"I cannot believe that this tour is almost over" Zee exclaims while she was hiking with Dick. The couple, was currently doing yet another sightseeing, this time, they were in Japan. Japan was Zatanna's last stop in the tour before closing her first World Tour in her home city, Blüdhaven.

"Me neither. It has been quite the ride and pretty eventful…" Grayson was taking the lead to step first and check the safest path for the magician, during this trip, the couple have improved their stamina and their bodies underwent through another change. Dick, once again, grow taller and more muscular. If Zee used to drool over her man, now she would dehydrated just by staring at him. His shoulders got broader, he got taller, the traces of his baby face were now gone, he was now the true Hunk Wonder with how much his physique has changed but the magician went under some changer herself; her legs got a lot thicker with all the hikes, crime fighting, work outs and sex with Dick, her butt got bigger too and her breast got another size bigger, her face was now more mature.

"Tell me about it. Everything has been sold out and we have meet a lot of amazing people. Plus we get to know new places, cultures, skills, tons of fun" There was a big log in the couple's way. While Zee was skilled enough to cross without help, she would never reject the chivalry of her man. Dick wait for her and help her with the obstacle.

"Yeah and you complain a lot less about these hikes" Grayson smirks at him and gets playfully smack on his chest by her.

"That's because I have a better stamina thanks to someone that doesn't seem to have a turn off bottom"

"Even if I have it, would you press it?"

"No. I love you just the way you are" She pecks him on the lips before Dick got down from the log and carry Zee down. "You shouldn't walk way too far from me, baby. What if a bear or something scary attacks me and my man isn't there to save me" Grayson guffaws with the fake scenario.

"Please. Like you need help with anything like that. I walk in front of you to make sure that there isn't any hole or something dangerous for you and because if I walk behind you…I get a little distracted with ALL THAT"

Smack*

Dick's spank on Zee's rear got a moan out of her and she couldn't help but to bite her bottom lip. "Then what about you walk besides me? That way you can keep your eyes on the road AND you can hold my hand…" Zee clings to his arms, although she knows they can't walk like that while hiking the mountain if they try, they likely are falling down, just like they did while in Peru.

"You just want to use me as leverage"

"You are so smart"

"Are you okay with your backpack? I can carry it if you want. We still have to hike a couple of miles uphill"

"I didn't want to bother you but-" Dick was quick to help her with the backpack.

"You are not bothering me. It's my pleasure, my Princess of Prestidigitations" Zee smiles while they keep on walking. After 15 minutes, the magician notice the change on the man's face.

"Are you tired? We can take a moment if you want a-and I can carry my own back" Worry in her voice and face pull Dick out of his trance.

"Huh? No. That's not it. I'm fine but if you want to rest…"

"No. But you went off world for a moment there" Dick stop in his tracks, luckily, they found a road that it was easier to walk.

"I was thinking about the trafficked kids that we have been saving these last few weeks and the guy that is in our tail looking for vendetta against you" During Zatanna's shows World Tour. Dick has been acting as a nameless vigilante in every place there were in. And I'm their stops in Europe, they found a trafficking ring of kids and teens, they were trapped in capsules and there was a black goo on the scene. The couple has informed the alegrar and the Team to look into that and there has been a match in the USA and in other parts of the world with active heroes. On top of that, Zee's stalker has been keeping sending death threats to wherever the couple was staying and the latest threats were including Dick as well. Something that tick off Zee even more. Every time, the guy behind them, will leave a clue and they will bust into places with obvious traps, messages and artifacts from the magic museum.

"Against us. That psycho is looking for you as well and that's because of me"

"Hey! We are a team, your enemies are my enemies and If someone tries to hurt you, they'll have to go through me first"

"And that's what scares me, Dick. I know that you can fight the likes of Deathstroke, Talons, Luthor's bots, Toyman or any other kind of freak but if this person uses magic…"

"Then I'm lucky that I have my very own magician not only on speed dial but in my bed as well" Zee smiles as Dick takes her hands.

"Can we talk about this later? We are going to fix the creep problem and the kids' but let's enjoy this moment…just you and me"

"Sure. But Zee…"

"Yeah?"

"You and me? That's not just this moment…that's always and forever. Just the two of us" Dick walks and gently pulls her with his hand.

"Until we have kids…" She whisper under her breath and blushes when Dick looks at her. She was hoping that he didn't heard her.

"The more, the merrier" That smile of his send butterflies all over her body and gave her more energy.

"The hike was so worthy! This is so beautiful" Zee beams in excitement upon the view in front of her. A beautiful lake with tons of greenery surrounding it.

"See! It was worth wake up at 4 am. If we wait until 10 like you wanted we would be facing this killing Sun in our way up"

"Don't rub it in. No one likes a smart ass"

"I do" Zee sticks her tongue at him.

"Mmm. I'm tired and hungry, what about you set the tent and I start cooking?" Dick nods before getting to work. The couple brought an electric mini stove, that thanks to Zee magic, they were able to fit inside their backpacks.

"Oh no! How could I…" Zee turns her attention from her stew to her man that was almost done setting up the tent.

"What's wrong?"

"Silly me. I forgot to bring my sleeping bag…I guess we will have to share yours" Dick's fake and bad acting make Zee laugh. "Where's yours, honey? So we can take a rest after eating"

"I leave it at our hotel room. I was planning to share yours…" She laughs it off before checking their food. "But if I'm being honest I don't know why we have two of them…we have never used both, not even during our years with the Team as teens in those camping trips"

"Because we needed a back up just in case but I guess you are right. The guys will never let me live out sneaking out of the tent to go and sleep with you"

"No. What they're not letting us live out is the fact that we pull a "Lindsay Lohan" and put everyone on the water on their beds" During the team's early years, during a camping trip, Chalant thought it was a good idea to prank every member and Dick's idea was to pull a parent trap movie idea. While the Team was sleeping, Dick and Zee put them all on water with their beds for them to wake up in the middle of the lake; except for Kaldur, with Zee's Magic, the couple put him on a tree.

"It was so fun. Glad that we took so many pictures. It was worth the chase after but no one can catch us"

"No. If we were criminals we would be unstoppable"

"That's for sure. Not offense but we would put Bonnie and Clyde to shame. Nor the Team or the League would be able to catch us" After having a laugh, they had lunch while planning the perfect heist as the greatest criminal couple. The couple was now lying inside of the tent but without closing it, drinking the sign before them of the nature.

"We should build a cabin here…" Zee broke their comfortable silence. She was lying on Dick's chest. "Change our names, live a comfortable life outside of the hero work, the mess of the city, the crimes, the crowded places…"

"But you love your fans and shopping. What are you going to do with all your clothes?"

"I do, I truly do. They are the best but wouldn't be nice to have a nice calm normal life? And I dress for myself and for you, mostly myself. I can still wear all my dresses while living here"

"Well, I'm planning to spent the rest of my life with you so there goes my hopes for any calm" He chuckles, eating a smack from the magician. "See? You just prove my point"

"Imagine for a second…you and me living here. A very nice and cozy cabin built by us and no one would ever find us. We can become a legend, the couple of the mountain, the Witch and the Bird, protectors of the mountain and we can have all the sex with want without caring about the noise and skinny dipping everyday"

"Since when do you care about the noises you make? Mrs. Oh you are so deep or -" Zatanna smacked his chest.

"Alright, I was just saying… and I can grow a beard to go with the lumberjack look"

"You know that I hate that. It hides so much of your handsome face" Zee caresses Dick's face.

"Alright. I still want to remind you that we have an amazing apartment, our first place together but I assure you that in time, we are getting a bigger place for our kids and Pocus to run wild and for us to do all kind of stuff" Zee pecks his lips before deciding to take a nap and dream about their future.

"As expected we got another lead from your stalker" After Zee's final show in Tokyo, whoever was behind the threats against Zatanna, they got yet another match to their letters that follows his M.O.

"Then we better leave now. The last item are my father's shades" If Dick was motivated before to get the artifacts stolen from the magic museum and to stop whoever was trying to hurt her beau, now he was reaching a new level of motivation, he knew how much those shades meant to the magician.

"Don't worry, Z. We are getting those shades back and putting behind bars that creep. No one is hurting you under my watch" Zee nods. The couple was planning to catch their perk before the after party of the magician's show.

"Another abandoned factory…this one seems to be a toy factory. This guy sure knows how to be a full creep…" Zee comments as the couple was observing the building from across the street.

"And just like the other times…there's no movement. Sigh*"

"What is it?"

"There's something about this, for some reason this doesn't feel like the other times. I think you should stay behind while check the place"

"Excuse me? You are really asking me to sit this one out while you risk yourself?" Zatanna was offended. She frowned at him and crossed her arms.

"I know it's not ideal but I have this feeling…"

"The more reason to tag along. We need to have each other's backs"

"You can still have my back. I get in and see if there's a trap…afterwards you can follow. It's way better to have a lock-out, don't you think?"

"And why can't you be the lock-out? He's after me"

"Technically, he's after me as well since he knows that he has to get through me to get to you. Besides, I better at sneaking in. You are the heavy hitter" Zee wasn't budging and keep her stern look. Dick got closer to her. "C'mon, Zee. We are a team, remember? Let's take advantage of our individual skills" Dick took off his face mask and tenderly smiled at her. She couldn't resist his damned smile.

"Fine. You have 3 minutes and after that I'm going in, you got it?" Dick kisses her forehead before putting his face mask back on.

"I just need 1" She couldn't see his mouth but she knew that he was smiling. People would often comment on how Zee could convince Dick to do anything but they didn't knew that Dick had the same effect on her. Without much effort, Grayson used his skills to jump from one building to the other while showing off his acrobatic skills.

"Scoff* Show off" Zee keep her eyes glued to the building, waiting for any signal for trouble or from her man.

"AAHHHHH!" A flashing light almost blinded Zee. It was coming from inside the building and she could heard Dick's screams.

"Oh no!" Zatanna quickly flew through the building and walked inside. Not caring if it was a trap or not. All she cared about was Dick's well being. "Nightwing? Nightwing?" She walked through the multiple stands with abandoned toys. She uses her magic to light her path. "I swear by god if you hurt him you are not walking out this in one piece" While she was sounding confident, on the inside, she was terrified for Dick's well being.

The more she walked through the factory, the more worried she got, the fact that there were many abandoned and destroyed toys didn't help at all. She would occasionally turn around when she heard movements and all she could see was a small shadow running around. She feel eyes on her and got goosebumps.

"If this is one of your pranks and sooo leaving your ass!" She tried to sound mad and secure but there was something off in her voice. She keep walking using her magic to light her path, she saw a lot of creepy dolls and finally she reached the super hero isle. There were old Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman toys but besides them there was a toy without dust and wearing black wear…just like Dick's…she was about to grab them but sense the magic nearby.

"Dleihs!" Just in time, Zatanna managed to protect herself from a spell. She barely manage to make the shape of her attacker, it was someone that looked like a small man…about 50 centimeters tall and with a creepy look. The figure run again, hiding himself in the factory.

"Who are you and what did you do to my partner?" Being sick of the hide and seek game, Zatanna casted a spell to create multiple flames as source of light that were floating above the shelves. She analyzed her surroundings, looking for both Grayson and her attacker. Tears started to form in her eyes as she spots the puppet that she saw before, Zee was terrified of puppets but this one I'm front of her was the living image of the love of her life. She tried to concentrate in their bond and confirmed her worst fear, that puppet indeed was the one and only Dick Grayson. The magician felt trapped, the walls were closing in, she didn't have air left to breathe, she felt dizzy and wanted to throw up. Yet, her training and instincts kicked in and barely managed to dodge another attack, she jumped and rolled, just like Dick taught her, out of the harm's way, and run out there to find some cover.

"YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANT HIDE" A creepy voice was echoing through the factory.

Zee run for what it feel like an eternity and found cover behind some assembly machines, she was trying to even her breath, her heart was pounding hard…threatening to get out her chest.

"This can't be…this can't be…this can't be…this has to be a joke…a nightmare…please Dad, wake me up…Mom…Dick…" Her eyes open wide in realization, she focus once again in her bond with Dick to feel what he was feeling. Dick was scared and angry but he wasn't scare for his own shake, he was scare for her, Dick, Dinah and her dad were the only people that knew about Zee's fear to puppets.

Zatanna was thinking about her options, she could run away and ask for help, there are zeta tubes in Japan so anyone from the Team or the League could arrive fast, The Flash could be there in a split of a second, she can summon Fate…that once last thought was like an epiphany for the magician. Her worst fear wasn't a puppet, her worst fear was to lose someone that she loves and that can happen again. She won't allow that. After taking a deep breath and with determination, Zatanna got up and marched back to the fight.

"I don't know what the fuck you think you are but no one messes up with the people I care about and lives to tell it!" Unlike moments ago, Zee was overdose with confidence.

"Who am I? I'm someone that wants revenge after what your father did to me!"

"My dad?! What does he have to do with anything?"

"He turn me into this!" Zee flinched with her enemy revelation, just like she thought, he was q puppet wearing a tuxedo.

"What are you talking about? Aren't you one of Oscar Hampel's Merry-O-Nettes? You were stolen alongside the other artifacts from the museum"

"Stolen? No. I freed myself and I'm not one of Oscar's amazing creations…I'M OSCAR HAMPEL! And you dad ruined my career!" Oscar started his villain origin story and how he was the most popular performer with his marionettes until Zatara and his magic arrived to town. He would try to make better puppet but people didn't care about them, all they care about was magic.

"Why are you blaming my dad for this?!"

"Because one day I reached my limit, no one would go to my shows or buy my puppets…and I was ready to end my life until a saw a commercial on the TV…there he was…your father announcing another tour and this time he would bring his 9 year old prodigy daughter, Zatanna to his shows…and I think why should I end my life when I can end the person that ruined me" Zee was having flashback from that era, she would only perform small tricks with her dad and she wouldn't participate in all the shows. "You were there…the day it happened. I snuck into your dad's dressing room and I was ready to wait for him and to kill him but to my surprise, you were already there, trying to get a fucking bunny out of your hat" Oscar spat.

"I-I-I can't remember that" Zee was in disbelief. How could she forget something like that.

"Of course not. When I was ready to kill you, just like how your dad killed my career…his old assistant stepped in and save you…not before bleeding out to death and when I was ready to take you, good dear old dad showed up and he step in and saved you and curse me with this…" Oscar signal this puppet body. "He knock you out with his magic and make you forget about it" Everything started to make sense to Zatanna. Now, she could understand her fear and how it started.

"I'm sorry that my dad cursed you with this but you are a criminal, a murderer…you need to pay for what you did but I can help you to get back to your normal self" Even if the situation was hard, Zee was trying to reaching out to Oscar's lost soul.

"It's impossible. I stole this stupid wand from the museum and didn't manage to return to my own self but what I did manage to do with this…was to make new friends like the handsome fella that got here before you but don't worry you can be just like me…at least for a moment before I kill you" Once again, Oscar used the wand to attack Zatanna but this time she was ready.

"Rorrim!" Zatanna deflected Oscar's attack back to him. Knocking the puppet out. "Peels" not being one to take chances, the magician used another spell to make sure that there would be no more surprises.

"Please. I hope this works" Upon a quick analysis, Zee knew why Oscar couldn't get back to normal. Zatanna snapped the wand in two, breaking the spell and returning Oscar back to his human form. Shortly Dick follow the lead and got back to his normal size.

"That was quite the experience…" Dick rubbed his head, trying to adjust to the change.

"Baby! Are you okay? Are you hurt? How are you feeling? Did he do anything to you?" Dick was trying to process all of the magician's questions. But he knew that the best answer was to kiss her.

"I'm feeling the aster thanks to my valiant and sexy hero" He smirked but Zatanna threw her arms and hug him closely.

"I was so scared and-" The magician could continue as the toys' stands lights up and hundreds of people, from kids to adults, transforms back from puppets and dolls to humans.

"This is crazy…" The couple were left speechless by Oscar's action. The amount of people that he turned into puppets.

"I'm sorry Dick. I can't do this…Constantine…Constantine was right" She turned her back on him. She couldn't see him as she breaks their hearts. "The magic world, it's my world and it's not fit for non-magic users or non-magic creatures. The longer you stay with me the more-more your life it's at risk…I can't lose you like I lose my dad. I lose my mom but I had my dad, I lose my dad but I had you and I'm not ready to lose you" Zee keeps going. She was confused as of why Dick wasn't protesting or holding her. The magician took a deep breath.

"We have a lot of fun living the hero life, your detective life, being a couple in Blüdhaven, being somewhat famous but now we are in my world and my story…" Zee sniffles and tries to compose herself. "My story doesn't have a happy ending" She paused for a moment, waiting for his response.

"Are you done?"

"Huh?"

"Sorry. I didn't want to say anything until you get everything out of your system" Zatanna looks confused at her boyfriend. Dick slowly walked closer to her and hold her hands gently. "Zee. Baby. Love of my life. Can you repeat to yourself the first thing that you just said?" Zatanna blinked a couple of times.

"Mmm…that…mmm…that Constantine was right?"

"And don't you find anything wrong with that?"

"Well yeah but-"

"That's his way of seeing things, not yours. You have hope in your eyes, you are full of love but above all…you are not a coward, you are the bravest person that I know" She was about to turn her gaze down but Dick lift her face with his finger. "You are willing to fight psychos, master assassins and freak shows for me. Don't you think that I'm going to do the same? I don't care if it's a goblin, a giant, Klarion or whoever is the top dog in magic. We are fighting everything, together because-"

"Because we are stronger together"

"That's right. Feeling any better now?"

"Do you really don't mind all this chaos? We have seen pretty messed up shit and all but this…" Zee turned to see all the kidnapped person trying to adjust to not being a puppet anymore.

"No if I'm with you. I used to live in Gotham and sadly, this isn't far away from Joker's doing or scarecrow. I know that you have seen some of that stuff on the TV or the times that we face them with the Team but when those guys are in Gotham, they are like 10 times worse than this. That's partially why I didn't like to take you on patrolling or many dates there, I didn't want you to suffer and see what I've seen" Dick Grayson was Zatanna's ray of light, so it was easy to forget from time to time that he went through hell while living in Gotham…that city and its psycho cost him a brother and his parents.

"You won't leave me? Can't you promise me that anything bad is going to happen to you because of me?"

"I can't promise you that but what I can promise is that we will fight together to the very end and if your eyes are the last thing that I see before leaving this world then…"

"But that won't happen! Everything will be alright as long as the performer stick together" Zee knew that her life wouldn't be the same without him and that no for nothing they are considered one of the power couples in the hero community with how good they compliment each other.

"That's my girl" The couple shared a quick kiss. "Let's help everyone out and get back to our hotel"

"Are you sure you want to give them back to the museum? You can keep them if you want, you know that" Dick gets Zatanna out her trance. She was holding her dad's shades, the last item from the museum.

"These shades are from the first and only movie my dad ever appeared. He got this because my mom said that he looked like a movie star and with all the medical bills from my mom's treatment…" Dick brings Zee closer to him. They were in their bed back in their apartment in Blüdhaven. Dick was resting against the headboard and Zatanna was resting her back on his chest and sit between his legs. "He agreed to do that small role to get more money and to make my mom smile. We got to see an advanced screening because of my mom's cancer…o-o-otherwise…s-she..she-she…she wouldn't…" The only thing Dick could do was to hold her closer and tighter. He already knew that story but he could listen to all of her stories a million times.

"Keep 'em, Zee. They mean so much to you"

"But it's what my dad would've wanted…he donated them for a reason the first time"

"Maybe but it's your call now. He was hurt back then and I know that you two are still hurting but got better at it. Your mom loved those glasses on your dad and I bet you do too. Perhaps by the next time we see your dad, he could be happy to see them again and even to wear them"

"I could keep them until my next once a year…it's in less than a month but what if I hurt him by you showing them to him?"

"That's a risk that only you know if it's worthy or not"

"He likely is getting sadder…he can't wear this while wearing the helmet"

"Yeah but we can keep them safe and when the time comes and WE get your dad back and it's a matter of WHEN rather than IF, he can use them" Zatanna smiles softly, only Dick Grayson can help her to face her demons straight on.

"How are you so sure? That I'm getting my dad back, I mean"

"Because I know you. You are the smartest, you don't give up, you think outside of the box, and when you put your mind in something…there's nothing that Zatanna Zatara can't do" Zee curled into a ball on Dick's chest while the man wrapped his arms around her.

"Take your time Dinah. I'm going to check on the neighborhood and check Dinah's shop…I want to buy some flowers for the most special woman" Dick smiled softly. Zee scheduled an appointment with Black Canary in her flower shop to talk about what they went through with Oscar and what her dad did.

"Actually…do you mind going in with me? I could use you support…" She took his hand.

"Are you sure that you don't want some privacy?"

"I'd rather have my safety net by my side"

"Always" Dick opened the door for the magician and the bell on the door announce them entering the building.

"You are still buying me flowers" Dick chuckled with Zee's comment.

"You got it boss"

"Thanks for bringing me here"

"It's been awhile. We haven't been here since we left for your tour. We need to catch up with your mom" Dick decided that it was for the best to take Zee to her mother's grave after their conversation last night. Sindella's grave was magically hidden in the outskirts of New York, there was a beautiful and small forest where the Zatara family would go from time to time and enjoy themselves and Giovanni couldn't think in a better place to have Sindella's last goodbye.

"Hey, mom…there's a lot of catching up to do…" Zee clings to Dick's arm as she starts telling her mom about their adventures and how they relationship got better and more mature after their roughest patch to date. Dick added a few comments here and there, telling how amazing Zee was and the magician couldn't help her blush seeing Dick talking to her mom about her the way he was doing it, although, Dick didn't let the chance go of telling Sindella some of her daughter not so brightest moments in their adventures.

"And I told Zee that she shouldn't eat that because I knew that she hated mustard and didn't believe me and guess who was throwing up 5 seconds later…"

"Hey! You don't have to tell my mom that! What's she going to say about me?"

"That you are lucky to have such a good and handsome boyfriend that take cares of you" She smiles softly. They have been there for hours catching up and there were a lot more stories left to tell her but Zee wanted to rest. "Alright. This has been lovely but we better get back to our apartment and catch some eye" the magician look surprised at her man. She was sure that she didn't look tired.

"Are you tired?"

"No. But you are. Leaving the weird stuff aside. You have a lot of performances and you deserve and need to rest. We are coming back to tell your mom the rest of our stories" He smiles softly and Zatanna hug him tightly.

"You are right. Take me back" Grayson guided Zee back to their car. He opened the door for her and help her get in.

"Shoot. I think I lost my wallet. Let me go and check real quick"

"I can use my magic to bring it here…"

"Huh? No. It's okay, I'm sure that I must've dropped it when I change your mom's flowers" Grayson sprinted back to Sindella's grave but instead of looking for his wallet. Dick kneeled in front of the tombstone, which has yet to hide itself with magic.

"Hi again…It's me again, I need to be quick before Zee realizes that I didn't lose my wallet" Grayson pulled a small box with a ring out of one of his pockets. "Mrs. Zatara. I love your daughter like you have no idea and I'd love nothing more in this world than to make her my wife…"