"They've been in there for over an hour. What do you think they're talking about?"

Tim looked at Dick incredulously. "Even you can't be this dumb."

"Hey! I know that their talking about whether or not to keep Ace, but that doesn't take an hour to discuss."

"Probably punishment," Cassandra said while she continued to love on Ace.

"Punishment?" Tim asked and started to think. "Oh man, I knew it. He's going to take away Robin from me!"

"No he's not. I've done a lot worse things than this back when I was Robin, and the worst I got was having to wash all the vehicles."

Tim gave a look, one he was becoming very accustomed to by now, at his older "That's not very reassuring."

"Could have to do double time in Danger Room." Cassandra said.

The two boys stiffened. Danger Room sessions lasted between one to two hours, covering multiple scenarios and situations that could happen in the field. And with Bruce behind the controls, they shuddered to think what would be waiting for them.

"I don't think I could do it. Sessions in the Room with Bruce are bad enough as it is." Dick complained.

Cassandra smiled at the two boys. "I like sessions. Get good workout."

Suddenly, the doors to the study opened and in walked Alfred and Selina. "Master Bruce is ready to see you."

Selina was quietly laughing in the corner. "Good luck in there." She called out to the three young heroes. "You're going to need it."

Dick and Tim looked at each other and gulped.

The three young heroes walked into the kitchen and saw Bruce sitting at the kitchen table. No part of him moved except for his eyes following their every move, and his chest, steadily rising and falling with every breath. Three chairs sat opposite of Bruce, pulled out as an invitation to sit. The three young heroes sat down, while Bruce continued to stare. The bottom half of his face was obstructed from view by his fingers laced together. There was no sound in the room; an eery sense of dread coming over Dick and Tim.

"Bruce?" Dick asked nervously. Bruce turned his gaze solely on his oldest son, causing the hair on the back of Dick's neck to stand on end. Dick tried his best to fight the urge of curling up into a little ball. "Never mind."

Bruce returned his gaze to look at all three of his children once again. The only one to look back at him was Cassandra. The group stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Bruce broke the silence, almost causing his sons to fall over out of their chairs.

"You may keep the dog..."

"What!" Dick was shocked.

"No way!" Tim was in disbelief.

"Yay!" Cassandra was all too excited.

"On two conditions."

The three young heroes nodded.

"First. You three take care of the dog. It is your responsibility to feed, walk, clean, and maintain the dog. It is not Alfred obligation, nor is it Selina's or my own to take care of it."

"And the second?" Tim asked.

"If I ever find you all going behind my back again..." Bruce let the words roll off and hang in the air.

"Oh, you can be sure we'll never do this again." Tim assured. "Won't we, Dick." As he said his brother's name, he gave the older boy a hard jab to his side.

"Ouch. I mean, no, we won't pull any stunt like this again."

Cassandra nodded in agreement.

"Very good. Now about your punishment. Tim and Cassandra are going to have twice as long training sessions."

"Ah, man!" Tim grumbled.

"Wait, I'm off the hook?"

"Now, I didn't say that. Barbara called a few minutes ago asking for you. Something about a destroyed apartment. She wasn't happy from what I could tell." Bruce smirked.

Dick's eyes were as wide as saucers in fear and horror. "Oh, man. I am so dead."

Bruce ignored his eldest sons whimpering and walked up to Cassandra. "Why don't you go introduce me to our newest family member?"

Cassandra beamed and led Bruce and Tim out of the kitchen, leaving a fretting Dick Grayson to his thoughts of what was in store for him when he got back home.

End of Chapter 10 and the story is now complete. R&R please!

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