Ah... Damian does care <3  

Dick is legal guardian Bruce is dead :'(

Don't own that text thing, just thought it was cute...

Part 1 of 3 or 4 or 5 I think... this is the first five days before Christmas :D

/\/\/\/\/

Normally, Dick loved Christmas.  Christmas was a time a brightness and fun, joy and friendship, love and peace.  Of course, none of his past Christmas's all his life had turned out like that, but wherever he was stopping crime or doing a trapeze performance, there was always that feeling around.  Even when he was fighting Joker, it was a feeling of joy.  Dick had no idea why.

His first Christmas without his parents, he had Bruce.  Bruce was there for him, and Dick was there for him.  It was by far the best Christmas he had, and he knew that because Bruce had opened up, just for him.

But now, Dick was the parent.  And he would have to make his brothers and sister Christmas the best possible.  Of course it would be hard with the recent death of Bruce Wayne... but Dick would make it work!  He always did...

But, of course, complications were that it was Damian's first Christmas, and he'd never heard of Santa.

So this is where Dick's problems start.

With Stephanie...

They always started with Stephanie...

/\/\December 20, 10:10 P.M, Batcave/\/\

Stephanie skipped along in the Batcave, happily waving up to Cass, "Hey Cassie!"

"Hello Steph." Cass responded curtly, placing her mask on her face and walking to her mode of transportation, her Black Bat cape fluttering softly as she wandered, "Hey, Dick?  Are we going in the Batmobile?"

"Where else?" Dick asked, winking at his sister, then turning to his brothers, who were currently goofing off by the Batcomputer,  "Jace, get that cigarette out now."

"Blah blah.  I don't want to Dick!" Jason said, puffing.

"OUT.  NOW.  Little slave." Dick breathed under his breath.

"You did not just..." Jason said, pretending to be offended.

"Um.. yes, I did.  Tim you're in charge.  Cass and I will be back morning come." Dick ordered, "Jason, your only job is to make sure Tim sleeps and to not smoke.  Tim your jobs are to make sure you get at least 5 hours of sleep, Jason doesn't smoke and Damian eats at least 5 pieces of broccoli.  And he doesn't get his katana out.  Damian, your job is to keep both your brothers in line, not to use any of your weapons on anybody, and to email Barbara the latest updates, and also tell her that I hope she has a lovely vacation and to not work herself to hard.  Do that for me, will you?"

"tt.... only because you asked nicely Grayson." Damian grumbled, turning back to the computer, "But why is it I that has to keep our brothers in line?  Why not.... Drake?"

"Yeah?"  Tim asked, leaning against Damian chair, "I'm in charge... yet Damian has to keep us 'in line'?  What does that mean?"

"Um... it just means that Damian is supposed to keep you two from using anything you aren't supposed to." Dick said, scratching the back of his head, "Anyway, Cassie and I are gonna go.  Ready C?"

Cass nodded then casually hopped onto the roof of the car to flip into her seat, with style of course, because she's Cass.

"What about me Dick?" Stephanie asked, walking up to Dick as he pulled the cowl over his eyes and started to jump through the roof of the cool sophisticated car.

"You can go home Steph.  You don't really need to be here right now.  Your shift is over." Dick said, starting to roll up the roof of the car.

"But Dick... you gave the boys jobs.... you gave Jason a job!  Why aren't you telling me to do anything?  I want in on this!" Steph begged, wanting to be just a member of a family as Cass was.

"Steph, they live in this house.  They need jobs to keep them occupied.  Plus, I'm there legal guardian, it's my job.  I'm not in charge of you.  So you don't have to stay!" Dick said, rolling his gloves up and pressing a few buttons, making the car turn to the exit.

"But...." Stephanie said, trailing off and Dick hit the button that made the car speed out of the cave so fast, that little clouds of dust trailer behind him, Stephanie sighed, "Why?"

Stephanie looked back at the boys with a twinge of jealousy.  They were all loved by Bruce enough so that he would adopt them. But he didn't adopt her.  She wasn't their sister.  It wasn't fair that they had each other and she had no one.  So for her revenge, she decided that was going to make Dick's Christmas a little harder.

"Damian!" Steph said, skipping over to the current Robin.

"Oh no." Damian said as he saw the peppy blonde cross the cave from the Batmobile, "What does she want?"

"Probably gonna weasel you into doing something.  Or she just wants to talk your head off." Jason said, listing the possibilities, then turning to Tim, "Listen, I'm going to go cook dinner and bring down Damian's broccoli."

"Okay, you go ahead and do that.  I still need to study the elections." Tim responded, and with a wave of his hand his head was back in his book.

"Bookie." Jason sighed at Damian then turned to go upstairs, "Can you polish my guns if you're doing nothing Dami?"

"Ugh... no?" Damian said, turning to the Batcomputer.

"Dick said you had to!" Jason teased, not expecting Damian to respond.

"Grayson wants them to be polished?  Okay, give me them!" Damian said, eagerly staring at Jason.

"They're over there!" Jason said, pointing to the opposite end of the Batcave, then shaking his head, "I swear, I am so using that trick!  See you later, I've gotta go."

"Damian?" Steph asked, waving a hand in front of his face, plotting her next move.

"What do you want Brown?" Damian asked, rolling his shoulders back and waiting for her to move so that he could begin to polish the guns.

"I have a question." Stephanie asked, moving a Christmas ornament away from the top of the Batcomputer that no doubt Dick had put there.

"tt" responded Damian, picking up a gun and starting to polish it proudly.

Steph rolled her eyes and continued, "Well, I was just gonna ask what you want from Santa this year..."

"Steph!" Tim walked up behind her and whispered softly into her ear when Damian looked the other way, "Dick said not to tell him about that stuff just yet!"

"I know." Steph said winking, "So what are you going to ask for?"

"What's Santa?" Damian asked, his interest only slightly piqued and he looked up.

"You don't know who Santa is?!" Steph shouted with dramatics.

Tim sighed, "Steph, I don't really think that this is such a good idea..."

"What's Santa?" Damian walked up to her and glared.

"He's a guy that every year on Christmas-" Steph began.

"What's Christmas?" Damian asked.

"It's a day when family members and friends give you presents.  Santa is the guy that gives presents to children all over the world, so when they wake up in the morning there's a gift from Santa."

"Oh?" Damian's brow furrowed.

"Yes.  He get's around in one night, on a sled full of presents, with 12 flying reindeer, and he fuels up on cookies and milk!" Steph chirped.

"Steph, I don't think that-" Tim was cut off.

"Is he really fat then?" Damian asked.

"Yeah, he's super fat.  His wife is too.  I think they practically live off cookies and milk!" Steph said, winking her eyes.

"Is he.... magical?" Damian asked.

"Yeah!  Of course, how else would he even fly across the world in one night and fit down chimneys?" Steph teased, gently poking Damian's hair.

"A fat man can fit down chimneys?" Damian asked, fascinated.

"That's why he's magical!" Steph said, casually walking away, "I can't believe you didn't know about him!"

"Hmm.... so he gives people 'presents' huh?" Damian asked, watching as Steph skipped out of the Batcave.

Tim sighed, then stared back down to his book, "Here we go...." 

/\/\December 21, 5:00 A.M, Batcave/\/\

Dick walked into the Batcave, twirling his Batman cape behind him as he skipped along.  Wrong word, Dick had tried to give up skipping ever since Batman died.   He had to be the Batman, so he couldn't skip, "Goodnight Cass."

"Goodnight Dick." Cass nodded then disappeared into the shadows of the night/early morning.

Dick slowly crept up the cold metal stairs up to the Batcomputer, but seeing that Tim had fallen asleep with his head in his book on a stair step, his legs and arms in a seemingly uncomfortable angle, and his skin plastered with goosebumps under the short sleeve red polo shirt, Dick decided that Tim had been waiting for him.

Dick smiled softly, took his Batman cape off, and draped it over Tim's shoulders, smiling as Tim's face slowly went from blue to normal tone.  The Batman cape was made out of warm material after all.

He carefully picked up Tim, it would be better for the kid to sleep on a bed instead of the cold metal of the stairs.  After all, this was one of the rare times Tim slept.  And... he was probably drugged by Jason into doing it.  Typical.  

Dick carried Tim to a hospital cot, and laid him down, keeping the cape to cover him up.

Tim whispered a little something, then moved a little to speak, "Goodnigh Broose...."

Dick's face practically melted as his brother spoke those words,"Ahh..."

"I don't see the sentimental value in those words..." Damian said, the main chair that sat in front of the great mighty Batcomputer swiveling to face Dick, "They are after all, words and hold no significance."

"You suck the fun outta everything, you meanie!" Dick pouted, a smile edging up his face.

"No time for silly colloquialisms... we need to get down to business." Damian's face was serious.

"Oh yeah?" Dick's face became serious as well, because, well if his partner was worried, then so was he.

"I'm trying to track down a villain, but I'm having a bit of trouble.  Certainly you've been on his track for years?  Am I correct?  He comes once every year, to every home in the world.  He's pure evil, though I cannot trace him at his home base.  It's like he has an invisibility cloak around it, shielding it from prying superhero eyes.  I must say, I applaud this villain for being able to elude our iron fist for so long.   This year will be different though, Grayson, I can feel it.  We will get him." Damian said, his face all seriousness.  The picture of a mini Bruce!

"Who is he?" Dick asked, sitting down and leaning forward towards his brother's calm face.

"Santa."

/\/\December 21, 5:23 A.M, Kitchen/\/\

"What's up Dick?" Jason asked, pouring a cup of coffee for his older brother, "You need coffee?"

"Yes, please give me coffee Jay, I need it..." Dick's eyes had widened and he looked peeved.

"Woah.. don't be so needy!" Jason teased, filling a Nightwing mug to the brim, "Why do you need it so bad?"

"One word..." Dick paused dramatically, then picked up the morning paper that Jason had laid on the table for him, "Damian."

"Oh yeah, you need this coffee." Jason immediately surrendered the warm mug, "You know what he's been doing all night last night?" 

"I have a good idea, but I think I might've passed out before he could explain to me more..." Dick said, praying this was a dream.

"He thinks Santa Claus is secretly a servant of Satan and is coming from the underworld to kill every human being.  First Satan Claus makes us think that he's good by giving...." Jason started, but stopped when his brother pulled a face, "What?"

"You mean Santa Claus, not Satan Claus?"  Dick asked, his face screwed up like he was about to laugh hard.

"No, Damian called him Satan Claus.  Now will you let me continue?" Jason asked, glaring at his older brother and watching him as he blushed sheepishly, "Anyway, Satan Claus goes around the world giving people gifts.  That's the first step.  But Satan Claus's real plan is to make everybody think he's nice, and then he turns around and BLABLAM!!!" here Jason jumped around onto the counter and made claw hands at Dick, who's eyes widened the slightest, "Satan Claus picks us off the face of the Earth one by one.  He's the most criminal mastermind in the whole wide world."

"He just likes to make things difficult doesn't he?" Dick asked, sighing and putting his cup of coffee on the counter

"Yeah... hey don't you have a conference today?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, and Tim has something he needs to do over there too." Dick said, rubbing his hair.

"Okay, want me to wake him up?" Jason asked.

"Nah, give him another hour.  These things never happen." Dick said, standing up, "I'm going to go get ready and try to abolish Damian's belief in Satan... I mean Santa Claus."

"Hmhm." Jason muttered, grinning under his breath.

"Don't provoke anything about Santa while I'm gone Jay.  And no smoking!" Dick ordered, pointing his finger at Jason then leaving the room.

"Ooh... but I was so gonna stoke his belief!" Jason whined.

"Jay... why do you make everything so hard as well?"

/\/\December 21, 6:20, Batcave/\/\

Tim woke up slowly to Jason's voice, "GET UP TIMMY!!!!"

"Uh..." Tim sat up and yawned, not believing for a second that he wasn't dreaming, "I'm coming Jason..."

"I mean it Tim.  Or it'll be me cooking breakfast instead of Alfred!" Jason yelled.

"I'M UP ALREADY!! yeesh!" Tim muttered, knowing it wasn't a dream if Jason was threatening to cook something.

"Wow, the sleeping beauty's finally up..." Damian whipped around in his chair, his face the picture of a smirk.

Tim just glared, and looked at the blanket that surrounded his body, "Is Dick home?"

"Why else would his cape be around you?" Damian grunted, heading to the elevator.

"I dunno, there's extra capes in the back room." Tim said, distastefully glaring at his younger brother.

"Well who would put it around you?" Damian asked, turning around to do a perfect imitation of his father's glare.

"...." Tim paused, "I don't know.... Jason maybe?"

"Oh please, Dick's the only one who loves you.  Or does he?  After all, he chose me and not you!"  Damian said, leaving into the elevator.

Tim slouched down on the bed, hiding his face into the crusader's cape.

/\/\December 21, 7:00 A.M, Front Door/\/\

"Hiya Timmy... ready to go?" Dick winked and straightened his bow, "Thanks for waiting for me when I came home."

Tim glared at him, "Why don't you talk to Damian?  Don't you love him more?  I'm sorry I waited for you, obviously you were expecting Damian!"

"Tim... what's up?" Dick asked, surprised as his brother's shouts echoed through the entire mansion.

"I said, talk to someone else.  And I'm walking to work.  I'm not going in a car with someone who obviously doesn't like me!" Tim yelled, storming out the door angrily.

Dick stared at the shut door in utter confusion, then his face broke into a scrunched frustrated look.  There was a sudden crash behind him, and there Jason was, holding his phone on record.

"Jay..." Dick muttered, his hand on his hair.

"Hey!  Don't touch the hair Dickie!  I worked so hard to gel it for you!" Jason yelled as Dick started to ruffle his hair back to its normal state, "What was that about anyway?"

"I don't know... it seems to be like Tim is under the illusion that I don't love him at all and I favor Damian...." Dick muttered, his breath heavy.

"It's okay Dick." Jason said, really not wanting to do the whole 'comforting thing' again.

"OKAY?!   Jay, Christmas is falling apart!" Dick yelled, his hand to his head, "I just don't know who would have planted that idea in Damian's head."

Jason lifted his head and an eyebrow lifted up, just as Dick's did, and in unison they sighed, "Damian."

Jason turned around and asked into the hallway, "It's okay to come out now Cass.  Do you know where Damian is though?"

Cass looked through the door at her brothers and shrugged, "I saw him leave about 30 minutes ago..."

"And you let him?" Dick asked gently.

"I thought you let him!" Cass said, feeling accused.

"It's not your fault Cassie, but I can't imagine where he would have gone... well look, I need to go to work.  Text me when he comes back Cass, and please keep the cigarettes out of Jason's mouth.  You can visit Stephanie's house if you wish, but please be back by 9:00 P.M at least to see monitor the computer as Jason and Tim have their patrol.  Kay?"  Dick asked, smiling his bright smiling and walking through the door, "Wish me luck!"

"G'luck!" Jason yelled, shutting the door, "Now, where's the cigarettes?"

"In there.." Cass said, pointing to the living room, "Go ahead."

"Thanks." Jason waved at his sister and walked off into the living room.  He was surprised to see Damian sitting on the couch polishing his gun, "Um.. demon?  Why are you polishing my gun?"

"I used it, so I'm just doing you a favor and getting rid of the blood." Damian nonchalantly said, flicking through the channels.

"What?  What did you do that for?" Jason asked, secretly pleased that his brother had taken to using guns.

"I was killing all the fake Satan Clauses on the street." Damian said, finally settling on a channel.  Iris West's beautiful face filled the screen and she started talking:

Breaking News viewers, apparently this is just in...

In today's most crime filled city, Gotham, New Jersey there has been some unexplainable murders.  They all happened at about a little past 6:00 A.M today, and it seems like a few men that had been standing on the corners, dressed as Santa Claus have been killed.  The exact number is 23, all along the same neighborhood.  There were no witnesses with eyes proof, except for saying that a gunshot came from the air and hit the man in the heart with dead accuracy.  All we know is though, that every Santa better watch their backs, and maybe their hearts too.

This strange happening is being determined by Gotham's very own capable police force.  Here today we have Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon with us speaking.  A word Jim?

Yes, thank you Iris.  Don't worry Gotham, we will figure this out.  But for now, stay put, stay calm, and stay safe.  Obviously this is a cruel killer who cares nothing about Christmas spirit.

Jason opened his mouth, unable to speak, "Dick is gonna be so pissed."

"Well he's not gonna find out is he?" Damian said, clicking off the TV,  "After all there is no proof against me on TV, and it's my word against yours.  Who will believe you?"

"I wasn't planning on telling Dick anyway." Jason said, not believing this, "I mean, I'd be proud of you if you killed the criminals, but man, killing random people that are volunteering their time to make children happy is just cruel man.  Just really cruel.  I can't even bring myself to tell "Dick this.  Where is your Christmas spirit?"

"Why should I have spirit on a day that brings people misery?" Damian asked, still pleased with the news report.

"Misery?  Are you kidding?  It's not like there was gonna be any misery.  But you just had to come along and ruin Santa for some little kid who wanted to talk to him... some little kid that looked up to him... and you just had to go and tell Tim he was worthless.  Now that's misery, Damian, you've turned a joyous holiday into hell.  And I should know, I've lived during hell." Jason said, spiteful because Christmas was always his secret favorite holiday.

"I regret nothing!" Damian was still defiant and for his cause, so he turned back to polishing the gun, "When would you like this back?"

"You know what?" Jason asked, thinking about something kind of sad, "Keep it.  I'm not using a gun that was used to kill someone who brought joy into the world."

/\/\December 21, 12:00 P.M, Kitchen/\/\

Jason stared down at his phone, texting back to Dick:

D:  I saw the TV this morning on my way to work...  how sad someone is killing Santa Claus :(  We'll need 2 put this ruthless murderer in jail.

J:  If u knew who the real killer was Dick, u would start crying.  I don't think it should b u 2 solve this mystery... ask T

D: T isn't talking 2 me :'( 

J:  U'll have to talk 2 demon

D:  I will... U gonna tell me who was killing the people?

J:  Don't wanna break ur <3

D:  That's sweet J, but u've already broken my <3 1 time, I can handle it again

J:  When did I break ur heart u sissy?

D:  When u died stupid >:(

J:  Ur 2 sweet 4 words

D:  I can hear the sarcasm.... u gonna tell me who dun it?

J:  fine, I don't wanna b around u when u start the waterworks anyway... I'll leave it 2  T to stop u from crying

D:  F--- it, just tell me J

J:  Language

D:  Not now, lunch break isn't that long

J:  Fine, it was....  oh boy

D:  JUST SAY IT

J:  Damian

D:  Well that's helpful... Damian who?

J:  Damian Wayne

D:  Say wha now?

J:  And here come the....

D: Jay I'm crying...

J:  Called it, hold on, I'm texting T

D: It's funny that ur the mediator

J:  Don't let it get 2 ur head peasant

Jason rolled his eyes and having to be the one to make peace between the brothers, but he did it anyway, knowing that if his brother was killing people again, this could turn serious, so he texted Tim.

J:  T?

J:  Tim?

J:  Timmy?

J:  Timmy bird?

J: Timbo?

J: T bone?

J:  Tim dog?

J:  Tim the smartest guy in the world?

J: Lil' bird?

J:  Bird brain?

J: Robin #3?

J:  Only Robin that didn't die or fake his death?  Oh f--- it T!  By tonight there won't b a Robin that hasn't 'died'!

T: What do u want J?

J:  Wait, that's what it took just to get u 2 f---ing answer?

T:  If u don't get 2 the point I won't txt u again.

J: Y?

T: Apparently no 1 loves me

J: People love u and u know it

T: Dick doesn't

J: He does and u know it

T: Ur lying isn't helping fleabag

J:  Look, cut the crap T okay?  Ur eldest brother is crying and ur like the only 1 who can fix it b/c ur the only 1 near him

T:  What's wrong?

J: He figured out demon spawn was killing Santas on the street

T:  That'll do it.  I'll help Dick.

J:  Yeah do that, and he loves you Tim, just know that :)

T:  Good, b/c he does put up with me pretty well

Jason smiled down at his phone and shut it off with a click, then he went up to his room for a nap.

Obviously the whole Christmas disaster had just started.  And it would take a long time for it to be fixed.  But maybe in four days... maybe everything might, for once, just turn out to be truly okay.

But, like every other Christmas.... this was gonna be a doozy.