I am on fire! NOt literally but whatever. Thanks for all the reviews and sticking with me! ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER!

NO OWN BUT I WILL ONE DAY!

M'gann/J'onn/Kaldur/Orin

The trip to Chicago wasn't as long as everyone thought. Tula had left telling everyone that she had work to do back in the sea before kissing Kaldur on the cheek and taking off. M'gann had called the Bioship immediately after Conner and Clark had taken off. She and J'onn were to first one to board, Kaldur staying back a moment to talk to his old mentor.

"You seem troubled Kaldur'Ahm."

"It has been a... long day."

"Yes, but a good one. Everyone has been reunited, and after we stop this thief we shall go home. Though it has not felt like it, I suppose I have gotten home sick for Poseidonis. Though I only pray that Mera forgives me."

A slight frown appeared on Kaldur's face. He had failed to inform Aquaman of Atlantis' current condition.

'Neptune help me.' He thought before following the older atlantian onto the space ship. M'gann sat at the controls, her hands resting on the glowing orbs that acted as the main system. She was trying to concentrate on the ship, but like Kaldur, her mind was wondering.

Of course she was happy to see her uncle again. And their story had been proven true. But she could still feel the insecurity in their minds; the confusion, disbelief, the fear. They didn't want to believe that this world was real. They were afraid that it is real. M'gann didn't understand. How could they think this wasn't real? Everything was too awful to not be true. She wished it wasn't real. She wished none of this had ever happened; Gotham, the mission, Conner being forced to-

She wished with all her heart that she was seventeen earth years old again. That she was back in the cave with her friends and Conner, with her uncle and the other mentors being the leaders of the League. God she missed her evenings with Conner. They never did those little special things anymore. She missed it most when he was out being 'Superman'; when he was working for Luthor.

J'onn felt a sudden spike in hate come from M'gann. He reached out with his mind to comfort her,

'M'gann, are you alright?'

'I'm fine Uncle J'onn. Just a little nervous I guess. I haven't done this in a while so I might be a bit out of practice.'

'Neither have I. So we will just have to help each other.'

M'gann smiled in thanks. Her uncle really hadn't changed at all over the years. Wish I could say the same for me, she thought to herself.

When they began descending onto Chicago, Kaldur stood up from his chair.

"M'gann, do a city wide search for our thief."

The female martian nodded, her eyes glowing a brilliant green as she mentally searched police scanners and mind of civilians.

Orin felt a pull at his mind.

'J'onn, what are you doing?'

'I needed to speak with you. Privately.'

'What is it?'

'I feel that M'gann is hiding something from me. Kaldur as well. I reached into her mind and felt a surge of anger and hated, things that I have never felt from her before. Not even on Mars. I am worried that her mind might be suffering from trauma.'

'Like after the failsafe?'

'No. This is different. Something has changed in her.'

'They have al changed my friend. They have grown up but I understand your feelings. We will have to keep our eyes and ears open.'

'Agreed. We are still unaware of how much the world has changed.'

"Kaldur." M'gann's voice cut through the conversation. "Reports are coming in from Chicago of a missing shipment coming in from India. The shipment was ordered by a man called Wilson but failed to arrive at the docks. Crewmen report that they saw a mans shadow, but could not find the thief himself."

"What was taken?"

"A jewel called Serpents Eye. It was believed to hold mystic powers and is worth nearly ten million dollars."

"Where was the shadow last seen?"

"Heading south down Umbridge street." (A/N: I don't know if that's a real street in Chicago. I'm Canadian. I chose the name souly cuz I hate Umbridge from HP)

"Drop us down five blocks from Umbridge and leave the ship in camouflage mode."

"Understood."

Orin and J'onn sat in silence. After three years, Kaldur was still the teams leader. M'gann settled the Bioship down on a rooftop, following Kaldur's orders and leaving it in camo-mode. The four adults exited the ship and stood in the open air of Chicago.

"Do a search for our shadow thief's mind."

J'onn sat still while M'gann opened her mind to the city. He could feel her mind next to his; a comforting feel, yet in a way it almost felt foreign.

"There." M'gann pointed at the next block. "Heading this way at nine o'clock."

Kaldur nodded in understanding, then looked to the older men. "I will have to ask you two to stay here whil we handle the thief."

Orin was surprised. "Kaldur, just because we have been missing does not mean-"

"Forgive me King Orin, but that is the point. Our enemies believe that you are still presumed dead. I think I speak for everyone when I say we wish to keep it that way. For now at least."

Kaldur turned his back to them, then looked at M'gann.

"Maneuver ten."

And they disappeared in the streets below, leaving the older heroes to themselves.

Orin looked at his martian friend, "What is maneuver ten?"

J'onn shrugged.

A voice called out behind them. "Isn't that the one where Conner hits someone?"

J'onn and Orin didn't even bother turning around.

Orin smirked. "What brings you here Flash? I thought you and Wally were in Central?"

Barry sighed, "It was a bust. Alarm failure at the labs, police handled it. Then Wall blew me off and ran home. These kids man. It's like they're themselves one second then the next they're entirely different people."

"They have matured. Time come with change and adaptation."

"Yeah I know. But it's still weird. Wally's nineteen now. Conner's all Clark sized with the matching curl, M'gann got a hair cut, Arty is living with Wally, Dick's worse than Bruce, Orin Kaldur's like what? Twenty!? They're all grown up and we weren't even there to see it! They don't need us anymore."

J'onn put a comforting hand on Flash's shoulder, "That is not so. They will always need us."

Barry retaliated by throwing his hands in the air, "Not if they're over eighteen! Even Dick will be seventeen soon!" Barry slumped down on the rooftop with his arms around his legs mumbling about how the kids weren't kids anymore. J'onn could tell from Barry's state of mind that the speedster was having doubts about himself; about everything. Wally had obviously said something to make Barry start questioning and stressing over this.

Orin decided to try and cheer up his friend, "Why don't you go and see Iris? I am sure that she will be happy to know you're alive and well."

He was silent for a moment. "Actually, I've decided I'm not going to see Iris."

"What? Why not?"

"It's like the kids say Orin. We've been gone for three years. Every villain on the planet thinks we're dead and so do most of the heroes. If we put ourselves out in public there'll be an uproar. I can't put Iris in that situation, not until I know for sure that we can fix this."

Orin hadn't thought of it that way. If he were to return to Atlantis, then news would spread of their return and alert unwanted attention. Something Kaldur had told him that they did not want just yet. Kaldur was right, he knew there would be both an upside to this as well but it could backfire just as easy. He was right. Better to heave the element of surprise on their side.

"You are right Flash. Better to keep our heads down or now."

"I just hope that Bats has found a way to get us home."

J'onn smiled, "I'm sure that Batman has found at least some clue as to what happened."

Sorry this took so long. I was in a play and all my energy was sapped. Hope this was okay. I'm still pretty tired and I had to finish this up in class.

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