A/N: Ok, here's how it's gonna go. At school: work on All Fall Down (I'm almost done with the next chapter of that) and at home: work on this. I couldn't help myself. The inspiration just hit me and took off running from there.

Chapter One:

Dream a Dream

"Hold fast to dreams,

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird,

That cannot fly."

-Langston Hughes

There was something different in the air. They'd all had that feeling for several days now, but without concrete evidence, they were forced to go about their normal routines, with slight variations. Bruce, for instance, was being more paranoid than usual. He had recently had Tim set up more surveillance cameras around Gotham, and he was pulling a lot of resources for any information. Dick, Tim noticed, was more subtle about his efforts. The acrobat had been going on patrols more frequently, and for longer hours. It wasn't just the vigilantes of Gotham feeling it, though. The entire superhero community seemed to be dancing on needles lately, always more aware and alert. There were even some stirrings amongst the villains.

But there was no hard evidence of anything wrong. It frustrated Tim endlessly. So much energy was being spent, mentally preparing for whatever was to come. He couldn't help but wonder if another crisis was on its way. He certainly hoped not. He'd had enough of those for two lifetimes, at the least.

His eyes flickered to the roof across from him, as he saw a dark figure run across it stealthily. He recognized the silhouette immediately. He stood up from where he had been kneeling and took out his grapple. He shot it out and allowed it to lift him off the roof. He expertly swung across the street, landing on the targeted roof. The figure, now fully visible, came to a halt as he cut her off. His lips twitched as he held in a smirk when he saw a surprised look flash across her face.

"Batgirl" he said, giving her a slight dip of his head. She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, although a grin managed to find its way onto her face.

"Boy Wonder."

He gave her a look. She rolled her eyes again. "Sorry, Former Boy Wonder."

Red Robin shook his head, a wry smile threatening to break out across his lips. "What are you doing?"

"Playing tag with my imaginary friend" she replied sassily, waving nonchalantly as she walked a few feet past him before turning to face him again. Red Robin raised an eyebrow, before turning his body around to face her.

"Oh really? What's her name? Stella or something?" It was just so easy to fall back into the routine of the past; fun banter and words with silent meaning.

Batgirl shook her head, unsuccessfully holding back a grin. "No, it's a boy. My imaginary boyfriend actually."

Leave it to her. "And what is this 'boyfriend' like? Does he grovel at your feet?"

She let out a short laugh, before shaking her head again. "No, he's pretty cool, the motorcycle type. Wears a leather jacket. Really snarky."

Red Robin couldn't help but frown. "I think you just partially described Jason Todd."

There was a pause before Batgirl began to laugh, a snort managing to find its way in. Red Robin's lips twitched slightly, before giving in and letting out a chuckle of his own. A mutual silence then filled the spaces between them. Red Robin averted his eyes. He couldn't look in her eyes for long, or else he would be consumed by the memories. When it came to Steph, he really wasn't sure what to do anymore. A part of him wanted nothing more than to pick up from where they left off, give their relationship yet another chance. But there was another, more rational, part of him that said it wasn't a good idea. They were in a pretty good place right now. They had each done their fair share of growing. He couldn't help but wonder; was there even any room for him in Stephanie's new life? They seemed to have grown in opposite directions. He was more serious, more secluded and held back by his own doubts. Stephanie, on the other hand, was still the bright light she had always been, maybe even more so. She seemed so free, as if she had finally found her place in the world. It seemed like Tim was forever trying to figure out his own place.

"What's up, Oracle?" He was jolted from his thoughts when Batgirl spoke, obviously into a communicator. He turned his head to look at her, watching her expression as she listened to whatever Barbara had to say. After a moment, Batgirl nodded. "Gotcha, O. Red Robin and I will head over there right now."

She looked to him as she ended the connection. Red Robin raised an eyebrow slightly. "What is it?"

"Bank robbery about a block from here. Feel like tagging along on Team Batgirl?"

Team Batgirl, huh? He shrugged. "Why not."

She grinned in a way that made his chest fill with a satisfied sensation and his stomach curl slightly. He recognized the feeling, of course. It was the same feeling he got every time she smiled, for as long as he had known her.

They both took out their grapnels shot them out, allowing themselves to be lifted off their feet as they swung over the streets toward their destination. For a brief moment, it was just like old times and he couldn't help but grin as he heard Steph let out an exhilarated laugh.

They landed in crouched positions just behind the barricade of police surrounding the building, the red and blue lights flashing. They quickly put their grapnels away and approached Commissioner Gordon, ignoring the glances from the other policemen.

"What's the situation, Commissioner?" Red Robin questioned.

"About ten gunmen and fifteen hostages. All the exits are blocked, so they're stuck in there. We've been trying to negotiate with them, but they're stubborn and nothing's come of it."

Red Robin nodded and glanced back at Batgirl. A cool breeze made the night slightly chillier than usual. "Leave it to us."

The Commissioner nodded, giving them each a slightly cautious glance. "Alright."

The two vigilantes walked past the barricade and up to the front doors of the bank. Batgirl looked in, before giving Red Robin a confused look. "No one's standing guard."

Red Robin frowned, before pushing the door open slightly. "They're probably with the hostages in a back room, then."

Batgirl scoffed. "That's a dumb move."

He gave a short nod of acknowledgement before entering the bank cautiously, Batgirl following. He took out his staff, expanding it, prepared for anything. He paused in front of a door, hearing faint voices coming from behind it. He gave his head a jerk toward it and Batgirl walked past him to the other side of the door and turned to face him, also listening. Their eyes connected, silently communicating and figuring out a plan. Eventually, they both nodded. Batgirl took out a couple smoke pellets. Red Robin began to mouth numbers, counting down from one to three. On three, he kicked the door open and Batgirl lunged in, throwing the smoke pellets onto the ground. They each exploded, filling the room with smoke. The gunmen began to cough and call out curses. In the meantime, Red Robin swiftly slinked along the edge of the room to where the hostages were.

"Get in that corner" he commanded quietly, pointing to a corner where the smoke hadn't yet reached.

Batgirl jumped into the smoke, focusing on getting the guns out of their hands. "Hey, I need to make a withdrawal." She grinned as she quipped, ripping a gun from one man's hand and sending her fist straight into his jaw. She then went to where two more men were. She went onto her hands and kicked the guns from their hands, before standing back up. She jumped at one man, grabbing his shoulders and twisting him around, before letting go and flying feet first into another one's gut.

Once the hostages were gathered tightly into the corner, Red Robin joined the frenzy, not straying far from the hostages, however. He used his staff to knock the gun out of a man's hand, before jabbing him in the gut with it and then swiping it across his face.

He heard a gunshot and he couldn't help the moment of panic that rose in his throat and threatened to throw his whole mental state off balance. But he had to focus. Steph was fine. She always turned out fine.

Except for that one time, which seemed like an entire lifetime ago.

The battle lasted for only about a minute longer. The smoke began to clear, revealing the unconscious bodies of the gunmen. And blood. Red Robin's eyes searched the room frantically. "Batgirl?"

"Here" he heard her voice say, slightly breathless. He took a couple steps forward and watched as she stepped out from a cloud of smoke that was quickly dissolving. She was clutching her shoulder and he could see the blood that was leaking out. In two quick strides he was in front of her.

"How bad is it?" His hand moved forward, as if to caress her face or provide some form of comfort, but he quickly retracted it.

Batgirl managed a grin. "It's just a graze really. My Kevlar would've protected me if it hadn't been so close range."

Red Robin nodded, before glancing back at the still frightened hostages. "Go get the police." There was a moment as they just stared at the two vigilantes, before they all got up and ran out the room. He turned back to Batgirl. "Let's go to the cave."

Tim sat in front of the batcomputer, cowl pulled back as he waited for Steph to finish changing, typing up a report of the attempted robbery.

"Alright, Doc, come patch me up." He swiveled around in the chair when he heard Stephanie's voice. She was wearing just her sports bra, one strap off her shoulder due to her injury, and a pair of sweats. He tried to hide the way his eyes trailed over her. He stood up and walked over to her as she sat down on a cot, swinging her legs back and forth. He grabbed some gauze and antiseptic, briefly eyeing the wound.

"This is going to-"

"Hurt, I know."

He gave her a look that could've really meant anything, as he poured some alcohol onto the gauze. He then pressed it onto her wound, managing not to wince as Stephanie hissed in pain.

"Never really get used to that stuff, huh?" she commented, good-naturedly. Tim allowed himself a small smile. It was then silent between them then as he began to wrap her shoulder. It was a mutual silence at the very least and neither bothered to break it.

"Thanks" she said, once he was done and putting the supplies away. He shrugged, letting a smile flit across his face.

"Anytime, but try not to make a habit of it, ok?"

She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. "Ha ha. I'll do my best." They grinned at each other, before Steph's brows furrowed. She hopped off the cot and stepped up to him, making any space between them practically nonexistent. Tim's brows furrowed as well. He resisted the urge to step away. Stephanie had always had a way of making him feel vulnerable but he had never let that affect him before, so why now?

"What?"

"You've got a nasty scratch on your cheek."

Oh. "I didn't notice."

"Of course not. Dork."

He cocked an eyebrow. "How am I a dork?"

She grinned softly, before her hand went up and lightly brushed through his hair. Tim's body visible loosened as a wave of content washed over him briefly. "You always have been. You just haven't been letting it show recently."

"Yeah, well…" he swallowed, unable to finish his sentence as his eyes focused in on Stephanie's face, which was oh so close to his. It would've been so easy to just lean forward and close the distance; to forget about everything but her and let all of his feelings wash over him. And he wanted to, so badly. But he couldn't lose control like that. Besides, Stephanie didn't need him right now. A relationship wasn't in the best interest for either of them.

He cleared his throat before taking a step back, averting his eyes to the cot beside him. He ignored the small sigh he heard from her.

He hadn't known that would basically be their last moment spent together.

"Wake up, Drake."

Tim blinked his eyes open as he groggily woke up. He rubbed a hand down his face and looked up at a very displeased looking ten-year-old. "What do you want, Damian?"

The boy scowled. "You fell asleep on the couch and I got tired of having to look at you every time I entered the room."

Tim rolled his eyes, before fixing a glare on the younger boy. He sat up. "Well, I'm awake now. Happy?" It was a rhetorical question, but of course Damian had to answer it.

"Not quite. You are still within a thousand miles of me. When will you be taking your leave of Gotham and returning to that pathetic team of yours?"

The glare increased. "The Teen Titans are not-" Oh what's the point? He sighed. "I don't know, Damian."

The smug look on the boy's face didn't dim. "The Court of Owls has been defeated, along with Terminus, and I have already beaten you as promised. Your presence is no longer needed. Not like it was in the first place."

Brat. "I get it. You can leave me alone now."

"-tt- Titus is probably hungry, so I shall let you wallow in whatever misery you seem to be feeling."

Tim's brow furrowed. "I'm fine."

"You're a terrible liar, Drake. Whatever it was, it was just a dream, so there's no need to make the rest of us suffer for the workings of your own incompetent mind."

Tim watched Damian go, not bothering to retort. He'd been dreaming about the same girl for a few months now. They were all so vivid and real. He didn't even know where his mind came up with it. When had he ever worn a costume like that? And when had he ever known some blonde by the name of Stephanie? If he were to dream of any blonde, he would think it would be Cassie.

He shook his head to himself. Either way, it was just a dream.

A/N: So, this didn't turn out as well as I wanted it to (I totally failed at the fight scene) but once this story hits its groove, it should improve. ^.^ Also letting you know ahead of time; I have not been keeping up much at all with the New 52 Teen Titans, so expect pretty much only vague references to it at this point. So, what do you think? You like? No like? let me know, please. ;D