Title Navajo Dreams

Author Kim

Summery What if...Bruce Wayne raise Roy Harper.

Dc owns all charactors

Part5

"Really?...Your Really Batman?" Roy asked wide eyed.

"Yes Roy...really." Bruce replied.

"Like with the cape and the ears ...and the bug eye's and the bat signal...and all the really cool Bat stuff?" the obviously impressed boy asked in an awed voice.

Bruce smiled..the inquisitive boy he had lost for awhile was back...with a vengeance, "Yes with the cape and the rest of what you just said." he said.

"I've read stuff all about you...Wow.." Roy looked at Bruce with huge green eyes.

They reached the bottom of the stairs that led into the Bat cave..Roy looked around...his mouth opened but for a moment no words came...then finding his voice again he said

" Awwwsome..this is the coolest thing that's ever happened to me.'

Bruce smiled to himself...at last he'd found some way of impressing the boy..it was good to hear his excited chatter again.

"I'm glad you like it Roy."he simply said.

"Like it?...Wow..I live with Batman...How cool is that?" Roy replied with barely contained excitement.

"Actually pal..we need to get a few things clear...You live with Bruce Wayne...not Batman ok?...This is Batman's world...up there.." Bruce pointed back up the stairs..is for Bruce Wayne..Batman never goes there..Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?" he asked Roy seriously.

Roy looked serious...Bruce was sharing important stuff with him...He was trusting him with this secret..Roy knew how careful he had to be to never betray that trust, "Yes..secret ID stuff...Don't worry Bruce I won't ever tell...this is our secret." he said with all the seriousness he could muster.

Bruce patted Roy on the shoulder. "I'm glad you understand that, it's a very big secret to keep...but it's a very important one." he said...He felt nervousness creep in...Very few adults new his secret...and now he was placing that secret into the hands of a child? He sighed..praying he had done the right thing.

Roy heard a noise..an odd fluttery noise, coming from further back in the cave..."What was that?" he asked curiously.

"Bats." Bruce stated simply.

Roy's expression dropped, "Bats...like flying black bats?" he asked with distaste.

Bruce smiled and walked towards the platform above which the huge screen of the Bat computer was located.

"Yes, Roy bats."

Roy scrambled to stand behind Bruce, looking towards the direction the sound was coming from nervously. "Do they...Like, you know..Do they fly in here and suck your blood sometimes?" he asked wide eyed."

Bruce resisted the urge to let out a rather un Batman like snort of laughter.."Actually..I don't believe I've had my blood sucked lately, Roy..no." he said.

"So..they don't come in here..not to hunt or...or anything that bats do?" Roy asked still nervous.

This time Bruce did allow himself to chuckle, turning and facing the boy, and reaching out to ruffle his red hair."No..they don't come in here..they prefer to stay in the darker recesses of the cave...And don't worry, human flesh is not on the dinner menu..They eat insects." he added offering a reassuring smile.

Roy took one last glance towards the direction of the bats...Insects..well then that was ok..As long as the bats found plenty of insects to eat and didn't come looking for other things..He'd still be keeping an eye out for any stray bats when ever he was allowed down here though..that was for sure..Glancing up at the huge screen He said with excitement creeping back into his voice again. "Wow...bet you play some awsome games on this thing...Hey..If your Batman then your in the Justice League...I bet you know Green Arrow..."

The next hour was filled with promises to introduce the boy to the Emerald Archer, constant childish chatter, a tour of the cave and it's equipment...and never ending questions.

The end result was one very happy boy, and one Dark Knight with a mild headache...and a smile on his face.

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Batman drove back to the cave from his patrol over Gotham that night, deep in thought. It had been a slow night..only a couple of muggings and a jewel store theft to contend with...Plenty of time to think about the things on his mind...He hoped he had made the correct decision in telling the boy his secret..Alfred had assured him he had done the right thing...Alfred felt that for the boy to truly consider himself part of their odd little family..he needed to understand exactly what Bruce Wayne's situation was..That whilst Bruce sometimes found himself with precious little time to spend with the boy..It was because of his work, not only as Bruce Wayne but as Batman and not because of any ill feelings towards the child.

Ill feelings? Batman thought...How could he harbour ill feelings toward someone who brought such light into his dark world..yes the child was irritating at times...But seeing the boy's curios nature returning to it's original form today..He realized just how important it was to him...For a few weeks when Roy had been fighting his true nature..withdrawing into quietness..the Manor had been a darker place..he had almost forgotten how the child had made him laugh when he first arrived..today he was reminded of how that felt..and it surprised him that he actually enjoyed they boy's constant curios questioning and wide eyed wonderment at new discoveries.

Pulling up in the parking bay of the cave, Batman climbed out of the Batmobile to be greeted by Alfred..even though it was early morning and dawn was fast approaching..Alfred had made sure he was awake to greet him on his return..a tray with a pot of tea and a couple of sandwiches waited for him..Not for breakfast ..that was still a couple of hours away, but just something light for now so he could catch a couple of hours sleep before rising for the day.

"Welcome back Master Bruce...I trust your evening was productive?" Alfred said.

"Slow night actually Alfred...How were things here?" Batman asked as he pulled back his cowel to reveal Bruce Wayne.

"Very good Sir...Master Roy and I were able to discuss at length his..adventures this afternoon..We also discussed the importance of his new found knowledge being kept...within the family..shall we say..He did inform me that you had discussed the importance of keeping such information secret as well...he is a delightful child, Master Bruce..I feel we are quite privileged to have had him come into our lives." Alfred finished, smiling gently as he remembered the discussion he and the boy had.

Bruce felt himself smiling also."Actually I had similar thoughts myself tonight Alfred...However, I still have a long way to go to really understand him...I'm trying Alfred...But he's just so different in his outlook on life than I am...I really hope I can do the right thing for the boy." Bruce finished a serious tone creeping into his voice.

"Master Bruce..." Alfred said gently "You would not be human if you did not have such concerns...Being a parent is fraught with difficulties at times...but it's also a bearer of great joy's...A child needs stability..love..and acceptance...Not just the basics of life, such as food shelter and clothing...We both know you are more than capable of providing the later essentials...But I know that you are more than capable of providing the former items as well...And Today, You have gone a long way in allowing Master Roy see that those are things you are willingly offering him..And I believe he will accept and return those things to you..."

-------------------------------------------------------------------Half an hour later Bruce, who had showered and changed, crept into Roy's room..He stood for a moment watching the boy sleep...The child's still form easily seen in the light of the full moon that shone through the window, normally Alfred would pull the drapes closed at night..but Roy wanted them left open..he liked to watch the stars..it helped him fall to sleep he had said...Smiling at the spread eagled way the child lay, on his back more across the bed than straight, blankets..as usual a crumpled pile on the floor at the bottom of the bed..Bruce reached down to brush a stray lock of red hair back from the boys face, before retreiving and pulling the blankets up over the boys sleeping form..Roy stirred..stretching slightly before opening sleepy eye's.."Bruce?" he asked sleepily.

"Shh go back to sleep..I'm just putting your blankets on you." Bruce said quietly.

"I was dreaming about Arizona...the reservation..the Navajo." Roy murmured a smile playing on his lips.

Bruce sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to place a hand on the child's shoulder..realizing how much the boy must be missing his former home."Summer holidays will be here in a couple of months...we'll take a trip back there...do some camping." he said.

Roy's smile deepened.."Really?..You'd do that for me?"

"Really...and I'm doing that for us...Now back to sleep before Alfred finds out you're awake at this early hour." Bruce said rising...He headed towards the door turning back to look at the still smiling boy who had rolled onto his side and drifted back to sleep...He had the feeling that of all the adventures he'd had as Batman..he was embarking on his greatest adventure ever.. by raising this child.

End of part5