A/N: This is based on a Role Play that I do with a friend. This is within the Brothers, Portraits, and Messages Universe. This takes place over a period of five years. The circus has been cursed. Two births, one chosen, one not, but both connected to one another. Only the future will tell what will happen to these two brothers.

Miracles Happen More Than Once

Part 1: Dream Catcher

Present Day:

"Can you believe this?" The contortionist said. "My husband and I have been trying for a second child for four years and Mary Grayson, a new bride within a month of marrying John Grayson, is pregnant. I'm jealous."

"Well, don't be. I heard rumors that it isn't even John's child," said another performer.

"How can you say that? Of course it's John's child. With the way they were going at it right after they were married . . . Come on, it couldn't be anyone else. Besides' we'd know."

"What happened with that roustabout that was hanging around Mary?"

"What roustabout?"

"That young handsome kid that showed up about six months back."

"Oh, he disappeared right before Mary and John got married. Are you saying Mary and that roustabout . . ."

'I'm not saying anything."

"Well I find it very odd that Mary was pregnant soon after her marriage."

"It's not unheard of . . ."

"Jasper . . . There hasn't been a pregnancy among circus folk for almost five years. Not in Haley's at least. It's like this circus is cursed. Only in other circuses has there been births. And when there has been a rash of births, a child among them disappears. They usually disappear at the age of nine. Some disappear sooner."

"Are you sure?"

"Well . . . That's what I heard."

'She's right." A clown came in on the conversation. "I've been with this circus for more than 20 years. It happens every time we're near Gotham City. The last time there were three births and a child was chosen among them to leave and I don't know where they went, but they left with some couple. Then the parents of that child left the circus and were never seen again."

"Clarence, you're implying that Gotham City has something to do with circus children disappearing."

"It's true . . . Just you wait and see. Mary's baby will disappear when it's at least that age. Plus, she's the only one who's pregnant."

"I hope you are wrong."

Nine months later . . . . .

"IT'S A BOY!" John Grayson shouted as he ran from the tent. He was carrying his newborn son. He wanted to show him to everyone.

'Waaahh . . . Waaahhh!"

Pop Haley nodded his approval but at the same time he shuddered. 'Why did it have to be them,' he thought. "Congratulations, John," he said instead.

"John . . . John come back here," Mary pleaded. "We need to name him."

'Oh sorry my dear." John Grayson brought his son back to his wife and handed him to her. "So, what should we call him?"

"I want to call him Richard," Mary said. "After my father and John for his middle name, for you, Richard John Grayson."

"He will be great, you'll see." John Grayson gave his wife a kiss. "And after a couple more years. We'll add a brother or a sister for him."

"Oh please, John."

Mr. M the roustabout stood in the shadows of the tent watching the birth. 'He will not know, not now. There will be a time when he will. It took someone outside to create this dream catcher, this dream watcher. I can sense the curse is still present. They must want another one. With this boy's birth, his life will be in danger. We are near Gotham. How the Court of Owls ever ended up in this city is beyond me. I spotted the owl last night. They must have known the birth was close. I must consult the fortuneteller. She must know if Richard will be destined for the Athenae or something else. Either way, the curse must be broken if the circus is to thrive, not just subsist. At least for a short time, Richard will bring a little light to this place where we may dream.'

At that moment a robin flew into the tent. It landed upon a pole and chirped out a greeting then flew back out.

'A robin?' Mr. M questioned. "At the birth of a child? It must be an omen. I had almost forgotten. It is the first day of spring. An owl last night, a creature seen more in winter than in the spring, and last night was the last night of winter. Now a robin soon after the boy is born, on the first day of spring. His life will be a conflicting one, his destiny in a battle. Who will win out? We shall see.'

Over the days, weeks, and months Mr. M, the roustabout kept a close eye on the newborn. Wherever they traveled robins gathered. Sometimes only a single bird was seen. Sometimes there were as many as four. More often then not, there were two that stuck together. Both were males. It was most unusual. Males were known to fight over territory and even females. Mr. M knew something was going on with those birds, but he didn't know what. He watched as John Grayson's son grew quickly and was finding his own voice. He was proving to be an excellent acrobat, even at times better than his father.

'That was going to be problematic,' He thought. 'He's got the genes. I just wish he hadn't. They are bound to notice once we return to Gotham City. I hope it won't be for some years yet.'

It wouldn't be until five years later, that Mr. M would learn what it meant. He had pressing business elsewhere and just returned to the circus as well to resume his duties as a roustabout. The circus sat just five miles outside of Gotham. Then the owl returned. It sat in a nearby tree, watching. That sent shudders down Mr. M's spine. Why should the owl return now? Dick was going to be their chosen Talon. He would be taken later to train, and yet Mr. M hoped that it would never happen. Even so, he could not help remembering the robins. Dick's destiny had to be elsewhere, not with the court. So, maybe the owls made a mistake and they were correcting their error with this new birth, but who was it? A feeling of dread entered his soul when Mr. M watched as the owl took off flying over the tents. It was looking for something. Then it dove out of sight. It was once again, lifting into the air and this time, it had something in its talons. Mr. M watched as it flew closer. Then he remembered another time when an owl did this, but its talons were empty. It was the same kind of flight the bird made right before Dick was born.

'That means someone was pregnant and their birth was imminent. Who was it?'

The owl flew over toward the wagons.

'It cannot be.'

Mr. M watched as the owl flew up to the roof of the Flying Grayson's wagon, but what caused Mr. M to shudder was what he saw. Within the owl's talons was a fledgling, a baby bird. Mr. M moved closer and saw the black wings and red spotted breast of a baby robin.

Continues with Part 2