Chapter twelve

AN: I sincerely apologize for this late update, work has been hectic, and staring at a computer screen for nine hours a day can really discourage a girl from looking at one at home. The only good thing is I have more time for my imagination to run off, as I will most likely be posting up one-shots this week. Unfortunately my mind tends to go over board on these things.

Ninja:

It wasn't long before Bruce realized that no matter how much he wanted his son to stay as tiny and dependent on him as he was now, Dick would eventually start to grow up. That moment fully became concrete when Dick had started to test his body and had finally started to put his arms and legs to use as he learned how to crawl. It had taken a few weeks after learning that he could move his arms and legs at will and a few meetings with Dick's face and the floor that the baby was finally able to crawl.

That was probably also the moment that Alfred started to learn that he could no longer leave the baby alone even for a few minutes. Because a minute or two was the only time Dick needed before he disappeared. It usually ended with Bruce coming home from work to find Alfred running around trying to find the tiny ninja. Today was no different as he entered the foyer. Alfred, looking slightly abashed with a wiggling baby in his arms.

"Ah, Master Bruce welcome home." The butler sighed in relief putting the baby down to take the brief case Bruce handed to him. The moment Dick touched the ground he was off, crawling away to some place that had probably caught his attention. Bruce could do nothing but run after his little ninja before he could once again find a curtain or cupboard to hide in.

Daddy's milk:

Bruce laid on his bed slowly drifting off to sleep when tiny warm hands softly pushed on his chest. He peeked from his arms which were thrown over his eyes at Dick who was dressed in his pajamas. It was late and Dick had yet to fall sleep. The baby fussing every time he tried to lay him in his crib. He finally gave up and just took him to his bed, hoping that the baby would find comfort with him and find his sleep. But the way Dick kept crawling around him and trying to wake him up wasn't very promising.

"Come on Dickie, time to sleep." He mumbled to the child and earned a pat from the baby.

"No, Dickie, daddy's sleepy." He uselessly tried to explained. The baby looked up at him before giggling. Bruce sighed, he couldn't stay mad at that face. A few minutes later he suddenly he felt something pinch his nipple and he looked down to see the baby fascinated with his chest. He was shirtless as he never like sleeping with a shirt on and Dick seemed to have found interest on his chest. The tiny fingers on his sensitive area made him laugh sleepily.

"Dickie, no no, that's daddy's chest." He chuckled out closing his eyes once more at the baby. He shook his head when the baby didn't seem to pay any attention to him and crawled over his daddy to straddle his stomach, he unconsciously lifted an arm to circle around his son so he wouldn't fall.

It was probably a few minutes later when he was dozing that he felt it. Something gummy and wet had latched on to his nipple and had him jerking up slightly, the sensation both foreign and ticklish. He looked down at Dick sucking on one of his nipples while looking at him with large innocent eyes. Bruce laughed and laid his head back down.

"Well, you won't find anything there baby, sorry." The baby frowned probably already realizing what Bruce had pointed out. The young father was about to lift the baby off his chest when he felt a sudden sharp pain as the baby seemed to tighten his gums around his sensitive nipple. Quickly and carefully he lifted the baby off of his chest and looked down at his drool covered chest. His right nipple was turning a bit red and Bruce turned to the baby.

"How can you bite so hard when you don't even have teeth?" He questioned the baby, Dick only tilted his head as a glob of drool dripped down on him. Wait…Dick was turning eight months soon, weren't kids at that age be…

He laid the baby down and lifted himself on his elbows, now completely awake. He ran a finger over the soft gums watching Dick's eyes cross to try and focus on his hand. It was then that he felt it, right on the baby's bottom gums was something hard that definitely wasn't there before. He looked down and eyed the tiny gleaming tooth that was barely there. But it was…

"Dickie, you're teething…?"

Baby Bat:

Dinah had never really given thought to the superhero names that some had picked for themselves. Until right now that is. Suddenly all she could think of was all the heroes she worked with and the origin of their names. Superman and Wonder Woman were pretty obvious so there wasn't really much thought to put on them. Some she realized tended to go for colors, Green Lantern, Red Tornado, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, she could go on. She was pretty sure that half of the heroes had a color, (herself included) tacked to their name. Others likened themselves to their powers like Flash and Green Arrow (another color). While others still (herself included-actually she was a double whammy, a color and an animal) named themselves after animals. That was probably one of the toughest, obviously because no one would pick to be named as the 'Fierce bunny' or 'Steel Porcupine' (though the latter sounded pretty good to her). While birds seemed to be one of the most popular picks; Hawk, Dove, Canary, Falcon, Owl, Eagle, Crow…

Wow… well, moving on.

Those who were named after animals were the ones that were simply amusing to think about. But it was when some superheroes took on the name and seemed to live up to their animal that Dinah thought they were going overboard. Not that anyone would be stupid enough to point that out to Batman. Having a cave which she had heard from Superman had actual bats in it and naming everything after himself- the Batmobile, batarangs, Bat-computer… was a little much in her book.

But seeing the scene before her now though, she really didn't mind it. Besides staying in the dark and going out only in nighttime, this was probably one of the cuter aspects of bats that she never bothered to remember. Her eyes which had been focused on the look of 'don't say anything' on Batman's face panned down at where Dick was securely tied with a type of cloth to the mans chest, like a baby bat to his mother.

Now if they were only hanging upside down…

Monkey see:

Bruce grunted heavily ignoring the burning in his arms as he lifted his body once again. Muscles bulging, his body covered in sweat, his discarded shirt lay on the floor by him as he counted out to himself, each number a slow breath.

"854…855…" Currently the young father was in the gym of the large manor catching up on his training. Like most of his obsessive driven routine he was intent on doing his thousand sit-ups, pull ups and push-ups before going through another rigorous set of weight lifting. A few yards away from him Dick lay on his blanket snoring softly and unaware of his fathers tight regime.

Alfred had gone out to buy a few things and as such left the tot home seeing as Bruce would be there.

Every once in a while Bruce would glance at his son making sure the baby was still asleep before losing himself once more in his work-out.

It wasn't long before a pair of standard black loafers entered his vision as Alfred quietly announced his presence. Letting out a well timed breath to relax his muscles Bruce looked up through sweaty bangs to catch the look on the old mans face. An eyebrow raised the butler cleared his throat before subtly nodding toward where Dick was sleeping. Bruce followed the gaze and almost collapsed on the mats.

Dick, who he assumed had woken up earlier was on his tummy. The baby must have seen him and that had piqued his interest. The baby on his tubby tummy and was now copying him. Chubby arms held straight below him, the baby had started to push himself up and down in his effort to imitate his dad. Both men stared at the cute sight, watching the determined look on the tiny face as his little arms strained to hold himself and his body weight up.

It wasn't long before the baby noticed the stillness of the others in the room before looking up. He gave a small lazy smile at the two men before focusing his attention on his daddy once more waiting for something else. Bruce nodded to Alfred before continuing his push-ups hiding the small proud smile that painted his lips as from the corner of his eyes he could see Dick doing the same.

Wally:

"Beebee." The three year old pointed to the baby before turning to his uncle.

"Unka' look at beebee!" The tiny red head smiled and Barry smiled back.

"That's right, say hi baby."

"Hi beebee!" The toddler chirped as the baby sitting on the blanket seemed to zero in on the red head. Bruce had thought he could spend a quiet after noon with his son in his study but a certain speedster had other ideas. He watched as Wally propped himself down in front of his son.

"Uhm-pa!" The baby greeted out which Wally giggled to.

"I'm Wally! You're beebee!" The three year old announced before taking the wagging fists.

Seeing the two getting along the blond man turned to the other at hand.

"Hiya Bats!" The man scowled at that and the blond speedster chuckled nervously.

"Uh, sorry about that, force of habit. I meant 'Hiya Bruce'. Sorry to barge in like this but Iris kinda left me with Wally today and I thought it'd be good to have him meet Dick, you know, like a play-date." The brunet grunted out in irritation but seeing the way Dick and Wally seemed to be having fun just blabbing to each other eased his temper. Alfred did mention that it'd be healthy to have Dick interacting with other kids. Bruce remembered his exact words were 'Just because some people choose to live as a hermit with an emotionless companion does not mean he has to grow up as one.' Of course Bruce had found that a bit offending seeing as he did go out on occasions to parties and balls until Alfred had raised a brow and continued 'I was talking about me, sir' and walked away.

"Besides, it'll be good for Wally as much as Dick." Barry continued, hoping any of the reasons he was spewing out would get to the other man. In truth he was just bored at home and did the first thought that came to him.

Bruce didn't need any more convincing seeing his baby boy laughing loudly at the funny faces the toddler was making. Puffing his cheeks out and shouting about puffer fishes.

"Aww…that's cute." Barry sighed, warmth spreading through his chest. Bruce silently agreed before nodded to a nearby couch, a little further away from the two but close enough to watch them on the floor. Alfred came in the room at that time giving a soft smile at the two before offering the two older men tea and cake before excusing himself to make some cookies. Barry drooled at the thought.

"Ow!" At that the two men turned to see Dick with his tiny fists wrapped in Wally's red hair, pulling the toddlers head down to his belly and resting his chin Wallys head while trying to chew on the other childs hair.

"Ow Un'ka Bawwy! He's eating me!" The red head cried out desperately, unable to pull away because of the pain it caused as Dick seemed to get excited and pulled on the strands even harder.

The two men stood up immediately and Bruce quickly but gently unfurled his sons fist as Barry pulled the crying toddler into his arms.

"Un'ka Bawwyy I don't wike him no more, he's bad!" The red haired wailed, his words slurring further from being upset.

"No Wally, don't say that, he's just a baby." The speedster tried to soothe the crying child, swaying him around while rubbing his head hoping to ease the pain. He laid a soft kiss on where he knew Dick had pulled the strands and slowly the toddler stopped his wails.

"Un'ka Bawwy." He sniffled looking up with bright green eyes. "I wanna go home to aunty Iwis." Barry sighed, so much for fun.

"Sorry about that." Bruce bit his lip, Dick still in his hands as he seemed to be wiggling around trying to reach out for Wally. Wally pouted burrowing himself in his uncles chest and away from the baby

Barry never thought he'd hear those words from Batman himself shook his head.

"Nah, its fine. Kids will be kids ya know. Besides, they seemed to be getting along before that." Bruce nodded relived that the other man was so forgiving.

"So been into hair pulling huh?" Barry chuckled, so amused about Batman having to deal with a mischievous child.

"Yeah, Roy and another child, a girl." Bruce admitted positioning the child in his arms as he tried to wiggle out.

Barry raised an eyebrow before looking down at his nephew.

"The other kid, did she have red hair?" He implored carefully remembering Roy from a meeting with Oliver. Bruce frowned before nodding slowly. Barry snorted out a laugh earning a glare from the Bat.

"Sorry, it's just aren't you starting to see a pattern here?" Bruce looked down at his baby trying to remember all of the books he'd read on about babies and the behaviors they may have picked up, did Dick pick it up from him? Or maybe he was starting to act out? At this age?

Barry continued on with a smile on his face seeing the Batman's thinking face on the stony face, this was too hilarious.

"Come on Bruce," He cajoled having too much fun with the other man to remember who was in front of him and what he could do, "you're the detective." The other man stayed quiet not wanting to admit that he didn't know why his son was doing what he did, or what the pattern was. He looked at the toddler in the speedsters arms who hid his face on his uncles shoulders when he noticed the look. Before turning back to the previous children that Dick had attacked.

"Bruce…" The blond finally interrupted, "the kid has a thing for red-heads." He explained seeing Bruce look down at Dick before an emotion Barry thought looked like panic cross his eyes.

TBC…

AN: I love the fact that Dick has a thing for redheads, it's hilarious. Also, I know Bruce would probably connect the dots easily about Dick liking red-heads, but lets just have some fun shall we?