Hello, all! Welcome to the debut of my new fic!

Besides me, did anyone of you when hearing about the DC reboot, go, 'Wait, no more Dick and Damian dynamic duo? What!' I haven't read the comics with those two (although I want to), but I love the team they made almost as much as Bruce and Dick's. And I love how Dick ended up being more of a parent to his little bro while Batman was presumed dead.

I said to myself, 'That's so unfair, reboot! Dick is like Damian's father and now you're tearing them apart!' And my self said back, 'Well, why not just make him his actual father and get on with your life?' ...Thus, this was born. Okay, rant over now. In conclusion, this is my version of how Damian was introduced into the YJ universe.

So, enjoy the Daddy!Dick fluff with a side-order of plot! Since it is set Post-Invasion, it will probably turn out majorly AU. Oh, well. Anyone else as blown away by Satisfaction and Darkest as me?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything DC related, Young Justice animated related, or anything famous. Thanks for reminding me, yet again, reality!

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. If you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes - Walter Schirra Sr.

Prologue: Picking the Locks

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"Guess who got you a present?" Zatanna pulled out the package hidden behind her back and handed it to the Boy Wonder with flourish. "Tada!"

Robin eyed the gift bemusedly.

"Uh, Zee, isn't Wally the one with the 'souvenirs?'"

"Yeah, but I thought you'd appreciate the gesture." She shrugged, bright eyes twinkling. "Open it."

So he did, and the torn wrappings revealed an intricately designed box, smooth and unyielding beneath his touch.

"It's a puzzle box," Robin stated wryly.

"Exactly like you," Zatanna smirked. "Like it?"

"Love it," he replied. "How am I supposed to open it, though?"

"That's part of the puzzle," she explained with a wink. "Did I mention it's an enchanted puzzle box, too?"

Robin laughed. "Gotta say, Zee, you do pick up the best gifts when you're gone for a year."

Her smile dampened just the slightest degree before perking back up again. "I had a lot of time to find something special."

Then the memory receded, and Robin—now Nightwing, but still Dick Grayson—took that time to reflect. It had been almost four years since the day Zatanna presented him with the box. And he still couldn't figure out how to open the damn trinket.

He used to pester or complain about it to her, knowing that she found his continued struggle amusing, and that any attempt at bribery or blackmail wouldn't work. The friendly teasing was what made it fun, not the effort he put into the task.

But Zatanna wasn't here to enjoy the joke anymore. Because she'd died in the invasion.

That was months ago—though at the rate time ticked by, it felt like an eternity—but the scars had yet to fade. Her loss had hit Rocket, Artemis, and he worst of all; for they had been the closest to their original teammate. The only person who might've mourned more was her father. However, there was no way to tell how Zatara was taking it or if Dr. Fate even allowed him such awareness. Probably not, considering how devastating this news would be to his host.

She had not been the the only hero to perish in battle. Certainly, she wouldn't be the last. Batgirl, another of Dick's oldest friends, would never fight again. Not due to the loss of her life, but the unfortunate loss of her legs. And as for Bart Allen...nobody really knew what had happened to Bart. Dick liked to think that he was whole and happy somewhere, maybe back in his own time. Nevertheless, he knew this might not be true.

Theirs was an occupational hazard, after all.

Most days, Dick could tread onward in life without thoughts of the magician girl grazing his mind. He'd dealt with tragedy before, and all the mechanisms of grief felt like old friends at this point. Batman's return from the trial on Rimbor with an innocent verdict helped with the coping, as did keeping busy with the re-building of Mount Justice and team recuperation.

But some nights, when the melancholic memories of their lost comrades threatened to overwhelm him, Dick would pick up the memento Zatanna had given him back then and try again. Each attempt proved to be fruitless, but instead of having somebody to laugh about his failure with, it only increased his sense of worthlessness.

"Enchanted puzzle box, huh?" Dick laughed to the midnight sky, where no one else could hear the bittersweet sound of his sadness. "Lot of good that does when you're dead, Zee."

Suddenly, as if he'd spoken the magic words, the hinges that had eluded him for nearly three years popped open. Breath catching in the back of his throat, Dick stared at the contents of the chest. All that it stored was a neatly folded piece of paper. With careful fingers, he plucked it up and began to read.

Dear Dick, it began.

If you're reading this, it means I'm gone. And if that's the case, I'm sorry for a number of reasons. That I hadn't lived longer. That you and our friends will grieve. That I never got to speak to my father one last time...

...Most of all, though, I'm sorry I never told you about our son.

Nightwing barely managed to catch himself before falling off the roof.

A son? ...no, he couldn't have...with Zatanna?! They had only ever been together that one, single night...

Flashing back to those mandatory (which were less informative and more embarrassing) "Sex Ed" classes at Gotham Academy, Dick could still hear the instructor's know-it-all voice warning, "Once is all it takes."

Banishing the memory from his mind, Dick continued reading.

It was years ago, Dick, and you were only sixteen. Way too young to be burdened with a child. Hell, I wasn't even ready for that kind of life-long responsibility. Between being a superhero and a teenage mother, I knew he was better off in the care of somebody more capable than I.

I understand if you are angry with me, because you have every right to be. You were his father and you deserved to know. But every time I tried to tell you, my courage deserted me. So I leave you with this note, this sincere apology, in the humble hope that you can someday forgive a friend for her cowardice.

Take care of yourself, Boy Wonder. Take care of our team, too.

With all my love,

Zatanna

P.S. His name is Damian. He has your eyes.

Tearing his eyes away from the text, Dick's own blue eyes stared out over the horizon of Happy Harbor, lost in the shock of this unexpected news.

I have a son. The sentence ran through his mind a million times, unable to comprehend it. I'm a father! For how many years I've had this child, and she never mentioned a word!

Her assumptions were startling accurate. Dick felt it claw up through his twisting stomach and erupt at the peak of his throat: Raw, real anger. He was livid with the news, or more specifically, the fact that he was only learning of it now.

Zatanna, he cursed inwardly, wishing he had the ability to revive the dead, if only to shoot these rapid-fire questions at her face: How could she? How could she ever keep something so monumental from him for so long? How could she lie, or even keep her pregnancy hidden, for that matter?

That particular question left him reeling, the mounting indignation on the tip of his tongue spiraling down into the empty air beneath his dangling legs.

Come to think of it, how did none of us notice? About three years ago, we were all still apart of the same team. One of our teammates being pregnant is a bit hard to miss...unless...

The one year mission. Of course. Of course.

No wonder she had brought him back the box. Guilt had a funny way of manifesting itself. Additionally, it was Zee's version of a failsafe; a box that would only open if she died. So that in the event that tragedy befell her, as it had, Dick would have a way to learn about the child they conceived.

Slowly, the once bubbling rage began to simmer. He was too confused for anger now, too lost in his own insecurity. Had she simply thought he wasn't father material? Had she truly so little faith in him that she assumed, what, he would try to skirt his responsibilities?

Which was the complete opposite of what Dick would've done. Sure, they hadn't been romantically involved since that night, and their relationship had never exactly been what anyone would call 'exclusive.' But they were friends. Friends took care of each other through thick and thin.

Though the prospect of having a baby at that age—or having a baby now, even—seemed quite frightening, Dick could never turn away his own kid. Or any kid, really. His weakness had nothing to do with kryptonite and everything to do with his big, bleeding heart.

And it was crying out for a child he had never met.

His name is Damian. He has your eyes.

Really, what to do about that? Knowing he had a son somewhere in this world, probably abandoned in an orphanage, did not sit well with Dick. Maybe it was because he had grown up with the exact same pain resting over his shoulders; the pain of being left alone after his parents' death, of feeling unwanted by the entire world. Being adopted by Bruce had helped lesson that ache, but it was still there, haunting the dark corners of his mind.

His son, on the other hand, had nobody. Or at least, that was what Dick was left to assume, because he had no idea how Damian was doing now! Zatanna's letter said he would be in good hands, but that was years ago. Was he still being taken care of well? Was he happy? Was he healthy?Could he be in danger? The uncertainty of her outdated reassurance made his skin crawl.

Is this how all parents feel all the time? Dick sighed. I'm in way over my head.

Even as he thought it, however, his mind was made up.

Dick had to find his son and see him with his own two eyes. Just to be certain. Who knows? Perhaps the boy had found a secure and loving family to care for him as Dick Grayson had. And if that was the case, he wouldn't intrude. But if that wasn't the case... Well, he could figure that out later.

At the moment, there were more important things to consider.

Well, what'd you think? Good? Bad? Has potential?

I'm not exactly a Chalant fan, I'll admit. But out of all the females in Dick's life, I thought she would be the best fit for Damian's mother. *shrugs* And I know, I'm a terrible person. I like Zatanna, I do, but...she sort of needed to die for my plot to work.

Next chapter, we actually get to see the little devil—erm, I mean, angelic gift from above. *avoids flying daggers courtesy of Damian muse* Right. So, stay tuned for that! And please leave a review!