Dick sat in the boarding house with the lights all turned off. The moonlight cascading in through the window blinds was enough to illuminate the small coffee table that held the black rotary phone in front of him. Dick had been sitting there since it was light out, debating with himself each and every second if he should pick it up and dial or not. 

He wasn’t exactly sure how long he had been there, the painkillers he had been popping like candies were taking the edge off in more ways then one. He still felt the sting and pain but he just didn’t care all that much at the moment, maybe they took too much of the edge off. Dick couldn’t help himself and reached for the bottle of liquid courage, skipping the glass altogether and taking a large gulp straight from the tap. The fact that the bottle was nearly empty didn’t help matters much either. 

Taking a deep breath before lighting a cigarette, Dick finally picked up the phone, his fingers dialing the number without him having to look. God knows he dialed it enough times in his head already. On the third ring, he thought of hanging up but she answered on the other line, “I-I want to see them, Katrina...Yes...I took care of it. I promise...Well, I-I didn’t know about them then...I do now! That’s what’s changed...Don’t do this Katrina...Don’t tell them I’m their father, I don’t care. I just want to see them...I didn’t need to do this. I could have walked away and we both know it...Please, Katrina, can I meet them...”

Dick let out a long sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck as he hung up the phone. Katrina was putting up more of a fight than he would have thought she was capable of at the moment. The majority of Dick’s self wanted him to get irate, to be pissed off. He just couldn’t bring himself to that point. Maybe it was the drinks and drugs but he understood her. She was only trying to protect her babies. Even if that meant from him. 

Katrina knew Dick though. She knew he wasn’t going to stop. He had every right to at least see them if not be in their lives. And she damn well knew his personality, if he tried hard enough he would find them and that was exactly what he planned on doing. It just would have been a bit easier if she signed off on it first. 

Dick didn’t want to overstep his bounds, he only found out about them a week or so ago, she had been caring for them since birth. He couldn’t blame her for being over protective. He probably would have done the same as well, especially if he had a fear that someone would take them away.

Dick had been trying to keep himself busy. The boarding house was spotless by now, he couldn’t sleep much so at least he decided to do something productive about it. He was just finishing up piecing back together his second colt after cleaning it when the phone rang. It had been a full day since they last spoke and he was hoping that it was her. Maybe he could explain a little better this time around.

”Hello...Hey, Katrina...Are you sure?...I agree...I can grab the next train out...Yes, I promise I will be there...I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Dick let out a relived sigh as he hung up the phone. She wanted him to come out to New York and finally meet them. Dick’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. He had a lot of firsts but this one definitely took the cake. This was all uncharted territory and it scared him far more than having a gun pointed at his head, something that was unfortunately, becoming far too common place. 

Rushing through packing a bag, he basically grabbed at whatever was within arms reach and tossed it in. He thought for a moment of leaving his weapons behind but he didn’t fully trust her yet. It was still completely possible that she was fucking with him. For all he knew, she just talked him into killing a random, she might not have any kids at all. Katrina had done some sneaky things when they were younger and he wouldn’t exactly put this past her. 

Dick had to find out for himself though. If she wasn’t lying then he owed it to Jason, Emma and himself to see this through. It was a risk that he not only had to take, but one that he wanted to as well. He would deal with the consequences when the time came.

Throwing his bag over his shoulder, he tucked one of the freshly cleaned colts into his shoulder holster and slipped a large wad of cash held together by a faded money clip into his pocket. Locking the door behind himself, he headed for the train station with only two thoughts on his mind, Jason and Emma.

Dick had never been so nervous as he was the entire train ride from Chicago to New York. All of his instincts had been jockeying for his attention and it was becoming a bit tiresome trying to beat them back. Half of himself said run like the wind and the other half said I’ll hurl you off the highest bridge I can find if you even take a step in a direction away from them. Dick needed this though, almost as much as Jason and Emma did. 

Of course, there was always the chance that he was wrong and they were just fine without him. Katrina would have made sure that they were well taken care of, in every way imaginable. There was a reason she hadn’t filled him in until it was an absolute emergency. She didn’t trust him, and to be fully honest, he didn’t trust himself either. The only thing he really knew was that as soon as the information was presented to him, he did everything within his power to help those children. It wasn’t out of some obligation or some half cocked guilty conscience, it was just the right thing to do. He was still hoping that it wouldn’t bite him on the ass.

There was a noticeable pep in Dick’s steps as he moved off of the train onto the platform in Manhattan Station. It had been a while since he was back in New York, linger than he cared to admit really. This place used to be his home, it was strange to think how Jason and Emma were here the entire time and he had no idea. He guessed an island with six million people wandering about it was probably the best place to stash away, even if it was right in his back yard. 

Dick reached into his pocket, pulling out the folded piece of paper that he had written the address down on. Hailing a cab, he swiftly climbed into the back seat, slipping the driver a hundred dollar bill as he gave him the directions.

Dick’s legs seemed to stop working as soon as he stepped out of the back seat. He stood a little slack jawed as he stared up at the apartment building that he had passed countless times over the years. If only he knew then. He thought about stopping by some toy store on the way there but he didn’t want to seem like he was trying to hard. 

It was harder than he thought it would be to get one foot moving in front of the other. This seemed a lot easier when he was back home in Chicago. All the questions started flooding his mind and he had to think of the blackness of space to clear his thoughts. It worked a little bit at least until the doorman pulled the door open in front of him with a polite tip of his cap. Forcing himself to step inside, he turned for the elevators but after a few steps he changed his course, heading for the stairwell to his left instead. He was hoping that the long walk up to the fifteen floor would help clear things. 

He moved slower than he usually did. His shoulder still burned somewhat but by now it was dull and at least manageable without the painkillers. He didn’t like the way they made him feel anyways. A little pain is good from time to time, let’s you know that you’re still alive. Dick’s head spun a bit more with each passing floor.

He paused on landing in front of the door for the fourteenth floor, leaning against the cool stone of the wall. He had done more in his life than most but nothing that could even compare to this. He was scared, to his very core. He could feel the fear coursing through his veins, threatening to overload his system. Closing his eyes, he drew deep breaths, trying to control his heart beat that was thumping wildly within his chest. He tried to remember everything he learned when he was younger, having to fight through the haze just to get there. He was always taught to confront his fear head on, take the power away from it. As he stood a floor away, that was much easier said then done.

Dick’s legs trembled with every step as he made his way out of the stairwell door. It wasn’t too long of a walk down the hallway to their door but it felt like an eternity to him. As soon as he knocked on that door, his world was going to change and he knew it. Maybe for the better or maybe not, there was only one way to find out. 

He took a shallow breath as his knuckles rapped off of the door. He could hear scurrying feet on the other side, a smile spreading across his lips as he heard them. He could hear Katrina’s voice on the other side but couldn’t exactly make out the words she was speaking. Dick straightened up his shirt as he waited. He didn’t really want to look like a slob for their first meeting. 

The door opened slowly as Katrina poked her head out, two small sets of eyes peering around her legs as she did, “Good morning, Dick. Come on in.”

His heart races wildly as they took a step back and he entered. At first he tried to speak but somewhere along the line the words got stuck. Thankfully, Katrina noticed this and threw him a bone. Kneeling down, she wrapped an arm around each child, pulling them close to her in a warm embrace, “Jason, Emma, id like you to meet someone who is very important to Mommy. Guys, this is Dick Grayson.”

Dick didn’t really know what to do so he let his mind go blank and just did whatever felt natural. Bending down so that he was in their level, extending a warm hand, “Hey, guys, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for some time now. I’m glad that I’m finally getting too.” 

He couldn’t help but smile at them. He could see flashes of his himself in their faces. They giggled playfully before running off, presumably to their room to play together. 

Things changed in that moment. Dick felt something that he hadn’t for a very long time, a connection to something. His heart felt full for the first time that he could actually remember. Things felt strange yet good, albeit a bit weird. 

”Come on in, have a seat.” Katrina took his hand in hers, something else he didn’t realize that he missed in the last five plus years. It was shaping up to be an interesting day.

Dick followed her into the kitchen, taking the seat by the window as she reached for a pair of mugs in the cupboard. He didn’t mean to, not exactly, but he couldn’t help but watch her movements as she did. The way he shirt lifted slightly as she stood on her tippy toes. For a moment he forgot all about their history and exactly just how dangerous she could truly be. He was seeing her in a different light that he never thought he would before. 

After placing the mugs on the table in front of him, she turned to grab the coffee pot, fresh steam escaping the lid as she brought it over to fill the glasses. Dick didn’t say anything, he didn’t know if he could really, he just have her the first warm, genuine smile that he had in months. 

Katrina pushed the mug towards him as she took the seat beside him, “If I remember correctly, you still take it black.” 

”Thank you.” He finally managed to squeak out, “They seem good Katrina, really good.”

”It been a long few years but, they are thriving. They start school in a few months. They’re both already reading. Jason got a bit more of your athletic gene but Emma isn’t too far behind.”

Dick couldn’t fight off the smile as he listened to her words, blowing off his coffee for a moment before taking a small sip. It wasn’t the best cup he ever had but with everything going how it was, it somehow tasted better. “That is amazing Katrina. They seem...happy.”

”They are Dick, they really are. They are loved and they both know it. I just-“ she cut herself off there, as if whatever she was trying to say was fighting against her. She took a sip of her drink, watching him the entire time before continuing, “I wish I told you earlier, Dick. You deserved to know. Im just so damn scared that something will happen to them.”

”It’s alright, Katrina.” He found her hand with his, intertwining their fingers, “I’m here now. And I would never let anything happen to them.”

The sound was small, a slight crack of glass and a whizzing sound. Katrina’s eyes flew wide with surprise as a small red dot appeared and spread across her white blouse. It took a moment for Dick to realize what was happening as she stumbled out of her seat only to collapse after a step. Dropping down beside her, Dick slipped his hand underneath her head, as she struggled to speak. 

<font color="#D7D7D7">This wasn’t how this was supposed to be going. They were supposed to be safe here. All of them. The panic began to set in as he kept himself low, his eyes involuntary looking up at the bullet hole in the window. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">”Stay with me Katrina!” He couldn’t hide the fear within his voice. The color was all draining from her face and her eyes fluttered open and closed. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Her fingers clutched at his shirt sleeve, pulling him even closer. “Ke-keep them-them safe, D-Dick.” Her grip weakened as she began to slip, “Please.”</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick felt the life leave her as he slowly let her go, he couldn’t fight off the tears that formed in his eyes, obscuring his vision nearly completely. “I promise that I will Katrina. I promise.”</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">He didn’t want to but he had to let her go now. Dick stayed low, below the level of the window. Whomever took that shot was safe wherever they were, and with the way the buildings all extended upwards, it could have been any one of them that was facing the window. Had they followed him here? Was this as much a message for him as it was for her?</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick half crawled to the twin’s room, wiping away the tears as he moved. His mind spun with each movement. How was he going to explain this to Jason and Emma? He couldn’t focus on that now though, he needed to get them somewhere safe first and foremost, he would have to deal with the rest after the fact.</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Luckily enough, the kids room was on the other side of the building, away from whatever gunman just killed their mother. Dick tried to stay as calm as possible as he pushed the door open. If he started panicking now it would only send them into a tailspin and that was the absolute last thing he needed right now. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">”Hey guys,” Dick tried his best to keep his voice as even keeled as he could, “Your mom asked me to take you guys on a little trip. Can you help me get your things together, please?”</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick began rummaging through the kids’ closet, pulling out their back packs as he did. Jason and Emma moves slowly, a bit apprehensive but Dick couldn’t blame them for that. He was still a stranger to them. They did as they were told though, grabbing some clothes and stuffing them inside the bag along side some toys and stuffed animals. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick’s attention was split between making sure they had enough and down the long hallway that led to the front door. This didn’t have the feel of something that was over yet. This was retaliation, retribution for what happened in Seattle. He hadn’t thought that part through, there was a target on all of their backs.</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">After the kids were packed up, Dick hurried them towards the front door, making sure that he put his body between them and the kitchen as they passed by. They didn’t need that image burned into their memories. He unholster his colt as they made it to the front door. Cautiously pulling the door open, he peeked his head around the corner before ushering the kids outside. He couldn’t take the risk of sitting in an enclosed place like the elevator, so he led them to the stairwell. He held Emma’s hand tightly as Jason held on to her other one. They moved slower than he would have liked but that was partially due to his having to check behind them every few steps. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick reholstered his weapon as they reached he ground floor. There was no panic down here which meant that no one had any idea what had just happened upstairs. No need to send everyone running and screaming now. Dick turned back to the kids, obvious confusion on their faces, “You guys need to stay close to me ok? There’s going to be a lot of people out here and I don’t want you getting lost in the shuffle. Whatever you do, do not let each other go, stay close together and we’ll get somewhere warm soon enough. I promise.”</font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">Dick tried to look as normal as possible as he pushed the long door open even though inside he was bouncing off of the walls. He had to fight back all the questions running through his mind, there would be plenty of time for that later as long as he got them out of here now. The three of them strolled towards the exit doors, the doorman giving a somewhat quizzical look at the three of them before opening the door with another polite smile. Dick didn’t want to raise any red flags so he passed the man a large bill in passing with a forced smile. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">As soon as they got outside, Dick slipped into the crowd with them in tow. He figured they’d be safer in a larger group as they moved down the city street, a light flurry just beginning to fall.</font>