Disclaimer: Don't own DC or any form of Batman

Yep, another new one

Chapter 1

He stood at the back, making sure to stay out of sight. He hadn't been invited but…he had to be there. He bit his lip as the coffin was lowered into the wet ground, of course it was raining. He couldn't help like feeling it was his fault, but it wasn't…was it? He hadn't even been there, there was nothing he could have done to stop it…except shoot straighter that day. Mr Wayne looked devastated, if you knew how to read past the façade, and even if you didn't, he was showing grief as he stood at his youngest sons' grave.

Jason Todd…Robin…was dead. His Robin was dead at the hands of the Joker all the way in Ethiopia.

As the rain began to fall even heavier, he slipped away from the graveyard, not wanting anyone to notice his makeup running. He scrambled up the tree by his window and then into his room, quickly stripping out of his wet suit to hang in the bathroom till dry. Mrs Mac wouldn't say anything about having to get it dry cleaned to his parents. He started the shower and stepped in, making sure to scrub his face clean, avoiding looking in the mirror as much as possible once out. He re-applied the makeup and then went to his bed, pulling up the panel under it to remove his night clothing. He quickly dressed in the dark clothing, making sure he was covered before digging out his camera and medical kit, checking the small pouch he wore on his belt too for smoke pellets. He then left the same way he'd entered, heading into the city.

There was no way Batman would be patrolling tonight and Nightwing was off planet, someone had to help people. So, he made his way across the rooftops, looking for people who needed help. He couldn't stop crimes like they could, but he could call the emergency services and provide first aide.

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Dick stared at the grave, unable to believe it. Jason…Jason was dead. It wasn't fair! He was fifteen, just a kid with his whole life ahead of him. He'd thought Bruce was doing better with Jay than he had him, but he'd watched the footage of their confrontation before Jason left, where Bruce basically accused him of killing someone. Jason wouldn't have done that; he'd watched what footage there was and Jason's face…he hadn't done it.

He tensed as a stick broke, hearing the soft intake of breath. He turned to see a small shadow shifting back. "It's okay," he called softly, not wanting to scare off a kid visiting someone. "I won't hurt you, I'm sorry if I scared you," he offered the shadow a gentle smile even though it hurt.

But the shadow fled through the bushes and by the time Dick went around, there was no sign of the kid…or a car who could have driven him. He searched around for a bit, worried about a kid being out alone in Gotham at night but there was no sign. He headed back to the grave and blinked at the sight of a new bouquet, it looked home-made but there was no card. So, he hadn't imagined the kid.

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Tim stripped, washed the makeup off, and crawled into bed, still panting. That had been so close! He hadn't expected Nightwing…Dick Grayson to be there! Tim had no reason to be at Jason's grave, they hadn't officially known each other, and Dick might recognise him since they'd been at the same galas for years and that night too… but why would Dick remember the weird kid from the night his parents died?

He curled up under the covers and closed his eyes, trying to go to sleep. It hadn't been easy to sleep in a long time though. His mind just never switched off…but at least the laughter had faded.

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Batman was back on the streets! That should be good but…he was different, even to how he'd been after the first Robin left and before he took on the second.

"Watcha watching kiddo?" a familiar voice asked, and he spun around, eyes wide.

"Mama," he whispered, before clapping a hand over his mouth.

Harley smiled sadly at him, crouching down. "It's okay baby, you're safe. He's back in Arkham." She slowly reached out and Tim couldn't bring himself to pull away, her hand ruffling his hair gently.

He sniffled at the gentle touch, why didn't mother touch him like that? And then he was being hugged and he just melted into her, clinging on. He wasn't JJ, he couldn't be him, even for her, not anymore. But he just needed a hug. "P…he…he killed Robin," he sobbed.

"I know," she cooed, rocking him gently.

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Harley held her baby boy, even knowing he wasn't really hers. She had a lot of regrets when it came to her precious JJ. If she hadn't wanted a family so badly…Mr J wouldn't have snatched the boy, wouldn't have hurt him…changed him…she'd sheltered him as much as she could. When those bright blue eyes had met hers, pleading for help she hadn't been able to say no.

She'd tried to get Mista J to stop hurting him and he'd turned his anger on her. Her baby had shot him to protect her but he'd been shaking too badly so the shot had only wounded him, not killed him. Not that she wanted her baby to be a killer, he was too little. She'd done what she could to help him recover and eventually had reached out to one Dinah Lance, psychologist to the capes. She'd taken on JJ to help him recover but had never been allowed to see his bare face or learn his real name. Harley trusted her as much as she could any hero since they had trained in the same field…but she wouldn't risk her baby to the capes. He was already fascinated enough with Batman and Robin thank you.

And who knew what the big bad bat would do if he found out about JJ. If he tried to put her baby in Arkham…he'd obviously been healing, back on the street with his camera…and was that a medical kit?

"So, snapping the bat?" She asked when he calmed down.

He wiped at his eyes, smudging his makeup a little. It was hard to spot in the darkness but he was definitely wearing some…hmm…she'd have to get him better quality stuff that wouldn't smear even in water.

"His first night without Robin," he whispered.

"Come on baby, let's get you something to eat and then home to bed." She gently pulled him away, keeping them well out of sight of batsy.

She'd been working on her own mental health since running with JJ and had kept off of the bats radar because of that. It'd been two years now, two years of therapy for both of them. That his own parents didn't know…if she could, she'd take him away form them forever. But despite the neglect and their absence, he was still better off, safer, there.

She led him to a nearby dinner and they settled in, no one looking twice at Harley Quinn and the tiny, hooded figure with her. She ordered easy to eat and filling food, making sure he ate. She had felt how skinny he was through his hoodie and she didn't like it. He needed more care but how? She couldn't be seen in Bristol and it was dangerous for him to travel alone to the areas she frequented. Her baby Timmy hadn't even told her his name once he was mentally aware enough to remember it, he'd been too scared. But eventually he'd told her he was Tim and after that, given his accent and the quality of clothes when snatched, it hadn't taken her much to work out who he was. She did her best to keep an eye on him from afar, hadn't realised he would want to see her again after all the trauma.

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He paused and then blinked, was that really…? He moved closer, onto a lower rooftop to get a better view. Yep, that was Harley in a dinner with…a kid? There'd been no word of her for something like two years…nothing in B's files suggested she was involved in what had happened, she hadn't even tried to free the Joker. Had she really left him? The kid was too old to be hers and the Jokers…wasn't it? Hard to tell from where he was and they could be small or large for their age too. Even if it was their kid, he couldn't blame a kid for the sins of the parent.

Then Harley looked up and spotted him, tensing. Well, might as well say hi to hopefully keep things peaceful.

He walked into the dinner and nodded at the staff before perching on a bar stool close but not too close. "Hey Harley, haven't seen you in ages."

"Hey Wing," she smiled at him, even as the kid froze before sinking in his or her seat, tugging their hood closer. She shifted in her seat to try and be more between them.

He held his hands up. "Not here to start anything," he promised. "I'm not B. Haven't seen you in years and was curious. Hoping you've left the Joker for good."

"I'm good," she grinned and then shifted to sit next to the kid, tucking them into her side. "As for Mista J, he better stay in Arkham," she growled, hand gently running over the kids' back. He had the sick feeling he didn't want to know. "Sorry bout ya brother, he seemed a good kid. I didn't know or I'd have warned ya. I've stayed away from him."

He nodded slowly. "Thanks," he murmured. "Okay?" he looked at the kid.

"We're both getting better," was all the answer she'd give. It did suggest the kid was either Joker's or had been in his hands at one point. Which could explain their nervousness over his presence.

"I won't hurt you kid," he promised. "I'm glad you're both doing better. Consider your meal on me. Harley, call me if you need to or need help," he looked between her and the kid and she nodded, accepting the card he tossed to her.

With a kid involved, he'd help. The kid deserved the chance for a normal life. The fact they were keeping their hood up worried him, what had Joker done physically? He had money, if the kid needed surgery or anything, he'd pay for it. He did a flip off the bar stool to try and entertain the kid and smiled as he heard a soft little giggle, thankfully nothing like Joker's. He bowed and then went to pay for their meal for them.

A kid explained her absence from Joker's side. Harley had been nuts, but she'd never hurt kids.

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Tim collapsed on his bed, checking his pictures from the night. There weren't many but that was okay. Nightwing had done a flip for him! He'd been scared when he showed up, that they were going to fight or he'd try and take him away, see who he was. But he'd just chatted with mama and even paid for their food! Jason was his Robin but Dick had been the first, the one who enabled him to work it all out…the one secret he'd kept from pa…him.

He'd thought it'd hurt seeing mama but it had been good. They were both still damaged but they were moving past what he'd done to them. Tim's good days far outweighed the bad and Ms Dinah said that was good. He didn't talk to her much anymore but he thought he should call her, tell her about Robin and tonight. She didn't know he knew who the bats were and several other heroes too. Seriously, how didn't everyone know the reporter Clark Kent was Superman? All he did was wear glasses!

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"Hey Babs, can you do some research for me. Quietly and on the side?" he asked, leaning on her desk.

She sighed and looked up at him. "On?"

"Harley Quinn."

"She's back?" she asked but didn't sound alarmed.

"Don't think she ever left, but she's left the Joker. Don't tell B?"

She nodded, obviously curious.

"She had a kid with her. They were scared of me, kept their hood up. And from what Harley said and didn't…the Joker had the kid at some point. Not sure if the kid is theirs or not or what's going on."

Babs frowned. "Alright, but what do you plan to do with whatever I find?"

"Make sure they're doing okay. The way they kept their hood up, if they need any medical help, I want them to get it."

"Okay, I'll see if there's any evidence of Harley having a child. What would you say the maximum age would be?"

"If they're small for their age…young teen, maybe? Couldn't even tell if they're male or female since they wore a baggy hoody and didn't speak. Though I got a giggle for showing off a flip, a normal giggle, nothing Jokerish about it."

"I'll let you know what I find," she promised.

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Dinah closed the window on her laptop and slumped back in her seat. Poor kid. She wished she knew who he was so she could do more to help. He was a lot better than when Harley first reached out to her but would he ever fully heal from what the Joker did to him? The physical wounds had healed but left scars. The poor kid had been wearing make-up ever since to hide them since they would be very recognisable in Gotham. He was lucky the Joker hadn't gotten around to fully bleaching his skin before his escape, he was pale but not the unnatural pale of Joker and Harley.

She was glad she had been able to help the kid find himself again, he wasn't JJ he wasn't entirely the boy he'd been before either. It had happened young enough though that the changes weren't as life altering as they'd be for an adult. Children were continually changing as they grew. He likely would never be who he would have been without the Joker's torture but hopefully he'd be a mentally healthy adult.

She thought a reunion with Harley could be healing for both of them and he seemed to have taken it well, he was more worried about Nightwing having seen him with her. She'd keep an eye on that, maybe reach out to Babs to see if he was trying to look into things.

What Dinah really wanted, was to find T's parents and shake them. How could they not realise their son was kidnapped and then came back so different? It was tempting to use what he had told her to track them down, there couldn't be too many people who would fit what she knew. But that would break his trust and he had to be able to trust her for therapy to work. If not for his experience with the Joker, she'd be trying to nudge Bruce into finding him and intervening. Before Robin's death, even the Joker's role wouldn't have stopped her if she thought T might be in danger but now? Who knew how he would see a kid who had gone through what T had.

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Tim slipped into the alley once sure Batman had moved on, kneeling beside the man. "It's okay, an ambulance is coming," he murmured even as he pulled out gauze and bandages to do what he could, hands no longer shaking. It had been three months since Robin was killed and Batman was getting worse. Something had to be done before he went too far, but what?

As soon as the ambulance was close, Tim scrambled up the fire escape and onto the roof, watching as they checked the man over before loading him in the truck. Tim then took off; glad he'd memorised Batman's patrol routes.

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Alfred watched as Master Bruce continued to self-destruct. There was not much he could do but he was trying everything he could to help him. He wished Master Richard would return but he was too angry at the moment. He hadn't agreed with Bruce's refusal to contact Richard in space to return quickly. Missing the funeral was not something he would ever forget.

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Tim stared at the photos, watching the progression in full colour. When he looked at his own hands, he could almost still see the red of fresh blood as he had fought to keep the purse snatcher alive long enough for help to arrive. He'd hacked the records; the man was still in the ICU. Part of it was his fault, the mans' cracked ribs were from Tim performing CPR. But the rest of the injuries were from Batman. Batman was meant to be a good guy, a hero…but now… he had to do something. But what could he do?

Batman…Batman needed Robin, but Robin was dead. No…the second Robin was dead, the first was alive and working as Nightwing, mostly in Blüdhaven. So, if he came back, would Batman be better?

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Dick blinked as his 'work' phone rang. Most would just use comms but he did give the phone number out to a few people, mostly those in danger or who gave him information. He picked it up to answer, it could be an emergency. "Nightwing," he spoke into the phone but there was no answer. "Hello?"

He moved to the computer, ready to trace the caller, maybe they couldn't talk and needed to be extracted.

"Mister Nightwing?" a soft, hesitant voice whispered.

"Hi," he answered, had he given his number to a kid.

"Mama gave me your number, from the dinner," the kid sounded really nervous.

The dinner… "Harley's kid?" he asked, keeping his voice gentle.

Babs hadn't found any evidence that Harley had ever had a kid. Though two years ago, Joker had been found with a bullet lodged in his shoulder, close to his neck, raving about ungrateful brats and sidekicks. They'd assumed Harley was involved and it made sense since she'd gone to ground then…but could this kid have been involved to.

"What can I do for you?" he asked carefully but gently.

"I…" the kid hesitated. "I have some information you need to see. It's important…about Batman."

Dick blinked, well…that was unexpected. He quickly brought up the watch program, Joker was still safely in his cell. From Harley's reactions, he didn't think she'd go back, but a scared kid would be easy to manipulate.

"Okay, I can come to Gotham tonight."

The kid sighed in relief, and Dick couldn't help smiling slightly. "The library?"

"Sure, I can meet you there."

Nice and public for both of their safety. He could throw a jacket on over his suit and if he kept to the shadows no one would likely spot his mask. And the kid would trust he wouldn't do anything somewhere so public, not that Dick would hurt a kid but he didn't blame him for being cautious. And Babs would be there as backup should it be a trap. The chair might be necessary but it didn't slow her down that much and her upper body strength was very good. She could use eskrima as well as he could. And her throwing arm was just fine too.

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Tim kept his hood up and head down as he slipped into the library, terrified. He shouldn't have told Nightwing he was Harley's kid, shouldn't have said how he got the number, should have lied. He clung to the strap of his backpack as he headed towards the back where they'd have privacy and shadows. He sat at a table and carefully pulled the files from his bag, setting them on the table in front of him as he waited.

"Hey kid."

He nearly jumped, looking up to find Nightwing slipping down to the ground, he was wearing a jacket over his suit, making it less obvious what it was. He had his mask on too, not that it made any difference to Tim. He knew Nightwing would have checked the building out first to make sure it wasn't a trap, and that Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, was at the front desk. If anything happened, Tim was badly outnumbered, but it was Nightwing and Batgirl…Oracle now. They were good guys…but Batman was meant to be a good guy too.

"Hey, it's okay kiddo, breath with me."

Tim blinked to find Nightwing crouched in front of him, taking deep exaggerated breaths. He found himself following Nightwing and the man smiled at him.

"There you go, it's okay. Is there something you want me to call you?"

He wasn't asking for Tim's name, that was nice. But what to tell him? No way could he say JJ, even if sometimes he felt like the name fit, Dinah said that was okay, that JJ was a part of him now. So long as it didn't hurt him or anyone else then it was fine. "Ghost," he finally whispered, he'd heard the police when he'd hung around the scene. They said a ghost was helping people who were hurt so they meant him.

"Okay Ghost, it's nice to meet you." Nightwing offered his hand, and Tim hesitantly shook it. "Is that what you wanted to show me?" he indicated the files, and Tim nodded.

He opened them, spreading out the photos and files. Even with his hood up, he was glad for the better makeup Mama had given him, there was no chance of Nightwing seeing the scars, especially the ones around his mouth.

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Ghost, huh? Babs had told him that name; the cops and paramedics were using it for some good Samaritan who called them in to help once Batman had moved on. He hadn't expected the Ghost to be a kid, let alone Harley's kid, he'd figured she'd keep him close and away from the nightlife.

He sat and let the kid show him the files, frown growing as he followed the timeline. That…wasn't good. What the hell was Bruce doing?

TBC…