Artemis felt numb. Even after a year she still felt numb. Artemis never knew how in love she was until Wally died. She knew she loved him, of course, but she hadn't been aware just how much. Artemis was curled up on the couch, glancing at her baby monitor.
Tyler laid awake in his bed. He missed his dad so much. A lot more than he was willing to show. Tyler climbed out of bed and crept to the window. He stared out into the night deep in thought.
Artemis' phone went off. She sighed and picked it up.
"Mrs. West." Artemis answered, "Again?...No, I understand perfectly she's throwing a damn tantrum...No that isn't what I want to happen...Look I'll call you tomorrow...bye." She rubbed her temples after she hung up the phone. Artemis dialed M'gann.
"Can you come over?" Artemis asked.
"Of course," M'gann said. A few minutes later M'gann was there.
"What's going on?" she asked sitting beside her best friend.
"Jasmine is trying to get custody of Tyler," Artemis said.
"Jasmine?" M'gann asked.
"His mom," she said
"That bitchy girl we met at the funeral?" she asked.
"That's the one," Artemis said.
"No way that is going to happen," M'gann said.
"Well, apparently it might." Artemis groaned.
"What are you gonna do?" she asked.
"I am going to call Dinah and hope for the best." she said.
"We need Zatanna," M'gann said.
"Yes, good. Call Zee. I need the support." Artemis said.
"Stay here. I have the perfect remedy," she announced. Artemis closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
Dick woke up with a jolt to a crash. He quickly got up and ran out into the main area of the apartment. Glass was all over the floor and Barbara sat frozen in a wheelchair.
"I'm still getting used to this." she said when she saw her husband.
"No problem. I'll deal with it." Dick reassured her.
"Dick if you want to go I get it. I mean you married a fully functional person." Barbara said with light tears.
"Barbara Grayson. I married you not Batgirl. And definitely not your ability to walk. I would never leave you, ever." Dick said. Barbara looked him in the eyes.
"You're still the woman I married. This is just an obstacle that we will beat, together." Dick said.
"I love you." she said.
"I love you too." Dick kissed her on the forehead and then on the lips.
Bruce sat in front of the Batcave monitors. Selena strolled in.
"Helena's in her crib. The rest of the kids are concerned," she said.
"Even Damien?" he asked not looking away from Jason's picture.
"Not that he'll admit. Cass won't leave your office until you get up there. Tim won't come out of his bedroom." Selena said.
"Taking any human contact?" Bruce asked with a sigh.
"Talks to Alfred and calls Kon." she said, "Bruce, I'm your wife but ever since Jason I feel more like your nanny or secretary." He turned and looked her in the eyes.
"Over a year ago, I lost my daughter after losing my son. I have the chance to get my son back even if I never see my daughter again. I want more than anything for Nichole to show up at the door. The chances of that happening are getting slimmer and it feels like a daydream. But Jason. Jason's real. Even after everything he's done I just see him...I see him and all I want to do is be his dad and fuss over if he's alright. Treat him like he's five and scraped his knee. And I can't do that." Bruce said.
"Go, Jason's at Arkham. Make a fuss. Let everyone know that he's your son and you may be disappointed in him but you love him. Make sure Jason knows just how much you care because right now...he thinks you hate him." Selena said.
"What gives me the right to check up on him?" he asked.
"You are his father Bruce." she emphasized. Bruce stood up and kissed her.
"You aren't the nanny or the secretary Selena. You will always be my wife," he said.
"Just treat me a bit better, okay?" she asked.
"Okay." Bruce agreed. He hopped in the bat-mobile and drove off.
Artemis smiled as the wind rushed through her hair. M'gann had called Garfield who needed some extra money to babysit. Zatanna then joined the two on a girls night out. Artemis had to admit that beating up scum made her feel better. The three stopped as Artemis' phone went off. She was laughing as she picked it up.
"Hey, Gar. How is everything?" Artemis asked. Her smile quickly disappeared.
"Is Violet okay?" she asked a look of relief crossed her face.
"We'll be right there," Artemis said.
"What's going on?" Zatanna asked.
"Tyler's gone." she said.
Bruce walked into the cell. He looked serious as always the door closed behind him.
"Hey daddy, come to tell me off again?" Jason asked.
"No," Bruce said standing close to him.
"Then why are you here?" he asked.
"You have no idea how hard this is for me," Bruce said.
"How is this hard for you?" Jason asked.
"I don't want to fight with you." he said.
"Then what do you want?" Jason asked.
"What I have wanted from the moment I saw you. To be your dad. I have this instinct to be like I was when you were Robin. Check you over five million times for injuries. I want to hold you and hug you and watch movies with you. Help you with your homework. You think that I see a killer when I look at you? I don't. I see my kid." Bruce said.
"I'm still your kid?" Jason asked with anger.
"You will always be my kid." he said.
"Is that why you always why you told me that Dick was better?" he asked.
"I told you all that stuff because I thought it would make you quit. I wanted you to be safe and I knew you wouldn't have it if I fired you. So I tried to get you to quit." Bruce said, "The team misses you."
"Why don't you hate me?" Jason asked, "I hurt a lot of people."
"You never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it." he said.
"I hurt you," Jason said.
"Exactly," Bruce said. He looked at him in surprise.
"Jay I can't fix anything that happened. But I don't want to lose any more kids than I have to." Bruce said.
"What happened to Nikki? I haven't seen her." Jason said.
"She's MIA. For over a year now," he said.
"Bruce, I'm..." Jason trailed off.
"How about we make a deal?" Bruce asked, "You don't kill anymore and I try to be less of a douche."
"Deal," Jason said. Bruce couldn't hold himself back within seconds his arms were wrapped around Jason. He was surprised at first but tearfully accepted.
Tyler sat staring out of the window when he felt it. Just for a second. The familiar crackle of his father's speed. Tyler could hear Garfield talking to M'gann. He took the chance and slid out of the window. Jumping to the ground he ran toward the familiar warmth. Hope filled his heart. His dad was home! He just knew it!