Everyone enjoy! Coming out of a year long hiatus on this to post some small chapters :)

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Athena sighed as she looked out the window. Bruce was throwing a party for that night since it was New Years and the last thing Athena wanted to do was celebrate it with a bunch of rich snooty people who only cared to pinch her cheeks and coo over how cute she was.

Music played as Athena laid in bed, listening peacefully, trying to enjoy her time alone before the manor was invaded by multiple strangers. She couldn't even visit Ramon's house since he was still gone for Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico. One day Athena wished that she could go with him.

"May I come in?" Athena was startled out of her thoughts by a knock on the door accompanied by Bruce's voice.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Athena said as she sat up in her bed and Bruce opened the door.

Bruce was already dressed in a suit, ready for the party, but had yet to fix his hair or conceal the shadows underneath his eyes.

"How are you?" Bruce inquired as he walked over to the bed, then sat on the edge.

"I'm good." Athena shrugged, silencing the music playing.

"I know how you don't like the parties I throw here." Bruce stated and Athena slowly nodded. "And, at this party, there will be members of Cadmus, I couldn't avoid them not coming." This unnerved Athena incredibly as she started to float from her anxiety.

"C-Cadmus? People from Cadmus are… but what if they…. I don't want to go back. I can't go back to them Bruce. I can't-"

"You won't." Bruce stated in a soft yet serious tone. He gently tugged Athena down from where she was floating and wiped away the small tears in the corner of her eyes.

"I was wondering if, because of the circumstances, you wanted to spend New Year's with Conner." He informed.

"Y-yes please." Athena nodded, and Bruce sighed.

"I'm sorry for making you so worried." He whispered as he gave Athena a strong hug. In no time, Athena was packed with some clothes for her staying the night with Conner.

The clone was quickly there to pick her up before the party.

"Take care of her." Bruce stated as he handed Conner a bag of the girl's clothes, tooth brush, and so on. His voice held a tone to it that Batman had. The statement sounded more like a threat than anything.

"I will." Conner nodded. He then looked at Athena. "We're going to go spend New Year's with Ma and Pa. Sound fun?"

Athena nodded happily, and with a hug and "happy New Year" to Bruce, they were off.

~*~*~*~*~In Kansas~*~*~*~*~

Athena ate dinner with Conner and Ma and Pa Kent happily. She also ate her first pork and sauerkraut combination. She couldn't get enough of it.

"Good thing you like the pork and sauerkraut, Athena. Poor Conner has to choke it down." Pa Kent laughed as Conner proceeded to hold his breath and swallow the food.

"Why does he have to eat the pork and sauerkraut?" Athena inquired.

"Tradition." Conner grunted.

"Tradition?"

"Yes." Ma Kent nodded. "It's an old tradition. If you eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Eve, then you have good luck for the rest of the year."

"Really?" Athena questioned, eyes wide with surprise.

"Well, it's just something that has been done for years, but I like to think so." Ma Kent chuckled as she added another helping of the food onto Athena's plate, which she accepted happily.

After dinner, Pa Kent turned on the radio. The four of them sang, and some songs came on that Ma and Pa Kent danced to. It was a small party, but Athena rather have some of her family than the rich strangers.

"Do you think Clark is coming?" Conner questioned to Pa Kent around 11:30.

"He's very busy, son. But maybe he'll be able to find some time." the older man smiled. Around 11:45, the Kents turned the television on to wait for the ball to drop.

While waiting, the family played some card games and ate dessert. Athena needed the sugar to stay awake.

At 11:55, there was a knock at the door. Ma Kent went and opened it, revealing mild mannered Clark Kent on the other side.

"Clark!" Ma Kent smiled, wrapping her arms around her son.

"I couldn't keep away." Clark chuckled, then stepped into the house. Pa Kent placed a hand on Clark's shoulder.

"It's good to have you home, son." He smiled. Conner was quickly there to greet Clark as well.

Athena shyly walked over to Clark, and once his eyes settled on her, he smile grew wider.

"Athena, I didn't know you'd be here." He laughed, scooping the girl up in his arms. Just then the television started counting down.

It was 11:59 and 48 seconds.

The family gathered around the television, counting down. Athena felt the excitement as everyone was waiting to welcome in the New Year.

"eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone exclaimed.

Everyone was cheering and Athena found herself in the middle of the group hug and everyone kissed each other on the cheek and Pa Kent went and broke out the bottle of Champaign for everyone to toast.

Athena had a small glass and they all toasted to the New Year, then drank their glass of Champaign.

The beverage was bitter in Athena's mouth, different from what she had expected, causing her to cough several times.

"You alright there?" Conner inquired, and Athena nodded with a small smile.

"Yeah, I just wasn't expecting the drink to taste like that." she stated, making all the others in the room laugh.

Athena loved the small get together and was happy that she was able to spend her New Year's this way. However, it wasn't soon after her comment about the strange tasting drink that she fell asleep.

It had been a long night.