Disclaimer: I am going to say Highlander/Highlander: the Series belongs to Davis/Panzer as well as Rysher Entertainment from now on. For all other disclaimer, see chapter one!

Chapter Five

"This reminds me of a former friend of mine," Richie spoke up as Kate, Harper, Lynn, Dick and Methos were helping Alfred clean up the mess of that blow out as the others were at the lounge room, "Someone Angie and I used to hang out with."

"Gary?" Tori asked, aware of Gary who died before she was fully involved in her husband's life.

"No, no, no, no," Richie answered, "His name was Nathan. He was an entitled brat."

"But Nathan doesn't have Al Ghul blood like Damian does," Tim spoke up.

"That's not the point, Tim," Barbara interjected, "Let him talk."

"Anyway," Richie elaborated further, "Nathan was very problematic. There were family games that Angie and I would sometimes take part of, and we'd see his ugly side come out. We also seen that he was jealous of his younger siblings Cassie and David. Sometimes, they would get the big prizes while he got punishments, similar to what Nathan got."

"That's not good," Cassandra quipped.

"You have no idea," Richie explained further, "Nathan would refuse to do some of the punishments and as she was the youngest, Cassie got to give him and even their dad the punishment when he got it. Nathan had to do the punishments whether he wanted to or not. It's not a big deal because I had to do a punishment at least once, and so did Angie."

"It's just a game," Stephanie rolled her eyes, "What's with people acting like brats when things don't go their way in these games?"

"Eventually, it gotten to a point where Nathan gave Cassie a wedgie and slapped her face when she cracked an egg on his head as part of a punishment," Richie explained further, "and he did the same to David when he put a pie, which was a plate of some whipped cream on his face. Did I forget to mention that he can't handle jokes, when someone kids around with him?"

He took a deep breath before he continued, "Whenever he won some candy, or a gift card to a restaurant, Gary and the cousin Sam would joke around and say it's something he doesn't need, and as a result, Nathan would lash out at them, tell them to shut up and call them nerds."

"What a bully," Stephanie replied.

"What happened to Nathan?" Tori asked.

"We never invited him back after some time," Richie answered, "Nathan would play the victim after that, accusing his parents and us of picking Cassie and David as the golden children when they have the same resources he had. Nathan tried framing them for stealing, which got him in trouble, especially since it was a dog he stole. He was ungrateful, selfish and a bully. Eventually, Nathan cut off contact with the family as he hated Cassie and David, and before he did so, he gave his parents an ultimatum to give him "equal treatment" he deserved or he'd stop talking to them as he was apparently sick of Cassie and David taking away things that he "deserved" when in reality he didn't have anything to take to begin with, even a brain."

"Good riddance in that case!" Amanda exclaimed.

"All things considered," Richie stated, "I wish Nathan the best, as long as he stays away from that poor family and us."

"Hear, hear," Tori quipped.

"They say there's a bad apple in every barrel," Duncan stated, "or there's a bad apple in every tree."

"I have barely kept in touch with that family since," Richie stated, "which is unfortunate because they were decent people aside from Nathan. They falsely had CPS called on them by Nathan too whenever he didn't get his way. I never understood why he acted that way, but I'm glad I don't have to worry about him anymore."

"So, what do we do now?" Stephanie asked.

"I heard there's going to be Christmas dinner as soon as everything is settled," Amanda answered.

-Merry-Gotham-Christmas-

Richie was waiting outside the room dressing in a nice tuxedo with his signature blue as the others were getting ready for dinner.

"I'm ready when you are," Tori declared. The door then opened and she smiled. Tori was dressed in a V neck emerald evening gown, with silicone stay up back seamed stockings and black 2 inch kitten heels.

"You look amazing," Richie smiled, staring in awe.

"You look handsome yourself," Tori replied before they shared a kiss.

"Is dinner ready?" Jenny asked as she arrived wearing a cute dress.

"Dinner is just about ready," Richie answered, picking up Jenny in his arms.

-Merry-Gotham-Christmas-

Mandrake looks around the dinner table as everyone was seated at the dinner table. He raised a champagne glass, "Here's to the Defenders, the Bat Family, MacLeod and his friends!"

"To Defenders, Bat Family, MacLeod and friends!" the others cheered in return.

He looked around as he was seated between the Baron and Atascadero. He was grateful for his family that he had just found, as he saw his niece Marina seated next to her grandfather.

Joe looked on as he was seated next to Lynn, happy to see his niece.

Duncan looked around seeing Richie seated between his wife and daughter. Amanda was seated next to the Highlander, and Methos was seated next to Joe. He didn't have blood family with him right now, but he was grateful for the family he did have. Yeah, he considered them family, especially Richie and Tori, as he considered Richie a son, and he considered Tori a daughter.

Bruce cleared his throat and spoke up as he stood up from his seat, "I believe my son has something to say to everyone."

He then eyed Damian and motioned him to speak up. He then spoke up as he stood up from his seat, "I am sorry for how I behaved at the game and Richie, I am sorry for mocking whatever trauma that you had endured in connection to that Santa comment I made."

"And as punishment for his attitude," Bruce announced, "Damian's room will be stripped of everything except the essentials for a week, immediately effective after this holiday celebration is over."

Damian groaned in disbelief as he sat back down, with Bruce following suit.

"That's good to hear that actions have consequences," the Baron spoke up, "It's not everyday that parents discipline their kids."

"Thank you," Bruce replied, "I don't want to be like those parents who let their kids get away with the bad stuff they do. I never allowed Dick, Tim, Stephanie or Jason to get away with bad stuff, and they behaved like decent people."

"Here, here!" Selina declared.

"What's going to happen after dinner?" Lynn inquired.

"We are going to be in four groups of ten and drive through the Gotham City light show," Bruce answered, "We will be seeing many Christmas lights through out the city."

"That'll be something to look forward to," Tim replied.

Author's Note: This is going to be a short story compared to my other stories currently in progress, but I hope that I complete this before Christmas day so I can resume Defenders Chronicles: Highlander starting with "Duende". It'd be a treat if I am able to.