A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! I know this chapter is a little short and it kinda breezes through the last few hours. But I'm excited to get through the next couple of chapters, so this is a 'filler' to get us up to the big battles. Don't worry I won't keep you waiting too long!

Reba

Wayne Manor

New Gotham

Sunset

Goliath and Hudson sensed something was amiss the moment they woke up. The small group that was gathered down in the cave greeted them tentatively, and Helena looked downright pissed. "Where's Elisa?" Goliath asked, sensing her presence missing immediately.

"She and Reese left this afternoon to head back down to the docks," Barbara sighed.

"What?!" he growled, his tail lashing unhappily.

"I was hoping that she had told you last night of their intentions, but it seems you were kept in the dark as much as we were."

"Why would she risk going there in daylight, today of all days?"

"They were going to go back undercover, and said they would try to infiltrate Quinn's ranks."

"Something else is going on there Barbara," Helena snapped. "I overheard Elisa say they were meeting that Dracon guy, but I was half asleep and didn't understand what was going on until I came down to find out they both had left."

Goliath growled again, and his eyes flashed. "Dracon," he hissed.

"Well I guess this changes things a bit now doesn't it lass?" Hudson sighed.

"Elisa said to proceed as planned and not to wait on them. I didn't know they were meeting Dracon, or I might have insisted on them staying and sticking to the plan. I'm sorry Goliath."

Hudson chuckled however and shook his head. "Och, don' blame yourself lass. We've gotten quite used to Elisa changin' things on us last minute."

"Aye, but it doesn't usually involve secret meetings with crime lords. Elisa is usually up to something when she does this, and she's gone out of her way to hide what it is this time. I agree with Helena that something else is going on, and with Dracon's involvement, it doesn't bode well," Goliath grumbled.

Barbara sighed. "Well there is nothing we can do now. They're both wearing their new suits under their rags, so I've been able to monitor their movements. But they disappeared underground about a half hour ago, and I haven't been able to raise either of them. It's too late now to make any changes, and they are relying on us to keep to the schedule."

"I am so gonna kick Reese's ass when we are done," Helena fumed before she strode off towards the gym.

"Indeed," Goliath agreed. "I think it's time I talked with Elisa about these last minute changes."

Hudson snorted. "Good luck lad."

Castle Wyvern

Manhattan

7:00pm

After sharing a quite breakfast, the Clan assembled in the large common room with the Xanatos's and Owen.

The Clan's Second in Command looked over the somber group and understood their discomfort. It wasn't that they were about to go into a fierce and deadly battle with the odds definitely against them. But they were about to leave their ancestral home unprotected and in the hands of a man that they had only just started to trust, even after all these years.

"Are you sure the castle's defenses are adequate enough to take care of the intruders."

Xanatos flashed Brooklyn his trademark confident smirk. "Don't worry Brooklyn. They aren't even going to reach the castle. The entire trap has been laid several floors down in the Aerie and everything is in place."

"I still don't like this," Brooklyn stated for the hundredth time.

"I understand how much it goes against your grain to leave the castle, but I assure you that it's far from unprotected. Now Matt called a little while ago and said everything was set on his end."

"Dracon's men?"

"Are already in place."

The phone rang, and most everyone jumped a bit, revealing just how strung up everyone was. Owen pulled the cell out of his pocket and answered it. Then he held it out to Brooklyn who took it carefully.

"Brooklyn."

"How are things progressing?" Goliath asked.

"Looks like everything is ready to go and Xanatos has assured me that the castle will be fine."

Goliath detected the hesitance in his Second's voice and smiled. "Don't worry then Brooklyn. Xanatos is a man of many means, and he will not let any harm come to his family or our home."

"So how does it look on your end?"

There was a pause. "Elisa has disappeared again."

Brooklyn let out an amused chuckle. "And you expected anything less?" he teased. Elisa had a bad habit of doing that, and he secretly loved her for that because no one could ruffle Goliath's feathers like she could.

"I suppose I shouldn't have. Other than that, we are as prepared as we can be." There was another pause, and he could hear Goliath moving. "Brooklyn, I have not been very forthcoming about our odds here tonight-."

"Yeah Matt filled me in," Brooklyn said as he too moved away from the others for more privacy.

"I fear a grate deal for Elisa's safety, more so than mine, but I realize that such concerns much be put aside soon. But if something should happen to either of us I want you to know that I do not fear for the Clan's well being under your leadership. You have grown into a fine Second and have proven yourself a capable leader."

Brooklyn's throat tightened at Goliath's words even as his chest filled with pride. "I learned from the best. But I'm not in any hurry to assume that role so take care of yourself ok?"

"I will try. May I speak with my daughter?"

"Hang on a sec." Brooklyn turned and nodded to Angela and held up the phone.

She detached herself from the group and took the phone as Brooklyn left her alone. "Father?"

"It is good to hear your voice Angela. We have missed you a great deal." She could hear his smile over the phone and felt her own lips tug upwards.

"How is everyone?"

"Very good. Even Hudson's spirits have lifted. Training with these night warriors has been extremely beneficial for him in many ways."

"I'm happy to hear that. And Elisa?"

This time, there was no mistaking the smile that was carrying over the phone line. "She is well. Vexing me as usual, but she too has come to peace with herself these past two weeks."

Angela grinned. "And I suppose you helped her with that?" she chuckled.

There was a clearing of her father's throat that gave him away. "I don't think that this is the best time to broach that subject Angela." There was dead silence as she refused to back down and finally he sighed. "But yes, we finally became mates."

Angela almost squealed in excitement, but she forced herself to keep calm. "When will you be home?"

"Hudson, a man named Nightwing and I will be traveling back to Manhattan after we take over the train with the guns. Elisa plans to join us as soon as everything is tied up here in New Gotham."

"You will be separated?"

Goliath sighed unhappily. "Unfortunately there are just not enough of us to be able to stick together. She is needed here, and only Hudson, Nightwing and myself have the capabilities to launch an assault on the train."

"Please be careful then father."

"You as well my daughter."

"I will. I have to go now, Brooklyn is getting ready to send us out on patrol."

"Angela one last thing?"

"Yes?"

"How is your mother?"

Angela was shocked by the question. She had been discreet about her visits to her mother's over the past couple of years, knowing her father would disapprove if he found out. It surprised her to find out that he not only knew about them, but that he hadn't stopped her. Must have been Elisa's influence. The biggest surprise was that he was actually asking about her well-being after not mentioning her name for nearly a year.

"Um, she is doing well. She's really trying father. I know you didn't want me to see her-"

"It's ok daughter. I was angry at first, but Elisa reminded me that she is your mother and if any could help change her and help her see past her hate and anger it would be you."

"It will still be a long time before she could ever trust humans, but she is no longer plotting to destroy them. It's a step in the right direction at least."

As almost an afterthought he told her, "Give her my regards the next time you see her. And thank her for not adding to the many troubles we have had these past months."

Angela giggled. "I don't know how she'll take that but I will."

"Good. I love you Angela."

"I love you too father. I'll see you in the morning."

The Tunnels

New Gotham

9:00 p.m.

Elisa and Reese crouched in the far corner of an abandoned warehouse, quickly stripping off their rags and replacing them with the military fatigues of the two unconscious men bound at their feet. Jerry sat at the entrance keeping an eye on the figures moving around outside and making sure no one noticed their presence. Reese found a can of face paint in one of his pockets and they added a few colors to each other to help disguise their faces further.

"All clear?" Reese asked as he and Elisa checked their weapons and extra clips.

"They all seem to be gathering down below. You two should get down there now while there's still a crowd."

"Easier to be lost," Elisa agreed. "Can you handle these two?"

"I'll be fine. You two just be careful. Those ain't birthday candles you got in that pack."

Reese hefted the backpack and grunted. "Trust me, I don't want to become fish food any time soon. Thanks for your help tonight Jerry."

"Thank you Detectives," he returned as the two slipped out the door and blended in with the steady stream of people heading towards the tunnel entrance.

"You got your first round ready?" Reese asked Elisa as they began their decent.

"Yep. I'll go first," she answered as she stepped off to one side near a large stack of abandoned crates and oil cans. She bent down as if to retie her boot, and deftly slid a small brick of C-4 out of her oversized coat and hid it out of sight before activating the preset timer. She stood up, and joined the ranks. Up ahead, Reese copied her move, as they took turns placing their explosives every hundred yards. They broke off from the main group once they neared the storage and staging rooms to restock their jackets with the last of the explosives.

"We should split up," Reese said quietly, as he kept an eye out for anyone who might come too close to see what was going on.

"Do you want to place them just in the arsenal or set up the staging area also?"

"We should do both. They plan to store the regular ammunition down here. With that much firepower it won't take much to set that whole cache off."

"I'll go scout out the staging area then and see if I can't find a few good places to stash a couple of bricks. I'll take the two ancillary tunnels to the north and east."

He nodded. "I'll make sure the three south will be sealed at that junction. I'll meet you back here in half an hour."

"Reese what's our backup plan if one of us gets caught?"

Reese paused, grim determination crossing his face. "They cannot know what we have planned. That doesn't leave us with too many options."

Elisa took a deep breath and nodded. "One way or another, we have to keep them in the dark as much as possible- by any means necessary."

Their eyes locked, a silent understanding passing between them as they clasped hands. "Whatever it takes," Reese echoed quietly before he stepped back and headed off to accomplish his task.

New Gotham

11:55pm

Oracle typed away furiously, carefully monitoring every detail of their plan. "Nightwing, the Christmas present just left the post office. It should reach your position in roughly fifteen minutes."

"We're in position Oracle. Hope it gets here sooner than that. My friends might be more suited for this, but I'm freezing my buns off here!"

Oracle couldn't help but smile to herself. "You had better find something to prevent that from happening Short Pants because they're your only redeeming quality."

He sighed dramatically, and he could here Goliath and Hudson chuckling in the background. "And here I thought it was my brilliant wit and classy humor."

Oracle allowed herself a chuckle. "Sorry Nightwing, but your 'little sis' was a much better study in that department. Speaking of which, they have moved into position so I need to focus. Contact me when the package comes into sight."

"Gotcha Oracle. Nightwing out."

Oracle opened her comm link to everyone else. The numerous cameras that Helena and Dinah had been placing throughout the shipping yards streamed back their feeds perfectly and she had a clear view of the whole area. Cracking her knuckles, she began to type in commands, focusing on the movements of her team. The metas and the mob boys were in position, ready to hold the perimeter and provide cover fire for the two teams below. Beta Team had already quietly taken out two guards and were waiting for the signal to open fire. That left Alpha Team.

Dinah, Huntress, and their two companions were crouched in their respective positions, waiting for Oracle's signal. "The package left three minutes ago Oracle. What's going on?" Huntress asked tensely.

Oracle didn't blame her. Her eyes scanned the screens, fervently searching for any sign of Reese and Elisa. She still didn't fully understand why they insisted on going back into the tunnels one last time, but with no one else on the scene, there was nothing she could do to stop them. She had lost communication with them as soon as they had gone under, and was now forced to decide whether or not she should give the signal.

Oracle held her breath, her fingers poised, her eyes scouring the monitors before something caught her eye. She panned the closest camera towards the object of scrutiny and gasped in complete and utter shock.

"Oracle. Oracle what's wrong?"

The shadowy figure turned slowly, as if sensing that the camera was focusing on it, and Barbara Gordon was greeted by a visage she hadn't seen in nearly ten years. "Oh my god," she whispered.