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Disclaimer: I don't own the characters below.

It was around midnight and Mento was staring at the computer screen as he was trying to track down a reliable lead for the Brotherhood of Evil. It had been two weeks since they had met Beastboy and everybody says that he's what the team needed. He was a seven year old who could barely control his powers. Steve groaned as he realized he'd have to tell Bruce. His life was complicated enough. He rubbed his temples and started tracking down more leads. He didn't even notice that somebody else was in the room until he felt a tap on his leg. He looked down and saw Garfield looking up at him wearing purple footie pajamas and a teddy bear that Rita had made for him.

"Garfield, what are you doing up?" he asked, annoyed that he was being interrupted.

"I can't sleep." He replied, sweetly.

"Why not?"

"I had a nightmare." Gar explained.

"Well what do you want me to do about it?" he asked, not even looking at him.

"Can you read me a story?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm working. Go bother somebody else."

"But, you're the only one awake."

"I don't care. I have work to do and I don't have time to worry about your stupid dream." Steve said, coldly.

Garfield sat on the floor and started crying. Steve felt guilt wash over him as the boy held his teddy bear tightly. He didn't mean to make the boy cry, but he didn't have time to baby him. He had work to do.

"You don't love me." He said, through his tears.

Mento sighed heavily as he felt his heart breaking. He got off the chair and picked up the crying boy.

"I do love you." He said.

"No you don't. You hate me, just like everyone in my village hated me."

"I don't hate you. I just get wrapped up in my work sometimes and I say things I don't mean." He explained.

" Really?"

"Really. I could never hate you."

Beastboy snuggled against the man as they sat on the couch.

"Now, what was your nightmare about?"

"Madame Rouge came here and killed you all. She made me watch and I was all alone." Gar said, crying more.

He sighed and rubbed the boy's back.

"It was only a nightmare. That won't ever happen. I promise, now let see that smile of yours." Mento comforted.

Garfield smiled a little.

"You can do better than that."

The boy shook his head and then Mento started tickling him for all it was worth. Garfield fought, but he couldn't stop the attack. The boy started crying tears of joy. Once Steve saw the boy couldn't breathe, he stopped.

"Mento?"

"Yes?"

"Are you my new daddy?"

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"Mento?"

"Yes?"

"You need a nap."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't, I have work to do."

"Like what?"

"Finding the brotherhood. You can watch until you get tired ok?"

"Ok."

Mento went back to the computer while Gar sat on the couch. He laid his head on the pillow and he felt something under it. He moved the pillow and saw a magazine with a woman in tiny black bikini.

"Mento?"

"Yes?"

"What's a playboy?" Gar asked.

Steve turned and looked at the boy with the magazine in his hand. He took it out of the boy's hand and put it down under the table. He was going to kill Cliff.

"How about I read you that story?" Steve said, changing the subject.

"Ok."

He smiled and picked up his son. As he was carrying Gar in his arms, he realized that he was so fragile. He had been through too much and all he wanted was to be loved. Mento promised himself that night that he would try and be a father to this boy. Be the father that he wished he'd had when he was his age. Gar was his son and he would always protect him, no matter what.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review! I'm having a challenge. I want to do a Halloween story, so the person who gives me the best Halloween story idea will have the chapter dedicated to them. Just put the idea in your review. =)