I'm about to go to his funeral.  Funeral. F. U. N. E. R. A. L.  I wonder why the word funeral has the fun in it, when in fact, it's the opposite.  Honestly I don't want to bother going, because I know he's out there... alive.  Dick would never die, he even told(promised) Damian that he'd never leave him.  Ever.

And Dick never backs out of his own promise.

Never.

Yet here I am.  Doing something I never thought I'd do.  And I guess I should go anyway.  Because Bruce might kill me if I didn't... so.... here I am getting ready for this.

I've picked out what I should wear.  Bright blue dress, with bright sparkles down the side.  He would've liked that. But he won't be there to see it. Wait, what am I saying?  He will like it!  I bet he's out there watching, and I bet he'll see it!

He'll love it I know, because Dick has always loved bright colors... especially blue.  Or maybe should I wear green, or maybe yellow, or even red?  Would he like that?

I'm about to be picked up in a few minutes... so I've got to settle on something quick.

Hey, I know that I've got a green and yellow hat... baseball cap, but I can use it with my dress.  He'll love it.  Absolutely love it.

Still, I can't believe he faked his death.

He'd never do this to us.  He'd never let us go through so much pain.  After all, Bruce is the guy that's all about the 'mission'.  Dick's all about 'family' and 'love'.  So why would he just fake his death and not tell us?

Is it possible that he's actually dead?

No.  Dick can't be dead.  He just isn't.  He would never ever die on us.  He's our big brother.  He'll always be there for us, he'll stand by our side forever.  He told us we'd never leave.  He's not gone.  As long as we're here, so is he.  But, what if I'm just in denial... and he's dead.  Nobody can live forever.

He's not dead.  I tell myself that as I fall onto my knees...  why?  He's not dead, why am I crying then?  Why am I sobbing uncontrollably by the door?  He's not dead!!  He just isn't!!!  He's dead, I just need to accept it... why is that so hard?  He's just one guy... and he's dead!  He's not dead.  He's alive and well, somewhere, doing something for Bruce.  Dammit Bruce.

I better dry these tears.  Tim will be here to pick me up, and chances are he'll believe that Dick is dead, so I'd better just comfort him and tell him that in fact.. Dick is alive, and he's well, and Bruce is just hiding him away... knock out of it Steph!  He's no longer alive... okay?  Just ACCEPT it.   No... no... 

Suddenly I hear knocks... it must be Tim.  Darn, I wish I had time to reapply the mascara that smearing across my face right now.  I open the door quickly.  I need to get this over quickly.  Pain is killing me.

"Steph?" Tim says, waving his hand in front of my face, "Um... are you okay?"

"Just fine Tim.  Are you?" I say, taking his hand.  He doesn't look to good.  He looks like he just slammed on a few clothes, and his eyes are tear stained.  How could Dick do that?  How could he kill his family just like that?!

"To be honest Steph, I'm not really okay." Tim sighed, stopping at the stairs and sitting on the first bar, "He was my brother... and I've just lost to much... lost to many people at this point... and I just don't..."

No... Dick is dead.  If Tim is this heartbroken, and showing it!  then Dick is really dead.  Dick would've told Tim or Damian at least, because he just loves them to much to make them go through this much pain.  So... Dick is actually dead?  I can't... why... why is he?  Why did he leave?!?!

"Steph?" Tim is looking at me with worry.

"Yeah?" I ask, holding his hands close to my chest.

"Can you just stay with me?  Please?"  Tim asks, his face full of so much pain that all I can do is hold onto him hard.

"Yes.  I can." I said, holding his hand.  Just like Dick would've.

A/N:  Sorry, I didn't really know how Steph would've responded, so this was my best.  I tried to make it sad.. but alas :(