Summary: Takes place a week after the previous chapter

Disclaimer: I don't own DC

Bruce was waiting for him at the gates of Wayne Manor. He had asked specifically for him to come here first when he had called, and he was more than happy to oblige. Almost 2 months away meant he missed everyone like crazy, and he could really use some of Alfred's cooking right now.

Dick hopped off his bike and walked up to the older man, smiling. "Welcome back."

"Thanks." Bruce pulled him into a hug once he was close enough, and Dick smiled. The Batman didn't often show emotion, but it was the little moments here and there that reassured Dick of their relationship.

"How are you?"

"Better. It feels good to be back here, at home. I…I think my trip paid off."

Once Dick broke off, he turned to Alfred, accepting his hug with just as much joy as Bruce's. "Good to see you, too, Al."

"I missed you, Master Dick. We all did."

"Yeah, I missed you guys, too."

As the trio walked inside, Dick was practically crushed by Diana's embrace, super-strength and all. "Welcome back, my son." He grinned. That would never not sound nice coming out of her mouth.

"Thanks, mom. I brought you something." He dropped his bag and pulled out a back of scented candles, something Diana loved to layer around the Manor. "Saw them when I was returning from Shadowcrest, thought you'd like them." She smiled and accepted the gift.

"Only you could turn a getaway meant to help you into an excuse to go gift shopping for others." He rubbed the back of his neck as she kissed his cheek.

"So, where's everyone else?"

"Well, Tim and Cass are at school. Alfred was just about to leave to pick them up." Dick smiled.

"I'll go with. And Babs?"

Dick was answered promptly as the redhead wheeled into the room, smiling brightly. He ran over to her, getting down on his knees and hugging her tightly. She didn't seem too surprised.

"Took you long enough. I pinged your phone this morning out of curiosity." He snickered.

"Of course you did." Barbara kissed him on the cheek, and he smiled.

"Are you okay?" Dick nodded.

"I'm much better now. That trip…helped. A lot."

"I expect to hear every single detail about it later." He smirked.

"Yes, ma'am." The others smiled as he stood back up to his knees and let go of Barbara's hand.

"Nobody else knows you're back yet. I thought you'd want to tell them yourself." He nodded.

"I'd like to tell them later today, maybe at the new base?" Bruce smiled.

"The new base is the Watchtower."

"Really?"

"Mhm. We felt the team earned it after what all you did in our absence, but Kaldur can give you the rest of the details you missed when you get there." Dick nodded.

Diana smiled at him and ruffled his hair before walking off, and Dick turned to Alfred. "I'll be at the car in a sec, Al." He nodded and left to prepare the limo, and Dick turned back to Bruce, who was about to leave for his office. "Uh, Bruce?" He turned back.

"Yes?"

Dick smiled and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I just…I know I haven't said it as much as I should have, but…thank you. For everything. You took me in and gave me a home when I needed it. A-and more than that…you gave me purpose. If it weren't for Batman, I wouldn't be around right now, and if it weren't for Bruce Wayne…I'd probably not be the person I am today. I owe you my life for that."

Bruce looked surprised, but smiled nonetheless. Dick laughed lightly.

"Look at that, the World's Greatest Detective is surprised." He shook his head and laughed before pulling Dick in for one more hug.

"You know, I wouldn't be who I am without you. Taking you in may have been the best decision I ever made." Bruce tightened the hug and smiled softly. "I love you, son."

Dick didn't expect that. But he couldn't say it was unwanted.

"I love you too, dad."

He smiled as he pulled away, and Dick mock-saluted him before nodding and walking after Alfred to the limo. Bruce turned around and walked to his office, a massive and wildly uncharacteristic grin not leaving his face for even a second.

"Thank you too, Al. I owe you probably more than I owe Bruce." Alfred smiled.

"It has been my honor and privilege to get to watch you grow, Master Dick. You have become a fine young man, and in many ways, I see you as my own son." The old butler slowly backed out of the parking lot of Wayne Manor and drove off to Gotham Academy. "I am sure this will be a welcome surprise for Master Tim and Miss Cassandra." Dick sat back and looked out the window of the limo, smiling brightly.

Today was a good day.

Tim and Cass were walking out of the building side by side, with a blonde girl a few inches taller than Cass alongside them. This, Dick assumed, was Stephanie, Cass's girlfriend. She looked nice enough, and she was actually getting Cass to laugh, which was a rare occurrence. She'd make a fine addition to their weird-as-hell family of bats, Amazonians, and soon-to-include magicians.

Tim stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Dick leaning coolly against the limo's door. He couldn't believe his eyes, and he just stood there like a deer in headlights for a few seconds, much to Dick's amusement. Cass looked at him, puzzled, before tracing his eyes to her older brother and mimicking his surprise.

"Dick?!" The two started to run up to them, leaving a bewildered Stephanie behind, and they both practically tackled him into the car as they hugged him together. He laughed freely as he wrapped his arms around both of them in a group hug.

"I missed you guys."

"When did you get back?"

"Just now, I stopped by the Manor and thought I'd surprise you all." Dick ruffled Tim's hair and smiled to Cass. "Is that your girlfriend?" Her cheeks turned the faintest of pinks as she nodded, and he smiled.

Stephanie walked up to them awkwardly, and Dick extended a hand. "I'm Dick, their older brother." She nodded in recognition and shook his hand.

"R-right. Cass told me a lot about you. I-I'm Stephanie. Stephanie Brown." He smiled, and she turned to Cass. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"'Kay. 'S good to meet you, Dick. Maybe we could get to know each other later?" He smiled.

"Count on it."

Stephanie walked off as Cass got in the limo. Dick brought Tim into a headlock and ruffled his hair once again.

"I missed you, ya runt." He smiled.

"Yeah, me too."

A little over an hour later, and Dick found himself knocking lightly on Paula Crock's apartment. Bruce had told him that she had chosen to stay there as she was recuperating, not wholly to his surprise. He had also been told she was doing much better than anticipated, which was good. She had always been one of the strongest friends he had.

He wasn't that familiar with the elderly woman, but she knew what he meant to her daughter so she was as welcoming as one could be to a stranger. She led Dick to Artemis's room and he thanked her before knocking on the door.

Artemis opened the door with mild annoyance but immediately changed her tone as she saw who it was. "Dick?!" She leapt at him, engulfing him in a hug, and he smiled as he returned it.

"Hey, Arty."

"When did you get back?! A-and why didn't you tell me before leaving?! I was scared out of my mind for you, you dick!"

"I got back a few hours ago, thought I'd check on you before doing anything. Bruce tells me you've been getting better?" She nodded as she pulled away.

"It's been…hard. But yeah. I'm getting there." He smiled.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have help-"

"Don't apologize, please. I know you were just as bad as I was." She looked him over quickly before speaking again. "Are you really back?" They both knew she meant more than just here in Gotham, but he nodded.

"I am. I…figured out some things. I still miss him, but…I've made peace with it now. I think I can move forward." Artemis smiled.

"I'm glad."

A few more minutes passed in her room with them sprawled out on her bed together. Dick got himself caught up with recent events through her, and she got to know a bit more about where he had been. He learned she was planning to move in with Will, Donna, and Lian soon, and he told her she'd be more than welcome to stay at his place in Blüdhaven if she wanted or needed to.

Eventually they both stood up, and Dick picked up his jacket as he prepared to leave.

"I'd love to stay longer, but I need to get ready. Gonna tell the team and League at the Watchtower later today." She nodded.

"I'll be there."

"I know." Dick hugged Artemis one more time before walking away to where he had parked his bike.

When the League had been assembled for a weekly briefing hours later, Zatanna was confused as Bruce took her to the side while everyone else was busy mingling. When he told her he was back, she practically flew off to the memorial room, knowing that's where he'd be. Bruce simply chuckled to himself as she left.

"Young love."

Zatanna saw him there, just as she had suspected, standing in front of Wally's hologram with his suit on, sans mask. What startled her more than anything was that he was smiling. It wasn't a smile of joy, of course, but it was a smile nonetheless. She could see the longing in his eyes, but she could also see something else.

Comfort.

Dick heard her rapidly approaching footsteps and was mid-turn when she tackled him with a hug. He caught her in his arms and cackled as he stepped backwards to stop himself from falling. The Boy Wonder smiled, wrapping one arm around her waist to pull her closer to him while the other went to the back of her head to gently fondle her hair.

Zee wasn't in the slightest bit embarrassed at her outburst. He had been gone for two months, and she had started to worry about him. But with him here now, she could finally put the doubts that he would return to rest in the back of her mind.

"I missed you so fucking much." He smiled, kissing the top of her head just like her father used to.

"I missed you more."

"Not possible." He giggled at her, resting his own head on top of her hair as his smile grew.

She looked up to him, not breaking their position for even a second, and examined his face as he smiled at her.

"Are you okay?" He sighed, nodding at her and turning to the hologram of Wally.

"I'll always miss him, but…yeah. I think I will be."

"You don't have to be."

"I know. But I'm done living in the past." Zatanna smiled. "For the past two years I've been hating myself for one bad event after another, but I'm done with that. It took me a while, but I think I'm finally ready to move on. From all of this."

Zatanna and Dick locked eyes and smiled at each other as she started to get on her toes and inch closer to him. "I'm glad…"

Before their lips could meet, she felt her communicator go off and she groaned. He laughed and smiled at her with an understanding look as she hesitantly broke off and started to walk backwards.

"Call me later?" He nodded, but rubbed the back of his neck as she turned around. He wasn't done just yet.

"W-wait, Zee…there's one more thing." She turned back to him and he took a deep breath, staring directly into her bright blue eyes. "Do you…wanna get dinner, or something w-with me? L-like, tonight, just you…and me…?" He didn't know why he felt so fucking nervous. He took her to dinner all the time as friends, but asking her now felt like he was back in high school all over again. This one was different, and they both knew it. Her smile started to grow as she heard his awkward proposal.

"Dinner as in a date?"

He slowly nodded.

"Uh, y-yeah? I-I mean, I know it's early and all, I just got back, w-we should probably hold it off for later, b-but I kind of really wanted to a-and I was wondering if-" She cut him off promptly by grabbing him by his collar and yanking him down to slam her lips onto his. He stiffened in response, but before he could ease into it, she pulled away.

"Will you please shut the fuck up so I can say yes?"

It took Dick a second to realize what she had just said, but once his brain processed it, he smiled like a 5-year-old on Christmas and pulled her back in to merge his lips with hers. He ran one hand up from her back and into her hair, and she gently moved her hands from the back of his neck to the sides of his face to try and pull him closer into her. They giggled into the kiss, breaking off after nearly a whole minute of tongues clashing. Both ravens gasped for air but smiled nonetheless as they rubbed their noses against each other.

"Took you long enough." He smiled at her.

"Tell me about it."

Dick gently tucked Zatanna's head under his neck and smiled as she kissed his Adam's Apple. He didn't ever want this moment to end. But, like all good things…

Zatanna groaned as her communicator went off yet again, and she pulled it out to silence the alert. "Pick me up at 7?" He smiled and quickly descended his lips onto her own for nothing more than a moment.

"You can bet on it."

Zatanna winked at him and smiled as she walked away. The smile would continue to stay on her face for pretty much the entirety of the meeting.

Dick sighed dreamily as he watched the magician walk off, only being knocked out of his bliss by clapping coming from a nearby tree. He spun around to face the source, blushing furiously as he saw it to be Tigress in full uniform sans mask.

"H-how long have you b-been standing there?" She smirked at him playfully as the redness in his face intensified.

"Long enough to see my heart melt." Dick rubbed the back of his neck as Artemis walked up to him. "I'm happy for you. Both of you."

He smiled sheepishly. "Thanks."

Artemis walked past him and up to the Wally hologram, and Dick placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You know, I made him a promise."

"And what's that?"

"I promised to look out for you, now that he's gone. And I'm going to keep that promise." Artemis turned to face him, and Dick brought her in for a tight hug. "If you ever need anything, no matter what, no matter when, I'll be there. Anywhere, anytime."

Dick closed his eyes and smiled. These were the exact words he had told Zatanna all those years ago after that fateful day with Nabu. He held it up for her, and he swore he would hold it up for Artemis as well.

It's just what he did.

"Thanks, bird brain." Before Dick could come up with a snarky response, he felt his wrist-com go off.

They're ready for you. He smiled at Barbara's message and motioned for Artemis to follow him.

Before Dick could even make it fully through the door he was met with a group hug from his friends. Kaldur, Conner, and M'gann all crushed him in between them while Artemis did her best not to laugh from the sides. Once he broke off, he was met by various high fives or fist bumps from the younger members of the team. Tim, Cass, and Barbara smiled as everyone welcomed him back one at a time. Cassie almost dislocated his shoulder with one of her hugs when it was her turn.

Dick got to meet Kyle, Virgil, and Cissie and finally congratulated Bart on his new role as Kid Flash.

He was officially reinstated as co-leader of the team by Kaldur, and this time he took the mantle with honor rather than disdain.

He got to catch up with M'gann and Conner and congratulate them on getting back together. In a matter of weeks they would probably be going on double dates together. Not to mention Tim and Cassie.

He stayed long enough to make plans to meet up with many of his friends, both as Dick Grayson and as Nightwing. He and the other originals were already planning a road trip, not to mention a collective group vacation with everyone on the team. A sparring match with Kaldur tomorrow afternoon sounded nice. Some training lessons with the younger ones as well, though they were less than turbed by that.

And it wasn't just the team he needed to catch up with. M'gann had told him that Raquel was now pregnant, so of course he would congratulate her on that soon. He also wanted to see Will and Donna, check on how parenting Lian was going, he'd probably do that with Artemis when she was ready to move in. Plus there was Commissioner Yin to deal with. He was already preparing for the massive lecture she'd give him on being absent for two months with minimal notice.

But despite all that, Dick felt something he hadn't felt since that fateful day with Jason, Barbara, and the Joker two years ago.

He felt at peace, ready for what would come next.

And with everything he had to look forward to, he was wholly ready for it.

Feel free to leave comments or suggestions for chapters you wanna see. Next chapter up soon.