takes place before UNDER THE RED HOOD-prelude to my story REUNIONS

I looked on in shock as the warehouse exploded. My only thought is Jason. I'm too late but there is a small chance he could have survived-right?

I get to the explosion site and find a body. Jason's birth mother. The whole reason he was here in the first place was gone. I continue my search for Jason throughout the rubble. My search paid off when I find a hand sticking out of the rubble. "Jason!" I cried.

I pull the rubble off of Jason, revealing his bloodied body. "Oh, god Jason. I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough, son." I hug my Jason's body close to my chest. I feel for a pulse, knowing it is futile. His body feels broken. I feel tears come to my eyes and I don't even try to hold them back. My son is dead and there was nothing I could have done to save him.

I lift Jason up into my arms and walk towards the batwing. Batman and Robin will have one last ride together as father and son.

ONE MONTH AFTER THE DEATH OF JASON TODD

Joker is finally back in Arkham. Took forever but I caught up to him and in my rage, I beat him within an inch of his life for what he did to Jason. Alfred and I opted for an unmarked grave to bury my son. He's buried next to my parents in a plot I dug myself. The less who knew about Jason, the better.

I sit in the batcave looking up at the glass case before me. It holds Jason's costume, bloodied and shredded, for all to see. Alfred has attempted to remove it within the past month but I've kept it up as a reminder of what this life costs me and those closest to me.

"Master Bruce?" a British accented voice interrupts my thoughts. "Yes?"

"There appears to be a young man at the gate. He is asking for Batman." I look at Alfred in confusion and stand up. How did...? "I'll go see him." I say and walk up the rocky steps of the cave to the manor.

I arrive at the gate to find a boy of about ten or twelve. "Mister Wayne?" he asks. "What do you want?" I reply with my own question. "I understand Jason Todd *ahem*, Robin's death has been hard on you." The young boy looks up at me expectantly. "Please let me help." "What's your name and how do you know who I am?"

The boy smiles. "I'll explain everything if you let me inside. Name's Timothy Drake."

MEANWHILE AT THE GOTHAM CITY CEMETARY

The digging of dirt could be heard in the dreary place of death. The sound originated at the unmarked grave of a child. However, it came from the grave itself not from the space above. A hand shot out of the wet dirt and pulled the attached body out with it. The young man groaned and pulled himself up trying to figure out what happened. His eyes then landed on his gravestone. "No. NO! This isn't right!" the boy screamed into the night. "How am I dead?" Jason Peter Todd walked towards Gotham City in hopes of finding his life again.