Author's note: With the recent changes in the Bat family, I decided that I needed to update this story. Jason's chapter will be followed by Damian's.

This chapter is being written on the day before Easter while I sit and listen to my standard "Writing" song list. And for the two writing sessions it's taking to create this chapter, one song keeps playing (honest to God) titled "Diversus and Lazarus" whose chorus goes:

"If I were alive again, in space of one half hour, I would make my peace secure, take (destroy) the Devil's power..."

Diversus and Lazarus by Steeleye Span (which follows "Bring me to Life" by Evanescence and is followed by "My Immortal" by Evanescence". What can I say? It's not only the readers who wanted me to write this chapter...

CHAPTER 7

JASON TODD

AGE 21

Jason wasn't the only member of the Bat clan who had doubts about this. Tim had quietly expressed his misgivings to Bruce, as had Damian. Dick just looked tense but said nothing. Only Alfred remained serene. "He is a son of the house," he said quietly. "And he has proven himself to be a reliable and dedicated member of this family."

"Only a year ago he almost killed me and Drake, not that killing Drake would be very difficult," Damian sniffed.

Tim glared at the little monster, but took up the argument. "Bruce, yeah I know, he's been behaving himself lately but it's suicide letting him into the house! He could wreck the place!"

Bruce sighed and turned to Dick. "All right, Dick, voice your objection."

Dick, hands in pants pockets, shrugged. "I've been trying to bring him in for a long time. I'm just glad that he finally listened to you, Bruce. I say make him welcome. He's family and thank God he finally remembers it."

Bruce's worried expression lightened a bit. "I invited him and he's coming. Everybody deserves a second chance, Damian." Bruce said, his gaze sweeping the small group, then boring into his youngest son's especially. "I think he's past his old behaviors. "And that's final. I expect all of you to treat him with courtesy and hospitality."

Jason arrived at seven o'clock sharp, wearing his customary jeans and leather jacket but there was no sign of his signature red mask. He looked even more nervous than any of his 'brothers'. Dick answered the door and smiled as he let Jason into the foyer.

"So, Jason, what's that you've got there?" Dick asked with raised eyebrows.

Jason held up some DVD's. "Alternative viewing. I remember that Bruce skews to old black and white movies. I thought I'd bring some stuff I ran into. Here..." He handed the disks to Dick, who read each title, his eyebrows raising with each one.

"Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's about a guy who wants to be a mad scientist and join the 'Evil League of Evil' but he just isn't evil enough. It's a hoot! And you take a look and see if Captain Hammer doesn't remind you of Superman."

"Okay..." Dick read the next one. "Fido?"

"Zombie movie about a boy and his pet zombie," Jason said with a grin. "It's heartwarming in all the wrong ways."

Dick grinned back. "Okay, I'm in, but I have no idea what Bruce is gonna say about this."

"Just put it into the player and see how he reacts," Jason said, pulling a final package out of the bag he carried. "I also brought some fresh strawberries. I know a farmer who grows these for the export market. Thought I'd help make the milkshakes?"

"Do you still remember how?" Dick challenged.

A brief look of loss crossed through Jason's eyes, then cleared. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I've dreamed about Alfred's shakes for...a long time." He turned to head towards the kitchen when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned back. It was Dick. "Yeah?"

"Welcome back, bro," he said with a smile. Jason brightened a bit and made his way into the kitchen.

Alfred was diligently working on the popcorn in the same old frying pan Jason had seen used years before. Tim and Damian were slicing strawberries and looked up when Jason arrived.

"I brought some more strawberries. They're from Bludhaven Farms." Uncertainly, he set down the package.

"Bludhaven Farms?" Alfred said with a smile. "Why those are the best to be had! Usually one can't buy any this side of Japan; they don't release any for local sale. However did you get some?"

Jason blushed and grinned back. "Connections. Do you want me to slice these up too?"

"Oh no, Lad," Alfred said "These are too good to cook with. No, I shall make a chocolate sauce and dip these. Can you take over the popcorn?"

Jason's courage failed him for a moment. It had been years and a death ago that he'd last popped corn under Alfred's direction. But Batman had raised him to face untold dangers and he wasn't going to give up now. "Sure, Alfie," he said. "You have the butter?"

Alfred's smile grew broader. "Right there, young sir. The popcorn is in the canister as usual. And do recall that Master Bruce prefers only a little salt on the popcorn."

Memories of happier times came flooding back into Jason's mind. "I remember, Alfie. Consider it done."

Jason looked around the counter for the canister, raising his hand and catching it with a "Fap!" when Tim, with a big grin, tossed his way. Jason grinned back, briefly realizing how long it had been since he'd smiled so much. With calm expertise, he made a large batch of popcorn while the scent of chocolate and butter filled the kitchen.

Damian slumped at the kitchen island, paying more attention to his iPod than anything else until Titus wandered in and stood next to Jason with hungry eyes. When Jason tossed the dog a couple of popped kernels, Damian straightened, ready to save his dog from whatever mayhem Jason planned, when Jason said, "Y'know, Damian, I used to have a dog when I was a little kid. It was a mutt from off the streets, but he loved me. A dog can be a good friend in bad times. I hope you take care of this one. Titus, isn't he?"

Damian nodded. "He's a great Dane. Father got him for me."

Jason gently ran a hand down Titus' head. "He's beautiful and the name suits him." He gave Titus some more popcorn and handed the big bowl to Damian. "You want to take this in?"

Damian found himself nodding before he realized it and was halfway to the movie room before he realized that he should feel resentful. On reflection, he put the feeling away. He'd been following Jason's orders when he was Wingman and Damian was Redbird. His trust hadn't been misplaced during that period. More important, Father and Grayson seemed to trust him. He'd wait and see.

The family assembled in the movie room, with Dick and Tim bickering as usual about the video settings.

"It's still green!" Dick insisted.

"No, it isn't. Unless you want to look at a bunch of red and pink people, this is the best it'll do," Tim said, defending the remote valiantly while Dick tried to take it away from him. Bruce charged them both, plucking it from Dick's hand and vaulting for his chair. Jason just watched with a smile.

Bruce sat in his usual place, the center chair of the new line of six. He was flanked by Dick on his right and Damian on his left. Alfred sat in his chair next to Dick and Tim in his, next to Damian. Jay, in the new leather chair placed next to the window, sat nervously, still not sure of his welcome. He had his strawberry shake, courtesy of Alfred, and his bowl of popcorn provided by Damian and had a moment of unreality. He was sitting here, in the Wayne mansion, with his...family. Death and the Joker had robbed him of this, but not forever. He was back and could still have what he'd lost...

Bruce held the remote and glanced along the line of his sons and for once the emotion showed, slowly lighting his face, the pride and happiness fairly surrounding him like a halo. "I'm glad to have the entire family here," he said, voice deepening. "I can't tell you how incredibly proud I am of each of you." He cleared his throat at the unaccustomed emotion and hit the 'play' button. Dick and Jason shared impish glances as "Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog" began to play. After a few minutes, Bruce looked puzzled. "Did you pick this out, Jason?" he finally said.

Before Jason could get defensive, Dick broke in. "We both decided it would be fun to see. C'mon, Bruce. You can't say you take what we do all that seriously. Okay, maybe you do. But I remember a few incompetent mad scientists who had our sympathy back in the day. And besides, who does Captain Hammer remind you of?"

Reluctantly, Bruce cracked a smile. "Okay, you have a point. But don't you dare tell him I said so!" He clicked the DVD back on.

Storm over, the entire family leaned back in their chairs and soon all was silence but for the crunching noises of popcorn. Titus, of course, was responsible for cleanup of all popcorn that fell to the floor.

During the movies, Jason was aware that Bruce's gaze kept returning to him. It made him feel nervous, being watched like that. He had to keep reminding himself that Bruce wasn't an enemy any mo...No, he had never been an enemy anywhere except in Jason's own mind. He sighed. The Pit had left a lot of debris in his psyche. It was going to take a long time to clear it all out.

Dick sat back in his chair and thoroughly enjoyed watching Tim and Damian laugh at the movies. Jason grinned and clearly enjoyed watching his brothers getting into his movie choices. But what Dick enjoyed most was seeing Bruce relax and bask in the presence of family. He suspected that had Bruce's parents survived, his adoptive father would have married young and happily raised a dozen kids. This was as close as Bruce could get, but Dick was glad to see him happy at last.

HOURS LATER

A protesting Damian was forced to bed by Alfred, followed by a reluctant Tim who had been up all night patrolling the evening before. It left the three eldest members of the team drinking coffee in front of the fire in Bruce's study.

"I'm glad you decided to watch movies with us tonight," Bruce said, hesitantly, conscious that Jason was still touchy in spots. "This will always be your home, Jason, if you want it."

"I know, Bruce," Jason said, face showing regret. "I just wish I'd come to my sense sooner. Dick, I'm sorry..."

"Water under the bridge, Jay," Dick said, sipping his coffee. "I knew that the real you was still in there, somewhere; when I was filling in for Bruce, you just weren't ready yet. I'm simply glad you're back, Little Wing. Brothers?" He reached out a hand.

"Brothers," Jason clasped the proffered hand and they shook. "But if you ever call me 'Little Wing' again, I'm gonna clock you."