This Ain't the Golden Years

Chapter 35

Excerpt from Diana's Phone Call to Shayera Hol Stewart:
Date: December 25, 2058

Diana: Is it just me or has it been a little too quiet tonight?

Shayera (dryly): You mean besides my son drugging John and I and running off with Kai-ro and Terry McGinnis?

Diana: That's what I meant. It's too quiet.

Shayera: It's probably just the calm before the storm.

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Location Four miles from Bruce Wayne's House
Date: December 25, 2058

Rex: So…how are we going to do this?

Kai-ro (irritated): Why am I here again?

Rex: Because McGinnis and I refuse to do this ourselves.

Wally: Hey!

Iris: We're here too!

Jai: (grumbling)

Wally: So what's the plan?

Terry: Uh…

Iris: You don't have a plan?

Terry: Well…

Rex: McGinnis? Plan?

Matt: Terry's too good for plans.

Terry: I can plan! I make plans all the time!

Kai-ro: You mean like when you stormed your way into Vandal Savage's castle?

Terry: It was aggressive negotiations.

Kai-ro: You were captured.

Terry: I meant to be from the start.

Rex: Sure…

Jai: How'd he get out?

Rex: He mouthed off to Savage, got his butt kicked, got rescued by Diana and Mom, and then blew up his castle.

Wally: I don't think blowing up the mansion will work.

Iris and Jai: Dad!

Terry: Wait…I have an idea.

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Excerpt from the Personal Journal of Bruce Wayne:
Date: December 25, 2058

Terry thinks I have no idea what he's doing. Amanda Waller already told me about her 'visit.' I've also been in contact with Shayera.

Curiously, however, I can not get into contact with J'onn. He keeps ignoring my calls. This leads me to believe that Rex and Terry (and sadly, Vic Sage) may have been closer to the truth all along. I hate it when the Question is right, even if not entirely.

Still, that leaves me with the problem at hand. I have a feeling they will b

I want Diana. She wants me. Wally West is a god. Terry is…hey…what's with the Grey Ghost collection? Bruce watches that? Are you serious????

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Location: The Batcave
Date: December 25, 2058

Bruce: WALLY! Get off my computer!

Wally: Hey! You also have all the Zorro episodes on here too!

Bruce (warning): West…

Wally: What else do you have on here?

Wally: (rapid clicking)

Bruce: You have two seconds to get off my computer.

Wally: Like you can catch me.

Bruce (evil smirk): I won't have to. I'll complain to Linda.

Wally: (stops typing)

Bruce: I can read you like a book, West.

Wally: Uh huh, then what are my minions doing upstairs?

Bruce: What?

Wally: Bye Bruce!

(Zooms upstairs)

Bruce: (Follows, plotting his revenge.)

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(The following is written in the normal narrative style because I couldn't make it work any other way.)

Angry, Bruce Wayne stormed (well, not quite) up the stairs and into the house. Ace barked once and ran into the living room, followed by a wary Bruce Wayne. He froze at the door.

A large Christmas tree stood in the middle of his living room, its lights twinkling in the darkened room. Garland was strung around the room and stockings hung on the mantle. Christmas music was playing softly in the background.

Jai West and Kai-ro were asleep under the Christmas tree.

Bruce turned to stare at Wally, who was grinning next to Terry. Iris West, Rex Stewart, and Matthew McGinnis sat watching from the couch.

"West…" Bruce started. He froze as the younger man zipped over to him and gave him an unexpected hug.

"Merry Christmas Bruce," Wally grinned. "What…did you seriously think I'd pull a prank on Christmas? I'd be worse than Humanite if I did."

Bruce allowed his features to soften slightly as he muttered a thanks to the aging Scarlett Speedster. Wally merely smiled before zipping over to the tree to pick up his son.

"Hey Bruce, Linda and I want you to come to our New Year's Dinner," Wally said. He and Iris picked up the still snoring Jai and draped him over his sister's shoulder. Wally smiled as Bruce attempted to hide the growing emotion in his eyes.

"Very well…I'll be there Wally," Bruce promised. The Scarlett Speedster tossed him a salute and raced off with his children. The aging billionaire turned to his young apprentice and raised an eyebrow.

"Long story," Terry said. He shoved a small present at his teacher. Bruce slowly took the gift and opened it.

"I wasn't sure what to get you," Terry continued hesitantly. "I got the idea from Clark."

"I see that you also got the photo from Clark." Bruce stared down at the photograph in his hands. It was one that the Boyscout had taken of he and Terry a few months ago. Terry had placed it in a sleek, black picture frame.

"We're kinda like family now," Terry admitted, a little uncomfortable expressing it.

Bruce stared silently down at Terry's gift. After a long moment, he stared around at the decorated room and its shining Christmas lights.

"Terry…"

Terry looked at him, waiting for a response.

"Thank you."

Terry grinned and turned around to collect his brother, who had also fallen asleep. Rex Stewart was now carrying a sleeping Kai-ro. The half-Thanagarian nodded respectfully at him.

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Wayne."

"You too, Rex."

The two younger men turned to go with their sleeping cargo. Bruce gave them a considering look before adding some parting words.

"McGinnis, Stewart….take off those stupid hats."

"But Santa and J'onn made us wear them!"

"I don't care…take them off."

Bruce watched as the younger men retreated sheepishly, discarding their Santa hats in the living room. After he was certain they had left, he carefully placed Terry's present on the mantle and sat on the couch.

He watched the Christmas tree lights for a long time.

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Location: The West home
Date: December 25, 2058

Linda: It's about time. You and Ollie didn't do anything bad, did you?

Wally: We'll do that tomorrow.

Linda: Then what…?

Wally: We took Bruce some Christmas cheer.

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Author's note: Probably not what you were expecting, but I think it'd be more in character for Wally to do something nice for Bruce on Christmas than to pull a prank. I just recently rewatched the Christmas episode with Wally and the Humanite (and that stupid toy Duck), so I got some inspiration from it.

As for Vandal Savage, I know it's implied that he was killed in that episode that Superman went a few thousand years into Earth's future, but I'm not sure if he was or not, seeing that he's immortal. I just liked the idea of Terry mouthing off to Savage.