It has been a few days since the gala and Dick had noticed that Bruce was not really around; but being the curious acrobat he is, he made it his mission to find out. Yes, Dick knew about Bruce being batman, but Dick did not know Bruce went as Batman to work.

The night Dick had found out where Bruce would disappear to all the time was by accident. Dick had woke up from the same nightmare that has haunted him for the past three years, he walked down the stairs to Bruce's study and sat in the chair in front of the fireplace; when he heard the grandfather clock slide up, he peeked over the side to Alfred walk out of the clock. Alfred walked out of the study, while Dick walked over to the grandfather clock opening it and walked down the stairs. When he made it to the bottom, he realized was in a cave with bats in the ceiling.

Dick walked around the cave until he heard the sound of an engine speeding into the cave. He hides behind the closest support beam. The car came to a stop and Batman jumped out of the bat-mobile. Bruce had the feeling that someone was in the cave that was not supposed to be there. "I know you're here, come out!" Batman called in his gruff voice. Dick slowly stepped out from behind the support beam. With every step Dick take, he shook more than the last step. "Dickie? What are you doing down here?" Bruce asked softly as he walked towards Dick. "Nightmare, clock opened, " Dick said trying to use his English properly. Bruce laughed then noticed that Dick was shaking, Bruce crouched down with his arms opened. "Come here, you're not in trouble, Dickie," Bruce told him softly and Dick hesitantly walked into Bruce's arms.

Bruce held Dick in his arms for a few minutes until Dick had stopped shaking. "Do you want to tell me about your nightmare?" Bruce asked and Dick shook his head. "Tour!" Dick said happily and Bruce smiled. "Tour, it is," Bruce said picking up Dick and playfully throwing him over his shoulder, Dick let out a giggle. Bruce gave Dick a tour of the bat-cave. "So, did you like the tour?" Bruce asked and Dick nodded. "Now, do you want to tell me about your nightmare?" Dick hesitantly nodded and said "Watching them fall, then H-Hailey, then Alfie, and then y-ou" Dick had tears rolling his cheeks. "Oh, Dickie, you are not going to lose any of us" Bruce pulled Dick into his arms and let him cry on his shoulder.

Dick cried himself to sleep but had a tight grip on Bruce's Batman suit. Bruce stood up, picking Dick up and walked over to the bat-computer. Bruce worked on a few files and put new information on the criminals until Dick started to stir. Dick sat up looked at Bruce with a smile. "Happy now are we?" Bruce joked and Dick smiled while nodded. "Have trapeze?" Dick asked. "Not yet. Do you want work on your English?" Dick nodded eagerly and Bruce had a small smile.

Bruce and Dick had worked on Dick's English for a few hours before Dick began frustrated with himself. "Dick, you did well today." Bruce congratulated him. "But, I want better" Dick pouted looking at the floor. "No one gets things on their first time, Dick," Bruce explained putting a hand on Dick's shoulder. "We try again tomorrow?" Dick looked Bruce in the eyes and Bruce nodded. "Now, let's go to bed," Bruce said standing up and Dick made grabby hands at him. "Uppy!" Dick squealed. Bruce sighed picking him up and carrying him up to the Manor. "I sleep with you, tata?" Bruce smiled at the half-asleep boy in his arms. "Sure."

The next morning, Dick woke Bruce up by jumping on the bed and shouting "WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP!" Bruce grumbled something sitting up and looked at the energetic ebony boy. "Someone's energetic today" Bruce laughed as Dick jumped on the bed. "Tata, watch this!" Dick said walking to the end of the bed. Dick jumped backward and flipped landing it perfectly. Bruce nearly jumped up to grabbed Dick until he saw Dick flip and landed safely. "Dickie, don't scare me like that!" Bruce scolded Dick, who backed away a little. "I'm sorry, tata" Dick apologized. "You're not in trouble, but next time tell me when you want to do something like, okay?" Dick nodded and a smile back on his face. "Breakfast time!" Dick shouted running out of the room.

Bruce got out of bed and walked to Hailey's room. He opened the door walking over to her bed and shaking her while saying "Lee, time to get ready for school." Hailey sat up rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Daddy, where Dickie?" She asked sweetly. "I believe he's in the kitchen." Bruce kissed her forehead before standing up and walking out.

Bruce walked down the stairs and headed to the kitchen where he saw Dick sitting at the table with toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a cut apple untouched, but with a kid fork in his hand. "Tata? How I use this?" Dick asked looking at the fork. Bruce walked over and took hold of Dick's hand showing him how to use the fork. "After breakfast, we work on my English?" Dick asked taking a bite of the eggs. "Yes, we can work on your English after breakfast." Bruce nodded and Dick smiled.

After breakfast, Bruce and Dick went into the living room for the English lessons. The lessons lasted until lunch with few breaks to let Dick calm down. By dinner, Dick was able to talk in complete sentences. Dick was so proud of himself, he had Bruce call Wally so they could have a full conversation. Dick and Wally talked on the phone for about an hour before they said "good night" to each other.

By nine o'clock, Dick was starting to fall asleep on the couch, while watching Disney channel. "Dickie, do you want to come to work with me, tomorrow?" Asked Bruce lightly shaking him awake. Dick hummed in response turning to face the back of the couch. "Come on, let's put you in bed," Bruce said picking Dick up bridal style and carried him up the stairs. Bruce set Dick down on his own bed and handed him Batsy. "Good night, my son" Bruce whispered kissing him on the temple. "Night, tata" Dick whispered, only audible to a bat, hugging Batsy tightly to his chest.

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Word count - 1098
Eleven days
Sorry at 8:45 but I had my little brother's
Birthday party at Pump It Up and was not allowed
To go on my phone at all while we were there