Generation X

Chapter 9

Vacation at last

I know years since new chapter well surprise happy reading!

Notes: I put colons between conversations denoting silent thought between two characters.

‘ Is what I call the Heartlink or private communication between a two characters usually a couple. Or in rare cases parent to sibling. (This is usually the way that soul mates talk to each other when they don't want anyone to know what they are saying.)

( )Twin link can't be heard by anyone but the other twin…or only if someone is extremely strong in his or her mental abilities.

or italics That represents thoughts of the characters

Now on with the story

(Gotham City)

Bruce, Andria, Richard, Barbara, and Alfred all stood by the portal as it activated announcing the arrival of their family members. None of them were prepared to see that Lilly was no longer a little girl, but a beautiful young woman.

"Would you look at that…" Dick couldn't believe that the young woman standing next to Shawn was little Lilly.

"That’s cute little Lilly?" Barbara narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. "She looks practically all grown up to me."

Bruce and Andria wasted no time greeting them. "What no kids this time?" Dria arched a brow at her sister.

"Not this time it's just the two of us and the teenagers. Let me introduce you to the newest member of our family." Andy turned to look at Tammy, who was currently trying to hide behind Dex.

Bruce noticed the young lady that was hiding behind Dex and was puzzled about why she seemed to be so nervous around them. "Hello Dex care to introduce us to your princess." He tried to get a better look at her, but she was hiding her face against Dex's back.

Dex could feel Tammy's trembling form begin to shake even more as her grandfather attempted to get closer to them. "This is the love of my life and my very own beautiful princess Tamara Edwards. She usually isn't this shy, but then this is her first experience at time travel." Dex reached behind him and pulled her into his arms.

Tamara's heart almost stopped when she heard him call her the love of his life. She was his princess and here she was standing speechless in front of her great-grandparents terrified out of her mind. Damn it Dexter why did you have to go and say that I’m nervous enough as it is! She thought as she desperately tried to force herself not to faint in his arms. For one thing she was still holding Ching and he wouldn't like it if she dropped him onto the hard stone floor of the Batcave. She didn't seem to have much control of her arms and lost her grip on the poor little ball of fur.

Ninjara saw that her furry friend was about to be dropped and caught Ching's collar with her teeth just before he hit the ground.

Bram was curious about the visitors to his den and flew over to them to get a better look. He landed on his perch just behind Dex and Tamara.

"That's odd he usually hides when there are strangers near him. Don't be afraid he won't hurt you." He tried to keep Tammy from screaming in terror when she realized that a very large and very ancient bat was hanging behind her.

Tamara pulled out of Dex's arms so that she could look at the huge bat. It eyed her curiously and she eyed him back.

"Is that a real bat?" Dex's eyes widened.

"Bram is the guardian of the caves. He really is a very ancient and harmless bat. He usually hides from strangers." Bruce walked up next to Tammy. He couldn't believe that she was just standing there eyeing the bat instead of clinging to Dex in sheer terror. "Don't worry he won't harm you." He growled softly.

Tamara looked over at her great grandfather and then at Bram. "I know…" was all that she could manage to say. She couldn't believe that she and her great grandfather shared the exact same eyes. "Hello I'm Tamara."

"Hello." Bruce smiled down at her. "Is there a reason why Bram is acting this way?"

"How would I know…?” She blinked innocently up at him and began to explore the cave.

Bruce watched as Bram continued to follow her around the cave. "Where is she going?" Bruce arched a brow at Andy hoping that she would supply a little more information.

"I haven't the slightest idea." Andy shrugged her shoulders. "Lion, why don't you and I go and see where our sleeping quarters are?"

"Andromeda I'm not tired and we just arrived here don't you want to visit for a while?" Eric frowned at his wife.

"That's okay this is Dromi's first time away from her brood so it’s only natural for her to want to spend as much quality time as possible with you." Andria giggled.

"I have prepared the same rooms that you and Master Eric stayed in before. I trust that you remember the way, Mistress Andy." Alfred smiled knowingly at them.

"Go on you two we'll catch up later." Bruce grinned.

"You four try and stay out of trouble." Eric swept Andy up into his arms and vanished.

Lilly decided to focus on Dick and Barbara. "Hi there handsome is she the one that you couldn't stop talking about?" She smiled at Barbara. "You're even prettier than he described. This might take a while so Shawn and I are going to go raid the kitchen." She remembered the little ball of fur in her arms and handed it to Andria. “Dromi forgot to give you this." She handed the cub to her sister and then dragged Shawn out of the cave.

"She's adorable." Dria cuddled the cub in her arms. "Dex? Would you care to tell us why all of them decided to desert you?" Dria arched a brow at him.

"Not even if I was held at gun point." Dex shrugged his shoulders as he watched Tammy proceeded to find every secret part of the Batcave.

"She seems to know this place better than you do Dick and you've lived here a very long time." Andria continued to glare at Dex.

"Would you believe blind luck?" Dex fought back the urge to run.

"I don’t think so." Dick growled.

Bruce had followed her up to the upper floor and watched as Tammy sat down in front of the main computer. "Exactly where are you from in your time?"

"Earth…I was born in what used to be the United States, but everything is different now. The places that used to go by certain names have changed…even Gotham has a different name…" She was back home again and all of her nervousness had vanished.

"You seem to have been here before, but how? Unless you happen to be our…" Bruce was finally beginning to put two and two together.

"My full name is Tamara Andria Wayne and the reason that I know all about this place is because I used to explore it all of the time, before my parents died in the bombing, and everything in my life went to hell." Tammy waited to see how Bruce would react to what she was telling him.

"You don't have to go through this again Tammy…I know what recalling all of that does to you." Dex went to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I have to do this Dex. There were bombs going off all over the city and nothing had happened like that for a very long time. My parents, both highly renowned scientists, were at the Wayne Science and Research Center finishing up on the prototype for a new version of Earth's Voltron and were killed instantly when the bomb went off. I was returning home from school when I heard about their deaths…" She blinked back tears. "I was so angry that the Galaxy Alliance hadn't done anything to save them that I vowed to get even. I decided that they were my new enemy…I disabled ships, crippled their dry docks, and never once got caught. When Uncle Rohan was notified of my parent’s deaths he came and brought me to Arus…I’d taken on the alias of Nightshade while I was on Earth and continued to attack the base there at night. I didn't care that they would think that Aunt Andy was the one doing the raids. Shawn caught me trying to sneak out and minutes later Lilly came running to him to cry on his shoulder about what they were saying about Andy. I lashed out at Lilly and that’s when Uncle Rohan decided that I needed to see a shrink. That’s where I met Dex, a promising fourth year medical student, but he was still one of the enemies so I decked him when he tried to help me."

"Oh yeah, it was love from that moment on." Dex grinned. "After that Lilly having had enough of her attitude stopped Tammy in her tracks and then she lost a little bit of her anger towards us."

"Lilly took Tammy down?" Dick frowned in amazement.

"At first I spent the first part of my probation with Dex and his family. I’d never taken orders like that in my life so naturally I fought them every chance that I got. Lilly seemed to be a constant thorn in my side and that got even more annoying to me." Tammy hated talking about this and had to fight to think of what to say next.

"Those two never could get along with each other. They were constantly at odds with each other. That’s until they ended up mud wrestling after trying to beat each other in a race. She decked me again this time and gave me a nasty looking shiner." Dex glared down at her.

"Well after that Lilly and I were forced to share the same quarters at the castle…we learned to tolerate each other and became the best of friends. My new family seemed to be healing all of my anger and loss for my parents." Tammy finally let the tears fall down her cheeks. "This cave brings back so many memories…"

Dex could feel everyone staring at him. "Go on Tammy tell them the names of your parents." He prompted her with a soft gentle growl in her ear.

"My parents were Dr. Brendan Richard Wayne and Dr. Amber Barbara Grayson." She whimpered softly as she got up from the chair that she was sitting in.

Bruce walked over and pulled her into his arms for a hug. "Are you really okay now?" Bruce growled hoarsely.

"Yes my new family has healed me…I’m also a medical officer in the Galaxy Garrison, so that keeps me busy too." She was so nervous that she was trembling. "I'm sorry that I failed all of you…I wouldn't blame you for being disappointed in me." She sniffled.

"You were hurting angel…Dick and I can relate to what you were going through. I however had Alfred to keep me in line and Dick had me. You obviously had no one at first and that fueled your anger." Bruce pulled away from her so that he could look down into her eyes.

Tammy pulled out of her grandfather's arms and went over to sit down on the stairway that led up into the mansion. "Daddy had an AI version of Alfred. He liked to call it my conscience. I was just too angry to care about any of his advice and went on plotting my revenge anyway." She raced up the stairs and into mansion.

Dex attempted to flee, but found himself cornered by the four of them. "She really has gone through hell, but she really is okay now."

"Is she really okay now?" Barbara asked softly.

"She really is fine now…She’s no longer enemy number one…she graduated at the top of her class from the academy and even earned a spot with Shawn, Lilly and I on Alpha Omega." Dex tried to make his way to the stairway.

"Why that team? Doesn't Eric want all of you on his team?" Dick growled.

"Yes, but Jeff gives the orders and even Eric has to follow them. Jeff seems to think that Lilly and Tam need this experience." Dex shrugged his shoulders.

"Why would two sixteen-year-old girls need that kind of training?" Andria frowned. "Is there something that you aren't telling us?"

"Lilly and Tam are also extremely gifted ballet dancers…A few months ago the two of them were on their way back to the castle when they were kidnapped by Fawn's younger brother Ren and his friend Arron." Dex gritted his teeth as he remembered what the girls had been put through.

"Go on Dexter." Bruce growled.

"Ren staged an accident to make all of us think that their car had gone crashing into the icy cold waters of the lake…Shawn and I wouldn't believe that they were gone and finally found the evidence that the two of them had been taken off world. Tammy was never really touched by Aaron, but Lilly was almost raped by Ren. The two of them escaped by climbing up onto the roof of Khan's palace, they had managed to get to the palace courtyard when all of us arrived to rescue them. They were both running from their abductors and didn't stop until they saw us. Shawn almost ripped Ren's head off with his bare hands. The two of them were both laid up for weeks and Lilly refused to even look at another pair of ballet slippers. Her broken arm was a constant reminder of what she went through. Look that's all that I’m going to tell you! I have to go make sure that Tam is okay!" Dex went in search of Tam.

Lilly and Shawn were in the home theater watching a movie. "Wow and I thought that Andy was tough check out those moves!” They were watching Matrix.

“So we’re just as good as they are Shawn.” Lilly rolled her eyes at him then looked up when Tammy entered the room. “Tam come here and take a look at the hunks fighting each other in this movie!” She called to her friend.

Tammy merely sat down in the sofa and stared off into space.

“The babes in the movie aren’t that bad on the eyes either.” Shawn grinned.

Lilly narrowed her eyes at him in disgust. “I was just trying to get Tam’s mind off of everything and did not need your opinion on the figures of those females in that movie!” She got to her feet and stalked out of the room passed Dex.

“Come on Lilly I was only kidding around!” Shawn chased after her.

“Are they going rounds with each other again?” Dex walked over pulled her up into his arms and then sat down on the couch with her cuddled in his lap. “We’ve only been here for less than what twenty minutes?”

“Lilly’s still on a highly sensitive trip, poor Shawn doesn’t even know what to say anymore.” Tam sighed. “Sorry for leaving you like that in the cave.”

“That’s okay love.” Dex rested his chin on top of her head. “Although I did cave and tell them all until coming back to my senses and going to search for you. This place is massive in size more like a castle than a manor.”

“Yes very much so and it gets grander with each generation. I’ll show you it during our time off after we get settled on the base.” Tam smiled. “I love this room and the amazing view that it gives you.”

“Whose been watching over the manor since…”

“It’s okay Dex, since my tantrum?” Tam smirked. “I really have no clue how to run the Wayne legacy so Aunt Gwen is the executor of the estate for me. I knew that it would hurt too much to ever live there again. I love Arus it’s my home now and I wanted to do something good with the Wayne Legacy, so the manor was turned into the Wayne School for gifted children.”

“All that matters is that you’re happy, healthy, and loved by a family that loves you.” Bruce stood in the doorway.

“I’m sorry grandpa…” Tam blinked back tears.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I know what it’s like to thirst for revenge and let that run your life. The only thing that matters is that you got passed it and didn’t let it control you.” Bruce walked over and sat down on the edge of sofa. “The Russian ballet is in Gotham performing Swan Lake. I have season tickets and was wondering if you and Lilly would like to see the command performance?” He reached over and brushed way a stray tear.

“I’d like that.” She nodded.

“Good because tomorrow we can spend the day shopping and get pampered while the guys do their male bonding thing.” Andria and Barbara walked into the room.

“I think that we can figure out something to pass the time.” Dick smirked. “Tonight Bab’s and I are going to take the four of you out for pizza and a movie. Where are Lil’s and Shawn?”

“Lil’s was in a mood again so my guess is that she’s pounding the tar out of something in the gym.” Tam sighed in frustration. “She’s not really over her ordeal yet, so her moods are off the scales at times. Yesterday she shredded her toe shoes because they reminded her of what had happened to her, but Shawn got through to her or so we thought anyway.”

“Odds are that Aunt Andy and Uncle Eric are in tune with their moods and are going to check on them as we speak.” Dex sighed.

“Come on you two I’ll fix you a snack in the kitchen.” Bab’s smiled at them. “Plus there’s strawberry shortcake that Alfred made that’s just dying for us to cut into and enjoy.”

“Yum I’m starving.” Tam’s eyes lit up at the thought of the sweet treat.

“You three go enjoy your treat.” Bruce kissed the top of her head and got up to leave the room.

“I want to go check on Lilly.” Andria frowned when Bruce pulled her into his arms.

“And we will my love.” Bruce kissed her on the nose.

“I’ll go check on Shawn.” Richard sighed.

Andy reluctantly pulled out of her husbands arms. “Lilly and I need to have a long overdue chat.” She sensed her baby sister’s mood and all thoughts of spending quality time with Eric were put on hold for the moment.

"Those two have damn rotten timing…" Eric raked his fingers through his hair and groaned in frustration. “Yeah and I need to go chat with Shawn.”

“She’s in one of her moods might as well get a workout out of it.” Andy went about getting dressed in her unitard. “Don’t pout Lion we’ll have plenty of time for us and we can discuss why you’re so razzed about passing thirty.” She blew him a kiss and vanished.

“I’m not razzed about passing thirty. I’m just in desperate need of quality time with my wife.” Eric grumbled as he pulled on his sweats and set off after Shawn.

Lilly was kicking and punching the crap out of the heavy bag while music blasted from the speakers system in the gym. “I don’t ever want something like that to happen to me again! I never want to be so vulnerable like that! Be a victim!”

“You were wearing one of those lovely control collars a victim you weren’t.” Andy appeared out of the shadows. “Vulnerable yes baby sis, but you never made yourself a victim.” Andy went about stretching as she spoke calmly and softly to her sister. “You got Tam and yourself out of the situation and that’s what matters in the end. You didn’t give up, pulled yourself together, and escaped.

“Go away Dromi!” Lilly glared at her sister.

“Not until you and I come to an understanding.” Dromi went over to the mat. “You think that you’re vulnerable and a victim that’s not the attitude you need when joining Derek and Kane’s team. It’ll only end up getting you hurt or worse killed.”

“Take that back Dromi!” Lilly stalked over to her.

“Prove to me that you can handle yourself in a fight and maybe I will.” Andy arched a brow in challenge.

“You’re on big sis! I’m gonna make you eat those words!” Lilly went all out and started their little sparing match with lightning swift moves that her sister easily matched.

“Come on Lilly this isn’t even impressing me a little.” Andy laughed as she earned what would be considered the first point in a match by sending Lilly sprawling on her back with a well placed move that Lilly didn’t even see coming.

Lilly vaulted back up to her feet and went on the attack again using every move that she knew and still her sister didn’t even so much as miss blocking any of her moves. “No fair you’re immortal now!” She went flying over sisters shoulder landing at Shawn’s feet.

“Do you see any sign of temper?” Andy helped her back up to her feet. “Thanks for the warm up baby sis.” She wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“Warm up?! I used every move that I know to challenge you and it was only a warm up!?” Lilly eyed her in disbelief.

“Holly shit that was a warm up?!” Dick stood next to Shawn eyeing Andy in total disbelief. “I’d hate to see her going all out.”

“You’ll get better with time and Derek’s guidance will be good for you.” Andy set about performing a flawless master level kata blindfolded.

“How am I going to be able to pass the Hades program if I’m only a warm up for my sister?” Lilly was pulled up to her feet by Shawn. “I’ll be the laughingstock of the team

“No you won’t Lil not even I could best her in a match.” Dick thought that Bruce was the ultimate fighter in martial arts, but he was wrong. “Andria never lets it all go when she spars with Bruce, but then she’s got extreme control too.”

“We’re just as good as Jay and Zach and they made the team, so we’ll be fine.” Shawn held her close.

“What the two of you need is to forget all of your troubles and just enjoy your free time while you have it and we can start by going out for pizza and a movie. There's a marathon going on at the theater and then around the corner there's an all night pizza place that serves the best pizza that you've ever tasted." Dick grinned at the teens.

"Sounds good to me, but we still have to get clearance from big brother and sis." Lilly shot the two of them her best pleading look.

"By all means go have fun. Just try and be back at a decent hour." Andy winked at her sister.

"Don't worry I'll keep them all reigned in." Dick grinned.

"Go on just try and stay out of trouble okay." Eric gave in to the look that she was giving him.

"We will you two are the best!" Lilly was all smiles again.

"Us in trouble never, besides what kind of trouble can we get into by just going out?" Shawn shrugged. "I mean what are the odds of us even running into my dad let alone my Uncle Adrian."

"Rohan's still out of town on business and Adrian tends to prowl Europe and has yet to show his face here in Gotham or in the States." Dick thought that would make them feel better.

"Rohan is in Tokyo visiting his mother and checking on one of his thousands of pet companies that he has under his wing. Highlander Inc. is quite frankly as vast of an empire as my own." Bruce and Andria joined the four of them. "He's got several research labs in Japan working on developing a cure for his allergy and his mother oversees them, evidently one of them is very close to reaching a solution to curing his allergy and he wanted to see the results first hand."

"Dad's not cured yet?" Shawn arched a brow at Bruce.

"No but not for lack of trying," Andria sighed. "He's so close to the cure that he can almost taste it and it's really taking a toll on his attitude as of late."

"Well it must frustrate the hell out of dad to not be able to enjoy walking out in the sun, but I know that he comes up with the cure any day now so that'll change soon." Shawn wished that he had read his fathers pre-serum journals instead of just skimming through them and reading the good parts. "Come on Lilly let's go tell the others that we're cleared to have fun." He and Lilly left the gym.

"Two of them are sixteen so try and get them all home at a decent hour." Eric growled at Dick.

"No sweat Eric they'll be fine with Bab's and me." Richard left the four of them alone. "Enjoy you're quality time alone."

"Alone has a nice ring to it." Eric swept Dromi up into his arms and vanished.

"Gotham's on its own tonight." Bruce has similar plans in mind for him and Andria.

(Later on that evening at intermission at the Vampire Film Festival)

"You idiot!" Shawn was not amused at Dick's choice of film nor was he happy with the audience seeing as the bulk of them were creatures of the night. He wasn't all that sure that it was safe for Lilly, Tam, and Bab's who had gone to the ladies room. "You really are a piece of work Grayson!"

"What's your problem Shawn it's just a movie none of it's real!" Dick couldn't believe that Shawn was having a meltdown over his choice of flick. "I thought that you'd get a kick out of Blade! I mean he's a good guy just like you're Dad!"

"Shawn he didn't know that you loathed vampire films so cut him some slack." Dex hissed at his best friend.

"No I will not cut him some slack Dexter! Look around you and then tell me that I'm wrong to be furious with him!" Shawn swore under his breath when he recognized one of Adrian's goon's from his Dad's journal. Han's and Lacross had just walked in the front doors. :Son of a Bitch you and Uncle Bruce sure have a lousy tracking system and we have to get the hell out of here before they sense who I am! It's not gonna take long seeing as we're in a theater filled with creatures of the night and two of them are my Uncle's henchmen!: Shawn use his mind to relay that to the two of them venom laced every last word.

"Shit let's go get the girls!" Dex hissed.

"I'm sorry I didn't know that they flocked to movies like this. We'll get the girls and then leave the theater another way." Dick felt lower than low already for his misstep and wasn't about to let anything happen to Bab's or his teenage charges.

"I don't care Dick the only thing that I care about is getting all of us the hell out of here." Shawn stalked towards the ladies room with Dex and Richard on his heels. 'Lilly are the three of you alone or is it crowded in there?'

'We're the only ones in here at the moment…what's got you in such a temper?' Lilly gasped when the three of them barged into the ladies room and then proceeded to barricade the door. "And here I thought that I was just getting edgy! Those are the real deal aren't they?" She hissed at Shawn.

"I thought something was odd when those two amazons that were in here didn't have reflections!" Tam raced for the windows and opened them. "I say we exit this place as in yesterday and find someplace that patrons to the living!"

"Rohan's away so the others are out in force." Bab's was a pro at tense situations and didn't lose her cool. "Do we signal Bruce or not?" She fingered her watch.

"Not unless we absolutely have to now let's just get the kids out of here and someplace safe." Dick was also in complete control. "So far we’re in the clear let's not chance it by sticking around."

The kids were already standing outside in the alleyway. "Well don't just stand there chatting let's go!" Shawn hissed then swore when a black limo cut off their escape route as they raced for the back of the theater and Richard's Aston Martin that was parked only a block or so away.

"If the six of you value your lives you will get in the car now!" The door opened and a familiar snarl ordered them.

"Shawn that sounds like…" Dex hissed at him.

"Yeah Dex I know and he sounds beyond pissed." Shawn hissed back.

"Is that who we think it is?" Lilly and Tammy gulped nervously and contemplated going back and confronting the theater of vampires rather than face their Uncle in a temper.

:Richard and Barbara get your asses in gear now! That goes for the four of you kids as well!: Rohan was jetlagged and grouchy as hell seeing as his trip had come up empty again and they were back to square one with his serum.

The six of them reluctantly joined him in the limo.

"So uh Rohan did you have a nice trip?" Bab's eyed him warily.

Rohan signaled his driver to take them back to his sanctuary and then focused on the six of them. "It was uneventful and mother was happy to see me. Richard are you going to tell me why I'm staring at a younger image of myself with dark hair or am I gonna have to call Bruce?" He got out his mobile phone and had his thumb on speed dial.

"Andria and Bruce invited them here for the wedding. Lilly is Andria's baby sister…"

Lilly managed a small smile.

"Tammy is her cousin…"

Tam managed a slight wave.

"Shawn is her cousin of sorts…"

Shawn met the younger version of his father's look with one of his own.

"Lastly but no less important than the other three is Dexter he's a close friend of Andria's family."

Dex managed a nod.

"They just arrived this afternoon with Andria's twin sister Andromeda and her husband Eric." Dick answered his question as cryptically as possible.

Rohan couldn't help but notice that they were wearing medallions similar to the ones that were in his heirloom collection. "Exactly where did the four of you procure those medallions?"

"My father gave them to us for protection against the darkness as well as the creatures that tend to dwell there." Shawn was still trying to gauge this younger version of his father, but saw no reason to not answer his questions truthfully. "All of our family has them."

"So your family from are Hunters?" Rohan arched a brow at the young man who was doing his best to act unafraid of him.

"In a way yeah you could say that my family and Lilly's are a form of hunter." Shawn shrugged.

"Look kid I just got back from a seventeen hour flight from Japan where a deal that I've been waiting for forever fell through!" Rohan was not in the mood for attitude from a teenager that reminded him of himself so much that he could have been his son. He was getting so pissed off that his features were starting to vamp out.

"Shawn he's gonna figure it out sooner or later so just tell him already." Lilly hissed into Shawn's ear.

Rohan's eyes narrowed at the two of them. "Tell me what?"

"Thanks a lot Lillian I was trying to figure out a way to do this!" Shawn hissed back.

"Well then figure it out already before he vamps out completely!" Tammy wasn't so sure that she trusted her godfather seeing as he was still not cured.

"So you do know what I am and that explains why I felt what I did when I stepped off my jet. I felt three distinct presences none of whom were previously on this planet before…" Rohan was nearing the end of his patience and was about to call Bruce.

Dick snagged the phone out of his hands. "Look Rohan it's nothing major enough to bug Bruce and Dria!"

"The four of them wanted alone time and my big sis and her hubby aren't ones that you wanna um interrupt them during quality time…" Lilly bit down on her lower lip when he fixed his look on her. "They're on vacation from their little ones and they rarely ever do that…"

"The two of them are the other two presences that I felt when I arrived and you four most definitely are not from this time. It explains why there was no way to check into Andria's background."

"Gods even in this time he knows all it's just not fair!" Shawn was now sulking.

"Now we're getting somewhere, so where exactly are the four of you from?" Rohan arched a brow at Shawn.

"Well if you're not gonna tell him then I am." Dex finally said something.

"Dexter shut up! It's Shawn's place to tell him not yours!" Tammy hissed at him.

"We're from the thirty-first century…" Shawn growled. "We aren't even from the near universe…sorry that's this part of the galaxy…Andria, Uncle Eric, Aunt Andy, Lilly, and I are from the far universe and reside on a Planet called Arus. Dex is from a planet called Lera. Tammy was born on Earth…"

"How did Bruce meet his soul mate…"

"Andria has a twin sister who tends to like to go on adventures by herself. She's beyond brilliant and she chose this time line to visit for one of her adventures and bonded with Bruce, Richard, and Alfred. They came for a visit in our time and Bruce met Andria they fell for each other end of story." Shawn shrugged his shoulders as if this very conversation was boring him.

:Stow the attitude son I'm not in the mood.: Rohan was all but certain that he was sitting across from his son and decided to test his theory by using his mind to finish their chat.

:Go to hell father! We just got here this afternoon and this moron thought that he'd be a smart ass and took us to a Vampire film festival! Not only that, but Uncle Adrian's goons showed up there too, so take what I tell you and like it!: Shawn snarled at his father. :I'm sorry that you've yet to develop you're serum, but that's not an excuse to scare my princess or Tammy! The two of them have been through enough in our own time and don't need you adding to it as well!:

:You are exactly what I needed to see…she was right when she said that my life was gonna change, but it was a good change…then again she's always right...: They arrived at his newly completed mansion that he'd had specifically built on the ruins of an old eighteenth century church and he was Bruce's closest neighbor seeing as his land bordered Bruce's vast grounds. "Everyone out we'll continue this conversation inside. Feel free to raid the kitchen or watch movie I've got as extensive of a collection as Bruce does. Richard you might want to at least leave him a message seeing as the Bat signal is shining in the sky."

"We've gotta check this out can we leave the kids with you in the mood that you're in or not?" Barbara frowned at Rohan.

"They'll be fine, but I can't say the same for the two of you when you explain to Bruce that you took them to Vampire central to see if you could scare my kid." Rohan narrowed his eyes at Richard as they walked into the main house. "Monster 101 never attend a festival with a theme that deals with dark creatures of the night and that includes werewolves as well."

"Look it's not like I deal with vampires or werewolves on a daily basis! I deal with psychopathic super villains that wanna rule or blow up the world! I didn't know that they flock to film festivals like that! I just thought that they would like films like that seeing as Shawn is well…" Richard found himself slammed against the wall and then lifted off his feet by Shawn.

"LISTEN TO ME YOU IDIOT! I AM NOT A VAMPIRE IT'S JUST IN MY GENETIC HISTORY! I DON'T GET A RUSH WATCHING PEOPLE GETTING SLAUGHTERED WHEN IT HAPPENED TO MY GRANDMOTHER IN REAL LIFE! I LIKE CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION FLICKS LIKE STAR WARS, STAR TREK, NOT HORROR MOVIES!!" Shawn was in a full temper so he was in full fang mode.

"Yeah Shawn I got it no horror movies it won't happen again…" Dick tried to pry Shawn's hand from around his throat, but Shawn was as strong as The Man of Steel.

'Shawn Alexander McCloud you let him go this instant or Tammy won't be able to be born! It's not his fault that he's clueless about certain things!' Lilly snarled at him.

"Damn it Shawn! Stop trying to kill my great-grandfather! He's turning blue!" Tammy hissed.

"Sorry son, but it has to be done." Rohan gave him a shot to knock him out and Shawn fell back into his arms.

Dick was on his knees gasping for air. "Remind me never to piss him off again…"

'I told you that it was a bad idea, but do you ever listen to me?' Barbara helped him up to his feet then grabbed him by the ear.

'Hey Bab's let go!' Dick yelped as she led him out of Rohan's place.

Andy snuck down to the kitchen for a midnight snack. She picked up a note that was left on the counter. "Might be in after one…gonna take the kids to a movie marathon…No worries…Richard." She read the note aloud.

"There you are." Eric came up behind her pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck.

"I was hungry, so I raided the kitchen…"

"The kids home yet?" Eric reached down and snagged half of her hero sandwich.

"Hey that was my snack!" Andy sulked. "As for the kids, well, I haven't checked yet. Dick took them to some sort of movie marathon."

Eric led her back upstairs and to their rooms. "They need to have a little r and r, so we'll let their curfew slide this time."

"You're right lion." Andy yawned. "I mean what trouble could they possibly get into a Tellurian film festival…" Eric's kiss silenced her and she was once again climbing the steps of heaven in her lions arms.

Batman was surveying what the theater after what Gotham's finest concluded was a riot situation consisting of cult members from two vampire devoted gothic factions had gone off against each other. "It looks like a horror movie in here."

'Bruce where did Dick and Bab's take the kid's tonight?' Nightshade had never seen such horrific crime scene in her life. "This was not the work of vampire lovers try the real thing."

'He was taking them to a film festival and that he thought that Shawn would…Son of a Bitch it must have been here, but there are no signs of any of them.' Batman's mood went from bad to worse and he slammed his fist into the wall. "I have come up against some of the sickest minds in the world, but this kind of carnage is off the scales!"

"Holy mother of god! What the hell happened to this place?" Nightwing and Batgirl arrived.

"I think that it's safe to say that Adrian or someone like him has announced his arrival in Gotham. Now as for the two of you where in the hell are your four charges and I had better like the answer!?" Batman snarled at the two of them.

"Yes and they had better be safe." Nightshade growled.

"The four of them are in good hands. Someone is back early from his trip and he's teenager sitting for us." Nightwing eyed the two of them warily. "Shawn said that he recognized two of Adrian's henchmen, so it's safe to say that this could very well have been him and his clan of vamps."

"We left here an hour ago and this happened?!" Batgirl was not handling seeing the carnage in front of her. "Oh god I think I'm gonna be sick…" She ran outside to get some fresh air.

"Look I've already been snarled at by Rohan and Shawn tried to kill me so no lectures are necessary. I know that I messed up big time, but the important thing is that we weren't anywhere near this place when all of this went down." Nightwing wasn't handling it any better than Batgirl was, but he had to suck it up in front of Batman and Nightshade.

"I'm going to check on Batgirl do not hurt him too badly." Nightshade needed air herself and vanished from the theater.

"HOW CAN ANYONE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?! I MEAN DID THEY HAVE TO FEED ON THE WHOLE THEATER?!" Nightwing's snarl echoed around them.

"It's his personal mark when he claims a city as his territory only this is one territory that he can't have." Batman stalked out of the theater. "Let's go Nightwing we have a city to patrol. I'll bring the Wing here to me that way our ladies head back home."

"Yeah that sounds good to me I don't want either one of them tangling with these monsters. What about Rohan and the kids?" Nightwing growled.

"The four of them are safe with him for now and I want to make sure that this was their only target for tonight." Batman stopped in front of Nightshade and Batgirl. "Night and I have this covered you and Batgirl can head back."

"We're fine don't go into protective mode major." Nightshade folded her arms in front of her and scowled at the two of them. 'I'm just as skilled as you are and you know it!'

The Batwing was hovering in stealth mode above them.

"That wasn't a request the two of you can monitor things from the cave while Night and I patrol the city in the Wing." Batman growled as he pulled her into his arms for a long kiss then personally set her in the Batmobile. 'I'm not saying otherwise Dria, but Barbara isn't handling this as well as you are and I think that it's best if you take her back home.'

"You two be careful." Batgirl was pulled into Nightwing's arms for a long kiss. 'I mean it man of mine don't try to go one on one with them until we get all the details from Rohan! '

'I don't plan on tangling with these monsters unless I have to. I'll feel a hell of a lot better with you and Andria at home. I'll see you in a few hours love of my life.' Nightwing picked her up and set her on the Redbird. "We will."

"See you in a few hours." Nightshade closed the top of the Batmobile and headed for home. 'Love you come back to me in one piece.'

"Don't do anything stupid." Batgirl growled at Nightwing before she gunned the Redbird's engine and spun out of the parking lot. 'I love you.'

"Let's go kid and then afterwards we'll go collect the kids at Rohan's Penthouse." Batman landed the Wing in the parking lot.

"Oh he's not at his Penthouse try his mansion. He's the owner of the place by the manor." Nightwing got into the Wing.

"So he was the mystery buyer." Batman got in the pilot seat and strapped in. "Now that's a neighbor that I have no problem living by and that's one headache that I don't have to deal with anymore. His land borders the entrance to the Batcave."

"Yeah well he turned the old church ruins into something that could rival our manor." Nightwing accessed the caves computer mainframe from the Wing and grinned when he read the readout on his screen. "It's not vampires, but we've got a robbery in progress at the Grand Escape Mega mall."

"Perfect I need something to take out my frustrations on and they'll do nicely." Batman headed the Wing towards the Mega-mall

(Rohan's place an hour or so later)

Rohan watched as Shawn polished off his second hero sandwich, half a bottle of pop, and a bag of cheese curls. "It's not gonna work we will eventually have our father and son chat." He finished off his protein shake that was specially formulated for his special metabolism and his way of avoiding having to drink blood of any kind. "The other three seem to be settled in the Media Room watching movies."

"What do you wanna talk about?" Shawn had moved on to a box of Hostess Ding Dongs. "I've got to figure out a way to smuggle this stuff back to our time this stuff is great!" He bit into the chocolate treat and was in bliss.

"Let's start with how old you are." Rohan set a variety of junk food treats in front of his son.

"I'm nearly twenty." Shawn bit into a Twinkie and closed his eyed in bliss.

"Are you an only child?"

"Hardly, I've got my share of siblings that make me crazy." Shawn rolled his eyes at Rohan.

"I take it that your mother is still alive and well."

"Dad think about what you just said and then who you are and then ask that question again. Yes Mom is very much alive and well and devoted to you for eternity and you are hopelessly devoted to her." Shawn smirked at his father.

"Is my brother alive?"

"No, but then that all went down long before I was born and none of you like to talk about it." Shawn finished off the bottle of pop. "He had this wicked crazy vendetta against Lilly's family for some reason and that was his undoing seeing as Lil's comes from a family of Shadow warriors. I think that you're under some gag order and couldn't really tell anyone why Uncle nutcase was so hell-bent on revenge, but then again you did make it so that Gram's son would be safe from him and hid him on Arus with another family."

"Mother has a son?" Rohan stared at Shawn in disbelief.

"Yeah he's my Uncle Eric and is married to Lilly's big sister and Andria's twin Andromeda." Shawn nodded. "Although none of us had a clue until a few years ago when a situation triggered that part of his genetics. You were just as floored as all of us were and Gram's was beyond that cuz you told her that he'd died when he was a baby. Not to worry though it's all good back home. The four of us are here on a sort of vacation before we have to report on Earth."

"Report as in…"

"In our time the three universes are basically at peace and under something called a Galaxy Alliance and the peacekeepers are a force called Galaxy Garrison. Their main base of operations for the near universe is Earth, the base of operations for the middle universe is Tara, and the main base of operations in the far universe is Arus. All three universes have robot guardians that go by the name of Voltron. Lilly and Tam are junior officers and Dex and I lieutenants… our first assignment is with Alpha Omega it's an elite team that's based on Earth. It's sort of like joining the family business and we're honored that we got that for our first assignment. The choice one is being a pilot in Voltron, it'll happen eventually for Lilly and I. Now as for Dex and Tam their medical officers, but are just as skilled as the rest of us are. Uncle Eric and Aunt Andromeda are the pilots of two of Arus's robot cats. She's a Major and he's a Colonel and basically the commanding officer of Arus's forces…" Shawn was proud of what he'd worked his tail off to achieve.

"Fascinating now are you finished with your snack, because you and I are gonna take this chat into my lab." Rohan arched a brow at his son.

"The girls are sleeping on the couch…" Dex joined them in the kitchen. "Did you say lab?" He never turned down a tour of anyone's lab and he had no doubt that Rohan's would be fascinating to see.

"Yes my lab." Rohan nodded. "I'm so close to a breakthrough and I think that analyzing Shawn's blood might just be the key to what's missing from my formula."

"I've seen the serum and it has a luminescent quality to it." Dex offered him a clue.

"Yeah it glows in the dark and is neon green in color." Shawn reluctantly got off the barstool and stood in front of his father. "Well let's get this over with…"

"Don't worry son I know what I'm doing…I'm just retired from practicing medicine right now." Rohan put his arm around Shawn's shoulders and led him out of the kitchen.

"He's just not big on needles or seeing his own blood." Dex smirked. "Sara is the one that's taking after you though; she tends to focus on animals rather than healing people.

"Shut it Dex that was need to know information." Shawn snarled.

"Telling him that isn't gonna hurt the time stream and fear of shots doesn't make you a coward. Besides half the family hate needles that's why we changed to the hydro method of administering medicines." Dex rolled his eyes at Shawn.

"Yeah well who likes being a pincushion." Shawn grumbled. "I'll only tell you that Sara, Teddy, and Daniel are the names of my siblings anything else is classified for now."

"It's good to know that I have something to look forward to." Rohan was happy and he hadn't felt that way in centuries.

(Sometime later nearly dawn…)

Dex and Shawn were sacked out on the couches in his lab while Rohan continued to develop the serum. After analyzing Shawn's blood he had managed to isolate what was missing in his formula and the finished product was just as Shawn had described. "Finally after all of these centuries I'll be able to walk out and enjoy the sunshine again."

Shawn blinked sleepily at his father. "Yeah that's it…glad I could help." He was barely awake, but there was no way he was gonna miss watching this. "Go ahead dad it's gotta be nearly dawn by now and you'll get to enjoy sunrise again."

Rohan prepared a dose of the serum and administered it into his arm. It felt like white hot heat was shooting through his veins and he had to grab the counter for support.

"Yeah it's been described as shooting fire into your veins, but it goes away in a few seconds." Shawn sat up on the couch. "You'll still have eternal life, fangs when you're in a temper, you can still fly, vanish, and keep your meta-human speed and strength."

"Those are things that I can more than live with." Rohan hadn't felt this alive and energized in centuries. "Go back to sleep son I'm gonna go watch the sunrise." He chuckled when Shawn instantly fell back to sleep. "Yeah he's my kid alright."

"It's about time. I was about to go check on the boys." Batman, minus his cowl, met him at the top of the steps that led down to Rohan's own lair of sorts. "Richard is watching over the girls."

"So what was it this time did someone try and take over the city again?" Rohan arched a brow at his best friend.

"I'll get to that after you enjoy you're first sunrise in what nearly two millennia?" He wasn't about to ruin this moment for Rohan it would wait until later.

"That bad eh…" Rohan walked passed him and over to the doors that led out to the veranda and opened them. "Gods I never thought that I'd ever be able to see another sunrise again. It's good to be alive again." He walked outside and breathed in the fresh morning sea air.

Bruce watched as his best friend reveled in being able to see and feel the sun again. "How does it feel to know that you have a brilliant future to look forward to?"

"I feel alive again now that I have my freedom and a brilliant future to look forward to. Now tell me just how much of a mess did my brother cause in your city last night?" Rohan was well aware of the fact that Adrian and his clan were in Gotham. "Shawn saw two of them so my brother had to be skulking around nearby."

"The theater looked like the scene of a mass murder in a horror movie, but then that's how he prefers to announce his arrival in a city. Thanks for getting them out of there had I known what Richard was planning I would have changed his plans to taking them to the multiplex instead…." He was interrupted by his mobile.

"So even Batman can't live without his mobile," Rohan arched a brow at Bruce.

"I don't normally carry it with me, but then right now I'm off duty." Bruce flipped open the phone and smiled when he saw that it was Andria. "I'll be home in a little while angel…" He was cut off by Andy screaming in his ear.

"WHERE THE ARE THE KIDS!? IT'S DAWN AND THEY'RE NOT HOME YET!! THEY HAD BETTER BE FINE OR YOU'RE STEAKS!" Andy was beyond furious with her soon to be brother-in-law.

Bruce actually looked scared. "They're safe and nothing happened to any of them…"

"I WANT THEM BACK HERE BRUCE AND TELL RICHARD THAT HE'S ON MY HIT LIST TOO!"

"Who is it on the phone and how is it that they scare you to death?" Rohan took the phone from Bruce. "Message received congratulations you've actually made Batman break out in a cold sweat…hello…hello…" Rohan frowned when it sounded like the phone had been dropped and the line went silent and then Eric picked up the phone.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY TO MY WIFE?!" Eric was in no mood.

"Nothing that would cause her to faint now who the hell are you?" Rohan growled back.

"No wonder she fainted." Eric chuckled. "You were supposed to be out of town, so I take it big brother that the kids are with you?"

"So that must have been Andromeda and you must be Eric." Rohan tried not to laugh when Bruce raced into the house to go wake up the kids. "I just got back last night and instantly sensed the three of you which was a fortunate thing because I got the six of them out of a potentially dicey situation. I took them to my place and bonded with my son."

"Dicey situation? The kids are all okay aren't they?" Eric growled.

"He took them to a vampire film festival not knowing that events like that tend to draw the real deal there in droves." Rohan couldn't help but take the phone away from his ear when Eric snarled in what seemed like a dozen languages.

"Go on big brother I'm listening."

"Shawn, being my kid was furious with Richard's idea of fun and well aware of the situation around him, so he got all of them out of the theater by way of the ladies room window. I was already waiting outside and they caught a ride with me. I settled here at my place fed them all, showed them my media room, and watched as Shawn did his best to try all the junk food that he could eat. His stalling tactic was all for naught, and the two of us with the addition of Dex adjourned to my lab where I used a sample of his blood to finally achieve success in creating my serum. I'm standing on my veranda enjoying my first sunrise in nearly two millennia and I'm about to taste food again as well." Rohan was starving and headed into the house.

"Look I know that you wanna experience everything as in right now and I understand that, but Dromi just found out about what went down at the theater last night and really needs to see the kids. She's been stressed out as of late and this isn't helping matters any." Eric growled.

"Oh very well, I'm curious about meeting the two of you anyway. We'll see you in a little while." Rohan ended the call.

"The girls are all set as is Dex, but Shawn's still out like a light in your lab." Bruce took his phone back from him.

"Yeah he's my son alright." Rohan chuckled. "Take the other three back to your place for now that way you're future sister-in-law won't be still on meltdown and I'll bring Shawn after I've showered and changed."

Andy paced in front of Eric in the Batcave. "Adrian like that was the last thing that I wanna deal with on our first time away in like an eternity from our kids! Not only that, but the kids could have been caught up in the middle of one of his trademark feeding orgies!!! Thank Arus Uncle Fangs came back early from his trip!"

"Calm down Dromi nothing happened and the kids are all fine." Andria was trying to narrow down any of Adrian's possible locations on the Batcaves vast computer mainframe.

"Look on the bright side of things Rohan and Gwen are gonna be cured now and all because certain events went down like they did last night." Barbara tried to make her see the lighter side of things rather than the dark. Her attempt at trying to get her to relax only made things worse.

"JUST ONCE I WISH THAT WE COULD GO SOMEWHERE AND ACTUALLY HAVE A NICE RELAXING VACATION INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY HAVING TO STOP AND PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD TO SAVE THE WHOLE BLASTED UNIVERSE FROM DOOM AND GLOOM!" Dromi screamed in frustration and then stalked over to the stone steps to sit down and bury her face in her hands. "Is that such an impossible wish..." She burst into tears.

Eric walked over and sat down beside her and she threw herself into his arms. "Shh baby it's not gonna be like that…" He crooned against her hair.

"I'm just so tired of it Eric! I came here to get away from all of that, but no the fates as usual threw a situation at us that we’re honor bound to make right again. Only we can't kill three of them or the two of us won't be together and I'd end up with Shaitan…" Andy sobbed miserably against his shoulder.

"Sweetheart you're blowing things way out of proportion we're eternal you and me. No one and nothing is gonna get between us ever." Eric rocked her in his arms. "If I didn't know any better and the timing isn't right by two years yet…"

Andy pulled back from him to look soulfully up into his eyes. "I'm just a stressed out emotional basket case right now and no I'm not pregnant with Samantha and won't be until Tony is around five. By that time MK will be off driving Uncle Jeff and Mark crazy, Tony will be in school, and the girls will be dare I say it on the verge of being teens with their sights set on your worst nightmare boys." Andy smirked when Eric shot her a look of panic at the mention of their girls and boys in the same sentence. 'The way things are going between these four they could be well onto starting families of their own. I mean I seriously don't think that it's fair after all that they've gone through to want the four of them to have to wait until Lilly and Tam are eighteen to move on in their relationships. No seventeen is gonna be the magic number for the four of them. I just have to convince Daddy…Momma will be an easy sale Daddy is gonna take careful planning to get him to see things my way.'

'Plot later three of our missing teens just arrived with Bruce, but so far no sign of Big brother or Shawn which means that he's strategizing no big surprise there.' Eric pulled them both up to their feet. "Breakfast is being served up in the dining room." He gave the three of them a look that said beyond words that none of them were in for it and no one was gonna get reamed.

"Is Aunt Dromi okay?" Tam eyed her worriedly. They had overheard her emotional rant then sobbing just as they were entering the Batcave. It wasn't something that any of them were rarely privileged to see.

"Yeah sis we're sorry if we're causing you to have a breakdown." Lilly worried her lip with her front teeth. :I mean it's a good thing that Sammy isn't on the way yet because I don't really think that you could handle any more stress right now.: She walked over and gave her sis a hug.

"I hear you there baby sis and no you're not causing me to have a breakdown I just needed to vent and have a good sob on my lion's shoulder." She hugged back.

"I've got a fully stocked med-kit so just say the word and I'll give you something to help ease your stress level." Dex eyed her with concern it was clear that Dromi was stressed out beyond measure and the doctor in him could see that it was taking its toll on her.

"Look Dex I refuse to be on a drug induced high for any of my vacation. Eric is all the stress relief that I need, but thanks for your concern." Andy looked up at Bruce and Richard. "Don't look so stressed you two if worst comes to worse I'll just open the portal and send for some major reinforcements. After all three of them did take down Adrian, Hans, and Lacross…" Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of Rohan with Shawn sound asleep in his arms.

"And that would be who exactly?" Rohan arched a curious brow at the young woman staring wide eyed at him.

"Um what happened to Shawn?" She skirted the question entirely.

"Lack of sleep we bonded last night," Rohan locked eyes with hers. He decided on bending the rules by attempting to pick her brain, but found himself locked out. He set Shawn down on one of the sparing mats in the lair. Impossible no one can block me out!

"Nice try, but I was taught by the master." Dromi smirked.

Dex rolled his eyes at Rohan. "He hasn’t been able to sleep for days and is in dire need of some sleep. Isn't that right Lil's?"

Lilly turned a shade of bright crimson from the roots of her golden haired head to her pink stained toenails and bolted from the room.

'Oh really nice Dexter Faron you just had to go and say it didn't you!' Tam raced after her cousin.

'Don't be that way Tam! I didn't mean it that way! I meant that he hasn't been getting any sleep for months because of what happened to the two of you!' Dex could feel seven sets of eyes on him.

"EXPLAIN NOW AND DO NOT SPARE ME THE DETAILS!" Eric let go of Andy stalked over and grabbed Dex by the neck.

Dex grabbed frantically at his throat. "I can't breathe..."

"Oh can't you? Here is this better!" He grabbed hold of his bomber jacket and lifted him off the ground with one hand.

Dex nodded grabbing his throat and gasping for air.

"Good now talk!"

"Tammy and I went to check on the two of them before anything could happen!! I swear it!" Dex locked eyes with him knowing full well that would be the only means of escape and that Eric would see that he wasn't lying.

"Honestly Eric Anthony let the poor boy go he's obviously telling the truth!" Dromi pulled on his arm.

Eric let him go and he bolted up the stone steps. "Sorry but he mentioned intimacy between Shawn and Lilly and I temporary lost my sanity." Eric winced at the look that she was sending him and felt as if he were three.

"Heaven help whoever ends up dating your girls." Dick eyed him warily when Eric whipped his head up to glare murderously over at him. "Hey not that it's gonna happen for a long, long time yet…" Dick grabbed Bab's and raced up the stone stairs to the safety of his rooms.

Rohan's phone chose that moment to ring in his pocket breaking the tension in the air. He flipped it open it was his mother. "Hello Mother…Yes I know that I was supposed to call you when I got in…Already it just went down last night and it's already world wide news…You're where…Mother I know how blasted dangerous my twin can be and no I don't want you anywhere near this…What?..." Rohan raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "You took the other jet after I left…Mother it's complicated…No you're mind's not playing tricks on you… I'm at Bruce's…Yes mother he knows everything no surprise there seeing who his alter ego is…Where exactly are you…" The call ended. "Mother…Mother…Damn she hung up on me…"

"Um I know that Eric is having a melt down and everything, but we've got a visitor…" Tam used the intercom to converse with them it was safer that way.

"That answers that question." Bruce watched Eric's face for his reaction as he walked over to the intercom on the console and answered his granddaughter. "It's alright Tam we'll be right up."

"Ok grandpa. It's all good though she seems to be in a really good mood and is currently raiding the breakfast buffet."

"Sweetie she hasn't been able to bask in the sun for over two millennia, let alone taste anything so that's to be expected." Bruce chuckled.

"Bruce would you kindly tell my son that I would like to see him now and for him to bring the three that he's so obviously hiding down in that cave of yours up to see me." Gwen's soft musical voice echoed around the cave.

"Welcome back and no I can assure you that he's not hiding anyone in my cave." Bruce shook his head in amazement of just exactly how much about him that she knew. "One is currently dead to the world on one of the sparing mats, the other is my soon to be brides twin sister, and lastly but not any less important is her husband. The three of them arrived yesterday afternoon for our wedding…"

"By the Goddess will you just tell her already! She's not made of glass! My god Mom is one of the strongest willed women that I know!" Andy rolled her eyes at the men in exasperation. "We're here from the future to attend my sister's and your wedding! It just so happens that Shawn is Uncle Rohan's first born son with Aunt Allana and Eric is Gwen's son and my husband it's as simple as that!" Andy was pulled into Eric's arms and silenced with a kiss.

"By Merlin's beard she's a firebrand." Rohan shook his head in disbelief as he silently stowed away the name of his future soul mate. Allana what a beautiful name he thought as he once again drifted into his the future is bright mood again.

"Oh you have no idea." Bruce rolled his eyes heavenward.

"Honestly Bruce that comment was not necessary and for you're information Darian Rohan she's had to be a firebrand to survive! We both have in our lives!" Andria stalked up the stairs in a temper.

'Dria I didn't mean anything by it! It's just been a long night!' Bruce gave chase after her.

"Where am I…" Shawn roused from his sleep sitting up to run his fingers through his sleep tousled dark hair. "Why am I sleeping on a sparing mat in Uncle Bruce's lair? Gods those two can never cool it for five minutes…" He rolled his eyes at Eric and Andy who were still kissing.

"Son look me square in the eye and tell me that you and Lilly aren't as devoted to each other as the two of them." Rohan stared down into eyes identical to his own. "Does the theater two days ago ring any bells?"

Shawn narrowed his eyes at his father. "Look Dad I hate it when you pick my brain and what's between my Princess and I is private! Nothing happened we'd had a very rough patch for two months…The hell with this I'm gonna find Lil's and get something to eat!" He vanished.

"It's gonna be one of those days I just know it." Rohan rolled his eyes heavenward then turned to look over at the love birds. "Mother is waiting to meet you little brother you catch up on quality time with the firebrand later."

"Go on Lion I'll be up in a little bit." Andy finally broke off their kiss then turned to narrow her eyes at her Uncle Rohan. "Uncle Fangs and me are gonna have a chat."

"Don't hurt him too badly," Eric shot Rohan a look that said I wouldn't want to be you right now and then vanished.

"Let me introduce myself properly my name is Andromeda Marie Edwards Lawson. My title is Crowned Prince of Arus. I'm a Major in the Galaxy Garrison, wife of Colonel Eric Anthony Lawson, and mother of four." Andy was drawing on her training as heir to the throne showing a rarely used but no less lethal future Queen side.

"Yes I know that all of you are from the future from Shawn, but little else." Rohan matched her look with one of his own. He was royalty by blood and a prince by rank so her introduction hardly impressed him. "What I don't know is how in the name of Merlin you can block me out."

"Don't fang out on me Uncle Rohan it's not going to get you anywhere with me…" She felt him trying to pick her brain again and shot him a disappointed look. "Forget it. I thought that you would be the same, but I was wrong. I guess you need to live another thousand or so years to be the man that I know back home. A total stranger who befriended a nine-year-old little girl and became her mentor and Uncle of sorts who helped her grow up into who she is today." She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and turned to walk up the stone steps.

Darian used that moment of vulnerability to slip into her mind and was given a glimpse of what he had to look forward to from the moment he befriended an adorable lost little girl. He was shown the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on with breathtaking aquamarine eyes and a gorgeous cascade of strawberry blonde hair…then flashed forward to the birth of Shawn…before he was finally shut out by a beyond furious Andy. "I know it was sneaky…" He went flying across the room after she punched him in the jaw.

"DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!" Her eyes blazed with fury and hurt angry tears. "I WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!"

Rohan rubbed at his sore jaw feeling about two inches high at the look of hurt and betrayal that she was giving him. "I'm sorry little blossom. I knew better than that, but then I hate being in the dark about anything…"

Andy stalked over to him and sat down beside him on the mat. "You're like a surrogate father to me so I know all about your thirst for finding out every single detail, but I also know the rules that you instilled in me and have no wish to face the music when I get back home. I have never met who you tend to growl about other than at official royal functions and for some reason they've taken a shine to my Michael a mystery that remains unsolved to this day." She gave him the most hurt soulful look that broke his heart. "I would love to tell you all really I would, but rules are rules and I wish that you would just accept that."

"You have my word." He found himself hugged by her. "Now is it against the rules to tell me why you happen to be stressed out of your mind? Child of my blood or not you are still mine and I can't bare to see any of the ones that I love unhappy."

"I've four little ones at home. Jessica and Jasmine are twins and my first born. Michael Keith was born three years later. Tony my youngest was born two years after that. MK is a highly intelligent little boy gifted with the powers of the mind. He's also surpassing his big sisters in school and that causes fight after ear splitting fight." She let herself cry against his shoulder. "This invitation to Andria and Bruce's wedding was my chance to get away for a while and spend time with Eric. Now that's all muddled up because your blasted twin brother and his goons showed up and ruined everything."

"Sibling rivalry I know it all too well." Rohan let her cry as he soothingly rubbed her back. "We'll have none of that defeatist attitude. The two of you will get to recharge and as for Adrian we'll deal with him when the situation arises and not before." Andy was snoozing in his arms. "It's gonna be okay little blossom I promise."

Outside on the terrace

"Sorry…what was that again…" Eric was more focused on what was going on down in the cave than what his mother was asking him.

"Eric you know very well that you can trust Rohan now let the two of them have their talk." Andria narrowed her eyes at him.

"He was walking around in her head without her permission and she's not at all happy with him, and just so you know Andria I have every right to use my soul bond with my wife whenever I wish to." Eric bristled at her accusation flushing under his bronzed complexion.

Andria was about to say something else, but a look from Bruce told her don't push it.

"No ones saying otherwise Eric now if all of you will excuse us Dria and I we're going to adjourn to our suite the two of us didn't get any sleep last night." Bruce pulled Dria up to her feet and the two of them vanished.

"So that's where your mind has wandered off to." Gwen smiled knowingly as she viewed the holo-cube once more. "I was saying that you have given me something very special to look forward to during the long years ahead. I have you, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and the most precious grandchildren. I also know that Rohan is going to be truly happy and blessed as well." She smiled over at Shawn who was currently on his second helping of breakfast.

Eric would rather cut off his right hand than crush her dreams of the future so he did the only thing he could and smiled at his mother. "You are the best mother in the universe more than any son could ever wish to have and I love you very much as do the kids."

"It must be very trying on the two of you to be away from them for any period of time." Gwen poured herself another glass of juice.

"More like relief seeing as two of them fight like cats and dogs over everything." Shawn said.

"Lilly and I were never as bad as Jessie and MK are and that's saying something." Tam nodded.

"The two of you were bad alright, but the sibling rivalry going on between Jessie and MK is near off the scales." Dex rolled his eyes.

"Tammy wasn't surpassing me in everything nor was she three years younger than me. Jessie is his big sister by three years and sees that as her right to lord over MK." Lilly countered waving a piece of crisp bacon at Shawn.

"Lord over MK not likely he's got an unlimited intelligence, is excelling in martial arts just like his parents, and is highly gifted in all powers of the mind. Jessie is smart don't get me wrong, but not even close to MK's level and he has no problem rubbing into her face at every opportunity." Shawn leaned over and literally nipped the piece of bacon from her fingertips.

"He'll get a taste of what he's dishing out to Jess years down the road when Sammy is born." Dex chuckled remembering all too well when Daniel and Sam had time jumped to their time in order to save Lilly and how MK's older self seemed to be pulling his hair out trying to rein her in.

"Oh my I can see why the two of you are here in need of a vacation the four of them are quite the handful." Gwen coughed after swallowing her orange juice wrong. "Eric, how could they possibly know about someone not even born yet?"

Eric shot the four of them a look and they all beat a hasty retreat. "Two years ago we got a visit from Rohan's son Daniel Rohan and our fifth child a daughter named Samantha Lynn when they time jumped to our time in order to rescue Lilly from Ren the son of one of our more not so nice enemies. It's not the first time we've gotten to see her once before a teenage MK arrived to rescue his mother when she was carrying him inside her and Sammy tagged along she was three that time unlike the second she was fifteen and Daniel I'd say nearly twenty."

"Fascinating the future is just full of fascinating surprises." Gwen smiled warmly at Eric. "My dear friend was so very right about my life taking a happier turn."

"Rohan always mutters something about not wanting to anger The Keeper of Time now and then that wouldn't be your dear friend would it mother?" Eric arched a curious brow at her. "We've only met them during official events or peace conferences on Earth, but they're all very nice but mysterious people. No one even attempts to even question anything that happens in Crystal Tokyo seeing as they are the ruling family of Earth. The odd thing is that ever since MK was born they've taken an interest in his life and none of us have a clue why."

"My dear friend Selena is always one to say that all will be revealed in time. Nothing ever happens for no reason and it's never wise to know too much of ones future." Gwen laughed when her son shot her an exasperated look. "Eric it's not going to work. Rohan has every right to be wary of her she's not one to be meddled with and tends to banish ones that break the cardinal rules to limbo for a few days."

"Oh well in that case I'll just drop the subject. In our time she's a big time designer in the fashion world that Andy adores so much so that she only wears her clothing line. Then again we're all pretty much at peace right now at least on Earth so they've more than earned the right to be lazy." Eric now had some idea as to who scared his big brother witless and that was enough for him.

"They protected this world so yes son they have more than earned the right to be lazy." Gwen breathed in the crisp sea air and sighed.

"Little brother someone needs to be put to bed." Rohan walked in carrying Dromi in his arms.

Eric sprang to his feet. "Next time stay out of her head she's stressed out as it is." He growled as he carefully took her out of his arms.

"Easy little brother I already gave her my word that it wouldn't happen again and she needed a shoulder to cry on that wasn't a part of the situation." Rohan wasn't the least bit scared of the dark look that he was shooting him. "Now go get her tucked into bed. I'll check on her in an hour or two."

"Yes Eric get Andy settled we have plenty of time to get to know each other." Gwen walked over and placed her hand on Andy's forehead. She closed her eyes and took her measure. Then used her empathy to try and soothe some of her distress away so that she could get a nice healing sleep. "Poor baby she's been through so much." She placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I know she was in desperate need of this time away and I intend to see that she gets the rest and recharge that she needs." Eric sighed in frustration. "Uncle Adrian is an unwanted addition to our vacation and the last thing that she needs to have to deal with."

"We will deal with him if and when that happens now go take care of your princess and leave my twin to me." Rohan growled.

"All will be fine son just focus on Andromeda and nothing else." Gwen reassured him in a soft soothing tone.

"Hans, Lacross, and Adrian are key players to events that happen in the future and can’t be killed. Taken out of action yes, but anything else would cause a rift in time. Not to mention you won't meet Allana…" Eric decided to reveal at least that much. "Oh and there's a holo cube on the table loaded with home movies. I'll see the two of you later." He vanished.

"Mother I've a feeling that our first days of freedom will be far from boring." Rohan reached down to pick up the holo-cube.

"Rohan let's just enjoy all of them while they're here and worry about the rest as it comes. Adrian will no doubt attempt something, but we will be more than ready to counter him when he makes his move. All of them wear the talismans so none of them will come to any harm." Gwen placed a hand on his arm and the two of them went in search of the kids. "Now let's not waste any time worrying and focus on getting to know our future family."

Adrian paced his dark dank underground lair in sheer frustration his twin and that bitch that had taken him under her wing all those millennia ago had vanished off the face of a feat which was impossible to achieve for nothing escaped his ability to sense any of his kind. It infuriated him to no end that the two prizes that he had sent Hans and Lacross to bring him at the theater had slipped through his hands as well. "Whatever you are up to baby brother it matters not no one will ever get in my way."

"Rohan will no doubt make an appearance at the wedding of the century as will the surrogate bitch. We shall silence them then." Han's stalked into Adrian's private lair.

"When I wish your mouth to utter words to me I will ask!" Adrian threw a razor sharp dagger at Hans nailing him in the shoulder.

"Forgive my lapse of judgment my Lord. I am frustrated that the offerings that I had personally picked out for you vanished from the theater last night." Hans ignored the knife sticking out of his shoulder bowing his head in shame.

"Ah yes the two young saplings with Grayson and the two boys." Adrian recalled silently observing one of the boys and how he had reacted to the ones around him.

"I caught sight of one of the boys and he was aware of his surroundings and the undead around him." Lars appeared out of the shadows.

"I agree Lars and only a hunter, watcher, or one of our kind can sense who we are." Adrian picked up a jewel encrusted chalice and drank deeply from it. "Abriel was careless letting the two sacrifices fly the coop and it's only fitting that I drink her blood this morning, but soon I will dine of the youth of those two saplings and feel hundred years young again."

"Dare we risk getting caught by the hunters my Lord? We are nothing, but the loss of you would be the end of us all." Stavros his comrade for over a millennia and his second appeared before him.

"Many have tried old friend and none have lived to tell about it. My own twin, who hates me more than the eternity that I subjected him to, will be my slayer, but then even he has lost the will to challenge me with that final battle." Adrian handed Stavros the other chalice. "It's only fitting that we drink Abriel's blood this eve she was weak and foolish to listen to the foolish rumors about my brother's monotonous attempts at developing that fairy tale cure for himself."

"And if Rohan does succeed?" Stavros growled as he drank his fill.

"If that day ever comes old friend it will mean that he'll be powerless and completely mortal again. I will take great pleasure in feasting on his blood after I skin him alive of course." Adrian grinned evilly. "And this world will finally be ours for the taking."

"My men have begun a search for the two saplings. They shall be yours by next moonrise." Stavros was rewarded with a refill.

(Somewhere on the grounds between Bruce and Rohan's)

Tammy and Lilly were taking a ride exploring the acres between the two estates. The clouds had overcast the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. "Does it feel like we're being watched to you?" Tam reined her chestnut mare to a stop.

"Days like toady tend to make any forest creepy. In other words you're mind is playing tricks on you." Lilly teased her eyes dancing with humor as she came to a stop beside her on her own dark bay mare.

"I'm serious Lil something is watching us." Tam dismounted from her horse and tried to hone in on whoever was watching them.

"Tam you're just edgy because Shawn saw Adrian's goon squad as are we all. That's why you're getting all of those bad vibes." Lil's jumped down beside her and to her utmost dismay after a loud crack of thunder their mounts decided to bolt back to the stables. Not to mention that she was now sensing that they were being watched from the shadows. "Oh crap…"

"Still think I'm imagining things?" Tam picked up the saddle bag that had fallen off her horse when she had reared up and bolted for home.

Lilly closed her eyes and focused her mind to seek out any potential threat. "Oh crap! Seriously, for once I wish someone was wrong, I simply loath being a target all of the time!" She grabbed Tam by the towards Rohan's estate and holy ground.

"Lilly they're creatures of the night there is no way in hell that we can out run them!" Tammy hissed at her in frustration. :We're not like Shawn, Aunt Dromi, Uncle Eric, Uncle Rohan, or Aunt Gwen this is way over our heads! Nonetheless I really think that we'll have a better chance at survival if we stand our ground here. If we're lucky our training will more than compensate for any skill that we sorely lack on.:

:But I'm not even close to being at one hundred percent yet and even Dromi said I was nothing more than a warm up for her!: Lilly sensed more than five vamps and that was just behind them.

:She was just teasing you! You have to get your confidence back Lil.: Tam stopped running and prepared to stand her ground.

:Okay wise ass how do you suggest we fight them!? I didn't bring an arsenal with me did you?" Lilly glowered at her.

:I'm a Wayne. I never leave anywhere unprepared.: She opened up the saddle bag revealing her small arsenal. "I've got wooden stakes, crosses, garlic, and two super soakers filled with Holy water."

"And here I thought you were carrying our lunch. Where did you get all of that anyway?" Lilly loaded up on weapons.

"My Grandfather has something for every occasion. I even equipped us with utility belts just in case something like this reared it's ugly head during out ride." Tam grinned.

"So that's what these are. Got any smoke or flash balls by chance?" Lilly was focused and in hunter mode.

"First compartment next to the grappler and the laser cutter," Tam produced three balls from her belt. "Why do ya have a plan?"

"Yeah, two can play at their game of hiding in the shadows. Our advantage being that we're trained masters of the ancient arts and they're just blood sucking leeches. I didn’t train my ass off since I could walk only to buy it in some psycho monster movie scenario." Lilly too one of the balls and threw it down at their feet. "Time to vanish," smoke billowed around them just as the vamps launched their attack.

"Where are they?! Two innocents don't just vanish into nothing!" One of them snarled.

"We had better find them or we'll wind up facing the fate that Abriel encountered this morning." Another hissed.

"FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND FIND THE OFFERINGS!" Ripper, Stavros' second roared at them.

Lilly and Tam were perched up in a nearby weeping willow. :Confident badies aren't they.: Lilly arched a brow at Tam.

:I count ten. That leaves five for me and five for you. Do you think that you can handle it?: Tam sent back.

:It’s not like I really have a choice now do I. Did you leave a note like you wanted or did you listen to me and not tell anyone that we went out riding?: Lilly got ready to pounce down on one of their prey.

:I left a note, but then who is to say that anyone is gonna see it. I stuck it on the screen of Grandpa's computer.: Tam was also ready for battle. :Maybe you should send an SOS to Shawn.:

:That's only for a last resort. I need to prove that I can be who I was again!: Lilly soundlessly dropped down onto the ground staking an unsuspected vamp.

"Impossible she's a HUNTER!" Ripper snarled in fury.

Lilly sent two more flying into each other. "Actually my Aunt is a hunter. I just wanted to learn this fighting style for fun."

Tam was holding her own against her own opponents. "Being Shadow Warriors is a major plus too." She was down to two vamps.

"I've killed hundreds of hunters for Lord Adrian. You do not seem any more of a threat than they were!" Ripper was beyond furious and in full fang mode.

"I doubt that any of them had the abilities of a ninja and that you monster gives me the same advantage as you to hide in the shadows." Lilly nailed Ripper with a flying kick sending him crashing against a nearby tree trunk.

:Uh Lilly not to alarm you or anything, but we are seriously outnumbered here!: Tam was barely keeping her opponents at bay.

:I'm kind of busy trying to fend off their leader, Tam!: Lilly flinched when Ripper leapt at her with his razor sharp talon like claws inflicting a nasty looking gash on her arm. "Hey that hurt you had better have had all of your shots!" She whipped another kick at Ripper nailing him across the jaw with her riding boot.

:That does it Lilly he really took a chunk out of your lower arm call Shawn for help: Tam ordered Lilly as she staked two more vamps.

"I'm going to do this myself!" Lilly was being stubborn and that lapse of concentration caused her to miss an attack and go flying into the bushes.

"Little one I eat little girls like you for breakfast." Ripper hissed down at her.

"Well this little girl isn't going to be one of your snacks!" Lilly shot him in the face with the Holy water.

"Why you little bitch I will scalp you for that!" Ripper howled as half of his face started to catch fire.

"Now, now you mustn't swear at a lady it's just not nice." Lilly vaulted back to her feet and her hunter's medallion was now in clear view and it was glowing.

:Lilly we've been completely clueless and forgot about our medallions! They can't touch us now that we've activated them.: Tam was easily vanquishing her prey.

:It's about damn time! I was beginning to think that our fancy trinkets were duds!: Lilly was beyond pleased when her next attack hurt him, but barely touched her.

"Impossible! Those are the ancient slayer medallions! Only the McCloud clan possessed them and they've been extinct for nearly two millennia now!" Ripper made a fatal error by grabbing hold of her medallion and his hand burst into flames. "No!! I will not be defeated by infants!"

"Newsflash you lose I win!" Lilly ended the battle by staking him through the heart. "Mine's history how are you doing Tam?" Lilly was just starting to feel the effects of her injured arm.

"Be with you in a sec. How's your arm doing?" Tam dispatched the last vamp.

"Nothing to worry about…" Lilly turned to smile at her frowning when she couldn't bring Tam into focus. "It's just a scratch…" Lilly fainted.

"Lilly!" Shawn dismounted from his horse and raced to her side.

"Shawn don’t move her until I look at her first!" Dex reined in his horse to a halt beside Tam. "Not good! Tam I need you to use one of those gadgets that you nicked from your grandfather to contact, Eric. Tell him that Lilly's been hurt!" Dex got out his med-case and scanner from the saddle bag.

"Do something Dex!" Shawn had covered her with his jacket to keep her warm.

"I'm going to help her Shawn, but you're gonna have to move so that I can see how badly she's been hurt." Dex knelt down next to the two of them and scanned Lilly with his med-scanner. "She's has a severe laceration on her lower left arm."

"Laceration hell those look like claw marks! What the hell went down here anyway?" Shawn's temper was on meltdown.

"Focus on Lilly! We'll find out the details later!" Dex was treating Lilly's injury by laser sealing her wound and then wrapping it with pressure bandages.

"She's covered with dust and so is Tammy! This has to have something to do with my Uncle!" Shawn's eyes zeroed in on the wooden stake clutched in Lilly's hand. God damn it to hell! She's lucky that I don't strangle her with my bare hands for pulling a stunt like this! He forced himself to rein in his temper as he cuddled her protectively in his arms.

"She's lost a great deal of blood, but my scan indicated that she has no need for a transfusion." He gave her something to rouse her. "Lilly it's Dex. I need you to try and open your eyes for me. Shawn is going out of his mind and need to see that you're okay."

"My fight... I won it all by myself…" She whimpered softly. "Not anyone's warm up exercise…"

Shawn cradled her face between his hands. "Come on beautiful open up those beautiful baby blues and look at me."

Tam raced over to the two of them. "The cavalry is on it's way. How is she doing?"

"She'll be fine. No major injuries. I patched up her arm and she doesn't need a transfusion." Dex got to his feet pulling her into his arms. "What about you did you get hurt?"

"I'm a little bruised and sore, but other than that I'm fine." Tam forced herself to look up into his stormy eyes. "So…um…how did you find us?"

"Shawn and I were watching our movie marathon when suddenly he grabbed at his arm in agony. That's when it occurred to us that the two of you had gone off on your own and we went to go find you." Dex was just barely keeping his temper in check. "What in the name of the gods were the two of you thinking? Are the two of you suicidal or just insane! All you had to do was call for help…" Dex was hugging the breath out of her. "You could have been…" He buried his face in her hair.

"Dex I'm sorry that I worried you…could you please loosen your grip…I can't breath." She gasped for air.

"SORRY!? YOU'RE SORRY!!" Dex let her go so that he wouldn't give into the urge and strangle her. "You could have been killed! The two of you are still not completely healed yet from your last ordeal! What the hell is wrong with asking for help!?" He ranted at her.

"Ow not so loud…" Lilly winced in pain as she tried to bring Shawn back into focus. "Did we win?"

"DID YOU WIN!! YOU ALMOST GOT YOURSELF KILLED!" Shawn completely lost his temper.

"Shawn don't over dramatize it all he did was scratch me arm. Why am I lying on the ground in your arms?" Lilly tried to sit up, but Shawn had a death grip around her waist.

Shawn swore under his breath.

"Why are you so angry? No worries handsome it's just a scratch and we won. Did I trip on a tree root or something? Is that why I'm lying here in your arms?" Lilly winced when she tried to move her arm.

"Don't move!" Shawn glared down at her.

"I want up Shawn. I'm not hurt except for my arm and Dex did his magic on it." Lilly glared back at him.

"Lillian Allura Edwards you and I are going to have a nice long talk! That goes for you as well Tamara Andria Wayne!" Andy and the others had arrived.

"What is your deal!? We kicked ass and didn't get dead! You should be relieved to know that the two of us can more than hold our own in battle!" Tammy glared at all of them. "We weren't expecting to be ambushed on the estate grounds. Forgive the two of us for thinking that it was safe."

"Young lady you happen to be wearing one of the utility belts and could have easily signaled the house that the two of you were in trouble. Half of being a hero is knowing when to call for help." Bruce kept his temper with her in check.

"When are all of you going to get it that Tam and I are all grown up now and way older than our sixteen years!" Lilly was not about to be sent to her room like a normal teenager.

"Lilly that has nothing to do with this and you know it! You almost got yourself killed trying to prove something that all of us already know." Dromi knelt down in front of her. "You're still healing from your last battle."

"Why should that matter? You never waited when a battle came upon you even if you were mending." Lilly sulked.

"Yes and she also learned to call for help. Almost dying tends to do that to a person." Eric reached down and took Lilly out of Shawn's arms.

"Oh yeah I remember all of that, but then I always have wanted to walk in my big sisters shoes." Lilly didn't even want to contemplate how pissed Shawn had to be to let Eric take her out of his arms with out protesting even once.

It was starting to pour now and jagged lightning shot across the sky.

"We had better get back to the manor. This storm is going to be here any moment now. Lilly and Tammy need to get warm. I don't want them sick for the wedding." Andria decided that any other lectures could wait until her shivering baby sister and granddaughter could get warm.

"Get them to the manor. Dex and I will head back to the stables." Shawn and Dex mounted their rides and shot off towards the stables at a full gallop.

"SHAWN!!" Lilly shouted after him.

"Let them go Lil. It will be safer for both of us if we let them cool down for a while." Tam was being carried in Bruce's arms to a nearby Landrover.

"Lilly the two of them still aren't over your near death experiences with Ren and Aaron, so don't expect a good job pat on the back from either of them." Eric got her settled in the back seat.

"What is so bad about being able to fend off creeps yourself!" Lilly fumed.

"Lilly enough," Dromi growled as she sat down beside her.

"Is it something embedded into the male ego that makes them have to be the only defender…"

"Lillian Allura shut up!"

"But!"

"LILLY!! One more word and you're going back home and I'll give a full report to Momma, Daddy, and Uncle Jeff!" Dromi locked eyes with her and Lilly wisely decided to do as she was told.

Dick found the two of them working out their frustrations in the Batcave training area. "Having amazon ninjas for girlfriends must really bite sometimes. I mean how is a guy supposed to rescue his girl when she can easily handle practically any creep who she comes across and win."

Shawn was perched up on the high-wire. "I saw the security camera footage! They should have called for back-up!" his snarl echoed throughout the cave.

"I saw the footage too kid and both of them were well equipped with weapons and too busy to even pause to call for help." Dick climbed up to the trapeze platform.

"Look Grayson! Lilly is linked to my mind and a telepath! She doesn't need a signal device to call for help! She was hell-bent on proving herself to Andy and all of us and forgot that she was part of a team! Dex, Tam, Lil, and I are a team or at least I thought we were!" Shawn dove off the high-wire and landed safely on the trapeze bar in front of Dick.

"Look Dick what the girls pulled could get them reassigned to stay back home on Arus that is if Jeff finds out and then the four of us will be separated! That's what Shawn and I are dreading, so that is why we're furious with them!" Dex was pounding the hell out of the heavy bag.

"Now were getting somewhere." Dick arched a brow at Shawn. "Why don't you two join me out on patrol tonight it'll allow you to blow off some steam?"

"Take Shawn along with you. I'm not the crime fighter type, besides I still need to keep an eye on my patient." Dex headed out of the workout area. "I may still want to strangle them, but I'm still a medical officer and I prefer to patch up the others rather than fight."

"I'll go get my cyber-gear." Shawn jumped softly down to the stone floor then vanished.

"Hopefully it'll be quiet tonight, because by the sounds of it Shawn is in the mood to tear the badies to pieces." Batgirl made her presence known.

"Babe, would ya mind if you didn't go on patrol tonight." Dick landed beside her.

"Why is Shawn anti-female crime fighter minded tonight?" Barbara removed her mask.

"The girls fought some vamps this afternoon and didn't call for back up. He's steamed because Lilly got hurt."

"Hurt? Was is serious?" She asked worriedly.

"Nothing serious she has a not so nice claw mark on her left arm…" Dick decided that seeing was easier than explaining what had happened. "Oh hell, just look at the footage its all there." He walked over and called up the footage of the battle on the computer.

"There must have been thirty vamps and they handled it like pros. Shawn and Dex must be suffering from extremely bruised egos." She was highly impressed.

"Bab's they risked their lives when they didn't need to! That alone was enough to get them grounded for…" Dick wasn't ready for that step yet. "Aah man now I'm sounding like a parent!"

"Richard Grayson does it bother you that much to think about becoming a father!" Barbara wasn't sure that she liked his attitude towards children.

"Woe Red, just back up a minute! I didn't mean that…" Dick raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I meant that I wasn't ready for that step yet."

"I'm not either, but at least I can see us having kids in our future. You obviously can't or don't want any with me!" Barbara's temper was flaring red hot. "I was going to go check on Tam and Lilly, but now I'm going home!"

Dick grabbed her by the waist and pulled her up against him. "You aren't leaving until we get this straight! You are my soul mate! I love you and I am going to marry you! We will have kids and our legacy will be past on!" Barbara went to speak, but he placed his finger against her lips. "No let me finish! Bruce and Andria are in the spot- light now, but we're next in line. I would just like for us to get college out of the way first. I'm sure that the Commissioner feels the same way. I want everything to be perfect for us."

"Wow Boy Wonder was that a proposal or were you just in the moment." She smiled up at him.

"Consider it a pre-proposal. Now go upstairs and see to the girls. Shawn and I are going to talk while we're out on patrol." Dick kissed her until she was clinging to him before letting her go to go suit up for patrol.

"I will want a ring sometime in the near future you know, so keep that in mind!" She breathlessly called after him with a dreamy look in her eyes. "Oh in candlelight, roses, dinner…" Her voice trailed off when she caught sight of Shawn in his cyber-gear.

"Sorry did I interrupt…" Shawn was standing on the top stair in his jet black body hugging uniform.

"Wing you soooo need to get one of those….on second thought I'd rather it be just for my eyes only!" She raced up the stairs and out of the lair.

"Well I see some things don't change." Shawn descended the stone carved steps that led down into the cave.

Dick now dressed as Nightwing was checking out the criminal hotspots on the computer. "What's that Kid?" He glanced over his shoulder at him.

Shawn was only a few years younger than he was and was tiring of the kid cracks. "Enough with the kid cracks I'm nineteen and you're what twenty-one so the two of us are both adults."

"Wrong. I'm from the past and you're from the future making me thousands or more years older than you are." Dick pulled rank.

Andy descended the stairs with a silver case in her arms. "Now, now boys play nice." She chided the two young men.

"What's in the case Dromi?" Dick walked over to her.

"It's for you." Andy handed him the silver case. "Call it a late everything present."

Dick sat down on the floor of the cave and opened the case. "Is this what I think it is?!" He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the state of the art cyber-armor custom designed to his Nightwing persona.

"This will give you an edge against the badies. You'll gave an energy shield capable of withstanding anything short of a direct nuclear impact. Let's see new gadgets to go along with your regular ones, only they're located all over the suit not just on the utility belt. There are also gravity boots to walk up or down any type of surface, a holographic mask will instantly activate in the event that your mask is knocked off or removed, and an anti-gravity belt with lifetime power supply so that you can take flight and fly when the need arises." Andy went over the specs of the suit. "Bruce, Dria, and Barbara all have them too this way you will be able to enjoy long lives."

"So much for any advantage that I had…" Shawn groaned.

"Shawn Alexander you will respect your elders and like it." Andy growled.

"Dad's right females always have the final say about anything." Shawn rolled his eyes at his Aunt.

"You better believe it buster now get going on patrol." Andy gave him a hug.

"Let's go Shawn I can't wait to try out this new gear." Dick dragged him off towards another part of the cave. "I'll even let you drive my new wheels."

"Finally, I thought they'd never leave." Andy shrugged out of her robe letting it drop to the floor. "I'm in the mood to prowl. Everyone else is busy. Bruce and Dria are spending alone time. Eric is bonding with his big brother and mom. I can't forget the two grounded sixteen-year-olds or Alfred and Dex's mean game of chess."

She was dressed in her Nightshade cyber-armor and was deciding on what vehicle that she wanted to borrow. She decided on the sleek stealthy jet black batcycle because she knew that Bruce would miss his car if it was gone and not check to see if the cycle was in use.

(Hours later)

Bruce, Eric, Rohan, and Andria finally noticed that Andy was nowhere to be found. Instead of Andy they found Barbara entertaining the girls, Dex was still playing chess with Alfred, Gwen was swimming in the indoor pool, and the boys were still out on patrol.

The four of them headed down into the Batcave and found that it too was minus Andromeda.

"Well the Batmobile is still here maybe she went for a walk." Andria frowned.

"Somehow I don't think so." Bruce reached down and picked up the robe off the floor.

"She told Alfred and Dex that she had a headache and was off to bed." Andria didn't need to look at Eric's face to know that he was not happy.

"Eric told me that she's his soul mate, so I think that she can take care of herself." Rohan winced when two pairs of eyes glared at him. "Then again I could be wrong."

"She's a trouble magnet and she's in avenge her sister and niece mode." Bruce growled.

"Well do you really blame her we all ditched her." Andria defended her twin.

"Andria you know how I feel about her donning her alter-ego again. Besides that she promised me that she would actually behave this vacation!" Eric's snarl echoed around them.

"You mean Nightshade isn't Andria's creation?" Rohan arched a confused brow at Bruce and Andria.

"Not exactly it's a really long story and Eric is about to vamp out on us, so we need to find my twin as soon as possible." Andria had seen her brother-in-law lose it and didn't really wish to see it again.

"Nightshade got retired after our son Michael Keith was born." Eric was prowling the cave to see if Andy had taken any of Bruce's toys.

I assumed the role when I came to this time with Bruce. You see Nightshade is kind of outlawed back home. She kind of got in over her head a dozen or so times and our parents the King and Queen of Arus not to mention our Uncle Jeff the head honcho of Galaxy Garrison banned her from her alter ego." Andria rambled on about Nightshade's origin.

"You taught her how to use her gifts and abilities and boy does she really use them to get into mischief." Bruce provided Rohan with another piece of the puzzle.

"My future self taught Andromeda?" Rohan grinned.

"ENOUGH WITH THE HISTORY LESSON! IS ANYTHING MISSING FROM THIS BLASTED LAIR OF YOURS!" Eric caused even Bruce to jump.

"Look Eric just because Dromi decided to go patrolling doesn't mean that you have to act like a three-year-old who had lost his favorite toy!" Bruce snarled back as he took stock of all of the vehicles the cycle was the only thing missing.

Eric glared murderously at him, "Answer the blasted question!"

"THE ONLY VEHICLE MISSING IS ANDRIA'S CYCLE WHICH HASN'T EVEN BEEN ROAD TESTED UNTIL TONIGHT!" Bruce roared back at Eric.

"Master Eric remember that MK can pick up on you're emotions even this far into the future. He's already little mister curious just like his mother and will try and come see what is wrong with the two of you." Andy's latest creation Al or E junior face appeared on the screen.

"Yeah I know that but she just makes me so…" Eric stopped in mid-apology to frown at the screen. "Al I thought that you weren't finished yet."

"It was supposed to be a surprise for Master Bruce, but I couldn't just watch you blow a blood vessel or worse because the mistress is off blowing steam because you left her alone for the rest of the afternoon." Al frowned.

"Al find Andromeda." Eric ordered.

"I would but then she is my creator and you're beyond furious with her at the moment so I will just ignore that command." Al was all for protecting his mistress. "Besides my intended Master is Bruce so following your orders isn't really imperative to my programming."

"Now this is my idea of a wedding present." Bruce was beyond pleased that Andy had bestowed upon them her latest creation.

"Al is she currently unharmed?" Andria asked.

"Why yes Mistress Andria she is perfectly fine at the moment as are Masters Richard and Shawn." Al smiled warmly at her.

"If you know that she is fine then you can tell me where she is!" Eric glowered at the four-dimensional face on the screen.

"You're her soul mate Master Eric surely you can find her on your own."

"She's blocking me out! The hell with this I'll suit up in my own gear and find her myself!"

"No! The two of you are going to stay here in the Batcave while I go find her myself in the Batwing!" Andria dared the two of them to defy her.

"She's my wife I will…"

"She's my twin and I will go get her!" Andria vanished.

Andy wasn't in the mood to socialize with any curious Superhero friends of Bruce's so you can imagine her displeasure when Superman while on his way to the manor decided to check out who was riding on Andria's cycle.

"Are you new to Team Batman or just trying out one of his vehicles?" Clark easily stopped the cycle in his tracks.

Andy took off her helmet, threw it down onto the pavement, and shook her head causing her braid to fall down her back. "Look I'm not in the mood for twenty questions! Just go find Batman and leave me alone!" She wasn't wearing her mask so in Clark's eyes he was talking to Andria.

"Sorry Dria. I didn't realize it was you. Are you and Bruce having a fight?" Clark picked up her helmet and handed it to her.

"As far as I know my twin and Bruce are still spending quality time together back at the manor." Andy rolled her eyes at him.

"Twin sister?" Clark frowned at her in confusion then the pieces fell into place. "You must be Andromeda. No wonder Bruce was such a tyrant before he met Andria. He met her twin first."

"And here I thought that Batman was the strong silent type. You must be one of only a handful of people who are privileged enough to know the man behind the cowl." Andy arched a brow at him.

"Bruce and I are best friends in normal life and comrades in arms when our alter egos are needed." He nodded.

"Manners aren't your strong suit are they?" Andy wasn’t about to keep playing twenty questions until he told her who he was. To her extreme delight this handsome hunk actually flushed in embarrassment.

"I just assumed that you knew who I was."

"Sorry not a clue," Dromi shrugged her shoulders. "Why should I know who you are or what the S on your chest represents?"

Clark's handsome face went from smiling to a frown, but he said nothing.

"Look here in this time you might be famous, but where I'm from you're nothing but a page in history. Spandex went out in the late twenty-third century." Andy was enjoying keeping Mr. Perfect hero off guard. "Now start talking or I'm really going to get annoyed."

"I'm Kal-el otherwise known as Superman." Clark growled.

"No I don't think so Superman. Kal-el just doesn't sound very American to me. Try again." Andy took off one of her gloves to check her nails for flaws.

"Look my name is Kal-el and I come from a planet called Krypton!" Clark was losing his temper.

"Sorry you act too Earth like to me. Yes you have powers, but so do a whole bunch of costumed clad heroes on this rock." Andy rolled her eyes at him.

"You are really annoying sometimes you know that!" Clark hated being at a disadvantage.

"So I've been told." She sighed. "Look Kal. I happen to know that the name Kal-el isn't on the guest list, so I know that although it may be your original birth name given to you by your birth parents it isn't your Tellurian name. It can't possibly be as long or as annoying as mine."

"What's so bad about your name?" Clark relaxed a little.

"Try being stuck with Crowned Princess Andromeda Marie Edwards Lawson heir to the throne of the Planet Arus. I told you mine so what's so bad about yours."

"Wow and I see your point. I'm Clark Jonathan Kent nice to meet you." He grinned.

Andy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "At least Bruce wears the cowl to keep his identity secret. I guess this planet is so closed minded that a pair of glasses can fool anyone. I thought that I'd seen your face before I must be more uptight than I thought."

"So I've been told." Clark groaned. "It was a good idea at the time and it still fools them today."

"Well this planet always has been mind locked." Andy smirked.

"And you obviously have no deficiency in that particular area." Clark found himself instantly at ease with her.

"The force is strong in my bloodline." Andy her eyes dancing mischievously giggled when Clark smirked at her remark.

"You mean that you use your mind more than the average person." He chuckled.

"I know that was really cliché of me, but I couldn't resist." Andy winked at him. "What it means is that I use every aspect of my brain where as the average Tellurian uses say ten percent if they're lucky and less if their average." Andy was eager to get going.

"You mean Andria has your abilities as well? No wonder Jon is intrigued with her so much. She's got better mental abilities than he does." Clark muttered under his breath.

"Actually Andria is half as strong in that area, but both of us are as fully trained as any shadow warrior. My Lion calls us amazons…" Andy frowned when her bike was activated with some sort of remote control and was taken away. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! They finally went to check on me! He's treating me like a teenage baby sister who is out after curfew! I'll tear a strip off him for that!" She was hopping mad.

"So you did sneak out without asking." Clark was highly amused.

Andy whirled around and jabbed a finger against his chest. "Listen buster I did not sneak out! I am a grown woman! I can go any place that I want! I am over twenty-one damn it and the mother of four!!" Andy stomped over to a tree along side of the road and smashed her fist against it. "I mean they abandoned me for the rest of the day!" The tree fell over from the force of her blow.

Clark wasn't completely sure that being near Andy in a temper was completely safe. "Maybe all of them are just worried about you."

Andy whirled around to glare murderously at him in full vampere mode. "Do I look like someone that a person should worry about!?"

"Before you try and bit me. I should warn you that doing so would break your fangs." Clark was certain that no one mentioned anything about Andria's sister being a creature of the night.

"Oh please! This isn't at all what you're thinking. I just have fangs when I get really mad, super strength, and I think I can fly." Andy absently sliced her bottom lip with her teeth when she nervously bit down on it. "Ouch! See I'm not even used to this new look yet!" Andy sat down on the grass and pouted.

"So you aren't a vampire? Then how did you get the look." He sat down next to her.

"My husband inherited it from his mother who happens to be a cured vampire. You might even know her. Gwen Lioness or Darian Rohan McCloud her adopted son and business partner. They are newly cured creatures of the night no longer under the influence of bloodlust and free to see the sun again." Andy didn't want anyone hunting down the two of them.

"Easy Dromi, I'm not surprised just glad that Rohan and Gwen are cured. How did it happen anyway?"

"His son is visiting him from the future and a sample of his blood helped Rohan create his serum. Now all is well here and we can go home with smiles after the wedding." Andy snarled under her breath.

"So Rohan and Gwen were taking all of your husband's free time and that's the main thing that's bugging you." Clark couldn't bear to see tears shining in her eyes.

"Yes and that makes me into an awful person! Our first time away from the kids in a long time and I just wanted him to myself damn it!" Andy swiped away a tear.

"No that makes you human." Clark took her hand in his. "Even us aliens have human feelings no matter how powerful they are."

"You know I really could go for a strawberry sundae right now." Andy sniffled. "Unfortunately that's back at the manor and I'm not ready to face my angry lion yet."

"Well there is a place and I'm sure that Jon would love to meet you." Clark contemplated out loud. "You are Andria's identical twin and she is a member so it can't hurt to bend the rules just this once."

"I'll be fine, Clark. I need a good run." Andy sprang to her feet.

"Even you can't run twenty miles in six inch heel boots." Clark wasn't about to let her wander off in a temper.

"I'm the original Nightshade and have been fighting badies since I was thirteen. I can more than handle being on my own." Andy took off at an extremely fast run. "Wicked cosmic another new ability!" She laughed in delight her bad mood vanished as quickly as it came.

:Jon this is Clark. There's someone I think you should meet. She's Andria's twin sister…Yes I thought you'd react that way. Beam the two of us up to the tower in ten minutes then you can see if you've finally met your mental match.: Clark sent that mental message to Jon at the Watch Tower. "Not bad Dromi, but I prefer to fly." He scooped her up into his arms and then shot up into the starry sky.

"Look when I fly it's inside of my very safe ship not out in the open where I can fall to my death!" She buried her face against his shoulder.

"Relax, I don't drop you." Clark chuckled. "Open your eyes and enjoy the view."

Andy reluctantly did as he asked. "It's beautiful now put me down!"

"You probably can do this with some practice. How about a lesson?" He loosened his hold on her.

"No thanks I'll practice by jumping off a tall tree or the roof. I have four little angels back home that need their mother." She was clinging to him in terror.

"Just let your instincts kick in and you'll be fine." He let her go.

"I'll get you for this Kal-el!" She dropped like a dead weight when panic set in.

"You aren't even trying, Andromeda. Concentrate think of this as a new challenge." He flew beside her. "I won't let anything happen to you now concentrate."

Andy closed her eyes and visualized herself flying and instantly stopped her decent until she was hovering in mid-air next to Clark. "Can I open my eyes now?"

"Congratulations Andromeda you are well on your way to learning how to fly." Clark was beyond impressed.

"I can't believe it I'm actually flying!" She used her own momentum to do a summersault and some loop de loops. "This is out of this universe and the only way to fly!"

"Nice first lesson flight, but we're going to get that sundae for you now." Clark grabbed her by the waist just as Jon sent the transport beam down from the orbiting Watch Tower.

Andria arrived in the Batwing just in time to see the two of them vanish. "This is not good. Eric is in a mood now he'll go nova when he hears this." She groaned.

'Andria my love any sign of your sister yet? Al isn't talking and Eric went beyond mental when they cycle came back minus its passenger.' Bruce made contact with Andria.

'That depends on what you mean by sign.' Andria wasn't at all sure what she had seen. 'Is Clark still in Metropolis?'

'As far as I know he is, but then he does have that ability called supersonic flight. Why what's going on?' Bruce acted as if he were trying to locate the boys as not to alert Eric.

'One minute they were both hovering in the sky and then it's like something caused them to disappear.' Andria couldn't even make contact with Dromi either.

'They as in Kal and Dromi? This is not good.' Bruce groaned.

'Tell me about it! She's blocking me out, so I can't get a fix on her. Do you think that Jon finally got the transport beam fixed could he have beamed them up?' Andria worriedly bit down on her lower lip.

'Well if that's the case then we know that she's perfectly safe and sound. You come back home and I'll take it from here.' Bruce placed a call to the Watch Tower. "Al I know that it's beneath you, but please place a call to the Justice League Watch Tower."

"At once Master Bruce," Al complied with his request.

"Well what’s going on?! I know that you and Andria were talking with each other! Did she find any sign of my Shadow?! What does any of it have to do with placing a call to this Watch Tower!?" Eric was going out of his mind with worry since he too was shut out of her mind.

"Stop panicking relax and try and use your link with her again." Rohan suggested calmly.

"She's still blocking me. I guess I blew it big time when I left her to herself for that long." Eric was at his whits end. "She's beyond putout with me for blowing our plans to spend quality time together."

"She's with some friends of mine. Dria made visual contact before something transported Andy and my best friend up to the safest spot on this planet." Bruce calmly explained to Eric.

"I thought that place was strictly members only." Rohan couldn't believe his ears.

"Andria is a member and Andy is her identical twin. The fact that she's the original Nightshade and a mind that Jon hasn't challenged does give her an instant guest status at the Tower." Bruce sighed in frustration.

"Connection established Master Bruce for a primitive computer the one at the Tower was quite pleasant to chat with." Al went split screen so that Jon's amused face was also on the monitor.

"Jon what are you and Kal up to this time? She isn't even from this timeline or universe." Bruce growled.

"Calm yourself. She is better off here than down there taking on Adrian's entire clan of vampires." Jon smirked.

"Kal should have brought her back here. Her husband would like to have his wife back in his arms as soon as possible." Bruce motioned to Eric who was standing behind him.

"I see yet another superior mind. No wonder he makes you nervous." Jon was almost laughing which was so out of character for him.

Bruce gritted his teeth in frustration. "I'm having one of those days Manhunter don't push it.

"I understand Bruce, but then if you can't rein in teenagers what hope do you have of keeping your son in line when he's born." Jon munched thoughtfully on an Oreo.

"Damn it Jon that was our secret and we weren't ready to share that yet!" Bruce slammed his fist against the console.

"Do you mind I happen to like being in one piece!" Al sulked.

"Is my wife enjoying her strawberry sundae?" Eric decided that a change in topic was in order. It was clear that Bruce was still adjusting to the news that he was gonna be a father.

"She's content and touring the Tower. Need I add furious with you for ignoring her on your…yes I believe it was time away from Jessica, Jasmine, Michael Keith, and Anthony. My word his young mind is so strong that he can even reach across time and space. Absolutely fascinating." Jon's sharp mind easily sensed MK chatting with his mother.

"I was wondering when he'd check in with her and I. I didn't leave her all alone. Mom just got cured this morning and we got caught up talking…Damn if MK's soothing her she must be beyond furious with me." Eric raked his fingers through his fiery red-gold hair.

:Dad if this is your idea of making Mom all better then your plan is failing miserably.: MK interrupted his father's walk down I'm so doomed lane.

Eric swore fluently under his breath. :I didn't plan this son. Your grandmother Gwen and Uncle Rohan were cured today and she wanted to get to know her son.:

:Dad swearing gets one nowhere and as for that part about Grams and Uncle Rohan being cured, well, you should have done your research before you left or at least asked Grams or Uncle Rohan. I mean as it is you're alienating mother when she needs you most. On top of that you go and lose it because she went off to go patrolling instead of taking her temper out on you. How Samantha ever gets born is a mystery to me.: MK censured his father in a very displeased if not parental tone.

Eric's face flushed a deep shade of crimson under his bronze complexion. His son was just too smart for his own good and saw things that were far beyond his years. :Michael Keith there are rules and neither my brother or mother wished to anger certain enforcers of those rules, so that is why I didn't ask questions that I knew they couldn't answer. I'm sorry if I swore and as for your mother and I that little man id between us. Samantha is two years away. Your mother donned her alter ego breaking her promise to me, but I'm gonna let that slide because she's in a temper and it was partially my fault too. Your Aunts tangled with Rohan's twin's minions this afternoon so we're all on edge. Now while I'm beyond proud of your achievement to link with us…I also know that using your gift to this extent is very draining on your body. I appreciate your suggestions and calming your mother, but it's time for you to cease using our link to you and…"

:Seriously father this isn't trying on me at all. Mother needed me and Grandpa banned me from the lair, so this was my only means of helping her. Jessie, Jazz, and I are making holo-journals of all that you've been missing or what we're doing. Tony misses you, but then Uncle Rohan keeps him occupied by bringing Daniel here or Tony to his palace. We all miss you, but the three of us are old enough to understand why you're there, besides attending Uncle Bruce and Aunt Andria's wedding. Even our parents need to relax and have fun so it's no big deal for us.: MK sighed patiently as if dealing with Tony.

:Enough little lion, even young wunderkinds like yourself need sleep. Tell your sisters and Tony we love all of you very much. We'll bring all of you back some surprises. It makes my heart sing and eases my mind knowing that you and Jess have called a truce. Your father and I are just fine. I'm just tense about what happened today. I do not begrudge your father for spending time with his mother or brother. I just would have liked to have been included. Goodnight Michael Keith.: Dromi and Clark were beamed down to the Batcave along with Jon. "It's okay Lion I forgive you. Clark kept me company and Jon was a delight to meet." Andy was all smiles now as she slinked up against him and kissed his jaw.

:Goodnight son. We love and miss all of you.: Eric kept a possessive arm around her waist giving Clark a dark look. "I'll make it up to you I promise." He kissed her on the nose.

:Gods not all of that mush. I'll go back to working on my homework now. It's late afternoon here so no I'm not going to bed just yet. I'll tell everyone here that you're all fine minus what happened with the Aunts and send them your love.: MK ended the conversation with his parents.

"Hi I'm Clark Kent you must be Eric." Clark offered his hand in truce as well as greeting. "The fellow addicted to Oreo cookies beside me is the Martian Manhunter otherwise known to his friends as Jon."

"Hello thanks for watching over my Shadow for me." Eric shook his hand in greeting relaxing when he saw that Clark was wearing a gold wedding band on his left hand. "We weren't aware that there were any who matched us during this time in the power of the mind. It's nice to meet you Jon."

"The pleasure is all mine. I only hope that you'll allow your son visit Bruce and Andria when he's older and that I'll be able to meet him in person one day." Jon smiled.

"We'll see what the future brings." Andy smiled.

"MK could always use Bruce's influence when he's older, so anything's possible." Eric nodded.

"Bruce loves a good challenge." Rohan smirked.

"I think I might be up for the challenge." Bruce grinned.

"I need to return to the tower. I will see all of you at the wedding." Jon beamed out of the cave.

"Bruce? Lois is on the phone is Clark down there with you?" Barbara's asked over the intercom.

"Yeah he's here I'll have Al transfer the call down here in the cave." Bruce answered.

"Al? Whose that?" Barbara asked.

"He's the new artificial intelligent being that Andy integrated into my computer mainframe. His name is Albert or Al for short." Bruce calmly explained.

"Really like E, Aurora, and Hal that Richard was talking about?"

"Yes he's one of Andria's and my wedding presents from Andy." Bruce chuckled.

"Be right there I can't resist getting my hands on that." Barbara ended the chat.

"Master Bruce I'm patching the call through to the receiver down here in your lair if that is satisfactory for you." Al wasn't at all sure that he wanted anyone's hands on his precious circuits.

"That's perfect Al." Bruce smiled when the wireless receiver rang. "It's for you."

Clark immediately picked up the phone to talk to his wife.

"Bruce does Barbara excel in working with computers?" Andy asked curiously.

"That's the understatement of the decade she's a computer wiz." Jon smirked.

"Well then she and Al should get along fabulously together." Eric smirked as the girl in question raced into the lair and made a beeline for the computer.

"Fantastic! He's even four dimensional on the screen. Is he really a sentient being like Richard described the others?" She asked Andy excitedly.

"He's his own person in every way." Andy nodded.

"Wicked! I've experimented with artificial intelligence for the vehicles, but he's light years ahead of anything that I've ever dreamed." She sat down in the chair beside Bruce.

"Hello you must be Mistress Barbara Gordon it's a pleasure to meet you I'm Albert, but you may call me Al if you wish." Al having recognized her as one of his new masters was completely at ease with her now. It helped that she was as much as a wiz as his creator.

"The pleasure is all mine my friend. You and are gonna be best friends and I can't wait to see what you can do or how much you can show me about how to keep you running like clockwork." Bab's was in love.

"I can't tell you how much that eases my conscious knowing that at least one of my new masters knows what their doing." Al actually sighed in relief and the two of them got to know each other completely ignoring everyone else in the cave.

"I think it's love." Andy giggled. "Poor Richard is gonna be crushed."

"She can have two loves, besides Al will be indispensable in helping them all fight crime and the bad guys." Eric kissed the top of her head.

"He's used to competing with her passion for computers, but this is gonna send him into a tailspin." Bruce got up to go greet Andria who had just landed in the Batwing.

(A few days later)

The Andy, Andria, Gwen, Barbara, Lilly, and Tammy were off on a shopping spree.

"Let's see Dria what about this one?" Andy held up a lacy see-thru teddy.

"Why wear clothes?" Dria blushed.

"So that he can peel it off you silly," Andy winked at her holding up another bit of silk and lace.

"Those two look shell-shocked." Barbara giggled.

"This is quite a change of scenery for two sixteen-year-old innocents." Gwen nodded.

Andy, once satisfied that Dria had the perfect wedding trousseau for her honeymoon, with the help of her mother-in-law bought an even more daring one for herself. "You two ready to go shopping for your new wardrobes?" She eyed Lilly's wide-eyed face with amusement.

"No that's okay take your time." Lilly managed to find her voice.

"Unless you four are finished here," Tam added a bit too hastily.

"We're done and free to focus on the two of you." Andria hugged her granddaughter.

"Finally we're really not ready for any of this yet." Lilly sighed in relief and the four woman laughed.

(Meanwhile back at Wayne Manor)

"They go shopping and we work on our toys and drink beer or in this case root beer." Eric was bored out of his mind.

"And your point is?" Bruce arched a brow at his brother-in-law.

"This might be your idea of fun, but I'm the Commanding Officer of an entire base not to mention Voltron Force. I have mechs to do things like this for me. Hell listen to me. I haven't had to get my hands dirty for years." Eric took a healthy pull from his bottle of root beer.

"Nor have you had a vacation in years from Keith, Galaxy Alliance, or your kids." Bruce reminded him.

"I don't know about you guys, but I say we take the bikes and go riding. We've got plenty of time before we have to get dressed for dinner and the ballet tonight." Dick was also bored out of his mind.

"Excellent suggestion Master Richard," Al chimed in.

"Shawn's got a passion for the ballet, don't ya buddy." Dex teased his best friend.

"Shut up Dex or I'll hurt you." Shawn snarled.

"Shawn there's nothing wrong with liking the ballet." Bruce narrowed his eyes at Dex.

"Lilly and I were fighting and she kept herself busy studying ballet with my mother. I had just graduated from the academy at the time and she was rehearsing for Sleeping Beauty. I wasn't about to share her with another guy let alone have him kiss her, so I took matters into my own hands." Shawn glowered at Dex. "Mom set me up and I fell for it. Lilly and her dance partner had a disagreement and mom suggested that I take his place. After the two of us were finally back together again those bastards kidnapped her and Tam and then Ren almost raped my Lilly. I should have ripped his head off when I had the chance." Shawn stalked up the stairs of the Batcave.

"Nice going Dexter." Eric glared at him.

"I wasn't thinking about his reaction. I didn't want him to go off like that…" Dex blanched at the look Eric was shooting him.

"He isn't over this yet is he?" Rohan frowned.

"No this is the first time he's done this. He's been Lilly's anchor for weeks." Eric had been wondering when Shawn was finally going to vent about what was clearly eating him up inside.

"Who's this Ren?" Richard growled.

"Ren's a piece of work obsessed with Lilly. Shawn's first encounter with him landed Shawn with a silver arrowhead in his leg. Ren lost his hostage thanks to two individuals from our future and vowed revenge. So a few years later he makes his move and they get Lilly and Tammy. Ren and another piece of work named Aaron faked an accident making the rest of us think that the two of them died in a tragic accident. Shawn nearly lost his sanity, but never once gave up that Lilly was alive. Dex who happens to be the brains of their little group found Ren's landing sight. Shawn finds this out and steals Blacky. We go after him, rescue Lilly and Tammy who are half dead with exhaustion. Lilly was hysterical, broken, and in shock. To sum it up Shawn still hasn't stop blaming himself." Eric finished the story for the three of them.

Rohan vanished from the room in search of his son and found him working out his frustration in the gym. "Are you okay son?" He asked quietly.

"I'm fine. I just haven't thought about it for a while." Shawn snarled.

"You aren't fine. Your fangs are showing, your eyes are blazing, and you kicked the heavy-bag off it's chain." Rohan growled.

"Look I'm fine! I don't need a lecture from you alright!" Shawn had hot angry tears burning in his eyes. "You aren't my father yet, so back off!"

"I am your father, Shawn Alexander, and you're hurting. You maybe special, but you still have feelings and are free to show them to everyone!" He snarled back at his son.

"My feelings only upset Lilly and she's been though so much…" Shawn finally let himself cry in his father's arms. "I have to be strong for her…I can't fail her again..."

Lilly and Tammy sat on a comfortable bench in the mall with a dozen young men hanging around them. Offering them roses, candy, and jewelry for just one date. "Listen guys I'm here for my big sisters wedding not to pick up men." Lilly rolled her eyes at them in sheer exasperation. "Besides that I'm taken and have a steady boyfriend."

"So give one of us a chance we'll change your mind." One of the guys drawled.

Tammy rolled her eyes at them. "Not interested, but thanks for asking."

A fashion scout spied the crowd and went to investigate. "You both must do a fashion shoot for my magazine." He announced.

"No I'm sorry, but we are very busy teenagers and are only here for my sister Andria's wedding to Bruce Wayne." Lilly was filling caged and didn't like it.

"The Bruce Wayne!" The scout gasped.

"That's right so we couldn't possibly attend your fashion shoot for the magazine that you work for." Tammy added hastily.

Andy eyed the crowd around the girls. "Looks like the girls are drawing guys like bees to honey." She frowned.

"They don't look at all pleased about it either." Gwen smirked.

"Those two need help before one of those suitors tries to take advantage of them." Andria growled.

"Shows over boys get lost." Barbara snapped angrily at the young men.

All eyes turned to see who was growling at them. "What's it to you lady." One of the guys snarled.

"A broken nose if you boys don't leave those two be." Andy narrowed her eyes at them.

"Four woman don't scare me." One sneered.

Andy casually walked over to some scaffolding by a boarded up store front and proceeded to break the four x six boards in half with her hand. "Any other foolish half ass remarks?" She smiled sweetly at the suitors in question.

The men wisely scattered like the four winds.

"Thanks Dromi. One minute we were walking out of one of the stores and the next thing we know we're being mobbed by those guys." Lilly bent to pick up her purse, only to have some petty thief on rollerblades zoom by and steal it. "Hey get back here with my purse you creep!" Lilly gave chase after him.

They were on the fourth floor of the mall and it was fairly busy. Lilly however spotted his escape route and headed him off at the pass. "Give it back creep!"

"Move brat or I'll hurt ya." The creep snarled.

"You wish." Lilly easily avoided him and landed a flying kick to his mid-section. He went tumbling down an escalator straight at the feet of mall security and her purse landed safely in her arms.

"Come along Lilly were due at Charines an hour ago." Andria called to her.

"Be right there Dria." Lilly raced over to them. "What’s next kidnapping by Rohan's evil twin?" She rolled her eyed at Andy.

"Don't even think that it's not funny now lets go get dolled up for our guys." Tammy didn't even want to think about the more evil badies right now.

Shawn was dragged off to go riding and was finally able to relax. "This is great!" He shouted.

"Isn't it though. There's nothing like a long ride on your bike to clear your mind." Dick grinned.

"I wonder if the girls are finished shopping yet? The sun's beginning to set." Dex felt so relaxed and at peace.

"Hate to end this, gentlemen, but if we don't head back we're going to be late." Bruce growled.

Eric eyed the time on his watch. "We're dead."

"This will all be blamed on me I just know it." Rohan groaned.

"Masters the mistresses are on their way to the manor I suggest that you head back now." Al warned them using their wrist coms.

"We're on our way Al." Bruce sighed in defeat.

The limo pulled up in front of the manor and in a matter of moments the doors opened and out came the dressed to the nines passengers complete with mountains of packages from their day long shopping spree.

Alfred was standing on the steps on his way to assist them.

"Alfred we've got this handled. Are the boys dressed and ready to take us to the ballet tonight?" Andria smiled at him.

Alfred was an expert at keeping up a poker-face and smiled warmly at the girls. "Not to worry my dear you will all be able to attend the ballet as scheduled. Now do make yourselves comfortable in Great Room…" He sighed deeply as the sounds of motorcycles approaching echoed up the private drive appearing moments later and parking in front of the garage. "I'll be inside resuming my chess game with Al please try not to harm them too badly." He turned on his heel and went back into the manor.

Andria and Andy narrowed their eyes and folded their arms across their chests. "I knew that he couldn't just stay around the house all day like a normal male." Andria muttered under her breath in disgust.

"Eric and Bruce normal that'll never happen, but if they make Lilly and Tammy late miss one second of the ballet their toast!" Andy stalked towards the garage in her high heeled slings stopping half way as the men made a break for the manor.

The men in question still had no idea that they hadn't beat their wives home yet. "Bruce do you think we made it before…" Eric stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of his beyond furious wife.

"We got home?" Andy finished his sentence for him. "What happened Lion did we lose track of time?" She arched a brow at him tapping her foot impatiently.

"Shawn had an emotional breakdown and he needed some air." Eric wasn't about to lie nor was he unaware that she looked spectacular in her evening down. "You're beautiful." He went to pull her into his arms but she side-stepped him a clear sign that she was furious with him.

Andy instead focused on Shawn. "You okay there tough guy?" She asked softly.

"Yeah, I'll be great after Lilly and I talk tomorrow then my guilt will be history." Shawn nodded.

Lilly having sensed Shawn's distress raced over to him. Not an easy feat in high heeled sandals and a beautiful evening gown. "Shawn what happened? Are you okay? We won't go if you don't want to. Please tell me what's tearing you up inside." She could easily see through his attempts to hide his feelings from her.

Shawn lost the ability to speak. She was just so breathtakingly beautiful with her hair in soft curls, her sparkling azure blue eyes artfully made even more beautiful with make-up that perfectly matched the electric blue strapless evening gown that she wore. She looked twenty-one not even close to sixteen and that alone knocked him for a loop.

Lilly was clueless as to how he was feeling and more concerned by his silence. "Shawn talk to me don't shut me out…" She reached up her ballet gloved hand to touch his jaw.

He closed his eyes, let out a soft groan, and placed his hand over her own. "I love you Lilly." He turned his head and placed a gentle kiss on her palm. 'Mine.' He reached out pulled her to him and vanished.

The four men eyed each other with knowing grins. "The kid is gone."

Tammy after checking on Ching inside the manor stalked over not the least bit pleased that Dex wasn't ready for the ballet. "Dexter Faron the ballet is in less than two hours! It's black-tie not hells angels!"

Dex's heart flipped over in his chest and skipped a few beats, not to mention that his eyes practically popped out of their sockets as he took in the vision in front of him. She was wearing a silver sequin evening gown that clung to her like a second skin. As far as he could tell the thing was completely backless with a halter top clasp and he couldn't help but be drawn to the glimpse of her silky leg visible due to the fact that the gown had a slit up the side. "You're exquisite…" He growled hoarsely.

"Excuse me?" She asked breathlessly he'd never looked at her like this and it scared her.

"Tam you're beautiful." Dex was snapping out of his daze his voice surer now. He took her gloved in his own and kissed it. 'My apologies my princess…My heart…My own.' He led her back into the manor

Dick and Bruce eyed each other.

"This isn't good." He muttered to Bruce.

"We don't leave alone for a minute." He agreed quietly.

"Oh that's right I haven't had time to tell you guys yet. This is only a stopover for the four of them. They're on their way to Earth to join my little brother's team. Not that it should come to any shock seeing as the two of them are junior officers and two are officers of the galaxy garrison." Andy was enjoying the horrified looks that Bruce and Dick were shooting her. "Relax guys. They'll have Uncle Jeff, Aunt Ginger, Uncle Mark, Aunt Felecia, Derek, Angel, Kane, Fawn, Drew, Pippa, Zach, Jay, Liz, and Alexis as chaperons."

Eric pulled her into his arms for a kiss and then the two of them vanished.

"Bruce Michael Wayne stop worrying about something that is well out of your control and focus on the present!" Andria glared regally at him.

"Dria…" Bruce started to explain.

"Don't Dria me! March your ass into the house and make yourself presentable for the Ballet tonight!" She pointed a perfectly manicured fingernail towards the front doors.

Bruce pulled her to him silencing her with a kiss then vanished.

"That goes double for you Richard James Grayson!" Barbara was going toe to toe with her man.

"Babe relax we're not gonna be late it doesn't take us hours to get ready." Dick pulled her into his arms for a kiss. "You look gorgeous by the way."

"Comrades the three of us are attending the Ballet tonight." Adrian tossed the Hans and Lacross two garment bags.

"My lord let me collect the girls…" Stavros growled in protest.

"You will remain here and like it!" Adrian didn't so much as look at him. "Your best were lacking! I will collect my prizes myself!"

"They were caught off guard…"

"Silence! They were defeated by two teenage innocents regardless of their skill!" Adrian sent Stavros flying across the room. "The day I can't collect two innocents is the day I stake myself! You will remain here and like it!"

"Yes my Lord." Stavros stalked off to sulk.

"What if what Avery says is right?" Hans frowned.

"Yes that Wayne's guests are all hunters." Lacross echoed.

"Then we'll liquidate them like we have every other hunter that has dared crossed us and I'll take those two innocents for my prize! Get dressed we're going!" Adrian stalked out of the room.

(Brendan Michael Wayne Center for the Fine Arts)

Eric took one look at the throng of people queued up in front of and across the street from the Center and instantly was on the alert. "I don't like it. It's a security nightmare."

"Black-tie is hell if you need to distinguish enemy from friend." Bruce agreed as they patiently waited to be let out of the Limo.

"The two of you need to relax. He won't attempt anything at an event as big as this one. Anything like this bores him out of his mind." Rohan shrugged.

"Rohan once provoked Adrian is not one to be taken lightly." Gwen checked her appearance with the mirror in her bejeweled compact.

"No one can mortally wound Uncle Adrian, Hans, Lacross." Shawn growled.

"Shawn unless he tries something that isn't going to be a factor nor am I about to do anything that could jeopardize the future." Rohan tried to set him at ease.

"Rohan and I know many ways that we can deal with Adrian where he will still remain living." Gwen calmly put away her compact in her evening clutch. "Now enough you are making Lilly and Tamara nervous with all of this talk."

"Mom is right all of this brooding isn't helping anything." Andy growled.

Lilly absently rubbed her left arm where the opera length gloves concealed the bandage from her wrist to just bellow her elbow. "Look it's not like they aren't aware that we're hunters. He's bound to know that after that straggler from his clan scurried back to him without Tam or me. I mean that Ripper guy that I vanquished clearly recognized my medallion cross."

"Lilly maybe now is not the time to bring that up again." Tammy hissed at her as Dex got all dark and broody again.

"Lilly you made your point now drop it." Shawn growled softly in her ear.

"I'm not naïve I know that Tammy and I are targets, but I'm also not about to let all of your paranoia from ruining the ballet for me tonight!" Lilly was done walking on eggshells with Shawn.

"Lilly nothing is going to ruin the ballet for either of you." Andria reached over and reassuringly squeezed her baby sister's hand, just as the valet finally opened the door to the limo.

"Look I'm sick of people treating me like I'm this fragile piece of glass or like I'm five!" Lilly snarled at them before jumping out of the limo and losing herself in the throng of Gotham's high society.

'Lillian Allura get back here!' Shawn hissed but he was shut out. "Damn it this was not the time for her to pull this crap! She's blocking me out too!"

"Now of all time she decides to unleash the family temper and throw a royal snit!" Eric growled in frustration.

"Honestly you adults are so hopelessly clueless!" Tam went after Lilly before anyone could stop her.

"Fantastic that's both of them are all of you happy now!" Dex snarled at them all.

"Look we can't do anything sitting here in this blasted limo now let's try and find the girls!" Dick had heard more than enough.

"As it is by putting the two of them in a temper all of you might have made this from bad to worse." Barbra glared at them.

Andy's face went ghostly white and she clutched at Eric's arm as he helped her out of the limo. 'I have a really bad feeling about this something isn't right.'

'It's alright Dromi we'll find Lilly and Tammy.' Eric pulled her closer to him when the cameras went off all around them. "Easy it's gonna be okay."

"If it happens it happens besides I know this little baby works like a charm." Lilly absently fingered her sapphire talisman contemplating how she was gonna watch the ballet in peace with no ticket. "Focus on the problem at hand no ticket no ballet."

"There you are." Tammy gave her a hug. "You and I have to go take our seats."

"Tam we don't have the tickets so we don't have any seats." Lilly pouted.

"You mean these?" Tammy waved two front row center seat tickets in front of her face. "I always have a back-up plan. I had Alfred get me these in case they got all paternal protective on us that way we can watch the ballet in peace."

:Well we're both wearing our talismans so it should be fine.: Lilly forced herself to brush that creepy feeling that the two of them were in the sights of someone or something not so nice and forced a smile at Tam as they followed the usher to their seats.

:We'll only feel caged around the others and it'll spoil the ballet. I mean as it is they'll have us both jumping at shadows: Tam glanced over at her as they took their seats that unaware that they were directly in front of Adrian and his two minions. "Let's just enjoy the ballet."

"Yeah it isn't every day that one gets to watch the Russian Ballet perform." Lilly whispered excitedly as the house lights blinked announcing five minutes till curtain time.

"I know video discs just don't cut it." Tammy whispered back.

:What a fascinating turn of events our two innocents are sitting right in front of us with nary a protector in sight.: Adrian was going to enjoy feasting on their blood. They were both rare vibrant and clearly unlike any teenage innocent. The two of them radiated with a power that only one that possessed a similar all be that darker version of that power would be able to sense. It had been two millennia since he had come across rare treasures as these, but unlike the others who had been nearly untouchable only to parish by tragic means these two were very much within his reach.

:Dining on these two shall keep you replenished for centuries to come.: Hans answered back.

:It is our fortune that the little ones chose to watch the ballet themselves.: Lacross nodded.

:My baby brother seems to have acquired a younger copy of himself and he's very interested in the little blonde. It appears comrades that these two little ones and Wayne's out of town guests may not be from this time or very likely this place after all. It would explain why Rohan has a younger copy, who very likely provided him with the key to his useless serum, and about why I sense that they are of the night, but not.: Adrian chose to set that aside for now.

:That would make the boy your…: Hans frowned.

:My nephew.: Adrian took out a flask from an inner pocket in his elegant tuxedo, uncapped it, and drank deeply from it.

:Then the little ones are just bait and not for feasting?: Lacross growled.

:Perhaps and then perhaps not. In the meantime focus on the prize and I will ponder on what fate awaits my Nephew and the other ones like us.: Adrian smiled slowly a sure sign that something was in his sights and he was going to enjoy hunting his prey.

Rohan's private balcony

Rohan had decided to use his own private balcony to keep an eye on the girls it had a better angle than Bruce's and Shawn wasn't in the mood to be around any of them right now. They had decided that the girls were safe where they were and should be left alone. Shawn had seen things differently, but when he saw Rohan's balcony he had settled down to watch the two of them like a hawk.

Shawn used the opera glasses to try and get a better look at the three men sitting behind Lilly and Tam. "I don't like this the two of them are sitting ducks down there."

The house lights came on signaling intermission. "Well then lets go collect them before your paranoia rings true."

Shawn finally got a good look at the two men and his blood ran cold. "That's Uncle Adrian and his goons trailing after our princesses!" Shawn very nearly leapt off the balcony.

:Shawn not here!: Rohan grabbed him by the waist and hauled him back. :Causing a scene will only end up creating utter and complete hysteria because he will retaliate by siccing his lieutenants on the patrons making it impossible for us to get to the girls.:

:It's too late for that Rohan he's figured out about Shawn.: Gwen had always been able to read Adrian and his plotting now sent shivers down her spine.

Shawn wrenched himself free of his fathers hold on him, grabbed Dex by the arm, and vanished from the balcony. :He's not getting his claws or fangs on either of them!:

"Mother inform the others I will deal with this mess myself." Rohan vanished.

Adrian patiently followed his prey as they left the ladies room. He couldn't have planned it perfectly if he had tried. The two of them had decided to step outside the upper terrace for a breath of cool evening air. :It's simple enough even for the two of you to follow. We will collect the girls as soon as they step outside and then my nephew will willingly come to me.:

:My Lord why not have the two of us drink from them first that way no drugs will be necessary and the two of us get a taste of heaven.: Lacross sulked.

:Yes we are your most loyal of our clan we'll make them so weak that they'll be putty in our hands.: Hans licked his lips in anticipation as the two in question walked outside onto the terrace.

:The two of you will control yourselves this instant! They aren't yours to feast on and you will do as I command! Forget it you will go back to the lair I will handle this myself!: Adrian opened up a gold cigarette case. He took out a small syringe and drew a small amount of clear liquid from the small vial that had been next to it. "I don't want my prizes damaged this way the two of them will sleep like babies." He stepped outside onto the terrace, making sure to remain in the shadows, hiding the syringe behind his back with his gloved hand. "Good evening ladies." He growled softly as not to spook his prey.

Lilly didn't turn to look at the man speaking to her and ignored the chill shooting up her spine. "Is it? The clouds are moving in and it's rather cool tonight." Lilly snapped coolly signaling that she didn't wish anyone's company.

"She had an argument with her betrothed." Tammy not wishing to create a scene turned around to look at the stranger in the shadows. "Excuse me I'm going to go find him so that they can talk to each other and work things out." She had spied Dex and Shawn inside and used the doors opposite of the ones that her and Lilly had used to walk onto the terrace.

"Then he's not deserving of her and a fool." Adrian commented dryly. He was content to capture one prize instead of two.

Lilly turned to look at the stranger. "He treats me like a five-year-old or like I'm made of glass." She narrowed her eyes trying to get a clear look at the stranger.

"A beautiful creature like you has to be intelligent in order to fend off unwelcome suitors." Adrian kept his tone low and hypnotic.

"Look I'm more than capable of protecting myself." She looked around finally noticing that Tammy was nowhere to be found. "Tamara? I wonder where she went off to." Suddenly this terrace didn't seem like a safe place to be anymore and there was something about this stranger that was starting to make her skin crawl.

"Your friend stepped back inside. Are you cold would you like to put on my jacket?" He had managed to get uncomfortably close to her now.

"No thank you..." She shivered. "I'm ready to go back inside now." She tried to move past him.

"Oh but I insist."

He draped his tuxedo jacket over her shoulders giving him the prime opportunity to stick her in the neck with the needle that he had been hiding in his other hand.

Lilly gasped at the sharp prick on her neck and it was then that she got a clear view of him. It was a darker version of her Uncle Rohan it was Adrian. "It's you…" She whimpered. She went limp in her captor's arms just as Shawn raced out onto the terrace.

Adrian made sure that Shawn saw him by pausing from where he was standing on the terrace railing. "So at least we meet thank you for such a lovely prize, nephew."

"Give her back you bastard!" Shawn snarled.

He jumped down from the railing landing softly on the ground bellow. "Until next we meet!" Adrian shouted up at him before vanishing into the night with his prize.

"LILLY! NO!!!" Shawn roared jumping onto the terrace railing.

Rohan raced outside. "Shawn!!"

"SHE'S GONE DAD! HE TOOK HER! I FAILED HER AGAIN!" Hot angry tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Let's go son. We will get her back, but right now we have to inform the others…" Rohan went to pull him back away from the edge.

"THE HELL WITH THEM AND THE HELL WITH YOU!" He leapt off the terrace and vanished into the night.

Shawn had been so furious that he hadn't cared where he was going and it was only after hours of coming up empty did he return back to Wayne Manor. Ninjara sat waiting for him in the as if awaiting her owners return. "She's gone girl…" He snarled bitterly following her into the Great Room. "I failed her again!"

Rohan was waiting for him standing in archway that led towards the Great Room.

"Don't even try and come near me!" He narrowed his eyes at his father it was then that he spied his fathers younger half standing beside the fireplace talking with his mother and if he wasn't seeing things his Aunt Myria who was chatting with his grandmother. "Dad is it really you?" he didn't want to believe his own eyes.

"You okay son? You really must have upset Dromi she called home for some heavy artillery as well as highly trained reinforcements." It was tearing him up inside to see his son like this again. "Trust me son everything is gonna be fine."

"Why risk bringing Mom here isn't that going to complicate things when we leave?" Shawn was exhausted and not able to think straight.

"Do I look like I'm complaining? Besides this gives me something solid to look forward to during the long endless years ahead." The younger Rohan grinned.

"We're going to get her back. Her talisman will keep her safe." Gwen reassured him.

"Nobody is going to do that to my niece!" Myria hissed.

"She'll be fine honey." Allana walked over and hugged him fiercely.

"Where is everyone?" Shawn saw that they were the only ones in the Great Room.

"Tammy had to be sedated because she wasn't taking this very well. Dex is watching over her. Andria is expecting so she's resting with Bruce watching over her. She fainted when she was given the news. Eric, Andy Dick, and Barbara are down in the cave using Al to hunt down Adrian's lair." Rohan finished where everyone was then focused on Shawn. "It's dawn son. You've been out all night."

Shawn collapsed on the couch and closed his eyes. "I was angry it was either that or kill a few people so I chose the latter of the two."

"Yes I see your point." Rohan nodded.

Shawn had fallen into a deep sleep.

"My poor baby," Allana sat down on the couch so that she could cradle Shawn's head in her lap. "First Ren, now his Uncle. These two can never catch a break." She brushed Shawn's bangs out of his eyes.

"It'll get better love I promise." Rohan growled softly.

Adrian peered down at his sleeping captive. "You are perfection. It's no wonder that my nephew is besotted with you." He trailed his finger along her jaw line.

"So many things that I could teach you," His eyes trailed down to her bracelet with her family crest inlayed on it in jewels. Inlayed under the crest was written 'Lilly our final Jewel.'

"So little one you're not only an innocent, but of royal blood as well." He began to rethink his plans for his beautiful prize. "I haven't tasted a royal in over a century."

He ran his finger along her shoulder in anticipation brushing the golden chain of her hunter's talisman. White hot heat shot through his fingers and he jumped away from her. The talisman now glowed with energy and a golden hew radiated over Lilly's sleeping form.

He tried to touch her again only to be repelled by that spark of white hot heat.

"How is this possible no hunter's talisman is this strong?!" Adrian howled in outrage. Even her mind was shut away from him and there wasn't a human alive on this planet that could shut him out. Could this little one be a new breed of Hunter? After all of this time had he finally set the scene for his and his clan's demise? No he wouldn't allow that this girl would now be merely used as bait to lure his prey to his trap!

Shawn awoke in bed in his room at the manor. His dagger shaped talisman was glowing with energy. "Someone activated one of the protectors!" He threw back the covers and headed for the shower by all signs from his window it was sunset. He had slept all day.

He quickly showered and dressed in black ninja attire. He was going hunting and this time he wasn't gonna stop until he found and rescued his princess.

"Al where are the others? Did they leave me here to sleep it off or are they still around the manor?" He growled into his wrist com and nearly jumped when the flat screen on his wall lit up and Al's face appeared.

"The Masters and Mistress' are current honing their battle skills in Master Bruce's gym. So no Master Shawn they did not leave you." Al answered soothingly.

"Uh thanks Al." Shawn left his room.

He found everyone in the gym just as Al said.

"Feeling better? She's gonna be fine Shawn. We know where they are." Allana paused sparing with Rohan to greet their oldest.

"No Mom! I'm not gonna be feeling fine until we get Lilly back. I woke up as soon as my talisman activated, which means that one of those bastards tried something on her!" Shawn was not in the mood to chat.

"I was banking on Adrian trying something like this. Now that it's been activated none of them can touch her." Rohan walked over to him.

"Yeah right Dad! He touched Aunt Myria and they sure as hell were able to touch Lilly a few days ago! All this trinket is in truth is a warning system!" Shawn sneered.

"Shawn what happened between me and Adrian was complicated and I wasn't wearing my talisman. I also wasn't trained to shut anyone out of my mind like Lilly is and the talisman isn't activated unless one of them physically brushes it with their skin. Once activated none of the dark ones can touch her. So no kid this trinket is much more than just an early warning system." Myria calmly explained.

"She's sleeping peacefully. She knows that you'll come for her." And who had been peacefully meditating opened her eyes to smile serenely at him. "You would know that if you would just relax and re-link with her."

Shawn closed his eyes and relaxed his mind. "Sleeping Beauty…"

"It's fascinating how Lilly is thinking of a fairy tale isn't it Shawn." Andy smirked.

"That is between Lillian and me." Shawn was getting all defensive again. "Where is she?"

"Not so fast Shawn we need to see how your emotions are going to affect you during the rescue mission." Rohan laid down his challenge. "Then we'll discuss where she is."

"Get real Dad! I can easily take you and you know it!" Shawn proceeded to do two front flips and landed on the pommel horse, vaulting from that to the rings, and then from there he leapt to the parallel bars.

"Kid showing off gets you nowhere." Rohan growled. "Now quit clowning around and get over here."

Myria, Allana, and Rohan came at Shawn from all sides.

He easily reined in his anger and frustration at losing Lilly and easily countered every one of their moves until he had the three of them on the defense. "Satisfied?" He shrugged not the least bit winded or even breaking a sweat.

"The kid isn't bad." Bruce grinned.

"I trained him Bruce. He had better be." Andy watched Shawn sparing with the others with pride.

"Excuse me," Eric raised a questioning brow at his wife. "You trained him?" He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her.

"Fine you big baby. Shawn has had a variety of well schooled professionals who taught him everything that he knows." Andy rolled her eyes at Eric. "Is that more to your liking darling?"

"Enough Little Blossom he's not in the mood for sass tonight." Rohan wrapped the towel that he was blotting his face with around his neck.

"He's being such a baby about being over thirty and he can't age a day over twenty-one! I don't get why getting older bugs him so much!" Andy exclaimed in exasperation.

Eric silenced her with a long kiss until she was blinking adoringly up at him. "I'm not upset about my birthday. Now let's go get Lilly."

"My lord you are taking too much of a risk! We should leave!" Lacross was not handling the face that their captive was wearing a hunters medallion so powerful that it literally shielded her from their touch. If they got within even foot from her shield they instantly started burning up inside.

"The sun has finally set we should leave." Hans echoed.

"Rohan and his hunter friends would slaughter us all on sight. No I agree with Lord Adrian we are safer in our own domain." Stavros countered.

"We will remain where we are end of discussion!" Adrian snarled at them and went back to check on their captive.

"Dria, how does it look from the air?" Bruce radioed the Wing.

"No sign of movement everything is clear." Andria hated being left out of the action, but she knew that her delicate condition made that impossible. 'Bruce be careful. I love you.'

"Not surprising the sun just set so their probably just waking up." Bruce surmised. 'Don't worry beloved I'll be fine. We're all wearing Hunters talismans it's them that have to worry about us. I love you too. '

Andy easily bypassed their primitive security measures. "All set here. They won't even know we're here."

The heavy doors leading to Adrian's lair slid open revealing a dark dimly lit tunnel.

"Shawn we'll handle Adrian and his clan you go find Lilly." Eric growled softly as they stealthfully made their way into the underground compound.

The path split up into a half dozen tunnels.

"Good Hunting!" Shawn took off down the center tunnel. While the others split off into groups down the others.

"My lord our security grid has been compromised." Stavros appeared beside Adrian.

"No matter we out number them ten to one. I'll keep an eye on our guest. Don't fail me." He stalked out of the cavernous Great Room of their underground compound.

"Hunters and numbers matter not." Hans growled.

"If it is to be our end we will go out taking Rohan with us." Lacross sneered.

"Fools we're eternal they are not. Stop your sniveling and focus on the matter at hand." Stavros vanished.

"Fools he says! I'll show him how to take care of our intruders!" Hans vanished.

"Or die trying." Lacross muttered under his breath and went to do his masters bidding.

Adrian eyed the girl still sleeping peacefully on the bed. "I underestimated the situation. It won't happen again." He vowed.

"My Lord our guests are becoming a nuisance." Stavros stalked into the room. "Every one of our clan that was on security watch has vanished. The security measures have all been deactivated as well."

Adrian stalked out of the room towards the hub where their state of the art security measures were controlled. "These intruders are becoming tiresome."

"As of yet no one who has come in contact with them has been able to report to me on what we're dealing with." Stavros eyed the security screens thru narrowed black as midnight eyes.

Finally they were able to see what was happening to their clan members. One of the men on watch was suddenly attacked by nothing and went flying against the wall.

Adrian typed in a series of commands on the computer and the main screen went to heat seeking. In minutes he had a fairly good idea as to how many intruders were attacking his lair. "Five females and six males, against two hundred creatures of the night. Not good eyes for mere mortals."

"These mortals seem more like the ancient hunters, My Lord. It may not be wise to underestimate them." Stavros watched the monitors as their clan members started dwindling in numbers they were down to a hundred now.

"Then it's more of a challenge than I've had to deal with in centuries. I'm in the mood to kill so lets not keep them waiting." Adrian stalked from the control room with Stavros on his heels both of whom were in full vamp mode.

Shawn appeared beside Lilly and like the prince in Sleeping Beauty bent to place a kiss on his princesses lips to awaken her. "Wake up Princess its time to go home now."

Lilly responded instinctively to his kiss by pulling him down to her and kissing him back with all the love in her heart.

"Love as much as I'd love to. This really isn't the time nor the place." Shawn trailed kisses along her jaw line and then nibbled on her earlobe. He groaned when she raked her fingernails down his back.

Lilly opened her eyes and looked up into his own. "Where am I? Why are we in bed together?" She frowned at him disoriented with her surroundings.

Shawn kissed her one the nose. "You're at Uncle Adrian's lair and as for the other you pulled me onto the bed."

Lilly sat bolt upright in terror. "How long have I been here?" She whimpered shakily.

"Not long. Mom, Dad, Aunt Myria are all here as reinforcements." His eyes drank in what she was wearing. "First things first. You my lovely have to change." He reined in the urge to kiss her until she was breathless and focused on the situation at hand. "And I've got just the thing for you to change into." He shrugged off his rucksack and opened it pulling out a black jumpsuit that Andy had given him for her to wear.

"Me? Change?! Now?! With you standing there watching me?!" She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.

Shawn ignored her and set about taking out all the security cameras and securing the door. "Lilly this is no time for you to go all shy on me! You have to change now."

"I can't strip in front of you! I'll make do with what I'm wearing now." She hissed as she blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes.

"Lilly I promise that I won't look."

"Yes you will."

Shawn walked over to her, took her in his arms, turned her around so that her back was towards him, and proceeded to unzip the gown which then pooled at her feet. She was standing there in nothing but skimpy underwear and the silky hose that lovingly encased her legs. "Either you put that on or I'll do it for you." He bit out through gritted teeth.

Lilly didn't need to be told twice and reached behind her for the black body suit that Shawn was still clutching in his fist. She took a few tentative steps away from Shawn so that she could dress. Her nerves were so shaky that when she put her foot into the leg of the suit she lost her balance and fell backwards into his arms. "I told you this was a bad idea." She whimpered nearly jumping when Shawn's hand accidentally brushed one of her breasts.

Shawn took several deep calming breaths, closed his eyes, and placed both of his hands on her shoulders. "Relax love. This is not the place or time. You will always be safe with me and I will never take advantage of you." He growled softly into her ear.

"I know that Shawn, but it doesn't make this any easier knowing that you can see me like this." She finally managed to slip on the black body suit and slipped on the shoes as well. "It's okay Shawn you can open your eyes now." She took off her jewels as she waited for him to say something.

Shawn forced himself to focus on the situation at hand and not what seeing her in that body hugging suit was doing to him. He dumped the gadgets and whatever else she was going to need and then proceeded to stuff her dress, jewels, and slings into the bag before closing it back up and slinging it back onto his back. "Those should complete your current look."

Lilly strapped on the belt of weapons around her wand slim waist. "This talisman sure was a lifesaver." She brought the heavy gold cross up to her lips and kissed it.

Shawn handed her the mask. "Well you can tell dad when we meet up with the others." He pulled her into his arms and they vanished.

Adrian was becoming more and more furious by the second as he continuously came across piles of dust every few feet. "Let's follow the trail and see where it leads." He snarled.

"Lord Adrian this very well could be a trap." Stavros scowled.

"There isn't a trap in existence that can stop me. Now let us deal with our guests." The trail led them to the largest cavernous room in his compound. He walked in unafraid and on high alert. Lacross and Hans hung from the ceiling by their feet. "This is my place. I don't like uninvited guests!" His snarl echoed around the room. "You may have disabled a hundred or so of my clan. It matters not there are always a hundred more waiting in the wings to avenge their fallen comrades!"

As if on cue a legion of vampires appeared behind him.

"I stand in the only exit to this room, a fatal error that you will not live to correct."

"Have we really or have you fallen into an even deadlier trap." Myria's amused taunt echoed around Adrian and his men.

"Face it Adrian the deck is clearly stacked against you." Allana taunted him from the shadows.

"You kidnapped the wrong girl creep." Andy snarled.

"Show yourselves or are you all just cowards!" Adrian shouted in fury.

One by one they appeared like shadows in the night. All masked. In mysterious deadly silence. Armed with tools used to cripple creatures like them, as well as, useful more painful looking weapons of the Shadow warrior.

"You never learn and that will be your downfall." Rohan snarled at his brother.

"You are a part of this insolence!! You have betrayed your own blood!" Adrian glared murderously at his little brother. "Kill them all!"

His men raced into the room and proceeded to drop like flies against their far superior highly prepared enemies.

"Very well of you're all so eager to die then so be it." Rohan proceeded to systematically take out his brothers men.

"He always was pathetic and things haven't changed." Gwen fought along side her son.

Myria and Allana easily bested the group of creatures fighting them.

"Just like old times." Myria smirked.

"Yes but I had hoped that we wouldn't have to do this again." Allana sighed.

Eric and Andy easily handled the idiots fighting them.

"You know that the future is never truly set in stone. Maybe there's another reason for your emotional mood swings as of late." Eric arched a brow at his love.

"Sorry to burst your bubble darling, but I'm not pregnant. It's just stress." She rolled her eyes at him as she proceeded to stake three of her attackers in the heart.

Dick and Bab's were holding their own.

"You'd think that they'd take the hint and flee for their pathetic lives." Bab's doused her opponent with holy water then staked it in the heart.

"Babe you're giving these things too much credit by thinking that they were intelligent enough to think." Dick used a crossbow to take down his opponents.

Bruce and the younger Darian were easily handling Stavros.

"Name your poison Stav is it gonna be a stake o holy water?" Darian gave him a choice.

"Neither you bloody traitor!" Stavros sneered then it dawned on him that there were two Rohan's in the room. "How the hell can you be fighting me and be over there were your bitch mother!?"

"Sorry Stav old boy, but seeing as you're obviously too smart for your own good you're gonna have to die." Darian doused him with holy water.

"Not that it's any loss." Batman followed that by staking him. "What part of keep your mouth shut did you not understand!?" He snarled at his best friend.

"Yeah sorry about that." Darian grinned sheepishly at him. "Finally I was beginning to get a little concerned." He sighed visibly with relief when Shawn and Lilly joined the fun.

"Yeah so was I and he looks ready to tear your brother in two." Batman frowned.

"Yeah I know. It'll be fascinating to see my older self try and rein him in." Darian nodded.

Shawn wasted no time attacking his Uncle. He used his dagger talisman as a weapon and slashed him across his cheek. "That's for kidnapping my princess!"

Adrian felt the white hot heat searing his jaw and then felt the blood trickling down his cheek. "That was a fatal error on your part whelp!" His speed was lightning fast and he now had Shawn by the throat.

Lilly wasn't about to let him hurt her man and proceeded to land a flying kick at his lower back. "Get your claws off of him you monster!"

Adrian wasn't the least bit affected by her blow and turned to narrow his eyes at his prey. "Monster am I. Little one let me show you just how monstrous these talons of mine can be to a delicate flower like you." He lashed out his razor sharp talon like fingernails across her chest doing significant damage until his fingers brushed across her medallion. His fingers burst into flames.

It was more than enough for him to lose his grip on Shawn and he fell to his knees gasping for air.

The entire front of Lilly's body suit was in shreds and deep angry gashes marred her delicate skin. She ignored the red hot pain that was shooting across her chest and proceeded to use his weakened condition to send him flying with a kick to his chest. "Keep your hands to yourself you creep!"

Adrian went flying against the wall and landed at an unmasked Myria's feet.

"That was my niece that you just mauled!" She glared murderously down at him. She sliced up his arms with her holy water drenched katana and was more than satisfied when the deep gash burst into flames.

An unmasked Allana gave him the same treatment on his other arm. "Hands off means just that!"

Adrian barely managed to get to his feet. "Mark my words I will not let this insolence go unavenged! I will never forget your faces and you will pay dearly that I promise you!" He promised as he faded into the shadows.

"Go toddle off after your master." Rohan freed Lacross and Hans and they vanished as well.

Shawn wasted no time seeing to his princess. He had gotten out the med-kit and was placing pressure bandages over her wounds. "Get Dex in here now!" Shawn cradled her in his arms.

"I'm fine Shawn really." Lilly smiled up at him.

"Like hell you are." Shawn frowned.

"He was hurting you. I had to make him let you go." Lilly reached up to touch his cheek.

Shawn turned his face and placed a kiss on her palm. "I know."

They met Dex outside by the Batwing. "Ouch! Bet that wasn't pleasant when it happened. Set her down Shawn so that I can treat her." He whistled low under his breaths as he took in the injuries that Adrian had inflicted on Lilly with his talons. "Relax Buddy. I'm a medical officer remember."

Shawn stalked off to pace.

"He doesn't want anyone checking out my charms, even if they are treating me for injuries." Lilly winced. "Where's Tam?"

"They aren't deep cuts, so they'll heal fairly quickly." Dex treated them with antibiotics which sealed the gashes into angry welts then proceeded to wrap her front with fresh clean bandages. "Tam wasn't taking all of this very well and stayed back at the manor with Alfred."

"She doesn't blame herself does she?" Lilly frowned.

"Yeah she's been a basket case since you were kidnapped so much so that I had to sedate her." Dex nodded. "Not to worry though Andria gave her the news that you've been rescued and left out that you'd been hurt so she's back to her old self again." Dex glanced over at Shawn and chuckled. "Treating you is no big deal to me. You're injured and I'm a doctor. I mean so what if it happens to be your…Hello Shawn. She's as good as new." He grinned up at his beyond furious best friend.

Shawn carefully picked Lilly up in his arms. "Thanks buddy." He managed to growl before stalking off towards the others.

"No problem any time." Dex laughed when Shawn whirled around to glare murderously at him. "Kidding Shawn. I'm just kidding so don't tear me in half." He held both of his hands in front of him in surrender.

"Wise ass." Shawn grumbled.

A week later

Lilly slipped on her robe and tip-toed to Shawn's room, with Ninjara hot on her heels.

His door was ajar so the cat nudged it open with her head.

"Hello sweetie did Lil's force you off her bed again?" Shawn greeted the cat as she jumped up onto his bed and then stared at his doorway. "Or did you follow her from her room?" Shawn sensed that his princess was standing just out of view.

Well you've made it this far don't chicken out now. Lilly lectured herself. She couldn't sleep again and instead of him going to her and chasing away her bad dreams she was going to him.

Shawn waited patiently for her to decided where she wanted to be. "You know girl it’s a travesty that Lil's keeps having these wicked scary nightmares that and our vacation is nearly at an end. The wedding is tomorrow and the two of us really need to get some sleep." He absently petted Jara as he kept his eyes on his doorway.

Lilly still didn't budge.

"Well goodnight girl. I'm gonna get some sleep." He faked a yawn and acted as if he were settling down to go to sleep.

Lilly waited five minutes before sneaking into his room and tip-toeing over to his bed. "He won't even know I'm here." She carefully crawled under the covers.

Shawn reached over and pulled her into his arms. "Took you long enough to make up your mind." He kissed the top of her head. "Jara close my door." He whispered his order to the cat.

Jara grumbled but did as she was told, before jumping back to her comfy spot at the foot of his bed.

"I've never snuck into your bedroom before." Lilly yawned sleepily.

"I've been waiting ever since I heard you open your door." Shawn yawned.

"I love you so much Shawn. You keep the bad dreams away and I feel safe in your arms." She snuggled deeper in his arms and drifted off to sleep.

"Always love. I will always keep you safe." Shawn closed his eyes and let sleep take him as well.

Andy knocked on Lilly's door.

"Wake up sleepy head." She called softly.

Lilly wasn't there.

"This is a first." She frowned leaving the room to go join Eric for breakfast. Her frown deepened when she found that Lilly wasn’t sitting at the breakfast nook with the others. "Have you seen Lilly yet?"

Eric shook his head. "Shawn and Lilly aren't up yet." Eric focused on eating his breakfast.

"She isn't in her room Eric." Andy snatched the piece of bacon from his fingers.

"Maybe she had a nightmare again and crawled into bed with Shawn." Eric shot her a look daring her to snag something off his plate again.

"And that doesn't bother you in the least that baby sis is in bed with Shawn." Andy hissed down at him.

"It is possible that one can sleep and not attack." Eric glared back at her. "Hell as of tomorrow they'll be in all essence out of the nest and we'll have no choice but to trust them."

"I promised Daddy." Andy sulked as she snagged yet another piece of bacon and then a piece of toast off of his plate.

"Do you mind!? Get your own food!"

Andy smiled sweetly at him. "You promised Daddy too." She reminded him between bites of food.

"Forget it Andromeda Marie! If the two of them are old enough to be on Derek's team then they're old enough make their own choices!"

"You're too much of a big brother not to mention a father for me to believe that you mean a word of what you just said."

"Maybe she missed Shawn holding her at night. Considering that he's been sneaking out of her room all week. The guilt trip isn't gonna work with me, so go find Andria and let me eat my breakfast in peace."

"Fine feed your bottomless pit! I hope you get indigestion!" Andy stalked off.

Lilly awoke in Shawn's arms.

He was watching her sleep as he soothingly stroked her hair. "Morning heart of my heart," He smiled at her.

Lilly stretched contently against him. "How long have you been awake?" She turned in his arms so that her chin was resting on his chest and she nearly found herself lost in his fathomless sea green eyes.

"For a while. I love watching you sleep." He stroked his finger along her jaw line.

Lilly couldn't help but feel the sparks and fire that was simmering between them. "You do…" She suddenly felt extremely vulnerable more so now that her wounds had healed enough so that they were nothing more than faint marks.

"Yes in fact I could even make it my life's work." He shifted the two of them until he was happily raining kisses all over her face. Then he was passionately kissing her good morning until she was trembling in his arms.

"Shawn…"

"Did I hurt you?" He pulled back from her enough so that he could cradle her face in his hands.

"No it's not that…" She whispered breathlessly. "I mean my cuts are almost completely healed.

Shawn narrowed his eyes as it dawned on him what she was trying to tell him. "You mean you're okay now?" The hungry look in his eyes was more than enough to make Lilly want to go somewhere and hide.

"Yes." She answered shakily pushing her hands against his chest so that she could attempt to have some amount of distance between them which she suddenly wasn't a big mistake. Shawn wasn't wearing a t-shirt.

Shawn placed his hands over hers. "Come here Lilly." He pulled her down into his arms and rested his chin on her head.

Ninjara sensed her mistresses distress and leapt onto her plastering her against Shawn. "Get off me Jara." Lilly squeaked she was now nose to nose with Shawn.

The cat grumbled something profane, jumped off the bed, went over to the door, and nudged the knob with her paw until it opened just enough for her to slink through.

Shawn and Lilly stared at each other. He wasn't about to make a move or scare her in anyway. "We aren't ready for this step yet." He growled softly.

Lilly shook her head biting her lip in frustration. "That's not true. If Dex and Tammy hadn't interrupted us at the theater we wouldn't have stopped."

"Lilly we can't just at on impulse or go with our feelings. We have to think about the result of our actions." Shawn gritted his teeth in frustration.

"I know that I'm only sixteen, but after all the garbage that I've had to go through I feel eighteen." She buried her face against his chest.

"You didn't know what you were in for when you were determined to follow in Dromi's footsteps." Shawn cuddled her closer to him.

"Don't remind me." She groaned reluctantly pushing herself up on her elbows. "Let me up Shawn so that we can go eat breakfast."

"I never said that we couldn't kiss." He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her until both their minds very nearly shut down and he was about to say to hell with it and take their next step in their relationship. He'd only come to his senses when he realized that he was unconsciously unbuttoning her pajama top."On second thought this is way too dangerous." He growled hoarsely. He reluctantly let her go, left the bed, and headed for the bathroom and an arctic cold shower.

Lilly sighed dreamily as she drank in the view. "I will never tire of this view even when I'm fifty." She was so entranced with Shawn that she accidentally said what she was thinking out loud.

Shawn turned on his heel pinning her with a dark hungry look so fierce that it scared her whit less. "Lillyan Allura if you don't stop staring at me like that I won't be held accountable for my actions." He prowled like a cat towards his bed.

Lilly jumped out of bed and bolted from the room. "Hi Dromi…" She squeaked as she nearly plowed into her sister in the hallway.

Andy set out jeans and an I love Gotham sweatshirt for Lilly to wear. "So did the dreams came back to haunt you again?" Andy set about making her bed.

Lilly emerged from the bathroom fresh from her shower in her kimono drying her hair with a towel. "Yes, but Shawn keeps my nightmares away. Is there anything else?" She stopped drying her hair to fix her sister with a knowing look.

"No. The two of you are old enough to make adult decisions on your own. I trust you to make the right choices." Andy decided that Eric might be right after all and reluctantly went with what she knew was right in her heart.

Lilly dropped her towel and launched herself into her sister's arms for a big hug. "You don't know what you trusting me means to me. I know that it's hard seeing me taking that next step with Shawn. I love him so much and he would never do anything to hurt me." She beamed at her sister.

"I just want to see you happy." Andy hugged her back.

"Shawn makes me very happy." Lilly arched a brow at her sis. "Now if you don't mind I wanna get dressed now."

"Lilly you bolted out of Shawn's room with your pajama top half way unbuttoned. The women of our family have a history of getting pregnant after their first time regardless of their method of birth control. It was hard enough for me at nearly nineteen. Just think of how it would be for you at nearly seventeen."

Lilly rolled her eyes at her sister. "This is a decision that I'll make on my own and has nothing to do with you or anyone else in our family."

"You made that choice when you were almost seven and could finally catch him." Andy smirked.

"It got me some nasty scrapes and a broken arm if memory serves correctly. You were pregnant with the twins." Lilly ran a brush through her golden blonde tresses.

"Very true but after that the two of you were best friends for life."

"If you and Eric had realized that you loved each other two years sooner would you have waited?" Lilly asked point blank.

"I can't honestly say yes or no. My feelings for Eric scared the life out of me at first. Then Grandpa Alfor grounded me from the force and I ran to him for comfort. That didn't happen so quit changing the subject. You four skipped out on the pre-wedding festivities to go see Matrix."

"So what if the four of us decided to catch a movie. Stop trying to push me Dromi before the two of us aren't on speaking terms anymore." Lilly pushed Andy out the door into the hallway. "Go bug Dria." She closed the door in her face.

Tammy was coming down the stairs when the front door bell rang. "I'll get it Alfred." She called out to the man that was more like a Many-Great Grandfather than the family butler. Her eyes widened in admiration as she stared at the two men standing in the front steps. Clark she was familiar with but Wally was someone new. "Clark come on in. Bruce is around here somewhere in all of this chaos." She happily gave him a hug.

Wally grinned at Clark. "Well introduce me to the beautiful creature in your arms."

"Tammy Edwards I would like you to meet Wally West. Wally this is Bruce's soon to be sister-in-law." Clark kept a brotherly arm around Tammy's shoulders.

Bruce joined them in the entryway. "Welcome to organized chaos. Enter at your own peril. So where are your other halves?"

"Lois snuck into the west wing. Andria saw us drive in and signaled her to come join her."

"Linda's on the trail of a smoking hot story, but she sends her warmest wishes, as well as, this extravagant wedding gift." Wally pointed to the flashy wrapped gift box at his feet. "If anyone needs me I'm gonna go raid your kitchen." Wally left the three of them to chat besides he was starving and Alfred always kept the kitchen well stocked.

"Tammy, Dex is down in the lower basement studying Bram down in the lower basement. Perhaps you should go and find him." Bruce winked at her.

"Dex is with Bram in the basement?! Alone!" Tammy cried out in panic racing down the hallway plowing over the florist in her wake.

"Bruce I thought that Bram didn’t take to visitors very well. Are you sure it was safe to leave Dex alone with him in the basement." Clark arched a brow at Bruce.

"Relax Clark he'll be fine. Dex and Bram have a sort of understanding with one another because they both worship the ground that my granddaughter walks on." Bruce smirked at Clark.

"When you put it that way it makes perfect sense. Wally sure didn't take long to go raid the fridge. It was a good thing for you with Tammy tearing down the hallway like that." Clark couldn't help but take in the view as a beyond furious Andromeda came stalking down the stairs. "Dromi seems to be in a mood this morning." He commented so that only Bruce could hear him.

"I swear some days I'd like nothing better than to throttle my baby sister." She fumed coming to a halt when she came across the two of them. Her eyes narrowed to slits. Males weren't her favorite people either.

"Stay clear of the west wing if you know what's good for you." She ordered Bruce in a dark tone.

"Keep him occupied and make sure he's on time Kal or I will hurt you." She snarled at Clark before stalking towards the kitchen.

"You're right she's lethal. I'd rather face Doomsday than tangle with her when she's off the charts moody." Clark whistled under his breath.

"It's the kids." Bruce sighed in frustration. "Two of them to be precise. Rohan's son and Andria's and Dromi's baby sister are getting way too serious for our piece of mind. Lilly is every bit as stubborn as her sisters and that tends to wear thin on Dromi's nerves let alone on her temper."

"I see well then lets try not to get on her bad side that way I'll be able to be there for Lois when she has our daughter and you will be able to live to enjoy your honeymoon with Dria and be a father for your unborn miracle." Clark devised a plan of survival for the two of them.

"That's the most intelligent strategy that you've ever come up with." Bruce grinned.

"Well you aren't the only one who can lay out a battle plan." Clark grinned.

Eric stared open mouthed in astonishment as he watched Wally prepare himself an enormous Hero sandwich. "Hungry?" was all that he could get himself to say. The man with the fiery red hair was building a sandwich with some of everything in the fridge.

Wally grinned at Eric. "Yeah I'm famished." He proceeded to polish off the sandwich in nearly a blink of an eye. "You want one?"

"No that's okay I just ate breakfast." Eric shook his head in disbelief. "I suppose being the Flash gives you a ravenous appetite."

"Yeah I've got what Star Labs has dubbed an ultra hyper metabolism. "So, Eric, what's it like to be married to a drop dead gorgeous babe that is so fantastic that she has Jon beyond impressed with her?"

"It's never dull that's for sure, but I wouldn't trade a second of it for all the secrets and treasures in the universe." Eric grinned as he sensed Andy stalking down the hall. "And you're gonna get a chance to meet her in two seconds."

"Lilly can be so infuriating sometimes! As far as I'm concerned Drew can have a shot at reining her in I'm done!" Andy stalked into the kitchens. She zeroed in on her husband and proceeded to sit down and snuggle on his lap. It was only then that she focused on the newcomer in the kitchen. "Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing raiding my sister and brother-in-laws fridge for food!?" She wasn't in the mood to be gracious and snarled her questions at Wally.

"Be nice Andromeda Wally West is a wedding guest." Eric kissed the top of her head. "Wally this is my beautiful other half Andromeda."

Wally hadn't believed it until he saw her with his own eyes. Andria did indeed have an identical twin sister and Jon was right her very presence could bring any male too his knees. "Bruce is the Leagues biggest benefactor and a close friend. Don't let him know but I also know what's in the basement, but not to worry his secret is safe with me as is Andria, Dick, and Bab's." He winked at Andy taking her hand in his own and kissing it like some gallant prince or knight of old. "There is little that I don't know, but I'm the best secret keeper that anyone could ever want. Being the Flash makes me a bitch to try and capture let alone pump for important information. That's why even Clark's secret is safe with me."

"I'm sorry that I snarled at you like that. Our vacation away from our little ones hasn't exactly been a relaxing one and don't worry your secret is safe with me." Andy smiled warmly at him.

"So now that we've got the formalities squared away I'm dying to know all about Andria's side of the family." He sat down across from the two of them propping elbows on the table and his chin on his hands like a fascinated child eagerly anticipating the story to come.

Andy eyed the wall clock and calculated that she had time to give him the cliff note version of their lives on Arus and proceeded to weave a fascinating narrative that literally had Wally glued to his seat.

"Unbelievable." He grinned at the two of them considering them now more like family and close friends.

"Well it's all true." Andy calmly sipped her tea.

"I don't doubt that it isn't. What I meant by that was that your life story would make one hell of an anime or movie trilogy." Wally was finishing up the last piece of fruit in the gigantic centerpiece fruit basket.

"Well as much as I would love to continue this chat. I've got to go check on Dria."

"Yeah and we have to go check on Bruce." Eric nodded.

"All I know is that Dria is the best thing that's ever happened to Bruce and the sooner we get the two of them in wedded bliss the more balanced his alter ego will be. I don't know about you, but in my line of work a balance Dark Knight is a hell of a lot easier to work with than when he went postal a few years back and was hell to work with let alone be around." Wally scavenged the pantry for a few boxes of cookies.

"Yes well I don't share and he fell for Andria in the end." Eric shrugged his shoulders not the least bit apologetic about Bruce's dark days after falling for his wife.

"You were the reason that he went postal!?" Wally nearly choked on the cookie that he was stuffing in his face. "He met you first?!"

"Guilty but I made it up to him by introducing him to my twin." Andy grinned sheepishly.

"Damn now it all makes sense. No wonder he wanted to kick ass first ask questions later." Wally now had all of the pieces to that mystery and could well understand how devastated that Bruce had been after falling for the beyond gorgeous crowned princess of Arus and finding out that she was well and truly taken not to mention carrying precious cargo.

"Mommy!! Are you and Daddy in the kitchen?" Jessie and Jasmine called for their parents from down the corridor.

"I wants Mommy and Daddy now!" Tony's demand echoed after his sisters.

"Yes baby brother we know and we're going to get you to them right now." MK soothed his baby brother as the four of them walked into the kitchen.

Andy raced over to gather the four of them to her. "I missed you soooo much." She kissed the top of each of their heads.

Eric wasn't far behind her and greeted the four of them with a bear hug and a kiss as well. "Yes we missed you, but how did you manage to access the portal in the lair with it on lockdown?"

"Did you really think that the rest of the family was gonna miss seeing Aunt Dria marry Uncle Bruce?" MK rolled his eyes at his parents. After Uncle Rohan, Aunt Myria, and Aunt Allana got back Grandpa was determined to come here and check on Aunt Lilly. Uncle Drew, Aunt Pippa, Uncle Kane, and Aunt Fawn and Thea decided that they also didn't wanna miss the big event. So basically a great deal of the family is here. Not counting Uncle Rohan, Aunt Allana, and the cousins. Our visitor from Crystal Tokyo put her foot down so they had to stay home. It's fascinating how she can make Uncle Rohan want to run and hide. Oh and Great-grandma and Great-Grandpa who send Andria their love, but someone has to keep an eye on things and run the Kingdom."

"I was wondering if he was gonna get in trouble for that." Andy cuddled Tony in her arms.

Jazzy and Jasmine walked over to stare curiously up at Wally. "Hello are you a friend of our Uncle and Aunt?" They chimed in unison.

"Yeah their like family to me," Wally couldn't resist scooping the two of them up into his arms. "You must be Jasmine and Jessica and the other two have to be Michael Keith and Tony. It’s a pleasure to meet you lovely little ladies. I'm Wally West."

"Wicked cosmic Dad! That's the Flash standing in front of me in Uncle Bruce's kitchen. I already got to meet Clark Kent down in Uncle Bruce's basement." MK was careful not to give his Uncle's or Mr. Kent's alter egos away.

"It’s okay son. Wally is well aware of their dual identities." Eric winked at his son.

"Do you think that I'm gonna get to meet Jon today. He really seems like someone that I wanna meet." MK asked excitedly.

"Not to worry kiddo Jon will most definitely be here with bells on." Wally was busy amazing the girls with his lightning fast slide of hand tricks.

(Dromi would you and my nieces join the rest of us girls in the West Wing and inform the boys that they are needed in the East Wing with Bruce.) Dria used her link with Andy to get her attention.

(Be right there Dria. I just know that the girls are gonna love their flower girls dresses.) Andy answered her back. "Girls the three of us are needed in the West Wing and the boys are needed in the East Wing. Getting to know Wally will have to wait until after the wedding." She set Tony in Eric's arms. "Be good for Daddy."

"I will." Tony cuddled against his father's chest.

"That's my big boy." Andy blew him a kiss.

"I'll willingly get all dressed up for the wedding, but the two of you owe me big for this." MK shot the two of them a look.

"I'll leave your reward up to your father." Andy and the twins left the kitchen.

"How does a week at Disney World sound." Eric offered his son what he thought was the ultimate bribe.

MK pondered an answer to his fathers offer. "Add Universal Studios Adventure Island, Bush Gardens, and Sea World and I might just accept your bribe." He added to the pot.

"Unreal he's a player and not even six? Seven?" Wally was highly impressed with the young boy.

"Age matters not if one has the intelligent and abilities of one ten times his age." MK shot him a cool look. "Being a superhero I would assume that you would understand that line of thinking."

"MK be nice." Eric warned. "Now as for your offer I will take it under consideration pending your actions for the rest of the day."

"Very well Father let's get this over and done with." MK knew when to quit while he was ahead.

Andria was not the least bit nervous and serene as a tranquil sea. After all this wasn't her first wedding to Bruce and they had been married for a year or more now. She was overjoyed that her family had all arrived to see her marry Bruce a second time.

"Momma don't you think that this is overkill?" Andria touched the tiara that had been intertwined with the delicate lace veil on her head.

"Not in the least. You are a princess of Arus and those are your birthright." Allura hugged her daughter.

"Momma's right Dria there's no harm in it." Ariel winked at her.

"You’re a princess there's nothing whatsoever to be timid about being who you are." Alex was finishing weaving the flowers in her baby girl's silver blonde hair.

"The sooner those snobby debutante's realize just how out classed they are the better in my eyes." Andy growled.

"I promise to be the best flower girl." Bree was excited to be part of her Aunt's wedding party.

"We'll be with you Bree." Jazzy winked at her cousin.

"It's MK and Hunter being the ring bearers that I'm worried about." Jessie rolled her eyes.

"You pretty." Holly and Haley smiled up at their Aunt. They were nearly three and not quite old enough to be part of the wedding party.

Andria bent down to hug her nieces. "Why thank you angels. I think you look pretty too."

"I too little too." Thea was cuddled on her mothers lap.

"It's okay munchkin you'll get to flower girl next time." Fawn kissed her daughter on the nose.

"Lilly and Tam are next so Haley, Holly, and Thea can get to join in the ceremony next time." Andy bit back a giggle.

Tam and Lilly shot her a startled look and blushed clear to their toes.

Alex and Ariel shot a knowing look at Dromi. (So have baby sis and Shawn been too hot to handle?)

(The two of them have become nearly inseparable, so Drew and Fawn are going to have their hands full keeping them apart.) Dromi proceeded to fill her sisters in on what was going on.

"I'm not really ready for that step yet, Aunt Dromi." Tam squeaked.

"She knows that Tam. Dromi is just being a pain today." Lilly snorted in disgust.

:Pain am I. I didn't tell Momma that you and Shawn have been sleeping in the same bed together for the last week or that I caught you bolting from his bedroom with your pajama button top half unbuttoned this morning.: Andy narrowed her eyes at her baby sister. "No I'm just being a concerned sister."

:You said that you were gonna trust me, besides nothing happened.: Lilly growled. "Look I'm a big girl now, but thanks for your loving concern."

"Lilly we know that you've been to hell and back again over the past months, but I expect you to keep your promise." Allura walked over to her youngest and tilted her chin up with her finger. "You are sixteen and barely that whether you feel like eighteen or not and we are trusting you."

Lilly stared up into her mother's gentle but firm azure blue eyes. "Yes Momma." She sighed.

"Darling girl you have all the time in the world to take that next step with Shawn don't be in such a hurry." She hugged her close and kissed the top of her head.

Bruce and Andria said their vows to one another in front of their friends, family, and distinguished guests outside in the immaculate gardens of the Wayne estate. It wasn't but a few minutes before the rings were exchanged and he was kissing is beautiful bride. Then the two of them were happily walking back down the aisle hand in hand more than ready to move on to the celebration.

The reception

Shawn couldn't resist interrupting his father who currently had women flocking around him. "Having fun Dad?"

"Dad?" Ronny's frowned at Rohan in confusion.

"Go away Shawn." Rohan glared at him.

Shawn ignored his father's dark look flashing a killer smile at the women. "Hi I'm Shawn McCloud and this man is my father."

"Get lost kid." Rohan snarled.

"Fine Father treat me like you could careless that I'm alive!" Shawn snarled back in a hurt tone then went back to join Lilly, Tam, and Dex.

"The rumors are all true aren't they?" Ronny sniffed haughtily in disgust. "You really are a cold hearted ruthless man. Treating your own son like an outcast and hiding him from the public eye like this is beyond appalling!" She threw her Champagne in his face and stalked off.

The other women around him followed suit leaving him furious and alone. "He's lucky that he was even born!" Rohan glared murderously over at his son.

"Now son you can't blame him for being loyal to her mother." Gwen was trying her best not to burst out laughing.

"Mother that's a thousand plus years away," Rohan sulked stalking off to brood somewhere alone.

"I've made all of the arrangements. You're all set for taking the kids on a family vacation. Dria and I have decided that spending our second honeymoon at the most magical place on earth with the rest of our family is just what the two of us need." Bruce smiled at Eric and Andy.

"The kids are all excited about it already." Eric grinned.

"But are the two of you sure that you want to give up your private island paradise for a noisy vacation with all of us and a brood of kids?" Andy arched a brow at Bruce and her sister.

"The island isn't going anywhere and we want to spend as much time with all of you as we can while you're still here." Andria laid her head against Bruce's shoulder and smothered a yawn. "Excuse me but our son seems to always want me to nap."

"Yeah he'll do that to you for the first half of your pregnancy and then keep you awake for the final stretch." Andy sighed knowingly. "But there is nothing like holding your baby for the first time in your arms, so the quirks and discomforts are well worth it in the end."

"Nope nothing like it in the universe." Eric kissed the top of her head. "Now it's time to get our other little ones tucked into bed. Tony nodded off in Dad's arms and was tucked in hours ago."

Andria and Bruce smiled as they watched the two of them patiently convince MK that it was time for bed and that he could continue his chat with Jon later. The twins were entranced by Wally and his endless stories, but they reluctantly agreed to go to bed.

"If we have half of what Andy and Eric have then we'll be the most blessed couple in the world." Andria smiled up at Bruce.

"I'm gonna make it my life's work to make every day the happiest days of our lives." Bruce pulled he to him sealing the vow with a kiss.

Long after the reception was over and everyone had turned in.

"You and I are so blessed and the luckiest people to be part of a family like ours." Andy sighed contently in Eric's arms.

"Yeah were blessed alright." Eric kissed the top of her head. "I thank the gods everyday that I was given you and our kids to love and watch over."

"I have to pinch myself every once in a while just to make sure that this isn't some wonderful dream." She turned in his arms and kissed him.

"Dream huh." Eric kissed her mindless.

"That's right my lion a dream come true." She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself with him for the rest of the night.

Next Chapter ten and Lilly and Shawn's adventure begins in Alpha Omega Chp 4

I don't own the Original Voltron Characters, or the DC characters, but everything else is mine!! Do not use any of my original characters!! They are mine! There are to many plagiarizers out there and I am sick of them stealing other peoples ideas!! It takes a lot of hard work to write a story and that work should be respected.

Cindra©1999-2007