Chapter 7: Television, Isn't It Great!

'Another string of great earthquakes have destroyed miles and miles of India,' the news reporter said, on the background several crying people were visible. The rest of the people were dead. Almost none of the buildings were still intact or standing. Morgan looked through the glass of the electronic store. Several other people stood there with her and watched the news.
'Even though the Justice League is trying real hard,' the news reporter continued, 'it seems like Earth is too strong for them. Help from all over the world has been send to India, and even though several governments want to do more, there is not much we can do, but pray. This was Tanya Parker, back to the studio.'
Morgan walked through the big supermarket. No wonder she had not heard of Conner for a while. There were still earthquakes! Weird, did Dick not tell her that they almost had the guy who did those things? Or was he lying to make her feel better? She had not asked Conner about it, even though she did not remember the reason why. Morgan sighed and threw some macaroni in her shop cart. The words of Batman really became clear to her. She indeed had to share Superboy with the entire world. She thought it would be quite the same as it had been with her mother, but she was so wrong! Her mother had never really been there anyway, and even though she was her mother, Morgan had loved her differently that she loved Conner.

'I'm home,' Morgan yelled through the house, it was quiet. Jonathan was probably resting and Martha would be doing some chores. Wolf immediately ran to Morgan. Wolf was a Border collie crossed with a Golden Retriever, which lived with them since a few weeks. It was a sweet, clever, funny male and Morgan loved him. The fur of Wolf was completely black, with white socks and a white ear. Some friends of the Kent's had brought the dog to them, since they could not take of it anymore. They called the Border Collie 'Wolf', because they thought it was funny. Morgan threw the car keys on the small side table in the hallway and brought the groceries to the kitchen. While she put all the things in the cabinets, Morgan put on the TV. Wolf already laid down beside the table. Suddenly she had the feeling someone was watching her. she turned around and looked into the living room. Her good mood was immediately gone.
'Hello,' Red Arrow said as he walked into the kitchen sat down.
'Hi,' she said short and made herself a cup of tea, 'Tea?'
'Coffee, please,' he said. Morgan poured some coffee in a mug and handed it to him. She still loathed him, but a cup of coffee was the least thing she could do for someone who worked with Conner, right? She put the TV a bit louder and watched it.
'There they are,' Red Arrow said, when the Justice League came in sight. This time they were somewhere in Italy. It was crazy. While people were crying and dying, news reporters were filming and trying to make their money.
'So, what brings you here?' Morgan asked, not trying to hide the fact that she wanted him out of the house. Wolf laid his head on her knees and she stroke it.
'I have to look after you again,' Red Arrow simply said, sipping his coffee and watching TV.
'Fair enough,' Morgan sighed, knowing both of them could not help it. They looked at the TV. Some new news reporter was talking enthusiastic about the Justice League, even though Morgan barely heard what he was saying. She just stared at Conner. He was flying around, helping people, trying to stop buildings from falling. But she only saw him now and then, most of the time the camera was following Batman of Superman. Morgan blew in her mug and looked at Wolf.
'Look at that, Superboy has just saved a girl!' immediately Morgan looked up. Superboy flew down with a girl in his arms. Her clothes were damaged and her hair was wild. Carefully Superboy landed, but the girl did not let go. She looked at him and kissed him. Morgan's eyes widened. She just kissed him! But the worst part of it all was the fact that Superboy did nothing about it! He just kissed her back!
'Well, looks like good things can happen after all!' the reported said. Morgan cursed him in her head. Red Arrow looked at her, did he had to say something or do something right now?
'Morgan,' he tried, but Morgan already stood up and walked to hall.
'I'll be walking with the dog,' she said and quickly leashed Wolf and walked away.

'What did you just do!' Dick said to Conner when they sat in the Batplane. Conner had not said a word to them since the Italian girl had kissed him. Even now, he just stared out of the window.
'I thought you loved Morgan!' Dick yelled, throwing his mask on the ground, 'And you just go and kiss some girl!'
'Look,' Conner hissed and turned around, 'I didn't plan it or so! It just happened.'
'Do you even feel sorry about it!' Dick continued, 'it just happened' was one of the weakest excuses and he knew it and hated it.
'I do,' Conner said and stood up, 'And I don't nee you to make it clear that I was wrong!'
'Well apparently you need it!' Dick was not scared of Conner at all, 'Just tell me, how are you going to tell this to Morgan?'
'I don't think he has to,' Kaldur said, 'didn't you see how many cameras there were?'
'Then you only have to explain yourself,' Dick said with a sharp undertone. Conner sat back in his chair. He really wished it did not happen.

Morgan did not say a word while they were having dinner. She had not even been there when the group of heroes returned home. Martha had received a call from Alfred to inform her when the boys would be brought home. Martha had told Morgan and Morgan had left fifteen minutes earlier. She went downtown and bought some cigarettes, she just needed it. Morgan had returned just in time for dinner and just sat down and ate. No one tried to break the tensed sphere. Red Arrow had left, but not before he had said to Conner that he had screwed up big time! After dinner Morgan immediately left with Wolf. The others still sat around the table. A small conversation had started, and they just continued. Suddenly Conner hit with his fist on the table, jumped up and left the room.
'About time,' Dick sighed and went back to the conversation.

Conner could see Morgan was walking through the field at back of the farm. She threw a ball away and Wolf chased it down. Even though it was already October, Morgan wore no coat. She was probably just to upset to put it on. Morgan walked slowly and Conner walked behind her within a few minutes. She did turn around, even though he knew she knew it was him. Morgan just kept walking slowly. Throwing the ball again.
'Are you ever going to talk to me?' he said, putting his hands in his pockets.
'When there is something to say,' she simply said and took a sip of her cigarette.
'Something to say? I just returned after more than a month!' he said, trying not to lose it.
'Yeah, and we all saw you had a wonderful time,' she snapped.
'You know, you shouldn't smoke,' he said, grabbing the cigarette and throwing it away.
'Yeah, you know, you shouldn't kiss strange girls!' Morgan could feel her heartbeat rising. She was so angry at him!
'Well I'm sorry!' he yelled, 'I didn't mean for it to happen!'
'That's just lame, Conner,' she snapped, 'We all saw you didn't mind that blond to kiss you.'
'Hey, I did mind!' he defended himself.
'Sure, that's why you kissed back!' Morgan was yelling too.
'I did not kiss back!'
'No, but you also did not pull back!' she was right about that and he knew it, 'God, Conner. I love you.'
'Morgan,' he said soft and reached for her. But she stepped back and ran her hands through her hair, he could see tears swell up in her eyes.
'I trusted you, Conner,' she said sniffing, 'With everything.'
'You can trust me,' he said, 'Please, Morgan. I love you. I feel horrible about what happened, but give a chance to make it right. Please.'
'Conner,' Morgan could only say.
'Morgan, I beg you,' he said, trying to control himself, 'I need you. I love you Morgan and I want you with me all the time. Please, you can trust me, let me prove it.'
Morgan could not say anything. She bit her lip so she would not cry. She already forgave him the moment he came after her! She could not look at him and stared over the field.
'Morgan. Please,' Conner did not know what to do. His body ached for her. He wanted to touch her. To hold her in his arms. Kiss her head and kiss her lips. He had to hold her. He needed her. Without her, his live would be as empty as it was before. She made his live useful.
'I need you,' he said and stepped closer to her. Morgan aloud it and he stepped even closer. She swung her arms around his neck and stood on her toes. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Conner felt his shirt catching her tears and he lifted her up.
'I'm so sorry,' he said, trying not to cry and he placed her down on the ground. For a moment Morgan looked at him.
'I'll trust you,' she said. A tears slipped from his eyes when their lips touched. Morgan felt it touch her and looked at him. Gently she wiped the tear away and looked at the wet eyes of Conner. She smiled at him and he laid down his head on her shoulder. And for the first time it was Morgan who took Conner in her arms. He would not only protect her, she would also protect him. Conner took a deep breath and stood up straight again. The first stars were showing. For a moment they just stood there, in each others arms. Conner could feel Morgan shiver in his arms.
'Are you cold?' he whispered.
'Not with natures secret heating,' she whispered and she laid her head against his chest as she slowly moved her hands of his back. His heartbeat was strong as usually, strong and comforting. Conner stroke her hair and his other arm was around her waist. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was, how much he loved her. But when he crushed down in her arms, he knew that there was no need in saying those things. Morgan knew and she understood. Conner realizes Morgan was really shivering right now. He kissed her head.
'Come on,' he said, and before Morgan could reply he lifted her up and flew her back to the house. He entered his attic room through the window and gently laid her down on the bed. He covered her with kisses and soon covered them both underneath the blankets.

When Morgan opened her eyes, she was alone in bed. When she looked at the clock above the door she knew why. It almost ten o'clock. Conner needed but little sleep and after a while he could not 'just' lay in bed. She stretched herself and looked around. The window was shut. Outside it was raining. The soft ticking of the water against the window made Morgan realize she had to go to the bathroom.
'Good morning,' Morgan smiled when she slowly walked down the stairs. In the living room Kaldur and Dick were reading. Wally was watching some cartoon. Morgan looked around. Where did the rest go? Kaldur saw her looking.
'Martha and Jonathan went to the hospital,' he explained.
'I see,' she said and remembered. Another check for Jonathan. She heard Wally giggle.
'O, man,' he sighed and giggled a bit more. Morgan frowned when she saw he was watching Tom and Jerry. She sighed. Boys will be boys.
As Morgan walked to the kitchen the backdoor opened. She looked a bit surprised. Visitors? When she turned around she saw it was Bruce and Clark. They were both soaked and you could see their muscles so clear.
'Coffee?' she offered with a smile. The men nodded and walked into the kitchen. Bruce gave a severe look to Wally, warning him not to make fun. Morgan took some coffee herself too and sat down on the opposite side of the table. She looked at Clark and Bruce. Now that she knew them, a bit, she could see the Batman and Superman in them. She smiled.
'You making fun of us?' Bruce said, with a bit of the dark Batman voice in it.
'Always,' Morgan said and sipped her coffee. The mouth of Bruce curled and he smiled at the little girl.
'How's Lois?' Morgan asked Clark. She was really fond of Lois and the two of them could get along really well.
'Great,' Clark said nodding, he looked at Bruce and gave a small nod with his head. Morgan looked from one to another. Something was going to happen. They would tell her, but they were still fighting over who would be the one telling. Bruce took the lead.
'Morgan,' he said and placed his mug in front of him, 'We have to leave, for a while.'
'A while,' she asked, 'as in how long?'
'A month, perhaps two,' Clark said. Two months, that was a long time. Still she nodded.
'Alright,' she said. She had learned not to ask.
'Good coffee,' Bruce smiled and took another sip. Morgan smiled. There was a friendly man beneath that tough face of him. Suddenly a thought popped in her head.
'Will you be home with Christmas?' she asked.
'We're not sure,' Bruce said. So that was this was all about!
'Lois will be around here with the holidays,' Clark said.
'When will you be sure?' Morgan asked.
'I cannot say for sure,' Bruce said honest. Morgan looked him straight in the eyes and saw he was honest.
'With Christmas,' she continued, 'who will be around, actually?'
'Me and Lois,' Clark said, 'Wally will be home. Dick and Bruce will be in Gotham. I'm not sure about Kaldur.'
'So, no strange people come around?' Morgan asked.
'Not that I know of,' Clark said.
'Fair enough,' Morgan said and sipped her coffee, while she patted Wolf on his head.

That day she said goodbye to her friends. It would be quite a while before she would see them and did not like it. Conner wrapped her in his arms and whispered sweet words to her. They kissed several times, before he flew away. He would be just fine, she knew that.