Hello.

Wow. It has been ages since I last posted on here and with that I want to say Im sorry. There is really no good excuse for me to be missing for that long but sometimes when bad things happen, and all you can do is ride it out until things improve. For me I was sick for a period of about 3 months. During which I cracked serval ribs and could not talk. It was a miserable time all around. Then there was a never ending chain of other problems that occurred since then but I really don't feel like getting into that.

So now onto the happy part. Watching Homefront this past week literally got me to scream like a little fan girl when Barbara appeared. I knew from the moment when my family ran in to see what I was geeking out about that I was going to start writing again... However now that Bab's is in the series my story may be a little more in the territory of being AU. I'll do my best to keep it in the YJ universe as it is still my hope to see my story run parallel to the show.

Note: This chapter takes place during Downtime and after Bereft.

With that said please be kind and REVIEW! Also to my beta, you know who you are, will you continue to be my hero and beta for me? Send me a message to let me know. If not, then thank you for all your wonderful help.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, Robin or Barbara Gordon. It would be cool if I did. And I am most definitely not getting paid for this... However a payment in reviews would be absolutely awesome.

Chapter 3

(Growing Pains)

"Miss Sharp?"

The class remained silent. No one raising their hands and no one voicing their presence as the teacher called off the same name on the attendance list once again.

"Miss Sharp?"

Obviously isn't here thought Dick as he absently starred at the glowing screen before him. This computer class was another one in the long chain of advanced classes that he had been placed in and like all of the other ones he still felt unchallenged. Really, his current hacking skills placed him light-years beyond anything the curriculum this class had to offer. He could do all of the assignments in his sleep. Though now he had to admit that there was at least one redeeming quality to the class.

Sitting just three rows up was Bab's. Other then fourth period history, computer sciences was the only class that the two of them shared. Thus Dick's normally boring second class of the day had made a monumental change for the better.

In the weeks since the two had met they had they had become nearly inseparable, a sort of dynamic duo. He smiled at that last thought. They may not be fighting crime in the halls of Gotham Academy but they were still a team that relied upon each other.

Just last thursday when another one of his 'remarks' had drawn a little too much attention towards himself Barbara did something he hadn't expected. She returned the favor.

Not that he couldn't have handled the situation. He was a master when it came to talking himself off any precarious ledge here at school. Turning his usual taunting for local baddies and criminal masterminds into a more school appropriate battle of words that always resulted in his victory.

In one instance when some of the older students who had made the epic mistake of thinking him to be some defenseless weakling, he struck back using brains over brawn. His words cold, calculating, and infinitely terrifying when applied with the knowledge that he had gathered about his classmates. From then on, meek Richard Grayson became the unassuming keeper of information that was not to be messed with.

A clever tactic that has served him well here. Especially, now that most of the students here have learned to either leave him alone or just plain ignore him. However last thursday proved that eventually some idiot was bound to try and pick on him again. Though this time his would be bully was fended off by a certain red headed girl instead of his usual Bruce Wayne in serious business mode acting.

"Mr. Thorne?"

"Here," said the boy sitting beside Barbara.

She was bored. Bored of waiting. Her index still finger tapping away on the wireless mouse as she waited for todays lesson to begin. Though to be quite honest she knew that today's lesson was probably going to be remarkably easy. A thought that stuck with her as a little window popped up on her screen.

Grayson1- bored?

221bBakerstreet- Psychic?

Grayson1- Observant.

She smiled at that and then turned to look over her shoulder at the raven haired boy sitting in the back of the room. He shrugged and she went back to starring at her screen.

221bBakerstreet- I believe that's my department.

Grayson1- Master detective?

221bBakerstreet- You know it!

Grayson1- But still bored?

221bBakerstreet- YES…. You?

Grayson1- Already working on tonights homework.

221bBakerstret- Class hasn't even started yet.

Grayson1- Yep.

221bBakerstreet- You peaked in didn't you?

Grayson1- No evidence to back that theory.

221bBakerstreet- Clever.

Grayson1- Its nothing special.

221bBakerstreet- So

Grayson1- So?

221bBakerstreet has left the chartroom.

Dick glanced up from his screen to see that Bab's was looking straight ahead. The teacher now done with roll call was currently announcing today's new program to be learned. Oh how exciting he thought with a sigh as he focused in on his homework and let the time fly on by.

As one class ended the next one began. All of them seamlessly blending into one painfully long day. His third period economic's class was boring yet again as Mr. White's usual explanation of the day's lesson was still making Dick cringe. Really how can one person go on and on a topic that really could have been summed up in two sentences. Then there was fourth period. History was fun usually but today was not one of them as a suddenly unannounced quiz caught everyone off guard. So much for trying to keep his workload light for tonights patrols.

By the time lunch rolled around Dick was back to his usual table overlooking the courtyard, surrounded by his homework.

"Well, that was fun," said Barbara as she twisted her food about on her fork.

"Mm-huh."

"Truly exciting."

"yep."

She eyed him from across the table. Watching as he continued to write down various notes. "The cafeteria's on fire," she calmly stated.

"That's nice."

"Batman's outside?"

"Unlikely." He answered still focused completely in on the task at hand.

"Dick?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you always trying to finish your homework early?"

That caused him to stop. She watched the way his eyes shifted upwards to meet hers with a quizzical expression. Was this really a puzzling sort of question? She certainly didn't think so. Yes, getting your homework done early had its benefits but from watching the way Dick tackled his homework one would think his life depended on it.

"So I don't have to do it later?"

"And?"

"And?"

"They call it homework for a reason."

"I'd rather it stay at school."

"Your evening social life that demanding?"

His eyes narrowed briefly before a smug look took its place."Yes."

"Oh the glamourous life you must lead," she joked.

"Yep, movie premiers and concerts every night."

"Too busy to ever hangout after school then?"

He stopped once again. Her last comment wasn't nearly as lighthearted as the one before it. She wasn't joking anymore."I…"

She saw the brief panic that flickered across his eyes. At times they were really the only way to read him. Almost like a nervous tick."I don't need an answer. I was just curious."

"It's not that I can't its just…Difficult."

"Over protective dad?"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it."

"Well then can I go over there?"

"I…."

She waved her hand dismissively, "It's ok. Maybe next time."

She was doing her best to hide her disappointment but he knew. He knew she was upset and it didn't make him feel any better to know that he actually had a good reason for his often busy after school schedule. But more then anything he knew now that it made having normal friendships difficult.

Maybe that's why Bruce always seemed to keep everyone at an arms reach. It's easier to keep people away then it is to let them get too close. And even though his friendship with Barbara was still relatively new, he now was beginning to understand. Their friendship was never going to be normal. Or least not in the sense that other kids had normal friendships.

Sure he had his friends in the league but even that was different from normal. Not that he was counting the fact that they were all super powered, with the exception of Artemis and himself. No, it was different because even though they all knew and trusted him there was still the obvious fact that none of them knew who he actually was. His team only knew him as Robin, and though he was more the Boy Wonder then he was this crafted version of himself, it still meant that he was playing a delicate game. A game in which two different sides had to maintain a frail balance. A balance that he was becoming acutely more aware of with each passing second of silence.

A whole two agonizing minutes had gone by and still there was silence. She was back to playing with her food and he was stuck between going back to his work and constantly looking up at her. In one of his glances he saw her looking at him before darting her gaze elsewhere.

He watched her focus in on the paperwork in front of him and looked down not knowing exactly what had drawn her attention there for so long. Everything looked as it should and before he could question her she spoke.

"What happened?"

Again another one of her questions was met with a puzzled expression. "Your hand?"

"Oh," he said while looking down at it. His right hand was still slightly covered in bruises from his little outburst back at the manor. "I had an incident."

"An incident?"

"At least it wasn't an accident."

She smiled at that. Even after the earlier awkward moment she found it amazing at how easy they could both slip back into their normal routine. "So this incident..."

"It wasn't anything dramatic or cool."

She leaned in as if to add an extra emphasis when she said, "That could be argued as being relative?"

He just grinned in response and leaned in towards her whispering, "I hit a wall."

"Punch walls often?"

Again he couldn't help the way his grin had turned in a something of a goofy smile. She didn't ask why he felt the need to hit a wall and she definitely didn't ask him if wanted to talk about it. She let him leave it where he wanted and didn't push. He would go as far to say that she possibly trusted him. Maybe this friendship of theirs wasn't exactly normal but somehow he couldn't help but think that he'd figure this out. "Only when they deserve it."

Gotham City

Wayne Manor

"Level 4 simulation"

Robin squared his shoulders and waited. Across the way sat the lone drone looking rather deactivated. A trick the Boy Wonder knew well as the faint sound of mechanical humming could still be heard.

He waited, every muscle tense and ready. Ready for the oncoming onslaught that was sure to begin any second now… Any second.

Yep, any time now he thought getting a little more agitated with every second that nothing continued to happened. Really the whole thing if anything was making him antsy and soon enough he began to seriously wonder if he had damaged it during the last simulation.

His defensive stance began to slacken. His arms hung loose at his sides and his head tilted a little to the left as he continued to stare at it. "Uh?"

In the distance Batman studied the new data before him. His eyes scanning the overlay of information detailing the physical locations of all the Questions Marks around the city. All the different locations pinpointing a different crime, each non related to the other but all still seemingly connected as they appeared to form a shape.

"Um I think it's no longer fective," said Robin as he tuned to face his mentor who remained unseen behind the large chair that he was currently sitting in. The slightest of grins forming on his face as his charge then yelped in surprise as the once believed defective drone sprang to life. It's large metallic arm cracking the ground in which the Boy Wonder vacated just a spilt second earlier.

"I was wrong. It's fective. It's definitely fective," he shouted as he somersaulted out of the way of another one of the drone's attacks as it barreled at him.

In the background Batman continued to work as Robin played a delicate game of cat and mouse with the drone. Letting it draw nearer and nearer with each advance. To anyone watching it would look as if he was getting careless or worn out but in actuality he was studying it. Studying its new limits and capabilities as it displayed a wide variety of attacks that were not featured in the last simulation he ran. A speculation that further proved that his earlier tactics were no longer going to work as a new plan of action was going to be required.

He waited for it to charge again. His body poised for the onslaught as it rushed his position giving Robin the necessary room to spring out of the way and spin around. The drone's momentary confusion playing into his new attack plan as he ran at it.

He jumped up onto its back and delivered a string of punches to its head before backflipping off its shoulders. The drone swung around, wildly striking out at the area that the Boy wonder had formally occupied. The damage it caused nearly crippling it as it swayed to the side. Its visual tracking system now disabled. It's ability to change to stun weapons disabled, leaving the drone an easy target.

He rushed it again. This time targeting the small area to left of its chest as he placed a small explosive charge before once again leaping to safety. The drone's metal arm burst from its side as the explosion caused it to stumble back leaving Robin the opening he needed for the final move of his attack. He put all of his weight into a flying kick that toppled it over thus ending the match.

"Level 4 simulation completed."

Robin smiled smugly at his victory as he plopped down onto the ground next to the downed drone. "Wheel of morality turn, turn, turn and tell me the lesson that I just learned."

The master detective didn't respond. "What?" Robin jokingly asked. "There was a lesson in there I presume?"

Batman again didn't answer.

"Well?" Robin asked once more. He was about to say something else when the drone instantly moved startling the boy. He jumped up and away, throwing a Batarang at its head in one swift movement.

"Always anticipate the unexpected," replied the Dark Knight as he finally turned the chair he was sitting in to face his young charge.

Robin stood back several paces. His body tense from the new rush of adrenaline coursing through his system. His breathing coming in quick pants as he already had another Batarang ready to throw. "Expect the unexpected. Got it," he said as he watched the drone collapse back down onto the ground. Today's lesson was finally over.

He turned around to face his mentor who had the faintest of smiles that made Robin narrow his eyes in annoyance before he too began to grin. The moment of levity easily settling between the two, helping to calm the Boy Wonders frayed nerves. His breathing quickly falling back under control as they lingered in silence.

"Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering. Um, I know my after school schedule is pretty full, and my pretty I mean all the time," started Robin who was beginning to fidget. "But I was wondering if maybe Barbara…"

"The Commissioner's daughter."

"Yes, her," he added trying not to sound too nervous though his inability to look his mentor in the eyes had already betrayed him. "My friend could possibly come over for a visit?"

He received no answer form his mentor. And looked up at the sound of the chair turning around. "Bruce?"

The Dark Knight stared at the screen. His eyes quickly reading over the new message before saying, "Your mission has been given a go."

Robin stood up straighter at the news, his previous thoughts instantly turning to that of the operation. "When do we leave?"

"Now," answered Batman as he moved from his chair and headed towards the batwing. Robin nod his head in acknowledgement and followed after him.

Two Weeks Later

Bruce sat alone in the Batcave, working in silence as he studied the chemical residue that had been left behind at one of the crime scenes that he had visited the night before. The substance appeared to be a stronger form of the fear toxin used a couple of weeks back. Scarecrow was in Arkham, leaving the possibilities as to who was behind this substance latest use in question. The victim had been nearly comatose when discovered. A further look at his medical file later went on to show that he had a substantial amount of the chemical running throughout his bloodstream.

"Master Bruce?"

"What is it Alfred?"

"It's about Master Richard?"

Bruce looked up from the report he had been reading, his attention fully garnered."What happened?"

"It appears that the young master has begun to withdrawal from his friends sir."

Bruce sighed. The mission in Bialya had been a disaster. His covert team had managed to salvage the situation but it was still considered a loss. The team had lost months of their memories and it had taken a last ditch effort by Miss Martian to chain a workable amount of their history together. "We knew he would need time to adjust. They all do," he began to say when a neatly folded piece of paper was placed on the table. Bruce looked at it and then looked up at Alfred. His face impassive.

"Even you miss things sometimes," he stated before walking away.

Bruce turned his attention back to the paper before him, carefully unfolding it to discover that it was a message from the school. An email that Alfred had intercepted out of fear that it would not get the immediate attention that it deserved.

The letter went on to say that there had been a noticeable change in Richard's behavior as of late. That he seems to have withdrawal from his fellow students; most notably from Miss Gordon. As it is the primary concern of Gotham Academy to not only see to the physical health of their students but also to their mental health as well. Richard's sudden turn for the worse had gone on to raise a few concerns.

Bruce let out a sigh. He held the paper in his hands and stared at it when he heard Alfred say, "We all make mistakes. It's how we handle them that makes the difference."

He let the words sink in and then turned to face the large display of his computer. On it various bits of information scrolled across it. A foiled armed robbery in Metropolis, a police standoff in Star City, the continued deteriorating health of a visiting lord from Europe in Gotham City, and so on. There was never any end to the constant flow of information and there would always be a need for someone to siphon through it.

This though, the paper in his hands, needed his current attention. He pulled the security feed for the manor up and located the subject of his search before heading for the stairs.

Reading from his tablet, Dick lounged in a chair that seemed to almost envelope him as his legs dangled from off the armrest. The ebook he was reading was one he knew he could find in the library, but the fear of what would happen if Alfred caught him leaving little notes on the pages caused him to think twice before picking it up.

Though any further thoughts were cut off when Bruce walked in. His eyes following him as he walked across the room and pulled a single book from his collection. "Interesting choice," he then went on to say.

Robin studied him for a second, noticing that the book in his hands was the same one that he was reading. Know it all he thought before saying, "It comes highly recommended."

"Miss Gordon?"Asked Bruce, who received a slight nod of the head from his ward in acknowledgment. "How is she?"

"You don't already know?"

"Enlighten me."

"She's Fine," Dick muttered abjectly causing Bruce to respond with a raised eyebrow. "I think."

There was a pause in the conversation as Bruce mulled over the information he had just gained. "You two haven't been talking."

"I've been busy."

"You've been distant," Bruce pointed out.

"I feel like this is going somewhere," remarked Dick as he turned his tablet off. His attention fully focused on his guardian who gave him a stern look in response. "I," he paused before saying, "it's different."

"How so?"

Dick sighed and his shoulders slumped forward, making his already small figure seem to diminish even more in the large chair. "I remember her. I remember meeting her and shooting Clarissa with a rubber band in her defense," he said. His slightly mournful tone changing as he recalled that particular memory. Plus the faint hint of a smirk on Bruce's face made him feel slightly better about their current conversation. "It was totally justified," he then went on to say. "But now," he faltered for a moment. Mulling over of his words and thoughts before saying, "Its different. All my memories of her feel sort of disconnected. Almost like I'm watching them."

"This didn't happen with the others?"

"And you're not so all knowing?" Dick answered with a grin. It was nice to know that Bruce, the master detective, wasn't such an omnipresent figure when it came to his life.

"Focus."

"No. I knew most of them already and M'gann filled in the rest or at least most of it."

"And miss Gordon or anyone else from within that time frame?"

"I'm just getting to know them," Dick said as he scratched the back of his head. It was a nervous tick of his and he knew Bruce saw it, but he couldn't help it. "Again."

"Are you?" Questioned Bruce. His stoic expression never wavering but his eyes relaying a sympathetic look of understanding.

Dick shrugged before saying, "More or less." It was true. He was putting an effort into getting readjusted. It took time and considerably less then what it took with some of his other teammates. He could still hear Wally's complaints about his lost time, but all things considered he had made monumental strides when it came to piecing together his lost memories. When he lost them he trusted his team, even before he knew that they were his team. He trusted them without question because the circumstances were different. He was on a mission and when out in the field you roll with the punches or die. There was no room for panicking.

Barbara, however, was someone he treaded around with caution. It wasn't that he didn't trust her. He knew he did at one time but the fact was that she was someone with whom he did not know before the memory loss. Plus she wasn't apart of the memories that he had allowed M'gann to use to help connect the teams shattered memories.

Barbara Gordon was different. His memories of her were the pieces of the mental puzzle that he had found and connected. He wasn't lying when he said that he felt disconnected from them. The memories of her he had always played out like a movie he was watching. A weird sort of out of body experience, that left him feeling nervous and shy when around her. Plus, he wanted to be her friend again. He really did he just didn't know how to go about doing it.

He felt like he had to live up to the version of himself that he was seeing in his memories. A version of him, that was for the most part, more an act then that of his superhero identity; his actual identity. He was more Robin, then he was that carefully crafted version of Richard Grayson. In other words he was torn and feeling unsure of himself.

He wanted to be her friend again. The memories he had of her were ones that made him feel happy and more at ease with his delicate game of dual identities. She gave Richard Grayson a sense of belonging in just the same way that Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth did. She trusted him. The him from his memories and he hoped that he could live up to it.

"Richard," Bruce said cutting Dick off from the chain of thoughts that he had previously been lost in. He watched his guardian walk back to the shelf and put the book back before heading towards the door. He listened to his steps recede further away until they stopped. He peered over the back of the chair to see Bruce standing in the doorway."Don't doubt yourself," he said.

Once again Dick thought know it all of his mentor. "Who says I am?"

"Call it an educated guess," said Bruce with an almost lighthearted tone. He knew he had gotten through to his ward and that made him once again remember just how much the boy's presence drew out a side of him that was rarely ever seen.

"Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Gotham Academy

The Next Day

Barbara swung her backpack around so that it was positioned between her and her locker. The contents of which were either being replaced or shuffled around to make room for new items. She found it amazing that at a school that required her to carry around a laptop to every one of her classes as a necessary item, she still had to haul around what felt like a ton of books.

"Some things never change," she muttered to herself.

"Barbara?"

She stopped in mid motion. Her hand still holding her chemistry book with which she was about to place into her backpack when she turned to see Dick hiding behind her locker door. He seemed nervous. His usual calm demeanor, replaced with apprehension. A trait that as late was becoming more frequent in their interactions.

"Dick," she replied back a little too shyly upon seeing the unease in her friend's eyes. For some time now he had been acting strange around her and through that whole experience Barbara had begun to feel something akin to sorrow at what appeared to be the sudden loss of her only friend here. He was her friend. Or at least she hoped he still was.

"Your hair, it's different," he said with a nervous smile. It was no longer fashioned in the same way as it had been before and was now straight with her bangs pushed away from her face.

"Yeah well um I felt it was time for a change I guess."

"Its nice."

"Thank you," she quietly said.

She was nervous he noted. A characteristic that he would have never used to describe his friend. She was always so confident, smart, and outgoing. She was not acting like herself and neither was he. This was wrong. He knew it right then and there that Bruce had been right the night before. He had been distant, but not anymore. He was going to stop doubting himself. He was going to fix this. "Barbara," he said with a little more confidence. "I'm sorry."

She looked him in the eyes again. This time seeing a side of him that she had been waiting to see. "There's nothing to apologize for."

"Really," he optimistically asked.

"Really," she replied back with a warm smile. Her friend was back and the world was right.

"Well, in that case can we start over?"

Her smile had grown exponentially at that. "No."

"No?"

"You owe me."

"For what?"

"Our little bet from a couple of weeks back."

"That was never finalized," he said enjoying the way that they had managed to slip back into their old routine.

"I have witnesses."

"Who."

"Shawn."

"Shawn! He doesn't even count," he went on to explain as the bell rang and they left for class.

So if you have any questions please feel free to ask and always please REVIEW! Seriously reading new reviews make my whole day. Encourage me to write or better yet, encourage me to write faster.

Also my interpretation of Bereft could possibly be seen as being AU, but in all honesty I needed a catalyst for my chosen topic of conflict. So again if you have any questions or feel the need to share your thoughts on the whole memory share and then unseen time loss recovery please leave me a message. I want to hear your opinions on that whole situation.

Thank you. You guys are my only YJ outlet.