Looking back on it in the years to come, Jason would always have to admit that the ceremony was like something out of a movie.

The biggest moment, of course, was when Barbara appeared at the entrance to the huge tent under which the wedding was taking place. She'd been wheeled out from the house to preserve her still-limited standing strength, but before any of the waiting crowd saw her she signaled a stop and accepted her father's assistance in rising to her feet. Her first step down the aisle drew gasps of disbelief even from those few who knew what her plan was. For all that every pace hurt like hell, she couldn't help but smile radiantly when she saw the way Dick was biting his lip as he watched her. You adorable dork, she felt like breaking into tears. You helped me practice for this, saw me walking in preparation for this, more than anyone else here, and you still look as if you're about to cry.

Once she'd been carefully handed off, a conspiratorial glance passing between her father and her soon-to-be husband as the latter's arm wrapped securely around her waist and pulled her close, the pain seemed to fade. It's always better when I'm next to you, she considered as they gazed at one another for a second before turning their attention to Clark, who had agreed to officiate despite the jealous look it had earned him from Bruce.

The vows were simple and short, partly out of respect for the fact that she didn't have the legs for a lot of speechifying and partly because their love was of the type that needed few words to sustain it. Despite that, Barbara listened closely as Dick made his oath to her, well aware that he had made only one other promise in his life with the same intensity. Then it was over, and the deliriously happy grin on his face moved her so much that she had to drag him down into their kiss to keep from ruining her makeup.

While the bridal party retreated to the house for a change of wardrobe and the guests, buzzing excitedly with shock after seeing the bride on her feet, moved outside to the area designated for the reception, Jason faced a crisis. …Well, now what? he mused, torn. A small part of him still insisted that he ought to flee, but that voice was much quieter now than it had before everything began. His presence in the wedding line had drawn many curious and uncertain looks, but no glares, and certainly no attacks of either the verbal or physical kind. When he'd reached the front and split off from his walking partner – Dick was right, she is pretty, he had thought upon being hastily introduced to her in the foyer – he'd even received a tiny nod of approval from Clark, something so unexpected that it nearly caused him to stumble. The only really bad moment had been the flash of guilt that had washed over him when Barbara had walked in slow triumph to the front of the tent, but even that had been wiped away by the sheer joy he could feel his elder brother glowing with on the other side of Wally. …I should stay. I want to stay. But…I don't know. Now that people are moving around, they'll start to talk, and I just don't know…

"…Jason?"

The voice made him jump. "What is it, re...Tim?" he held back the slur he usually addressed the younger with.

"Ah…first off, thanks for using my name," he said, keeping a slight distance between them. Whoa. Did Dick lace your suit with civility powder or something? "Second…look, I came to ask…I came to ask if you would mind staying for the reception."

"Who put you up to that?"

"No one," he answered quietly. "I'm asking because it would mean a lot to Dick, and therefore it means a lot to me."

"…You know, I've already done an awful lot for him today," he challenged. I don't know why you annoy me so much, kid, he narrowed his eyes. Well, no, that's a lie. I know why. But…you're not an annoying person in and of yourself. I guess…I guess it isn't your fault Bruce made you my replacement instead of someone else. It's kind of your fault that he loves you better than he ever did me, but then again you're enough like Dick that I suppose he couldn't really help himself. Shit. He shook his head.

"Sure," Tim said evenly. "And he's done an awful lot for you ever since the day you met. Everything he could, in fact."

"And you would know that how?" …It's true, he winced internally.

"Because he does everything he can for everyone he cares about. And he cares about you, Jason. A lot. Probably way more than you deserve, but…that's Dick," he shrugged. "Would it really kill you to hang around for a couple of hours? You don't even have to talk to anyone. Hell, I'll leave you alone, and so will Bruce. But if he just sees your face on the edges of the crowd a few times this evening…well, it might be a way to start paying him back, don't you think?"

"You say that like I owe him something." He wasn't really arguing anymore, but was merely going through the paces in a lame attempt to protect his reputation.

"You say that like you don't."

I do. I know I do. Damn it. "…You're too smart for your own good, Drake," he considered him, something a bit like respect for the third Robin being planted in the back of his mind. "And…well, you know Dick, I'll say that much."

"So you'll stay?"

"…Did Alfred make the cake?" a gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Do you really have to ask? He would have beaten anyone who tried to butt in on that right with a rolling pin."

When was the last time I had an Alfred-made baked good? he pondered. Way too long ago. "I'll stay at least until the cake."

Tim gave him a tiny smile. "…Thanks, Jason. I…I appreciate it. And I know Dick will, too." And Bruce, and Alfred, and Babs, and…well, most of us, really, he added silently as he walked back to where Wally had been surreptitiously watching the proceedings. Anything that makes him happy, especially today. He asks for so little as it is…

"You okay?" the speedster inquired as he approached. In Dick's absence – he'd followed Babs inside, ostensibly to tease her about 'not blushing like a bride was supposed to' but in truth to make sure she hadn't worn herself out too much with her efforts at bipedalism – he felt responsible for keeping the peace amongst the other groomsmen. That aside, he just plain liked Tim, and knowing the history between the second and third Robins as he did he felt justified in being a little concerned.

"I'm fine, surprisingly." He looked pensive. "…I don't know, Wally. I feel like maybe Dick's been right about him this whole time. I…it's weird. He doesn't seem like he's planning anything sinister, so…he has to be here for something good, right?"

"I hope so," the redhead shrugged. "You have to understand, Tim, that Jason wasn't a bad guy before. Maybe he still isn't, in spite of some of the things he's done. I mean…everyone makes mistakes, right? And Dick's always been scary good at reading people, and at reaching them when no one else can. I used to joke that it was his superpower," he chuckled. "Only it's not so funny when you realize that he does it so easily and consistently that it might actually be one." He glanced around, realizing that despite the heavy concentration of mask-friendly guests there were still a few ears around that might hear the wrong thing were he to keep going. "Anyway, they were close once, you know. Not to the level that you and Dick are, of course, but…not so far off, either. Just different. If you had seen him after Jason was…well. Just be glad you weren't around for that time," he shuddered, remembering. "I don't want Jason to be a bad guy, and I trust Dick's intuition about people with my life, so…there you have it, I guess."

"Who has what, now?" a new voice broke in.

"Hey, the man of the hour," Wally smacked him on the back as he came up, Damian close behind him. "Why don't you have a drink in your hand?"

"Because I want to remember my wedding in more detail than I do my bachelor party," Dick retorted with a grin.

"Aw, no fun. I don't remember my wedding."

"Well, you had to drink to deal with your in-laws. I, fortunately, don't have that problem. But we're all going to have a problem if we wait much longer to take our seats. Alfred's just aching to start cracking the whip over the caterers' heads, I could tell without even going into the kitchen. So…where's Jason?" he asked, frowning slightly. "He…he didn't leave, did he?"

"He's over there," Tim jerked his head backwards.

"Oh," he sagged with obvious relief. "I'll get him. You guys go ahead. Damian, before we even get started, please don't use your fork to catapult peas at anyone. Your astounding aim aside," he cut off his protest, "it's just rude."

"You can't seriously expect me to remain in this disgusting tuxedo for the rest of the day and refrain from playing with my food."

"Do it and I'll show you a hiding place that not even B-man knows about," he bribed.

"I know all the hiding spots in the manor, Grayson."

"Who said anything about the manor?" he quirked an eyebrow. His youngest brother couldn't quite cover the bolt of interest that shot across his face, and he knew he'd won. "Go with Tim and Wally. The girls will be out soon."

With that done, Dick made his way towards where Jason was lingering. Several people stopped him as he passed to offer their congratulations, an incognito Wonder Woman among them. "Ooh, I can't stand it," she breathed low in his ear, hugging him tightly. "Our sweet little Robin's all grown up. Not that you haven't been for a while, of course," she acknowledged as he pulled back to a more normal distance for conversing, "but it still makes me feel old."

"You won't be old for a very long time, Aunt Diana," he grinned charmingly.

"Maybe not," she winked, acknowledging the technical truth of his statement. "I wish you could have seen Bruce's face while you two exchanged your vows. It was absolutely priceless."

"It's probably better that I didn't, to be honest," he confessed. "It would have been really embarrassing if I cried when Babs didn't." And I would have, if I'd seen his face, guaranteed.

"Oh, she wanted to, believe me. I could see it. She's just too stubborn. If you two aren't careful your children will be more bull-headed than their grandfather," she teased.

"Please, no," he groaned mockingly. "Bruce and Damian are unyielding enough for the whole family."

"You should have met him before you came along."

"…Now there's a quandary."

"So was he." They laughed, and she patted his arm. "Go enjoy your day, honey. I only wanted to steal you away for a second."

"I've always got time for you, Aunt Diana. I'm just working on snagging Jason for the high table so we can feed all these hungry people."

Her broad smile softened. "…I was so glad to see that he came. I know it meant a lot to you, and to Bruce."

"It did. Now if I can just convince him of that."

"If anyone can, it's you."

He cocked his head. "Funny. Babs apparently said the same thing while she was making a bet with Damian about whether or not he'd be here today."

"She won the heart of one bird and the money of another? I always knew she was a smart girl," Diana laughed delightedly before turning away with a wave.

A few minutes later, Dick finally reached Jason. "Whew," he smiled. "It's like running a gauntlet out there." His expression sobered slightly as he took in the tenseness still present in his brother's shoulders. "…Everything okay?"

"Um…yeah. I think so, actually. I mean, no one's said anything to me, so…" Watching the groom work the crowd, he'd been struck again by the fact that everyone seemed to like him. How does he do that? he'd wondered. I could never do that. So why can he, when I can't? It's not like our training was that much different. If anything I should be better at it, since Bruce pushed me so hard to be like Dick. That thought had stopped him. …Am I still bitter about that? I thought I got over that even before…huh. But that wasn't Dick's fault. He can't help being so goddamn perfect, apparently. And if you had to choose between a polite, talented kid and a foul-mouthed gutter snipe…I guess it's obvious, isn't it?

"…Jason?"

"Listen…" he started, not looking at him. "I'm…I'm not mad anymore, okay?"

"What?"

"At you," he clarified. "I'm still pissed as hell at Bruce, and a part of me always will be, but…you didn't do anything wrong. I…I realize that now. I think maybe I've been doing things to hurt you because I know that hurting you hurts him. You just…you just got caught in the middle. But I know none of it was your fault. So…for what that's worth."

Oh, god, Jay. "…It's worth a lot," he whispered shakily, nose stuffing itself as he held back tears. "A lot, Jason. You have no idea. And I'm sorry."

"For what?" he narrowed his eyes at him. Christ, Dick, don't cry. Not over that. Not…not over me.

"For the fact that you got caught in the middle of something that wasn't your fault. The thing that started it all. That wasn't fair, and I wish it hadn't happened like it did. I want you to know that."

"…You and Bruce."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. You deserved to be seen for who you were right from the start. I'm sorry you weren't given that respect."

"You saw me for who I was," he said quietly. "Then on top of it, you never gave up on me, even when...well. I guess that's why, even after all this time, you're the one I can't seem to stay mad at."

"…Thank you for that. And thank you for being here. And…look, I know it's not going to be easy, and that it might take time - years, maybe - but someday you'll understand why Bruce couldn't do what you wanted him to have done for you. In the same way that Bruce couldn't change you in your essentials, no matter how hard he tried to make you fit my mold, there are certain things about him that can't be altered. One of them is the very thing that you expected of him. And I know how that must have hurt you, but…he couldn't have acted any differently than he did. I think you already know that, you just haven't come to accept it." He paused. "…Please don't be upset that I brought that up. It just seemed timely."

"…I'm a little upset, but…not 'stomp off and never speak to you again' angry," he confessed, a hint of confusion in his voice. I should be mad. I should be furious. But I'm not. I suppose I've always found it easiest to forgive you because you seem to find it so easy to forgive others. Maybe that's why everyone likes you, Dick; you set such a sickeningly good example that it makes the people around you feel guilty if they don't emulate it a little. "I don't really know why," he fudged the truth.

"You must be hungry. That's got to be it," the elder teased, relieved. "C'mon. Alfred's waiting for us to get to the table so they can start doing food. And," he added, standing on his tiptoes to look over the crowd, "the ladies are on their way from the house, so we're fixing to be the ones holding up the party."

"Wait," Jason grabbed his arm suddenly, mention of the bridal party reawakening the ache he'd felt in his stomach when Babs had walked down the aisle. "Dick, I…" He swallowed heavily, his throat tightening with shame.

"Jay? What is it?" he came back to his side, face concerned.

"I owe you an apology," he said, voice low and uneven.

"…What? No, Jason, there's nothing to-"

"Would you just let me do this?" he hissed. "I do owe you an apology. Well, no; I owe you a lot of apologies, but…this one matters, even if you have already forgiven me for it." He inhaled slowly. "I'm sorry for what I said when you asked me to be here today. For what I said…about Barbara. For all of it, really, but…especially for that. I was wrong, Dick. I said it to hurt you, not because I believed it. I just…wanted you to know that." She's not weak. Neither are you.

"Jason…I already knew."

"Of course you did," he scoffed, shaking his head. You read people like books…

"Hey." He waited until their eyes met, his brother's swimming in unshed liquid. "Already knowing doesn't make me appreciate the effort it took for you to apologize any less. All right?"

"Yeah," he cleared his throat. "Sure." Fuck. That…that felt good. Terrible, but…good. "So…Drake said Alfred made the cake," he tried to change the subject. "What flavor did you pick? I told him I'd stay for it, but if you went with something gross, I'm gone."

…You had a non-violent conversation with Bruce and Tim in the same afternoon? Dick boggled proudly. "You still like chocolate, right?" he asked instead. "Chocolate? I guess I'll stick around, in that case," he shrugged, utterly failing to make his tone as non-committal as his gesture.

"Some things never change, it seems."

Jason let their gazes connect, and gave his brother a small but sincere smile. "No. The most important things never do."

Author's Note: Where I live, you can have anyone you want officiate your wedding, provided that they're willing to do a little paperwork beforehand. Officiating at Dick and Babs' wedding just seemed like the kind of thing Clark would be happy to do...especially since it would make Bruce insanely jealous, haha.

Also, it's five chapters, not four. I couldn't resist the suggestion of a little DaddyBats time with Dick, so thanks to AJCrane for the prod in that direction. Happy reading!