Author's Note: Children have a hard time dealing with change sometimes: the change around them, the physical, emotional, and mental changes of growing up, but most of the time parents have an even harder time dealing with the fact that their children are growing up and developing into whole different individuals. I don't see why superhero parents would be any different, in fact, I believe many of the comic books indicate that it's a particular problem for child sidekicks and their mentors, who you'll notice are often the main or only parent figure in their lives.

Growing Up

Batman stood on the roof of one of Gotham City's highest buildings, watching his young partner fly through the air on grappling hooks. In the few years since Dick Grayson came to live with Bruce Wayne, Robin had become more than just a world class acrobat, but one of the best fighters in the world. At just thirteen, he was fully prepared to work side by side with the world's greatest detective in his crusade against crime. He no longer need to be constantly watched and guided in a fight, but was now a great asset in difficult situations. And as much as Batman failed to admit it to anyone, his presence in all areas of his life made both Batman and Bruce's lives a happier and more fulfilling existence.

The Batman sprung from his perch and sailed after his young ward. It was time to find some more criminals. The wait wasn't long, only a few streets over the sounds of a fight rang out of a side alley. Batman landed on a warehouse one side while Robin perched on the building on the other side, preparing for the attack. Batman's lip curled, 'drug dealers.' They were trying to get money out of a young junky by beating up a younger boy, probably his brother. Two young thugs held down the older boy, two were hitting you smaller one, and a fifth, obviously the leader, was taunting the junkie that this was the sort of lesson he needed about paying up.

As Batman jumped, spreading out his cape in anticipation of the landing next to the two thugs on top of the young boy, Robin was already landing on the ringleader and sending Batarangs towards the two restraining the older boy, who was struggling to come to his brother's aid.

"You think dealing crack and beating up little kids is fun? Why don't you combine the two and let me take a crack at you!"

As Batman subdued the two holding the boy, Robin flipped backwards gaining height and landing on the railing of the warehouse entrance behind him. Gloved hands had reached for his belt before his feet had even landed, and now launched projectiles at the rising ringleader and the thug still standing next to the junkie. The first collapsed as he was quickly bound by the nets springing from the small package that landed at his chest, while the second promptly lost unconsciousness from the blow to the head from the small metal object expertly aimed.

When Batman looked up from tightening and double-checking restraints on all five drug dealers, Robin was crouching next to the young boy talking softly to him and giving directions to the free clinic to the older brother. As Batman stalked over to the little group, the older boy looked apprehensive, while the child's face was all awe.

"You get your act together and take care of that kid, you understand me?"

A stern glare from the Bat was more than enough to make the poor teen vow to never touch a needle again. Visibly trying to pull himself together, he managed to stutter out "Yess…yes sir…"

And with that the legendary vigilante was gone. Leaving Robin to offer a quick "good luck" and take off into the sky after his mentor.

It was nearly one in the morning when the crime fighters returned from their task to the Batcave. This was hardly late at all for Bruce's usual schedule, but on school nights when Robin was permitted to join him, it was best to return before it was very late, or face the wrath of Alfred. Bruce was at the computer crays, looking into the archives and news sources for news of any new problems, while his ward happily chatted about everything and anything that entered his mind, as he changed out of his uniform and into pajamas.

"…and we've got another parent-teacher meting next Friday. It's at six thirty. You're going to show up this time, right? Unless something really major comes up?"

Bruce roused himself out of his musings to answer. "I'll do my best, chum."

"Okay. It shouldn't be anything big. I'm doing really well grade-wise, and you already knew about the joke a couple weeks ago even before they sent the note home. I really didn't think they'd make such a big deal about it. I wasn't trying to be a problem."

"And the geography quiz today?"

"How'd you know about that already?"

"I know everything. Besides, Alfred told me this afternoon. What happened?"

"I just didn't do as well as usual, no big deal."

"It is a big deal if your grades start slipping. You know our agreement about weeknight patrols."

"I got a B-, not a D or something!"

"On a test you should have been able to sail through perfectly if you'd studied properly."

"I did study, just not as much as I wanted to. First there was the big fight with the Titans this weekend and then the thing with Two Face… And I still got a B+. The quiz wasn't even worth very much. I'll more than make up for it on extra credit."

"That is not the point. The point is that your school and training are starting to suffer because of your activities with the Titans. Perhaps you should skip the Titans this weekend and focus on studying."

"Come on, Bruce! The Titans are counting on me!"

"School and training come first."

"I have all my homework done for the entire week, I've been doing really well at my martial arts exercises, and even you said my acrobatics are in top form."

"Then this is a good time to work on your computer skills and tracking."

"I'll work on the computers after school tomorrow and tracking when we go out next."

"If you can't focus responsibly on your training, you shouldn't be facing danger with children even less fully prepared to deal with it."

"I have a responsibility to Wondergirl, Speedy, Kid Flash, and Aqualad! To help them face danger fully prepared not just demand it of them. We aren't even planning going to go out tomorrow unless something unexpected comes up, just train."

"We will discuss this tomorrow. You need to get some sleep; you have school tomorrow, and I need to take a final patrol. "

"Yes, sir."

Jaw clenched and shoulders stiff, Dick marched up the stairs.

"Remember to brush your teeth and wash your face before turning in, young man." the butler called up behind him.

Bruce shook his head. 'Teenagers! Why did the boy have to start turning into a teenager? This parenting gig was hard enough when they were small and obedient and practically considered your word law.'

"Perhaps before you leave, sir, we could have a word." While Alfred's manner was all casual difference, Bruce knew better than to ignore it. Being on the other side of the parenting equation didn't seem to get easier over time either…

"Yes, Alfred?"

"Have you considered, sir, that you are being rather hard on the boy?"

"He needs to be completely serious and responsible when it comes to his training. One mistake and we'll be sitting at his hospital bed, or worse."

"I am aware of this Master Bruce. I am also aware that a young child, even one as mature and advanced for his age as Master Dick, needs to have a balance of fun in his life. That is why I have insisted that you treat him as a child when he is not involved in your training regime."

"He can get that sort of thing from his friends at school, it's much too dangerous for him relax while with the Titans. Either they should peruse an off time friendship, or to function as a team, the melding of both could be disastrous, and I WILL NOT see him harmed because of his association with them."

"I understand your concern for his safety, but perhaps the greater error lies in letting your fear for him outweigh what is best for him. Master Dick has been placed in a difficult position because of his involvement in your night job. He is both child and adult, forced to live in two worlds but belong to neither. As I understand it, The Titans help bridge the gap between his two worlds."

"Alfred, I just don't understand why he can't get that sort of social encouragement from normal children, who won't be a danger to him."

"Master Dick is not a normal child. He was not one before his parents were killed, and he certainly hasn't been since he set upon jumping off rooftops in tights. Between the parts of him he must keep hidden from his peers to protect his other identity, and the difference in experience and maturity, he is simply unable to relate fully to children his own age. The Teen Titans share a significant part of his life experiences, enabling him to create attachments to them in ways he can not with other children."

"I'll think about it, Alfred, but there are simply too many unstable factors involved in this whole endeavor to know what is best for the children, and that's what worries me."

Alfred paused until Batman was opening the door to the Batmobile before making his final comment.

"Master Bruce, It would do well to remember that despite the difficult time of life Master Dick has entered in he continues to be a far better behaved young man than the average teenager, allowing a bit more independence and a few relaxations in behavior will not change that. After all, all young men seem to go through an experience of finding themselves. I seem to remember one such fourteen-year-old dragging me off to London to learn lock-picking and boxing…among other less savory skills"

"I remember, Alfred."

The early morning patrol of Gotham City was unusually silent, only adding to the Dark Knight's frustration. And then, when the monotony and gloom of worry and self-doubt was broken, the circumstances only served to increase the warring of his mind and emotions. The crisis was an all-night corner grocery store in a rough part of town. It was owned by a large Chinese family, who lived in the apartment above it. Several gang members had walked in, robbed the cash register, shot the college age son at the register and tried to break into the family's apartment. Having heard the gun shots, the frightened parents attempted to protect the children, the father holding a gun. This likely would have ended with more of the family shot had Batman not burst through a window at that moment.

The haunting part of the whole experience was the expression of abject guilt and sorrow father's face. The same questions flooding the through the great detective's mind, were mirrored across the small oriental man's face. "Was he responsible for this, leaving his family to live in such a dangerous area? If he'd allowed his oldest child to live a normal dorm life, rather than help the family, would the boy lie bleeding on the floor now? Was there even anything that one could really do to protect one's children in this dismal world?"

Even more disturbing was the bleeding twenty-year-old's reaction to his parent's worry, as the dark knight stabilized the bleeding before the paramedics arrived. The barely five foot five, young man kept repeating "I'm sorry, Father. I failed you, I failed the family. I should have protected us better…I should have… I'm sorry." No amount of reassuring would calm him. Batman was haunted by his face the entire ride home, but the boy truly consuming his mind, was peacefully sleeping above him as he striped his costume off and drank the tea Alfred had prepared for him. Walking up the stairs to the nursery was tiring task after the full and active day Bruce had just finished, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep without assuring himself that the boy was safely nestled in bed.

How he hated arguing with Dick. When he disagreed with Alfred or Leslie he could walk off and do things his way and still know that they'd be there when he came back, but with Dick…With Dick there was the constant worry that something had happened to him, that the boy had been hurt or injured because he'd decided to blow off Bruce's orders. What a beautiful face to cause so much chaos in his mind, and his heart. Dark curls framed the peaceful face of a child, so unlike the expression he saw on this face more and more frequently, the grim determination of a boy attempting to be an adult. Yes, this child was his to guard and his to protect, but he was also his to care for.

Bruce moved towards the desk, cluttered in homework, school books, and an odd object or too, and reached for the note pad.

-Saturday Schedule:

9:00-3:00 Teen Titans

4:00-6:00 Training downstairs

6:00-7:00 Dinner

7:00-7:30 Go over homework with Bruce

8:00-2:00 Patrol

P.S. Don't forget to watch the time, it worries Alfred when you're late -B

And finally, as the clock struck five, Bruce Wayne headed to bed.

'Fly hard, my little Robin, fly far, but I'll always do my best to catch you if you falter.'

The End