Welcome to Chapter Two of The History of the BatFamily! This one will focus mainly on the first Robin (Dick Grayson), the first Batgirl (Barbra Gordon) and an early encounter with Catwoman (Selina Kyle). I will try and inculde as much detail as possible so be prepared for quite the read. And just try to remember that there are many versions of each characters origin. I will go with what I feel is appropriate for this story.

Sorry to all the Dick/Starfire fans out there, this one is Dick/Barbra. Just personal preference.

This series is really going to focus on the relationships between characters so don't expect a lot of action. I'll do my best to inculde actual story scenes, but I find narraration is best suited for long, drawn out timelines.

Also, Chapter One has had slight alterations to it's content. Nothing really significant.

The Batman had prowled the streets of Gotham for nearly a year with no one but Alfred to aid him. In that time he had acomplished so much and made a legend out of the shadow he cast down upon criminals. His name was only ever whispered as an urban legend, but no one could deny the results that the Bat was achieving in the city. Small but measurable results.

Durring the day, Bruce Wayne took the appearance of a socialite playboy billionare. Never giving anyone any indication of what his life was truly like. Bruce, with the help of Alfred, also kept Wayne Industries running. The company his parents had built was now a major competitor in various scientific and manufacturing fields. It served as the prefect research facility for many of the Bat-gadgets and technology that Bruce would use.

A man named Lucius Fox came to run a vast majority of the company in Bruce's frequent absences. Though he would never admit it, Lucius soon began to suspect what Bruce was spending all of his time doing. At the same time he saw the effect the Batman was having on the city. People had hope for the first time in years. Lucius would never divulge his suspicions about Bruce to anyone. The two men came to trust each other greatly, Bruce relying on Lucius to manage his affairs and conceal the Bat as best he could.

While putting on the facade of Bruce Wayne for the world to see, the caped crusader was in the audience of a visiting circus. This particualr extravaganza was internationally renowned and acclaimed. Haley's circus employed the best talent that could be found in any area of interest. This included a family of acrobats who were said to soar with incredible grace. The Flying Graysons. John and Mary Grayson had been in the buisness for years and their young son Richard or 'Dick' was becoming an exceptional acrobat in his own right.

Durrign that night's performance, the Graysons were set to do their routine without a net. This was a usual 'daring feat' that the acrobats had taken as their signature style. Dick however was still not allowed to preform in this act as his parents had deemed it too dangerous for the ten year old. Because of a horrible accident, the ropes holding his parents aloft suddenly snapped and young Dick was left without a family.

Bruce was as shocked as anyone after the incident. He saw the young Greyson boy and was compelled to help him. Bruce knew what it felt like to lose one's parents and exactly what kinds of effects that could have on such a young mind. So Dick Grayson was offered residence at Wayne manor. Having no where else to turn, the boy readily accepted. Bruce did his best to comfort Dick and be there for him when it seemed like his whole world had come crashing down. The two did connect over shared tragedies and soon Dick was a fixture in the household.

In the beginning, Bruce had no intentions of involving Dick in the other side of his life. But that didn't stop the Batman from looking into the deaths of the Flying Graysons. He quickly found that their supposed tragic end had been orchestrated by a mob boss, Tony Zucco, because they refused to pay protection money. Several attempts to bring down Zucco had failed because of his vast criminal influence. But Batman never put the case to rest, just as the Wayne murders were still unresolved.

It was around this time that the inevetable happened: Dick stumbled upon the Batcave. It was durring a dark night that Dick heard a faint cry for help from deep within the manor. He followed the sound to the old grandfather clock and discovered a secret passage into a strange tunnel system. At the bottom he saw Bruce in the Batman costume, severly beaten and broken from a fight. That night, as Alfred attended to Bruce, Dick learned everythig about the Bat. He also learned that his parents were murdered, something he had long suspected. Fuled by his desire for vengence, Dick convinced Batman to train him as a partner.

Batman was initially hesitant to the idea of having a child join him on his crusade. This was not the life of a normal person, and Dick should grow up to live the life Bruce Wayne never could. Eventually Bruce saw that Dick could never have that life. Not with his parent's death forever hanging over his head. Bruce saw that vengence would consume the boy, just as it had consumed him years earlier. But there was also another reason, a nagging idea that had formed in the mind of the Bat. A plan for the long term. (This will be expanded upon later.)

So Dick began training under the Bat in combat and stealth. His already advanced skill in acrobatics was a great advantage. Eventually he took the name Robin and dawned a much brighter costume than his metor. Batman and Robin became a much more substantial threat to the criminal underworld than the Bat had ever been by himself. After several months, the opportunity finally arose to take down Zucco. Robin was able to bring his parent's murderer to justice and find closure in that area of his life. But there was no stoping the Boy Wonder now, he truly enjoyed his life as a crime fighter and found it the best use of his talents. From now on, the dynamic duo patroled the streets of Gotham.

A short while later, Bruce Wayne was kidnapped from a Haloween ball by Killer Moth, a deranged supervillan planning to hold him for ransom. Bruce couldn't try and escape because it might out him as the caped crusader in front of the crowd. Instead, durring thier getaway, the villain was dispatched by a mysterious figure in a crude 'Bat' costume. This female Batman became known to authorities as Batgirl. In reality she was Barbra Gordon, the teenage daughter of the Gotham poliece commissioner James Gordon. The Batman had a working relationship with James Gordon who tollerated the vigilante so long as he continued to bring criminals to justice in the right way.

Barbra had originally had no intention of fighting crime. She had been dressed up for the Haloween ball that night, but found the experience so invigorating that soon she was patroling the streets on her own. Having a brown belt in Judo and an extremely analytical mind helped her stay ahead of any trouble. Though keeping this hobby hidden from her father was a much more difficult challenge. Commissioner Gordon highly dissapproved of the growing clan of vigilantes the Bat was creating. It would take some time for him to see that the Bats were necessary in a city such as Gotham. Especially when it came to the supernatural and extratarrestrial.

Batgirl very quickly stumbled across Batman who attempted to persuade her to give up the cape and cowl. He also deduced exactly who she was and threatened to tell her father. However, given the right motivation by Robin, Batman eventually saw Barbra as a potential asset to their cause. She was smart, resourcefull and already a talented fighter. Though not happy about the situation, Batman allowed 'Barb' to operate under his supervision. She recieved the standard costume upgrade and technological loadout of grappling hooks, smoke bombs and batarangs.

The pair of Robin and Batgirl quickly grew to appreciate each other. Both lived in the Bat's shadow and sought to become the best they could possibly be. Their training often pitted them against one another and a rivalry quickly developed. Also, Robin had developed a bit of a crush on the older girl. As the years passed, they would only grow closer. Teasing and witty banter became the norm between them. Though the Bat was always there to set them straight durring missions.

It was a constant point of tension that Barb was never allowed to learn the secret identities of Batman and Robin. Though the group grew very reliant on one another, their level of trust was always hindered by this fact. Barbra would begin to operate as almost a free agent at times and hone her detective skills. Though still technically a side-kick, Batgirl would never really come to be considered a true partner to Batman.

One night, Batman responded to an alarm at a famous museum in the city. Upon arriving he encountered a woman dressed suspiciously like a cat who was stealing jewls and other valuables. Though startled by his appearence, she did not run or fight.

"Well, well. Looks like the Batman finally caught me. I've been dying to see you in action. Care to tell a girl how you get around so stealthily?" Her demenor was quite flirtatious and unlike any villain the Bat had faced thus far.

"Not particularly. You're comming with me."

"Oh, as fun as that sounds, I've got to unload these goods before they get too hot to handle. I could give you a cut for letting me off?"

"Not a chance." The two launched into a furious battle, Batman finding himself evenly matched by this common catburglar.

"Don't you usually have a few helpers? A bright little birdie and a red-headed mini-me? They seem like such fun."

The duel eventually made it up to the roof where Batman managed to snag the stolen goods from his foe.

"Shame. I was looking forward to playing with you a little more. The name's Catwoman by the way. I'll be seeing you around." She jumped off the side of the roof and dissappeared into the ever-present haze of Gotham. Batman would continue to combat Catwoman for a long time, each encounter marked with intrigue and flirtatious remarks. The Bat would never admit it, but this woman was having an effect on him.

Thanks for reading! I will try and expand more on Catwoman as the history continues. Though the outline for this story is already ten chapters long... Next chapter might take some time to piece together. Just wait, it's all going to get good very quickly.