Disclaimer: Ha! Please, like I would ever own Nightwing. It's a dream though... It's a dream...

Author's Note: I'm half torn between tears and restraining myself. I can't believe that this is the final chapter. School's starting for most of us and summer is coming to a close for all of us. But there's always hope I guess. Next summer. Oh, speaking of which. I've been considering writing a sequel for this story and Sincerely Adeline next summer. Also Anonymous Review Replies for this story will be up for a month on my Putfile homepage (which you can find via my profile). The reason I wouldn't start it now is because I have another story that I am going to start that will be either called 'Custody'. The first chapter should hopefully be up tomorrow. And as of right now, I've put up two new one-shots. Anyways, I hope that you enjoy the final chapter that I am presenting to you, "To Make People Happy"!

-N-

Flying

Chapter Seven: To Make People Happy

When daylight peers over any horizon, it is unlikely for a person to wake unless required. Not even the animals were that willing to wake up after the long trip to Newtown, New Jersey. But even after the long drive, Dick Grayson was not the type to want to sleep in unless it was required. And that, was almost never. He would have driven his parents crazy if they had not also been early risers as well.

But Dick had another reason for wanting to get up this morning. They had been in Newtown for a couple days now. The Circus was doing well this year. Most of the group had already practiced, set up, and was settled comfortably where they were. This morning was their day off, or at least till the evening that is when they would have their opening night. Last night after practice, the three Flying Graysons had debated over what to do today. It was more because they barely got into, or near, the big cities, but Dick wanted to go across the river and look around at the neighboring city.

"Please, please, please? They have all sorts of stuff! An above ground railway system, a bunch of places for you to shop Mom, Bristol's supposed to be pretty. And they have a couple statues and..."

Needless to say, the eight year old was all too eager for his own good. He would have swam across the river if his parents had not said yes. So, pulling off the covers in a hurry, Dick ran to his dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans and a red and black T-shirt, while hopping on one foot to pull on his shoes and socks. He then ran over to the front of their RC and looked out the window at the scene in front of him.

Gotham City seemed to be rising out of the sky, the sunlight streaking past the tall buildings where it could. Dick bit his lip and smiled. The only cities he had been to before were Keystone and Metropolis. Gotham reminded Dick of Metropolis more, but there was a difference, just in where they were. And the golden globe of that paper was missing. Even though the sun rose to make the city gleam, it was rougher and more modern. Maybe a bit cold. But that didn't really register to Dick. Not really. Just the missing globe.

Jumping up in excitement, Dick ran down to get his parents out of bed, "Mom! Dad! Mom! Come on! It's time to get up! We'll never miss the traffic! Come on, Dad!"

Dick jumped up on the bed, waking his parents from their slumber, "Dick..."

"Mom, come on, you promised!" Dick said, while giving her a kiss to soften her up.

"Dick, we have to practice this morning, remember?" John said, more so to his pillow than anything else.

Dick thought for a moment and then answered, "I guess... But we can go to Gotham for the rest of the day, right?"

"Sure, until this evening, alright? Now, we'll be up in about ten minutes, kay?" Mary told him.

Dick rolled his eyes and then sighed. Okay, so at least it wasn't chores. Running up to his room, Dick changed into his uniform. It was tattered a bit at the seams and the shine was dulling, but he loved it to bits. Still though, he wouldn't mind a new one. He then went into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal. His parents came up just as he finished. Dick came out from brushing his teeth just as they finished as well.

He gave his mother a hug and said, "You promise we won't not go?"

"Promise, hun, if we get it right the first two times, we'll end early. How's that?" Mary told him, while gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Sounds good to me," Dick said, smiling.

Dick fidgeted as he waited for his parents to come out. The circus tent was not empty today. Many of their co-workers and friends were also practicing for the evening. But the nice thing about waking up early was that not many people were going to need the space that was required when one practiced. And since the Flying Graysons practiced in the air, it didn't effect them much at all.

They practiced without the spot lights. That was the only difference. Dick watched as his parents started out the routine. Then he jumped and caught hold of his mother's hand. Dick focused as he felt himself being flung into the air, catching the bar he saw his father cross underneath him and grab his mother's hands. Spinning off to the next bar, Dick caught hold of it with a twist in the air. His parents swung back and they continued.

It took only minutes, but during that time, they were focusing on everything that they did. He could hear them, though. The other circus workers. They normally whistled or clapped or yelled their names telling them to 'not fall' and to 'show them something new'. Soon, it was near the ending.

Dick had one signature move. It made him practically qualify to be an Olympic all star. And it was placed right before his parents ended the performance: the quadruple spin. He had even met gymnasts who came just to see how it was done, how he did it. Finally, he saw the signal and he forced himself forward. He felt the wind and felt himself instinctively twist and move his body into the forward flips and spins. Then he reached his hands out. And he caught two others. He knew people were smiling below. But the couple whistles and cheers that were going through his ears didn't register as his thoughts were on his parents' wrists, and the feeling of blood pumping through their veins. It was a feeling that he liked. He felt alive.

Finally he landed back on the pedestal. He watched as his parents do a graceful, almost dance-like end to the performance. He smiled as they landed on the other side. The ending. Dick saw his Dad yell over to him.

"I don't think we need to do that twice, Dick! You wanna go?" He called.

Dick lit up even more and practically fell to the ground, he climbed down so fast. Mary laughed as she saw him run out of the tent as she and John followed behind him. It took seconds for Dick to put his day clothes back on, but it took thirty minutes for his father to finish a shower and get ready to go. As he waited, Dick went to the elephant cages to visit Zitka, who was as content as ever. On his way back, he kicked a can for about fifty feet when he heard shouting.

"Out! Get Out!" Pop Haly screamed.

A man in a Italian suit fell back onto the ground dirt, looking positively furious, "It's your funeral! Just remember..."

"Accidents will happen!"

Haly shut the door with a hard slam. The man yelled in fury and then looked around, spotting Dick's gaze, "What are you lookin' at, kid?!?"

Dick frowned at the man. He didn't like him one bit. If Haly's response to him wasn't enough, his yell at Dick was enough to make a solid opinion of this man form in Dick's mind. Eventually, he started to walk back to the trailer where his Mom was ready and waiting for him. He was going to tell her what had just happened, but his Mom got a word in first.

"You ready?" Mary asked, sweetly.

Dick looked up and smiled at his mother, "Yeah, I'm ready. But Mom, Haly..."

"Alright, let's go and wait!" John said, finally coming out of the trailer.

With that, the three went over to the road and waited. Dick shrugged on his way. He could tell them later. Right now, they were going to Gotham. A cab came about ten minutes after that. It seemed like they'd never get there. But they did. Gotham rose even higher into the sky. It seemed to pierce it with tall buildings and bridges. They entered Midtown and left the cab. The only thing was that were really, utterly lost.

"So..." John said, "What did you want to do again?"

Dick looked around, which was hard because he could barely see over people's heads as he held his parents' hands.

"Um, well, let's, uh, can we go to um," He spotted a store that looked like something his Mom would go into, "We can go in there."

He pointed and his parents followed his gaze. They shrugged and began walking, but by the time they got to the store, Dick wasn't stopping there. It was all of the lights. All of the noise. All of the places. All of the people. John and Mary shrugged, but let Dick lead the way. They had no other plans. Dick's eyes grew wide as he spotted Lady Gotham, standing tall in gleaming gold. It stood out compared to the silvers and grays surrounding it. They passed the General Hospital and many stores. The buildings were higher than Dick thought possible and he nearly fell over as his jaw dropped at the site of Wayne Tower.

It was only at lunch that they stopped. They were eating their sandwiches when Dick began to actually watch the people. Not many of them smiled. A question grew in his mind.

"Dad?" He asked.

"Yes?" John replied, taking a bite of a turkey sandwich.

"Why don't people smile here?"

John looked up and swallowed. Mary looked at him and then he answered slowly, "Well, they do, but Gotham is not... It's been through hard times and it wears on a person when it's a constant thing. It basically makes people sad and too focused on what needs to be done for the day to be over."

"Oh," Dick said, softly. He thought it over in his head, 'Well, that's not positive. Nothing to look up to really...'

John noticed this and quickly changed the topic, "Hey sport, why are you not smiling?"

Dick looked up quickly, realizing what was coming next, "Oh no, no you don't!"

He leaped from his seat, but John had grabbed him around the waist and began to tickle him until Dick couldn't resist holding back the screams of laughter in his throat. Mary tried to pull the two away as Dick's laughter made it hard for him to breath.

"John, not here!"

"Hahaha...Stop! Hahaha... Please! Hahaha..."

"You promise me you're going to smile?"

"Dad!" Hahaha..."

"John! Come on!"

"Richard, you promise me!"

"I, hahaha... I will!"

"You'll never stop?"

"Put him down right now!"

"I won't! Hahaha!"

John finally let go and Dick was able to catch his breath. Mary slapped John across the back of the head, "I can't believe you'd do that in public. Everyone is looking!"

"Let them look, Mary," John told her.

"John, I'm seri--" She never finished as John kissed her and she heard Dick mumbling 'Ew'

"Mom, Dad," Dick moaned, "Can't you not do that here?"

John laughed as they broke away. Mary smiled, "Alright Dick, we'll stop."

The rest of the day they actually planned out where they went. Mary did a bit of shopping and they visited a couple sports arenas. Finally the ended with a visit to the Gotham City Museum of Modern Art, for which it was well known for. Finally, they hailed a cab when Dick's feet started to drag.

"But, I don't wanna go now," Dick moaned, even though his feet were aching him.

"You need some rest before the show," His mother told him, "I can see it in your eyes."

So, with reluctance, Dick got into the cab, followed by his Mother, and sat next to his father who was already inside. And it was true. The moment they got home, Dick found his bed and collapsed on it. There was still time before the show before people would start arriving and he felt like he needed to sleep.

Once it was quiet, Mary sighed, "I've got to go finish that... thing, John."

"Alright, I have to go talk to Creighton about the ropes," Then he added after a moment's thought, "I'll check them too."

Mary always liked a second pair of eyes, "Hey John, why don't you wait and do that when Dick wakes up. Just in case I'm not done and need a distraction."

John answered, "Sure, I guess I'll take a nap then myself."

And so while her boys napped, Mary worked, finishing some final touches. She didn't have to wait long. Soon she heard Dick getting up and John must have heard it through his light sleep as well.

"Can you now?" She whispered, "I'm almost done."

"Alright," John said.

"Hey, Mom? Dad? Do you want to get ready now?" Dick called.

John went up the steps and answered, "I've got to go check the wires with Creighton, Dick. Wanna come?"

"Sure," Dick was out the door like that.

Normally, Dick could find Pani and talk to him while their parents worked. But Pani had to get ready himself. So Dick sat and watched, daydreaming about his day early in Gotham. It had just been so huge and massive. He doubted anyone could ever remember a map layout of it. Finally, his Dad came down and they began to walk back once they had confirmed that everything was ready to go. Creighton turned off the lights as there was no one inside. But as they passed Haly's trailer, Haly came out.

"Dick! Can I ask you something?" He called.

"Just meet me back at the trailer, son," John said.

Dick walked up to Haly with a smile, "What do you need, Pop?"

"Can you hand out these programs out before the show?" Haly asked holding a stack of them.

"Sure," Dick said, taking them.

Haly smiled and thanked him. As soon as the door closed behind him, Dick realized that he was the only one outside. Everyone else was applying make up and putting on their outfits. He had just started to walk back, when he heard a curtain flap being opened. Dick narrowed his eyes when he saw that same man who had been screaming at Haly and himself earlier come out, huddling as though trying to hide himself. Dick continued to head back. But the chance to tell his parents was lost again when he got back. When he opened the door, his mother had her hands behind her back.

"Guess what I made," She teased.

Dick nearly dropped the stack of programs as his mother pulled out a beautiful new uniform. The bottom were sleek green shorts and the top was a bright crimson red shirt with no sleeves, but with a black circle and an 'R' patched over the heart gleaming brightly. The shoes were the same green as the shorts and could basically be described as small boats. His eyes wide with excitement, Dick yet out a yell and hugged his mother.

"Can I go try it on? Can I?"

"You're wearing it tonight," Mary answered, "So of course you can."

Dick grabbed the uniform and ran back to his bedroom. It fit like a dream, not tight anywhere, flexible, and it wouldn't mind if he had to put up a sweat every now and then. When he came out, he saw his parents in their uniforms, but they were slightly different -- the red didn't stand out as much.

"Why is the red on my costume different then yours?" He asked.

Mary went over to him and knelt down, "I just thought, it would be nice. You're always so happy when you're up there, like you're really flying and, well, it reminds me of a little Robin."

Dick cocked his head to the side, "So what does the 'R' stand for then, Robin or Richard?"

John laughed, "Both I guess. Hey, you better start handing out those programs, people are coming in now."

Dick's face showed panic, "Oh, I almost forgot about that!"

It was a poor excuse, but new uniforms could do that to him. Running into the crowd, Dick began to hand out the programs, while smiling at the cover that read 'Come see our Main Attraction: The Flying Graysons!' He kept saying 'Thanks, enjoy!' and constantly at the door, he saw people's face become more animated as they came in, smiles littering their faces. The only thing that bothered Dick about crowds was that he could easily be pushed down. And that did happen once or twice.

The second time though, he had help picking up the loose programs, "Thanks, sir, but I got it."

"It's no problem," The man replied back.

They stood up and Dick took the dirty programs and put them at the bottom of the stack. He looked up to see who had been helping him. He was a young man, but by far not a teenager. Probably late twenties or early thirties. And he looked rich, he just looked it. But there was a small warm smile on his face. Small, but still there.

Dick held out a clean program to him, "Thank you sir, I hope you enjoy the show."

"Thank you," The man took the flier and then looked at Dick, "Are you in this?"

He was pointing to the front picture. Dick nodded, "I'm Dick Grayson."

"Bruce Wayne," The man replied. Dick's eyes went wide for a moment. He was talking to Bruce Wayne! The guy that owned that huge company with that Tower that was large enough to hold the tent inside it!

"I'm sure it will be fantastic."

"Thank you, Mr. Wayne," Dick barely managed as Mr. Wayne walked through the entrance.

As soon as all of the guests were seated, Dick ran back behind stage. He helped people before they went on. He had a lot of time to relax. They were the final act. He thought of telling them about the man from earlier, but there wasn't much time to since he had to help Pani and his family who were before them. After wards, at their act he watched, waiting for the signal. He liked looking through the curtain though and watching his friends perform and seeing the reactions on every one's faces.

"You've seen it all before," John said, from behind the curtain.

"I know, but I like it," Dick answered and continued, "You know, Bruce Wayne's here tonight. He's the guy who owns that company Wayne Enterprises and Industries."

"Really?" Mary asked, stretching. One more act to go.

"Yeah," Dick answered.

"Well, let's give it our best then," John said, smiling.

He saw Dick's head still peaking out of the curtain hole, "What's interestin' ya, sport?"

"The people, I like seeing their faces."

"Their smiles?" Mary asked.

John's smile widened and he pulled Dick back into back stage, "You know what, Dick, I'll tell you why our job is the best job. It's not that thrill and it ain't the praise, either."

Dick turned to look his Dad in the eye while his mother came up and hugged his father, "It's the fact that when we do our job, we make people happy."

Dick turned the thought over in his head. He liked that. He liked the idea of making people happy. A smile came onto his face, the genuine one that never stopped once it was started.

"You ready? Almost time," Mary brought them back to the ground.

Dick looked up and gave both of his parents a huge hug as John answered, "Don't we look it?"

"I love you," Dick said out of the blue.

Both of them looked at him and smiled as his mother responded, "We love you too, Dick."

Someone yelled, "Graysons, you're on!"

"We're coming," John called.

Dick followed his parents out into the darkness. He climbed up as people whispered and looked around as though they could see what was going to happen next. Finally, he reached the top. He waited for everything. The sound of Haly's voice announcing their name. The spot light. The 'ohs' and the 'ahs' and the cheering and the clapping. The adrenaline rush. The feeling of flight... Flying. It was the ability they had taught him.

At that moment, what he thought of the most were the faces of the people and the smiles they had when they'd leave that evening. And he thought of one other thing, too:

How much he loved his parents for giving him all of this.

All of this happiness.

And all of this love.

The End.

-T-

A/N: How was the ending? Are you going to kill me for doing that? I mean, that wasn't really my decision. The DC people killed them. Not me. I just happened to put that as an event right before the ending. Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed this story. As a writer, I had a wonderful time writing it. Please review! I hope that if you enjoyed this story, you'll check out some of my one-ahots as well and my next multi-chapter story. Later!

Rena