Disclaimer: wow. Fifteen chapters worth of story and I'm still doing these things. I don't own what DC people created.

Like I've said before, I don't really have much information on Wonder Woman, hence why I rarely have her in my stories except as a background character. Never seen her interact with Dick one on one, or anyone outside of the big three truth be told. Wonder Girl/Cassie is in more of the things I own than she is. So I have to say, this is really OOC. Think of her as someone else entirely because I just needed a sitter he didn't get a long with very well and Diana needed a turn. Sorry for any offence to WW fans, i really don't understand her character.

Anywho, this part of the story kinda reminds me of Identity Crisis. Actually own that one. You really have to wonder what the family members of the superhero community go through every time their loved ones go out and fight. Enjoy!

Without Me

Ch. 15 – League Family

Robin was right. Having Wonder Woman as a sitter sucked. It took him nearly half an hour to convince her to let him keep his sunglasses on. It took another forty minutes to get her to believe he had a small appetite and the rest of the two hours before the Zataras arrived to get her to stop hounding him into wearing a Batman shirt. The last one was a lost cause. Needless to say, he was ready to read one of those classics all day if it meant getting away from the ultra feminist.

Being alone with her was always frustrating. So long as there was someone else in the room, she was good, fun even. But alone? Robin cringed at the thought. How did Bruce do it?

He nearly ran to the Zeta-tubes when he heard them activate. He hugged Zatanna eagerly, surprising her. "Thank heavens! A normal girl! Quick! Hide me before she makes me sing Coom-by-ya!"

"Nice to see you too Robin." Zee almost gaped and laughed at him as he swung behind her to hide. Her dad blinked in surprise, but all was explained as soon as Wonder Woman came in. In one hand was her lasso and the other an Amazonian scroll. Apparently she wished to educate him instead of just watch out for him.

"Zatara. You're early." Diana smiled pleasantly, oblivious to how stories of her excessive preaching had reached each male member of the League.

"Not early enough," Robin muttered just loud enough for the magicians to hear. He was still using them as a buffer.

"Zatanna wanted to come early to meet you Wonder Woman." He looked to his daughter who seemed conflicted between getting to know the second Big Three member she's seen and protecting the cute cowering Robin behind her.

The Amazon chose for her. She stepped forward, offering a warm hand to the young lady. "Greetings little sister. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"P…Pleasure's all mine Wonder Woman." The girl eagerly took her hand and shook it, completely forgetting about the boy behind her. Robin noticed this and dashed out from behind her to Zatara, keeping low to the ground.

"Call me Diana." The Amazon looked over to Robin now hiding behind the man, raising an eyebrow. "Robin, why are you running away from me?"

The boy stayed behind Zatara, a strained intensity in his face. "I ate my breakfast and wore the stupid shirt. Please! Just let me do my things!"

She gave him a shrewd glare in response. "You're just a child. You need to be educated."

"I've got plenty of books in my room and I've skipped two grades. I live in man's world, so just let me learn man's ways."

"But Man's—"

Zatara came to his rescue. "Princess Diana," – his daughter gaped at the word 'princess' – "I need Robin with me to perform the spells I found last night. I'll watch him for now. How about you enlighten my daughter to your people's beliefs?"

If the magician hadn't brought up Diana's favorite subject and the idea of telling a girl about it, she probably would have said no. Instead she nodded gracefully. "If you think it's wise. Just tell me when you're finished. I have much to discuss with this young boy."

Robin screwed up his face for a retort on his age, but said nothing. He was a teenager for pity's sake! Sure he looked like a sixth grader from time to time, but he was supposed to be in jr. high if he were normal. 'Young boy' was pushing the age boundary a little too far.

Still, Diana took Zatanna with her to the common room to talk, leaving the two males in the main hall. "Thanks," Robin breathed, coming out from behind Zatara.

"You're welcome." The magician looked up and down Robin, raising an eyebrow. Robin felt his ears burn. Diana had gotten her hands on a comb and earlier was forcing his hair into Bruce's usual hair style. Sure he copied it for school, but as Robin he left it down. Too much work trying to keep it nice and neat all the time. Tried it once. Way too much hair gel required. Quickly the boy messed his wet hair up, styling it his way with his fingers. "Trying morning?"

"You have no idea." Robin took off his sunglasses for a moment to rub his eyes. Diana even dragged him out of bed. Didn't help he kept having nightmares all that night and waking up. This lady really didn't know how to deal with kids.

The man nodded. He gave a heavy sigh and made a simple hand gesture. A book appeared in his hands seconds after. "When we're done, I'd advise hiding in your room doing that self assigned school work Manhunter told me about. This will only take an hour at most. I plan on doing research the rest of the day and see if the League has anything useful."

The boy nodded. "Okay, what do you want me to do?"

A few hours later there was knocking on Robin's door. Dick was half way through some history questions when he heard it and a feeling of dread filled him. Was it Diana? Please no. Fearing the worst, he put on his glasses and pushed himself off the bed to see who his visitor was.

Relied filled him when he saw Zatanna. "Zee! Wow. Um… freed from Wonder Woman?"

She rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips. "I wasn't trapped. We were just talking."

"It's just talking when she's with a girl," Robin pointed out in his defense. "When it's one guy or a few teenage boys, it's a seminar on everything Amazon."

Zatanna shrugged. "She had a few good points."

"Agreed," he interjected. "I just wish she'd change subjects once in a while. So… what do you want to do? Some training?"

She shook her head, rubbing an arm. "Sore from yesterday. I was thinking a movie. I convinced Diana to watch Clash of the Titans."

Robin gaped at her, unable to hide his horror. Zee blinked at him. "What?"

"Are you crazy? Clash of the Titans? She worships Greek Gods Zee! Met some, fought some. She'll be pointing out every flaw in that movie." He ran his hands through his hair in disbelief. He learned his lesson when Wally brought Lightning Thief to the mountain a few years back and Diana wandered in. Sure the movie didn't stay true to the book, but it wasn't as bad as Diana made it. She took apart everything, from the casting to the nature of their powers and positions. She was particularly upset Hera didn't make an appearance.

Instantly the young magician realized her mistake. She looked away in shame. "Oops…"

Robin sighed, trying to find a way to fix it. They really should do something together. Zee was there for her "holiday" (he knew she was lying about that) and he really shouldn't be avoiding Diana. The woman meant well, she just didn't understand teenage boys, at all. He racked his brain, thinking over everything he knew about Wonder Woman.

"She doesn't watch many movies," he murmured. "Action's good, and anything to do with the past she likes… You in a Pirate mood?"

Zatanna grinned impishly as Robin turned off the light in his room and started down the hall. "Which one?"

"You pick. One or four?" They picked four because explaining to Diana the changes between the two without seeing the middle two would take too long. Robin was the one who made the switch, 'accidentally' scratching the DVD beyond watching. Zee convinced her Pirates was just as good if not better within a few minutes. As soon as the previews started, Robin was in the kitchen behind them digging out the popcorn and Oreos J'onn hid in one of the top cupboards. The Martian may kill him later, but he'd have to go after Diana and Zatanna too, and that'd be something to watch.

It took twenty minutes, but Robin finally got to his favorite spot on the couches and settled down to watch Captain Jack Sparrow and his girly run around old London Town. The snacks before them were mostly eaten by the teens, but Diana did take a handful of popcorn at one point, and an Oreo. She did complain about some of the people pathetic fighting skills, but for the most part seemed too interested in the over all story to pick at it. Zee gripped a pillow tightly, grinning as she watched. Dick took off his glasses after the first half hour, unable to stop laughing and the tears streaming down his face. Jack was just too funny.

It was about an hour into the movie when he heard a familiar beep. Zatanna didn't notice it, but Dick did. He heard it every time Bruce was called in by the League back home. He looked at Wonder Woman. Her attention split between the message she was receiving and the movie. She wasn't hearing what she needed to know.

Quickly Dick picked up the remote and paused the movie. Zee jolted in her seat, glaring at him. "Hey! What gives?"

His serious stare towards Diana made her jerk around to the Amazon. The woman nodded her thanks before pressing the earpiece to talk back. "Superman, repeat that."

There was a pause, an almost deathly silence. Wonder Woman's face became more and more determined as she listened to what Superman had to say on the other end. Zatanna started to worry a little about what was being said on the other end. Dick merely watched her, wanting to know what emergency occurred this time. The last major one was with the Injustice League and their demonic plants around the world. By the look on her face, it was just as bad. It had to be. She was on babysitting duty, in their home base. Only a world wide emergency would call her from them.

After a few silent minutes, she nodded and looked at them. "Think the two of you can stay out of trouble until we get back?"

"We get back?" Zatanna repeated, a prickle of worry in her voice.

"What's going on out there?" Dick made certain to make eye contact as he demanded answers.

"Nothing you have to worry about." She stood up, ready to fight. "Just stay put until we get back. And don't hurt yourselves. Zatara!"

Wonder Woman darted out of the room, quickly followed by a worried Zatanna. Dick debated for a moment whether to go after them, then shook his head as he grabbed his glasses and followed. It wasn't in his nature not to pry. Soon they were around the magician who magically stacked his books to the side of the room, a determined face ready for action. Now Robin knew this was big. Both of them were called in.

"Green Arrow told me. We should hurry. Zatanna, Robin." The father turned on the two teens, an authoritative scowl on his face. "Promise me you'll be good and stay out of trouble here."

"Dad, what's going on?" The worry in the girl's voice was evident. Robin looked at her and realized her father was all she had. Zee never mentioned her mother and her dad was protective over her. She didn't want her father to die.

And her dad didn't want her hurt either. He gave her a smile, hoping to calm her. "It'll be alright. A few hours at the most. We'll make it to the dinner show. May even see your cousin Zach."

"But—"

Robin placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a comforting smile before looking to Zatara. "Don't worry. We'll be here when you come back. Just don't be late."

This won a grateful smile from both League members as they ran through the zeta-tube out to whatever crisis was taking place. Zatanna watched helplessly for a moment, then turned on Robin, glaring and throwing him off of her. "What was that about?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Robin started. "We'll have to watch the news after the movie's over."

"After the movie? Why did you just let them go!" She demanded answers, her emotions taking control of her reason.

"Because that's what the family of the superhero community does," he retorted. "No one really likes it, but that's what we do Zatanna. We stay home, watch the news, and pray they come home in one piece."

"But that's my dad out there! I should be out there helping him!"

"And I should be with Batman!" Robin barked back. Was he happy with this? No way. One reason he fought along side the dark knight was to make sure he never lost another parent. Watching him leave with the League all the time, knowing any mission could end his life scared him. But he had to keep the faith. Batman couldn't be beaten. Bruce wouldn't leave him alone again. "But I'm not. I'm here, you're here, and they expect us to stay where it's safe. So long as we're safe, there's nothing to distract them and then they'll come home in one piece."

"But my dad…" Tears were coming to her eyes, and he knew he couldn't take them for long.

Robin looked away, trying to steel himself. "It'll be another hour or so before anything the League does is on the news. After the movie's over, we'll know what they're up against and the chatter on the JLA computers will slow down. I can hack in and find out what they're dealing with then. But really there's nothing we can do Zee. Just keep ourselves safe and make it so they don't worry about us."

Zatanna couldn't say a word. Robin was right. He'd been through this many times before. The difference was, on his world nearly every founder of the League was family to him. Losing one would hurt him deeply. Losing Batman… well, he doubted he'd recover from that. Just like if Zatanna lost her dad.

Dick took off his glasses and wrapped an arm around the girl, pulling her close. She clung to him, letting her tears flow. Nothing had happened yet, but she was scared. So was he. And this wasn't even his world.

A/N: Awe! comfort hug! Dick's a sensitive compassionate person so hugging Zee here is totally appropriate. I mean, how scared to cop kids or firefighter's spouses get when they hear of a gun fight or a major fire? if they had the ability to help them, I'm sure each and every one would go after their loved ones to help.

now I've mentioned three movies here, and I haven't seen any of them in a while. A friend pointed out to me that Jack runs like a really girly girl, with his hands out in front and his back straight up. Check it out some time. Lightning Thief didn't really follow the book, but if you saw just it, it wasn't too bad. Book's way better though because they don't use the Hades Villain cop-out. Really pity the guy. And really, I don't think you want Diana watching any movie with greek/roman gods in it. Just saying.

Oh, Zee really does have a cousin named Zachery Zatara. He becomes Zatara II and belongs in the Tim/Bart/Kon/Cass generation. So i guess he'd be... five? *shrug*