TITLE: Family Crisis

AUTHOR: LOTSlover

CHARACTERS: Batman / Wonder Woman

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

DISCLAIMER: I love Justice League, but especially Batman and Wonder Woman. Unfortunately, I do not own the characters and, if I did, things would be much different for them.

SUMMARY: Set nearly a year after Family Reunion, someone from Alfred's past threatens not only his future but could also threaten the future of the entire Batfamily. A new arrival in Gotham turns the family upside down. BMWW

Chapter 1

England; August 2nd, 05:30 (GMT)

He stood in the pre-dawn hours drinking his cup of coffee as he stared out over the thick mist that rose from the lake outside of his window like wisps of cotton. It created a sense of eeriness that he welcomed as he contemplated life past and future.

It was a weighty topic that he'd found himself dwelling on more and more lately or at least since gaining his freedom. His lips curled slightly as he recalled that glorious day of freedom when he'd finally been allowed to breathe fresh air instead of that musty recycled air they pumped through the vents.

Yes, it had been a glorious day for more than one reason. Shanking his security guard and watching as the life drained from his body had been more than worth the forty years that he'd spent in that hell hole of a dungeon that he'd been dumped in. They may have forgotten all about that day, but he hadn't. He never forgot—not a victim, not a face, not a name, or the deep hatred that he felt for every one of those who had managed to bring him down.

He took another sip of his coffee as his dark gaze roamed over the English landscape. Memories came rushing at him like oncoming traffic, assaulting him to the point of nearly buckling his knees. The faces of each of his victims stormed through his mind, their screams a haunting soundtrack that continually played over and over again in his mind.

His mission had been cut short, but it wouldn't turn out that way this time. He had allowed them to get too close to him, their game of cat and mouse playing out for far too long. He had allowed their contest to take precedence, stealing his focus from his mission.

He had been the hunted and they the prey. Now, things would be much different. The tables were about to be turned.

His smile returned as he thought about how shocked they would be when they received word that he'd escaped. He could imagine their panic and fear already. He hoped they remembered his last words as they'd dragged him away because that parting promise was about to become a reality for every single one of them.

"I will get out and when I do, I will hunt down each one of you! Not even your families will be safe!"

He was going to keep that promise no matter how long it took him to accomplish his goal. He just might pick up where he left off while he was at it. Eight was such an unsatisfactory number for his legacy to end on. They had already labeled him a prolific serial killer, but that wasn't enough for him. He always wanted more, his taste for blood unsatisfied.

He turned away from the scenic view of the lake, making his way to his desk. He stopped before the wall where he'd mapped out his plans along with pictures of each member of the British Secret Service team that had ultimately been his undoing.

He thoughtfully tapped each of the seven pictures that he'd hung on the wall. He was going to have to do a lot of research in order to track each of these agents down, but he would find them and extract his revenge. Not even their families would be safe from his blade.

First, he would have his way with their loved ones…the ones that were held most dear, forcing the agent to watch and to beg for him to stop. Then, when he was finished, he would turn his attention to the agent who had had a hand in his demise.

Atkinson.

Newberry.

Archer.

Powell.

LaFollette.

MacAlister.

Pennyworth.

The golden team. The best of the best. The finest that the British Secret Service had to offer. They were the most highly decorated team at the time of his capture. Since then, no one had been able to do what they had accomplished.

He knew he was going to have to be quick about his work. They would be trying to track his every move, bringing the best back to recapture him. Once he took down the first agent, the others would no doubt go into hiding, making his task that much harder, but they wouldn't be able to evade him for long.

He crushed his cup in his hand, hot coffee dripping onto the floor. He would not be denied his vengeance. He'd been scheming and plotting and planning since the moment they buried him in that dungeon forty years ago.

Now, it was time to get back to work.

In one swift motion, he picked up a dagger, slamming it into Alfred Pennyworth's picture. He was going to thoroughly enjoy every single second spent with Pennyworth and family. Moving to America had done little to diminish his interest in the former agent.

Wayne Manor would be his final destination. He just had a few things to attend to first in London.

Wayne Manor; August 3rd, 15:13 EST

"Ni…Ni-Ni!" Kaia gasped his name between fits of giggles as she held her little hands up in front of her face. "Don't splash me!"

"It's Liam too," Nicholas claimed, splashing his friend instead.

"It was Rex!" Liam insisted.

"I think it was all of you," Diana commented with a grin as she stood at the edge of the swimming pool. "Do you want to get out for a snack yet?"

"No way!" Bella yelled, slapping her hands on top of the water. "We having fun!"

"Later, mama," Nicholas decided. "We want to play more."

"Okay," she relented, enjoying seeing the kids having so much fun together. It warmed her heart that their friends' children were so close.

Diana made her way to where Shayera and Dinah were sitting on the other side of the pool. "I knew you weren't going to get them out of the pool," Shayera told her. "I can hardly get Rex and Bella out of the bathtub."

"I have a feeling this little one is going to be like a fish when she gets older," Dinah replied, holding two-month-old Charlotte in her arms. "It takes twice as long to give her a bath then it normally would because all she wants to do is play in the water."

"Did you hear Lois thought she was pregnant again?" Diana asked as she settled into her sun chair.

"Really?" Shayera asked.

"She called me in a panic last week, worried that she was pregnant," Diana explained. "It turned out to be a false alarm."

"I can't imagine Lois with more kids," Dinah replied with a shake of her head. "She has her hands full with Clark, Lara, and Christopher."

"That's why she was in a panic," Diana agreed with a chuckle. "I managed to talk her down while she did a pregnancy test. She started laughing hysterically when it came back negative."

"Clark should just get fixed and be done with it," Shayera said.

Dinah frowned as she brushed a fly off Charlotte's head. "Would that work on a Kryptonian?" she asked. "I mean wouldn't his sperm be super-powered too? They'd probably blast their way through."

All three women laughed, Shayera nearly choking on her iced tea. "Not while I'm taking a drink, Dinah," she sputtered.

"I don't know, but I'm sure I don't want to ask," Diana thoughtfully said. "That's just a little too much information that I'd rather not know about."

"Lois should just get her tubes tied, and then she wouldn't have to worry about it," Shayera decided.

"Knowing her luck, she'd still get pregnant," Dinah responded with a chuckle.

"I heard that," Lois said as she approached with kids in tow.

Lara and Christopher didn't waste any time jumping directly into the pool to play with their friends. "We were just wondering if Clark could get fixed or not, so you don't have to worry about having any more kids," Shayera told her.

"Don't think I haven't investigated the possibility," Lois revealed as she took a chair next to Diana. "After last week's pregnancy scare, I'm seriously looking into which one of us is going to keep the number of kids at two."

"Bruce took care of it right after Kaia was born," Diana divulged. "No more babies for us."

"Yes, but if your goddesses decided you should have another baby, no vasectomy in the world is going to prevent that," Shayera reminded her.

Diana shrugged her shoulders as she brought the straw of her iced tea to her lips. "I don't know," she replied. "I wouldn't mind having another baby."

"You want another one?" Dinah questioned her, looking at the Amazon as if she'd just lost her mind. "You already have Nicholas and Kaia plus Dick and Donna's twins Conner and Claire."

"I'd still love another child," Diana admitted, smiling as she watched Nicholas and Kaia playing in the pool with their friends. "We have a big home and lots of love to give."

"Better you than me," Lois stated. "I don't think I have the energy for anymore."

"Have you thought about cutting back at work?" Shayera asked her.

"Are you kidding me?" Lois exclaimed. "I'm not ready to give up my career to be a stay-at-home mom. Besides, I'd end up going insane if I were home with the kids all day. Don't get me wrong. I love them dearly, but I need adult time with adult talk with adult swearing and adult problems."

"I've actually considered cutting back from my League duties a little bit," Diana revealed.

"Really?" Shayera said, scrunching up her nose. "I can't imagine you enjoying being home all the time. You're an Amazon. You need to be in the heat of battle and chasing the bad guys."

"I'm not saying that I will, but I have considered it," Diana clarified. "Nicholas and Kaia are just growing up so fast. I don't want to miss anything. Besides, mother is pushing me to reopen the Themyscirian Embassy."

Lois stared at her friend, her violet eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You're awfully sentimental," she pointed out. "Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

"I promise you I'm not pregnant," Diana assured her. "It's just that Tim and Cassie are getting pretty serious. He's hardly home anymore. Damian is getting older and spending a lot of time with Raven and the Titans. The house is starting to feel a little empty."

"It doesn't matter how old they get, Diana," Lois pointed out. "They will always need you, and they'll always find their way home."

"Wow," Dinah replied. "Never imagined you to be sentimental, Lois."

"I have my moments," she responded.

Alfred arrived with another fresh pitcher of iced tea along with a tray of fresh fruit and snacks. He accidentally knocked over Shayera's glass as he reached for it, glass crashing onto the concrete. "I beg your pardon, miss," he murmured with a gasp, his brow furrowed as he quickly knelt to pick up the broken pieces.

"It's all right, Alfred," Shayera assured him, sitting up to help him. "Just start the margaritas flowing and we'll be all set."

"No, Miss Shayera," he told her, holding up his hand. "I'll clean this up and then I bring you all some margaritas."

Diana studied Alfred, noticing that something wasn't quite right with him. He'd seemed a little distracted the last couple of days, causing her to be concerned that something was wrong. She noticed what appeared to be a telegram sticking up out of the top of his pocket. She hoped that he hadn't received bad news from England.

"I'll get you another glass, Shay," Diana offered as she followed Alfred inside the house to the kitchen. Opening the cupboard door, she reached for a glass, glancing over her shoulder at Alfred who was retrieving a broom and dustpan. "Alfred, are you okay? Is something wrong?"

Alfred walked past her, making his way to the French doors without answering. He stopped short when she called his name again. He turned to look at her as if seeing her but not really comprehending her presence. "I'm sorry, Miss Diana," he apologized, eyebrows knitting together. "What did you say?"

Diana approached him, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "Are you all right?" she asked, her blue eyes filled with concern. "You haven't been yourself the last couple of days."

"Yes, I'm fine," he tried to assure her. "I've just been a little distracted is all."

"Is it something back home in England?" she asked. "Is your family all right?"

"Yes, they're fine," he replied. "I just received a letter from my sister the other day. She's doing quite well. Thank you for asking."

Diana frowned as he abruptly turned to pass through the French doors, leaving her standing there without another word. Something was wrong, but she had no idea what it could be. She didn't want to invade his privacy. At the same time, she wanted him to know that they were all there for him if he was having a problem.

Deciding that she would talk to Bruce later, Diana exited the house to find the kids getting out of the swimming pool. "We're hungry, mama," Kaia told her, standing on the edge of the pool dripping wet.

"I'll get you some snacks and something to drink if you want to sit in the grass," she replied. "Your towels are laying over there on the chair."

Returning to the kitchen, Diana picked up the tray of snacks and drinks that Alfred had already prepared for the children, noticing that Alfred's cell phone was ringing. She picked it up and turned around to find Alfred entering the kitchen.

"Alfred, your cell phone is ringing," she told him as she held out his phone to him.

He hastily snatched it out of her hand with a fierce scowl that stunned the Amazon princess. "I'll take that," he icily stated with a glare.

"I didn't look at it or anything," Diana tried to tell him, but it was too late. Alfred was already rushing out of the kitchen as he answered his phone.

Deciding that she didn't want to eavesdrop, Diana picked up the tray and exited the kitchen, taking the snacks to the children who were playing in the grass. She couldn't shake the sense of dread that swelled inside of her. Something was definitely wrong with Alfred. She hoped that he would talk to them so they could help him.

He was part of this family no matter what happened, and nothing would ever change that.

XXX

"Yes, I received the message," Alfred softly confirmed, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure no one was around to hear his conversation, especially a certain Amazon with enhanced hearing. "Are you positive?"

Alfred rubbed his forehead as his mind raced, dread churning like a sickening ache in his gut. "Yes, I bloody understand the ramifications," he angrily snapped as resolve slowly seeped through every fiber of his being. "We must immediately go to Code Black."

He began to wander around the entertainment room as he listened carefully, plans that had been laid out years ago finally being put into motion after all this time. He stopped before a framed picture of Nicholas and Kaia. He picked up the frame, staring affectionately at it as tears began to gather in his eyes.

He had greatly feared this day would come, and now it was finally here. He steeled himself against the furious rush of emotions and memories that the news had created in him. It felt like yesterday that he had been leading his team in the hunt for a monster, and yet, it felt like another lifetime ago.

Setting the frame down, his gaze fell on the framed picture of Bruce and Diana with Nicholas and Kaia surrounded by the rest of the family. It was his favorite picture of all, showing how much this beautiful family had been blessed beyond imagining. He never would've dreamed that his charge's life would turn out like this. It filled him with immense pride.

"I'll get started right away," he confirmed. "Yes…yes, I'll see you then."

Alfred drew a shuddering breath as he turned away from the pictures of the family, knowing what he had to do. It was the only way to keep the people that he loved most safe. He needed to put a stop to this nightmare before it fully began.

He immediately walked out of the entertainment room, making his way to his bedroom. There was much work that had to be done before tomorrow morning arrived.

Wayne Manor; August 3rd; 18:45 EST

Bruce Wayne's azure eyes narrowed suspiciously as he stared down his opponent, trying to decide on his next move. His opponent merely smiled back, giggling as he glared at her. His Batglare had never worked on her, her brother, or her mother. He must be losing his edge.

"Do you have any nines?" he asked.

"Go Fish, daddy!" Kaia squealed with delight.

"This is so not right," Bruce grumbled as he drew another card, adding it to the already growing stack in his hand. "I'm getting beat by a four-year-old."

Kaia giggled again, holding her two cards against her mouth to help stifle her laughter to no avail. "Do you have a three?" she asked from her seat across the table from her father, excitedly kicking her legs back and forth.

"Are you kidding me?" he said. "I think I've got almost all the cards in my hand."

Bruce handed her the requested card, Kaia's grin growing broader as she took the card. Diana attempted to suppress a smile of amusement as she glanced at her husband and daughter playing cards. They were fierce competitors in every way. It was too bad Bruce had met his match in his daughter.

"What's this word?" Nicholas asked as he pointed at the book they were reading together.

"Let's sound it out," Diana suggested, loving how eager her son was about learning to read. "What is this first letter?"

"D," Nicholas said.

"Good job," she praised him. "And the next?"

"R…and that's an 'A'," he told her.

"Dra…" Diana prompted him.

"Dragon!" Nicholas proudly exclaimed.

Diana tilted her head to kiss the crown of his head, tightening her hold on her son. "Great job, Nicholas," she replied. "You're going to be reading books all by yourself before you know it."

"I win!" Kaia excitedly cried. "I beat daddy!"

"Again," Bruce dryly added as he gathered up the cards.

"Daddy, I can read books," Nicholas told him.

"Way to go, Nick," he told him. "Before you know it, you're going to be reading chapter books before you get to first grade."

"He's a genius just like his father," Diana said, ruffling Nicholas's hair.

Alfred entered with a bedtime snack for Nicholas and Kaia, setting the tray down without a word before turning and walking out just as quickly as he had arrived. Bruce and Diana shared a look, one that spoke volumes about their worry for the British Butler.

"Hurry up and eat your snack," Diana encouraged them. "You two had a big day playing in the pool all afternoon."

"It was so funny when Jon jumped into the pool and splashed Rex and Liam," Nicholas said with a laugh.

"He splashed me too, daddy," Kaia told him, patting his arm to get his attention.

"It's a good thing you're a good swimmer," he replied.

"That's because I'm strong like mama," Kaia informed him as she put her graham cracker down, holding up her arms and making muscles for him to feel.

"I can see it, Kai," he replied as he gently squeezed her upper arm.

"Okay, you two need to get into your pajamas and brush your teeth," Diana reminded them.

"I want Pappoús to tuck me in," Kaia decided as Alfred reentered the room to clean up from snack time.

"I'm sorry, Miss Kaia, but not tonight," he stated, his voice unemotional as he abruptly walked out without another word.

Bruce picked Kaia up, throwing her high up into the air. "Come on, princess," he said. "I'll tuck you into bed."

"Will you read me 'Goodnight Moon'?"

"Don't you want to read a different book?" he asked.

"No, I love it," she insisted as he carried her out of the entertainment room, followed by Diana and Nicholas.

"I think you have the whole book memorized by now," he told her.

"No, I don't think so, daddy," she decided.

"I think so," he said as he entered her bedroom.

Getting the children to bed, Bruce and Diana headed back downstairs, anxious to see if they could find out what was going on with Alfred. "You see what I'm talking about?" Diana asked him as they entered the library to talk.

"He's definitely not himself," Bruce agreed with a frown as he sat down on the couch.

"It's just that I've never seen him like this before," she said, joining him on the couch. "I don't want to intrude on his privacy, but I'm worried about him."

"It's not like him to turn Kaia down," Bruce replied. "Even if he is having a bad day, he'd still jump at the chance of tucking her into bed and reading her a book."

"Do you think we should talk to him or just give him some space and hope that everything is all right?"

Bruce thought about it for a long moment before responding. "Let's wait and see how he is tomorrow," he ultimately decided. "If he's still not himself, I'll talk to him."

"All right," she agreed, leaning into her husband. "I hope he's okay."

Bruce began to stroke her hair as he became lost in his thoughts. "Me too," he murmured, wondering what was going on with his surrogate father.

Blüdhaven; August 3rd, 20:23 EST

The wailing cry of twins was enough to unsettle even the calmest of nerves as Donna lightly bounced Conner in her arms while Dick paced the floor with Claire. Neither of the five-month-olds seemed content no matter what they did or how long they held them.

"Well, they can't be hungry," Dick yelled at Donna. "We just fed them over half an hour ago."

"And they can't be wet," Donna yelled back. "We just changed them fifteen minutes ago."

"What do you think it is?" Dick asked her, panic simmering in his eyes.

"How do I know?" she shot back. "These are my only children. I have as much experience as you do. Actually, you probably have more with Nicholas and Kaia."

"I wasn't at home when they were born," he reminded her, switching Claire to his other shoulder. "I was already in my loft here in Blüdhaven."

"Well, something is obviously wrong here," she stated, grabbing a pacifier and trying to get her son to take it.

Conner wanted nothing to do with it as he continued to wail, tears streaming down his face. He twisted his head back and forth, refusing to take the pacifier. His face scrunched up and turned red, his little hands curled into tight fists of frustration as he arched his back.

"Maybe it's gas," Dick decided.

"Both of them at the same time?"

Dick shrugged a shoulder as he adjusted Claire's blanket. "Could be," he thoughtfully replied. "Have you got a better idea? If so, I'm all ears…at least until I go deaf from their screaming."

"Maybe I should call Diana to see if she has any ideas," Donna suggested.

"Anything is better than this," he shouted back.

Donna picked up her cell phone, calling her sister with a frantic need for help. She picked up after two rings. "Diana, help! The twins will not stop screaming," she told her. "We've done everything we can think of and nothing is working. What do we do?"

Dick tried to listen in on the conversation, but it was difficult to hear anything with a screaming baby on his shoulder. He patted his daughter's back, desperate to make her stop crying. Nothing, though, seemed to satisfy or soothe her even for a moment.

He watched as Donna moved to sit down on the couch, laying Conner on her lap. She gently put the tip of her finger in his mouth, running it along his gums. A lightbulb suddenly went off in his head as he quickly sat down and did the same thing with Claire, feeling a slight bump over the top of her gumline.

Dick and Donna both looked up at each other at the exact time. "Teething!" they both yelled, almost hysterical with relief that they'd discovered the source of the problem.

"You're the best, Di!" Donna exclaimed with glee before hanging up.

"Do we even have anything for teething?" Dick asked with a frown. "We didn't really anticipate this yet."

"I think I received some teething rings at my baby shower," Donna told him. "We have to put them in the refrigerator so they're cold. In the meantime, we can give them some Infant's Tylenol."

"I'm ready to try anything…don't you agree, Claire?" Dick asked, holding his daughter up before him.

Claire put her fist in her mouth, gnawing on her fingers in hopes of getting some relief as tears continued to roll down her cheeks. Dick gently placed his hand on her cheek and forehead, frowning at how warm she felt to the touch.

"You know I think Claire feels warm," he called to his wife. "I thought she did earlier, but I chalked it up to her throwing a fit."

"Conner feels a little warm too," Donna decided as she returned from the bathroom with the pain reliever. "This should help them feel better."

"I can't believe they're getting teeth already," Dick said as Donna gave Conner some medicine before moving on to Claire. "It seems just like yesterday they were born. Next thing we know, they're going to be driving."

Donna stared at him with a frown. "Can we at least get through teething before we even think about driver's licenses?" she asked as she rubbed Conner's back.

Dick laughed, knowing they were both feeling frazzled at that moment. "I was just thinking about how they're growing up so fast," he clarified. "They're going to be walking before we know it. Do you think they'll end up taking our places with the Titans…you know the next generation?"

Donna sighed as she sank onto the couch with Conner. "I don't know, but I hope they have my gifts to protect them," she replied. "I can't bear the thought of them getting hurt."

Dick grinned as he bounced Claire on his lap. "Just think—Nick, Kaia, Claire, and Conner leading the next generation of Titans."

"That would be pretty awesome," she admitted. "I'm not so sure that Bruce wants Nick and Kaia to follow in their parents' footsteps, but I don't think he's going to be able to keep them from it. You can already see how gifted they are in so many ways and they're only four and five years old."

"What do you think, Claire?" Dick said, holding her up in front of him. "Do you think you're going to fly like your mama?"

Donna couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, Hera," she murmured. "I pray that day doesn't come any time soon."

"I wonder who would win in an arm-wrestling match between Claire and Kaia?" Dick wondered out loud.

"That's what you wonder about?"

Dick shrugged a shoulder. "Just a thought."

"Hey," Donna said, her lips beginning to spread into a knowing smile. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Exactly," she replied. "No more screaming or crying."

"Mine's asleep," Dick told her, looking down at his daughter sleeping in his arms.

"So is mine," she confirmed, almost giddy with relief.

"Diana is a genius," Dick decided as he stood to his feet.

"Let's get them to bed before they wake up," she said, following him to the nursery.

Putting the twins in their cribs, Dick and Donna made a hasty retreat, quietly closing the door behind them. "We did it," Dick whispered to his wife as they returned to the living room.

They both flopped onto the couch next to each other, the backs of their heads resting against the back of the couch. "That was brutal," she muttered.

"Why do they always make parenthood look so glamorous and easy in commercials and magazine ads?"

"We need to write our own book that tells the cold, hard truth about being a parent," she agreed.

Dick turned to gaze at his wife, his lips quirking. "I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," he confessed, taking her hand in his.

She turned to look at him, a smile touching her lips. "Me either."

Dick brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Care to share a relaxing bubble bath with me?"

"That sounds wonderful," she readily agreed as she stood to her feet.

"I'm so happy we found a house with an extra-large bathtub," he told her.

"You start the bath and I'll grab the wine."

"Hurry," he urged her as he headed towards the bathroom, suddenly feeling more awake than he had been a few minutes ago.

Dick started the bathtub before removing his clothes. He turned to see Donna standing in the doorway with a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, and nothing else but a smile. "Is that fast enough for you?"

Dick groaned as his hungry gaze slowly traveled over her amazing body. No one would ever guess that she had given birth to twins, but, then again, she was most definitely blessed by the gods in every way conceivable. He was aching to explore every inch of that blessed body. He just hoped that the twins allowed him the time that he wanted to spend with her.

Donna made her way to him, setting down the bottle of wine and the glasses before wrapping her arms around him. "I've missed you," she murmured, her lips finding his.

Dick returned her kiss, pulling her closer to him. "I've missed you too," he replied.

Donna tilted her head as Dick began to kiss behind her ear only for her to abruptly pull back out of his intimate embrace. "Did you hear that?"

Dick frowned as he listened intently. "No, I don't hear anything," he told her. "Now, where were we?"

"I thought I heard Claire."

"They're out, Troia…and I want in…if you know what I mean," he flirted with a devilish smirk.

"You're terrible," she said with a giggle.

"Come here," he murmured as he pulled her back to him, determined to have his way with her multiple times before the night was over.

A/N: FINALLY! It's so good to be back! Hope you enjoy the ride I have in store for you! :)

UP NEXT: Jason and Artemis hit a rough patch of sorts, Alfred leaves for London forcing the Batfamily to have a meeting.