A/N: I had not explained the age of the kids last time. Gaven and Haley are twins, and they are five years old. Dick is 26. Solona 25. And Tim is 15. Dick was 16 when his parents died.

AU story:

Bruce Wayne is a bitter man, hating the world for the death of his wife and parents. Can his old friend Lucius Fox change his heart?

A Bat Christmas Carol

With Great Respect For Charles Dickens

By

Part 2: The Grayson Family

Dick raced home to the poorer areas of Gotham. He entered his house and hugged his wife. His young son and daughter came into the house with a boy of 15 with a crutch, his left leg in a splint, and he was coughing.

"Dick!" Timmy exclaimed. "You're home."

"Hello, little brother," Dick stated. "Where have you three been?"

"We went caroling," answered Gaven, Dick's son. "Everyone stopped when Uncle Timmy started singing in Romani. They even gave us some money."

"We can help with Christmas," Haley, Dick's daughter said.

"Well, I'm glad you are home," Solona stated. "I'm trying to finish some special things for our Christmas dinner tomorrow. Can you go to the Market? I hope I have enough flour."

"Don't worry Lona, tomorrow we will have a feast."

"A feast? How? You don't get paid yet. And tomorrow is Christmas."

"Mr. Wayne paid me early," Dick said. "And I need someone to help me buy our Christmas dinner!"

"Can I come with you?" Tim asked.

"Are you sure, you're up to it?" Dick asked his little brother after hearing him cough.

"Of course," Tim smiled.

"All right."

"Not until you are bundled up," Solona said. "You need some dry mittens."

"He can borrow mine," Gaven stated, handing Tim his mittens from his pocket.

"Why didn't you wear yours?" his mother asked.

"I had to collect the money."

"Let's put that money in a jar," Solona stated. "We'll save it for later."

Everyone knew except Tim that every penny that was left over after expenses was being saved so they could be able to get the needed medicine and the operation that Tim needed, so he could get better. The Clinic was free, but the medicine and the surgery wasn't, and they needed every penny. Even so, his small family was determined to celebrate Christmas despite their woes.

Solona bundled Tim up in a scarf and changed out his mittens. She handed him his crutch just in case he wanted to walk. After Dick had warmed himself up by an old wood stove, he picked up Tim and placed him on one shoulder.

"I'm getting too big to be carried," Tim said.

"As long as that leg is giving you problems, you're never too big to be carried," Dick replied. "We'll find you a wheelchair after Christmas. Let's go to the Christmas Market and see what we can get for our dinner."

"Yah!"

Dick Grayson exited their small home and headed down the street. The Christmas outdoor market had been set up just three streets over from where they lived. There were stalls set up with various goods, sweets of all kinds and breads that were only baked during this time of year. They stopped and paid for a few items that Solona needed regardless whether it was Christmas, potatoes, carrots, and flour. All went into the basket, along with a bag of oats. Honey and sugar were all rare commodities. They did not lack for that since Dick Grayson put a beehive in the small flower garden that Solona had in the back of the house. During the summer and fall, what surplus honey they had, they would sell. Dick moved down the stalls until he reached the man selling poultry.

"What can I do for you. Sir?" the poulterer asked Dick as he stood in front of the stall. "Can I interest you in our prized turkey. It is our last one."

"That's probably beyond our price," Dick said.

"Can I interest you in a goose or large chicken?"

"How about a goose. This is a special time."

The man wrapped the goose and Dick paid for it with their dwindling funds. Dick went to two more booths, paying for three packages that were wrapped in brown paper, each labeled for a boy or a girl. Then Dick and Tim headed home with their packages. Out of the corner of his eye, Dick spotted Mr. Wayne walking through the stalls. He stopped to purchase some hot soup in a portable container. Dick breathed in a wistful sigh.

"I hope Mr. Wayne has a nice Christmas," Tim stated.

"I hope so, too, Tim," Dick replied, but he knew Mr. Wayne may not. "Nothing seems to dampen your spirits."

"The snow might," Tim said. "But I'd like to think that it's pretty seeing everything covered in white."

"You have a good heart, Tim. Let's take everything back for Solona. Tomorrow is Christmas, and we have a celebration to make.

Dick felt the remaining cash in his pocket. 'Not enough,' he thought. 'But we'll add it anyway to the jar.'

It never seemed like enough. He had to keep hopes just like Tim.

Dick kept his thoughts to himself with that regard, but instead he tried to think of his most joyous thought. The fact that he was able to get his little brother back, mattered so much to him. The couple that adopted Tim had died in the Earthquake. Luckily, the money that he received from Mr. Wayne and the fact that he did some entertaining with acrobatic tricks for people after his daily work was done, enabled him to take official custody of his little brother once he was old enough to do so, and had enough money to pay for the adoption fee.

Every day while at the orphanage they had been sent to after their parents died, Dick would speak both Romani and English to Timmy, telling him that one day, they would have a home of their own, that no one would separate them, but someone did. A couple had adopted Tim, but they didn't want Dick. It tore Dick apart and he swore he would get his brother back. He was afraid that Timmy would forget him, but Timmy never did. They found each other, again, and that was the happiest day for the two of them, and it was right on Christmas eve as well. That was the reason he needed a job at such a young age. It didn't matter anymore that working was prohibited to children, he needed the money, and he was used to working by that time. He needed to get the money to be able to bring his baby brother home. It became more official when Dick got married to his childhood sweetheart, and the love of his life. Soon his twins were born, and their little family grew from two to five after that, but this year was different. An accident with a rare running vehicle had broken Tim's left leg. The bone had not healed correctly, and an infection had set in that was causing other complications. With those thoughts starting to intrude on their Christmas Holiday, Dick dismissed all thoughts and concentrated on enjoying his brother's singing.

Once again, Tim started singing in Romani, and Dick realized it was a Christmas Carol. Dick joined his brother in song as they walked home laden with the Christmas dinner and their packages.

Continues with Part 3