Ok many of you might be wondering why I revised this chapter the way I did. I know the changes aren't that major, however I'm going to be working with a friend who wants to write a story set about a year after Countdown. Countdown is going to be the springboard of sorts for this crossover sequel so I'm going to have to go back and edit a few things to make things fit. Such as the fact that Tim can't be as young as I wrote him earlier in this story. So yes, from now on I'm going to put him back at his rightful age of just a few years older than Helena. So enjoy and I'll be posting my next section soon!

Reba

January 3rd

Wayne Manor

New Gotham

Mid-morning

Barbara rolled up to the table, and gave Bruce and Dick somewhat dark looks. Dick had not come to bed until very early that morning, and had risen only a few hours later, with only a kiss to her forehead before leaving. She'd finally had to call Helena in to help her transfer into her motorized wheelchair so she could use the restroom and struggle pulling on a robe before heading down for breakfast. As Alfred served her coffee and a fresh pastry, she noticed the darkening bruises along both of their faces, and knuckles, and sighed to herself. They had fought last night, and now the tension between them would need a chainsaw in order to cut through it.

"Thank you Alfred," she said quietly, desperate to break the silence that was encompassing the small group. She hated tension at the breakfast table.

"My pleasure Miss Barbara," he replied with a genuine smile and then with his back to the two men he rolled- she almost choked on her coffee- his eyes.

She hid her smile behind the act of wiping her mouth with her napkin, and was only able to keep from laughing at his wink, by tremendous willpower. By the time he had finished fussing over the arrangement of her breakfast, she had managed to compose herself. After he returned to the kitchen, she fixed the two men with pointed looks, and then tucked into her hearty stack of pancakes.

"Hashing things out the old- fashion way again last night?" she asked casually.

Bruce was silent as expected, surprisingly, Dick was as quiet as he was. Barbara arched an eyebrow in her lover's direction, and Dick glowered over at Bruce. "You didn't tell her yet did you?"

"Tell me what?" Barbara asked, setting her fork down as she heard the accusatory tone in Dick's voice. It couldn't be good whatever it was.

"He's planning on taking off again," Dick answered flatly, before Bruce could speak.

"What?" she asked, once more feeling the breath being physically forced from her lungs. "But…why?"

"I am not going to just up and leave everyone again," Bruce answered in that flat tone of his, when he was trying his hardest to control his emotions. "For once," he said, an edge slipping into his voice as he fixed Dick with a glare, "I would like to explain my intentions before everyone's emotions start flying off the handle and people jump to conclusions."

Barbara noticed Dick sitting in his chair and sullenly poking at his breakfast and almost smiled to herself. Ok, so it sounded like Dick had jumped the gun with his statement, and she had always liked to have the facts before she drew her own conclusions. So, she picked up her fork and nodded for Bruce to continue.

"Don't you think I should be present for this breakfast chat?" Helena asked smoothly as she slid into a seat next to Barbara and gratefully accepted the coffee that Alfred set before her.

Bruce shifted slightly in his chair, his only sign of some discomfort, but he cleared his throat and continued. "The League needs to be reformed. If we had failed last week, thousands perhaps millions would be dead by now. It's time all of us stopped hiding from our ghosts and face reality."

Barbara raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Kal and Diana disappeared shortly after the JLA disbanded Bruce. They both stopped in the check up on me those first couple of years…." She watched as Bruce flinched slightly, at the reminder that he had abandoned her when she needed him the most. "They made one last visit, and then I never heard or saw from them again."

"I think I know where they've been hiding out, but it looks like I'm going to have to check it out personally since neither has responded to any of my attempts to communicate them."

"Why not just reform with the other old Leaguers and draw from the new crowd? I mean there's a whole new meta generation to draw from," Helena remarked as she nibbled on a pop tart, and watched for her father's reaction to that suggestion.

"That's exactly why I need Superman and Wonder Woman. Out of the remaining League members, I'm the only one really qualified to teach new recruits. I think we can all imagine how that would turn out," he said wryly.

Dick groaned and nodded and Barbara chuckled. "It would probably be best to have metas teaching metas anyway. So aside from trying to reform the League what else did you have planned? Because, I really don't see your life revolving around the League even if you do get it reformed."

Bruce chuckled, and conceded that point. True he did intend to get the League up and running- hopefully in the next year. But once that was done, he would hopefully be able to leave it in someone else's capable hands. "Helena and I talked last night, and I've asked her to assume ownership of Wayne Industries."

Now that certainly caught her off guard. She forced herself to finish the bite she was chewing before clearing her throat. "No offense Hel, but Bruce don't you think that is a little…..overzealous?"

Helena smirked into her coffee, a look that was mirrored by her father. "From what I've heard Barbara, she's a quick study. Besides, I worked too hard to build this empire. I wouldn't just throw her into the sharks and expect her to swim."

"I see and you agreed to this?" Barbara asked turning to her dark haired partner.

Helena merely flashed her father a cryptic smile and shrugged. The redhead looked back at Bruce who was frowning a bit. "She hasn't given me an answer yet," Bruce answered finally.

"And if she doesn't accept?"

"Then Bruce Wayne will have to reappear within the next few months, because Wayne Industries will not survive more than a year without someone at the helm. Several large corporations are gathering themselves to try and takeover my company. There are too many lives, and jobs at stake here to simply let them walk in and take over. Once things have been settled, I will most likely retire and name you and Dick as my top executives before I leave."

"So you do eventually plan on leaving again." It was not an accusation, merely a statement.

"My life here is done with Barbara. Old Gotham was mine to protect, but Batman does not belong here anymore. I came back to face the music as it were, and to try and set things straight this time. Now it's time for me to move on."

"So you're gonna be a baby-sitter for a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears punks now huh?" Helena asked as she began nibbling on a pop-tart Alfred had set next to her.

Bruce's brow creased deeply, almost as if it was a distasteful thought. "I am not going to be a baby-sitter," he responded disgruntled, before he took a sip of his own coffee.

Dick snorted. "I'm glad I'm not going to be a new recruit there now."

That earned him a glare. One that only made him snicker even further. "Looks like you need to brush up on some of those intimidation techniques old man. Good thing it may be a little while before you can get this project off the ground," Helena said brazenly.

This time Barbara couldn't help choking on her beverage. "I'm glad you all find this so amusing," Bruce said flatly.

"Seriously though," Barbara continued after regaining her composure once more. "If you do get the two of them to come back, they're going to have their hands full. You realize your going to have to go against your better nature and actually have a fuller role in mentoring this new bunch?"

"When have they not had their hands full?" Bruce grunted.

Helena perked up sensing more in her father's tone than a simple remark to Barbara's statement. But a sharp look from both Dick and Barbara kept her mouth shut as she relaxed back into her seat.

"There are a lot of kids out there like Helena, Bruce. Those of us who are still active and been around for awhile have recruited some of them over the past few years for small missions here and there to try and keep them on the good side of things. But, there have been a growing number of meta's abusing their powers. I know you dislike mentoring JLA recruits because Kal and Diana don't always see eye to eye with your methods, but they need you as much as you need them."

Bruce, smirked. "The only thing that holds any appeal to me about this, is that it will give me a chance to get under Clark's skin again. No one could get him quite as pissed off as I could."

"Who?" Helena inquired.

There was a pause and then Dick shrugged as the older adults looked at each other. "Superman's alternate identity is Clark Kent."

"The Daily Planet guy? Damn, no wonder I thought he was so hot!" Helena exclaimed. She ignored her father's unhappy grimace at those words, and fixed Barbara with a mock look of hurt. "You knew this all along and didn't tell me?"

"After the time you practically drooled all over him that night he came to visit me to do that interview?"

"He visited you as Clark?" Dick asked puzzled.

"Shortly after I returned to teaching, he stopped by asking to do a story about my recovery."

"I never saw anything," Bruce stated pointedly.

"Because Barbara chickened out at the last minute," Helena interjected. "It was such a good article too- very empowering and all that. He's a fantastic writer," she said with a slightly dreamy expression.

Barbara chuckled at Bruce's disturbed look, and shook her head. "And that is exactly why I never told you who he was. All joking aside though, I think reforming the JLA is an excellent idea."

"Well, I told him I would consider the offer, but I have some personal obligations to take care of first. He and Diana said they understood and would wait to hear from me."

"So basically your waiting on me," Helena said into the silence.

Her father nodded. The brunette, cocked her head to one side. "You really hit me out of left field with this you know."

"Helena if you need more time to decide I'll understand-,"

"But the answer was pretty simple, and no matter what angle I looked at it from, it never changed."

Silence fell across the table as three sets of eyes looked at her expectantly. She took in a deep breath and began slowly. "I will not take over your company…."

After a moment's silence Bruce sighed, resigned. "Unless you are the one to show me how to run it. And I don't mean just a crash course in business practices. You're either with me in this all the way or not at all," she finished seriously.

Bruce blinked, Dick smirked, and Barbara smiled. "Last night you said you wanted to leave me this legacy, because it was all that you could give me. You were wrong about that. What you can give me now, all I ever really wanted before, is a chance to know you- the real you. I'm willing to give it a shot if you are" she asked leaning forward to hold out her hand.

Bruce looked at the proffered hand, and then back up at his daughter, hesitating. "Does this deal include Batman?" he asked first.

"Hell no," she smirked. "This is my town now, and no one comes in unless they've been invited. Besides, Batman's gonna have his hands full breaking in a bunch of spoiled meta brats from the sound of things."

Bruce frowned, and then the lines in his aging features eased up as a chuckle began to work it's way past his lips. "Deal then."

Barbara and Dick smiled at each other, and Alfred came out, a broad smile giving away the fact that he too had heard the entire conversation. His timely comment however was cut short when the phone rang. Pulling the cell phone out of hi jacket he answered it in his usual British dignified manner.

"Good morning Mr. Xanatos. I'll check and see if Mr. Wayne is currently available."

Bruce was already gesturing that he would take the call. "Just a moment sir."

"Wayne speaking." Helena cocked her head to one side as she observed a side of her father that she had yet to see. This deal would indeed provide her with ample opportunity to observe him, and she was actually looking forward to it.

"Yes, of course we'll be there. Yes Dinah should be well enough to travel, and again, our sincerest thanks for your son's….gift. Perhaps I could meet with you tomorrow, for that lunch to discuss some business?"

The three spectators finished their breakfasts with seeming disinterest in the conversation, but as soon as Bruce hung up the phone and handed it back to Alfred, all eyes fixed on him. "There is going to be a funeral for Goliath in a week and the Clan has extended an invitation to us to be present. Will Dinah be well enough to travel by then?"

"She slept soundly through most of last night, and with a little more food and some walking she should be just fine by then," Barbara answered confidently. "Besides, this is the least we could do for them," she added quietly.

"Helena, I'd like for you to come with me tomorrow to meet Mr. Xanatos and his wife."

Helena nodded. "Sure. Besides it'd give me a chance to check up on Elisa. I'm sure she's not gonna be much up to talking with anyone by the time everyone shows up for the funeral."

After they finished their breakfast in a comfortable silence, Barbara finally set her fork down and looked over at Helena. "Hel do you have anything planned today?"

"Not really, I was thinking of maybe going to my apartment and start cleaning things out before stopping by the bar and giving Leonard notice."

"I- I'd like to go back to the Clocktower. See if we can salvage anything."

Concern filled the younger woman's eyes as she turned to face her best friend. "You sure you're ready to go back there?" she asked softly, seeing Dick tense up just beyond Barbara.

The redhead took a deep breath, held it, and then slowly let it out and nodded firmly. "I have to go back there some time Hel, and the longer I put this off the worse it will get."

"Reese said they cleared the scene a couple of days ago, and that he and his partner managed to keep the investigation very cut and dry. The apartments were still in pretty good shape from what he told me, and they didn't come across any of the secret stashes in the training room."

Barbara nodded, gave a shaky smile, and then remained in a pensive silence the rest of the morning until it was time to go.

Castle Wyvern

Manhattan

Mid Morning

As muddled as her brain was, Elisa managed to notice three things at once the moment she woke up. The first being that she was- regrettably- still alive. Her stomach quickly made it known however that she was about to pay for her overindulgence the night before. Unfortunately, her stomach didn't care that someone had bandaged her face back up, and she was once again completely blind.

Thankfully, someone was smart enough to be ready with a basin for her once she did wake. As she struggled upright, the bile quickly rising, a steady hand calmed her panicked movements as a basin was pressed into her own hands.

She silently thanked whoever had allowed her to retain some semblence of dignity as she vomited up the burning liquid from a stomach not ready to handle such abuse. When her dry heaves finally quieted after several long minutes, the basis was replaced by a tall glass of cool water. "Easy Maza," an all too familiar voice chided mildly as she tried to gulp down the refreshing liquid.

"Dracon?" she croaked out, turning her head slightly in the direction of the voice.

"None other," he said, the smirk clearly carrying through in his tone.

"Who the hell let you in here," she muttered.

"Certainly not your parents," the mob boss chuckled. "But they're being kept busy at the moment, so I snuck past your guard down the hall to check up on you."

Sullen silence met his statement. "Heard you had a little party here last night all by yourself," he chuckled. It held no humor though, because he could clearly see the downward emotional spiral she was on.

"Bet that went over really well with everyone."

"For some reason they all seemed to be very concerned Maza."

"I can't imagine why," she remarked sarcastically.

"So, should they be concerned?"

"Are you asking if I'm gonna eat my gun or something Tony?"

"Are you?" he asked, all pretense dropping from his voice as he grew very serious.

There was a long pause, and Elisa turned her head away from him before she answered, which was not a good thing in his book. "No….and it's none of your damn business anyway Dracon."

"See, that's where you've got things wrong Maza. It is my business," he told her firmly. "I run this neighborhood Sugar, but it only runs well if I have you to balance things out. Yin to my yang and all that nonsense. So if things are to continue running smoothly, I need you around- which makes your continued existence my business."

"Oh, so is that why you didn't pull the trigger the other night Dracon?" she asked with sudden venom in her voice as she turned sightless eyes towards him. "Because the way I see it, you've grown soft over the years and you let your affection for me cloud your judgement. You've capped more people than I care to think about. I put my life in your hands! I was depending on you, because no one else there could have done what I asked of you. I did everything you asked of me Tony. But when it really mattered, you let me down and now Goliath's dead!"

Dracon sighed quietly to himself- he had fully expected this. Xanatos had filled him in on Elisa's condition, since he hadn't been allowed anywhere near her room upon her return to the castle. He knew she would blame him for Goliath's death and, truth be told, he blamed himself as well. Tony was somewhat thankful that the bandages prevented him from seeing the loathing and pain that he knew would be directed full force at him right now, if she could.

He cleared his throat quietly. "You're right, I couldn't pull that trigger, and I'm sorry that things went down the way they did. But Goliath was right Elisa- it wasn't your time to die. Remember what he said to you and Demona that night, and don't throw your life away."

He stood abruptly, rested a hand on her head for a second and then withdrew. "I'll see you in a week for the funeral," he told her quietly and then he was gone.

Clock Tower

New Gotham

Midday

Barbara looked up at the blackened hole that exposed what had once been her home, and haven. She couldn't help the shudder that took hold of her as unwanted memories suddenly sprang to mind with vivid clarity. Helena reached across the small space separating them in the vehicle and rested her hand on her friend's shoulder.

The haunted look, and utter terror that flashed across Barbara's face scared the younger woman. "Barbara we don't have to do this today," she said quietly.

"No…I have to Hel. I have to do this now, or it'll be too hard," she repeated.

The hand tightened slightly. "You'll never give up Barbara…your too strong," Helena told her confidently. "The elevator is out, so we'll have to hike it. Let me get your chair up there first and then I'll come back and get you."

Her older companion nodded distractedly, so the brunette slipped out of the car and was dashing up the stairs from one landing platform to the next with Barbara's motorized wheelchair clasped easily in her arms, despite it's great weight. Within seconds she was back down on the street, opening the door to the Hummer, and patiently waiting for Barbara to acknowledge that she was ready for a lift.

There was a long hesitation, and Helena knew it had a lot to do with the fact that Barbara's insecurities had been coming back full force in the last few days. Since her arm had been broken and was now unable to take any weight, she had once again found herself extremely limited in what she could do by herself. With her spirit nearly crushed, her independence all but stripped away, and her life's work destroyed, Helena couldn't blame Barbara for her recent bouts of depression.

Finally, there was a sigh of resignation, an unbuckling of her seatbelt, and Helena gently extracted Barbara from the car and carried her smoothly up the stairs. After settling Barbara in her chair Helena flashed her a tender smile.

"Thank you sweetie."

"Anytime Red….just don't get all grouchy with me the next time I wanna take a spin in your ride," Helena teased with a nod to the chair.

That finally broke the ice as a wry smile quirked her lips up. "Don't think I haven't forgotten the last time you…commandeered my wheelchair. I mean really Hel, the roof of New Gotham's Cathedral?"

"Hey," the younger woman protested with an innocent expression. "You said all terrain, and I was just testing that for you. I mean the stairs in front of the NG Library didn't phase it, so I had to see just how far I could push it."

"Well I guess we found out that a combination of old stone tiles, and a hundred and thirty degree angled roof, definitely pushed it well beyond it's limits."

Helena giggled. "So no dice huh?"

"Not only is that a no, but a hell no. If I catch you even thinking of doing something in my fifty thousand dollar modified wheelchair, I'm going to sic Dick and Alfred on you."

"Party pooper," Helena sighed dramatically.

Barbara chuckled, then paused for a minute as she felt the tenseness begin to evaporate with the familiar banter and teasing Helena had initiated. A soft smile suddenly touched her lips and she looked up at her partner. "Thanks Hel," she said quietly, as her hand reached out to intertwine with Helena's.

"You've always been there for me, Barbara- even when I didn't want you to be. I hope you know that I will always be here for you too."

"I do sweetie…..never doubt that."

"You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Let's check out the bedrooms then. Reese said he and a few friends came by earlier today since they heard we we're gonna be here and left boxes in each of the rooms. Gibson, said there was quite a bit that wasn't damaged….my old room seemed to have taken the biggest hit, but no real loss there right?"

"Did I just hear you admit that a loss of clothing wasn't a heinous crime?" Barbara teased as she guided her chair around a pile of rubble and began to follow her best friend across what had once been the living room.

"Oh, it's still a capitol offense, but for once I'm gonna give the kid a break for stealing my clothes since most of them were in her closet at the time- which I heard was unscathed," Helena said brightly.

Barbara rolled her eyes, but was silently relieved to hear that at least some of their personal affects had been spared. Her spirits lifted a great deal more when she reached her room and found that it was fairly unscathed by Quinn's assault and break-in. Clothes and other various items were spread around the room from where drawers had been opened and gone through. All the pictures had been knocked off the walls and dresser, but nothing a new frame or two wouldn't fix.

Rolling further into the room, she moved a few boxes out of the way as she made her way towards the ransacked closet. Clothing and boxes had been strewn across the floor and Barbara reached just inside the doorframe and pushed a small white button. The entire back wall of the closet slid back and then to the side revealing one of Barbara's many secret compartments. Glancing over the equipment with a sigh of relief, she sealed it back up and backed out of the closet.

She guided herself around the apartment level, Helena appearing at just the right moment to help move a large piece of debris out of the way. Once the beam had been shoved to one side, the younger woman wordlessly headed into the kitchen, leaving Barbara to her explorations. The brunette's tender thoughtfulness touched Barbara's heart, and tears welled up in her eyes. Helena was silently keeping an eye on her, but giving her enough space and distance to respect her fierce streak of independence. Even when she had first moved in with Barbara, Hel had just seemed to instinctively know when Barbara needed and would willing accept a hand.

The training room and Helena's old room turned out to be the two largest disasters on the apartment level. Thankfully, nothing of importance had been discovered- by either Harley or the police. Once the redhead had comforted herself over the fact that at least a part of their lives had been left intact, she finally rolled out to the living room and glanced upwards.

"There's really not much left up there," Helena said quietly, appearing out of thin air and startling Barbara. "What Harley didn't take out with her rocket launcher, was either destroyed by her goon squad or when you self destructed the Delphi."

"I'd still like to see it," Barbara whispered.

Helena nodded, and then wordlessly picked her companion up, ever mindful of her injuries and carried her up the mangled staircase that led to the upper floor that had been her second home and the focal point of her life. Setting Barbara on a battered couch, Helena bounded over the railing, and was back over in under five seconds with the wheelchair.

"I'll probably have to stay with you….there's too much debris for you to move around easily," the younger woman said hesitantly.

"It's ok Hel….I could really use your company right now anyway," Barbara told her with a tight smile.

Another wordless nod from the brunette and the two women silently made their way through the burnt, twisted, and crumbling remains of their base of operations. Barbara paused while Helena bent to clear a path for her, and caught sight of the chair that Quinn had tied her to for nearly an hour. She felt her breath slip away as her mind flashed back to those long agonizing minutes, not knowing if she would live or die…not knowing if the ones she loved were still alive or dead…

"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner," Helena whispered, her blue eyes fixed on the lone chair left standing in the large upper room. She could see the bloodstains coating the surface, and could scent that it was Barbara's even from several feet away. Barbara's wrists were still raw from where the ropes had dug into her flesh, and the cuts and bruises she suffered as a result of her torture were only just beginning to heal.

"Helena, there was nothing you could have done. Had you left the yards, you could have jeapordized the whole mission, and you would have never forgiven yourself if all those people had died in a failed mission. Your father got here as quick as any one of you could have and all of this had still happened anyway."

"Thank god he got here before she could have…" Helena's throat tightened around the words. Tears sprung to her eyes and it felt like all the air had suddenly been sucked out of the room or someone had sucker punched her in the gut- hard. For the first time, it really hit her how close she had been to losing Barbara. Her vision swam, and her world began to spin, and all she was aware of was the concerned voice asking what was wrong and then coaxing her to sit down before she passed out.

"…breath Hel….put your head between your knees and just breath….."

Helena obediently listened to that voice, and several long minutes later she lifted her head to look into concerned emerald eyes. "I'm okay now," Helena said hoarsely as she tried to shake off her emotional response and stand.

A firm hand on her shoulder stopped that. "Are you sure your ok? Maybe I should have Alfred come over-,"

"No," Helena said a little sharply, cutting Barbara off. She was silent for another minute, but those piercing green eyes wouldn't let her go anywhere until she told Barbara what was going on.

"Jesus Barbara," Helena hissed upset. "I nearly lost you. I nearly lost you and the kid." Watery blue eyes finally looked up to meet her steady gaze. "I can't go through that again. You're all I've got."

Barbara gave her a tender and sad smile. "I don't plan on going anywhere for a long time Hel. But I'm not all you have now…..there's a lot more people willing to share your life now if you'll continue to let them."

"They'll never replace you though Barbara. Your…you've been…." The brunette stumbled over her words, ducked her head and scrubbed her eyes against her shoulder, and swallowed thickly. When she finally looked back up, there was so much open love in her features that Barbara could only gasp in wonder at the young woman's open admission.

"I always felt like I'd be betraying her by saying it…but I know the reason she picked you. I've known for a long time really. My mom picked you because she knew that only you could be a mom to me. You knew when I needed to be held, you knew when I needed my space. You would let me get away with the stupid crap, but you never let me slack when it came to the important things in my life. You put up with my temper, and my mood swings, and everything else even though I wasn't your kid.

"She picked you because in a lot of ways, you are just like her. That's why it was so easy for me to think of you as my mom. I know I never told you that, but that's how I feel Barbara."

Barbara stared at Helena, tears in her eyes, as she slowly digested the enormity of the moment. She glanced past the brunette, to the steel wall that still separated the Delphi Command Center from the rest of the upper tower, and then back at Helena. Finally the older woman reached out and drew Helena to her in a fierce hug, ignoring the throbbing in her arm as the joy in her heart overwhelmed it.

"I love you too Hel," she whispered into dark hair. "Let's go home."

Hel sat back on her haunches after a minute, and looked behind her. "What about-."

"I've done what I needed to do here…it's time to move on," she said in a much steadier voice.

Helena cocked her head to one side as she thought about that. "This is gonna be a whole new ballgame now isn't it Red?"

Barbara gave a genuine grin. "I think so Hel. Question is can you play nice with the other players now?"

"Daddy just gave me the keys to the kingdom," Helena reminded, with a smirk. "It's about time I get to call some shots around this place."

Barbara rolled her eyes dramatically, causing the younger woman to snicker. "Heaven help us all now."

Castle Wyvern

Manhattan

Late evening

"How many people are going to be here!" Brooklyn asked in disbelief.

"So far, over three hundred have requested to attend. I've had to put nearly everything on hold until the arrangements for this are finalized, because I get phones calls nearly every hour from someone new who wants to attend."

"Xanatos, I'm sorry-"

The billionaire waved his hand and shrugged. "Don't worry about it Brooklyn. It's the least I can do for you and the Clan. This is a slow time of year business-wise, so there isn't anything pressing that can't be pushed back a week. I of course, haven't granted permission to anyone until they have your approval. But, in order to make necessary travel arrangements, I will need you to make some decisions pretty quickly on some of the guests."

"Travel arrangements?"

"Well there is a large delegation that wishes to be present from the Ishimura Clan in Japan. I really have no idea how they found out, but even the three survivors of the Guatamalan Clan wish to attend. Hell, the entire Avalon Clan is requesting to be present, and Fox said her mother can arrange for their arrival."

"Wow….Hudson was thinking this thing was going to be pretty small. I don't know how he will take this, and being the elder…well he really is in charge of this thing."

Xanatos sat back in his chair and nodded. "From what Demona told me, I gathered that he was the one to call the shots. However, I would like to respectfully point out that there is a great opportunity here Brooklyn. The first and perhaps the most important matter is that you have the chance to bring together all of these different Clans. This is the perfect opportunity to establish a relationship with the other Clan Leaders and Elders, something that your very survival is going to rely on."

"True," Brooklyn agreed. "Before all this mess started Goliath had been speaking with Kai and the others about a sharing of Clan members…especially for our brothers in Guatamala."

"The media had been eating this story up, and as much as I hate to say it, Goliath's noble death has been a major story. It could draw out other Clans who are still hiding, if they know that there is going to be a gathering of their own kind."

"So what's the second reason why this is a good opportunity?" Brooklyn asked a little skeptical.

"Publicity, Brooklyn. Don't take that wrong…its just that this can really help build up your image for the masses. Not to mention you will be certain in gaining the support of some extremely powerful and high-ranking people."

"I just don't want this to turn into a media circus."

"If you would like, I can make some suggestions on the list and if the ceremony is to be held here, then it will be private and I can control the media aspect. Goliath worked hard his whole life to earn the respect of those he protected- I will do everything in my power to see to it that he laid to rest with honor and dignity."

Brooklyn nodded. "I think as long as that is what is kept intact, I can reason with Hudson on everything else. What did you have in mind?"

Wayne Manor

New Gotham

Evening

Everyone looked up in surprise as the weary looking blonde shuffled into the large dinner room. Nearly everyone rose to their feet instantly to assist her, but the teen waved them off and managed to make it to an empty chair under her own power before sinking gratefully into it.

"Miss Dinah you really shouldn't be up and about without someone to assist you so soon," Alfred chided her gently as he poured the girl a tall glass of water.

Dinah eagerly accepted the cool liquid and downed half her glass in one long swallow. "I've been in bed for over a week," she complained once she took a breath. Another long drink and the water was finished. "Besides, I'm tired of eating soup and when I smelled Alfred's meatloaf from upstairs there was no way I was gonna miss dinner again."

Helena chuckled as she resumed eating. "Yeap, sounds like she's ok to me."

Barbara and Alfred exchanged a knowing look and sigh, and then with a mutual shrug, the butler placed a setting before the young woman and served her a cautious amount of food. "Alfred," the teen whined in protest.

"Finish that with no ill effects Miss and we'll see about seconds."

The blonde pouted, and there were knowing smirks shared around the table when she focused on her food. "So Dr. Tompkins says you've made remarkable progress Dinah. How have you been feeling?"

"I had a pretty wicked headache yesterday, but today when I woke up I felt better…actually it was the first time I felt almost like myself," she answered in between bites. "My brain is still a little fuzzy, and there's some gaps in my memory, but at least the pain is gone," she admitted.

Barbara's eyebrows drew together in concern. "You're experiencing memory loss Dinah? Why didn't you say anything about that earlier?"

Dinah's eyes rolled in typical teenaged fashion, and several people were hard pressed not to chuckle at the annoyed look on Barbara's face. "Come on Barbara, like I was going to ADD to the list of problems with me. You should have seen the look on your face a few minutes ago when I came in here. I FEEL better, I just need some time to clear the cobwebs out of my head. I'm already getting back most of what I lost."

"M-Most of what you lost? How bad is this?"

Now even Helena was raising an eyebrow, a look that was mirrored by her father, and sent Dinah into a small fit of giggles. "Oh my god, you two really do look a lot alike," she gasped as she rubbed her temples to soothe the small ache her laughter had spawned. When the discomfort died down, she looked back up to see everyone looking at her expectantly.

She toyed with her food for a second, took a big bite and mumbled something about not remembering the fight at all after she woke up. She glanced up to see a look of disbelief on several faces and more than a little worry on a couple in particular. "I'm fine now though," she added quickly. "I, uh, it took me a few days to remember why I felt like a train had hit me. At first I didn't think the little 'conversation' I had in my head with two complete strangers had been real until Helena brought it up the other night. Then it all started coming back to me. I remember most of the battle, but it gets a little blurry towards the end where I overloaded."

The young man at the far end of the table shrugged and resumed eating. "Sounds perfectly normal to me," he commented into the silence. "I mean how many times have the rest of us remembered everything clearly after taking a bad hit?"

Dick and Helena nodded in agreement, Barbara and Bruce fixed him with disapproving stares however. "What?" he asked defensively.

"Oh come one you guys, lay off Tim," Helena chuckled. "Just because he's stated the obvious, doesn't mean you have to gang up on him."

Dinah flashed Tim and Hel a grateful look, and focused back on what was left of her dinner as two stares turned on Helena. The brunette merely arched an eyebrow back at them. "Please," she sniffed before taking a bite of her own dinner.

"Alfred can I have more now?" Dinah asked as she finished her serving.

"Wait just a bit to let it settle and then you can have a bit more Miss Dinah."

Another sigh and pout, but then the teen looked the group over. "So what's been going on while I've slept the week away?"

The group visited for the next hour, Dinah finally receiving a second helping when she had assured Alfred her stomach could handle it and even being allowed a small helping of the rich cheesecake he had prepared. Dinah finally asked the question that everyone had been dancing around the whole evening.

"So how have Elisa and the other been holding up?"

There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Reese finally cleared his throat. "I spoke with her partner, Matt Bluestone today. He said she isn't handling Goliath's death well," he answered quietly. "She's been withdrawing from everyone, including the Clan. Last night she somehow got her hands on some alcohol, and went on a drinking binge and nearly drowned herself in her bathtub."

"She on suicide watch now?" Dick asked, wincing as he heard the depressing news.

"Yeah, she isn't left alone in her room for more than a few minutes at a time now."

"Is she allowed visitors?" Helena asked.

"From what Matt said, she is. But she usually chases most people out after the first few minutes."

Helena looked over at her father. "I want to check in on her when we go down there tomorrow."

Bruce nodded. "We have no time constraints that would prevent that. I'm sure the Clan would appreciate your efforts."

"You guys are going to Manhattan tomorrow?" Dinah asked curios.

"I promised the Xanatos' a lunch date, and I wanted Helena to meet them."

"Cool! I saw this documentary about how the castle was built on top of his skyscraper and it was so neat. I mean it took them like five years just to plan how they could build both structures!." With that, the teen launched into a lengthy re-telling of the documentary.

As she talked, Helena took in the healthier skin color in Dinah's features, and the returning brightness in her eyes. Sliding a glance over at Barbara, she noticed the older woman observing her charge with a practiced eye. "Yeah, she's definitely feeling better," Helena chuckled quietly under her breath so only Barbara could hear.

The slight grin that quirked Barbara's lips upwards indicated that the redhead had indeed heard the comment and agreed.