Chapter 35

Wayne Manor; October 4th, 08:06 EST

Diana Wayne awoke to warm lips against her jaw that slowly trailed down the length of her neck to her collarbone. A lop-sided smile formed on her face as she hummed with delight at the feel of her husband's hand coming to rest gently against her abdomen.

She lifted her hand to find the back of his head, gently stroking his hair as he continued his focused ministration. "Good morning," she sleepily murmured, sighing as his mouth found her pulse point.

"Good morning," he said against her throat. "I tried to let you sleep as long as possible, but I was too anxious to find out if you'd recovered anymore yet."

"The numbness is almost all gone," she replied. "I can feel my legs and move my toes."

Bruce sighed in response to the welcomed news. "I'm so relieved. You really had me scared there for a while."

"I'm sorry," she said, stroking his hair. "I promise I'll be good as new before you know it."

He raised his head to find her lips, kissing her deeply. "I'm just glad you're all right."

"How's Tim doing?" she asked.

Bruce moved onto his side, propping his head up with his hand to gaze down at her. "He's not really talking to anyone…not even Cassie," he replied. "He just stays in his bedroom and won't come out."

"I need to talk to him," she told him. "He and I have always been close. Hopefully, I can get through to him."

"I hope so," he agreed. "I have a feeling this is just going to take some time for him to get past."

"He has such a big heart," she said. "He's going to blame himself for all of this."

"We just need to keep reassuring him that he's not to blame for anything," he replied. "He'll always be a part of our family no matter what."

"Hopefully, Jason will be able to help him through it too."

Bruce's lips thinned into a grim line. "I still need to talk to Jason," he said. "We need to come to some sort of understanding if we're going to be able to still work together and be a part of this family."

"I think it's a good sign that he didn't take Joker's life."

"I have to admit I was quite relieved," he confessed. "I didn't know how it was going to go down, but I knew I had to be prepared for anything."

"I'm sure you two will be able to work things out."

The sound of giggles coming from the other side of their bedroom door interrupted their alone time. Someone attempted to turn the door handle only to find it locked. Peering past the end of the bed, Bruce could see little fingers slipping under the door, causing him to chuckle in response to the interruption.

"I believe we have two little monsters wanting to get in our room," he jokingly told her.

"Bruce!" Diana chided him. "They're not monsters. You should let them in."

"I'm not sure I'm done with you yet," he flirted, his hand finding her breast.

"Daddy," a little girl's voice travelled through the door.

Bruce sighed in reluctant acceptance, rolling over and flipping the covers off him. Slipping on a pair of pajama pants, he went over and opened the door to find Nicholas and Kaia on their hands and knees trying to look under the door. They both looked up and giggled.

"Daddy," Kaia greeted him, jumping to her feet, and lifting her arms up to him.

Bruce leaned over and picked up his daughter, kissing her on the cheek. "What are you two up to?"

"Me want to see mommy," Kaia told him.

"Mommy!" Nicholas excitedly called to her as he ran towards the big bed.

"Good morning, my little warrior," Diana greeted him, leaning over to pick him up and setting him on the bed next to her.

"Diana," Bruce chided her. "You're supposed to be taking it easy. Leslie said no lifting for a few days."

"Bruce, I'm fine," she reassured him as Nicholas cuddled up beside her. She tilted down and kissed the top of his head. "Have you been good for Alfred and Aunt Donna?"

"No," Kaia resoundingly replied with a fierce scowl as she shook her finger at her brother. "Ni-Ni naughty. He hit me."

"Nicholas, you know better than to hit," Bruce scolded him.

Nicholas glared at his sister. "She tried to take my bunny away from me."

"You're stuffed bunny?" Diana asked as Bruce climbed into the bed with Kaia.

"No, my real bunny," Nick explained.

"Wait…what?" Bruce asked. "What real bunny?"

"Auntie Zee made two bunnies come out of her hat," Nick excitedly explained, moving his hands as if he could perform magic. "She said we could keep them."

"Mine is Elmo," Kaia proudly announced from Bruce's lap.

"Mine is Grover," Nicholas revealed.

"I think I'm going to have to have a talk with Auntie Zee about handing out rabbits to keep," Bruce grumbled with a disapproving frown.

"Bruce," Diana attempted to cajole him. "Bunnies are harmless, and the kids are obviously excited about them."

"Bunnies are not harmless, princess," he groused. "They mate and make hundreds of more bunnies. Pretty soon we'll be overrun with rabbits around here. We already have a zoo with a puppy and a kitten."

Kaia turned to look up at her father. "Me want a pony."

"Here we go," Bruce groaned.

Diana couldn't help but laugh at the image that popped into her head. "I'm sure Zee knows better than to give us a boy and a girl rabbit."

Kaia stood up on Bruce's abdomen, her little hands coming to rest on either side of his face. "Daddy, mine is a boy bunny. He Elmo."

"The bunnies are outside," Nicholas volunteered. "Pappoús put them in a crutch."

"I think you mean a hutch," Bruce corrected him with a chuckle.

"Yah, a hutch," Nick agreed. "They can't see each other though."

"It's for the best, Nick…trust me," Bruce muttered, receiving a frown from his wife.

"When can we see Tim?" Nick asked.

"Yah, me want to see Tim too," Kaia said, patting her chest.

Diana glanced over Nicholas's head at Bruce, both sharing a look of uncertainty. "It just might be the only thing that helps him," she softly said.

Bruce nodded his head in agreement. "How about after breakfast?" he suggested. "Why don't you two run downstairs and see what Alfred is making. We'll be down in a minute."

Before Bruce could even reach for his daughter, Kaia was already standing on his abdomen and leaping off the bed like a jungle cat, Nick hot on her heels. Bruce just shook his head in amazement still trying to come to terms with the fact his children were blessed by Diana's gods. It was something that had him reeling at times.

"Kaia's like a mini you," he commented. "She's already moving like you do and she's only two."

"She could end up surpassing me someday," she told him.

Bruce looked sharply to his left; incredulity written all over his face. "You really think that's possible?"

"Sure," she replied. "She might end up being Wonder Woman someday."

A fierce scowl formed as he got out of his bed, searching for a t-shirt to put on with his pajama pants. "Diana, don't say things like that," he said with obvious irritation. "You are now and will always be Wonder Woman."

Diana smiled lovingly at his back as she shifted her legs to the edge of the bed. "Do you really plan on being Batman forever?" she asked as she attempted to stand beside the bed. "We are immortal, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll live forever. Besides, maybe we'll turn our mantels over to our children and do something different with our lives."

"Diana, what are you doing?" he growled as he raced around to the other side of the bed. "You're supposed to wait for me to try to walk."

He immediately reached out for her, his hands finding her waist. She grabbed onto his forearms, feeling as though her legs were going to give out on her. She refused to be an invalid. She would force her legs to work no matter what it took or how long.

"I can still fly you know," she teased him, lifting them both a few inches off the ground in an attempt to lighten his mood.

"Show off," he grumbled as she set them back down.

Diana kissed him before he could say anything further, effectively silencing him save for the low groan rising up in his throat. His arms slipped further around her waist, pulling her flush against his body as he deepened the kiss, deciding breakfast could definitely go on without them for a while.

"Hurry up, you guys!" Damian called as he ran past their bedroom door. "Breakfast will be gone by the time you two stop kissing."

"He's definitely feeling at home here," Diana commented with a giggle.

"It's too bad we were never able to locate Ra's or Talia for him," he told her.

"I have no doubt that they'll be making their presence known sooner or later," she said with a grimace.

"We'll worry about them later," he replied, turning so he could stand beside her, his arm possessively wrapping around his lover's waist. "Let's get some breakfast before the kids eat it all and we end up with cereal."

"Bruce, I'm sure I can walk without help."

"Not taking the chance," he stated as they took a few steps together to test out her legs. "How do your legs feel now?"

"Like a newborn giraffe," she replied.

"It's still better than yesterday," he reminded her as they walked out of their bedroom towards the staircase. "You couldn't even stand at all yesterday."

"I may have to fly us down the stairs," she warned him. "I'm not sure I can navigate them just yet."

Bruce smirked at her. "I could just carry you down the stairs."

"My way is easier."

"My way is far more fun," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

She just shook her head in amusement as they floated down the stairs, landing in the foyer. "Faster," she commented with a proud smirk.

"Boring," he countered with a frown.

Assisting her into the kitchen, Bruce was disappointed to find Tim missing from the breakfast table but was relieved to see Dick up and out of bed. "I had a feeling that Alfred's breakfast would get you out of bed," Bruce told Dick.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Dick agreed. "Besides, I have to keep up my strength."

"Miss Cassandra came down to retrieve a tray for Master Timothy," Alfred informed them, reading the expressions on their faces.

"Let's hope he actually eats something this time," Donna said, her eyebrows knitted with worry.

"He didn't eat anything at all yesterday?" Diana asked as Bruce helped her to her chair.

"I'm afraid not even his favorites," Alfred revealed with a shake of his head.

"I'm going upstairs to talk to him," Diana readily decided as she attempted to stand up on shaky legs.

"Oh, no you're not," Bruce stated, a gentle yet firm hand on her shoulder forcing her to sit back down. "You need to eat something yourself. You didn't eat much yesterday either."

"Me see, Tim," Kaia volunteered.

"After your breakfast, princess," Bruce told her as he took a seat next to his wife. "And after you wash your face."

Kaia frowned at him. "Me clean," she insisted, showing him her fingers.

Dick laughed at his little sister. "Sorry, peanut, but you've got blueberry stains around your mouth."

"Do you remember when we took Master Nicholas blueberry picking with us?" Alfred asked Diana with a grin.

Diana groaned with the reminder as she sank back in her chair. "How could I forget? He was almost eating them faster than we could pick them. He was one big blueberry stain."

"I don't remember that," Nicholas said, wrinkling up his nose.

"Me too," Kaia added.

"You weren't even born yet, Kaia," Diana told her. "I was pregnant with you."

"You were still in mommy's tummy," Nick said.

"I swear those diapers were the worst that I'd ever changed," Bruce interjected with a grimace.

"Yah, it upset his stomach," his wife agreed.

Dick laughed, grimacing as he put his hand over his side. "I can just see Batman changing blue diapers."

"Just wait," Bruce replied with a smirk. "Your turn is coming, and I have a feeling it's going to be even more chaotic for you two."

"Whoa!" Donna said as she held up her hands. "Don't drag me into the middle of this just because your son likes to poke papa bear."

"I'm afraid you're already in the middle of it since you're carrying my children, Troia," Dick reminded her, leaning over to kiss her. He immediately regretted the move as he braced his torso with his arm.

"Yah, I'm afraid you're stuck with all of us, Donna," Bruce informed her with a grin.

"I'm surprise you didn't really think this through first before you married him," Damian chimed in, pointing at Dick with the tines of his fork.

"She knew what she was getting into long before we got married," Dick assured him.

"An Amazon always loves a good challenge," Donna added.

"Anyone for more blueberry pancakes?" Alfred asked.

Kaia and Nicholas raised both of their hands which was no surprise to anyone. Alfred placed another pancake on each of their plates, both digging in right away much to Alfred's pleasure and great pride. "It's so good having my culinary skills appreciated for once," he said. "For so long, all I ever received was a grunt or absolute silence for my efforts."

"I wasn't that bad," Bruce muttered as he reached for another piece of bacon.

Everyone at the table burst into laughter in response to Bruce's denial. Even Damian had to laugh, Nicholas and Kaia laughing because everyone else was. "Even I know that's not the truth," Damian said. "I've seen you bury your nose in the newspaper and barely acknowledging anyone at breakfast."

"I'm just not much of a morning person," Bruce claimed.

"Or noon," Dick added.

"Or evening," Damian joined in much to everyone's amusement.

"Now, that's not true," Diana said, coming to her husband's defense.

"Thank you, princess," he replied, pecking her on the lips.

"He's just more of a midnight to four am person," she teased, receiving a patented Bat glare and a dab of maple syrup on the tip of her nose from his fork.

XXX

Cassie sat beside Tim's bed, her relief with his recovery from the Joker's mind control very short-lived. He'd barely spoken since his breakdown in the cave, not eating or even showing the least amount of emotion. It only caused her worry to climb drastically.

"Are you sure you don't want to go downstairs?" she gently asked as she glanced at his open bedroom door, the family's laughter from the kitchen filtering upstairs. "It sounds like everyone is having a good time together. Wouldn't you like to join them?"

"No," Tim muttered, his gaze focused solely on his breakfast tray that he'd yet to touch.

Cassie sighed softly, searching for the right words to say to him that would get through his pain and anguish…help him to see that they all loved him no matter what the Joker did to him. They all knew that it wasn't him that had done any of those things. Trying to get him to see that was a whole other story.

"Tim, you really need to eat something," she encouraged him. "You haven't eaten anything since you left the manor."

"Not hungry," he simply said.

"Is there anything I can get for you…anything you need?" she asked.

Tim shook his head in response as he handed her the breakfast tray that she had brought up for him. Taking it from him, she watched as he rolled over in his bed, turning his back to her. She looked down at his uneaten breakfast, her heart breaking for him. She had felt so helpless when he'd been taken, but even more so now that he was safe from the Joker.

He was still being haunted by what Joker had done to him, the things that he had done because of Joker's brainwashing. Even though locked away in Arkham Asylum, Joker's influence was far reaching, the emotional and psychological wounds running far deeper than she felt she could reach.

"I need to leave," she softly told him. "I need to check in with the Titans, but I'll be back this afternoon."

"Okay," he murmured.

She stood to her feet as she fought back tears, her bottom lip beginning to quiver. "I love you, Tim," she said. "No matter what happens, I'll always love you and I'll be here for you."

"I know," he replied, his voice sounding dead even to him.

Cassie left without another word, running into Jason who was coming down the hallway towards Tim's room. "He didn't eat anything?" he questioned her, noticing the untouched food.

"No," she said, swallowing back her tears. "He doesn't get out bed…barely talks and won't eat. I'm really scared, Jason. I've never seen him like this before."

Jason's lips thinned into a grim line, knowing he was going to have to do something to reach him. "Let me talk to him."

"I'll be back this afternoon," she told him. "Let me know if there's any changes."

Jason only nodded his head as he walked past her, his jaw set with determination to help his brother. Talking about what happened to him at the hands of Joker was not something that he enjoyed doing. Talking about his emotions even less so. Unfortunately, that's exactly what he was going to have to do in order to help his brother get past this.

He stopped in the doorway of Tim's bedroom, finding him laying on his side just staring at the wall. He had a vacant look on his face, but the fury that burned in his eyes was unmistakable. "Hey," Jason greeted him as he entered.

Instead of taking the seat Cassie had previously occupied, he moved to the other side of Tim's bedroom to sit on the floor, leaning his back against the wall that Tim was staring at. He stretched his long legs out before, crossing them at the ankles.

"I know you don't want to talk so I'll do all the talking," Jason told him, not receiving the least bit of response or reaction from his brother.

"I know I haven't really talked much about what Joker did to me, but I'm sure you've read Bruce's file on me," he continued, undeterred by Tim's silence. He paused to look around the bedroom, searching for the words that might help but feeling less than adequate to be of any benefit. "Needless to say, you can imagine how pissed I was when I was brought back to life to find out Bruce had done nothing to avenge my death.

"As you're well aware, I'm still struggling with that, but I'm trying to deal with it instead of letting that rage fester inside of me. Do you know how I was able to do that?"

Jason waited for a couple of heartbeats to see if Tim would respond. When he didn't, he continued on. "When I cornered Joker the other night, I started beating him. I was hellbent on killing him and ending his reign of terror once and for all. He wasn't going to be able to hurt my family ever again.

"I pulled my fist back, ready to pound his teeth down his throat when Joker told me to do it…to take his life just like he took mine and to become just like him. His words stopped me cold. I froze. It hit me like a freight train what killing him would mean. It would mean becoming just…like…him."

Jason paused to draw a deep breath, glancing up at the ceiling as he attempted to gather himself. "I finally understood in that moment why Bruce hadn't killed Joker," he told him. "I didn't want to be like that sadistic clown. I wanted nothing to do with him. By hanging onto my rage and resentment…my bitterness and hatred, I was allowing him to have a foothold in my life. I was allowing him to have control over me and I knew I couldn't let that happen any longer."

Tim continued to stare straight ahead, no response…no words. At least it appeared as though he was listening to what he was telling him. "You can't let Joker continue to have control over your life," he said. "I know it's hard, Tim. It's the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with and I'm still dealing with it, but you need to find a way to let go of it. You had no control over any of it. You couldn't have stopped it. This is all on Joker's head and that's where you need to leave it."

"I should've been able to do something," Tim ground out. "I attacked my own mother…gave her over to Joker. I endangered the whole family. I was making a bomb, Jason."

"No, you weren't doing those things," Jason pointed out. "Joker's pawn was doing those things."

"That pawn was me!" Tim yelled as he suddenly sat up in bed, showing the first bit of emotion since the Batcave. "I could've killed my family…Nicholas and Kaia!"

Jason stood up, moving to sit on the bed next to Tim. "You didn't…and I don't believe for one second that you would've gone through with it," he told him. "We saw moments of the real you break through, Tim. You were still in there somewhere, fighting Joker's control over you. Diana purposefully let you take her in order to find Joker's hideout. She pushed you into doing what Joker wanted."

"I still…I can't stop…the nightmares," Tim uttered with a shuddering gasp as tears gathered in his eyes. "It feels like he's still in my head sometimes…like he's still trying to get control of me."

Jason's hand came to rest on Tim's back, understanding all too well some of what he was struggling with. "I understand, Tim," he assured him. "I still have nightmares too sometimes. They're coming less frequently, but I still get them. This will get better in time. Just remember that no one here blames you for anything that happened. It's you that needs to learn to forgive yourself."

"I don't know how I can, Jas," he softly said as a tear slipped down his cheek.

"You'll find a way…and we'll help you get there," Jason reassured him, a lop-sided grin on his face. "You're not getting out of this family that easily, bro. You're stuck with all of us whether you like it or not…even Damian."

Tim couldn't help but laugh in response despite the anguish that consumed him. "Thanks, bro."

"Anytime," he told him as he stood to his feet. "Just don't hide out in here too long or I'll be forced to cram the whole family in here to cheer you up."

Tim grimaced as he looked up at Jason standing in the doorway. "Thank you for not killing Joker," he said much to Jason's surprise. "You belong here with us, not out there on your own."

Jason nodded his head with a smirk before leaving Tim alone in his room once more. He found Bruce coming down the hall with Diana, Nicholas, and Kaia. He knew the little ones would be just the thing to help turn Tim's mood around. It was one of the reasons he'd chosen his family over his desire to kill Joker.

Bruce helped Diana to Tim's doorway before turning back to Jason. "Hey, Jason," he called to his son. "I wanted to say thank you for not killing Joker."

Jason looked at him for a moment, finding that a measure of his rage had somehow dissipated somewhat. "I didn't do it for you," he truthfully stated, not a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "I did it for me."

Bruce nodded his head, relieved to find that they may have gotten through to Jason on some level. He knew that they would probably never see eye to eye, but at least they had managed to find some common ground on which they could attempt to rebuild their relationship.

"I'm still glad," Bruce told him. "Nicholas and Kaia would've missed you around here."

Jason grinned, laughter escaping. "Yah, they're not the only ones," he knowingly said before turning and continuing down the hallway.

"Smart ass," Bruce muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!" Jason yelled.

Bruce scowled to himself as he entered Tim's bedroom to find Nicholas and Kaia on Tim's bed with him. Kaia had crawled into Tim's lap and was talking a mile a minute. Nicholas couldn't have gotten any closer to Tim, leaning right against him with Tim's arm wrapped around him like the protective older brother that he'd always been.

"Me got a bunny," Kaia excitedly told him. "Him Elmo and he's in a crush."

"A hutch, Kaia," Nicholas corrected her, standing to his feet and placing his hands on Tim's shoulder. "Mine is Grover. Auntie Zee pulled them out of her hat."

"Me tried to give Elmo a carrot, but him didn't want it," Kaia said with a pout, clearly disappointed.

"Did you like the pictures we made for you?" Nicholas asked.

"Me drew Peanut in my picture," Kaia added.

"I used lots of blue cause I know you like blue."

"Peanut tried to eat a marshmallow that fell on the floor."

"Ace made a puddle on the floor," Nicholas announced. "Pappoús wasn't happy about it."

"Watch what I can do!" Kaia said, standing up on Tim's thighs before falling into a somersault on his bed.

Nicholas tapped Tim's shoulder. "I can touch my nose with my tongue."

Tim couldn't help but laugh as the toddlers jabbered on and on about what had happened that he'd missed out on. It was beginning to make his head spin trying to keep up with them. He had missed his little brother and sister so much. Things unexpectedly felt normal with them here with him…simple and so uncomplicated.

"Hey, guys," Bruce called from the doorway where he stood next to his wife. "One at a time. You're going to give Tim a headache."

"Me go on the big potty," Kaia announced out of the blue, making everyone laugh.

"No, not yet, Kai," Diana corrected her.

"Me big girl," she insisted.

"Not yet, Kaia," Nick told her. "You're still a baby. You wear diapers."

"Me not a baby!" Kaia yelled, leveling her brother with a glare.

"Okay, you two," Bruce stepped in, taking Kaia from Tim's bed. "I think you've bothered Tim enough for one day."

"No, really…it's okay," Tim quickly said. "I've missed it."

"Let's give Tim a chance to get a shower and get dressed," Bruce decided. "You two can come back after lunch and spend time with him."

"We want to show you our bunnies, daddy," Nicholas said, leaping off Tim's bed and grabbing Bruce's hand.

"We'll go outside and see the bunnies," Bruce agreed, giving Diana a look as he took the kids out of Tim's room.

Diana waited for a moment before carefully making her way to Tim's bed, not wanting him to see her stumble or fall. She knew that he'd only blame himself for Joker shooting them. That was the last thing that she wanted to have happen now.

She sat down on the edge of Tim's bed, relieved that her legs had held her up. "How are you holding up?" she gently asked.

Tim sighed heavily, his shoulders sinking as if under a great, invisible weight. "I've been better," he confessed, his focus on his hands in his lap.

"I know you feel that you're responsible for everything that has happened, but you're not," she assured him. "There is not one person in this family that blames you. We all know it's Joker's fault."

Tim shook his head, swallowing back the acrid bile that rose in his throat. "I should have fought harder," he told her. "I should have done more to try to stop him."

Diana reached over, taking his hand in hers. "Tim, please know that we love you no matter what," she replied, tears brimming in her eyes. "There is nothing…absolutely nothing…that you could ever do that would cause us to stop loving you."

Tears blurred Tim's vision as he finally lifted his head to look at her. "I'm so sorry, mom," he said with a shuddering gasp. "I…I never meant…"

"I know, honey," she reassured him, pulling him into her arms and holding him close. "Do you know what? I'd do it all over again if it meant stopping Joker and saving you. There's nothing I wouldn't do to get you back with us where you always belong."

Tim clung to her as he cried, more than relieved that his mom was all right. Joker couldn't hurt her anymore now. "I love you, mom," he murmured.

"I love you too, Tim," she replied with a tearful smile as she held him. "It's going to take some time, but you're going to get past all of this…and you know Nicholas and Kaia won't let you stay up here in your room forever."

Tim chuckled, his tears beginning to cease. "They have a way of making you smile."

Diana released him, her hand coming to rest against his cheek wet with tears. "They adore their big brother Tim," she reminded him. "In fact, they've been making plans for you once you return. Nicholas wants you to teach him how to play soccer and Kaia wants you to finger paint pictures with her."

"I think it just might be what the doctor ordered," Tim readily agreed, a real smile forming on his face and reflecting in his eyes for the first time since Joker had taken him.

Watchtower; October 12th, 08:45 EST

Batman walked out of the transporter room, making his way towards the Founders' conference room. It felt like an eternity since he'd last been up here, but he also knew that it had been more than necessary. He'd had a son to save and a psychotic clown to catch.

He was just thankful that everyone had come through intact for the most part despite a fierce battle with Joker and his gang. Dick was healing quicker than anticipated and Damian had fully recovered from being shot as well as the concussion he'd received from a brainwashed Tim.

Tim was recovering slowly. He had bad days and good days, nightmares plaguing him most nights, but he was determined to get past what Joker had done to him. Nicholas and Kaia had been the best therapy that he could've received, the little ones keeping him occupied and taking his mind off things.

Cassie was spending more time at the manor much to Tim's delight and embarrassment since it meant more teasing from his family. The daughter of Zeus had been by his side from the very beginning of this nightmare, their bond growing stronger through this ordeal. It was more than obvious that they were head over heels in love.

Jason and Artemis were still going strong. While Bruce and Jason still had their disagreements at times, they seemed to have found common ground on which to meet for the good of the family. He had no doubt, though, that Jason's temper and anger would lead to more arguments in the future, but they would continue to work through it.

"Batsy!"

Bruce growled despite the slight twitch at the corner of his lips, grimacing as Flash wrapped his arms around him in an unrequited embrace. "Flash," he flatly stated, wishing the speedster would release him.

"It's so good to see you, Batsy!" Flash gushed as he finally let go of him. "It feels like forever since the whole gang was back together again."

"It has been a while," he agreed.

"You know who I am, right?" Wally asked, running in a circle around him. "You remember me…your ol' pal, Flash?"

"I remember…unfortunately," Bruce said with a sigh as he continued towards his destination, Flash falling in step alongside him.

"You guys have sure had your share of trouble," he commented. "Hopefully, things will settle down now for a while for you."

"I can only hope, but I'm not holding my breath."

Flash clapped him on the back, beaming from ear to ear. "I'm just so stoked to have you back, man!" he exclaimed. "It just wasn't the same around here without your dark and grumpy personality stalking through the halls, scaring the crap out of everyone."

"Thanks…I think," Batman rasped.

"Seriously," Flash replied. "Our little family wasn't complete without you. So happy Wondy was able to get you away from Hades."

"Hey, Bats," John greeted him with a grin. "Glad to have you back where you belong."

"Thanks, John."

"I know Diana was outside of her mind to get you out of the Underworld," he told him. "And now I'm sure you're back to whip us all back into shape."

"Are things around here out of shape?" Batman demanded to know with a disgruntled frown.

"Uh, no…not at all," John amended. "In fact, things have never been better around here."

John quickened his pace towards the conference room, entering ahead of the other two to find his chair next to his wife. "Bats is on his way," he told everyone.

Several moments later, the conference door slid open to allow the Dark Knight entrance. Batman walked in to find a welcome back sign hanging on the wall, streamers everywhere and a buffet of snacks and drinks on the conference table. It was an unexpected surprise that caused him to stop dead in his tracks.

"Welcome back, Bruce," Superman greeted him with a crushing bear hug. "It's so good to have you back."

"Need…to…breathe," Bruce said with a gasp.

"Oh, sorry," Superman said as he released him.

Everyone gathered around Batman, greeting him, and welcoming him back. Peering past J'onn, he spotted his wife standing back by the table, allowing their friends to catch up with him. He gave her a small smile, more than thankful that she had fully recovered from her injury.

Diana smiled softly back at him; her heart filled with such love for this man. She had managed to get him safely out of the Underworld and away from her father, his memories returning in full. They'd stopped the Joker and Harley Quinn, saving her family from any more trouble from them…at least for the time being.

It felt so good to be back on the Watchtower with their second family. It had been far too long. She was looking forward to having them over to the manor some time to just be able to relax and spend time as friends instead of teammates.

Everyone began to make their way to the table, Bruce pausing before his wife. He gave her a sweet kiss before taking his seat. "Was this all your idea?" he asked her.

"I had nothing to do with it," she replied. "It was all Wally."

Batman glanced across the table at the scarlet speedster who gave him two thumbs up and a huge grin. Bruce just smirked at him as he turned his attention to the Man of Steel, deciding that it was good to be back. He had a feeling he had some major work to do on the Watchtower, getting everything reorganized and kicking some asses.

"All right," Clark began the meeting as he glanced at the team around the table. "We have reason to believe that Lex Luthor is up to no good again and I have reason to believe that…"

Bruce smile to himself. It was definitely good to be back.

A/N: *sigh* So loved how this ended with the JL team back together again.

UP NEXT: Epilogue

As soon as I finish the epilogue and get it posted, I'll start working on Take a Chance On Me. Hope you are all staying safe! :)