*Finger guns away from our responsibilities*

~YJ~

"Holy shit, was that Slade?!" Wally exclaimed, still glancing out of the back window every once in a while, "As in like Deathstroke, super baddie, pee your pants when you see him Slade?!"

"Yeah, baywatch, we got that," Artemis huffed, "I just don't understand what he's doing here."

"It's like people just keep popping up," Dick groaned, "Who isn't in this dimension?"

"Batman, obviously." Wally pointed out.

"Yeah, thank God, he'd kick my ass." Robin looked almost relieved.

"Lex Luthor, Deathstroke, and their various underlings . . ." Kaldur sighed, "How did Deathstroke know where to find us? Does Luthor know where to find us?"

"Gee, let's go ask him, maybe he won't kick our asses this time." Connor retorted.

"We need to find out how much they know," Diana said suddenly, "I don't know much about them but I know they're resourceful."

"How do we do that thought?" Dick asked, "It's not like we have a direct line to Lex Luthor and Slade Wilson."

"Our best bet is probably just to lay low until we figure something out." Wally pointed out, "We got our asses handed to us two times. Let's not try for a third."

Kaldur nodded, "I agree. It would be wise to spend a few days hiding at Diana's home and slip back into the city later on, when Luthor and his associates are not looking for us."

"My parents are in Paris for the break so we'll be undisturbed," Diana said, sharply pulling onto an exit, "We'll have to pick up some groceries but I think it should be a nice safe house for now."

Kaldur and Connor exchanged a worried look before Connor piped up with, "It's on a lake . . . right?"

"It is, don't worry, they'll be plenty of lakeside activities," Diana answered, "It's pretty secluded too so we should be safe to wander around."

~YJ~

An hour later Diana pulled into a tree-lined driveway. Parking the car, she walked to the side of the victorian-style lake house, pulling out a set of keys from underneath a flower pot covered in snow.

"Welcome to Lake Geneva. Here are the keys to the house, put the groceries in the kitchen and the stuff we bought in the living room. I'll come in to show you to your rooms after I put the car in the garage."

Wally turned towards the house, his arms full with bags from the grocery store that he was clutching, "It definitely is a nice house . . . Do you think we'll all get our own rooms? If not then I call bunking with Rob!"

The house was large and Victorian based with a delicate green tint to it. It was huge and seemed to stretch three stories up into the sky. Around the back of the house, a wooden dock extended into the icy lake. A few brick steps led up to the porch, which wrapped around the side of the house.

Dick unlocked the front door and, after feeling around for a light switch for a few minutes, lit up most of the first floor. The floors were wooden but most of them were draped with floral carpets. Matching curtains pooled from the high windows onto the floor. The furniture was a pure beige and was mostly arranged around a huge fireplace in the center of the room. The staircase curved around most of the first floor and stopped at the foot of the second story landing.

"We'll need wood for the fire, obviously," Diana said as she locked the door behind her, "But first let me show you to your rooms. You're probably going to need to bunk with someone so buddy up."

Dick and Wally exchanged a look before Dick jumped into Wally's arms, "Mine."

Connor looked at Kaldur for a second before clearing his throat and glancing away, "Uh . . . I guess we can . . . ahem, bunk together."

Kaldur put his hand on Connor's shoulder, "Of course, my friend."

M'Gann smiled widely at Artemis, "We can room together! Maybe I can braid your hair and you can do my nails or something?"

Artemis cleared her throat and looked down, "Yeah, maybe or maybe we could punch things, you know, tough stuff."

"This is going to be so much fun!" M'Gann clapped.

"Well there are four bedrooms in total so I guess that works out. Guess I'll take the master bedroom then."

"Hey if you're going to be alone why do you get the biggest room?" Wally protested.

"Because I own this place and do you really want the room where my parents sleep in?"

"Good point, lead the way."

After putting all of their stuff down and picking out the clothes that they bought from the bags, they made their way to the second floor where three of the bedrooms were located.

"This bedroom is the closest to the lake so I'm assuming Kaldur and Connor want it." Diana pointed to the room to their right.

"While you are correct that I would prefer the room that is closest to the nearest water source, I feel as though it is not close enough." Kaldur sighed.

"Too bad this is the best you're gonna get." Diana tossed Kaldur's bag into the room. Diana took a few more steps down the hall and stopped in front of another door on the left of the hall. "All the rooms are basically the same so it doesn't matter who takes this one.

"We can have it." Dick said, taking a few steps towards the bed near the window.

There was a gust of wind and then, suddenly, Wally was already lying on the bed, shoes off and completely tucked in, "You snooze, you lose!"

"Hey!" Dick threw a pillow at the speedster, "That is so not fair!"

Diana ignored their squabbling and lead M'Gann and Artemis to the end of the hall, "Here we are, best for last."

"Thanks," Artemis said, flopping onto the bed and closing her eyes, "Oh God, this is so nice."

"I know, right?!" M'Gann said, flopping onto the bed next to Artemis.

The archer opened one eye, "Leave."

Diana stifled a laugh and, sensing that Artemis was tired, said, "Hey, M'Gann, do you want to help me make dinner?"

"Yeah, totally!" M'Gann said, hopping off the bed, "What did you have in mind?"

"Hmm, something simple for sure" Diana pondered it for a minute, "I just bought some rosemary so maybe rosemary chicken?"

~YJ~

About an hour later, everyone was gathered in the kitchen, helping to clean up after dinner. Diana was carefully overseeing M'Gann's handling of the dishwasher while Connor and Kaldur haggled over where to store the centerpiece. Wally and Artemis were huddled over a bowl of cookie batter, taking turns eating chunks of it off of a spoon with no intention of putting it in the oven. Robin was gathered around a batch of ingredients, busy trying to recreate Alfred's famous hot chocolate.

Connor let out a roaring yawn, "I'm so tired."

"Considering the fact that we almost died today, I'm pretty relaxed." Artemis said, shoving a spoonful of cookie batter into her mouth.

"Honestly, I've been pretty relaxed the entire time we've been here," Dick said, "Everything here just feels way less serious."

"Wow, ouch." Diana responded, feigning hurt.

"No, no, that's not what I mean," Dick said quickly, "It's just that, back home, we always have to be on guard and we always have to be watching for the next big super villain or whatever evil plan Joker cooks up. I'm always Robin at home, I can never just be a kid. I mean, I'm fifteen and I've seen more dead bodies than most cops have."

"We all have." Artemis said quietly.

"At least you guys have a purpose back home," Diana interjected, "You protect people, you're there for a reason. The most exciting thing that's probably ever going to happen to me is getting a bonus."

There was dead silence for a second before it was broken by Wally loudly munching on cookie batter, "Bro, it's okay, you can take my place on the weekends. I'm sure that Barry wouldn't mind."

Artemis snorted, "She'd probably do a better job than you."

The munching stopped, "Hey, you try -"

"Shh!" Robin put a finger on Wally's lips, slipping a brightly colored mug of Alfred's hot chocolate into his palms, "It's hot chocolate time."

Wally was reasonable distracted and dropped the subject, happily slurping at the hot chocolate, "Dude! This tastes exactly like Alfred's hot chocolate. How did you get the recipe? I heard that even Batman hasn't figured it out."

"Well, the document with the recipe on it has like 50 walls of encryption and I couldn't walk away from that challenge." Robin explained, leaning against the stone wall, "Turns out, the secret ingredient is -"

"Shh!" Wally said loudly, "It makes it less special if we know."

~YJ~

The next morning, Diana, Robin, M'Gann, Connor, and Wally were all sitting by the kitchen counter eating cereal and savoring the coffee that Connor had managed to find in the back of the cupboard that somehow still had flavor despite being unused for what Wally had estimated to be five years. Despite Artemis's usual early wake up time she had decided to stay up late to make sure that Slade wouldn't make any surprise visits- even though the house was rather isolated. M'Gann decided to let her sleep and had even set aside a cup of coffee for when she would wake up.

There was a series of footfalls on the stairs as Kaldur walked down towards the kitchen but before he reached the counter he took a detour towards the back door that led to the lake- resting a hand on the frosted glass.

"Hey Kal you want cereal?" Wally lifted his bowl and gestured towards where Kaldur was gazing out the window.

"I must go to the water." Kaldur responded in total seriousness.

Everyone exchanged glances before M'Gann exclaimed, "Kaldur it's cold as balls." Noticing everyone's blank stares and Wally's dropped bowl M'Gann said, "What? I heard that expression on TV, is that not the right way to say that?"

Wally started laughing uncontrollably and started sprinting towards the stairs, "Artemis has got to see this."

"M'Gann do you know what that that means?" Robin asked, still gaping at the fact that sweet M'Gann said balls.

"Isn't that just something you say when you want to exaggerate a statement?"

It was Connor that spoke up to explain. "Yes and no. Although balls are…" He leaned towards M'Gann and whispered what the definition was- M'Gann's blush increasing with every word.

Kaldur ignored them, sliding open the door with ease and stepping onto the snow-covered patio. He slowly made his way down the stairs and onto the frozen lake, the cold air biting at his skin. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he walked further and further into the lake.

Diana, who had followed Kaldur outside, shivered on the patio, "Kaldur, come back!"

"Yeah!" Dick said, handing Diana her sweater as he joined her on the patio, "The ice is very, very thin!"

Connor made his way outside as well, taking a seat on the patio steps, "Just let him do what he needs to do."

"Do not worry!" Kaldur yelled, turning around to face his friends, "As an Atlantean, I can sense the thickness of the ice. It should be stable enough to hold my weight-" As he said that, he slipped and face-planted onto the ice. Like clockwork, the ice started cracking around his forehead. There was a terse second before the ice opened under his head and he plunged into the icy water of the lake.

Wally and Artemis, who had gathered to watch the scene from the balcony, started cackling, simultaneously yelling, "Fishboy's fallen in!"

Between laughs, Artemis managed to get out, "Don't worry! He can sense the thickness of the ice!"

~YJ~

A few nights later, Dick, Diana, Connor, Kaldur, Wally, and Artemis were gathered around a dusty vintage monopoly game that they has fished out of one of the closets. M'Gann had gone to bed early that night, completely drained after a mac and cheese recipe she was trying out had gone very wrong. She stumbled across the novelty game while getting ready for bed and, too tired to even attempt to try it, she'd passed it onto the rest of the group, who was now exploring its contents.

"Well, I think we can play it," Diana said, holding four silver pieces out in her palm, "We'd just have to split off into teams."

"Oooh! I call Dick!" Wally said, speeding to his buddy's side.

"Thanks but no thanks," Dick said, taking a wide step away from Wally, "I don't trust you with money. I'm gonna partner with Diana."

Diana shot off a few fingerguns, "Thanks, baaabe."

Wally, who looked completely dejected, turned to Kaldur, "Kal?"

"Sorry," He motioned to Connor, who was particularly glued to his side, "It looks like we're gonna be partners."

Wally, who was absolutely devastated after suffering so many rejections, shot Artemis puppy dog eyes, "Artemis?"

She hesitated for a moment but then sighed, "Okay. We can be partners."

"Yes!" Wally skipped over to her side "What piece are we gonna use?"

"Uh . . . " Artemis grabbed a piece from Diana's hand, "How about the shoe?"

"Works for me!" Wally said, happy to just have a partner.

A few hours later, the attitude in the room was one of utter desolation. Connor and Kaldur had lost the game a long time ago and were asleep on one of the couches near the fireplace. Dick and Diana, who owned a little over half of the board after gaining Connor and Kaldur's property after the two had lost as well as a stack of money in front of them, were lounging on each other, sure that victory would soon be theirs. Wally and Artemis were bickering over their strategy, not yet consigned to defeat.

"We need more than just one property!" Wally said, "We can't just invest in one hotel. That's not how you win Monopoly!"

"No, Wally, you don't get it," Artemis said, "We just need them to roll the right number and then victory is ours."

"No, no, no, victory will not be ours! Artemis," He gestured towards the board, "They own 75% of the board and we have a single hotel! We have to spread our assets, one hotel isn't a wise investment dude"

"Wally-"

"I mean, have you seen-"

"Wally-"

"They're gonna win and they-"

"Wally!" Artemis cupped Wally's head, forcing him to look at her, "Do you trust me?"

"Artemis . . ."

"Do you trust me?!"

There was silence before Wally answered, "I do."

"Then have some faith in me. We've got this," Artemis released his head and turned towards the board, grabbing a stack of money, "We'd like one hotel."

Dick, who was the banker, took the cash, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Wally answered, "We're sure."

"Alright, the hotel is all yours." Dick said, placing a red piece on top of the desired hotel's spot.

"Thank you," Artemis said, nodding at the two, "You may roll."

Diana,who was closest to the board picked up the dice and shook it a few times before rolling them. The first die immediately landed on a six, the other spinning a few times before landing on a six as well.

"Ooh, doubles, we get to roll again." After moving their piece to one of their own properties, Diana let Dick roll the next time.

Dick shook up the dice in his hands and rolled it on the table. They bounced a few times before one landed on four and the other landed on three. He took their piece and counted one by one until he reached their final destination, the single Boardwalk hotel that Wally and Artemis owned.

"What?" Dick asked, counting again, "What?"

"What?" Wally glanced at the board, still processing what had just happened, "No way!"

Dick looked heartbroken, "Diana, give them $2,000."

"Babe," Diana said, "We only have $1,400."

"Diana," Dick said quietly, "We've lost."

"We fucking won!" Artemis said, jumping up and down in victory with Wally, "We won!"

"You were right! You were right about the hotel! Oh my God!" Wally's eyes were teeming with tears of joy, "We won!"

"I told you to trust me!" Artemis said, jumping and pulling Wally into a hug, "I told you!"

"I will never doubt you again!" Wally picked Artemis up and spun her around, "We won!" He grabbed her and sprinted off, doing a few victory laps around the house.

Dick's head was on the coffee table, his eyes devoid of any human emotion, "We lost."

Diana sighed, leaning her head against her fingertips, "How could this have happened?"

Dick sighed and got up, offering a hand to Diana, "I need a drink."

Another hour later, Dick and Diana were the only ones awake. Kaldur and Connor were still asleep on the couch, oblivious to anything, and Wally and Artemis had both retired to their respective rooms upstairs, exhausted by the unexpected excitement. Dick and Diana, who had a few too many glasses of red wine, were attempting to put out the fire but ended up giggling uncontrollably.

After a few pokes to the fire they were content enough to give up, deciding instead to pull up a few pillows and leaning against each other and watching the embers slowly start to fade.

Practically cheek to cheek Dick looked into Diana's eyes and whispered, "You know I love you, right?"

Diana smiled, eyes crinkling, "Of course, and I hope you know that I love you with all my heart."

"I know." Dick whispered back. His thumb brushed over Diana's cheekbones as they gently leaned in towards each other. Dick's lips skated over Diana's for a moment before they both came together for a tender, tipsy kiss.

They came apart and smiled at each other as the wine caught up to them. Diana readjusted herself, putting her head on Dick's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead, his eyelids gradually coming to a close.

A few minutes after Diana fell asleep, Connor began to stir. He yawned and sat up, glancing around the room. His eyes fell on Dick and Diana, who were sprawled on top of each other. It felt like an extremely private scene and prompted Connor to wake up Kaldur.

"Come on, we've got to move upstairs. They're having a moment that I don't feel comfortable witnessing." Connor grumbled, standing up and heading towards the stairs.

Kaldur glanced at Dick and Diana and smiled softly. He peeled his own blanket off of himself and gently laid it over Dick and Diana, "Goodnight, friends. Sleep well"

~YJ~

"Alright, guys, five minutes until we leave!" Diana said, walking around the hall upstairs, "Everyone better be packed. Make sure to check under your beds and in the closets for your things. Wally, I am talking to you. We are not turning back once we leave."

"Hey, Diana," M'Gann popped her head out of her doorway, "Is it okay to turn our phones back on now?"

"Uh . . . Wait until we're in the car. We still don't know how Slade figured out where we were the first time" Diana said, picking up her duffel bag.

M'Gann shot finger guns, "Got it, fam."

Diana snorted and grabbed the keys, shouting, "Three minutes until we leave!"

"I'll pack the car!" Wally sped through the house, grabbing various bags and tossing them by the foot of the stairs, "Do we have snacks?"

"Hey, Kid Flash," Artemis tossed him a bag of goldfish, "Remember, fish are friends, not food!"

Kaldur appeared behind them, looking dismayed, "I am now aware that they are crackers."

"Hey, M'Gann and I are ready. We're going to head to the car." Connor said, heading down the stairs. M'Gann floated near him, telepathically unlocking the car doors.

"I call shotgun!" Wally said, racing towards the car.

"Not if I can help it!" Artemis said, sliding down the banister.

Dick came out of his own room, a backpack slung over his shoulder, "Don't worry, I already triple checked the room."

"I guess we're ready to go then," Diana shut the lights off in the hall and made her way to the car with Dick, "This was a really nice break, despite the fact that we were hiding from a psychopath."

Dick slipped his hand into Diana's, "I know."

Kaldur waved at Diana from the driver's seat, "I need the keys."

"In a second," Diana made her way to the passenger's side, where Wally had already made himself comfortable. She opened the door and raised an eyebrow, "Move."

"Aww," Wally whined, "Why?"

"Do you know the way back?"

"No . . ."

"That's why. Move."

Wally gave a dejected look but got out of his seat, speeding into a spot in the back as Diana slid into the passenger seat, "Next stop: Home."

About an hour into the trip, Dick had decided that it was probably safe for all of them to turn their phones back on. Each and everyone of them had about a couple hundred missed calls from Barry, who was worried sick after they'd all mysteriously disappeared while Black Friday shopping.

"I think we forgot to tell Barry that we were gonna leave for the week . . ." Connor noted.

"I think he broke my voicemail." M'Gann said.

"I should call him." Wally added but before he had the chance to even open up his contact, the screen lit up with a call from Barry.

"Here, give it to me, I can put it on the car speaker." Diana said, taking the phone from Wally and hooking it up to the vehicle, answering the call for Wally.

"Hey Uncle Barry. . ." Wally said a little sheepishly. There was a short pause before there was a gushing of words from Barry's end as he was talking to fast for anyone but Wally to understand." "Uncle Barry, Uncle Barry slow down I have you on speaker phone- Artemis, Dick, Connor, Kaldur, and Diana are with me."

There was a deep breath before Barry spoke again, "Where were you kids? I was worried sick after you didn't come back from Black Friday shopping."

Dick was the one that responded first, trying to explain the situation. "Well, on our way back from shopping Slade Wilson attacked us. We had trouble getting away so we decided to lay low in Diana's summer house in Wisconsin to make sure that he doesn't follow us back to you. We turned off our phones since we weren't sure how he managed to track us."

"Wait, wait . . . Slade Wilson attacked you?! How?! Is everyone okay?! Why didn't you call me?! Oh my God, oh my God, stay right there, I am going to get you and we are going to figure this out," In the background, there was a metal clatter, "Oh my God, Slade Wilson-"

"Uncle Barry, relax, we're already on our way back," Wally said, "We'll see you in an hour or so, okay?"

Barry sighed, "Alright, I know you can take care of yourselves. I'll see you soon. Keep me updated."

"Will do, See ya," Wally said, sighing as the call disconnected, "Barry is going to give us so much shit for this."

~YJ~