A/N: Thank you to my reviewers and thank you to Angel Queen, my wonderful beta.

Chapter Fourteen - Today's Special

When the twins had gotten home, 'joyful' hadn't been the word to describe the atmosphere in the house. Everyone was ecstatic to have them back, and they'd both leapt on Alfred, who for once in Bruce's entire memory had lost his British reserve and was in there with them now, grinning like a lunatic and hugging back. Tim and Dick were pretending they weren't crying.

The twins themselves, though they were obviously overjoyed to be home, weren't alright. They were jumpy and skittish, and while Nick was smiling broadly, Sarah had yet to do so. Bruce suspected it was because Nick had been unconscious the entire time, until he was back in the safety of his family's presence. Sarah had a fuller idea of what had awaited them if their parents hadn't rescued them, had woken up to find herself surrounded by strangers who, for all she knew, might have been meaning to kill her. Still, at the moment, he could not find it in himself to worry about that. They were home. Bruce and Diana just basked in having their children with them, grinning until their cheeks hurt. Diana had reached for his hand at some point, and Bruce had been more than happy to let her. It was unmistakably different now between the two of them. Somewhere in between the twins being disappearing and getting them back, it had crystallised. He loved her and now — for the first time in years — he was sure she loved him too. It was just a matter of waiting until they were alone.

When the sound of the car engines came up the driveway, though, all of the adults in the kitchen noticed Sarah and Nick flinch. No one commented on it, though Tim hugged Sarah a little more tightly in reassurance, with Bruce squeezing Nicholas's fingers. Diana was the one who moved toward the door, smiling gently at both her children.

"I'll be right back," she promised.

They both nodded nervously, and Diana left the kitchen. They heard her footsteps cross to the door, and then she opened it. Bruce recognised the male voice that spoke. Jim Gordon. Why was he here? Unless the police had come up with something that he and the League had missed? It seemed very unlikely. Curiosity driving him, Bruce let go of Nicholas and moved toward the kitchen door.

"Daddy–"

The small, scared word seemed torn from Sarah, and immediately, Bruce's heart rebelled against the idea of leaving both his children. No matter that Tim, Dick and Alfred were in the room too — Sarah and Nick were his children, his and Diana's.

He crossed to her, kneeling. "Sarah, I'm not going anywhere, I promise. It's Commissioner Gordon, okay? And you trust him, right?"

She nodded uncertainly. "He was nice to me and Nicky," she admitted.

"So you know he's not one of the bad guys."

She nodded again, this time more confidently. "Okay."

Bruce kissed her forehead, did the same for Nick, and then left the kitchen.

"Please, Commissioner. We just got them home." The plea in Diana's voice wasn't hard to pick up on.

"I realise that, Miss Prince, but while the experience is still fresh–"

"Still fresh?" Bruce repeated, letting his tone slip dangerously close to the Bat, "Jim, they're going to be having nightmares about this for weeks." I'm going to be having nightmares about this for weeks.

"Exactly why we need to get this over with now," Jim said gently. "I'm sorry, but if they do begin to have nightmares, then it could cloud their actual memories of it. We need to know, Bruce. It's the only way we can prosecute the people the Justice League arrested."

The detective in Bruce knew he was right, and it was battling hard against the father. Finally, they settled on a compromise. "Tomorrow," he said finally, tone brooking no argument. "We'll bring them to the station tomorrow."

His hand took Diana's, and he looked at her as the muscle in her jaw twitched, but she nodded, not saying anything. Jim nodded understandingly. "Alright. I'm available any time tomorrow."

"There's one more thing," Bruce said. "Could you make it a no-fly zone for a mile around the manor? The kids really don't need to hear helicopters all the time."

Gordon nodded. "I'll make it for five miles in all directions. Right, I'll leave you in peace. I'll be conducting the interview myself."

They both nodded, but shut the front door on Gordon with a relieved air from both of them. "Hera, when does it end?" Diana demanded in a whisper.

He pulled her into his arms. "Tomorrow," he promised. "After that, all this is an unpleasant memory."

Diana shook her head. "Not all of it." She leaned back and touched his face. "Without each other, I don't think either of us would have made it."

He turned his head; kissed her palm. "Move your things into the Manor," he asked. "The kids are going to want you here. We all will."

Her blue eyes widened. "So you're asking me to move in with you?"

It wasn't until he didn't feel any surprise at the idea that he realised that, yes, that was what he'd been asking. He nodded. "Yes. We've waited long enough already, Diana. I love you."

Diana kissed him softly, so lovingly that it would be impossible to mask the fact her feelings matched his own. When she drew back, she put her forehead against his. "Then we have one more thing to do tomorrow."

"Can I help, Mommy?" Nick asked his mother as he moved over to a dozen of the heavier boxes.

There had been no time wasted once Diana had said yes to Bruce. That afternoon they'd gone down with some boxes to pack up the essential stuff that were still in the gatehouse. All of them except Alfred and Sarah were helping; he was somewhat hampered by the fact that Sarah wouldn't let go of his hand for apparent fear he might have a very delayed concussion. Or danger of death. Her parents had just about managed to persuade her that phoning for Doctor Thomkins wasn't necessary, but that seemed to be as far as she was willing to compromise. Nick, though, was pitching in with gusto.

Diana smiled and gestured toward the box marked 'cookbooks'. "Could you take that up to the kitchen for me, little sun?"

"Sure."

Rather than picking up just one of the boxes, though, Nick picked up the whole stack — with no strain, but no finesse either. They wobbled dangerously on his way up to the Manor, Nick weaving with them. When he had to dart severely sideways to keep from them falling, Sarah's laugh rang out from the kitchen doorway. "Nicky, you're gonna drop them!"

He staggered into the kitchen and put the books down just in time, with his sister still giggling. Impulsively, he moved over to her and hugged her tightly. Sarah closed her eyes and did the same, tears in her eyes. "It'll always be you and me, Nicky, right?"

He nodded. "Right."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

They hugged for a while longer, and when they let go of each other, Sarah didn't immediately go for Alfred's hand again. She went over and picked up the top book on the stack. "The Art of French Cooking," she read. "Where does this one go, Alfred?"

"I think there might be some space on the shelf on the far side, dear," he smiled.

"Okay."

With Alfred and Sarah dealing with the cookbooks, Nick went back down to Mommy's house to see what else he could help with. For some reason, though, Mommy didn't seem to want him to carry her clothes up.

"But if I fly it'll take much less time," he told her.

She smiled, ruffled his hair. "Yes, little sun, but you've not been flying for very long yet. You'll need me to teach you more control before you're really good."

Nick grinned, immediately excited. "You're going to teach me? Cool!"

Daddy didn't seem so pleased by that prospect, and frowned. "Princess, I don't think now is such a good idea. He's very young."

"Young and unbelievably strong, Bruce," Mommy pointed out. "It matters if he can't control it."

"Hmmm."

Mommy squeezed Daddy's hand, smiling comfortingly at him. It made Nick feel warm and safe whenever she smiled at him like that, and it looked like it was the same with Daddy. The little frown between his eyebrows went away quickly, and his face brightened. He even smiled. Nick hid his grin behind his hand. They had to get married soon, they just had to. Then it would be happily ever after for all of them. After all, that was how it was supposed to work for heroes.

They worked most of the day, moving things out of the gatehouse and up into the Manor. It took less time than it would have done ordinarily, since Diana and Nick could carry the loads of ten people each, and the final item to be flown up was the car, which Diana balanced on one hand, and placed gently in the garage.

They all had meatballs for dinner, coming out of one huge pot that Alfred put in the middle of the kitchen table and everyone helped themselves. It was definitely the least formal meal ever served in the manor, but also the best that anyone could remember. It was noisy, full of laughter and spaghetti sauce down everyone's clothes.

The simple meal was a little at odds with the vintage champagne that Bruce got from the wine cellar (naturally, and much to their mutual disappointment, Sarah and Nick had not been allowed any), but there was plenty of both. No one really knew who fell asleep first, but at about ten, Tim came back from the bathroom to find Sarah fast asleep on Diana's lap, Nick slumbering peacefully on Bruce's, both parents asleep too. That wasn't surprising — what was surprising was the fact that Dick was sprawled out on the couch, snoring his head off, and (Tim had to pinch himself to make sure he was awake at this) Alfred asleep in his chair. He may as well have been awake for all the softness there was in his posture though; he sat completely rigidly. Smiling broadly, Tim picked up the now-empty spaghetti pot — not quietly, but no one stirred — and took it over to the sink, beginning the dishes.

Things were going to be okay, he thought as he started to rinse the pot. Not immediately and not for a while, but they would.

"I'm not sure about this," Nick said uncomfortably. "We're not supposed to lie, are we?"

"No, son," Bruce said, "but sometimes you can't always tell the truth. It could be dangerous if you do, especially now."

"Yeah, but…"

"Don't think about it like lying, Nicky," Sarah said, "just think of it as a different want to tell the truth."

Diana nodded approvingly – it was how she'd kept up her double-life since the twins were born. She was Wonder Woman, but she was Diana. And Diana Prince had given birth to her son and daughter. Sarah was thinking along the same lines, but it appeared that Nicholas still didn't really understand.

"What d'you mean?" he asked.

"Well, don't think of Mommy and Daddy rescuing us, Batman and Wonder Woman did. Right?"

"But they are Mommy and Daddy," Nick insisted.

"Did Batman ever give you a piggyback ride?" Sarah asked.

"Well no…"

"And did Wonder Woman ever look after you when you were sick?"

"No." He sighed, then nodded. "Okay, I think I get it. Tell the truth, but just answer the question and nothing else, right?"

His sister and parents nodded as the car drew up outside GCPD HQ. Nine a.m. Right on time. Remembering what had happened the last time he'd let go of his sister's hand, Nick held onto Sarah tightly as they moved across the seven feet of sidewalk that separated the car and the building. Their parents followed, also hand-in-hand. Commissioner Gordon was waiting for them at the front desk, and he smiled in a kind, patient way at them as they approached, then shook Nick's hand in the same way he had Dad's. Nick decided he definitely liked him.

"We'll talk in my office, rather than an interview room, okay, kids?"

Nick was a little disappointed at not getting to see a real interrogation room, but Sarah nodded, fervently glad she didn't have to face any more small rooms. Thankfully the commissioner's office had been windows that looked out over the Gotham skyline. They did get to walk through the bullpen, though, where lots of the detectives were. Many of them were on the phone on business, but nearly everyone either smiled or waved in their direction. When the Commissioner finally came to a halt in front of his office door, he turned to them and said, "Now kids, I'm going to ask your parents to wait outside while we talk, okay? You'll still be able to see them through the door, but I need to know exactly what you remember."

They both nodded, and then walked into the office, seating themselves in chairs in front of his desk. Nick glanced behind them and got a reassuring smile from Mommy.

"Hey," Sarah said brightly, picking up a photograph, "Auntie Babs!"

Jim peered down at her. "You know my daughter?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "She visits us sometimes, and even baby-sits if Alfred can't." She then leaned forward, adding in a more quiet, conspiratorial tone, "She used to date Uncle Dick you know."

Gordon did the same, winking. "I know!"

"Still does," Nick put in.

"She doesn't."

"Does too."

"Does not!"

Gordon cleared his throat, and they both fell into silence. He had the same kind of quiet authority Daddy did, instinctively they knew they had to listen to him. "Sorry."

"It's okay, kids, but this is important."

"We know."

"Alright then. So, first question – what can you remember about the day you were kidnapped?"

Slowly, haltingly, they told him everything they could: that it had been lunchtime, they'd heard a helicopter first, and then a car. Then the men in black. The white smoke that trickled everywhere. How Alfred had ushered them both into the library –

"The library?" the commissioner asked, looking up from the notes he was taking. "Why the library?"

Knowing how bad Nicky was at outright lying, Sarah answered him without missing a beat. "Because there's a passageway that leads to an old bomb shelter in there. We could have hid."

He nodded, accepting that. "I see. And then what?"

"Then they… they burst in and hit Alfred and–" Sarah cut off, feeling tears close her throat. Of everything in the whole terrifying experience, it was the worst part for her – the idea that something terrible might have happened to Alfred.

Putting an arm around her shoulders, Nick carried on – missing out the part where he'd jumped out of the window, and managing to make it seem as though he'd been taken out by the drugs too. Their two stories differed after that; Sarah gave as accurate descriptions as she could of the scientists in the room when she woke, and then described how Wonder Woman and Green Arrow had been the ones to find her. Wonder Woman carried her through the complex and then they'd met Batman carrying Nicky to safety with Superman next to him. She remembered seeing Auntie Shayera there as well. Then when Commissioner Gordon had gotten there, the twins had gone with him to be reunited with Mommy and Daddy at the airport.

Nick's story was much the same, except he'd not woken until he'd been rescued and Wonder Woman was holding him.

Sarah suddenly realised with a sickening jolt that she'd said Wonder Woman had rescued her, which was true – but why would the two Justice Leaguers swap children? When the police had arrived, Daddy had been holding her. What if he asked why, what if–

"Alright, I think that's all, kids," Gordon said, suddenly making her jump. "Thanks for that, I've got all I need."

"Are you gonna catch the bad people?" Nick asked.

"We'll certainly try," Gordon assured him. "We're cooperating with the Justice League on this one as well, and if anyone can find anything, it's Batman."

He opened the office door, and spoke to Mommy and Daddy. "You can take them home now. They answered all my questions really well."

"So were you able to learn anything new?" Dad asked sharply.

"Well, Sarah gave me some good descriptions of two of the men at the complex – it's going to be difficult of course to trace them, but at least it's a start. We have some extraneous fingerprints and DNA samples from the facility as well that are already under analysis in our lab."

"Good. Thanks, Jim."

They all said their goodbyes – the commissioner shaking Nick's hand again – and left. "So can we go home now?" Sarah asked.

"Not yet, little star," Mommy told her. "We have something else to do later on while we're in the city."

"What?"

"It's a surprise," Daddy smiled. "A good surprise. But first we need to do some shopping."

"Shopping?" Nick deplored. "All of us? But Daaaaad…shopping's for girls."

Mom and Dad both chuckled, but shook their heads. "Not today, little sun. Today's for something special. Now you go with Dad and I'll go with Sarah, and we'll meet up at City Hall in two hours, okay?"

"City Hall?" Sarah asked quizzically. "Why are we going to City–" Suddenly she cut off, looking with huge eyes at her mother and father, face shining in excitement. "Are you and Daddy–? Are you going to–? Finally?"

Mommy bent to kiss her nose, smiling broadly. "Maybe. You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"

Sarah let out an excited squeal and threw herself at Diana, hugging for all she was worth. "Oh my God, oh my God, ohmyGod, omigodomigodomigodomigod-" She let go, grabbing Mommy's hand and pulling her off down the street. "Come on, Mommy! We have to go shopping!"

Nick watched them go in utter confusion, before finally turning to look up at his grinning-father. "I do not understand girls. Why is she getting so excited?"

"Keep a secret?"

Nick nodded.

"We're going to City Hall because there's something Mom and I have to do. Something we have to make official."

Nick frowned, thinking about it. Slowly, though, his eyes widened. "Oh. My. God. You're getting married?"

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The justice smiled at them. "You may kiss the bride."

Diana wore no veil, merely a few lilies arranged like a circlet. Still, her blue eyes fairly glowed as she smiled brilliantly at him. Bruce grinned back as he leaned down, their lips met in a sweet, tender kiss.

It was either a moment or an eternity later, but eventually the comments from the peanut gallery began to sink past the pleasant fog Bruce's brain was engulfed in.

"About time." Tim.

"Good things come to those who wait." Barbara.

"Still, if you'd told me a few years ago that this was going to happen, I'd have told you to go check yourself in at Arkham." Dick.

Bruce inwardly rolled his eyes as he and Diana finally came up for air and turned to face the small group of people gathered for the small wedding. He was fairly sure he had not seen Alfred looking so happy and peaceful since Bruce and Diana had first brought the newborn twins to the Manor. Bruce also thought he might have seen a hint of a tear in the older man's eye.

The twins stood in front of Alfred, somehow managing to look both delighted and satisfied. Bruce's lips twitched. He had a feeling that nothing would ever convince the two otherwise that they hadn't been instrumental in bringing the day about.

Sarah turned to look at Dick, a quizzical look on her face. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious that they'd get married?" Nick asked. He pointed toward them. "They're Mommy and Daddy."

Bruce smirked. In his son and daughter's minds, that explained everything.

Dick shook his head. "If you could remember back then, you wouldn't be so sure, kiddo. Things were a hell of a lot more complicated then."

Bruce watched his children glance at each other, clearly perplexed.

"Adults are weird," Nick finally pronounced. "Why do we have to grow up again?"

Sarah shrugged, reaching up to touch her own circlet of lilies. "I'm already smarter than everyone in this place," she stated. "The real question here is why do I need to grow up?"

A/N: Review please!