Author: Syl Francis (efrancis@earthlink.net)

Summary: Dick and Donna break up with their respective significant others and 
are surprised to find comfort in each other's arms. But can a relationship 
that's been based on a deep friendship and a brother/sister love last? And 
what of those they left behind? 

(Note: This story takes place shortly after the infamous Nightwing/Huntress 
New Year's Eve "kiss" and Dick Grayson's Police Academy graduation. And 
before you send me flaming e-missiles, this is just a "What if?" 
exercise...Okay?):):) 

Disclaimer: All the characters are owned by DC Comics and Time/Warner (should 
I throw in AOL, for good measure?); this is an original story that does not 
intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome! 
Copyright: January 2000 

**** 

Goodbye, Hello by Syl Francis 

"But, Auntie Donna! I don't *want* you to go!" 

"I'm sorry, Lian, but it's best that I do." 

"Is it because Daddy was with *her*?" Lian pointed accusingly at the young 
woman who was tiptoeing down the hallway. The girl stopped and looked back in 
obvious panic, knowing exactly what Donna could do to her. The fact that she 
was currently in an awkward state of hasty undress didn't help her case any. 

"Of course not, sweetheart," Donna said, noting wryly that the young woman 
was trying unsuccessfully to sneak out. She gave her a cold glare, picked up 
Lian to protect her from the presence of the "intruder," and turned away 
dismissively. She carried Lian into the nursery. The young woman closed her 
eyes in sudden relief and left. 

Donna held Lian comfortingly, while trying not to telegraph her churning 
emotions to her goddaughter. The two had returned home early from an 
afternoon of shopping and playing in the park. They'd wanted to surprise 
Lian's father. Unfortunately, the surprise had been on them. 

Donna took a moment to collect her thoughts. How best to broach the subject 
without seeming critical of Roy? Lian loved her daddy wholeheartedly, and 
Donna would not say or do anything to ever hurt the child. 

"This has nothing to do with your daddy--" Donna began, but was interrupted. 

"--Then why *are* you leaving, Wonder Doll? If it has nothing to do with me, 
that is?" Roy asked. He stood barefoot in the hallway, looking disheveled. He 
was shirtless, his pants unbuttoned and partially unzipped. He looked 
unbearably handsome. And impossibly adorable. 

Donna wanted to break every bone in his body... 

**** 

"You *kissed* her? On New Year's Eve?!!" 

"Well, yes, but--" 

Barbara's green eyes flashed. "How *could* you--? After all you said? That 
she meant nothing to you? That that one night stand had all been a mistake-?" 

Dick swallowed. How could he explain something that he himself didn't 
understand? Helena meant nothing to him...and everything. She represented 
everything he disapproved of, but he couldn't help feeling somehow 
responsible for her. 

It seemed that the more Huntress vied for Batman's approval, the more Batman 
ostracized her. And the more Nightwing wanted to be there for her. The 
kiss...it hadn't meant anything. She was injured and laid up in the hospital. 
She needed someone...*He* needed someone. And it was New Year's Eve. 
Dick tried again to explain. 

"Babs, it was only *one* kiss. It didn't mean anything. I swear--" 

"Like the time you kissed *me*? Not even a week before? I suppose that didn't 
mean anything, either?" 

"You're twisting my words, and you know it," Dick protested quietly. 
"Remember that *you* threw *me* out on New Year's Eve. Remember that *you* 
didn't want *me* around that night. Remember that *you* said we were going 
too fast!" 

"Sure! Throw my words back at me! It won't be the first time the perp tries 
to blame the victim!" 

"Victim?" Dick laughed in clear disbelief. "Babs, be reasonable. I was wrong; 
I admit it. But I was lonely. I needed someone and so did Helena. You're the 
one who said you didn't need or want anybody. You practically threw me out on 
my ear that night." 

Barbara turned her wheelchair and began wheeling towards her newly renovated 
kitchen. Dick followed her. He looked around at the kitchen's gleaming 
cabinets and appliances with a touch of pride. He'd done much of the 
installation work himself. He could still smell the fresh paint. 

Dick sighed. Why couldn't he and Babs connect, he wondered for the umpteenth 
time? Sometimes he felt like he'd loved her all of his life. At other times 
he felt like he'd always be on the receiving end of her cold shoulder. 

"Maybe you're right, Dick. Maybe I *am* partially to blame for this. But then 
again, maybe it's for the best. If all it took was one rejection from me to 
have you run into the arms of *that* woman, then perhaps there was never 
anything between us..." 
**** 

"Don't even try it, Roy," Donna said quietly. She knelt down to Lian's eye 
level. "Sweetie, I want you understand that I'll always love you. Anytime you 
need anything...anytime you need to talk...you just call me, and I'll fly 
right over." 

Lian crossed her arms and jutted her chin stubbornly. "Don't you love Daddy 
anymore?" Her dark eyes looked plaintively at Donna's. 

"I'll always love your daddy, Sweetheart. He and I are family, and always 
will be. Just like I'll always be your Auntie Donna. Forever and ever." She 
reached out to take the little girl in her arms, but Lian ran to her daddy. 
Roy scooped her up immediately. 

"*No*! You don't love us, anymore. I *hate* you!" She hugged Roy's neck 
tightly. 

"Donna, I'm sorry. This is all my fault--" Roy began. Donna turned away 
imperiously, the very picture of an Amazon princess. 

"Roy Harper, do not presume to flatter yourself. This is entirely my own 
fault. I've known you almost my entire life--" 

"You mean, during *this* life time, anyway, don't you?" Roy quipped, 
attempting to lighten the mood. 

The woman who was Troia whirled in fury. "Don't you *dare* make light of 
this, Roy. When I moved in here, I came with my eyes fully opened. I knew 
you, and the kind of man you were. But I was foolish enough to believe that I 
could love you despite all that. I was foolish enough to believe that--" 
Donna stopped. Lian was looking at her, and then at Roy, with wide eyes. 

Donna swallowed and looked away. She would not say anything that would lower 
Roy's stature in the eyes of his daughter. Instead, she changed tack. Firmly 
placing a wide smile on her face, Donna turned and faced the two people whom 
she loved more than anyone else in the world. 

"I was foolish enough to believe that I could be both a 'wife' and mother, 
again. But we know how busy life can be when you're a full time Titan *and* a 
fashion photographer. I was crazy...I can't do this. No, Lian needs a full-
time mother, and *you* need someone who won't throw you out the window at 
every little thing. So...like I said, it's best I leave..." 

**** 

Dick stood with his back to Barbara. 

"I guess, it's best I leave," he said. "I was wrong...I admit it. But it 
doesn't matter. If it weren't this, it would be something else." He closed 
his eyes, momentarily overcome by the pain. "You'd only find some other 
excuse to push me away. You told me a long time ago that you didn't need or 
want anybody. Maybe it's time I listened." 

He headed towards the door and paused. 

"Don't forget that we're still family, Babs. You know I'll always be there 
for you. If you ever need anything, just call...and I'll 'fly' right over." 
He turned the doorknob. He waited for her to say the words that never came. 
Resignedly, he stepped through the door. 

Standing immediately outside her apartment, Dick looked back sadly. "Goodbye, 
Babs." 

**** 

A few weeks later, Dick finally felt like his life was no longer on a 
downward tailspin. He hadn't been sure that he'd ever recover from walking 
out on Babs that night, but now--? 

Nothing could possibly go wrong now, Dick thought happily. He and Clancy were 
walking arm-in-arm from the Police Academy parade grounds. He was now a full- 
fledged, sworn-in officer of the law, and Clancy had just informed him that 
she'd been accepted into medical school. 

He looked into Clancy's lovely, almond eyes and listened to the hidden 
promise in her lilting Irish brogue. He smiled. Things are looking up, 
Grayson... 

"Congratulations, Officer Grayson." 

Dick and Clancy turned towards the new voice. She was standing there under 
the shade of one of the mighty oaks that lined the drive up to the Police 
Academy administration building. She wore a brightly flowered dress that 
flowed just below her knees. Her beautiful long, sable hair fluttered softly 
in the gentle breeze. 

He recognized her instantly. 

"Donna!" Dick cried out in delight. He ran to her and swung her, laughing, in 
his arms. Her exuberant laughter sounded like musical chimes in a warm spring 
day. "You *came*! This is so *great*! Where's Roy? Lian?" Dick looked around 
for his friend and goddaughter. 

"They, uh, couldn't make it, Dick," Donna explained smiling. "But you didn't 
think for one minute that *I'd* miss your graduation?" 

Dick looked her up and down, holding her by both her hands. "You look 
*wonderful*!" A sudden warmth suffused him. "Donna, you're the best. I 
thought that no one in my 'family' even remembered--what with everything's 
that's been happening and all..." He shrugged lamely. 

Donna didn't need to ask. Bruce Wayne hadn't made it. She placed a hand 
gently on his cheek. "I'm sorry." 

"I know. But *you're* here now...that's all that matters--" 

"Ahem--" A throat being cleared behind them unexpectedly interrupted their 
reunion. 

Dick and Donna turned as one to the 'intruder.' 

"Uh, *Clancy*! Oh, God! I'm sorry...Donna, I want you to meet a friend of 
mine...my landlady, actually. Clancy, this is Donna Troy, one of my oldest 
and dearest friends..." 

"I'm pleased to meet you, Ms. Troy," Clancy said, pleasantly. Her light Irish 
brogue became slightly more pronounced. "Dick, I'm sorry, me boyo, but I must 
run. I have a few dozen repairs that have been crying out for attention, but 
that I've been putting off for a while now--" 

"Oh, Ms. Clancy...please don't leave on my account," Donna protested. 

"Oh, no, Ms. Troy!" Clancy said, laughing a little too loudly, while backing 
away at the same time. "I *really* must go! Mister Grayson, as always--
perhaps some other time!" With that, she turned and made her way quickly to 
the parking lot. 

Dick stood uncertainly watching her go. He sighed. So much for that! "Another 
one bites the dust. Thanks, Donna." 

Donna smiled impishly. "Oh, it's not all that bad, Mister Grayson. I'll make 
it up to you by letting you take me out to an expensive restaurant for 
dinner." 

Dick smiled down at her. "Oh, you will, will you? That's very thoughtful of 
you, Ms. Troy." 

Laughing, the two close friends walked hand-in-hand to the curbside where 
they flagged down a taxi... 

**** 

"And she walked out? Just like that?" 

Donna grimaced. "Well, I thought about tossing her butt out the window, but I 
didn't think that homicide would be appropriate in front of Lian." 

Dick grinned. "I bet Roy feared for his life for a couple of minutes." 

Donna did not look amused. She opened her mouth, but Dick beat her to the 
punch. "Hey--" he said reassuringly, reaching for her hand. "I'm just 
kidding. What Roy did was wrong, and I'm sure he knows it." Dick shook his 
head, then added by way of confession, "But he isn't the only male Titan 
who's just put his big, fat foot in it..." 

He proceeded to tell Donna about his own romantic faux pas. 

"You *kissed* her?" Donna hissed. "The Huntress? What were you *thinking*, 
Richard Grayson? Diana's told me a little bit about her. Enough not to want 
to meet her in a dark alley--not without my powers, at any rate." 

Dick nodded unhappily. "I know...but, I can't help feeling *some*thing for 
her. I mean, she tries so hard. Admittedly, she goes about it the wrong way, 
and may eventually end up getting herself killed, but--" 

"But she wants to do the right thing," Donna said understandingly. "Dick 
Grayson, you amaze me sometimes. You're probably the smartest guy I know, but 
in many ways, you're the dumbest. You *let* people take advantage of you. 
You're just so...sweet. That's you're problem, did you know that?" 

Dick gave her his best Batman/cum/Nightwing scowl, sans the mask. Donna 
almost choked on her dinner in laughter. 

"You're wonderful, Dick," she said, her eyes smiling. "You continue to take 
in strays who invariably turn around and bite you. This Huntress isn't for 
you. She's a man-eater from everything I've heard." She paused, and added a 
little tentatively, "Kory still loves you, Dick. All she needs is a little 
encouragement--" 

Dick emphatically shook his head, 'No!' "That's a closed chapter, Donna. I'm 
not going back there. In the end, all I had left was pain and emptiness. It 
took me a long time to climb out of the black hole that I crawled into." He 
looked at her, his dark blue eyes burning with an intensity she rarely saw. 
She nodded in acquiescence, but was not about to give up. 

"How about Jesse? She's shown a certain interest in Nightwing's...um--" she 
paused, teasingly, unable to go on. 

"I *know* what part of Nightwing's anatomy Jesse's shown interest in," Dick 
interrupted, blushing. "I admit she's cute and intelligent, and we're even a 
lot alike in many ways...Maybe in another place and time, I'd be interested, 
too. But--" 

"But Barbara Gordon has been on your mind and in your heart for the last few 
months or so. I *know* you've had a thing for her since we were kids, Dick. 
Are you sure you're not overreacting to what could basically be a crush?" 

Dick dropped his eyes, unsure of himself. "Donna, I honestly don't know. I 
don't know what I want anymore." 

He felt Donna's hand slowly encircle his. 

"Dick, if it's any comfort," she began. "If I had someone like you, I *know* 
that I wouldn't push you away into the arms of another woman." 

He looked up into her beautiful, blue eyes. All he saw was support and 
understanding. He returned her smile. 

"And if I had someone like you, Donna, I'd never be stupid enough to even 
look at another girl." 

They sat gazing warmly into each other's eyes for a minute longer. Dick 
noticed for the first time how the overhead lights seemed to sparkle in her 
eyes, like jewels in the bluest ocean. And her lovely smile appeared to be 
inviting a kiss. Why had he never discerned the glossy sheen of her long, 
dark hair as it cascaded gently over her shoulders whenever she laughed or 
shook her head? 

Soon, Dick began to feel a slow flush encompass his being. What was the 
matter with him? This was Donna Troy, his childhood friend, practically his 
sister. He gave himself a mental headshake. 

Can it, Grayson! You're still lonely after losing Babs. Donna doesn't need 
any more complications in her life... 

**** 

As they walked up to her hotel room, Donna felt butterflies in her stomach. 
What's the matter with you, Donna Troy? Dick Grayson is *not* interested in 
you...not like *that* anyway! He's practically your brother. She looked up at 
him surreptitiously. 

Why hadn't she ever noticed just how handsome he was? It seemed that all of 
the Titan females except for her had at one time thrown themselves at him. 
Except for Kory, Dick had somehow managed to fend off all of their advances. 
He was much too intensely focused on being leader, at the job at hand, in his 
training. 

And the one time he'd allowed himself to be distracted by love, he'd been 
left devastated by the experience. Was it any wonder that Dick rarely gave 
his heart to a girl? Now, only the second time that Donna knew of (although, 
admittedly there could've been more, since Dick never seemed to lack for 
opportunities), Dick had been hurt again. 

She sighed. 

"What is it, Donna?" Dick asked. He'd stopped at her hotel room door and held 
out his hand for her key. 

She shook her head in self-deprecation. "We sure are a pair, Dick. You'd 
think that two reasonably intelligent individuals would have better luck in 
the romance department." She smiled up at him. "I guess we're just hopeless." 
Dick unlocked her door and smiled down at her. 

"You mean, 'Hopelessly romantic'?" he quipped. "Besides, who ever said that 
Love was either reasonable *or* intelligent?" Turning serious, he continued, 
"Thank you for coming to my graduation, Donna. It meant a lot to me." 

He leaned down to kiss her good night. What started out as an innocent, 
brotherly peck quickly deepened into something else. Soon, Dick was holding 
Donna tightly in his arms, kissing her fully and passionately. What's more, 
Donna was responding with equal fervor. 

Eventually, when the two young people broke apart, they breathlessly stared 
at each other in disbelief. The back of his knees had become watery; hers 
were about to fold out from under her. 

"Donna," Dick gasped. "I-I'm s-sorry...I don't know--" 

Donna stood shaking her head. She covered her mouth in surprise. "Dick--? I-" 

They continued to stare at each other in mutual shock. Finally, Dick's 
pounding heart began to quiet down. His stomach stopped its aerial 
acrobatics. His legs felt able to support him a moment longer. He reached his 
hand out and tentatively placed it on her cheek. 

"Donna, if you want me to leave, just say so. I'll understand." 

Donna blinked against the sudden tears, and unable to speak, shook her head. 
She held his hand against her cheek and smiled through her blurring eyes. 

"Oh, Dick...I don't understand, but--" 

"I don't understand it, either, Donna," he said, taking her into his arms 
again. 

**** 

Much later, he lay on his side gazing down at her perfect, sleeping form. He 
was still stunned by the intensity of the feelings raging within him. He'd 
known her practically all of his life. She'd always been the teammate on whom 
he could depend the most...the one he entrusted with leadership whenever he 
had to stand down temporarily. 

She was his best friend, his sister, the shoulder he'd cried on when Kory 
left him, the willing ear he'd confided in when Batman fired Robin, when 
Bruce adopted Jason, recruited Azrael to replace him. But in all that time, 
Donna's heart had always belonged to someone else: to Roy, to Terry, to her 
son, to Kyle, and then to Roy again. 

He felt his love suddenly overwhelm him, and he reached for her. Donna woke 
up and, smiling, came willingly into his arms... 

**** 

"Roy called again," Donna said sadly. Roy had been calling her, off and on, 
for several weeks. 

Donna and Dick were in her New York City condominium. The glamorous 
furnishings were a direct contrast to Dick's own, seedy, Bludhaven apartment. 

They'd now been dating secretly for a couple of months. 

"He says that Lian misses me and our outings together in Central Park." Donna 
looked ready to break down and cry. Dick held her against him. 

"Did you tell him?" 

She shook her head. "I couldn't," she whispered. "Did you tell Barbara?" 
He shook his head. 

"We'll have to tell them," she said unhappily. "Sooner or later, they'll find 
out. It's best that we're the ones who break it to them." 

Dick walked over to the window and looked out. "I know." He felt torn, 
confused. How could something that felt so right, feel so wrong, he wondered? 
Sometimes he woke up in the middle of the night glowing with indescribable 
joy. At other times, he awoke into a deeper darkness than any he'd known 
while growing up in the Batcave. 

He felt a hand on his arm. 

"No matter what happens, Dick, I *do* love you." 

He turned and took her fiercely into his arms. "I don't want to lose you, 
Donna. Not now...not when we've just found out how we feel about each other." 
He held her at arms length. "Donna, will you marry me? Today? Tomorrow? Now?" 
Donna looked stunned. 

"Marry you--? Dick--?" she shook her head. "Dick, it's too soon. We can't--" 

"*Why*? Why is it too soon, Donna? Tell me that. We're neither of us married 
or engaged to someone else. We're free to marry. You say you love me...I love 
you, too. What could possibly be wrong with that?" 

Donna looked at him, her eyes reflecting the very pain that he felt eating 
away at him. "Oh, Dick, look at us! Listen to what you're saying!" She 
suddenly brought her hands up and covered her face. "We've been sneaking 
around for the past two months, unwilling to tell our closest friends or 
family about us...About how we *say* we feel about each other. Why?" 
She looked at him accusingly as if it were entirely his fault. Dick looked 
back at her helplessly, unable to answer. 

"I'm so ashamed...of me...of us," she whispered. "Of what we're 
doing...trying to *steal* happiness, while hurting those who love us out of 
spite, because they hurt us." 

She began sobbing brokenheartedly. Dick immediately enveloped her in his 
strong arms. He felt his own eyes watering as he held her to him. 

"Shhhh-shhh..." he crooned softly. "I'm sorry, Donna...I'm so sorry. You're 
the last person in the world I want to hurt...Please, don't cry...Please..." 

**** 

Later, they sat quietly on her sofa, Dick's arms comfortingly around her, her 
head resting on his shoulder. 

"Don't you see, Dick? We found each other on the rebound. We were both 
hurting and angry at the time. Maybe we needed each other. I know that I 
needed *you*." She looked up him, her lovely eyes still tearful. "I've loved 
you all of my life, Dick. You're the one person I've always been able to 
depend on...I've turned to you more often than anyone else I know. I trust 
you unconditionally. Maybe that's why..." 

"Maybe that's why you were able to fall in love with me--for the first time-- 
all over again," he finished, smiling. She nodded. 

"Dick, don't you see? We *do* love each other. We always have...We're just 
not *in love* with each other." She tenderly caressed his cheek. "Whenever 
I'm with you, I feel so loved and protected...so cherished, that it's all I 
can do not to break into tears of happiness." She dropped her eyes. 

"But it isn't enough," Dick said simply. Donna looked up quickly, her eyes 
reflecting her inner torment. 

"Oh, Dick, I'm so sorry. Hera, help me...it isn't enough." 

A lone tear trailed down her cheek. Dick wiped it tenderly with his thumb, 
cupping her chin in his hand. 

He kissed her playfully on the nose. "Hey, none of that, now," he said 
hugging her to him. Placing his chin on her head, Dick spoke with a twinge of 
longing. "I think you're right, Donna. I guess I've loved you all of my life. 
You were the sister I never had, the friend I could always depend on, the one 
person whom I could trust above everyone else when things became too much for 
me." 

He grinned. 

"We were fated to fall in love, Donna. Did you know that? Some would even say 
that we're made for each other. But--" 

"But neither of us believes in fate, do we?" she asked. Smiling, Dick shook 
his head, 'no'. 

"And neither of us has been known to listen to what others say," he added. 
Smiling, Donna pecked him impulsively on the cheek. Dick hugged her closely. 

"I love you, Donna Troy," he said. "And given another set of circumstances, I 
would never let you go. But I can't compete against a certain rakish devil 
with laughing green eyes and flaming red hair. Nor, do I stand a chance 
against a curly-haired, dark-eyed angel who loves her Auntie Donna more than 
anything in the world. With the exception of her daddy, of course." 

"And I love you, Dick Grayson," Donna said softly. "But I know that I can't 
compete against a certain redheaded, ex-babysitter whom you've loved since 
you were nine." 

They shared a quiet moment together. 

"So, what next, Ms. Troy? Didn't I hear you say something about a date in 
Central Park?" 

Donna smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, Dick!" 

**** 

Pausing at the front door, he heard her in the other room. She was talking on 
the phone. 

"Hello? Roy? It's me..." 

**** 

Standing in the shadows afforded by the Gotham Cathedral's snarling 
gargoyles, Dick finally made the call. 

"Oracle, here." 

The disembodied, computerized voice sounded cold and businesslike in the 
breaking dawn. In other words...she sounded wonderful to him. 

"It's me." 

"..." 

Taking a deep breath, he plunged in. 

"How about some breakfast? We need to talk." 

The End