Young Justice Season 5 - The Fifth Generation

Episode/Chapter 12 - Past

"He's so beautiful..."

"Uh-huh."

The two looked down at their newborn son, smiling to themselves, "what are we naming him?"

"I think..." The woman smiled as she felt the baby's soft cheeks, "Bart."

Her husband laughed, "Bart Allen! It suits him!"

"Mhm." The woman looked down at the baby's unmoving, sleeping face, "Bart... Bartholomew Allen. Yes..."

"That's odd. Why Bart? It doesn't seem related to any of your names!"

"Well, Dawn, there's no need for a connection with names..."

Dawn crossed her arms, "hey, just because I do--"

"Sh... Dan, Dawn, Bart's still sleeping..." Dan's wife shushed them.

Dan chuckled uncertainly to himself, "sorry, Mel..."

Dawn smiled, "Meloni... You're the perfect mother already."

"Ha. I wouldn't say that." Meloni chuckled, "by the way, where did Jeven ever go to?"

"Business called him away. If not for that, he'd be here. I swear." Dawn smiled.

"How about a middle name?" Dan rubbed his chin.

"Dan... He doesn't need a middle name." Meloni laughed.

"But he does. How about... Wallace?"

"Or... Just my maiden name?"

Dan looked at her, then shrugged, "sure. Bartholomew Thawne Allen."

"Your maiden name." Dawn sighed, "Meloni Thawne, right?"

Meloni nodded, "yep."

"But... Why, Bart? Again?"

Dan took Bart into his arms, "because... After Dad. Barry."

"Oh."

The room went silent, until Dan broke the silence with warm laughter, "who knows? Maybe he'll grow up to be a speedster, too."

Meloni grinned happily and nodded in agreement, "he'll be a speedster, just like his grandfather and your uncle... And his father and aunt."

Dan nodded, holding Bart out in front of him, "the Speed Force... Will continue to live on through him."

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"Now watch this!" Dan began running in circles in the empty parking lot he'd taken Bart to, "see? Then this forms a tornado-like funnel. Now you try."

Bart clenched his fists and imitated his dad, pumping his fists in the air, "yessssss!!"

"Good job!" Dan laughed, then turned to see Meloni walk up to them. "He's grown up so fast... Is the Speed Force in him really doing that?"

"It's only been two years... And he already looks like a 13 year-old..."

"Come on, Dad! Let's try something harder!" Bart clenched his fist.

"Sweetie, don't overwork yourself." Meloni chuckled, "how about we head home? Your cousin should be coming over in a little bit."

"Really?" Bart's eyes lit up in excitement, "let's go, let's go!"

Dan and Meloni watched as Bart ran off towards home, "he needs to learn to slow down."

"That's not something he can control now." Meloni shook her head, "he's already in eighth grade. He's learning so fast and his brain is developing so fast, too."

"Let him be for now." Dan smiled, "he'll be fine."

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Five minutes later, Dan and Meloni got back home to see Bart literally running around the house as Meloni's brother, his wife, and son walked towards the front door.

"Bart! Let them come in!" Meloni called as she went to go greet her brother and sister in law.

"Hey, Bart." Their son said in a blunt voice but with a smile on his face.

"Hey, Thad!" Bart stopped in front of his cousin and planted his hands proudly on his hips, "Thad Thawne! Your name is so cool, you know that?"

"Shut up. Remember I'm twelve years older than you." Thad scoffed, "you're two."

"Well..." Bart held his hands over his head, "I'm practically your age right now, isn't that crash?"

"Sure. Crash." Thad rolled his eyes, then scratched his blonde head, "look, kid, I don't really want to--"

"It's okay, I can show you again!" Bart cackled as he sped in and out of the house, showing Thad his speed.

"Hmph..." Thad watched his little cousin, feeling a mix of emotions...

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"You've always wanted a baby brother?"

12 year-old Thad Thawne nodded excitedly, "uh-huh!"

"Well, Aunt Meloni just had a baby boy!"

Thad's excitement boiled out in energy as Thad ran around the house happily, "I'm going to have a baby cousin!"

"His name is Bartholomew. But he goes by Bart."

"Bart Allen!" Thad cheered, "we're going to be like brothers, Dad!"

Mr. Thawne laughed, "I sure hope so."

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Now I don't know what I want... Thad glared at the yellow bolts that followed the speedster in and out of the house, "stop, Bart."

"Why?" Bart came to a slow stop in front of his cousin, "isn't it fun?"

"For you, maybe. But not all of us have speed, you know." Thad crossed his arms.

"Oh, sorry." Bart fiddled with his fingers, "how about Legos?"

Thad sighed, "I guess so."

Bart smiled, pleased with his move, then grabbed Thad's arm and dragged him inside.