Chapter Eleven
Old Bruce knew he was asking for it when he offered to take the kids into town to shop.
The girls were happy. The boys looked ready to start stuff. The future adults and babies stayed at the manor while Alfred drove the kids and present day heroes to a fancy restaurant.
As they got out of the car, Wes started to levitate and that got Bruce to thinking.
"Before we get started, do you all know the ONE rule about heroes being out when not saving the world?" Bruce asked the young heroes in training.
"Sorry, Grandpa Bruce." Wes stated as he floated back to the ground.
"It's alright. Is anyone hungry?" Old Bruce asked.
"ME! ME! ME!" cried Iesha.
"And what would you like?" Bruce asked Iesha.
"Do you EVEN have to ask...I want pizza." Iesha cried out.
"Well this might not be the place for pizza...but I do know a place nearby that we can all walk to." Reiena said.
"But I want ribs." Rini pouted.
"And I want ice cream." Young Jason added.
"Well you all are in luck, this place has everything; it's not as fancy as where we had planned, but the food is amazing." Reiena responded.
"Yeah!" cried several of the kids.
The group headed for the pizza place but Rini quickly fell behind.
"Sweetie, you want me to carry you?" Dick asked his granddaughter.
"Yeah."
"You usually levitate when you fall behind, don't you?" Dick asked as he picked her up.
"Yeah." Rini placed her head on her grandfather's shoulder. "Grandpa? Are you planning more babies after Brie? You and Grandma have talked about it."
"I don't know sweetie, I mean your grandmother and I JUST got married...but honestly, seeing how Brie is...I think that plan will change." Dick remarked.
"You're having less?!" she exclaimed.
"No, I know that Brie is the youngest...so I think we'll stop after her." Dick said with a laugh.
"Oh. Ok then. Because if you keep trying, you'll have a son. His name will be John."
"How do you know that? I thought only Marik was special enough to see the future?"
"I sometimes see stuff. Mommy and Raven do all the time."
"So it's because of Raven's power...you really are a special little girl." Dick said as they arrived at the restaurant.
"Yeah..." Rini yawned.
As they entered the restaurant, the present day twins saw a few people they knew...but more so was one person they hadn't expected.
"Uncle Tim." Delta squad cried out. They had seen pictures of the Bat family from this time so they knew it was him.
"Hey little brother, what are you doing here." Reiena asked.
"Alfred said you were taking some kids out on a shopping trip and I wanted to meet them."
"Well, let's get the private room here, and we'll talk." Bruce said with a smile as he was happy to see Tim, but knew that things would never be the same after THAT mission. He then went to find someone to help get the private room ready.
Rini yawned again, and Reilie looked really worried.
"Rini...what's wrong?" She asked her big sister.
"I'm tired…and hungry. I want cherry pop." Rini snuggled into her grandpa's back.
"Well then, you really are in luck." Tim said with a smile.
"Your room is ready, and will all the children need kids' cups?" The waitress said as she came back.
"Yes they do."
"I want a big cup." Little Jason said.
"You're too small right now, but if I remember right, this place has unlimited refills." Reiena remarked.
"Fine."
Kara and Reilie giggled as they saw the pizza maker beat the dough.
Older Reiena shook her head.
"Iesha, do you ever drink diet drinks." Bruce asked, hoping he could keep her sugar levels low as they went into the private room.
"Ew! Why?" Iesha cried rather loudly.
Rodney laughed.
"Because too much sugar can...well..." Dick said, hoping to keep Iesha's secret.
"Oh, that, I can limit myself, I have to some times at home."
"Okay." Bruce responded.
The kids all sat down at the large table in the private room. Rei-Rei and Rodney sat next to each other.
"Looks like those two are sweet on each other." Tim whispered to Reiena.
"Seems like it, but I haven't said anything around Dick."
"Why not."
"All these kids are our kids and grandkids from the future." Reiena answered.
"Serious?" Tim asked.
"Yea, the two twin boys over there...are my grandsons." Reiena answered with a smile.
"Rei...wow...they kinda look like Kaldur."
"Yep, they're his grandsons as well."
Tim noticed the young girl that looked like Artemis and the boy that looked like Conner whispering to each other. "Wally and Artemis?" Tim asked her.
"The girl yes, and the boy she's talking to is Conner and M'gann's youngest son." Dick said as he realized what was going on after getting Rini situated.
Then the pizzas started coming: Pepperoni, Cheese and Hawaiian.
Rini grabbed the Hawaiian.
"Rini...I thought you wanted ribs?" Dick asked.
"Yeah, but I'm really hungry." Rini pouted.
"Alright, well the ribs have been ordered, so they'll be here soon." Older Bruce said.
"Uncle Tim...are you happy at this time?" The dark haired little boy said and Tim could have sworn that he looked like Dick.
Reilie took a slice of pepperoni in each hand, taking one bite from one, then the other.
"What do you mean..? Um...so who are you?"
"Marik."
"I've heard that name...you're related to Serenity and Dick somehow." Tim stated.
Marik grinned. "I'm their kid."
"Me too!" cried Brie.
"And me." Rei-Rei added.
"Wow, you and Ser have been busy, Dick." Tim said.
"Yea, and then there's the one with the pepperoni pizza, and she's Dick and Conner's grandchild." Reiena stated with a laugh as Dick turned red.
"And this one that hogged the Hawaiian pizza is my grand kid too."
Rini then burped.
As everyone laughed while Rini blushed; the ribs arrived as another Hawaiian pizza was brought in and so were the drinks, and everyone had cherry soda.
"This is delicious." Rini said as she took a bite of her ribs and then took a sip of drink.
"So the one with the ribs is your youngest grandkid?" Tim asked as he got a piece of pepperoni and a piece of Hawaiian pizza.
"She's my oldest." Dick admitted.
"It was because of the villain that started the current war, he was a meanie and attacked mommy while I was still inside her." Rini said.
"Oh." Tim realized he never voiced the question.
Wesley then took a slice of Hawaiian and ate the pineapple pieces before folding the pizza and eating it.
Iesha then burped loudly. "Oh, this is good!" She grabbed another slice.
"So what did Wally and Artemis name you, and why are you even in this time?" Tim asked.
"I'm Iesha, and we're here because another war broke out."
"I got that from Dick's grandkid...but..." Tim said as the questions started to mount.
"So we need to be safe." Young Bruce added.
"And not cause a fight." Young Jason added.
"You seem to want to fight in this war...but you're too young." Tim said.
"I'm not fighting so Rini will be safe; I'm not going to put her in danger because of our bond." Jason blurted out.
Old Bruce glared as Rini hissed, "Jay!"
"I can come to the cave some time later and we can talk about all this there, but right now, what do you all have planned for today?" Tim asked as he took a sip of drink.
"Shopping!" the girls cried. The boys cringed.
Tim laughed. "That should be fun."
Rini yawned again after eating a slab of ribs. She drank her cherry pop dry and slid off her chair, taking her cup with her as she walked over to the pop fountain and refilled it. She then returned to the others and yawned as she set her cup down, climbed up and drained the new pop in two minutes.
"That was awfully fast Rini." Kara told her.
Rini burped. "I'm warm. I shouldn't be."
All of a sudden, Jason felt funny, and everyone could tell.
"Jay, what's wrong?" Dick asked his grandnephew.
"Don't know, I got cold all of a sudden..."
"Some kind of magic is at work here."
"We need to get back to Mey-Mey." Bruce said.
"Any idea what's going on?" Older Bruce asked.
"I think it's something with our bond; it's trying to affect me, but I'm more of an Atlantean than Jay, so I'm use to cold."
"I think...Mommy's sick. And I'm getting it," Rini whispered. "There's no attack."
"How about I take Rini back and you guys go ahead and shop." Tim offered as he got up from his seat, went over, and scooped Rini up into his arms.
"Are you sure?" Reiena asked.
"Yeah. Alfred can take me back. We can chat and you three can take the kids shopping."
"Don't worry sis. I'll bring back sparkling shoes." Reilie said to Rini.
Rini yawned. "Ok." And then she snuggled against Tim.
"Wow...does she always do this?" he asked the kids.
"Yeah. All the time. She likes naps." Young Bruce offered up.
"Ok. See you guys later." Tim walked out, carrying Rini.
Just then Little Jason started sneezing and coughing, so Reiena picked him up and ran to catch up with Tim.
She found him just as he reached Alfred.
"Does he have to go too?"
"He's a fire controller, and it's not good for them to get sick...believe me. I'm sure Meygan will know what to do."
"I'm sorry, grandma." Jason said with a pout.
"It's alright sweetie, it happens, but you don't need to be out, sometimes I've sneezed fire I was so sick."
"Okay, bring me a present." Jason said as Tim got Jason after putting Rini in the car.
"I will." Reiena said with a smile as she kissed Jason goodbye.
"Don't worry, sis, I'll take care of him."
"I know you will, thanks Tim."
With that Reiena headed back for the restaurant while Tim climbed into the limo and Alfred took him and the two sick children home.
After Reiena got back to her family and Delta Squad from getting Jason to Tim, everyone was ready to go to the mall, and they were lucky as even the fancy restaurant that had originally been chosen was within walking distance of the mall.
Once the adults led the kids inside, they were amazed by the lack of tech inside, and the toy shops they saw.
"Delta Squad...let's play."Wes told them mentally.
"What about Batpa, Uncle Dick and Grandma?" Little Bruce asked.
"They can find us...later." Wes told them. He went off to the mineral/stone shop with Iesha.
Little Bruce felt alone without Jason, but something was wrong with his brother and cousin, so he found something he had never seen before...a slurpy station and took off for it.
The rest of Delta headed out to wherever they could find.
"Oh no..." Dick stated.
"We'll keep our eyes and ears open, but I have to find Jason a present...he asked if I'd get him one."
"I think the kids are going to do things to annoy us." Old Bruce told the adult twins.
"True." Dick stated.
The only one that stayed with them was Reilie.
"Reilie, why didn't you run off?" Dick asked.
"I need to get sparkly shoes for Rini. She loves shiny, sparkling stuff. So...who's got the money?"
Reiena laughed at her grandniece's question.
"We'll take care of everything. Do you know exactly what size she wears?" Older Bruce asked.
"One and a half in kids. I'm a four." Reilie took her Batpa's hand. "Come with me?" she asked him.
Bruce couldn't refuse her, and so he let her lead the way.
"Looks like we better split up and find the kids...keep in touch through text." Dick stated after he caught his breath from laughing at the sight of Bruce being led off by a four year old
Reiena took her phone and snapped a pic of the pair before she nodded to her brother. "Yeah. Rodney might marry Rei-Rei in this mall." she teased.
Dick shook his head but made finding them a priority.
"Look at the roses." Rei-Rei told Rodney as they walked by the flower shop.
"We'll come back. Look at all the rings over there!" Rodney pulled Rei-Rei with him to the gaming shop that featured the Golden Rings of Sonic the Hedgehog.
While Dick was hunting down his future six year old daughter; Reiena found Bruce at the Slurpy kiosk and it looked like the employee was amazed.
"Bruce." Reiena cried out and her grandson turned around with his eyes wide for two reasons...the sugar and he looked about ready to cry.
"He's had five already." The employee said.
"And he didn't succumb to brain freeze; wow." Reiena said.
"I LOVE the cold." Bruce said with a smile.
"Well, I'll pay for this, but then we have to go locate some of the others, alright?"
"Can I have one more, sis, please." Bruce said and it shocked Reiena at first, but then she figured he was doing it to protect the future.
"...alright, ONE more, and I'll take one too." Reiena said.
"I haven't tried the blue one yet."
"Then I'll get the blue one too." she told her future grandson.
"Alright, and the total is...14.50." The employee said.
"Well that's a deal." Reiena said with a smile as she paid for the slurpys and the employee went to get the last two of the order.
Meanwhile, Rodney put a large ring onto Rei-Rei's arm. "There. We're officially married." Rodney told her.
She blushed.
"Hey, charge this to Mr. Bruce Wayne's account ok?" Rodney yelled to the clerk before they walked out with the large, glowing ring.
"Hey! HEY!" the clerk cried.
Dick caught the two before they got far. The clerk ran up from behind. "Hey Dick! Thanks for catching these thieves!"
"We are not thieves!" Rei-Rei cried.
"Hey Tommy. They're not from here." Dick explained.
"I'm Dick's little niece, and this is a friend from school." Rei said, keeping their cover.
"Ah. So they told me to charge that ring to your father's account."
"I'll pay for this right now and if any other little kids come in here telling you that, go ahead. Bruce gave them permission."
"You kids are lucky," Tommy told them. "That ring is $79."
"Rodney says we're married now, since he gave me this!" Rei-Rei told Dick.
Dick face-palmed at that, but he also laughed and paid Tommy the money.
Tommy started laughing. "Man, at least he got the right idea!"
Rodney looked rather proud of himself as he held her hand.
Dick quickly got them out of the store as Brie and Kara left the arcade across from them.
"Those games are expensive!" Kara complained.
"I know. Let's find a playground!" Brie suggested.
Dick ran over to the girls. "Ok. Wait up. There's no playground in here."
The girls pouted.
Brie started to get teary eyed. "That's not fair."
"I know, but if we don't have much to carry home when we get done, we may go to a park.
"Ok! So...can I climb that wall?" Brie excitedly asked, pointing to the huge wall in the middle of the nearby open area.
"No."
"Please?!" she begged.
"Nope."
Brie pouted.
"Oh please, who do you think INVENTED that." Dick said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Me?" she said sheepishly.
The other kids laughed.
"Actually, it was me and Reiena that did it." Dick remarked. "I've seen it before, and believe me; no one can do it like we did as kids."
"I do it best!" Brie told him, folding her arms.
"It's good that I'll give you that, but no, even with the harness, it's for older kids." Dick said.
"That's not fair! It's always the older kids!" Brie headed for the staircase.
"Tell you what; I'll let you jump around on the Javelin if you want before you leave." Dick whispered to his little girl.
"Already did that."
"WHEN!?"
"Last year. You told me I was grounded so I went to the landing pad and climbed it." Brie leaped onto the staircase railing with little effort.
"There you guys are!" Reiena and Young Bruce walked up on them.
"Wow, so Bruce wasn't any trouble?" Dick asked as Reiena was smiling and so was her grandson.
"He's on a sugar high."
"And I didn't get a brain freeze from six slurpys."
Everyone's jaw dropped. Brie started to walk up the railing of the stairs, balancing herself perfectly.
"Brie, get back here." Reiena cried out, and just then Tommy came walking up.
Brie never turned from facing the second floor as she said, "No."
"So did your little girl tell you that she's 'married' now?" Tommy asked.
"My...oh, no, Rei, you didn't tell me that."
"Look at the ring Rodney gave me." Rei said as she held up her arm.
Dick went to get his future daughter from the staircase as Reiena facepalmed.
"That ring's big, Rodney!" Kara agreed.
"I like it." Rei said as she blushed.
Reiena shook her head.
Dick reached for Brie and she back flipped onto the staircase landing, grinning.
"I better get back. Here's the receipt for the ring. Just in case." Tommy then ran back to his store.
Brie waited to see what her future father did as Old Bruce and Reilie came walking to them. Bruce carried four bags.
Reiena smiled as the kids snickered.
"Reilie...did you get ALL the sparkly shoes they had." Dick asked.
Reilie smiled. "Nope, but they are shiny and they light up."
Old Bruce looked ready to run.
"Well...there's just three left, Wes, Iesha, and Marik..." Reiena said after she caught her breath from laughing, then couldn't finish when she saw the Mineral/gem store. "...oh no..."
"Marik! We can't buy all the stones!" Iesha's voice rang out.
Inside the gem store, Marik was entranced by the swirling brown stone. It was a tiered stone, from base to tip it was 15 inches tall.
"You like that one huh?" an employee asked.
"YES." Marik said with a smile. "What is it?" Marik asked.
"It's an Australian Tiger's Eye." the sales clerk told him.
"It's amazing." Marik said as he never took his eyes off the gem.
"That it is little man." The clerk said with a smile.
"I want that piece." Marik declared.
Iesha saw Wesley looking at all the Rose Quartz stones, checking the weight of the various sized ones. "Wes...I don't need a fancy stone."
"Of course you do. It has to be as pretty as you." he told her.
Iesha blushed.
Reiena was the first to enter and she saw Marik trying to lift the large stone.
"Guess that one really called to you huh, sweetie?" Reiena asked as she walked over to him and helped.
"Hi! Yeah...but Wes is trying to marry Iesha." Marik told with a smile.
"Oh no, not another one." Reiena said with a sigh.
"Huh?"
"Rodney already 'married' my niece."
"Hey Marik! Look what Rodney got me!" Rei-Rei showed her large gold ring to her twin. "We're married now."
Marik looked at Rodney and gave a really sour look. He didn't like that idea at all.
"Rei, let's just call it a promise ring for now." Reiena told her niece.
"What's a promise ring?"
Marik went to Rodney. "You better not break my twin's heart or I will bury you," he warned.
Old Bruce laughed when he heard the little budding wizard.
"Not sway, Marik. Not sway at all."
"A true Grayson indeed." Dick stated.
"Found it!" Wesley held up the large, multi-faceted rose quartz crystal to the light.
The light that shined through hit Iesha's face just right and hearts fluttered from Wesley's head.
He was truly in love.
"Now if that isn't just adorable." Dick stated.
Iesha blushed. "Wes..." she hissed softly.
"She sounds just like Artemis." Older Reiena commented.
"That she does..." Bruce remarked. He had been around the archer enough to see that Iesha had gotten her mother's personality.
"So, are we all happy and ready to go?" Dick asked.
"YEA." Delta Squad cried out.
Just then Reiena remembered a promise she made to her grandson. "I need to get ONE last thing; you guys head out and call Alfred. I'll meet up with you." and with that she left the store.
"Mr. Wayne, can I get this?" Wesley asked the older Bruce politely.
"Of course." Bruce said with a smile.
"Thank you." Wesley smiled at Iesha.
"Grandpa?" Marik asked as Dick was now holding the Australian tiger's eye.
"Of course." Dick and Old Bruce went to pay for the large stones.
By the time Reiena got outside, Alfred was pulling up.
The Wayne butler got out of the car and that's when everyone else was coming out.
"Oh my, I see the children had fun." He said with a smile.
"How are Jason and Rini, Alfred?" Old Bruce asked
"Much better. Rini and Miss Meygan were in the super cold room and Jason was in front of the fireplace when I left. In fact, the two are eating smoked ham sandwiches with Munster cheese."
"EW!" the other kids cried all at the same time.
The adults laughed.
"Well I hope Jason likes my present." Reiena said with a smile. "And everyone has their own tastes. I mean Peanut butter and American cheese sandwiches are good."
"Grandma? Really?" Young Bruce asked.
"Yea."
"Let's go!" Reilie said impatiently.
Young Bruce shook his head.
Everyone got into the limo.
Forty-Five Minutes Later
It took time to get everything into the manor and all the kids settled, but there were two little kids that had presents coming to them. Reiena went to the largest fireplace and found Jason laying there with a blanket over him.
"Hey there, you missed causing mayhem at the mall."
"I'm feeling better now, grandma. Mey Mey said that Rini picked up on her sickness and because of our bond it passed to me and Bruce."
"Then how come he didn't get sick too."
"Probably because he's working on ice spells with daddy and Mey Mey."
"That explains how he was able to drink six slurpies without getting brain freeze."
"So, did you bring me anything?"
"I did actually. I don't know if you all have Build a Bear shops in your time, but they wouldn't have the exact thing I made for you."
Reiena pulled out a bag from the store and reached in. Jason's eyes lit up when he saw it; a cardinal dressed in the suit he had seen in the Batcave back in his time, and it even had a little mask over its eyes.
"Grandma!" Jason hugged her tightly to him. "It's so sway!"
"I figured you'd like it, and this way...I'll always be with you." Reiena said as tears formed in her eyes.
"Don't cry Grandma. There's no need to cry. You should never cry." Jason told her.
"I'm only crying because I wasn't there to see you and Bruce being born, but you're a wonderful little boy and I want you to listen to your mother when it comes to training your fire power, okay?" Reiena said as the hug broke and Jason was smiling at her.
"Do I have to?"
"Jason, fire power can be uncontrollable at times, but knowing how to maintain control AND how to fix an out of control moment are important."
"I know. Mommy tells me every day, but I just want to be free. Like just use it and go on." Jason smiled. "I tease Bruce with it. He's stiff."
"That's my boy, but don't tease him TOO much; Atlanteans can be hurt or even die from being too dehydrated. Your Uncle Dick saw that with Kaldur once and it wasn't good, he reverted to only speaking Atlantean."
"So, did Reilie keep her promise to Rini?"
"She did, and I think your cousin is going to be very happy."
Meanwhile in the super cold room...
Rini got redressed as Meygan buttoned her top. "Better? She asked her young daughter.
"Oh yeah! Can't wait to see what Reilie got me!" Rini pulled on her pink sparkly tutu over her magenta colored leggings. She then tied a magenta colored ribbon into her ponytail and walked out of the room as Meygan shut off the AC unit.
Meygan and Rini made their way to the family room where everyone else was at. Da'Shaun was dragging a bag toward the doorway.
"Oh, I see Da'shaun wants to help." Meygan said with a laugh.
He crawled to Rini with the bag. Then he used the side of the doorway to pull himself up. Then he took a step.
"Get the phone!" Meygan hissed as Da'Shaun took another step. Then another.
"Oh, Ro and David are missing this." Terra said with a smile as she had Olivia's camcorder out and started recording.
"Mommy! He's walking!" cried Reilie.
Rini stayed still as Da'Shaun made his way slowly to her. He had a huge grin on his face.
At that moment, Kaldur'ahm walked into to check on the kids and he stayed quiet when he realized what was happening.
Da'shaun then got to Rini and sat on his butt, laughing.
Rini hugged Da'Shaun as the kids cheered for him.
"Your nephew is a VERY quick leaner, Uncle Kaldur." Meygan said with a smile.
"Nephew?" Kaldur asked.
"Yeah. You have a half-brother. From your father." Meygan explained.
Kaldur's face turned to dread.
"Don't worry, he WAS a villain, but he saw that everything he knew was wrong." Meygan said with a smile.
"That is...good to know." he said slowly.
"You two are still working on your relationship." Meygan laughed.
"It's alright Grandpa, Uncle David is fun to hang out with, and so is Ro." Bruce said.
"Mommy... He's got gills!" Rini exclaimed as she sat with him and then stared at his neck.
"Is it normal for gills to come out a while after a birth?" Meygan asked, since Jason and Bruce had theirs the day they were born.
"I assume this Ro isn't Atlantean, so it might happen. It looks like it has."
"She's not, she's a bang baby."
"Ah..." Kaldur nodded as Terra took a close up of the baby boy's neck and gills.
"David will be happy." Terra commented softly, a wistful tone to her voice.
"So, what has Da'shaun brought you, sweetie?" Meygan asked her daughter.
"Rini, look in the bag Da'Shaun dragged over." Reilie said cheerfully.
Rini picked up the bag and opened it. She pulled out the box and then lifted the lid.
Inside was a pair of rhinestone pink sneakers with lights flicking on and off with every movement.
Rini's eyes lit up. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Rini screamed with a loud voice. "Reilie! Thank you!" She quickly put them on and then flew into her younger sister's arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rini squealed happily.
Reilie hugged her sister. "That's not all." Reilie showed her the other bags. "I just thought Da'shaun would like to be included in today's events, so I let him give you those.
Rini went through them. She had 20 tutus, all in different colors and a few lit up. Rini squealed happily.
"Your sister had me buy all of the tutus. She said you liked wearing them." Old Bruce explained.
"I DO." Rini said with a happy voice, but it seems to have lowered back to its soft tone.
"So...sorry about destroying the ones you use to have."
"Oh Reilie, you're the best." Rini hugged her sister tightly.
"Oh! Um...Rini, you're hurting me." Reilie warned.
"Oops!" Rini let go right away.
"It's alright, I'm use to it by now. We are part Kryptonian after all." Reilie said with a smile.
Rini wore a very happy grin on her face.
"I guess I'll have to come back for all of this after we return to our time." Meygan said.
Just then Jason came running into the room and Reiena wasn't far behind him.
"Look what Grandma got me!" He said as he held the little cardinal up.
"Oh wow sis." Dick told his twin.
"Oh and Rodney married Rei-Rei." Kara told Rini.
"Not to mention Wes and Ie." Marik added.
"And I missed the weddings?" she asked softly as Young Bruce grinned.
"I didn't get married!" Iesha explained. "I got a huge pretty rock."
Rei-Rei blushed.
Rini shook her head. "We're kids. We can't get married unless our parents sign papers."
Rei-Rei looked to Dick with hope in her eyes.
"Like I said, Rei, it's a promise ring for now." Reiena told her niece. "The same can be said for your stone, Iesha."
"You never answered my question, Aunt Rei, what's a promise ring?"
"A promise ring shows other boys that you are already taken, but not quite married yet."
"Daddy, can I get married then?" Rei-Rei asked Dick.
Alfred and Old Bruce choked on their laughter.
"I will start dinner then," Alfred added as his laughter died down. "What would all of you like?"
"Ice Cream!"
"Brownies!"
"Cheeseburgers!"
"Meatloaf with Green beans!"
"Lasagna!"
"I want to try grandma's Peanut butter and cheese sandwich." Bruce pipped up.
"Oh my!"
"You kids need to decide on one thing." Old Bruce reminded the kids.
All the kids looked at each other. "Spaghetti and Meatballs."
"But you can try your grandma's sandwich if you want, Bruce" Wesley added. "and if that's OK, Grandpa Alfred?"
"Miss Reiena is the only one that makes that. I believe it's the way she places the cheese that I cannot quite get right."
"I'll make you one before you go to sleep." Reiena said with a smile.
"Okay, I'll wait." Bruce said with a smile.
"Let me start Dinner. Perhaps, Master Bruce, a story is in order." And Alfred was gone.
Old Bruce looked like he had no clue what to do.
Dick and Reiena giggled.
"It may be sad...but how did you come to meet Uncle Dick and Grandma...mommy doesn't talk about it." Jason asked.
"It is sad, but with a happy ending for all of us. And I'm sure Areina knows the story, but yea, it's not something that we like to talk about." Reiena said.
"Alright then."
All of the kids sat around Bruce, even Da'Shaun, who crawled over.
"What was the circus like?" Kara asked.
"Yeah!" the kids agreed.
"Well, I guess they do need to know what all we did there before meeting Bruce." Dick said with a smile.
Meygan and Terra stood at the doorway to leave. "We need to find Molly. You guys go ahead."
And the pair left as the stories began.