Bruce: 51

Dick: 33

Lilly: 29

Conner: 29

Jason: 27

Tim: 23

Damian: 17

Terry: 25

Christmas with the Waynes

"Mommy are we at Grandpa's yet?" My three year old son Johnathan asked from the back seat. I smiled at him from the passenger's seat as Conner continued to drive the car.

"No John, first Daddy is going to drive us to the airport. Then we will get on a plane, and we'll fly really high in the sky and then we'll be at Grandpa Bruce's house."

"Oh, ok." He smiled, apparently satisfied with my answer.

"Mom!" My four year old daughter Selina hollered next.

"Yes sweetie?" I asked turning my head to the back seat.

"Do I have to wear this dress? I hate dresses." She complained before crossing her arms in a pout. I turned back to face the dashboard. It seemed whenever I tried to dress Selina up, she tried to fight me. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could Conner cut in.

"Selina do you remember yesterday when you said you want to grow up to be pretty like Momma?"

"Yeah." She said looking down at her shoes.

"Well don't you think mom looks pretty in her dress?" Connor asked her.

"Yes she does." The four year old told her dad while twirling a piece of her long black hair.

"In that case, if you want to be pretty like Momma you'll have to wear dresses like her."

"Hmmm." I watched in the rearview mirror as Selina's face twisted, she seemed to be concentrating hard. "Oh-kay Daddy!" Conner turned to me with a smile and I mouthed a silent 'thank you' to him.

"Mommy are we at Grandpa's yet?" Johnathan asked a second time.

"Almost John." I smiled as we entered the Airport Parking lot. Conner pulled the small car into the first open parking spot and parked the car.

"I still think this would be easier if we could just take the..."

"Not in front of the kids Conner." I warned.

"Yeah I know. Come on John we're going to ride in Grandpa Bruce's airplane." Conner plucked John out of his car seat before getting our bags out of the trunk.

"Selina hold my hand." I instructed to the little girl. She reluctantly grasps my hand. "Conner I'll take John."

"No, I've got everything."

"That's the problem dear, you can't carry everything at once," I whispered into Conner's ear. "You're going to draw attention." Almost immediately Conner handed our son to me. Together we started walking into the airport.

"Daddy could carry everything at once if he wanted too!" Selina smirked from my side. "Daddy is strong like Superman!"

"And where did you hear this?" I asked before giving Conner an accusing look.

"Grandpa Clark." She smiled.

"Remind me to have a talk with Clark and Lois when we get home." I told my husband with a pointed glare.

"Let's just make it through the weekend first Lil." Conner chuckled. "What gate did Terry say the jet would be at?"

"B-12." I answered back.

"Are you sure?"

"Well it's the only private flight from Metropolis to Gotham." I said pointing to the board that listed all the outgoing flights.

Four hours later we'd successfully boarded the Wayne Family Jet and flown from Metropolis to Gotham City. Bruce's new assistant, Terrence McGinnis, picked us up from the airport in one of the family cars.

"Have Tim and Steph come in yet?"

"Tim called yesterday saying he'll be arriving by express later on tonight ." Terry replied, letting me know that Tim and his wife would be coming via Zetatube the next day. "Dick, Barb and their kids are already at the house, but Dick mentioned he wanted to take everyone out sledding. Damian didn't sound too happy about that. I left before things escalated too quickly..."

"What about Jason?" Conner asked from the backseat as he wrapped his arm around a sleeping Selina.

"You'll have to talk to Bruce about that."Terry said pulling into the garage.

"Is he trying to get out of coming? It's Christmas for the love of..."

"Uh, Lilly, the kids?" Conner warned.

"Right." I stopped myself from cursing in front of my dozing children as Connor lifted our daughter out of the car.

"Oh Terry, don't worry about the bags. Once we get the kids settled, I'll carry it all in." Conner assured the butler when he tried to carry our luggage.

"Mommy..." John yawn when I reached in the car for him. "Are we at Grandpa's yet?"

"Yes we are, but you've had a big day so you're going to take a nap, then you can have dinner with Grandpa Bruce."

"Ok." He nodded sleepily before nestling his head in my neck. Terry dutifully held the garage door open so that Conner and I could carry our kids inside. Once Selina and John were napping in a guest room, Conner and I sought out Bruce.

"Dad?" I whispered knocking on the study door.

"Lilly, Conner," Bruce greeted us with a smile. "Welcome home." He whispered, pulling me into a hug. "How are things in Metropolis?" He asked shaking Conner's hand.

"They're alright. " We said a little too quickly.

"Trouble in paradise?" Bruce raised his eyebrows.

"It's just that...Lois is getting older and Clark isn't aging as fast, they're struggling to cope." I replied, but talking about Conner's parents made me take a look at my own aging father. His hair was rapidly graying and receding. The years of physical abuse were taking a toll on him. I could even make out the shape of a cane tucked behind his desk. Conner and I'd been so busy taking care of Lois and Clark, it had been awhile since I'd come to visit Gotham. I was started to feel guilty.

"I know that look." Bruce chuckled. "Don't worry, Terry's been taking good care of me." The sound of clumsy footsteps could be heard coming towards the doorway. We turned to see Terry arriving, as if on cue.

"Would you like a cup of Coffee Mr. Wayne?"

"Yes. You know how I like it."Bruce nodded.

"Lilly? Conner?" Terry asked each of us.

"Coffee for me thanks." Conner instructed.

"Nothing for me, thank you, though." Terry nodded and left the room without another word. "I miss Alfred." I whispered under my breath.

"We all do." Conner replied, loud enough for Bruce to hear. Super hearing. I sighed. Bruce stared between us wondering what I had said. "She misses Alfred." Conner explained.

"I know the feeling." Bruce agreed. "No matter how many people we have in and out of this house, it always feels empty without him. He was family." I could tell by the dark look on Bruce's face that this conversation wasn't going anywhere Christmas friendly, so I try to change the subject.

"That reminds me," I said, thinking suddenly of Jason. "Terry mentioned that Jace is trying to skip Christmas again this year?"

"Jason's exact words were, I have better plans." Bruce explained.

"And you accepted that?" I snorted.

"I'm too old to fight him, Lilly." Bruce sighed.

"Damian home?" I asked suddenly. Neither Bruce nor Conner questioned my sudden interest in the youngest Wayne's whereabouts. They both knew me well enough to follow my train of thought.

"Maybe you should at least say hi to the rest of your family before dragging your brothers out in the cold." Conner suggested level-headedly.

"Conner makes a valid point." Bruce agreed."Besides Damian is with Dick and the others at the park. They left about an hour ago, should be home soon."

"In the mean time, I'm going to call Timmy and see if he and Steph can come home a little early. It's good to see you Dad, I've missed you." I said walking over and kissing his forehead.

"You've been missed around here as well." Bruce smiled.

"I'm going to find Terry and see about that coffee." Conner said excusing himself from the room.

"You sure everything's alright between you too?"Bruce asked seriously once Conner left the room.

"Dad, you know he can hear you." I reminded. Bruce's face remained stern, indicating that he didn't care whether Conner could hear us or not. "Yes Bruce, everything is fine between Conner and I. Are you sure Terry is taking care of you?"

"He's a bit slow on the uptake, and he's certainly not Alfred, but he's a good kid with a good heart. Plus he puts up with a lot of hell from Damian." We both smirked, knowing what a little terror Damian can be. "He'd be hard to replace."

"Alright, I'm going to call Timmy. I'll let you know what he says." I went out to the hall to call my brother. "Hello? Tim? Oh Steph, Hi! No, it's ok, you don't have to get him, I was just wondering if the two of you could come over to Bruce's earlier than you had planned?...Because Jason told Bruce and Terry that he had better things to do...yeah. No, I haven't talk to Dick yet, he took Damien and his kids out sledding...ok, great! See you soon then Steph."

"Tim and Steph are coming in then?" Conner asked joining me in the hallway.

"That was Steph, she said she's going to talk to Tim, but they should be able to come home early. What are you doing up here anyway? Eavesdropping on all of my conversations?"

"Nah, I stopped listening once you told Bruce everything was fine between us." He smiled before kissing me on the forehead. "I'm kidding, I try not to listen in on your conversations, you know that. Made you some hot chocolate." He said handing me a steaming mug.

"Thank you." I said taking the cup from my husband's hands.

"We're home everyone!" Dick's voice called from the Entrance Hall downstairs. Conner and I headed downstairs to greet the rest of our family. Damian was already standing in the entryway with Dick's Daughter Eileen, and his two sons James and Thomas. Once our niece and nephews spotted Conner and I, they came rushing towards us.

"Auntie Lilly! Uncle Conner!" The three kids chanted, running up the stairs.

"Slow down there kiddos!" Conner warned as he scooped up the two boys at the same time. Jimmy, though named after the former Commissioner James Gordon, looked nothing like the redheaded side of his family. In fact, he looked so much like a young Dick Grayson, it was eerie. Thomas, named after Bruce's dad, and Eileen, named after Baraba's mom, were twins who had both inherited Barbara's red hair and a splatter of freckles across their cheeks.

"I've missed you so much Auntie Lilly." Eileen spoke as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"I've missed you too sweetheart, Merry Christmas." I smiled hugging her back.

"Merry Christmas to you, sister." Damian spoke, walking towards the stairs. For a moment I thought he was coming to hug me, but then I realized he was just trying to get up the stairs. "My clothes are wet Kent, move." With Jimmy in one hand and Tommy in the other, Conner moved off the stairs and out of Damian's way.

"Uncle Dami, is mad because the boys got snow in his hair." Eileen laughed.

"Daddy told us to!" The boys spoke at the same time.

"Where is Dick anyway?" Conner asked setting the kids back on their own feet.

"Sorry, was putting the sleds away in the garage." Dick answered pushing his wife in her wheelchair through the front door. "Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Kent." Dick greeted us as he shut the front door behind him. He then reached out and pulled Conner into a hug.

"Merry Christmas Barb!" I greeted my long time best friend.

"Merry Christmas Lil." She said back as we embraced.

"Where are John-john and Sully?" Dick asked using the nicknames he'd given my children.

"Napping." Conner and I were saying at the same time, but as we said that there was the echoed sound of children coming from upstairs. "Or they were." I sighed. "By the sounds of things, Damian just woke them up. I'm going to check on them, don't go anywhere, we have to go out when I get back down here."

"Out?" Dick asked following me up the stairs. "But I just came in!" Her frowned.

"I'll check on the kids, you explain to Dick and Barbara." Conner insisted before ascending the stairs.

"Did Dad tell you that Jason isn't coming for Christmas?" I asked my oldest brother and my best friend.

"Jason always says that," Dick chuckled. "Then he shows up, rips a leg off the turkey and bites into it, before Bruce has even had a chance to carve the rest of the bird."

"But this is the first Christmas without Alfred." I reminded him.

"I hadn't really thought about it like that." Dick sighed. "I suppose you want us to go get him?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe me, you, Timmy and Damian could just pay him a visit. I mean it's Christmas, Dick."

"Fine, fine, but I'm not going without the others and a few things from the Cave." Dick agreed.

"That's all I need." I promised.

Down in the cave Dick, Damian and I waited for T

im. We didn't bother dressing in full costume, after all Jason knew who we were. But we couldn't go as ourselves, the Wayne family would draw too much attention walking around Jason's neighborhood. As a compromise between full costume and normal civilian wear, we covered ourselves from head to toe in black.

"Whoa, you're all suited up already!" Stephanie said in awe as she stepped out of the Zetatube. "Merry Christmas everyone!" She pulled us into a group hug as the second youngest Wayne stepped out of the Zetatube.

"Just once I wish Jason would cooperate." Tim groaned. He arrived already dressed from head to toe in black, his Red Robin mask in hand.

"You and me both." Dick chortled as he started applying spirit gum to his Nightwing mask.

"Is it alright if I duck out on the...um, reunion with Jason?" Stephanie asked as Dick passed the bottle of make-up glue around.

"That should be fine. Conner and Barb are staying at the house with Bruce and the kids anyway." I explained. "Maybe you could help Terry with Dinner?"

"He still hasn't quite found his way around the kitchen yet, huh?" She frowned. "I'll see what I can do, but Conner is a better cook than I am!" With that in mind, she set off upstairs to join the rest of the family.

"I still don't see why I am required for this masquerade. Todd is no brother of mine." Damian complained as he jumped into the Batmobile.

"Dami, not today. It's Christmas." I warned as I climbed onto the Batcycle. He ignored me and Dick started up the car.

"Well if it isn't the Bat Brats!" Jason called out as we entered the abandoned church that he now called home. "I was expecting you, though not so soon."

"Hood, can we talk alone?" I asked glaring at the three or four thugs that were seated around him.

"I don't see the point in that." Jason shrugged."I have big plans. Plans that don't involve the Batman."

"He's got a new family now." Jason's younger sidekick Scarlet hissed. She wasn't much younger than Tim, and by day her name was Sasha. She'd come with Jason to the house a few times; and knew what Alfred had meant to all of us, particularly Jason.

"He can have two families. Most of us do." Tim said gently. "It's Christmas, Hood, you should come with us." Dick, Tim and I continued debating with Jason and Sasha for several minutes before Damian threw his hands up in frustration.

"This is ridiculous." He exclaimed speaking for the first time. "Pennyw-the butler would not want you acting this way, even in the wake of his death. He would tell you to go home and eat the overpriced bird that the new incompetent butler has likely singed by now. I'm waiting in the car, this conversation is going nowhere." He turned away from Jason and stormed out of the building.

"The runt has a point." Scarlet agreed. There was silence as everyone waited for Jason's response.

"C'mon guys, we tried. I'm sure Batman didn't want to see him anyway." It sounded like Dick was admitting defeat, but he was really trying to use reverse psychology.

"Yeah you're right, let's go Batwoman." Tim agreed and we both turned to follow Nightwing out of Red Hood's lair.

"Dibs on the drumstick!" Someone shouted as they pushed their way past Tim and I. I smiled to see it was Jason as he shoved Dick out of the way, running out the door. Scarlet followed closely behind our brother and we could hear the sounds of the Batmobile roaring to life.

"Works every time." Dick said proudly as we stepped outside, an angry Damian glaring at us.

"I only let him take the car because I knew Pennyworth would have wanted me to." Dami insisted.

"Sure you did." I laughed. "Come on little bird, you can ride with me." I promised ruffling his hair.

"Little bird?" His face twisted in disgust while Tim and Dick sped away on the birdcycle. "Sister I am Seventeen, no longer your little bird. What I am however is offended."

"Oh how will I ever make it up to you?" I rolled my eyes behind my mask. "Tell you what, I'll let you drive the bike back."

"This will be acceptable." Damian grinned. He immediately jumped on the bike and gripped the handles excitedly. "Well hurry before Golden Boy, Todd and your oversized husband polish off the entirety of the Holiday bird." Some things never change. I smiled as the bike roared to life and soared down the Gotham City streets.