Bruce: 42

Dick: 23

Lillian: 19

Tim: 13

Wally: 23

Tim Drake

Soft pop music played from my Wayne Tech Phone on its docking station. I was sat on my bed reading Uncle Clark's latest Daily Planet article. The music changed suddenly to an ominous piano rift, my ringtone for Bruce. Pushing the newspaper aside I reluctantly answered my phone. It was my night off and my dad better have a good reason for calling.

"Hello."

"Lillian?"

"Who else would be answering my phone on a Tuesday night?"

"I thought you and Barbara had plans?" The other line said dryly.

"She cancelled. Apparently she forgot that she'd already made plans with the Comish. I'll see her tomorrow."

"I need you downstairs." Bruce paused before adding "It's important."

"Be right there." I growled before tossing my phone at the bed.

"What's so urgent?" I called marching down the steps.

"He's done it again!" Dick hollered back apparently laughing.

"Done what again?" I asked peering into the dark cave from the base of the steps. As my eyes adjusted to the Batcave's darkness, I could see Dick walking through the cave in his Nightwing costume. In the center of the cave, a young teenage boy was standing in a stained grey T-shirt and khaki pants.

"You're that kid who's been tailing us for weeks right?" I asked the boy honestly not accusingly. "It's Timmy right?"

"Tim Drake, yeah." He answered awkwardly. "And I wasn't stalking you or anything like that! It started out because I wanted a few pictures, you know Nightwing flying through the air, Batman with a batarang, Batgirl kicking a gun of a gangster's hand…action shots." He mumbled into his holey shoes. At the mention of Batgirl I suddenly remembered I was costumeless.

"Ah hell Grayson you let me go maskless in front of the kid! Batman's gonna kill me!" I whipped my head looking for the Dark Knight.

"It's alright Lillian, Mr. Drake knows about all of us." The voice of Bruce Wayne smirked from under the cowl.

"I'm assuming this is the important thing you need me to rush down here for?" I glared at the black clad man.

"Master Wayne?" A British voice rang through the cave. A smile quickly spread across my face. If anyone could sort this mess out it would be Alfred.

"Come on down Alfred!" Bruce called up the stairs before removing his mask. Alfred joined our group with apprehensions but said nothing else.

"Alfred meet Timothy Drake."

"A pleasure young sir." The butler greeted with an outstretched hand. Tim shook it politely. "So young Master Timothy how is it you've found your way into our Batcave?" Rather than answering the younger boy looked to Bruce for help. Bruce smiled in return.

"Alfred do you remember Lilly and I telling you about the young man who likes to take pictures of Batman and Batgirl. That would be our friend Tim here. Tim had very cleverly discovered Batman's secret identity and through Bruce Wayne he learned the identities of Batgirl and Nightwing as well."

"That still doesn't explain why he's in the cave." I pointed out.

"Tim's parents have been killed by Two-Face." Dick's words from earlier "He's done it again" now made sense. Some people collect stray cats or dogs, my dad collects stray kids.

"Welcome to the family Timmy." I said pulling him into a hug.

"Eh er um thanks." He mumbled against my shoulder.

"Lillian?" The voice of a small bird called up the stairs.

"I'll be right down Tim!" It had been three days since Tim had come to live with us. He had moved into the bedroom to the left of Dick's. Alfred had taken him shopping for clothes, school supplies and anything else he wanted. We were getting ready for Tim's first day at Gothem Academy and things were falling into place perfectly. I threw my backpack down by the door of the Entrance Hall in the same place I flung it every morning for ten years.

"What's wrong?" I asked my seemingly distressed new little brother.

"I was hoping for some breakfast before school. It's alright, it's not important." He picked up his own backpack and slung it on his shoulder.

"Well Just let Alfred know, I'm sure he'd be glad to cook you anything you'd like."

"Alfred's not here." He answered.

"Alfred's always here! He's part of the house!"

"He left a note...Oh but I left it on the counter."

"Well let's go get it then." I pulled him by the hand into the kitchen. In the center of the counter island was a small note.

Dear Miss Lillian and Master Timothy,

Master Wayne left his briefcase at home this morning. I've left to bring it to him. I'm afraid you'll have to help yourselves to breakfast.

-Alfred

"Alfred is always saying Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What would you like?" I offered looking up from the note.

"Can you cook?" He answered hopping onto one of the barstools.

"Yes!" I answered feigning offense. "I'm actually an excellent cook, with the Alfred Pennyworth seal of approval too!"

"So what's your best breakfast dish?" Tim probed cheerfully.

"Hmm probably Homemade waffles…or pancakes, but I can make almost anything."

"How about something quicker like cereal or toast?"

"I can do that." I plugged in the chrome toaster and began searching the cupboards for bread. "What's your favorite cereal?"

"Batman Berries." He replied shyly.

"Really? The ones with the fruit flavored Bat-symbols?" Tim nodded his head enthusiastically. "I'm not sure we have any, but I'll look." Digging around I found Dick's box of Lucky Charms, Alfred's box of Frosted Flakes, Bruce's box of Cheerios, my box of Count Chocula, and even a box of Jason's favorite cereal Captain Crunch. While I was busy making toast and searching for cereal I heard the front door creak open. A familiar voice called into the house.

"Lil?!"

"In the kitchen Wally." I hollered back, buttering a piece of toast.

"Oooh are we having Breakfast?" The redheaded boy asked before taking the piece of toast from my hand. He snapped a large bite out of it not waiting for me to answer.

"Well Tim and I were going to have some Breakfast before I dropped him off at school, but I see you've no problem helping yourself." I laughed before kissing him on the cheek.

"Who's Tim?" Wally questioned, mouth half full.

"Tim Drake meet my adorable but clueless boyfriend Wally West. Wally meet my new brother Tim." Tim smiled in acknowledgement and Wally nodded back.

"Say Wally," I grinned at him, an idea gleaming in my eye.

"Uh oh, I know that look. Tim lesson number one about the Wayne's, when you see that look, run."

"What look?" I asked innocently.

"That one you have right now, like you've just thought of the best thing in the world. That look that usually gets me in trouble. It's not just Lilly, Dick and Jason get it too." Wally promised the newest Wayne.

"I was only going to ask you a small favor."

"It's never a small favor when it is accompanied by that look, seriously why haven't you run yet?" He added with a grin.

"Don't tell him to run!" I said whipping a dish towel at him gently. "But speaking of running would you mind running to the grocery store and picking up some cereal for Tim?"

"Doesn't Alfred buy you guys cereal?" Wally eagerly began opening and closing the cupboard doors looking for the cereal cabinet.

"He does but we don't have any of Tim's favorite cereal and I was hoping you could run to the grocery store and pick up a box of Batman Berries so Timmy here could have a bowl of it before school."

"Why do you keep saying run like that? And the closest grocery store is on the edge of town my car won't make it there and back before he has to be at school."

"That's why I was kind of hoping you could run to the store, say without your car?"

"Run? But…oh!" As if a switch had just clicked in his head Wally's eyes lit up and a wide grin danced on his face. "Back in a Flash!" He called before disappearing out of the room.

"How did…did...but…Did he just disappear?" Tim stammered out.

"Have you ever heard of Central City's superhero the Flash?" Tim nodded still staring at the spot where Wally had vanished from. "Well Flash and Wally are good friends, they used to be partners."

"Used to be?"

"Yeah he retired from the superhero business."

"I'm back, you can stop talking about me." Wally smirk from the doorway. "I brought some milk too."

"Thank you Wally." I smiled, kissing him on the forehead.

"Does this mean I can have some more toast?" He asked hopefully.

"Sure." I shrugged before pouring Tim a bowl of cereal.

"Wally?"

"Hmmm?" The former Kid Flash answered.

"Why did you retire from being a hero?" Tim asked as he took the bowl from my hands.

"There were a lot of reasons but most importantly I decided I wanted a chance at being normal. I've been around costumes nearly my whole life, I'm twenty-three now, I figured it's about time I tried civilian life."

"Oh. That makes sense I guess." Tim nodded and ate a few bites of cereal before whispering my name. "Lilly?" As I cleaned the counter and put things away I could only imagine what Tim was going to ask next.

"Yes Tim?"

"Why haven't you retired?"

"You're not the first person to ask." I told him leaning on the counter. "Wally has tried to talk me into it once or twice. Some of my other hero friends have too, I don't know it just doesn't feel right yet. I just feel like there's still so much Batgirl can do. I might never retire, there are plenty of adults out there in capes and cowls and sure none of them started as young as me, but they are still around."

"Thinking about getting into the family business?" Wally asked Tim over his shoulder before placing a dirty plate in the sink.

"Like Bruce would ever allow that." The boy answered before handing his bowl to the grinning redhead.

"You never know Timmy, you could be the next Boy Wonder!" I smiled before washing the counter down.

"For now, let's just see if I make it through my first day of school."