To be honest, I wanted to go for a fly today anyway. However, my wings certainly drive the point that I made, from my pun, straight home. Dick, Babs, and Hope have seen them before though. They're the only ones who know I have them. Only ones I feel like I can trust to see them.

I've been through a lot. I think I have the right to trust issues. About my wings anyway. I've met Bruce, Alfred, Song*, and Tim before. I trust them just fine.

But I don't go to school though. That's not because of trust issues. I can't bring myself to. Without my pack (Kelly, Will, Ben, and Sam) there, I know it will feel so empty. That's why Babs home schools me instead. She says it's not a problem and that I'm smart. So there's that.

My pack was really the only thing that made school bearable. Don't make me talk about them. I miss them too much so I won't be able to bear doing that. Hope looks at me.

"Well I can't say I blame you for feeling protective."

She knows I definitely have the way to feel that way about the people I'm close to. She does too but still. I nod.

"Good. I don't want to..."

Not going there. Don't even think about going there. Anyway, Hope and I have a lot in common. In the loosest sense of the word, you can call her my sister. A sister who can turn invisible.

I can fly and, in my opinion, that's way better. Then again, I have wings, so, of course, I can fly. I taught myself how to do that. It's not as if I had a choice. I'm the only person in Bludhaven with wings. With every effort I have, I hide them well. Hey, I bet you'd do the same. Despite my best efforts, however, the words I intended to cut off come out of my mouth, just below a whisper, and in Romany, but still.

"[Lose anyone else. Especially not Dick.]" "[You're not going to lose me. Never. I'm not going to let that happen.]" I smile. "Thank you."

The comfort I get from hearing Romany has always been something I like. I didn't hear it all during my foster years. So, like Dick, I find it good talking to another speaker. Of course, the words themselves are also comforting, so, for me, they're good to hear.

Later I do enjoy my fly. Who wouldn't enjoy flying, especially under your own power? Exactly. Seriously, the only downside, I can think of is, if I fly for too long, my wings will get warm, and that makes me feel a little uncomfortable, for a reason. They're a part of me. I know I wouldn't feel like myself without them. I mean, I am a Robyn.

When I land, I decide to get something to eat. Flying tends to burn up quite a bit of energy. Makes sense, though, right?

"You eat like a bird." "Dad! Enough already." "Well I'm not exactly flying off the handle." I grin.

Babs looks exasperated. "No more puns today out of either of you. Or is that too much to ask from you two? Seriously I'll probably end up letting out this frustration on a pun-ching bag. Great. I guess I forgot puns are contagious. Anyway, Robyn, Kit** and Wally are coming over tomorrow."

My eyes widen a little.

Hope smiles. "It's O.K. You'll like them and they'll like you." "Not that I doubt you but when was I going to be told about this?"

Dick, who obviously picked up on my nervousness, looks at me. "They're friends. There's no reason to feel uneasy around them."

I nod. "I'm looking forward to meeting them then."

Before you say it sounds like I'm playing favorites, I like Dick a little more than I do Babs and Hope. I have my reasons, believe me. The bond that links us isn't just because he's my guardian. It's one of blood. In the loosest sense of the word, he with Babs and Hope are my family.

Families look out for each other. Protect each other. That's one of the reasons I feel fiercely protective of Dick. Of course, since he's also Nightwing, someone has to protect him. I just feel like I do a better job of it when he's in civvies.

Unlike Hope, A.K.A Ghost, I don't go out in the field. Too many bad memories, I guess.

But, despite all my crappier memories, I actually, to my relief, sleep pretty well. Maybe it's because I'm looking forward to meeting Wally and Kit. Given my P.T.S.D, nightmare free slumbers aren't exactly a common thing for me.

I wake up the next morning with a smile on my face. Today's the day of Kit and Wally's visit. I see a smile on Dick's face too.

"I see you didn't have any nightmares."

I nod. "Yeah that's one of the reasons why I'm smiling."

After breakfast, (and a morning fly), I hear knocking at the door. Bet I know who that is.

Sure enough, I can tell that it's Kit and...Just below a whisper, a name comes out of my mouth before I can stop it.

"Will?"

*see A Song in Gotham for Song's first appearance
**see Just A Little Kit for Kit's first appearance