Dick sighed as he whirled around in his desk chair he hated desk duty but couldnt really avoid it as his arm was broken.

A faint smirk made it's way onto his face as he thought about why hi arm was broken.

Taking down Killer Croc was a hard task especially when he got into the sewers but the whole family had been hunting the reptile man it had been wonderful and Batman had even laughed scaring the hell out of Killer Croc.

"What are you smirking about Grayson?" His partner Connaly asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dick shook his had.

"Ah, nothing just thinking about my family." Connaly looked at Dick curiously.

"So is it true your sister is dating Bruce Wayne?" Dick sighed exasperatedly.

"Yes it's true."

"But isnt Wayne your adopted dad or something?"

"He's my adopted dad but not Ari's." Connaly grabbed a chair and sat.

"So why did he adopt you but not your sister?"

Dick rolled his eyes.

"He offered and she said no she left home when we were eighteen and went into the Navy."

The two men talked for a little longer until Connaly had to leave with his temporary partner.

Wayne Manor

Dick walked into the Manor letting a deep breath loose as he felt himself de-stress.

Walking into the sitting room he saw Ari sitting with Cass, Ari was looking over her notes while Cass did her own homework for college.

Cass was working on becoming a social worker she wanted to help abandoned and abused kids.

The two looked up as Dick entered.

"Hey you two what's going on?"

"School work you know how that is."

Dick grinned as he flopped down onto the couch.

"Long day?" Cass asked sympathetically.

"You have no idea I hate desk duty." Dick grumbled.

"Your arm will heal soon." Ari said smirking.

"You could heal it for me." Dick said looking hopeful.

"Dick if I did that you know that your body would never heal on its own it would always be dependent on me that's why i only use my powers in emergencies."

"It was just a thought."

"Yeah, a bad one."

No one saw Alfred enter.

"Now Ms. Ari Master Dick that is enough arguing for one day if you please."

The two straightened.

"Yes Alfred, sorry Alfred." They chorused.

Alfreds face softened into a fond smile as he set the tea service onto the table.

Later that night Batman was sitting in the cave the others were out and the only one home other than himself was Shadow.

"Bruce." Batman turned and saw Shadow square her shoulders.

"I want to remake our mind link." Batman froze and pulled down his cowl slowly as Ari took off her mask. This wasn't a Batman matter this was solely between Bruce and Ari.

"Are you sure?" They had danced around the subject the excruciating pain he had caused by ripping apart the link had left her in bed with a severe migraine for a week. That had been the week before she had joined the Navy.

"Yes, I know we were going slow but it's been a year and a half now."

She looked him square in the eye.

"I trust you, this is the last step, and I'm ready if you're willing."

Bruce stood and as he walked over to her, he was struck and not for the first time by how much taller he was than her.

"I'm ready." Ari nodded.

"I want to do this a little bit differently than the first time."

Bruce looked at he curiously as they sat down on a bench in the training area.

"The first time I established the link it was only on the surface then it started to deepen."

Bruce nodded he remembered when she had first established the link.
It had been a light awareness a soft brushing of her mind against his faintly whispered words in his mind.

Over time it had deepened into something that at times often in battle he had not known where his consciousness had ended and hers began.

Flash Back.

Batman was up in the beams of the museum Black Raven and Robin were in different part of the building. Suddenly he felt much smaller than he was.

"What? Bruce?"

"Ari what's going on?"

Bruce felt his own feelings of confusion along with dawning horror that wasn't his.

"Bruce I think that your consciousness has merged with mine for now."

"Is there a way to stop it?" Bruce asked as calmly as they could.

"Well seeing as I'm a bit busy, no you're just going to have to ride along until I can get you back into your body."

Bruce mentally grumbled causing Ari to nearly shake her head in irritation.

"Can you please stop grumbling it's distracting." Bruce subsided.

He felt the fierce joy Ari felt as she fought and defeated opponents. He felt Dick's enjoyment as well in an echo of Ari's own.

He understood then that he could never bench the two they loved the work of being heroes too much. Later times when they had merged they had been able to enhance their senses in a fight.

End Flashback

Ari watched Bruce curiously as e blinked.

"Let's get started." Bruce said quietly and Ari nodded.

Ari gently put her small hands on either side of Bruce head and stared straight into Bruce's eyes.

Bruce watched as the gold in Ari's eyes overtook everything even the pupils.

Together the two of them watched memories of their lives as the bond built.

Bruce could see Ari's childhood and even as her parents had loved her they were sometimes a little afraid of her.

Ari could see how Bruce had dedicated himself to his work, and how it had pained him when Ra's and then Talia had betrayed him.

When finally it was done the two of them were bonded nearly as closely as Ari and Dick were only without the closeness of being siblings.

Bruce couldn't help it he leaned forward and kissed Ari desperately.

he pulled away staring at her, she smiled and nodded the two pulled off their uniforms and walked to the steps Ari flicked her fingers and the uniforms were put back into their places.

Bruce took Ari to his bedroom hesitating as they walked in.

"We can stop at anytime just say the word." he said quietly

"I love you Bruce." Ari said simply as she drew the half shirt she wore off.

The night wore on in a haze of pleasure.

The next morning Bruce awoke and propped himself up on his elbow looking down at Ari as she slept peacefully beside him.

the sunlight came through a gap in the curtains highlighting the natural blue and dark purple highlights in Ari's hair.

Ari sighed as he swept his hand down her hip.

Bruce mapped her scars with his fingers there were new ones he hadnt seen before probably from her time overseas he supposed.

"Are you going to stare at me all morning?" Ari's gently amused voice broke into his thoughts.

"Good morning." he smiled at her a true gentle smile that made his eyes light.

"Morning." they kissed softly for a moment before Ari pulled back with a sigh.

"We should probably let the others know we're ok." Ari said laughing at the expression on his face. Ari went to the bathroom first then Bruce.

Bruce walked out of the bathroom drying his hair.

"Ready?" He asked as he put on a comfortable pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

"Yup." Ari took his hand her shorts and t-shirt comfortable in the warm air.

When they walked into the family dining room everyone gave them knowing smirks.

Which were ignored in favor of coffee and breakfast.

"Last night was pretty quiet." Dick said hiding his smirk behind his coffee cup.

"Good." Bruce said as he caught Ari's attention and gave her a piece of his muffin.

Everyone smirked and shook their heads before breaking up for the day.

Ari smiled she was now starting her first year of residency at Gotham General Hospital.

She lined up with the other residents and waited for the attending physician.

"I am Doctor Morgan Trudaeu for the next two years you will be under my supervision."

They all nodded and Dr. Tudaeu smiled a little.

"Alright boys and girls lets go."

Hi everyone! I know this is very very late in coming but these last couple years took a hard tool on me. first my sister died then a year later my dad and a few months after him my grandma then about three or four months ago my step-dad and just last month my step- nephew passed away suddenly. So all in all 2015 2016 and 2017 have kinda sucked for my family. but im back to writing slowly, tanks for hanging in there!

Silvs out