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Part Two (conclusion)

At breakfast the next morning Edna smiled as she handed Robin a glass of orange juice…canned, not the fresh squeezed stuff he would have gotten at home. "What time did you two get back last night; did you have a good time?"

He shrugged with an evasive answer. "The movie was okay, then we got something to eat. I don't think it was all that late, really."

Maybe not compared to the hours he was used to keeping with Batman, but for a regular teenager? "I saw that one of you were thoughtful enough to bring in the morning paper for us. Thank you."

Busted. Linda looked a question at him.

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. Sorry."

Grandma Dorothy smiled at the poor thing, away from home on a holiday and with his real parents no longer around. No wonder he was a little restless last night and with Linda's friends being strangers as well, goodness—the darling was behaving like a real trouper. What was it Edna had told them about the boy? He was orphaned eight or ten years ago, he and Linda knew each other from one of those horrid orphanages or had Linda stayed with his adoptive family? Well, whichever; they were old friends and that was nice for both of them, of course. And his new family, there was something about that as well—of course, that was it. He wasn't living with an actual family; he was living with a single man. How odd. And the man was someone important or rich or…it escaped her right this second but she'd ask Edna later.

The poor thing. He'd had such a difficult life and then to be shuttled off like a pet dog sent to a kennel on a holiday, it just wasn't right and that's all there was to it. Well she for one would make sure he had a good time and knew he was welcome here whenever he wanted a place and that was a fact. He was a darling and so good looking! If she were a few decades younger she knew she'd have a crush on the dear thing—those eyes! He looked like Jimmy Dougal, back in Ohio when she was still in high school now that she really had a minute in the light of day to take a good look at him. He was just a beauty and that was a fact and she wouldn't be surprised if Linda had noticed the same thing. "So you didn't tell us, Robin, do you have a girlfriend back in Gotham? I bet you have your absolute pick of the girls, don't you?"

"Mother…"

"Oh Edna, be quiet; I bet Robin does have a nice girl waiting for him, he just doesn't want to talk about her—isn't that right?"

Linda saw the look on his face and tried to help. "Actually Susan said she and Robin could get together before he leaves, right, Rob?"

Edna looked up from her eggs. "Susan Hartness, Linda? She's such a sweet girl. Why I was playing bridge with her mother just last week and Jane was talking about how she wished Sue would meet someone nice and get her mind off that horrible Smith boy—you know the one; he was arrested for breaking into cars a couple of months ago. His parents are beside themselves about him and Jane was so worried about Sue being involved…"

"Mom, please?"

"Well, Rob here would be such an improvement and her parents would be thrilled. Besides, it would give him an excuse to come visit us more often, you know." She gave his shoulder a squeeze as she walked past on her way to the toaster and he caught Linda's eye; don't worry about it.

They were clearing the table, getting the twenty-pound turkey out of the fridge so it could be stuffed and started in the oven when the phone rang. Fred answered. "Hello?…Yes, just a moment, please. Dick? It's for you. Sue Hartness."

Taking the receiver, embarrassed as all eyes were on him, he tried to pull the cord around the corner into the dining room. "Yes?"

"Hi, I hope I didn't interrupt your breakfast or anything but I was wondering if you're super busy today—I mean besides eating turkey, I mean."

"Um…I guess…I don't know. I think I'm supposed to help rake leaves or something and then Mr. Danvers wants to watch a couple of the games and I'm sorta…"

"I know. My father is the same way, but I was thinking that you could maybe get out later after all that stuff. I mean if you want to, that is."

"Um, yeah, it sounds great, but I heard you have a boyfriend. Are you sure this is cool?" The last thing Robin needed was to get in the middle of something.

"No, I date a couple of people, but nothing serious. Maybe we could take a walk, if you'd like?"

"Sure, sounds good. I'll call you when I can get away, is that okay?"

"Perfect. Great. See you later."

"Later." Rob walked back to the kitchen and hung up the phone, every eye on him. "She just wants to go for a walk after the turkey and the games, that's all."

"You have a date with Sue, sweetie? That's nice." Edna was just spooning the cornbread stuffing into the huge bird. "Mom? Are the apples peeled for the pie yet?"

"Not yet; how are you at peeling apples, Dick?"

"Better than potatoes."

The turkey was in the oven, the Danvers, all generations, were getting ready to head out to see Midvale High play it's holiday game against their yearly rival, The Ridge Ravens and Edna found Dick quietly sitting in the study. "Everything all right, dear?" He was so much older than he was a year and a half ago when he first came here. Taller, stronger, even better looking but something was on his mind and he seemed serious, and worried about something.

"Sure, just waiting or everyone to go."

Edna closed the door behind her. "Robin, honey, what's bothering you? I know you—something's got you upset and I'd like to help if I can—did Batman do something to upset you?"

"No. Not really." He looked out the window for a moment. "He's leaning on me to make up my mind about college. I mean he's really leaning on me about it."

"You want to go, don't you? You're so smart and all. I'm sure he's just concerned about your future and all of that."

"I know." He stopped, unsure if he wanted to go on and then it came out in a rush. "But I don't want to go. I know I don't—no one in my family ever went and they did just fine and it's not like I'd never find a job or anything." He searched her face for a second, hoping she'd understand. "I'm just so sick of going to school."

"Sweetheart, is that why you didn't go to Europe with him?"

He nodded. "I couldn't take a week of him nagging at me about applications and SAT's."

"But you have to know that college opens doors—all right, I suppose you have plenty of doors already opened for you, but you know it has advantages."

"Yeah, sure, but…I just don't want to go. Not right after I graduate, anyway."

She sat on the corner of the couch, close to his knee. "Well then what would you like to do? You must have given it some thought."

He nodded. "Sure I have. I'd like to maybe work for the circus again—I still have a lot of friends there and the Wallenda's said I could join them any time I wanted. And I'd like to really spend some time concentrating on getting the Titans even in better shape than they are now. I mean, we're good and we usually do pretty well against the bad guys, but I think that we can be a lot better. I'd like to make that happen."

"Those both sound like good things to do, honey. What does Batman say, though?"

"I haven't said anything to him yet. He's set on the whole college thing." His voice had dropped several decibels. Clearly this wasn't something he looked forward to dealing with.

They heard sounds out in the hall and a knock at the study door. "You two ready to see the game? You know how the stands fill up Thanksgiving, Edna"

"We're just coming, Fred." She patted Robin's knee. This will work out, sweetheart, you'll see. You know you'll have to tell him how you feel, but as soon as you do that and make him understand, you'll see." He nodded, unconvinced but he stood and grabbed his jacket, ready to watch the game. Besides, Sue was meeting him there.

The game went well, with Robin disappearing up into the upper stands to sit with Sue (and later disappearing under the bleachers for a while). Linda sat with her parents and grandparents and left a few times to base the turkey. Dick, the Midvale High School quarterback, made a couple of mistakes, which he blamed on poor interference from the defense but they still ended up winning by a field goal so all wasn't lost. As soon as the game was over Dick reappeared, Sue holding his hand.

"Would you mind very much if Dick comes over to my house after dinner today? My parents would love to meet him, if it's okay with you." She turned puppy eyes on Edna, who managed to repress a laugh. The young lady wasn't subtle, but it all seemed harmless enough. It wasn't like Robin would be missing out on his own family, after all.

"That would be just fine, dear. Make sure to call us if you need a ride home. But right now we'd better be getting back so we can put dinner on the table."

"Mom?" Linda met them all in the crowded parking lot." Is it okay with you if Dick comes over for dinner, too? We have plenty and his parents had to go to Center City—his grandfather is sick or something."

Edna gave it a half-second's thought. "I suppose so, but you make sure to tell him we're eating in one hour and I want to start on time or the turkey will be ruined."

"Really, Edna—I just don't see how anyone could be mean to a young man as sweet as that Robin. He's a charmer; good looking and smart as a whip. I simply don't understand it for one minute."

"Oh, I don't think his guardian is actually trying to be cruel, Mom—I think it's more a case of just not being sure how to raise a child, especially one who's been through what that boy has. He just needs someone to love him and let him know he matters, that's all."

"I suppose, but I swear there are some thing in this world I'll never understand."

"Shh. The kids are coming in, he'll hear you."

"Linda, would you two get your hands washed and then make sure that the table is set? Thank you." If Linda had head anything, she kept it to herself.

The dinner went well, with everyone eating too much and going into the expected turkey coma for a while afterwards. By about eight in the evening they had started back to life (though Fred and Charlie were asleep in front of some football game) and Robin took off for Sue's house. Linda declined to join him saying that Dick M was coming over in a little while and she'd talk to him either later or at breakfast.

The adults settled in for a quiet few hours, Edna knitting while she chatted with her mother and Linda in the family room with Dick, watching a movie. Everything seemed fine until about ten when there was knock at the front door.

"Mrs. Danvers, forgive me interrupting on a holiday like this, but I'm looking for, um, Robin. I understand that he's staying with you folks this weekend?"

"Goodness! Clark, please come in. Well, yes, he's staying with us but he's not here right this moment." Clark Kent came in, dressed casually in slacks and a sweater, glasses in place. "Mom, this is Clark Kent, he's Linda's cousin and a friend of Robin's, as well. Is something wrong, is there a problem?"

"No, nothing's wrong, it's just that his guardian is back earlier than he expected and would like the boy home. That's all."

There was something very odd about this and no one could miss the tension in the man. Clearly, something was, indeed, going on and it was probably not something good.

"Let me call over to where he is and get him back. This won't take long. May I offer you a cup of coffee or a piece of pie? It's homemade."

He smiled, "That's not necessary, but thank you. I'm sure he'll be here quickly. In fact, I think I'll just go pick him up myself." He nodded to the women, and left rather abruptly. By morning Dick's clothing and belongings disappeared from the study where he'd been using the couch as a bed and Edna assumed Kal picked them up at some point as well.

Yes, very odd.

It was three days later that they finally heard from Robin. Linda had been dealing with Dick M's snide comments about how he was obviously on a short leash and someone called him to heel and Sue asked her a least a dozen times if Robbie was all right and when he might be back for another visit. She was clearly smitten, much to the annoyance of a good number of the boys in the class.

Linda, finally at the end of her rope as far as Dick M was concerned, gave n to her feelings and gave him what Edna would have called 'what for'. The argument lasted for two hours and ended with her throwing him out of the house, It was two months before she agreed to go to a movie with him and he was properly put in his place. For now. Edna was thrilled and disappointed when the boy started coming around again.

The Danvers, both Fred and Edna and the grandparents were upset and concerned they'd somehow contributed to the boy's recall when he seemed to be having a good and relaxing time. Susan even came over to explain to Edna that they really, really hadn't done anything wrong. Honest. She blushingly admitted to a few kisses, but swore that was all that happened and that Robin had been a complete gentleman. He had perfect manners and hadn't done anything he shouldn't. He really, really hadn't.

And he was so cute…did Mrs. Danvers have his address, by any chance? She just wanted to write him and, you know…

Robin's letter of thanks for having him and allowing him to stay was in their mailbox with in a week, and though he apologized for his sudden disappearance, he didn't explain it. He also had large bouquets of flowers delivered to both Edna and her mother, both women completely charmed by both his thoughtfulness and his maturity in thinking of such an extravagant gesture.

However, having met Robin's guardian and having heard too many stories about the man, Edna imagined the worst and was close to giving Batman another piece of her mind when she rethought the idea and called Kal instead, demanding an explanation.

"I know that this may well be none of my business—wait a minute; of course it's part of my business! That child was a guest in my home, again, because he was left to fend for himself again. I'm sorry, Kal, but I think I'm owed an explanation as to what on earth was going on and why he was pulled out of here without so much as a 'by your leave'. Who does that man think he is? Does he know—or even care that Robin found himself a girlfriend while he was here? Does he?"

"Edna, I know you're upset and I don't blame you, but…"

"But what? What could have justified what happened here?"

"Well, Batman was in Europe and finished up what he was doing a few days early so he…"

"He decided that he would deign to take the boy back, let him go home like the feudal lord allowing a serf to sleep in the manor house instead of camping in a mud field. Very big of him, I must say!"

"Now, Edna, it's really not quite like that…"

"Oh really? Then how is it? Robin was having a good time here; he was making new friends and he was relaxed and enjoying himself. And, frankly, I think he needs a mother figure in his life and I seem to be the one he's chosen, at least for now. That man! I could just…" She suddenly stopped talking when it dawned on her that she was speaking like this about Batman to Superman and in defense of Robin, for goodness sake. She was giving Superman what for!

Oh dear.

These men—and the boy—were world famous heroes and had experiences and adventures she couldn't even begin to understand. Their lives weren't what anyone could consider normal by any standards and here she was…

No!

The way Batman treated that sweet child was unacceptable and that's all there was to it. Yes, Kal and the rest of the Justice League seemed to look after the youngsters but clearly there were times when he just seemed to slip through the cracks. He needed attention and not just from fans and the world press. He needed someone to look after him and listen to how his day went and what he cared about. He needed a, well—he needed a mother and his wasn't around to do the job anymore. The poor thing. Linda had told her that Robin was an orphan, the darling and he simply needed someone to care about him and not as a superhero or a teen heartthrob. He needed normalcy and a nice young lady like Susan (even though she was a bit fast for Edna's taste, but not so much that Edna would put the brakes on the budding romance). He needed, well, he just needed someone to fuss over him now and then and to listen to what he had to say without issuing orders and edicts to offset the obsession and darkness of Batman.

That's what he needed.

"Edna, Batman called Robin home so that they could have Thanksgiving together, even if it was a day or so late. He felt badly and wanted to make it up to the boy. I explained this to D…Rob and he was thrilled. Honestly, he was. He was tremendously grateful to you and Fred but he wanted to be in his own home." He paused a moment. "You understand, don't you?"

"Well. Of course I do but that doesn't change the fact that poor boy was shipped off like a dog being sent to board in a kennel, does it?"

"No, I suppose it doesn't." And if it hadn't been for Alfred giving Bruce Holy Hell, Dick would still be crashing on the Danver's couch, but Kal declined to say anything about this small fact. "He, Batman did say that Rob could come back any time he wanted, so long as you'd have him. I think he does understand that you fill a need the boy has and—honestly—Di…Robin's best interest really is important to him. I know he thinks of the boy as his son."

She gave Kal a hard look, as though she thought he was trying to just placate her but then, after a long moment, softened a bit. "Robin said something to me while we were getting dinner ready. He was peeling potatoes and he said that he knows most people don't understand the relationship and the connection between him and Batman but he doesn't care. He looked at me with those blue eyes of his and said it works, no matter what anyone thinks." She smiled. "Well, he said it works most of the time, anyway." Her expression became a cross between sad and melancholy. "He's such a sweet boy, Kal, and he's still so young no matter what all he's done and accomplished."

"I know that. That's why we keep an eye on him and the rest of the kids who do this. No one wants anything bad to happen to them—they're all so extraordinary."

"She looked out the window for a few longs seconds. "You swear that Batman really is kind to him, that he genuinely cares about Robin? That he's good for him?"

"If I didn't think so, he wouldn't be living there."

"Is that the truth?"

Kal tried to hide his smile. He was Superman, for the love of God; Truth, Justice and the American Way and all of that. "It's the truth."

She was slightly mollified, though she still had serious doubts about Batman and always would as far as Robin was concerned. "You make sure that boy knows he's welcomed here any time at all, whether he needs to get away or if he just wants a change of scene for a few days." Kal nodded. "I mean that—you'll see to it that he knows that?"

"He knows, Edna. I promise you—he knows." And if Bruce didn't know, Kal, Alfred, Dick and the entire Justice League would make sure he did.

5/11/08