Losing family had spread an everlasting melancholy on Wayne Manor. First, they lost Jay. And the dealing of that death drifted people apart. Dick and Ellen, disillusioned with Gotham for many reasons-Batman's anarchy one of them- had moved to Bludhaven to build their own life.

While the death of one had brought distance, the birth of another was the first step towards bringing them back together. Whatever the issues between them, Dick couldn't see having his child not know Bruce and Alfred. And Ellen agreed; Waynes were family. They had of course visited throughout the years, but whatever the reason for the visit, it was only passing. Bruce could only sit along for so long before he had to leave. And his absence sternly reminded them of the absence they couldn't fill.

Since hearing of Bruce's recovery, Dick decided to move back. Gotham had it vices, but Bludhaven was no place for a family. Jobs would be no problem, as Gordon would happily welcome them back. Otherwise, they had other prospects to keep them afloat. And at worst, they could take up shop in the manor which had more than enough rooms for every one of them.

Tonight, they were gathered in the living room, entertaining Jia when the doorbell rang. Selena removed herself from Her Majesty's presence and went to attend to the door. The house staff were bringing in a coiffed up little boy from the outside, his luggage stacked neatly by the door. How she wished it was her boy she was receiving back.

Selena's lips curved into a warm smile, her emerald eyes softening as she took in the timid figure before her. He was standing pin straight, his hands folded in front of him, as if he was carefully prepared and placed. She giggled at the slight of young rich men. She laughed when she thought her own husband would have been just the same.

"Hi! You must be Tim! Welcome to the manor," Selena greeted him with a handshake as she approached him.

Tim reciprocated the greeted. "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Wayne. I hope I wasn't too much trouble last minute."

Selena wrapped her arm around his shoulders as she lead him back to the living room. "Oh, not at all! We love having company over, as you might see," she warned him as they approached the family room.

"This is John, and his girlfriend Ellen," Selena introduced them.

"Hi," Tim waved at them, then suddenly knelt as someone was clawing at his leg.

Selena laughed. "This is Jia, their daughter."

"Hi," Jia echoed the new boy.

"So, you're here for a sleepover, I hear!" John said excitedly as he pulled Tim to sit by him.

"Yeah, I guess," Tim replied nervously.

"Moms and dads need their little getaways sometime," Ellen smiled. "But I'm sure you won't miss them with us!"

"Are you hungry? Would you like to have dinner?" Selena asked.

"No, thank you. I had dinner with my parents," Tim answered.

"Great. Then you're just in time for snacks," an old man came in with a trolley of late night snacks.

"Tim, this is Alfred. He's officially the butler."

"But he's family," Bruce added as he joined them. "Did you find us alright?"

"Because your house is hard to miss?" Tim inquired.

Bruce laughed. "So? Are you part of the family business? Archaeology?"

"No, I'm more of a futurist. I like working on technological advancements."

"Sounds like someone else I know," Selena smiled as she wrapped herself around her husband.

Bruce smiled and stroked her back. "We'll get along just fine."

After more hours of sitting around and getting to know each other, it was time for bed.

"Where will I be sleeping?"

"You can have my old room," John offered, having now grown out of the boys room.

"You're gonna love it," Selina smiled. "Come, I'll show you the way." She led him up the boys' wing.

Tim was amused by the very lively suite, not as much as Jason was when he walked in, but it was entertaining. "Nice place," he commented, putting his backpack off his shoulder.

"It is, isn't it? You can help yourself to anything. This is your room here," Selina pointed to the one labeled with a D.

Tim followed her in to a neatly set blue room. Everything was so pin perfect, that the nets and contraptions hanging from the ceiling looked even more out of place.

"There's water in the fridge. Bathroom's that way," Selina pointed out all the accessible things before reclining against the doorframe. "If you need anything else, you can use the phone."

"Thank you. I'll be alright," Tim smiled and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Alright. Have a good night. We'll see you in the morning."

Tim still sat and took in the room. He took his cellphone out and checked what time it would be for his mom. Last they had texted she was getting on a plane, so she would still be on it now. Tim texted her goodnight and placed his phone on the side table as he let himself take a tour of the suite.

It was a kid's paradise. There were games and sports equipment and popcorn machines. Tim would never have to leave this room. He noticed the most recent console attached to the giant tv in front of the sitting place. He flopped into a red bean chair and grabbed some headphones.

While the game loaded, he wondered who all of this was for. John was clearly too old for this place. Then he remembered that the Waynes had adopted a boy a few years ago. He was maybe around Tim's age. The three of them looked so happy whenever they were on tv. He wondered what Jason was doing now, wherever he was.

The yawn took him out of the game and he closed the system and put back the controllers before going back to his room. Tim grabbed his night clothes and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He had dressed and was brushing his teeth when he noticed three doors reflecting in the mirror.

One was to the room he was sleeping in, one was to the living room, so what was the third one to?

Once he finished his routine, Tim went into the third door. It was a red bedroom in pristine condition. Pictures of a loved life. Idols to look up to. Nicknacks that displayed his personality. And a library wall.

Tim wasn't too tired yet, and decided to make himself busy with a book. He roamed the shelves, many of them filled with mysteries and classics. Tim grabbed a few mystery books-he solved them pretty quick- and helped himself onto the bed.

"You're not Jason."

Tim jumped at the voice and looked up too see Bruce standing in the doorway. He was smiling, contrary to his tone from before, which Tim would have deduced as mad.

"Sorry, curiosity got the best of me. I should've asked," Tim apologized, his hands clasped in front of him.

Bruce smiled and helped himself to the edge of the bed, arbitrarily picking up one of the books. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just not used to seeing anyone in this room. Been empty for so long."

"I-I should go back," Tim thumbed to the room he was assigned.

"Don't trouble yourself. You're already here," Bruce patted the bed as he got off and sat in the chair by the window.

"Thanks. You guys sure love mystery around here."

Bruce looked at the shelves and smiled. "Yeah, you can say that. I think it just might be the string that binds. You shouldn't count yourself out, Mr. Poirot."

Tim scanned the books on the bed and shrugged. "Yeah, they're alright, I guess. The writing's good, the mystery... I solved it pretty fast."

"Is that so?" Bruce leaned forward, head on his hand as he voiced a challenge.

The boys went through most of the shelves, selecting book names and revealing the deductions of each text until one of them yawned.

"Well, this was fun. You should get some sleep. I was thinking maybe you'd like to come to work with me tomorrow."

Tim's eyes lit up. "At Wayne Enterprises?"

Bruce laughed. "I think that's what it's called. I have a late start tomorrow so we can go in... around, 11? What do you think?"

"Awesome. I'll be ready by then. Thank you."

"Of course! Good night, Tim."

"Good night, Mr. Wayne."