Dick woke up with a weight on his chest. He rubbed his eyes with both hands but they still refused to open given the massive headache the acrobat was feeling that morning. He tried to recall for awhile what happened the night before. What did we do on patrol? We? No…I…no..no..no…he would have sat upright immediately the moment he remembered what really transpired but he looked at his chest and that answered the question why it felt a little heavy.

He looked at the huge window on his right side. The sun was warm and serene which reminded him of the sunrise back in his old circus days. His mom would usually tell him that sunrise is a symbol of hope as they look to the majestic show that the morning rays put on for them. He looked back at his chest and a grin suddenly began curving on his face as he stare at his baby mentor, lying on him, face in his chest with a little drool coming out of his tiny lips. Bruce was still sound asleep, holding the collar of Dick's pyjamas and lightly snoring.

The Boy Wonder squeezed his eyes shut. Thankfully, his movement earlier didn't wake B up. Dick then let out a sigh of relief but the peaceful moment did not last long as his alarm went off and Bruce cried because of the loud sound.

"Gosh, no..no..no…er, Bruce…it's okay.." Dick was now able to sit up and started to pat Bruce's back gently. "It's just my alarm clock okay?"

Bruce was somehow silenced by this. "Yeah, it's not harmful" see. Dick used his right arm and held the child as he used his left hand to turn off the clock. "There. All quiet"

"It's too woud" B complained which made Dick laugh a little. He felt sorry for it but come on he's still not used to Bruce having difficulty with letters. Come on, who wouldn't be amused hearing the man who has mastered a lot of languages speaking like that?

"Yeah, I'm sorry it woke you up. It's supposed to wake me up for…" then the door was suddenly opened by Alfred, still in his butler get-up and looking at them.

"Master Richard, I believe you have to hurry up or you're gonna be late for school" his eyes narrowed a little as if making a bat-glare, which he completely is, "again" Dick was about to move his legs and head to the kitchen but as fate had it, his eyes were caught by a frowning Bruce who was still holding his top's collar, now tighter, eyes wide and pleading. Dick immediately got the message and pulled his already forwarded foot next to the other one.

"Well, can you just say I'm sick?" Dick asked Alfred and gave his best puppy eyes. Alfred opened his mouth about to reject Boy Wonder's request since he knew full well that Bruce wouldn't like the teenager to skip school but then again that's the adult Bruce. Baby B here was clear on sending his message how he doesn't want the lad to leave.

"Very well" Alfred cleared his throat "It appears that Master Bruce has made his request clear"

With this, Dick's face lit up and he carried Bruce with just his hands bringing him a little closer to his face with all excitement saying "Hear that B?! Alfred allowed me to stay home today. Yipee" the fourteen year old exclaimed then threw the kid in his hands to the air. Bruce just spread his arms and enjoyed the moment shouting happily as Dick caught him and repeated the throw for three more times.

"Okay, okay…" he said now holding Bruce close to his body again "but we still have a long day" he remarked while tickling the child a little and going to the kitchen for breakfast.

"Hey, Al, what's for breakfast?'

"I made some pancakes for you, Master Richard"

"Yey!" Bruce said excitedly

"I'm afraid they're not for you Master Bruce. These are for you" Alfred put a plate of mashed potato in front of the four-year-old. Bruce put out his tongue while pushing the plate away from him saying "Eeeew"

Dick let out a soft chuckle while Alfred's expression remained blank.

"I want those" the kid demanded pointing at Dick's plate.

"Yes, yes" Dick responded slicing his meal and giving some to the child.

Alfred cleared his throat

"What?" Dick said childishly as Bruce bit the pancake.

"he needs to eat something for his age"

Dick just ignored him.

"I wike pancakes"

"He wikes pancakes" Dick repeated imitating Bruce's giggle but he didn't savor the moment because of one, Alfred's reaction and two, his phone rang in his pocket.

"Apologies, Master Richard, but spoiling the kid is not how things work around here" the butler explained

"Noted with thanks, Al" Richard replied and smiled at the older man. "Not like he hadn't spoiled me once in his life" he then winked at Alfred and answered the call

"Hello?"

"Where the hell are you?"an angry Barbara stated on the other end of the line

"Er, home" Dick replied

"What? You're not coming here?' the redhead gal protested

"I'm kinda sick, Babs"

"You don't sound sick plus we have a quiz on Calculus, remember"

Dick faked his cough and answered "I'm sure we can do something with that"

"Dick" Barbara annoyingly stated. There it is, the iconic way of how she pronounces my name as if it's the most disgusting word in the dictionary…joy. Dick had to admit this tone somehow makes him flinch a little. Babs always uses this when she knows Dick is up to something stupid or weird or both of them.

"What?"

"You better be not making things up"

"I don't, Barbara"

"Bawbawa" Bruce repeated the girl's name

"What was that?' Barbara demanded

"Er, What?"

"I heard a child"

"You know were the only ones here"

"Dick" she repeated that tone again, this time colder. Dick swore he can imagine Barbara's face while saying his name in irritation and how her thoughts are now racing as to what lies he's been making up.

"Bawbawa" he tried to make his voice sound younger. "I'm having the wheezes"

"What?!" Barbara stated louder on the other side of the line knowing that her best friend is lying

"Nothing, I have to go, Babs. Bye" and Dick hang up on the girl.

"Bawbs" Bruce again stated

"Oh, you just activated the volcano, B" Dick commented. "I really need to prepare for the eruption"