Five months. Five months since Wallace West's best friend had vanished off the face of the planet.
He sighed, marking another day off his calendar. Maybe it was time for him to give us this superhero thing. Artemis was ready to leave. Wally would be turning seventeen soon. Snow surrounded them. Christmas was fast approaching. He wondered if his buddy was around to enjoy it.
No. He had to be. Robin– Dick was stronger than that.
Behind him Christmas music filled the house along with the smell of freshly baked cookies.
His stomach growled. Although he was hungry cookies didn't sound very good. Especially Christmas cookies.
The thought brought memories of a skinny ebony haired boy laughing, frosting on his cheek and red and green sprinkles in his hair.
"Come Walman!" He laughed. "I surrender. I'm drowning in frosting."
"If you say so," Wally chuckled, stopping his attack. He lowered his arm and a small gingerbread man cracked in his bright red hair.
"Got you!"
"Oh it is so on!"
"Bring it!" Dick laughed.
Wally shook away his thoughts.
"Come on kiddo," Barry called. "Cookies!"
Wally ran out to see his uncle happily devouring half the pan before his wife smacked his hand. She cradled their new son in her arm and with the other was holding her guns and by the ear.
"Leave some for the guests."
"Guests?" Wally asked.
"The Christmas party tonight," she smiled. "Didn't you know that?"
"No I didn't."
"Christmas Eve is tomorrow buddy," Barry detached himself from his wife.
"Oh..." Wally looked down. "Yea."
"It's about Robin isn't it?" The flash asked.
His wife elbows his stomach. "Barry!"
"It's ok Aunt Iris." Wally smiled sadly. "But I think I'm going to go see the team."
"I'll tell your mom," Barry nodded.
"Thanks."
Wally shot from the room, outside and down the road to the zeta beam.
"Of course," M'gann said. "I have a gingerbread making kit in the kitchen you want to help us Wally."
"I'd love to," he held hands with Artemis.
He spent the rest of the evening with them. Around ten at night he decided to leave. Typing in the coordinates to his home town he paused, clicking a different location. In a couple of hours it would be Christmas Eve and he had a place he needed to be. He stepped out into an alley on the east coast. Unlike Happy Harbor's pleasant weather, here a gentle snow fell. Wally pulled his hood over his head and walked down the street.
His breath puffed in a cloud, disappearing into the freezing air, darting in between the large flakes.
He found his feet guiding him to the main square where happy couples and sweet families, huddled tight, walked hand in hand.
He smiled at a small blonde girl who waved to him as he walked past.
"Are you cold?" She asked.
"No," Wally smiled at her. "It's not that bad."
"You should wear a coat," the little girl crossed her arms. "My mommy says I should."
"Angela!" An older woman, most likely the girl's mother, crouched down to the girl, taking her hand. "I'm so sorry young man."
"It's fine," Wally smiled, his hood still hiding his face. He crouched to, pulling his goggles on and pulling off this hood. "Angela was it?"
"Yea," the tiny blonde examined his lighting bolt goggles. "Are you the flash?"
"No," he grinned. "But do you want to see something cool?"
Angela nodded, excitedly, clapping her hands.
Wally stood and took a deep breath before shooting off around the square. The ice cold air bit his exposed skin but it felt so much better. When he was going fast emotions couldn't catch him.
Regretfully he slowed, to catch sight of the little girl. She and her mother had vanished.
Wally sighed. Of course they were gone. He would've given anything just to see the smile on the girl's face.
A shadow fell over him and, heart pounding, he looked up.
A dark cowl and long, ragged cape. Strong jaw pulled in a frown. "What have I told other supers about Gotham?" Batman snarled.
"Heh," Wally found himself short of breath. "I've heard the speech."
"Would you like to again?"
Batman was drawing slight attention by the few couples left in the square.
"No thank you."
"Then I suggest you get out."
He opened his mouth to answer but before anything could come out and strong hand grabbed his wrist and shot to the top of the building.
"What was that about?" The speedster gasped.
"We were drawing to much attention," he towered over the teen. "Now you get to tell me why you felt the need to come into my city."
"It's Christmas," Wally looked at his toes, shivering.
"Your point?"
"I just wanted to feel closer to R-Robin."
The furious expression on Batman's face faded, his shoulders slumping forward.
"I understand. Come with me," he turned, grabbing Wally and swinging into the batmobile below.
The top shut overhead and they sped away, up a hill into a dark cave. The headlights lit a bat infested cave.
"Why'd you bring me here?" Wally turned to the bat, stone faced in the driver seat.
"I want to show you something."
Wally looked around the cave as the driver pulled in. It was as dank and dark as he remembered. But wisely he chose to keep his mouth shut.
"What did you want to show me?
"This," he stalked to his computer and turned on the screen. A tiny red dot appeared on an altered photo of the east coast.
"Where is that?" Wally asked.
"An alternate dimension, six away from us."
"So who is that..." He trailed off knowing and fearing the answer.
"Robin," Batman sat down, pulling his cowl off. "Richard."
Under the mask Bruce when looked horrible. His skin was sallow, darks riles under his eyes and a horrible sorrow etched in every inch of his face. He looked like Wally felt.
"How long have you been looking?"
"Since the minute I knew he was gone."
"I mean how long have you gone straight looking for him," Wally protested. "Not to sound like Alfred but you look awful."
"I don't know," he rubbed his forehead. "It feels like days."
"But it's almost Christmas Eve," he glanced at his watch. "Scratch that. It is Christmas Eve.
"I have everything prepared for him."
"Have?" the red head wondered.
"The dimensional trans–"
"Master Bruce," Alfred came out of the elevator. "I heard another voice have you..." The butler caught wight of Wally and his shoulders fall forward.
"Sorry," Wally hung his head.
"Don't worry about it," Bruce sat up. "Are all the party decorations up Alfred?"
"Of course sir." He had composed himself and again stood, orderly and well kept in front of the elevator.
"Would you show Wally upstairs please," Bruce said.
"Of course sir." He nodded to Wally, leading him upstairs.
The world above was filled with bright reds and greens, a Christmas tree taller than Wally's whole house stood as the center piece. A tree that size could have held millions of presents. But only one sat under the tree.
Scared to look Wally caught sight of the name.
To Richard from Bruce. Welcome home.
"Welcome home...?" Wally looked up.
Bruce, dressed in a tee shirt and black pants walked forward. "Yes. Welcome home. The dimension transporter is ready. Scramble the team at six AM. We're getting him home for Christmas."
The red head held back tears of joy as he pulled on his running goggles. "Yes sir."
I had the next chapter all geared up and then everyone lost their minds (in a good way) asking where Batman was. So here You go. I know it's a bit short but I hope you enjoy it.