Synopsis: Someone has stolen all the money from the Wayne Foundation Youth Charity Fund. Batman and Red Hood go after the man who did it. While doing research on the thief, Tim is hit by a mysterious beam from an odd weapon sitting on a shelf and is de-aged. Oh boy, what are they going to do with a four-year-old Tim?

Chapter 23: Shopping Trip Goes Wrong

Jason raised downstair to the parlor. He scooped up Tim and raced to the garage before anyone else stopped him. He was looking forward to spending time with Timmy in this new, but temporary form he was in. He could understand how Dick felt, having two kids of his own. He had to admit, as a four-year-old, Timmmy was adorable.

'Of course, most kids are adoroable at that age, but I didn't have much of a childhood, and I didn't have any brothers or sisters to fawn over,' Jason thought. 'Maybe because this is my chance to feel like a big brother, too? Boy, I hate psychology.' Once they were in the garage, Jason picked out an appropriate vehicle to drive, one that was safe.

"Come on, lets get you into the car. Wait, where's that old car seat at?"

"Dick's old car seat?"

"Yes."

"Alfred might know, but don't you have carseats?"

"I do, but Sasha's going to use them later," Jason answered. "She's taking the twins to the zoo later."

Out of habit, thanks to Jason's children, he picked up Tim and went to find Alfred. He left the kitchen a couple of minutes ago.

Tim actually really didn't mind being picked up. He got tired a little more easily in this body despite the energy. "I think Alfred 's taking care of the laundry and then he goes down to the cave to clean."

"Let's check the cave first." Jason went down via Alfred's private elevator and saw that Alfred was indeed cleaning one of the tables down in the cave. "Hey Al, do you know where the old carseat is? I want to take Tim out to get some clothes."

"I believe it was in the attic, but with your children growing quickly, I placed one in the hall closet near the laundry for future use. The carseat that Master Richard used is not up to code, and he only used it for a short time. It is a booster seat, and not a proper carseat."

"Um, why would Dick have a booster seat?" Tim questioned.

"The court required that Master Bruce use a booster seat for Master Richard because he was not tall enough to sit in the front seat when he first came to the Manor."

"I've never heard him talk about it."

"That is because it did not last long, after he became Robin. The carseat, I purchased a new carseat for Master Richard for his daughter Haley."

"Thanks Al. We'll return it when we're done." Jason went back up to the manor and went into the hallway near the laundry room. Jason had to look in two closets until he found one sitting in the closet where Alfred said it was located.. Jason carried the carseat in one hand and Tim in the other. He headed towards the garage. "Hmmm? Which car should we take? Oh, we should take the impala."

Tim didn't want to remind him about the stroller, but Jason remembered after getting the carseat put into the car. Tim was hoping Jason would forget, but he didn't.

Jason put the carseat down and then grabbed one of the strollers that was leaning up against the wall. Jason opened the car door and placed the cradle on the seat and strapped it down as the instructions stated. He then placed the carseat in its cradle and snapped it in place. He made sure Tim was strapped in and got in the driver's seat and started the car.

"Listen to that engine purr," Jason said. The Impala was always his dream car. He smiled and started down the driveway to the highway. The mall he had in mind was not that far from the Manor. It was in Bristle County. Jason turned on the radio and was listening to music. He could see through the rearview mirror that Tim was looking out the window, but

saw the bored expression on Tim's face. He briefly looked down and saw there was a rubix cube sitting on the front seat that hadn't been solved yet. He felt for it as he tried to keep his eyes on the road. He knew Tim probably has solved a bunch of them, but he picked it up and bent my arm behind the front seat to hand it to Tim.

"Cool, I haven't seen one of these for a while," Tim smiled. "Wait a minute, I think this is mine. I wondered where the thing disappeared to. Haven't seen this thing for maybe a couple years."

"Probably the last time the car has been driven," Jason added as Tim's baby face turned serious. Jason couldn't help smiling at Tim's determination. 'He really wants to solve that thing.' The drive to the mall was only fifteen minutes, but it was enough to keep Tim occupied. Once they arrived at the mall, Jason pulled into the parking garage and parked the car. He hopped out and got the stroller out of the trunk then grabbed Tim. He was still working the cube. Jason was careful to grab Tim out of the car so his Rubic's cube wouldn't fall. He placed Tim in the stroller and strapped him in and started into the mall. Jason could hear Tim talking to himself as he continued to solve the puzzle.

"Turn this . . This needs to match up . . Now this . . . The center needs to turn this way then this way, then go like this."

Jason pushed the stroller through the mall. He listened to the women around him coo over Tim. They must be commenting on the fact that a four-year-old is trying to solve a toy meant for someone older. Some even commented on his good looks. Jason smiled widely. 'What can I say? My brother and I are heart stoppers.'

Jason went to the store that held children's clothes. It was located near the center of the mall. Jason noted that it was crowded today.

"Got it!" Tim said, holding up the cube. "You might want to change it up again and see if I can solve it again. Catch".

Jason stopped the stroller and caught the cube. He switched it up quickly and then handed it back to Tim. Jason spied some out fits that he thought Tim would like. They looked less like dorky character clothes, with cartoons and kid's versions of superheroes. There were suits for more formal wear, even a tux. There were punk rock outfits for Jax. 'I want to get a couple of those since we are here," Jason thought as he started to pick out clothes for Tim.

Tim was examining the cube when a woman with another little boy in a stroller that was the same color as Tim's pulled up beside his. Tim noticed the boy looked a little lke him only his eyes were brown, and his hair was more brunette than black.

"Oh, my look at you," the woman said, in a way that sounded like she was talking to a baby. "You must be very smart."

"Um . . Yeah . . ." Tim said shyly. "I'm not supposed to take to strangers."

"And very articulate, too."

Jaon looked back and saw a woman talking to Tim. Tim didn't seem to be in any danger, so he moved down a bit more and went to grab some outfits for Jaxon as well. Jason had gotten Tim a couple of pairs of pants, shorts, shirts and two pairs of colored overalls. He also grabbed a tuxedo and a suit, just in case. His arms were filling up with children's clothing. At least when Tim does return to his normal size, he'll save the clothes for Jason to wear later. Jason gave a private little smirk at the thought that Tim's clothes would be considered hand-me-downs for his kids.

Tim quickly pulled the cube away when the woman's son reached out for it.

"Give me that! I want it!"

"Matthew, that's no way to behave," the woman scolded her son. "Now you wait here while Mommy looks for some clothes. You can watch the TV with your new friend."

'New friend?' Tim questioned. 'Not likely. I'm way too old and it wouldn't be appropriate.' Tim watched as the woman moved out of sight. He was going to say something when her son once again, tried to grab his Rubic's cube.

"I want it!"

'Boy this kid was a brat,' Tim thought. "My brother gave it to me."

"GIVE ME!" Matthew screamed.

Normally, Tim would not have given in, but the kid was starting to cause a scene. "All right. All right. Here." Tim handed the kid the cube and turned to watch the TV. At least he'll have some peace and quiet for a little while.

Jason decided he had enough clothes and went up to the cashier and paid for everything, which came to $325 dollars. Most of them were for Tim and a few for Jax, at least that's what he told himself. "Oh, I forgot one thing."

Jason rushed over to the girl's department and grabbed a few items for Jaylyn. He made sure they had a lot of sparkle. Once he was done, Jason went back to te cashier, placed the girl's clothes on the counter with the rest of the clothes and pulled out his credit card. He paid for the clothes and hung the two bags off the arms of the stroller. He glanced down seeing his brother happily trying to solve his puzzle cube, Jason pushed the stroller and started to head out of the store. "Let's check another store," Jason said as he headed out into the mall.

Matthew didn't hear the voice as he tried to open the strange box. It wouldn't open. He kept turning it, but other sides turned. It wouldn't work. Matthew was getting frustrated. 'I hate this thing. It's not a box at all,' he realized. "I don't like this!" Matthew said angrily and threw the cube on the ground, shattering it into several pieces.

Jason was just entering another store when he heard the cube shatter on the ground. "Tim, why did you break it? You solved it earlier." Jason bent down to picked up the pieces. "That's not like you." At first, Maybe Tim was getting into the part a little more, until the boy spoke.

"You're not, Mommy! I WANT MY MOMMY!"

"What?" Jason looked at the boy in the stroller. 'Shit. That is so not Tim! I must've grabbed the wrong stroller! Damn it.' Jason turned around and headed back to the first store. He tried to ignore the boys screeching.

"I WANT MY MOMMY!"

'I just hope the woman's still in the store."

Continues with Chapter 24: Mistake Identty