Dick made his way back into the heart of Seattle as quickly as he could. The airport wasn’t too far from where he was and he made it there quickly enough. He couldn’t hold back the smile the entire time he drove the way there. There was a sense of relief that washed over him like a wave; as if a heavy weight was lifted off of his shoulders. 

He thought about them the entire plane ride back to Chicago. As soon as he landed he needed to get somewhere familiar to make the phone call. The call that he was simultaneously dreading and breathing for. It had been some time since he sent them away and while he knew it was the right choice, they were still young and he wasn’t sure how they would handle everything. 

Part of him was a bit worried about Pamela’s threat. Deep down, Dick knew they were safe. Even if it hadn’t just been an idle threat, they were with Bruce and he might have been the only person on the planet that could keep them that way. 

It was a nerve racking ride back, his fear of flying didn’t seem to be abating any bit he didn’t have the time for any other travel. It wouldn’t have been wise to stick around the city any longer either. Eventually, word was going to get out and there wasn’t any reason for him to be around when that did happen. 

Counting his lucky stars as he gripped the seats armrest for all it was worth, the plane touched down safely, a slight bump as the wheels hit the ground. In one swift motion Dick had grabbed his bag and was already pushing down the aisle before most of the others had even undone their seatbelts. Now wasn’t the time to waste. 

As he nearly sprinted through the airport, he came to a skidding stop on the sidewalk, waving his arm in the air to hail a cab as he did.

Dick couldn’t hide his growing nervousness as the cab pulled up in front of the alley way that led to O’Fallon’s. Passing over the fare along with a generous tip, Dick pulled his bag out of the back as he stepped out, taking a deep breath before moving into the alley. He was relieved to be back but was more exhausted than anything else. The last weeks events were beginning to catch up with him. 

He really should have been paying more attention but he didn’t notice as the man stepped out of the shadows behind him, not noticing him at all until the cold steel pressed into the base of his skull. “Give me everything that you have?” The voice sounded young, a tinge of fear mixed in with his words.

Dick let his shoulders slump forward. He really wasn’t in the mood for this at the moment. “Listen kid, at this point I don’t even care.” Dick kept his left hand away from his body as he very slowly reached into his vest pocket, pulling out his bankroll and holding it between two fingers. He turned as slow as he could, unable to fight off the yawn that came on, “Here, take it. I’ve got a feeling you need this a bit more than me.”

The kid grabbed at the cash clumsily, dropped the money as he did. Dick could see his hand trembling as he held the gun out straight from his body, a mix of fear and confusion in his eyes. 

“Just take it easy, alright?” Dick coaxed, taking a small step backwards. “It’s all yours. And one more thing.” Keeping his hands up, he slowly reached into his back pocket, not wanting to spook the kid anymore than he already was. “It has been some time since someone has gotten the drop on me. That’s impressive. If you are ever looking for a little...cleaner work, give me a call.” Dick placed a business card on the ground in front of himself without another word, turning to leave the young gangster standing alone in the darkness as Dick made his way towards the entrance to the tavern.

Dick relaxed a bit as he stepping inside the door, shucking his jacket as he did. He didn’t worry much about the cash he just handed over, there was plenty more where that came from and he could get it easily enough. 

Pausing for a moment, Dick thought about heading straight upstairs but headed down the steps instead. Opening the last door, Dick have a polite wave to Meredith as he took a quick step behind that bar, grabbing himself an empty glass and full bottle of whiskey. With a tip of his cap, Dick headed back upstairs as if he wasn’t even there at all.

After unlocking his room’s door he kicked off his shoes before sliding onto the couch, lifting the telephone as he did. He closed his eyes as he let his fingers spin the rotary by memory. After three rings the line picked up, “Hello, Bruce. Are they doing well?...That is good...I know, it’s been too long...Everything is clear now...Yes, I covered all the tracks. I learned from from the best after all...Thank you, Bruce, really I mean that...I’ll be in touch.”

Dick hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. There was finally an end in sight, he just needed to make it there.

Dick managed to get a decent nights sleep, in spite of everything that had been going on. It was a different feeling to wake up refreshed and not counting the hours until he could lay down again. He went about his normal morning routine albeit a bit distracted as he brushed his teeth and jumped in the shower. There was nervous energy coursing through him at this point. Today was finally the day. 

After getting dressed, Dick slipped into his shoulder holsters, checking his dual colts before patching them in. He tossed his jacket over himself before grabbing the car keys that sat on the countertop. Pausing at the door for a moment, Dick drew in a deep breath. He had run through the scenario countless times in his head but deep down he knew it wasn’t going to be like he thought at all. He was entering uncharted territory now and the only thing he truly cared about was how Jason and Emma were going to take things. 

It was a short walk to his waiting ride, the cold nipping at him slightly before he unlocked the front driver’s side door and slid into the bench seat. The engine turned over as he fed it a little gas and he pulled into the street along with the rest of traffic. It was going to be a bit of a drive but he didn’t mind at all, it gave him a chance to clear his head and think over whatever it was that he could say to them.

Dick pulled up in front of the mansion, the tires crunching over the gravel as he came to a stop and shifted the car into park. Keeping both hands on the wheel, he let his head fall forward a bit, taking a deep inhale of breath as he did. The drive went smoothly enough, even if it was a bit long. After another long pause, Dick pushed the driver’s side door open with a slight creak.

His heart thumped madly in his chest as he slowly made his way from the car, climbing up the large front steps that led to the front door. It had been years since he had last been here, since he decided to go it alone. The place looked as old and as gaudy as he always remembered. As his knuckles rapped against the heavy front door, he was flooded with memories that he thought were long gone, his senses heightening. He could somehow hear every laugh, every cry, every scolding from years gone by. The place still smelt of pine trees and a home cooked meal. It had always been like that, something Dick could never figure out. No matter where he was in the house, it always smelled like a feast was being prepared. 

Dick held his breath as both of the large double doors were pulled open, the wood protesting and groaning as they did. Alfred stood in front of him now, the same smug expression on his face that he always held, “Afternoon Master Grayson, we’ve been expecting you.”

Dick couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, “Just Dick, Alfred. I’ve been telling you for years that you can drop the whole master thing.”

”As you wish. Please do come in.” Alfred replied in his usual even keeled tone.

Taking a step forward, Dick embraced Alfred, wrapping him in a tight hug that the butler clearly wasn’t ready for or comfortable with. After a long moment, Dick released the man who nursed him back to health on more than one occasion, “Where are they?”

”They’ll be down in a moment.” Alfred smoothed out his suit jacket with the palms of his hands, “Training.”

Dick let out a long sigh as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose, “Dammit Alfred, they are too young for that.”

”You tell him that. God knows he never listens to me.”

Dick let out a genuine laugh, it felt good, as if it was releasing some built up tension. He patted Alfred’s shoulder with a warm smile as he stepped into Wayne Manor for the first time since he struck out on his own.

Dick’s memories ran rampant as he stepped inside and heard the pitter patter of tiny feet running along the hardwood floor upstairs, the same hallway that he bounded around when he was just a child, after everything was turned upside down. This might not have been the place that he was born, like Bruce, but it was the place that he was raised. The same scratches in the wall paint from one of the many games he played that got out of hand like they always seemed to do. The manor seemed just as big to him as when he was a child, albeit a bit more worn and used by this point. Dick imagined Jason and Emma had done their fair share of damage to the place as well. 

Letting his eyes wander to the ceiling that almost looked like it went on forever upwards, a few scattered sun rays seeping in through the massive skylight above him. It felt like he never left but in truth it had been going on six years or so since he stepped foot inside. He was still a kid in some aspects back then, still trying to find his way, rebelling against anything and everything that he could. He didn’t exactly leave things on the best of terms but that was all water under the bridge by now. The years hadn’t been kind to him, that much was for sure.

The pitter patter upstairs gradually grew louder and before he knew it, Dick was nearly brought off his feet when Jason and Emma reached the bottom step, wrapping there tiny arms around his waist in a massive hug that knocked him off balance enough that he had to catch himself against the wall to keep from toppling over.

Dick’s smile spread from ear to ear as he knelt down pulling them into a warm embrace. “I missed you guys.” Was all that he managed to choke out, fighting off the tears that were threatening just below the surface. 

Dick couldn’t resist their tiny faces as they looked up at him, scooping them up in his arms as he stood. The children giggled sweetly Dick swept them away towards the kitchen, “I’ll make us something to eat, I want to hear all about your time here.”

Carrying the kids with Alfred close behind, Dick plopped them into the chairs that were pulled up next to the kitchen island. Jason spoke first as his sister looked over at him, a faulty smile on her little face, “Where were you?”

There wasn’t any malice in the child’s word, it was an honest question but it stung Dick all the same, more so than he could show at the moment. Dick let out a sigh as he moved throughout the kitchen, grabbing a bowl here, a spoon there, Alfred following close behind him, huffing and puffing as he did. Dick could have swore he heard him grumbling something or another about, “some things never change,” under his breath but he wasn’t fully sure. 

Finally pausing in front of the ice box, after an extra moment of thought, “I had to kill someone.” Dick was done lying at this point, especially to them. The sooner they learn the truth and accept it, the better off everyone was going to be in the long run.

The shocked looks on their faces caused a ripple of discomfort in his stomach before Emma broke the silence between them, “Wh-wh-why?”

Slumping his shoulders slightly as he pulled a small basket of eggs from the ice box, he tried to straighten up as best he could. He knew the questions were going to come but he thought he was better prepared than he was. Taking a seat across from them. “She was a bad person. She did bad things. Hurt a lot of people. She can’t do that anymore.”

”Th-that’s-thats....so cool!” Jason shouted as he jumped up and down in his seat.

Well, Dick wasn’t expecting that reaction. He wasn’t really sure if it was a good one or not. “No, Jason. It’s not something to celebrate, not something that is cool. A life ended. Many lives actually. It was a necessary evil. I know you aren’t old enough to understand what that means but one day you will understand this.”

”Why did you do it?” Jason leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wood of the island.

”It...I...” Dick took a deep breath as he ran a hand through his brown hair, “She threatened you two. And there is nothing I won’t do to protect you.”

Before they could answer, the kids suddenly straighten up, folding there hands in front of themselves. It was a familiar notion that Dick knew by heart. He knew what was coming. It started with the soft tap of dress shoes against the hardwood before Bruce appeared leaning against the door frame of the kitchen. Speaking with a certain confidence that Dick never knew where it came from, Bruce looked over the small family, “Its good to see you again Dick. You don’t look any worse for the wear.”

Dick laughed lightly, “It wasn’t for lack of effort.” Dick stood quickly, covering the space between the two men in a couple of steps and taking Bruce’s hand in a firm handshake, “Thank you for looking after them.”

”They are good kids,” Bruce returned the handshake, “Skilled too. There is potential there, in both of them.”

Dick chided him slightly, “We will talk about that later.” Dick paused for a moment, scanning over the room, “Where’s Gretta?” 

Bruce gave a s sideways glance towards Alfred, so quick that Dick would have missed it if he wasn’t paying attention, “She-she had a long night. I thought it best to let her sleep in a bit.”

Dick smiled as he saw the color run red in Alfred’s cheeks before the butler managed to turn away, busying himself with cleaning up a spot on the counter top. “At least it’s seems more good than bad came from this.” Dick chuckled as he shook his head.

After letting Alfred take over the cooking duties, Dick followed Bruce down the hallway, turning behind him into the study before he closed the sliding doors behind them. “Have a seat, Dick, there is a lot to catch up on.”

Dick breathed deeply for a moment as he took a seat. He was always a bit nervous around Bruce but he had gotten pretty good at hiding that train of thought. “The kids seem good.”

”They are. That is part of what I want you to talk about. They both have remarkable ability. Emma is a bit more raw than Jason but her ceiling may be higher.” Bruce moved to the other side of his desk, pulling the draw open and placing the decanter of whiskey on top of it before grabbing two glasses out and taking a seat. “There is a bit of anger with in him, Dick. Not unlike you when you first came here all those years ago. If he doesn’t have anywhere to channel that rage, I’m not sure what he is going to be capable of when he grows up. He’s reckless. Puts himself in bad spots for a killing blow-“

Dick grabbed the half full glass as he cut Bruce off, a tint of anger in his words, “He’s five years old!” Dick snapped back as he sat back trying to calm himself, “He shouldn’t know anything about killing blows.”

A small smile appeared for just a moment on Bruce’s face before he went back to the same stone cold expression as always, “You know how this world is, Dick. We know what is out there, who is out there. Not teaching him these things isn’t going to protect him. It will doom him. The quicker he picks this up, the quicker he will be able to protect himself.” Bruce lifted his glass but didn’t drink, “When both of us are long gone.”

Dick opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself as he thought about it. Bruce was right, even if he still hated to admit that. Dick wasn’t much older than the two of them when Bruce brought him back here. He had given him purpose and a place to be safe. Yea there were setbacks along the way, painful injuries and stitches but Dick was the man that he was today because of everything Bruce had taught him. He just wished it didn’t take him so long to realize that. 

“I know you are right.” Sick finally broke his silence, “That doesn’t make it any easier though.”

”Nothing is ever easy. You know that better than most.” Bruce took a sip of his drink as he eyed Dick up from across the desk, “I’d like to keep them here Dick. They are safe and they will learn, they already are. Deep down you know this is the right move. They belong here.”

Dick knew it but he didn’t want to admit it to himself, finishing his drink in one large gulp, he placed the glass a little too hard on the desk as he stood. Turning to leave he spoke over his shoulder, “I know.”

Dick rested the back of his head against the sliding doors after pulling them closed behind himself.

Fuck. He didn’t want to have to do this. It wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, it might be the hardest thing that he was ever going to do. Taking a half step forward he froze in place, his mind and body pulling him in opposite directions. He needed to make this as painless as possible, for everyone involved. 

Running his hand through his hair he let out a long, exasperated sigh before moving in the direction of the kitchen. Dick paused just outside of the door frame, peering around the corner. He watched them giggle and play while Alfred manned the stove top. They looked so happy, as if the outside world hadn’t taken anything from them when in all actuality they lost everything. They didn’t know that though, not yet anyways. Bruce had been completely correct, this was the safest, best place for them. They would grow up the same way that he did. While not easy, it was necessary. They were both going to do great things in this world, they just needed to be given the chance and living with Bruce Wayne was the way to accomplish that. Even in the little time that he had spoken with him, Dick knew that Bruce cared, probably about the Jason and Emma more than anyone else. He would always make sure that they were taken care of. 

Dick took one last mental picture be he reached into his pocket and pulled out the car keys. He jingled them in his open palm for a moment before he closed his fist tightly. 

The are going to be fine, Dick kept repeating to himself in his head as he snuck out the front door without another word.