Alfred Pennyworth was a professional. He was decisive, clear-headed, and calm. He knew what to do if the house caught on fire. He knew what to do if the Joker or the Riddler managed to bust in.

But somehow, this suituation stumped him.

Pressing his ear to the door (unprofessional and frankly rude, but desperate times, desperate measures), he listened to the sniffling noises inside.

He had honestly no idea what Master Wayne was thinking. A child brought into the whole hero business? Absurd! The Joker must have knocked his head a few too many times. But the child was there, and Master Wayne had apparently already signed all adoption papers, so Alfred supposed he was here to stay.

It was only the second night that he began to hear sobbing noises coming from his room. Alfred knew it was none of his business, even if he was Master Grayson. It wasn't right for his post. So he had simply rolled over and muffled the noises with his pillow.

By that night, the sobs had gotten even louder. Alfred was beginning to remember the last time he had heard sobs in the Wayne Mansion. It was Master Wayne, he believed, the nights after his parents died. He had ignored them then, convinced it was just a phase, and not his place anyway. And look what became of him.

So he had crept over to Master Grayson's room, to perhaps console the poor lad.

Now, standing with his ear awkwardly glued to the door, he was starting to regret his decision. He rapped gently on the door.

No answer.

"Master Grayson?" His mouth tasted like old pennies.

"Don't call me that!"

Alfred pushed open the door, wincing at the slight creak. He should oil that.

The boy in the question was lying on the bed, bead buried in his pillow. "Go away!" His voice muffled by the down.

Alfred was vaguely impressed. "I'm here to help."

"I don't need your help."

He sat down on the bed next to him. On an impulse, he pulled him into an awkward hug. The boy was as stiff as a board. "It'll be okay. Master Wayne is here to look after you. I will be here to look after you."

"But what about my mom and dad? I want my mother! I don't want Bruce!" He buried his face in Alfred's chest.

"Your mother and father are in heaven," he said gently. "Nothing can hurt them there."

"But I don't want them to be there! I want them here with me!"

"There'll always be here with you. They'll watch over you, even in heaven. Meanwhile, Master Wayne and I will be taking over their job for a while." He ruffled his hair gently. "It'll be okay. You'll see them again someday."

"Someday," the boy repeated. "I'll see them again someday."

Alfred didn't have the heart to tell him that'll be the day he had to leave everything else behind.

"Yes," he agreed. "Someday. And I'll wait for you there, too."

Richard wrapped his arms around Alfred. "Thank you, Mr Pennyworth."

"Call me Alfred."

Alfred's biggest regret is that he never became close with Bruce when he could. No, really. So he spent extra effort on Dick.

And I was like, cha-chi!

The rest of the Batfam is coming, amigos! *weird, Joker style smile*