A/N: Time for the third out of place holiday chapter! Full disclosure: this chapter is basically fluff. Also, the translation for Roy's singing came from a YouTube video I found. Enjoy!

Just when Roy thought he'd seen the extent of Dick's excitement it was Christmas time. As soon as the tree was up in the den Dick was singing at the top of his lungs and slightly off-key for hours.

"Deck the halls with bags of holly!" Dick sang happily as he hung another ornament. "La la la la la la la la! Tis the season to be jolly-"

"Does he ever stop?" Roy muttered to himself as he grabbed another ornament from a box. Alfred overheard him and smiled.

"Unfortunately, no," he whispered to him. "All you can do is humor him."

"He just keeps singing the same two verses over and over again."

Bruce resisted the urge to smirk from where he was sitting in an armchair, watching the boys decorate the tree. "Dick and I have an agreement that he can sing all he wants while we decorate the tree if he doesn't sing on patrol," he explained to Roy's bewildered face.

"You sing on patrol?!"

"I love Christmas!" Dick beamed. "It's the best holiday in the world!" Roy threw a strand of garland at him. "Bruce, why aren't you helping us decorate?"

"I'm supervising," Bruce explained innocently.

"Please, Bruce? Please?"

"You have Roy helping-"

"Roy wants you to help too. Right, Roy?"

Roy was very acutely aware that everyone in the room was staring at him. Even Alfred. He swallowed. "Um…yeah…. It'd be….nice if you helped us."

"You heard him. Come on Bruce."

Bruce sighed and got up, knowing that if he didn't Dick would only pester him more. "Fine." He ignored Dick's cheers as he grabbed a shiny glass ball. Roy's back was turned to him, but he didn't look upset or scared about what was happening. Even when Bruce was right next to him, he remained calm and even cheerful as he hung the ornaments.

"Roy, you have to sing with me!"

"Why?" Roy asked.

"I said so."

"Who made you the boss?"

"Bruce, tell Roy he has to sing with me."

"I don't think he wants to," Bruce replied evasively.

"Come on Roy. You know Christmas songs, right?"

"Of course I do," Roy said in his own defense.

"Then sing one. Come on!"

Roy sighed as he started to hang another ornament. His hand hesitated for a moment as he let the metal hook rest on the green branch. No one was looking directly at him, besides Dick, but he could feel them waiting for him to do something. His heart started pounding as he tried to push away unwanted memories. The silence lingered for so long that everyone went on with their decorating. Dick didn't sing anymore, making Roy feel kind of bad for diminishing his holiday cheer. He took a deep breath as he grabbed another ornament from a box. He started singing quietly.

"Yas biyi' góne'

Nihił naaná'oobas

Deiyílk'id bitįs

Dloh nihił háá'á." Dick stopped what he was doing and tried to listen closely. He recognized the tune of "Jingle Bells", but he didn't recognize the words. Bruce didn't know them ether, but they sounded like Navajo.

"Yoó bikéé' diits'a'

Nihił dahózho." Dick smiled as he listened. The room seemed to get quieter so they could all hear him better.

"Díí tł'éé' łíií' bee

Nihił naaná'oobasgo dahwiitaał

Yoo' dits'a', yoo' dits'a'." His voice picked up in volume and cheerfulness as he sang the chorus.

"Ayóígo diits'a'

Dooládó' yas biyi'." Dick bobbed his head along to Roy's singing as he hung the ornaments.

"Nihił hózhóogo naaná'oobas

Yoo diits'a', yoo diits'a'

Ayóogo diits'a'

Doolándó' yas biyi'

Nihił hózhóogo naaná'oobas." He finished the song and Dick started clapping.

"That was really cool!"

"Thanks…." Roy looked kind of uncomfortable with the praise.

"You should've sung it louder."

"Why?"

"So we could hear it better."

Bruce frowned as he watched Roy silently hang another ornament on the tree. "Roy," he said cautiously, "did Oliver tell you not to use Navajo?"

"Not really. In a way. He-he didn't care that I could speak Navajo. One time I was using it and he slapped me in the mouth."

"Why?" Dick asked in confusion.

Roy shrugged. "He was frustrated he couldn't understand me."

"You can talk in Navajo all you want here! I use Romani sometimes and Bruce doesn't mind at all. Watch." As if his point couldn't be illustrated any other way, Dick started singing "Deck the Halls" in Romani. It amazed Roy that he only knew two verses in English, but apparently knew the whole song in his native language. Once he finished he looked at Roy expectantly. Roy sighed and started singing "White Christmas" in Navajo. The two of them went back and forth the entire time they decorated the tree, singing Christmas carols; just not in English.

In Bruce's opinion, it was actually better this way. He was used to Dick using Romani, but the boy had never done it like this. Singing songs the way he probably would've with his family. He knew the boy's love of Christmas came from his family's love of it. Only two years after their deaths, Bruce couldn't help but love that Dick still had the same enthusiasm for the holiday he did before that night. Roy, on the other hand, …while he didn't know if this holiday was really important for him, he could tell being raised on the reservation was. The idea that Oliver had slapped him for using the language he'd been taught and used in his childhood saddened Bruce. Listening to Roy sing though, even if it wasn't the most in-tune, it gave him hope that Oliver's influence wasn't permanent.

Bruce wasn't an optimistic man, but he couldn't help but feel like this Christmas was going to be a good one.

— —

"Alfred," Roy started cautiously, watching as the man-made Christmas candy. Bruce and Dick were at a gala, much to Dick's displeasure, so Roy had ventured to the kitchen to watch Alfred melt candies and pour them into lollipop molds.

"I assume there's more to your question," Alfred said with a smile when Roy didn't finish.

"Do you like Christmas?"

"I do. I enjoy the movies and lights. Gotham winters can be brutal, but they do remind me of winters in England. Downtown is actually very beautiful when lit up with lights. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. I was just curious. Sorry for asking."

"You never have to be sorry for asking a simple question, sir. Do you enjoy the holiday season?"

"Sure. I mean…We didn't have snow in Arizona and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a Christmas tree when you live in the desert, but we always had a good time. Brave Bow would help me learn Navajo with Christmas songs. I don't know how he managed it, but every year he gave me a diffident edition or copy of Robin Hood books."

"He knew it was your favorite?"

"I never stopped talking about it. Apparently, when I was little it was the story I asked for the most."

"Parents have a way of remembering those things."

"I'm also kind of excited to have a white Christmas."

"I'm glad." Alfred pulled out a plastic tray from the fridge, switching it out with the new one. He held the tray out to Roy. "Candy sir?"

Roy smiled and grabbed one. It was a Santa carrying a sack. "Thanks." He took a bite of the chocolate. "Mmmmm. It's delicious Alfred!"

"I'm glad you like it, sir." He turned around to set the tray on the counter. "Oh, I have an early present for you, Master Roy."

"You do?" Roy stopped eating his lollipop. "Really?"

"Indeed. Wait here." Alfred left the kitchen briefly, leaving Roy alone to wonder and speculate. He didn't have to wait long though because Alfred returned within a couple of minutes. He was carrying something folded up in his hands. It was white and fluffy from what Roy could see. "Here you are sir."

"Thank you." Roy accepted it awkwardly, still holding his half-eaten lollipop in one hand. He discovered whatever it was rolled up, so all he had to do was give it a strong flick and it came undone. It was a stocking. A red stocking with his name stitched into the white top. "This is for me?"

"It is. It wouldn't be Christmas if you didn't have one."

"…I haven't had one in two years."

"You didn't?"

"No. Oliver wouldn't let me have candy, so you know, stockings weren't necessary."

"Even on Christmas?"

Roy nodded. "Even on Christmas." He could tell how much Alfred disapproved of that just by looking at him. "Can I put it on the fireplace mantel, next to your guys'?"

"We can do it right now if you'd like." Instead of answering, Roy jumped out of his seat and lead Alfred to the den. While pretty much the whole Manor was decorated for Christmas, this room held the tree and three stockings hanging on the fireplace. Each of the Manor's inhabitants had a name on a stocking. As soon as he walked in Roy saw the fancy, empty hook. He ran over and slipped the loop of his stocking on it. It needs a small adjustment so his name could be clearly read on the front. He looked back at Alfred, beaming.

"What'd you think?"

Alfred smiled and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I think it looks perfect."

— —

Christmas morning Roy was, very surprisingly, the first one up. Not out of excitement or anything like that, he was awoken by yet another nightmare. They still happened nearly every night, but usually, after sitting up for a couple of hours he could get back to sleep. It was just before dawn when he woke up though, so he decided to just get up. As soon as he was standing he remembered it was Christmas. Silently, he crept from his room and downstairs to the den. Nearly as soon as he walked in, he nearly smiled. There were a ton of presents under the tree. It was different from the few presents he'd always found under the tree growing up, or even the many presents he'd gotten from Oliver on Christmas.

'They're probably not for me though,' he thought miserably. 'Most of them are probably for Dick.' Maybe if he was lucky one or two might be for him, and they'd probably be from Dick and Alfred. He couldn't really imagine Bruce giving him anything. Sure, Bruce was nice enough to let Roy live in the Manor, but that didn't mean he liked the teen enough to give him Christmas presents. The presents on his birthday had been his Arsenal gear, so that made sense. He had all his gear now though, so he probably wouldn't get anything. Still, though, it looked liked someone had put candy in his stocking. That at least would be completely worth it for him. Not knowing what else to do, Roy sat down on the floor and stared at the tree.

It was only two and a half hours later that Dick came running into the room. He let out a loud gasp and hugged Roy from behind. "Look, Roy!"

"I see them, Dick," Roy laughed as Dick apparently tried to climb onto his shoulders.

"How long have you been up?"

"For a while."

"Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"….uh….I just didn't I guess…"

"You can't just keep all the presents for yourself! You have to share!" When Roy didn't say anything, Dick dropped off his shoulders and sat next to him. He studied Roy cautiously. He didn't want to say something that would upset the teen on Christmas. Unfortunately, Dick was naturally curious, and there was a question he'd been wanting to ask Roy for the past few days. "What was Christmas like with Oliver?"

Roy frowned. "Why are you asking?"

"I was just curious. If-If you don't want to talk about it I understand though." For a second, Dick thought Roy wasn't going to answer. Then when he started talking his voice was kind of quiet.

"I'd wake up and sit by the tree. When Ollie got up I'd open my presents. Usually, on Christmas he was in a good mood, so he'd let me have something special for breakfast and drink milk or juice. We'd eat a special dinner and it was always…. Christmas was one of the best days."

"So….he never hurt you on Christmas?"

"He never hit me."

Dick nodded, suddenly very relieved. "Christmas was my family's favorite holiday."

"Really?"

"Yeah! We lived in a circus trailer, so there wasn't a big tree or anything. Usually, the circus would stay put the week of Christmas, so we'd put one up on the grounds and everyone would help decorate it."

"That sounds like fun."

"It was! We were all from different places and had different decorations and traditions, so it was like a….a…." he struggled to find the right word. "Like a collage of Christmas stuff! John always assured me that Santa could find us, no matter where we were in the world."

"That's good."

"We you worried that Santa wouldn't be able to find you when you moved to Star?" Roy blinked. He'd stopped believing in Santa after Oliver had, very plainly, told him there was no such thing (adding a "don't be an idiot" for good measure) his first Christmas in Star. Dick was watching him though, so he nodded quickly.

"Mhm."

"Good thing he knew where you were."

"Yeah, it is."

Dick looked at the clock on the wall. "Come on, time to go wake up Bruce."

"I don't think we should-"

"I do it every year! Come on!" Dick grabbed Roy's hand and dragged him out of the room.

"What about Alfred?"

"He's already awake. He's probably just hiding from us."

"Maybe you should just go alone."

Dick stopped and looked at Roy. "Roy, I wake Bruce up every year. It's ok."

"I just don't want to…."

"Why?"

Roy shied back as Dick let go of his hand. "I wasn't allowed in Ollie's room. God forbid I ever wake him up when he was sleeping." Just the thought of doing that made him shiver.

"Ok. Why don't you go back to the den? Bruce and I will be there soon."

"Sounds good." Roy went back downstairs, trying not to feel like he'd let Dick down. He walked back into the den and found Alfred was there. 'Does he just teleport?'

"Good morning, Master Roy," Alfred smiled. "Happy Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Alfred."

"Enjoying your first white Christmas?"

Roy looked out the window and smiled when he saw the white snow piled outside the window. "I am."

"Good." Dick came running in, jumping onto Roy's back. He wrapped his legs around the teen's torso and his arms around his shoulders.

"Morning Alfred," he smiled. "Merry Christmas."

"Happy Christmas, Master Dick. Did you wake up Master Bruce?"

"I did! He's coming." As if on cue, Bruce came in. He didn't seem at all irritated that Dick had woken him up so early. "Look, Bruce, Santa came!"

"I see that." Alfred handed Bruce his coffee, to which Bruce gave him a look of gratitude.

"Good morning, boys," he said after taking a long sip of his coffee.

"Morning," Roy said.

"Can we open the presents now?!" Dick asked. "Can we?!"

"Too loud!"

"Yes, Dick, go ahead," Bruce told him as he and Alfred sat down.

"Woo!" Dick whooped as he dropped down from Roy's shoulders. He picked up a present and set it aside. "That one's mine." Roy sat down as he picked up another one. "This one's for you, Roy."

"Me?" Roy asked in confusion. He took the wrapped box from Dick carefully.

"Yup!" Sure enough, when he turned the box over Roy saw his name on the tag. He started unwrapping it slowly as if he was expecting to get in trouble for doing so. The box inside contained something that he recognized almost instantly.

"A blanket!" he gasped. He pulled out the red, white, and black blanket that contained repeating, diamond patterns on its surface.

"You're excited about a blanket?"

"It's a Navajo blanket."

"It's authentic," Bruce assured him.

"It's great. I haven't had one since I left the reservation."

"What's so special about Navajo blankets?" Dick asked, looking at it curiously.

"They're important in Navajo mythology and history. Authentic ones are made on a loom on the reservation." He ran his hand over it, suddenly overcome with memories he hadn't thought about in two years. The blanket was then carefully folded and put back in its box until he could take it upstairs. They continued opening presents and Roy was mildly surprised every time Dick handed him one. The other presents were clothes, a new pair of shoes, and books about engineering. HIs present from Dick left him momentarily confused. "A scrapbook?"

"Look inside."

Roy opened it up and found a picture of himself. Well, …it kind of looked like him. The man has his red hair and green eyes, but certain facial features altered or narrower. "Is this….Is this my father?"

"Yup!" The next page had a copy of a report card. The same on the top was Roy Harper. The next one had pictures of the same man shooting a bow.

"He liked archery?"

"Apparently yeah. He competed in a bunch of competitions when he was your age."

"Dick where did you find this stuff?" Roy asked as he turned to another page.

"I'm just amazing." Bruce cleared his throat. "Bruce too. He helped me get all this stuff, but digging it all up and putting the scrapbook together was my idea." Roy honestly couldn't believe it. His father, the ghost of his childhood, had a life. Grades. Accomplishments. Hobbies. Pictures. He was real. "Do you like it?"

Roy nodded as he closed the scrapbook. "I do. I really do. Thank, Dick." He gave the boy a hug, which pretty much made Dick week.

"You're welcome!" The two of them embraced for a moment before returning to their presents. One of Roy's presents was also from Alfred. Roy opened it, wondering what Alfred could've possibly gotten him. A small gasp escaped his lips. It was a book with a green cover and gold designs on it, framing the picture of a man in green shooting a bow. He traced his fingers of the large letters, spelling out the book's title.

"The Adventures of Robin Hood."

"I'm aware that you don't have any editions here sir," Alfred explained, "but I thought you'd like to start another collection."

"It's wonderful! I love it, thank you!"

Bruce was definitely not at all jealous that Alfred had gotten Roy a thoughtful and meaningful gift. Dick unwrapped a set of Superman pajamas. Bruce's jealousy quickly morphed into irritation. He gave the butler a look, but Alfred simply sipped his tea in response. The former's attention was so focused on trying, unsuccessfully, to make his butler feel his irritation, that he missed what present Dick was passing to Roy.

"This one's yours too," he said as he awkward hated off the long box. The tag on the front said it was from Bruce. Roy frowned as he started unwrapping it. Memories buried deep in his mind poked at his brain, specifically details of the box his 10th birthday present had been wrapped in. As difficult as it was, he couldn't help but feel his hopes creeping up. The box was easy to open and the air was sucked from his lungs when he saw what was inside. Sitting in the bottom of the box was a red longbow. The paint was new and shiny as he carefully picked it up. It some weight to it, but to a seasoned archer it was nothing. He lifted the bow from the box slowly, as if it would disintegrate. He ran his finger tips along the curve of the wood, then down to the string. It was an exact replica of the bow Brave Bow had given him. The very fact kept him frozen in his place. Dick frowned when he eventually noticed it. "Roy? Is everything ok?" Roy didn't say anything. He wasn't moving either, except for the slight shaking in his body. "Roy, are you ok?"

Bruce actually started to get worried when he heard quiet weeping from the teen. "Roy?" he asked uncertainly. "Is everything ok?" Roy nodded, still crying. Bruce knelt down, slowly reaching for the bow. "If you don't like it, I can just-"

"No!" Roy said quickly. He looked up and his hands tightened around the bow. His eyes were watery and his voice was tight. "I-"

"Roy, if you don't like it I understand."

"It just…" He started crying again and Dick quickly moved to his side.

Bruce swallowed. "I had it made because I wanted you to have a bow that you could use since the one your adopted father gave you is beyond repair. If it offends you then you don't have to keep it though." Roy shook his head.

"I'm not…offended. I l-love it."

"You do?"

Roy nodded. He wiped his eyes quickly. "I haven't gotten a present like this in years. Not since Brave Bow died."

"So you're…..not offended, or sad? You're actually happy?"

"I am." Roy sniffed and wiped his eyes, cheeks reddening a little bit at his sudden outburst of emotion. "I love it, Bruce. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it." Bruce returned to his seat and took a deep drink of his coffee. Roy's attention was so rapt on his bow that he didn't notice Dick grabbing two more presents and handing them to Bruce and Alfred respectively. His attention was only pulled away by Dick suddenly sitting next to him and leaning so his back was against Roy's side. Upon looking up, Roy saw Bruce and Alfred opening their presents and a pit opened in his stomach.

"Thank you, Master Dick," Alfred said, placing the wrapping to the side so he could rest the clay teacup in his lap. "It's quite…unique."

"Definitely unique," Bruce agreed, smoothing out the tie with various Justice League members' insignias on them. "Thank you, Dick."

"You're welcome," Dick beamed, clearly proud of his gift giving skills. Roy shifted uncomfortably, which didn't go unnoticed since by Dick since he was leaning on him. "Everything ok, Roy?" Roy mumbled something under his breath. Unable to hear, Dick sat up and looked at him. "What'd you say?"

"I didn't give any of guys anything," Roy said quietly, yet loudly enough that everyone could hear him. The guilt was evident in his voice. "I don't have anything to give you." The second part was almost apologetic in tone.

"It's ok," Dick assured him. "We're just happy you're here."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't beat yourself up, Master Roy," Alfred said.

"I should've given you something, after all, you guys have done for me."

"You don't owe us, Roy," Bruce took him, his voice firm in his conviction. "You don't owe us anything."

"If you could've given us presents, we know you would've," Dick assured him. "It's ok."

Bruce could tell that it didn't reassure Roy, so he changed the subject. "You two need to clean up this mess and put your gifts upstairs so we can have breakfast."

"Ok, Bruce."

"Yes, Bruce," Roy said, gathering up his presents. He and Dick quickly ran their presents upstairs to their bedrooms. They then started cleaning up the wrappers and boxes that littered the floor of the den. Dick zipped around like a speedster, eager to get to Christmas breakfast. Roy smiled slyly and stuck out his foot, tripping the kid. Dick fell on the ground, dropping all the wrapping paper he'd been holding. He heard Roy laughing and made a face. Then he noticed his feet were near the teen, so he entangled their ankles and tripped him.

"Watch your step."

Roy rolled his eyes at Dick's quip. "You're a child."

"You're the one who tripped me first!"

"You're the one who said a stupid one-liner."

Dick got up to make Roy take it back, but Bruce suddenly appeared in the doorway and cleared his throat. "Doesn't look like cleaning to me," he said.

"Roy tripped me!" Dick defended.

"He said something stupid," Roy said.

Bruce shook his head. "Get it cleaned up and get dressed." The two boys quickly returned to their task. Within minutes the den floor was clean and Dick snagged Roy's wrist before he could leave.

"We have to go get dressed."

"Don't forget your stocking!" Dick unhooked Roy's and handed it to him. Roy took it happily, then went upstairs to his bedroom. Before getting dressed he dumped out the candy. The bright packages and plastic wrapped chocolate lollipops made his heart race. He unwrapped a lollipop and stuck it in his mouth while he got dressed. After a pair of jeans and a t-shirt had been pulled on, he went downstairs to the dining room. Somehow, he'd managed to beat Dick, which gave him first pick of the waffles. Surprise rushed through his brain when Alfred proceed to put powdered sugar, whip cream,and chocolate chips on in his waffles; in that order. Bruce hid his amused smile behind his coffee mug. It was kind of sad that Roy was still always surprised about receiving sweets, but his reactions were so childlike, despite being 15, it was kind of amusing to him. Luckily, Roy needed no prodding or encouragement to start digging into his breakfast. Bruce noticed how Roy's feet tapped joyfully off the ground and he ate with apparent excitement. Again, the childlike glee these moments brought Roy amused him. Dick joined them and both boys were silent as they enjoyed their Christmas breakfast. "Are we watching movies again this year?" Dick asked Bruce when he was almost finished.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Bruce told him sternly. His attitude softened though at the boy's expectant face. "Yes, we'll watch Christmas movies again this year."

"Yes!" He looked across the table at Roy. "What's your favorite Christmas movie?"

"My favorite?"

"Yeah!"

Roy thought about it carefully. "The Polar Express," he said, naming the only Christmas movie he could name off the top of his head.

"That's a good one. I like Rudolph and Santa's Coming to Town."

"Cool."

"Bruce's favorite is Miracle on 34th Street."

"I haven't seen that one ether."

"It's ok. Bruce likes the old version though."

"Its the original from 1943," Bruce explained to Roy. "It's the best one."

"It's not even in color. That's how old it is. Its older than color tv!"

"Just because it's in black and white doesn't mean it's not good."

"If you're all finished sirs, I would suggest you get to your movies," Alfred advised them. He gave each of them a stern look. "I have a Christmas dinner to prepare and I won't have any of you getting in my way. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Alfred," the three of them chorused. The boys quickly put their dishes in the sink and raced to the Manor's theater while Bruce collected the movies they'd be watching. roy sat down first and Dick sat one seat away from him. Bruce sat between the two of them when he finally joined them. It didn't make Roy as nervous as he'd thought it would. He sat back in his seat with his legs pulled to his chest, not in a panicked way, just in a normal way, and they watched the movies. They watched Dick's favorites first and Roy wasn't surprised when the boy sang along with every song. Neither he or Bruce stopped Dick though, instead of letting him sing as loudly and happily as he wanted.

"Are we patrolling tonight?" Roy asked in-between the second and third movies.

"No," Bruce told him. "We won't go out unless there's some kind of an emergency."

"Not even Commissioner Gordon works on Christmas," Dick said. "and I'm pretty sure he lives at the police station."

Roy smiled. He was kind of ok with not patrolling that night. He and Oliver had never patrolled on Christmas, but that had mostly been because Oliver was usually too drunk to go out by the time it was nighttime. He settled into his seat and tried not to think about his last two Christmases. He didn't want them to spoil his mood for this one. By the time they got to the Polar Express, Roy was excited. He'd watched it quite a few times just the previous year and it was just as fun as he remembered. Dick seemed to enjoy it too, despite not knowing the some of the songs. He'd been so engrossed in watching the movie that he hadn't noticed Roy was singing.

"I'm wishing on a star

And trying to believe

That even though it's far

He'll find me, Christmas Eve

I guess that Santa's busy

Cause he's never come around

I think of him

When Christmas Comes to Town," he sang quietly.

"The best time of the year

When everyone comes home

With all this Christmas cheer

It's hard to be alone

Putting up the Christmas tree

With friends who come around

It's so much fun

When Christmas Comes to Town," Dick smiled as he sang the other part.

"Presents for the children

Wrapped in red and green."

"All the things I've heard about

But never really seen."

"No one will be sleeping on

The night of Christmas Eve

Hoping Santa's on his way

When Santa's sleigh bells ring-"

"I listen all around."

"The herald angels sing."

"I never hear a sound."

"When all the dreams of children

Once lost will all be found

That's all I want

When Christmas Comes to Town."

"That's all I want

When Christmas Comes to Town."

They watched the movie in comfortable silence after that; occasionally broken by the two of them laughing. It was cozy and secure in the theater, at least to Roy. It'd been a while since he'd had a Christmas this content and warm. The three of them watched movies until it was time for dinner. As soon as Alfred announced it was time to eat, Roy and Dick jumped out of their seats and raced back to the dining room. The holiday feast laid out before them was enough to make Roy's eyes wide. Even with Oliver, he'd never had a meal like this. Bruce and Alfred joined them, everyone sitting in the same seats they had at Thanksgiving. Once again, Bruce being in such close proximity was not as alarming to Roy as it used to be. He was still relaxed and happy as he had been all day while they ate. After dinner Roy and Dick helped Alfred with the dishes. Roy washed, while Dick dried them and put them away.

"Why do you get the easy job?" Roy asked.

Dick shrugged as he dried a cup. "I'm just that awesome." He laughed as he dodged a handful of bubbles that was thrown his way.

"Do I have to remind you two that cleaning means not making a bigger mess?" Alfred asked them.

"No," the boys answered in unison. They finished their task without making a bigger mess. Roy changed back into his pajamas, grabbed his Navajo blanket and his Robin Hood book. Back down in the den, he sat in a chair and pulled the blanket around his shoulders and curled up with his book. The wool blankets were a lot more functional in Gotham in the timer than it had been in Arizona. Dick was sitting the couch, leaning against Bruce easily while he looked through the large, colorful book Brice had given him that was about the history of the circus or something. Bruce was reading a newspaper, seemingly unbothered by the boy leaning against him. They sat in companionable silence. After a couple of hours, Alfred brought them hot chocolate and Christmas cookies that had festive frosting and sprinkles.

"Thanks, Alfred," Roy said as he accepted his. He dunked his cookie in his hot chlorate without a second thought as he watched Dick, and more surprisingly Bruce, accepted their holiday treats as well. Roy happened to glance at the window and saw the flurries falling lazily from the dark sky. Roy smiled as he snuggled deeper into his blanket and read his book. It was by chance that while Bruce was reaching for his hot chocolate that he happened to see Roy. The teen was curled up reading, but the smile on his face made Bruce freeze for a moment. He wasn't a sentimental man, but the ease and sincerity of Roy's smile made him want to freeze this moment in time. He went back to his paper before Roy could notice him staring. After a couple of hours he felt Dick's body go lax and his head tipped back. Bruce smiled as he leaned over and confirmed that the boy was asleep.

"I think it's time for bed," he told Roy, who also looked like he was having trouble staying awake. Roy nodded and yawned. Bruce scooped Dick up into his arms and carried him upstairs with Roy following close behind. First, he put Dick in his bed, covering him up and kissing his head gently. Then he went to Roy's room and found him laying down. He saw the wooden bow he'd given the teen was on the rack in place of the compound. "Looks like you need a new rack."

"Yeah, I guess I do." Without thinking, Bruce pulled the blankets over Roy, but for his part, Roy seemed ok with it. "Sleep well."

"Thanks, Bruce. Merry Christmas."

Bruce smiled and rubbed his shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Roy."