It took awhile for Barbara to get use to the fact that Bruce Wayne was Batman and Dick Grayson was Robin. The way Bruce Wayne presented himself as a charming easy-going bachelor seemed a little…fake to her now. Bruce was probably the last person she would have expected to see under that cape and cowl. They were in a way, the same person and in a way, not. Although now that she thought about it, Barbara found herself stupid for not putting Robin and Dick together. They had some of the same traits: stubborn, serious at times and childish at others. Knowing it was Dick under the Robin costume; that all made sense to her, strange as it seemed. But Batman was a mystery to her, a shadow, someone frightening and yet mesmerizing at the same time. Was it really Bruce under all that rough exterior?

"Barbara?"

She wasn't surprised at all when Bruce's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I figured you would still be up. Mind if I join you?"

"Sure. Pull up a lawn chair."

Even though it was cold out, Barbara was sitting in a chair on her balcony. It was early in the morning; the sky was dark, but lightening fast. She couldn't fall asleep, or maybe she had been waiting for the nightly Bat Raids to be over.

"I wanted to discuss what you saw last night. I know it's a lot to take in."

"I'm stronger than you may think, Bruce."

"I want you to fully understand my reasons behind it. We have more in common then you realize."

"I doubt it. We're nothing alike."

"But we both lost something important to us."

"What did you lose?"

"My parents."

"Oh." She was a little surprised. "I'm sorry."

"It was when I was very young. They were shot right in front of me. It's hard to believe that two bullets can change the rest of your life."

"I can't imagine watching my Dad die right in front of me." She shook her head in awe. "It would tear me apart."

"It did. I was never really the same person after that. But that's how The Batman came to be. I knew I wanted to prevent people from suffering the same way I did at the hand of crime."

"But what about the whole bat: creature-of-the-night thing?"

"I was afraid of Bats as a kid. Taking my fear and making it the fear of criminals like the one who shot my parents was my goal."

Barbara was silent for a few moments, before sucking in a breath. "Wow."

Bruce nodded. "So now do you understand?"

"Yes… but I still don't understand why you won't let me be your partner."

Bruce sighed. "Barbara…"

She became flustered. "Well? You let Dick be your partner! Why not me too? I've gone through the same things you two have. You think I just want to sit back and let Joker—"

"That's why I'm not letting you. You want revenge, don't you?" She was silent, and he knew he had hit what she was thinking right on. "You want Joker to suffer the same way you did. But that's not the right thing to do."

"No one does the right thing anymore. He deserves it."

"But that would crush everything that The Batman stands for. That's why I can't let you be my partner."

He got up, leaving her alone on the balcony. Barbara suddenly felt cold, and crawled back into her bed, hot tears streaming down her face as she fell asleep.

That night, she had a strange dream. She couldn't remember all of it, but she knew it included something about Batman and Robin…then suddenly it changed to Bruce and Dick. By then, Bruce had turned, and started walking away from her, just as Dick came closer to her, smiling. "What?" she had said, but he still just stood there looking at her.

When she woke up, she thought she was still dreaming. Looking down at her was Dick Grayson himself. In her room. On her bed.

She screamed. "GET OUT!"

He quickly put his hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. "Jeez, calm down! Do you want to wake Bruce and Alfred up?"

She was silent, but glared at him. He removed his hand. "That's better."

"WHAT are you doing in here?" Her anger turned to embarrassment when she realized her hair was uncombed and her breath was probably disgusting. How long had he been watching her sleep? What if she had been drooling or snoring or something awful like that? Her cheeks flushed even more red.

"It's your first day of training, remember?"

"Oh. Right." She had forgotten almost all of that. As she tried to get up, she realized Dick was still looming over her. "Do you MIND?" She caught him off guard when she pushed him out of her way and hurried over to her closet, closing the door with a slam. "Good Morning to you too." He muttered.

"What am I suppose to wear?"

"Something you would wear to the gym. You know, shorts, tennis shoes…and keep it down, will you? You're loud enough to wake the dead."

"Very funny."

She came out a moment later with the clothes and headed to the bathroom, where he heard the sink start to run and Barbara brushing her teeth. A few minutes later she emerged, her red hair up in a ponytail and looking more awake than she had before.

"Let's go."

They headed down to the gym in silence as to not wake up Bruce or Alfred. As soon as they got to the elevator, Dick started to lay out instructions.

"I had some equipment shipped in for you to use for warm-ups every morning. You still remember your gymnastics training, right?"

"Of course."

"Good. So for…I don't know, a half hour, you can do that while I use the trapeze."

"Ok."

The elevator opened to blackness. Dick stepped out first, and the lights began to slowly flick on. As Barbara stepped out, she saw the different equipment Dick had been talking about. A familiar balance beam, vault, and uneven bars now filled up part of the gym beside the trapeze. The scent of new rubber filled her nostrils as she chalked up her hands, anxious to start.

"How were you able to sneak all this in?"

"I just mentioned to Bruce that you still like to practice your gymnastics to, you know, to keep in shape." Dick's voice echoed through the gym as he started up the stereo. "I even had Alfred burn me a CD of your music." He tried not to grimace as classical music now filled the gym.

"Thanks, that's really thoughtful of you."

He shrugged but was pleased, and headed over to his trapeze.

For a while they both did their own things, not talking but occasionally glancing over at each other.

Dick told her that he would "gradually ease her into" the training by starting off with some easy self-defense moves. She then had to put the moves to test by sparring with him.

"Don't be afraid to hit me hard." He teased her, as they circled each other.

"Whatever, Grayson. You'll be regretting you said that." She smirked.

"Just remember what I taught you."

Barbara nodded, and then attempted a punch that Dick easily blocked with his right hand. He yanked her arm, bringing her to him and nearly making her trip. "You're not keeping yourself centered. Try again."

She shoved him away, looking frustrated with herself. This continued for an hour, and in that time she still hadn't made a successful punch. He blocked every single one, not even breaking a sweat while Barbara's body was covered in it.

In one last attempt, she tried in vain to kick him, but he had dodged out of the way, grabbed her foot and swung her around. Once again, she landed with a thud on her back, gasping for air and feeling sweat drip down her forehead.

"Ok, I give up. You win."

Dick looked down at her, offering his hand to help her up. "Don't worry, it gets easier."

She took his hand, catching him off guard as she yanked it toward her. Dick lost his balance and would have fallen on top of her, had Barbara not lifted her knee, solidly colliding it with his gut, and using both her feet to flip him over her head.

He landed just as she had, on his back, with a oof escaping his lips. "Nice." He muttered, looking up at her as she loomed over him.

"Do I finally win this one?"

"Not quite." With one swipe of his arm, he knocked her feet from under her, and in one swift second he had pinned her to the ground.

"So we'll practice again tomorrow, same time."

"You mean the lessons or this position?"

He smirked. "You tell me."

It was nearly lunch when they were finished with all the practicing. When they both arrived at the dining hall, still sweating and in gym clothes, they were surprised to find Bruce at the head table, for the first time, arriving for lunch before them.

"Barbara, Dick you're just in time. Alfred just finished making the sandwiches." There were three placemats set up on either side of Bruce, where delicious looking subs sat waiting. Alfred was standing behind Bruce, a silver platter in his hands containing their drinks.

Quickly and quietly, the still-panting teens sat down across from each other and ate their meal silently until Bruce broke the silence. "So Barbara, I understand it'll be your birthday in a week."

Barbara chewed her food thoughtfully, glad that she tasted tofu instead of ham, which she saw visibly in Dick's sandwich. So much had been on her mind that she had forgotten her birthday.

"Yes, I'll be sixteen soon."

"Wonderful. So it's all settled."

"What is?"

"Your birthday party, of course."

"Party?"

"It was all Dick's idea, actually."

Barbara glanced up at Dick, who looked down quickly at his food. "Oh really?"

"Well, it's not really a party I suppose; it's more like a Ball. It'll be a fine opportunity for you to meet all my business co-workers and friends, and for them to meet you. We can even invite all your friends from your old school if you like."

Barbara flushed at the idea. She did miss her friends very much. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dick give a scowl.

"Are you up to it?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Good! Alfred can take it from here." Bruce got up off the table. "I have to be in a business meeting; I'll see you two at dinner."

As soon as Bruce was out of sight, Alfred addressed them curtly. "Please meet me in the Ballroom after you are finished eating and," he wrinkled his nose as he said so, "you have properly cleaned yourselves."

Barbara took a sip of her water. "Why the ballroom?"

"For your dancing lessons."

She nearly choked. "What?"

"For the ball! Mistress Barbara, we must have you and Master Richard fully prepared in the art of dancing in only a week. We can not have you with two left feet on the night of the ball."

He left swiftly, not hearing the loud yelp from Dick as Barbara's foot collided with his shin.

Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while. All my excuses for letting this story collect dust are lame, so I won't make any. I know this chapter is a little rushed, but I figured I owed you guys something after months of Genesis being un-updated. Look for more chapters soon, and thanks everyone for the reviews so far!

- Oracle