Author's Note: For those of you who haven't read "The Body Keeps the Score," here are the most important things for you to know! (Or to ignore and take the story as-is, whatever suits you best, I guess?) Tim is Robin and is a metahuman with the ability to heal himself. Unfortunately, his parents have taken his healing ability and run with it, choosing to severely abuse him and make Tim think the abuse is his own fault for being "a freak." Doubly unfortunately, Tim thinks Batman hates metahumans, so he's keeping everything a secret. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred have never figured any of it out. Jason has given up being the Red Hood and returned to the family as the hero Phoenix, Cass has semi-recently joined the family as the hero Black Bat, and Damian has very recently come into the family and is choosing a hero name. None of them have figured any of it out either (although Cass has her suspicions that something is up, without not knowing what). But now, things are about to change…

For those of you who've read "The Body Keeps the Score," this story picks up and changes paths partway into chapter 13. Jason, Cass, and Damian have each joined the Batfamily (well, rejoined, in Jason's case) and are pretty comfortably settled in, but nobody knows Tim's a metahuman yet. But now, things are about to change…

Nothing here is like how things used to be.

Cass is…

Honestly, that is the first thing that is different about living with the Waynes versus living with David Cain.

Cass is. She is allowed to have a name. She has been given a chance to choose a name, even. Cass is herself here.

But there are many other things different about here and there, now and then. Cass is sometimes confused by the differences, but she is almost always happy for the differences.

One of the differences is the mission.

The mission with the master of the weapon she once was, with the man who was once her father but who acted more as an owner, with David Cain? That mission was severe. Resting was not a frequent activity of enjoyment but an unwanted occasional need. Jokes and smiles and gentle touches were not happy things to be held close but signs of weakness to be removed. The concept of family wasn't a positive choice but a required obedience.

The mission with Batman is so very different, and Cass is not sure she is used to it yet. But she is sure she is supporting of it.

Now is an example. Cass returns from patrol. She has had "a good patrol," to use Dick's words. They all have. The criminals they encountered were simple to defeat. The people they helped were grateful to be helped. They even stumbled across the information Bruce and Tim need to solve a case that has "gone cold for a while."

It was a good patrol. And what that means is that they are all smiling as they go making their way back into the Cave, she and Bruce and Jason and Dick and Tim. Even if the patrol hadn't been a good patrol, though, there would not be any harsh punishments or forced training sessions or cruel looks of mocking disappointment. There might be some frowning, or yelling, or even storming off, but they would come back together, and eventually there would be smiling again. Smiling is one of the best things to Cass, especially when it's her new family smiling at each other, her and her new father and her new grandfather and her four new brothers (even if one of those brothers seems not to be comfortable with words like "brother" or "family").

And they smile as they walk through the Cave.

Alfred is smiling too when they reach him and Damian, a small but noticeable smile. Damian is not smiling, but Cass thinks he is still learning the differences of the Waynes much like she has been. Smiling is not natural to him yet. And he has that softness to his shoulders and that tilt to his head that means he is pleased with what has been happening, which for now is good enough.

"I have come up with some additional factors to be considered on the development of my vigilante identity," Damian offers up as Bruce and Cass join him and Alfred at the planning table.

"And I believe they are quite reasonable factors," Alfred says, gesturing to the papers on the table.

"That's good to hear," Bruce says. "We'll have to keep at your training to make sure you're getting closer to joining us on the streets."

Damian does smile at that.

Dick throws an arm around Jason's shoulders and says, "Imagine, all of us out there at once! Criminals won't stand a chance!"

"Too bad a bunch of 'em were sitting around that poker table tonight, then," Jason says. "They won't need to stand."

Dick responds readily, "Well, they won't sit a chance either."

Jason snorts.

Tim laughs, coming up beside Cass. "I've never heard that expression before."

"And hopefully we'll never hear it again," Jason says. "That was a bad one, 'Wing."

"But you set it up for me so nicely!" Dick says, hurt radiating from his tone, but easy teasing confidence in the looseness of his arms.

Jason just snorts again, which makes Dick wrap his arm more tightly around his shoulders, which then makes Jason try to shake him off.

"Speaking of setting up," Tim says over the sounds of the following tussle. "Before we left for patrol, I found a televised tap-dancing program like the one you were describing, Cass."

"Tap-dancing," Cass repeats, not completely certain what Tim means. She sorts through the words in her brain, trying to find the ones to clarify. They're not coming. So she does her best approximation of what she thinks the word means. She rocks back on her heels and does a little motion with each foot, tapping the toes down loudly but rhythmically.

"Yeah," Tim says, watching her feet. "Tap-dancing."

Cass grins. "We will watch."

"Maybe tomorrow morning," Bruce says. "It was a good patrol, but it was a long one. We should all get to bed."

Tim nods. "I should get going, then."

"Or stay," Cass offers.

"There's always a room open for you," Alfred agrees.

"Sleepover time!" Jason crows from where Dick has him in a headlock.

Tim smiles, but he shakes his head. "Thanks for offering, but no thanks."

"All right, but Alfred is right. There is always a room for you here," Bruce says, and he reaches out with one hand toward Tim.

Things seem to slow down.

Bruce's hand moves toward Tim, going not too quickly but not slowly either. Bruce knows what he's doing. He's sure of his motion, of the reaction he'll receive.

Tim's reaction is not what Cass expects, except that maybe it is a little too much like Cass expects.

Tim is scared. He is more than frightened, he is terrified, and he is doing his best not to show it. But Cass sees it.

Does Bruce see it?

Because it's about him. Cass is suddenly certain of it.

Tim is scared of Bruce.

Bruce's hand lands on Tim's shoulder and gives him a pat.

Tim does his best not to shudder. He smiles at Bruce. The smile is fake, and so is the easy-going tone in his voice as he says, "Again, thanks."

When Bruce's hand retreats, Cass looks around.

Jason and Dick are wrestling and laughing. Alfred and Damian are back to looking at the papers on the table. They are smiling, real smiles. They are not reacting to Tim's reaction. No one notices Tim's fear, or perhaps no one cares.

Cass knows she's not the best detective in the family, but she can figure things out. She has put together the pieces of a puzzle. She doesn't like the picture that the puzzle is making.

Tim is scared of Bruce.

A child is afraid of a father.

Maybe something here is like how things used to be.

But if that is true, it can't be allowed to continue.