A/n: the picture above is my attempt at drawing. If you didn't guess, it's Fae in her fairy form. I'm not that great of an artist, but at least it's some form of visual.

"Your room is just the way you left it my dear."

My old room...wow.

Alfred led us down schorched brick twists and turns. I had been down these halls so many times that it felt like I knew every inch, but now the new carpets gave foreign friction to my shoes. I had run down here playing tag or hide or seek with Dick so many times. The crack in one of the wooden panelboards from one of us crashing into it had been filled and sanded.Trust me when I say hide and seek becomes interesting when it's played in a manor.

It was the same, but it also wasn't.

When we got to the door I felt my heart beat quicken. There on the door was my name in curly wooden letters. 'FAE' with fairies surrounding it as they danced.

To be completely fair to myself I art's-and-crafted the sign at the sedentary age of 11 when Bruce reaslised I slept over pretty much every weekend.

I breathed in deeply before I pushed it open. I saw everything I had left. My vanity still had the small Robin figurine on it and my mirror still had a small chip on the side of it when I had thrown my shoe at Dick and he dodged. Now I know why that bastard had such quick reflexes.

I sat down on my bed and laid down, looking up. So much was happening. Just a couple of hours ago I had thought I'd only  get to see them again maybe in a year or...never. And now I was back... in my old room.

My room,

Yet I felt so out of place.

My fairy-covered bedframe twinkled in that childish defiance I remember all too well. All the pendants I'd ever gotten were animal themed like rabbits or bees and they sat in a scrunched pile on the dresser.It was all just so...juvenile.

It felt like a dead girl's bedroom.

It felt like Fae's bedroom.

I was about to block it all out, close my eyes and drift off, when I heard a knock on the door. I sat up and yelled for whoever it was to come in. The door slowly opened to reveal... Bruce. He had his mask off so I could finally see his face. He looked a little older, his ridiculously handsome face finally had some notches and dents.

He had a file in his hand and he came to me and sat down next to me. Slowly, like he was approaching a wounded animal. An awkward silence broke out and we looked just about everywhere but at each other.

It felt like I couldn'tbreathe-

He finally cleared his throat and spoke, "Fae, I..."

I flinched a little at the name. 'What's wrong with me?'

"You don't like it. Your name?" He asked, file set aside.

"How did you-"

"Dick's your best friend, but he's also never struggled with...isolation."

I hugged my knees together. It was true I suppose, the last time I'd been asked my name it was when I met Lex four years ago.

After that I was FLUX. That's all who I was.

"I thought I could brush it off the first time Wally said it. It felt weird but...it was my name. It's not supposed to make me want to shut someone's mouth with super glue." I frowned into my knees. They were bruised. They were always fucking bruised-

"I'm sure you aren't the only one to think that around Wally." He chuckled darkly, "But if it's reoccurring then...we don't have to-"

"I want to be Fae again." I swear talking in third person is not crazy shhhh," What I mean...I miss it, her...I miss her life but I...I don't think I'll ever get to be that Fae again after all of this. Ugh."

He smiled a little and reached for the file next to him. He actually looked a little nervous. I laughed a little internally at the fact that the man in front of me was the Dark Knight himself.

He picked up the file and looked at me directly, "Do you know what these are?"

I shook my head in confusion. He sighed and opened it.

"I wanted to do this year's ago. I've had these for so long and I guess I just thought one day I might use them. These are adoption papers." He said.

My mouth stood agape in shock.

"You don't have to accept. I just thought about it for so long that I thought I might as well ask." He said looking at me earnestly. No stutter.

It was just so...like him. The man that watched me grow up through raven spiked windows.

He wanted me. Someone still wanted me.

I hugged him.

"....Thank you." I whispered.

We hugged maybe for a minute, I mean, this is still Bruce afterall. I definitely was not crying again today fucking tear ducts dammit. He stood with the papers and laid them on the scratched up desk. Before he could get very far I stopped him.

"Wait! Did you forget I'm technically dead? Not to mention the team already know my identity?" I asked. He stopped and looked at me.

"Well at least your identity you showed them can't be public either way." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose

"Well at least we have options." I deadpanned and sat up.

I cast my illusion of the girl with brown hair and green eyes. "I'll have to take a new identity. Luckily only Wally and Dick have seen me in this form and Wally already knew about you guys in the first place.

"You're going to need a name. A new one" His smile barely tilted up. He was right.

A sense of...control made me smile.

"How about...April?"

"Dick's birthday?" He smirked

"Shhhhh" I crossed my arms and looked anywhere but at Bruce, "Nevermind that didn't feel right either..."

"Andy? Like...like Dad. I used Mom's when I worked at Big Belly Burgers so-"

"I still cannot believe you worked there-"

"Hey! It was a stable income!" I smacked his shoulder, "Ian the cheff gave me old burger buns and patties. Don't disrespect the hustle."

He rolled his eyes, it felt like home.

"Andy, short for?"

"Well I'm not an Andrew, don't think I have the right complexion," a look of vague exasperation slowly took over his features, "How about just Andie? You know with an 'i' and an 'e' so it looks like it's on purpose and my future attendance records all take an extra 5 minutes"

"Fine. Andie Wayne."

I dropped my shit-eating grin for a genuine one. It kind of sounded like the nickname Robin had given my hero form.

Andie, Ania.

It felt more like me.

"....Yeah...it has a nice ring to it." I felt some semblance of relief.

He looked me up and down and smiled. He ruffled my hair and got to writing all the necessary information into the papers. I held my breathe when I signed in a new signature.

He'd probably have to make a fake Identity before he legalised this.

"I'm going to go see if we can speed up the process on the documents." Which probably meant bribing the human affairs office but eh, girl's gotta do what a girls gotta do I guess.

Right before he left I stopped him, "Wait...I like my new name and the old one is...hard but if it's just you all...I think I can learn to be Fae again just...maybe not the same one."

He smiled and nodded shortly before he closed the door.

I can't believe it. I was going to have a family again. A proper one. I have Bru- I mean...father??? (Ew no we'll figure out a different name) Alfred and Dick. Everything was amazing.

It was kind of suspiciously good.

I took down my illusion and was about to lie back down when another knock came at the door. I sighed, "Come in!" When I looked again, Dick's head popped in from the side of the door smiling.

God I missed that stupid smile.

"How are you settling in?" I smiled and re-did my illusion.

"Say hello to miss Andie Wayne. Newly adopted daughter of Bruce Wayne." I said flipping my hair. We both laughed and I let the transformation go.

"Good to see Bruce didn't chicken out and asked you." I nodded and he moved onto the bed and sat next to me. He took his index finger and poked my cheek.

"You're...not disappearing."

"Definitely feeling the aster for sure." I barely managed to hide my smile behind faux annoyance as he poked my cheek. I may have been in imprisonment for years, but I was still bad at lying.

"I still can't believe you're real." He said. I held his hand over my pulse. It wasn't much but it was as if to say I wasn't a fantasy.

Somehow despite everything happening to me, I don't think I realised this would be hard for them too. I understand that they lost me too, but up until now I've just been thinking of myself.

Maybe I should have just gone home a year ago. Maybe I should have reached out.

"You're a dumbass you know that? Do you know how I felt when Wally told me how you reacted? You don't just not talk for months." I said, for once feeling naturally inclined to touch as I grabbed his hand.

"Fae you... you have no idea what it was like. After everything losing you was...kind of impossible to me." He refused to look at me. "Do you know what it's like, losing one person after the other? That I had to go to a funeral with your name on the little pamphlets?"

Oh. I had a funeral.

There's a gravestone out there with my name on it-

"Did anyone show up though-"

"It's not a joke." He said, eyes lost in mine, "It was...it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

For a moment the grip on his hand was more for me than him.

"I'm not going anywhere." I whispered. In a bolt of audacity from my consciousness I found the courage to hug him fiercely. His hands held tight and steady at my back.

Physical contact was always easier with him. Automatic. Safe.

"If anything ever happens to me again, please just don't... do that. It broke me a little to know about how you reacted." I said softly into his shoulder. "If I ever do go promise me that-"

"You're never dying again. I refuse." He mumbled into the crown of my head. I gave a watery chuckle and nodded.

It's wild to think three weeks ago I called this boy telepathically from a prison thinking I was talking to a stranger.

After a bit I pulled away and Dick changed the subject, "I almost forgot. Bruce sent me here to tell you that since you're being adopted, a couple of things are gonna happen. First, you can't expect to be a new addition to the Wayne family without a grand welcome party."

"Didn't you put laxatives in everyone's punch for yours?" I wiped my eyes.

"In my defense I did tell him I didn't want one. Also I originally planned on rat poison till he said that was lethal."

"You were so angsty at that age." I mused. At the time he'd still been traumatized by everything. Looking back Bruce had probably been trying to get him to socialise and re-incorporate him back into society.

Dang. He was doing that with me too wasn't he?

I'm not that bad at social-ness. I'd say I'm pretty fucking amazing at talking to people.

In moderation.

"Another thing is, most kids your age go to school. And I know you know you're behind, but-"

"I'm not." I butt in. He frowned so I waved my hand around, "What. I was in the woods for a year. I had time and pirate copy textbooks."

And G-nome mental programming but he didn't need to know that.

"Of course you lived in the woods. Well, you need to seem like a normal teenage girl so we're putting you in Gotham Academy." He said with finality.

I groaned at both. I absolutely dreaded meeting the snobs at the welcoming party. With how I know Bruce (Papa? Ugh what do I name this man?) He'll make it into a ball or something. Schools another thing entirely.

I never really liked school. I know, I'm so quirky. In my defense, the kids are evil man.

Somehow high-school seems less of a threat than middleschool.

I know this sounds petty but I'm talking my whole school career. I was always a normal girl sure, but I never liked the kids at school, because anything you say can be twisted till it's nothing but lies.

That's actually how I got in trouble most of the time back when I was younger. You say you wish there was a longer lunch and by the end of the day the principal gives you detention for creating a riot.

After a while I just stuck with those who didn't act on every single word I said. I was a cesspool of sarcasm, it was the only way. And that's why I only ever had three friends, Dick, Wally and Barbara. Mostly because they too were a cesspool of sarcasm.

The rest were just too much for me too handle.

The only reason I was able to talk to the team so casually when I met them, was because I was desperate for conversation and the scenario was pretty bizarre. Quite a lot to discuss when you're a bunch of extraterrestrial beings fighting crime.

"Ugh, school, really? And can't we just, I don't know, say I'm adopted and leave?" I asked.

I do love parties. With people I actually like.

He chuckled and shook his head. He got up and headed to the door. "School starts on Monday and the 'Andie Ball', is next week Saturday."

I sighed. Today was a Friday. So one more  week till that monstrosity.

But three more days till I enter a walking hell.

***

I pulled at the end of my skirt trying to make it fit better. Wasn't this academy supposed to be for dignified people?

Hisss to the patriarchy I tell you, hissss.

The weekend had passed really quickly. The day after I got there Bruce had announced my adoption. After which a swarm of reporters followed. I had to have my picture taken by all those people and resist the urge to punch them. Do you know how hard that is?

Luckily Dick was there for me.

It felt a little...suffocating though.

We spent most of our time together. He even sat and binge watched Pokémon with me. It was amazing at it should be.

When team rocket showed up with mustaches I quickly paused the show and pointed out that they looked like drug dealers. We laughed way too hard and I ended up with a bruise on my hip from the coffee table.

All in all I had a great time with my best friend.

However there was this...tension.

Every morning, Dick sneaks into my room. When he sees me sleeping he just leaves with a smile.

He doesn't know I'm awake.

It was kind of creepy but sweet at the same time. I guess he keeps thinking that he's gonna wake up and I'll be gone. I get that. But after all those years being around people that bring back so many memories 24/7. It's a lot. And it's exhausting.

I sighed as Alfred stoped at the front gate. I looked at Dick and he sees my face and smiles as if to say 'It'll be okay'.

With a deep breath I climbed out with him and watched as the limo sped away. I turned to see the large school in front of me. It looked like a penitentiaryif I anhled it enough."Come on! Well be late!" I heard Dick shout.

I smiled a little and ran after him as best as I could in these awful school shoes. Who waxed these bloody floors? I finally made it and I was out of breath a little. I was walking around looking for the dark haired demon till I saw someone I wasn't expecting to see.

Artemis.

I was about to go and talk to her, when I remembered I was Andie, not Fae or Titania. Shit this is gonna get confusing and old fast. Oh well, nothing like chaos. I headed in her direction as nonchalant as possible. She, like me before, was tugging at her skirt.

"Why do they make it like this? I feel so exposed." She asked herself. Me being a completely normal human being, answered.

"I know right? Why do the boys only get shorts?" she looked up at me and smiled.

"Looks like I'm not the only one." She said letting go of her skirt, she turned to me.

"Artemis." She said holding out a hand.

"Andie, nice to meet you. Is this your first day too?" I asked. I was happy I at least knew someone other than Dick in this school.

Even if she only really saw me jumping around rooftops in sparkly wings and cloaks.

"Yeah. I take it you are too, with the way you walk in those shoes. Don't worry, I would probably trip over myself if I ran in these." She said. I blushed a bit in embarrassment. I was co-ordinated...in battle.

Soon we where cut off by a girl with wavy blonde hair that came up to us. "Artemis? Andie? I'm Bette, your new student liaison. Welcome to Gotham academy."

"Thanks, I'm Artemis... but you already knew that." I slightly patted her on the shoulder as to show my sympathy for her awkwardness.

Suddenly we both got pulled aside and I saw Dick with his phone.

"We'll laugh about this someday." He said before taking the photo.

Once the flash went he was gone.

I just rolled my eyes at his corny gesture. I slightly muttered that he was an idiot and turned back to Bette.

"Uh, who was that?" Artemis asked.

"A freshman, ignore him." Bette replied.

I raised an eyebrow at her as we were walking. Dick wasn't a freshman, he was sixteen like me. Wow I guess us being short makes it a little hard to tell the difference. That or Bette just didn't care.

Fair enough.

As we were walking I chuckled a little at Dick's antics. Artemis raised an eyebrow. "The guy who flash bombed you is Grayson, he's a good friend of mine."

She looked at me, "I thought you said this was your first day too?"

"Oh it is, I just know him from when we were kids. Other than him, I don't really know anyone else. I recently started staying with his Gaurdian" I said. She nodded.

"So which classes are you in? I don't really know anyone else so it might be good if you were in some." She asked as we both went to our lockers. Funny enough, we were right next to each other.

"Well, First is Biology, Honors Chemistry, Then Math. After that I have Art and History. Then there's lunch and after that I head to Honors English Lit, Physics and PE. You? "

She stared at me. "Chemistry Honors? How how much do you hate yourself?"

Everyone was surprised, myself included.

It was also the only subject besides English that I got good grades for in the entrance exam. Let's not talk about Physics. Or maths in general.

I went down a Chemistry rabbit after my run in with Joker last year made me get very, very in depth with the stuff. I didn't realise how far I'd delved into the subject until I got back my results.

Let's just say Harely made me do a little research.

I laughed at this, "Just enough to enjoy that abusive relationship, and from the looks of your schedule we have English and Biology together." I said looking at the paper in her hands.

"Great. That means our first lesson's together. Let's head to class before your friend finds me and asks for a video." She laughed.

Even if she didn't know about me, I still think we were gonna be good friends.

***

The lunch bell rang and I sighed a breath of relief. Finally! Do you know how hard it is to not fall asleep in Mrs. Finnie's class? She just went on and on about the Trojan war.

I only took History to avoid Business Studies and now my regret is evident.

"Hey, Artemis, do you want to go to lunch together?" I asked and moved to the door.

"Oh, sorry, I have some books to pick up and drop off at my locker. Meet you at the cafeteria?" she asked. I nodded and went out the door and to the cafeteria.

I had gotten a floor plan before hand so I knew where everything was. When I entered though, I heard everyone begin to whisper. Now I know it's weird, but the feeling of everyone watching me made me a little uneasy. My hand twitched at my side where I'd hidden one of my miniature weapons.

I didn't ask Bruce how he knew to get me invisible pockets at the skirt when I put on the uniform this morning.

"F- Andie! Over here!" I heard. I turned to see Dick and... Barbara.

Oh.

Give a girl a warning before you tear out her heart Dick.

Her fiery red hair burned like a bloodstain in the white hall. That same viciously perfect smile and shadowed eyes that screamed confidence.

I missed her so much, and now I have to act as if I don't know her.

Could have used a little warning.

I quickly made it to their table and sat down. I sighed in relief when everybody turned around and minded their own business.

"So you're the infamous Andie I've been hearing so much about from Dick here." I turned to face Barbara with a smile and nodded.

"Quite one eh? Don't worry, they always do that with a newcomer, they'll leave you alone in a day or two. But where are my manners? I'm Barbara Gordon nice to meet you." She said.

"Andie Wayne, a pleasure." I said holding out my hand confidently this time. Maybe this school thing was worth it in the end.

"I'm not quiet, but good to know I could be under the radar if I wanted." I smiled.

Barbara grinned back at me.

***

It was the final lesson of today. PE.

Dick had been in Chemistry, and Bio with me before lunch and he had Art with me too. The boy infuriatingly took Honor classes for everything but English.

He's infuriatingly intelligent. Good thing I'm a fast learner.

"There are three isomers here, the chain isomerism can change three times!"

"Ah ah ah, it's still five. You forgot stereoisomerism."

"Oh"

"Yeah Wonder Boy, eat shit."

Later Artemis caught up with us and she fit right in with our weird little corner table group. I find it funny that three out of four of us are heroes. Next thing you know, you'll see Barbara running around with a utility belt.

Turns out Barbara was in Chemistry and Math with us too and I didn't see her. She also did my Physics and PE with me and Dick.

Right now we were heading to the gym. We had changed into the athletics clothes and when we got there I saw a gruff middle aged woman in shorts.

She shouted at all of us, "Move it pipsqueaks, you're going to be doing ten laps around the field! And I better not catch you walking or you'll do doubled!"

I just shrugged and started running. It was pretty easy, since I used to go for high speed runs through the woods every day. Obviously Artemis and Dick were faster, little fricken show offs. I had stamina but damn.

This is what happens when I rely on flying too much dammit.

It really doesn't help that I've kept this illusion up all day. I'm exhausted from using my mana and weaving it so tightly around me so that I don't run out. It's great endurance and control practice but it sucks so much. My inner abise is gonna double in size within a week at this rate.

When I stopped, I just walked out of the way and watched the rest of the class have at it.

"Hey little girlies, what's your names?" Asked Miss Griselda. She had a small smile on her face, with a little excitement.

"Oh, I'm Andie Wayne, This is my first day here." I said as sweetly as I could. I may be a super hero, but I did not want to get on this woman's bad side. Artemis gave her name and stood next to me.

"I figured as much. I haven't seen our female teams run like that since before Gertrude Oltman broke her leg. Even then she wasn't as fast as Spitfire here. Tell me, would you two like to join track? We could really use girls like you on the team." She asked.

I thought about it before saying, "I would have to ask my...Guardian and check my schedule to see if I could come."

She shook her head, "If you were to join, don't come to practice. I want Central High to be surprised when you join the game. I can't prove anything yet, but they have eyes and ears everywhere."

Ah comically paranoid PE teachers. Welcome to America.

I smiled a little and nodded. I would have to ask first, but I'm sure that if I only go to the competition, it wouldn't take up too much of my time. Besides, I had to act like a normal teenager right?

Dick finally got back from drinking water and came and collapsed next to me, a few minutes later Barbara joined us. She was huffing as she spoke.

"How... the hell... did you two?"

Dick looked positively refreshed as he patted her on the back, "Don't question it. She's a special little snowflake."

"Hey!" I shouted, pouting.

Dick laughed and ushered me to the other side of the room. Miss Griselda had said that after the run we could do anything that involves physical exercise. He led up a ball and I grinned.

"Like old times?" he whispered. We couldn't let Barbara know who I was, or else the whole shtick would be up.

I nodded and he drop kicked it my way. I caught it on the side of my foot and threw it up before bouncing on my knee and bouncing it high before twirling and kicking it with force. It went hurdling towards Dick and he managed to just stop it with his leg coming up to block his face.

We both grinned, just like old times.

***

"Wally was right. You always win!"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

We were heading back to the changing rooms to get out of our athletic clothes. Barbara had ditched us a while back to go home, while we stayed.

I was... happy.

Everything was normal and that felt so so weird. The only different thing, was that Dick brushed his hand along my shoulder or elbowed me whenever he could. His fingers slid against my hand every moment he found an opening.

A part of me wished it was for other reasons than those I knew were true.

It still felt like a dream to me too.

When we got there he reluctantly moved back so that I could go and change. I quickly grabbed his arm and made him look at me.

"Dick, I'm back. You don't have to hold on like I'll disappear if you don't." I said and kissed his cheek before hurriedly making my way to the girls changing room.

A/n: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay, but I had school that started a few days ago and a lot of homework to catch up on. Whenever I could, I worked on the story and I am trying to balance it with my school work. Hope you enjoyed the story and you continue to follow the book.

Thanks for reading

Lots of love

Ivy