AN: For the Execute (AKA the ship for Barbara/Dick) Week on tumblr. I'm not very good at romance, so sorry in advance :p

Dick and Barbara are both twenty in this, btw. The setting…let's have it be some tiny little café in Gotham, in autumn.

I'll be updating this all week! Unless I fall behind with the prompts...

~Zara

Beginnings:

Civvies-clad Dick Grayson sits at the table right beside the window, uncovered blue eyes constantly jittering to the window to look at the busy street outside. An untouched coffee sits in front of him, steam rising from it in tendrils.

He's only been waiting for his yet-to-show-up companion for about ten minutes, but it feels like ten years. He's unconsciously clasping an unclasping his hands, legs contorting occasionally under the table in ways only an acrobat can manage unconsciously. He smooths his already-ironed sweater and pulls at the fraying threads of his jeans. Any observer could tell he's stressed.

He glances at the window again and his heart jumps into his throat as he spots a head of red hair that he'd recognize anywhere.

He closes his eyes as he hears the bell above the café's door jangle as it opens. Barbara Gordon slips into the chair in front of him, taking her black coat off to reveal a white blouse and draping it over the back of her chair.

Dick clears his throat, hand going up to brush his ebony bangs out of his eyes. He shifts uneasily, says, "Erm- hi."

She ignores him, instead smiling sweetly at the waiter that has just approached their table. She orders a skinny vanilla latte, just as she always has in the past.

The waiter leaves and then she turns to look at the boy- man, really, who she's known since she was nine. She still doesn't say anything.

He takes initiative; it's a leader thing. "Look, I- I know I have a lot of explaining to do about what I did. But- but Babs, you gotta understand, it was necessary-"

"Look, Dick," she says, leaning forward a bit. "What I understand is that you lied. To me. To the team. To everyone. I understand that Kaldur wasn't really evil and Artemis isn't really dead."

"I- I know," Dick mutters, hand brushing his hair again; he's been doing that a lot of late. "I know it sounds bad. I- just let me explain, I-"

"Why do you think I'm here?" she says and he almost smiles at the hint of her usual snarkiness.

The waiter comes by with Barbara's drink and sets it down. She sprinkles a bit of cinnamon in, stirring the drink with a spoon. Her eyes are on him.

"Well?" she prompts. She's looking at him expectantly.

He breathes deeply and takes the plunge.

Three and a half hours and two refills of drinks later, he's done telling her everything. Absolutely everything: how and why Kaldur volunteered to go undercover, how they knew nothing about their enemy's motives, how one inside agent wasn't enough, how Artemis was the perfect candidate for joining Kaldur, plotting her 'death', him, Kaldur, Artemis, and Wally being the only ones in on it, everything.

His voice is hoarse with overuse by the end of it and Barbara's blue eyes are glistening. Whether with anger or sadness, he's not sure.

"Dick," she whispers, looking down and trying to meet his eyes; he's ducked his head, raven hair concealing his gaze. "Dick, why didn't you tell-?"

"Who?" he croaks, head shooting up. "Who else was I supposed to tell, Babs? The less people involved the better. I-"

"You could have told me," she whispers. "Or Bruce." She shakes her head, closing her eyes and biting her lip. "Anyone, Dick. You could've told anyone. You didn't have to be all alone."

"No," he mutters, trying to ignore the lump rising in his throat. "Anyone- anyone who was involved- their safety was jeopardized." His voice cracks at the end and he clenches his azure eyes shut. He tries to control his breathing.

"Dick," she murmurs, reaching out and covering his shaking hand with hers, "that- what happened wasn't your-"

"Kaldur's dead," he says hoarsely, tears escaping his eyes. "And it was completely my fault. I got him into-"

"I'm sorry, Dick," she says, voice changing to sound slightly scolding, "but you just told me that he volunteered for the job. You can't keep blaming yourself."

"I was leader, not him," he reminds her, angrily brushing his tears away. "It was my call and if I had- had told him no, he'd still be here."

"And the Reach would've won," she shoots back. "Kaldur's sacrifice wasn't in vain, Dick. Don't let that become false. We still need our leader, one who isn't haunted by what-ifs."

She takes a deep breath and leans forward again, tucking a curl of red hair behind her ear. She puts her hand over Dick's once more.

"Look, Dick," she says softly. She waits until he meets her gaze. "I- I'm willing to try again with you. From the beginning."

His heart does a somersault in his chest because he never thought he'd hear her say those words. And he can't describe how happy he is that she did.

Because he can't live without her. He's loved her ever since they were thirteen, since they were tiny and crushing on each other but too shy to acknowledge it.

Because his nightmares of snapping wires and screams used to be replaced with dreams of long red hair and soft whispers until she left him. Not that he blames her, of course. He was wrong to withhold so much information from her. Not exactly the basis for a good relationship.

Because after long nights consisting of arguing with Wally, discussing tactics with Kaldur and Artemis, and pretending to be Batman for Gotham, there's only one person whose company he craved.

Because he loves every bit of her. Her soft hair, her sweet eyes, her smarts, her wits, her independent attitude. And some tiny part of him says he doesn't deserve her.

"If," she says, bringing him back to the current situation, "you promise for no more secrets between us. Alright?"

"Yeah," he says, voice cracking. "Yeah, I promise."

And he hates himself for being so emotional, but more tears slide down his cheeks. He clenches Barbara's hand.

It's over. Artemis is back, safe and with Wally, living in Palo Alto. Kaldur sacrificed himself to save the team and stop the Reach. Bruce and the other Leaguers have returned, cleared of all charges.

And now, he has Barbara Gordon by his side again, despite how awful he'd been to her.

And all he can say is that he's finally feeling the aster.

Oh my god I can't write romanceeeee. I'm sorry for the awkwardness. Also, I'm no good at plots. I do fluff, not plots ;)

If anyone has any tips on writing romance, I am all ears!

Hope you liked it! Please review!

~Zara