Gotham City Zoo. Melissa loved it here. Dick knew this and so, that's where they were. The reason Melissa liked it so much? Bud and Lou were here. That's where Melissa preferred to be when she came to the zoo. Right now, she was talking to Harley's beloved pets as if they were babies. The hyenas in response were pawing the glass of their enclosure desperate to get to Melissa. Dick meanwhile, stood off to the side videoing the interaction. He'd bought a video camera just for fun and now, he loved to video Melissa.

"Melissa?" he asked pulling the girl back to reality and away from the hyenas.

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to go to the pet store?"

"Why?"

"I think you oughta get a pet you can own legally. What do you say?"

"Five more minutes?"

"Okay,"

After they had left the zoo, Melissa wanted to go to the shelter. Once there she took her time looking at all the animals. She stopped in front of a pair of Border Collies. They were so sweet, they walked right up to her.

"You like them?" Dick asked a bit surprised. He had expected Melissa to pick a bigger, tougher looking dog.

"I've got a soft spot for Border Collies,"

"Why?"

"I don't know I just do,"

"You want them?"

"Both of them?"

"I already asked Jenny she's fine with it,"

Melissa was elated. She was going to take not one but, two wonderful dogs home. Melissa was allowed to take the dogs into the play area while the adoption papers were being dealt with. The two male border collies were happy to be in the sunshine and delighted in playing with Melissa who happily played fetch with them. One of the border collies had red and white fur while the other had mostly white and black fur.

When it was time to go Dick found Melissa giving the dogs belly rubs.

"Have you decided on names yet?"

"That's Marley," Melissa said pointing to the black and white dog "And this is Jesse,"

"Let's take these puppies home, shall we?"

"Let's go,"

A few days later.

Melissa was passed out in bed. Nothing could rouse her from slumber except the dogs that slept near her bed. Marley woke up wanting to be let out. He jumped on to Melissa's bed and licked her in the face begging to be let out. Melissa rolled over and sat up. She was plenty used to things of this nature after all she did care for Bud and Lou in the absence of her sisters. So, tiredly the pajama-clad girl slid out of bed and escorted Marley to the door careful not to wake the still sleeping Jenny. After Marley had been let out Melissa returned to her room. She loved her new pets. Of course, they weren't a replacement for Bud and Lou the hyenas had been Harley's anyways. Jesse and Marley though were hers. She had pets of her own now. All because of her boyfriend. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Dick clearly enjoyed surprising her but she didn't think it was needed.

When she brought this up Dick would remind her that her childhood wasn't easy.

"You deserve to be spoiled," he would say.

"No, not really," she would scoff.

"Face it Firecracker I'm not going to stop," Dick would then say.

"I really want to hit you now," Melissa would growl.

"To the Batcave," Dick would respond.

The rest of their night would be spent sparring with each other as they exchanged witty remarks and discussed the prospect of Dick going solo.

"Melissa would you design my costume?"

"I'd love too,"

Now, Melissa had pets and yet another major responsibility. She was going to design Nightwing's costume! Oh how would she ever handle this?