Title: Rising Star

Author: Tuxedo Elf

Rating: PG

Summary: Dick Grayson's world is forever changed by one visit from his ex.

Pairings: Nightwing/Starfire Nightwing/Oracle

Notes: Random bunny bit hard... I love the idea of Mar'i, but I'm a huge fan of Nightwing/Oracle. This is most decidedly AU.

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She'd thought she could do it. Despite all she'd been through, her own troubled childhood, the wars, slavery, the turmoil of adapting to a new planet, she'd thought she could do it. It was instinct, wasn't it? It was the most natural thing in the universe for almost every major species.

The moment they'd placed the child – her child – in her arms, she'd known she couldn't.

Not that it had been easy to make the decision. She'd agonised for weeks. Had tried so hard to be what she was supposed to be – a mother. She'd cared well enough for her daughter, kept her warm, fed and clean. But there was an emptiness in her heart, that they'd always said a child was supposed to fill.

Human psychologists would have likely diagnosed depression, or post traumatic stress disorder. Maybe they were even correct. Certainly the traumas she had experienced had contributed to the way she felt now. She was not human though and there were none who understood how the Tamaranian mind worked to reassure her. There was a love for this child, a need to do what was right for her, but there was also a certainty that the girl's future was not with her.

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Dick's day had started normally enough. After a scant four hours sleep, he'd got up, taken a shower and had a bowl of cereal and three coffees before starting to get ready for work.

And then the doorbell rang.

"Early for visitors," he frowned, walking on still-bare feet to open it. The person standing there when he swung the door open was the last person he would ever have expected. "Kory?" he gasped, utterly thrown by the sudden turn of events. He hadn't known she was in Blüdhaven, let alone knew where he was living.

"Dick." She couldn't help but look at him. He hadn't changed much – the years were always kind to him. Still so handsome, so easy to smile. "I'm sorry... I should have called..."

"No... no it's fine, come in..." he stood back to let her in. Her hands were clasped against something held to chest, but he couldn't see what it was. "Are you okay? Are you in trouble?"

She smiled slightly. They hadn't been together properly in years, but he still cared so much. That was why she was here, why she knew this was the right thing. Even their occasional indiscretions – such as the one that had resulted in the reason for her being here today – were always warm, passionate but comfortable. "No... well yes, it's... complicated."

"I'm good at complicated..." he smiled. "What's wrong, Kory? You know you can tell me anything."

She nodded, yet hesitated. There was no going back afterwards, not for either of them. But the heartbeat against hers spurred her on. "Dick... I... you remember the last time we were together?"

"Of course..." He always remembered. Even when – maybe especially when – they were ill advised.

"There were... complications..." she sighed, and moved what she held. The bundle squirmed and let out a soft cry.

Dick's world stopped. He didn't need to be told, it was obvious.

"Kory..." he tried to remember to breathe. It didn't seem to be happening naturally at the moment.

"I... she's seven weeks old. I named her Mar'i but.. you can change it if you wish..."

"Change? Why would I?" He blinked, attempting to think. "Why... you could have told me... should have..."

Kory stepped forward, feeling a dull ache as she placed the baby in Dick's arms. "I should have... I wanted to. And I'm sorry, Dick... so sorry..." She blinked, tears threatening to overflow.

"I... it's okay... you're here now... we'll figure this out together, right?" He couldn't deny the leap his heart gave when she was placed in his arms. His daughter, his own child. Unexpected in the extreme but – incredible. He smiled, reaching out to touch a lock of hair that was as black as his own.

"No, Dick." She couldn't keep his gaze. "I'm sorry. I can't do this. I thought I could. I tried. I wanted to. But I can't. There's a bag outside... her things are in there."

As he held the tiny girl, Dick's world froze again. "I don't understand. What are you saying? Kory, we may not be a couple, but we can still do this together. Millions of people do."

"We're not them though. I'm not them. Dick... I'm sorry to do this to you. To her. I do love her, you'll tell her that, won't you? But I can't stay. I can't be her mother. I'm leaving Earth... going away." The tears fell as she reached out, touching her daughter's face, perhaps for the last time.

"What?!" He cried out, startling the baby, who cried in protest at the sudden disturbance. "Kory please... don't do this! She's your daughter!"

"No... she's yours..."

"Please..." He knew she was hurting, that her life had left some deep scars, but he hadn't realised it was this bad. "Let me help you. We CAN do this together."

"I wish we could." Before he could stop her she'd taken to the air, still crying as she flew down the hall, giving him no hope of going after her.

"Kory!" But she was gone, the trail from her flight the only thing left.

Mar'i cried again and in a daze, Dick retrieved the bag that had been left. In less than ten minutes his entire world had been turned upside down. Carrying the bag and the baby – his baby – back in, he tried to make sense of it all. It was an impossible task.

They sat for a while, Dick holding his daughter until she began to stir. Hungry perhaps, or dirty. Usually calm, he felt suddenly panicked. He had no idea what to do.

His phone rang and he fumbled to get to it, Mar'i still in his arms. "Hello?"

The irritated voice of Captain Amy Rohrbach sounded in his ear. "Where the hell are you, rookie? Your shift started thirty minutes ago!"

Oh. Work. He'd completely forgotten. "I um... I can't come in today, Amy. I have a.. family crisis." He blinked, trying to steady the squirming child. Wait... Amy had children. She'd know. "Actually... do you think you could come over? I have a bit of a situation..."

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