Chapter: 36

Light blue eyes watched the raindrops slowly slide down the window. The young face was a blank slate while raging emotions was in turmoil inside of him. Something that both his foster father and brother overlooked was the fact that day was coming up in less than 42 hours (1). Flashes of his memories of the circus danced past his eyes, but he forced them away. Instead, he focused his attention back on the storm, dead set on counting each and every raindrop as they fell.

Unbeknownst to the youth, two figures stood side by side in the doorway behind him, watching on with pitying eyes. Both hated to see the youngest in such a state of agony and sorrow, but both also knew there was nothing they could do to prevent the day from coming.

The one on the left side of the frame stood with his shoulders hunched, his green eyes swimming with regret. With his arms folded over his chest and his head facing ever so slightly to the side, he allowed the darkness t over come his features. How could he have not seen this coming? Why did he say those things that he clearly didn't mean? How could he live with himself after what he did, what he said?

While the other was brooding the tallest (and oldest) to the right leaned against the door frame with his arms also folded as well. His facial features suggest that he was deep in thought, while the slight fidgeting of his foot revealed that what he really wanted to do right there and then was scoop up his youngest into his arms and shelter him from the evils of the world.

A crackle of thunder split the air, causing the littlest to jump in fright, his small stature trembling. The two was instantly besides his side, gathering him in both of their arms and cooing comforting words at him.

"There there Dickie, it's just mother nature." Bruce soothed as the small ebony buried his face into his adoptive father's chest at the sound of thunder.

"Come on, let's go watch some movies yea?" Jason attempted to take Dick from Bruce's arms but stopped when the small figure flinched away from him. Guilt, pain, and hurt all flooded his features before he backed away. Bruce sent him a small half smile before he stood up, Dick in his arms, and relocated to the couch where the two proceeded to snuggle. Jason left the duo alone, sure he had already gave all the apologies one could give in a life time, and Dick accepted them all with a smile, but the small boy still wasn't able to be 100% confident in his brother's words. Jason burnt a bridge the moment he uttered those terrible words. Now he had to rebuild it, plank by plank, rope by rope, step by step. It wouldn't happen over night, nor would it happen through force, but it would eventually get fixed as long as he had enough patience and determination. Until then, it was best to give it space and not suffocate it.

"Come on chum, Jason's trying his best. Couldn't you just give him a chance?" Bruce whispered to his precious being wrapped in his arms.

"I-I wish I could. His words…they hurt…it hurt so much and…I want to believe what he says, I want to believe that he won't do it again…but…" Dick buried his face into the expensive silk shirt, as if it could make all his fears disappear.

"It's ok chum, it's ok. Just give it time, you'll see. You two will be closer than you ever were before." The billionaire ran his fingers through the soft raven locks, humming a soothing tune that had neither beginning nor end.

"Thanks…daddy." Dick mumbled before letting out a cat like yawn and snuggling deeper in his warmth.

The fingers combing through his hair fumbled, before catching themselves and returning to its previous actions. Bruce's heart was thrumming like a humming bird's; it was times like these that he was even more grateful to have such a loving son. It brought him back to the first time he heard Dick say it.

Flashback:

Bruce drew the covers closer to Dick's chin. It was his third night out as Robin, but also his first time receiving injuries. Killer Croc had managed to steal a hit on the boy wonder, ending with four angry bloody scratch marks across his chest.

"I love you daddy." Dick mumbled.

"Dick, you just called me daddy." Bruce told him softly, he didn't want the ebony to think he was trying to take his original father's place.

"I know. You're daddy, but my other daddy is dad!" he giggled, small hands pressed against his mouth and blue eyes dancing with laughter. Bruce's heart soared high, far past the heavens. This was by far the happiest he's ever been in his life as of yet.

With a small smile on his face, he ruffled the tuft of raven hair that stuck out of the blanket and turned off the lights, the small flutter in his heart still there.

End

Bruce looked up as Jason walked back in, the freshly used bandages on his hands told that he was in the Batcave working out.

"I shouldn't have said that. If only I could go back and prevent myself from saying that." The teen internally beat himself up about it.

"But you can't. Now all you can do is try to mend your relationship with him as best as you possibly can." Bruce responded softly, still running his fingers through the head of hair on his lap.

"I know, and I try. But…he's so afraid of me…it hurts every time he flinches away. How can I fix things when I can't even talk to him normally?" Jason's voice took on a hint of desperation and his eye brows were bunched together in the only visible attempt to control his emotions. Bruce had a feeling that the hidden emotions in his oldest son were anything but peaceful, but unfortunately he wasn't a mind reader like John, he wasn't able to help him through it. But Bruce had a feeling that if his sons made it through this, they'd be that much more prepared to face things like this if it were to occur again.

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Dick gently pushed himself up from his bed with one hand and rubbed at his bleary eyes with the other. As his eyes locked onto the still form half covered in the shadows in the corner of his room, he froze.

"We…we need to talk." Jason said, his bright green eyes stood out against the dark shadows.

"I can't. Not right now." Dick turned his head slightly away from his brother, not able to meet his eyes.

"Then listen." Jason walked out of the shadows and sat on the side of his bed, furthest from the weary child. "I know what I said was wrong and stupid. I was angry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I just…needed to let out some anger and I shouldn't have used you as an outlet. You were doing the right thing, never think otherwise. I shouldn't have tried to kill; I was…hitting a relapse. It's just that, after I saw you vulnerable in his arms, something within me snapped. I couldn't handle the thought of him hurting you, even if he didn't; there was still a possibility of it happening." He took a breath, as if to fight off the frightening mental images. "When we got back to the cave I was furious, I could still see you trapped in his arms. Then…I just exploded. I knew what I said would hurt you, I wanted it to then…but I never wanted you to hurt truly, it was just my hot head talking. I'm sorry. I truly am, to the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I know that I can never say that enough times to heal the wounds I verbally inflicted upon you but I promise you…I will do whatever it takes to mend our relationship back to at least what it was before." At this he met his brother's eyes with steel determination. Blue and green met as Dick met his brother with his own determined stare.

"Ok Jason." Dick said, breaking the silence after a long moment. "I'll give you a chance…as well try myself." A timid grin appeared on Dick's face and he gave Jason a quick hug before running out of his room. Things would be alright.

Ten Days Later:

"Jason that's not fair! It's my turn to have the blue one!" Dick's whining voice pierced through Bruce's office first, and then the boys themselves burst through after.

"First come first serve baby bird!" Jason crowed, a blue toy model car held up high in the air by his hand.

"Give it!" Bruce smiled as he watched his sons bond. He knew they'd mend their relationship and by the look on Dick's face he was also right about it getting stronger. Siblings fight; it was how they made up for it that counted.

A/N: So…I lied…there is a second part to this…hope no one's mad about that. Eh, sorry if this chapter came off as a bit depressing, I've been down in the dumps about stuff lately. If anyone wants to lend some advice to a senior please do. The fact that I'm going to be off to college in less than a year just hit me and I had a small break down in the shower and am still trying to cheer myself up…it's not working. But I don't want my family to worry so me being stupid hides it. The thought of moving away from my family and starting a life of my own just doesn't sit right with me and I will admit, it's frightening. Any who-

I don't own Batman. Review please…you probably wont hear from me for a while, maybe for about a weekish…