Epilogue:

Terry sat at the computer; his eyes were on a police report, but his mind was on something else. He didn't even notice Bruce come up behind him.

"Busy?"

"Huh?" Terry snapped back into reality. "Oh, sorry Wayne, I was just browsing."

"Really." Terry didn't reply. "What's wrong Terry?"

"Nothing's 'wrong'" he moaned at Bruce, perhaps sounding a bit more angry than he had meant to towards the old man.

"I know you aren't entirely happy with Matt being Robin," he said, pushing aside the harshness in Terry's voice. Terry sighed. Was there ever a point in trying to hide something from Wayne?

"Its just- that- I just don't want to see him get hurt, Bruce" sighed Terry.

"I understand that Terry, and I've been there, more times than I would ever like to think, just like Alfred and anyone else who has ever been involved with all of this." He brought his gaze around to meet Terry, who was listening intensely, even if he didn't show it. "But I understand that Matt is your brother. That is one thing where I don't know what it feels like; I never had a brother to take care of. But you have to understand that Matt feels the same about you, every time you are out there, every time you come back bruised up or with blood on your suit. He gets scared for you, more than you might realise."

"He's a good Robin, Bruce" he said finally, "But I cant, I can't let him do this anymore." Bruce looked at him knowingly, and Terry returned the same look. "But I know that I can't force him to quit."

The events of the night only a few days ago had affected both brothers deeply. Bruce knew that Terry was afraid to let Matt continue to be his partner. Matt meant more to Terry than anything, and Bruce could only guess at what it took for him to watch Robin being threatened like that. Watching the video link on the night, a sickening feeling rose up in Bruce when Terry surrendered himself to Gear and his friend (who they later found out was called Mwng), hoping that avoiding a struggle would mean no harm came to the boy.

"You'll figure it out" He said, putting a hand on Terry's shoulder, this one has to be up to you, I can't tell you what to do."

"I know, Bruce, and thanks."

Alone again in the cave, Terry looked down on the Robin costume in the case, and at his own reflection staring up at him from the glass. Matt would understand, Terry was his big brother; he knew what was best for him. His eyes wandered to the two Bat suits on display in the other cases, one of his… and one of Bruce's. If Bruce ever told Terry that he wasn't allowed to continue being Batman, he didn't know what he would feel. Of course he would want to respect the old mans wishes, but he would feel betrayed and angry at being told he wouldn't be allowed to be Batman anymore, this, all of this, meant too much to him, and he would fight for the right to do what he thought he had to. Tim Drake had been stopped from Being Robin, now he and Bruce barely talk after years of silence. Barbara seems to have a vendetta against Batman and anyone associated with him, Dick Grayson, Hell, he didn't even know what had happened between Dick and Bruce, and it sent a cold shiver though him to think that that could ever happen between him and Bruce, or worse, him and Matt. Bruce had said that he would figure out what to do, and Terry trusted that.

Terry had said they needed to talk. That didn't sound good. He poked his head around the entrance to the living room, and seeing both Terry and Bruce already there, stepped in. Bruce gave Matt a friendly smile, no doubt to counteract the stern worry in the face of Terry. Matt went over to the two, patting Ace on the head as he passed and sitting on the red sofa at the centre of the huge room, the dog following closely behind and sat next to him, patting his tail on the cushions.

"Matt" said Terry; finally, "we need to talk."

"Well I guessed that," said Matt, pointing out the obvious. "But there's something I want to say too."

"Ok, what's that?"

"You first, you called me." Terry couldn't put it off any more, as much as he wanted too.

"I don't want you being Robin anymore, Matt." There wasn't any point in tiptoeing around it. The two brothers looked at each other for a moment, for the first time since their mother had died, neither could read what the other was thinking. Terry was the first to break the gaze. "I don't want you to hate me, Matt, you are a great Robin, and you do some great things sometimes, and I do notice, even if you think I don't. But I cant let you get hurt, Matt. I can't do it."

"Terry, you've been doing this for years, and I've known for a long time, who you are and what you do, and why you do it. I knew long before you let me know." Terry and Bruce knew where this was going, but neither interrupted, save Terry kneeling down in front of his brother on the sofa so that he was no longer towering over him. "I'd see a story on the news about Batman and I would freeze until I knew that you were alright. When mom was on the phone to Wayne looking for you, I was looking out the window for you to fly past. I wouldn't go to sleep until I heard you come through the door or fall through your window. At least then I knew you were aright, even if mom was going to kill you in the morning", both brothers smiled for a moment.

"I know that it's hard for you to see me get my butt kicked all the time," said Terry. "And I hate myself for doing it to you."

"Then don't make me quit, Terr! At least this way I can be there if you need any help. I hate that you would be out there on your own otherwise, even if I do get in the way sometimes-"
"-you don't get in my way, Matt" said Terry, that was the last thing he wanted his brother to think. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Terry saw Matt again looking at the bandages on his arms.

"That was my fault" he frowned.

"I messed up Matt, it wasn't your fault, I messed up, not you, its just, I get so worried about you that I forget what I should be doing." Matt looked at the bandages still covering Terry's arms. Matt still felt that it was because of him. Because Terry was protecting Matt, he very nearly had both of his arms broken.

"Listen to me Matt." There was something in his voice that made a deep feeling of respect for his brother swell up inside the young boy. "If it will stop you from being put in danger like that again, then I'll stop being Batman."

That hadn't been what Bruce had expected to hear, and emotions played in his eyes that even he wasn't aware of. But he said nothing.

"You can't do that, Terr, you know you can't!"

"If it will mean you are safe, then I can. And I will." His words were final. They had to have been for even Bruce to remain silent, and almost forgotten behind Terry. Moments of silence felt like years, save the sound of Ace still occasionally beating his tail on the sofa beside Matt.

"Then I'll stop being Robin," said Matt. "On condition that-" Bruce closed his eyes. He was relieved, but at the same time part of him was devastated that Batman would be out of his life. "-On condition that you don't stop being Batman." Bruce's eyes shot open, and Terry looked in confusion at his brother.

"I won't do this to you anymore Matt" he said, turning his head away. "You need your brother, not Batman" he scoffed. "I know what it does to you, and I know what it does to Bruce." Matt's eyes rolled away from his brother and Met with Bruce's, who for the first time spoke to him as they had always done to Terry.

"Me and Bruce can handle it, right Mr. Wayne?"

"Right" smiled Bruce. Terry looked at his brother for a moment again.

"You really are amazing, Matt" he said, not fully intending for the words to come out, but deep down, glad that they did.

"I know" smiled Matt. There was another moment of silence.

"Well, look at the time," said Bruce, finally. "Terry, suit up. I've got a few things to show Matt in the cave."

"About what you said earlier" said Bruce, turning to him as he walked towards the computer in his suit and pulling on the cowl.

"Bruce, I'm sorry, but if it came to it then I-"
"-Would quit." Terry didn't like the word 'quit', but he could understand why Bruce would think that. "Tell me though," said Bruce, "Would it really have been for Matt?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't see it as an opportunity to quit? As an opportunity to get your life back? To be free of all this responsibility?" Bruce didn't want to think it, but maybe Terry had used Matt as an excuse to leave this life behind. Bruce turned in his chair as Matt came down the steps to the cave, then he looked at Terry, who only gave an answer as he turned to leave.

"Never."