Disclaimer: Not mine.


Lois had been working all morning, trying to get information of the calls made by Lex the night of the rally. So far she had come up empty handed. Ron didn't have more luck than her, and he also had to work on the other candidates' situation. Clark was supposed to be finishing his editorial on Lex's political profile, which had to be ready for the weekend supplement, and more important, he should be there to talk with her. As if on cue, she received a text message.

"Rooftop in ten."

Lois went to the roof five minutes later and started looking at the sky to see where he was coming from. She liked to guess his whereabouts from the direction he flew in. Most of the times he was just coming from space, to make his travel faster and shorter, but that didn't stop her from trying. This time, he came from the most unexpected place. Through the door wearing his glasses instead of the cape.

"Expecting company?," he asked from the door.

"Clark? What? Why did you tell me to come up here?"

He shrugged his shoulders and walked towards her. "It's still our spot." Once by her side, Clark kissed her. "I missed you."

"Your sweet talk is not going to affect my memory," said Lois while she let him hug her.

"I know. I truly missed you."

"So?"

"Whatever happened in Gotham seems to be directly linked to Lex."

"I knew it. That bastard--"

"It is also linked to some secret kept under a very big amount of kryptonite."

Lois remembered what had happened in Metropolis the day of Lex' rally. "Your mission?"

Clark placed his arms on her shoulders and looked her seriously. "Lo, I want you to drop the story, just for now, for the time being."


"Are you nuts?!," she exclaimed. "Clark, a woman died because of it. God, you could have died!," she said smacking his chest with her fist. "And you're you telling me to back off?"

"Just until I make sure it is safe to go after Lex," he pleaded.

"I can't believe you, Clark. You almost have him and you're hiding it under the rug? If you think I'm going to stick my butt on the chair on this one, you're seriously mistaken, mister."

"I am just asking you to be extra careful, Lo. Is it too much to ask?"

"Right now? Yes," said Lois defiantly.

"Ollie is already working on it. Just give us some time to gather a few more information," he said, almost pleading. "If he gets the phone records you'll have more to dig." Clark looked at her. She was serious, but silent. He hoped she was considering it. "Please, Lo. Let us get you the information."

After a few tense seconds tempting Clark to fly her away and lock her up before she could get any kryptonite, Lois finally gave in. In her own Lane way, of course, but Clark thanked all heavens for that.

"Just so you know, I don't agree with this. And I don't promise anything. If I find something worthy, I'll be on a plane to Gotham before you can take me out of it."


Gotham City had had two sunny days in a row. The fact had even made the State news. Barbara would've made a snarky remark, something like 'Now I'm gone it gets sunny? How very discourteous of it'. He could imagine her smiling, waiting for him to laugh. To hold her.

But he would never hold her again. The urn in his hands was a painful reminder.

Tears blurred his vision, but he didn't care. She was gone. Suddenly all he felt was void, an endless void. Their house was somewhere he didn't want to go. The Clocktower, a sight he wanted to avoid. All the bearers of former happiness were now symbols of what he had lost, of what had been taken from him.

Inside the circus he didn't see the sun. He was alone, left with his memories and their shared dreams. The fact that he had to wave those dreams goodbye made the pain even more unbearable.

The circus brought sweet memories.

Barbara was laughing.

"What a mess, Grayson!"

"We were using cooked pasta in the bomb, but we got slapped with a lawsuit in Metropolis. Can you believe it?" Barbara smiled. It was so good to see her smile. "So, what d'you think of my circus, Babs?"

"Very corny, Grayson. Very, very corny."

"Oh."

"I meant that in a good way," she said reassuringly. "Circuses are supposed to be goofy and quaint, right?" Then she turned serious and looked down. "Of course, clowns aren't exactly my favourite."

He remembered having smacked his face with his own hand, thinking how the hell could he had been so stupid. Her laugh still echoed in his ears.

"You're so easy, Grayson!"

He still remembered how good it felt to see her laugh that night, even if it was at him.

The urn in his hands brought Dick back to pain again. It was time to wave goodbye. Opening the urn he scattered his part on the place where he had brought back her smile, the place he had let her fly once more.

"Goodbye, Babs."


Day turned into night fast. Clark had left the Planet several times, blaming his still upset stomach as an excuse. Now he had just two things left to do. Taking out his phone, he pressed #1 in his speed dial.

Lois was used to being the last one working on the Planet, she had done it many times before. Her cell sang. It was Clark. "Hey, hon."

"Still on the Planet, I see."

Lois turned her head towards the window. A red cape moved with the wind on the rooftop of the Queen tower. "Some day you're gonna have to tell me about those magical pockets in your cape, Mister. And whatever you do with your civilian clothes."

"Superhero's secret. So, pulling a late night again?"

"I figured you wouldn't be home to take advantage of you, so I thought I could finish my story for Sunday's supplement. Should I expect you home when I get back later on?"

"I have to do a little something before coming home, but I don't plan on being too late."

"Ok. See you later then. Love you."

"Love you too."

Lois hung up and saw the blur heading up north.


Author's notes: Dialogue in italics between Dick and Babs taken from Birds of Prey #8 (so NOT MINE)

Music info: Dick spreads Barbara's ashes: Eddie Vedder 'Goodbye'