Preface: This chapter was written about four months ago in a grief-stricken moment. There have been very few things, if any, that have been changed. Also, I've already written the next chapter, so if you review quicker, the sooner Chapter Five will be out. This chapter is shorter than normal, but I think it says all that needed to be said. I hope you like this chapter.

-N-

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Robin or any related characters; they belong to DC Comics.

Author's Note: Well, I'm sitting here crying my eyes out right now. I just found out that tomorrow my dog, Goliath, is being put down. Have you ever lost someone that means a lot to you? Have you ever lost one of your best friends? I hate to ask. But that's what I feel like right now. He's been one of my best friends. I guess he sort of inspired this chapter. Nothing else needs to be said, but I wanted it to be known. So here it is: "Painful Goodbyes". (No, this is not the last chapter.)

Dedication of this chapter to my dog, Goliath, who has been one of the greatest gifts in my life.

-T-

Flying

Chapter Four: Painful Goodbyes

Richard held the cold bars of the lion's cage. Inside, two of them paced around the other. Outside, the doctor was telling Pop Haly and Richard's parents what the verdict was. Richard watched the lions intently as they stood around the mother lying on the cage floor. Richard felt bad for Kimba's mother. They kept saying that something might be wrong with her, but Richard didn't exactly understand. She looked fine. It wasn't like she was growing some weird mutation. But they said that something was wrong, so Richard didn't argue. They were, after all, the adults.

Quiet footsteps alerted Richard to his mother coming over. He let go of the bars and hugged her back as she brought him into a warm hug. When he let go, he could see her eyes were shiny and what little make up she wore was blotched around her eyes.

"Richard, honey, um..." She paused, unable to put the words down in a way that he would understand.

John came over at just the right time, "Dick, Kimba's mother, Jayna, she's... really sick."

"She doesn't look sick," Richard answered back, while looking over at Jayna.

"She's old, Dick, and when lions get old they have to... be put down," His father explained.

"John!" Mary yelled at her husband, obviously not wanting to get on that sort of subject with Richard.

"Mary, he's got to know sometime," John calmly said back.

"What do I have to know?" Dick asked, clearly not knowing what they were talking about, "What's 'being put down' mean?"

John and Mary looked at each other and then at Dick who was looking up at them with a curious, yet concerned face at the same time. Mary sighed and grabbed both of Dick's hands firmly in her own. John knelt down next to Dick and put his hand on his son's shoulder.

"It means that, she has to pass away, Richard," Richard's eyes widened ten-fold, "She's going to die very soon. I'm sorry son."

Dick was silent for a moment, but then all of a sudden let go of his mother's hands and raced to the lion cages' bars. He was screaming.

"No!!! They can't do that! I don't want them to! I won't let 'em!" He began to yell and attempted to reach up at the caged door handle when John firmly picked him up and brought him away to not disturb the animals.

"No! They can't! They just can't!" He was half screaming, half sobbing.

"Dick, honey..." His mother began.

"That's Kimba's mother! They can't do that! It's not fair!" The poor child was sobbing now into his daddy's shoulder.

Heartbroken sobs each and every one of them from one so innocent. John let go and handed the weeping child into his wife's arms.

"Shh, its okay, Dick, its okay," She whispered.

"No, it's not, Kimba won't have, a mommy. That's like, taking you, away from me," Dick said between sobs, "And she, shouldn't have, to go."

"I know, honey, I know, but you know that everyone's going to go sometime, right?" Dick wanted to shake his head 'no', but didn't because he didn't want to lie. So instead he continued to sob, "And you know what? When people and animal's have to go, sometime's that's what they want to happen. They want to go to some place better. And she's been so great to be around and have, right? We've had a lot of fun experiences with her, right?"

"But what about Kimba?" Dick asked looking up at her.

"Dick, Kimba is going to grow up and he has friends and his daddy still with him. You know that your friends are your family, don't you?" John asked him.

"Yeah, but how can anyone replace his mommy?" Dick asked.

"No one will ever replace his mother, dear. No one, but there are other's whose love will help to fill up Kimba's heart. Just like when you're much, much, much older, there will be others to help you when we go," Mary told him.

Dick nodded and continued to cry into her shoulder. As he did he looked over at Kimba and Jayna. Kimba sat down and Jayna licked his ears and face over and over again. To Dick it was like hearing her say, "I love you, I love you, I love you. And don't you ever forget it!" Kimba looked like he knew it too, but he seemed so brave. Dick was in awe and felt something in his chest burn and calm him.

Dick looked up at his parents and reached up for his dad. John knelt down and held Dick and Mary as Dick cried his eyes out. Mary kissed his cheeks and tears away as they came. But Dick felt himself much calmer. Jayna looked over at him lovingly too and to Dick, it seemed like her bravery and love were the best gifts she could have ever given.

-T-

A/N: There it is. I hope you like it. I want to say right now that this chapter was totally really all for my dog again because he's been one of my best friends these past years. I love him very, very much. Please review. I'll be back next time with Chapter five. Later!

Rena