Dick returned to the manor at 5:50 in the evening. He had tried to focus on other things but Damian's words from that morning were stuck in his mind. The last thing he wanted was for Damian to think he didn't respect him. Especially because he knew Damian's idea of self-worth was tied a little too close to his fighting abilities and Robin identity. As much as he tried he wasn't sure that Damian knew he loved him for much more than his Robin abilities. Damian had many more endearing qualities hidden behind his tough demeanor. He could be incredibly generous, and thoughtful at times. He had an adorable soft spot for animals. His artistic talent revealed a spark of creativity that often lay dormant behind his militant behavior. And he possessed such strong courage outside the battlefield, he left his entire life behind and betrayed his mother to do the right thing. For a ten year old to come and live with an adopted brother he just met in order to do the right thing was truly amazing. Especially when he stayed true to his morals despite his own mother disowning him. Skilled fighter or not, Damian was an amazing kid. Now if only Dick could get that message across to him. He needed to know that his problem didn't change how much Dick loved his little brother.

He went up to Damian's room expecting to find him reading or sketching. Instead he found the youngest Wayne asleep in bed surrounded by a puddle of his own urine, the package of diapers unopened under his bed. Clearly Damian had seen them because they were moved from there original location. Dick was frustrated, he thought he had gotten through to Damian. He thought they had come to an agreement. He knew Damian would be upset that he had seen his accident but he didn't want to leave him soaking in pee until he woke up. He could tell by the motion of his eyes that Damian was dreaming and given the state of the bed it was probably a nightmare. He walked over and gently shook the small boy awake.

Damian sat up quickly and drew the small blade he kept under his pillow, pointing it at his attacker. Waking the former assassin was never a wise idea because years of lethal muscle memory made him very dangerous. Damian's eyes met wide blue ones and he lowered the knife upon realising his 'attacker' was merely Grayson. He came to the slow realization that he had once more humiliated himself in his sleep. The worst part being Grayson had been there to witness his shame. He averted his gaze toward the floor.

Dick sat down on the dry edge of the bed causing the cover beneath to crinkle. The noise made Damian's face turn red. Dick reached out and placed an arm around Damian. Damian tensed at first, unexpected contact made him uneasy. In the league if the only physical contact he had was during fights so he immediately associated it with an attack. Once his initial instincts wore off he relaxed into the embrace. He often acted like he didn't like to be touched because it was easier than explaining he just didn't like unexpected touches and he had to trust someone before he let them engage in casual contact. Grayson's hugs however were something he craved. Grayson who had grown up in a loving family probably couldn't begin to comprehend the profound impact he had on Damian everytime he did the slightest thing that showed he cared. But for Damian every ounce of contact and affection helped make up for the ten years he had not known what love was. That's why Grayson was the most important person to him.

"Damian, I thought we had a deal" said Dick in a soft voice not wanting to upset Damian.

"Yes Grayson, so did I" said Damian in a voice filled with a strange mix of anger and rejection.

"You agreed to wear protection to bed"

"You said you would get pull ups" muttered Damian in a barely audible voice, just saying the word pull ups out loud increased his embarrassment tenfold. Dick then realized why Damian had taken a complete 180 on the issue of protection. He had failed to speak with him about why he got the diapers and it had wounded his ego in a big way.

"I know, but the man at the pharmacy told me that the goodnites tended to leak"

"You told someone!" exclaimed Damian sitting upright in anger

"No, but I had to check out and I never said who they were for" Damian relaxed back into Dicks embrace.

"If only mother could see me now" he commented in the smallest voice Dick had ever heard him use. Dick wanted to say that Talia would love him anyway because she was his mother and that's what mothers do. He couldn't say that though because the truth was ever since a bounty had been placed on Damian's head it became apparent even to him that Talia held no love for Damian. Instead he decided to remind Damian of his chosen family.

"Bruce would be so proud of you, of everything you've sacrificed to be in this family. Something little like this wouldn't be a big deal to him because he loved you"

"He didn't choose me" said Damian in the same small voice a few tears rolling down his cheek. At this point all his walls were down.

"No but you chose him, and he may not have lived to see it but even after he was dead you chose him. To Bruce that would have meant everything, you chose to honor his legacy despite not being able to gain his approval. At the time we were basically strangers, I was prepared for you to go back to Talia, that's probably what I would have done in your shoes. But you didn't, you chose this family and for that Bruce would be more proud of you than he was any of us."

Damian looked up at Dick with wide eyes, more tears fell but they werent of shame they were tears shed for a father that was taken before he had even gotten a chance to know him. Dicks eyes wattered too and he pulled Damian closer.

After a long embrace Dick sent Damian to shower while he cleaned the bed.

Sorry it's short but it's been a while and I wanted to post this before I wrote the next part. Let me know what you think your reviews keep me motivated and constructive criticism is always appreciated! Also any ideas on what should happen next?