(Aden's P.O.V)

The earth looked so peaceful. It was hard to imagine that the green and blue colored ball held every single meaning to every human being alive and that has ever lived.

I stepped up to stand beside Connor, whose anger had cooled off somewhat.

"You know, it wasn't out of spite that I kept him away from you." I started, feeling...not exactly bitter that I was trying to explain myself but something close. However, for the sake of Match, I was willing to meet in the middle with Connor, because had the roles been reversed, I would also be a little angry.

"If it feels like I was trying to make you suffer, then you honestly give yourself too much credit Connor."

He tensed. Just because I was trying to meet him in the middle didn't mean, I wasn't going to call him out on his sucky attitude.

"Most of those 3 months were spent trying to teach him how to feel, how to laugh, how to cry and with Superman in his current state and you pushing yourself to save everyone, it wouldn't have been an ideal environment for him. So before you go judging me for what I did, ask yourself what you would have done differently."

He looked at me and for a minute there, I could see him contemplating punching me. But fortunately for him he relented.

"I haven't forgiven you." He shook his head.

"I don't even think I'll be able to but I get where you're coming from."

I smiled.

"Good. Now how about I introduce you to Match? It's about time he got his Kryptonian name anyway."

Connor's face lit up immediately. He hesitated before smiling a little.

"I...yeah. Yeah I would like that."

We made it to The Hub, the team's quarters and upon opening the door, pandemonium hit us, Kid Flash was blitzing around the room, over the furniture and up the wall trying to catch Sai who was fleeting about with streaks of multicolored lightning, holding Kid Flash's googles in his hands.

"Hey! Get back here!"

"This is so not aster!"

Robin was in a tug of war with Breeze who was covered in a huge wind construct rippling with huge muscles and trying to pull Robin's utility bill from his hands.

"Give it up you small meanie!"

"No way! And don't call me small!"

"You're small and puny! Do you even lift bro?"

What the...

Match was in a staring match with a sulking Aqualad who was sitting in his chair with a thoughtful look on his face.

"You smell funny."

The little Kryptonian/Quintes hybrid told him. Aqualad blinked and smiled.

"Thank you."

Match gave him an innocent but happy smile.

"You're welcome."

My kids were bullying legit superheroes. I'm so proud.

Kori, Kai, M'gann and Artemis were nowhere to be seen though. Connor and I looked at each other just as one of the kids noticed us.

"Dad!"

Sai called out before appearing in a burst of lightning speed and hiding behind me. Kid Flash stopped a few meters away and held out his hand while breathing a little too heavily.

Robin was distracted a little by the commotion, allowing Breeze to snatch the utility belt and disappear into the next room over which is where I'm guessing Star and the others were. Match floated towards me but then stopped and started flying circles around Connor with a curious look on his face. Connor studied him as well.

"Whoa. The resemblance is uncanny." Robin commented while walking over.

"Give (breath) it back."

Kid Flash managed to say while inhaling deeply. Sai had actually managed to beat him in speed!

"No!" Sai refused, making me raise my eyebrows in surprise.

Sai was the most obedient of the kids, right after Match, so he had to have a reason for doing this.

"Sai, why do you have his googles?" I asked, bringing him to my shoulders.

"He said you were always bringing trouble to them and I didn't like it so I stole them!"

Kid Flash winced. I threw him a scathing look and he almost wilted.

"Oh, so you were defending me huh?"

I asked my precocious boy.

Huh. Wonder what dad would think about being a grandpa so early. Meh, knowing the old man, he would probably be clamoring to take the boys camping for some survival training. Never seen a black dude love the wild like my dad.

"Mmhmmh."

Sai nodded with a hum. I snorted.

"Thanks Sai but we don't want to bully Kid Flash too much, so hand it over."

I held out a hand to my head and felt the googles land on the palm after a few seconds of hesitation from Sai's side.

Then I threw the googles to Kid Flash.

"Thanks."

He said, strapping them to his forehead.

"Yeah, next time you talk s-h-i-t about me, make sure you're ready for what will follow."

I warned him with a smile.

"I'm huh... I'm going to go see if M'gann left some cookies. Okay bye."

And he quickly disappeared.

"Dad...he smells funny. He smells like me."

Match finally stopped circling around Connor and concluded. The little Kryptonian flew down and hugged my feet, peeking out at Connor with a frown on his face.

"Why does he smell like me?"

I didn't feel like stretching this out any longer.

"Match, this is your brother. Just like how Sai, Kai and Breeze are your family, Connor is also a part of your family."

The explanation made him tilt his head.

"Brother..."

He mouthed the word.

"Dad, he looks kinda like you when you lose to Grandpa Iroh at pai sho."

Sai whispered from atop my head. I bit down on the urge to laugh, luckily Connor hadn't heard the jab from Sai.

"Yeah some people like to brood. They think it adds more mystery to them."

"Preliminary facial recognition puts you both at about 97% resemblance. It's ...it's intriguing! If it wasn't for the age difference you would be considered twins."

Robin informed them while quickly tapping his holo device.

"What's your name?"

Connor bent down and asked.

"Match."

Match replied, a bit of his shyness leaving him. Connor looked at me and raised his eyebrows.

"A lot of things were happening, so I didn't get to choose a better name for him. Plus what are you complaining about, you get to pitch in and give him a Kryptonian name."

I added with a shrug, feeling a little guilty at not renaming Match.

"My name is Connor. Or Kon-El in Kryptonian."

Connor introduced himself, holding out a hand for the younger Kryptonian to shake. Match watched me and I nodded making him smile and take Connor's offered palm.

"Hello."

"Hello." They shook hands before Connor leaned and asked,

"I have an idea. Because we're brothers, how about I give you a Kryptonian name as well?"

"A Kryptonian name?"

Match had this amazed look in his eyes. He looked at me for direction but I rubbed his hair.

"It's your decision kiddo. If you want a Kryptonian name then I'm okay with it."

My answer made him frown.

"But I love my name."

He countered making me feel a burst of happiness.

"You'll still keep your name if you want but you'll have 2 names."

Connor offered.

"Three actually. His surname is Strong so..."

"You named him, Match Strong?"

Robin asked me incredulously.

"Yeah. You gotta problem with that?"

I sneered at the shorter boy. Why are they knocking my naming sense dammit?! Don't they know you don't insult a man's pride in his ability to name things?

Match and Sai started giggling.

"Okay. I'd like a Kryptonian name please."

Impeccable manners. Why can't Breeze be as polite as Match? But she wouldn't be the lovable Breeze I know.

"Great!" Connor's face split into a wide smile, shocking Aqualad, Robin and I. The Boy Wonder's hand flashed and I knew he'd just taken a picture of the happy Connor

"Okay how about Kat-El?"

Aaaaaand I just realized this could be a bad idea.

Match thought about it for a while but shook his head. I was already anticipating this would take longer than I could wait. Not to mention, I had a different appointment to get to.

As if on cue, the door to the next room swung open. Star and the rest of the girls came out. Immediately, I could tell something was off. Starfire's eyes found mine and she smiled gently. There was a certain glow about her as well as an apprehension.

Looking at the guilty looks on the faces of M'gann and Artemis, it was clear they were hiding something from me.

Kai was holding Star's hand and upon seeing me, she flew over and gave me a hug.

"Dad, are you leaving? Please don't go. Not yet."

Her hands were slung over my neck in a tight grip. I rubbed her back with a little frown. Something had her worked up.

"Everything's going to be fine Kai, don't worry. I'm not going to stay away for too long. I couldn't even if I tried."

Kai nodded a little in my embrace and I felt a few tears drop from her face. Now I knew something was definitely up.

"Kai, what is it? Is everything okay?"

"Mmmhhhmm, everything is okay dad. And don't worry I'll protect mom."

With that she left my embrace and flew towards Robin, holding out his utility belt.

"Breeze said you were being mean to Dad."

Robin looked between us, opening and closing his mouth in quick succession at the bluntness.

"I'm sorry?"

"Mmph! Next time I'm stealing your cape too and then you won't look like a beautiful rainbow."

Breeze materialized next to Kai and stuck out her tongue at Robin.

We couldn't help it. Star and I started laughing at the absurdity of it all. I could feel the others stare at us strangely but they weren't used to the kid's shenanigans. Once they did, they would understand.

I spent a few more hours with them before finally having a one on one private conversation with Star. She had been acting weird the entire time.

"What's going on Star?"

I asked her, wrapping my hands around her toned belly and breathing in her scent. I could sense her hesitation before she lightly shook her head. Her hands went to the yin yang pendant hanging off her neck.

"It's nothing. Just...just promise me that you'll come back."

"Of course."

I answered without hesitation.

"It's only going to be 2 weeks at the most."

With time dilation, I was looking at more than enough time to do both advancement trials and get preliminary control of water.

"Okay."

She simply answered and we stayed like that, looking out at the earth before I finally had to go.

The boom tube opened up and after hugging the kids and Star, I nodded to the team and left.

The first stop I needed to make before my seclusion was observing the meeting between Luthor and my Homunculi puppet. This was the start of our working relationship and it would also herald the start of the countdown to The Light's end. The meeting was being carried out in the most cliche' place of all, the docks.

The Brain and Ultrahumanite crashing the meeting to kill Luthor however, was not in my plans at all. From my vantage point in the docks, I could clearly detect Ninjas of high capability pouring out from the shadows and the one who led them was a figure I never thought I would see in this world.

Shredder from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What the fuck is going on?