After all these chapters, I still don't own Young Justice or Batman

Piping down the valleys wild,
Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,
And he laughing said to me

'Pipe a song about a Lamb!'
So I piped with merry cheer.
'Piper, pipe that song again.'
So I piped, he wept to hear

Gotham City, 13:32 EST

7 months later

Bruce Wayne rubbed his head wearily as he tried to concentrate on the work before him but it was proving difficult with how tired he was. Last night had been Tim's science fair and Bruce had insisted that the whole family go along and show solidarity for their neighbor / unofficial little brother. It had been a mess trying to get all the kids to behave but it had been worth it once he realized that the Drakes had, once again, been unable to attend. Between getting all three boys there, keeping them in line and getting them back to the Manor and into bed, Bruce was ready to call it a night before he remembered that he still had to patrol. Being a parent was exhausting.

But today would make up for all the trouble that his new family gave him for today was his youngest son's first birthday. His lips curled at the thought of little Damian. Now Damian was hardly an easy baby, not by anyone's imagination. He was fussy and picky and was usually very unhappy around strangers, but Bruce couldn't love him any more if he tried. It was the same with all of his children.

They were having a small gathering of a few League and Young Justice members, plus Leslie and a few of the kids' friends to celebrate Damian's big day. The party would be starting in a little over an hour and since Alfred was finishing the final preparations, Bruce had volunteered to get Damian ready for the big event. He didn't even have to feign enjoyment of such a task, he cherished every moment with his child knowing he had almost missed out on these mundane experiences.

The emotion he felt upon such a milestone was distracting but Bruce had been forced to accept that children came with a lot of conflicting emotions. And a great many headaches as well. There was a loud crashing sound in the living room causing Bruce to groan and set down the papers he wasn't reading, and speaking of headaches.

"What's going on out here?" He demanded, stepping out of his study and closing the door behind him. Surprise, surprise there was one of his children causing trouble as usual.

Jason grinned broadly as he began to quickly pick up the large volume of books spread across the floor that he had apparently dropped. "Sorry B, I guess I went a little overboard buying Damian's birthday presents. I'll have this cleaned up in a sec." Bruce raised an eyebrow as he knelt down to help Jason pick up the books, nearly 12 in all, all of which were entirely too old for an infant like Damian. He turned over one of the books to read the cover, 'Treasure Island'.

"Jay, you do realize Damian isn't going to be able to read these for several more years." Jason nodded enthusiastically as he continued stacking up the books until Bruce couldn't even see the boy anymore behind the pile.

"Well duh, that's why I'm going to read them to him. We've run out of kids books in the library so I decided it would be a good idea to add to it. Dami likes to have a chapter or two read to him at bedtime while you and Dick are on patrol. I figured it'd be fun and educational for the little brat."

Bruce smiled knowingly as he took half of Jason's stack when he noticed the boy struggling to lift the enormous pile. Jay made no secret of his own enthusiasm for reading and Bruce was all too happy to indulge the boy's thirst for knowledge. Jason had fit into life at Wayne Manor as if he had always been destined to end up here, if only the boy would feel as comfortable in his new home.

"Where are we going with these?" Bruce asked as he followed his 13 year old son and future protégé. Jason began dropping obvious hints about taking up his own hero mantle the moment he moved in but Bruce had been adamant that the boy seek help for his trauma first. Sessions with both Dinah and Leslie, not to mention care from the family, had done wonders for Jay's peace of mind. Though he hadn't said a word to Jason, Bruce was considering letting the boy start training soon. Even if he decided in the end he didn't want to be a hero, Bruce wanted Jason to feel that he was just as important and worthy as all the other boys. Plus he wouldn't mind Jason having some martial arts prowess in case he ever needed to defend himself.

"The library, I got some paper and junk all ready so I just need to get these wrapped." Jay said with a shrug. "I wish Alfie could help me but he's too busy with party stuff to bother right now. I guess Dami's too little to care about neat packaging, huh?"

Bruce nudged open the door to the door where Jay had all the necessary wrapping components laid out. "As long as he can play with the paper I think he'll be happy. This is a very thoughtful gift, Jay. Good work." Bruce said, setting one of his hands on the boy's shoulder after he'd put down his load of books. He wasn't sure what pained him more, the absolute delight on Jason's face at something so small or the fact that the boy was attempting to hide his joy. At least Jason was no longer flinching whenever someone touched him. If Willis Todd wasn't already dead, Batman might have been tempted to finish the job himself.

"I can probably help for a few minutes if you like, but then I need to go take care of the ba-"

"Mr. Wayne! Mr. Wayne!" Came a distant cry from somewhere on the other side of the Manor.

Bruce rolled his eyes while Jason snickered quietly into his hand. "On second thought, I believe I'm needed elsewhere. Don't take too long Jay, Alfred wants a picture of the family so have on your nice shirt, pants and shoes by 3 pm at the latest." Jason made a face, "Hey, if I have to do it, then you boys have to suffer with me." Bruce teased from the library door as he quickly walked in the direction the young voice had come from. It had sounded like the main foyer.

"Mr. Wayne there you are!" a blonde whirlwind scampered up to him and looked up with big, watery blue eyes. "Mr. Wayne, Timmy fell asleep in the big light thingy and I can't get him to wake up and I'm scared he'll fall and I don't know what to do, can you please get him down?" Stephanie Brown exclaimed, looking close to tears. Bruce looked up to find that Tim was, indeed, curled up around the hanging chandelier, comfortably asleep.

He made a note to himself to berate Dick once again for teaching the others how to get up there. "Don't worry Stephanie, it'll be alright, we'll get him down." He said, patting her head awkwardly. "While we go get the ladder, why don't you explain to me how Tim ended up there in the first place?"

Steph took a minute to collect herself as she trotted after him. "Timmy and I were playing hide and go seek. I was the seeker and even though I searched everywhere, I couldn't find him. But then I came into this room and found Timmy sleeping up there! I yelled and tried to wake him up but he's a boy so it was impossible. I didn't know what to do so I called for you." She explained as they finally reached the store room where the ladder was ready and waiting, having been employed many, many times in the months since Dick started encouraging the other boys' acrobatics.

"Alright, well let's get Tim down and I'll talk to him again about climbing up there. Have you spoken to your mother about arrangements for after the party?" He asked as they walked back, ladder in tow.

"Yep! She's going to visit Daddy today so she won't be back until late. She said I could stay the night if it's okay with you or she won't be able to come get me until 8. Someone needs to call and let her know." Bruce nodded, Batman had put Cluemaster away in Blackgate almost a year ago now so he supposed Arthur Brown was due for a visit.

Stephanie Brown's inclusion in his life had been another in a long series of unexpected turns. The future Damian had mentioned that she would become a vigilante and unofficial family member in his timeline. In acknowledgement of that fact, Bruce has gifted the young girl with a full scholarship to the best school in town where, coincidentally, she and Tim had become best friends almost overnight. Tim spend much of his free time here at the Manor and where Tim Drake went, so did Stephanie Brown.

"It's fine by me, I'll have Alfred call your mother as soon as we get Tim down. Then I suggest the two of you start getting ready for the party." He set down the ladder under the chandelier and checked his watch with annoyance, "I still need to get myself and Damian ready so we need to make this quick." He ascended the ladder and ever so gently nudged the sleeping boy. "Tim? Come on Tiger, you need to wake up now."

Another few shakes and Tim slowly blinked back into awareness. "'ruce?" He muttered, rubbing his eye with one hand while the other clutched the chandelier chain. Bruce made a mental note to secure the light fixture one more time to ensure it would hold if the boys were going to persist in climbing it. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is you're putting me behind schedule and worrying your friend."

Below them, Stephanie had her hands angrily on her hips. "You're in so much trouble when you get down here Timmy!" She shouted up, Tim, now much more awake, glanced over at Bruce with a light grimace.

"Are you sure I can't just stay up here?" Bruce chuckled as he helped the boy off the chandelier.

"Not if you plan on having any of Alfred's birthday cake." Tim smiled at that, the thought of delicious sweets distracting him momentarily from prospect of being yelled at. "Now apologize to Stephanie and go get ready. Alfred should have laid out your clothes in your room. Stephanie will have her own dress in the guest room."

Tim looked at him shyly as they reached the ground. "Even though I climbed the chandelier when you told me not to, can Stephanie still stay the night?" Bruce smirked before stepping aside so the young lady could get through.

"I'm sure having Stephanie around to berate you is punishment enough. Alfred is going to call her mother soon and make arrangements." Tim cheered for a moment only to be cut off from Stephanie punching his arm.

"You idiot! What were you thinking climbing that big thing? And then you fall asleep up there?" She nagged while Tim just shrugged.

"Sorry, it's really comfortable up there and I've been working so hard on my science project I haven't been sleeping much."

"Alright you two can argue later, you need to start getting ready. Be back down here at 3 o' clock or I can't guarantee you'll get cake." Stephanie squeaked at the prospect of being denied dessert. She grabbed Tim's hands and half dragged the poor boy up the steps to the personal bedrooms.

Though Tim didn't technically live here, he spent so much time here that he had his own room with clothes all prepared. Bruce had talked with the Drakes numerous times about trying to be more involved with Tim's life. He knew it was hard to balance a family and a company and they were trying but there were some weeks where Tim only saw them in passing. Luckily, Jack and Janet trusted Bruce, or at least his family's good name, and Tim was well looked after here and among people who considered him family. No matter when anyone else said, Tim would always be his son.

"Alfred," Bruce called walking briskly into the kitchen where his butler and closest confidant was busy at work putting the finishing touches on Damian's cake. It was too bad the baby was still too young to enjoy the treat beyond smashing his fingers through it. "I know you're busy but when you get a chance, call Crystal Brown and tell her it's no problem to watch Stephanie for the night."

Alfred nodded and gave him a mildly reproving look as he glanced over at Bruce's casual attire. "I will take care of it once I finish with the frosting but, if I may Master Wayne, the hour is drawing near and the Young Master will need some time to get ready." The butler said dryly.

"I'm trying to but there's too many kids getting in my way," Bruce replied, shaking his head as he walked out of the kitchen and ascended the stairs. He strode through the hallways, mentally checking things off his list. He was stopped just before the nursery by the sound of loud laughter and overlapping conversations coming from Dick's room. Bruce rolled his eyes, of course. He stepped forward and knocked loudly on the door before entering.

"Alright keep it down, it's getting dangerously close to 3 for those of you who still need to get ready." Young Justice stopped what they were doing to look sheepishly at him. No matter how much time they spent here at the Manor, they never could stop seeing him as Batman. He supposed it wasn't all bad, at least they still listened to him unlike some people.

Dick's eyes widened as he took in the clock. "Oh man, I didn't realize it had gotten so late! Sorry guys, I'll be right back. Do what you need to do and meet me downstairs in 20 minutes." He said, stepping over Wally and Artemis in order to get off the bed. Kaldur was perched in Dick's desk chair while M'gann and Conner were curled up on the floor together leaning against the adjacent wall. Dick grabbed the shirt and pants that were waiting for him before quickly walking out of his bedroom. Bruce had expected him to turn into his bathroom but instead continued to follow Bruce into his own bedroom.

"Do you need something, Dick?" Bruce asked lightly, watching as Dick walked casually over to his bathroom.

"Yeah, I need to steal one of your razors. I used my last one and Alfred will kill me if I'm not clean shaven for the picture." The teen remarked, ducking into Bruce's master bathroom and refiling under through the sink cabinet. It was probably a good thing Dick was otherwise occupied so he didn't notice the look of mild shock on his guardian's face. He wasn't even aware Dick needed to shave yet.

Bruce leaned in the bathroom doorframe, trying to appear casual and not like he's being slapped in the face with his eldest child's growth. "Do you need to shave everyday?" Bruce asked as Dick made a triumphant noise as he emerged with a brand new razor.

The boy shrugged as he got a wet cloth and began to inspect his face in the mirror. "No, not yet. But it's noticeable if I don't do it once or twice a week. Do you mind if I do it in here, seems weird to walk all the way back to my bathroom." Dick asked even as he was already preparing a little bit of shaving cream. Bruce smiled fondly to himself.

Yes, Dick was growing up faster every day. While Jason had been hinting about taking on a hero mantle of his own, Dick had outright stated that he intended to pass the Robin title onto his middle brother when his training was complete. Pretty soon that little circus kid he took in 8 years would be a man with his own identity and a life away from his adoptive family. It was sad in a way Bruce hadn't expected and he's certain that having the other children as a buffer was helping him better deal with that transition. But while his child was growing up, it didn't mean that they were growing apart.

"Sure, so long as you don't mind if I join you." Bruce said standing at the sink next to his son. He'd just shaved yesterday but he could always clean up a bit. The two of them worked mostly in silence aside from Bruce's occasional comments on how Dick was holding razor and how to avoid irritating the skin. The time passed quickly, much like Dick's childhood, and soon the two of them were toweling off.

"As fun as this has been," Dick teased lightly and Bruce was certain his boy knew just why his adoptive father had elected to stay with him. "Don't you and Dami still need to get ready?" Bruce started, looking down at his watch and cursed softly under his breath. He'd gotten so caught up with his eldest, he'd forgotten about his youngest.

Bruce threw the towel he'd used to dry off with in the sink. "Clean up in here and get dressed, I'll get Damian ready and we'll be down in 15 minutes." Since Damian usually took so long to dress, Bruce decided to put on his outfit first so he could spend the rest of his allotted time on the baby.

He walked quickly down to the nursery, noting with relief that everyone else seemed ready or nearly ready for the event. He paused for a moment in the doorway of Damian's room as he took in the slightly open door with a familiar scent wafting from it. He delicately entered the room and was unsurprised, but a bit disappointed, to find it empty. He breathed in Talia's perfume for a moment before making his way over to the bed where Damian was alert and standing up in his crib as if someone had just put him down.

"Da!" Came a delighted little cry as Bruce smiled and hefted his boy into his arms.

"Hey there Chum," he said pulling away Damian's curious hands as they began to tug at the buttons on his shirt. "How was Mama, did she wish you a happy birthday?" He asked quietly into the boy's hair, not really expecting any sort of answer.

Talia had dropped by and seen the baby numerous times over the last few months, not that Bruce or anyone else had actually seen her, but he could always tell when she came. Bruce thought about his ex-lover quite often, without her and the aid she gave that day at Infinity Island, he wouldn't be holding this precious boy right now. He hoped she was all right, that Ra's hadn't taken the losses and humiliation he suffered that day out on her. Infinity Island was abandoned and he's sure they had set up somewhere else but, for now, Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins have remained under the radar. For their own sake, they had better not make any further attempts on his family.

"Alright, let's get you dressed. I know you don't like it but there's cake and presents downstairs waiting for you." Bruce murmured as he began to go through the motions of getting the fussy baby into his nice shirt and pants. A few minutes of struggling, and a few tears from Damian, and finally he met Alfred's standards of a young gentleman. His tanned nose was wrinkled while his balled fists brushed at his olive green eyes. Bruce picked up the unhappy boy and bounced him a few times to calm him down. "There we are, shh…" Dami's eyes lowered dreamily as he nuzzled up against his father's shoulder.

Whenever Damian was close to him like this, Bruce couldn't help but remember another, older Damian who had been so afraid that his father was going to disappear. Taking a discrete glance towards the nursery door, Bruce pulled out a drawer in Damian's changing area and pressed hidden button below revealing a false bottom. Within the area were a few bits and pieces of important data he'd kept secret from the others but, most importantly, it held a quickly scrawled note given to him by the other Damian.

He'd not only held onto the note but had gone over it hundreds of times, staring at the hastily written sentences from another universe as if they might help him in this one. Don't let Grayson slip away. Trust in him, was the first line, one Bruce took to heart every time he and Dick argued which happened more often than he liked. It had been hard to control his desire to protect the teen but he knew it was almost Dick's time to fly on his own. Just below that, almost as an after thought, was something about the sixth of June in 2016 and an MFD at the North Pole. Whatever happened there, he'd be prepared for it.

Keep Todd alive, help him, followed which always caused a tightness in his throat when he read that. Some of the team members of Young Justice had also quietly hinted that they found evidence on Infinity Island that Jason, another version of him anyway, had died quite young. Bruce would do everything in his power to see that the cheeky, sarcastic boy downstairs grew up happy and well-adjusted. After that was a warning about the Joker at Jim Gordon's place on a particular day and to protect Barbara Gordon.

There was a message concerning Tim, about keeping him integrated in the family and giving him the support when things went south for the boy. Damian didn't give any details to the trials Tim would eventually go through, but he knew that the family would be there for their little brother. The next line had frustrated him endlessly, a request for him to find the daughter of David Cain. He'd spent many nights searching for her but it was difficult with nothing but a name and sense of obligation to go on, but he would find Cassandra, eventually.

Then was the comment that Stephanie Brown, who was probably already harassing the party goers downstairs, was worthy of being a part of their team. So far Stephanie had no idea of the family's extracurriculars and he intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. However, if Stephanie showed any interest in vigilantism later on, Bruce would trust Damian's judgement and train her.

Finally, the last line, with the graphite pressed deeply into the page as if to emphasize it's importance. Don't leave them. Darkseid, 2020. He stared for a while longer at that line, one last attempt of a son to save his father's life. Bruce gently tucked the note back in it's hiding spot and closed the false bottom.

He knew his night job would kill him one day, it was inevitable, but that doesn't mean he wasn't going to meet that end with everything he had. When this Darkseid did come appear, some 10 years from now, Batman wasn't going to go down easy. He owed his family that much.

Bruce turned his attention back to the infant in his arms and gave him another bounce. "What do you say Damian? Are you ready go downstairs and have your party?" Dami gave him a chubby cheeked smile which Bruce returned, carrying the birthday boy down the stairs to the main dining room where most of the guests were gathered and waiting.

"Happy Birthday Damian!" They all collectively shouted as Bruce nudged open the door.

"And of course the guest of honor is fashionably late as usual." Alfred teased lightly from the side of the room, the smallest of smiles giving away his jest.

"Somethings are just genetic," Bruce replied with a shrug as he entered the room. It was decorated fully, with streamers and balloons and enough brightly colored plates and party accessories to make his eyes hurt. Damian was, of course, drawn to the large multicolored pile of presents all bearing his name.

"Ah ah, not yet Young Master Damian," Alfred intoned, noting Damian making grabbing motions at the packages. "First you must blow out the candle on your birthday cake, with some assistance from your father and brothers." There was a quiet little huff from around Alfred's hip, "And Ms Stephanie of course." He corrected as he walked out of the room to retrieve the cake. The other boys and Stephanie gathered tightly around him at the head of the table, talking loudly amongst themselves while Tim and Stephanie were making faces at baby Damian.

"Smile!" Clark said, snapping an impromptu photo of the six of them. The alien smiled as he looked at the picture on his camera. "Well I'm no Jimmy Olsen but I think that's a pretty good picture, I'll have to send it to you later."

"Soup!" Damian shouted gleefully, pointing directly at Clark. The majority of the guests chuckled quietly to themselves at Damian's comment, all except for Stephanie who didn't get the joke and was quite annoyed by it.

"No, Damian, cake!" She said just as Alfred came back into the room holding the beautifully crafted confection. He walked reverently across the room before gently setting the cake before the squirming child.

Alfred smiled warmly as he lit the single candle on top. "Happy Birthday Young Master Damian, may there be many more to come." Alfred said, pulling back and joining the others as they began to sing for the birthday boy. Bruce smiled as he watched the scene before him. One year ago he would have never expected to have three children living in his house and two more who might as well be his own. He never expected he would tolerate, much less enjoy, people from his hero life integrating comfortably into his civilian life. He never expected to be this happy after the murder of his parents.

His life has taken many turns since a wormhole opened up in the skies of Gotham nearly a year ago. The media circus following the adoption of Jason and the introduction of Damian had been a nightmare. Dealing with all the children, their needs and comforts, was downright impossible at times. Keeping all his promises, to his city, to his friends, to his family both in and out of costume was exhausting. But Bruce Wayne wouldn't have it any other way.

"Alright Damian," he whispered into the baby's ear as the others finished singing. "Let's blow out the candles and start your next year off right." The single candle was blown out and a new era began.

Well here we are, you and me, on the last page. Thank you everyone who read, reviewed, favorited. I reached 100 reviews the other day! I can't believe it thank you wow! As much as I complained, I really did enjoy writing this story and I've enjoyed sharing it even more. I hope you like the epilogue, filled to the brim with fluff as we get a sneak peek of events following the story. I didn't originally plan on doing this, but I've been keeping a list of headcanons for events during/after I&E. I'm posting it on tumblr but I think I'll put it up here next week as well for those who are interested in that sort of thing.