Summary: Takes place about 6 months after Auld Acquaintance. Continuing right after the previous chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own DC

The team looked on with extreme worry, especially Bruce and Zatanna. They had all just seen Dick relive his weakest moments, and at the moment, nobody knew what he was really thinking. For all they knew, he could be on the verge of suicide at this moment, and none of them could blame him, not after what they just saw. Dick had likely been through more than everyone on the team combined, and they all knew that none of them could handle that pressure. Just as Dick was about to speak, the team, Manhunter, and Batman were launched out of his mind by the spell. One they returned to their own bodies, Zatanna stood up faster than even Bruce and was beyond frantic. She ran up to Dick's body and started to panic.

"Wh-what just happened?!" Everyone looked to J'onn.

"I...do not know. That has never happened to me before. If I were to guess, I would say the magic is prohibiting us from seeing his choice." Bruce growled before dismissing everyone.

"You all have been through an ordeal of your own. Go. Get some rest. I will stay with him and alert you of any changes." The team was hesitant, but Kaldur saw Bruce's desperation, and he turned to the others.

"Batman is right. Us being here will do nothing to help him, and we all could use something to clear our minds after what we have witnessed. Let us leave for now." The team slowly cleared out after J'onn, Dinah, Clark, and Diana. Wally was still hesitant, but Arty slowly took his hand and helped him out. Zatanna was not moving, and Bruce knew he would not be able to move her. He simply sat next to her and did his best to comfort her as she cried her heart out. Alfred, who had been alerted of his master's condition and immediately Zeta'd in, walked up to the two, saying a silent prayer for Dick.

In the living room, the team sat in silence. Everyone was lost in thought, though they were all thinking the same thing. Previously, they all thought they had terrible childhoods. Now, after seeing what their youngest had been through, they were beyond grateful for what they did have.

It was no secret to the team that Artemis had a horrible life, mostly due to the torture she and her sister occasionally recieved from her father when being trained. The training Dick and Bruce did together reminded her of what she and Jade would undergo with Sportsmaster, though it was a far more preferable alternative considering the Dynamic Duo's incredibly strong and caring relationship with one another. However, it was little solace knowing the pain he had been through. His injuries and traumas made hers look like paradise. She had always looked at Dick as the youngest, most immature, and even at times weakest. That belief had been turned completely over. She still saw him as her little brother, but she had been enlightened as to his hidden strength.

Wally was quite possibly the worst off out of all of them. He already knew Dick had a hard life, but Dick had never told him the specifics, probably to spare him from this sorrow. Dick was already one of the strongest people he knew, but this just took it to another level. He was simply praying that his bro would choose to come back to them. Though he couldn't blame him if he chose not to. He had suffered the least out of anyone on the team, but even still, he knew that there was no way in hell he could survive half of what Dick dealt with every single day.

Connor was lost in thought. He, like the others, saw Dick with newfound respect. Connor's only real family was the team, plus, recently, Clark's family. He had never lost anyone the same way Dick had, and he never considered how much it may have hurt. However, what stuck out even more to him was the similar struggle the two faced. Ever since he was created, Superboy had struggled with finding an identity outside of being Superman's clone. Clark finally befriending and taking him under his wing helped with it, but he still had that turmoil deep within him. Now he had someone to relate to. He was somewhat grateful for that.

M'gann was sobbing hysterically. J'onn was doing his best to comfort her, but one of her closest friends was on death's door. Dick had already told her he was an orphan, but she never knew it was this bad. She was separated from her parents as well, but her mother had died in childbirth and her father was a villain who she never cared about. Her uncle was her closest family, and she had never had to feel the same pain Dick did. Add to that the torture and other injuries and he was a completely different person than the innocent, happy boy she initially thought he was.

Raquel was possibly the most in control of herself. She obviously felt horrible for what Dick had to undergo, but she also knew him the least. She still felt his pain, but not to the extent of the others. Unbeknownst to many, she didn't have a father, as he had run away when her mother got pregnant. Icon was her surrogate father, very similar to how Bruce was Dick's.

Kaldur was thinking to himself of the various similarities between himself and Dick. He had always thought they were alike in many ways, such as their affinity for leadership and overall sense of dedication to the job. However, this shed light on even more similarities. Kal had lost his mother in a bombing on Atlantis when he was a young boy, and as far as he was aware, his father had perished in an Atlantean battle years ago, at least that's what Aquaman told him. Kaldur, like Dick, had been drafted into this war at a young age. Of course, both were given the choice to serve beside their mentors, not forced into the role, but they both knew that they had to accept the duty to honor their lost family. Kal felt awful knowing that someone else had to go through the same pain he had to. He had let his pain get the better of him, and while he was not on the same stoic level of Batman, he was far less upbeat and cheery than his allies, mostly because of this reason. He was just impressed Dick was able to surpass his far larger demons at a younger age.

Back in the med bay, Zatanna was left with Dick as well as her inner thoughts. Alfred had asked Bruce to leave the room, both so that he may get a moment to help his master through this and to allow Zatanna a moment alone with her comatose boyfriend. Zee was staring at Dick with extremely watery eyes. She was sure that the amount of tears she had shed over the past 24 hours was enough to sustain a small country. She held his hand and was resting her head next to his body, crying into the bed and praying that he would wake up. God, Dick...please...I-I need you...don't leave me. I...I can't live without you.

Within his mind, Dick stared at Not-Bruce, somewhat confused. "Choose what?"

"Oh, did I bury the lede with that? You have to choose between life or death." Dick actually laughed a bit when he heard that, but Not-Bruce did not break his stony expression.

"W-wait...you're serious?"

"Serious as ever."

"Well, what kinda choice even is that? I choose life. Boom, done. Now, lemme out of here!" The man sighed.

"Not that simple. I need you to really dig deep and think. Given everything that has happened to you in the past, do you really want to live?"

"YES!" Not-Bruce once more sighed.

"You're still not getting it. Here, maybe they will have better luck helping you understand." Dick turned around to see who Not-Bruce was referring to, and his eyes widened as he adjusted to the sight. His parents were there, both wearing their old Flying Graysons uniforms, except in bright shades of white. Dick was absolutely speechless. He knew they weren't really his parents, but something about the sight of them just clicked in his mind. He ran up to them and threw his arms around the two.

"Hey, Dick." He knew fully well they were not real, but he still just had to talk to them. They both turned to Not-Bruce and nodded before looking back to Dick.

"Son, come with us."

"Wh-what?" A white door opened behind them, and Dick saw the circus with everyone there. Everyone except Haly. "Wh-where's Uncle Jack?"

"He's not there, not yet. It's not his time."

"B-but it is mine?"

"Well, it is if you want it to be."

"Son, come with us. We can be together again. That's what you've always wanted. We could be a family again." Dick looked to the door, very tempted to say yes. But as he looked on, he couldn't help but wonder. No...I can't do this. I can't just leave Bruce, Al, Wally, Donna, Zee. I...I should stay.

But...I miss them. And I've lost so much. I've saved so many people. Haven't I earned this? Yeah...I've earned this...

This is the easy way. That's not what Bruce taught me. If he was given the choice between his own parents or me, Al, and Diana, he'd stay with us. No question. So...how can I do any less for him?

Dick looked at his parents, slight guilt in his eyes. "I...I can't. I-I wanna stay here. With the team. With my friends. I'm sorry." They looked to one another, clearly confused.

"Why? What do you have that's keeping you here?"

"I..." Images flashed on the monitor, and everyone looked to them. They saw Wally and Dick take the Batmobile on a joyride, Dick and Bruce training in the Batcave, Dick and Alfred spending time in the kitchen, Donna and Dick going on patrol with each other, Dick and Roy teaching each other different tricks, Dick and the team enjoying themselves on game night, and Dick and Zatanna on their first date. Dick smiled at the footage and turned back to his parents.

"...I've got a new family. I...I don't wanna leave them." His parents looked to each other before looking back to him. From behind him, Not-Bruce was grinning at Dick's answer. His parents smiled and nodded.

"We understand."

"Y-you do?"

"Of course. It's not your time, not yet. Go, live your life. Be free."

"Just, be careful. And whatever you do, know that we're waiting for you up here." Dick nodded as his parents disappeared, and he closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath and wiping his tears. I know. I'll be there. Dick turned to Not-Bruce, who was still grinning. He gestured to a new white door that had opened, and Dick walked forward before stepping in to the light.

Next chapter will be the sorta aftermath of all this. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Next chapter up soon.