As the years passed the unlikely friendship between Dick and Avalon grew. What was once an impossibility became a fact of life. Every time Carmen came to Gotham she brought Avalon. Every time Avalon came to Gotham Dick showed up, whether it be as Robin or as a civilian. Until the day when Avalon arrived on her own, Carmen being busy with a major art theft.

"Christmas came early" Avalon grinned, eyes focused on the gem in the center display case.

"I don't think so, Avalon," Dick grinned stepping from the shadows.

Avalon laughed out loud, "What the HECK are you wearing, Bird Boy?"

"My new costume,"

"Oh, right, you're Nightwing now aren't you?" Avalon smirked, "Still doesn't explain why you look like you belong at the disco,"

"It's my new costume, I'd ask what you think-"

"You'll stop traffic, is the fringe necessary?"

Nightwing crossed his arms in front of his chest defensively, "Why are you here?"

"Mothers Day,"

"That's three months away!"

"And her birthday's coming too,"

"So this is a birthday gift?" he pointed at the gem.

"Nope, that's a diversion, I have what I came for,"

"My company?"

"You wish,"

Avalon was zipping through the open skylight toward the nearly invisible plane that would take her home. Blinking Nightwing realized the gem was in fact, a fake.

Avalon had the real deal.

The Katz Ruby discovered in Japan earlier that year and on special display.

She disabled the security systems! He realized, giving chase. Vaulting across the rooftops he ran after the plane. Only one shot to catch her. Avalon was slipping through his fingers. He had to hurry! He jumped, landing on top of the plane where he tried to pry open the hatch, only for the plane to turn and dump him on the roof of the nearest building. Nightwing wasn't giving up, however, vaulting after the plane once more. He jumped, wind whipping in his face. Avalon opened the hatch causing Nightwing to fall into the seat headfirst.

"Give me the ruby!" he grunted, writhing against the seat belt locking him in his predicament.

"You aren't able to do much," Avalon smirked, keeping her eyes on the sky.

But, he could do something. Avalon was ticklish. Her leggings had shifted during her getaway exposing a small sliver of skin. Sneakily he snaked his arm toward her leg, brushing his finger against it. Coughing to cover up her giggle, Avalon shifted her legs. Still, Nightwing continued his assault on her leg.

"Stop that!"

"What is it?" Nightwing teased.

She humphed, "You'll be passed out soon enough,"

Which is exactly why he needed to get the ruby now! Choosing to ignore the fact he'd been trained to escape far worse than this he continued tickling her.

"Stop it!"

"Give me the ruby!"

"No!"

Avalon spun the plane, flipping it upside down. This is what finally did Nightwing in.

When he came to he was back home, on the floor beside his bed with a note beside him.

I won! ;)

Movie next Friday?

PS. You need a better costume.

-A

Dick face-planted with a groan.

…...

Avalon returned home knowing her mother was out and-hopefully-knew nothing of her little trip or why she'd taken it so suddenly. It would ruin the surprise if she knew. After changing into some comfortable clothes she grabbed her laptop and jumped online to find a message already there.

Why would I go to a movie on Friday after what you did?

Because you and I both know you can't stay mad at me.

Can too!

Not a chance.

What's the matter with my costume?

What ISN'T the matter with it?

:(

Cheer up Bird Boy, Good Night.

Good Night, Avalon.

Before she could log-off, Avalon received another message which read:

One week to go then I'm free.

I'm excited for you, Harley.

I promise I'll stay outta trouble.

I know you will.

You're going to be there, right?

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

…...

Friday:

He knew he should have arrested her. Should have brought her to justice but he just couldn't. No one knew she was responsible, no one knew she existed. The rumors that Carmen had a child were still that, rumors. Besides, Avalon was his friend. Just his friend despite Tim's insistence and when Bruce tried to argue, tried to reason, Dick simply pointed to Damian. His existence alone was enough to shut him up.

Now, he stood outside the movie theater waiting. And waiting and waiting.

"Miss me?"

He found Avalon beside him dressed in a tee-shirt and sweats. Completely normal as if she didn't steal a priceless gem that Monday.

"No,"

She punched him in the arm for that.

"What movie?"

"Just pick one,"

"No horror, no slasher films,"

"That's right,"

They ended up seeing a kids movie Dick forgot the name of as soon as he sat beside Avalon who had a bucket of popcorn and her sketchbook. With her hair swept up beneath a beanie, he could easily see the small cherry-red hearing aids she wore.

"Stop staring at 'em," she warned.

"I forget you wear hearing aids,"

"I'm not having this conversation,"

"Sorry,"

Nice job, Stupid. You upset her!

The other members of the Bat-family saw Avalon as cold with an odd sense of humor but he knew better. He knew she was sensitive under the tough as nails exterior, her need for hearing aids was a sore subject. He turned to her and she turned away, shoveling popcorn into her mouth with one hand and doing rough sketches with the other. Even as the credits rolled she said nothing to him disappearing before he had a chance to apologize. face-palming himself, Dick returned home to find his costume missing. A single note lay where it should've been.

You're welcome.

-A

"AVALON!"

A week later he found a new one in its place.

…...

Why did he have to be here? Why? He disliked these posh, stuffy events where he had to be on his best behavior or he'd risk damaging Bruce's reputation. Worse yet, this one was a masquerade meaning masks. Sure he wore a mask every night but at an event like this wearing, a mask made it difficult to escape the predatory daddy's girls. One after the other he was swept into dances where they were a little to close. An hour into it he had a brief refreshing escape ducking into an empty room next to the dance hall.

But, he wasn't alone. In the dim shadows of the room, he spotted a girl across from him.

"Sorry," he apologized, inching his way to the door.

No problem, she signed.

Wait a minute...

"Avalon?"

Without a response, she glided back into the dance hall. He remained in the shadows, searching the room. It wasn't like Avalon to simply crash an event to see him which meant Carmen was there somewhere, though he didn't see her anywhere. Carmen had to be here if only to taunt Bruce. Wordlessly, Dick wandered into the hall. If he found Avalon he'd find Carmen too. This was easier said than done when one uptight girl after another demanded his attention. That was until his latest 'conversation' was interrupted. Tensing at the hand on his arm, fearing another unpleasant talk he found the girl who was most definitely Avalon. Her hearing aids were nowhere in sight. She could still hear of course but not as well.

Need a hero, Bird boy? She asked

Yes, he replied, Get me out of here,

While on their way out the door, Dick tried to spot Carmen but had no luck. Once they were outside, Avalon put her hearing aids on.

"Why didn't you have them on inside?"

"If I heard one more person complain about not getting the right car for their birthday I would've screamed,"

"So where's your mom?"

"Around,"

"You aren't going to tell me are you?"

"Duh,"

"I'm sorry about what happened at the movies,"

"I forgive you,"

"Funny thing, when I got home something very important was missing, why?"

"Reasons,"

"Which are?"

"Mine,"

"You're going to drive me nuts,"

"I thought I might,"

"Well, at least I get to see you in a dress," indicating the off-shoulder dress.

Avalon punched him, HARD.

"OW," he grunted, rubbing his shoulder, "Your Mom's not going to like that,"

"Eh,"

"Can I at least say you look nice?"

"Thanks,"

"Why black?"

"I flipped a coin,"

"You didn't want to match your mother,"

"Shut up,"

"Wearing boots?"

"The day I don heels pigs will fly-"

"Hell will freeze,"

"I think they're looking for you," she smirked, looking at the window.

"Bruce has it worse," Dick chuckled.

"Still,"

"You wanna run off?"

"Seriously?"

"Just a thought,"

"I'd better get back in there,"

"Me too"

"Heads up, Bruce found your mom-"

"Or, she found him,"

Ten minutes later, the lights went out. Dick simply rolled his eyes while Bruce clenched his jaw. The lengths she went to just for her game were...taxing.

But, it was a part of life.

…...

A few years earlier.

"Hi, Avalon," Robin smiled while Batman ran after Carmen.

"Hi," she beamed.

"Whatcha reading?"

"Cam Janson,"

"Aren't those for second graders?"

"Third I think, I still can't read much," the twelve-year-old sighed, "I don't know very much yet. School's hard,"

"It's okay, we learn at different paces," he assured her, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"But, I have trouble remembering things and sometimes I can't focus! It's hard!"

He grabbed her hand, "I think you need a break, come on,"

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere fun,"

Ice cream was always fun especially when it was enjoyed with a friend.

…...

"Earth to Dick!"

"What?" he asked Tim who was glaring.

"We asked if you knew what Avalon was doing there tonight," Damian asked.

"She came to see me!"

"Why?"

"Because we're friends, Tim,"

"Still don't understand how,"

"Because we just are!" Dick argued.

It was always WHY. Why did Avalon come?

"But she steals,"

"And his mother," Dick pointed to Damian, "Trained him to be an assassin,"

Damian remained quiet as he often did when this argument arose.

"She stole from you,"

"She replaced it," Dick shot back before slapping a hand over his mouth, he hadn't wanted to tell them.

"What?" Tim asked.

"I want to see it," Damian said quietly.

There was no getting out of this one so off to his apartment they went, grumbling to himself, Dick pulled open the drawer where he'd stashed the costume in question. Laying it across his bed so they could see.

"It's better,"

"Shut up,"

"She made it?" Tim asked, examining the costume.

"That's what the note said, she even left the sketch,"

"I think she has a crush on you,"

"Avalon? Not possible,"

"We'll see, Grayson. We'll see,"

…...

Not much, I know but we're still building.