The color drained from Melissa's already pale face. She couldn't speak thanks to the tube down her throat but her grip on Carmen became vice-like.

Selina stepped on Bruce's foot making sure he felt the pain of her heels since Carmen was now trying to keep Melissa from spiraling.

The heart monitor which had been beeping steadily was now frantic, trying to keep up with Melissa's racing pulse

"Melissa?" Dick and Jenny stood in the doorway with worried looks on their faces but Melissa paid them no mind.

'WHAT?! WHY?!', screamed through Melissa's mind. Like all Gothamites, she knew the dark nursery rhyme about the Court of Owls. For most of her life, she'd dismissed it, believing the Court to be a mere fable. Recent years and time spent with the 'Bat-Family' had opened her up to the possibility that they were real. But why would the Court be after HER?!

Seeing the question in her eyes, Carmen sighed in resignation. "They see you as a threat to their plans, Avalon. Somehow, you are an obstacle to some grand scheme of theirs. While investigating that spoiled little princess that forced herself on Richard at that charity function, I discovered that her family is part of the Court."

Melissa's eyes widened further, but in anger now. She mimed a demand for a pad and pen, which were provided quickly.

YOU KNEW?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME, MOM?!

"I'm sorry, Avalon", Carmen replied genuinely. "I didn't want to risk frightening you into a panic attack, so I went straight to Bruce. Much as it pains me to admit, he is better equipped and in a better position to deal with the Court. I chose to stay as close to you as possible, to protect you. I'm sorry I couldn't do better."

You saved my life, Mom. More than once., Melissa wrote, somewhat mollified by her mom's contrition.

"You should never have been harmed at all, Avalon!", Carmen cried, tears falling. "I failed you."

Despite the IV tubes, Melissa threw her arms around Carmen. The hug was joined by Richard and Jenny, who both assured Carmen that she HAD succeeded in keeping Melissa alive.

"Mel?" Anya wriggled her way into the hug, "Are you okay?"

Melissa nodded.

"Does it hurt?" Anya asked, eyeing the iv lines.

Melissa shook her head no.

"Let's go find the doctor, Anya so Mel can have the tube taken out of her throat," Jenny scooped the squirming girl into her arms before heading out.

"Avalon," Carmen spoke after regaining her composure, "Would you like to come back home when you're discharged?"

Yes, please.

"We'll keep you safe until then," Bruce said firmly.

/...

"She's at Gotham General," Rein's father spoke for all the court to hear, "Vulnerable, she can't be easily discharged"

"Yes, a perfect opportunity if it weren't for the caped crusader and his allies"

"Then why don't we shift focus?"

"Let's keep an eye on Batman and his allies, there has to be some reason his sidekicks came to that girl's rescue so quickly"

…...

Christina eventually cried herself to sleep. The Velma and Shaggy of her world weren't quite sure what to do with themselves after learning the truth.

"I like, think you two should go elsewhere, for now, there's like, no telling how she'll feel when she wakes up," Shaggy blocked his doppelganger from reaching for the sleeping hybrid.

"But-"

"Now"

The duo ducked into the spare room.

With them out of his hair, Shaggy pulled a blanket over Christina before heading to the kitchen to make dinner.

…...

"Do you want to watch Spider-Man?"

"No"

"The Avengers?"

"No"

"Age of Ultron?"

"No"

"How about Captain Marvel?"

"No"

"Geez, Firecracker, are we going to go through the entire MCU plus some?"

"I don't feel like a Marvel movie," Melissa sighed.

"Then what do you want to watch?"

"I don't know, where'd Mom go?"

"To get lunch I think, are you up for lunch?"

"I dunno"

Melissa was tired of the hospital, the sterile smell, the blank walls, the beeping machines. It was torture, pure torture. She'd only just been permitted to get a shower...with the help of three nurses to make sure she didn't faint. Now, sitting up, on the rock-like hospital bed Dick was doing his best to be a distraction.

"I've got something for you," Dick finally put the tablet down, reaching for a bag he'd hidden under the chair before setting it on her lap, "Go ahead and open it"

Inside the gift bag, Melissa found a stuffed rabbit with her name stitched into the right ear but it was what was under the rabbit that caught her attention. A little black jewelry box.

"Dick...what are-"

"Open it"

It was a necklace-Melissa felt Jenny would've died if it'd been anything else-A small bee pendant on a thin chain.

"I know you're not really into jewelry but I did some digging, Melissa means Honeybee"

"It's very pretty"

"Would you like to put it on?"

"Yes," Melissa nodded, sweeping her hair to the side.

After securing the chain around her neck Dick kissed the top of Melissa's head, "I love you so much"

"I love you more"

"That's impossible"

"Is it?"

"Trust me, it is"

…...

Christina woke with a yawn still feeling wiped out but she was tempted to the kitchen by the smell of tomato soup.

"How are you feeling?" Shaggy asked, his face written with concern.

"Worn out, where are they?" Christina asked, dropping onto one of the island barstools.

"Right here, Christina," the other Shaggy and Velma nervously poked their heads into the room.

"We just wanted to say we're so, so, so sorry," Velma apologized.

"I like, never meant to do that to you, Christy, I was like, such an idiot, I'm so sorry,"

"It still hurts, always will but I have my happily ever after I just had to jump across the multiverse to find it"

"And I'm glad you have, truly I am"

"Aw, come here you big dope," Christina opened her arms for a hug.

The Velma and Shaggy of her universe wasted no time. After all, they'd been through, after how angry Christina had been at them for weeks they were elated to have their friend back.

"We miss you"

"You'll have to come visit us"

there was an explosion of light outside. The group ran to see what had happened finding a swirling, pulsing vortex in the front yard.

"I like, think that's your ticket home," Shaggy slid an arm around Christina, "Better hurry before it destroys Christina's garden"

"How about it, V? Ready to go home"

"YES"

With one final hug, the duo leaped headfirst into the portal which snapped closed behind them.

"Well then," Christina fell into Shaggy's arms, "We have dinner waiting"

"You like, have to tell me about the multiverse"

"Maybe later, it's a heavy topic"

"Tell me about something," Shaggy begged when they returned to the kitchen.

"Like what?"

"Your family?"

Christina fell off her stool, "I don't think you're ready for that"

"Just one thing?"

"Fine, one, what do you want to know?"

"Which side of your family did your horns come from? I like, don't think I've ever seen a fairy with horns-"

"Before meeting me you didn't think the fae were real"

"Touche, now tell me!"

"Mom's side of the family, Grandmother has them too"

"Is your Grandma Maleficent or something?"

"Yes, yes she is!"

"You like, have to be joking"

"Nope"

Shaggy fainted with shock.

…...

"Are you sure you're okay, Melissa?"

"I'm okay as I can be, Chief," Melissa assured him, "I get to eat nuggets for dinner so what could be better?" she motioned to the spread before her.

"Those do look good," Chief relented.

"and, I get to watch all the marvel movies," she waved the tablet before him, "So I promise I'm okay"

"Okay, okay, I believe you, just call if you need anything"

"I promise"

Once alone, the smile fell from Melissa's face. She finished her meal, pushed the tablet away, and placing the food tray aside she drew the thin hospital blankets to her chin with a long sigh.

I just want to go home.

...

Okay, I think that's an okay place to stop. Review!