If Souls Return (Then Tell Them I Say Hi) - Tony Stark's Daughter in Gotham

Chapter 19: Thankful for Chaos

Harley and the Gordon's were invited over for Thanksgiving at the manor along with Selina.

Amber waited for Harley to arrive from the bottom steps of the stairs. Impatiently, she tugged at the sleeves on her red dress to make sure they covered her web shooters. She was eager to intercept Harley before the others, knowing that he planned on bringing the stuffed animal for Damian.

Selina was the first to arrive, looking on happily at Amber in one of the outfits they had picked out. Bruce quickly intercepted the woman, welcoming her into the manor and guiding her down the hall.

Minutes later the Commissioner arrived, and just as he had promised, Harley entered the manor carrying a blue giftbag filled with tissue paper.

"I still don't understand why I had to go to Build-A-Bear to get a stuffed animal and make it a custom costume," Harley complained as he handed over the bag.

"Trust me it's probably better you don't know." He would freak if he knew that Damian found out she was Spider-Woman. Amber carefully pulled apart the tissue paper to take a peek at the bear. "It's perfect," she said seeing the bear's ears poking out of the holes Harley had cut in the hood.

Hearing someone coming down the stairs, Amber quickly covered the bear back up.

"Did you bring a gift for Thanksgiving?" Dick questioned as he slid down the banister.

"This?" Amber swung the bag. "Oh, this is just a school project."

Dick didn't look like he believed a word Amber said.

Harley stepped closer to Amber. She supposed he was ready to defend the lie. While normally he'd tease her for such an outlandish statement, since arriving in Gotham Harley had grown more protective. She would tell him to knock it off, but she understood where the shift in their relationship had come from since losing almost everything else.

Dick noticed Harley's change in stance too. His eyes flickered between them coming to some conclusion that couldn't be good.

"Oh, that's sweet. Don't mind me, I'm just going to go pester Alfred in the kitchen," Dick said making himself scarce.

When he was gone, Amber told Harley she was going to find Damian. It would be better to get the gift out of sight before anyone else saw.

Amber found Damian in the family room sitting behind an armchair. Without her enhanced hearing she might have missed the sounds of the boy playing on a handheld gaming device. He looked like he was trying to hide away from everyone.

She approached him carefully, feeling bad when he startled at her speaking. "Hey, sorry. I wanted to give this to you." Amber held out the gift bag.

Damian immediately reached for the bag and pulled out the Spider-Bear. He traced his fingers over the soft fur and purple costume. His mouth opened in awe, and Amber thought it was one of the most adorable things she'd seen.

"Thank you," he said holding it close.

"Of course." Amber wanted to hug him but wasn't sure if he would appreciate it.

Damian was slowly becoming the little brother she never had. He reminded her so much of Morgan.

"I will go put it in my room," he said standing. On his way out of the room she heard Damian bump into someone.

"What have you got there?" It was Barbara asking Damian. "Is that a Batgirl bear?"

"No," Damian said running away.

Barbara rolled into the family room with her father. "That's strange, I could have sworn. . ." Her words trailed off as she saw Amber. "Hi there! Did you see what Damian was holding?"