A/N: A few moments of Bruce and Dick doing things normal families do and a glimpse of the Wayne family from an outside party. Enjoy!
Bruce would never admit to anyone that he has been looking forward to this day. It was the first day he would be free to spend some time to spend with Dick since the boy's parent's funeral and they were going to the zoo. One of Bruce's happy memories he had as a child was spending the day at the zoo with his parents. Bruce had expected the child to be at least somewhat excited, but the child did not show the enthusiasm that Wayne was expecting.
"Master Richard you should eat up, you need to leave soon for the zoo." Alfred said setting down a plate of breakfast in front of the boy.
"Dick is something wrong?" Bruce asked.
"No." Dick said shaking his head showing Bruce a smile before lowering his head to eat his breakfast. It didn't take a detective to notice that the boy was hiding something, but if Dick didn't want to share, Bruce wasn't going to press the issue.
The two made it to the zoo just a few hours after the zoo opened, and since it was Saturday there was quite a crowd in the zoo. Bruce noticed that the boy stuck close to his side seemingly nervous to see so many people. Bruce reached down and placed a comforting hand on Dick's shoulder and slowed his strides so the boy could walk next to him as they made their way through the zoo. As the day went on Dick gradually became more and more lively. By the time it was time to go home Dick was just like a normal eight year old boy smiling brightly fascinated by everything.
"Bruce?" Dick said as they drove home in the sunset. "I didn't actually want to come today." Dick admitted taking Bruce slightly by surprise. "Before they…" Dick couldn't say it but Bruce understood. "They were going to take me to the zoo for my birthday." A tear fell from Dick's eyes, but the boy smiled. "I am glad you took me. Thank you."
Ice cream was different when it comes from an ice cream parlour on a waffle cone, it somehow taste better than coming in any other form. Roger's Ice Cream parlour is the place to get ice cream endorsed by the Wayne family, who used to frequent the parlour. Ever since the tragedy the only remaining Wayne never visited again. Imagine Roger's surprise now nearly thirty years later Bruce Wayne came walking through the door of his ice cream shop just before they closed one Sunday evening.
"Bruce? Is that you?" Roger said moving as fast as his old legs could carry him around the counter to greet the man.
"Roger." Bruce smiled at the old man. "It's good to see you again."
"Look at you all grown up." Roger said with a chuckle, than the old man noticed the small boy hiding behind Bruce. "Who is this little fella?"
"This is Richard." Bruce said guiding Dick from out behind his legs.
"You just take a look at all the flavours and let Roger know what you want alright little guy?" The old man smiled at the boy. The little boy looked up at Bruce who nodded. With that the boy walked over to the coolers to look at all the flavours.
"How have you been Bruce?" Roger asked as the two men watched the boy looking at the ice cream.
"Getting by." Bruce said with a slight smile. "What about you Roger?"
"Business has been good." Roger said smiling tiredly. "Can't ask for more. I heard about what you are doing for this boy. That's really good of you son."
"Least I could do." Bruce said putting a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Let's get the kid some ice cream."
Dick woke up extra early today, because he was not going to school today, it was take your kids to work day. Today he would be going to work with Bruce. On tip toes Dick snuck into Bruce's bedroom watching with curiosity as the man got ready, brushing his teeth, shaving, dressing up in his suit and tie then putting his hair perfectly in place with some gel. In a matter of minutes the man went from just getting out of bed to the picture perfect million dollar playboy.
Dick scampered back into his room and took the suit that Alfred had laid out for him the night before. The little boy tried to mimic all the actions that he saw Bruce doing.
Half an hour later Bruce walked into Dick's room and he had to hold back a laugh. Dick was dressed in his suit, the button uneven, the tie was crooked, the boy had some tooth paste on corner of his mouth and there were tuffs of hair sticking up. The boy looked down right frustrated but it was so cute. Bruce's stifled chuckling caught Dick's attention and the boy pouted indignantly.
"How do you get it to look so right? I did everything you did." Dick said still wearing the cute pout while tugging at his tie. Bruce smiled at the boy smoothed down the boy's hair and gently wiped away the tooth paste with his thumb. Dick blushed as Bruce re-buttoned his buttons and untied the tie.
"Now watch carefully." Bruce said taking Dick's hand and the tie. "I am going to show you how to do a Windsor knot."
Sunday morning even before the sun rose the bells on the door of the Gotham City Diner chimed.
"Morning Gloria!" A boy's cheerful voice brought a smile to the waitress's lips.
"Morning Dick," She greeted him and nodded at the three men following close behind the hyper little boy. "Mr. Wayne, Clark, Alfred." The men smiled and nodded back at her as she led them to their usual booth by the window.
"Will it be the usual for everyone today?" Gloria asked pouring coffee for the adults.
"Can I have French Toast instead of pancakes today please?" Dick asked sweetly.
"Sure thing hon'." Gloria smiled patting the boy on the head.
"You are the best!" Dick gave her a huge smile that made Gloria forget all the exhaustion of her work day.
"Anything for you." Gloria said before heading towards the kitchen to fill their orders and get Dick's glass of chocolate milk.
Gloria smiled fondly at the strange little family that sat in the booth. It was no secret that Dick was Mr. Wayne's adopted son and Alfred was the Wayne family butler, but how Clark fit into the picture Gloria would never know. The other mystery was the time this family usually showed up at the diner. At four a.m. on a Sunday morning, even the crooks of Gotham are asleep, yet the playboy of Gotham and his little boy sat in her diner eating breakfast. The rag tag family did not come every week, and Gloria worry when they don't show, they never shared so Gloria never asked. They were a nice end to her graveyard shift the last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize that.
Dick was the most animated one at the table, telling stories, making faces. Clark would laugh, Alfred would chuckle and if what Dick said was really funny even Mr. Wayne would smile. A couple times Gloria has even seen Mr. Wayne gently wiping away breakfast the boy got on his face.
Breakfast always ended with Dick falling asleep on Mr. Wayne's shoulder, his breakfast half eaten. Today was no exception.
"Should I pack that up for him?" Gloria asked.
"Yes please." Mr. Wayne said with a charming smile. He went to pick up the sleeping boy but he winced and lost hold of the boy. For a horrifying moment Gloria thought Dick would go crashing onto the floor, but Clark caught him. Clark who was still in the booth at one moment was standing outside of the booth holding Dick.
"I will take him to the car." Clark said shifting Dick in his arms so the boy could be more comfortable.
"Gloria, we won't be able to give you a lift home today, he fell asleep a little early." Bruce apologized paying for their meal.
"No worries. It's been a long night huh?" Gloria smiled.
"You could say that, but Dick insisted on coming to see you." Bruce smiled as he left a tip and then pulled out an extra twenty putting it on the table. "Take a cab home. Get home safe."
"Now I know where Dick learned to be such a sweetheart." Gloria smiled. "Thank you Mr. Wayne. Take the little guy home and take care of yourself."