Mother.

A/N: This is what happens when the shrivelled, twisted, and half dead thing that is my maternal instinct, twitches. I write about the relationships that the kiddies have with their Mums.

Talia – The failed experiment.

Damian mentally cursed the woman and her training. She was nearby, that much he knew. Where exactly he wasn't sure and that burned him. His adversary was deadly and she had him caught in her trap. "Don't toy with me, child. I know you're awake," Talia's dulcet tone rang from directly across the cavern. "I didn't beat you that hard." Damian only replied by spitting a wad of blood from his mouth. "I see that you've lapsed to the ways of the rest of that filth that your father coddles."

"They're good fun," Damian wheezed. At least three ribs cracked. Alfred would not be happy about tending to those. "Especially…especially once you…get to know them," he finished with a wince.

"Dull primitives do not warrant my time," Talia purred. "You however, I think I can spare a moment or two for."

Damian scoffed. "And you call my family 'filth'. Look in the mirror," he hissed.

He really hoped that his mind hadn't played tricks on him. Talia had him bound and unable to defend himself from her rage. He could just make out Talia's form reaching for something long and metallic. His sword, he figured, as she stalked towards him. A loud crack resounded throughout the cavern and Damian saw his mother crumple instantly. The field of view before him suddenly became dark grey, save for the blacked out bat symbol in the centre.

"Hi," he managed as he was freed from his bonds.

Strong arms caught him and as gently as possible picked him up. A feather light pressing of lips to his hairline was the last thing Damian was aware of as he slipped into unconsciousness in his father's capable arms. Damian knew that he was safe now. His father would tend to him and his siblings would deliver a harsh message to his mother and her lackeys. He really hoped that one of them would remember to grab the sword. He was rather fond of it.

Ursa & Lois – Darkness that faded into Light.

All Lor wanted was for the darkness to go away. The harsh words spoken through clenched teeth or the occasional scrape of nails across his cheek if he said the wrong thing. The General and Ursa were bickering again. Lor curled his knees up to his chin and hugged his legs. Hopefully they'd forget about him for a while as they exchanged bitter curses and dark vows of violence.

"Hey," a soft voice sounded. Lor blinked in confusion. The bickering faded along with the darkness surrounding him.

"Hey…you okay, Slugger?" he heard. "Chris?"

"Huh?" Chris Kent blinked again. The visions from his past disappeared to reveal a concerned and loving face. "Oh…hi Mom. I spaced out didn't I?" he asked as he let his legs slip from his grasp.

"I'll say," Lois replied as she took a seat beside him on the sofa. "I came home expecting to find you doing homework or something," she said. "Not curled up into a little ball looking lost and alone," she added, smoothing back his soft brown hair.

Chris inhaled deeply through his nose and sighed. "I guess I'm tired," he murmured. "I was reading…something for class and the next thing I know I'm back in the Phantom Zone."

"Tell you what," Lois stated as Chris rubbed his face in exhaustion. "Your Dad's bringing home take out. Why don't you go wash up and change into your PJ's." She stood up and tugged on his shoulder. "Leave it for tomorrow," she said as Chris looked at his homework.

That seemed to perk him up and he stood at Lois' insistence. "Thanks Mom," he said through a lopsided smile. He wrapped his arms around her small frame and hugged her for a few moments.

"Anytime Buddy, now go on," she said, placing a light swat to his hip. Chris did as he was told and laughed a moment later when he could hear Lois complaining that he'd grown again.

"I swear 'Lor' means 'grows like a weed' in Kryptonese," Lois muttered under her breath.

"I'm pretty sure Ma would agree with you," Clark teased as he opened the front door.

"Oh don't you start," Lois huffed playfully.

Chris knew that the exchanges about to take place were loving and caring, not the hatred filled bile of his youth. He chuckled when he could overhear his parents teasing each other about a story one had gotten up on the other, at work. Splashing cold water on his face, he towelled off and went to join them in the bright warm kitchen.

Jade – We make do with the hand life deals us.

The assassin watched in cool calculation as the waiter nervously placed the two orders on the table. Satisfied that the orders were correct, she dismissed him to cower in some dark corner as far from the assassin and her daughter as possible.

"I wonder what he did to piss Oba-san off?" Lian mused as she reached for the elegant teapot.

"I'm sure she'll be here to tell us all about it, once she's done wringing every dime out of those business goons downstairs," Jade replied, watching as her daughter poured the tea. Lian replaced the teapot and bowed her head before her mother. The two picked up their cups and sipped before Jade set hers back down. "Your form is flawless," she complimented.

Lian cocked a wry eyebrow as she took a second sip. "Ask Oba-san how many bamboo switches she's cracked over my knuckles to make sure that my form is flawless," she snorted. Jade grinned and flexed her own fingers ever so slightly.

"I'll be sure too," Jade teased. She picked up her chop sticks and debated over which morsel to begin with. "So how's your father?" she asked, selecting a piece of anago.

"The usual," Lian smirked. "He and Grandpa Ollie are hooking up with some old buddies, for beers tonight." Lian let the tip of her tongue poke out and moisten her lips as she selected a piece of unagi.

Jade and Lian continued making small talk as they ate. It had become a habit for the two to meet every once in a while, while Lian was in San Francisco for her Titan's weekends. Jade would tell anyone who dared asked if she had regrets, that she had none before leaving the person writhing on the ground. She had one and only Roy knew about that. Jade regretted that she could not have been a mother to their daughter, but as Lian had grown, she had reached out to make amends. Lian finished the story she was telling and Jade smiled softly.

"Speaking of your little bird friend," Jade said. "I heard that the corpse bride wants revenge for a recent 'injustice', as she's calling it," she added.

Lian rolled her eyes. "Talia's just pissed because her little bird's flock handed her ass back to her."

"So I heard," Jade smirked. "Still, she knows the rules. I leave your goodie-goodie friends alone…her son included. And she stays as far away from my Little Willow as possible."

Lian knew that tone in her mother's voice. Talia wasn't going to get near the Titans if Jade had something to say about it. "At least tell me when and where so I can sell tickets."

"I'll think about it," Jade teased. A soft shuffling sound caused the two to glance to their side with mirrored smirks on their faces. "So what did that one do?" Jade asked as the elderly matron joined them.

She held a hand up towards Jade as she watched Lian pour a cup of tea for her. "He skimmed the till," she replied, satisfied with Lian's etiquette. "So for punishment I had him serve you. He just quit," she added.

"You didn't serve his balls to him on a platter first?" Lian asked.

"You're slipping," Jade added. The two were suddenly wincing and shaking sore hands.

"Where the hell does she keep those things," Lian muttered as Oba-san set aside two broken bamboo switches and readjusted the sleeves of her kimono.

"Never trust ninja matriarchs," Jade growled.

"Never trust Vietnamese assassins," Oba-san smirked. She chuckled as mother and daughter both conceded her point in an identical fashion.

Linda – Never too old to hug.

"It's basically a walk in fridge," Jai stated as his sister looked back at him from the florist's cooler.

"So? It's Mom's birthday," Iris shot right back.

"Fine," Jai sighed and joined her. The cold hit him and he shivered. "Please tell me you know what you want," he muttered.

"Yup. Here, hold these." Iris grinned when he yelped as the cold flowers brushed his skin. "Okay, these and we're done."

"Thank you," Jai sighed. He rubbed his arms to warm them as his sister and the florist arranged the large bouquet of pink roses, carnations, and freesias. "Oh thanks! That looks cool!" he added when he saw the arrangement take shape.

"That's perfect Janey, thanks!" Iris grinned once the flowers were arranged.

"You guys giving them to her on air?" Janey asked.

"Oh yeah, be watching towards the end of the lunchtime newscast," Jai grinned. He handed Iris his wallet and carefully lifted the heavy vase full of flowers.

"Eh…thirty bucks," Janey told them, giving them a huge discount.

"And that's why we keep coming back to you," Iris laughed. The twins called out their thanks again and headed for the car. Iris got in and carefully took the bouquet from Jai. "Okay, they just went on air," she said, once Jai had got in and started the car.

"Plenty of time," he grinned and drove to the television station.

The director spotted the twins and waved them over. Linda and her co-anchor Chelsea were wrapping up the broadcast when Linda spied Iris and Jai. Chelsea chuckled as she gave the date and added that it was Linda's birthday. "And a surprise just walked in for our birthday girl!" she announced. Linda covered her face with a hand as Iris and Jai came over to the news desk with the bouquet.

"Happy Birthday, Ma," Jai said and leaned in to kiss her cheek after setting the flowers down.

"Happy Birthday, Mom," Iris added, wrapping her arms around Linda's shoulders to hug her from behind.

"Aww thank you," Linda murmured, blushing profusely.

"We'll see you at five o'clock tonight," Chelsea said to the camera.

"And, Cut!" The director laughed.

"Thank you for being presentable," Linda teased Jai, who was dressed in a polo shirt and khaki shorts. Jai pointed to his sister who was still leaning on the back of Linda's chair. "Thanks Irey," she added, patting Iris' hand.

"You should have seen what he wanted to wear," Iris teased.

Jai grinned as Linda shook her head. "I can imagine."

"You bought me that shirt," Jai reminded his mother. Linda leaned her head back and howled in laughter.

"Because that shirt is so you! The censors would have had a fit if you had worn it here," Linda laughed.

"Who says he didn't?" Iris chuckled. Jai peeled his polo off to reveal the crude tee that had Linda and most of her co-workers laughing.

"Please, he didn't wear that on-air?" Wally asked as he came in and joined his family. Jai shook his head and tossed the polo to his father. Wally caught it and sighed as he rounded the desk to hug his wife. "Happy Birthday, Babe! And for your birthday, me and the kids wrangled the rest of the day off for you!"

"Huh?" Linda gaped.

"Yep. You have the rest of the day off, Linda," her boss told her. "Now go have fun with your family."

"Cool! Lunchtime. I'm starving!" Wally declared.

"Me too!" Iris cheered.

"Me three," Jai grinned.

Linda sighed and looked over to her boss. "And that's why I'm not giving up the top anchor job anytime soon," she stated. "Let's go," she added, after hugging Iris and Jai. Jai grabbed the bouquet and followed his parents and sister out of the building.

Bianca – How to handle heroes.

Bianca Reyes drummed her fingers against her arm as she considered the two before her. One was missing. "Milagro?" she called out.

"Just a minute," Milagro called out from the bathroom. She came out a moment later with her hair pulled back into a loose bun. Her Green Lantern ring was in her bedroom. "Alright…let's have it," she sighed as she joined Jaime and Traci across from Bianca.

Bianca gave her a sharp look before regarding the three young charges that lived under her roof. "I know that it's your job to do the hero thing," she started. "But when it makes the international news, I get scared. So does Berto, and you know what that does to him."

Jaime sighed. "It was either take off and help the federales, or stay here while the Sinaloas made it all the way to the Border-Plex and shot everything to hell," he stated.

"They were serious this time, Mami," Milagro added.

"What they said," Traci shrugged. Though not part of the family technically, Traci 13 did have a room at the home and abided by the rules just as the Reyes siblings did.

"I know, I know," Bianca sighed. "But it's the Sinaloas. They terrify me. I've seen firsthand at the hospital what they'll do to people, given half the chance." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Gracias for stopping them and muchas gracias for not getting hurt in the process," she added. "Now get to it," she ordered. The trio gave her a salute off their brows and headed for the kitchen.

"As 'punishments' go, it could be worse than making enchiladas from scratch," Traci mused, as she and Milagro each took a boiled chicken and began to shred it by hand. "And they're still nice and toasty inside," she added with a hiss.

"Yeah, but what superheroes get punished for saving two whole cities from a psycho drug cartel?" Milagro huffed.

"Us," Jaime scoffed as he began shredding the first of three blocks of cheese.

"Gracias for saving us. Now go and suffer to make your own gratitude enchiladas," Milagro muttered. "And no powers."

"I heard that," Bianca called out from the sitting room where she was curled up with a book. The trio in the kitchen shared a look and returned to their tasks. Bianca glanced towards the kitchen for a moment and considered. She did find it a little odd to make them work for their favourite post victory feast, but it kept them grounded. That she could live with.

Dolphin – As I stare at my reflection.

The light of the transporter faded and Cerdian reached out with his magical senses to find his father. It was late in the evening in Poseidonis and Garth had retired for the night. Cerdian could tell that he was still awake, so he swam towards his father's chambers. Garth was sitting cross legged in bed when Cerdian arrived and looked up fondly as his son waved a hand to change his costume into his sleep attire. Settling against the foot of the bed, Cerdian returned the greeting his father had given him.

"Anything interesting happen?" Garth asked, glancing down at the papers he was working on.

Cerdian chuckled as he ran his hands through his long silvery white mane. "I found out that I'm the eldest as well as the youngest…if that makes sense."

"It does," Garth smiled. "I went from being the youngest among my group of Titans, to being the eldest by far. Atlan's dimension does that."

Cerdian made a small noise of agreement. "Lian said that the reverse happened to her. Something about being lost for a while," he frowned as he tried to recall what his teammate had briefly murmured. Garth set his papers aside and focused on Cerdian.

"Lian had been killed," Garth explained what had happened and how overjoyed he'd been upon seeing that she had returned from beyond the grave. As Garth spoke, Cerdian caught his reflection in the polished shell headboard. Something else Lian had mentioned came to mind as he studied his smooth reflection next to his father's more angular features.

"Lian also said that she met Mother once, very briefly," Cerdian added. Garth chuckled fondly at the memory.

"At our wedding. Your mother was heavily pregnant with you," he replied. "Lian is one of the privileged few surface worlders to have seen Poseidonis before the Spectre…" Garth trailed off. Cerdian nodded in understanding and rubbed absently at a ragged scar that ran from the side of his neck over to his shoulder. Garth swallowed when he saw the action and thought back to the massive block that had caused the scar. The piece of the palace that had taken Dolphin from them.

Sensing his father's melancholy thoughts, Cerdian spoke up. "What was she like? I mean I have a pretty good idea of what she may have looked like," he said waving a hand to indicate his own features.

"Fiercely independent," Garth murmured after a moment. "And awfully stubborn. Two traits you also inherited from her," Garth smiled wryly.

"Really? I just thought that was natural youthful rebellion," Cerdian commented.

Garth was shaking his head. "Not by a long shot." He considered for a moment before continuing. "I have to admit though, that I'm glad you're not quite as free spirited as your mother was." Cerdian cocked a curious eyebrow at that but Garth said nothing more on the subject.

"You miss her?"

"I do," Garth nodded. Cerdian sensed more and said as much.

"But not nearly as much as Tula?"

"Forgive me," Garth murmured around the lump in his throat. "But I don't miss Dolphin as much as Tula."

Cerdian floated up and swam over so that he was leaning against the headboard. "It's alright. I'm not arrogant enough to proclaim that I know what it's like, but I do understand," he offered. Garth reached out for his son's hand and brought it his lips where he murmured his thanks. "So what exactly did Mother look like?" Cerdian asked after a while.

Garth released his son's hand and leaned back next to him. "I think you can fill in the colouring yourself," he suggested as he conjured an image of Dolphin in the water before them.

Cerdian cocked his head to the side and frowned a little. "You both have curly hair but mine's straight. How's that work?"

"No idea," Garth admitted.

The image shimmered and began to dissolve in the gentle currents flowing through the room as Garth told Cerdian more about his mother.

A/N: pt 2. Damian suffers beautifully?

Chris' life has gone from utter darkness to bright light, as reflected by the two women that are his mother in one sense or another.

I can see Jade and Lian having more of a friendship relationship than one of mother/daughter.

I used to do this all the time for my Mum's birthday. Makes sense to have the twins do it as they have one of the most normal families of the lot.

Mi amiga Adrianna, had her kids do this when they did something really brave but really stupid not too long ago.

The idea that got the whole story going. While he grew up without her, Dolphin is still Cerdian's mother. Unfortunately not everyone gets to grow up with their mother present and I wanted to reflect that.