August 19, 1450

	Dinah and Bruce sat across from each other at the kitchen table.  Barbara
was asleep.  Alfred and Leslie had called for an update and upon hearing
there was no change, announced they were taking Spud for a late lunch and
then to find a new pair of baseball cleats.
	And that left Dinah and Bruce to sit together and mull the state of their
relationship.  They just didn't know where to start.
	"Have you been getting enough sleep?" Bruce finally asked awkwardly.
"Eating enough?"
	Dinah smiled into her cup of tea.  She hadn't told him about her breakdown
the day before and didn't intend to.  All he knew is that she'd come back
to the Manor for some rest.
	"If you're asking about the baby," she said, setting her cup down, "it's
fine.  Leslie looked me over this morning."
	"Good."  Satisfied that Leslie had things in hand, Bruce tightened his jaw
again.
	The silence stretched between them again.
	"Bruce?" Dinah started tentatively, but she was interrupted with noise at
the front door.
	"Hey, anyone home?"  Tim's drawn face peered around the door.
	"In the kitchen," Dinah called.
	She exchanged a regretful glance with her husband before Tim and Cassandra
walked in.
	"It's quiet in here," Tim commented.
	He looked better than he had the day before, Dinah realized.  Maybe Bruce
had let him have some sleep the evening before.
	"Barbara's sleeping," Bruce informed him.  He glanced at Cassandra who was
already touring the fridge.
	"Alfred and Leslie took Spud out for a bit," Dinah put in.  "I had him
laughing a little this morning.  He's doing a lot better."
        "That's good to hear," Tim commented, helping himself to a cup of
coffee. There seemed to be a pot constantly sitting in the coffeemaker
these days.
	Cassandra sat at the table with a cold pancake left over from Alfred's
marvelous breakfast.
	"There's syrup on the counter if you want it," Bruce told her, seemingly
unfazed at her food choice.
	Cass just shook her head and tore off a piece of pancake to poke into her
mouth.
        Bruce looked from Cassandra to Tim and back again.  And then back
at Tim.
	Dinah watched this and decided to leave them alone.  It stung, not being
part of the active set of heroes.  The baby, she reminded herself.  Her
miracle baby.  The baby would be better than knowing the secret handshake
of the Batclub.
	"I'm going to peek in on Dick and Babs," she announced, standing and
walking her teacup and saucer to the sink.  "Back in a bit."  She walked
into the hallway and leaned against the wall with a sigh.  Her baby, she
reminded herself, folding her hands over her stomach.  It was a good thing.
Back in the kitchen, Bruce braced himself as he addressed his two junior
partners-two people who had put a lot on the line for him, for Dick, for
the family.
	"I-I wanted to say thank you."
	Tim raised an eyebrow.  Cassandra tore off another piece of pancake.
	"You're welcome," Tim answered cautiously.
	"The last few days," Bruce fumbled, "they were hard on everyone.  But I
made them harder on the two of you.  There was a lot on your shoulders.  It
needed to be done.  All of it.  For Dick.  But you should know that I would
have done the same for either of you."
	"Ignored the family?  Kept everyone out of the loop?  Hid us away from
those who cared about us?"  Tim's words were tinged with bitterness.
	"Got bounty hunter.  Protect family.  Protect city.  Carry work.  Keep
secret."  Cassandra pulled one of Tim's hands from his coffee mug to wrap
around her own and reached the other hand over to Bruce, resting it gently
on his arm.  "Keep going."
	Tim bowed his head, but Bruce saw his hand tighten on Cassandra's.
	Wordlessly, the older man lay his hand on the table, palm up.
	After several moments, Tim reached out and clasped it.