"I've got another confession to make,
I'm your fool."

Gotham City
October 15 20:45 EDT

Then...

Barbara didn't know what to do anymore. Jason was the only comfort for her. Two years of searching and nothing.

Her father was ill, having lung cancer from all of the smokes he took. Jason understood, he tried so hard to take her mind off of it.

But no matter what, nothing worked. And so, as she sat on the edge of the building, she wondered how would things be if she never was batgirl. If she never got obsessed with the rush and the adrenaline.

If she had never met Dick, Bruce, or Alfred. This was the first time she had thought about quitting everything, she felt lost. She couldn't find her way back to her path.

She swallowed down the lump in her throat.

The suit that was hidden in the back of her closet seemed taunting to her, her mind kept drifting back to it, over and over. And yet, she didn't have the heart to take it and burn it, or even tear it apart.

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to forget.

She wondered if this was what many girls wished for, after a heart jerking breakup. The wish to delete memories, the feelings, everything that was shared between them. For Barbara, that would never happen, those memories would plague her, no matter what.

The sound of boots against the roof made her turn. "Jason." She breathed out.

He sat down next to her, "I'm sorry again about your dad."

"It's fine, it's not like you were the one who made him smoke all the time.." She said. Her gaze went up and spotted Wayne Enterprises. The building alone had more memories then her own house did.

"I remember climbing the roof, at Wayne Manor, Dick was pissed at us." Jason said, glancing over to Barbara.

"He yelled at you more then he did me." She said.

He gapped at her, "That was due to the fact you had an unfair advantage by kissing him!!"

She smiled, "No one said you couldn't, gay boy."

Jason glared at her, "I like boobs okay? Not dicks."

"Chill boy wonder, I was joking, I know you dig girls." She said, watching Jason perk up slightly.

"I wonder how he's doing." Jason asked.

"Me too." She said.

"Come on, no more sulking." He said, grabbing her wrist and tugging her away from the building.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"You'll see." He called back at her, the smile on his face never wavered once.

~Timeskip~

She couldn't believe the boy. He had gotten every single Harry Potter movie in existence together and the home theater up and running to binge all of them.

"What's all this?" She asked, taking in the sight.

"It's easy really, I just want us to have some fun ya know?" He said, setting up the movie.

"I'm surprised, Jay, you've hardly done this for anyone."

"Well what can I say, you're not just anyone Barb, you're my sister." He said softly.

"Jay.." She felt touched that he thought of her that way.

"I just...the truth is...you remind me of someone I once knew.." He said.

"Oh..I'm sorry.." She said, at the moment something told her the someone he spoke about wasn't just a random person.

"It's fine..." He said, "Now we must start in the beginning right? So the first movie of Harry Potter shall commence! But I have a bit of a confession. I bought the ties..." He said, holding up a green Slytherin and red Gryffindor tie.

"You didn't..." She gasped. She was genuinely surprised, Jason was not known for his rare kindness, rather his don't-give-a-fuck attitude.

"I did." He said, throwing her the Gryffindor tie. He placed his Slytherin tie on rather loosely while Barbara tightened hers a bit more then his.

"How come you get Slytherin?"

"Cuz I can slither in your room without you noticing.." He whispered. The pun was intended, of course, only Jason would make a bad joke like that.

"What the fuck?! You stalker!!" She threw a pillow at him. He defended himself with his hands.

"I was kidding!!" He yelled while being pelleted with popcorn.

Barbara and Jason laughed, "Dude that's so wrong!!"

"I had to, it was a cheesy line, but really I had to." He said, grabbing the blanket and pulling it over their legs as the movie started.

"Okay, okay now shut up, it's starting!" She said stuffing his mouth with a handful of popcorn, which had him coughing and cursing while the first scene started.

After going through 5 movies, Barbara and Jason fell asleep on the couch. Jason's head laid on one of Barbara's thighs while she laid against the armrest. Alfred found them, the movie still playing.

"Master Bruce, you must come look at this." He urged Bruce upstairs into the theater and pointed at the teens.

"Jason and Barbara...two inseparable teens..." He muttered. A sad smile crossed his features.

"I'll take them to their rooms Alfred, thank you." He told the butler.

He carried Jason first, tucking him in before turning the light off.

He went back upstairs to find Barbara stirring slightly, he carried her gingerly.

He sighed, watching her flinch and mumble things under breath.

She stirred awake slightly, her half-lidded gaze caught Bruce's.

"Bruce?" She asked.

He sighed, "Yes?"

"I...I'm sorry." She said. "I made him leave, and made dad worry and start smoking." Her words were slurred with sleep. A pang of guilt went through Bruce. He knew her father had cancer, and yet he still treated her as a stranger when he knew better then that. He shouldn't let his pride take over.

"Bruce, I made our bird fly away." At her words, he froze, he turned his head down to her, but she was asleep.

He sighed, taking her into her room. He noticed the maps and tons of opened books scattered around the room. She was looking for him too.

He tucked her in, like Jason, but sat on the edge of the bed.

His gaze turned to Barbara's sleeping form.

"You don't understand do you...how much it hurts for me to listen to your words. Richard left and I blamed it all on you, because I didn't want the blame on me." He stopped, and glanced away from her.

"I just, I don't know what to do anymore. I love you like a father does his daughter, and I did things, horrible things, but God..." He tried to find the right words to say, even if she was unable to hear, he needed to get this out of his chest. "You just keep pushing and pushing me, Barbara. And I don't know if it's due to the fact that you know what I've done, what I did to make Richard angry at me, or if you just don't want to break down, so you take it out on me, like I do sometimes to you." He stopped, tears falling from his eyes now, he swallowed and started the next sentence. "But all I know is that I can't face you, look you in the eye and say I'm sorry, because I'm the coward. I'm scared that you will hate Richard more then you hate me at the moment." He stopped again this time standing.

"So I'll try to make it up to you, in some way, I don't care if you don't notice who does it, but I'll do anything to make you happy again. I'll start with your father, I'll pay his hospital bills and find the best doctors in the nation, and I'll do it without my name written on the slip."

Jason had woken up, and stood by the doorway, tears fell from his eyes too. "Dad.." He whispered out. His brother...had left hating Bruce. His brother...the one who showed him the ropes, helped him with girls, his homework. His brother.

Jason walked away, his head spinning at the revelation. Bruce caused Richard's hate and only fanned the flames.

Bruce noticed Jason walking away and went over, grabbing his arm.

"What did you hear?"

"Everything, how could you Bruce? Does it make you feel better?" Jason glared at his mentor. "Does it make you feel better that you were the one who broke a young girl down to her seams!" He whispered harshly.

This was the beginning of Jason's resentment. In two months, Jason would leave the mansion, in search of his mother after a screaming match against an angry redhead, who warned him about how mother's lie and hurt others. He would leave with a slight doubt in his heart.

In three weeks, Bruce would find his protege dead. And Barbara would be left alone, she would hang her costume up and not touch it again for a year.

In four days after the death of Jason Todd, Jason's remains would be buried. And it would Barbara be at the funeral, outside for the first time in weeks. A week after, he would be resurrected and angry. Then he would realize that his anger was directed at himself. He would learn what happened to Barbara and of Bruce's screaming match against her, but he wouldn't visit, afraid of being chased around.

Barbara would don the costume again, after training and mediating for weeks. And Jason would watch her silently, as she took out her frustrations against a punching bag over and over and over.

Her anger would have grown enough for Bruce and Barbara to cut off connections for several months.

Until the Christmas Eve that he appeared and spoke to her. Asking her to forgive Bruce.

"You just have to find a way around it, Red." He'd told her.

She would contemplate his words over and over. Wondering how to start. She wouldn't.

She'd remember everything that had been said and freeze before her hand would hit the doorbell.

In a way, her anger and frustration would slowly diminish, once Richard would return. Bruce and Barbara would reconcile and the 2nd former boy wonder would return to his family. Barbara would get kidnapped, then somehow, by some miracle she'd bring her family together, both families.

And that is how everything fell into place.

Gotham City
December 1 10:30 EDT
Several months after the prior events.

Now...

Everything fell into place. It was still a rough translation for Barbara.

After what Joker did to Jason and herself, she hoped that she wouldn't be targeted again. Richard and Barbara decided to try again and be friends without a problem, it was awkward at first. Though it was perfect for them. Bruce was happy for his son.

Their relationship remained rather odd, they didn't know how to act around each other at times. But nevertheless they were happy.

Richard stood outside her door, reciting the words over and over again in his head.

He groaned and slammed his head against the wall. Barbara heard a thud against her home and walked over to her door.

She opened the door to see Richard dressed up in his finest suit, holding a bouquet of white roses. She wondered if he'd get mad if she slowly closed the door on him.

"I um...I know that I'm not the best guy you'll meet. I know that I hurt you when I was angry at Bruce." He stammered his words. "But I don't care if I'm not perfect, all I know is that you are. And I'll be damned if I let you slip away to some guy. So will you, Barbara Gordon, do me the honor of being my girlfriend, again? I swear that if I do anything to hurt you again, that Jason has permission to assassinate me if need be."

Barbara raised a brow when she heard Jason's voice exclaiming, "DAMN STRAIGHT!"

Tim stood next him, a rather bored look on his face, "HURRY UP, GRAYSON, QUIT BEING A COWARD!" He yelled.

Richard's face flushed brightly, something that had Barbara laughing.

"GRAYSON SHE'S LAUGHING AT YOU!" Jason sassed. Barbara slapped her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.

"SHE'S GETTING SICK OF YOUR SHIT, GRAYSON! HURRY UP AND BE A MAN!" Yelled Tim. The duo had big smiles on their faces. In all honesty, they had waited for this moment just as much as the Commissioner, James Gordon who sat back at his own home, hoping to God that Barbara would say yes and be happy.

Richard rolled his eyes at them, acting nonchalant, but the blush stained on his cheeks told Barbara otherwise.

He gave her a shy smile, "So? Your answer."

Barbara felt the need to prank him, just for kicks, but his puppy dog look melted her.

She grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer, whispering, "About damn time, Grayson." Before she kissed him hard.

Richard stood frozen. When they pulled away, he had a dumbfounded look on his face. His face was pale.

Barbara yelled to the other boys, "I THINK I BROKE HIM!"

Jason sighed, "Great job, Red. What am I going to tell Dad." A playful tone and a mischievous smirk on his face.

Tim and Jason walked up the steps and snapped their fingers in front of Dick, who remained still.

"Aww shit..." Tim glanced at Jason.

"Do you think he actually got hypothermia from the cold?" Tim asked, his eyes wide.

"You were the only who suggested him to knock on the door before he was ready!" Jason yelled.

"How was I supposed to know he'd get hypothermia!" Tim yelled.

The two boys stared at each other, "We need to get Alfred..." They said in unison, before running to the car and drove off.

"You dumbasses." Barbara pulled Richard inside, a smile on his face.

"They bought it?" He asked.

"What do you think?"

They laughed loudly. "They'll come back with Alfred to find us watching a movie." She said.

Richard smirked, "Or maybe we could do something else. A sort of celebration?" He kissed her again, before pulling away and wiggling his eyebrows.

"YOU DOG!" She yelled. They laughed again. "I don't think Alfie would appreciate walking in on us with the boys." She said.

"Well it doesn't matter because you are coming with me to go on a date."

"I'm still in pjs!" She told him.

"Then go get ready!" He pushed her into the bathroom.

"I need clothes!" She yelled through the door.

"Nah, I think you're fine." He retorted.

"RICHARD."

Okay. Okay, killjoy.." He said, opening the door with a pout.

She rolled her eyes and went to gather her things. As she did, Richard stared outside, "You are so whipped, Grayson."

A familiar voice spoke, Richard was a bit creeped out. Richard turned around, but no one was there. He had an odd feeling, but he ignored it.

~Linebreak~

Barbara felt chills running down her back, maybe it was due to the fact she had a dress on and her hair was curled to the side.

"Come on Babs, you look amazing!" Richard's complements made Barbara feel fourteen again. Her rapid heartbeat along with her nervousness, this was the one thing she missed most. The feeling of butterflies in her stomach, the feeling of new love. No matter how long they stayed away from each other, their feelings would never change.

He held out his hand, "Do you trust me?" He asked.

Barbara's mind recollected the time they stood above the world, on top of Wayne Manor. The same day she realized that she didn't want to be only friends with him.

"Yes." She said, holding out her hand for him to grab.

He pulled her out, and camera's flashed.

"I should've known coming to dinner with a Wayne would have paparazzi swarming us." She said, teasing Richard.

He smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way." She rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"You're lucky you're cute, Grayson." She told him as they sat down. He pulled her chair out for her, sliding her closer to the table once she sat down.

"I know." He said, a smirk on his face.

They ate and chatted. Reminiscing over their journeys that they had alone.

"And then that's when Jason slipped and fell on the ice." Barbara laughed and Richard smiled.

"I'm glad he took care of you while I was gone." He dipped his spoon into the soup he ordered and sipped.

"Yeah, it surprises you just how much people would give to make their loved one happy." She said.

"I know what you mean." Richard said.

Once they finished, they headed back to her house, all while escaping paparazzi.    

She went in her room and changed quickly into a shirt and some shorts. What she didn't notice was the fact that she had put on one of Richard's old college shirts.

When she walked out, Richard noticed the shirt immediately.

"That's my Stanford shirt!" He watched her as she glanced down at the shirt and shrugged absentmindedly.

"I don't remember you leaving it."

"I didn't leave it, I'm just wondering how it got into your possession." He said. He didn't mind actually, when she wore his shirts, it felt that it branded her as his, and only his. Call him possessive, but he only wanted her to be his.

Barbara went and grabbed a blanket and a pillow. She turned off the lights, to make everything authentic. She turned on a movie and sat down, the blanket tossed over her knees. Richard sighed, pulling her closer via her legs. She gave out a startled gasp.

"What the hell, you scared me." She gave him a playful glare. He smiled.

"Well, I want you close to me, who knows, I might want to cuddle." He sent a wink, while she rolled her eyes.

"Sure." The movie began and the two became quiet. They shared the blanket evenly somehow.

After a few hours, Barbara was against Richard's chest. He played with her red-hair, something he used to do back when they first got together. He twirled it around his finger while he watched her breathe, while she watched the movie.

"You really do have me wrapped around your finger." He said.

She turned to him, tilting her head to face him, "Thank you."

"For what? He asked. She paused, then leaned up and gave him a rather sweet peck on the lips.

"For being my hero." She said.

He smiled down at her, "I'll do it again in a heartbeat. Now as for my reward for saving you, can I get another kiss?"

Barbara lightly smacked his arm, "We were having a moment here."

He laughed, "Sorry."

She rolled her eyes, but gave him a kiss nevertheless.

They watched the movie, well part of it, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Both soundlessly breathing as Gotham, for once, was silent.

Maybe, just maybe, this time, they could stay this way, even for a short while.

They just hoped that saving Gotham could wait a little while longer. But for now, Barbara had her own Hero, and that was all she needed.

Fin

Yes, it is the end. After rewriting and rewriting this chapter I finally ended it the way I wanted, well, somewhat. But it's finished! Hope you guys loved the story! And yes I left a few loose ends, but that's for you guys to take a spin on, I did that on purpose. There was going to be a tenth chapter, but I figured I could wrap it up in this one, which I think ended nicely. I hope this ending was good enough for you PixieBootsLover !