Tim felt uncomfortable every time he saw Hailey at school. He would see her before classes started and on his way back to his floor after his lunch hour. She didn't know who he was though. Jason didn't even seem to recognize him. Tim had to learn who everyone was just in case his parents took him to a charity or some other sort of event. Though that rarely happened since his parents were out of town more often than not. After Bruce Wayne adopted a young girl, his mother wouldn't talk about anything but. His father did the obligatory hmms and grunts at the appropriate times. Though he never really paid any attention to what she said about the girl. Tim wasn't interested either. There wasn't a girl on team bat. Other than Batgirl but she was older and had begun her crusade prior to Hailey's arrival at the manor. His interest in her was only due to his wanting to ask her if she was aware that Bruce was Batman. He knew she was smart. So she just had to know. But if Tim asked her and she didn't know, he would be outing the man to her. He told himself to keep his distance. It was for the best.

Then the rumors started. Rumors that didn't reach his grade until after the incident in the cafeteria and subsequent actions in the girl's bathroom. Since it happened prior to Tim's lunch hour, he found out after the fact. Hailey had been long gone by then. Tim felt angry about the entire thing. He couldn't give the rumors credit. Hailey hadn't been responsible for Jason's broken arm and neither was Bruce. Tim had proof that he couldn't show anyone because then he'd be outing Batman and Robin just to save Hailey's reputation. His parents didn't know what to make out of the entire thing. The rumors had reached their ears as well. They asked Tim but all he could do was shrug. Whether or not they were true, how would he possibly know? And he said as much. His mother agreed with him, however. She told Tim not to listen to the rumors that Wayne would sort it all out. Tim nodded in agreement and before he knew it, Bruce Wayne had come through. He made his way to the school and conducted his own investigation with his lawyers and a detective that the school board had agreed to allow within the school grounds. In the end, only one girl was expelled and everyone else involved was either suspended or given detention. After that, no one so much as let out a peep about Hailey. But Tim still couldn't find a way to actually talk to her. His curiosity in knowing if she knew about Bruce's secret had also waned as well.

When his parents insisted that he go with them to a charity event, Tim agreed. Though he didn't have much choice in the matter. But the fact that Hailey would be there was the only reason his mother wanted to go. His father thought it was a waste of time. They could be in Africa instead and it seemed as if he was angry about the fact that he wasn't. Tim was actually happy his parents were home regardless of the reason. Especially since his mother actually took the time to talk to him. Granted it was about Hailey—and it was quite annoying—but he still radiated giddiness due to the attention. But then he actually met Jason Todd. Robin. In the flesh. And it was awesome.

When his mother collapsed with his father nowhere in sight and the place was being overrun by maniacs, Tim didn't know how he kept his cool. His mother was too heavy for him to move under the table and away from the goons with guns. He knew he was short for his age. Had known even before standing in front of Hailey who was two years his junior and happened to be his exact height. It wasn't cute at all. His mother was crazy for saying so. After what Jason had implied, he needed to make sure Janet Drake understood that Hailey was just a kid and that he was too. There shouldn't be any matchmaking or talks of matchmaking like ever! As he thought that, he found his strength and finally managed to pull his mother under the table and under the cover of table cloth just to realize that he hadn't done it alone. Hailey was there. She'd come to help him. Tim thanked her and then looked over his mother. Hailey checked her pulse and seemed overly worried about her well being. Tim remained calm because two kids being frantic with everything going on and his mother passed out would not help. And hey, with Hailey there, in the line of fire so to speak, Batman was sure to come sooner rather than later.

Having Catwoman escort them out of the building and to the ambulance was a godsend. Or perhaps, a batsend? Finally, his father found him when he was getting into the ambulance after his mother. Jack said he would follow behind the ambulance in his own car. Tim simply nodded and held his mother's hand all the way to the hospital. She looked perfectly fine. The paramedics said she had a concussion but that it didn't seem like she had any other injuries. Though they seemed a bit concerned about her being passed out for the amount of time she had been. When the paramedics relayed the information to the doctor at the ER, the doc decided to do some tests just to rule anything out. They had an orderly escort Tim to the waiting room. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there. His time was preoccupied with watching the news to see if they had any word about what happened at the charity. As soon as they said it was just a hoax, Tim couldn't believe it. His mother could've died and it was all because of some stupid hoax? Then more information came in about robots and Tim huffed in annoyance. They probably wouldn't have enough details until the commissioner held a press conference. Right when they announced that the commissioner was going to be on in a few minutes, Hailey showed up to keep him company. Tim wasn't sure what to make of that. But he was grateful and he knew his mother would be very happy to know that Hailey was worried about her. It was why he promised to let her know what the doctors said and then at his mother's prompting called her the next day to do just that.

Tim couldn't get a hold of his parents when he found out about Jason Todd's passing. He wanted to give his condolences, to go to the funeral, but it turned out to be an extremely private gathering. Family and close friends only. The Drake's weren't that close to the Wayne's even though they were neighbors. Though Tim knew that with a phone call from his father to the Wayne residence, he would've been able to attend. He'd never really held any resentment towards his parents when they traveled. He secretly wished they were home more often but he didn't hate them for it. His parents weren't the only ones who absconded at a moment's notice. His were just the only ones that did it so often. But this time around, Tim was angry. He swallowed it down as far as he could. It was all he could do. There was no point in fretting over it at all. Not like things would change any time soon. Tim did manage to send a card and some flowers to Wayne Manor using his father's credit card. And that was when his parents finally returned his call. But they had assumed Tim was sending flowers to Hailey for the entirely wrong reasons and he didn't have the patience for any of that nonsense so for the first time in his life, he hung up on his parents and ignored their subsequent calls. It was only one. But Tim wasn't counting. Not like he had to.

Tim hadn't expected to see Hailey at school so soon after the funeral. It hadn't even been an entire week. And when she seemed so out of touch with reality, Tim wondered why she'd been allowed to attend. It didn't make any sense. He couldn't go up to her and ask though, the school therapist was leading Hailey towards her office. A few weeks later, she was back in school. She didn't look as bad as she had so soon after the funeral. But she still had an air of misery that surrounded her. Tim tried to talk to her but she didn't even notice him. Then she called out to him when he decided to walk away. He was taken by surprise when Hailey embraced him. Tim wasn't used to displays of affection. Yeah, his mother hugged him hello and goodbye every time they left and returned from a trip, but this was different. Hailey was in mourning and he hadn't initiated the hug. He felt bad that he hadn't and worse yet that he had no idea how to console the girl. She asked about his mother and Tim closed himself off. He regretted it later. He hadn't helped Hailey in the least.

According to the news, Batman was not taking Robin's passing with the grace of well, a hero. He'd gone out every night as an avenging demon. He took out his pain on any criminal no matter how grand or petty their crimes. Batman needed a Robin to temper his rage and his pain. Tim knew exactly who to turn to for help. And it wasn't Hailey. Tim had figured out when he had thought back to what Hailey said the night of the chaos at the charity that she had no idea that Bruce was Batman. There was only one other person who could help and that was the former Robin. The problem was that there was no telling where he was. He hadn't been in the paper at all. He was either very good at avoiding the press or he was out of town with the Titans since none of them had been seen recently either.

Before he lost all hope in finding the absentee Dick Grayson, Tim read in the paper that Haly's Circus would be close to the city. He decided to stop by with the hope of running into Dick. He figured that the former acrobat wouldn't pass up a chance to see his former circus family. If it were Tim, he wouldn't either. He made his way to the circus grounds and found exactly who he was looking for. The problem was, he couldn't convince Dick to be Robin again. Not even to partner with Batman as Nightwing. He had no idea what else he could do to convince him. But it seemed like Dick had an idea of his own when he invited him up to the manor to talk to Bruce. Perhaps the fact that Tim had helped him solve a mystery at Haly's was the reason Dick was even giving Tim the time of day. Though Dick said that if it was true that Bruce was so far gone then he needed to hear Tim out. Resigned, Tim decided he would talk to Bruce. At the very least, maybe he could get him to stop engaging in destructive behavior while he was out as Batman.

The Batcave was intense. Dark. Gloomy. Huge. And filled with memories. Good and bad. Dick had led him down there. And Tim paid attention. He remembered the code on the clock. He spoke to Bruce. Who listened. Then dismissed him. But Tim was not one to give up. He kept talking. The more he spoke the wider Dick and Alfred's smiles became. And the more frustrated Bruce was in turn. Then Dick turned to Bruce and said, "You have to train him. He's already got the detective thing down." All Bruce did was grunt after Dick told him how Tim's detective skills had helped at Haly's. Tim was confused. He hadn't gone to them to ask to join their Bat-family. But really, he had no other choice. Especially when Two-face caught both Batman and Nightwing off guard. If Tim didn't go out to help, they'd be goners. Alfred helped him suit up and gave him a ride. "Be careful, Master Timothy," Alfred said. And Tim got to work. With Alfred's help, he saved Batman and Nightwing.

"You need training," Bruce told him in a very serious tone once they were back at the Batcave.

The statement left no room for argument. Alfred readied a room for Tim so that he could get some sleep before coming down for breakfast.

The next morning when Hailey came down to the breakfast table, she didn't look surprised to see Dick or Tim there. She sat down quietly. Didn't even say hello not even after Alfred greeted her. She ignored everyone in the room and ate silently. Dick and Tim spoke to one another though they surreptitiously watched Hailey hoping she'd join in their banter. When she finished eating, she got up and made her way to her room.

"Bruce?" Dick said looking at him with a furrowed brow. "What's going on with Hailey?"

Bruce sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his face. "The man who murdered her father escaped prison last night. I informed her soon after Commissioner Gordon called with the details earlier today."

"Are there any leads? Is there anything we can do?" Dick asked quickly barely stopping himself from standing up and getting to work.

Bruce shook his head. "He's back in custody. His only goal was to kill Hailey's step-mother and then he turned himself in."

"What?" Dick said and furrowed his brow. "Why would he go after her?"

"According to him, Lynn paid him to kill Jasper and he was angry she got away with it. He decided to take matters into his own hands."

"Jesus."

"Is-is Hailey going to be okay?" Tim asked quietly. He felt like he was intruding in someone else's family and therefore it might be impolite to ask, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Bruce shrugged.

"Has she said anything?" Dick asked worriedly.

"Only that Jason was right," Bruce said with a pinched expression.

"About what?"

"She didn't elaborate," Bruce said but he could hazard a guess. Then he got up and left the room.

"I'm going to check up on Hailey and then I need to get back," Dick said to Tim.

"Alright."

"I'll be back for a visit in a week or so to check on your progress. Don't slack off."

"I won't."

Dick smiled and waved as he walked out of the kitchen. Tim waved back then looked over at Alfred who'd come into the room to clear the dishes.

"In an hour, we'll begin your training downstairs," Alfred informed him.

Tim nodded. "I just need to get a change of clothes from home."

"Very well."

Tim left the manor only to walk into an empty house. After having spent time with Dick and Bruce and having had breakfast with them, Tim didn't think the emptiness of his home would hit him so hard. He'd never realized that he was alone. He'd kept himself busy enough. He'd always had nannies until he grew out of them. He couldn't exactly say he missed his parents because they were never around long enough for him to feel that. Though he couldn't shake the feeling of wanting them home. He wanted to be able to sit and have a meal with them whenever he wanted. Having had a meal at the manor with Dick and Bruce and even Hailey no matter how quiet she'd been was nice. It was something he hadn't known he wanted. He wanted his family.

Tim ignored the thoughts, however. Bruce said he needed training. And so he would train. That way he could become Robin and help Batman navigate in the dark without getting lost along the way. And maybe in the process, he could be there for Hailey like she'd been there for him. Tim wanted that. To be friends with her. To be part of her family even though she wasn't aware that Bruce was Batman. Bruce was adamant about Tim not divulging the secret to Hailey. But Tim didn't think he could keep her in the dark about what he was doing at the manor. He figured she'd eventually find out on her own. He was actually quite certain she would.