Wow, I'm psyched. And I can write again because my fingers have almost completely healed!

Y'all are the coolest! I'm glad you're so accepting of my story. To be perfectly honest, I'm kind of a TT novice - not at writing, but at the show and everything. That's why I made a future fic, because I thought it would be easier for me. I'm amazed by how much everyone knows and how little I do know. Y'all put me to shame…

Okay, thank yous and comments are in order, since I'm really grateful…

MOOgoestheCHICKEN – Let me get this straight – you got your foot run over by a Durango? OW. That's gotta suck. Oh, and: coughcoughYUPcoughcough And, don't worry, he isn't green.

Rune – Dark is a possibility. Maybe not intentionally his fault, but definitely a possibility…

Free-Desert-Wind – Thank you for your critiquing. You made a lot of good points that I'll definitely keep in mind.

DarkElf6 – Hey, sis, wassup? I won't list all of your pet names; it'd take up three-quarters of the chapter, but luv ya much!

Just want to make this clear to everyone: Because I don't know so much about the characters' personal lives, flashbacks and past events will be the way they are to fit the present story situations. It may not be the truth, but it works for me.

Disclaimer: We all know the drill…

Chapter 3: Kori's Holiday Plan

Christmas morning was hectic. All of the adults were up at six-thirty that morning, sitting around the kitchen table, drinking their coffee and herbal tea. They spoke for half an hour, chatting and laughing and enjoying the special holiday. Finally Roland began screaming upstairs, clearly awake and wanting something to eat.

After the mugs were cleared away, everyone took turns in the showers. Kori finished first, wearing a lovely outfit. She wore a lavender sweater and a long, white, flowing skirt. Despite the chilled outdoor weather, she sported comfy sandals and had her hair kept up in a nice ponytail.

Rick followed, wearing nice dress pants in black and suede shoes. His button up shirt was a war maroon. Not trying to appear too professional, he spiked his hair in a rather teenage fashion.

Vesper stayed to her more usual attire. Expecting to stay with the couple for Christmas, she had packed her suitcase with at most half a week's worth of clothing. To go home after the heartache would be hard on a person, even someone such as herself. She wore knee-high leather boots with pointy heels. A small black skirt clung tightly to her legs, as well as some black tights. She wore a red sweater that was V-cut and three-quarter sleeved. Her hair, which was a little past shoulder length, was in a messy bun.

The three prepared an eggs, bacon, and toast breakfast, regrouping in the kitchen. Afterwards, Kori remained there, preparing the turkey and side dishes. Rick spent his morning on the phone with his foster father, Bruce Wayne (A/N: Yeah, Batman! The dude rocks.) Rick was planned to inherit Wayne's massive fortune, but the young man was glad that he lived in a normal suburban house with his wife and son. He honestly believed he didn't need anything else. Vesper had departed to the guest room where she wrapped the rest of her last minute gifts, since it turned out everyone could make it. After setting the presents under the tree, she joined Kori in the kitchen.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Kori," she said after peeling up another potato. "It means so much to have a friend like you."

Kori beamed. "You are most welcome, Vesper!" She was glad that the two of them were able to connect over the years. In the beginning, they were not the closest of friends, and it had been hard to talk. Now Vesper came to Kori for most of her problems, and it made the redhead proud to know that she could be such a positive effect on the most negative person she knew.

Just then the doorbell rang.

"One o'clock!" Kori jumped. "My, how time flies!"

Vesper smiled softly as her friend dropped what she was holding.

Rick had gotten off the phone an hour earlier, so he reached for the door uninhibited. As he opened it, a booming, "HEL-LO!" greeted him. The two young women grinned as they saw who stood at the door.

Victor Stone entered the hall. The six-foot, four-inch African American man completely drew all attention to himself – but not on purpose, of course. In cardigan and tan dress pants, he swooped in, hugging Rick tightly.

"It's good to see ya, man!" he roared effervescently.

Rick recovered from his shock and patted his buddy warmly on the back. "It's great to see you too, Vic! Come in!" He said, even though Vic was already inside.

Kori bolted from the kitchen, passing Vesper, running straight into her giant friend.

"Kori!"

"Victor!"

They hugged tightly, each seeming to squash the life out of the other. Her voice was ebullient. "Oh, Victor, I have missed you!" She looked around. "Where is Beatrice?"

"Right here, girl!"

A tall African American woman appeared from behind Victor. She wore a large maternity dress. Kori gasped excitedly. "Do you know if the baby is a he or a she?"

Bee couldn't help but send her husband a blushing gaze. "How 'bout a he and a she?"

Rick and Kori gasped in unison, then rushed into a myriad of congratulations. Victor and Bee looked damn proud.

"It's nice to see you two," Vesper said calmly, coming to stand next to Rick.

"Vesper?" Victor shouted, wrapping her in a Kori-worthy hug. "You look great! It's been a while!"

Vesper replied with a rather winded voice, "Same here, Victor." She squeezed Bee. "I'm very happy for the both of you."

"Thanks, Vesper. That means a lot to me." Bee replied.

Vesper noted the ring on Victor's finger; not his wedding ring, but another special one. This band, she knew, changed his appearance. Without it, he would look quite different. The same also applied to Beatrice, who wore a certain pair of earrings with the same design on them.

The three young women shortly returned to the kitchen, talking about due-dates and child names. Rick led Vic into the living room where the large man put his presents under the tree. They sat together on the couch, listening to Frank Sinatra singing Christmas carols.

"It's great that we all got together for once," Vic said evenly. "Still, it feels so weird…"

Rick looked at him curiously. "What feels weird?"

"It's just…you and Kori together. With a son. She works in a flower shop and you run a fitness center. (A/N: Don't scoff; I couldn't think of anything for Richard.) It's so…" Vic shook his head, "different from what it used to be."

Rick patted Victor's back lightly. "Look who's talking, Vic. You may still wear that ring and Bee may still wear those earrings, but you two are also able to live normal lives. Besides," he grinned mischievously, "not all's changed. I still have a gamestation. Wanna play?"

Vic jumped up in a fury and pointed a finger down at him. "You're on!"

They immediately brought out the equipment, attached it to the TV, and began battling fiercely and ardently. Kori went into the living room to give Vic a cup of coffee and reentered the kitchen, looking confused.

"What's up, suga?" Bee asked her as she joined them.

Kori cocked her head. "I am merely wondering as to why Victor called Rick an illegitimate child and why Rick called Victor the son of a female dog."

Bee frowned, baffled at Kori's ponderings, but Vesper sighed dejectedly. "You must live one very sheltered life if you don't know this by now. 'Bastard' and 'bitch' are insults and curses."

"They are insulting each other? Why?"

Vesper shrugged as Bee chuckled. "If it's all in good fun, and they know they aren't really serious, then it's okay."

"Oh, thank you, Vesper!" Kori stood up, smiling brightly, and crossed back into the living room. Bee laughed hysterically and Vesper grinned as they heard the redhead scream, "Silence, you bitches and bastards! I cannot concentrate when you are so loud!"

Of course, this made Roland scream, and Kori ended up taking him into the kitchen with her, coddling him. When she sat down, she gave Vesper an inquisitive look. "Are you sure your explanation was correct? When I told them to be silent, they gave me the strangest stares."

Vesper didn't' have time to answer, because the doorbell rang for the second time that day. Kori looked at Vesper expectedly.

"What?" she frowned.

"My hands are full, Beatrice is fairly round, and the men are hypnotized by the gamestation. Could you please get the door?" Kori blinked, feigning innocence.

Vesper grumbled and went to the door. Who she saw standing there almost made her faint.

Garfield Logan.

He stood there casually, one hand in his pocket and his other hand – with a ring that looked exactly like Victor's – holding on to a couple of presents. He had gotten a little taller since she had seen him last, and was a half-a-head above her. His mussed, brown hair fell over his eyes, but she could still see their emerald sheen. Gar's outfit was a bit more on the casual side, with black pants and sneakers and a nice button-up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal firm, tightly muscled arms. Someone obviously worked out.

When he saw Vesper, he gasped. "Vesper?"

She smiled, and even went as far as chuckled, at his astounded face. "Were you expecting Rick? Because he's stuck at another gamestation."

Gar just laughed, put down the presents, and hugged her closely. His form was hard and strong. Because of their height difference she could rest her face in the junction of his neck and shoulder and inhale his masculine scent. God, how she had missed him…

They pulled apart a few seconds later. "You look…great!" he commented, giving her a once-over.

"So do you," she said warmly, momentarily letting herself remember what it felt like to be pressed up against his muscular body. He no longer appeared to be the Prankster Prince of their younger years, but was much more, well, manly. As the thoughts pierced her mind, she did all she could to fight them down. Fighting down her emotions, even though she didn't have to worry about them so much now, was a straining job, especially when he was around.

Gar noticed the tense expression on her face. "Hey, Vesper, breathe. Don't get all stressed. It's okay now, you can be more open since…" he trailed off.

Kori was tired of watching the two from the shadows. They both made their impressions, which were fortunately very good. If all worked out well, Vesper would forget all about James and Gar would win her heart. She grinned, walking up to the pair.

"Gar!" she squealed, rushing to him in the same manner as her greeting with Victor. Vesper moved aside, letting Kori crush him in her embrace. His breathless face made her grin.

When Kori let go, she jumped jovially. "Let me go fetch Roland!" Roland had been handed over to Bee moments prior.

Gar had never seen Roland. He was the only one who had been unable to make it to Kori's delivery. Kori returned with Roland and Bee. He took the baby from her hands, grinning widely. "He's absolutely beautiful, Kor." He called her her one-syllable nickname. He handed him back to his mother.

Vesper thought momentarily about children. But only for a moment. If she stayed focused on family too long, her mind might wander.

Bee came up to Gar and gave him her own hug. "Merry Christmas, Gar."

"Same to you, Bee," he nodded to her stomach. "Twins?"

She rubbed the growing mound. "A boy and a girl. Due in four months."

He held up his hand in scout's honor. "I swear I will attend."

"I'll look forward to that, hun."

That was when Vesper faded into the background, exiting the hall and returning to the kitchen. When she picked up her mug of tea she heard several male voices erupting cheerfully.

"Dude!"

"Logan!"

"Hey, man!"

The 'team' had been reassembled. But Vesper wasn't feeling completely content. She would have thought it would feet like old times, but something in her head – or it could have been her heart – told her that this was a whole new adventure entirely.

End, CH. 3!

Okay, have questions:

I'm honestly thinking about changing 'Rick' to 'Richard'. Tell me which name you guys like more, and I'll make adjustments if you want. And as for 'Vesper', do you like her name as is, or would you like Gar to use a nickname? If you like the idea of a nickname, I'm open for suggestions. It can be derived from her name or a pet name, if you like. I have no idea for a nickname. Thanks!

Oh, and, Elfie: I love that you hate lovely things, for now you love unlovely things and that is very lovely. It would be unlovely if you loved lovely things, for they are not lovely, only unlovely is not lovely. Do you understand, my lovely?