This is the epilogue!

This was fun to write and hopefully, I'll be updating my other story soon!

Please review!

Enjoy!

Dick sat in the Watchtower, looking over the Earth. He blinked slowly, his lashes scrapping the underside of his mask. He had returned to his time two days ago, and had immediately been thrown into more meetings about conduct. He had just gotten out of the last meeting, the vote being to just let him off the hook. Dick wondered if that was because everyone forgave him, or because of how he had been acting since returning to his time.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die because I need to; otherwise Bruce and the others would be killed. I'm going to be killed. By Luthor. Am I alone? Is there anyone who tries to stop him? Does my death accomplish something? Will my family recover? They seemed so broken! I'm going to die when I'm thirty-four, almost thirty-five. So young. Did my family blame me for my death? Why do I have to die? How did Luthor kill me? From what Bruce said, I'm guessing he either cut my throat or suffocated me. Would it be better to avoid that? Damian dies too. Can I prevent that? Can I save my family from that pain of losing someone again? Can?

"Nightwing?" Nightwing looked up at Batgirl, aka Barbra Gordan.

She really is pretty, now and then.

"Yes?"

"Um, Batman and J'hn want to talk to you." Barbra wouldn't meet his masked eyes.

"OK. Hey, is the lunch date for next week still an option? I'm sure Starfire wouldn't mind if I spent some time with a close friend."

"Yeah, but make sure you tell her you love her when you take your rain-check." Barbra teased, walking off, an extra spring in her step. Dick smiled. Barbra, who glanced back saw it and wondered why it looked like he was remembering something sad.

A few minutes later, Nightwing walked into a small room with M'gan, J'hn, and Batman.

"Nightwing." Batman greeted him. Nightwing nodded.

"I think I know why you want to meet with me and I agree."

"Agree?" J'hn asked, aurprised.

"Yes, I don't want to know what I know now. I'll always try to change the future, and I'll probably screw it up more than is need. Please, erase my memories of my time in the future!" The room was quite.

"You shall always surprise, and impress me, son." Batman said, a heavy hand on Nightwing's shoulder as the younger hero sat down on a leather chair.

"I try." J'hn and M'gan pretended to not notice how Nightwing leaned into Batman's touch. "J'hn, M'gan, please, don't look at what you erase too closely. I think we should leave the future a mystery." The Martians nodded. As Dick felt his mind being probed, and Bruce's hand tighten on his shoulder, he allowed himself to see once more the memory of how happy everyone was when they first saw him.

That's nice. Dick thought as the process made him fall rapidly into sleep. For the rest of his life, Dick would have random dreams of people crying his name and tackling with shouts and tears of joy.

Linelinelinelinelineline

The credits to It's a Wonderful Life rolled down the screen. Barbra smiled as she remembered how Dick would always first ask who wanted to watch it again, then carry anyone who was asleep to their rooms. AS she surveyed the pile of people, and Bruce hovering in the door, Barbra smiled as everyone pretended to be asleep. She sat there for hours, rewatching that same move four times in a row until everyone really was asleep. Along with Bruce, she carried everyone to a room to sleep in. They didn't speak. Barbra entered Dick's old room and collapsed on the bed. She could smell him.

Rolling onto her side, Barbra heard a piece of paper crumble. She lifted herself to pick up the folded paper with her name in familiar handwriting on the outside. Shaking, Barbra opened the paper and quickly read the message, her face painted with fresh tears.

"Yes. Yes Dick yes!" She cried, holding the paper tightly and curling into a ball around the paper. "Yes."

Barbra,

if anyone can keep our family together it's you! Please, I beg, don't let my death tear our family apart. I hate to say this, but tell no one of this note. I'm dead, remember? Maybe in the future, someday, I can come home to you and finally carry you to a church like a proper man. I love you Barbra Gordon, and I'm always with you, in life or death.

Love, Richard


Well? Please review!

Like I said, this was based on what I know about the Forever Evil comic and some rumors I've heard about a separate Dick Grayson comic.

Love,

Burning Bright