A/N: Hey everyone! I see I'm starting to get some followers! keep leaving me reviews and I'll keep updating. This is a bit earlier than I was intending to post but... enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Clark Kent

December 18th

Wayne Manor

"I can't believe they sent me all the way out to Gotham."

Clark tried to hide the roll of his eyes as Lois complained about it yet again. "It's a perfectly good story." He said. "Besides, it's benefiting Metropolis Orphanages. We should be glad about that."

"I'm not saying I'm not happy about that." Lois snapped. "I should be in Metropolis to do that report on Superman. But instead I get sent to do an interview with Bruce Wayne." Lois grumbled. "And to do some stupid report about Batman as well."

"I heard he's ok." Clark tried to say. He wasn't sure if he was referring to Bruce or Batman.

Lois obviously didn't think he knew Batman though, so she just snorted. "I hear he's Gotham trash. Rich, spoiled, and stupid."

Clark bit his lip. That was, of course, what Bruce wanted everyone to think. He always felt like he should defend his friend though. After all, Bruce risked his neck every day as Batman. But of course, he couldn't say that, so instead he said, "I'm sure he's not that bad. He's helping out orphans, Lois."

Even as he said this, his eyes trailed to the other side of the room where currently three blondes had attached themselves onto Bruce's arms. The way he was laughing with them and what they were talking about made him doubt his friend though.

"So are a ton of other celebrities. How much do you think they actually care about the kids anyway?" She sighed. "At least we got to go to a party. That's something right?"

Clark smiled slightly. "Right." He agreed, despite how much he hated these types of events.

"I mean, I already got interviews with the mayor and two men who saw the Batman themselves. That's something." Lois sighed and studied the ballroom floor again. "Oh, there is Mr. Harnighan. Let's see if we can get a quick interview."

She hurried off without another word and Clark hurried to follow her. It was like this all night. Despite his best attempts he couldn't get Lois to calm down and dance with him. Instead she spent the night griping about how she didn't like Bruce and going and interviewing everyone she could get her hands on.

It wasn't until after the party that Bruce decided to come over to them. Clark bet he did it just to annoy him. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he felt like Bruce was ignoring him.

He hadn't heard from the man much over the past few months. Batman attended the Justice League missions, but that was it. He was only there when he had to be. Maybe something was going on in Gotham that was taking all his time up? He supposed they'd find out soon enough.

Bruce walked over to the two, smiling warmly. "Hello Miss Lane, Mr. Kent. Thank you for coming all the way out here. I'm terribly sorry that I wasn't able to see you earlier."

"You were otherwise occupied. It's fine." Clark said with a fake smile. He supposed you could consider those blundering blondes as being 'otherwise occupied'.

"Either way, I'm sorry for the inconvenience." Bruce said.

"Oh it was no inconvenience at all, Mr. Wayne." Lois said. Clark's eyes darted to her and he was shocked to see him smiling brightly. His eyes flitted back to Bruce. "We were happy to come."

"Thank you again. Please, come this way." Bruce opened a door that led into the main part of the manor. "You'll be much more comfortable in the study." He held out his arm for Lois and she almost giggled as she took it. "Miss Lane, or may I call you Lois?"

"Lois is perfectly fine, Mr. Wayne."

"Then you must call me Bruce."

"As you wish, Bruce."

Clark's eyes widened. They were flirting. Lois was flirting with Bruce. And, if the slight smirk Bruce sent at him was any indication, Bruce was doing it just to annoy Clark.

They went into the study where Bruce one again apologized. "If you'll excuse me for just a moment longer I have to check on something. I'll be right back." He promised. Lois yet again went out of her way to assure him that it was ok.

"You like him." Clark said stiffly.

"Who, Bruce?" She asked. Her eyes were practically glued to the door.

"Yes, Bruce."

"He's more handsome than I thought." She said with a smile.

"I don't want him to hurt you."

Lois laughed. "Calm down, Farm Boy. I didn't say I wanted to marry him or anything."

Clark wasn't so sure.

When Bruce came back she began the interview about how Wayne Enterprises was helping charities in Metropolis. Every other sentence seemed to be her and Bruce flirting. Clark would have felt better if it was only Bruce, but it seemed that Lois had fallen for him like most other women. Every time he'd try to but in to stop the flirting Bruce would easily pull Lois back in. Darn that man….

Clark sighed and leaned back in his seat. If he focused on something else, maybe seeing Lois flirting with his friend would be easier. There was the clicking of the clock… the soft shifts in the wood of the house… their five heartbeats.

Clark froze. Five? There was him, Bruce, Lois, and Alfred. Who was the fifth? He listened harder. It was a smaller heart beat.

He glanced at Bruce and around the room again. It was coming from upstairs. Now he listened intently. For minutes all he heard was the heart beat and small soft breaths from the room upstairs. Then, later, he heard a soft pitter patter of feet. Someone was upstairs. They were moving around.

He hoped desperately that whatever woman Bruce had decided should spend the night wasn't coming downstairs. That may help Bruce's playboy image, but he didn't want Lois upset.

The footsteps came closer. They paused outside the door for a moment, listening in. Then, very slowly, the door creaked open.

Bruce immediately stopped talking. He quickly excused himself and went to the door. "What's the matter?" He asked in a soft voice.

"I was lonely." An even softer voice answered.

Lois and Clark shared a confused look.

"I'm finishing up an interview. I'll be there soon. Go… watch TV."

There was a weak sound. "Can't I stay?"

"Why don't you go help Alfred?"

"Oh…" The sound was disappointed.

He saw Bruce sigh and shake his head. "Never mind." He murmured. "You have to be quiet though." Bruce sound defeated.

Then, Bruce knelt down. When he stood up again there was a tiny boy in his arms.

Clark blinked. No, that really was a little boy.

The child had soft black hair. He was wearing pajamas and carrying a blanket with him. When the child turned to look at them Clark noticed that he had very blue eyes.

Bruce sat now, pulling the child into his lap. The boy looked from Clark to Lois. He snuggled closer to Bruce, obviously not liking them very much.

"This is Richard Grayson," Bruce said to them, "He's my…son."

Clark choked. Son?

"Oh! This is Richard." Lois breathed. "I read about-" She quickly cut off.

"Yes." Bruce agreed quickly. "Richard is going to stay for the rest of the interview. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Maybe we could talk with him a bit too." Lois suggested. She smiled at the boy.

Richard just hid his face from them.

Clark started in amazement. Bruce? Son? Richard? What had happened? He'd obviously missed something.

From habit, he kept away from any news involving Bruce Wayne. He knew Batman hated when he intruded upon his privacy so he usually didn't read anything about him. Besides, most of it was fake. But obviously he'd missed something very big.

He glanced at his friend. He certainly wasn't married. Something like that would have been all over the papers. But how had Clark missed something about Bruce having a son? Who was his mother then? Why hadn't Bruce told him?

Clark studied the child. He was young. Probably only five or six. He was tiny though and the way he was acting made him seem even younger. He clung to Bruce and stared up at him with those large innocent blue eyes. When Clark or Lois tried to make eye contact he'd quickly look away from them.

"Bruce?" Richard whispered.

"Yes?" Bruce immediately cut off what he'd been saying to look at the child.

The boy didn't say anything more. Bruce frowned a moment but let it go.

The interview continued, luckily without flirting though. Every couple minutes the child would whisper Bruce's name then immediately stop talking. Clark was beginning to think that was the only thing the child could say.

"What is it, Dick?" Bruce finally asked, annoyance seeping into his tone.

The child's eyes filled with tears. For the first time Clark had ever seen, Bruce looked panicked.

"Dick?" He questioned again, much gentler this time. "Dick, what's wrong? What happened?"

Richard gave a soft whimper. He buried his face deep into Bruce's chest and gave a sob. Bruce's arms tightened around the boy.

"Nightmare?" He asked softly.

Dick nodded furiously.

"Ok…" Bruce stood now, gently bouncing the child on his hip. He turned to Clark and Lois. "I'm terribly sorry, but the interview will have to end here. You can come back tomorrow if you wish." He gave a nod and left without another word to them. Outside Clark caught the sounds of Bruce crooning over the boy, assuring him that he was safe, and berating him for not saying anything earlier.

"He has a son?" Clark demanded once he and Lois were in a taxi back to their hotel. "When did he get married?"

Lois laughed. "He isn't biological. Richard is adopted."I doubt he'll ever get married."

"I didn't think Bruce would have adopted." Clark muttered, practically ignoring her.

Lois shrugged. "Until now I didn't know what to make of it. It seems as though he cares for the kid though." She grinned slightly. "It goes completely against his playboy image."

"I know."

That's what confused him even more. If Bruce was determined to keep up the charade of being a playboy millionaire, adopting- or whatever the kid was- didn't seem to keep that image.

He thought over it in silence, even when they came to the hotel. He tired to sleep, but all he could think about was that kid. What in the world had possessed Bruce? He barely took care of himself. How could he take care of a child as well? And what about Batman? How would he expect the child to keep that a secret?

Finally he couldn't stand it. He'd have to pay Batman a visit.

He flew around the city three times but didn't see him. Usually Batman would be out on patrol. Superman frowned deeply and hurried towards Wayne Manor. Bruce would be angry to see him appear in his costume, but he didn't care at this point. He needed to know what was going on.

Alfred greeted him at the door and hurried him in, as if he was expecting Superman coming in that late. "Master Bruce is in the kitchen with Master Dick." Alfred said sternly. "Perhaps you'd wish to change first, Master Clark?"

It obviously wasn't a suggestion. Superman followed Alfred to a guest bedroom where some clothes had already been laid out for him. He wasn't sure if it was Bruce or Alfred who had already guessed he'd come.

When he was once again back to being Clark Kent, Alfred led him to the kitchen. The sight that greeted him shocked Clark.

Bruce was leaning against the counter, smiling. On top of the counter was the same small boy. He was sipping a milkshake slowly. In one arm his blanket was clutched tightly and in the other he clutched Bruce's sleeve as if he'd disappear. Bruce was murmuring soft words and rubbing Dick's back.

When Clark stepped into the room Dick's wide eyes looked up at him. "Who's that?" Dick whispered.

"That's Clark Kent." Bruce said without even turning around. "He's a friend."

"Oh." Dick's eyes didn't leave his face.

"Bruce, we need to talk." Clark spoke up.

"We can talk here." Bruce turned to him. Richard clutched tightly at Bruce's arm, obviously fearing the older man was leaving. Bruce smiled at him again.

"You adopted."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because."

Clark ground his teeth. Darn this man….

"Master Bruce?" Alfred came in, clearing his throat. "There was a call from work." He nodded purposefully to the window where Clark could just make out the Batsignal.

Bruce sighed, looking from Dick to the window. "I'll be right there."

"Don't go." Dick begged softly.

"I'll be back soon." Bruce promised. "Stay and talk with Clark, ok?"

Dick's lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. But, bravely, the boy nodded. Bruce gave him another smile. "Good boy." He murmured. He kissed the child's forehead and hurried away.

Clark stared after him for a moment. What?

"Mr. Clark?" Dick's voice was soft.

He quickly turned his attention to the child. The boy looked like he was going to cry. Without thinking, Clark had grabbed a box of tissues off the table and thrust it into the child's lap. Dick gave him a watery smile in return. "Thanks." He mumbled. He just stared at the box for awhile.

"Were you coming to interview Bruce again?" Dick asked softly.

"Um…yes." He lied. He knew he was staring at the child, but he honestly didn't know what to think.

"I'm sorry for interrupting." Dick said. "Bruce tells me not to… but the nightmares… I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Clark hastened to assure him.

Dick gave him a tentative smile. "You seem nicer than most of the reporters." He said.

Clark chuckled. "Yes… Gotham has some-"

"hell hounds." Dick supplied. Clark's eyebrows rose and Dick flushed. "That's what Bruce called them." He mumbled in embarrassment.

"That's rather accurate." Clark said.

"What were you asking him about?"

"His organization was helping orphanages where I live."

"Oh, right." Dick nodded. "That stuff." He took a slow sip of his milkshake. "Where do you live?"

"Metropolis."

"With Superman?"

Clark couldn't help but smile. "Yes. Superman lives there too."

"Can he really fly?"

"Yes."

Dick's eyes were bright when he looked up at him. "I love to fly." He said wistfully… "When I'd fly with mommy and daddy…." The boy trailed off and gave a soft sob. He quickly shook his head. "It was different." He mumbled, "Not the same as Superman… but…."

"Are- are you ok?" Clark didn't know what to do as the tears coursed down Dick's face.

Dick nodded furiously but his tears didn't agree. They streamed down his face with furry and he gave a loud sob. Clark looked around but Alfred wasn't nearby. He was probably off helping Batman.

"What should I… is there something… uh…."

Without any warning the child had thrown himself into Clark's arms, sobbing away. The man quickly hugged him back, not sure what else to do.

"I miss mommy and daddy." Dick whispered in a choked sob. He buried his face in Clark's shirt.

"I'm sorry." Clark murmured. He didn't know what had happened, but he felt awful.

Dick gave another sob and clung to Clark. "You feel safe." He whispered. "Like Bruce."

Clark glanced around again but the butler was nowhere in sight. He didn't know what to do to calm the child. When he was Superman, just the fact that he was Superman made the kids happy.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. That was a question his Ma always asked him.

Dick shook his head. He gave a strangled sob. But he began to speak anyway. "They fell." He whispered. "I saw them fall."

"Fall?"

"We were… the flying graysons." He whimpered. "Trapeze artists. And… they fell. And I couldn't save them." Dick pulled back from Clark and grabbed a handful of Kleenex. "B-bruce tells me it isn't my fault… but I feel like… like I should have…"

"Bruce is right." Clark said firmly. Inside his mind was going crazy. This poor little boy had seen his parents fall to their deaths. Just like Bruce. The "why?" had been answered.

"I know, but I…" Dick shrugged weakly. He turned his face away, too embarrassed to continue.

All Clark wanted was to make the boy smile. He didn't want him so upset. "I…. I'll let you in on a secret." He said suddenly. Dick's eyes met his, confused. "I know Superman."

He didn't know where the words had come from but the words had the desired effect. Dick looked at him without tears. "Really?" He whispered.

"Yes. He's actually a really good friend of mine. Batman too."

"I know Batman." Dick said with a tiny smile. "He was there… that day." He took a shuddering breath before continuing. "He was nice."

"He is." Clark agreed. He began to rub Dick's back and the boy relaxed. "Would you like me to tell you about them?"

Dick nodded. "Please."

And so, Clark spoke. He spoke of his and Batman's adventures. He told Dick how they battled Luthor and Joker and the other villains. He didn't want to stop talking because as long as he did, Dick wasn't sad. He'd even smiled and laughed.

Bruce returned and stood in the doorway, listening as Clark finished up yet another story. It wasn't until the last word had been spoken that Dick realized he was there.

A smile came over the boy's face and he bounded off towards his guardian. Bruce picked the child up easily, a soft smile on his face as well.

"Clark knows Superman." Dick said immediately. "And Batman."

"Does he now?" Bruce gave Clark a look but all and all he didn't seem too upset.

Dick nodded. "He told me stories." Dick snuggled closer to Bruce with a soft yawn. "I'm not scared anymore."

"Good." Bruce murmured. His hands stroked Dick's hair. "Do you think you can sleep?"

"Yea." Was the sleepy response. Tired blue eyes looked up at him. "Stay with you?"

"You can stay." He replied. This seemed all the reassurance the boy needed. Soon he was fast asleep in Bruce's arms.

Clark honestly didn't know what to say now. He coughed. "Um… he's a good kid."

"I know." Bruce waited, knowing that there were questions that Clark wanted to ask.

"I should go." Clark said instead. He barely gave Bruce a chance before he was rushing away.

He had questions to ask but he didn't know what to think right now. Maybe a good night's rest would help.

December 19th

A Resturant in Gotham City

"I see you aren't too upset today." Clark said glumly to Lois. The lady in question was wearing her best outfit and kept smoothing imaginary wrinkles in the fabric and checking her makeup. "Yesterday you kept complaining about how you hated to be in Gotham."

"Yesterday I didn't have the scoop on Batman." Lois said with a flash of teeth. "And yesterday I didn't know how Bruce really was."

Clark sighed. "Lois…."

"He's not as self centered as one was lead to believe." Lois continued. "Did you know he called me this morning? He apologized and he even sent flowers to my room!" Lois smiled happily. "And even seeing him with the kid shows how caring a person he really is."

Jealously left him as Clark remembered the boy. He'd thought about him all night. There were so many questions he wanted to ask about him. Was Bruce the right person to be taking care of him? What would he do about being Batman? What was he going to do with the child?

Lois cut into his thoughts. "Speaking of the kid, I have a hunch that Bruce started this charity because of the kid. Since he's an orphan and all, you know?"

"So is Bruce." Clark pointed out.

She shrugged. "Yea, but that isn't the scoop we want. I mean, we can add it. What we need is to portray Bruce in a new light as well." She would have kept talking but at that moment Bruce walked into the restaurant. Lois sat up straighter and her smile grew wider. Clark just sighed deeply.

"Lois!" Bruce greeted happily. "It's wonderful to see you again."

"It's wonderful to see you too Bruce." Lois agreed readily.

"Hi Mr. Kent." A soft voice said. Clark jerked when Richard's tiny hear appeared from behind Bruce's form. The boy gave him a tiny wave.

"Today my Butler has the day off, so I brought Richard. I hope you don't mind." Bruce apologized with a small smile.

"Of course not." Lois said.

They sat to continue the interview. Clark only half listened. The rest of him focused on the boy and Bruce. Dick sat beside his guardian, kicking his legs and looking around in awe. He seemed happier than last night for which Clark was glad.

"One thing we were wondering, Bruce, is your reasoning to support the orphanages." Lois spoke up.

"My reasoning? What other reason do I need? The children need someplace much better than what they have." Bruce's words were followed by a head nod from Dick.

"Some people were speculating that your... son ... had something to do with it?" Lois suggested, digging for her comment.

Bruce nodded. "Richard does, of course." He said. "When I visited him in the orphanage I was able to see how bad things were." His eyes trailed to the boy.

"It smelled." Dick said softly. "Like the elephants' poop."

Lois frowned at the comment. "Can you describe it for me, Richard?"

The boy closed his mouth tightly and shook his head. He looked at the ground, blushing. Bruce placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "He's shy." He offered as condolence.

Lois smiled brightly at the boy. "That's alright. Richard, is there anything you'd want to say about the Orphanages? Anything people should know?"

Dick looked up at Bruce. "You can talk if you want." Bruce said gently. Dick just shook his head again, this time gnawing at his lip.

Lois continued finishing up the interview. Clark just sighed. She was dragging it out, longer and longer. Bruce could obviously tell this, but he didn't seem to mind. Probably, once again, just to annoy Clark.

"Mr. Wayne, if I could," Lois was saying now, "What is your opinion on the Batman?"

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know Batman had anything to do with orphanages."

"He visited me there." Dick spoke up, startling them all again.

"He what?" Lois asked.

Dick blushed and looked at the floor.

"What happened, Dick?" Clark asked, genuinely interested.

"He visited me at the orphanage." Dick whispered softly. He looked up to meet Clark's eyes. "He brought me Peanut."

"His stuffed elephant." Bruce clarified. Bruce frowned at the boy. "How do you know Batman brought that for you?"

"He brought the rest of my stuff that the police hadn't picked up for me to your house, remember?" Dick asked.

"That was the police." Bruce said.

Dick shook his head. "Nope. It was Batman." He said cheerfully. Bruce frown but he let it go.

Clark however was just more confused. Had Bruce brought him the stuff? He could just be pretending not to know so as to throw off his secret identity. But, on the other hand, it didn't sound like something Batman would do. Maybe Dick had just seen Batman's silhouette and assumed. After all, he had Batman living in his house. It wouldn't be much of a surprise.

Lois was frowning, chewing now at the end of her pencil. "Well that goes against what most people are saying about him. Tell me, Richard, what does Batman look like?"

"A…bat?" Richard tilted his head to the side, as if not understanding his question.

"I mean, is he human? How tall is he? What does he sound like?" Lois started streaming a bunch of questions. "No one else has had such a close encounter with Batman before!" Her eyes were alight as she waited for her lead.

Richard, on the other hand, looked terrified. He looked hopefully up at Bruce. "I… I don't know." The boy whispered. Bruce quickly pulled the child into his lap.

"You don't have to answer, Dick." Bruce said gently. When Richard cuddled against him, Bruce took that to mean he didn't want to talk. "I'm afraid that Dick isn't up for talking about that, Lois." He said.

"Ask Mr. Kent." Dick whispered. "He knows Batman."

Lois looked at Clark. "Oh really?"

Clark flushed. "I… I was just telling him stories."

"When?" Lois demanded.

"Uh… last night… I ..."

"He forgot his notepad." Bruce spoke up. "He came back late last night to get it."

"Clark!" Lois groaned. "I hope he didn't disturb you."

"It was fine." Bruce assured her. "We were still awake."

The interview finished quickly afterwards. Lois excused herself to go talk to Commissioner Gordon about the Batman. Clark lagged behind, looking from Bruce to the child. Richard had fallen asleep in his arms. Even so, absently Bruce was rubbing the boy's back.

"You adopted." Clark said.

"Yes. You know why."

"I do." Clark had looked everything up last night. "I just… are you sure you are right for him?"

"No." Bruce answered honestly. He wasn't sure. He thought about it all the time.

Clark frowned. "Did you tell him about….?"

"No." this time Bruce's tone was harsh. "He doesn't need to know."

"How do you expect to keep it a secret?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'll start wearing glasses." Bruce grumbled, making Clark flush.

"I just…." Clark sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's just unexpected. I never thought you'd adopt. And I mean… you like him. I didn't know you liked people."

Bruce just glared at him. "I just want to make sure you'll take good care of him." Clark explained with a sigh.

"I will." Bruce said softly. His eyes trailed down to the child in his arms and a small smile formed on his face.

Clark shook his head. He didn't know what to do with the kid. But… but it seemed Bruce really did care for him and want to take care of him. That spoke well. Besides maybe the boy would be good for him.

"Just don't start getting any Batboys or anything out there." Clark said with a smirk.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! As you can probably tell, the story kind of took on its own life and just kept being written. I hope you liked it though.

Send me a review! I'd love to hear what you think. Hopefully it'll make my day a bit better!