So, here is another story I dredged up from years ago... I revisited the old show and I think I'm ready to wake this one up. Hope you enjoy.

A/N: For this chapter I'm adding a little Batman Forever into the mix. Sorry if it's a little confusing. :p

It was strange, having lived at Wayne Manor such a short time, to already be packing for a week away. Most of Dick's belongings were still at his old home, being boxed up and waiting for him to send for them, so when his pilot case and larger suitcase were packed his bureau and closet seemed empty.

He wheeled his pilot case downstairs and Alfred carried the larger case behind him. They met Bruce standing in the huge entrance hall, dark and imposing as if he were about to tell Dick he couldn't leave after all.

In Dick's imagination, Bruce grew even taller and darker, his eyes glowing in the dim light as he said "You must stay here forever!"

Dick shook his head at the ridiculous idea and saw Bruce holding out a hand to him. He shook it awkwardly.

"Call me when you get there," Bruce instructed, "and stay in touch, OK?"

"OK." Dick wasn't sure if he really meant it, or if Bruce really wanted him to stay in touch, but saying no was out of the question.

"If traffic isn't bad, I should be back within the hour, sir," Alfred said.

Bruce nodded.

That was all. Dick thought he should feel better now that he was finally out of the house and heading for more familiar ground, but he still felt uncomfortable.

A couple of miles down the road, Alfred asked, "So, Missus Cooper is your aunt?"

"Yeah... my mom's older sister."

"Do you have any cousins?"

"No. Aunt Harriet was widowed a few years after she got married. My family kind of has bad luck that way."

"Bad luck?"

Dick wasn't sure just how much he wanted to tell Alfred. The butler seemed trustworthy enough, but the topic was unpleasant. He sighed. "My family used to be circus performers. Mom was really into gymnastics when she met my dad, who was a trapeze artist—perfect match, right?"

"It sounds it."

"They'd travel the circuit and then in the off season my dad did accounting work, of all things. He was really smart. He and my mom tutored me... and my brother."

"I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yeah. He was older. We learned tightrope walking and aerial feats and all that stuff. For a while there, I could swing from a trapeze by my teeth, if you can believe it."

"That's most impressive."

"Probably couldn't do it now—haven't been practicing. Anyway, living in Gotham, I'm sure you've heard of Two-Face?"

Alfred frowned. "I'm afraid I'm not so well-informed as you, Master Dick."

Dick balked at Alfred calling him "master." His father's staff hadn't been so formal. "When the carnival was in Gotham there was this unhinged guy, Harvey Dent? The press is making him out to be a martyred hero now, and maybe he was a good guy once, but he and Batman are the reason my mom and brother are dead."

"Now that you mention it, I do remember something in the papers about a bomb under the big top..."

"That's the one. Two-Face was threatening to detonate a bomb under the big top and send all the spectators sky high unless Batman came and revealed his identity. My family figured we had nothing to lose by trying to get rid of the bomb ourselves, so we moved it out the top of the tent, but..." Dick swallowed. "My mom and brother didn't make it. Dad quit the carny business and did accounting full-time after that."

"Did you miss it? The performing?"

"Sometimes. I missed the people more, though. I didn't realize my dad had managed to save so much money... he bought us a nice house and got himself a housekeeper and a secretary and sent me to this fancy school... but I didn't really make any friends. I miss the clowns and the ringmaster and fire eaters... Carnies are just a completely different breed of people. You can't replaced that," Dick concluded with a shrug.

"No, I suppose not."

"Then dad got sick... he went downhill really fast. He told his secretary and me that he wanted Bruce to be my guardian... which is still weird to me. I don't think he knew Bruce that well. His dad, yes. He did some work for Bruce's father and they were friends. But Bruce's parents died when I was like... a baby, I think. I don't think my dad had much contact with Bruce until after he disappeared and was assumed dead and all that."

"If I recall correctly, your father did do a bit of work for Mister Wayne before his disappearance, but it was not until after his return that they struck up a friendly acquaintance."

"Were they actually friends, though? It seems like he made up his mind to change my guardianship in just a couple of months. That's a big decision to base on such a short friendship, don't you think?"

"Perhaps. But I think your father must have seen something in Mister Wayne that made him think it was the best thing for you."

"I guess. But Aunt Harriet is the one in the will... Legally, I should be living with her now."

"If that's what you really want, then it can probably be worked out, but I wish you'd give it more time. Bruce has never had someone younger to be responsible for, and it will take him some time to get the hang of it. In the long run, I think you two can be good for each other."

"Statistically, you're wrong," Dick muttered.

"Why do you say that?"

"Like I said, my family is unlucky, and it looks like Bruce's is, too. I lost my mom, my brother, and now my dad. Aunt Harriet lost her husband. Bruce lost his parents. If we join up, chances are one of us will be dead within a few months. All that bad luck in one place."

"And you think living with Missus Cooper will be any better, as far as luck goes?"

"I don't know. But at least Aunt Harriet's husband wasn't murdered. Seems like it might be a better shot. Anyway, we're family."

"Well, you'll have a week to see how you feel about it. Mister Wayne told me that you'll be attending Woodrow Roosevelt this Wednesday—do you want me to pick you up?"

"Thanks, but it's kind of a long drive for you to come all the way out to Aunt Harriet's on the other side of town just to take me to school. When we talked about it on the phone, she said she didn't mind driving me herself."

"All right, then. But if you should need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"OK."

Dick was beginning to recognize his surroundings as they got closer to his aunt's house. She had a cozy home in the suburbs with a small piece of land attached. It wasn't big enough for exploring or horseback riding, but plenty big enough for croquet or a good game of blind man's bluff, and Dick remembered playing with his uncle's nieces and nephews there on occasion—his "almost-cousins," as his father had called them. "Shirt-tail relatives," was his mother's term. He wondered what had become of them.

"This is it," he told Alfred, and the butler pulled into Aunt Harriet's driveway. Almost as good as being home.

"You go ahead," Alfred said when the car was parked. "I'll see to your luggage."

"Thanks."

The front door opened as Dick stepped up onto the porch and Aunt Harriet's warm, familiar smile greeted him.

"Oh, Dick Grayson, how much you've grown!" she exclaimed, holding out her arms.

Dick smiled back at her. Some things never changed. He supposed that even when he was well past full-grown she'd still be telling him he'd grown since she last saw him. He stepped into her embrace. "It's good to see you, Aunt Harriet."

She squeezed him tighter than he was used to, and he heard her whisper, "Oh, my dear boy."

For some reason something snapped then, and he felt tears running down his face. Oh, my gosh... I'm crying in front of the butler. He decided he didn't care and squeezed her in return. "I'm all alone."

"No, don't say that, sweetheart." She stroked his hair. "Come on inside. I've got tea waiting." She pulled him to the side and looked up at Alfred, who had brought Dick's bags up onto the porch. "You must be Alfred."

"Yes, ma'am," Alfred said politely.

"Thank you so much for bringing my nephew out here. Will you stay and have some tea with us?"

"I'm afraid I must get back to Mister Wayne, but thank you very much for the invitation."

"Well, thank you again. Give my regards to Bruce."

"My pleasure, ma'am, and I certainly will. He asked Master Dick to call on his arrival; please don't forget."

Dick had forgotten. Completely.

"Oh, of course," said Aunt Harriet. "Dick, you can use the phone in the dining room."

"OK." Dick hauled his larger suitcase inside the door and went to the telephone on the windowsill in the dining room. Why call him now? he thought woodenly. Does he even know how to answer the phone for himself? Shouldn't I wait until Alfred's back there to hand it to him?

He dialed the number.

"Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne speaking."

So, he does know how to answer the phone. Who knew? "Bruce, it's Dick. I'm at Aunt Harriet's."

"Good. Everything all right?"

"Fine. Alfred's about to head back."

"All right, thank you. Check in again tomorrow, OK?"

Dick almost said "What for?" but stopped himself in time. "Oh... OK. Talk to you tomorrow, then."

"Bye."

He hung up the phone as Aunt Harriet closed the front door.

"Finished your call already?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"All right; tea is in the sitting room. How was the drive over?"

Dick followed her to the next room. "Fine. After the morning rat race drivers are out of the way, Gotham traffic really isn't too bad."

"Well, that's good. That Alfred seems very nice and helpful. Are they taking good care of you?"

"I guess."

They sat on her dull red-violet sofa and Aunt Harriet poured tea for both of them. "Have as many cookies as you like."

He half-smiled. "Are you sure? You know what Mom would say... 'Harriet, you'll spoil them rotten! Do you know how hard I work to whip these boys into shape? If you go on this way, no trapeze will hold them!'"

Aunt Harriet laughed at Dick's imitation. "Well, I didn't think you were doing the acrobatics anymore."

"Yeah, not really. I'd like to get back into it, but probably not professionally. Just for fun. I'm not sure I can even do a good cartwheel now... that's pretty sad."

"I'm sure you could. These things have a way of coming right back. You know, I hadn't played my piano in over a year, and then a few weeks ago I dusted it off and sat down to play, and it took a little while, but it started to come back. Your mind might forget, but your muscles don't, know what I mean?"

"Yeah, maybe you're right. I miss hearing you play. Would you perform for me later on?"

"Oh, gracious, I'm in no shape for a concert!" she laughed. "But I'll tell you what: I'll make a feeble attempt if you try some of your old gymnastics for me. You know, I've still got those monkey bars out back."

"Really? You used to get scared to death when I played on those."

"I know I did, but I liked it, too... the thrill of it. And you were never seriously hurt, after all. I may have exaggerated my concern a little bit because if you'd been hurt playing at my house, I just never would have forgiven myself."

"Aw, Aunt Harriet." Dick shook his head fondly. "Well... I don't know just how rusty I am, but I'll give it a try if you will."

This is all very nice, but Dick is supposed to be with Bruce! What's going on?! Don't worry—the best angst is yet to come! Stay tuned for more, same bat-time, same bat-channel... OK, yeah. Leave a review if you enjoyed it please. xD