Carly didn't know how he did it. She doubted that Bruce himself even knew exactly what he'd said that had convinced Emily Clarke, the Social Worker, to let Richard Greyson stay at Wayne Manor. There was a silent agreement among the adults not to question their good fortune as they waved polite goodbyes to the Commissioner, Mrs. Clarke, the other detectives and ducked out of the big top. Richard stayed close to Carly's side as they walked through the fairgrounds. He was still wearing Bruce's windbreaker; the edges of the sleeves were lightly dragging the ground. He was carrying a cardboard suitcase with what little clothing he had and clung a stuffed elephant close to his chest with his free hand.

"Why wouldn't they let me say goodbye?" He asked quietly, tears brimming in his eyes. "They were my family."

"The police need to ask everyone questions." Carly answered him. "Commissioner Gordon wants to make sure that what happened to your parents was an accident. But they also want you to be safe. So, we're going to take you with us, so that you can get some rest. We can come back tomorrow if you like, right, Alfred?"

"Absolutely Miss Carly." Alfred nodded in the darkness. Bruce didn't say anything. He walked to the car quietly.

"Miss Carly?" Richard looked up at her expectantly. "Do you live with Mr. Wayne?" He cast a nervous look in the billionaire's direction and hoped that no one noticed.

"Not exactly." She smiled. "I have my own apartment, but sometimes we have sleepovers. And you can just call me Carly if you'd like."

"Oh. Okay." Dick nodded. They walked together a few more feet, finally reaching the car. "Carly, will you have a sleepover tonight?"

"Definitely. Do you like cupcakes, Richard?" She asked holding the car door open for him.

"Do I ever!" He replied excitedly before jumping into the backseat. "Oh, and you don't have to call me Richard." He decided, poking his head back out.

"Okay. What would you like to be called then?" Carly leaned on the door and waited for his response.

"I like being called Dick." He announced. "Richard is too stuffy. It's a grown up's name. Like a doctor or a lawyer." His face twisted into a disapproving expression.

"Alright Dick, put your seatbelt on." Carly instructed him. "The sooner you do that, the sooner we can have cupcakes." Dick immediately leaned back in his seat and clicked the seatbelt into place. Carly shut the door before walking around to the other side of the car. She slid into the backseat next to Dick and shut her own car door. Alfred poised himself in the Driver's seat after putting Dick's cardboard suitcase in the trunk. Bruce was already in the passer's seat, staring out the window, waiting for the car to being moving.

"Miss Carly, Master Bruce, seatbelts?" Alfred suggested, putting the keys in the ignition.

Bruce didn't talk the entire car ride through Gotham City. The others could only imagine where his thoughts had wondered to. Alfred was also silent. He played his part as dutiful butler perfectly. He was entirely focused on the automobile and its traveling on the road, only occasionally allowing his eyes to glance up at the rearview mirror for a quick look at Carly, Richard, or Master Bruce out of the corner of his eye.

Dick was quiet most of the ride himself. Carly tried talking to him. She asking him what it was like growing up in the circus and how many cities had he traveled too. He tried to answer the questions with enthusiasm, but often his sentences would trail off or he would get distracted by something he saw outside the window. Eventually they arrived at the gate to Wayne Manor and his eyes were big as saucers.

"You live here!" He gasped incredulously. Bruce smirked in the front seat, but continued remain silent.

"Wait till you see inside." Carly whispered to him excitedly.

"Carly, can you help Alfred get Richard, uh, Dick, settled into a room on the fifth floor?" Bruce asked, looking over his shoulder as the car pulled into the garage. "I have something to work on in the basement."

"Uh yeah, okay Bruce sure." She agreed. "Dick what do you say we go get those cupcakes? Don't worry about your suitcase, Alfred will get it squared away. But you can bring your elephant if you want."

"Her name is Elinore." He said quietly. "She likes kisses." He added even quieter, almost to himself. Carly decided not to comment. She assumed he was thinking of a shared memory with his mother or father.

"Does Lady Elinore have a favorite cake flavor?" She asked trying to change his line of thinking.

"Chocolate!" He announced joyfully.

"I think that can be arranged." Carly made sure Bruce's jacket was still hanging from the young boy's shoulders as she guided him through the enormous garage and into the house. She found a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting left over from the birthday celebration array that morning. Carly sat next to him at the oversized dining room table with a mug of coffee releasing steam under her chin.

She watched Richard Greyson eat his cupcake with deliberately measured bites. It was as if he were doing his best to appear well mannered, behaved. Maybe, she guessed, that growing up in the circus he'd heard all sorts of nasty rumors of what circus folk were like. Maybe he was doing his best to shatter those rumors there at Bruce's antique table. It only made Carly want to hold him close.

She watched him trace the last bit of crumbs around on his plate. She reflected on how well he was handling the situation. He wasn't crying or screaming or cursing every god by name. He just sat at the table quietly feeding Elinore the elephant chocolate cupcake crumbs. He stopped when he noticed her watching.

"Sorry." He whispered, immediately sitting up straight and taking his elephant off the table.

"It's alright, Dick. Elephants get hungry too." She smirked. "But they also need to get some sleep. And so," she yawned, "do little acrobats. You can leave the dishes. Alfred should have a room ready for you by now. I'll show you the way."

A/N: Thank your Maple Sparks for your review of Chapter13! I'm so glad that you think this story is amazing! Bruce Wayne and Dick Greyson are two of my favorite fictional characters so I am really enjoying telling their story in a new way. I love working on this story whenever I can find the time or inspiration to do so and I look forward to reading any and all of your future comments! :D