Chapter 1 – Rabbit in a Hat

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This is the sequel to my first story Definition of Family and I suggest you read that first before toy read this or it won't make since. As you know the story left of with Damian leaving a note on his bed after he snuck out of his room…But what does the note say?

5 Words…5 Words…Who would've thought 5 simple words written in crayon could so drastically change his life along with the lives of everyone he knew. Tim's body froze as he continued to look at the paper in the destroyed room of a 13 year old boy.

As soon as his body stops trembling he slowly walks downstairs with the creak of each step taken becoming more and more muffled by the thousands of noises going on in his stomach and the millions of thoughts swarming in his brain. He finally reaches Dick who is standing with Alfred in the cave and they are staring at Tim whose face is as white as the paper clinched in his fist. Alfred sees this and speaks to him,

"Hello, Master Timothy…Eh- What is that you're holding onto so tightly."

Tim doesn't speak. Dick looks at him wiping the non-existent sweat from his brow and speaks.

"Tim…Is there something wrong?" Tim looks at him and slowly opens his mouth to speak.

"Damian…He's gone…And…"

Dick is obviously concerned now at the mention of his grieving younger brother.

"He left a …note" Tim chokes heavily as he says the word note, the lump that you get when you're sad/nervous to let you know you're still human. Much to Tim's surprise, Dick is not surprised to hear of his irrational kid brother doing something irrational and childlike. Even with all of the assassin training Damian had, people tend to forget 2 major things about him.

Number one – He's never taken a life before…Something none of his brothers could attest to for themselves, although he was trained to do so.

Number two – Despite being thrust into an adult's world he is in fact still a child, and will act as such.

"Of course he ran away Tim, have you ever met Damian? You should've expected this." Tim says nothing but he slowly walks towards his brother, who is much more concerned than what he was letting on. He walks past Alfred and stands toe-to-toe with Dick, the obviously taller man 8 years his elder.

He doesn't say anything… He just hands Dick the note.

Jason is…

Dick drops the paper on the ground and his mouth is agape.

"Master Dick! What does the note say?"

Dick opens his mouth to speak, but realizes that he has nothing to say and instead hands Alfred the note. Alfred is trying very hard to find the right words.

"I never knew this." Dick looks at Tim.

"So, Tim you had no idea?!"

"No." Dick turns to Alfred.

"And You?!"

"I-I had no idea Master Dick." Dick's frustration gets the better of him and he throws everything off of the desk in front of him. Y'know, how you see in movies.

"And how is Damian the only person who knows this?

Tim scratches his nose, which is his weird quirk that means that he is nervous. He continues to look at the ground as he talks to Dick.

"Jason must have told them while they were away." Tim scratches his nose again.

"…But…That doesn't explain who she is." Alfred looks at Tim rather confused.

"She?...Master Timothy." Dick responds to Alfred's query.

"Damian said that Jason's last words were…

"Hey, Damian…Misses Jones apple pie was delicious, wasn't it?"

"…But…The note says." Dick quickly responds.

"I know Alfred…I know what it says...That's why we have to go to Jason's apartment."

Tim and Dick hurry and get dressed in their respective costumes and rush over the massive array of vehicles in the BatCave.

"...But, why there Sir?" Dick starts his car, with Tim in the passenger seat. He pauses for a moment and looks at Alfred.

"Because…That's were Damian is?"