The first time each of the boys ask to sleep with Bruce.

JASON'S SECTION IS RATED M FOR HINTS OF PAST RAPE.

Chapter 126: Bruce's Bed

Dick

It nearly scares Bruce to death when a tiny human appears out of the darkness only to end up standing beside his bed. The tiny child stands there sniffling as he clutches at his stuffed elephant and looks at Bruce with teary eyes.

Bruce has only been a parent for exactly forty-two hours… And there's a kid… in his room… starring.

The two stare at each other for nearly five minutes before Dick hiccups and softly pleads, "C-can I sleep with you?"

Bruce takes in the stuffed animal, the tears, the red and puffy eyes, and the Superman pajamas… He really needs to remind Alfred to burn those. Filing the thought away, Bruce looks at the nearly eight year old boy and is instantly afraid of how to respond.

"Please, Mister Wayne. I had a bad dream about-" the boy breaks off as a sob comes out.

And Bruce's fear increases. If he could go back and save Dick's parents he would. But, he can't. And now Richard is his responsibility. Besides, what's one night?

Bruce leans over and helps the child into the bed. He leaves as much room between them as possible. Dick clearly has issues with personal space because he is completely pressed up against Bruce's side within seconds. Bruce can't help but to freeze as Dick cries his little heart out in pain over his parents. It takes Bruce a minute before he finally wraps his arms around his charge.

"It's alright, Richard. It's alright… I miss my parents too."

Bruce doesn't even know how much time has passed before Dick finally cries himself to sleep. Quietly, the Dark Knight tucks the child into bed and slips the stuffed animal back into his arms before laying down as far away as possible.

The next morning the Batman wakes up with a tiny hand on his face and a small leg on his chest. Bruce had no clue how Dick ended up sprawled out on top of him. How anyone could sleep like that, not even the World's Greatest Detective knew.

Jason

RATED M.

At first Bruce thinks it's Richard standing there but then he realizes the figure is too thin. Bruce can still see the faint outlines of the bruises fading fast on the nine year old. Taking in Dick's old pajamas that practically swallowed the boy, Bruce frowned. He immediately made a mental not to have Alfred take Jason shopping… again.

He'd only been with them for nearly a week and the angry, hurt kid was already worming his way into the man's heart. If Bruce could take all of Jason's pain and suffering away, he would. But, he can't.

Bruce sat up just as Jason pulled himself into the bed. Bruce's expression softened as he asked, "Are you alright, Jaylad? Did you have a nightmare?"

"Can we just get this over with?"

"What are you-" Bruce began before Jason crawled closer.

The boy immediately reached for his guardian's waistband. Never before had Bruce moved nearly as fast as the Flash to get out of the bed. Seizing Jason's wrists, the Batman commanded, "No!"

Jason instantly recoiled as a small whimper slipped out. The boy practically melted into Bruce's arms as Bruce tried to slow his heartrate. The Batman's heat truly felt for the boy as a couple of tears slipped down his face. He merely gripped Jason tighter too afraid that the kid would run off and disappear completely this time.

Jason whispered, "Go ahead… It's what you want… It's why I'm here. I can't keep waiting for-"

Bruce shook his head rapidly and immediately said, "You're here because I'm adopting you… I want you to be my son. That's it… You never have to do anything like that again and no one will ever hurt you like that again either."

Tears slid down Jason's face as a small knife hit the carpet. Bruce chose to ignore that for a moment before slowly and gently gathered the hysterical boy into his arms.

"It's okay, Jason. I've got you… No one will ever hurt you again."

Bruce sat there on the carpet leaning against the bed holding his son until the wee hours of the morning. By then Jason had passed out against his new guardian's chest.

And the next time the boy climbed into his new father's bed, there was no pocketknife needed for protection.

Tim

The Batman practically dragged himself up the stairs towards his bedroom. Patrol was long and hard. He'd already sent Nightwing and Robin home to bed hours prior as he finished the reports. It'd been an extremely long night.

Batman froze as he came face to a sleeping Timothy outside of his bedroom door. Bruce winced in sympathy at the awkward angle Tim's neck lay against his shoulder. He'd feel that in the morning. Ouch.

Gripping Tim's shoulder, Bruce whispered, "Wake up, Timmy."

Tim jerked back with a gasp as his eyes fluttered open. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you!"

If Bruce could take away every feeling of self-doubt and the way that Tim seemed like he was never good enough, Bruce would. But, he can't. Damn the Drakes.

Bruce gave him a reassuring smile before replying, "It's okay, kiddo. You didn't wake me. What are you doing out of bed?"

"I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. You're not in trouble. I am not angry with you… Did you have a nightmare?"

Tim's face fell in shame. He muttered another apology before Bruce shook his head. Bruce reassured him once again that he had nothing to be sorry for.

"How about you come sleep with me tonight?" Bruce offered.

"I don't want you to-"

Bruce interrupted, "Whenever you have a problem even if it's a bad dream, I want you to come and find me… We're family now. Come on, son," before leading the tiny boy into his bedroom.

It took several nightmares and several words of reassuring before Timothy was finally safe and sound asleep in his new father's arms.

Damian

It had been nearly a year when Bruce found himself facing the dark eyes of his forth son. Damian's cold stare was enough to make any grown man jump. However, having three other boys before, Bruce was not just any man.

"What's wrong, Damian? Bad dreams?"

The tiny assassin puffed out his chest and stated, "Father… It came to my attention that you allowed yourself to be stabbed by a common thief… It appears that your reflexes are slowing in your inclining age. Therefore, you leave me no choice but to watch over you until I feel otherwise."

Bruce let a tiny smile slip. "First of all, it was a tiny cut. Second of all, I am not old. And finally, did you have a nightmare about something happening to me?"

Damian's defiant stance faltered briefly as he blinked a few times before regaining composure. "Nightmares are for the weak."

If he could take away Damian's time being raised by his mother, he would. But, he can't.

"Everyone has them, son. Your brothers do… as do I. it's perfectly alright to talk about them if you want to."

"I am fine, Father… I suppose I should return to my quarters."

Bruce shook his head before patting the space beside him. Damian finally climbed in after a few minutes of coaxing.

"There. Now we can protect each other from knife wielding thugs."

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