fic: All I Want for Christmas (part 2/3)

[darthbatgirl]

Title: All I Want for Christmas (part 2/3)

Author: darthbatgirl

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Characters: Kon/Tim, Cassie/Kara, Babs/Dick, Cassandra/Jason, Stephanie, Damian, Chris Kent, Krypto, Ace, Alfred, Ma & Pa Kent, Bruce/Clark

Summary: As the Kent and Wayne families spend the holidays together, Kon and Tim try and figure out their place in each other's lives.

Word Count: 5154

Warnings: angst, fluff, boy kissing

A/N: sorry this part is so late, didn't really want to write about Christmas in January, though everyone likes getting late presents right?

part one


“Why would I want to do something like that?” Damian scowled as he watched Chris and Dick slide down the hill on a sled. “It looks so Juvenal.”

Jason rolled his eyes at the sulking ten year old. The combined Kent-Wayne families were sitting on a enclosed porch on the back of the Manor. Heaters and blankets kept everyone warm. The porch had been built when Dick was a child and he had discovered that this hill was perfect for sledding. Next to the porch was a shed that was stocked with every kind of sled imaginable. “You're a kid. You're suppose to do kid stuff, it won't kill you to have some fun.”

Damian only scowled at Jason. “I have plenty of fun. I beat up bad guys. I solve crimes better than anyone but Father, and I constantly outshine all of you - that's always fun.”

“And you're so humble about it too,” Jason muttered shaking his head at the kid. “Well I guess if your happy about Chris being better than you at something then I guess that's okay.”

Damian raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean better than me?”

Jason shrugged offhandedly, “It does take a certain degree of control of the sled and balance to be really good.. I'm sure the other kids will understand that you don't have those skills.”

“Other kids?”

“Sure Lian and Wally's two kids. I'm sure they'll understand that you're afraid.”

“I'm not afraid of anything.” Damian growled as he grabbed a sled and flew down the hill.

Jason laughed as he looked over to where Bruce, Clark, Barbara, and the others were sitting on the porch. “I love winding that kid up.”

Bruce tsked, “Stop teasing Damian, he's sometimes doesn't get that you're only teasing him.”

“Hey someone's got to get the stick out of his butt He's too young to be acting like a clone of you.” Jason said sticking his tongue out at Bruce.

“And here I thought you were just tired of Damian making doe eyes at Cass,” Tim said with a slight smile.

“Whaaat?!”

Tim nodded solemnly “Baby brother's got a crush.”

“Why that little brat!” Jason hissed. He went over to where the sleds were and grabbed one, following Damian down the hill.

“That wasn't nice,” Cassandra scolded - though she didn't bother hiding her grin.

Tim gave a smile that matched hers. “Damian isn't the only one who's easy to rile up.”

Bruce snorted, “Ought to lock all of you up in the cave.”

“Now why go to all that trouble,” Tim asked innocently. “We'd just pick the locks.”

The group laughed, and Clark leaned up against Bruce and kissed him on the cheek. “He has you there,”

Bruce humphed and changed the subject turning to Cassie and Kara, “Cassie, Tim's told us your mother won't be home for Christmas.”

The question takes Cassie by surprise and somehow ends up with whipped cream on her nose as she looks up at Bruce. “Uh, yeah, Mom's going to be helping with a new museum opening.”

“So you'll be alone on Christmas?”

Cassie shrugged, “It's fine, I'll probably hook up with Diana and Donna,”

“Nonsense, stay here with us for the holidays,” Bruce said waving his hand to dismiss Cassie's plans. “The boys would love having you here, and Kara would appreciate your staying as well I think.”

Bruce smirked a little as both girls blushed a little as Cassie spoke up,”I couldn't. I'd be barging in - it's a family thing right?”

Steph laughed a little. “Don't try and fight him Cassie. If Bruce wants you here for the holidays, you might as well just give in.” The group laughed at that. Everyone there had at one time or another experienced Bruce's single-mindedness when he wanted something.

“Okay, I'll stay,” Cassie said giving in.

“Great!” Kara said happily as she hugged Cassie and smiled her thanks to Bruce.

Steph grinned as she pulled Cassandra, Kara and Cassie to their feet. “Come on, the boys, can't have all the fun.” she declared as she herded her friends to the sleds.

Kon was just about to join them when a gentle hand fell on his arm, and Tim's warm breath tickled his ear. “Want to go ice skating?”

Kon looked up in surprise, but nodded his head and followed Tim off the porch.

Tim lead Kon down a path away from the manor down to a frozen pond . Like the shed with the sleds in it, there was a shed here too with an assortment of skates,different sizes and styles. Next to the shed was a small enclosure like the porch with a bench and a heater in it.

Kon and Tim grabbed some skates and from their boots and stepped out on the ice. I ta been a while since Kon had skated. He took long even strides, carefully skating along the outer rime of the pond. It gave Kon a chance to watch Tim as he skated.

Tim made loops and figure eights and short little spins. Kon couldn't help but smile, Tim was wonderful to watch. While Dick a the grace of an acrobat and Jason had a natural athletic ability, Tim had worked for everything he had. He threw his whole heart into learning a new skill. In Kon's eyes that made him even more beautiful to watch., because he did it with his whole heart.

Kon changed his path and looped around Tim. For a while all they did was loop around each other. Then Kon reached out with his TTK and caressed Tim's cheek.

“Don't,” Tim said as he came to a stop.

“Why?” Kon asked as he stopped next to him. And caressed his cheek with his own hand. “Why did we come here?”

Tim bit his lower lip as he looked away, frustration etched on his face. “I - I don't know. I thought it would be nice - to go skating with you - to be with you.”

Kon smiled and took both of Tim's hands in his and began skating backward pulling Tim with him. “I like that idea. We could spend and entire day doing this.”

“But we can't,” Tim said as he stopped. “We just can't!”

“Why?!” Kon challenged.

“Because the other shoe hasn't dropped!” Tim snapped.

“What?!”

“I got you back. Bart's back. Bruce, Jason - the family is together. But it doesn't last. Something will happen. It'll change, the other shoe . . .”

“ . . .will drop,” Kon finished. He pulled Tim against him, despite Tim's attempt to get free, wrapping his arms around him and holding him close and rubbing small comforting circles on his back.

“I'm patrolling all the time. Fighting all the time. Getting hurt all the time.” Tim whispered, all of the fear,grief, weariness, and helplessness he'd been feeling clear in his voice.

“Maybe you're looking at it all wrong. Maybe you shouldn't be fighting. Maybe you should just skate with me. Then later we'll eat Ma's cookies, tease Damian a bit, and then hang a stocking. Maybe the other shoe isn't so bad.” Kon said as he moved back a little to see Tim's face. “What do you say? Could we try?”

“I . . I could try. With you.” Tim said as he took Kon's had and they began to skate again.

When they returned to the porch at the back of the manor, it was to see that a snowball fight had broken out. Chris, Damian, Dick, Bruce, Steph, and Kara, were defending against Jason, Cassandra, Babs, Cassie, and Clark. Kon smiled as he watched the battle. “Should we even ask how this started?”

“Do you think the answer would really matter?” Tim asked, a small smile on his face.

“Tim get your ass over here,” Jason shouted throwing snowballs at Dick.

Tim's smile got bigger as he scooped up some snow into a ball and threw it at Damian.

“What are you doing?” Kon laughed.

“Letting go,” Tim said as he threw a snowball at Kon.

Kon threw back his head and laughed louder and then flew over the Kara and Steph and began to make his own arsenal of snowballs.

* * * *

Kon stood with his arms crossed looking up at the ten foot tree that Clark and Bruce were putting in the stand. “That is a huge tree.”

“I think Bruce buys a bigger tree every year,” Dick said coming up from behind him caring a box of ornaments. “I swear the first one was only four foot tall. It reminded me of Charlie Brown's tree.”

Kon eyed Dick nervously, not sure of his footing with the oldest batboy.

Dick smiled at Kon's nervousness. “Relax Kon, I'm not going to throw kryptonite snowballs at you. In fact I wanted to apologize for how I behaved at the party. I over reacted - big brother over-protectiveness kicking in.”

Kon relaxed at Dick's apology. “No problem man. . . .I wouldn't do anything to hurt Tim - just so you know.”

“I know,” Dick smiled as he put down the boxes.

“I kind of love him,” Kon said softly, looking down at the floor.

“I know,” Dick said as he gave Kon's shoulder a squeeze.

Before Kon could reply the rest of the kids (as Clark had started to refer to everyone who wasn't Bruce, Alfred, Ma or Pa) came in caring more boxes of ornaments and garland.

Jason rolled his eyes as he saw Bruce and Clark still messing with the tree stand. “Oh come one! It's going to be Easter by the time you guys get this up,” he said as he walked over to them and began shifting the tree in the base.

“Jason we are handling it fine,” Bruce growled slapping Jason's hands away.

“Well I'm handling it fine,” Clark said with a smile as he made room for Jason. “Bruce is being a perfectionist.”

Bruce gave Clark the evil eye. “I'll remember that later farm boy.”

Kon looked over at Dick, “Should we break that up?”

Dick looked from the box he was going through and eyed Jason and Bruce's squabbling. “Nah that's Jason and Bruce's way of saying they care about each other. Clark's there to play referee if it gets out of hand. Why don't you go help Tim with the lights,” Dick said giving Kon a shove toward the corner where Tim and Steph was sitting.

Steph flashed a bright smile when Kon came over. “Finally someone who will be on my side. Tell Tim to stop over thinking. He's going through the lights one by one to make sure the y work. It'll take forever to get the tree decorated.”

Tim just shook his head as he plugged another strand of lights into the outlet he was using. “If we did it your way. We'd have put the lights on without testing them and then we'd have whole strands that wouldn't work and have to redo the tree,” Tim said as the lights didn't light up and he began looking for the faulty bulb.

Steph sighed and looked at Kon imploringly. “Tell bird boy I'm right Kon.”

Kon had a brief reminder of how he felt at the party with Zatara talking to Tim. Jealousy at the fact that even though they had broken up, Tim and Steph were still very close. They sounded like and old married couple bickering over things. “Uh . . .sorry Steph. I'm gong with Tim on this one,”Kon said as he pointed out the faulty bulb to Tim.

Tim gave Kon a soft smile before grinning at Steph in triumph. “See my way works.”

Steph rolled her eyes and stood up. “Fine you two can do the lights. I'm going to help Cassie and Kara with the train.”

Tim chuckled softly as Kon sat down. “I don't think she liked being out numbered.”

“Hmm, maybe we should get her a candy cane to make it up to her.” Kon said.

Tim laughed, “Maybe later. Want to help untangle some of the lights?” Tim asked as he pulled over another box and dumped out a mess cords all tangled up.

“Whoa that's a mess.” Kon said as he picked up one part of the tangled mess. “Ya know they make these little racks now that you can loop the lights on so they don't get tangled.”

Tim sighed and nodded. “I know, and we have them. But no one ever listens to me when we take the tree down. They just take them down and dump them in the box and we end up with this mess.”

Kon laughed, “Well maybe I can help.” Kon reached out with his TTK and quickly de-tangled the cord. “I think that takes care of that problem.” he grinned.

Tim grinned back, “I think we'll just have to keep you for that trick.” Kon felt a rush of warmth at Tim's words. He bent over to look at the lights so Tim wouldn't see his blush.

By late in the afternoon the tree had finally been set up and decorated. The garland reflected off the lights, giving a glow to the tree. Every kind of ornament hung from the branches, from family heirlooms that had been in the Wayne family for generations to hand made paper ones that both Bruce and Dick had made as children.. A large train set ran underneath the tree complete with a village. All that was left was to put the star on top of the tree.

“Well I could just fly up there and put on,” Clark offered, taking the star out of it's box.

Bruce smiled and wrapped an arm around Clark. “Why don't we let Kon and Tim put it up hmm?” he asked as he handed the star over to Tim.

Tim looked up in surprise as the star was placed in his hands and blushed a little. “Sure we can do that. Kon?”

Kon wrapped an arm around Tim's waist and flew him up to the top of the tree. Carefully Tim reached out and put the star on. “How does it look?” he whispered to Kon.

Kon shivered as Tim's breath tickled his neck and pulled Tim closer to him. “Looks pretty awesome to me.” he whispered back.

“Are they going to be up there all day Father?” came Damian's annoyed voice.

“Hush Damian,” Bruce said sternly.

Kon looked down in annoyance at the boy and stuck his tongue out at him. “You think anyone would mind if I stuck him in a snow drift?”

“Alfred might,” Tim mused, “but only a little.”

Kon chuckled as they flew back down. “Well lets not get Alfred mad until after he makes his pies.”

“It looks great Tim,” Steph says as she came up and hugged him.

“Thanks Steph,” Tim said as he let go of Kon and returned her hug. Kon suddenly saw two members of the bat family upside down in a snow drift.

* * * *

“I don't mind that he's still friends with Steph,” Kon complained. “Except that I mind that he's still friends with her, and Zatara, and Squire, and . . .”

“Me?” Cassie asked raising an eyebrow. Kon and Cassie were walking around Gotham mall doing some Christmas shopping. Annoying piped music filled the air, as they dodged harried shoppers. Cassie had insisted that since she was staying for the holidays, she had to buy presents for everyone and dragged Kon off the the mall with her.

“That's- that's different.” Kon fumbled “You guys were in distress, and you were friends long before that, and your dating Kara so that makes you practically family.”

Cassie grinned, “So you'd be okay with Steph if they dated only because they were in emotional distress?”

“Maybe.”

Cassie laughed as she gave Kon a one arm hug. “Aw poor jealous Kon. You know Tim is only interested in you.”

“I know and I'm not jealous.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I'm not.”

“Course you're not,” Cassie said as she patted Kon's arm. “So what did you get Tim for Christmas?”

“Well I got him something, but I'm thinking it might be the wrong time to give it to him. So guess I'm back to square one,” Kon said as he took out a bag that had Christmas cookies in it.

“Are those Ma's sugar cookies?”Cassie asked.

“What? I thought I might get hungry,” Kon said defensively.

“You've been hanging out with Bart to much,” Cassie said with a roll of her eye, and helps herself to a cookie. “Lets go to the video store, maybe you'd find something there.”

Kon was happy that he did in fact find something for Tim at the video store, a collection of Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes movies, and then later at the book store he found a collection of all the Sherlock Holmes short stories in a leather bound volume.

A few more hectic hours of shopping later, Cassie and Kon made their way back to the manor. Kon hurried up to his room, and after taking some wrapping paper from Cassie hurriedly wrapped Tim's presents.

“Well it's not the best wrapping job,” Kon said “Maybe I can get Ma to help with it later.”

“I don't know it looks pretty good to me. Who's it for?” a voice asked from behind him.

Kon jumped at the sound of Tim's voice and immediately shoved the two presents under the bed. “Tim! I - I didn't hear you!” Kon fumbled as he got to his feet. “Kind of funny for a guy who has super hearing,” he finished in a mumble.

Tim held back a laugh as leaned against the door frame. “I'd ask how the shopping went but I have the funny feeling I'm not suppose to know.”

“Uh . . .the shopping went fine?”

Tim chuckled again and gave Kon a searching looking before holding out his hand. “Come with me.”

Kon raised an eyebrow but took Tim's hand and let him lead him out the door. Tim lead him down stairs pass one of the informal dining rooms where sounds of laughter were coming from, down to the family room where the tree was.

“What going on in there?” Kon asked as they passed.

“Barbara challenged Bruce to a game of Trivia Pursuit. I think everyone wanted to watch the carnage of those two going head to head.” Tim said with a smirk. “We'll go watch in a moment.”

“What's so important Tim?”

“Look up,” Tim whispered as he stepped closer. Kon did as he was asked and saw a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them. Kon looked at Tim questioningly.

“The first time we did this it got kind of messed up. I thought we could do it over.” Tim whispered wrapping his arms around Kon's neck.

Kon swept Tim up in his arms. Everything dropped away as their lips touched. The rough feel of the sweater that Tim was wearing, the softness of his skin as Kon slipped his hands underneath the sweater, the beating of Tim's heart was all that existed in that one moment.

As the kiss ended Tim pulled back far enough to see Kon's face and smile and laid his head on Kon's chest listening to Kon's heart race.

* * * *

On Christmas morning Kon was woken up by a bright eyed and excited Chris who came barreling in and jumped on his bed startling Krypto in the process. “Kon wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas and you should just see downstairs! It's wonderful”

Kon sat up bleary eyed and smiled sleepily and pulled Chris into a brief hug, “Morning Chris. Merry Christmas kiddo. Are going around waking everyone up?”

“Nah Damian woke me up. I think he was the first one up and he smiled when he came in - it was kind of creepy. He also got Alfred up and he told us to get everyone else up.”

Kon chuckled and ruffled Chris' hair, “Okay squirt, I'm up you can go onto the next victim. Hey is Tim up yet?”

“Not yet.”

A smile crossed Kon's face, “I'll get him up.”

Chris made a face as he bounced off the bed. “Yuck you're going to kiss again aren't you?”

“Don't be spying on people. I knew you'd pick up bad habits hanging around this many Bats.” Kon said as he threw a pillow at his little brother.

“I wasn't. Damian told me,” Chris laughed as he ran out the door.

Krypto jumped up on the bed and licked the side of Kon's face. “Merry Christmas boy,” he said as he scratched Krypto behind the ears. “Come on lets go wake up Tim.”

Kon slipped into his slippers and padded down the hallway with Krypto following. He paused for a moment outside of the door to see if in fact Tim was awake, hearing nothing more than Tim's slight snoring, Kon opened the door and walked over to the bed that had blankets heaped on it.

Kon raised an eyebrow at Krypto, “I think there's a Tim underneath all of this - somewhere. Oh Tim. Tim, it's time to wake up. It's Christmas. You in there somewhere Wonder Boy? Maybe I should send in Damian and Chris to wake you up?”

A hand shot of the blankets and grabbed Kon by the shirt and yanked him into the nest of blankets. Kon came nose to nose with a sleepy looking Tim. “Damian is not allowed in my room. Ever.”

Kon chuckled as he rubbed his nose against Tim's. “Well then you better get up then,”

With a put on sigh Tim sat up and put on his slippers, only to get a face full of Krypto licks, “Hey . . .yeah good morning to you too Krypto.” Tim said as he stretched and grabbed his robe. “Coming?” he asked Kon as he headed downstairs.

When they got down to the grand family room, Dick, Babs, Bruce, Clark, Cassandra, Ma and Pa were already down there taking seats around the tree. Alfred was moving around passing out drinks and murmuring quiet good mornings to everyone.

“Tim! Kon!” Dick said as he bounced up and swept both boys up in a hug. “Merry Christmas guys!”

The boys chorused a 'Merry Christmas Dick' as he dropped down and petted Krypto. Jason and Cassandra walked in. Cass smiled and softly said good morning to everyone while Jason just grunted.

“Aw, Jason come on, it's Christmas. Give your big brother a hug,” Dick said as he stood up holding his arms out.

Jason held out an hand to ward off Dick, “Don't even think about it.”

“Leave Jason alone Dick,” Bruce scolded as Steph, Cassie, and Kara came in and plopped down on the couch.

“Aww, your no fun,”Dick said but went back and snuggled with Barbara on the love seat they were sharing.

Damian and Chris finally came in as well and Clark got elected Santa and started passing out the presents. The room was filled with laughter and people opened their gifts. Paper littered the floor, which Krypto saw fit to roll around in and tear into even smaller pieces. Everyone liked the various sweaters and blankets Ma had made everyone, all the girls oohed and ahhed over the necklaces and earrings that Clark and Bruce got them, Damian liked the ornamental dagger that Bruce bought him and even seemed to have an interest in the video games that his brothers got him, Chris loved both the train set and the race car set he had gotten, wanting to play with it immediately. Cassie had gotten everyone small parcels that contained chocolates, and Tim had given everyone pictures or picture albums that held some meaning for them. Kon loved the photo album that Tim gave them. It was filled with pictures varying from their time in Young Justice all the way up to what looked like a couple of weeks ago, and Tim was more than happy to see the movies that Kon got him eying the DVD player with longing. Dick and Jason had gotten each other books, Jason's a classic car book and Dick's a history of circuses, Dick was able to get his hug from Jason as he tackled his younger brother to the ground.

Clark rummaged underneath the tree again and pulled out the last two gifts. “This one is for Alfred,” he read the card and passed the large box down to the butler.

“Now Master Bruce, I told you no gift was necessary,” Alfred said as he accepted the gift.

“You say that every year, Alfred,” Bruce said smugly drinking his coffee. “Good thing I always ignore that request of yours.”

Alfred gave a put upon sigh, but smiled as he opened the present. “The chess set. Master Bruce thank you.”

“You're very welcome Alfred,” Bruce said softly, a smile shining in his eyes.

“And this is for Ma and Pa,” Clark said as he walked over and handed his parents their present. They opened it up to see tickets for a two week's vacation to Paris for them. “Son, you shouldn't have,” Jonathon began.

“Nonsense,” Clark said as he hugged them. “You deserve it, and no you can't get out of it. You deserve some time off to have some fun.”

“Thank you Clark, it's absolutely wonderful,” Martha said as she kissed her son's cheek.

“Well I think that's everything,” Clark said as he went back to sit on the arm of Bruce's chair. “Merry Christmas everyone.”

“Wait,” Dick said as he and Jason stood up. “There's one more gift.”

He and Jason shared a smirk and left the room, only to return caring a basket with a lid on it between them. They carried the basket over to Tim and set it down in front of him. “Merry Christmas little bird,” Dick said as he ruffled Tim's hair.

Krypto came over and sniffed the basket and gave Tim a look. Tim looked at Krypto and then raised an eyebrow at his brothers. “What did you guys do?”

“Open it up and find out,” Jason said, an unusual amount of warmth in his voice.

With a wary look on his face, Tim took off the lid of the basket and lifted out a chocolate lab puppy. The puppy let out a whine and wagged it's tail at Tim. He looked up at Dick and Jason with a mixture of shock and surprise and then smiled. “Thank you. It's . . .he's wonderful. He's adorable, “ Tim said as he cuddled the puppy close. The puppy squirmed in Tim's arms until he was able to lick Tim's chin with enthusiasm.

The girls all awwed over the puppy, Dick snapped a picture of the new addition to the family, while Damian groaned and muttered about getting a lock for his door.

* * * *

Tim and Kon stood out in the garden drinking hot chocolate and watching Krypto and Tim's new puppy play in the the snow. Krypto bounded head long into snow drifts, flopping down and rolling around sending snow flying everywhere. The puppy got a face full of snow and yipped in surprise before bounding after Krypto tackling the bigger dog. Krypto playfully rolled the puppy off of him and shoved him into another snow bank.

The boys laughed as their dogs played together. Kon brushed of the snow on a bench and sat down. “So what are you going to name him?”

Tim sipped his hot chocolate before sitting down next to Kon. “I was thinking about Ace. It just seems to fit him.”

Kon nodded, “Ace . . .I like it.”

Tim smiled and both boys fell into a companionable silence. Kon put his mug down on the ground and slipped his hand in his pocket and gripped the small box in it.

“Tim . . .”

“Kon . . .”

They shared an ironic smile and Tim said, “You go first.”

Kon gulped and a slight blush covered his cheeks. “I - I got you something else for Christmas, but I didn't want to give it to you in front of everyone. I - it's kind of special - I mean I want it to be special - I mean . . . oh here!” Kon said finally taking the box out and shoving it into Tim's hand while he covered his bright red face with his hands.

Through his fingers Kon saw open the small box and took out the ring. It was rather plain, silver with a small sapphire on it. Kon didn't even realize he was holding his breath till he let it out in a rush when Tim slipped it on his finger.

“It's perfect,” Tim said softly “It's just perfect.” He gave Kon a sideways look, a smile hovering over his lips. “I did a little bit of extra shopping for you too.” He took out a similar looking box and handed it to Kon.

Kon took the box and opened it and inside was a gold ring with a small ruby on top. A grin spread wide across his face as he took it out of the box and slipped it on.”Seems we shop at the same place,” he quipped, gaining a smile from Tim.

Tim leaned in, cupped Kon's cheek and softly pressed a kiss to his lips. Kon quickly wrapped his arms around Tim, pulling him closer. He nibbled on Tim's lower lip till he opened his mouth and Kon deepened the kiss. When they finally parted, they rested their foreheads together, content to just hold each other. Kon smiled softly as he felt a light snow fall on them. He couldn't remember having a more perfect Christmas than this.