I wake up in the spare bedroom alone. I had expected it, so it was okay. I put on my pyjamas and walk out into the kitchen. 

A smile comes to my face as I see a paper bag from the vegan place down the road. Jason must have left it, before he went.

Before I can even touch it, I hear sounds from my bedroom. Memories and realisation crash into me like a wave. He'd be terribly hungover.

"Dick?" I call out, taking a water bottle from the fridge for him. I walk down the hallway. My bedroom door opens, only to have a giant muscled body slump against it.

"Hey," he says. "Why are there tiny rabbits jumping on my brain?" 

Smiling, I hand him the water. There are dar bags under his eyes, they are bloodshot, his skin is red and his hair is a nest. 

I lead him out to the livingroom, explaining Ginger's text and his inconvenient interruption.

"Have you heard from Ginger since then? My phone's dead," he mumbles. His hangover voice reminds me of Jay's.

"Not yet. You can charge it if you like," I say, nodding over to where I usually charge my phone and tablet.

"Thank you," he says, voice husky and obviously tired. He walks across the room.

"If you want, you can have a shower while I make you some breakfast. Jason's clothes are in the second draw. Just steel some," I say, opening the brown paper bag.

"Are you sure?" Dick yawns tiredly. Poor guy, he looks terrible.

"Yeah yeah. Go. Towels in the cupboard. I'll make you eggs or something," I say, shooing him.

"I thought you were vegan?"

"And Jason is far from it. Now go," I say. He's yawning again as he disappears down the hallway. 

~Elsewhere~ 

Her blonde and red ponytails sway in the freezing, snowy wind. She and her men wait at the rendezvous point at the back or Arkham.

This works nearly every time... 7/10 times, at least she thought. Surely this was one of those seven.

Soon enough, the guards are loading a supposedly empty crate into the truck. The driver nods to the guard before taking off, down the road towards where she was.

The truck stops and she tells on of her men to open the back up, where they all crowd in, around the crate. 

Using a crowbar, his favourite, she cracks the wood open.

"Puddin'!" She exclaims, upon seeing the Joker AKA light of her world sit shot up. His green greasey hair springs up all over the place, and his smile is as red as ever.

"Harley! You never cease to amaze, do ya?" He grins, laying back in the crate as if it were a beach chair. Harley squeals at the compliment, before reaching into her bag and pulling out a yellow, dirty file.

"I-I brought it, like you asked Mr J," she smiles, handing it to him. The Joker takes it from her and flicks through it roughly.

Red Hood, Red Hood and his men, Red Hood shooting someone.

 "So- What do we do?" Harley asks. Everyone leans in, awaiting his words.

The Clown Prince of Crime begins chuckling darkly, before his laughter builds to an all-out cackle.

"It's funny the things you hear when you listen in to a conversation between good ol' Harvey and the beautiful Venus Meadow..." He says, when he has calmed enough.

"What do you mean?" Harley questions, jealousy burning over him calling the DA beautiful. 

The Joker holds an image of Red Hood up. This time, it is a street camera shot of him with the DA, having just saved her from a crazed limo driver.

"Who knew buddy boy?" He suddenly growls, leaning forward. "Did you know the greatest thing to use against big toughies like you," he grins, tearing the paper, "is what you protect."

~Elsewhere~

"Achoo!"

Damian and I jump, Jason having frightened us with a sneeze.

"We told you, Todd. You should have stayed home," Dami snaps. I place my hand on his shoulder and he stops berating, opting for glaring at his older brother instead.

"Jay," I begin quietly, moving to his side. I take his arm gently and press my hand against his forehead. "You're far to sick to be out here. Go home, please?"

As promised, I had taken Damian to the Gotham City Christmas Eve Fair. We're here, with light snow, pretty lights and crowds of happy people.

Jason had insisted on coming, despite the fact that he has caught the worst cold of his life.

"I know you're worried in your absence I'll fall for a fourteen year old, but I promise it won't happen," I grin, kissing his cheek.

"It's not you I don't trust. It's him."

Damian scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Just because she can do better than you-"

"That's enough," I say slowly, lightly. I lean down to Damian with my hands on his shoulders. "Go and buy another churro. I know you secretly love them."

He looks offended, "I do not!"

Rolling my eyes, I reach into my bag and retrieve my purse. I hand him some of the money Bruce insisted I take to spend on him. I'll just give the amount back to him though. I don't need it.

"Go," I say, turning him towards the close-by churro stand. He glares at Jason once more, before stalking away.

"I can't leave you with that brat," he says, closing his eyes tightly.

"You can. In fact I think it's your presence that's making the 'brat' act up," I reply, reaching out and grabbing his upper arms. I lean over and kiss his forehead.

"How are you going to get home if I take the car?"

"I'm sure Alfred will take me home when he picks up Dami, alright? Don't stress," I smile. Jason rubs his eyes tiredly. It's as cute as you'd think.

"Alright..." He agrees, yawning.

"Get some sleep, please?"

"Yeah yeah," he waves me off. "I won't kiss you. You're the last person the city needs getting sick," he sniffs. I smile and run my thumbs over his cheekbones.

"See you soon, alright?" I smile, kissing his cheeks and hugging him quickly. I feel him stop breathing as he returns the gesture, before stepping back.

I hand him the keys and he leaves.

"Here," I hear Damian's voice. He shoves a churro towards me, his own in his hand. I smile and thank him, despite his brute way of showing kindness.

"So have you ever been to a fair?" I begin as we walk through the parade street.

"No," he answers. "What is here, anyway?"

"Lots of things. Foods, some rides, Santa, a petting zoo where the animals have little coats on, shops for one-of-a-kind gifts, prize games and most of all, the parade."

Damian attempts to look disinterested or board, but I can see the fascination in his eyes. He looks very cute, red-faced from the cold with a scarf, beanie and large jacket.

"Let's go on this," I suggest, pointing at a large ferris wheel with roofed seats. Damian stares up at it for a moment, before looking back at me and nodding.

"C'mon," I smile, leading him to the line. We're there for a minute before I hear familiar whispers.

"Is that the DA?"

"Venus Meadow and Wayne's Kid."

"Mom! Mom! The DA's there!"

Damian frowns up at me.

"Are you used to that yet?" He asks. I shake my head.

"I don't think I ever will be?"

By the time we are seated in our cart on the ferris wheel I have already shielded Damian from secret reporters, answered to some already and had civilians ask me things.

"I was not expecting that sort of thing when I came here," Damian says honestly, looking out the side of the cart at two photographers who had showed up.

"Neither was I. Unfortunately we play with the hand the devil dealt us," I say. "Best advice I was ever given."

The ride is moving slowly, stopping to allow people on. It brings us to the highest point on the wheel. The city is sparkling like water, which Damian stares at vividly.

"What you just said...What does that mean?" He asks very quietly, as though he were not sure it was okay to ask. His childhood really was...is fractured.

"It means we have to make the best of what we are given in life. I make the best of all the annoying media attention to further my influence and gain ground as a good DA. Your father uses it to praise his company. Your brothers use it for the same thing."

His eyes switch to looking down in his lap.

"I don't like the attention," he admits softly. It hurts to see a child vulnerable like that. Even a tiny little assassin.

"You don't have to," I whisper, leaning across to place my hand on his knee. "Tell Bruce. Tell him and I know he'll do what he can to protect you from it."

He doesn't look up for awhile. The ferris wheel starts to move properly. Slowly, almost boringly, but the sight of the city makes it worth it.

"Will you tell him, please?" Damian asks, looking up. He has never looked more like a child than he did at that moment. I feel sorry for him.

"Of course," I smile.

We go back to staring out at the city. Something about the snow combined with the lights combined with the company made everything seem very calm.

"That's what you protect," I say. "That's what makes it all worth it."

"I suppose," he says, returning to his duller tone. "But it's what you protect too."