A/N: Hello my dear readers! This is based off of the new season of Young Justice, titled Invasion. As you all know, Dick Grayson has become Nightwing, but why happened in the 5 years between the beginning of the Team, and the rise of Nightwing? This is simply my take on it, and about Dick growing up and leaving. I hope you all enjoy!

Also, this story is written in Dick's POV

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, or any of the characters shown. They all belong to DC and Warner Bros.

So Anyway

I sat on the hill outside of Wayne Manor and watched the boy walking up the steps. It had been 2 years since Vandal Savage took control of the Justice League, and we discovered that the Roy Harper we thought we knew was a clone, and the real Roy was most likely dead.

I was 15, and a good 2 or 3 inches taller than when we first started. Kaldur vanished one day, and was never heard from again. The clone of Roy Harper still remained Red Arrow, and was a part of the Justice League. Wally and Artemis were still going strong. Everybody knew it was bound to happen. Zatanna and I never lasted. We had one kiss, and realized that it was ridiculous, seeing as how she knew nothing about me, and we were both so vulnerable, and still trying to figure out what we were supposed to do without parents. Rocket had been searching for Kaldur, hoping to find him somewhere, but he was still MIA.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, watching as Bruce walked outside and shook the young boy's hand. The boy's name was Tim. He was 11 years old, and had once lived with his father. While we were patrolling one night, however, the boys father was murdered, and Bruce took it upon himself to help the boy.

I felt a tinge of jealously as I saw the boy wrap his arms around bruce's middle and shove his head into my mentor's stomach. Bruce hugged the boy back, made eye contact with me, and turned away. He had been distant from me lately, and I couldn't stand it. We fought a lot, and he called me worthless on several occasions. I knew he didn't mean it, but it still hurt more than anything.

I lay back on the hill and rolled onto my side, lost in thought. It was April. 6 years ago, my parents were murdered. I was given a second family, but it seemed I was outliving my stay. I always thought Bruce was a great, loving, caring man, but since he lost that time back on New Years Eve 2 years back, he was never the same. He didn't come running when I had nightmares, didn't ruffle my hair like her used to, or come to my mathletes tournaments.

Bruce led the boy inside and Alfred closed the door behind the, carrying Tim's bag. I began crying into my green sweatshirt sleeve, which I had found myself doing a lot. It never got easier like I thought it would. The past 2 years had been the worst, though, without Bruce to comfort me, and guide me through the painful anniversary.

I found myself walking to the cemetery on my own, as Bruce wasn't bringing me anymore. I actually fell asleep at their grave one night, and woke up to Bruce standing over me, shaking his head in disapproval.

I drifted off to sleep on the hill, the tears still making their way down my cheeks as my eyes shut, my arm acting as a pillow.

I woke up and saw Tim standing over me, wearing my old clothes. He looked just like me, with his black hair, his small build, and the sad look in his eyes.

"You're Dick, right?" he asked, and I nodded. "Bruce asked me to come get you. He wants you to come inside."

I collected my thoughts and looked around, realizing that it was dark out, the only light coming from posts around the yard. "What time is it?" I asked, standing up and brushing the dirt from my pants and sweatshirt.

"8:30, I think," Tim replied, before walking back down the hill.

I cursed and went back to the house. I missed dinner. Bruce was gonna kill me.

"Where have you been?" Bruce asked as I walked inside, not missing a beat. "You missed dinner."

"I fell asleep, I'm sorry," I said, walking past him and to the stairs.

"Don't want away from me, Richard!" he snapped.

"What else am I supposed to say?" I asked, pivoting to face him. "Sorry I messed up, oh high and mighty one?"

"I don't want that kind of attitude coming from you, Dick."

I didn't say anything. I was being stupid, but this was what our relationship had become over the past couple of years; yelling and fighting, making nitty comebacks to each other.

"What's gotten into you?" he asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I wanna go to my room," I said, turning my head away from him.

"Don't you want dinner?"

I shook my head, still not looking at him. My hair fell in front of my eyes now, which I did on purpose, so he wouldn't see the tears in moments like these. "Not hungry."

He removed his hand and I bolted up the stairs, not looking back as I ran into my room, kicked off my Converse All Stars and dove onto the bed, grabbing the massive teddy bear and resting my face on it. The bear was a gift from my parents, shortly before they died. We had the night off, so we decided to enjoy the circus, and see what it was like on the outside, so my dad won it for me. Of course, to a 9 year old, it was much more exciting, but now it was all I had left of them, besides the poster that hung on the wall.

I eventually fell asleep again, but I wished I hadn't. I was greeted with the same nightmare I had every night at this time of year; snap, scream, crack. The scene repeated itself in my mind over and over, and I could see Zucco in the corner, hear his laughter as it echoed above the screams coming from the audience.

This time, though, I didn't scream for my parents, as they fell to their deaths. I screamed for Bruce. Over and over, begging for him to save them. To save me from the loneliness. I woke up screaming his name, sweating and crying. I heard footsteps running through the hall and listened carefully, praying that it wasn't my imagination.

I almost smiled as I heard the steps getting closer and closer to the door. He cared. He was coming to tell me it was gonna be ok, which was something I hadn't heard since I was 13. Louder, louder, but then… quieter, quieter… I listened and heard a small voice, also crying out my mentor's name. Tim.

I couldn't take it. One night and I was already hating this kid. I knew it wasn't his fault, but I couldn't deal with this every night. He needed Bruce too, and I should have been ok. I mean, 6 years was a long time… but it's also a short time.

I knew what I had to do the next morning, so I went back to sleep, praying that there wouldn't be anymore nightmares.

I woke up before anyone else and got ready for the day. I grabbed a quick breakfast before going out. I knew exactly where to go to find what I was looking for, all the information I needed, and how to tell Bruce.

I got home and found Bruce eating breakfast with Tim. It was about 9 on a Saturday morning.

"Bruce, can I talk to you?" I asked, shifting uncomfortably. I knew it had to be done, but I was scared at the same time. What if he said no?

"Go ahead," he said.

"Um… in private?" I asked, glancing to Tim. Bruce caught my look and nodded, standing from the table.

"Wait here, Tim," he said, and lead me to his office. "What's bothering you?"

"Bruce… I…" I choked back the tears that were threatening to spill over. I stiffened my shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes. "I want to file for emancipation."

Bruce smiled for a second, but realized that I wasn't laughing with him. "You're serious." he said, running a hand through his hair.

"Dick, whatever it is, we can work through it. We can figure it out! We'll get help, we-"

"I don't need help!" I yelled, amazed at how angry I was with him. "I want my parents back, Bruce!"

"And you think this is going to bring them back?"

"I…"

"Dick, you're 15! Nobody is gonna give you a job! You'll be living on the streets."

"I can live in the mountain," I said. "I can switch to Gotham North, or maybe a school in Happy Harbor. I'll find a way to make money!"

"How, by performing on the streets, doing gymnastics?"

"I'll figure something out," I said, turning away from him.

Bruce sighed and sat at his desk, "Dick, where did this even come from?"

I didn't reply, so he asked again. I still didn't reply. "Is this about Tim? Dick, he's not replacing you! He needs help. You of all people should know what it's like!"

"I do know, Bruce! He'd be better off if I wasn't here. He needs Bruce Wayne, I need Batman… it's too much to ask for. You should know what it's like, though… know how it feels to relive the day when your parents were murdered…"

"It's been 6 years," he started.

"To the day," I said, and he had a dumb look on his face. "6 years to the day. You wanna know why I didn't come in last night? Because I couldn't face you, Bruce. I couldn't let you see me like that…"

"Why couldn't I see, Dick?"

"Because…" I started, but lowered my voice to below a whisper. "Batman doesn't cry."

"Dick, you don't need to be Batman," he said, standing up and wrapping his arms around me. I didn't cry. I couldn't. I hadn't cried in front of Bruce in 2 years, and I wasn't about to start again.

I pulled away from him and pulled papers out of my pocket. "I got these this morning," said, handing them to him. "I just need your approval, then we can take it to court."

"I'm not going to sign these, Dick," he said, ripping the papers in half. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You can live at the mountain. I won't bother you, unless it's professional. But please, Dick, if you need anything, tell me. You're staying at GA, though."

I nodded. I knew the loss of his ward would be bad for publicity, but he also seemed heartbroken by what was happening. "I'll go pack my things."

"I'll have Alfred make you some cookies to bring with you."

Within an hour I had everything ready to go. I brought my two bags and bear down to the Batcave, where Alfred stood with a plate of cookies. He gave me a hug and handed me the plate.

"Be careful, Master Richard," he said, and I could feel wet spots forming on the top of my head.

"Call me Dick, Al," I told him. "I'm no Master anymore. Take care of Bruce for me, will ya?"

"I will, Dick," he said, and released his grip around me, holding me an arm width away. "You've grown so much over these past 6 years."

I turned around when I heard footsteps. Bruce came over and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back, finally letting tears fall. He ruffled my hair one last time and said, "You always have a home here, no matter what. And if you need anything at all, tell me."

"I will," I whispered through the tears. I pulled away finally and picked up my bags and the bear which had become my closest friend over the years and walked over to the zeta tube. "Time to fly," I said with a sad smile. I donned my sunglasses and stepped through the tube, not looking back as light erupted around me…

If you enjoyed it, or cried as much as I did, then please, review! Also, this is based off the song So Anyway from Next to Normal, which is an amazing musical. Look it up, because it's really sad! :