DISCLAIMER: The characters and setting featured within are property of DC Comics 
and
are used without permission, in a non-profit setting meant solely for the
enjoyment of myself and the readers.

No Virginia, It's Not Foolproof
by Vicki Napier (VNapier@aol.com)

***

~God, how could this happen. We took precautions. I mean, I did. He would have 
too if I had asked, but I just wanted it all, right then and there. Now look 
what's happened. He'll never forgive me.~ She sighed. 

~Yes, he will. And that's even worse. I don't want it like this, not forced. 
Willingly would be different, but I know that will never be. Even now.~

She heard him as he approached from behind. He could have been next to her 
before she heard a sound if he wanted, but that wasn't not his style. He was too 
much the gentleman.

"Oracle said you were looking for me. That it was important. Is everything all 
right?"

~Is everything all right? Hell, no, nothing's all right!~ She looked down and 
whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear "Houston, ...we have a problem."

***

Dick sat on the couch in his apartment, still numb with shock. ~How could this 
have happened? Well, the how is obvious, but why I had been so careless isn't. I 
KNOW better. I didn't even think about it until after, but she said it was under 
control. How could I have been so stupid!~

The knock at the door suddenly ended one train of though and started another. ~I 
called him? Him of all people. I need to talk this over, figure something out. 
But him? God, what was I thinking?~ A second knock brought Dick back from his 
thoughts, and he reluctantly answered the door.

"Hey, Bruce. Thanks for coming." Dick hoarsely whispered without making eye 
contact.

"Alfred said you wanted to see me and that it was urgent." Bruce followed Dick 
into the apartment and eyed him curiously as Dick stood with his back to him, 
his eyes to the floor.

Bruce felt the pain and confusion emanating toward him. He and Dick had been 
close for a long time, and even though their relationship had been through some 
rough times, he could still read him like a book. There was something wrong. His 
son was hurting very deeply.

He placed his hand on Dick's shoulder and squeezed it gently. "What's wrong, 
son."

"I screwed up, Bruce. Really bad." Dick choked the words out as he turned to 
face Bruce for the first time, but was still unable to meet his eyes. Bruce's 
hand returned to his shoulder. ~Why am I trying to talk to Bruce about this? 
What was I thinking calling him? He's so cold. He's so distant. He so closed 
off. He's...he's...he's my father. I guess that's why.~

"Did what you did cause a...was it fatal?" He asked. Dick could feel the heat 
from Bruce's eyes penetrating into his chest.

All he could do was shake his head no. He felt Bruce's grip on his shoulder 
loosen with relief and then his calm voice said, "then it's something that can 
be worked out. But you'll have to tell me what the problem is, or I won't be 
able to even suggest a course of action."

"Maybe you better sit down first," Dick suggested. "This isn't going to be 
easy." He looked Bruce in the eyes for the first time. He was ready for the 
judgment and condemnation he expected to see, and was shocked at the concern and 
compassion that was actually there. ~When did this happen? I never saw the wedge 
between us until it was there, and now, I don't see it at all, and don't know 
when it disappeared. Maybe calling him wasn't such a mistake after all.~

~Now where do I start?~ Dick sat on the coffee table in front of the couch, his 
elbows on his knees, facing Bruce, but looking at the floor. With a shaky voice 
he began, "A few months ago, before the quake, you and Tim were out of town for 
a few days and asked me too keep an eye on things."

"I remember. That's when you solved the murder of that policewoman and 
orchestrated the events that led to the down fall of mafia boss, Malfatti. That 
was a good case and you did a good job. So what's the problem?" Bruce once again 
felt a wave of pain laced confusion radiate from Dick's direction.

"Please, Bruce. Please let me finish. This isn't easy and if I take too long 
I'll lose my nerve." Still refusing to look up at Bruce, he continued. "I had 
help on the case, I'm sure you know. Huntress was already all over it by the 
time I caught on and I figured she would be a reliable source of information 
and, if I let her help out, we wouldn't end up screw.... uh, messing up each 
others investigation."

"The investigation went well and we got the bad guys. That's not the problem. 
It's just that....," Dick stood up and paced over to the window, not quite 
knowing how to continue. Bruce sat patiently, waiting for Dick to gather his 
thoughts and resume.

"You know, I mean I guess you know, how bad off I was after Kory left. I thought 
what we had was forever, and then everything just started unraveling and before 
I knew it everything was  different. And that's kinda the way I feel about what 
happened between us. It was great and then, bang, something went wrong. I still 
don't know for sure what or even when it actually happened. And just as I lost 
Kory and the Titans, you got hurt and asked.....well the point is, I was really 
messed up there for a while. I know now the fear you have about losing the 
people you love, because at that time I felt like I had lost everyone, and 
everything. I felt like I was totally alone."

Dick paused to regain his composure, mentally thanking Bruce for not 
interrupting. "It took a long time to get over those feelings of loss and 
worthlessness, of lonliness. But I did. Just not as completely as I thought, 
maybe. Anyway, when we were working together, Huntress and I,  
we...well...she...she was lonely too...and...and...it just happened."

Dick waited for a reaction from Bruce, and getting neither that nor any sense of 
what Bruce was feeling, he hoarsely choked out the words that had to be said, 
"Bruce, she's pregnant. It's mine."

Bracing himself for the storm that he just knew was about to come, he heard 
Bruce move from the couch and then, strong hands gripped his shoulders and 
turned him so he was facing Bruce. Then with one grand gesture, all the pain and 
hurt from all the years came flowing out of him, as Bruce wrapped his arms 
around his shoulders and held him in a tight embrace.

As Dick leaned against him, his body shaking from the pain he was feeling, Bruce 
gently patted him on the back and soothed, "We'll get through this. Together we 
will get through it all.