Dick watched as they lowered her coffin into the ground. The moment he dreaded most had arrived. Barbara had left him. For good this time. Dick Grayson stood alone by his wife's grave. The rest of the party had left for the reception at the manor. Dick just stood there, watching as the graveyard workers piled the dirt, sealing Barbara away from his life forever.

When he'd first found her body, he'd been in shock. Blood had been splattered all over the monitor womb. He had tried to wake her, refusing to believe she was really dead. He knew it was ridiculous, but he couldn't help but think that if he'd gotten there sooner, maybe he could have saved her.

No, he thought to himself, then we would both be dead. Where would the kids be, then?

The kids. His children. Their children. M.K. and Jimmy Gordon-Grayson. Dick was ashamed to admit that, once he'd found Barbara, he had been completely oblivious to their presence. They had been there when she died. There must have been just enough warning for Barbara to get them out of Oracle's Lair before...

Dick's body racked with sobs. He fell to his knees on the soft earth. He hadn't realized how close he'd come to losing all of them. But then, the twins hadn't realized how close they'd come to losing him in that battle against Harm and Secret. Dick had wanted to die, had wanted to be with Barbara. It had been Martha who'd literally talked the life back into him. Jimmy and M.K. Who would take care of Jimmy and M.K. if he died? Of course, Dick knew it was in his and Barbara's wills that Tim take the kids. Tim, however, was in a coma now. It was anybody's guess when he would come out of it… if he would come out of it. But even not knowing Tim's fate, Dick knew he had to live for his children. He'd lost both his parents, and he loved Bruce for taking him in. He loved Selina too, for caring for him like he was her own, but he understood, as Bruce did, that nothing could replaces one's actual parents. No matter what, he had to be there for M.K. and Jimmy.

Purging his grief, pain and guilt with his tears, Dick did not notice the presence behind him until he felt the a strong hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Bruce standing over him.

"Son," he said.

"She's gone, Bruce," Dick barely squeaked out.

Bruce nodded.

Dick looked at the ground again. "The last time I saw her... alive... we... we fought." Bruce stiffened behind him. "She didn't want me to take the mantle. She didn't want me to become... you." Dick swallowed. "I can't do it, Bruce. I can't take it. If nothing else, for her, I can't... for her." He looked up at Bruce. To his surprise, he wasn't receiving the patented Bat-glare.

Bruce nodded. "I understand." He looked toward the cemetery gate. "We should get to the reception, Dick. People are expecting you."

Dick's face tightened. "I don't care about..."

"You are not the only person grieving, Dick. Back at the manor, she has friends mourning her departure. And family. Her father. Your children." Bruce snapped. Then his tone softened. "There are people there for you, too. You are not alone in this, Dick." His eyes bore down into his son's. "You do not have to go through this alone."

Dick stared at Bruce in wide-eyed shock. "Okay. You got me. I'm being a bonehead. Since when have you been all in touch with your feelings?"

Bruce grunted and started slowly toward the gate. He still wasn't used to the cane. "Come on," he ordered.

Dick sighed and followed.

***

The reception was starting to wind down. Bruce was right; he did have plenty of friends and family to support him. Of course, Roy and Wally—the surviving original Titans—were there, as were Barbara's own costumed teammates, Dinah and Helena. Other members of the hero community, who knew that Barbara had been the all-knowing Oracle, were there. Alfred was seeing the last of the guests out.

Dick excused himself and made his way upstairs to Tim's room. Bruce had brought Tim here from the JLA medical unit as soon as it was deemed safe, and Dick felt a great need to see his little brother. When he opened the door he found Cissie, Tim's fiancée curled up in the giant armchair next to the bed.

"Dick!" She'd been crying and quickly tried to wipe away the tears. "I didn't see you there."

Dick flushed. "Sorry, I didn't know you were in here. I-I just needed to see Tim."

Cissie smiled. "I understand. I… I'm sorry I didn't make it to the services."

"It's okay."

"I just... it wasn't that long ago, I had to bury Mom."

"I understand, really. And someone needed to be here with Tim."

Cissie nodded. "I don't want him to be alone when he wakes up."

Dick swallowed a lump in his throat. He looked at Cissie, really looked at her. She looked awful. Bruce was right. He'd been so absorbed with his own grief he hadn't been able to see all the pain around him. Dick took the opportunity to provide her some of the comfort others had been providing him with all day.

"Hey, Ciss, you know, if you ever need anything, you can come to me, or Bruce, or, well, any of us really. You don't have to be alone."

Cissie smiled again. "Thanks, Dick. But, I'm not alone. I have Tim."

Dick pursed his lips. "Ciss... when's the last time you ate?"

Cissie sighed. "Don't worry, Alfred has been keeping me well-fed… especially since I'm eating for two now."

Dick nodded. "Alfred's good for tha—two?"

Cissie flushed and looked away from Dick. "I'm pregnant."

Dick was shocked into silence. At first. "Omigod! That's great!"

Cissie blushed more deeply.

"How long? I mean, how long have you known? How far along are you? Omigod!"

Cissie chuckled. "I haven't known that long. Actually," she frowned, "I found out... that day."

Floored, Dick plopped into the extra chair by the window. "Wow. So, Tim didn't know, did he?"

"Actually, he knew before I did."

Dick quirked an eyebrow.

"J'onn sensed another soul among us, and as a precaution, Superman did an X-Ray scan and saw that I was pregnant. I rushed out to battle too quickly, though; I was so mad about what Harm did to Dad. Jon told Tim. It's why... it's why this happened." She took Tim's hand.

"Cissie, this is not your fault."

"If I had known," Cissie let her tears fall, "I wouldn't have gone out there, and Tim wouldn't have had to go out of his way to protect me, and he wouldn't be lying here like this."

Dick knelt before his almost-sister-in-law and hugged her tight. "Ciss, if I know Tim, and I think I do, he would have gone out of his way to protect you, baby or not."

"I just wish there was something I could do," she sobbed into his shoulder.

"You don't do anything. Tim is strong. And stubborn. Hell, he's probably just enjoying this nap and will wake up when he damned well pleases. Just to see the look on Bruce's face."

Cissie snorted a laugh.

Dick continued. "Listen, why don't you go take a nap or a bath or something?"

Cissie pulled out of the hug. "If Tim wakes up..."

"I'll stay with him. If he so much as twitches I'll come get you right away."

Cissie considered. She couldn't remember the last time she'd showered. She'd been by Tim's side, pretty much twenty-four seven. She'd had no reason to leave. Alfred had been bringing her meals up here, and Tim's room had an adjoining bathroom.

"You promise you'll call me if anything happens?"

Dick held one hand over his heart, his other in the air, as though he was taking an oath. "Scout's honor."

"Okay," she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Dick."

She got up out of the chair, stealing a glance back at Tim before she made her way to the door.

Dick took Cissie's place in the giant armchair, and regarded his little brother. Tim was a pale guy to begin with; now he seemed translucent. His big brother shuddered.

"Timmy, you gotta wake up," Dick muttered. "Cissie needs you. Your kid needs you... I need you."

When Tim didn't respond, Dick sighed and leaned back in the chair. He ached for the days when they were all well and happy.