One Year Later

Barbara's POV

It hasn't been like when Dick first went with the Titans. After the whole wedding thing collapsed, he came back for a while, then went off to Chicago. And now he's back for a few days, to pack up his stuff. And somehow, I volunteered to help.

"It'll be weird not having you around anymore." I say, putting some of his books into a box.
"It's Gotham, Barbara. I'll always have a connection." He replies.

"But you'd rather live in a place where everyone talks like they have a sinus infection."
"That's a stereotype."
"I know."
"Chicago could get crazy again real fast." Dick reasons. "And I'd be lying if I said a change of scenery wasn't attractive." I sigh, grabbing another box.
"I get it, Dick. I mean, with the Circus, the Owls, Zucco...You're kind of the 'King of thePast Circling Back' lately."
"Yeah..." He trails off, looking at a photo.
"What is it?" He hands it to me. "Thats-"
"Yeah."
"From the first time we-"
"Yeah." I look at the photo of us in our uniforms, pre-NightWing, me kissing his cheek.

"I remember taking this." I look him in the eye. "I'm surprised you still have it."
"Hey, King of the Past, remember?" I hand it back to him and turn away,
"Not like it's been that long but...things used to be easier, didn't they?" Dick puts his hands in his pockets, and I cross mine.
"You sure we don't just remember them that way?" I look him in the eye again.
"My brother's dead, Batgirl's wanted for murder, My Dad put my boyfriend in a coma, and my boyfriend is trying to sue my Dad, so I'm not even sure if he's still my boyfriend. Dick puts his hand on my cheek, and I put mine on his arm.

"I'm sorry Babs, really. I wasn't sure how to bring up Ricky...if there's anything I can do, just tell me."

"That means a lot, Thanks."
"Of course." I put my hand on his.

"Do you ever...think about what things might've been like for us? If, you know, the timing didn't always suck?"

"Sometimes, yeah. I mean, come on. The timing for us always-" The BatSignal shines in the sky. "I talked to Alfred earlier, Bruce is out of Town. We should answer it."
"You mean you should."

"Really? You're gonna make me work this by myself?" I grab my bag.

"The GCPD is the last thing I want to deal with right now. I don't know why you're that eager to help Bruce, anyway, after everything that happened..."
"The signal's bigger than me and Bruce. Or any of us and Bruce. Besides, you said it yourself. Who knows the next time we'll see each other?"

"I'm not Batgirl anymore. I've taken a leave of absence. Like you with the Team, after Wally..."
"You don't have to be. Look, I'll go talk to GCPD, you can meet me after. Then whatever this is...we can work it together. I could really use your help. Come one, I'll even let you swing first this time." I turn around. As much as we've had our...well, to put it simply, fights, he still knows how to get to me.

Later...

We sit in an air vent in silence.
"Why don't we just go for it?" Dick says.

"What?"

"Look, we do this 'will they or won't they?' dance every time we're together. And every time, there's a reason not to. Every time." I narrow my eyes at him.
"And now couldn't be worse."

"Hey, I just spent weeks taking down the guy that killed my parents."
"Are you trying to turn this into a contest?"
"No, I'm just pointing out what the problem really is. Maybe we just need to accept that the timing is always going to suck. Maybe we need to make things work. I don't want to end up like Cindy and Ted. I don't want regrets."
"What're you asking?"

"Move to Chicago with me. Start over. Together." I look away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." I follow him into the room.

"Dick..."
"It was stupid of me, your brother's dead and here I just asked you to-hey." He picks up a clue.

Later still...

Dick and I stand on a roof.
"Listen Babs, about what I said before..."
"You were right." I interrupt.

"What?"

"I mean, is the timing completely wrong? Are things more insane than they've ever been? Yes. And they're probably going to stay that way. But I've cared about you for as long I've known you, Dick. And I'm tired of pushing us aside. I don't know what's going to happen with Ricky and my Dad. But, maybe a change of scenery would be good for me too."
"I'm...not really sure what to say..."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."

"Pick me up at six?" I can swear he smiles, although his face is shadowed by the light.
"Sure."

"See you in the morning, former boy wonder."

Dick's POV

Babs comes out of her flat carrying several suitcases.
"Bring everything and the kitchen sink?" I joke.
"Don't push it, Boy Blunder."

I drive most of the way to Chicago. Babs doesn't even fall asleep. She just rests her head on the window, staring at the passing forests, watching life pass by.