Disclaimer: I do not own, etc, DC comics, etc, Warner Bros, etc. I do however, claim the plot and Sally, since they are both mine. MWAHAHAHA!

NiftyxSara: Hello anyone reading this! So very very sorry for the gap between updates! Finally got my head around writing out this chapter for realzz. haha, this chapter introduces the "heroes" into the story. They are part of the plot and stuffs, so, yeah. Anyhoo, off to re write chapters four through seven. *rushes off*

Chapter Three

Bruce Wayne was having an unusual morning. He'd woken up (late) and opened the paper to find that Batman had made headlines again (so far, so normal). He nearly choked on his coffee when he read the headline "Dynamic Duo Saves The Day". It was then he realized (rather belatedly) that there was a sketch of Batman and Robin on the front page. He wasn't sure what was going on (technically he was still being blamed for Harvey Dent's "death" and was immensely unpopular with the general public).Bruce skimmed to the end of the article and frowned at the reporter's name; 'Vicky Vale' it said and he knew who's pseudonym it was immediately.

(she used it all the time before, when she'd disappear for a while; heck, she'd been using it since they were kids...)

"Alfred, get Ms. Kyle on the phone for me please." Bruce asked his butler (and closest confidant) after finishing his breakfast (and thoroughly reading the article).

"Right away, Master Wayne." Alfred said with the hint of a smirk on his face (and in his voice). Bruce was not as amused. To distract himself he looked over Dick's most recent progress report. Dick was slacking off in school (particularly in algebra) and Bruce had gotten a little over heated while they had discussed it.

(well, more like they had an epic shouting match that Alfred had been forced to break up; Bruce had felt like a teenager all over again when Alfred had gotten through with them...)

"Ms. Kyle, sir." Alfred said while handing the phone to Bruce. Bruce nodded his thanks while taking the phone.

"So, being a coach and a teacher isn't enough anymore?" Bruce asked as nonchalantly as possible.

(he of course sounded partially infuriated, concerned, and insanely curious, but he liked to think there was a sliver of nonchalance in his tone...)

"Good afternoon to you too, Bruce." Selina replied with suppressed laughter.

"Seriously, Selina. Why the sudden interest in journalism?" Bruce asked while trying not to smile.

(Selina always did have a infectious smile...)

"I really don't know what you're talking about, Brucey." Selina said (too)casually, seemingly trying to distract him with the hated nickname. Bruce just rolled his eyes. "Quit rolling your eyes, I'm being perfectly seroius." She said in a faux-exasperated tone. Bruce chuckled.

"Alright, keep your secret. I'm here if you want to talk, remember that." Bruce finally relented. He caught the time and nearly swore; he had to get to the office soon. He said a rushed good-bye to his (oldest) friend. She hadn't turned out like he'd expected. He always pictured her making a legendary name for herself, one way or another. However, it seemed as if a while back she had reached a proverbial fork in the road and chose to be someone he hadn't expected.

(part of him wished she hadn't and he isn't sure why...)

Dick Grayson didn't particularly like high school. He'd been home schooled his entire life (since attending school while traveling all the time in a circus really wouldn't have worked out). He felt very out of place amongst his peers. He'd traveled to so many places, met so many people, and Gotham High just couldn't measure up.

(especially not algebra class - he was never going to need algebra anyway...)

Dick hated how "amusing" his name was to his immature class mates. As if he'd never once realized exactly what his name was after having it for seventeen years... He had joined the track team as a way to keep in shape (and because there wasn't any kind of male sport even remotely like acrobatics). Dick looked out the window while frowning in frustration. Did algebra have to be so boring?

(his sister used to have this way of making any king of math fun, and his brothers had loved to wrestle, and his mother could probably have outdrawn any of those supposed 'artists', and his father-)

"Dick Grayson! The answer to 14 b, please!" the math teacher, Mr. Commonweal, exclaimed just before the bell rang. Dick was the first one out of the class. He hated algebra.

Batman was out patrolling - without Robin. (Dick had to finish his algebra homework before Alfred would let him leave - rules are RULES!) So far, he'd only run into a handful of muggers and drug-dealers, nothing major. This lull in big action made him edgy (especially since he'd had a rapid increase in criminally insane 'super-villains' in the past couple of years now all locked away in Arkham).

He very nearly had a heart attack when he spotted Selina Kyle fighting off a couple of low lifes. He almost stopped breathing he'd gotten so angry. Batman had reacted instinctively to protect her at all costs (he'd been a bit harsher than usual but his main priority was to get her to safety). Once she was safe with him on a roof top he tried to remain calm - but failed.

"What were you thinking, being out ALONE at night, in THIS city, in THIS neighborhood?!" he'd practically growled at her, barely managing enough control not to scream at her. She set her shoulders back and defiantly raised her head (the thankful expression she originally had on had completely melted away).

"I was handling the situation just fine. Thank you for your assistance, but I really have to get home; my cat needs to be fed." she said simply in a way he was able to recognize as something between anger and spite. He knew he shouldn't have chastised her (she really didn't respond well to authority) but he was too worried about keeping her safe. She had already turned on her heel and was halfway across the roof before he could compose himself. Batman gave her a ride home (after a lot more arguing).

Robin shadowed as quietly as possible behind the young girl. She was probably around his age and walking alone - a dangerous thing to do in this part of the city (well, in any part of the city, really). It wasn't until she paused to cross the street (underneath a nearby streetlight) that he saw her properly for the first time - she was covered in gruesome scars. He frowned (her hair reminded him of his sister's...) and waited until she was safely inside the apartment building to continue patrolling.

Batman seemed to notice that he wasn't entirely focused but didn't call him on it. They fought a few low lifes but Robin's mind was able to wander. He thought about the girl (and his sister, and his family) and just what exactly Batman truly meant to Gotham. He was silent on the ride back to the mansion and glanced sideways at Batman. He silently vowed that while he knew he could never become Batman, that someday, he'd become someone just as strong and he'd help to defend the helpless.

Alfred went over Dick's homework and quietly sipped his tea. He knew they'd get in late (well, early) but planned to wait up for them anyway. He smiled at the article written by Selina (Vicky, hah!) and let out a sad sigh. She still hadn't forgiven herself for not being around when Rachel had died.

Rachel, Bruce, and Selina had all been very close since childhood. In a lot of ways, he felt as if he had raised them and it had broken his heart to see them all estranged from each other and it had broken his heart to lose one of them. It had nearly killed him not only to lose one of them, but to see how it had nearly killed the others. He was beyond thrilled to see Selina and Bruce re-connecting (something Rachel had wanted since she and Bruce and she and Selina had reconnected).

Before he could lose himself completely on memory lane, the first rays of light spilled into the mansion and Alfred looked out towards the entrance of the 'Batcave' (as Dick had affectionately named it). He watched the sun begin to come up and then watched the Batmobile (another term coined by Dick) coming up the hidden path. With a sigh he heaved himself out of his chair (he wasn't getting any younger) and went to greet them.

(and to reassure himself that they wouldn't be needing any medical attention...)

NiftyxSara: Hola reader(s)! Please review to let me know what you think! *rushes off to begin re-writing chapter four excitedly*

Scarecrow: *rolls eyes* She's ridiculously excited about the next chapter....

Sally: Oh, hush up you! You're every bit as excited! *rolls eyes*

Hayley: Me too! I finally get to meet.... well... *blushes*

Holly: *laughing* Aw, look at Hayley blushing, how cute!

Bruce: *stoically crosses arms and looks off into the distance*

Dick: He's just jealous because we aren't really in the next chapter much, so don't mind King Broody over there. *rolls eyes* Anyway, review people!