Ch. 9

Nightwing silenced his alarm as soon as it went off at five a.m. He knew that the team would not wake up for a few more hours as long as he was quiet. The day before had been eventful. Spending so much time in the sun and running around had left the team completely wiped out.

Now, as he used all the skills that Batman had instilled in him, he snuck towards the Zeta Beams. Punctual as ever, Alfred arrived ten minutes past five, the agreed meeting time, carrying a giant box, and pushing a huge cart full of various foods. Smiling Dick grabbed the giant box from Alfred, before leading him to the kitchen. There, he put the box down, before helping Alfred unload the food onto the counter, and into the fridge. Alfred had gone all out, bringing food for breakfast and lunch as well as cookies and other delicious snacks.

Dick couldn't help but grin as Alfred started to unload the box. Streamers, balloons, and other party materials came out of the box. Alfred had even managed to bring a projector with him. Dick thought of the slideshow of pictures that he had made using surveillance photos, photos from the invisible drone that had been following the team as well as the tiny camera that was sewn into all the Bat Clans costumes.

Within an hour, Alfred had the cave looking amazing, full of streamers and balloons. He had even managing to turn the pool into a foam pit by using one of the new capsules that Bruce had invented. Add another capsule and the water would return to its usual form, without any environmental damage. Seeing as Alfred had made a foam pit, Dick had spent the hour hanging a trapeze above the foam pit. Growing up the way he did, Dick thought that would be the perfect way to relax, and even share a bit of himself with the team. Even if they did not realize he was sharing.

Dick helped Alfred pack the rest of the supplies up and loaded them onto the cart before bringing Alfred back to the Zeta Beams. Once there, Alfred gave him a soft look before saying, "Master Dick, your father and brothers will be here at three to pick you up. Please have this mess cleaned up by then. After all, your father is allergic to fun." With that Alfred departed into the Zeta Beam.

Deciding to do something useful, Dick started putting the breakfast feast that Alfred made onto the table. There was oatmeal, waffles, french toast, regular toast, eggs, bacon, and of course cereal. Nightwing watched amused as the teens wandered into the kitchen, following their noses to the delicious aroma. Robin took one look at the food, and then the streamers hanging around the room before saying, "I hope Agent A cooked the food. Otherwise this party you threw yourself will end with us all having food poisoning."

"Of course Agent A made it! The only thing I can sort of cook is pasta, and that's just barely. On the bright side, I'm allowed to pour my own cereal unlike Dad." Nightwing still did not know how Bruce had managed to turn the cereal with milk that he was trying to make for himself into a putty that turned harder than concrete within an hour. After that accident, on top of a very long list of kitchen related disasters, Bruce had been permanently banned from the kitchen.

"It would be very hard to be a worse cook than Batman." Robin said contemplatively. "I'm not sure if you could be worse if you tried. Batman just has sheer unparalleled talent when it comes to making disasters in the kitchen."

Nightwing nodded at the validity of that statement. Turning to the rest of the group he said, "Dig in!" With gusto, the team dug into the delicious breakfast prepared by Alfred Pennyworth. As expected, M'gann wanted to have cooking lessons from Alfred. Robin clearly sent him a look that said If Alfred couldn't teach you to cook after fifteen years, what makes her think she has a chance. Nightwing had burst out laughing and when asked, said that Batman had made a joke earlier and he just got the punch line.

After they were all done with breakfast, Nightwing led the team to the projector, where he started playing the slideshow he created. Pictures of the team smiling, laughing, working together, and even just sitting in compatible silence started playing. Nightwing had somehow managed to get every single moment that they were acting as a team, rather than six strangers on tape. As they watched the slideshow progress, they could see the trust and comradery grow, between them until it felt like they had been a team for years longer than they had.

The slideshow continued for another half an hour before Nightwing brought them to where the pool was. Or at least where it used to be. Instead of water, there appeared to be some sort of foam. Hearing Kaldur's strangled cry, Nightwing turned to them and said. "I just have to throw this capsule into the foam and it will turn back into water. It's also completely eco-friendly. I just thought swinging off a trapeze and into a foam pit would be fun."

Seeing the looks of nervous apprehension from the team, Nightwing volunteered to go first. Swinging on the trapeze, he waited until he got to the maximum height before launching himself off and doing three front flips and a twist. When he landed the foam seemed to explode around him, but he clawed his way to the surface before awkwardly making his way to the edge and pulling himself out. Seeing the excited faces he asked, "Who's next?"

The team spent hours flipping around and goofing off. The team had laughed so hard when M'gann accidently started to fly before hitting the foam. It took a while for Nightwing to explain to her that landing in the foam was the best part.

The most amazing part of the whole experience was watching Nightwing and Robin do flips and other stunts that she had thought were impossible for even olympic athletes. Nightwing in particular seemed to have an unnatural grace in the air.

As the team settled in the kitchen for lunch, Nightwing promised not to take down the trapeze and to leave some of the capsules in Robin's care so that they could do it again if they wanted. The lunch was just as tasty as the breakfast, and there was enough of it for even Kid Flash to be full.

As the teens settled comfortably in the living room, Nightwing came in carrying a container full of different kinds of cookies. Sitting comfortably on the floor with the teens surrounding him he said, "Does anyone want to share a secret? Nothing related to secret ID's."

Seeing the hesitant nods, Nightwing said, "I'll go first. Ever since my dad died, Batman has always been careful to make sure I don't feel like he's trying to replace him. What he does not realize is that he became so much than my father a long time ago. He's my father, mentor, confidant, and best friend all rolled in one. I've never been able to find a word to describe that properly." Looking up at the team, Nightwing grabbed a cookie and asked, "Who wants to go next?"

Taking a deep breath, Artemis said, "My dad's Sportsmaster, my sister is Cheshire, and my mother was Huntress before an injury left her in a wheelchair."

Seeing the shocked and angry looks on the team's faces, Nightwing spoke up, "Well Batman, Robin, and I have known the whole time. And obvously Green Arrow knows." Turning to the team he said, "Are you really going to question the judgement of three league members? Especially when one of them is Batman, the wold's greatest detective and probably the most paranoid man on Earth?" Seeing the team shake their heads, Nightwing continued. "Good. Who wants to go next?"

"Artemis is not the only one with a villain for a father. My father is Black Manta, the greatest enemy of Atlantis." Kaldur said.

Connor spoke quietly after Kaldur finished. "Lex Luthor managed to combine his DNA with Superman's to make me. That's why I don't have all of his powers. I have human DNA and Kryptonian."

M'gann burst into tears before saying, "I'm not a green martian like I said, I'm a white martian!"

Wally spoke quietly before saying, "I called my Uncle Barry 'Dad' the other night. When he got up and walked over to me I flinched so hard expecting him to hit me, but instead I got the gentlest hug ever. He told me that he would love to be my father."

Robin turned to the group before saying, "My birth parents were neglectful. Nobody even realized that they had a kid. But after they died and I got adopted, I got to see what a real family is supposed to be like. I have a father, a grandfather and three brothers, although my oldest brother acts like our mother sometimes. We even give him Mother's Day cards."

Nightwing let out an indignant "Hey! That's supposed to stay in the family traitor!" Before lunging at Robin. What had been a somber moment turned into the whole team tackling each other and wrestling on the floor.

Hearing a throat clear, Nightwing looked up. Standing there was an amused Batman, Red Hood, and Blackbird. Seeing that the team seemed to be tensing at his mentors arrival, Nightwing shouted in a dramatic tone, "Stop! Everyone look really bored! Batman is deathly allergic to fun!" With that everyone burst out laughing again.

Sending his son an amused glance, Batman decided retaliation was in order. In a move that nobody on the team expected, Batman leapt over the back of the coach and tackled Nightwing. Both were laughing as they tried to pin the other to the ground. Seeing that their brothers and mentor were wrestling, Red Hood and Blackbird immediately jumped into the fray. The rest of the afternoon was spent in laughter.

Saying goodbye to the team had been tough. Red Tornado had walked into the room behind Batman but nobody had taken any notice. As he said his goodbyes, he promised that he would visit soon. Seeing their doubt, Nightwing said, "Don't worry I'll make sure that Bats puts me down for temporary Den Mother again. If that doesn't happen soon, I'll just kidnap you guys." His confidence reassured them, as seen by their relieved faces.

Now he sat in the Batcave with all his brothers and his mentor. "Why don't you boys go up and get ready for dinner? Dick can I have a minute?" Bruce's deep voice echoed through the cave. They boys made their way up the stairs mumbling the whole time.

As soon as they were upstairs Bruce pulled a very surprised Dick into a tight hug. "Not that I'm not enjoying the hug, because I am, but why are we hugging?" Dick's voice sounded from where it was buried in the side of Bruce's neck.

"I heard what you said to the team. We didn't mean to eavesdrop but you started to talk just as we were approaching. We walked away after you shared and only came back when you guys started wrestling. Just so you know, you're all those things to me too Chum. I never thought another person could mean as much to me as you do. Don't get me wrong I love each of your brothers, but I think because you were the first, you hold a special place in my heart."

"Bruce, I think that that was the most beautiful thing you have ever said to me. And while this is not nearly enough, Bruce, I love you Dad."

Bruce smiled tenderly before saying, "I love you too Chum. Let's join the others before Alfred sends a search party."

With their hearts light, both men raced up the stairs eager to see what culinary masterpieces awaited them.

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A/N: One more chapter I think. What did you think about the secrets? About Nightwing's secret? About Batman's reactions? LEt me know and review! Review! REVIEW!