So, looong chapter. Personally, this is one of my favorites, caus it's so not something you guys would predict. I guarantee that you'll either be like, awesome, can't wait to see what the heck's going to happen now, or nooooo, you just totally butchered TT and I hate this plot twist, AAAHHHH!

It's a really big plot twist. :) Honestly, I don't know where I came up with it. It's not really a very normal idea.

Then again, I may be exaggerating a little. Guess I'll have to see by your reactions. Enjoy!

Oh! Almost forgot! First real appearance of Slade! I know he was kinda there before, but this is really his first chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own TT.

The next morning, after a 'breakfast explosion' courtesy of BB and Cyborg, the Team left. It took them almost an hour to get out of the tower and say all their goodbyes. They made Nightwing promise to keep in contact now, started making plans for when Nightwing 'came home' which annoyed the Titans a bit, and promising- or threatening, based on your perspective- to visit, often. Finally, after all that, they bundled onto the bioship and departed. Nightwing stood on the roof, waving as hard as he could until he was positive that no one could see him anymore, including Superboy. Then he lowered his hand and sighed a bit. He would miss them all- a lot- but there was plenty he had to do now, in preparation for his 'vacation'.

For the next few days, he worked hard to make sure that everything would be alright for his extended absence. He organized files, updated security- finally showing Cyborg just how tech-savvy he was, and making leaps and bounds towards making the Tower more secure- making sure there were other heroes on call in case the Titans needed some help, and so much more. The Titans didn't realize just how much he did until they were faced with the fact of having to deal with everything themselves. Nightwing would still take care of everything for Titans International, so they wouldn't have to worry about that, but still.

Packages and messages and calls flew between TTower, Mt. Justice, the Watchtower, and Wayne Manor. Nightwing's communicator was constantly going off with calls from friends, and he received about 20 care packages from various members of the League. The Titans were shocked to realize just how popular he was with the League. Nightwing just shrugged and said that most of them knew him since he was 9 years old running around in a yellow cape, of course they were close.

And so the week flew by, until it was the day before Nightwing was going to leave. Nearly everything had been taken care of, and the Titans had kicked him out so they could plan a party. That was fine with Nightwing. He had one more thing to take care of, and he would rather that the Titans were busy so they wouldn't notice what he was doing. He knew they wouldn't approve, wouldn't understand.

He made his way to the now-ruined warehouse- they really didn't have a good track record when it came to warehouses, did they?- where he had spent his second apprenticeship. Near the end of that time, as the Titans were getting closer to finding him, he and Slade had agreed that if, for whatever reason, one of them had to get in contact with the other, they would go there. Both had cameras constantly trained on that spot. Nightwing was certain that Slade had been alerted as soon as he set foot on the property. Sure enough, Slade appeared only a few minutes after Nightwing had taken a perch on the roof.

They regarded each other for a moment, and then, almost as an afterthought, Nightwing said, "I'm alone. You?" Slade nodded. They both seemed to relax slightly; they had agreed to always come alone, but it was worth checking. Slade moved to sit on the edge of the roof near Nightwing. They sat in silence for a little.

"How are you?" Slade asked quietly.

"Fine. Great, actually. You?"

"Fine, although a certain teen is giving me some headaches."

"Can't imagine who you're talking about."

Slade glanced at him. "Sure. Was it necessary to flip me off?"

Nightwing shrugged. "That was private. I do have a private life, you know."

"I wasn't aware you knew the League."

Nightwing rolled his eyes. "Despite our little bonding-sessions that second time, you really don't know anything about me."

More silence. Both were thinking about those times during the second apprenticeship when they had put aside their vast differences, tired of fighting for a little while, and actually had some decent conversations. Their relationship had changed over that time. They didn't really hate each other anymore; they had a deeper understanding. Slade had learned that Nightwing was a person in his own right, and Nightwing had grown to respect Slade in some ways. Not the killing parts, though.

That did not, however, mean that Nightwing wanted to be his apprentice again. But it was nice that they could talk without, you know, killing each other. Especially since that apprenticeship had lasted so much longer.

The conversation resumed.

Slade turned to Nightwing. "Why did you come here?" He asked curiously. "I assume it has something to do with the commotion at Titan's Tower over the past few days?"

Nightwing shrugged and smirked. "Something to do with it." He turned and looked him in the eyes- well, eye. "I need you to lay off the Titans for a while. A month."

"And why on earth would I do that?"

"I'm not going to be there anyway, there would be no real fun in it. And I would prefer to be able to enjoy my vacation without worrying about what you've done to them while I'm gone. Knowing you, you'll attack them even if I'm not there for attention. Like a kid throwing a temper tantrum."

Slade ignored the insult. He regarded the young man in front of him. "Under one condition."

"How did I know that was coming?" Nightwing muttered.

"I want to know where you are going and why."

"Stalker much?" Nightwing raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Mostly Gotham, probably some time in Central, maybe Metropolis- I'm visiting some old friends and some family."

Slade was surprised. "Family? I thought you said you didn't have any."

"We weren't exactly speaking to each other. Plus, I'm an orphan, so technically…."

"Ah." Slade stood up. "If that's all, I believe I'll take my leave. I have some plans to rearrange."

Nightwing nodded. "Right. Um… thanks."

Slade stopped. "What for? It was a trade."

"Not for that. For putting me on the path to reuniting with my family- my father."

"Care to elaborate on just how I did that?"

"Not really, no."

Inspiration struck. "So you did know those heroes?"

The only answer he got was silence. Nightwing was already gone.

Within 5 minutes, the rooftop was again deserted. There was no evidence left to mark the meeting between the two sometimes-enemies.

Nightwing returned to the tower and soon the party was in full swing. Nightwing enjoyed it, with a weight off his shoulders and knowing it would be the last time he'd see the Titans for a while. By the time the Titans woke the next day, he was already gone, off to an early-morning flight to Gotham, where he would make his way to the manor and do his best to scare poor Alfred half to death.

On the plane, Dick Grayson smiled. He was going home.

Love it? Hate it? I know, it's kinda big, but...

Review! Me wanna know what you think!