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Disclaimer: All characters and terms used in this story are owned and operated by DC comics/Time Warner. They are used without permission. No profit is being made from this work and no copyright infringement is intended.

~Miracles Don't Always Happen~
{by Gen X}


The festivities continued inside the house. Christmas music floated out of the windows and trickled into the winter air. Colored lights blinked on and off in rooms showing their holiday cheer. The Pennsylvania hideaway was a near winter wonderland, even with the lack of snow. Plenty of food had been gobbled up and a fun time had been shared by all, so it made no sense whatsoever as to why Bart Allen was sitting alone on the rooftop.

It was an odd sight, not to mention a strange place, and the hiding place had taken more than a few minutes to be discovered. Of all of their friends, the speedster seemed to capture the Christmas mood more than anyone, so when Bart had slumped out the house without a word goodbye, Kon couldn't help but follow.

He floated up to the top of the house. "Bart?" he ventured cautiously. "Are you up here?"

Bart sat still. His gaze was riveted as he fiddled with the bows of two small packages. "Maybe," he answered. There was no levity in his tone.

Kon frowned and sat down beside him. Brooding was never a good state of mind on Christmas Eve. The Kid pointed to the giant tree that sat in front of the house. It had been bought, brought, and set up days earlier. A truly memorable experience: Young Justice versus the Pine Menace. The tall tree stood waiting for attention. "They're about to light it up. Slo-Bo finally found some extension cords."

Bart shrugged, disinterested.

Most everyone had family to be getting home soon to spend time with family. So, understandably, a self imposed curfew came over the group. It was agreed everyone would stay until dusk and then start heading home. The tree lighting would be the end of the evening. "Are you gonna come down? It'll be the last chance before everyone leaves."

"Yeah," Bart responded. He turned the small packages over and over in his hands. "I'll be down."

"What's wrong?" the Kid asked. Kon was going to make some Christmas cheer or die trying.

It took effort but Bart tore his gaze away. He looked at his friend, then up to the sky. He sighed. "Just... wanted some Christmas magic, I think."

Kon looked down at the gifts as Bart looked to the stars. Kon read the gift tags and immediately understood. Bart's friend and Bart's mother (unless a Christmas miracle involving time travel came about) wouldn't getting their gifts any time soon. If ever. "They know you love them," Kon asserted. He clasped Bart on the shoulder, "And they wouldn't want you to be sad."

"Yeah," Suzie added, as she floated up through the roof. "No moping. Robin's about to light the tree and told me to find you two." She pointed down towards the driveway and the soon to be bright and festive merriment. Cissie and Cassie were dragging a portable stereo oustide and the holiday music broke into the still air.

Bart managed a smile. He stuffed one tiny box back in his pocket, and discreetly tore the tag off the larger one. He held out the festive box for Suzie and smiled a smile he didn't quite feel. "Last gift," he declared. "It's for you."

Her blue eyes shone bright, similar to the way the brown eyes of the original recipient would have. Suzie plucked the bow off daintily and then tore away the paper. She looked at her present and then hugged Bart. "A diary!" she gushed.

Bart tried to act nonchalant. "Girls love them, right?"

"Right!" she echoed. She grabbed Bart's hand and floated him down to the tree.

Kon followed slowly after them. He looked down at his friends. Robin and Lobo fiddling with electric cords. Cissie, Cassie, and Anita were engaged in a tinsel fight. Suzie clutched the diary close to her chest and as Kon touched down, he noticed Bart smiling as he watched Suzie's elation.

'Carol would have been proud,' Kon decided. Then walked over to join his friends as the tree light up the night.

~fin~

~stories~