"No." Evelyn said into her phone. She was typing away at her computer in Rosier Tech. She had been spending a lot of time there, trying to make new tracking devices.

"What am I meant to do then? Tell him to leave and fight crime himself?" Bruce said back. His voice came out unsure and tired.

Apparently a kid named Tim Drake stopped by Wayne manor and exposed Bruce as being Batman. He also knew Dick was Nightwing and Evelyn as Apollo. He demanded to be Batman's Robin and be apart of the team. Bruce told the kid to leave but called to get Evelyn's advice on the situation.

"Tell him to go home."

"I did already. He's gone but he seems determined. I don't know what that kid is planning to do." Evelyn nodded before realizing Bruce couldn't see her.

"Well hopefully he plans to stay at home." Bruce huffed in agreement and bid his farewell, promising Evelyn to be at dinner that night.

Evelyn set her phone down and went back to creating her tracking chip when Heidi poked her head in. Heidi, Evelyn's amazing secretary, sent a nervous smile before addressing her boss.

"Miss Rosier there's a kid here. Demanding to speak with you otherwise he exposes everything? I told him you don't deal in drugs, possession of firearms, under gangs or any criminal activity and wouldn't be interested in listening to any of his false claims. He is very determined to see you though." Evelyn sighed as she rubbed her face in exhaustion. She could guess who the kid was and why he was here.

"Send him in Heidi and thank you for clarifying im not a criminal mastermind. Appreciate it." Heidi nodded and opened the door for the boy to enter. Evelyn felt her breath leave her as she looked at the boy. He had dark hair, blue eyes and a tan complexion. He looked similar to Bruce, Dick and Jason. Just a few differences between their facial structure and height.

It made Evelyn wonder if people actually thought Dick and Jason were Bruce's unknown biological children. They all shared very similar characteristics and Bruce somehow always managed to find them in their times of need.

"May I help you?" Evelyn kindly asked from her desk. The boy nodded and walked up to her desk with sure steps. He wore a face of pure and utter determination as he looked Evelyn in the eye.

"I want to help."

"No." Evelyn instantly responded. She knew he was Tim Drake coming to ask her to join the bat team as Robin.

"Why! Batman needs Robin and I can do it! I'm a detective just like him and can help solve the crimes!"

"No. You won't change my mind, if that's all you have to say then you are free to go." Evelyn dismissed Tim before turning back to her computer screen. She would not allow another kid to potentially die if she could stop it.

"Apollo—I mean Evelyn, I know about Jason Todd. I know what happened and what the joker did."

"How? That wasn't revealed to the public." Evelyn questioned, a glare pinned on the boy. Who was this kid and how did he find at all this information?

"I hacked the batcave computer." Evelyn blinked at this. She herself personally coded that computer with all her own firewalls and security systems. Granted she never updated the system since she didn't figure anyone would get into it but she felt like she got punched in the stomach. A twelve year old managed to pass her systems? She would have to update and rework her coding.

"You hacked the batcave computer?"

"What's what I just said."

"I can have you escorted out."

"You wouldn't."

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to prove a point." Evelyn shot back. Tim had the right to look a bit scared at Evelyn's threat to have him escorted out. This was his last chance to convince Evelyn and Bruce to let him be Robin.

"Please. Ever since Jason died Batman isn't the same. You can't tell me you haven't noticed it too." Evelyn stayed quiet at his words. Bruce had changed since Jason's death. He had been a lot more violent when fighting crime after Jason's death and Evelyn was concerned. She knew Bruce couldn't keep pushing himself like he was doing and his talk with Dick and herself helped ease some of his guilt but there was still some inside him.

Maybe Tim did have a point, a very valid one but Evelyn didn't know if it was worth the risk. After Jason could they really handle another Robin who may potentially meet the same demise? Evelyn knew she couldn't.

"Tim, please. Go home. Be with your parents and be a normal young boy with a normal childhood. Being Robin takes that away and once its gone you won't get it back. Understand that neither I nor Bruce want to take that from you." Tim looked away from Evelyn, pain in his eyes.

"It's already gone. My parents are never at home and I fend for myself. I have nothing to lose by being Robin." Evelyn moved to stand in front of Tim and moved his head to look her in her eyes.

"Your life, Tim. You have your life to lose." Tim looked into her eyes and Evelyn saw the desperation in them. His unwaveringly will to help better Gotham, to help Batman, to help her.

"I'm willing to risk it." Evelyn sighed in defeat and moved back to her seat. Tim continued to stand on the other side of the desk and waited for Evelyn to speak.

"I'm not willing to risk it. You're a child Tim, a child. You aren't a solider and you aren't indestructible. We can't ask you to do this."

"You aren't asking me, I'm telling you."

Evelyn wanted to cry in frustration. She could now see why Bruce was struggling to decide if Tim should be the next Robin. Tim offered valid points and expressed his desire to help but neither adults wanted to risk another boys life, even if said boy knows about the risks and accepts them.

"I'm willing to train under Bruce, I'm willing to stay on the side of caution and even willing to sit a fight out if need be. I'm not willing to let Batman die though without his Robin. Gotham needs Batman and Batman needs someone to remind him why he fights criminals. Why he does things in a just and fair way instead of just killing everyone that wrongs Gotham. Please Evelyn, please let me help." Tim had walked up to stand in front of Evelyn and grabbed her hands to hold. He needed to show her that he was serious about this and willing to do whatever it took to be Robin.

"I—I don't know. You have some valid points Tim, truly you do. Not to mention some impressive skills of you managed to hack through my firewalls. But it's not just me that decides and I don't know if Bruce is ready for another protege. Give us time to think it over, please." Tim looked down in defeat before nodding. It wasn't the answer he wanted but it was better than being flat out denied and kicked out.

It was progress, Tim supposed.

———

After a month and a half of careful deliberation and multiple arguments, Tim was now training to be the next Robin. Evelyn and Bruce were still hesitant and even threatened taking the suit away from Tim should he put himself into too dangerous of a situation, but so far Tim was doing well. He practically lived at the manor with his parents being gone all the time and Evelyn enjoyed having a child present again.

It gave the manor a feeling of innocence and wonder. Something Evelyn hadn't felt since Jason's death. Dick managed to bring the manor to life again as well but he didn't live there anymore. When Dick left, the manor became quiet again. Just the three adults left—all still trying to heal enough to be who they once were, or close anyways.

Maybe Tim was right, maybe Batman did need Robin to fight crime and stay true to himself. But Bruce and Evelyn also needed someone to remind them that they were people too. Something the two adults often forgot together.

Maybe that's why Bruce and Evelyn worked so well. They understood each other in ways no one else could. Their traumatic pasts, need to help others and both taking up hero personas to better Gotham. Only difference was their drive, Bruce was fueled with anger while Evelyn was fueled by the need to show her worth. Neither health reasons by any means which is why Robin was so important. He reminded the two heroes of their humanity and pushed them to be better. To fight for a better world, not because they want revenge or to prove a point, but because they could.

They may have lost that idea after Jason but Tim Drake seemed well on his way to remind them.