Lightning crashed down on the roof of Wayne Manor. The sky was so dark, it looked like midnight at only seven pm. The newest member of the family, Jason, sat at the counter. He and his father were enjoying dinner while Dick had gone out on patrol. He was fifteen now, and had outgrown the Robin identity, passing it on to Jason. He had become Nightwing, with a bird-themed outfit like his "brother's," though it was blue and black.

Jason could hear the rain drumming on the covered porch. It sounded as if small rocks were being tossed across the tin. Bruce noticed, too, and it was loud enough to replace the need for conversation. The boy was glad-even though he had lived here for nearly six months, he still felt awed by Bruce Wayne. He hoped the man would stay like this, a few words here and there to address an issue or dispute. He wouldn't, though.

"Jason," Bruce spoke over the roar of the rain, "How would you like to watch a movie after this?"

"Depends on the movie," Jason replied. He was only a twelve-year-old kid, after all. He had his likes and dislikes. "I'd-"

Dick pushed open the kitchen door, drenched from the rain. Speaking of dislikes! He had a towel around his shoulders and his skin-tight Nightwing uniform was slick with water. The older teen said, "Hey, Bruce! How are you, Jaybird?"

"Don't call me that." The young boy growled. The acrobat was much too peppy for Jason. He only liked one thing about this Mini-Bruce: that he could call him Dick and everyone thought he was only using the boy's preferred nickname. Dick went on, "Ran into Poison Ivy, so I have to file casework over that tonight. Hallelujah for paperwork."

"I second. Can't they do it themselves, just once in a while?" Bruce laughed. When he lived on the streets, Jason hadn't known Bruce to be overly happy. He wasn't, around most people, but his older son had a knack for cheering him up. Jay listened quietly to the two chat. Bruce offered to wait the movie until Richard had finished his work and the man accepted. Jason groaned inwardly.

The boy went into the movie room and laid down on the couch. Maybe he could fall asleep and get out of having to listen to his adoptive father and brother talk over a movie. He pulled a pillow under his cheek and slipped into a dream, itching to get away from his new brother.

Dick couldn't understand. Why was Jason so intent on avoiding him the best he could? He told Bruce this when he was sure his brother wasn't listening in. "He never wants to do anything where I'm concerned. Did I do something to make him hate me?"

"You have to understand that this is a huge transition for him. He's been without a loving family his whole life and he relied on things we despise." Bruce said, and laughed. "Like stealing the Batmobile's tires."

They had a good laugh on how the boy had come into their lives. Dick realized something and stopped. "What if, maybe, he's just jealous of us? I mean, he never had a family. Here we are, father and son, and he feels left out."

"I guess it's a possibility." Bruce said. He turned it over in his head. "He might be."

They froze at Jason's scream. The duo raced to the child, finding him in the movie room, curled up in a ball on the couch. He shook violently, though his face was turned away from them. Bruce, from so many nights of caring for his older son, knew what to do. He sat down beside the boy and attempted to calm him. Dick took the child in his arms and rocked him while their father went to get a blanket.

"Shh. . . Jason, you're okay. Calm down, you're okay." He rocked again and again, and the child kept his eyes tightly closed. Bruce returned and wrapped the small boy in a fleece blanket Alfred had made. Jason leaned against his adoptive father's chest and breathed in deeply. "I'm okay. . .. You can go. . .."

"You're obviously not, Jay. Shh." His father held him for quite a while. He wondered what his younger son had dreamed of to make him so terrified. Dick took his brother and let Bruce get some popcorn for their movie. He kissed the child's head and was rewarded with a feeble swat. When Bruce returned, he relieved his older son of the burden. Jason was falling asleep and seemed to be getting heavier with every moment. Bruce contemplated carrying the child to his bed before starting the movie. Before he could, however, the half-conscious boy murmured to them, "I love you, Dad, Dick."

"I love you, Jason." Bruce kissed his head. He was too tired to protest, and he lay down across their laps to get some sleep. The last thing Jason heard before he slipped into a dream-state was his older brother whispering, "I love you, Jaybird. Don't forget that."

I won't, Jason thought to himself. And he spent the night dreaming about his family: Bruce, Dick, and Alfred. I'll never forget.