Wow I have followers! I didn't think I'd get any :) thanks guys! Enjoy chapter 4, there will be more, so dont think this is the end, cause its not

Dinner was put off for an hour because Bruce was late getting home. In the meantime, Tim had beaten Jason three out of five games, and Dick was laughing his head off. The old mansion was rather drafty though, and Tim shivered, regretting that he had left his fleece in the kitchen. Dick was versing Jason now and it was pretty evenly matched. Tim laughed at their quite cursing, and loud death groans. Tim sneezed twice and shuddered. Jason and Dick were shoulder to shoulder on one end of the couch, and Tim was curled up at the other end. He wasn't sure if it was his cold that was making him be freezing or something else.

"Yes!" Jason had conquered Dick with a blow to the head and Dick flopped over sideways in defeat. His head landed near Tim's shivering feet.

"Hey, are you cold?" Dick asked, as he took in Tim's shudders and runny nose. Tim blushed, embarrassed that Dick would notice. He was supposed to be invisible to his elders. That's what his parents always said.

"A little." He admitted, and then sneezed again. "Its fine really." Dick frowned.

"No its not. Jason!" Dick sat up and turned to the celebrating kid, "Your guest is cold, go get him a sweatshirt or something." Jason took one look at Tim, nodded and left without another word.

"You could have told us you were cold." Dick said turning back to Tim. Tim wiped his nose.

"Its not that bad." He sneezed. Twice.

"Sure it is!" Dick said, standing up off the couch "You're shivering! It doesn't help that you have a cold. C'mere." He then lifted Tim into his arms, turned around, and sat down on the couch again. Tim had stiffened at the contact, but now with Dick's arms wrapped around him, and with his head on Dick's shoulder, he felt warm and content. He slowly relaxed into the contact, and Dick, feeling this, started rubbing Tim's skinny back, trying to warm the kid up. Tim was so comfie… he had never felt anything like this kind of warmth, safety, and comfort.

"Here Timmers." Jason said. Dick removed his arms for a second and Jason pulled a hoodie over Tim's head. It was red, and Jason's, and much, much too big for Tim. Jason was twelve and tall for his age, Tim was eight and tiny for his age, the combination, Dick would tell you, was adorable. The sleeves came down a good five inches over Tim's hands and the hem came down past Tim's knees. It was warm and soft though and Tim relaxed back onto Dick's lap in a new kind of comfortable. His parents had never held him like this before.

Dick saw how relaxed Tim was, and wisely allowed him to remain seated on Dick's lap for the remainder of the game. Bruce came home to the sight, of Jason and Dick battling it out in swordwalkers in the Media room, and a tiny boy and Dick's lap cheering them on.

"Who's this?" Bruce asked from the door. The game was paused and Jason came bounding over the back of the couch, with Dick in his wake.

"Bruce!"

"You're late!"

"Timmy came over…"

"I kicked Dick's di-"

"He's tiny!"

"It's awesome…"

"Graphics so…"

"Whoa, whoa, one at a time!" Bruce said laughing as he wrapped his arm around Dick and ruffled Jason's hair. "You never answered my first question." Jason gestured to Tim, who was peeking over the back of the couch at this strange new enthusiastic welcome home.

"This is Timmy Drake from next door. I invited him over to play swordwalkers, cause' Dickie here was 'studying' with Babs. He's staying for dinner." Bruce walked over to the couch and Tim stumbled off of it to stand in front of Bruce. Bruce took in the tiny frame, big blue eyes, oversized red sweatshirt, red nose, and hankie clutched in one hand. Then he crouched down to Tim's level and held out his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Timmy." Tim shook his hand and looked him in the eye, copying his father when he met guests at the door.

"Same to you Mr. Wayne, and its Tim." Bruce liked what he found in Tim's eyes and gave one of his rare real smiles.

"It is NOT." Jason protested, "Its Timmers or Timmy. Timothy and Tim sound too old for ya." Tim blushed but his eyebrows wrinkled.

"I am eight years old, that's plenty big enough for Tim." Bruce smiled at the response, but was troubled with the pronouncement of Tim's age. He looked like should be five, he was so tiny. The Batman woke up at this moment and began to evaluate the situation and search for a solution. Bruce quickly determined that the only real answer was neglect. He glanced at Dick as they all headed for the dining room, and Dick nodded his head gravely. He had come to the same conclusion. Bruce slowed and allowed Jason and Tim to go on ahead. Dick slowed and whispered to him.

"I'm pretty sure he's abused, poor kiddo. Jason said that his parents have been leaving him alone since he was four." Bruce sighed, it was as he expected. "How could we not have noticed this? He lives next door!" Dick said. Bruce just shook his head. It was troubling that Batman, Nightwing, and Robin lived next door to an abused child (for neglect is still a form of abuse) and not notice.

"There's nothing we can really do, that's the troubling part." Bruce said. Dick's jaw dropped.

"What do you mean? He's been virtually alone for years!"

"Master Bruce." The two looked up to see Alfred standing there. "Dinner is served. We can all solve the issue later, when we do not have company." Bruce nodded.

"You're right as always Alfred."

Tim walked into the dining room and was immediately afraid. He wasn't supposed to be in this room. His mother and father never wanted him in here. He was summoned in sometimes, to be shown off, when his parents had a party, but this was a private Wayne family dinner. He shouldn't be in here.

"You sit next to me Timmy!" Jason said, pulling out a chair. Tim shook his head, and slowly began backing toward the door. Jason frowned. "What's wrong Timmers? Don't want to sit next ta me? You can sit somewhere else if it bugs ya." Tim shook his head again.

"Its…its not that Jason. Its just… I'm not supposed to be here." Jason's face scrunched up.

"Whadaya mean? We invited ya, ya said sure, so now we're eating dinner." Again Tim shook his head. Why didn't Jason understand? He wasn't supposed to be in this room.

"No…no I mean…in this room. I'm not allowed to. They said I couldn't. I should leave." He turned to walk out of the room, but instead ran right into Mr. Wayne.

"What's your hurry chum? We were going to eat dinner now." Tim shook his head. No, he wasn't supposed to eat in this room, he wasn't supposed to even be here. Tears were coming into his eyes. He started to breathe harder. Bruce saw that Tim was beginning to hyperventilate and quickly picked up the child and started to rub circles onto his back. Jason and Dick looked on with mixed expressions.

"Hey, hey its okay." Bruce said as he sat down in a dining room chair. "calm down, hey breathe…breathe…" Tim slowly started to breath more normally, but his little heart was pounding. "Timmy… can you tell what happened? What's wrong?" Tim looked up at Bruce in shock. Mr. Wayne didn't know? But didn't all parents know that the dining room was no place for kids? But Mr. Wayne's expression was confused and concerned. No one had ever looked at Tim like that. Tim's tears fell down his face and he blew his nose, not trusting his voice to remain steady.

Bruce looked over at Dick and Jason for help. Dick looked concerned, but just as confused as Bruce was. Jason's face however, was dark and his fists were clenched. He had put it together.

"Your parents don't let you eat with them…do they Timmy?" Jason asked. Tim nodded, glad someone knew. Bruce sighed and rubbed Tim's back gently.

"I'm…" Tim's voice wavered, "I'm not supposed to be in here. Its against the rules, I'll get punished, please," Here he looked pleadingly up at Bruce, "please Mr. Wayne, I'm sorry I went in here, I won't do it again!"

"Its okay Timmy. In my house you're allowed to come in here. Now, do you want to eat dinner?" Timmy looked confused, his red nose scrunched up as he thought about it.

"I won't get in trouble?" He asked, looking over at Dick and Jason, was it a trick? Dick smiled at him and Jason gave him a determined nod.

"Of course you won't!" Bruce said, and stood with the boy still in his arms. "Though you might need to sit on a book or two to see your plate. Alfred would you…"

"Of Course Master Bruce." Alfred said, and left. Mr. Wayne smiled at Tim as he puzzled the whole thing over.

"You okay now Timmy?" Dick asked. Tim nodded, and blushed, when he realized he was still in Mr. Wayne's arms. It felt good though, so he didn't squirm. It felt…safe. Like Dick's lap and Alfred's cookies and Jason's sweatshirt. Jason and Dick sat down in their respective seats and Alfred set two yellow pages on the seat between Jason and Bruce. Bruce carefully set Tim on the book, which boosted him above the white tablecloth. Alfred placed a warm bowl of chicken and dumplings in front of each of them. Then he helped Tim roll up the sleeves of the sweatshirt and tuck a napkin into his front. Bruce and Dick began discussing the coding and graphics of the swordwalkers game (which was produced by Wayne Enterprizes). Jason interjects at points with a comment about the game, and Tim listens carefully. Mr. Wayne was explaining about how a part of difficult coding had been done when Tim asked:

"Why would they do it that way? Why wouldn't they do it the easy way?" Bruce was confused.

"I don't know what you mean, Tim."

"I mean instead of that long drawn out coding, why don't they just code it like…" here Tim went off into a string of advanced technological lingo, explaining how better coding could be done with a simpler formula. Bruce and Dick stared at him.

"I don't know what you were talkin about Timmers, but that sounds a little complicated." Jason said, impressed, "Where did ya learn that?" Tim blushed, and wiped his nose.

"I figured it out." Tim said quietly. Bruce stared with a new respect at tiny Tim Drake.

"What grade are you in Tim?" Dick asked, also impressed.

"Sixth." Tim said quietly. All three Wayne jaws dropped.

"Timmy yer a genius!" Jason said. Tim blushed, and then sneezed. Twice.

Desert was pumpkin pie, and Tim didn't think he'd ever eaten anything as good as Alfred's meal. Alfred himself was pleased to see that the tiny boy had a whole bowl of chicken and Dumplings and a nice sized piece of pumpkin pie, the child really needed to put on some weight.

After dinner was over Timmy slipped out of his chair.

"Thank you so much for dinner Alfred. And I had a lot of fun playing video games with you guys, but I should get home." Jason sighed,

"You are flippen kidding me?! you should stay! Have a sleepover!" Tim shook his head.

"I have to go home and check the house, I'm not sure when my parents will be back, so I have to wait for them." Because that's what Tim was always doing. Waiting for his parents. Tim reluctantly handed Jason back his red sweatshirt, and Jason taking it just as reluctantly. Alfred brought him his coat, shoes, and scarf, and Jason, without a word, tied Tim's sneakers. Tim went to hand Alfred back his handkerchief, but the man refused.

"You keep it sir." He said, and Tim smiling put it carefully into his pocket.

"I'll drive you home Tim." Dick offered.

"That's okay. I can walk, its not far." Bruce shook his head.

"Its already dark out Tim, Dick can drive you. I'd feel better if he did actually." Tim blushed and looked at his shoes, neatly double tied, and sneezed. Twice.

"You should not be out with that cold, Master Timothy, let Master Dick drive you there. It is safer, and no trouble." That did it. Tim said a sad goodbye to Jason and Bruce, and then walked out to where Dick had pulled the car around.

The ride was short, and Dick kept up a friendly, cheerful banter the entire ride, till they reached Tim's driveway. Then he fell silent in the shadow of the big empty house. Dick hated stopping at the front door. He hated Tim pulling out a set of keys and standing on his tiptoes to unlock it. He hated leaving him in the dark empty house, all alone by himself. Tim was about to go in, when Dick called out,

"Hey Timmy!" Tim turned around in the doorway, looking so tiny, in the big empty door. "If you ever need anything…feel free to let us know…okay?" Tim smiled

"Okay." Then he sneezed. Twice. And went into the empty house, and shut the door