So this is part 1 of Broken Wings. Just to recap, this takes place 20 years after Season 1. Aisling and Jackson, in addition to most of the former team, are on the Justice League. They have 3 kids: Lily aka Midnight Streak who's 12, Chandler aka Coda who's 11, and Annabelle aka Firefly who's 9.
Five Hours Earlier:
“What is it?” Lily asked, a faint yawn in her voice. The three kids were gathered in the living room, in their pajamas, slumped over the couch. Their parents were standing in front of them, blocking the TV, much to Chandler’s displeasure. He was laying on his back, his feet propped up against the arm of the couch, and leaning to the side, trying to see around them. Annabelle was absorbed in a book, their white-and-tan German shepherd Helena curled up next to her head, and Lily was seated in between them, sitting straight up eagerly.
Their mother stepped forward. “Guys, we’re leaving again.”
The kids let out a collective groan, Annabelle slammed her book closed and dropped it on the table, making Helena jump, Chandler rolled over onto his stomach, annoyed, and Lily’s shoulders slumped a little.
“But why?” Annabelle pleaded, her turquoise eyes, an exact replica of her mother’s, wide behind her tiny glasses.
Their father looked down at his disappointed kids sympathetically, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. “Sorry guys. I know it sucks, but the League needs us.”
Chandler’s eyes narrowed, and he sat up, folding his arms across his chest. “You’re not gonna leave us again,” he said defiantly. Their mother smiled, ruffling his dark brown hair affectionately.
“We have to. Unless you want the world to explode.”
Annabelle began to giggle, but then, thinking better of it, stopped herself, reassuming the defiant expression that all three children shared.
“Hey,” the father said, leaning into his son. “It’s not all that bad. You get a night to yourself. You can watch more TV, Chan.”
Chandler brightened a little at that, but he still wasn’t completely happy.
“Why can’t we go with you?” Lily whined.
“Yeah,” Chandler chimed in. “We have powers too!”
Annabelle looked down. We, she thought, is not the right word. Why did she have to be the one without powers? She stroked Helena absentmindedly, trying to cheer up.
“You even gave us hero names!” Lily added.
The parents stepped back, giving each other a meaningful glance. “Why did you give them hero names, Aisling?” the father asked. “I told you we’d never hear the end of it.”
Aisling laughed. “Those meant nothing. You know that, Jackson.”
Jackson shook his head, then went back over to the couch, where the kids were still slumped.
“I’m sorry guys. We have to go. But when you’re older, I promise, you’ll be heroes with us. We’ll fight together, the five of us. Hey, maybe you’ll join the team. Whaddya say to that?”
Lily smiled. As the oldest, having just turned twelve, she had heard quite a few conversations between her parents about when she would be joining the team. Jackson had been firm, she had to wait until she was at least fourteen, but Aisling had pointed out that there had been kids there as young as twelve.
Aisling turned to Lily, giving her a kiss goodbye. “You look after them tonight, okay?” she asked. Lily nodded.
Aisling gave Chandler a light hug, ruffling his dark hair, then moved on to Annabelle, who stared up at her, blue-green eyes wide with fear. “You promise you’ll let us fight with you someday soon?” she asked, her voice faint.
“I promise.”
Aisling broke away, and after giving the children a last meaningful glance, followed Jackson out the door.