DISCLAIMERS

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. I've probably got Tamaranean culture, and names, COMPLETELY wrong in this story. But I did read up on it, so if it is off the mark, blame Wikipedia and ComicVine...

PART 1

The group huddled around the young man, a large rucksack slung over his shoulder.

"Do you have to go, Uncle Dick?"

Dick Grayson smiled softly at the young boy standing before him. He lowered himself to one knee and put his hand on the child's shoulder. "Yes, Thomas, I do. You'll understand when you're older."

"I understand plenty!" Thomas Wayne cried.

Smirking, Dick stood back up straight and looked around him. He was surrounded by perhaps the oddest family anyone had ever had. But he loved each and every one of them dearly. He would miss them terribly.

"Thomas, let Uncle Dick be," said Thomas' mother, otherwise known as the world-famous Wonder Woman. As Diana Wayne motioned for her son to step away, a blonde approached Dick.

"I'll miss you, Grayson," said the Black Canary.

"Me too," replied Dick.

Raising an eyebrow as she hugged the man, Canary - AKA Dinah Gordon-Lance - chuckled. "You'll miss yourself? How arrogant."

Dick stifled a laugh. "Now you take care of Babs, OK?"

Dinah folded her arms. "She's my reason for living."

"Glad to hear it." Dick then addressed everyone around him. "I'll miss you all, but I'll only ever be a commlink away."

"Yeah," Faith Wayne groaned. "And a few hundred lightyears, or however far the planet is. I don't think you'll be able to jump that far, Uncle Dick."

Chuckling himself, Dick ruffled Thomas' twin sister's hair, which under normal circumstances would have annoyed her, but this was anything but a normal circumstance.

Dick was leaving Gotham. Leaving Earth. Permanently.

"Children, please," Diana soothed. She then turned her attention to the man who was, for all intents and purposes, her husband's eldest son. "Dick... I don't know what to say that hasn't been said already."

"There's no need," he said. "Just look after Bruce."

"Always. Speaking of which... " Diana looked behind Dick at the three people huddled several yards away. She then looked expectantly at Dick.

Dick sighed. "This is the hard part." He clenched his jaw, preparing himself for what was waiting for him. "I love you all," he then said. "And I'll visit soon, and often. I promise."

After giving final embraces to Diana, Dinah and the children, Dick turned and walked to the three who had kept a distance. The people he had just left meant a great deal to him... but these three people he had very special histories with.

"So," said Barbara Gordon-Lance once Dick reached them. "This is it."

"Looks like it." Dick knealt down to the wheelchair-bound redhead. "Babs, I... "

"No need, Hunk Wonder," Barbara said quietly. "I'll miss you, too. It won't be the same without you."

Dick stroked Babs' cheek. "It'll take some getting used to my end, too, but it's worth it. And I'm excited."

"Just take care," said Babs. "And please... be careful. And for all that's holy... stay in touch."

"I'll be ever ready for the Oracle's call," Dick said as he grinned. "I love you, Babs." He kissed her forehead.

Too overcome to speak, Barbara's cheeks had tears pouring down.

After giving a final smile, Dick stood and turned to the old gentleman, dressed - as ever - in an immaculate tuxedo. "Keep the place running while I'm gone, Alfred."

"I shall endeavour to do so, Master Dick," said the butler. "If only so it's spick-and-span for your return." Dick smiled inwardly at Alfred Pennyworth's control. He was always the stoic, calm and collected manservant. But of course, Alfred had already had a private goodbye to the first Robin... thanked him profusely for all the years at Bruce's side. He had told Dick once again how proud he was, and how forever grateful he was to the former Flying Grayson in starting Bruce's journey in reclaiming his Humanity. The butler's words were things Dick would always cherish.

"Who'll be my big bro now?" said the third person. Dick grinned again as he looked at Tim Drake.

"Hey, it's your turn to be the big bro," he said, sticking a thumb in Thomas and Faith's direction. "And trust me, they couldn't ask for anyone better." He placed his hand on Tim's shoulder. The third Robin was now nearly as tall as Dick himself, clad in his own, mostly-red Robin outfit. "Now you take care of things while I'm gone, y'hear?" said Dick.

"Dishing out the orders already?" joked Tim. "You're not royalty yet, Nightwing."

"Ugh, don't remind me!" said Dick, holding his head. "If anyone ever asked me when I was running around in my briefs if I'd be in charge of a planet, I'd have punned myself to death."

"Holy... !"

"Don't!" yelled Dick, interrupting Tim. He then began to laugh. "Aw, man... I'll miss this. Listen, if you ever need anything... "

"We know, dude," said Tim. "But I suggest you get yourself on your feet first. Which'll be hard when surrounded by flyers." His tone then softened. "Seriously, Dick... I can't thank you enough for what you've done. I... " His eyes began to water.

Dick sighed. Tim had hid his emotions well behind jokes, but even he had a breaking point. He had clearly reached it. "It was nothing," he said. "That's what brothers are for, right? And like I said, I know you'll do me proud with Thomas and Faith just as much as you have with that." He pointed at the "R" on the left side of Tim's chest.

"Aw man... " Tim broke down. Dick hugged him close. Tim was the younger brother he never had.

They were interrupted by one of Alfred's classic, cautious coughs. Dick looked at the butler, who in return looked behind the first Robin. Dick - and the others - followed his gaze.

Someone else had come down the lift from the Manor.

Dick shivered. He had been wrong earlier.

This was the hard part...

TO BE CONTINUED