Disclaimer: They all belong to DC. This is for fun (& the Christmas contest).

***

SNOWFALL
By Charlene Edwards (edwardslaw1@earthlink.net)

***

Snow fell heavily over Gotham City. The skyline glowing in the
wintery background. A silent figure in black and midnight blue flew
across the city, a de-cel line in hand. His purpose was steady, his
course true. Silently he made his way through the heavy snowfall to the
Clock Tower.

Stopping on the ledge, he watched the young woman through the
window. Her auburn hair falling about her shoulders. She was a vision of
beauty to the solitary figure watching her. He watched her working her
magic; a sorceress of technology. Crays and mainframes, monitors and
keyboards, they were her instruments of magic.

He smiled as he watched her. A warmth filling his being attacking
the outside cold of the weather. He entered the apartment, ever so
silently, approaching the woman from behind, a mischievous gleam in his
eyes.

"Short-pants, I know you're there ... don't try anything ..." she
called out, never turning her attention away from her work.

"Awwww Babs, can't you at least let me THINK I'm sneaking up on you.
It is Christmas Eve you know."

"Well, you're not Santa." she replied.

"How do you know that?" he asked, pulling up a chair to sit beside
her.

She turned, her green eyes meeting his sky blue ones. She smiled as
she saw he had stuck a bright red and white Santa hat on his head. Her
smile quickly turned into a laugh.

"Well, I remember when you use to wait up for Santa to visit, so I
have a good reason to believe you're not really him."

"Humbug. Just humbug my dear." he said with a wink as he laid his
mask on her console.

"Why aren't you with your father?" she asked.

"Why aren't you?"

Barbara's face turned solemn. She turned back to her monitors.

"Dad ... Dad wanted to be alone. You know, it was a year ago today
that Sarah ..."

"I know." he said gently as he laid his hand on her arm. Turning her
towards him, he continued. "Sarah's gone, but you're still alive Babs.
It's Christmas. You're going to enjoy it. Joker's taken so much from
you, I'm not letting him take Christmas too."

"I thought I was in Gotham City, not Whoville." she said with a
slight smile.

"Cute." he said, then reaching over to her keyboard, he cut the
power button.

"HEY!" she yelled.

"Oracle's taking the evening off. I intend to have a wonderful
Christmas eve, and I intend for you to part of it."

"That's NOT how you cut off a computer Dick. If you tried that with
the bat computer, Bruce would ...."

He stopped her in mid sentence with a kiss. Her initial surprise
soon melted away and she became a willing participant.

"Okay Short-pants, you win." she sighed.

"Cool."

The doorbell rang.

"Who?" she said turning to the monitors that perpetually monitored
her door.

Dick looked as well, a smile formed on his face. "That'd be dinner.
You let Alfred in, I'm gonna change into something more comfortable." he
said with a wink.

"Oh you." she giggled throwing his mask at him as he headed toward
her bedroom. Dick had started keeping some of his clothes at her
apartment a few months earlier.

Barbara headed to the door, opening it with a smile. "Alfred!"

"Merry CHristmas Miss Barbara. MAster Dick asked that I prepare
Christmas Eve dinner for the two of you."

"Thank you Alfred."

"Master Bruce and I do hope that you and Master Dick will have
Christmas day dinner at the Manor." he stated as he started setting her
table with Christmas finery.

"How could we refuse." she said. The stopped herself. "We". Yes, she
had said "we". She had answered his invitation as if they were a real
couple. She felt her face slightly flush.

Dick came out of the bedroom in jeans and a Bludhaven P.D.
sweatshirt. Alfred was busily decorating the apartment with Christmas
cheer.

"Hi ya Alfred." he said with a wide grin as he walked up and gave
the older man a hug. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, young Sir." Alfred replied as he warmly returned
the hug.

"Miss Barbara has agreed that you two will be joining Master Bruce
and I for Christmas dinner tomorrow."

"She did?" he asked with a smile as he turned to wink at Barbara.
"Well, of course we'll be there. I've got to see what Santa leaves me.
He always leaves my stuff at the Manor."

"That is because he knows where your home is young man." Alfred
replied with a smile.

"Yep."

"I'll be off then,. Master Dick. Miss Barbara."

"Bye Alfred." Barbara waived behind him as Dick walked him to the
door.

"What am I going to do with you Dick Grayson?" she asked as he
walked back into the room.

"I can think of something ..."

"Dick!" she said in mock exasperation.

"I'm hungry and this smells great. Let's eat." he replied,
pretending to ignore her.

"You're always hungry."

"I'm a growing boy. So WE'RE going to Dad's for Christmas dinner?"

"Yes, WE are." she replied.

"I like that."

"What?"

"We."

Her face flushed hotly now, "Dick..."

"Merry Christmas Babs."

"Dick, I ..." Should she? Could she?

He looked across the table waiting for her to continue.

"Thank you Dick. I ... I love you."

His eyes grew wide. A smile beamed across his face. Babs had said
she loved him. Babs loved him.

"Babs, I love you too."

"Merry Christmas boy wonder. Now eat!"

"Yes ma'am." he smiled in compliance. Who needs Santa's presents, he
thought to himself, when I just got everything I've ever wanted.

Snow continued to fall heavily over the Gotham City skyline. And,
for one night, the bat signal did not shine.


THE END