Life takes and takes and takes... and gives

That moment in YJ season 1 when Cadmus tries to make clones of Robin, KF, and Aqualad... and Robin's like, "pass, Batcave's crowded enough"...


If only he knew...


Also this chapter is dedicated to i-rob-maybanks for helping me decide on a name for one of the characters... I forgot to add this in the first time around lol...
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Dick coughed violently as he ran through the burning house, searching for any survivors. The house looked like it could collapse any minute, and the fire department was still stuck across town.


Panicked calls for help came from a nearby room. The cries of a baby mixing with the sound of a woman's sobs. Dick followed the noise, eventually finding a woman desperately clutching her child to her chest.


The woman's legs were trapped under a burning beam, and tears were streaming down her face.


"My baby," the woman sobbed. "Save my baby!"


"Keep calm Ma'am," Dick said gently. "I'm going to try and get this beam off of your legs so I can get you and your baby out of here.


The woman gave Dick a shaky nod, trying to remain calm as he lifted the beam off of her legs.


Dick grimaced when he saw the angle that the woman's burnt legs were twisted to. "I think your legs might be broken... Hold onto your baby as tight as you can and I'll carry you both out of here," he said, trying his best to sound calm and reassuring.


The woman let out a quiet sob, looking over to the still form of her now dead husband. Tears filled her eyes, but she gave Dick a nod and hugged her baby tightly to her chest.


Dick scooped the two up as gently as he could and started rushing towards the nearest exit, ignoring his lightheadedness and the burning of the flames that surrounded them.


The cool air outside the burning building felt like a soothing balm on Dick's blistered skin. "Help," he croaked as he made his way toward an ambulance that was just arriving. "These two need help!" His vision blurred and his lungs burned, but he kept going, pushing through the crowd to the paramedics.


A few other officers ran to Dick's side, one taking the woman from his arms, and the other steadying him as he swayed on his feet.


"Woman... baby..." Dick mumbled, slumping into his fellow officer's arms as he finally succumbed to unconsciousness.



Dick opened his eyes, feeling an oxygen mask secured over his mouth and nose.


A paramedic was finishing wrapping some of Dick's more serious burns, and he helped Dick into a sitting position when he saw that he was awake.


Dick's brain felt foggy, like everything was registering in slow motion. He could hear his fellow officers trying to keep order, and the fire engines spraying water over the flames. But over it all he could hear the sound of a baby crying.


"Officer Grayson," the police commissioner said, a note of solemnity in his voice. "Thank you for your bravery earlier tonight in rescuing those two civilians... unfortunately... unfortunately the woman didn't make it."


Dick sucked in a startled breath. The woman hadn't made it... that meant she was... no... she was gone.


As if his body had a mind of its own, Dick stood numbly. He ignored the calls of the paramedics to come lie back down and instead removed his oxygen mask and made his way to the officer holding the baby boy he'd rescued earlier that night.


The baby was wailing loudly, his eyes squeezed shut and tears dripping down his cheeks.


Dick reached out a hand and brushed a finger against the baby's cheek, wiping away a tear.


The baby opened his big blue eyes and stared at Dick, his sobs being replaced with shaky breaths. He reached out for Dick, making grabby hands.


Dick gently took the child from the other officer, the baby immediately snuggling up to the acrobat and grabbing tiny fistfuls of his shirt.


The other officer stared in shock. "He likes you," she said eventually, a small smile playing on her face.


"I guess he does," Dick said, chuckling quietly.


The baby cooed quietly when he heard Dick's laugh and the other officer couldn't hold back her 'aww' at just how adorable the two were.


Another officer soon arrived with a bottle of formula. "I'm gonna grab the baby so I can feed him Grayson," they informed.


Dick nodded, but as soon as the other officer started removing the baby it started wailing again, holding even tighter to Dick's shirt.


"Maybe it's better if you feed him," the officer said sheepishly, handing over the bottle.


The baby calmed almost immediately, settling into Dick's arms and allowing him to feed it the bottle.



Over the course of the next hour it was determined that the only person the baby would allow to hold it was Dick.


"Officer," the commissioner said, approaching Dick once again. "I know you have a busy schedule... but would you be willing to take care of this baby for a few weeks until we're able to find a suitable foster family for him? I'll give you a few weeks of paid leave too so you won't have to worry about finding someone to watch the little guy."


Dick paused for a moment... taking in a child, especially a baby, even if it was just for a few weeks should definitely be a decision he and Jason made as a couple... but he couldn't let another child go through what he had after loosing his family. "I'd love to," he finally said, smiling down at the baby that was peacefully sleeping in his arms.



Jason greeted Dick inside their apartment with a hug that the older gladly melted into.


Dick wished he could just stay there in that hug forever, but a giggle from the car seat brought his attention to the more important matter at hand.


"What's that?" Jason asked apprehensively, stepping back so he could look for the source of the noise.


Dick looked down, scuffing his toe across the ground. "Remember when you told me I couldn't get a puppy?"


"Yeah..." Jason said, raising an eyebrow.


"Well..." Dick started, forcing a small chuckle to keep up the joke. "Earlier today," He continued, his voice cracking as tears pooled in his eyes. "Th-there was a f-family... I... I tried to save them, but both of the parents... they... they died."


Jason cupped Dick's face in his hands, wiping away a tear with his thumb.


Dick took a shaky breath. "Commissioner needed someone to take care of their baby until they could find a good home for him."


Jason's brows furrowed slightly.


"I-I know I sh-should've talked to y-you first... but he had no one... just like me... just like you," Dick said, setting the car seat gently on the floor.


Jason sighed. "This better be the cutest kid in the world," he said after a moment.


Dick smiled softly. "This is Liam," he said, lifting the blanket that had previously covered the baby from view.


Liam gurgled and cooed, smiling happily and reaching out towards Dick when he saw him.


"Hi Liam," Dick said with a smile, reaching down to unbuckle the baby.


Liam kicked his tiny feet and laughed when Dick grabbed him out of the car seat.


Jason couldn't help but smile, moving closer to see the adorable little boy. "Hi buddy," Jason said, reaching out a finger for Liam to grab.


Liam stared in wonder at the white streak in Jason's hair, reaching for it when Jason got closer.


Dick laughed, causing the baby to smile again.


Jason wrapped an arm around Dick's waist, letting Liam try to chew on the simple wedding band on his other hand.


"Eww," Dick said, making a face. "That's gross Jay!"


Jason laughed. "Hey," he defended. "I wash my hands and my ring all the time. It's not that gross."


"Whatever Jay," Dick said in response, leaning his head against Jason's shoulder. "So is he cute enough to keep?" He asked a few minutes later.


Jason hummed. "Most definitely," he said.


Dick smiled softly. "Good," he said. "Cuz we both know that if little Liam ended up in the foster system Bruce would've probably picked him up sooner or later.


Jason's eyes widened. "Blue eyes... black hair... You're right!" He said. "Better keep this child away from Bruce unless you fancy a new brother."


Dick laughed, turning and raising up onto his tippy toes to place a kiss on Jason's lips. "I love you," he said.


"Love you too," Jason said. "And you two wittle Liam," he added.


Liam cooed.


"You hear that?" Jason asked. "He loves me most."


Dick laughed. "Sure," he said, lightly bumping Jason with his shoulder.


Jason smiled, wrapping both Dick and Liam in a hug, everything in that moment feeling so immeasurably perfect.

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