I got a little inspired to write this chapter. I have summer classes, so I still don't have much time. I guess this is me procrastinating on Classical Physics. Yuck. Sometimes it's good to write something other than code. Anyway, hope you all enjoy. I'm still working through fixing the last story and eventually this one, correcting continuity. I changed up some of the OCs names because they just spoke to me. Nothing major though. Trying to iron out the gross plot holes though. To think I started writing that 4 years ago.


The grass crunched under the weight of my footsteps. Birds sang like the world was alright. The sun was bright and beating down, a Gotham heatwave. Not that I noticed that human discomfort. I was, however, very away of the thickly humid air, hints of salt blowing in from the ocean on the New England city. The usual smog had stayed away for months, with the mayor making a city initiative to keep it down after it suddenly disappeared. Scientists were baffled, but Gotham looked just a little bit brighter for it.

I sat down cross-legged in front of the large stones. There was an acute sense of energy to the place, one most wouldn't pick up on. Though, perhaps it was just me. I leaned forward and gently placed a rose on each stone. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Wayne. My name's Kira.

"I'm not sure if you can hear me. Even being a ghost, I still don't know if I believe in an afterlife or not. I didn't ask them, after it happened. I don't know if it's blackness, or light, happiness or hell. I don't know much, but I thought now was a good time to talk to you." I shifted to a more comfortable position. "You don't know me, but I met your son. I always thought he was the sad and lonely type, but I think he's changed. You'd be really proud. He's a hero, but I'm sure he's already told you that.

"He's my hero. He reminds me I'm still human, and he helped me save my family. But, that's not the most he's done. He made me feel at home, even when I'm so far away. I used to be scared. I stuttered over every sentence. I growled into my locker to hide how much I was hurting. I was never proud, and I wasn't confident. I was always angry. My brother Danny got me through some of that. Well, I say brother. It's a cover story, but it stuck. And it feels right, we're like family now.

"But like I was saying, that's what I used to be. Bruce helped me to grow up. I'm still angry, and I still get scared, but I know I have to channel it now. I know how the Batman feels, and when I see him grow, I know I can too.

"I saw my parents die. That happened. But we saved everyone in the end. Yada yada, happy story, everyone learned a lesson and moved on. It did something to Bruce though. He's bolder, if that's even possible for him. The Brave and the Bold… He took a chance, a big one. A couple months ago, Vlad was doing… Vladness. He tried convincing a court that me and Danny were related to him, and therefore we should live with him. Bruce picked up on it before he got much wind. So Bruce had a talk with us."


"Hey, sit down. All three of you. I need to run something past you. Something important."

Dick, Danny, and I shared confused glances. Normally when Bruce wanted to tell us something, he just told us. Not this preamble crap. It must be serious. We moved to the couch, Dick taking centre seat, and Bruce sitting down across from us on the coffee table. Alfred would not be pleased, but he was off in the kitchen baking something. He wouldn't tell us what. Dick was convinced he was trying to hide cookies. "What's going on Bruce?" Danny asked, taking the lead.

"Vlad Masters is up to no good. His people have been collecting evidence so he can claim you and Kira as his family and get custody over you."

"What? But there's not a shred of anything he can use to do that," I growled.

"Yeah, you're not even close to related," Dick added.

"There is one thing you all have in common."

"Our ghost powers?" Danny asked.

Bruce nodded. "He's going to try claiming it's a rare genetic condition that can only be passed through families. Don't worry, he has no plans to actually expose you as half ghosts."

"What can we do?" I asked.

Bruce looked at his hands, seemingly playing his words through his head before his eyes scanned over each of us. "As of now, each of you are my wards. That doesn't have much hold if old family ties emerge or someone more suitable comes along to take you. There's one thing we can do though, but I need to hear your opinions first before I move on with anything."

"What does this have to do with me?" Dick asked.

Bruce sighed. "I've had this drawn up for months, more so for you Dick. I was wondering what you all would think if I make this more official. If I actually adopt you."

Crickets. Our jaws had dropped collectively. Shock and awe. "Bruce, I…" Dick trailed off.

"I already have a family," Danny said.

I couldn't speak.

"I'm not trying to replace them. I'm trying to stop Vlad. And when the time comes, I'll fully relinquish any parental rights straight to your parents, so there won't be a fight. It would give me a stronger arm of protection over all of you though. And Dick, I've just been putting this off for too long."

Silence passed over us. I closed my eyes, trying to compose my thoughts. Sure, Bruce was new to me, and sure, Gotham was a long way from home, but this was the Bat Family. Dick was like a little brother to me, and Danny was in the same bucket. Bruce made me feel safe after everything that happened. He comforted me through the nightmares, even if he was a bit standoffish. He was there for me, even knowing what my parents knew that made them throw me away, he was there.

"I'm okay with that," I drawled, tasting the words on my tongue to decide if I liked them. Dick and Danny stared at me bug-eyed. "We're like family. Making that more official doesn't scare me."

"I'm in too," Dick agreed. "You've been everything for me since my parents."

Our eyes landed on Danny. He seemed conflicted. "I get where you're coming from, I really do. But I'm just not sure… I mean, what would my parents think?"

"Ask them," I said, pulling out the stone and a notepad. Danny stared down at them. "I know they'll understand, and I bet your mom would do anything to keep creepy Vlad away from you."

He still looked lost in thought, but he made no move to take the notepad. Seconds dragged by. He closed his eyes slowly and took a deep breath. He looked back up. "Do it. We need to keep Vlad off our backs."

"It's settled then. I'll have my attorneys bring in the papers."


"Alfred was baking a cake, to celebrate. We all had a choice. Over the next few days, we had to decide what we were going to do with this new-found relationship. I'm a big sister. Dick hyphenated. Richard John Grayson-Wayne. He wanted to honour both of his families. Danny kept his name, James Daniel Fenton. And me… I found a new family here. I found people that loved me unconditionally. Kira Danielle Wayne. Your name's going to give me strength, until I have to go home. Thanks for that."

I stared into the headstones. The name seemed to burn in the light, and a small gust of wind blew up some freshly mowed grass. "Your son's a dad now. He has a family. He didn't push us away. He's happy. There was a press event, and a gala to celebrate. The League all showed up. Bruce's friends. It was the first time I saw Hawkman in his civilian attire. Clark was doing press coverage, and he introduced Danny and I to Lois. Uncle Barry was there. He was chipper as could be. He said he'd been counting on Bruce being a good dad. Ollie and Hal drank a little too much, but they had fun. J'onn stayed in the corner, for the most part.

"We brought Yin into the fold. Detective Ellen Yin I should say. It's a lot easier having a direct route to the GCPD, even if Gordon is in our court. He can't be as transparent as she is. She was kind of 'in your face' about it. I get it though. She hangs out in the cave every once in the while. Wulf scared her a bit the first time, but we explained his presence to her. She's even learned a bit of Esperanto. Bruce told Ethan not long after. They're a lot closer because of it. Best friends all over again.

"Crime's been quiet for a while. The clean air and the heat wave seemed to turn off most of the bad guys. And the ghosts prefer the cold. But Danny's birthday is coming up. Just a few more days. Bruce is planning a big party. All of our friends are coming. Dick said he had a surprise, but he won't even tell me what. Bruce has something elaborate planned, but he's kept it hush hush to everyone, even Alfred. Getting a lot of media coverage, being the first birthday of Bruce Wayne's children. Weird to me, but… Whatever. I got him a model rocket, one as tall as his room. It'll take him weeks to put together. And his parents sent me some gifts for him, same with Jazz, his sister. And Sam and Tucker. Danny's popular."

My joke fell on the graves, soft and warm. It was weird. They'd been dead since before I was born, yet their spirit felt alive to me. I felt like I wasn't alone. "I guess, all in all, this makes you my grandparents. And I really hope you're proud of that. Your son has a legacy. We won't let your name die. We won't let the symbol die. I just thought you should know. I'm not sure how long it's been since Bruce talked to you. We're all doing patrol tonight. Babs has the summer off from college, so she's been spending a lot more time as Batgirl. We're gonna try to ditch Bruce to go to the grand opening of the new Bat Burger. There's a costume event, so nobody will bat an eye, hopefully. It'll be a good bit of fun, but Batman wouldn't approve. You understand. He's a buzzkill sometimes. Has he always been like that?"

My mind wandered off into different places, and I leaned back onto the grass over my dead adopted grandparents. Maybe it was just the energy of the graveyard. Perhaps that's why they're stereotypically haunted. My core felt at ease. It hit me that I should be solemn. Graveyards were supposed to be sad and dark, but it didn't feel that way. I did think about one thing though. I'd totally just flown past the fourth. Independence Day was always special for me. There was a tradition between me and Dad. We'd get together a few illegal fireworks, Dad would bring out one of his favourite hard drinks. He'd let me try some, and he'd tell me he was making a list for my 21st birthday. It was a secret between the two of us. Mom would take Braden to town to see the Mineral Springs firework show. Dad told her I was afraid of the explosions, and that he was going to stay around and keep me company. Little did she know…

I smiled warmly. As much as it hurt that I wasn't there with him, it felt nice to think about a happy memory with my father. After he threw me out, a lot of those memories seemed corrupted and dark. Having talked to him a few months ago though, I felt a bit better to move on. I could be angry and spiteful, but I could also be loving and forgiving at the same time. "I really have grown up."

It was time to go. I needed to be back in the manor long before the sun could set. Dick wanted to go mess around at the splash pad before patrol. "Bye Mr. and Mrs. Wayne. I'll come back again. Promise."

A butterfly landed on Mrs. Wayne's grave. Its little wings looked like it was waving goodbye. I smiled before flying off home.