This chapter is for Annalisa Kjellberg and Autobot Mechanical-operations with my thanks. (I really appreciate your reviews.)


"So what did they want?" "Superman, Batman, and the Martian Manhunter formed a tag team to get a closer look at my wings. There's no way they could've found out anything about them though." "What did you think of Batman?" "To be honest, he scares me a little bit. Martian Manhunter seemed kind of distant. Superman..." "What about him?"

My voice softens.

"When he smiles, in a way, it reminds me of my Dad." "H..."

Tears are starting to well up in my eyes.

"Why does it have to hurt so much?"

I bite my lip as tears start to gently fall down my face.

In Ancient Fey I whisper that I want my Dad back.

"Daddy..."

I've started to shake as I continue to sob.

Dick smiles, trying to cheer me up.

"I don't know why it has to hurt so much, H. I know I can never replace him."

He gently wipes away my tears and puts his hand in mine.

"But I promise that I'll be there to ease your pain."

A smile slowly comes to my face.

"Thank you [Brother-Friend]."

His grin broadens when I tell him what the Ancient Fey word means.

He tells me that I'm more than welcome, and in Romany, calls me his sister friend.

I don't know where I'd be without Dick.

I don't know what I'd do either.

I grab my guitar and, remembering that I feel slightly better when I sing, play a simple melody as I softly sing my Requiem for a Father.

Dick smiles.

"That's the song you wrote yesterday?"

I nod.

"It's beautiful." "Thanks." "Now, how about you do an encore?"

I grin.

"Any requests?" "Bring the house down..." "With the magic of rock! No problem."

I play and sing Soundgarden's Live to Rise.

I grin.

"Grateful I didn't use an amp?"

It's an old joke.

I don't have an amp because I've never really needed one.

He shrugs his shoulders.

"I guess. So where did they look at your wings?" "Some medical area. It made me feel kind of uncomfortable." "Do you feel uncomfortable when I look at your wings?" "Dick...That's different. You're my [Brother-Friend]. I've known you for 11 years. I don't know them nearly as well as I do you."

I don't really know anyone period.

(I'm kind of shy. Dick has said that I'm unpredictable though. One minute I'm withdrawn, the next I'm... not. He has said it's one of my best qualities.)

"Want to play Guitar Hero?"

I grin.

Dick knows that's my favorite video game.

After we play a couple songs, I have Dick tell me more about Wally.

Some of the stories that Dick tells me are really funny.

But I can't seem to laugh at any of them.


Dick's P.O.V


One of the stories I tell H...
I know it would make her laugh.

When she doesn't I realize just how much the pain of her Dad's death is hurting.

I can't believe it hit her so hard that she can't bring herself to laugh.

Well, come to think of it, I can believe it.

She lost the man who meant the world to her.

It's been almost a decade since I lost my parents.

The pain doesn't hurt nearly as much as it did then.

But H's pain is fresh.

It was just yesterday that she lost her Father.

And it was in a city with a bulletproof hero.

Poor H.

Her pain must be unbearable.

I look at her.

She's looking down and shaking.

I can see tears starting to well up in her hazel eyes.

She blinks them back.

"Daddy told me that he believed redheads were good luck."

I barely heard her say that.

That must be why I saw a little bit of sadness in her eyes when she was around Wally.

(And I always thought about having her meet Babs...)

I hold her hand.

"I don't feel very lucky Dick. Lucky to have you as a [Brother-Friend] yes. But to see a redhead...I don't know if that makes me feel lucky. I don't know if I feel lucky now that I know I work with one..."

Her voice softens.

"I know I miss my Daddy. I know I want him back because I'm nowhere near strong enough to deal with the pain his d-death has left."

Tears are flowing down her face and she's biting her lip.

I hand her the box of tissues.

She thanks me.

"It still hurts so much. How am I supposed to deal with this?"

I smile.

"Just take it one day at a time. Do you think you can do that?"

She nods slowly.

"And always remember that you carry him in here."

I point to her heart.

"Is that where you carry your parents?"

When I nod she smiles.

"Then I'll carry my Daddy in my heart so, in a way, he can still be with me. Maybe then I won't miss him as much."

She already seems a little happier.

Later, using some magic, she takes me on a short flight as a token of her thanks.

I can see why she likes it so much.

It's an awesome feeling.

After she lands back at my place, I notice she looks a little drained.

"You O.K?" "Fine. How much do you weigh?"

(I know she weighs about 115.)

"175.* Why?" "Just wondering."

She emphasizes the wonder (which makes me laugh a little).

She smiles, then we both head inside.

After listening to Thumbelina, she falls asleep on my couch.

I put her stuff in a safe place then, a few minutes later, I start my "night shift".

Sweet dreams H...you deserve it.


*according to the DC Comics database