His ears picked up echoes, footsteps clicking in the hallways. Conner opened his eyes, pulled the blankets off his body and leapt off the bed, cursing himself when he heard the wood groan and collapse from the sudden force.
Maybe I could ask Clark about it later. He thought. Strength was something he had to keep in check all the time.
Conner walked past his drawers and grabbed something on top of it before exiting his bedroom.
The G-Gnomes made it clear that there was only Superman in his blood – and Lex Luthor, Conner thought bitterly. An irony in productive systems, living proof that 2 males could create life, albeit through unconventional means and not through intercourse.
It was funny, bitter, and an outright lie altogether. Conner had months of life under his belt to prove the G-Gnomes and Cadmus wrong about what it meant to be a family.
His smile grew wider when he saw her, in conversation with Red-Tornado. M'gann's mind brushed against his own, a mental image of her knocking on a door and asking to be let in.
Where are you? He said in the mind-link.
I'm coming down the hall, do you see them?
Yeah, they're right here. Close to my room.
I'm coming, Conner. Be there in five.
"Conner." Red Tornado noticed him. "What brings you up at this hour so early? School does not commence until oh-eight-hundred hours."
"Just wanted to give you and Canary something." Conner said. He handed them each their respective cards. "Happy Mother's Day to the Team's Den-Mother and Trainer."
"Conner…did you make these yourself?" Canary's eyes widened.
Conner frowned. "Nope. That was M'gann. Holding a pencil is one thing, but using it for drawing is another thing. Same with scissors. Too much force and they-"
He gestured with his hands a snapping motion.
"Did she instigate this plan?" Red Tornado asked.
"I'm here! I'm here." M'gann flew down the hall with a bundle of cards in her arms. Two of them floated upwards and zoomed right at Red Tornado and Black Canary, who caught them as they slowed to a halt.
M'gann landed in front of them. "Sorry about that, Happy Mother's Day to both of you! I'm going to go now, others need their cards too!"
After giving Conner a quick peck on the cheek, M'gann flew off.
"Wait up, Megs!" Rocket flew past them, a large quantity of cards trapped in a purple bubble.
Black Canary had a wry smirk on her face when she looked at Conner.
"She seems to be in a festive mood." Canary said. "Did you want to get in on the fun or…"
"That was all me. I needed someone to draw for me." Conner shrugged. "M'gann just took the idea further and wanted to include everyone else that she could think of that's been like a mother to her or the Team…or she's just giving out cards left and right to the League as a kind gesture. Rachael got in on the idea, too. Is Wonder Woman a mother?"
"That would be a negative." Red Tornado beeped.
Black Canary put a hand on his shoulder. "An excellent demonstration of teamwork."
Conner blushed. The G-Gnomes might have been correct that he had no biological mother, but that didn't mean he could find those who fit the role of mother.
Black Canary raised an eyebrow. "So, if she planning on giving cards to anyone else M'gann's close to that's been a good mom. Lois, too?"
"Well, everyone except Luthor. Pretty bad mom, if you ask me."
Black Canary gaped. "WHAT?!"
"Happy Mother's Day, Aunt Iris!" Wally mumbled as he gave his aunt a bouquet of flowers with most of the petals gone. "Mom said that it would have been easier to just drive, but I didn't have a license and you and Uncle Barry don't live close by."
Aunt Iris laughed. "I appreciate the effort, Wally."
"You and Uncle Barry coming by to celebrate Mother's Day with us tonight?" Wally asked. "Mom said it was a day for moms everywhere."
No response was given. Wally frowned. Aunt Iris's hands drooped down, clutching onto the dead bouquet limply.
He said. "I know you and Uncle Barry want kids, but mom thought you were just as much as my mom as she is."
Wally was enveloped into a hug.
Aunt Iris whispered. "Thank you, Wally."
Wally wrapped his arms around his aunt. The two shared this moment in silence for a few moments until Wally spoke up again.
"So, is that a yes or a no to the dinner, then?"
Aunt Iris only laughed.
"Happy Mother's Day, Mom!" Artemis held out an expensive-looking card with several chocolate bars.
"Thank you, Artemis." Paula smiled at the gifts. She blinked and looked at the table. "Artemis, could you get that on the dining table? I don't remember that there before."
Artemis picked up the card and scowled. "From Jade. And there's a check for three-hundred thousand dollars in it."
"Why is that bad?" Paula crossed her arms.
"Well, I'm wondering if we should be calling the police for breaking and entering and there is no way we will be able to cash in this check without anyone getting suspicious."
Paula sighed. "True. Don't throw it out, though. We'll talk to Batman about the check, later. Place the card on the wall, I always loved her handmade gifts."
Bruce looked at the grave of his mother and placed a large bouquet of roses on the ground in front of her. Another bouquet similar to it was laying on the ground, a little wilted from the previous week.
"Happy Mother's Day." Bruce whispered. "If only you could be here to see Dick. He is your grandson, after all."
Close by, he knew that Alfred and Zatanna were watching Dick imitate Bruce's actions for Mary Grayson's grave. As much as he wanted to, it wasn't possible to move the Graysons close to the Waynes' graves without disturbing other resting tombstones. He was satisfied with being able to have both families be in the same cemetery, though. Another card rested in his pocket, to be dropped off at Leslie's health clinic later. Zatanna and Dick had talked about their late mothers with a little lightheartedness, the pain fading away little by little.
"I'm done." Dick looked somber, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face. Four years of healing and he was starting to treat the day a bit better. Dick told him earlier that he would always miss his mom, but that he knew she would be happy for all the people that took on her role afterwards.
"So, after Leslie, who else is getting a card?" Bruce wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders.
"Dinah, Diana, Selina, Becky, Grace, Trixie." Dick listed off the names with his fingers. "The list is getting longer, I'm forgetting a few."
"Annie, Claire, Rose, and Zelda." Bruce added, the smile growing a little with the memories he shared with those socialites.
"Yeah." Dick smiled.
To those that made an effort in Dick's life.
Author's Notes: Conner was the second most important character I wanted to write in this chapter, my first attempts at describing his feelings for motherhood didn't go as smoothly and I was questioned over his assumption that Lois Lane was his mom. We Love Our Two Dads was so long ago, now, I am grateful for the review that criticized my bad attempts and even had a conversation through PMs, thank you Niom Lamboise, for being my first constructive critic on here. :)
I hope Wally didn't come off insensitive, that is why I ended the scene with Iris laughing. A little twist on what I assume to be the Mother's Day fic for KF by having him appreciate Iris as a mother figure while loving his mom just as equally.
Artemis and Paula would be concerned with the money, nice gestures don't clear up potential problems with cashing in large amounts of cash. Maybe they'll frame it if they can't cash it in.
Dick, I think, is written as being depressed on Mother's Day a lot. And it's not a bad thing, I just think he will be adjusting overtime. Learning to smile on those days more, and loving those who have helped fill the void his mom left in the process. I would like to see this depiction of Dick on Mother's Day as a reconstruction; he is still hurting, but is healing and remembering his mother with a lighter heart. And also having plenty of women be there for him, too.
Socialites that date Bruce and aren't jerks to Dick for just being there would be possible. There is such a thing as breaking up with someone amicably, after all.
Now to write that BH6 Mother's Day fic (spoilers: not angst-fic at all) before the day is out. Thanks for reading, appreciate the loved ones that are your mother, acted like a mother, or have just been motherly in general. Happy Mother's Day!