Dick and Lenorah skipped (yes, they both actually skipped) into her building with bright happy greetings for Frank at the front desk. Lenorah was happy enough that she did not even notice she was in an elevator for the second time in a week (the first being the day after a ring showed up on her finger). Stepping off into the short hallway that led to her front door, they could both smell something good was going on in the kitchen inside. The warm aroma set their stomachs rumbling, and they quickened their steps. Martha looked up from the stove as the door opened, and her face brightened immediately when she saw it was Lenorah. The same warm motherly smile landed on Dick, who suddenly felt a little shy.

"Well, look who decided to come see us at last. We thought that man of yours was keeping you all to himself dear." Martha teased gently.

"Nah, I stole the car keys and made my escape." Lenorah replied.

"Will Bruce be joining us for dinner as well?"

"Unfortunately, he has work to do still. But I brought someone even better to join us, if there's room."

"Of course there's room! It's just Ralph and I tonight, everyone else is over at Samuel's this evening. We've been enjoying some time alone together."

"Dick, this is Martha."

"The cookie lady?" he asked quietly.

"The cookie lady I am indeed. It is a great pleasure to meet you Dick." Martha replied.

It did not take long for Martha's warm inviting smile to put him at ease, and Dick settled in on a stool at the counter to watch her cook. Ralph soon joined them and soon had Dick engaged in hearing one of the many tales Ralph always seemed to have for just such an occasion. Lenorah smiled and ducked into her bedroom for a moment to pack a few more things than what she had hastily thrown together the other night. Martha and Ralph were the perfect instant grandparents, taking to Dick as quickly as they had taken to Lenorah. In a short time, Dick had lost his family, but he was already in the middle of another one, and they would not let anything happen to him.

Dinner was a warm filling stew, and the most delicious corn bread muffins ever. After dinner, they retired to the living room, where Dick curled up next to Lenorah on the couch and started to doze. He had experienced a rather full day, and after a nice big meal it was no wonder he was sleepy. Her phone started to ring, and though she hated to disturb Dick, it was Bruce's other ring tone, one she could not ignore. She dashed into her bedroom, making sure the door was closed behind her.

"Hello my lover."

"Mmm...did you know it's cold out here? You had something for me?"

"I met the circus owner earlier today. There's something that didn't sit right with me. His eyes...I very nearly felt like I needed a shower. I don't think he's as 'clean' as he's made himself out to be."

"Still definitely a mob connection?"

"I don't know if I'd bet the farm on it, but a moderate wager at least."

"I'm not sure where this lead will take me, but right now it's all we have. I'll add the circus owner to the list."

"There's something else. The trailer the Grayson's were living in - it belonged to the circus. Their's apparently was destroyed in a fire sometime last year. It could be nothing..."

"Or it could be connected. We'll look into that. I'm not sure if I can dig up much more tonight, the storm is picking up." He sounded tired.

"As soon as we're done here, I'm going to head back to the house with Dick. Poor thing is nearly passed out on the couch."

"I won't be too far behind you."

"Martha is sending me home...I'll worry about the oddness of that statement later. She had plenty of stew left over, so I'll be bringing some for you and Alfred. And some corn muffins, I managed to not eat them all."

"Ohh...go and make me hungry why don't you."

"Alright, less talky talk, more going homey home. I want to snuggle up to a nice warm body while we're both awake." Lenorah smiled into the phone.

"Your vocabulary had taken a very odd turn today."

"I've been having to watch what I say all day, or coming up with creative ways to say things...cut me some slack."

"Yes ma'am. You have to remind me to make some modifications again to the cold weather suit. It's not as warm as it should be."

"You said that last winter - and I did remind you about it then."

"Alright, I'm going to head home now. I'll see you there."

"Be safe."

"You too."

Lenorah headed back out to the living room to find Dick had finally fallen asleep. It was difficult to wake him, but just enough for her to get him bundled up to head outside to the car for the trip back to the house. Martha followed them down with the box of food she had prepared for Bruce and Alfred, as Lenorah's hands were full carrying Dick. He was lucky he was a little small for his age, as she was not sure she could carry him otherwise. After getting him settled in, she exchanged a quick hug with Martha before climbing in the car. The storm had not yet fully hit, and Lenorah was thankful for that. It was not that she was unable to drive in it, she just felt a little more anxious with a child in the car.

She had never been so happy to see the gate to Wayne Manor as she was that night. It was only a few more yards and they would be safe and sound. She had no worries about Bruce and the Batmoblie (calling it that was a great deal more fun than calling it the Tumbler as he wished she would) as it was the safest car on the roads that evening. Leaving the boxes of Dick's belongings for tomorrow, she carried him into the house, letting Alfred know of the food from Martha tucked away in the back seat. Bruce arrived home as she was getting Dick ready for bed, and was waiting for her downstairs.

"So, the two of you had a busy day I hear."

"We did indeed. Dick even managed to up my normal quota of gifts for less fortunate children. I had to stop him before we bought out the whole store."

"Did him good though, didn't it?"

"Yes, he was really happy. And they're saving a gift for me for him. So I may need to leave him in your care for a bit sometime soon so I can pick it up."

"Something caught his eye?"

"A set of proud, shiny tin soldiers."

"Just like the story?"

"Well, I don't know if the last one out of the box is missing a leg or not...but I don't think that matters too much."

"Now...there was something earlier about a slinky?" Bruce teased with a grin.

"Nope, Captain Slinkyman - otherwise known as Dick Grayson - gets the very first run with the slinky. So you'll just have to find something else to amuse yourself with."

"Or someone?"

"That works too."

Dick woke late the next morning, mostly due to the short night of sleep the day before. He was still in his clothes from the day before, though Lenorah had been kind enough to remove his shoes and socks just as he liked (not that anyone likes sleeping with their shoes on). Heading downstairs, he made his way towards the kitchen. Only Alfred was there to greet him, Bruce and Lenorah still being upstairs asleep.

"Good morning Master Grayson. Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"What would you like for breakfast young man?"

"Cereal?"

"I do believe we may have some stashed around here somewhere. Miss Lenorah likes to snack on it - dry without milk which has never appealed to me much."

"My mom would always give us a bag of our favorite cereal to snack on when we were in the truck between performances. Said it was better than other junk food, though we always liked the more sugary ones."

"And what was your favorite?"

"The kind with the little marshmallows. I always liked the colors, even in the non name brand ones. You got a bigger bag for less money, so we ate them a lot."

"Ah, here we are. It seems Lenorah shares the same view - bags and bags of cereal have taken over what used to be an empty cabinet. It looks as if she enjoys little marshmallows as well. Would you like plain or chocolate?"

"Marshmallows with chocolate cereal?"

"It would appear so."

"Can I have some of that?"

"Of course you can." Alfred smiled as he turned from the cupboard with the bag of cereal in his hand.

Dick smiled, and he and Alfred spent the morning getting to know each other. It was much later that morning (nearly noon actually) before Bruce and Lenorah made it downstairs. They apologized, but one could see they were both still a little tired. It had not been all fun and games, though that had indeed come later. They had ended up spending quite a few hours in the Batcave first searching through records for more clues into Dick's past and trying to find whatever they could on the owner of the circus. It had also taken Bruce a while to calm her down when the full information regarding Dick being allowed to stay with them was revealed.

It was true that Dick would be allowed to stay if he so desired. But it would only be as a ward under the care of Bruce Wayne. As Lenorah was not yet married to him, she did not count at all in the factoring of the future of young Dick Grayson. She had moved quickly through various stages of anger, thankfully while they were down in the cave so the rest of the house could not hear it. He had reasoned that it would not sit well with her, but Bruce had not expected as strong a one as he got. That she had so quickly become attached to the boy seemed odd to him, but in a good way. Dick needed someone like her in his life, just as Bruce needed her in his. He had finally calmed her by telling her that he had his legal team working on being able to change things once they were married.

Lenorah had calmed a bit, but it had taken a while, and a great deal of distraction later on. So it had been a long night. But all was better with the new day with the sun shining through the windows. Neither of them could find Alfred or Dick, until they saw something go flying by the window. They found Alfred outside with Dick, watching as a family of snowmen slowly came to life in the back yard. They were decorated with a variety of bits of dead plants from the garden. One even had a wig from dried lily leaves he must have uncovered from the depths of the snow. Dick was certainly a resourceful child. Bruce arrived from behind with a mug of coffee for her, and together they watched Dick playing in the backyard.

"Who would have thought we'd be having a family moment like this just a few weeks ago?" Lenorah remarked softly.

"It's only been a few days, but it feels right, doesn't it."

"I just wish...I'm happy Dick is in our lives. But the way he was brought into it..." She could not finish the thought.

"I know. But all we can do now is see that he has a good future."

"And that we will make sure he has that." Lenorah's eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"That we will." Bruce replied, wrapping his arm around her waist.

Dick noticed them watching from the window and waved, his cheeks red from the cold, but a contented looking smile on his face. Lenorah and Bruce waved back with happy smiles.

"Only a few more days until Christmas. We need to get a tree, and I suppose let the girls invade for an afternoon to help decorate." Lenorah mused.

"You know, I don't think we ever really got around to replacing the holiday decorations after the fire. Didn't see much need then with it being just myself and Alfred."

"Or myself...but we should do a little something for Dick and the others. Even if you and I are more closely related to the Grinch or Scrooge before they were lured away from the dark side."

"The three of us could go today and get things."

"And then you'll take Dick for an afternoon or something so I can pick up his gift?"

"Yes...but shouldn't we get him more than that?"

"Maybe a few things - though I do believe today we should get him some snow gear if he's gong to turn the yard into a sales lot for snowmen."