"What's wrong? Are you okay, Zee?"
The stage magician sighs as she sits on the edge of the bed.
"Happy Birthday, Boy Wonder"
She tells her love without looking at him, she failed miserably at hiding her disappointment.
"Thank you, beautiful. You need help with anything?"
"No, I was trying to sneak on you to prepare breakfast or maybe waking you up like you wake me up on my birthday…"
Dick moves to the edge of the bed and sits behind her.
"I just need to wake up and see your beautiful face"
"It's not fair…"
"What?"
"With everything going on, I haven't been able to get something really amazing and special like you did for me"
"Hey! You are making me a father, there's not better gift than that…although I was half expecting for them to be born by now and celebrate my first birthday as father"
"Yeah but I'm going to be the first one to celebrate my birthday as a parent"
"Ha! That sounds like you are holding them just to have your celebration as mom first…"
"How dare you to accused me of such thing, Mister. Shame on you!"
She playfully answers him.
"I know. But I can't wait to have them in my arms…"
"Me neither also I can't wait for us to get back in business"
"We did it last night and it was amazing"
"I know but-you know that I love when you are soft and gentle but I like it hard and rough as well and it has been some time since we do it like that"
"Yeah. Maybe but we'll have to wait some more"
The woman's giggles as a memory strikes back.
"What is it?"
"I just remember that I was the first person you arrested when you become an officer"
"A desk officer for that matter and you resisted arrest"
"And you had to use some brute force and pin me down…
They stayed quiet for a while, just enjoying each other's company.
"What do you want to do today?"
"We can have breakfast and play a visit later today…what about we go to the forest and have a picnic"
"Sounds good to me. But we have to get back early…because…mmm"
The woman was struggling to find an excuse.
"Because these babies might pop out in any minute. Yeah, that's why…"
"You are right. We better be careful"
"Then let me prepare breakfast so we can go and visit them"
"Let me-"
"No. It's your day and I giving you the day that you deserve so much"
After a quick shower, the couple went downstairs where they were greeted by seasoned magician.
"Good morning, great girl"
The man pecks the cheek of his daughter.
"Good morning, daddy"
"And happy birthday Richard. I got you this…"
Giovanni hugs his son in law before giving him a small box.
"Thank you, sir. You shouldn't have…"
"But of course I have to. Open it"
Grayson starts unwrapping the small box, Zatanna gets as close as possible. She really had not idea of what might be inside the box and once Dick opens it, she gasp in surprise.
"This is really cool, sir. Thanks…"
Grayson inspects the coin necklace, he couldn't understand at first what the coin has written on it.
"The text it's both backwards and Italian…it's a coin that has belong to this family through many generations. It has magic on it and protects the wielder from certain attacks…you won't be immortal but-"
"You'll be safer with this"
Zatanna was beaming, her father just gave the love of her live the most important heirloom of the family, bar Shadow Crest.
"I can't accept this…this belongs to-"
Zatara places his hand on Dick's shoulder.
"To family and you are my Family, we are Family"
Zatanna takes the necklace from Dick's hands and puts it on him. The coin starts shining.
"Does this mean that you are not longer angry at me for kidnapping Zee all those years back?"
Grayson smiles and Zee rolls her eyes at her husband's comment.
"I thought that it was clear when I walk her down the aisle on your wedding or when I didn't hex you as Fate when you started dating her…"
"Fair enough. How does it look on me?"
"Perfect"
The woman pecks his cheek.
"Why don't you go and wait on the living room while I make breakfast?"
"Let's do the breakfast together, dad"
"I believe that Richard would much rather to have you by his side…it won't take long"
The couple couldn't argue with him and they just cuddle on the couch together and Zee started playing with his hand with hers.
"Do you want to have some time alone with them? Or-"
"You hear your dad, I prefer to have you by my side but we better ask him for a heating spell and I wrapping you like a burrito"
"Please, don't over do it. It's colder in New York and Las Vegas, and those mountains you take me to hike, Japan…do I need to go on?"
"No but you weren't pregnant back then. I'm the birthday boy, you have to do it"
"Hey! Mom! Dad!"
"Hi, Mrs. and Mr. Grayson"
The couple arrives to the graveyard where Dick parents were buried. Dick unfolds a couple of chairs for him and his misses. Usually, they'd sit on the floor but the Batparonia was strong and Dick didn't wanted for Zatanna to do any kind of effort that wasn't strictly necessary.
"I-it's my b-birthday…again"
"So weird, it's crazy how that happens every year, baby"
"I'm getting old but not as old as my missus…auch!"
Zatanna smacks him.
"That was from your mom. She says that you shouldn't say those things to your very beautiful and patient wife"
"Auch! What was that about?"
"Your dad just made a comment like that on your mom and since he doesn't have a corporeal body…"
"See what kind of abuse I have to endure?"
Dick and Zatanna keep telling Dick's parents everything about their lives since their last visit.
"And the twins are almost here…we were planning to leave the mistery live until the very last moment and get to see if they are a boy-boy, girl-girl or boy-girl once they were here"
Dick takes Zatanna's hand.
"But someone couldn't resist and opened the envelope from Leslie…"
"Hey! You should've hide it better"
"Anyway, we are having a boy and a girl"
"And we already decided on the names…"
"We did?"
Zee: "Yup and are really beautiful names after really amazing people, the very best people of you ask me"
Zatanna moved her gaze from the tombs to her man's eyes.
"My girl is going to be Mary…and just as her mother and grandmothers, she's going to be really gorgeous and amazing"
Dick's eyes watered with Zatanna's name election for a girl, they have throw some names to the table but none of them were final until now.
"And my little and super handsome boy is going to be John…just like his dad, his dad's dad and his mom's dad"
The couple was still lost in each other's eyes.
"What do you think?"
"That you are perfect and got the perfect names, honey"
Grayson leans over to kiss Zatanna but she broke the kiss.
"Mr. Grayson, behave. What are you parents going to say about us?"
"That I'm getting you pregnant again, almost right after the twins arrive"
"Yeah? Something else?"
"That we should make our own circus and travel around the world as a family"
Zee: "I like how that plan sounds but we are going to need more people to pull and entire show…"
"There's us and people love our performance as a couple, our kids when they grow up, your dad, we might be able to pull in Nimue, Cassie, Artemis…mmm"
"You really have thought about it, huh? Any other plan on that head of yours?"
"Plenty"
"Am I part of those too?"
"There's not plan without you…"
Dick takes her hand and kisses it, earning giggles from his wife.
"Also! Zee's father finally took me in the family. He give this really cool and amazing family protection coin…I guess he wants me to stick around"
"Stop with that! You know that he loves"
"Yeah, I know he does but I still get nervous around him from time to time"
"I don't know why…just look at your parents and me, we are such good friends and always have a blast"
Dick notices how the temperature went down again and since he didn't want to risk Zee to get sick.
"We better keep going. Let's get back to our house"
"Wait! Why? What about our picnic at the forest?"
"The temperature went down again and it's going to be colder in the wood…let's freeze that idea to another day and just cuddle back home"
The man gets up and helps Zatanna getting up as well.
"Mmmm…but…"
"What's wrong?"
"Can we go to a coffee shop or cafeteria? I want to y'know…being outside, it's good for the kids and me"
The magician asks nervously.
"Are you okay? You have been acting kinda weird since the morning"
The woman bites her bottom lip.
"Yeah…well no. I told you that I didn't got the chance to pick you a birthday present and I was hoping to make up for it in our date in the wood and-"
"I told you it's okay but if you want to go to a cafeteria…let's go. There's a new one in Blüdhaven that has a couple chimes for the couple to go there and cuddle while eating S'more and hot drinks"
"Sounds perfect"
Zatanna looks at the tombs again and walks towards them.
"We promise to comeback with the twins. Your son has been more than amazing with me and don't worry I'll keep taking care of him. Srewolf!"
The magician makes two bouquets of aster flowers on their in laws graves before walking back to her husband.
"I know. I know. No magic but I have to"
Dick smiles softly at her as he takes her hand and intertwines their fingers.
"You are the best present ever, Zee. Bye, Mom and Dad"
"Why didn't I know about this place before and more importantly…why didn't you bring me here?!"
Zatanna was loving the atmosphere and furniture of the place. The heat from the chimney were comforting her and the smell of coffee, tea and sweats.
"I just found this place the other day while patrolling. Well…actually was Damian. We were practicing his acrobatic and parkour skills"
"Please tell me that he didn't fall through the chimney and that's not why he was all covered in dirt…"
"I swore secrecy of the events of that night"
"Hello and Welcome to Exatal's Chimmey. My name is Nicolas and I'll be your waiter today. Please, pick the space of your liking, the blankets are changed after every customer leaves, they are really warm and fuzzy"
"Thanks. We would like to get a large americano and some tea with milk and two s'mores"
"I hope that the americano is for me…"
"You now it isn't but I'll let you kiss me after I drink it"
The waiter takes the order and makes his way to the counter. By Dick's demands, the couple sits on the recliner with her resting on his lap and wrapped in the blanket.
"You know that It's going to be hard for you to eat the s'more like this, right?"
"Then I guess you would have to feed me"
"An agenda as usual, I see"
The man was drowning on her sweet scent, burying himself deeper in her hair, tightly and carefully hugging her.
"If you fall asleep and your americano arrives, I'm drinking it"
"I'm awake. Just enjoying the company"
The magician plants several kisses on the top of his head.
"We should install a fireplace or something at home"
"Let's call John tomorrow and see if he wants to use his architectural knowledge and green lantern ring for that"
"I doubt the Green Lantern Council would approve of that…"
"But who's going to tell them? Besides we are in his sector and he'd be helping not only friends but citizens of his sector"
"As long as we don't get an electric one"
"I wouldn't dare"
"Here's your order. I hope you enjoy it"
The man places in the coffee table next to them their drinks and s'mores.
"Thanks"
"Don't doubt in asking me for anything else"
The man bows before leaving the couple alone.
"Let's see if their food is as good as their mood…"
The tea was good enough for Zee, since she had constant tea dates with Alfred and Steph for their sass session, her standards for tea were high, no one does better tea than the British butler. She takes a bite of the sweet.
"Oh my God! This are so good. Baby, you have to taste them"
The treat was so good that make the magician blush and form the biggest smile.
"Really?"
"Totally. Open up"
The magician feeds him and Dick starts savoring the treat.
"Woow. They are so good"
The couple spent the next minutes drinking their hot beverage and eating s'mores. Zatanna feed him the whole time.
"What if we stay here? This can be our new home"
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea but you had enough s'mores"
"What? I did not? You eat more than me and I'm eating for 3!"
"Don't you remember what happened with the cakes?"
The magician looks to the side and blushes.
"I don't know what are you talking about…"
"Then let me refresh your memory…we went to Krowny's bakery and you try her new cake recipe and couldn't stop eating and use our kids as an excuse to over eat and then you spent the rest of the day throwing up because of the sugar and blame me for not stopping you"
"Fine. But we are coming back here"
"Without a doubt"
Zee signals Nicolas to come close.
"How can I help you?"
"With the check, please. This are so good"
"I'm glad that you like them and it's on the house. The owner told me"
"We can't accept that. We love it"
"And we are glad but I call and told him that you were here. He couldn't come to greet you but he told me that you saved his life more than once and it's the only way he could repay you in some way"
The couple looked at each other, they hated when people didn't let them pay for their stuff.
"But we don't help people to get a reward or special treatment. Please, let us pay"
"I can't if accept that. I'm getting fired if I do"
"Then let us tip the staff for an amazing service and place"
"That won't cut either. You have save someone from this place or close to us at least once"
"Fine but the next time, you are letting us pay, okay?"
The man smiled at them.
"I have a request…well two actually"
The man scratches the back of his head awkwardly.
"Sure. What is it?"
Nicolas show the tablet where he take the orders and shows a picture of Zee feeding Dick with the s'more. The whole get up was amazing and the couple loved the photo.
"We took this photo to help with the publicity of this place but we don't post anything if we don't get the approval of the persons. If you don't like or want the picture we'll delete it but we were wondering if you-"
"It's okay. You can use it only if you send us a copy. I love it"
"Agreed. And your second request?"
"The whole staff was wondering if we could take a picture with you guys?"
"Of course. It'll be our pleasure"
"That place was amazing. Let's get back tomorrow or next week"
Zee checks up her phone while Dick drives back to their place.
"Sure. It's really something else"
"The place already posted our photo with the hashtag couple goals and all that jazz and the you got another happy message from the Outlaws but…"
"What did Jason do?"
"He sent a picture…he wrote the happy birthday message with gasoline and set the fire"
"And let me guess, it was a trafficking ring or something like that"
"Yup. It was a cartel lair"
Members of the batfamily, the league, the Team, the precinct, the circus and the Outsiders have sent their messages and wishes through the day, the exception was Wally and Bart that went in the morning at super speed and Alucard with his magic mirror. The ride back home was short and without complications.
"It was a nice day. Do we know if your father is in the house? Or are we having the place for ourselves?"
"Why?"
"Because I see a present that needs to be open"
The magician rolls her eyes.
"Did you rolled your eyes at me? On my birthday?"
"Maybeee…what are you going to do about it?"
Dick leans from the driver's seat to start a make out session with Zatanna.
"Let's get inside and continue this properly"
The couple gets off the vehicle and when Dick was about to open the door, the magician stopped him.
"Baby, I forgot my purse. Can you get it?"
Dick nods before sprinting back to his SUV and get her bag, he turns around and sees that the door was open but the lights were still out. He walks towards his house.
"Zee? Gorgeous? I better see my present unwrapped because I'm starting to unwra-"
"SURPRISE!"
The lights turn on to reveal Grayson's closest family and friends in his house. Luckily, he had just take his coat off.
"What's this?"
"Quite the detective as always, young Master"
"Your birthday party, silly. Did you really thought that I wouldn't do anything for the birthday of the best husband ever?"
"Well…you have being quite busy and the twins and-"
"Not in a million year. Who am I? Wally West?"
"Hey! I remember every single one of his birthdays!"
"But not Valentine's"
After some teasing to both Wally and Dick. The little reunion started and everyone congratulated the birthday man.
"You loved your surprise, right? It's amazing, isn't it? Zatanna has been planning this for months…you should have seen your face! It was priceless. Look I took a picture"
The Martian overwhelms the acrobat with many questions.
"You should let Dick breath with all those question, Megan"
"Right, right. Sorry, Dick"
"No worries, Miss M"
The Martian flies away to talk with her uncle J'onn about their next trip to Mars next year for her wedding.
"How are you liking the party, Grayson? How does it feel to be older"
"It's great but do I need to remind you that I'm still the youngest"
"Technically, I'm the youngest and Will is younger"
"But you were born older and so did Will"
"Details, details. The thing is that we are together and ready to party"
"Anyway, Grayson. Did we really surprise you? I'm getting worried about your radar. The twins coming out soon are really doing a number on you, huh?"
"What can I say? Maybe…"
"Wait! You knew?"
"Shhh"
Grayson looks around to see that no one but them were listening.
"Look at how happy Zee is and all the effort she put on this… I couldn't do that to her"
The guys from the Team year Zero looks at the magician celebrating a surprise well pulled.
"How?"
"I'm a detective and all of you guys are pretty obvious…except Kaldur"
"I saw your face and there's no way-"
Dick shrugs.
"I'm a performer"
"But you were unwrapping yourself?"
"Gotta sell the show"
The magician, Donna, Kory, Artemis and Dinah notices the gaze from the male group and make their way towards guys.
"Enjoying your party my beau?"
Dick puts his arm around her and hugs her.
"Feeling the aster, thanks gorgeous"
"And wait until you see the cake"
"Please tell me that you didn't bake it? Do I need to remind you that I'm becoming a father?"
The Amazon hits the man's shoulders.
"Ouch"
"I supervise but my cooking isn't that bad"
"Are you ready to make a wish, Dick?"
The man looks at Zatanna.
"I have everything I could dream of right here"