Alfred sighed, "I know...She always had been strong...But if it was only her, she might have held on longer, but I do not blame her for fighting in the sake of our daughter, your sister, because she must have thought she would have held on to get Jane to full term, to have Jane survive in self-sacrifice of her life, because you and me knew that she had a big heart...", as tears filled his eyes.
Waylon hesitated for a split second before moving in to hug and bury his face like a little boy into Alfred's arms and shoulder, and his heart raced as he cried, feeling Alfred hug him so surely yet gently, rubbing his back affectionately like a father, whispering, "If I must say it again and again, I would never be angry at you, we both lost her and Jane...A part of this family that would never be filled again, but we will always remember them, Waylon...They are watching over us because they love us, and we love them while missing them, but you aren't alone, son...I love you, my boy, and it doesn't matter where you're from, or what you look like...".
Waylon shakily spoke, "You really promised Mama to look after me...", and Alfred replied, "I'd do anything to be there for you, Waylon Jones...I'm so proud that you came home, to be here, making this family's hopes rising again including mine. You are no longer a boy; you are a man. Do you believe me?".
Pulling back slightly, Waylon looked at Alfred, seeing no lies, just love, concern, warmth, and pride in his eyes, and he finally realized that Alfred meant it, and gave a true smile, "I do, Dad...", not scared anymore to say it for the first time, feeling like he can breathe again from the burden releasing from his shoulders, strangely knowing that Caroline is smiling from the heavens right now.
Alfred practically felt his heart almost burst with pride and love at hearing that. He lost Caroline and Jane but at the very least he would still have Waylon; even keeping one connection to Caroline would be enough for him and to keep him going.
Alfred smiled warmly and gently strokes Waylon's shoulder, "I love you, son...I would never dare to replace Caroline as she is your mama always, and we love her as a son and a widower fiancée, but I hope you can accept me in replacing the donor father, Waylon, if that's okay.".
"Fine with me...", Waylon said. "I mean, I never really had a father growing up anyway so you're not replacing really anything.", Waylon cracked a little joke as they continued to embrace.
Alfred laughed warmly, "Good point...", relieved to have Waylon back, and released his son from the embrace respectfully yet gently, not wanting to push the limit of touching in Waylon's boundaries too much as he must have not been touched since Caroline's death, "Now, don't you have more to say to the others?", with a fatherly look, raising an eyebrow with a gesture to the others who has been watching with patient, happy expressions.
"Yeah.", Waylon nodded as he sighed. "I'm sorry... I need to say this, and I'll probably keep saying this for a long time, but I'm sorry I didn't all of this sooner. It wasn't good for anyone... I made you all worry and ran you probably through long hours of wondering what exactly you may have done wrong to anger me or something along those lines, but... I really am sorry.".
Martha was the first one to say, "Looks like my turn first. Waylon, Caroline was one of my best friends and almost like an actual sister, you don't have to apologize for anything that wasn't your fault. We all realized that you were scared, and it got so much for you. And yes, we were worried a lot, but upon seeing traces of you at the gravestones on the tree and accepting our leftovers and rare letters, I was especially relieved for Alfred because we knew that you were alive and kept going strong. We could always return here for you, no matter what, Waylon, because you are worthy of this family.".
"I certainly haven't been proving that or really earning that sort of worth...", Waylon sighed. "But I'm glad you're still willing to give that to me.".
"You're young and hardheaded; it was understandable.", Bruce said as he gave a bit of a shrug that Waylon nodded to; knowing that he was right. "But it did pain to see you do all this; you're like a brother to me... and it hurt that you didn't think to come to any of us for help just to grieve together at least but I'm glad you're here now.".
Waylon exhaled, "Me too...and I should have come sooner, but I am relieved that Mama convinced me to think awfully long, and told me to call as it's Christmas Eve...and it's nice to know that I got a figuratively big brother, through even if you're 18, older than me, I am bigger than you!", trying to make a joke with a snicker.
"Yeah, we'll have to see about that; you might have gotten all done fairly soon rather than later.", Bruce chuckled before Kel cleared her throat.
"Sorry; not exactly the best at saying these sorts of things...", Kel admitted. It was true in ways, Martha obviously seemed to know exactly what to say, compared to Kel. "It's okay, just say what flows..." Martha told her.
Kel nodded, and exhaled, "Waylon, in terms of my world, you're an older adolescent wolf pup, not quite an adult wolf, and that means you still need to be taught how to live and realize lessons, but it also means that you can handle yourself, yet you must realize that you still need help. You are part of this family and family, pack takes care of each other because the wolf is the pack, and the pack is the wolf. Do you understand, Waylon?
"I do.", Waylon nodded. "I suppose it is lucky that I've known this whole pack thing for quite a few years.", he said as Kel chuckled, "Either way, you're in this pack and it would take way, way worse than you have done to be driven from it, that's for sure.".
"Thank you, Kel.", Waylon said. "Again, I'm just glad the whole cold shoulder is so quick to forgive for you all... it's not as fast for me...". Kel replied, "Waylon, we'll be here, physically, by phone or letter, and it will be easier, okay?".
Waylon gave a smile, "I know.", and then exhaled as he then looked at Poppy. "I'm really sorry that I hurt you by not showing up for your birthday weekend before your actual birthday day/Halloween, and not giving you a present...I...I was just feeling hurt at the same time...I...I know you are older and smarter than how you look...but I hurt you by hurting our friendship...", watching his language as hurting is the same as the term of fucking up wrong, and of course, there are still other personal things he is not ready to say when Poppy's involved about them.
Poppy said nothing before she rushed over to him and wrapped herself around him, squeezing tightly as she hugged him and started to tear up. "It's okay, Wally...", Poppy whispered while sniffling. "I just really missed you...".
Waylon exhaled in awe and surprise before hugging her back just as tightly yet gently he could be, "I really missed you too, Poppy. Friends forever?".
Poppy looked up at him with a slight huff and a determined eyebrow, "Best friends forever. And don't you dare forget it, Waylon Jones. No matter how many times, if I am going to drag your ear, or poke you in the chest, I ain't going to leave you until you get that all sunk into that hard skull of yours, is that clear?".
"Clear.", Waylon chuckled as Poppy squeezed him again. "How are you feeling now, Waylon?", Alfred asked.
"Honestly, much better now that I got that all off of my chest...", Waylon admitted. Alfred smiled warmly, "Good...Now, are you going with us or staying here?", needing to know Waylon's feelings.
Waylon exhaled as the others slightly tensed, and he then responded, "I won't run away when you visit...I am still very nervous to be in a big place like Wayne Manor, even if it's in the countryside away from Gotham, I just need to get used to being around you guys again, maybe for a year before I consider coming with you...I promise to send letters or call like...like when it was the usual before Mama and Jane, if I want just to talk or if I am very seriously hurt, not that I never had been like that, but just for all of you, especially you, Dad...".
"If that's what you wish...", Alfred said, a tad disappointed that Waylon didn't instantly want to come back with them, but it was understandable. He hadn't been to a city like Gotham before in his life and even being in close proximity would be quite the culture shock in some ways.
Poppy then perked up, "Then let's make this Christmas Eve the best. And I know where to start!", hopping off the couch to pick a present up from the family's pile of presents, and searched through Waylon's pile for her present, finding it, and coming back to the couch by between Waylon and Alfred once again, smiling as she gave him his present, "Go on!", as she held her present on her lap.
Waylon nodded, curious why Poppy's excited, and opened the present, unwrapping and opening the box as his eyes widened, his hands holding up as the present revealed to be a stunning snow globe with Wayne Manor inside.
Poppy said, "I had a thought that you might want to stay here and get used to the idea of living in a big place with some time, so I figured this is the next best thing I could do for you...Mom helped out a bit, but it was all my idea...What do you think?", biting her lip nervously.
"I swear, I never would've thought of it...", Waylon said as he held it in his hands to look closer at it. "The craftsmanship with it... that's really impressive...".
"Cost a bit of a penny, but worth it.", Martha chuckled. Bruce replied, "Of course, that's not the entire grounds and all, but it's amazing to see snow for the first time even if it's fake, eh?".
Nodding, Waylon exhaled, "It's amazing...I love it, Poppy...", with a smile. Poppy grinned, "You're welcome, Wally! Now, my turn!", before unwrapping her present from Waylon, and replied, "Whoa...", holding up a wooden flute carved with flowers and a crocodile head as the whistle part.
Waylon stammered, "I know it ain't as stunning as this snow globe and it's not super detailed since I carved with my claws next to one of my knives, and-", before Poppy whispered, "It's beautiful...I love it...".
"Y-you do?", Waylon asked as he was a bit surprised by the answer. He was honestly half expecting more of the whole 'it's nice' but obviously not exactly something she probably wanted sort of gift. She still was a young girl after all and kids around Christmas could be a fickle bunch.
Poppy looked at him, "You made this for me, of course I love it! Let's see how it goes!", before putting her fingers to the flute, glad for music classes at school, and to Waylon's amazement, Poppy did an iteration of Jingle Bells, as the family listened.
"Sounds good.", Waylon said with a sigh of relief; at least it mostly worked because he was so sure that at the end of the day that thing was merely going to be mostly a decretive sort of present and not really viable as an instrument.
Poppy smiled, "I think I am going to put this to good use...Thank you, Wally.", and Waylon nodded with a smile, "You're welcome.".
Alfred then replied, "Let's enjoy the evening with some games and music. We can do the rest of the presents tomorrow morning as after all, all of us can't be spoiled, eh?".
Waylon and the others agreed, and so, they enjoyed the evening playing the games from Waylon's room and putting on the radio to set music, laughter and conversation through the shack for hours before they headed to bed in usual positions like sleeping bags and all, with Waylon back in his bed this time.
As Christmas morning began to breach with the sunrise, Alfred turned over in his side of his beloved's bed, his hand touching a small box, feeling a bow, and his eyes sleepily opened to see a present with a tag from Caroline and Jane, and he startled awake.
He reverently sat up, gently unwrapping it to reveal a beautiful, small wind chime with a big heart of a big hand shape and a small heart of a small hand shape inside the big heart, along with a snowflake chime.
Alfred closed his eyes as he began to cry; in a mix of sadness and joy at just the perfection that was the gift. How perfect it was; a permanent reminder at least of both Caroline and Jane that he could still keep.
"Dad?", spoke a quiet voice, and Alfred looked up in tears to see Waylon in the doorway, holding a series of beautiful carved different sized string chimes that has incredible designed flowers in an unwrapped present, having tears as he whispered, "From Mama and Jane...a note says it's jointed for us together.".
"Yeah...", Alfred sniffled as he tried to clear his eyes. "I got theirs as well...", he showed him his gift as Waylon walked into the room. "Is there a note with yours?", Waylon asked.
Alfred nodded, taking out a note from the box, and smiling softly, "It says that she and Jane loves us, asking a favor to cast their hands, and that Jane had fun learning too. Turns out she's loving snowflakes next to flowers. And that we can hang this wind chime together on the porch for your time here and then bring it to Wayne Manor when you're ready later.".
"Does it look very strong?", Waylon asked. "I remember one time we had some windchimes, but they were so heavy that it really took some heavy gusts to actually get it to make sounds. Too light and it'll be chiming all the time which I assume would start to get a bit on the nerves at moments.".
Alfred gently took his part of the joint present out, "No, not too heavy or too light... it's just right...and so perfect...You want to do it now before we start on Christmas breakfast?", with an awed, reverent smile. "Yeah; let's take care of this first before we eat. I can wait a few minutes…", Waylon chuckled as Alfred nodded.
Alfred got off bed, not caring about his pajamas, as he carefully held the first part of the joint present, following Waylon across through the house and out into the porch, and they agreed on the right side, on the corner without obstruction of the view of Caroline and Jane's tree/resting places, hanging it up carefully, making it together and stepping back as the wind breezed through.
The sounds that came from it were almost the purest that one could hear in the entire world; it was almost difficult to describe in many ways, but it gave off an air of peace and calmness with each chime that was made.
Alfred smiled as he squeezed Waylon's shoulder, "That's about the most beautiful sound I've ever heard...Thank you, Caroline and Jane.. We love you too... Merry Christmas...", feeling better and calmer even though he knew that he would be sad sometimes, he sees that his beloved and daughter are always in his heart and his son's heart...
"Merry Christmas, Mama... little sis...", Waylon said himself as he wrapped an arm around Alfred. "Come on, Dad, we should probably get something to eat; you all have a long journey back home pretty quick and it wouldn't help being on an empty stomach.".
Alfred looked at him, "Waylon, we're staying until the weekend of New Year's Eve like usual, we ain't leaving ya.". Waylon stammered in surprise before smiling widely, and nodded, and so, Christmas Day was spent of a holiday triad of meals and opening presents and such, with the family complimenting in awe over the wind chimes, and so a week passed like more or less like the usual holiday visits.
After New Year's Eve, the Wayne family hugged and kissed Waylon bye, and after getting leftovers packed up, Waylon headed back to the deep bayou.
Letters and calls were made every week or month as visits came and went, and before anyone knew it, it was spring, and a couple weeks in April later after spring break, the city got even more visits of She-Hulk on her patrols after rumors by police that young girls were kidnapped from several parks.
It was one of those days on patrol as Kel bounded across buildings, glad that Bruce and Poppy's schools are in the same area so Bruce could check on Poppy, by phone or recess time.
Kel wore comms to Alfred's station down in the 'Cave', the main base of the caverns underneath Wayne Manor, keeping tabs on police scanners and computer gossip.