Author's Note: Gonna keep rolling along. I know I'm evil. I own nothing.

9 Loss and Recovery

One week later every news station around the world was covering the same story. Newspaper headlines read mostly the same worldwide. 'The Death Of A Titan: Robin Killed'. Tears were shed the world over but nowhere so much as in Gotham. No one was sure how it had happened, stories spread and changed like wildfire. One said he'd been shot in the head by the Joker. Another claimed Penguin had done the deed and that the young hero had drowned and then been frozen. Still another claimed Killer Croc had eaten the hero alive. All anyone knew for sure was that most of Robin's costume had been washed ashore from the bay riddled with holes and covered in blood. The city was honoring the fallen hero, a somber funeral parade. There were no cheers, no fanfare. Just a quiet walk through the streets of Gotham. Everyone came out to watch the pallbearers go by. The small coffin, empty save for the ruined costume was born along by many of Gotham Cities finest. Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara were at the front of the small group both in their dress blues. Behind them was Officer Mahoney, one of Robin's favorite contacts at the precinct. Opposite him was Bruce Wayne. The millionaire was financing the whole ordeal since Batman clearly couldn't come forwards to do it himself. The coffin was a plain black with Robin's signature R symbol laid upon it in gold. When they finally reached the graveyard Jim Gordon found himself crying silently as they approached the tomb. The ceremony was beautiful, many of the Justice League showed up, all in costume, or the more formal version of it in Wonder Woman's case. The funeral was covered by every media outlet known to man. All of Gotham stood vigil that night around the tomb. The city of turmoil and shadows stood still that night in silence and peace for one night to honor their fallen son. As night fell on the graveyard three figures stood alone in front of two small graves. A sigh sounded in the dark night.

"I gotta say it's a bit weird. Going to my own funeral." Diane deadpanned looking back over her shoulder at the imposing marble tomb with a large gold R set into the doorway. Barbra couldn't help the snort of laughter at her friends words. Bruce rolled his eyes at his daughter holding back his own grim smile. Their ploy seemed to have worked almost too well. The whole world believed that Robin was no more. Which was technically true. Diane couldn't bring herself to put the suit back on and go back to the way things had been before. They could never be the same, she would never be the same after what she'd done. She would be leaving tomorrow, officially for a semester abroad but the sixteen year old and her adoptive father had agreed that she needed time away from Gotham. To solidify the death of Robin in the minds of the Owls and to find herself again. To discover who she was now, because she certainly wasn't the same little girl she had been when she'd broken medical lockdown at Mount Justice what felt like years ago. But before she disappeared for who knew how long she needed to do one last thing.

Mount Justice was dead silent. Everyone inside was milling about the living room in black clothes. It had hit the whole team hard, they had just gotten her back after all. How could they have lost her that easily? They all ignored the sound of the Zeta tubes and the footsteps that came down the hall. Wally was the only one to look up. He dropped his glass of soda which shattered on the floor breaking the silence. Batman stood in the hallway accompanied by two figures both in plain black dresses. One was tall with bright red hair and sky blue eyes hidden behind dark shades. The other was short with baby blue eyes he recognized even under her shades. He tackled her in a hug. The others turned and did the same once they realized who it was. Artemis was the first to speak, she had been the only one allowed to attend Robin's funeral as she lived in Gotham, though she'd had to go in street clothes.

"You died you jackass!" The shorter raven haired girl shook her head and spoke.

"No. Robin died. I lived." She reached up and pulled off her glasses. Artemis's jaw dropped.

"I couldn't put the suit back on. Not after what I did. I can never be Robin again. Name's Diane, Diane Grayson. It's nice to finally officially meet you." Superboy snapped out of it first.

"Why didn't you tell us? That you were faking your own death." Rob… Diane shook her head.

"Several reasons. One it had to look real. And two because it's not technically faking. Robin is dead. I'm never putting on that costume again. I can't. I'm leaving the team. I need to know who I am, I need time to overcome what they did to me, what they made me do." Kaldur nodded and stepped forwards extending his hand to her.

"You are always welcome here my friend. Robin or Diane or whoever you decide to become. You will always have a place here. Agreed?" The others all quickly agreed and settled down to talk for a few hours. Soon enough though Diane was checking her watch.

"I have to go. I'm flying out of the country tomorrow. Off on my own little adventure." Her smile didn't hold as much humor as it had so recently. Zatana stepped up to her and handed her a communicator. She looked like she wanted to do more but hesitated instead speaking.

"Keep in touch pretty birdy." Diane grinned and leaned forwards pulling Zatana into a short kiss. Zatana grinned and blushed bright red before diving in for another one. Wally cleared his throat blushing bright red.

"Didn't know you swung that way Dia." Diane grinned and hugged everyone.

"I swing any way Wally. Kinda hard to care about other people's gender when you're not exactly ascribing to gender norms yourself." Zatana grinned and stole one last kiss before Diane disappeared into the Zeta beam tube.

The team didn't feel complete without her. Batgirl joined them and Artemis was a bit incensed to discover that two of her best friends from Gotham Academy were both superheroes. A year passed, Artemis and Wally graduated high school and moved in together. M'ggan and Superboy graduated too. Superboy decided to attend Happy Harbor Community College, M'ggan decided to focus on the team. Kaldur came and went from the surface to Atlantis. Rocket joined the Justice League as a trainee. Zatana went off in search of more powerful magic, something she could use to separate her father and Dr. Fate. Batman found a new Robin, a boy this time. According to him he'd been stealing hubcaps off the Batmobile when Batman had found him.

It was late one stormy winter night when Kaldur heard something moving in the main control room. He crept forwards and frowned. A tall female figure stood in front of the console checking over something to do with the Hive, a new group of radicals who had emerged in the past year. An achingly familiar voice sounded from the woman's lips.

"Are you just gonna stand there Kaldur?" Kaldur tensed further. It had been a year since he'd heard that voice and it seemed to have changed slightly. The others must have heard something as well for they had joined him in the doorway. They all stared as the figure turned around a familiar grin on her face. She was in what looked like skintight black leather. The only hint of color rested across her chest where a symbol that resembled a bird lay. The symbol stretched up to her shoulders and ran down to her hands where the stripe covered her middle and index fingers in bright blue. Her coal black hair was pulled back into a ponytail that hung to the base of her neck. A domino mask rested over her eyes. Wally stepped forwards.

"Dia?" She grinned and pulled the USB out of the console.

"It's Nightwing now."

And there ends this story. Diane may have more adventures from here though I don't know.