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Epilogue

Tim coughed and then looked down at his hand, knowing what he'd see and he was right, blood. His body was failing, unable to take the ectoplasm anymore, his Core done with the constant healing from the damage that no one knew about. It had been getting worse the last few years but he could feel it, he didn't have much time left. But it would be okay, Ghosts were accepted, he didn't have to leave his family.

"It's getting worse, isn't it?" Steph asked from the doorway, and he nodded. She walked to his side and they embraced, enjoying the touch. "You'll come back, right?"

"I promise," Tim agreed. "I'll haunt you all for the rest of your lives. I just…I want to be here for Peter's wedding." Their son was getting married in three months.

"You will be, no matter the form."

Tim nodded, he knew that, but it would be different. He'd talked with a lot of Ghosts since his own death, they had all been amazed to meet a Revenant and one that they King had helped at that. The way they described interacting with the living… he would fight for every breath.

"I love you," he whispered and then they were kissing.

Twenty-six years of marriage and they were still as in love as they had been as teens. He'd made it longer than the first estimate and they had been good years. They had long ago hung up their capes, focusing on WE and their two kids. Peter had been a surprise but one they had happily accepted. Jason loved kids; he could have kids too unlike Tim. It didn't seem fair given that Jason had been dead for months but however he'd come back hadn't been the same, apparently reality had been shifted. So, the ectoplasm in his system was only from the Lazarus Pit. Still, he hadn't expected to become a dad, hadn't been ready for one, so they had adopted Peter. Their son had known the truth since he was old enough to understand that his Uncle Jason had a special role in his life and he was happy.

Janet was travelling the world with her girlfriend but would be back for the wedding. Another reason to hang on until then. Their children knew the truth of his condition, even if the rest of the family didn't. Jason had asked him about what would happen when he died, and Tim had told him it would free his Ghost from his body so he at least knew that Tim would still be around, even if he didn't know Tim would be dying soon. He just hadn't been able to hurt the family with that knowledge, he wanted them to be happy.

,

Danny stood with Val, watching the ceremony and trying not to cry. Who would have thought that their daughter would marry Tim and Steph's son? None of them had seen that relationship coming but they were a good match. Peter made Emily happy so he had no complaints, he knew Peter would treat her right. Thankfully, while all of their kids were very liminal, they didn't have any active powers and had stayed away from the vigilante lifestyle. He knew Tim felt the same about his own kids. That life had messed them up, they wanted better for their own children.

It was good the wedding was today; he could almost see Tim's Core! He must have fought tooth and nail to make it and he would pay for that. If he made it till Wednesday, Danny would be shocked. Hopefully, the death and separation would be peaceful and painless, but Danny would stay in Gotham in case he was needed.

,

Bruce was surprised when Tim sat beside him on the couch and then leant into him, but he wrapped his son in a hug. "How's wedding clean up?"

Tim groaned. "So glad Janet and Mia eloped."

Bruce laughed at that, brushing a hand through Tim's hair, able to pick out the greys easily, though the shade reminded him of Tim's Ghost.

"I love you Dad," Tim whispered, and Bruce felt a flash of fear even as Tim began coughing, a wet, deep cough.

Bruce sat up and he saw it, blood. "DICK!" He screamed for his eldest even as he supported Tim, patting his back.

Dick rushed into the room and froze at the sight. "I'll call Jada!" he grabbed his phone to do so.

"It's alright Tim, you'll be okay."

His son gripped his hand and the coughing trailed off. "Won't," he gasped. "D…dying…"

"Tim?" he asked in horror, and Tim looked up at him with pained eyes, blood on his face.

"S'rry Dad. Knew…no kids, no long," he coughed again, "life."

And Bruce put the clues together. He might be old but his mind was still sharp. Tim…Tim had known this was coming. He was dying, again. Bruce pulled his own phone and sent out a message to the family to come home immediately, that it was Tim.

Within ten minutes, Stephanie was there, a knowing look in her eyes. She knelt in front of Tim, taking his hands. "It's okay Tim, I'm here. You can let go," she whispered.

"Steph…"

"He won't go anywhere B; he promised to haunt us forever."

"You knew," he whispered, and she nodded.

"Before he ever proposed. He couldn't do that without me knowing what I was getting into. Like no kids of our and his lifespan being cut," she explained even as she gently wiped some of the blood from Tim's face, his breathing was laboured now.

Dick rushed back in. "Jada said to call an ambulance."

"They can't do anything Dick," Steph answered. There were tears in her eyes but she remained steady. She'd grown up so much since Bruce had first met her.

By the time the rest of the family arrived, Tim was lying in bed in his childhood bedroom, barely able to breath but at least he'd stopped coughing blood. They'd cleaned him up so as not to scare the kids and he had a nasal cannula in place…just like all those years ago. Alfred puttered around, looking unconcerned but tender as he checked on Tim.

"It will not be long now," the Ghost informed them. It had been a shock when six months after Alfred had passed, Bruce had walked into the kitchen to find him cooking breakfast as if nothing had changed.

"Is he in pain?" Jason asked, voice gruff with grief and pain.

Alfred shook his head and Bruce saw the empty morphine syringe. Stephanie was sitting beside her husband, glassy blue eyes locked on her. One by one, his children and grandchildren moved to the bed to say their farewells, temporary or not, Tim would not be the same.

Once they were done, Bruce sat on the bed and carefully moved Tim to rest against himself. "We're all here Tim, we love you son."

Tim's breathing grew more and more difficult and then…nothing.

"Tim?" he called, pressing his fingers to his throat…no pulse that he could detect.

Damian moved in, checking him with a stethoscope, shaking his head, tears in his eyes.

"Timmy…" Dick gripped Wally's hand tightly.

And then Tim's body glowed for a moment before a familiar form was standing beside the bed, dressed exactly the same as he had been all those years ago. He looked around, seeming confused.

"Tim?" Jason called and Tim looked at him before looking down at the bed.

"Oh." He swallowed and hesitantly reached out to touch his own body.

Bruce carefully laid the body down and then stood up to face his Ghostly son. "Tim," he called, opening his arms, and then he was hugging him. Soon everyone was pressed close, Alfred smiling as he watched them with soft red eyes.

,

Danny smiled at Tim as the young Ghost swore his oaths to the King's Court, taking his place among them. He spent most of his time with the living, with his family, but he had a place in the Infinite Realms too. Danny was fairly sure that many of the family would return as Ghosts given how many near-death experiences they'd had over the years. Plus, as his wife, Stephanie had been exposed to high levels of ectoplasm for decades. She even happily slept with Tim even as a Ghost! Now that was acceptance most could not manage.

They had peace with Earth and all it had taken was Tim dying for his brother. He felt bad that Tim's life had been cut short, but he still had his family.

,

Damian smiled as Tim settled beside him on the couch, used to the chill that came with his brother. They'd all gotten used to it with Alfred first after all. Tim pouted at his coffee but then Alfred handed him a mug of ectoplasm which got a smile.

Gotham crime rates had been rising after so long with a very reduced team, most of their kids had chosen civilian lives. But now there was a new Batman, one who was only seen when he wished to be, one who could become one with the shadows in a way no living being could. And Tim really liked scaring criminals by appearing from nowhere. He was a very good Batman, maybe even better than Father had been.

,

Tim and Alfred hovered around Bruce. Surprisingly, he had made it to a very nice 98years. No one had seen that coming. Those family members who could were coming as fast as possible but not everyone could. Dick likely didn't even remember Bruce anymore, that diagnosis had been a horrifying shock but Wally was sticking by him. Babs…Babs was gone and hadn't become a Ghost. Damian and Jon were California for business but should make it. Cass and Alec were in Europe somewhere so they weren't sure if she would make it.

Duke was one of the few in Gotham at the moment, he still worked as Signal, barely aged which meant he'd been outed as a meta long ago. But he kept his powers hidden outside of vigilante work so the link between the two wasn't too obvious.

Sure enough, he was the first one in the room.

,

Damian held his father's hand as he slowly slipped away. "Is he?" he looked up at Tim.

"He's gone. King Phantom will tell me if he begins to form a Core. It takes time," he reminded them.

It had been years since Alfred had died so the reminder was good. This wouldn't be like Timothy's death. Damian was sure he would become a Ghost given he had grown up around the Lazarus Pits. Eternity with his family sounded wonderful. He hated visiting Richard, seeing the lack of recognition. But Timothy promised that if he became a Ghost, then he should remember again. Maybe not all of it, but he should recognise family again.

Damian left the room; he had a lot of calls to make. Seeing Father like that was not something he wanted to dwell on.

,

Danny smiled at Val as she perched on the couch, looking as young and beautiful as when they first started dating. Sam and Tucker were bickering about something that was making Steph laugh, Tim steading his wife.

Alfred tutted even as he passed around refreshments to Bruce, Dick, and Damian. Jason was chatting with Frighty over in the corner. Duke stood out as the sole living being in the room but he was still included.

Once, he'd been terrified that he'd end up alone thanks to his messed-up biology but now he knew that would never be the case. The Batfamily had become his friends, extended family even, all thanks to Tim.

Jazz ruffled his hair and he smiled at his sister. His parents hadn't become Ghosts which had honestly surprised him given their exposure and obsessions. He did wonder if there'd been some interference but he'd never ask, he wasn't sure he could have ever faced them. Most of his generation from Amit Park were becoming Ghosts as they died and that was because of the Portal and Ghost fights in town when they were teens.

He kind of dreaded the day their children died; he wasn't sure what he'd feel if they didn't join them. Surely, they would? But for now, they could visit easily enough. They were grandparents now, something he had never dared to dream of after the accident.

His eyes met Tim's and they grinned at each other. They'd both gotten their happy endings.

The End.

Did I miss wrapping anything up?