Hello everyone, Aleah here! I had a long weekend and then week so that's why I'm posting this weekend instead of last. It's kind of late and I'm tired and just now got around to editing this chapter so thanks to everyone who did all the stuff and things on to the chapter!

Chapter 13

It had been two months since I'd turned twenty. Two months since I'd learned who Dick was. Two months since I'd become his girlfriend. Two months. A lot happened in those two months. Many small missions, all of them successful. I told Ethan a week after my birthday about Dick and I. He had met Dick before and adored him, and I was so relieved that Ethan approved. Not that he had the final say, but it felt much better this way. Wally and Artemis got engaged. Which was really surprising actually, seeing as they had each said they weren't the marrying type. But she said yes, and two months later it was two months away. They had known each other for almost ten years, and had been dating for almost the same time. Which got me thinking, some people get married within a year of knowing each other, others take way longer. Sometimes it doesn't workout either way, and sometimes it does. I guess it all has to do with if you really are meant for each other. Maybe I'm wrong, I've only ever been in one relationship. Well sort of, but that's not the point. Anyways.

I had also met the Bat fam, as some people call them. Dick took me to Wayne Manor a month after becoming a couple. I was intimidated by them, not knowing if they would approve of me knowing their secret, or becoming involved in this way, but they were very kind and took me in as one of their own. And we got along very well. Maybe it was the fact that none of us had our parents anymore, maybe it was the pain we shared, maybe our lifestyles. Not that it matters, the point is, they made sure I felt welcome.

Bruce was kind, but intimidating. He had this aura about him that screamed fear me. Probably because I knew he was Batman. I discovered that his playboy image was just a cover which I found was really smart, but also tiring. I've had to hide behind a similar image, but that's beside the point and a different story for a little later. He was very busy, either at Wayne Industries or the Batcave. But there were those few evenings when he had some free time on his hands. Those were the days Dick would bring me over. It didn't happen very often, but when it did they went all out. They always go all out for special visitors. Games and grilling and movie nights, I've seen them do all kinds of themes. And then, only sometimes at first, they would bring me along on patrol. It was thrilling, experiencing a different kind of hero work.

Alfred worked wonders. I can imagine it would be impossible not to like the kind old butler. When I started joining them on patrol I saw how the family worked together. They had each others back, and made sure I was able to keep up with them. Even Alfred. And when we came back Alfred would scold us and patch us up, making us take it easy afterwards and offering us a plate of cookies. It all worked.

We came more often, and when Bruce heard about Ethan's unusual case he put a lot of time and money into finding a cure. I mean as if having an unusual cancer was enough, the boy also had powers to conceal. I nearly cried when Bruce offered to help. Ethan met the Waynes soon after, still unaware of who they were behind the mask. I didn't tell him who Dick was either. I let Ethan know who I was, yes, because that was my life. I had no other. Which brings me to that story for later.

The Wayne's had been slowly bringing me into their world, and of course that means getting some sort of job, being seen in public with them, and, since I was with Dick, being taken to social events. Now, I don't mean social events as in parties, I mean social events, where you dress up all fancy and act sophisticated and basically try to out do each other with money and what you have or are doing with it. It got really boring really fast. I knew right away that I didn't belong in that world, I felt so out of place. I'd only been to one, at the end of those two months. The Wayne's had been invited somewhere and I was taken along. Like I said, I felt really out of my element. Which is kind of ironic considering my hero title. I wasn't myself because I couldn't be, not around those people. I could hear them talking behind my back, whispering about where I might have come from, why Dick would date someone like me, how they envied my dress and shoes, who did my makeup, and on and on and on…

So when we left early I was relieved. After changing we all sat in the family room and played Monopoly and ate Alfred's cookies. Then there was an alert from the Batcave, and we all ran out to change yet again.

We stopped two bank robberies, one rape, and five house burglaries. It was midnight. It was cold. And we were wide awake. We thrived on this stuff, believe it or not. The thrill, the rush of being in combat, it's hard to explain. I never thought I'd be fighting people, hurting them, after all I'd done to prevent such a thing. But turns out this life was made for me. Dick and I were usually paired up on one side of Gotham when on patrol, while Batman and Robin were on a different side. Most of the time Batgirl would show up, alternating who she was with.

So we had gotten an alert on some kidnappers heading our way. Dick and I leaned forward on the roof, waiting for them to come by. As soon as we saw the truck, we jumped. The car stopped as soon as we landed in the back, nearly throwing us off in the process. An angry driver came out with a gun, yelling and cursing at however dared to hit his car. He saw us and froze, the color drained from his face. A second man came out, him too with a gun. Before I could react, the man shot me in my thigh. Our suits are bullet proof, but that doesn't stop the bullet from giving you a nasty bruise. I grunted as it hit me, accidently shooting and icicle at his leg. Or maybe it was his foot, I couldn't tell. Dick swiftly knocked the gun out of his hand and began fighting two other men. I looked inside the truck. Two frightened children were inside.

"Get out!" I grabbed them and pushed them out, pointing down the street. "Listen to me. Go into that building. The police will help you, now hurry!" I turned and ran as soon as they did. The third guy pulled out a knife and charged me. I froze his feet, knocked the knife out of his hand, then shot a fireball at the ground. The force of the small explosion flung him back against a building. Dick had already tied up the others.

"Kori?" I looked up to see Dick looking at me.

"It's just a bruise." I said, allowing Dick to help me up.

We turned as the sirens grew closer. Dick looked to me again. "We'd better go." We climbed back up the building and ran a few rooftops away before stopping.

"Okay, where are you hurt?" We have a thing we do after facing off each group. We check each other's injuries, clean them up as best we can, and move on.

"I might have gotten a bruise on my jaw." Dick said rubbing the side of his face. "One of them had really good aim. Caught me off guard."

"Ouch. I definitely got a bruise on my leg when one shot me." I pointed to the spot on my thigh.

"My foot slipped when I landed. I nearly fell off the truck. Had a mini heart attack." He grinned.

"I hit my head as the truck stopped." I touched the spot on my forehead.

"Let me see that." Dick gently ran his thumb over the sore spot. "I think you cut yourself..." He said, carefully wiping the blood away. I smiled. He always got this look on his face whenever he focused on something. I took a closer look at his jaw.

"Yeah, you definitely have a bruise." I said, touching it.

He winced. "Ouch! Hey!"

"Sorry, sorry." I traced the side of his mask with my finger. "So, what now?"

Dick leaned in to kiss me.

"Nightwing, we're finished with the robbers. What is your position?" Batman said over the comm.

"Of course you are." Dick sighed. I laughed.

"Are you still there?"

"Yeah, we're here. On the hotel near the police station." Dick said. "The kidnappers are heading there now. What's next?"

"We'll just have to wait for something to pop up. Rendezvous back at the regular rooftop. Batman out."

Dick sighed. "Where were we?"

"You were about to kiss me." I said, blushing lightly.

"Sounds good to me." He said, pulling me closer.

Just then the Bat-signal light up.

"Great." We said at the same time. I sighed. "We should go."

"Didn't get my kiss yet." Dick smirked.

"Race you there!" I called in a sing-song voice, starting to climb up the side of a building. I heard Dick pull out a grappling hook and send it flying to the top. "Hey, that's cheating!" I protested as he shot past me.

"Gotta keep up!" He called.

I shot ice from my hands, pushing myself up. As soon as I reached the top I started running. Dick grabbed me from behind, causing me to give a shout of surprise, then laugh. "We really have to go." I laughed.

"Not yet. Because if something happens and this is the last time…"

I hate it when he does that, even if it's true. My smile faded, and I nodded slowly as I always did. "You may kiss me now."

I woke up the next morning on a bed. Not in the bed, not under the covers. Just on top of it. I wasn't dirty, which meant I'd taken a shower, and I was wearing sweats which meant I wasn't in the Batcave. There was a rule about not wearing hero costumes in the house. I was lying next to Dick, who was awake and staring at me. I looked down and Tim was lying at the foot of the bed. I looked to the side and Bruce was spread across the loveseat with a book in his hands. And Alfred was standing in the doorway with a camera.

"Good morning, miss Kori. I trust you slept well?" Alfred said with a twinkle in his eye.

"What happened in here?" I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Bruce and I helped you up the stairs, remember? Your leg was hurting pretty bad." Dick sat up. "Alfred brought you tea and left, Tim came in and after talking a bit we all just crashed."

Tim also sat up, stretching and muttering something about Gotham crime.

"Oh." Was all I said.

"Breakfast is on the table. I suggest you come down before it gets cold." Alfred said before walking out. Bruce and Tim soon followed.

"I want to wake up like that every morning." Dick sighed as he stretched.

"What, with everyone on your bed?" I raised my eyebrows.

He laughed. "No. I meant with you." I kissed his cheek then looked out at the sunrise.

"Beautiful. I wonder if Ethan is looking at this too." I said vaguely, attempting to hide my blush.

"How is he? I haven't seen him in a few weeks."

"He's better. He's getting stronger. The doctors say if this continues they might be able to do one last operation on him. They've been giving him treatment to keep the cancer mostly under control, but that won't make it go away. They know exactly where it is, so they can open him up and put the medicine in."

"They found a cure?"

"Well, sort of. It should work, but they don't know for sure. It'll at least heal him enough to the point where they can give him regular chemo. After that, if it works, the chemo will heal him completely." I smiled. "Bruce has been working very hard."

"What happens when he gets out of the hospital?" Dick asked.

"He'll come here. He has powers. Where else would he go? I don't want him to live in an orphanage. I want him here at Mount Justice, with us. All of us." I said stubbornly.

"I'll help to get his room ready." Dick offered. I threw my arms around his neck.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." I pulled back, kissing him full on the mouth. "He'll be so excited."

This was more than I had hoped for. My family was almost complete. Ethan was going to get better and I wouldn't have to keep secrets from him. I was happy. I was really, really happy. But in my experience, happiness has a price. And this one almost cost all that I am.

Stuff and things. Tired. Sleep. Review to tell me if you like sleep.

Thanks again for all your support. :)

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