JJ and Barby were sitting at their New York home, simply relaxing. JJ seemed to be working on multiple projects. He was reading a script but also seemed to be working on a small device. Just a tracker for Wayne Industries that SHIELD was interested in. He didn't like working with weapons but this was also for the Suicide Squad, or so he'd heard. The bullet was non-fatal as it was just a .22. But could be used to track them down later on. He'd hit a small wall and decided to take a break and read one of the current scripts he was being courted for. Meanwhile Barby was laying on the floor watching TV. Sure she was a near super genius for her age but at the same time she was enjoying My Little Pony.

'Daddy, you should do a My Little Pony movie. You could voice some superhero Pony or something.'

"Ok sweetheart. I'll let my agent know I'm open to voice work."

'Yay!'

She was about to get up and hug him when a small metal rolled into the middle of the room. He quickly pounced onto Barby, shielding her. He felt the shrapnel and heat on his back as the ball exploded. Barby was in the fetal position underneath JJ and aside from having her father tackle her seemed unharmed. She might have a bruise or two but she'd be fine. He lifted his head and looked around before the lights went out. He felt a kick to his jaw come out of nowhere that sent him rolling to the side. He could feel the warmth that meant blood was flowing and his nose was likely broken.

"Barby, run."

They'd practiced drills like this for awhile now so she knew what to do. Barby got up and ran, only to have a hand come out of the darkness and grab her by the shoulder. It was then someone stepped out who looked exactly like JJ, yet was dressed as Nightwing.

"Let go of her!"

Real JJ yelled as he ran towards them. Barby bit Nightwing's hand and quickly took off running. With evil JJ distracted JJ managed to kick him in the chest. The two quickly began to fight as Barby tried to escape. However they kept getting in the way of her escape. Evil JJ grabbed good JJ's arm and delivered a blow snapping it and throwing him through a window onto the patio. Evil JJ turned his attention to Barby and smirked. But suddenly she teleported away through a portal and was gone. Evil JJ cracked his knuckles and turned his attention to the good JJ who was getting up.

"Let's do this, imposter."

-----------------------------------------------------

Barby's latent powers were now active and a link with Rayne suddenly woke up. She teleported away, trying to get to safety. She knew Rayne had the means to keep her safe. Plus JJ had taught her to go to Rayne or her aunt or grandfather for safety. The link had automatically pulled her to Rayne. Barby appeared in the middle of May's living room where the girls were having a girls' night apparently. Barby's face had some soot and a little bit of JJ's blood on it. Otherwise she seemed fine. Scared, but fine.

'RAYNE!'

She yelled as she ran and threw her arms around Rayne's waist. She held on tightly, now crying but trying to hold back.

'It's dad! Someone dressed like Nightwing broke in and attacked him. You have to save him! He needs help!'

She cried, just wanting to be safe and get her dad to safety. Of course she had no idea she was simply a small cog in a very big wheel. She had stumbled into a massive war that was just beginning and had no idea what she was part of.

If you get the chance you better keep her

Rayne had simply been relaxing, lounging on May's couch as they spoke of all manner of things. She was finally giving some smaller details to her encounter with T'shan, figuring it was about time she told her May about all the fun she'd been having. There were so many stories to tell. Stories of T'shan, of Virginia Stark, of that idiot that went around with the name 'Blue Bat'. They knew the one: JJ Grayson. Not her Johnny, though. No, her Johnny was so much better, smart, charming, ready to do anything to keep her safe. He couldn't really care less about all that shit everyone else from their universe wanted with this world. No, they had their own goals here.

Goals that, while she was in the middle of a story, suddenly seemed to fall right into her lap.

She was actually a tad bit shocked when the girl suddenly appeared in the living room. Darling little Barby. Her daughter. Every time she saw her, it brought a small smile to her lips. She was everything she had always hoped her daughter would be, honestly. She was perfect. And, suddenly, she was showing that she was far stronger than even Rayne had ever realized. She heard the girl yell her name and she immediately sat up, a look of concern crossing her features. "What is it, Princess?" she asked when the little thing seemed to spring forward and wrapped her arms around her waist. Rayne froze for a moment before lifting her up onto her lap to hold her close. There was all sorts of soot and blood on her, that seemed to both worry and annoy her, but she kept her emotions to herself. She just held on and listened before a small smile crossed her lips.

She lightly rested her head on top of Barby's as the girl cried, on hand rubbing the little thing's back. "Dressed like Nightwing?" He was here. He was finally here. She had to keep her excitement toned down as she eyed May. She knew that May had been switched, she'd pretty much helped with that. But she hadn't realized that others were already starting to slip through the cracks though. "Do ya hear that? Two Johnny's. Tsk tsk." She paused, leaning back to try and lift Barby's chin up a little. "Tell me everything you saw, first. I need to make sure I'm prepared to save Daddy."

406	@spidergirl TNG Staff
hope this is okay

She's sweet as pie but she'll turn cold as a freezer

✿

May was so happy to finally be in this universe and be of use. Sure, like most she'd been here for awhile just simply observing May and trying to blend in. She wasn't that impressive really. Just kinda slutty and extremely messed up. But now she was just drinking and having some fun with Rayne. Not the kind of fun they used to have before Rayne met her Johnny, but fun none the less. May was up and refilling her glass when she saw a familiar portal. Well there were a few perks to this universe, namely this Olly. Apparently he and this universe's May had a thing, which could prove fun. Sure they seemed to never mention it to Rayne, but it was a small perk for now.

"Olly, dropping by eh? You know I prefer it when you call. But maybe you thought you did..."

She said with a laugh before hearing another voice. It definitely wasn't Olly. No, it was Alyssa. No, her name was Barby. May had to try and remind herself that in this universe she was Barby. It really was a terrible name. She even looked more like an Alyssa than Barby. She overheard everything Barby said and smirked lightly. Of course that was before she finally came into view and sat down beside Rayne. So everything was going into motion now, sounds good. May wasn't exactly with the others herself. Sure she wasn't against the whole being a ruler, but also knew it wouldn't be her that had a lot of power. So she figured she could at least help her friend Rayne and Johnny replace their daughter. They didn't deserve to lose Alyssa, it wasn't right. She knew this planet would likely be destroyed, but some would be saved. However seeing her teleport seemed to surprise both of them. Curious, definitely something they'd need to look into.

"She's right Barby. We'll go and get your dad."

Barby was vaguely familiar with May. Rayne had mentioned her a time or two and her dad seemed to know her. All she knew was that he didn't seem to like the idea of Barby being around her. Looking at her Barby couldn't see why. Sure the tattoos, piercings, revealing clothes, definitely not a role model type. But she looked like she'd be fun and she was being taught to analyze targets. Even from her low level training Barby could tell May carried herself like a warrior. She'd been in quite a few fights. She had lines on her knuckles, two permanent scars from throwing fists Barby assumed.

"Ok so I was watching My Little Pony while daddy was working on some stuff. Anyways this little metal ball came out of nowhere. Daddy tackled me and it exploded. Suddenly there was Nightwing attacking him. I couldn't escape and then suddenly there was a portal like yours and here I was."

She was still breathless and obviously worried. Things weren't going well for Barby, but she knew Rayne could keep her safe. At least until her dad came for her or she got a hold of the rest of her family. Sure Rayne was fun but she trusted her grandpa and aunt to keep her safe. Barby just needed to wait, her dad would be here soon.

"Do you think daddy got away?"

She asked as she nuzzled into Rayne. She was scared and deathly worried about her dad. Sure she knew the truth and knew he was tough. But she'd never seen someone like that attack him like he had been. He was tough, a trained fighter. But she'd also never seen him on the defensive like that.

If you get the chance you better keep her

"Trust me, had it been Olly, I woulda known before he even appeared," she mused to May before turning her full attention back to the little girl in her lap. Sure, it wasn't the real Alyssa, but it was such a perfect carbon copy. She was a real human girl. Well, not so human girl. She was alive. She was a real person, just in a different world. Nothing had happened to her here. A little bit of messing around with the girl's head, a few sorcerers and maybe a few less than pleasant things to remove any memories of this world, replace them with the original Alyssa's memories. Yeah, probably not the best of thing to do but, well, she wanted her girl back. Not some cheap replacement.

Having Barby in her lap, though, listening to her talk, she almost forgot that it wasn't Alyssa for a moment. She listened and tried not to chuckle. Well, Johnny certainly made an entrance, now didn't he? Though the fact that Barby had some how opened up a portal and got here, that was the part that she really focused on. She put up an air of concern, as if she really cared what was going on. Of course, she couldn't give two shits, not really. No, what she cared about wasn't what happened to that Blue Bat, but what happened to her Nitewing. And how Barby got here. "It seems to me like the trauma of the incident activated your meta-gene." She paused. She wanted to say something about how her daughter was more like her than she could have ever dreamed of but why spoil the fun already?

No. She hugged Barby close and nodded. "I'm sure he got away. But just in case." She stood up, picking the girl up with her, moving over towards May and settling the girl down in her friend's lap. "But, just in case, i'll make sure that nothing bad happens to him. In fact, I'll go get him right now. He needs to be somewhere safe. May-day, you keep her safe for me. Watch her. Don't let anything happen to her, okay? I won't take too long, I promise." She leaned down and kissed Barby on the cheek. "You can trust May, she'll keep you safe, I promise."

Rayne eyed May for a moment, trying to make sure she understood that nothing was to happen to Barby. She waited just a moment before she opened up a portal of her own and stepped through it. She made sure to close it behind her just as fast as it opened. She didn't need anyone stepping through. She tilted her head, a sort of wicked smile crossing her lips as she tried to catch sight of her Johnny, not really caring how JJ looked. "Ooooh Johnny baby, I heard from a very special source you were here. Need any help takin' care of the pest?"

490	@spidergirl TNG Staff
barby's totes adorbs

She's sweet as pie but she'll turn cold as a freezer

✿

May had always found the link the twins shared creepy but decided against mentioning it. Mainly because Rayne was always sensitive when it came to Olly. Sure not even remotely as sensitive as she and Johnny were about each other or their daughter, but still. May simply sat there calmly as she listened to Barby and Rayne talk. There was still a light awkwardness between the two, but still close. Of course that's because this Barby wasn't related to this Rayne, or possibly any Rayne as far as May knew. Sure they looked nearly identical, but May wasn't entirely sure how this whole alternate universe thing worked. All she knew was she was backing her best friend and that was all she cared about.

She grabbed Barby by the waist as she was set in her lap and smiled as she gently rubbed her back. She smiled, watching Rayne disappear into a portal, knowing she was going to reunite with her husband. They'd kill this universe's pathetic JJ, take their daughter and leave. Hell she'd even been tossing around the idea of taking Eddie along with those three and going to some other peaceful universe. They could live a normal life, something they all had wanted.

"Don't worry Barbs, Auntie May will take care of you. You'll see, Rayne will smack that fake Nightwing guy around, save your dad and be back in no time. Maybe then you and I can work on setting them up."

She said with a smile and tickle of her stomach. She had Barby giggling in no time. Sure she knew JJ was trying to hook up with this Rayne for some time. May couldn't fault him. She'd heard the story. While her Rayne and Johnny stayed together these two had split up. What a terrible idea, but she was clearly not as smart as the Rayne she knew. But of course May was naturally biased as to her friends. May knew to take extra special care of Barby. Sure she would anyways but even a scratch would result in a merciless beating first from Rayne and then from Johnny, provided she survived the first.

"Tell ya what. Why don't we watch some TV while I make you something to eat?"

She asked with a smile before flipping the TV onto some cartoons. She handed the remote to Barby and disappeared into the kitchen. She began opening cabinets, trying to find any food that wasn't leftovers. Apparently all may did was get take out, terribly unhealthy.

JJ was long gone. However Johnny Grayson, Nitewing, was still there. He was looking for anything he could use later on. A clue as to where this universe's Batcave was or where he might go for assistance. He was examining a panel behind a painting when he heard the familiar buzz of a portal. Drawing one of his escrima sticks he disappeared into the shadows and went to examine it. He may not like this JJ but the apartment was designed perfectly. Any time of day it cast lots of shadows, plunging entire doorways into darkness. He was more impressive than he thought, a mistake he wouldn't make twice.

He listed as Rayne, his Rayne went looking around, talking loudly. He was trying to hold back the smile on his face. He hadn't seen her in a year and he'd missed her terribly. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, picking her up.

'If I wasn't so happy to see you I'd be upset you're going around revealing yourself like this.'

He said with a smile before setting her down and letting go of her. He spun her around and gave her a quick, yet deep kiss.

'Damn I missed you.'

He said shaking his head. He was actually mildly impressed he'd gotten away so quickly and easily. He must've had escape routes planned out and plans for this. He'd under estimated JJ, not something he'd do again.

'But sadly no. JJ's quicker and smarter than I thought. He hit me with a couple good shots and disappeared over the balcony. No clue where he went, especially since I snapped his arm. Of course that's what he gets for putting his hands on a woman, clearly so far out of his league.'

--------------------------------------------------------

Barby looked up at May and nodded her head. Rayne wouldn't leave her here if May couldn't be trusted. Plus she'd always mentioned how her friend May was so much fun. Being left with the remote as May went to make some food she began flipping through the channels. She wasn't in the mood for cartoons right now. She stopped on an old movie of her dad's. Not a great movie and he was only in about a third of it. But she was worried so this would help her feel better. He had a crap role in the movie, some henchman or something. But it was the fight scenes that had really done the trick.