I really liked how this turned out, though it is longer than what I planned. I'm to tired to proofread and I just finished writing it. I started today, so don't complain 'bout mistakes please.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. Oh, and I've never even seen The Exorcist or Silent Hill, just heard about them but am too afraid to watch them and am not interested on them…so any mistakes sorry.

REVIEW! AND ENJOY!

Cartoons, Please

It is said that a parent is always there for bad or good things, no matter what. It is said, that once a child is born, the parents of said child don't get any sleep.

That would be true and for Bruce Wayne it had proved to be true, even if two of his four children were toddlers when they became his children. But now, when both children where almost reaching ten, he would have hopped that they would sleep in their own beds…something that proved him wrong when he felt Jason's foot hitting him for the thousand time on his ribs.

He cursed under his breath. Why had he allowed both boys to watch a scary movie? And why did it have to happen when both, Selina and Alfred were gone?

Selina had gone on a mother/daughter trip with several of her friends claiming she needed some alone time with ten month old Helena. How could she possibly bond with a small baby was beyond his imagination. Yes, he bonded with his daughter, but the fact remained that she was still a baby, and Selina divided her time with the four kids equally. Yet, she still wanted some alone time with their daughter, claiming girls needed their space. How much space did a baby needed when she had a whole mansion for herself?

She had said it was good for him to have some bonding with the boys as well, and so she had gone away. That had been 3 days ago, and they still had seven more days to go without the 'girls of the house'.

He had been comforted with the thought that Alfred would still be there with him and the boys. But, he had received a call from England because of some relatives of him who had had an accident. The result? Off he went, taking Timmy with him and leaving Bruce with 10 year old Dick and nine year old Jason.

He still wondered why the heck they had not separated the two older brothers. It was well known, even for the press, that Dick and Jason together were as placing the Joker and Two Face together locked in a room full of super powerful weapons along with paper and pencil –one for each to avoid unfairness– to create a master plan for destruction…and it seemed that Tim was following such steps.

Though Dick could be a bit shy when on public, it was a different story at home and it seemed he still remembered his life at the circus being that more than once they had found him climbing things outside…and inside as well.

Jason was a master mind to plan all type of pranks and disarray…though he had learned pretty fast to never prank Alfred unless he wanted another encounter with the man's hairbrush.

But that night's case was not a prank gone wrong, or any other thing. The problem was that Bruce could not stay firm when to movies it came.

After Alfred and Tim had left that morning, Bruce had taken the boys out around the city, to end up playing football in their patio. All in all, the boys had been more than happy to have an 'alone' time with their Dad, and Bruce had been more than happy to spend some time only with Dick and Jason. In fact, he had thought about telling Selina that they should do this more often but with all the kids…though he would take Helena out once she was potty trained.

After the boys were worn out…though they both claimed they were ok, regretfully, Bruce couldn't say the same…they had gone inside to have pizza for dinner, something Bruce was more than sure Alfred would have disagreed with.

The problem came after dinner, when both boys wanted to watch a movie. Seeing no harm in it Bruce had been ok with it. Had he known that that was a mistake, he would have never agreed to it.

After sending both boys to take a bath and get into their pajamas, they all went to the family room just at the end of the hall where their rooms were located. Many times, he and Selina had made the mistake of letting the boys watch a movie without them changing first, ending up having to change them themselves and on some occasions having to give them a quick bath…despite the fact that both boys had claimed they were awake to take it themselves, they had their doubts seeing as their eyes were more closed than open.

"That's a stupid movie!"

That had been the first move, coming from Dick, to initiate a verbal brawl which ended with pouting boys as Bruce threatened they wouldn't see a movie if they kept at it.

Of course, seeing as they could never agree with a movie –even though they had more movies than the store which sold them– they had ended up passing the channels on the TV trying to find something suitable for the boy's age to see.

He had first made the big mistake of stopping at a 'girl's movie'.

"DAAAD!" Both Dick and Jason had whined at the same time…at least they agreed with that.

"That's yucky!" Jason said covering his eyes with a cushion while Dick made noises showing his disgust.

Of course, he had no idea both boys thought that a Disney's movie was girlish…but on second thought…

For 20 minutes they searched for something to see…or more likely, Bruce searched for something for the boys to watch as Jason got more interested in spinning his head around while being on his knees and Dick played with one of his action toys figures, which was close by.

"Stop!" Jason had suddenly yelled when something caught his attention. Bruce did so to discover it was none other than The Exorcist. "I wanna see that movie!" he said, jumping up and down on the couch while being in his knees.

"It looks pretty cool." Dick said looking up letting his little figurine fall. "What is it called?" he asked, looking up at Bruce.

"It's called The Exorcist and we're not watching it." Bruce said changing channel.

"What?!"
"Why not?"

Came both whines from both boys who turned to look at him. Bruce remembered watching that movie when he was a boy, though he was in his late teens then. Even if he would have preferred to watch anything else to free himself from more of the yellow squared sponge with pants both boys liked to watch…or the talking trains and airplanes Tim liked to watch.

"You're not old enough for it." Bruce said simply going on through the channels. How hard could it be to find some cartoons which both boys could enjoy?

"I'm not a baby." Jason snapped suddenly sulking and leaning back, not realizing he was leaning against Bruce.

Bruce looked at him with a stern demeanor. "There is no need to snap like that and no body called you a baby." He said, placing his arm around him in a half hug while the kid still pouted, though he leaned even closer to Bruce.

"But Dad…" Dick began, ignoring his brother, "I'm big, now."

"Yes, you're both big now, but not OLD enough to watch THAT movie which is not for children." Bruce said while still trying to find something on the TV. Was it possible that the richest man on Gotham couldn't find some cartoons for his sons to watch? Some cartoons that weren't 'girly', that was.

"Aha!" Bruce said triumphantly as he watched the Hercules movie from Disney. "There you go, that's a pretty nice movie." He said while rubbing Jason's arm soothingly and placing the remote on his lap.

"No, it's not." Dick cried, leaning on Bruce's other side.

"How come?" Bruce asked puzzled. That was one of the few movies made for children that he actually could enjoy without getting bored after ten minutes of it.

"It's for girls!" Jason stated seriously, perking up from where he had been slouching.

Bruce raised an eyebrow at the boy, amusement evident on his features. "What? Why?"

"Haven't you seen it?!" Dick asked, leaning a bit over Bruce's leg, "The hero guy likes a girl." Dick whispered his nose wrinkled in disgust.

Bruce couldn't help but grin at the boy, seeing as he was the one that had actually said he liked a girl from school just before the school year ended. Of course, this was only revealed to Bruce because other boys where teasing him. He had said he 'don't like her, like her, but like her because she likes to climb trees and it's pretty cool…for a girl'.

"Yeah!" Jason jumped, taking almost the same position Dick had over Bruce's other thigh, "He actually kisses her! That's for girls, Dad!"

"I don't see what's wrong on a boy liking a girl." Bruce started, though he complied the boys by –again– changing the channel. "Or by a young man kissing a girl he actually likes."

At both boys shocked expressions, Bruce couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Dad!" Jason exclaimed, when again they passed through The Exorcist movie, which regretfully was beginning now. "Please, leave it there!"

"Jason, I said n-"

"But, Dad, we're OLD now. Why can't we just watch it?" Dick asked.

"THAT," Bruce said pointing to the TV screen, "is a scary movie an-" For a few second, Bruce was sure he should have never mentioned what kind of movie it was, seeing as both boys had wide eyes at the mention of scary and looked thrilled with the idea.

"Please! Let's see it!" Jason asked, grabbing Bruce's left arm.

"Yes, Dad, please, please, please!" Dick pleaded, grabbing Bruce's right arm.

"You won't be able to sleep if I-"

"We'll both go to bed just as the movie ends!" Jason promised, shaking Bruce's arm a bit. Bruce raised a brow at the boy, not for the shake but of the promise. Every time the boys watched a movie, they ended up asleep even before the movie ended.

"Yeah, and we'll do what you tell us to!" Dick promised, ignoring the fact that they already DID what he told them to –even though they needed a bit of a push in the form of a smack every now and then.

"I know you'll go to bed and do as you're told, but I don't think-"

"Please, please, please!" Both boys began with their rant, looking as if their lives depended on it.

"IF…" Bruce began as he knew this was a lost war. That simple word silenced both boys from their rant, "If I let you watch that movie, you will both immediately go to bed AND you won't tell your mother or Alfred." Bruce stated. He was actually happy with the thought of a free night with no cartoons. "Deal?"

He saw as both children exchange a look before they both nodded with huge grins on their faces as yet again they had convinced Bruce of something which, had Selina been at home, earn him sleeping on a spare bedroom.

"Deal!" Both boys said happily, before placing themselves in a comfortable way to what was going to be a long night.

As the time went on, Bruce could feel both boys leaning on him from time to time, and even if they would never admit it, hiding their faces when some of the strongest scenes came…though Bruce did changed the channel for the strongest ones ignoring the protests from both boys.

He had vainly hopped for them to follow asleep before the end, but was distraught when both boys were wide awake when the credits came.

He looked down to find Dick clutching his right arm, and at his other side Jason was almost hidden beneath him, his left arm wrapped protectively around the boy who looked younger than his, oh so mighty, nine years of age.

"Ok, kiddos. Let's get you both to bed." Bruce said making them both stand, though neither would let him go.

"Do we have ta?" Jason asked with a whine, muffling a yawn. It was well past their bed time.

"I'm not sleepy, Dad." Dick said, however he rubbed his eyes with a hand.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're not sleepy, but that was the deal. Remember?" he asked, as he scooped Jason in his arms, seeing as the boy was practically sleep walking and would surely bump into something.

"Daad!" Jason whined, despite the fact that he leaned his head on Bruce's shoulder, "I ca' wak." He murmured, though his eyes where practically shut thanks to the rubbing in his back.

It was amazing how fast both boys were growing. A year ago, Bruce could have easily scooped both boys at the same time and carry them around without an effort. Now, they were starting to be a bit difficult to manage at the same time.

He promptly walked into Jason's room and tucked the boy; Dick was still leaning against him, his small hand grasping his t-shirt as sleep started to claim him.

After brushing the hair out of his son's forehead and giving him a slight kiss, he picked Dick up and moved to the other boy's room just across Jason's. He did the same as he did with Jason, and then he moved to his own room.

Not even two hours after he had gone to sleep, he felt the first call from one of the boys. Astoundingly, it wasn't Dick who called first, but Jason.

Getting up from his comforting bed, he marched straight to the boy's room, not bothering to even put a robe on him, only wearing his boxers and a t-shirt.

Turning on the light he found Jason sitting up on the farthest corner of the bed with the covers over him. Apparently, he hadn't sensed Bruce's presence as he kept yelling for him…and Selina, as well.

"Jason, it's me, Dad." Bruce soothed, taking a sit in front of the child while trying to calm him. It seemed watching that movie had not been a good idea after all.

With a cry of "Daddy!", Bruce found his arms full with a sobbing child in a few seconds. Five minutes later, Bruce had achieved to calm down Jason. The boy had managed somehow to sit on Bruce's lap and cling to him as if his life depended on it.

"Feeling better?" Bruce asked, looking down at the kid, drawing circles on the boy's back. Jason just shook his head 'no', before trying to hide it even more.

After a few minutes, Bruce tried to talk to the child again. "Had a bad dream?" He asked the distraught youngster.

"I was 'cared." The boy said bringing his face out of his hiding to look at his father's eyes. "I woke up an' it was dark an' there was a strange noise an' I was alone!" The child said between sniffles and hiccups as he turned, once more, to hide his face on Bruce's now wet shirt as the afore mentioned man gave a sigh of desperation.

"Jason, son, its past midnight so all that happened is normal. You've woken in the middle of the night before. And that strange noise is the tickling of your clock." Bruce explained as he tried to disengage the kid from death grip he on him to show the rascal there was nothing to be afraid of.

"I don' wanna be 'lone." The child whined hiding his face…again.

"Tell you what, buddy," Bruce said, eager to return to his own bed, but not wanting to leave the child on this state, "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep and let a light on for you." That sounded reasonable for Bruce, seeing as Jason had stated some weeks ago he was too old to sleep with his parents after waking up at the middle of the night after a nightmare.

Bruce was sure the boy was going to cave in, but was more than surprised when the whine of "NO!" came and the hold increased more. "Stay!" Jason said next, "Don' go!"

Bruce sighed, before taking the child on his arms and lying down at the bed with the kid next to him. He would wait for the boy to fall asleep, before moving to his own bed.

As planned, Jason was asleep in less than ten minutes snoring softly. Smiling softly, Bruce disengaged himself from the boy grabbing his favorite stuffed animal so he could hug it. As expected, Jason hugged the plushy, and kept sleeping peacefully. Placing a kiss on the boy's forehead, tucking him in, and turning on the night lamp he walked out of the room, leaving the door slightly open in case the boy woke up again.

He crept into Dick's room before moving to his own, and was pleased when he saw the boy's peaceful slumber. He rearranged the boy's covers and went back to bed.

Fifteen minutes later, Dick's voice woke him up. Though unlike Jason, the kid has gone to his father's room.

"I can't sleep." Dick complained, "There is something in my room."

Bruce groaned before turning over to look at the boy. Would he get any sleep that night?

"I'm sure there's nothing in your room, chum." Bruce said, his voice drowsy, though he was already getting up to take the boy back to said room.

"But there is!" Dick whined allowing his Dad to carry him back to his bedroom.

Bruce sighed as he walked inside and turned the light on. "Dicky, there is nothing here to be afraid of." Bruce stated, placing the child on his bed and motioning to the room. "See?"

"But-but-but..." Dick said standing on the bed.

"But nothing, Richard. C'mon, let's get you tucked." Bruce said making the child lie down, before placing the covers over the boy.

"No fair!" Dick said angrily turning around; nevertheless he turned to face Bruce who was sitting down besides him.

"Why isn't it fair?" Bruce asked, rubbing the kid's back, smiling as the boy shrugged as an answer.

"I don' wanna sleep in here." Dick whispered, his eyes almost shot.

"I'll stay until you're asleep." Bruce promised, looking at the door towards Jason's room. Thankfully, the other boy seemed to be fine.

Just as he had done with Jason before, Bruce stayed until Dick was soundly asleep, his breath even. He did the same things he had done before and turned back to his room to get his much needed sleep.

Thirty minutes later, he was woken by a strange pressing against his ribs. He looked down to find Jason curled against him…the source of his press was his elbow which had found his ribcages a good place to accommodate itself. Sighing, Bruce placed the child in a more comfortable position for both –knowing from experience it was in vain– and drifted up to sleep.

"Dad…Daad…Daaaaad!" came the hissed whispers which where wakening Bruce. He opened his eyes to fine it had not been even 20 minutes after Jason had awoken him.

"Dick?" Bruce asked groggily looking at the side of the bed, the same side Jason was sleeping at.

"I can't sleep." Dick whined getting into the bed crawling at the other side of Bruce.

"C'mon." Bruce invited lifting the covers for him, though it was clear an invitation was not needed.

That had been three hours ago, and it would still be a couple of hours before morning came. Bruce had not been able to sleep since both boys had, literally, invaded his bed.

Now, Bruce was used to go nights without sleep, but it was absolutely different. Adrenalin would be rushing through his body and he fought against a criminal or investigated something…or his male hormones were being activated by his very sensual wife…but being made to stay in a bed, while one boy pressed his ribs as if they were made of rubber and the other insisted on kicking him as if he was a punch bag, was extremely different. Not to mention, he couldn't move away from them as Dick had confused his arm with his plushy and Jason had somehow managed to tangle his legs with Bruce's shirt. He had already tried to free himself, but a whimper from the boy stopped him on his tracks.

Now, he was looking at his roof, begging for morning to come…and for Alfred to return…and for Selina to be back.

And yet, he wondered, what this fatherhood? Did all fathers have to go through sleepless nights? In the first place, did fathers made such awful mistakes as letting their children see The Exorcist or any other horror movie before going to bed?

As Jason moved again, making more pressure over his ribs, he had to smile. Maybe he was not perfect, but what father was? Just then, somehow, Jason got detangled from his shirt and moved farther away. Bruce watched him in the darkened room, a grin appearing in his face. He reached out for the boy and hugged him to him. Even in his sleep, Jason reacted and hugged his father back obviously searching for the warmth he provided.

OoO

Six years later…

Bruce entered his home from a tired day at the office. It was incredible how much his job had increased with the retirement of Lucios Fox. Of course, he did not expect the man to work till the grave.

After leaving his briefcase at his study, he moved upstairs searching for his wife and kids. Helena usually ran to greet him, but today there was no sight of her.

He entered the family room to find his three sons spread in a couch watching TV.

"Hey Dad!" Ten year old Tim greeted happily, though he was focused on the movie his older brother were watching.

"Hi Dad." Sixteen year old Dick greeted, turning a moment to face him, before raising the volume again.

"Hey…" Jason muttered, not even glancing at him.

"Where's your mom and Helena?" He asked, ruffling each of the boy's hair, though the two oldest tried to avoid it.

"Shopping." The three answered at the same time.

Bruce nodded and walked towards the door before stopping on his tracks. "What are you three watching?" he asked sternly before moving behind them.

"Silent Hill!" Tim exclaimed happily as his older brothers glared at him.

"It's just a movie, Dad." Dick amended quickly, though Bruce had already snatched the control out of his hands.

"Yeah, nothing to get so ruffled about." Jason said, still glaring at Tim.

"Well, I've got a better idea." Bruce said changing the channel, stopping when he recognized the cartoons Dick and Jason used to watch with the annoying sponge with the huge nose.

"What?!" Jason exclaimed when he saw what his father placed for them to watch. "Dad! C'mon! We're not kids anymore!"

Bruce smiled, as he ruffled Jason's hair emitting a groan from the boy, his child. "I must disagree with you."

"Oh, c'mon, give us back the remote." Dick complained trying to reach it.

"I don't care watching cartoons." Tim said happily.

"I don't watch cartoons anymore." Jason said, though he knew it was a lie as Bruce had found him, and Dick, more than once watching them.

"I don't care. You're not going to watch that movie and that's it." Bruce said moving out of the room, giving the control back to Dick. "And don't even THINK about changing it back unless you want to loose TV privileges for a month."

"But Dad…cartoons?" Dick whined, as Jason huffed and crossed his arms, glaring at Tim.

Bruce looked back at them, remembering an incident that had happened some years ago. Fathers made many mistakes, but they surely didn't make them twice…sometimes.

"Yes, cartoons, please." He said seriously, before turning with a smile.