Chapter 31: Christmas

Dick's POV

I couldn't wait until the morning! Christmas Eve had been great! Family, friends, laughing, Christmas Eve dinner without a turkey, dragging the Joker back to Arkham, reading The Night Before Christmas, and-

"Grayson?" Damian called out quietly from my doorway.

"What's wrong, Dami? Can't sleep? Too excited for tomorrow?" I asked while turning towards him, as he slid in my bed beside me.

He bit his lip in hesitation before sighing deeply. "I wish that my mother could be here as well… do you think she misses me as well?"

"Sometimes I wish my parents could be here too. I know it's hard; I know how you feel. I wish that your mother could be here with us. She may not be the greatest mother, but you are still her son and I'm sure she misses you too. But, one thing I do know that we're going to have a great day tomorrow, because we have each other. And everything will turn out okay." I gently replied, while drawing him close.

"How do you know?"

"Because, I've been there too. And everything will turn out okay. I promise."

********Break********

"Jay! Wake up! It's Christmas!" I shouted as Timmy, Damian and I threw open his door.

"Go. Away." He mumbled into his pillow.

Knowing he wouldn't get up, I shoved my secret weapon towards his bed. Timmy. Jason would never say no to him.

"But, its Christmas and we can't start without you. Please Jay." Tim replied in most pathetic voice, while giving Jason his wounded puppy look and tugging on his arm.

Jason sighed before climbing out of bed and dragging himself behind us as we ran to Bruce's room.

Throwing open the door; we launched ourselves onto Bruce's bed, except for Jay, who is now leaning against the wall half asleep.

"Bruce! Wake up! It's Christmas!" we cried.

He mumbled into his pillow, before pushing us off of him and onto the carpet.

"It's four in the morning." He grumbled.

"Come on, Dad. It'll be worth it when you see what I got you." I replied cheerily, while giving him my best smile. "We can't have Christmas without our daddy."

Timmy and Dami dragged Bruce down the stairs, while I dragged Jason. Alfred was the bottom of the stairs with cups of hot chocolate and two cups of coffee for Bruce and himself. He is always right on schedule. We all gazed at the enormous mountain of gifts lying under the tree, in awe, before trampling.

Bruce's POV

After taking the coffee from Alfred, I watched as they trampled each other trying to get to the tree. Alfred and I took a seat on the sofa and tried to avoid the wrapping paper, ribbon, and boxes being thrown around the room.

After the chaos finally ended, it was time for Alfred and I to receive our presents from the boys. I opened Tim's gift first. It was a vile containing… purple fluid?

"It's a new formula I created for protection against Poison Ivy's pheromones." Tim replied proudly.

"Tim, this is incredible. I'm so proud of you." I replied as he beamed.

I opened Jason's next. It was a pair of hunting knife with 'Daddy Bats' and the symbol of a bat engraved onto the hilt of one knife, while the other had 'Daddy' engraved onto the hilt of the other.

"It's so you can carry one while you're on patrol and one when you're not." He replied quietly.

"Thank you, Bluejay. I'll make sure I always have one or the other on me." I replied as he shrugged and suppressed a smile.

"Father open mine next!" Damian cried while shoving a shoe box with holes on the top?

I opened the lid and found a baby bat inside. Thank God it wasn't a turkey!

"I found him to be abandoned by its mother in the cave. I have been taking very good care him, Father. I named him Licorice! I want you to have him Father! Grayson and I agreed you needed an animal companion! Don't let Todd near it! Do you like him? Isn't he wonderful!" Damian chattered happily.

"Yes, thank you Damian. I promise I'll take very good care of him. But, maybe you should help me with him." I replied.

"Perhaps that would be for the best. Father, you aren't holding him." Damian said.

"Well… he's sleeping. I wouldn't want to wake him up. Maybe you should hold him while I open Dick's gift." I replied convincingly.

Damian accepted the bat and inched closer to me and further away from Jason, as I opened Dick's gift. It was a silver picture frame with a picture of all four boys. Jason had his arms wrapped around Dick and Tim, while Damian was being squished in-between them. 'A father's love has no bounds' was engraved on the bottom of the frame.

"Do you like it Dad?" Dick asked while hugging me.

"I love it, Chum. Thank you."

********Break********

Tim was on the floor playing with his new volcano kit that I had to fight some woman over. Jason was flipping through the photo album filled with pictures of Red Hood and Robin shanking criminals, given to him by Damian. Alfred was reading a novel about the history of British teas given to him by Dick. Damian was polishing a sword that I had gotten for him. Dick was seated beside me as the Christmas movie marathon continued. I'm glad I didn't stop at one.

"Bruce, do you hear something?" Dick asked while turning towards me.

Before I could answer, the bat flew into the room; only to be followed by the turkey and the dog. Not again! I thought I told Jason to get rid of that turkey!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!