After spending the weekend at Clark's, Hailey returned to the manor in Bruce's company car only to find out her dad hadn't yet returned. He would be out of town for a few more days or so Alfred told her. She wished she could've stayed at Clark's but the man was busy with work too. Plus it was her last week of school. That meant zero homework. She would be bored out of her mind. Though she coaxed Alfred to take her into the city. She went to the community center and had dinner with Mrs. Suarez. Alfred retrieved her at a decent hour and brought her back to the manor.
Midweek, Dick surprised her. He was sitting in the living room when she came home from school. But he was sitting quite still looking at something in his hands. Instead of rushing into the room to hug her brother, as per her usual, she quietly walked in and sat beside him. In his hands was a black velvet box. He opened it as she stared at it. Inside were two gold bands. Wedding rings.
"These were my parents," Dick said in a quiet voice. "One of the only things I managed to hold onto after they died. We lived in a trailer that would travel with the circus. When my parents died, the trailer was left behind in Gotham when the circus moved on. It was looted of course. All I had from my previous home was whatever was packed for me by Haly or someone else. It wasn't much. And very few things of theirs.
"My parents were wearing their rings when they died and the rings became part of the evidence. Once Zucco was convicted of murder, I was already living here in the manor with Bruce. He asked for the rings back from the police department and gave them to me. I always thought they should be worn not kept in a box.
"These were the rings Kory and I would wear as husband and wife. But they're going to stay in the box. Because the priest was killed before we had been officially married. And once Kory came out of her coma she decided to break it off with me. I couldn't even argue the point. So she left. Back to Tamaran."
Dick shut the box with a snap and let out a small chuckle that morphed into a caustic laugh. He wiped his face and pocketed the box after a beat.
"You know, I really hate it when Bruce is right."
Hailey looked at him but didn't say anything.
"He said I was rushing the wedding. That I didn't know Kory well enough. And that when push came to shove all she had to do was jump in her spaceship and I'd never see her again.
"I really didn't think she'd do that. I still can't believe she did. I stayed to wait in New York thinking she'd come to her senses and return. I tried to convince myself she was probably just on a mission. But she sent a message to the Titans. She decided Tamaran needed her as their princess more than Earth needed her as a Titan. She's not coming back."
He sat back and closed his eyes. Hailey copied him but took his hand in hers. He squeezed it and they sat like that for a moment. Quietly giving each other company and comfort. Then Dick stood up pulling Hailey up with him.
"You want to know where Alfred keeps all the sweets?" he said with a small smile. Hailey smiled back and nodded. "We have to hurry and raid the stash before he stops us."
Hailey giggled as they rushed into the kitchen. The coast was clear. Dick pulled out as many sweets as he could from the top shelf of the pantry. Hailey rolled her eyes. Adults always used high places to hide things. It wasn't such a secret spot. Dick pulled out a blender, ice cream, and milk. Hailey felt a little excited. She'd heard about Dick's milkshakes from Jason.
"Pick your poison," Dick told her with a smirk.
Hailey looked at the counter. There were so many things to choose from.
"I can't pick. You pick for me," Hailey said not being able to choose on her own.
"Alright. How about cookies and cream?" Dick said and Hailey nodded watching with rapt attention and yelping when the blender turned on. Dick chuckled at her and told her to get a couple of glasses. They had almost finished their shakes when Alfred walked into the kitchen.
"Master Richard," Alfred said in a stern voice. "Do you have a reasonable excuse for ruining this child's dinner?"
"Of course, I do Alfie!" Dick said and smiled softly. "I was making my special shakes to cheer us up."
"I take it to mean you and Ms. Anders—"
"It's over, Alf. She went back to Tamaran," Dick said with a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Alfred said politely. "How about I order in some pizza to make this a proper rally."
Dick chuckled and elbowed Hailey who grinned. "What do you want on yours, short stuff?"
"Pepperoni."
"That's it? Only pepperoni? How about sausage and peppers?" Dick said, wanting Hailey to open up about what she wanted. But she didn't answer, she only tightened her lips and fidgeted. "Okay, no sausage. Alright, Alf. How about a pepperoni for Hailey and my usual for me?"
"Right away, Master Richard," Alfred said and made his way out of the kitchen to make the call to the local pizzeria.
"You haven't said much," Dick said leaning against the counter to look at Hailey. "Is everything okay?"
Hailey nodded. She didn't know how to tell him that she was happy to have him there but that she was sorry about what happened with Kory. And that she missed her dad. And that she wished Jason was still alive especially when she felt extra lonely. And that she wished Clark wouldn't have sent her back home. But then she didn't want that either. Clark was great. But he wasn't her dad. And Mrs. Suarez was probably expecting her for dinner but she didn't want to call her because if she did Dick might leave. She didn't want Dick to leave. And, and, and.
Hailey started to tear up. Dick noticed and hugged her.
"Talk to me, Hailey," Dick said softly.
"Don't leave. Please. Just don't leave again," Hailey said through a thick throat and swallowed hard. "Dad...he's not back. He's probably not coming back."
"No, Hailey. He's just busy with work but he's coming back," Dick said and caressed her back. "It's normal for him to do this. He used to leave on business trips when I was a kid too. But he always came back."
Hailey shook her head as tears spilled from her eyes. She didn't believe him. Everyone kept telling her that Bruce was working but she hadn't seen him or heard his voice since she left for Dick's wedding. He hadn't even called. Why hadn't he called to talk to her? She knew something was very very wrong.
"Come on," Dick said, taking their shakes and heading to the lounge where they could cozy up and watch a movie.
Hailey dozed off half-way through the movie after filling up with pizza. But she semi-woke to Dick arguing with someone. When she heard him say her dad's name, she opened her eyes and focused on his voice. Dick was standing in the hallway. She could see his shadow from the entryway when she looked over.
"She thinks you're not coming back, Bruce," Dick said in a harsh whisper. "Have you even called to talk to her?"
There was no reply. Hailey realized that Dick was on the phone talking to Bruce.
"Busy with what? What could possibly keep you so busy—the Drakes? What about the Drakes?"
Hailey sat up quickly. Oh, no. No, no, not Tim. Please, not Tim. Please.
"My god, Bruce. Does Tim know?"
Hailey let out a soft shuddered breath. But tears were streaming down her eyes. Janet. What if it's Janet? No. No. No.
"Tomorrow?" Dick said and sighed. "I'll let Alfred know."
Dick walked away and Hailey lifted her feet up on the sofa. She hugged her knees and cried softly into them.
Hailey wasn't sure how long it'd been but when Dick came back she was still in the same position. She was staring blankly at the TV. Dick pulled her into his arms and told her everything would be okay. When he told her that Bruce would be back the next day, she uncoiled herself and wrapped her arms around Dick. He rubbed her back and hummed until she released him. He smoothed her hair back and smiled at her.
"All better?"
Hailey nodded. "What happened to the Drakes?"
Dick pressed his lips together. He wasn't too happy that she'd heard his phone call. "Let's wait for Bruce to get back. He'll tell us what happened then."
Hailey nodded but she didn't want to wait. If she waited, she'd end up worrying all night.
"He didn't tell me much," Dick said and she knew that was true. Bruce never said much when he was busy. But Dick knew more than she did. And he wasn't sharing.
"Do you know where Tim is?" Hailey asked as she moved back away from Dick to settle on the sofa.
"No, I haven't seen him since…" Dick said and closed his eyes. "Alfred is calling him now."
"Oh, okay," Hailey said with a small nod.
"I think you went into a sugar coma earlier," Dick told her with a small smile. Probably trying to lighten the mood. And wanting to change the subject. "You missed most of the movie. Want to watch it again or something else?"
"Something else. Not too happy," Hailey said making Dick frown.
"So...not a comedy?" he asked tentatively. Hailey nodded. "Alright, hmm. What about action?" Dick said as he scrolled through a menu of titles until he found one about a robot boxer. He smiled at Hailey and she tried to smile back. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. "I haven't seen this one. And...play."
Neither Alfred nor Dick could coax Hailey to go to her room to sleep. She stayed in the lounge and fell asleep curled up on the sofa. She was awake until very late. When she woke, Dick was sitting on the floor beside her. His head resting was on the sofa cushion as he slept. And he had an arm wrapped around the shoulders of a smaller form. Hailey only saw dark short riffs of hair the rest of the form buried beneath blankets.
Tim. It had to be Tim. She felt her eyes fill with tears. Something had happened to the Drakes. To his parents. Hailey wiped her eyes and was startled by a soft clearing of a throat. When she looked in the direction of the noise, she'd expected to see Alfred. But instead, she saw Bruce. And she jumped off the sofa and rushed at him.
"Dad," Hailey said with a croak. She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. Then he lifted her into his arms and walked into the room fully.
Bruce hadn't said a word. He sat on the sofa with Hailey. Then he addressed Tim who was now awake.
"We have to wait until the commissioner calls," Bruce said in a quiet voice. "I'm so sorry, Tim."
"I understand."
Hailey didn't understand the exchange. She looked up at Bruce who only brushed her hair back and sighed.
"I didn't mean to worry you. I was busy. But I made certain Alfred kept you apprised of my whereabouts," Bruce told her.
Hailey grimaced and looked down. She felt so stupid about worrying about her dad and being happy to see him. She wasn't the one that needed comforting. Not anymore. Her dad was back. But Tim's…
Hailey looked at Tim then at Bruce without saying a word. Bruce tightened his lips but shook his head slightly. It wasn't the time to talk. Hailey nodded and hugged Bruce once more before she moved to sit next to Tim on the floor. She took his hand on hers but he didn't even notice. Dick looked over at her and smiled softly. He kept his arm around Tim's shoulder. It wasn't long after that when Alfred announced Bruce had a call from the Commissioner.
Janet Drake's funeral was a polite affair. Even the press though present kept their distance from family and friends to be respectful of the youngest member of the family. Tim was solemn but politely thanked those who'd come to pay his mother respects. No one asked about Jack since it was widely known that he was in a coma that he may not wake from. Tim was placed under the guardianship of Bruce Wayne. Though no one said it aloud the parallels between Tim and Bruce were clearly seen. No one questioned Bruce's motives for taking the boy in. They only saw one former billionaire orphan taking a soon to be millionaire orphan under his care for support and comfort only he may be able to offer. Tim stayed close to Bruce's side.
Hailey and Dick stayed on the sidelines. Close enough to offer moral support but not hovering over the pair while many came up to Tim to offer condolences. Though someone captured the pair in a pic that was posted in the paper the next day. At the forefront Tim had his head bowed looking despondent while Bruce who had a hand on his shoulder spoke in Tim's behalf; in the background where the picture was more focused, Dick stood with his eyes closed and an arm around Hailey who was silently tearing up. The caption read: The youngest Wayne ignores elitist etiquette to mourn socialite Janet Drake with heartbreaking tears.
Bruce stared at the paper the next morning and groaned. The last thing he needed was the picture of his child in the paper. The Gotham Gazette hadn't even contacted him about it. He knew that the only way they managed to circumvent getting his approval was that they didn't include her full name. He needed to call his lawyer and his publicist about the picture. But he was grateful the focus wasn't on Tim. The boy didn't need any more reminders of what he'd lost.
Bruce clasped his hands together and got lost in his thoughts. His mind was on Jack Drake. For Tim's sake, Bruce hoped that the man came out of his coma. He didn't want Tim to have to lose another parent so soon after burying one.
