Past, Present, Future Chapter 7, a batman beyond fanfic

digi-gal-rox: final chapter up!

CHAPTER 7

"John!" Thomas exclaimed hugging his son tightly."Oh dad!" the younger man frowned, pushing his father away.
"Well?"
"Not all questions were answered," John said quietly. "They are still hiding more than they let on." Thomas frowned slightly. Sighing heavily, he turned to face his father who remained silent, lost in thought. The Bludhaven traffic could be heard faintly in the background, as the TV quietly blared.
"Dad? Is there something you're hiding?" the old man looked at the two.
"I'm no hiding anything."
"Gramps, she is Barbara Gordon's grand-daughter." John simply put. Dick smiled wryly.
"She bares a resemblance to her," he murmured.
"What happened dad?" Thomas asked. "Between you and them?"

"He'll be gone for now." Terry informed him. "Won't be long till he returns."
"Should we tell him?" Jason asked. "Everything?"
"Some things are better said unsaid," Bruce muttered. "If Dick wants to talk, he'll talk when he's ready. Barbara already gave her message." the younger Barbara nodded, glancing out the window.
"We're still a family though." she said quietly. "It won't keep him away from the legend." Terry looked at her and nodded.
"Dana said the same thing. Quoting her 'You guys are family. Stubborn.'" he chuckled softly. "Are we really that stubborn?"
"I'd rather not say," Barbara laughed weakly. "But she's right, family..."
"Do you think Dick will ever tell?" Jason asked.
"No." Bruce finally answered. "It is a burden that Dick will carry with him forever."

-Nine months later-

Cursing silently, the young red-head flicked through the file. Taking a deep breath she closed it putting it aside. Taking another file she, once again, flicked through it. Looking up briefly, she recognised a familiar lost woman. An officer approached her.
"I'm sorry this is a restricted area. I'm afraid you have to leave."
"Im looking for someone." the woman said bluntly. "It's not like this in the Haven," she added. Rolling his eyes the officer grabbed her arm tightly.
"I'm afraid you have to leave."
"It's O.K, Fred." Barbara said placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll talk to her." nodding, the officer walked off,
"You have to be careful here, security is really tight, as you can see." she motioned to the officer. "How'd you get in by the way?" she asked.
"Nightwing,"
"What brings you here, Kelly?" she asked, taking a seat at her desk. "We're all kind of busy, so if you can make this fast-"
"I actually wanted to apologise about my attitude."
"Nine months later?" Kelly smiled grimly.
"Pride...?" Barbara shook her head slightly.
"Anything else?"
"Also, according to Batman, we've been told you've been quite hard to reach."
"Cases," she gestured to the pile on her desk.
"John wanted me to pass on a message." Kelly went on.
"Oh?"

The young man sighed heavily, tapping his fingers. Finally caving in, he quickly put the tape in the player and hit the play button. He quickly hit stop, before any sound came out. He was scared. Scared what he might be told. Sighing again he hit play.
"I know that you want to know what happened," his grandfather's voice came. "And I know that your father wants me to tell you." there was a pause. "For most of my life, I tried to hide this secret from you, part of me hoping that you wouldn't follow my foot steps. But you did." John found himself smiling slightly. "What has happened between me and them is done, and it cannot be undone... I made a mistake back than. I hurt the one person I cared most about. Don't make that mistake, John. Don't make that same mistake I made, and live in regret..." the elderly Dick Grayson coughed, before continuing his talk. "I walked out on that family, hoping to forget what had happened. But the past cannot be forgotten, know matter how hard you try, it is always apart of you. Don't make that same mistake I made. Go. Talk to them. Become a family again." the tape ended. Biting his lip nervously, he glanced at his suit that lay on the floor. He cocked his head to the side than smiled.

"Oh, shut up!" Batman frowned. Laughing beside him, the newly made member Robin let out a grin.
"You gotta admit, he brings life to the team," Barbara's voice came from the communicator.
"I still don't know why you decide to return as the Oracle." Jason frowned.
"My grandmother had her perks. I have mine. I prefer to lay low, boy wonder." Batman smiled.
"Well, regardless we're family."
"You got that right!" Robin beamed. "Hey you sure he said to meet here?"
"Would I lie to you?"
"Yes...?"
"You're lucky that I'm here," she growled. "Even if I'm not out there, I can still whip your-"
"Good night?" a new voice joined the conversation, as Barbara said 'ass'.
"Turn your frequency," Batman ordered. "Private line," he quickly added. Noddiong, Nightwing obeyed.
"Private line?" he asked.
"Thanks to moi," Barbara responded. "So what's your news young Grayson?"
"He told me what happened." Nightwing responded with a smile.
"What did he say?" Robin asked eagerly. Nightwing looked at him surprised.
"Robin?" Batman nodded.
"Like we said nine months ago. We're a family. We're a team." he paused.
"I thought-"
"Yeah, I prefer to remain in the dark." Barbara responded, "And also there's my job. A big risk if I'm out there."
"Oh..."
"Oh!" Barbara exclaimed.
"What?" Batman asked quickly.
"Anyone in for a trip to the Library?"
"Mad Stan?" Batman guessed.
"Bingo!" Robin grinned and took off. Turning around slightly, Batman faced the Bludhaven hero.
"You in?" Nightwing smiled and nodded. Together they took off.

"They seem to be fine." Bruce muttered. Barbara turned around and smiled.
"I'll say. So he finally opened up, after all these years." a small smile curved on Bruce's lips. Barbara grinned.
"You must be proud of him."
"He's a good man." he said quietly, his smile now gone.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your smile." she laughed. "But you're right. He's a good man." she closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.
"Are you going to tell them?" the old man asked quietly. Her eyes averted to his cold blue ones.
"No," she shook her head. "This family has already enough to deal with. This will only add more burden to them." his eyes flickered for a moment, before he starred at her hard.
"You can't hide it from them forever." he stated, a touch of coldness in his voice.
"It's my burden to bare." she muttered. He sighed heavily.
"Does Terry know at least?" the elderly man asked. She shook her head.
"No one knows."

digi-gal-rox: don't ask. this is how it is suppose to end. check my profile for more details