Gemini joined the hug almost instantly. "You two will be the death of me...I'm so glad you're both okay." She said.

Cal and April glanced at each other. Their dad almost never hugged them- but they weren't about to call attention to it. "Thanks. I...the last thing I saw, that shadow thing kind of...disintegrated." Cal said.

April nodded. "Yeah. Once I got it loose, it tried to attack me, but then Cal was there and our powers mixed and it was like...blinding light...and then the shadow was gone."

"It sounds like the two of you make quite a combination when you use your powers together." Bruce said. "Not too surprising, considering that you're twins. Still, you should train a lot, both independently and together, to make sure you master that kind of power fully."

Joker pulled away and kissed the twins foreheads. "I'm glad your both alright." he smiled at them. "Would you two want that? To train with Bruce so that you can gain more control over your powers?"

April shared another glance with Cal. "I mean...I already chose to train that way, right? And I definitely want to be able to control this, so I don't hurt anyone by accident." She said.

Cal was torn. Even freed from Ra's influence, he still wasn't really sure what he wanted. "I..." He looked around the room. "Yes, I want to train to control my powers. But that doesn't mean I'm choosing good. I don't...know what I'm choosing. I'm sorry, dad." He said.

"I've always said that I would be happy so long as you were happy." Joker smiled. "No matter what you choose from a garbage man to super hero or villain I'll support you."

Cal smiled. "Thanks, dad." He said. "And mom, and April and everyone. Thanks for...everything." He said, realizing that he had too much to thank them all for to even start naming.

"No problem, bro." April said, smiling brightly. "Now, can we all enjoy the weekend? It's way too intense in here."

Gemini looked at her daughter and laughed. "You are your father's daughter, April."

"I agree with April the four of us should take the weekend off." Joker grinned at Gemini. "We could spend a little time together." he kissed her deeply.

Martha looked away "Not something I wanted to see."

Gemini accepted the kiss without protest, not caring who saw. "I would be okay with that." She said after they broke apart.

"It has been a while since it was just us four together." April said agreeably.

Cal nodded, though he threw a glance at Martha. He didn't want to leave her alone. "Mari, do you think Artemis is free?" He asked. He wanted to go with his family, but only if he was sure Martha wouldn't be lonely or bored.

"Why would I know that?" Martha chuckled. "I'm fine Cal well my parents may be old farts I'll find something to do." she thought of Ace who would be home soon. "I'll be fine." her smile was sad and she stood when she saw Alfred leading a tired old looking Ace into the manor.

Cal nodded. "Okay...if you're sure." He said. When Alfred walked in with Ace, he stood up as well.

As if connected to the other two, April stood at the same time. "Is...is Ace okay?" She asked fearfully.

Alfred looked sad as he shook his head. "I'm afraid are boy doesn't have much time. The vet wanted him to be with the people who loved him." Martha looked as if she had been deflated as she flopped down next to her mother.

((poor Ace but he's got to be like 100 by now.))

((In this rp, he'd be about 13 in human years.))

"Oh, no..." April said in a tiny voice. She ran over to Ace to pet him gently. "Oh, Ace..."

Cal felt his heart plummet. "No, not Ace..." He said, as if begging someone to tell him it wasn't true.

Gemini covered her mouth. Everyone loved Ace- she could remember when he was first bought as a puppy.

Bruce was the next to approach the old dog. He petted him affectionately. "You've been such a great friend. I'll stay by your side till the very end, just like you've always done for us."

((Poor Ace. *moment of silence for all docs lost in the endless loop of comics.*))
Martha sat in her black dress in was a day after they had let Ace go and she was staring off into space.

Lori sat next to her worried about her little girl.

Bruce stood a little ways away. He was worried about Martha, but he knew he was in no position to help her when he was struggling with his own grief.

"Come here sweetheart." Lori pulled Martha to her. Martha buried her head in her mother's chest sniffling softly.

Taking a deep breath, Bruce went over to his wife and daughter. He sat down next to them and pulled them both into a hug. "I know it doesn't seem like it now, but someday it will hurt less." He said.

Martha clung to her parents crying softly. "Maybe we should take a family vacation. The three of us and Alfred of course." Lori suggested burying her head in Bruce's shoulder marveling at how white his hair was.

Bruce nodded. "That sounds nice. Alfred will probably like that, too. Martha, what do you think? Should we go away for a little while?"

"I would like that." Martha sniffled. "Can we leave know?"

"Sure, as long as your mother and Alfred are okay with that." Bruce said, looking at Lori to ask what she thought. Gemini had taken her family on their vacation only hours before, after waiting through Ace's final moments.

"I don't have anything to do. Go pack sweety." Lori let Martha go pack. "When did we get old?" She sighed tugging on her silvered hair.

Bruce sighed. "I don't know. It seemed to happen while we weren't looking." He answered. "But we've still got a few good years left in us."

"I know but...I have gray hair." Lori emo teared and tugged at her hair "Well it's more of a silver hair." she looked to him. "You have gray hair." she ran a hand threw his hair.

Bruce smirked. "Mine's definitely gray, but yours is silver. A beautiful color, especially on you." He said, twining a bit of her hair around his finger. "It makes you look mysterious and exotic."

Lori blushed at him. "You sure know how to flirt." She teased kissing him gentle. "Gross." Martha giggled when she spotted them.

Bruce smiled. "I practiced my whole life just to flirt with you." He said. When Martha reappeared, he smiled at her. "Still can't handle your parents kissing, huh?" He teased.