OH CHRISTMAS TREE:
By: ShadowWing

Standard Disclaimer: Batman and all releated characters belongs to DC Comics. Shadow Travis (Spirit Wolf) and all releated characters belongs to Val Gilliam. Belle Anderson (ShadowWing) and all related characters belong to me!

Winter in New York City was not pretty, winter just outside the smog, dirt and grime of the Big Apple was something else entirely. It was breathtaking, about a foot of snow had recently fallen snow giving the estates and private houses that were outside New York City limits the look found on countless Christmas cards and albums the world over.

Belle Anderson could care less about the snow, or how it looked, at the current time. For she was busy sifting through dozens of boxes in her family's attic. Her ancestral home, Anderson Manor, had been standing on this spot for almost a hundred years, Belle was starting to think that some of these boxes had been here longer. After five hours of solid work in the musty environment, her mission was finally completed.

"I think I found them all." she muttered with relief, standing in front of about two dozen good sized boxes all labeled 'Christmas Decorations'. Now for the really hard part, getting them to the library. She climbed down the narrow staircase and looked around for the Mrs. Peterson, the housekeeper. The coast was clear. Belle stood at the base of the staircase and looked at the boxes at the top. One by one she telekinetically lifted the boxes and 'carried' them to the bottom and stacked them neatly.

"Oh my Lord." muttered a voice behind her. Belle spun around and grinned.

"Hi Grampa. I think I got them all."

"We have that many ornaments?" William Anderson circled the stack carefully, he looked good for a man approaching his mid-seventies. Only recently had he started to use a cane to assist him walking, and that was due to an old injury not age. He was still active in society and business, despite what his business competiors said. "I'm going to have to buy a bigger tree."

"You said grab them all, and some may have other decorations." Belle waved a dismissive hand to the stack, "Besides I have never seen a 'small' tree in this house." she paused, "You didn't tell our guests what they'll be doing this evening, did you?"

"What?" He gasped in mock horror, "And spoil the surprise?" He grinned, "It's a family tradition Isobelle, who am I to mess with tradition?"

Belle shook her head as her grandfather walked off. Last year was the first Christmas in Belle's lifetime that he didn't spend it in New York. Her close friend, Shadow Travis, had invited her to spend Christmas at the Travis Ranch in Texas. Mama Helen, Shadow's mother-in-law, had invited Belle's grandfather. Both had a blast, and to show his appreciation her grandfather invited the entire Travis Clan, Shadow's grandfather, Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake, and Dick Grayson to Christmas at Anderson Manor.

It took a week of badgering on her grandfather's part to get Mama Helen to accept. He left it to Helen to get Paul, Kyle, Andrew and there significant others to come along. Belle tackled Shadow, who accepted and agreed to get her grandfather to New York. Bruce Wayne accepted, just for the excuse to not attend any Christmas parties in Gotham where the socialites would stake out the mistletoe in hopes he would walk under it. Tim would come up with Bruce, his father was away on business and since Tim couldn't come with him, encouraged him to go. Dick accepted muttering something about insanity running in her family if her grandfather was crazy enough to pull this off.

Shadow and her grandfather were due to arrive first. Belle dashed to her room to get cleaned up a bit before picking them up from the airport, the Gotham crew was next and the Travis Clan was the last later this afternoon. Belle said good-bye to her grandfather who was on the phone planning this afternoon's 'entertainment.'

Belle was waiting at the gate when Shadow came off the plane with her grandfather. Belle waved to catch her friend's attention, Belle promptly greeted her friend, "Hi Shadow, Sam." she stated with a smile.

"Do I want to know what your grandfather has planned?" asked Shadow as she helped her grandfather into the Crown Victoria, while giving silent thanks that the car was not Belle's Viper.

Belle finished stashing the luggage and hopped in. "No you don't want to know. I will say this, I haven't seen him like this in ages."

Shadow rolled her eyes, "Please try not drive like a manic, I want to live to see next year."

"Shadow," stated Samuel Black Horse from the back seat, "after life on a reservation and Helen's driving, I believe I could survive anything. Even your friend's less than perfect driving."

"Yes Grandfather." murmured Shadow, Belle was fighting to keep a straight face all the way back to Anderson Manor.

Once at the Manor Shadow remarked "Nice, looks better in daylight." Belle shot her a dirty look. Sam was amused by the antics of both women. Mrs. Peterson fussed over the guests, much to Sam's amusement and Shadow's exasperation. Belle shook her head, after freeing the two from the over-zealous housekeeper Belle lead them to the Library.

"Sam, Shadow Welcome!" greeted William as the two entered the room.

"Oh my." gaped Shadow, "How many books are there in here?" The ceiling of the room was at least 20 feet, if not taller. From floor to ceiling was covered with shelves filled with books. The only parts not covered by books were the fireplace on one wall, the desk on another wall, and of course, the door to the rest of the house and another that lead into the gardens behind the house. William was showing Sam to a chair by the fireplace while Belle answered Shadow's question.

"I have no idea. Maybe someday I'll have the time to go through them all." Belle shrugged, "This is more of a family room than a library though. The tree will be in here."

Shadow looked around, "What tree?"

"Why the one we are getting later of course!" replied Belle with an evil grin.

"Do you know how big that tree will have to be to look right in this room?" gasped Shadow.

"Yep."

Shadow paused, "Why do I have a sick feeling that almost everybody is going to get roped into helping with the aforementioned tree?"

Belle's grin grew, "Just the guys will be getting the tree, the ladies will get out the decorations."

Shadow eyes grew wide, "Those guys? Getting a tree? Oh man! I'd love to see that!"

"Don't worry, Richard is bringing a video recorder to document the event for posterity. The recorder wasn't even my idea, it was Grandpa's." Belle then dragged Shadow off to help cart the boxes of Christmas Decorations down to the library, leaving the two grandfathers to entertain themselves.

Everybody arrived with a minimum of fuss, the Texans were saying foul things about the weather, as predicted. Sara Travis, Andrew's wife, was complaining the loudest starting with how the snow was ruining her new boots to the cold weather was spoiling her skin. Everybody ignored her after the first ten minutes. Belle was also introduced to Phoebe McDougal, Kyle's finaee, they hit it off right away. Kyle looked worried. Richard and Dick were having fun confusing Mrs. Peterson while Paul laughed at the housekeepers exasperation. Tim was chatting with Bruce, while Andrew was looking for a retreat from his wife's complaining. Mama finally helped him.

Finally William brought order from chaos. One he got everybody's attention, he began to speak. "First of all I'd like to thank all of you for coming. Also I'd like to ask for you help in a...small project."

"What kind of project?" asked Paul.

"Well...." began William, "we need a tree."

"Where is this tree?" asked Bruce. Belle was grinning like a mad-woman, making Bruce even more suspicious.

"About 20 miles from here." replied William.

Everybody was silent. Paul spoke first, "You want us to get you Christmas tree?"

"I'll be going with you." replied William. "Along with all the gentlemen, excluding Samuel, of course."

Belle almost busted out laughing at the looks from the guys. Kyle spoke first "When do we go?"

About an hour later the men had piled into a truck and a van and were on they're way. After they left Sara whined, "What are we suppose to do?"

Belle rolled her eyes and replied "If they're bringing a tree, we better have decorations ready. Right?"

"Where's the decorations?" asked Phoebe,

"In the hall by the library," grumbled Shadow, "All two dozen boxes of them." she finished with a pointed glare at Belle.

Belle shrugged, "At least you didn't have to dig them out of the attic. Come on, those guys will be back before we know it.

To all the men's surprise, 'Operation: Anderson Christmas Tree' as Paul called it, was going smoothly. Belle was never going to believe this, thought Richard as he was taping the whole scene. William pointed out the tree he had bought earlier that week. Paul and Kyle worked on bracing the tree while Bruce and Dick worked on cutting it down. Tim and Andrew were getting the ties ready to get it on the truck. The only rough spots were Paul's of "That tree!" and Kyle trying to get everybody to start singing. A quick bath in a snow bank with William's approval soon cured that problem. As William was supervising the whole operation he wondered how Belle was doing.

Belle was not having fun. The reason could be summed up in one word. Sara. The woman was determined to have the tree decorated 'her' way. Even Mama Helen wanted to stuff the nearest candy cane down her throught. While Shadow and Phoebe were admiring the many different ornaments they unpacked and sorted from the boxes, Sara was comparing them to what 'she' had at home and how it was better. Phoebe finally had enough and snapped at Sara.

"How in this world can you say that those glass blown replicas you bought are better than the originals?!" Phoebe's brogue became more pronounced as her temper grew shorter.

Sara's jaw dropped, "Originals?" she squeaked.

"According to these marks I believe so." remarked Mama Helen, "No where did you got these Belle dear?"

"If I remember correctly they were brought here by the first Anderson's wife when they came from America." Belle continued, "We've added to the collection every generation since."

Well, that was the lull in the storm. For some reason both Belle and Shadow felt like Samuel was vastly amused by the whole scene. After an hour of Sara rating the decorations, the women were almost running to help the men with the tree. Of course Sara, asked "Too Bad you can't get it in the house."

Belle opened the door to the garden and said "What do you think this door is for?"

As soon as the door opened Sara began whining about New York's weather. Belle yelled "That's it! Come on gang, we've wanted do this for the past hour!"

Then Shadow, Phoebe, Mama Helen led by Belle, picked up Sara hauled her out the door then tossed her kicking and screaming into the biggest and deepest snow pile they could find. Paul, Kyle, Andrew, Dick and Tim lost it and dropped the tree. William jaw dropped "Isobelle!" he gasped.

"I'm sorry Grandpa." began Belle, "But she asked for it!"

"Anybody who objects will get the same treatment!" retorted Shadow. Hoots and cheers from the women followed.

During all of this Richard was busy video taping the whole scene grinning from ear to ear.

Several Hours later...

After the tree was put up, Sara dug out, and the manor decorated everybody gathered in the library for a cozy chat and to admire the tree. Sara was quiet, if she even opened her mouth all Belle had to do was reach for the door to the gardens to get her to shut up.

After they all retired Belle, Shadow, Tim, Bruce, Dick,and Richard doned very different clothing to spread a different type of Christmas cheer. As the assorted crimefighters left the Manor for the city proper, William Anderson watched them go from his window, and smiled.

Overall it was shaping up to be a typical Anderson Christmas.