Merry Christmas fullmetaldevil and DeathGoddess18. The last part (so far) of the little after "Back where.."-triology. I hope you have enjoyed the other parts as well… and I hope you'll enjoy this one… It's mostly banter, but at least you get to find out what they all got for Christmas!

Christmas with Friends

This Christmas, Robin and Slade were staying in their city, as going to Gotham this year naturally was out of the question. They still had taken some time off, though, since Robin had insisted on it.

It was Christmas morning and just after 7AM. The couple was still in bed, rather late for them, but again, Robin had insisted. The holidays were the holidays. No reason to rush anywhere. Robin suddenly found himself wishing that they were at least dressed, though, as the door suddenly burst open.

"Hi mom and dad! Ready to open the presents?" Red X yelled excitedly, dragging his boyfriend behind him. Speedy was currently covering his eyes with one hand.

"Is it safe to look? They aren't having sex, are they?"

"No." Red said disappointedly, and as Speedy removed his hand, he added. "They're naked, though!"

"Aaaarrgghh! I didn't need to see that!" Speedy groaned, slammed his hand back over his eyes, but then snuck a look between his fingers. "Or maybe I did…"

Slade put the gun he had pointed between Red's eyes away, and Robin slipped a sharp shuriken down into its holster next to the bed. The other couple didn't even seem to notice how close to death they had been.

"How did you get in?!" Robin said, quickly dragging the covers up. Slade wasn't much bothered by being naked, however, but he didn't look too happy about the intrusion.

"Hey, you're lookin' at the world's greatest thief!" Red X grinned.

"Phu-leese!" Speedy snorted. "You would have walked straight into the heat sensors if it wasn't for me."

"Alex? Roy? Please get out." Robin said in an overly friendly manner.

"But the presents?" Red X started to argue.

"Get. Out." Robin said again, reaching for his shuriken once more.

Speedy seemed to get the hint and pulled X through the door, closing it just as a sharp blade embedded itself in the doorframe.

"Whyyyyy?" Robin moaned, leaning his head in his hands.

Slade, on the other hand, eyed the damage on the door.

"You'll have to fix that."

"Oh, shut up." Robin muttered, glancing over at him "And stop bragging and cover yourself, damn it! You're big, we get it!"

"No… you'll get it…" Slade smirked.

"Not with those two eavesdropping…" Robin smirked back.

"We're not!" came a muffled protest through the door.

Robin sighed again.

"So… time to get up, huh?"

Sarah had prepared a wonderful Christmas breakfast for them, and, for some odd reason, seemed to have known that they would have company.

"I'll go talk to her later…" Slade muttered.

"Presents! Presents! Presents!" Red X chanted, until his boyfriend punched him in the arm.

"What's up with you? I thought Speedy switched your coffee to decaf, but you are more hyper than usual…" Robin groaned.

"You did what?" Red asked Speedy, frowning.

"I just couldn't handle being woken up at two-thirty every morning for a night-fuck just to tire you out…" he said, buttering a hot bread roll.

"You haven't a romantic bone in your body, have you?" Red X wailed.

"Just one." Speedy replied and leaned over to kiss his distressed lover on the cheek. "And it's just for you, honey… only not two-thirty in the morning. At least not every night."

"Awww… baby…" Red grinned and a split second later there was a full make-out session going on at the breakfast table.

"Please, we are trying to eat." Robin growled.

Red X glanced at him and snickered.

"Really? Those small sausages? They will never fill you up… We know you're used to bigger..."

At this point Robin threw an egg.

Everything was calm, however, half an hour later when they gathered in the sitting room.

"Finally! Present-time!"

"Again, why so hyper?" Robin smirked.

"Well… haven't had many nice Christmases…" Red mumbled, getting a hug from Speedy. Robin felt a bit ashamed of himself. He didn't know much about the thief's background, after all. "Sorry, Red… let's make this one count, huh?" he said, smiling.

The couples had taken up a couch each, facing each other. Robin were sitting in his favorite corner with his legs across Slade's knees, and on the other couch it was kind of hard to see where one boy started and the other ended, they were so entangled.

"We did actually get you presents." Slade smirked, making Red hoot. "They are by the fireplace if-" there was a flash of color and suddenly the presents were on the table between them, and one very eager thief back in his boyfriend's arms. "-someone would get them…" Slade finished the sentence.

"I guess Red should begin, right?" Robin grinned, nudging one of the presents closer, the one reading "to Alex from mum and dad".

Unexpectedly Red X didn't just rip the thing open, he really took his time. And Robin didn't think it was because the thief feared it was booby-trapped.

"Woooow…" Red said, holding the item he had discovered up and turning it over. "It's… fantastic! I've never seen anything like it! I've always wanted a…err… What is it?"

Slade chuckled.

"It's a sensor. It can feel even the weakest electrical current and creates an electrical blueprint of the surroundings. Here, let me show you." Slade took the device and turned it on, handing it back to Red. The boy's eyes grew big.

"Shite… you have more wires in this place than actual building materials! Now even I'm starting to wonder how we got in!"

"Yes… regarding that, we need to talk about that later…" Slade muttered.

"Who-ha! I can even make out our watches! It picks up batteries too?"

"As long as there're not too weak. You can calibrate it to only show the stronger stuff." Robin said, rather happy since it was all his invention.

"Thanks!" Red said, looking really thrilled.

"Yes, thanks guys." Speedy said dryly. "Make my boyfriend a better thief, why don't you?"

"Well, we thought about you too." Robin grinned and handed him his present.

After a moment of rustling, there was a low whistle.

"What did you get? Something smexy?" Red asked eagerly.

"Oh, I don't think you'll want me to use these in the bedroom…" Speedy smirked.

"Nope, it is titanium alloy bowstrings." Robin said. "The bow will break before the string does."

"These are great! Can't wait to try them out!" Speedy said, excitedly.

"Yes, and about that…" Slade said and looked sternly at the two youths. "We would like a discussion about what the two of you have been up to…"

"Really?" Red looked happy. "Wanna compare techniques? Lately we have really enjoyed the shower, you know… the suction cups on some of our toys really sticks to the tiles, and-"

"Not those kinds of activities." Slade said. Folding his arms, then smirking in Robin's direction. "At least not right now. Speedy knows what I am talking about, don't you?"

The hero had looked pretty worried for a while, but now folded his arms again, his jaw jutting out stubbornly.

"So you found out?"

Robin and Slade glanced at each other and Robin rolled his eyes.

"Sure we did, Speedy. We have known the whole year. We just waited to see where it was going. Lately you seem to take it more seriously, though."

"Your relationship, one working as a thief and one as a hero, seems to work for you, but it is still our city. We don't allow anyone free range of it, not even our… friends…"

"Awwww… we're friends? That's so sweet!" Red grinned.

"I will always help people in need! I don't have to ask permission!" Speedy growled, starting to look furious.

"Nah, he really doesn't." Red X agreed, sticking up for his boyfriend. "He has a new outfit now and everything.

"I've seen it." Robin nodded. "It's hot."

"Yeah, isn't it?" X nodded happily. Speedy himself relaxed some, as it was clear that the pair weren't about to turn on him right that instant.

"Still going with red, though? Thought you would choose another color…" Robin said, ignoring the thief politely.

"He'll always go for red…" X smirked, throwing an arm around Speedy's shoulder. "He's got a new name, too, have you heard?"

"No?" Robin said, raising an interested eyebrow.

"Well, I wanted him to be Gay-bow…" Red started, making the other couple burst out laughing. Well. Robin burst out laughing, but the corners of Slade's lips quirked upwards, which, for him, was the same thing. "But noooo… know what he choose? Arsenal!"

"Well… Robin said, having recovered from the last name. "That's not too bad… is it?"

"You kidding me? Arse-enal. Yeah. That's not gay!" Red X snorted, making Robin lose it again, while Speedy looked exceedingly pissed. "I mean, he could just as well add a butt-flap, right? Oh, speaking of that, do you have a sewing machine I could borrow?"

"You are not touching my costume!" Speedy aka Arsenal hissed. "And one more word out of you and you won't be touching anything else either, for a long time!"

It seemed that Red could tell that Speedy actually meant business, because he immediately quieted and started showering Speedy with kisses instead, between doing a puppy-dog-pout that was nearly as good as Robin's. Speedy tried to ignore him and turn to Slade and Robin.

"So what? You want us to move?"

"No." Slade shook his head. "But we need you to choose your battles carefully. We don't mind you protecting the man on the street, in fact, fighting minor crimes at all. But when you hit the bigger fish, you, sometimes, hit our… 'associates'. And that means trouble for us. They pay us good money to be able to run their businesses in peace."

Speedy leaned back in the couch, still ignoring Red's lips running up his arm.

"I see. Well. I'll try. But if I should happen to stumble across something… I won't make any promises."
Robin grinned.

"Well, I have another suggestion for you… we have many people out there who are not our friends... and personally I'd love to make life just a little bit more uncomfortable for them… if you're up for it, why don't you and I hit the streets together now and then?"

Speedy's face lit up in a grin.

"I'd love that!"

Their significant others looked a bit suspicious, though.

"Has this anything to do with Speedy's new outfit?" Slade asked, placing an arm across Robin's legs, as if making sure they stayed across his lap.

Red X were making quick gestures, some quite rude, evidently trying to say something but looking more and more frustrated as the others just didn't catch on.

"What?" Robin asked. "You're a dog? A chicken? A horny chicken? A horny chicken with a limp? A horny chicken with a limp doing the limbo?"

"All right, I'll forgive you!" Speedy laughed. "What are you trying to say?"

"That you two better not do anything nasty! Not without me!"

"Oh." Robin said, looking disappointed. "And I was so sure about the chicken…"

"We forgot about your presents!" Speedy suddenly exclaimed, digging into his pockets.

"Yeah. Speedy didn't allow me to steal anything…" Red pouted.

"Oh, suck it up." Speedy said, slamming his free hand over Red's mouth before the teen replied. In his other hand were two envelopes. One rather big and thick and one small slim one. He handed the thick one to Robin.

"We figured you guys already have everything, but we thought you might like this…"

Robin opened the envelope carefully, and saw a thick wad of papers inside. Stationery, he realized. It was a letter. Handwritten. As soon as he recognized the spidery handwriting his breath hitched.

"It's… it's from Alfred! How…?"

Ever since what they all had quietly come to call the 'incident', there had been no word from Jump or Gotham. Robin never said so, but it was evident that he really missed Alfred. He had tried to put it all behind him, though, as he had written a letter to the man without receiving a reply. Slade had, secretly, tried to contact the manor via the computers, but had been met with firewalls so powerful the message was quiet clear, making it an effort even for him to achieve what he wanted.

Speedy and Red had sincere smiles on their faces now.

"You know when we two of us went to see Ollie a week ago?"

Robin flinched and nodded. Roy and Oliver had a past that was even rockier than his and Bruce's had been. Still, there seemed to be some common ground of mutual respect there, probably some archer-thing, Robin suspected, and the visit had gone… pretty well…

"Well, we took a detour to Gotham. There just was no way to get even close to the manor, the security is crazy there now! But luckily it turned out I knew one of the deliverymen-"

"Tommy?" Robin cut in, smirking.

"Yeah! How did you know?"

"Come on! You've had a crush on him like forever! Every time you and Ollie came over you hung around the kitchen entrance… geez, the first time I saw you flirting with him you couldn't have been more than twelve!"

"What?!" Red hissed.

"Don't worry baby, it was just a childhood crush! Nothing ever happened! Tommy's as straight as they come. Trust me. It was just like… he was nineteen, right and…" Speedy trailed off with a happy sigh, his eyes far away before snapping back to reality. "Anyway, turns out he still delivers, although he's made partner in the business now, he keeps making the deliveries to the manor as a favor, since he is trusted. Aaaaanyway, I asked him to slip Alfred a note, asking him to meet me, and he did! I told him everything, and he had me wait while he wrote that letter… it's like a gift from the three of us… But, seriously, I have no idea what it says… he had that scary butler-face on the whole time and I have no clue what he was thinking… you better read it later, kay?"

Robin blinked rapidly, his eyes burning, and nodded, tucking the envelope away.

"Thank you guys, for going… I just don't have the guts… and now I will know… even if the letter says how disgusted he is with me, at least I'll know, right?"

The others nodded solemnly. Red frowned a little, though.

"I think we are missing the point here…" he said slowly. "So… you are totally sure that he's straight?"

Speedy sighed.

"Yes, dear…"

"Good. Now, stop stalling and give Slade his present!" Red urged him like he hadn't been the one stalling in the first place.

"Gladly. Merry Christmas, Slade!" Speedy grinned and winked at Robin as he handed the envelope over.

"What? What was that?" Robin sat up straighter, looking alarmed because of that wink. "What did you give him?"

Slade, who had opened the envelope in the mean time, also looked confused.

Speedy saw the glare and grinned.

"It's not for you, it's for Robin!"

A slow smirk started to spread on Slade's face, and Robin began to worry for real. The man looked positively evil.

"Could someone please tell me what it is?" Robin almost whimpered.

"Sure! It's striptease and pole dancing lessons!" Speedy said, grinning widely.

"Yeah, we thought that if you two are getting hitched, it's important to keep it interesting in the bedroom, you know…" Red nodded, grinning as well.

"You mean that I…" Robin looked like someone had waved a rubber duck in front of his face.

"Yes you are! And don't you dare back out, or Slade won't get his Christmas-present! You wouldn't do that to Slade, would you?" Speedy pleaded. Robin looked like he would, so the archer continued. "Besides, you won't be alone, Red and I will go too!"

That made Robin relax, if only a little bit.

"You will? Wait… aren't these classes for like frustrated housewives? Are guys even allowed?" he asked, hoping he had found a way out.

"Nah, I called and checked, and the girl were just squealing at the other end so I guess it's okay…" Speedy snickered.

"…damn…" Robin muttered, frowning as he heard Slade chuckle. "This is not funny, mister! I'll take the classes, but you are so making it up to me!"

"Who knows?" Red smirked. "Maybe for this he'll let you top?"

One and a half set of eyes turned towards him in horror.

"No thanks." Robin muttered.

"Come on! What about an equal relationship? Be the girl any longer and soon you'll need a strap-on to fuck him…" Red X snorted.

"Please excuse my insanely insensitive boyfriend." Speedy groaned. "But, seriously… aren't you even curious?"

Robin glanced at Slade and blushed a bit.

"Well, yes… but with Slade? It just feels… wrong."

Speedy nodded.

"I know what you mean… I've been in one-sided relationships too… whatever works for you…"

"Buuuuuut…" Red cut in. "I still think that foursome is a great idea! And you'll get to find out…" he leered at Robin in a way that caused Slade to frown slightly.

"I'll think about it…" Robin leered back, causing Red to let out a whoop and Slade's frown to deepen.

"So…" Red asked. "What did you get for each other?"

"If you remember, you woke us up…" Robin muttered. "We didn't exactly have time to exchange gifts."

"Well, do it now, then! I'm curious!" Red admitted.

"We decided, that since we are getting married at New Years we wouldn't exchange gifts this year, and rather let the wedding be our gift to each other." Slade said. "Besides, as you mentioned… we have almost everything else."

Robin cringed a bit and blushed.

"Yeah… I know we said that, but… well… I did get you something… you're not mad, are you?"

Slade snorted.

"Hardly. I got you something too… but I warn you, it's just something small."

Robin grinned and jumped up from the couch.

"I'll go get yours…"

Slade rose as well and left the room for a moment. Robin was already back and grinned sheepishly while handing the man a small parcel and an envelope.

"Another envelope? Isn't that two things?" Slade chuckled, and gave Robin a very light present the size of a shoebox.

"I didn't want to break the tradition from last year…" Robin winked, and Slade hurriedly opened the small envelope and read the card inside. He grinned and looked at Robin.

"I'll use it well."

"I'm sure you will."

"What is it?" Speedy asked and craned his neck. Slade handed him the card and the archer read it, looking puzzled.

"'Anywhere. Any time. Good for one use.'? What does that mean?"

"Ohhh… that's hot!" Red squealed. "I'll bet Slade likes to do it in public too… sure you know what you're doin' there, kid?"

"Well, I do have the imprint of every damn roof tile in this city on my ass, so yes…" Robin laughed. "Go on, now, Slade… open the next one!"

Slade did, grinning to himself, already planning on when and how to use that card. Inside he found what looked like a large jewelry case, and flicking the lid opened he let out a small gasp.

"Oh fuckin' hell!" Red X exclaimed. "Can't you marry me instead, kid?"

"Oh, you're dumping me? For a WATCH?!" Speedy said, crossing his arms.

"Don't you know what that is? It's an Omega De Ville Tourbillon Squelette Limited edition! That costs about twenty-eight thousand dollars! It's… It's… I think I'm hard…" Red moaned.

Robin laughed, and then sat up to straddle Slade's lap.

"You know…" he said quietly, picking the watch out of the box. "You gave me this beautiful ring, and I wanted to get you something to wear as well… I was going to wait for the wedding, but I don't really know what you have planned, so… Slade…. would you wear this watch for me?"

"Of course I will." the man replied just as softly, and removed his old watch. Robin slipped the new one on his wrist and carefully fastened it there.

"I should tell you… it's custom made. I had them add a little something…" Robin said, pressing a hidden button. A holographic image covered the screen, showing a two lights very close to each other. Slade immediately understood.

"A new tracker?"

"Yes." Robin touched a place behind his ear where a new small scar had joined the old one. "I thought it was time. And this system has immediate access. Whenever you need me, you know where to find me."

"That's very… trusting of you…" Slade said, remembering that when they had worked on the first system, Robin had been unyielding when deciding that it only should be used in emergencies… he had told Slade that if the man simply couldn't find him, it was probably because he didn't want to be found, indicating that Slade should back the hell off if that was the case. Now, it appeared, he had changed his mind.

"Well, I'm about to be yours for real, right?" the young man smiled, leaning forward for a kiss.

"So you are… and tracker or no tracker… you'll not get away ever again…" Slade grinned, before kissing his partner deeply.

"Well, that's cute. Slightly disturbing, but cute." Red snickered, and Speedy nodded beside him. It caused the spell to be broken, though, and Robin reluctantly slid off Slade's lap.

"Wait… there's a second set, isn't there?" Slade asked.

"Yes… but only if you want to…" Robin smiled.

Slade nodded.

"Yes. It can wait, though. Open your present. But remember… it's a small thing, and now I'm feeling rather ashamed…" he said, actually managing to look the part.

Robin chuckled and ripped the paper off. He didn't care is Slade had given him a plastic shoehorn; it would still be from Slade. As the box opened he lifted the things inside out, turning them over. It looked like several pieces of clothing, but… he started laughing.

"When you said it was small…" he chuckled. "These are the smallest pair of swimwear I have ever seen… wouldn't it be easier just to be naked?"

"I'd love that… on the other hand, these rip off easily." Slade leered at him.

"We are going to be at the beach with you guy's a lot!" Speedy grinned.

"Peeping tom!" Robin snorted. "I'll think we'll have to reconsider inviting you…" he added with a smirk, not meaning it at all. "Thank you, Slade… I'll enjoy driving you crazy in these… So, guys, what did you give each other?"

"Lot's of stuff! I got these fabulous 14 carat nipple clamps, and I got Speedy this vibrat-"

"I mean except sex toys?" Robin interrupted him.

The pair looked at each other.

"Errr… in that case… nothing…" Speedy said.

Robin rolled his eyes.

"Kids!" he sighed.

The day went on in relatively peace. The redheads were busy trying out their presents, and were only convinced to take a break when dinner was served. Red proposed to the huge turkey on the spot, claiming it was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen. Speedy flicked his ear, saying that he might not be as good as a watch or a dead bird, but one got what one deserved. Red agreed, grinning back at him until Speedy realized what he had just said. They then proceeded by eating most of Red's fiancée, though there were plenty of leftovers for the boys to take home with them.

Much later Robin stretched out his tired body under the covers, and then half rolled over against Slade.

"We've done nothing all day but talk, and yet I'm just dead tired… strange, huh?"

"With those two? Hardly." Slade snorted, giving Robin a small smile and pulling him closer. "Were you serious about what you said?"

"About what?"

"About 'thinking about it'?" Slade clarified, but really not. It took a moment before Robin remembered.

"The foursome?"

Slade nodded.

Robin bit his lip.

"Well… I… It's not that I… I just…" Robin stopped himself for a moment before bursting out. "Come on, Slade, it's a damn hot fantasy, isn't it?" Before Slade could respond, Robin continued. "I mean, no, of course it could never happen! I mean, you're not interested, and I would never do anything like that without you right there, just as eager as me. It's just a fantasy… you have them too, don't you?"

"Well, why don't you tell me what happens in your fantasy?" Slade smirked, making Robin's eyes widen. "Who would you fuck first?"

Well… I…." Robin blushed. "I kinda see Speedy riding me, but I'm still mainly the bottom, you know? And I so see you pounding into Red, making sure he'll shut up for a while."

"That would take one hard fuck…" Slade chuckled.

"Yeah… but you'll manage…" Robin grinned up at him and then kissed his throat. "And… god it's so wrong, but I think it would be hot just to watch, you know? I got rock hard at the kitchen table this morning, and it feels so wrong…"

"Why?" Slade asked quietly.

"Because it feels like I'm cheating! You are the only one I really want… they… they are more like… toys, you know? To be used once in a while and then shut away in a drawer… Do I make any sense?" Robin asked, worried eyes searching Slade's face for any hint of anger.

"You do… and I agree… let's think about it…"

"What? Really?" Robin asked, startled.

"Yes. I admit that those images are somewhat appealing to me as well… and as we are about to commit to each other, I feel less threatened by other influences in your life… although I would still kill anyone who as much as looked at you in the wrong way without both our permissions."

"Oh, of course." Robin nodded solemnly before a grin split his face. "And the same goes the other way around…"

"Good."

"Good."

They were quiet for a moment.

"What if it destroys everything? I mean, it's kinda nice to have friends again…" Robin said, worriedly.

"That's a risk we have to consider." Slade agreed. "Although I'm pretty sure both the boy's can separate sex and real feelings."

"Yeah… but what if-"

Slade put a finger on Robin's lips.

"What if I was to give you that hard fuck I was planning to give you this morning?" he suggested.

Robin smirked and sucked the finger into his mouth, nodding encouragingly. It might not be a very Christian way to end Christmas day on, but it sure beat anything he could think of.

The End.

A/N: I need your opinions… foursome or not? You've heard the arguments for and against… be the jury, please? ;o)