Alright, I don't bash your religion, so no bashing on mine!
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He was in a place of purity. He knew that. As soon as he opened his eyes he knew it was all over.

He was on his knees, before him a man wrapped in a white robe surrounded by a golden glow. His face was gentle, a loving smile welcoming him into Heaven.

The man reached out a hand and pulled Dick to his feet, gently grabbing his shoulders to steady him, that gentle smile never leaving his face. 

"Who are you?"

As soon as the words left his mouth he inwardly flinched. That was a dumb question.

But the man's smile never left, it only grew bigger.

"You know who I Am. Welcome home, my brother. They are waiting for you."

The man let go of his shoulders and turned without another word. He took a few steps before completely disappearing into light. 

In his place emerged two figures, a man and a woman.

Tears sprang in his eyes when saw them. They were not as they were when he last saw them.

Broken, bloody...

No. They were restored.

No bones were broken, not a drop of blood anywhere. Their hair was clean, they were simply glowing.

And their smiles spoke a thousand words.

Dick barely felt his legs move and then he was crashing into them.

Their arms wrapped around him, hugging him close as he sobbed, all the pain he kept bottled up when he was alive was finally being set loose. 

They said nothing, but they held him tighter and a gentle hand began stroking his hair.

Just like she used to all those years ago...

After a few minutes he pulled away and met their eyes. They were so bright and lively... full of love.

"My little robin... we love you so much..."

His father's smile widened.

"All the good things you have done-- we're so proud of you Richard. And you're finally home."

Behind them, a giant, glorious gate appeared. 

It opened and a warm feeling swept through him.

His mother gently grabbed his hand and led him towards the gate, his father was beside him, a hand on his shoulder.

The moment he stepped through the threshold a chill traveled through him and gave him a feeling of bliss. All around him were golden, fluffy clouds. But to his left, was a large beautiful mirror.

"A mirror?"

Of all things...

"Dick, go take a look." urged his father.

He was hesitant at first, his knees a little wobbly but he made it over. 

His eyes widened as he saw himself, he almost couldn't believe it.

He was restored as well.

His skin was clear of scars and bruises, and yes, even his wrists.

His hair was full and shiny again, he wasn't skin and bones anymore.

And his eyes... were full and vibrant.

And he also was wearing a white robe yet nothing on his feet.

"When we die, we are reborn. Restored." said his mother.

"Restored?"

His father nods his head and glances at his wife.

"If you were, say, confined to a wheelchair upon death, even if it was for your entire life, you are not confined to it here. You can walk, run, jump... everything. If something is broken, it is fixed. If you are sick, you are healed. Nothing that troubled someone in life will trouble them here."

"Is..." he gulped.

"Is everyone here?"

They both nod and his mother once again takes his hand and leads him through an arch that appears in the clouds. And he enters the Kingdom.

---------------------------------------------------------

Wally hears the door open, but he doesn't look up from his slouched position in the chair, his head in his hands. 

"He's gone..." he mutters. He gets up from the chair and roughly pushes his way out the door, slamming it behind him.

Dr. James winces from where he was waiting outside the room. 

'This... is by far the worst part of my job...'

He cleared his throat before knocking on the door before opening it.

It was... depressing to say the least.

A father, brother, and... what he assumed as his girlfriend, were all standing, in silence.

He cleared his throat once more to make his presence known.

They all turned toward him, still not saying a word.

"We are ready now. If you are ready I can lead you to see him before we..."

He didn't say anymore. The man, Bruce Wayne, nodded before he could.

They walked in tense silence down a corridor before the doctor stopped in front of a door. Taking a moment to unlock it before gently pushing the door open. The walls were blank and the lights were turned down low. He was laying on a metal table, a white folded towel being used as a pillow. He was unclothed, and instead had a white sheet covering everything but his face.

His shirt and pajama bottoms were on a table beside him, neatly folded despite the obvious blood stains on them. A small black box was beside them. 

His eyes were gently closed, you would honestly think he was asleep, if not for his deathly pale skin. 

"When he came in he was only wearing those clothes."

James nodded to the neat bundle.

"But there was something in his pocket."

He gently picked up the small box and Barbara's eyes widened. It didn't take a genius to figure out what it was.

James cleared his throat and gently set the box down again.

"I'll leave you be. Press the red button when you are ready."

With that he quickly left the room, gently closing the door beside him.

Bruce waited until he heard the doctor's footsteps fades before going to Dick's side and gently lowering the sheet down to his chest, revealing his wrists.

He grimaced and nearly let out a cry when he saw them. It was obvious the doctors and nurses tried their best to clean it up but... it was still gruesome. 

He heard Tim's breathing hitch before Tim backed up into the wall and slid down. His shoulders hunched as he buried his face in hands. His whole body started shaking as silent sobs racked his body.

Barbara looked away and grabbed the box and opened it, revealing what she feared.

An engagement ring. 

She and Dick had often talked about getting married, they both wanted it.

But after what happened with the Invasion... and what she said...

She dropped the box, the ring falling and rolling underneath Dick's table.

She collapsed into the nearest chair before sobbing heavily and crying his name, as if that small action might bring him back.

Bruce swallowed before covering him back up.

He looked at his face for a moment before laying a hand on the side of Dick's face.

His throat worked and he brought his other hand up to cover his own face as he started crying himself, his facade finally shattered.

'We did this...'

---------------------------------------------------------

He was buried beside his parents, in a beautiful sleek black coffin. 

It was a beautiful ceremony. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. It honestly seemed fitting to those in attendance.

But the beauty did not hide or erase the tragedy.

There was not one smile. Not one laugh. 

Guilt hung heavy in the air and nearly everyone in attendance felt as though they were invading.

Perhaps that was true.

But even if it was, they would not leave.

That would be even worse.

The only ones who were not burdened by guilt were those that didn't reject him after the Invasion. 

That would be the Titans and just a handful of the YJL and JL.

And those people, especially the Titans, steered clear of the others.

Lest there be another funeral in the future...

He was buried in silence. But it was respectful.

Wally, though, only stayed to see him buried. After that, he hurried away.

Some saw but none bothered to go after him.

They deserved to feel this way. And they all knew it.

Especially him.

So instead he ended up on the beach of Mount Justice.

He sat along the shoreline, watching the sunset.

He couldn't think. All he felt was numbness. 

But... that was okay.

Because that was what he deserved.

---------------------------------------------------------

He watched them from Heaven, a pensive look on his face.

Was he upset seeing them like this?

Of course.

Did he regret his decision? Regret dying?

Absolutely not.

He was free this way. And with his family.

He understood now. He spent so long taking care of others.

It was time he let himself be happy. 

But he couldn't let them be this way either.

"What can I do?"

He didn't really ask that to anyone in particular, but it didn't matter.

Everyone is always willing to listen here.

"Remember that dream you had after we died, Richard?"

It was his mother, she came up to stand beside him.

"Of course I do..."

That's a big part of how he managed to cope.

A dream, of them telling him they're okay...

"Wait-- was that really you?!"

She nodded and looked down to what he was watching.

They could see both the funeral and Wally's... breakdown.

"Perhaps that's what they need. Wait until they're asleep."

"But how can I--"

She was already gone, making her way back to the others.

He waited and watched until everyone was asleep. 

He was sitting now, legs crossed and one hand holding his head up.

"Sure took awhile..." he murmured.

But that couldn't be helped. It was a long day to say the least. 

"So now what?" he shouted.

"Close your eyes..."

That voice... 

He didn't hesitate to obey.

---------------------------------------------------------

When he opened his eyes, it appeared he was in someone's dreamscape.

It appeared to be the beach near Mount Justice... or whatever was left of it.

A yellow blur buzzed past him before stopping suddenly and racing back.

Wally threw his cowl back and stared at him with wide eyes.

"You-- no you're dead. And this is a dream. I know I'm asleep."

He shook his head and made to run again before Dick grabbed his shoulder.

"Don't..." he said gently.

He turned him around and wrapped him in a tight hug, refusing to let go and started whispering in his ear.

"Just because I'm gone, doesn't mean you need to follow after me. You're my best friend, and you're needed here. I'm happy where I am. Just let it be and you'll be okay. You'll see me again, one day."

He gently pulled Wally back and smiled at him. Wally could only stare, tears flowing down his face.

"Now wake up, and wake Artemis. You have a wonderful future ahead of you, you just need to make it happen and it's nearly dawn. It's time for it to happen."

With that a golden glow enveloped him. And Wally woke up instantly.

He was in shock for a moment before a small, timid smile worked itself across his face. 

"Okay Dick..."

---------------------------------------------------------

Tim's dreamscape was rather a nightmare.

Dick frowned when he realized Tim was dreaming about the moment he saw his body.

He was still sobbing in the dream, but he was grasping the hand of Dick's corpse.

He was muttering apologies over and over again, pleading for him to come back.

Dick walked over to Tim until he was standing behind him and gently touched his shoulder, the instant he did the dream corpse vanished.

Tim spun around, fear in his eyes. He looked like he was about to shout until Dick hushed him.

"Hey, Timmy, it's okay..."

But Tim only shook his head, clearly he believes this is the real Dick just as much as Wally did at first. 

"Timmy, it's really me okay? I'm alright now. See?"

He raised up his wrists, showing they're healed.

"...you're dead."

Dick sighed then nodded.

"I am. But it's okay. Because I'm happy, I'm with my parents again. And I'm not in any pain. Not anymore. And you..."

Dick's face became stern and he gestured to the scene around them.

"Need to stop this. I won't be able to rest in peace if you keep torturing yourself like this. It's not your fault, none of this was. I don't care what you think otherwise because I don't blame you. I am responsible for the Invasion. And I made my own decisions on what I did. Yes, I hit a low point. But everything... I can't even describe it. But it's just... I'm free now, Tim." 

Tim didn't say anything, instead he tackled Dick in a hug which Dick quickly returned.

He broke away after a moment and gave Tim a gentle look.

"I need you to wake up now, okay? Alfred's still up and you both need each other right now."

He put a gentle hand on Tim's head before evaporating into light.

Tim sprung up in his bed, breathing heavily. 

He blinked and then rushed downstairs, where Alfred was silently grieving in front of the fire place.

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Barbara's dreamscape was the Watch Tower, where they officially entered a relationship.

She was staring out at space.

He was just a few feet from her, watching her silently.

She hadn't noticed him yet but she was clutching what looked like one of his wing-dings to her side.

"Hey Babs..."

She gasped and immediately spun around and threw the projectile at him.

And, even though he was already dead, ducked due to instinct.

"Well, that's not exactly the 'hello' I was expecting but I'll take it--"

"No more... why can't I just wake up from this nightmare?!"

Dick's smile immediately went away when he realized that she also believed he was just another part of her dream.

"Babs... it's really me. I'm here. And I can prove it."

She glared at him but it was a mix of fear and sadness.

"Remember when we were younger? You were just starting as Batgirl and I got you to prank Bruce with me? But the prank went wrong and we ended up accidentally--"

"Setting the kitchen on fire..." her glare went away, and her eyes only contained hope.

Dick grinned at her.

"And Alfred was absolutely furious. We had to clean it up ourselves and we were grounded for seven weeks."

Barbara briefly smiled before looking away, tears starting to fall from her eyes.

Dick frowned once again and walked up to her, grabbing her hands in his.

"It really is me..." she sighs and looks back to him.

"I know. But you look... look..."

He have her one of his cocky grins.

"So incredibly handsome again?"

"Alive."

His grin vanished again and his eyebrows creased in worry.

"You know I'm not."

She sighed and slowly shook her head.

He grabbed her chin gently and raised it up so they were looking into each other's eyes.

"You know I'm dead Babs. And you have to accept that--"

"Why?!"

He sighed through his and rested his forehead against hers.

"So you can move on. Move on with your life and find someone else. I want you to be happy and I want you to love again."

She started to move away but he laid a hand on her cheek and turned her head back to his.

"I don't blame you and I don't hate you. I never could. Because I love you so much. And it's because of that reason that I need you to move on."

"Dick..."

"You have to let go Babs. You can't live on what was or what could have been. You need to let me go."

His smile came back.

"You'll see me again. I promise."

She sighed and leaned into him.

"Okay..."

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

"Now wake up, your dad is awake in the living room. You've been worrying him, you need to talk to someone and it ought to be him."

She nodded in his embrace.

"I love you Barbara..."

He leaned in to kiss her forehead and once again disappeared into the golden light.

When Barbara woke up she could still feel the heat of his lips against her forehead.

She hurriedly got out of bed and ran to the livingroom where, sure enough, her dad was worriedly pacing. But when he noticed her she gave him a small smile and motioned for him to sit on the couch.

---------------------------------------------------------

Bruce's dreamscape was... unexpected. It was Dick's old room, the layout was exactly the same as when he first came to the Manor.

He turned his head and saw him sitting on the side of his old bed.

He walked up to the other side and noticed Bruce's shoulders were shaking.

He was crying.

"Bruce. Stop that."

Bruce froze then turned around.

"Dick--"

"You're blaming yourself, once again. I need you not to do that."

"I'm asleep... you're not--"

"Yes, I am. Listen to me, I'm okay."

Bruce's face twisted into one of disbelief.

"You're... dead."

"Yes, I am... but I'm also with my parents."

"Dick I... I'm sorry."

Dick went around and sat beside him on the bed.

"I know. But ya know what? None of that matters. Because it's over. Tim and Babs... Alfred... they're going to need you. And you're going to need them. So please, let them and others in. Don't make a mistake by shutting them out."

Dick paused for a moment, feeling a chill pass through him, all the way up to his head.

"...it will be okay Bruce. There's going to be others. Life goes on."

"But not for you!"

Dick gives him a sad smile and leans against his shoulder, like he used to when he was just a boy and trying to cheer up his mentor.

"I still live. Just not here. You'll see me again."

He got up and faced Bruce, he reached out his hand for a handshake.

When Bruce took it, a sudden wind picked up out of nowhere and Dick started to glow with a heavenly light.

"You need to wake up now. Tim and Alfred are downstairs, you need to be with them right now..."

He let go of Bruce's hand and gave him a two finger salute and his signature smile.

"See ya later Bruce, been nice fighting alongside you."

For the final time, he was swallowed by the golden light.

When Bruce woke up, he felt a sudden peace around him he hadn't felt for years. It only took moments for him to be racing down the stairs.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dick was once again back in Heaven, watching his loved ones down below with a smile.

Everything was okay now.

This time his father came up to him and observed the events happening with him.

"Only them?"

Dick nodded and continued to watch.

"They needed it the most. Everyone else will heal in time. But they were on the brink."

His mother now came up to him, grabbing his hand with hers.

"Dick? Are you alright?"

He turns and gives her a real, dazzling smile.

"Asterous!"

His parents chuckled and all three of them turned and walked back to the rest of their family to rest in peace.

Just until it was time, to welcome someone else.

Fin~