"What do you have to do with the League of Shadows?" Wally nearly shouted.

"About as much as your wife," Cassy answered coolly, not bothering to look up from the note. Her previously white face had colored slightly and her eyes turned dark. Wally recognised it from when he first met Artemis and she had not completely turned her back on her training yet. In Cassandra's eyes, it was calculatingly precise and chillingly dark like Artemis' had been; only now they contained the fury and love of a mother. Wally dared not to think of what would happen if he had met Cassandra on the receiving end of her wrath.

Richard looked at Cassandra, hoping she did not have anything to do with those assassins, but when he saw her shy face, he knew it was true. Somehow though, this didn't surprise RIchard. Some part of him, deep down, knew the truth all along. He kissed her on her sweaty forehead gently.

"We trained together, Wally. She left some time after I did." Artemis defended her friend.

"How can we trust her then?" Wally stared at his wife who was only just beginning to show.

"You trust me, don't you?"

Wally was stumped, for he could not answer this without getting into further trouble. He sighed. "So now what?"

"We get my family as far away as possible. Then Artemis and I will deal with the Shadows," Cassy said, her voice firm and unwavering.

"No, not a chance." Richard turned to look at his wife. "You gave birth only an hour or so ago!"

"Cassy, he's right. Wally and I will deal with the League. We can do it." Artemis looked dearly at her friend.

Richard snorted. "Like he can help."

Wally became indignant, about to rant on about something that Richard didn't remember, but Artemis stepped in in time. "Wally can help. He is the Flash."

"All the more reason. He was late earlier today. Now think about it Cassandra. Do you really want to leave your family unprotected?"

Cassandra felt her heart torn. She knew her husband was right. She was probably one of the few people in the world who could adequately protect her children and husband. But at the same time she also knew they would not be truly safe until the Shadows were gone. She breathed in deeply. "Okay. Where will we go?"

Richard was surprised at how the willingness of Cassandra to simply give up on the matter. But he looked back at Artemis and Wally, two people whom for whatever reason his wife trusted.

"Back to the Cave with us. There, you can have several heroes plus yourself also looking out for them," Artemis said.

Richard nodded his head. The Cave, sounding familiar, he knew he could trust his family's safety there. He grabbed Cassy's hand, willing her to trust him on this part. She looked up at him with those large, dark eyes that held his heart since they met, and likewise nodded.

"We'll go to the Cave."


He sat on the top of the roof, looking like a gargoyle to anyone down below who happened to glance up. He sat there, pondering how this would go. It had only been a couple of months since he had even approached Batman about being his own superhero and not a sidekick. While Batman had been incredibly levelheaded, he insisted on Dick being Robin at least until he was eighteen. Now, on the night of his birthday, after everyone had wished him luck and a Happy Birthday, he was unsure of what to do.

He knew Batman would patrol Gotham and Dick had done it too on dozens of occasions, but now, with his own city, it was quite different. He knew Batman and his old Team would be watching. Even Wally would be there though he and Artemis had taken a "vacation" from being a superhero while they focused on college. Knowing everyone was watching, he decided to return to his roots and simply patrol until something more ominous arrived.


Richard, though tingling from the zeta tube, was not afraid of it as his wife had been. She covered her fear well though by being fearful for their son, though he knew it would not harm him, and convinced her otherwise. But being in the Cave, the gray stone walls seemed comforting to him, hesitantly? reminding him of a more reckless time.

"All coming back to you?" Wally asked, only instead of the seriousness that had been in his eyes since their meeting, a more goofy lighthearted glint was there, bringing forth another memory.


Robin was staring at the duo before him and Batman wondered about them. Batman and the Flash, a thin man with a red suit and yellow lightning bolt on his chest were talking almost casually about a villain who was terrorizing Central City. With a quiet nod, Batman dismissed Robin from the conversation with a clear indicator to take Kid Flash with him. As soon as they were alone, Robin was flooded with words from the Kid.

"Ohmygoodness,you'rethefirstsidekickever!CanIjustsayitisahugehonortom eetyou!Youaremyinspirationfortaking thiswholethingon!UncleBarrysays-Oops.I'mnotsupposedtotellyouthat!Promisenottotellanyone?Ofcourseyouwon't,you'reRobin,theveryfirstsidekcickever!"

Robin blinked in confusion, only picking up a handful of words including first, honor, inspiration, and Uncle Barry. Robin grinned slyly, causing the kid to stop chattering like a squirrel on an espresso.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kid Flash slowed down for once.

"You're Wally West, Barry Allen's nephew."

"What?No,I'mnot!How'dyoufigurethatout?Man,you'regoodatthewholedetectivethi ng!"

"You said 'Uncle Barry.'"

Wally hung his head down like a shamed dog, then perked up almost immediately. "CanIknowyoursecretidentitysi nceyouknowmine?"

"No."


"Dick? Are you even paying attention?" Wally asked, bringing Richard's thoughts back to the present situation.

"It's Richard," Richard reminded the Flash.

"And Dick is a nickname for Richard."

"And Wally is short for Wallace right?" Richard retorted back with a sly smile on his face.

Richard saw the Flash's face brighten and knew his memories were slowly beginning to come back. But did he really want to be this Dick Grayson? What if he didn't like who Dick was? He decided to ignore it. It was a part of him. He could not escape it. He might as well accept it.

"Well, here are your quarters. They've been upgraded to make room for your family."

Richard nodded, wondering why it looked like a hotel room. There was even a crib in near the king bed. "Wally, I want in."

"What?"

"My wife is being checked out at the infirmary. Abby almost died today. I have a new son. I can't wait around here waiting to know if there is still a threat to think about. I want to go with you to find the Shadows."

"Artemis, the team and I can handle it."

"Artemis is, what, four months pregnant now? Are you really going to risk the safety of your wife and unborn child on a whim's mission? Let me take her place and come with you."

"Do you even remember how to fight?"

"I know enough."

Richard saw the trouble on Wally's face, but that pulling the mother and child card was the right move. Wally eventually sighed, and nodded his head before leaving. Richard sighed too. He would do this. He would remember what it meant to be a hero.


Wally West is entertaining at least, Robin thought as they were standing on top of the building waiting for their mentors to come back from some situation. The Kid hadn't stopped talking, but it wasn't obnoxious or irritating. He had at least learned to talk slower since they first met.

"Oh, hey hey hey! Guess what?" Kid Flash was poking Robin in the shoulder.

"You looked in a mirror?" Robin swatted Kids hand away as the joke went right over Kids head.

"And I look amazing. But seriously, so Haly's circus is coming to Central City this weekend!" Robin went silent, continuing to stare at the city lights. "It has almost everything from clowns to elephants to lion tamers and-"

"I know what the circus has, Kid."

"So do you want to?"

"Go back home, eat a burger and sleep? Yes, very much so."

"No, I mean, see the circus! Come on, it would be fun!"

"Not really. At least, not that one."

"Aw, why not?"

Robin took a deep breath and blurted, "My parents died there a while back."

Kid Flash for the first time since Robin knew him, shut up quickly. Robin continued to look for any sign of Batman, hoping he would come quickly, but knowing that he wouldn't.

"What?" was all Kid could say.

"My parents died there. Someone undid the bolts. They fell during their act."

"What do you mean, during their act?"

"They were acrobats called the... the Flying Graysons. I'm watched them fall."

"You're there son, Richard then."

"How do you know that?"

"Everyone knows the Flying Grayson; they were legends. Even I can do a little detective work."

"The call me Dick. Richard's too formal. I never called Richard unless I was in trouble. And hopefully, I be called that name again until my funeral."


Cassandra was rocking little Wally to sleep before she fell asleep even though it was only four in the afternoon. One thing she learned from Abby was sleep when you can. One never gets enough sleep when they are being woken up every two hours.

"Are you busy?" Artemis tiptoed into the room, sneaking a look at the baby.

"For the next five minutes or so. Why?"

"I wanted to say hi and catch up. We haven't seen each other for over ten years."

"Not much to say. I went to college, got married, had two children. What about you?"

"Same. Only difference is that I am now finally pregnant."

"What do you mean, finally? I thought you didn't want children."

Artemis smiled wickedly, and Cassy knew the answer. "Well, yes. But then I met this amazing guy who made me laugh and proposed and wanted children. He wants a big family, but I'm not sure I can provide that."

"Why not?"

Cassandra saw her friend's face fall, a sorrowful fear showing in her gray eyes. "What if because of who I was in the past, my training and all of my instincts, my family, I'm not a good mother?"

Cassandra hugged her friend as tightly she could, feeling the slight bump of Artemis' belly now that her own had shrunk. She did not let go for several moments. It was only until Artemis said they were squishing Wally did they let go with a tear or two being shed.

"Damn hormones," Artemis laughed as she brushed away the tears. Cassy laughed too knowing that none of this would leave the room. At this time, Abby who had been playing with Richard as he wandered around wondering if he could remember anything else, came rushing in and jumped on the bed that had dark blue covers.

"Abby, stop jumping on the bed. You'll break it."

Abby shook her head smiling wide saying, "Daddy said I could do whatever I want when I get back to the room!"

Cassandra and Artemis laughed together, with a greater bond being forged between them in motherhood.


It was dark in the room as Richard entered. There were no nightlights as Abby had outgrown them a few months ago. Using techniques that he assumed Batman had taught him when he was younger, he snuck around the room first to Abby, where he kissed her on the forehead, wishing her to keep that lighthearted smile on her face. He walked over to the crib and brushed his son's face, wishing to see him after this mission but understanding the very realistic possibility that he might not. He walked over to the bed his wife was sleeping on and felt for her. She wasn't there.

"Leaving in the middle of the night without saying a proper goodbye?"

Richard started but didn't flinch. He turned around, unsure of what to say. "I have to do this, Cassy."

Grateful for her understanding he gave in. He let his hands wander over her body, holding her closely to him. He tried to memorize every curve, every detail of her body before leaving. He let his lips touch gracefully down her neck and collarbones, enjoying the way her warm skin felt against his mouth. She pressed herself against his body, letting her hands rub across his sides and through his dark hair. He breathed in deeply. "I need to know who I am," he whispered in between kisses.

Cassandra began to kiss him now all over the face, and he reveled in the touch of her lips. She whispered seductively into his ear between light gentle kisses. "You're mine, Richard. You will always be mine." She broke away for a moment to speak clearly. "Remember, the Shadows never tell you everything. They will manipulate or tell only part of the truth to change perspective. Remember that one thing throughout your mission. I love you."

"I love you too."

In that hearty goodbye, there was an echo of something greater, something powerful. It contained the promise that he would one day return to her, no matter how long it took or how difficult. He promised her that she was his, he was hers, and nothing would change that. It was a vow of the purest love.