Thank you guys for all the reviews :) To answer a few people, 60sec400, in all honestly I hadn't thought of it that way, I did choose 3 for a reason though and when Dick starts to wake up and interact more that will make a lot more sense (hopefully!) although I would love to read a story where he is de-aged to an older age.

Thank you for all the suggestions Ricky :) I'll be sure to work in as many as I can. If anybody else wants to read anything specific feel free to suggest it. If it's something you really really want to see and it doesn't fit in with the storyline let me know and I'll do it as a one shot.

The chapters after this should get longer :)

Bruce and Alfred spoke about the practicalities of having a toddler in the manor for a while longer. They both acknowledged the difficultly they would face now that Batman had a more active role in the justice league and Alfred was getting a little older. He had been 10 years younger the first time Dick had been this age and even that had been a struggle.

The speaking only ceased when Dick stirred in Bruce's arms. He lifted his head from the mans shoulder to peer at them. He eyed Alfred suspiciously before turning to Bruce, silently asking if Alfred could be trusted or not. Bruce wasn't sure how much Dick would remember about his life and was worried how he would respond to all of the new people and things in it. If he was correct in his age estimation then Dick either still believed his parents were alive or believed he had just lost them.

Bruce didn't know which scenario would be more difficult to handle.

He decided to talk to Dick like he always had, if Dick remembered him he would understand, and if he didn't he hoped the familiarity that Bruce used would prove to him that he could be trusted.

"Dick, this is Alfred. Do you remember Alfred?"

Bruce held his breath waiting for the small boy to respond. He nodded.

That meant that either Dick remembered everything or had gone back to just after losing his parents.

"And how old are you?"

The little boy looked to Bruce and then to his fingers, staring at them intently. His little brow furrowing before a grin broke out on his face and he lifted his hand. Three chubby little fingers held up and wiggling. It confirmed to Bruce that Dick couldn't remember the last ten years of his life.

"Good boy! Do you know who I am?" Dick looked at him unsure for a minute and Bruce held his breath again. Dick really hadn't spoken at all at this age. Not because he couldn't but because he had been through so much. The doctors had told him that it was selective mutism.

"Bruce" The words leaving Dicks mouth, high pitched and childish, made Bruce's heart soar. He really had missed the young boy tremendously. He hoped this time around Dick would be more open

"And your Dicky, why don't we ask Alfred if he'll make us some hot chocolate hmm? And we can get you some clean clothes while he does that" Dick nodded vigourisly, his grin making Bruce smile back at him. he looked up at Alfred and saw his own smile reflected on the older man's face.

"I might let my arm be twisted to add extra marshmallows if I were to get a hug" Alfred raised his eyebrow at the boy and Dick twisted so that he could launch himself at Alfred, his tiny arms wrapping tightly around his neck as Alfred held him close.

The domesticity of it all made Bruce feel warm. He realised that he had been so stressed the first time around that he hadn't taken the time to appreciate these moments.

He planned to change that this time around.