I had not realized how long ago I started this story. I had troubles back when I was writing this chapter and going into the next chapters. So I took a break from it and forgot about it. But coming back to it now, it all comes back to me! *evil laugh* I am sorry for the postponement and will continue with this story.

Hope you enjoy it!

XD

R-R-F-F

Future

Wally grabbed Bart by the shoulder as pain wracked through his mind. He fought through the pain, looking furious and determined. "Go get Barry and meet me in Antartica in an hour. We have…" He slouched, still holding onto Bart. "We…Irey…" Tears filled his eyes and silently slid down his cheeks. "Eobard," he scowled suddenly, his voice a scratchy growl.

"Wally?" Bart asked. He held onto Wally's elbows, worried he was going to collapse on him.

He looked up suddenly, standing straight. Wally wiped the tears with the back of his hands. "Get Barry. Now."

Present

Irey walked into the training room in the Watchtower, looking around for a big space that no one was in. Luckily, everyone was busy and she had the gym to herself. She stood in the center mats and began to vibrate, something she did to calm herself.

It'd been a very busy afternoon and she had left everyone to finish talking alone. They had shared the news about Artemis' pregnancy and the facts about the speed force. No one was really happy about the dangers it presented but they knew that if they continued to run as they do they would be fine but they couldn't push it.

Right now they were saying their goodbyes and Barry was escorting them home. Wally and Artemis would be going home with his parents for a little bit. And Bart was talking to Jay, so Irey left and found her way to the training room.

When she finally stopped vibrating, feeling exhausted and spent she slowly fell down to her butt. Her legs bent beside her, hands in her lap, she slouched heavily. Irey stared at her hands, watching them shake as she tried to keep them still for once. She wasn't afraid but she was scared… Even she knew that she didn't belong here. How many times had she been thinking that since she arrived? A lot. Her place was in the future, not with her parents at the same age as her. She missed her mom and wanted so badly to curl up in her arms.

Irey hugged herself, not really surprised to find herself crying.

She fell forward until her forehead touched the mat.

He didn't know what he had been expecting but it wasn't quite the balling girl on the floor. Nightwing landed softly on the mats a few feet in front of her. He walked closer to her and kneeled down, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said softly.

She tensed under his touch and jerked her head up to look at him.

Nightwing gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "I won't bite," he informed her with a gentle smile. "I'm just—" He wasn't able to finish his sentence when the weight of her came crashing into him suddenly. His body tensed instinctively for a fight as he landed on his rear but it was nothing of the sort. Irey was huddled in a small ball on his lap, her face hidden in his collar. She shook with quiet sobs, her body tense.

Realizing what was happening, he wrapped his arms around her. "It's all right Irey. Everything's all right," he whispered.

Irey sniffled, "I-it's not. Everything is such a mess because I'm here…." She curled tighter on her self. "I-I," she sucked in a needed breath, "I just wanna go home."

"We'll get you home," he replied soothingly. Nightwing began to rock back and forth with her, putting a hand on her head. "Everything's going to be okay."

"Is it?" She asked. "Can you really say that for sure, Batman?"

He was jolted by what she called him, and stared down at her from the corners of his eyes. He wondered if he'd ever done this with her in the future. Had he been a helpful hand to her? The fact that she'd called him Batman though… He looked forward, now was not a time to think about it. What was important now was the crying girl in his arms.

"I can say that for sure," he affirmed with a single nod. "We're going to get you back home."

"…Okay."

A couple of hours passed as they sat like that, Nightwing letting her cry on his shoulder, letting it all out. She was light and he didn't care. He rubbed her back gently and rocked back and forth trying to relax her. At some point in the process the girl had fallen asleep, and now snoozed soundlessly in his lap, only her deep breathes truly noticeable.

"If there wasn't evidence of tears, that would be an adorable picture," Batgirl stated as she walked over to the two of them. The door closed silently behind her. "She's asleep, you should bring her to her room." Batgirl kneelt down next to them and brushed Irey's bangs out of her eyes as she looked at her. "She's more wound up than I had thought. Did she say anything?"

Nightwing moved her gently so she lay in his arms and got up. Batgirl helped him stand so as not to disturb the sleeping speedster. "No, she…cried," he replied with a sigh. "Just cried." He looked at Batgirl, exhausted. "She's homesick and thinks everything thus far is her fault."

"She had a miscalculation and her time machine was highjacked," She informed him. "With Wally back and the onslaught of news he received, it's no wonder he's acting that way. He has a right to act that way with what he's been through and will be through." Batgirl placed Irey's arm in her lap and adjusted her head to rest against Nightwings shoulder. "But the guy needs to have some sort of resolve. He needs to for her sake."

"You're right."

They looked over at the door. Wally walked toward them and Artemis stood in the doorway, holding it open.

"Wally," Batgirl began.

Wally cut her off with a shake of his head. "No more kindness, no more leniency. What needs to happen now is a plan to get her home. I need to buck up. Isn't that what everyone's been thinking? I need to show some strength in midst of a fight. I'm a speedster, we get over things fast or we hold fast to them," he explained. Wally now stood in front of them; his own face was drawn in fatigue and worry. "I've put everyone through the ringer and I'm sorry. It's going to take time for this all to stick. But right now we can't worry about me and neither can I."

Nightwing remained silent as he listened to his friend. He could see change in him. See that he'd grown up over the past week. He would worry later that he had grown up too fast. But right now he simply passed Irey onto him. She grumbled slightly as she was moved and adjusted to make herself comfortable in his arms.

"Tomorrow I'll bring her down to Earth, get some Ice cream and remind her that it isn't her fault," Wally smirked, reminding them of his old self.

Nightwing patted his shoulder, returning the smirk. "She'll be thankful to get away from the Watchtower. Get some rest Wally, Arty," he smiled to the blonde girl. "We've got a big couple of days trying to figure out how to get her back home."

"Yeah we do," Wally nodded and headed out with his girls. "See you later."

Elsewhere on Earth

Flash and Jay ran side by side down the street. They just left their families and were on their way to the HQ on Earth when Jay was suddenly sent careening in the opposite direction.

"Jay!" Flash yelled, skidding to a stop.

He turned on his heel and began to run back to catch the old man. He was suddenly grabbed by the neck and held above the ground, his toes reaching for pavement. A man stood there in a red on yellow version of the Flash costume, grinning up at him. "Long time no see, Barry," he said smarmily. Eobard brought his face closer to his, "Where is Irey?"