely figure, her wings were preened which he was sure she didn't think he noticed, and her hair was once again up in a large but loose bun. John gaped before he realised his manners and closed his mouth, he did notice though as he came to his senses that Shayera was looking less than happy, the grey eye mask she was to wear held in her hands.

"Do I have to wear this?"

"Yeah, it's the theme of the party...I know, I don't like masks either."

"It's not that it's just..." She paused still fingering the item in her hands "I haven't worn a mask since...well since the invasion."

John took the mask from her hands and examined it, the feathers plumed at either side reminding him of her Hawkgirl helmet, an uncanny resemblance. Without thinking he reached up and attempted to put the mask on her but she recoiled from him, practically slapping his hand away.

"If...you'd rather put it on yourself?" He said carefully unsure as to whether or not he had offended her; Thanagarian culture was still a tricky thing to understand.

"No...I'm just not permitted to wear it."

John raised an eyebrow "It's just a mask-"

"Urgh you don't understand!" Shayera exploded suddenly, throwing her hands up into the air in obvious display of her distress.

"Then explain." John remained calm in the face of her anger; it was one of the few ways to get by it without any permanent damage being inflicted.

An aggravated breath was released between her teeth before she seemed composed enough to elaborate "I was publically unmasked...stripped of my honour and name...I am not permitted to wear a mask anymore."

Pondering John looked down at the offensive object before making a suggestion, it was probably stupid but it was worth a shot.

"Well...what if I put it on you? Isn't that okay?"

"I have no honour or name, it doesn't matter who puts it on me."

"You have honour, if you didn't," He swallowed and was surprised by how hard the action was "You wouldn't still be here, fighting to help people," She'd probably be dead or worse "And your name is Shayera Hol."

"John..."

"Shayera, if you don't want to wear it then don't, I'm not going to make you."

"I'd be more comfortable without it."

"Then it's settled."

Up in the orbiting Watchtower the large monitor womb had been converted into a party hall, it was the largest area of the entire satellite so it was perfect for housing nearly every member of the expanded League. John and Shayera entered the hall hand in hand and took a moment just to look around. Decorations hung from anything that wasn't moving, trees adorned every corner and music blared out of mounted speakers, a temporary bar had also been set up in the far corner. Whoever was responsible, it must have taken them ages.

Progressing through the crowds of people the two of them found themselves automatically radiating towards the other founders. Despite Clark's best attempts to integrate the original team with the new, there was still a distinct separation between the two. An amused chortle was released from John as they reached their target.

"Nice outfit Bruce."

"I'm glad you approve." The dark knight responded dryly, pulling his cape tighter over his chest.

Shayera's lips quirked into a smile "You couldn't bring yourself to dress down on this one occasion?"

Turning to her the fully outfitted Batman narrowed his eyes before apparently actually looking at her, looking away again he deadpanned "You look nice...no mask though."

"No. No mask." Chuckling Shayera gave him a smile "Coming from you though that has to be the best compliment I can get all night."

"Hey!" John interjected "What about my compliments?"

"You're supposed to compliment me; it's like some kind of Earth protocol or something."

Neither of them noticed Batman smirk slightly before his customary and rather anti-festive frown returned and he swept away from them, a metaphorical dark cloud.

"Well I don't do it because I have to...did you see Batman go?"

Shayera snorted as she tugged on John's arm "No one sees Batman go, you're lucky if you even notice him arrive."

"True that."

Nodding, Shayera pulled John through the crowd. A few months ago she would have cringed at the thought of being around so many people but over the last week large crowds didn't bother her as much now. Maybe it was John's hand held tightly in hers or maybe she had finally dealt with her own grievances with herself, her own guilt and self-loathing...because for the first time in years, she didn't hate what she saw reflected at her in the mirror.

Soon enough they found the Flash, someone Shayera held in high regard, the closest thing she had to a brother but also one of the few that didn't judge her, had never judged her. Without announcing her presence first Shayera balled her fist and punched Wally in the arm.

"Ouch! Hey!" He swung around, a camera held in his hand as he came face to face with Shayera, his older yet shorter sister although he dare not mention her height to her face "Wow, you look hot."

Shayera turned to John "You see I know not to take that compliment seriously because Wally says that to every woman he meets."

"I do not!" Flash defended "At least...not every woman."

"Of course not Hotshot." John grinned "What's with the camera?"

"Oh," Wally held it up rather proud of himself "I'm getting pictures of couples under the mistletoe, thought it would make a cool Christmas display...that and a means for bribery..."

John pulled a clearly disapproving expression before a smile broke his visage "If you get one of Bruce I'll give you twenty bucks."

"Deal!" Wally agreed enthusiastically "I'll have to try and get the Princess in on it."He continued more to himself.

Shayera laughed "Good luck with that." She pondered for a second "So who have you got already?"

"Uh..." Wally clicked through the images on the camera "Black Canary and Green Arrow, Clark and Lois, Huntress and Question...which was totally weird by the way...and a couple of others."

"Why don't you get one of us?" John suggested, already forming a green mistletoe construct that loomed expectantly over his and Shayera's heads.

Wally eyed the construct "Suave GL, very suave."Both men grinned as Shayera uncharacteristically giggled, the white lenses of Wally's red mask showing his obvious amusement. "You two are good for each other, you know that?"

John was about to answer when Shayera roughly grabbed the front of his jacket and pulled him down to her level, one of her hands letting go only so that she could cup his face. The sudden action had knocked John slightly off balance and he grabbed her waist more for stability than anything else but gladly returned her kiss, a sudden passion sparking between them.

Flash shook his head before snapping a picture, still grinning as he looked at it "You guys want to take a look?" Wally glanced up only to find that the pair were too busy with each other to even hear him "Uh...guys?" He laughed "Never mind."

Somehow the Green Lantern managed to part only if it was for air although he sorely wanted to continue, her lips were soft and her eyes were gleaming with something he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Would you like to dance?" He croaked his voice ever so slightly higher in pitch than normal.

"I'd like that." Shayera agreed and allowed him to guide her to the dance floor.

The music had slowed compared to the original raucous music that had been playing when they had arrived. John pulled Shayera close to him as he rested his hands on her hips, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and her cheek brushing against his as she whispered into his ear.

"I never thought we'd get this back."

"I know..." He replied keeping his voice a low murmur "But we have..." He laughed self-depreciatively "I just wish I hadn't spent so much time trying to fight it."

She let out a sound that he couldn't identify as either amusement or annoyance, maybe it was just acceptance "I don't want to lose you again John."

A soft kiss brushed her jaw although it was accompanied by a slight tingly roughness from his beard that if she admitted, actually enjoyed.

"You won't." He confirmed to her "Nothing will come between us again, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that Lantern."

"Don't I know it."

A sudden laugh in his ear got his attention "What's so funny?"

"You better had been serious earlier about that twenty bucks..."

John moved them so that he could see in the direction Shayera could, when he did he saw that Diana had managed to corner Bruce under some mistletoe and had been subsequently awarded for her efforts with a kiss from the dark knight.

"I don't believe it." John admitted before he shook his head "Actually, yeah I do."

They continued to dance slowly along the floor, lost in thought and feeling, neither one feeling pressurised to talk. Shayera allowed her nails to gently scratch the back of John's neck as she leaned into him completely lost in just being with John, just dancing with him. Likewise John too was lost in the moment, nibbling on her ear a little just to get little giggles out of her as he let his thumb move in circles against the small of her back.

"John?"

"Hmm?"

"I..." She paused and nestled her face into his shoulder before turning so that her head rested there and her mouth was turned towards his ear "I love you."

He didn't reply straight away but unlike once before she didn't panic at his silence...she didn't really need an answer this time.

"I love you too...Don't ever forget that."

When they later arrived home in the early hours of the morning, neither of them bothered with the lights, instead entered the apartment and closed the door, John locking it securely.

"It's Christmas Eve." John reminded her as he slipped off his jacket and placed it over the chair.

Shayera approached him in the darkness, easily finding his form despite the lack of light. Despite his dislike of masks he had put his on and now Shayera was slowly reaching up to remove it, a strange role reversal compared to the singularly most cherished memory she possessed. Fingers finding the edge of the material she slowly lifted it away from his eyes, nothing but the glow of his green irises to greet her but she had long ago learned to read the wealth of emotions that swirled in them. A hand found her hip, softly caressing the material of her gown as it slowly found its way to the small of her back, tiny circles being made by the pads of his fingers sending little twinges of pleasure up her back, but she ignored them.

Grasping his other hand she started to kiss him gently, little fleeting kisses to his mouth and face and he likewise responded, trailing down her chin to her neck. Still holding his hand Shayera started to slide the ring from his finger, slowly but surely feeling it pass over his knuckles until it was completely free. Leaning back she dislodged John from her shoulder so that she could see his eyes, a chocolately brown immersing her, starting to drown her.

The ring was placed carefully on the side, safe and out of the way, no one left in the room except for John Stewart and Shayera Hol, Hawkgirl had fled some time ago and the Green Lantern had just disappeared too. Stripping down to their barest identities left them vulnerable but a kind of vulnerable that they were willing to expose to each other, the only other person in the whole World or even Universe that understood them completely, totally...without judgement, without expectation.

Everything else had fallen away, the strange memories of the Absorbacron that were neither theirs or not theirs, the revelations of a future child, the pressures of seeing one with another, the pain of lies and dual identities...it was all gone. Washed away.

A mumble passed Shayera's lips as John captured them with his own again, gentle and tender, always. Shayera herself had already unbuttoned his upper shirt buttons but John interrupted her, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her away.