The loud wails of a crying baby filled the cave and disturbed the slumbering bats resting above them. Bruce moved away from him, carrying a small sample of blood and placed the sample into the batcomputer to analyze. The new born kicked and screamed at the loss of human contact. Dick sat on the gurney next to the baby, gently rubbing his belly to calm him. Bruce turned away from the computer as it did its work to watch Dick. He saw Dick's eye brows draw closer together as the infant cried. He was staring at the babe but seemed to be seeing passed him. He had been abnormally quiet through this whole ordeal and even now Bruce could tell he was lost. Dick was only a fourteen-year-old boy who was being forced into something that he shouldn't have to experience for at least ten more years. Bruce's eyes narrowed. It's all that wretched little girls fault. What right does she have forcing this child onto his son when she was the one responsible? And where was Zatara in all of this? Why wasn't he there that night? Why didn't he stop it?

As Bruce stood, brooding, Dick's mind wondered as he absent mindedly drew circles on the baby's belly. Why was this happening to him? He didn't ask for this. He was too young to be a father. Would he even be a good one? What if he screwed up? The beeping of the computer brought both men out of their thoughts. The analysis was complete, ninety-eight point six percent. "I'm sorry Dick." Bruce mumbled.

Dick gulped. He didn't know if he was relieved or upset that Jackson was his son. He gazed down at the baby, who had stopped crying but continued to whimper. Dick reached over and gentle pick him up, awkwardly holding him trying to find the best position. The baby squirmed but instantly quieted. "Looks like he likes you." Bruce whispered.

Dick nodded once. He gazed up at his guardian. "Bruce, what's going to happen now?'

Bruce sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know, Dick. I guess we just take this one step at a time."

BREAKLINE!

The next few days passed slowly with the new baby taking up a lot of their time. Since getting proof of their relation, Dick had distanced himself from the babe, refusing to even look at his son. Bruce had been spending more time at work, which left the babysitting duties to Alfred.

He was currently attempting to change the dirty diaper on the screaming infant. The young master was sitting in the next room, attempting to work on a school project. Alfred could see him through the opened French doors. With every heart-wrenching scream, Dick flinched and stole a glance in their direction.

"Master Richard," Alfred called over the noise of the infant.

Dick jumped at the mention of his name. "Y-yeah, Alfred?"

"Would you care to help me put Master Jackson down for his afternoon nap?" He asked hoping that he could stir the young father from his quiet self-pity.

Dick eyes widened. "Ah, I can't. I have to finish this project by tomorrow. I-It counts for fifteen percent of my grade." He stuttered.

Alfred sighed and walked passed Dick, carrying the whimpering babe. He stopped and turned back. "You can't ignore him forever, Master Richard. He is here whether you like it or not." He said before continuing out the door.

Dick bit his lip and gazed down at his project. He knew that what Alfred said was true, but he couldn't do it. Admitting that the baby was his, that this was permanent, made it all real. Made what happened with Zatanna real and all he wanted to do was forget. Forget everything.

Dick put down his penciled and rubbed his eyes. As much as he wished he wasn't, he knew that Alfred was right. Jackson was here and he wasn't leaving any time soon.

BREAKLINE!

It had barely been an hour before Alfred came back into the room with Jackson and a bottle of formula. "Master Dick, would you mind feeding little Master Jackson. I need to start supper." Alfred said as he deposited the baby and bottle in Dick's arms without waiting for a response.

Dick sifted awkwardly with the unfamiliar weight. "Wait, Alfred, I don't know how to-" he started but Alfred was already gone. Dick stared down at Jackson with a lost and fearful look. Jackson began to squirm and whine at the smell of the warm formula. Dick took a deep breath and moved Jackson into a more comfortable position and gently touched the nipple of the bottle to the infant's lips. It took a moment and a little coaxing, but soon Jackson latched on and began to suckle. Dick stared down in wonder at the tiny person in his arms. Warmth began to fill him from the top of his head down to the tips of his toes. As he watched the baby drink, he couldn't help the small smile that formed.

Watching from around the corner, Alfred let out a small smile of his own.