Chapter 23

Amusement Mile, Gotham City. January 20th, 2018. 10:39 PM.

Red X and Batman landed lightly on the roof of the factory, quickly dropping into a crouch to avoid detection by the snipers positioned nearby. Upon a quick scan of the area, the pair determined that the ideal point of entry was, unfortunately, a ventilation shaft right next to one of the gunners. Damian quietly stepped across the way to meet up with his father to discuss their plan of entry.

"There's really no reason for this to be too difficult," X whispered, pulling a small shuriken from his belt. "A well-placed tranq star should suffice…"

"Hold on, X," Batman replied, his voice low. "If we take one with a projectile, we run the risk of alerting the other to our position…" he bent back around the small corner around which the two cloaked figures hid. "What if we both made for one, quietly, and tried to take them before they noticed us?"

X shook his head, his eyes squinting through his mask. "Look, watch them for a minute…" The two caped figures peered around their little wall as they observed the snipers before them. They looked particularly nervous… probably their first day on the job. Unfortunately, they seemed to have formed a habit of look over at one another every so often.

"If we try to move on one of them, the other one will see us coming." Red X squatted there behind the wall, trying to come up with some semblance of a plan. "Think you can jam their weapons?"

"Not likely," the older superhero pointed over at one of the snipers – specifically, the sniper's weapon. "Those rifles are completely analog. Aside from the laser-sight, no apparatus with any sort of computer or electronic systems. Trying to use the jammer here would be a waste."

"Alright you two, time's up," a voice chimed in from within Bruce and Damian's minds, and Damian's shadow quickly detached itself from his body, slithering up right between the two gunmen. Slowly, a cloaked figure rose from the shadow, and as the two snipers caught sight of her, she threw her hands up, clenching them into fists as they did so. The two thugs were swallowed up by their own shadows, and vanished before they could get off a single shot, their rifles clattering to the rooftop. Raven turned back to the two men behind her with a half-smile.

"Don't worry, they're safe and sound in a holding cell at the Police Station. They're gonna be just fine," the mage girl said aloud, strolling over to the ventilation shaft.

"Jim, can you confirm?" Batman spoke into his com-link.

"Jesus Christ, Batman! What was that!?" the Commissioner shouted in reply. "A couple of punks just got – got spat out of nowhere into one of our cells!"

"Relax, Jim. Everything's under control. Keep this channel open in case we need backup." Bruce's voice was hushed as he and Damian approached their point of entry. Raven quickly melded back into the shadows and slid across the metallic surface of the shaft into the building.

"I know you don't much care for magic, but…" Red X couldn't help but grin. "Even you have to admit that was impressive."

"It presents a less violent solution to a problem I've been having since day one, and it's much less likely to be detected…" Bruce allowed himself a quick smirk as he followed Damian into the metal shaft. "I think she'll fit in just fine here."

"Topdown to Inquisitor, come in," Jon's voice crackled over the communicator in Batman's cowl. "Inquisitor, do you read me?"

"I read you, Topdown…" Bruce whispered as he and Damian quietly slid down into the building. "Are you and Mjolnir in position?"

"Affirmative," the hybrid's voice replied. "Let us know when you're ready to–"

"Ah, ah, ahhhh!" Bruce grimaced as he heard the Joker's familiar voice sound over the intercom. "No fair bringing the kiddies along, Batboy! Maybe you should tell little, uhh, 'Topdown' to head on home… I'm sure Kansas is lovely this time of year!" Bruce cursed under his breath as the clown's unholy cackling echoed throughout the building.

"Topdown, stay in position. Switch off this frequency, we don't need him listening in," Bruce ordered into the intercom. "And don't panic."

"… Did he just say Kansas?" Superboy stuttered, clearly panicking.

"Yes, I did!" Joker chirped over the intercom again.

"Shut your mouth, you pasty freak," Damian growled into his com, knowing Joker could hear him.

"Why don't you come on down and make me…" The psychotic teased. "… Missster aaal Ghuuuuuuuul?"

Damian clenched his teeth as he searched for a vent, ignoring the madman's howling laughter.

"Focus, son…" Bruce whispered. "Don't let him get to you."

"Oh, somebody'll get to somebody, alright…" Red X hissed through clenched teeth.

"Damian, this is the exact opposite of 'not letting him get to you'," Raven commented in the back of Damian's mind. "Take a deep breath."

Damian did as she suggested, finding his center before finding an air vent nearby. "Thanks, Raven."

"Love you too, D."

Damian let himself smirk a little bit. He couldn't practically hear her smiling in his head.

"Work first, flirt later," Bruce muttered. "We have a job to do, you two."

"Yes, Father," the boy turned back to his father with a grin as he placed his foot on the vent, quickly firing into it with his leg. The vent bent outward with ease, quickly hanging from one screw as it creaked quietly back and forth. The two quickly dropped down into the empty room below, where Raven waited for them, crouched beside the doorway.

"Where exactly are we in the building?" Damian whispered. Bruce pulled up the navigational system on his gauntlet, which marked their location in the factory with a small white dot.

"Looks like we're just outside the main assembly room," the pointy-eared figure replied. "It's bound to be swarming with guards, so going around it is our best bet. We could try climbing back into the ventilation shaft and making our way around, but…"

"I doubt that would play out very well…" Red X added. "Joker has probably already figured out that's how we got in. Any word on the others' status?"

"They're doing fine," Batman assured as he checked in on everyone's location throughout the city. "Starfire, Ivy and Blue Beetle have made contact with the Mayor, and he's under their watch now. Beast Boy, Catwoman and Terra have already located and disarmed several bombs planted in the courthouse, museum and bank, and are searching the city for any others as we speak. And Hood is…"

Damian's head tilted slightly as his father trailed off. "What? Where is he?"

"… he's on his way to Blüdhaven…" Bruce whispered, a horrible realization slowly dawning on him. "… Oh dear God…"

"What's wrong?" Raven asked worriedly. "Why's he going to Blüdhaven?"

"Joker knows who we all are…" Damian answered, mortified as it clicked in his head as well. "That includes Grayson and Barbara… Which means he probably knows about the baby."

The half-demon let out a short gasp. "There's… there's no way he would try to…" her voice began to shake ever so slightly as she spoke. "I've heard stories, but no one would…"

Bruce growled in the back of his throats as he switched off the map. "It wouldn't be the first time…" He turned his attention back to Raven. "Can you find us a path to Joker? One that keeps us off the security cameras?"

"Already have one," Raven replied, her brow furrowed with determination. "Follow me."

Jason practically flew down the road as he raced towards Blüdhaven, pushing his bike to its absolute limit. He knew that, of all the Robins Bruce had brought up, Joker hated Dick the most, because he's never been able to make anything stick with him. No matter what Joker did to him, Dick always bounced right back. Unfortunately, Joker also knew who every single one of the Robins and Batgirls were, and that meant he probably knew about Dick and Barbara getting engaged and moving into their ranch… and somehow, somehow, he probably knew about Tommy. That would be his endgame; that's how Joker planned to break Dick once and for all. He was going to take Dick's child. Despite their differences, Jason loved Dick… there's no way he was about to let that happen. Forget about Bruce's orders; Kane could take care of herself. It's not like she was helpless anyways, she was Batwoman. But Dick was his brother. Tommy was his nephew. He was going to keep them safe, whatever it took.

"Jason," Bruce's voice startled him as it popped over the comlink in his helmet. "Jason, do you read me?"

"Load and clear, old man," Jason shouted over the roar of his engine. "Look, I know you said look out for Kate, but listen…"

"I know, Jason," Bruce stopped him. "Please hurry… you've got to get to them before it's too late. Please."

"Don't worry, Bruce," Jason replied as he zoomed past the city limits. "I'll take care of 'em. Promise."

Raven slid underneath the door into the Main Security Office and into the corner of the room, just as Bruce kicked the door off of its hinges. He and Damian moved into the room slowly, their eyes bearing down on the back of the clown's head as he stood, arms crossed, facing the wall of screens before him.

"Turn around slowly, Joker," Batman growled, his anger radiating off of him in waves. "Look at me."

Joker turned and looked over his shoulder, his ghoulish grin stretching all the way across his face as he turned on his heel. Raven shuddered as she saw the monster's emerald eyes flash just barely as he whirled around to face Batman and Red X, who both stood tall, fists clenched, just inside the room.

"Braaavo, old Batboy, braaaavo!" Joker hissed through his sickening smile, clapping sarcastically as he began pacing before them. "Good on you for staying off the ol' TVs here the whole way up. I wouldn't expect any less from you after all these years we've been doin' this old dance."

"Can it, psychopath," Damian barked, clearly agitated. "We're not here to listen to you talk. Where's the detonator?"

"Oh calm down, Pipsqueak!" the clown waved off Damian's demands nonchalantly as he strode back across the room again. "We'll get to that in a minute. First we talk, like we always do. Besides…" he stopped in the center of the room, casting his gaze over to the corner where Raven hid. "We wouldn't want to lose our composure in front of your girlfriend, eh?"

Damian grit his teeth as the green-haired fiend cackled before them. Raven slowly glided across the floor to Damian's side before emerging from her shadow.

"Joker, this doesn't have to end in violence," the mage girl urged. "Just surrender now, and we won't hurt you. I promise."

Joker cocked an eyebrow as he locked eyes with Raven. "Oh come now, little witchy-poo," he teased, his lips pursing as he leaned forward. "You think I'm scared of old Batsy here putting me in a hospital bed again? Please, he's been doing that since before you were born!"

Raven took a step back, her fingers gently wrapping around Damian's arm. Joker… he couldn't be real. Even without trying to look into his mind, Raven could feel an unspeakable hate toiling beneath his surface. It was unlike anything she'd ever felt from a mortal before… and rarely even among demons.

"But let's get to the chase, shall we? You're not just here to put me away again," the ghoul carried on. "Noooo, you're here because someone pulled a Houdini! Vamoosed! Disappeared without a single trace, and it just so happened to coincide with my coming back, so you put two and two together to figure out that she came to me first…"

The clown snapped his fingers, and all the screens behind him changed to show one image. The three cloaked figures froze, overcome with shock.

"Well here she is, ol' boy!" the clown exclaimed, throwing his hands up like some kind of showman. "The sweet little Killer Queen herself, Miss Harley Quinn!"

On the other end of the video feed, Harley was down on her knees. She was completely naked, save for an apron covering her front, and a handkerchief wrapped tightly around her mouth. From her neck down, Harley's body was covered in fresh cuts, which spelled out the word "HA" over and over in deep red all over her flesh. Raven could see the tears running down her cheeks, and the fear in her eyes. Her hands stayed behind her back, implying that she'd been tied up. Behind her, Batman could just make out the faintest glow of a timer, counting down from five minutes.

"Oopsie!" Joker howled through his laughter. "Looks like poor little Harley got herself into a bit of a pickle! Probably waiting on somebody to go help her get cleaned up right now, I'll bet! Somebody better go check on her, or she might just explode with anticipation!" The clown practically screamed with laughter, until he found himself slammed into the wall to his felt. The monitors dimmed as the whole room went dark, and both Damian and Bruce turned to see Raven moving in towards the Joker. She had nearly doubled in size, and her skin had turned a dark red, her eyes split into four glowing with a menacing red light. Several small horns began to poke up from underneath her cloak, and a mass of black tendrils squirmed out from the cloak's hem.

"Here me now, impudent vermin," the half-demon spoke, her voice distorted as it echoed through the mind of everyone in the room. "Your actions are a shame to your entire race, and I will not allow this to continue."

"Ohhhh, my!" Joker squealed as he stared intently back at the devil-girl. "Looks like someone has a bit of a dark side, don't they!?" He cackled madly before a tendril wrapped itself titghtly around his throat.

"I am Raven, last born of the Dark Lord Trigon the Terrible and rightful heir to his Throne in the innermost Circle of Hell," Raven bellowed, raising a second tendril to Joker's face, slowly inching it towards his open mouth. "And by his blood, I now claim your soul."

Just as the shadowy appendage was about to slither down the clown's throat, Damian threw himself onto Raven's back. "Raven! Listen to me! You have to snap out of it, right now! This isn't you!" He jerked the hood off of the girl's head, and turned her head towards him, looking into her eyes. "You're not your father, Raven! Please, you have to come back to us — come back to me! Please!"

Everything froze for a moment. Even the air around them seemed to halt. Suddenly, Raven's second set of eyes faded away, and the red glow dissipated, leaving her true eyes staring back at Damian. Her tendrils disappeared, her horns retracted back into her skin, and she slowly reduced to her normal size, her skin now back to its pale grey tone. Her knees shaking, Raven fell into Damian's arms, and she sobbed weakly as Joker dropped to the ground.

"I… Damian, I'm so sorry…" the girl's words were shaky and quiet as she cried. "I didn't… I didn't know I could still… I don't know what came over me, I just–"

Damian gently shushed his Raven as he closed his eyes, holding her trembling body to him tightly as he ran his fingers through her hair. "It's alright now, baby… you're okay. You're okay."

"Awwwwww…" the clown cooed behind the two Titans. "That is so sweet. Look at how much they love each other…"

Bruce rocketed forward, his palm crashing into Joker's nose with unparalleled force, knocking his head back into the wall. As the criminal's cranium bounced back, a cut-off yelp sounded as Batman caught Joker's throat in his grip, threatening to crush the clown's windpipe.

"I'm done playing games with you, Joker." Batman's voice was shaking with rage as he spat the words into Joker's face. "Call off the bombs and let Quinn go. NOW."

Joker stared back at Bruce, unable to draw breath. Then, in a blink, a slim black device with a red button on the end slipped out of Joker's sleeve into his hand. The clown flipped the top back, revealing a blue button concealed underneath. He pressed it, and and the countdown behind Quinn went black as the bomb deactivated. Slowly, a grin spread across Joker's face. Batman loosened his grip around the freak's throat, allowing him to draw breath.

"So…" the Joker hissed after a few deep breaths. "Ya gonna finally finish this, Brucie? Or can I pencil you win for another party in a few months? Y'know… after little Tommy's funeral."

Bruce threw the clown to the ground, standing over him menacingly. Damian picked Raven up off her feet, and carried her out of the room as Batman came down on the ghoul, the sound of cracking bones reverberating a short way down the halls outside as the Titans started on their way out.

"Damian…" Raven groaned, clinging weakly to the boy's chest. "Is he about to…"

"Sometimes, I wish he would…" Damian sighed before gently pressing his lips to her forehead. "But no. That's rule number one… We never kill."

Caverns beneath the Batcave. January 20th, 2018. 11:33 PM.

Harley kept her head down, refusing to look back up at the camera. She had let herself look when she heard it turn on and point at her, but then she realized who was looking back. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. Her face was wet with tears, her hands had long since gone numb, and a pool of blood was beginning to form around her legs. She was terrified… but she wasn't going to let him see it.

She was so focused on keeping her head down, she couldn't help but jump when she heard something drop to the cavern floor not too far in front of her. Harley would have cursed had it not been for the gag in her mouth. She just kept hoping it wasn't that snake-lady again…

It definitely wasn't. As a pair of green boots stepped into the light, Harley lifted her head to see Robin disable the camera in front of her.

"Wow…" Carrie muttered under her breath as she looked down at Quinn's body. "That's messed up." Carrie pulled out Batarang and quickly made her way behind Quinn, cutting her hands free. Harley pulled her arms out in front of her, her fingers barely twitching as they slowly returned to their normal color. As the Girl Wonder came back around to untie the handkerchief from around Quinn's face, she tapped the R on her chest and spoke.

"Hey, Alfred…" Carrie spoke clearly as her fingers busied themselves with the knot on the back of Harley's head. "Get the infirmary ready. Quinn's in pretty bad shape."

"Right away, Miss Kelly! Please hurry!" An old man's voice on the other end implored.

Robin eventually pulled the handkerchief free, gently rubbing Quinn's cheeks and removing the gag from her mouth. "Alright, let's get you back to the Batcave," Carrie said quietly as she looked into Quinn's eyes reassuringly. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Sure thing, sweetie…" Harley pulled herself shakily to her feet. "Hurts pretty bad, but I'll manage."

For the next several minutes, the two climbed aimlessly upwards through the caverns. Occasionally, Carrie would look down at a little navigator in her gauntlet. Harley figured it was, in part, to reassure her that the kid knew where they were going. But part of her also suspected that the poor kid actually was lost.

Eventually the two of them came to a large, open chamber. When Quinn looked up, she was shocked to see some kind of metal container held up underneath what looked like a bridge at the top. Carrie put her arm around the injured woman, and fired her grapple gun upwards. After a moment, the two of them shot upwards, and after a moment, they emerged into what looked like some kind of laboratory. Quinn stumbled about on the cold metal floor, and Robin barely caught her as she fell.

"Easy, Quinn…" Carrie hoisted Harley up onto her back and carried her across the chamber. "You've lost a lot of blood. Don't try to move, just let Alfred do his thing…" Robin walked through a white curtain into the small infirmary, and gently set the rogue down on a medical bed. Harley looked up to see Robin looking down at her, and soon she was joined by a kind-looking old man with what looked like an oxygen mask in his hand.

"W… what is that…?" Harley mumbled.

"Anesthesia, Dr. Quinzel," the old man replied calmly. "Don't worry, ma'am. I've been putting people back together after confrontations with the likes of the Joker for almost two decades now. You're in excellent hands."

Quinn nodded slowly as he looked down at her. "Listen…" she started as the old man prepared the anesthetic. "Tell Batman… tell him I wanna be good… tell him I wanna be a good guy from now on… okay?"

"I'll make sure he gets your message," the old man promised as he brought the mask up to Quinn's face. "For right now, let's just focus on keeping you breathing…"

Grayson Ranch, Blüdhaven. January 20th, 2018. 11:53 PM.

Dick shuffled out of the bathroom, tossing his towel into the laundry bin by the door as he looked at his fiancée lying on the bed. She looked up from her tablet and smiled back at him as he crawled under the covers beside her, carefully putting his arms around her. He heard that something was going on in Gotham tonight, and truthfully, part of him felt like he should suit up and rush off to Bruce's aid… but not tonight. This was more important. This beautiful woman beside him, and the little man growing inside her, were the only things he needed to worry about right now.

"Sorry I kept you waitin', hun," Dick sighed as he planted a kiss on Barbara's cheek. "Hair stopped up the shower drain again, had to take care of it."

"Mmhmm…" Barbara blushed slightly as her fiancé settled in beside her. "All your hair, no doubt?"

"You got me," Dick said, gently placing kisses all down Barbara's shoulder. "I bet Tommy's gonna shed juuust like me when he gets older."

Barbara laughed, running a hand through Dick's hair. "Let's hope not!" She whispered. "I swear, if somebody walked in and saw all that, they'd probably ask where we kept our–"

Barbara stopped short as they both heard the sound of tires screeching outside.

"Stay here," Dick said quickly before bolting up and running out to the front door. He opened the door just in time for Red Hood to barrel through the doorway.

"Jason!?" Dick threw his arms up in annoyance. "What are you doing here, man? It's the middle of the night!"

"Dick, listen to me." Jason pulled off his helmet, and Dick paused as he saw the worry in his brother's eyes. "You and Barbara need to get out of the house. Right now."

Nightwing nodded, understanding the urgency in Todd's voice. He rushed back to the bedroom, scooped Barbara up off the bed, and ran back into the hall, nearly bowling Jason over as the younger Robin headed into the bedroom after them.

"Dick, what's happening!?" Barbara asked. "Why is Jason here? Where are we going?"

"Out," Dick grunted as he leapt through the open front door, racking out into the yard. Shortly after, Jason came back out through the door, with something in his hands. Barbara just barely made out what it was as Todd ran out into the backyard.

"What the…" Barbara's eyes opened wide. "Was that a BOMB!?"

A grand flash lit up everything around the two, and the air seemed to crack within their ears. When the light dimmed, the couple looked up to see the air behind their home swallowed up by fire and smoke. Dick fell to his knees, horrified at what he just witnessed. That had almost been his Barbara… that had almost been his Tommy.

After a moment of watching the fire rage, the couple were relieved to see Jason Todd emerge from around the house.

"Dick!" Jason shouted as he stumbled forward, covered in ashes. "Dick, is Barbara okay?! Is the baby okay!?"

"Jason! Thank God!" Dick cried out, holding his fiancé close to him. "We're alright, man! We're all alright!"

Jason stopped for a moment a few feet in front of them, and looked down at the bump in Barbara's belly. He grinned, then pressed a button on his belt. "The, uhh… the fire department should be here in a… in a few minutes…" Jason's flopped over onto the ground, his face buried in the grass.

Dick looked back up at the embers flying up into the sky behind his home. "Man…" he sighed, turning his eyes back to Barbara's as he let out an exasperated laugh. "I just ordered us a swingset for that yard, too."

Grayson Ranch, Blüdhaven. January 25th, 2018. 6:34 AM.

Raven sat on the front porch swing of Dick's humble little house, her knees held tightly to her chest underneath her blanket as she looked out at the Blüdhaven skyline in the haze of dusk. It had been her idea to take some time away from the rest of the team after what happened in Gotham, but it was Damian who suggested staying with Dick and Barbara for a few days. Raven was hesitant to impose herself on the couple, especially considering the huge hole in their backyard, but upon receiving word, they insisted she come by. They had such good hearts… still, Raven tried her best to keep from being a burden during her stay; she barely ate, her showers were cold, and it had been a battle to convince her to sleep in the guest bedroom as opposed to on the couch. And despite the older pair's insistence that she just sit down and relax, Raven kept on her feet, doing what she could to help them around the house. It was the least she could do… after all, she nearly broke rule number one. She had to start making amends.

Raven's train of thought came to a quick halt as he front door creaked quietly open, and Damian stepped out onto the porch. She smiled as they locked eyes; she knew how it probably looked to everyone else, but she was glad the boy had been so adamant about coming with her. If the name of the game truly was emotional healing, there was nobody better to help her in the process than him. He sat down beside her on the swing and put an arm around her as they gently swayed back and forth, and Raven curled up beside him, her head on his shoulder.

"How're you feeling this morning?" Damian asked, his voice soft and gentle as Raven spread her blanket out over him.

"A little better," she sighed as she felt his other hand gently light upon her knee. "It really helps to have you here, y'know. Thank you for coming with me."

"You don't need to thank me," Damian replied, kissing her head. "I just need to know you'll be alright."

"I will…" Raven nestled her head into the crook of Damian's neck. "I hate thinking that the team had to go back home without us, though."

"I'm sure Kori can take care of everything while we're here…" Damian squeezed her against him. "Besides, I don't know if I could stand not seeing your face for so long."

Raven smiled as she lifted her head up and gently kissed Damian's cheek. "Well, it shouldn't be too long before we can get back to the Tower. Promise."

"Hey, take your time," the young Wayne assured her, running his hand up and down her side. "I could get used to a place like this. Maybe one day you and me could get a little house kinda like this one outside of–" Damian was cut off by a quick yelp as Raven hopped up into his lap, her fingers curling up around his shirt tightly.

"Careful!" Raven whispered, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of red. "Watch where you put your hands, I'm ticklish…"

Damian slowly raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk curling on his lips. "Oh reeeally…?" He cooed, his hand slowly rising up over the girl's belly. Her eyes widened.

"Ohhhhh no…"

Before she could jump up and flee, Damian's hands came down, his fingers digging gently into her skin. Raven's body spasmed in response, and she slapped at Damian's chest as she giggled.

"Damian! No, no, no no no! stAHahahp!" Raven pleaded through her laughter as she wriggled, the two of them slowly rising into the air surrounded by her violet glow. "We're gonna wa-hehehey- wake up Dick and Bhaharbara!"

"Ahh, they'll be fine!" Damian grinned as his fingers made their way all over Raven's belly and sides. "You're not gettin' outta this!"

"Stop iiiit! Ahh, nohohooo!" Raven squealed as she curled up, trying vainly to protect her ticklish spots from the boy. The two swirled out over the porch as Damian continued his onslaught, until finally Raven grabbed his face and took his lips with hers, Damian's hands freezing almost immediately. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her as they kissed, Raven's legs slowly coming up around him as the air around them began to sparkle with magic. They continued to twirl through the air as they kept on, and Raven carefully lapped at Damian's lips with her tongue. Damian's mind raced as his face flushed; he hadn't noticed it before, but her lips tasted like… like dewdrops on a spring morning.

"Ohhhhhhhh, Alfred is gonna love this…"

Raven and Damian pulled away from each other immediately, and both turned to see Dick Grayson, still in his pajamas, holding up his phone recording them. Losing her focus, Raven dropped her and Damian unceremoniously back to the porch with a loud THUD, the purple lights vanishing as she turned bright red.

"How long have you been there, Grayson!?" Damian cried, hugging himself bashfully.

"Uhh, I walked out here at about 'watch your hands, I'm ticklish'…" Nightwing winked at his little brother. "So yeah, I got the whole thing."

"Delete that!" Damian leapt up and charged at Grayson, who took off running across the yard.

"Too late! Already sent it to Alfred!" Dick called over his shoulder as he sprinted around the open field. "Now eeeverybody's gonna know your secret: Son of Batman, Tickle Monster!"

"Get back here, Richard!"

Raven stood up and tried to shake the blush away from her cheeks, when she felt a hand light upon her shoulder. She turned to see Barbara Gordon smiling back at her, her other hand resting on her rounded-out abdomen.

"I take it you're feeling a little better this morning?" The red-haired woman said with a smile.

Raven looked back down at her feet, her cheeks reddening yet again. "Y-yeah… you could say that…"

"Hey now, you two are welcome to stay as long as you need…" Barbara's hand shifted onto Raven's back. "And don't be embarrassed by all that. Dick likes to poke fun, it it's normal for you two to start acting so affectionate towards each other. He and I went through the same thing."

Raven smiled back at the Batgirl, and then looked down at her bump for a moment. "Umm… do… do you mind if I try something?" the mage-girl said timidly.

Barbara glanced down at her bump and smiled. "Sure, go ahead. Let me know what you hear."

Raven slowly brought her hand up to the bump, reaching in with her magic and feeling the presence of the child growing inside. As she tuned into Tommy's thoughts, Raven's eyes widened… through his growing mind echoed the sounds of his mother and father speaking to him. Again and again, Dick and Barbara's voices ran through the magical rift and into Raven's head, telling Tommy how much they loved him. Raven's eyes began to well up with tears as she pulled her hand away, wrapping her arms around Barbara's neck.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Barbara asked as she watched Dick and Damian wrestling in the yard over Dick's phone.

"It… it's you, Barbara…" Raven whispered, a smile on her face as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You and Dick, he… he can hear you."