HOPE YOU A JOLLY OLD READ

BECOME SANTA AND DROP A GIFTED VOTE FOR ME PLEASE

Prompt: Taking kid to see Santa/ Staying up late to see Santa.

https://youtu.be/FNfjgWTt22E

This was Damian's second Christmas with them. 

All of them. 

Everyone was alive, mostly uninjured, accounted for and home in Gotham for at least two weeks of December. 

Everyone in the batclan was close by and would be spending the holidays in Gotham together. 

Damian's first Christmas in Gotham wasn't the smoothest, Bruce was assumed dead, Tim was away trying to prove that the man was alive, Cass was in another country, Jason chose to spend the holidays with his new team and Damian knew over Christmas but didn't celebrated it. 

Wayne's Christmas was always a mixture of different religions and beliefs mixed into one single celebration, trying to bring some joy and peace to all the family members. 

Wally wasn't Christian but he loved Christmas, the sweet and homecooked food, putting up a tree and decorations with love ones and picking out thoughtful gifts of them. Dick loved Christmas too, he loved the warm hot chocolate, the gathering of love ones and the bright and sparkling colours filling every home and shop. 

It made the couple rather giggly over Christmas time and doing their best to celebrate and decorate as much as possible. With Dick gaining care over Damian, once winter came along, the two taught Damian how to enjoy the holidays without having to be committed to the religious reasons. 

None of the rest of the family were around apart from Alfred, the poor ten year old didn't really understand the joy's of Christmas but was taught the religious meaning as if it was part of a history test. 

Damian showed interest during his Christmas with Wally and Dick, but the boy had just lost a father and wasn't ready just yet for the merry of Christmas.  

Since Bruce had returned, Damian had returned to living with him while Wally and Dick stayed in Blüdhaven. An agreement had been formed, Damian spending three weekends a month with Wally and Dick, the three had formed their own family, grown attached in the year Bruce was assumed dead. Neither were ready to just walk away and return to their old lives.

And that meant as December came around, he spent three of the four weekends of the month with him. Joining them with their own made up traditions and preparing for the Christmas day.

That meant that Dick and Wally decided to keep some of Damian's innocent protected and give him a childish dream of believing in a myth. 

Damian knew over the easter bunny and the tooth fairy being made up for the shake of children. But somehow, Santa wasn't completely ruined to him. He knew over the meaning of Christmas day but he didn't know much over the myth known as Santa. 

It gave both men a chance to let the boy explore a more childlike innocent before he truly stood too old to experiment some normal childhood memories. 

"Must I embarrass myself in public like this, Richard?" Damian asked, a distasteful frown pulling at his lips as he stares towards the long queue formed by parents and either crying or excited children wanting to sit on "Santa's" lap.

Damian knew better, his baba and dad had already told him the truth over Santa choosing a handful of civilians to act as his human helpers on earth. They would dress up as Santa and listen to all the children's wishes and dreams for Christmas. Helping to write them down for Santa to compare his nice list towards and make sure he would be bringing the correct gift for them all. Santa's chosen helpers also help to keep and protect innocent children's faith in the big, fat man and Santa needs that faith to help control his own unknown magic. 

Hence Damian understood he simply couldn't attack Santa's chosen helpers for being fakes when they were chosen to play this act to help Santa and not to mock him. Damian wasn't going to punishment nor turn his nose up towards those who were merely doing a job needed of them. But he still didn't understand why he was needed to visit one now he understood that they were merely helping Santa to create a second note over what families desired for Christmas.

Damian had already written his letter and posted with his baba and Dad near the start of the month. Surely Santa would have gotten his letter and be able to check his requests with the nice list by his letter alone. 

"No one is trying to embarrass you, Dami. If you really don't like than we can just leave and find something else to do" Dick softly said as he kneeled before the eleven year old, a motherly smile pulling on his lips as he places his hands on the youngers arms to comfort him.

Both Dick and Wally had known that taking Damian to see Santa might be a huge step for him to take during his first real try at Christmas. They both had planned a day of fun in case the youngest Wayne changed his mind over seeing Santa. They weren't going to risk breaking any trust gained with Damian by forcing him to see and speak with a stranger in a Santa costume if he wasn't ready yet. 

"But this might be your only chance to speak with one of Santa's chosen helpers. Gain a few unknown answers you've been demanding to know. That's only if they have the real Santa's permission to tell his secrets" Wally offered up with a goofy grin, patting his son's back as he knew not to mess up his hair after having witnessed the boy style it three times that very morning, wanting to look his best during his visit with one of Santa's chosen men. 

Why Wally wouldn't force his mostly adopted son by now into seeing the "chosen" Santa at the mall. He also knew his son was somewhat excited to meet one of the chosen helpers. He had chosen his best originally clothes that wouldn't stand out in a crowd, styled his hair and brushed his teeth four times before they left. As well as all the mints he snuck during the drive to the mall, making sure his breath wouldn't smell as he tells the chosen helper his deepest desire for this Christmas. Wally didn't want them to walk away only for Damian to regret it as soon as they did. 

"Very well. I'll interrogate this man chosen my Santa and gain his secrets" Damian announced as he gave a look of determination once more, staring towards the queue as a mission needing to be completed. 

"No interrogating the man. Interrogating innocent men will gain you on Santa's naughty list" Dick huffed back, his tone more amused than scolding as he stands again and lightly pinches the boy's cheek in good faith. 

"..Fine" Damian sighed with an eyeroll, looking as if he was giving up so much for them. 

"If Santa gives up all his secrets than he may be at risk of losing all his magic. We wouldn't want to risk spoiling Christmas for everyone" Wally warned with a worried frown as he looked to his son as the three of them made their way towards the end of the queue. 

"It would displease me to accidently bring a stop to Santa's magic. Nor would I wish to ruin Christmas as it would be rather ungentlemanly like" Damian admitted with a small nod, accepting that he couldn't risk damaging Santa's health over his own gain more answers. 

Dick and Wally unconsciously laced their fingers together, holding hands as they walked behind their son towards the back of the queue. Easily joining the queue and paying one of the staff members dressed as elf's the $15, gaining the child to sit with Santa and have the accompanying adult take a photo with their own cameras or phones as well as a pre wrapped present being handed over to the child by the dressed up fake Santa. There was an option for the parents not wiling to pay for the cheap present wrapped up and the visit for a child to see Santa and the child's parents to still take their own photos would be just $10. 

Wally and Dick had excited took the $15's from their joint bank account that were their joint savings. Both having wanted to use their own money gained from their own paying jobs during the day to spoil their son today. They had a second joint account to pay their bills with and then their own bank accounts for their private use, keeping their independence. 

Neither was sure how Damian would react over the random present given to him by the "chosen helper" that he'd be seeing today. Wally remembered how cheap and sometime useless the presents he was gifted from "Santa" during a visit in his own childhood the one time his blood mum was in a good enough mood to gain a normal childhood memory while his blood dad wasn't in a drunken and abusive mood the morning they left. Wally remembered getting some cheap toy that was cheap plastic and it had a huge crack around where the body parts fitted together. He took it home and his father had stepped on it, breaking it instantly and becoming outrage over it Wally not taking "good" care of the toy and how money had been "wasted" on him. 

Wally hoped that since the cost for children to experience the visit with Santa had increased than he hoped the presents were better or long lasting at least. He'd be upset if the toys were still lame. Even a colouring book with four colouring pencils would be better since at least any child could enjoy them and gain a few good memories colouring all the pages in. He hoped Damian would gain a colouring book, his boy was a great artist. 

Both Wally and Dick's two bedroom apartment were filled with Damian's art, some gifted to him by the boy for their birthdays or anniversary. Other's had been pieces he's done for his art competitions or ones he's painted as part of his artists hobby. Some small sketches that Damian had thought to be rubbish and planned to throw them out if one of them didn't save them and add them to their growing collecting of albums, all filled with Dami's drawings or small paintings that fit in the A4 or A5 albums. 

Colouring books might be too childish for Damian but Wally had a filling that the boy would find a quiet and boring evening to colour them in to help calm himself or clear his head. A colouring book would be more loved by their son than some random toy that would be mostly chosen to be friendly towards all ages, meaning really young children would be safe with it and a few older children might not find it as cool. 

"That staff member took a photo of a family with their phones. Do you think we need to pay extra for that or just ask?" Dick whispered as he leaned closer to his husband, not wanting Damian to over hear him.

Wally followed in the direction that Dick nodded his head, hinting towards the female staff member dressed as an elf, being the one to escort the children from the front of the queue to where "Santa" sat and escorting them away once their time limit was over. She was just passing back a mother's phone to the mother who held a few months old baby in her arms and a young toddler's holding the end of her coat. Having taken a photo over the toddler on Santa's lap with the mother holding the younger sibling beside Santa's chair. 

"You want all three of us to take a photo with Santa?" Wally asked quietly, surprised but fund over the thought as he didn't expect a family moment to be captured today. He thought they were only here to awaken and protect some of Damian's innocence child delight. 

"I thought we'd get one with Damian alone with Santa and maybe afterwards get one with all three of us. We've got a three minute timeline with Santa. It says it could be moved up to four minutes if the day's slow. The queue isn't overly long compared to weekends. As long it doesn't become busy after us, we might get four minutes. Damian can speak with Santa, we take plenty of photos of him with Santa-" Dick explained his thoughts out loud to his boyfriend with a small smile, watching the next child rush over to Santa as the father stays back and takes photos with his own camera.

"Than we ask one of the elfs to take a photo over the three of us with Santa. I think we should stop at boots and print the photo off and find a frame for it today. We can put on top of our dresser. Our very own family photo for us to admire and cherish every day we wake up" Wally finished off for his other half with a growing smile and nodding along. Liking the idea of a family photo and getting it printed in boots with one of the photo printing machines. 

"It'd be tucked in our room, out of site from others so Damian wouldn't have to worry over others seeing it and making fun of it. He won't have to worry over being embarrassed or fearing over being seen as vulnerable. It'd be for our eyes only and if he wants a photo for his room, we'll print the photo twice. Place one in his bedroom at ours" Dick perked up with a delighted smile, his eyes sparkling at the idea of them having a family photo tucked in their room where they'd see it everyday. It'd cheer them both up on the harder days. 

"Sounds perfect. We can print of an extra photo during our visit to the mall during the week for Alfred. Print of a photo over Damian with Santa alone for Bruce to have" Wally confessed with a warm smile, releasing his boyfriend's hand to throw his arm around his shoulders and pull him closer. 

"I think you just found the best Christmas presents for Alfred and Bruce. They were the last few we needed to buy for. Just leaves a certain baby bat" Dick grinned back cheekily, pressing a quick peck to his other half's cheek. 

"But we know what we're getting for him" Wally smirked back, rather smug as they had both talked over what they planned to get and do for their son this Christmas. 

"We're just waiting until we know he'll be trapped in school and can't try figuring out what we've gotten him" Dick smiled back weakly, remembering how last year had gone and not wanting the magic to be ruined so easily this year. 

"I still can't believe he played detective last Christmas to figure out what we got him just so he understood the level of gift he needed to buy us in return. How do you even put presents on levels?" Wally mumbled back in disbelief, having no clue how Damian even traced down all their steps and figuring out his present from the rest they've bought for others and finding the store they'd bought his from. 

"Actual, I can understand that part. Choosing a useful gift. Choosing something thoughtful. Choosing something based on price. Choosing on something by the size. The event you put into choosing a gift. There's a difference for buying for someone you merely work with and choosing something for your best friend. Or even buying for a distance classmate due to a teacher forcing the whole class to be involved in a secret Santa or choosing a gift for a love one. Depends on the person, depends how you act when buying a present for them. I struggled with the same unease when I first lived with B. I didn't know if I had to buy something for everyone who'd be at the Christmas Gala, all of them being mere strangers to me or if I had to buy something for just Alfred since B was Jewish. It was all confusing to me. Damian must have felt the same, wasn't sure how to correctly buy a present and took the value of his gift to know what value to place our presents at" Dick rambled back quietly, a frown stretching his lips as his eyes gazed over with old memories. He could understand Damian's reasoning last year and understand what the boy was doing. He had felt somewhat similar at his first Christmas in the manor. 

"I'm so glad that Auntie Iris and Uncle Barry had put so much effect in saving Christmas for me as a child and spoiling me rotten. I'd hate to have think that hard over Christmas presents" Wally muttered back with pure relief as he'd never survive thinking as crazy as others do during their Christmas shopping. 

"You have a system. Not everyone have a system for Christmas shopping" Dick argued back in everyone else's defence, sending his boyfriend a pouted look. 

"Chocolates or sweets for those I don't really know. Biscuits for distant family members or workmates. Something useful to close friends. Something from the heart to those I care most about. It's that easy" Wally happily listed with an easy smile as he's followed this gameplan all his life and never truly stressed at Christmas before.  

"I hate how easy you find Christmas shopping" Dick huffed back playfully, giving a light slap towards his boyfriend's chest. 

"You love me, truly. It's made Christmas shopping much easier for you since we've gotten together" Wally cooed back as he pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's forehead. 

"True. I hate that it took us so long to fall in love and get together. You could have saved me from years of going crazy over Christmas shopping if we started dating when I was like ... nine" Dick grumbled back as he wished he'd fallen in love sooner in their past. 

The two fall into a content silence, just broadly hovering in the queue. Both excited for their son to meet Santa but also wishing that the waiting wasn't as boring as it was. They'd both kept looking around the mall's open area, noticing all the stores around and the crowds moving around them. Both glancing to their anxious but secretly thrilled son, checking on him before once again looking mindlessly around. 

It wasn't as busy as either expected it to be on a Friday, but most children would be at school while adults be stuck at work. Damian was out of school as having a "personal" day, mostly due to Bruce Wayne having to go out for business and letting Dick and Wally care for their son for the extra day. Gotham Academy seemed thrilling to escape Damian for a single day and didn't have a problem for the boy skipping school to "travel" to Blüdhaven even if all three of them were still in Gotham at the mall where only young toddlers too young for school were brought along by their guardians. 

"Baba.." Damian spoke up, seeming unsure of himself as he looked towards the "chosen helper" on the Christmas styled stage. The queue had moved along, bringing them much closer with only ten children ahead now. 

"Yes, Dami?" Dick asked as he placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder, wondering if he was starting to chance his mind over seeing Santa. 

"Do you think that Santa's chosen men would pass on anything I say to them to the real Santa? No matter how.. sharp I may be?" Damian quietly asked, keeping his eyes focused on a shop's sigh in their window, trying to hide how worried and scared he was over being rejected by Santa's chosen men. 

"They'll going to tell Santa everything you say. They don't judge a child by their actions but their heart. Santa knows not everyone can expression them as freely as some do. Santa is going to see just how much of a good and wonderful boy you are" Dick promised without any hesitation as he pulls his son back towards the pair of them, wrapping an arm around him as he knew that Santa would adore him. 

"I am .. glad. I don't wish for Santa to be unhappy with me" Damian announced with a sharp nod, his shoulders losing the tension that had gained moments before. 

"He's going to adore you just as we do, fruity-pie" Wally cooed as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to his kid's cheek, his arm slipping free from his boyfriend. 

"I am not adorable, Dad. I am a skilled-" Damian started to argue back, his cheeks turning flustered. 

"You're my adorable fruity-pie that I find to be the cutest son in the whole universe" Wally grinned back as he peppered more kisses over his son's face. 

The line soon moved along and the proud father's stood nest to the bottom of the stage where Santa sat in his chair, a small set of stairs being the Children's way up to him. Both took out their phones, giving their brightest and bests smiles towards their son as he walked towards Santa alone. 

Neither tried to listen in over what Damian might have said or asked Santa. Instead they took photos as the boy inched closer and closer towards the Santa until he's was basically standing between the man's legs. He didn't go sit on the man's lap, both had told him it was merely optional and only do what he was comfortable with. 

But seeing their baby bat standing so close to the man dressed as Santa, looking shy but at least comfortable, brought a few emotional tears to their eyes as they took the photos. 

Damian even allowed Santa to place a friendly hand on his shoulder, smiling towards the camera while Damian's lips gave the slightest but truest curve to hint towards a smile. 

"Excuse me, do you mind taking a photo for us?" Wally asked as he turned towards the closest worker, holding his phone out towards them while his other hand rubbed his boyfriend's back, knowing this was a big moment for him. 

The worker was kind enough and the two mostly leaped onto the stage, ignoring the steps and hurried over. Both smiling like dorks as they stood on either side of Santa's chair, hands held behind the back of the chair and their first real family photo was taken. 

Both tearing up more when they took a glimpse at the photo taken and noticing Damian's smile had grown even more while they weren't looking. 

Damian turned back to Santa, accepting the neatly wrapped gift from Santa's chosen man and gave his gratitude in return as he accepted it. Giving a nod of farewell before hurrying back to his Dad and Baba, clinging the present to his chest. 

All three was escorted out of the Christmas themed area and left standing in the space left around the Christmas wonderland set up. Both Wally and Dick left feeling emotional over the photo on Wally's phone, staring at with pure bliss and know that they really were a family. It wasn't just their own hopeful dreams making them see something that might not have been there before. But this photo, it was small and new but one glance proved it they were truly a family. 

"What are you fools crying over now?" Damian snapped at the pair, still keeping the present shoved against his chest, as if scared that someone else might try to take it away from him. 

"We're just happy" Dick confessed with a sappy smile, rubbing at his son's cheek and knowing he'd really need to talk to B over the adoption papers he and Wally's been keeping in their home. 

"Just admiring our little family" Wally admitted with a silly little grin, his eyes full of love and adoration as he looked to his son. 

Damian quickly looked away, hiding his smile at the mention of being a family with his second family. He felt warm and happy, felt protective over the good feeling given to him by the thought of family alone. Only his eyes showing just how raw he was during the moment before he quickly rubbed at any happy tears filling from the corners of his eyes. 

"Do you want to open your present now or when we get home?" Dick asked as they started making their way towards the closest boots store, ready to use their photo printing machine. 

"I thought I was not allowed to open gifts early?" Damian replied with furrowed eyebrows, not understanding why he'd be allowed to open one early. 

"Ones from Santa's visit is different. They're allowed to be opened as soon as you're given them. It's something to keep you distracted until your real present from Santa arrives" Wally explained with a friendly smile. 

"I'll wait until we return to the car" Damian announced with a small nod, glancing down happily at the present in his arms. 

The day easily passes, Damian finding that he was given a small, thin colouring book with a tiny packet of three colouring carons tucked inside. A sheet of animal shaped stickers were tucked inside. Something safe and friendly for all ages of children. 

Someone of Damian's age might have seemed disappointed or roll their eyes but Damian seemed to take it as a sign that Santa truly knew what he liked and disliked. That this was Santa proving he knew Damian stood as a young artist and had given him something simple and easy to pass his time with until Christmas day. 

Wally and Dick shared a knowing and amused smile, nodding along to their son's rants over the colouring book and the meaning it could bring. Both glad that he didn't end up with some cheap toy or skipping rope. Both would have feared that Damian would have seen the skipping rope as a sign that it was okay to strangle people or something. 

They spent the rest of the day fixing up any decorations that might have been knocked down or loosen by Haly trying to eat them. Fussing the dog before finding Christmas films to watch. Wrapping up a few presents bought for their hero friends or the rest of their love ones.

Three new photo frames were placed up in the two bedroom apartment. One within the big bedroom, placed upon the dresser for the two owners of the apartment to admire and fill with love and joy whenever they spot it in the morning. 

The second photo frame placed in the living room, hanging from the wall and showing over the youngest Grayson-West-Wayne standing with Santa. The last photo frame was another of their family photo and placed in the second bedroom, placed on the bedside table for the youngest to admire and glance at whenever he wakes or before he falls asleep. 

Christmas eve and Christmas day was promised to be spent at Wayne manor. As many as batclan members would be there for one of the two days or both. Bab's and Kate had came on Christmas eve, both spending Christmas day with their own love ones but making time to see the rest the night before. 

Jason, Cass, Steph, Tim and Duke were all in their rooms in the manor. As well as Wally and Dick sharing Dick's old room why Damian was back at his own room in the manor. Alfred and Bruce were there as always.

The family was gathered and a silent set of orders were given out to not spoil any magical for the youngest bat member. Duke and Cass were happy to help keep the belief of Santa alive for one more year for Damian's shake, both even helping Damian to decide on what to leave on the plate that'd be left out for Santa. Alfred baking a few treats a little bit early to help the boy chose between one of the baked treats better. 

Jason and Tim took much more blackmailing and warnings to keep their mouths shut and not spoil anything for the boy. Jason being won over when Wally had asked if he'd have wanted someone to do the same for him if the two brother's were swapped places. Tim being won over when Dick reminded him that they had all tried keeping Santa alive for his own shake when he had first came over and not experience a loving and warm family Christmas before. 

Steph just went with the flow, not overly caring and not even trying to ruin anything. She was here for Alfred's cooking and Cass's company. She left the rest to do whatever they wanted and excitedly stared under the Christmas tree where everyone had placed their brought presents under. 

Damian being told that Santa's special present would be placed inside his stocking on Christmas even. Hence everyone's differently sized and patterned stockings sat hanging from their bedroom doors to make it easier for Santa to reach. 

"No patrol tonight, Damian" Bruce reminded his son as he spotted him heading towards his pod with his outfit while the rest of them were already mostly dressed and just checking over their gear. 

"But father-" Damian started to argue back before being cut off. 

"You must be asleep when Santa arrives. Our family's grown too large for Santa to only accept only Alfred sleeping tonight. We need you to stay behind with him" Bruce awkwardly replied as he tried helping keeping his son's Santa belief alive but not really sure how to do it. 

The bat siblings all watched, glancing between the dark knight and the youngest bat. Waiting for an argument to break out or for someone else to have to step in and help Bruce come up with reasons to keep Damian back from patrol. 

"Very well. I shall stay behind and assure that Santa's magic reaches us tonight" Damian mumbled back with a focused look, accepting his father's reasoning. 

Jason and Tim just shook their heads, heading towards their bikes as they knew they'd carelessly say something or their facial expressions will give something away to the demon brat. Cass and Steph sharing a smile, finding the youngest oddly adorable right now. Duke just smiled, still in disbelief that Damian seemed hooked on believing in Santa, never expecting  to actual last this long without the boy figuring it out by himself. 

"Thank you, Baby bat. We couldn't have Christmas without you" Dick smiled sweetly, squatting down before his son and pressing a kiss to his nose. 

The air brought a chill around them before Wally appeared in a set of new and still fuzzy Christmas pyjamas that he'd brought for this year due to his old ones being a bit worn and ripped. Snow bear shaped slippers on his feet as he stood ready to stay the night and spend the whole day with his family, grown family, tomorrow. 

"And you won't be alone, Fruity-pie. It's my night off too. We can share some hot chocolate before bed to help us fall asleep easier" Wally spoke up with a grin, ruffling his son's hair and glad that he made it to the cave before everyone left. He was meant to be there just after dinner but he had to stop a crime with his uncle just as he was planning to leave. 

"Auntie Iris won't be furious that you're staying here and not with her this Christmas" Damian asked as he turned towards his Dad, eyebrow raised as he didn't want to deal with Iris wrath. 

"She won't be. Even sent her presents for us all with me. They're all safely tucked under the tree already. She's not mad, not at all, Fruity-pie. She's going to spend the day with her own family too. But we're planning to spend new years even with them anyways. So, we'll still all be together" Wally smiled back softly, noticing in the corner of his eyes as his boyfriend stood up again, seeming relaxed knowing Damian would have more than just Alfred as company while the rest of them were out. 

"I'd gain the chance to see if they like my presents for them myself" Damian muttered back with a small smile, hoping that his other grandparents, Iris and Barry, had liked his gifts. As well as the twins. 

"Sure will. But you better hurry up those stairs and prepare those hot chocolates. We've got to head out, I'll check on you and wake if Santa has already been while we're patrolling" Dick smiled back, playfully shooing his boy away. 

Damian gave a determined nod before running towards the stairs and hurrying towards the kitchen. Alfred already making two mugs of hot chocolate for the two staying behind with him. Having known that Santa's plate would be filled soon enough and left on the counter side for Santa to nibble on during his visit. 

Dick gave Wally a quick kiss, promising to be safe and being the first to secretly wish his a merry Christmas, expecting his other half to be asleep time they all arrive back. Wally just smiling and waving them all off before running up towards the kitchen to be with his son and Grandpa. 

Wally spent the next ten minutes holding a conversation with Alfred, leaving Damian to create Santa's plate of treats and chose the best mug to make Santa a hot chocolate in. Damian joining in one the conversation and showing little excited moments as the time slowly dragged past. 

Once midnight hit, Damian rushed towards Dick's old room and grabbed the present that both Wally and He was gifting Alfred. Damian hurried it past, trying to smooth down his reindeer pyjamas and trying to seem casually over passing on someone else's present for him. 

Wally nodded towards Alfred to open it, both he and Dick had already spoken to Alfred over opening his present a little bit early to help stop anyone else from seeing it. As well as giving Alfred time to place it in his own room in secret. 

A framed photo over their Grayson-West-Wayne family photo from the mall that caused a tear to form in the corner of Alfred's eye before he quickly wiped it away. Already knowing he'd be placing it on his table that was already filled with gifted frame photos over all his family throughout the passing years. 

Now the present was passed over, it was time for bed for all them. Damian got Alfred to make Santa's hot chocolate, wanting only the best served to Santa. Before they all headed to bed. Wally tucking Damian in and sitting with him as he knew the boy wanted to try to stay awake and speak with the real Santa. 

Hours passed before the sleeping tablets skilfully snuck into the boy's last hot chocolate kicked in. Wally would owe Alfred big time for being able to drug the boy without him noticing. Pressing a kiss to his son's forehead before heading down to the kitchen to make hot chocolates for the returning bats and birds. 

"Merry Christmas" Wally greeted his boyfriend, the two sharing a quick kiss. 

"Has Santa been yet?" Dick asked as he accepted a mug of hot chocolate and wondering if Santa had came along. 

"Not yet but Dami's finally asleep" Wally anwsered with a relived smile as he did fear the boy would try to stay awake or set out traps for Santa. 

"When are you guys going to.. you know" Jason started to ask, making a box shape with his hands before pretended to shove something in an imaginary stocking to hint towards what he meant. 

"We're not. Santa will" Dick grinned back, knowing a lot of people had owed him plenty of favours over the years. 

"Drink up everyone and head to bed" Wally smiled as he nodded towards the cooling mugs of hot chocolate. 

Soon enough everyone had drank their hot chocolate, showered and changed into pyjamas before heading towards their rooms. All seeming confused when Wally and Dick and simply got straight to the rooms and didn't sneak around with presents. But everyone found themselves rather tired rather quickly and ended up falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. 

Came morning everyone was awake and finding a single present each shoved into their stockings. All apparently from Santa according to the labels placed on. It was all something they most needed or desired this year. 

Damian smugly walked around, acting as if he was the one who saved Christmas by going to sleep early for them. Tim, Steph and Bruce were all looking at the camera footage to see who had snuck around last night. 

But they found that no one had left their rooms. Everyone was accounted for and had slept throughout the night. None ever leaving their rooms until they finally woke up. And yet, someone was seen walking around the manor and dropping off presents into stockings before vanishing out of the front door again. The alarms had never gone off, they person had just strolled in and left so freely and without leaving any evidence but the camera footage and presents behind as proof. 

Jason just laughed at the three who started up an investigations on who Santa was or if he really was real and just some Meta they never noticed before. Cass and Duke placed on a Christmas movie, not caring over their siblings turning a little bit insane over the unknown Santa. Alfred merely shaking his head over the three and removing all their devices to help force them to enjoy the day. 

Dick and Wally sat happily cuddled up, never once answering any questions aimed towards them over the Santa business. Smiling warmly as Damian had walked around with a large framed holding important documents that legally made him a Grayson-West now, signatures all signed at the bottom where they were needed. 

Santa really did bless them with everything their hearts desired that year. 

**************************

Side Note: Love the thought over Wally and Dick being Damian's second parents in his life and giving him a loving, caring and cherished family that treats him as his age. 

A/N: Where I'm from you do have to pay to see Santa. Some places charge extra to give out a present from "Santa" that's normally a cheap toy or colouring books that would could just a couple of pounds from the store. It's been years since I was last taken to see Santa but I know prices had gotten up .. A LOT since. So, I might have gotten the cost wrong since I wanted to keep it a bit lower than I know most places charge now.