A few weeks later, Tim and Cassie found themselves on babysitting duty with the twins. Barbara had locked herself in the Oracle's lair to deal with not only the current Birds of Prey mission, but the intergalactic mission Dick was on with the Titans. Since Jimmy and M.K. were with them for the day, Tim decided to take them on a little day trip, and invited Cissie along. To make things more bearable for everyone, they took the train from Gotham to New York, where a visit to the Museum of Natural History was in order. Luckily, Jimmy and M.K. were fascinated with the passing scenery so Tim was able to focus on Cissie. She too was gazing out the window, but not at the scenery. She started when Tim reached across and touched her hand.

"Sorry," he grinned bashfully.

She smiled back.

"You okay?" Tim continued.

Cissie simply nodded. "Mmhmm," she assured him.

Tim furrowed his brow. Something was off. "Cissie, please. Something's bugging you."

Cissie smirked. "I guess I can't get anything past the World's Greatest Detective."

"That's Batman."

"Close enough."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Cissie sighed. "Tim, I just want to enjoy my day out with you and the kids. Please."

'You and the kids,' Tim repeated the words in his head and immediately blushed as images of him and Cissie with kids of their own swarmed his brain. "Yeah, okay, sorry," he answered and squeezed her hand. She smiled back at him and leaned across to kiss him.

This immediately brought giggles from their underage companions. M.K., being the bolder of the two, started sing-songing, "Uncle Tim and Cissie, sitting in a cave, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"Alright you two," Tim growled playfully as he reached over to tickle M.K..

Cissie raised an eyebrow. "A cave?"

While still tickling M.K., Tim put on a mock-serious face and explained, "Their father has a twisted sense of humor."

Kyle sat in front of the full-sized mammoth skeleton, sketching furiously. He had just begun to flesh out the skeleton on his sketch pad when a shadow fell across his paper. Kyle sighed. He looked up to find himself face to face with two big blue eyes.

"Whatcha doin'?" the pint-sized intruder asked.

Kyle couldn't help but smile. "I'm drawing."

"Whatcha drawing a skeleton for?"

"Well, the skeleton was just to help me get the form right. Now I'm starting on the muscles."

"But there's just a skeleton here."

"I know, but I'm using my imagination."

The girl's eyes widened. "I know how to do that!"

"You do?"

"Uh huh. Papa Bruce says if I was any more creative, they'd have to lock me up in Arkham!"

That last statement gave Kyle pause. Who would tell a kid they belonged in Arkham? The kid didn't seem to mind what her Papa Bruce said, though, so Kyle forced a little chuckle.

"M.K.," a young blonde woman rushed up. "M.K. what did we say about you running off like that? I'm sorry, sir- Kyle?"

Kyle smiled "Cissie?"

"Omigod, how long has it been?" she moved to hug Kyle.

Kyle hugged her back. "Too long," he muttered, daring a whiff of her hair. It always smelled like honey.

"Okay, Jimmy, let's go find the girls," Tim took his nephew's hand in his as they exited the men's room.

"Uncle Tim?"

"Yes, Jimmy?"

"Are you gonna marry Cissie?"

Tim stopped in his tracks and squatted to eye level with the boy. "Where did you get an idea like that?"

"You love her, right?"

"Well, yes."

"Then why not marry her?"

"Well, um, we haven't been together all that long. There's still a lot we need to learn about each other…" Tim started rambling.

Jimmy rolled his eyes and grabbed his uncle's hand. "Come on. Let's go find the girls."

When Jimmy and Tim found the girls, Tim's heart almost stopped. There was Cissie hugging some man. No, not just some man- Green Lantern! Or rather, Kyle Rayner. And Kyle Rayner was sniffing his girlfriend's hair! Tim quickened his pace. He immediately wrapped his arm around Cissie and kissed her on the cheek.

Cissie blushed. "Kyle, this is my boyfriend, Tim Drake. Tim, this is a family friend, Kyle Rayner. He lives here in New York."

Tim smiled a huge, fake grin. "Pleased to meet you Kyle," he shook Kyle's hands a bit more firmly than necessary. Kyle matched him in kind.

"Pleasure's all mine, Tim."

"You must be a friend of Connor's." Cissie raised an eyebrow at that comment.

"I am. We go way back."

"That's great."

"Well, I should get back to…" Kyle indicated his sketchpad.

"Of course. It was nice to meet you, Kyle"

"You too, Tim. See you around Cissie." He gave Cissie a little hug, "M.K."

"Bye, Kyle," Cissie smiled. "Don't be a stranger, okay?"

Kyle smiled a genuine smile this time. "Sure thing, Ciss."

"Uncle Tim, look!" M.K. bellowed, much to the chagrin of the other museum visitors. She'd found the Saber Tooth Tiger in the next room.

"Excuse us, duty calls," Tim declared, eagerly pushing Cissie and Jimmy in M.K.'s direction.

Kyle sighed, watching Cissie go. He should have known she'd have a boyfriend. Oh well, he was an artist, wasn't he? Unrequited love should help him with his work.

Tim and Cissie found themselves at one of the playgrounds in Central Park with the twins. Jimmy and M.K. were playing on the swings together, leaving their babysitters alone for once.

"So," Cissie began between bites of her hotdog, "you want to tell me what the hell that was about back there?"

"What what was all about?" Tim feigned innocence.

"Why you suddenly felt the need to get into a pissing contest with Kyle?" Tim shrugged. "Come on, Tim. You may as well have clubbed me over the head and dragged me back to your cave."

Tim smirked. "Would you have liked that?"

Cissie laughed. "Not the point, Tim." She finished her hotdog and commenced to wipe her hands with a napkin.

"Well, did you see the way he was looking at you?" Tim asked indignantly.

"Tim, what are you talking about? Kyle's just a friend. A friend of Connor's even."

"A friend who happens to be in love with you," Tim grumbled.

"What? Tim, you're not making sense, now."

"Cissie, I saw the way he was with you. The way he looks at you and talks to you. You don't act that way with a girl you aren't totally head over heels for."

Cissie sighed and ran her fingers through Tim's hair. "Tim...okay, suppose you're right—and you're not…You aren't honestly worried about Kyle, are you?"

"Cissie…I just love you so much. I don't want to lose you."

"Tim, you're not going to lose me."

"I lost you before."

A wave of guilt swept over Cissie. "I…I know. I was angry then. And confused."

"I know. But, god, those six months without you, knowing I'd hurt you, hurt like hell."

Cissie sighed. "Tim, look at me." When he turned to her, she took his face gently in both hands. "Tim, that's all behind us now. You have me now, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I love you."

Tim smiled and kissed her. "Okay," he began, "now you know what's been on my mind. Now you have to tell me why've been so… not here today."

Cissie let out a nervous laugh. "You bats don't forget anything, do you?"

"Nope."

"I'm just worried about Mom. She's not responding to her treatment very well."

"How long has this been going on?"

"About a week."

"Cissie, why didn't you say something? I could've handled the twins by myself. You didn't have to come with us if you wanted to be with Bonnie."

"Actually, I did. Mom threatened to relinquish my visitation rights if I didn't 'get the hell out of her face and go have some goddamn fun.' Her words."

"Visitation rights? She's in the main hospital again?" Cissie nodded. "Ciss, why didn't you say something? I want to be there for you, but how can I do that if you keep me in the dark?"

"I know, Tim, I'm sorry, it's just…" tears streamed out of Cissie's eyes. "It's just—I know it's irrational, but it's like… if I tell anyone, it comes true, you know? Like, if I keep it a secret, maybe it will go away."

"Shh," Tim pulled her into his arms. "It's okay. I'm here."

Kyle couldn't concentrate on his sketch. He was just too infuriated. He couldn't tell who he was angrier at, though; this guy—Tim—or himself. He knew it was idiotic to fall in love with Cissie. She was more than ten years his junior, and Connor's sister to boot. More than that, Ollie scared the crap out of him. It was a good thing no one knew how he felt about Cissie. He hadn't even told Connor. Suddenly, a smile spread across his face. He whipped out his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Connor, what's up? … So, you meet this guy Cissie's dating?"

Tim pulled up to his apartment building. He was exhausted. The twins were a lot to keep up with. He didn't know how Dick and Babs did it. Luckily, the kids had worn themselves out and fallen asleep on the train ride home, after which they went to spend the night at the Manor with their Papa Bruce. Tim and Cissie continued on to Hudson U and sat with Bonnie awhile.

Bonnie… did not look good, Tim had to admit. She'd never been in the best health, what with all her cigarette smoking, but this was definitely the worst he'd seen her yet. He didn't want to say anything to Cissie, but he knew Bonnie's prospects were bleak. She'd been in and out of remission over the last eight years, and now that her body was not responding to the treatments… it was only a matter of time.

Cissie had sacrificed everything for her mother—her education, her career, and her social life. Okay, well, none of them really had a social life, having grown up in the superhero community, but even Cassie, Cissie's best friend, was not around to support her, due to the war on Themiscyra. Cissie needed Tim. It was nice to feel needed. Oh sure, Batman needed Robin, but that was different. He was just a good soldier to the Bat. But Cissie needed Tim. No one had ever wanted or needed Tim before.

Tim unlocked his apartment door. Cissie had wanted to stay with her mom awhile longer, so Tim decided to head back home and catch a nap before he went out on patrol that night. As he shut the door her heard a twang and a thunk. Much to Tim's surprise, he saw an arrow quivering next to his ear, its head lodged into the door.

Tim turned quickly, ready to defend himself against whatever intruder had breached his security system. Before he could assess the situation completely, three more arrows shot out, all from different directions. Two pegged Tim's shirtsleeves to the door; the third pinned the hem of his shirt down. A man emerged from the shadows. As he approached, Tim recognized him.

Green Arrow barreled toward him, slamming the door-Tim and all- shut. "Stay away from my daughter!" he growled.