A/N: Tim's love life hits a snag when he has to attend the cotillion, the dance where high society's teens are considered eligible to date. Not only that, when he is sent to Europe to meet with Wayne Enterprise business partners to gain support for his Wayne Foundation Neon Knights Project, Tim is presumed dead when the plane he was on suddenly explodes and dives into the Atlantic Ocean.

Red Robin Rising

by

AJRedRobin and JasonToddLover

Part 1: Punishment, Protests, And Test Results

It was a week after the incident with the soul eaters. Tim's health had improved considerably with Samantha's help and yet, the Wayne household was experiencing some tension.

"Aw come on, Bruce!" Tim argued. "I've got to get back in shape!"

"Tim, this is the third time you've been caught," Bruce said, sternly. "You were shot on patrol last month. Devlin kidnapped you and damaged the soft tissue of your hip. You had an infection that took two weeks to go away. Alfred had to drain that wound twice. Not to mention you almost died fighting a bunch of soul eaters. Alfred's not cleared you for any exercise or patrol until he's satisfied. So, upstairs young man. If you do not listen to reason, I will have to ground you further."

"Yes, Sir," Tim said, dejected.

Tim drug is feet back up the stone steps to the main part of the manor. As he exited the clock, Tim was startled when he heard a voice come from the other side.

"Got caught again, Drake?"

"Eeep," Tim started then scowled. "Yeah, and I bet you told him, too."

"I didn't have to. You left the clock open."

Tim cringed. "I just wanted to get a little exercise in."

"You know how Alfred is. He won't clear you until you've gained back the weight you lost."

'It's been a week since those soul eaters," Tim argued. "I need to turn the fat I'm gaining into muscle."

"Don't tell me, tell that to Pennyworth."

"All right, enough." Bruce came up behind Tim and Damian. "Damian, don't you have some place to be?"

"It's a school holiday, Father," Damian stated.

"Go do something anyway. Smirking at your brother getting into trouble isn't helping matters."

"Yes, Father," Damian stated, then left Tim standing in the hallway outside the clock.

Tim watched as his father reset the mechanism, then turned away as Bruce turned toward him once more.

"Tim, you know the rules."

"I'm tired of following the rules," Tim grumbled.

"What was that?" Bruce asked. He heard Tim, but wanted to give his third son a chance to retract the statement.

"I'm . . . I'm bored," Tim said instead when he got a look at Bruce's face.

"If you are bored I can give you things to do."

Tim shuffled his feet. He was thinking that Bruce would send him to Alfred. That meant he was in deep trouble. Alfred usually dolled out certain punishments, one of them being polishing the silver. 'Please don't let it be that,' Tim thought. 'I already did it this week when Alfred caught me lifting weights.'

"I think I have something else in mind, but it's going to take your full attention. I heard from Lucius while I was gone that you were instrumental in creating a means to get kids into thinking about doing something constructive other than joining a gang."

"What?" Tim could not believe his ears. He thought Bruce was going to punish him. Instead, Bruce wanted to know about his program?

"You heard me," Bruce reiterated. "Tell me about your program that you started."

"Well, I had this idea about trying to keep kids out of gangs."

"Go on."

"The group name would be called Neon Knights and I wanted to have a program where the kids could become sort of protectors of younger kids. They could get training, become like a big brother to a younger kid who might be at risk. They could have their own hangout where there could be mentors to help kids with their homework, have a place to go if parents aren't at home. And it could also be for kids who wanted to leave gang life. They could get counseling."

"Tim, that is an admirable idea, but how will you pull it off?" Bruce asked.

"Um . . . I was thinking it could be part of the Wayne Foundation. There could be a youth board member."

"The Foundation doesn't really have anything like that for teen boys. The closest Gotham City has, unfortunately, is the detention center. Some of the Foundation members don't think boys are worth the effort. They did something similar for girls, thinking that they would be more receptive to turning their lives around. Dick can tell you about a girl he knew in high school, Susie. She got into trouble with the Joker."

"Dick told me about that," Tim replied. "He also told me that it was Ra's Al Ghul who kidnapped him. He didn't know at the time. And Susie thought she was playing a trick on him."

"He did?" Bruce questioned.

"Yeah, when I would visit him in Bludhaven and we would . . . um hop trains."

"Ah, the balance training," Bruce understood. "Anyway, this project of yours, how are you planning on funding it?"

"Well, I hadn't really thought that far," Tim explained.

"There may be something I can come up with, a list of possible contributors," Bruce suggested. "But you will have to visit them personally. I have a few European contacts as well, though I don't know if they would be interested in this kind of group because it is primarily in Gotham."

"It doesn't have to be. I can expand the program where there could be European chapters, including other US chapters, too, like in Metropolis, Central City, Star City," Tim added.

"Tell you what, write up a proposal and put it on my desk. I will look it over. If I like what I see, I'll send it over to the Foundation Board and have them look it over as well."

"Thanks, Bruce."

"Don't thank me yet," Bruce said. "This will take a lot of work. Have you even written a proposal?"

"Um, I'm working on it," Tim said, shyly.

"You've never worked on a proposal before."

"Um, no."

"Come to the office and you can speak to Lucius. He'll help you with the language."

"Okay."

"Now, about your work out."

Tim looked down at the floor, sighing. He thought Bruce had forgotten all about that. He probably was still going to punish him for sneaking down into the cave. How was he going to get back in shape if he couldn't work out? Sammie somehow healed his wound, at least partially. She also gave him back his energy. Alfred was stuffing so much food down him to help him regain the weight that he lost from those soul eaters he was feeling like a stuffed turkey.

"I'll talk to Alfred and see if he can allow you to do a light workout. You are still under weight."

"I know. He keeps feeding me protein shakes to help me gain weight."

"Don't worry, you'll gain that muscle back soon enough. Where is Samantha?"

"She had her tests today," Tim answered.

"Speaking of," Bruce handed Tim an envelope. "I believe this came from the testing board."

"My grades!" Tim was excited to learn if he passed. He wanted to so much. The last test proved to be harder than he thought it might be. It took him the full three hours to go over every question to make sure he answered them correctly. Some of them were tricky. Tim ripped open the envelope and read the contents, his eyes growing wide. A large wide grin appeared on his face.

"Well?" Bruce questioned.

"I DID IT! . . . I DID IT!" Tim shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What's all the excitement?" Dick came in pushing Barbara's wheelchair. They had just gotten back from the movie they wanted to see.

"I did it! I am officially out of high school!" Tim exclaimed.

"That's fantastic!" Dick said. He grabbed Tim and threw him up in the air like a little kid. "My little brother is a graduate!"

"Dick, put me down!"

"Hey we need to celebrate!"

"Celebrate later," Bruce said. "I need you and Jason to patrol."

"You coming, Babs?" Dick winked.

"Sorry, Man Wonder. I've got other duties. I'll be at the clock tower." Barbara rolled her wheelchair out the door and headed back to her special van.

Bruce watched the couple part. He could tell that Barbara was still harboring some resentment when patrol was mentioned. He knew she wanted to be out there just as badly, but her legs were still far too weak to fully hold her weight despite the fact Samantha had healed her. She was improving each day, but it was taking longer than Barbara anticipated. Not only that, the evidence that she was pregnant was beginning to show, like her snappish mood. Bruce was sure she was worried that he father would soon find out and what he would say.

"What's eating her?" Tim asked.

"The usual," Dick answered. "We had a nice time at the movies, but every time patrol is mentioned . . . "

"Oh yeah," Tim stated. Tim could sense the small damper that had fallen over the impromptu celebration.

"That's not going to stop us from celebrating," Dick announced. "Come on, let's find Jason and Damian and we'll take you out for ice cream."

"Don't you think I'm a little too old for that?"

"Can't big brother treat his little brother to an ice cream?" Dick pouted.

"Oh all right," Tim reluctantly agreed, but not too reluctantly. He was secretly pleased and looking forward to the event.

"Ice cream will have to wait," Bruce stated. "Besides, it's too close to dinner. Samantha should be returning after taking one of her exams. And Jason should be coming back with Sasha after seeing Leslie about her pregnancy. Now, go wash up."

"Yes, sir," Dick and Tim said together, both saluting their father.

"Come on Timmy. I'll carry you upstairs." Dick picked up his baby brother and started to walk up the stairs.

"I can walk you know," Tim protested, but Dick wasn't listening, so Tim just shrugged his shoulders and sighed as Dick carried him to the second floor.

Continues with Part 2: Sometimes Babies Come In Twos