Chapter 2: Robin is My Neighbor Part 2

8:00 AM

As the morning started sunshine began to flow into Bruce and Dick's suite. The rays of light first came over Bruce and woke the older man up. As he did so Bruce rubbed his face trying to wake himself up. Once he could keep his eyes open Bruce smiled as he saw his son still clinging to his chest like a baby koala.

He ever so gently raised his arm to look at his watch and read eight am. Their meeting time with Mr. Rodgers began at ten right after his morning recording for the daily episodes. Meanwhile they needed to get ready and have breakfast quickly so they could make it on time. So in the most loving and gentle way possible Bruce shook his son's little body to wake him up.

It took a little bit of effort but eventually Bruce managed to wake his son up and boy was it adorable. The little boy stretched and yawned just like a tiny kitten waking from a deep sleep.

"Good mornin daddy." Dick said rather tiredly as he rubbed his eyes.

"Good morning little bird, did you sleep well?" Bruce asked as he sat up and sat his sleepy son on his lap.

"Mhmm." Dick answered as he laid his head on his father's chest.

"Are you excited for today?"

"Hmm?" Dick asked as he looked at his father confused on why he was asking him that.

"We're meeting Mr. Rodgers remember." Bruce chuckled figuring Dick completely forgot why they were in a hotel.

Dick's eyes immediately shot open and a smile spread widely across his face.

"Oh yeah! Let's go daddy!" Dick squealed as he hopped off his father's lap onto the floor, took his large hand with both his tiny ones, and began to try and drag his father to the door.

However Bruce just chuckled and scooped up his excited little boy into his arms.

"Wo wo wo baby bird, we still need to get ready for the day. You can't just go running out there in your jammies." Bruce reminded his son, who was bouncing up and down in his arms with pure excitement.

Dick agreed to this and was quickly dressed in a red knit sweater and jean overalls. He was then given a warm red Mr. Rogers beanie and warm black down jacket to keep him from getting cold. Dick also brought Peanuts with him, stating that the stuffed elephant wanted to meet his TV hero as well. Once all preparations were taken care of, Bruce scooped up Dick again and they headed out for Mr. Rogers studio.

As soon as they left the hotel and entered the brisk cold outside Bruce called over their limo. It promptly arrived so both father and son quickly got inside and were off to their special destination. It took all of a few minutes for Dick to ask that all too infamous question all small children have on trips.

"Are we almost there daddy?!" Dick asked excitedly as he bounced in his car seat.

"We still have a little ways to go little bird, just be patient." Bruce chuckled as he ruffled his son's hair.

After about fifteen minutes they at last arrived at studio and were dropped off. As they walked through the studio it took the firmest grip Bruce could muster to keep his uncontrollably excited son's hand in his. Eventually they reached the studio's front desk where the front desk woman was on a call. She was a young woman, most likely in her mid twenties, with honey blonde curled hair, green eyes, and a stylish pink dress.

"Excuse me ma'am." Bruce interjected as politely as possible.

"..you need to sir… oh hold for a moment. Hello how may I help you?" The receptionist asked warmly as she put the phone down.

"Hello I'm Bruce Wayne, my son and I have an appointment with Mr. Rodgers." Bruce explained motioning to his son who had the biggest smile across his face.

"Oh yes Mr. Rogers told me about you. You're his special guest for the day, and this adorable little boy must be none other than Dick Grayson Wayne." The receptionist said in a very sweet manner as she looked over her desk towards the smiling child.

"That's me!" Dick said excitedly.

"Awe you truly are as cute as they say! You should know Mr. Rogers is very excited to meet you Dick." The receptionist said always loving to hype the kids up to meet their hero.

"Really!" Dick squealed with pure joy.

"Mhmm, now go on he's waiting for you!" The receptionist said joyfully.

"Daddy let's go, let's go! Mr. Rogers is watin!" Dick said as he pulled in his daddy's arm with all his might .

"We're going baby we're going!" Bruce chuckled as he turned and gave a silent nod of thanks to the receptionist for making his precious little boy so happy.

The receptionist gave him a nice little sink almost as if to say, it's what I do. Once they left the entrance of the studio, at the speed of lighting Dick dragged his father to where the receptionist said Mr. Rogers was. They soon arrived at a large grey door marked with black painted letters that said Studio 3 and a framed flyer that read Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Above the door was also a sign that glowed green and said

RECORDING IN SESSION.

"Ok baby we have to be very quiet walking in, Mr. Rogers will be in the middle of filming and we don't want to mess up his shot." Bruce instructed carefully as he scooped up his son.

"Ok daddy." Dick whispered, not wanting to interrupt his hero's filming.

"Good boy." Bruce whispered back, with a large smile, as he silently pushed open the studio door and walked in.

As the two silently entered they were greeted by the fun and sweet music of Mr. Rogers puppet segment of his show. At the moment the man was filming for his newer segment for the upcoming weekend.

"Oh no King Friday please!" Mr Rogers begged as Daniel the Tiger.

"Never Daniel, I am king of this land and what I say is law!" Mr. Rogers bellowed as King Friday.

For a few minutes the Wayne's watched Mr. Rogers work, along with the rest of his crew. Dick tried his best not to laugh but was quite unsuccessful. So he at least muffed his laughter into his precious Peanuts. For about ten minutes they observed till one of the crew ended the filming session.

"Cut, that's a wrap for now Fred!" Marcy called out as she looked at the screen with their most recent recording.

It was then Mr. Rodgers came out from behind the castle, Daniel Tiger still attached to his hand, causing Dick to bounce up and down in Bruce's arms excitedly.

"I'll take Daniel Tiger for now Mr. Rogers." Said a young woman who held out a large blue case.

"Oh thank you Tanya, I appreciate your timeliness everyday." Mr. Rogers said in his usual kind and appreciative manner.

He then gently laid his puppet into the case treating it as if it were a good friend. But then he saw Bruce and Dick standing there and his face immediately lit up.

"Bruce! Bruce Wayne what an honor it is to meet you!" Mr. Rogers greeted warmly as he took Bruce's free hand into his and shook it firmly.

"It's an honor to meet you as well Mr. Rogers."

"No the pleasure is all mine Bruce, I hope we can become fast friends..and this must be your son Dick! My what a strapping and adorable little boy you have there." Mr. Rogers said as he then turned to Dick.

Then unexpectedly and without warning Dick bounded into the older man's arms, unable to restrain himself anymore.

"And very affectionate as well, you must just have a home full of love don't you Dick?" Mr. Rogers responded with a wide smile as he held the small boy lovingly in his arms.

"Mhm, my daddy loves mes so much! An I love him to an I love you Mr. Rogers!" Dick squealed as he hugged his hero tightly around the neck.

"Well I love you too Dick, and who's your little friend there?" Mr. Rogers asked as he saw Dicks Elephant.

"This is Peanuts, he my favorite toy!" Dick declared proudly.

"Oh I'm sure he is, it's good to have a favorite toy. Especially those that have a lot of meaning to us."

"My mama an tati gave me Peanuts, I had im since I was a baby!" Dick said as he cuddled Peanuts close.

"My, that is a very special toy you've got then. Tell me Dick does Peanuts like Chinese food?" Mr. Rogers asked playfully.

"Let me ask him!?" Dick said as he then pulled his elephant's trunk close to his ear.

For a moment there was silence as Dick listened intently for the Elephants answer. Dick nodded his head and whispered to his precious elephant till a decision was at last made.

"Peanuts says yes!" Dick declared.

"Wonderful then how about I take him, you, and your daddy to lunch at a yummy little Chinese restaurant just near the studio?"

"Oh Mr. Rogers there's no need for that." Bruce tried to protest.

"Nonsense there's no crime against a man taking some friends to lunch. Dick would you mind getting that man in the blue suit over there, he's going to drive us to where we're eating." Mr. Rogers instructed as he set Dick on his feet.

"Ok, I'll be back!" Dick declared as he ran off to the man in the blue suit.

That left Mr. Rogers and Bruce alone together.

"May I say you have a very kind and cute child." Mr. Rogers said as he looked Bruce in the eyes.

"Thank you Mr. Rogers, but before we leave can I have a quick word with you?" Bruce requested politely.

"Of course."

The two walked off about five more feet and then Bruce looked Mr. Rogers in the eye.

"Look I don't know what you're like outside of your show, but I would like it if you please treat my son as you would any character on your show. You've done a good job so far, but know my son looks up to you a lot and genuinely loves you. I couldn't stand it if he had his little heart broken." Bruce begged/ threatened the older man.

However Mr. Rogers just chuckled politely and put his hand in Bruce's shoulder.

"You certainly love that boy don't you, and don't you worry there is only one Fred Rogers." Mr. Rogers said genuinely as the two then looked at Dick.

All of the crew were laughing and talking with the adorable little boy who in a short time had captured their hearts.

"He's my one and only baby, I can't help but love him." Bruce admitted realizing he had just ridiculously threatened Mr. Rogers.

"It's very clear, now how about that Chinese food. Bill, will you go start the car and be sure the car seat is installed!" Mr. Rogers requested politely.

Bill simply nodded, ruffled Dicks hair and ran off to the car to get it ready.

"I was about to ask if you possibly had one of those, if I had known we were going to eat I would have brought ours from the limo."

"Don't you worry Bruce, we have plenty of little children who join us on our show. So I always insure to have one in hand just in case." Mr. Rogers said as he then walked ahead, took Dick's hand and walked out of the studio.

Bruce smiled as he followed behind, feeling this trip maybe wasn't just meant for Dick, but that maybe he himself could do some good from it.