Something About The Season

Author: millenniumrex
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: On their first Christmas as a married couple, Kon and Cass look back on how the holiday brought them together.

* * *

Christmas Eve, five years from now:

Cass looked out the window at the snow briskly falling down on the street. It was going to be a white Christmas. This seemed to hold a special sentimental importance for most people, and she had to admit it was very pretty. It was her first Christmas as a married woman, and her first as a mother. She fingered the red-sun watch on her wrist, which kept the quarter-Kryptonian child growing inside her from hurting her, and wondered if she was ready. It hadn't been that long ago that she had felt like she would never belong anywhere, but now she had a new life, and a family. She was a little scared, yes, but also incredibly excited.

"Never go shopping on Christmas eve! Even for groceries! Everyone's crazy! I had a lady bean me upside the head over a can of hot chocolate mix!" Kon yelled as he walked into the house. "But I got it. No crazy lady's going to keep me from providing for my girl."

"Big strong man. Procurer of cocoa." Cass giggled as she sidled up to Kon, kissing him on the cheek.

Kon gave Cass a passionate kiss, stroking her belly with his free hand. "How're my two favorite girls?"

"Good. Kicking like crazy. Her mother, though...tired and bored."

"Aw..." Kon nuzzled Cass' neck playfully. "How can I distract you?"

"Did you do anything interesting while you were flying there? Stop any crimes? Save any lives?"

"Well, I did warn a couple of taggers to knock it off. It's Christmas eve!" Kon laughed. "Even most of the criminals are at home with their families."

"I know, I just...miss it. Fighting, adventure. The whole thing." Cass crossed her arms. "Like I said, bored."

"You'll be back out there in no time. Because I know once the baby gets here, I'll be on daddy duty while mommy goes and strikes fear into the hearts of criminals, am I right?"

"Damn right." Cass grinned as she playfully punched Kon in the arm.

"How do you keep on doing that?" Kon rubbed his arm. "Now how about we go crash in front of the TV, watch some cheesy Christmas movies, and pig out on that popcorn tin Alfred sent us?"

"Sweet talker."

"Damn right," Kon said with a smirk. "Heh, this is kind of us coming full circle, actually."

"How so?"

"I remember another Christmas where you were ticked off about not being able to patrol, and I was taking your mind off it..."

* * *

Christmas Eve, the year after No Man's Land:

Cass landed on the rooftop, looking around. It was Christmas eve, and Gotham was surprisingly quiet for a change. No sirens at the moment, very few people on the streets. Miss Gordon had told her that many people were inside the stores, searching for rare items, but that didn't concern her. This Christmas season was still sort of strange to her, but she was glad that it seemed to make people a little calmer, a little less likely to hurt each other. Miss Gordon had told her it was a magical season, and she wasn't sure what she meant by that, but she supposed any time when the city was this at peace had to be somewhat magical.

Cass paused to take in the cool evening air when she heard something rustling behind her. Too much to hope for, she thought, as she whirled around to kick her mysterious attacker in the face.

THWACK!

"Ow!"

Cass tumbled backwards as she kicked what felt like a brick wall. She looked up to see the boy she had met a few months earlier. His name was Kon, and he called himself Superboy.

"Cass? What the - ?" He rubbed his jaw. "Man, you kick hard!"

"Snuck up on me! Crazy." Cass shook her head.

"I was trying to surprise you! I thought it would be, I don't know - fun or something!" Kon shrugged sheepishly. "Here, let me help you up."

Cass reached for Kon's hand and stood up, but as soon as her right foot touched the ground, a searing pain shot up her leg and she sank back down.

"Cass?"

"My foot," Cass said through gritted teeth as she clutched the injured limb.

"Oh, jeez. Oh, man. You're hurt? I was just trying to surprise my kinda-girlfriend! Batman's going to kill me!"

Cass rolled her eyes as Kon continued to freak out. "Was an accident. Just take me..." She pulled Leslie's card out of her pocket and threw it at Kon.

Kon picked up the card and scanned it a few times before his mind cleared enough to figure out what he was supposed to do. "Oh! This is some kind of hospital for the Bat-clan or something? Gotcha!" He swept Cass up in his arms and flew them off the rooftop.

Cass crossed her arms in annoyance. "Real fun."

"Sorry..." Kon said guiltily. This was not how he had wanted his visit to Gotham to go.

* * *

It may have been Christmas morning, but Cass was in anything but a good mood. The x-rays had shown two broken bones in her foot, thanks to the invincible Kryptonian lunkhead, and now she had six weeks with a cast and crutches to look forward to. She could deal with the pain - she had dealt with far worse in her life - but the idea of being benched from patrol for almost two months was intolerable.

As she lay in bed, trying to get comfortable with her leg elevated on a stack of pillows, she noticed a slight movement in the window out of the corner of her eye.

"Hm?"

Kon peeked his head up into the window frame nervously. "Um...hi?"

"Oh. You."

"Heh. Me. Can I come in?"

Cass rolled her eyes. "Sure."

Kon opened the window and flew in, sitting down on the bed. His eyes fell on the purple cast going up to her knee. "So...it's really broken, huh?"

Cass nodded, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"Geez. This has got to be the worst boyfriend moment of all time. I just wanted to surprise a girl I really like, and this happens."

"Not your fault. Should have checked who it was." Cass shrugged. "Stupid."

"Hey, come on." Kon leaned down and stroked Cass' cheek. "It's definitely not your fault. For all you knew, I was Bane or something."

"Tell that to Batman."

"I will! I'm not scared of him!" Kon said. Cass gave him a bemused expression. "Well, okay. Maybe a little. A lot. But I'll still stick up for you. Even if it's followed by me cowering in a corner."

Cass giggled, the first smile that crossed her lips since last night. "You goof."

"I try." Kon grinned. "You've got to be going stir-crazy in here, though. What do you say we get out of here and spend some time in Gotham?"

Cass cocked an eyebrow at Kon. "Can't patrol."

"Not patrolling! It's Christmas day in Gotham City! We can hit all the sights. The tree, Davenport's, Christmas at the Museum...man, you're pretty new to the season, huh?"

"Didn't really...have Christmas growing up," Cass said, a faraway look in her eyes.

Kon caught the look and decided not to push it any further. He couldn't undo what Cass' past was like, but he could try his best to make sure her future was a lot nicer.

"Well, then...." Kon said as he leaned in and gave Cass a quick kiss, "guess we've got a lot of catching up to do."

Cass changed out of her pajamas and into street clothing, and hobbled over to Kon, balancing awkwardly on her crutches. "Ready."

"You going to be okay on those things?"

"I think. Kind of clumsy."

Kon helped Cass adjust them under her arms, and their eyes met. It was the first time he had seen her in street clothes. She had always been Batgirl when they met before, and this was the first time he had really gotten to see Cassandra Cain. She was gorgeous, and a lot of the intensity and darkness seemed to disappear when she was out of costume.

"Wow. You're...really pretty."

"Um...thanks?"

"I just noticed. I felt like I should say something." Kon grinned as he wrapped an arm around Cass. "You ready to hit the town?"

Cass nodded, and they made their way out the door.

* * *

Christmas Eve, Five years from now:

"Only you could accidentally cause me to break my foot, then turn it into a romantic opportunity." Cass laughed.

"Hey, I'm all about making the best of bad situations." Kon grinned. "I'm wily. It's the only explanation for how a girl as gorgeous as you is still with me."

"Well, you always were a sweet talker." Cass jumped as she felt a strong kick from their baby jolt her.

"Did it -"

"Yeah." Cass grabbed Kon's hand and placed it on her belly as the baby kicked again. "Feel it?"

"Hell, yeah, I felt it! And this is without powers!" Kon laughed. "She obviously takes after me."

"Uh-huh. Right. You're not the one who's tough without powers, Kon." Cass smirked.

"If she takes after you...I'll live." Kon said as he wrapped his arms around Cass, cradling her belly. "Merry Christmas, babe."

"Merry Christmas, Kon." Cass smiled as she leaned back in Kon's embrace. The ne year was coming, and their child would be here soon. There would be new challenges, new adventures, and a first Christmas as a family next year. But for this year, she was happy to be here with the man she loved, celebrating the holiday that he had taught her to love.

* * *