Gone|BatFam x Male Child Reader|Special Chapter

One year has passed since [Name] has being reunited with his Family and even though they knew that [Name] wasn't completely shattered, they also knew that he was broken enough to have a everlasting change in character and life. His family accepted it, adapted to it and helped him with his needs, but they also had a small change in their characteristics.

It was a rather cold night, leaving a bitter taste to everyone who was still outside at such a late hour. The snow on the ground was almost on the over-knee level, making it hard to walk through it, without getting either frozen to death or drenched to the toes. It was probably one of the coldest Winter in Gotham's History. 

The Wayne Manor was shrouded in silence and, expect for a few night lamps, in darkness. All the residents were fast asleep and deep in the land of dreams or so it seems at least.

[Name] laid in the middle, between Bruce and Damian. Of course sometimes all his Siblings would lay in the bed with him or they would take turns through the week, which sometimes leaves Bruce more or less a bit angry. Small whimpers escaped through his lips, as he turned and tossed around. A heat wave crept through his Body, making him squirm in a uncomfortable manner. It became suddenly hard to breath, as if a invisible weight was placed onto his chest and crushed his lungs in a painfully slow way. Panic took over him, as memories of Isabella came flashing back, letting his breathing getting more and more wheezed. Till he almost stopped breathing at one point. [Name] bolted up, eyes wide open as he started into the darkness. He didn't dared to blink, too afraid that Isabella would stand before him any minuet. Tears were running down his redden cheeks and it wasn't long till he let a almost high-pitched cry out.

Bruce sat up quickly, turning on the Night lamp and picked [Name] up, holding him against his chest and tried his best to calm his Son down. Bruce heaved out of the bed, making his way towards the door. Damian stirred awake, asking groggily his Father if he needed help, but Bruce just told him to continue sleep.

It wasn't the first time that it happend, nor would it be the last time. There wasn't even one night, where [Name] wouldn't wake up from his nightmares and wouldn't stop crying for hours. Bruce walked into the Kitchen, clipped the light on and walked towards a Cabinet, which was labeled as "Everything [Name] needs 1" and of course that wasn't the only labeled thing in the House. Dick and the others started it, when they had first witnessed one of [Name]'s breakdowns and it was a mess till they have finally found everything. 

«Hey, hey, I'm here [Name]. Everything is alright, you're safe.» Bruce spoke in a hushed whisper, as he prepared a Bottle of Lukewarm Chocolate milk with only one hand. He glanced toward the Kitchen Clock, 4:33 AM. 

When Bruce has returned to the Bedroom he took a seat in the Armchair, placed [Name] on his lap and bounced him up and down for a bit, before giving him the Bottle. After the Bottle was finnish, Bruce would go back to Bed, laying [Name] in the middle again, turning on the Music Box for [Name] and draped his arm over his Sons, pulling them close.

It was the 20th of December, Christmas was just around the conner and the Manor inside was still not decorated for Christmas. Which was weird, because usually the whole Manor would be full with decorations since the 1st of December.

[Name] was still confused by the emptiness and blankness in the house, as he walked into the living with his Donald Duck plush. All his sibling were either sitting on the Couches or the Armchairs, they either watched TV or were occupied with something else. [Name] took place next to Jason and Cassandra, leaned against his Big Brother and tugged at his hand to get his attention.

«Jay-Jay! When are we gonna start decorating for Christmas? And we still haven't started baking yet! Daddy also hasn't called the others and non of you have helped me with writing the letter for Santa!» at this point, [Name] had climbed onto Jason's lap, placing both of his hands against his Brothers cheeks and looked eagerly at him. Cassandra quickly pulled her Baby Brother against her Chest, hugging and cuddling him. She even switched the recent TV channel to the Movie playlist, choosing one of the endless Disney Movies. Just so that her Baby Brother would be distracted, she didn't wanted to tell him about the plans they made, didn't wanted to upset him on his second favourite Holiday. But Dick, not Jason, decided to be the today's asshole. 

«Hey Pumpink, there is something we wanted to tell you. We, expect for Damian, won't be there for Christmas nor will be Aunt Kate and Co.» even though Dick spoke in a soft voice, he find it hard to tell his Baby Brother about it and Cassandra's glare at him, wasn't helping.

«Why won't you be there on Christmas? We always celebrate Christmas together. I don't get it.» the confusion was clearly visible on his face as he played with his plush, though also occasionally glancing at the TV.

«Well, we have made our own plans for Christmas this year. I for example gonna fly to Hawaii and Jason will go somewhere else, so will Tim and Cass.» Dicks soft smile dropped when he saw the sad expression on [Name]'s face. A small tension begun to fill the room, almost suffocating.

Cassandra, with [Name] in her arms, stood up from the Couch and gave her Baby Brother a bright grin. «Why so sad (N/N)? I will be home for Christmas, so will Damian, Alfred and Dad. Now let's bake us some Cookies and other sweets! And later we'll could start decorating, sounds good?» [Name] only nodded, feeling already exhausted for some reasons.

Bruce sat behind [Name] on the ground, helped his Son with wrapping the presents. He remember how [Name] once asked him, why they brought and wrapping presents, when Santa Claus was the one who always brings the presents. Bruce had find it rather amusing and explained, that while Santa brings the present, people would buy presents for their beloved ones too and exchange them with each other. His Son was so, in a way, fascinated from it, that he had developed a small shopping phrase once. 

«Are you sure you wanna wrap these presents too? You won't be able to give it to them till after Sylvester, sweetie.» the only answer he got from his Son was a short silence and then small sobs.

«B-But, you told me that I....I should wrap presents for the people I love and give it to them on Christmas! And-And now you say that I shouldn't? Stop confusing me! Christmas is......is family time but suddenly it isn't.....and, and......» [Name] curled into a ball, he felt so overwhelmed all of sudden, everything was so confusing. He also felt rather hot those past days, which adds more weight to his uncomfortableness.

Bruce took [Name] gently in his Arms, stood up and walked towards the Couch. Laying himself down, while his youngster laid on his Chest. He was worried about [Name], he wasn't sure if the Child was still overwhelmed with everything, not to forget he had a operation at the beginning of the month, or if he has came down with the flu. He guessed it was mix of both. Christmas was in days and Bruce could tell, that it wouldn't be the prettiest Christmas. Especially not for [Name]. 

Bruce had guessed right with the flu, [Name] had caught one. A nasty one. He had a high fever, stomachaches, constantly nausea and muscle pain. It was awful for [Name], he couldn't eat anything and getting sleep was hard. He couldn't stop his crying, he was upset with everything and everyone and it was making him even more sick.

Christmas was one night away and Cassandra has taken the task upon herself to make [Name] feel better. She played with him, watched tons of Disney Movies, baking some extra Cookies and writing a Thank you letter for Santa, finnish the present wrapping and so on. Currently Cassandra, her Baby Brother in her AM's, walked through the whole Manor, trying to making him fall asleep. In which she succeeded. Luckily.

When [Name] awoke that night, he couldn't be more excited. It was finally Christmas. Grabbing his plush, he crawled out of bed and walked out of the room, towards the living room. He turned on the light and his smile dropped. A wave of confusion, disappointment and sadness coiled with him. Santa Claus didn't come.

The Christmas tree was, expect for the exchanged Gifts, empty. The Letter and the Cookies were still there. Something crashed inside of him, making him run upstairs and back into his Dad's bedroom. He climbed onto the bed, climbed onto his Dad's chest and poked him awake

«I'm awake, was is it, sweetie?» asked Bruce groggily, cracked his eyes a bit open to look at his Son, «Santa didn't come, Daddy! He didn't come!» Bruce picked [Name] up and placed him in the middle of the bed, «Sweetie, Santa didn't come because he isn't real. Now go back to sleep.» Bruce was almost fast asleep again, if the sudden crying from [Name] and the angry shout of «FATHER!» from Damian, hadn't him shook awake completely. Bruce muttered something, probably a few cusses, under his breath. If he was honest, the last few weeks were a complete and utter mess.

When Dick, Jason and Tim came back home in the early hours for the 24th, due to some delays with their plans, they were welcomed with silence and a slight feeling of tension gloominess. Abandoning their luggage, they begun to search for the others, though they could only find Cassandra, Damian and [Name].

«Where are Bruce and Alfred?» asked Dick and took a seat in one of the Armchairs, Jason plopped himself next to Cassandra down, taking the sleeping [Name] from her, «Did something happen to him? He looks awfully red in the face.» exclaimed Jason as he drove with his hand through his Baby Brothers hair. Damian scoffed at them,

«TT, Father and Alfred are out, coming back around lunch. (N/N) is red because he is sick and cried the whole night, thanks to Father, which also worsen his health. Though the real question is, why are you here?» Damian glanced from his Book towards his Brothers, «Well, we have changed our minds and our plans got kind of cancelled» explained Tim.

It was the morning of the 25th, everyone was awake and full of energy. The Manor was filled with people and happiness. They all had made their own plans for Christmas, but who had thought that the weather would be so nasty this year? So Dick came to a brilliant idea.

Even though Bruce hadn't a reason to be in hurry, he was. Dick had woken him up with playing Christmas music right next to his ear, telling him to get ready, because everyone is coming for Christmas. It was a bit of a hassle, waking [Name] up wasn't easy at the moment, but Bruce had managed it and after Bathing and dressing his youngster, they made their way downstairs to the living room. Coming face to face with a extremely filled Christmas tree and lots of people. 

[Name] couldn't believe it, the Tree was filled and everyone he saw as his family was here. He waked to Cass, tugging at her hand and asked her if she could go with him, to greet everyone and to make lots of pictures with her Camera.

As the day neared its end, [Name] couldn't be more happy. It was probably the best Christmas he had.