A/N: This story just popped in my head one day. I decided to write and at first it was just going to be one-shot. As I wrote the first chapter I decided to make it longer. So here is the first chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

Summary: Richard and Kori's marriage is on the rocks. Until one day their daughter discoverers something that they had both had forgotten. Something that helped bring them together in the first place.

Masked Teddy

A little girl five years old was sitting in chair eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Her legs dangled from the chair and she kicked them back and forth. She heard Christmas music float in from the living room. She had clear view of Christmas tree and the window where the snow was falling outside. Her mother was putting up the peanut butter in the fridge and her baby brother was in playpen. He was making baby noises as her mother called it. The only thing that was missing now was her daddy.

"Mommy when is Daddy coming home?" asked little girl as she looked towards the window again.

"Soon Mari," replied her mother.

Just as she had put the peanut butter in fridge she then heard Conner crying from the playpen. She left Mari who was still eating her sandwich and she was distracted for the moment. It was a few days before Christmas and Richard had promised to be back a week ago. Kori sighed what a year had been and thought about everything that had been happening.

"It's okay baby," cooed Kori as she took the small boy in her arms.

Conner looked up at her with his big green eyes and seeing it was his mother stopped crying.

"Do you miss your daddy too?" asked Kori to her little one.

Kori smiled and then ran her hand over what little hair he had on his head. She looked back into the kitchen and Kori suddenly froze to see empty chair. Mari was missing but she breathed a little when she thought she might have gone to her room. She looked around in the living room hoping that might be playing hide and sneak instead. It was one of her favorite games and Mari was really good at it. Maybe she was trying to find Christmas presents again thought Kori. Kori had brought home gifts from shopping trip and Mari had been curious for who they had been for. Kori had to hide them and ever since she caught Mari looking for them several times. She began to look all over the room then when she was heading for closet she felt a sharp tug. Conner had pulled her hair and it hurt. For minute a bright flash a light appeared and surrounded Kori. Then it immediately stopped as quick as it appeared and Kori looked down at her ring. Another yank got Kori's attention turned back to her son.

"No," said Kori sternly as she took Conner's hand away from her hair and Conner just giggled.

The closet was empty no Mari in there trying to search for the gifts. She found Conner's blanket in closet and she picked it up. Conner saw it and tried to grab from Kori's hands. She was trying to stop Conner since he was wiggling around in her arms as she was holding the blanket. Then she heard a noise and she turned quickly to darken hall. She turned on the light all the doors were shut there was nothing and then she turned off the light.

"Mommy!" cried Mari as she suddenly appeared behind her.

"Mari!" said Kori as she turned to see her daughter.

She about scared her mother with suddenly appearing and she swore she got that from her father. There were wet footprints leading up to where Kori held Conner.

"Mari where have been?" asked Kori looking at her daughter.

"I went outside to see if Daddy was back," said Mari. "I thought I heard a car."

"You went outside I didn't even hear the door," said Kori.

"I'm sorry," said Mari as her mother lead her into the living room.

She set Conner down on his blanket and gave him his favorite stuff animal that was nearby. Her black hair was wet and blue eyes were wet with tears. She then hugged her mother and cried gently in her arms. Kori then moved her and Mari to an old rocking chair that Richard had brought when Mari was born. There she rocked the little girl in her arms as she cried. She comforted her daughter and she watched Conner play with the stuff animal.

"He is never coming back," said Mari finally said when she stopped crying.

"Mari why do you say that?" asked Kori a little shocked.

"He's not here," said Mari. "He is never here. Does he still love us?"

"Yes he loves you and Conner very much. He's just having trouble getting back to us. He really wants to be home with us," said Kori in gentle voice.

An hour later after Mari was reassured that her father would be coming home. Mari slipped off her mother's lap and played with her brother on the floor. Kori smiled and slide off the rocking chair to join her kids on the floor. When it got dark enough Mari asked her mother to turn the Christmas lights. Bright glow of Christmas amused Conner as the lights blinked on and off. Mari and Kori laughed as Conner got excited about the lights. Then Mari suddenly got up from the floor and ran towards the window. Car lights shined brightly for moment into the room.

"Daddy!" screamed Mari as she ran to the door.

Kori grabbed Conner in her arms and ran behind Mari to the door. Mari particularly flow to her dad and hugged him on the porch. He hugged her and kissed her check.

"Daddy's home!" announced Mari to Kori who was standing at the door.

"Richard," said Kori.

"Kori," said Richard and he kissed her on lips.

"Ew," said Mari.

"Ew this," said Richard as he reached out to grab his daughter who screamed and ran behind Kori.

"Hey there little fellow," said Richard as he saw his son and took him from Kori.

Kori watched as Richard took both of the children and showed the little gifts he gotten them. Mari loved what Richard had gotten her and Conner was more interested in looking at wrapping paper. She sat silently on the couch and watched her children interact with their father.

Later on after Mari was put to bed and Conner was already in asleep. Kori was sitting on the bed and looked up as Richard came in.

"Hey what's wrong you've barely said anything to me since I came home," said Richard as walked over to her.

"I missed you so much," said Kori.

He wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. A smile came on her face and her moment it seem like time stopped. This moment something she hadn't felt in so long and she wanted nothing more then to stay in this moment.

"I wish we could just stay like this forever," said Kori.

Richard suddenly breathed deep and he looked at his wife.

"I have to go back to Gotham after Christmas," said Richard.

Kori suddenly pushed him back and stood up facing her husband. She suddenly felt rage as she thought of being here all the time without him. He was off in Gotham or Bludhaven whatever it was called. He was still playing hero and Kori had given up it to raise their family.

"Again. You are gone for so long and then you stay a couple days. What about your family?" said Kori calmly through she would like to yell at him.

"Kori you don't understand-," started Richard.

"Richard you don't understand. That today your own daughter thought you were never coming back. I had to comfort her today and tell her that you were coming back," said Kori.

"Kori-," started Richard.

"I don't even know you anymore!" yelled Kori as she walked away from him into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Richard fell back on the bed and looked up to the ceiling. Kori's words cut through like knife and she was right. He spent most of his time away from his home fighting in crimes in Gotham or Bludhaven. The last time he had been home all they did was fight. He left and given a promise to be home a week ago. Instead he had call and told that he couldn't make home any earlier for Christmas. Kori hung up on him and he didn't blame her for being mad. He decided to sleep on the couch so he grabbed a blanket and pillow. He made himself comfortable on the couch and laid there staring up at the ceiling.

How did this ever come to this? Kori and Richard both asked themselves as they went to sleep.