Nightwing climbed carefully back into his apartment – as always through his bedroom window. It wasn't as late in the night as always though. He was only on patrol for about 2 hours – at most. His best friend was over for the night but he just couldn't skip it completely.

He limped slowly over to the bed and sat down. His left leg was quite bruised and he was sure his ribs got hit a bit too hard as well. Still there were no serious injuries – nothing he couldn't handle.

Slowly the door to the living area was opened and the light streamed in. He hadn't bothered to turn on the lights yet.

"Ahh, you're back," Wally stated and turned on the light while entering the room completely.

The ebony nodded in return and started to take his mask off.

"Yeah, told you I'd cut it short."

He didn't feel like talking much right now. Sure, he liked spending time with Wally – especially since the other wasn't in a relationship right now and therefore had lots of time for Dick instead. Still, right now he was tired, in pain and only wanted to get some rest.

"You look awful, man."

Wally smiled at him softly and knelt down in front of him. "Any serious injuries?"

Dick shook his head and carelessly dropped his mask to the ground. "Just a few bruises. I'll be fine." He started to undo his uniform but reaching behind himself hurt more than expected. He barely could keep himself from gasping aloud.

"Could you get me water and painkillers?"

Wally nodded and got up. He looked very concerned and not quite convinced about Dick's wellbeing. He didn't comment it however.

Within seconds he was back and offered his friend the requested painkillers and a glass of water. Dick took both with a small nod and drowned the pills. He just hoped they would kick in quickly so he could get some sleep.

The other took the glass from his hand and put it on the nightstand for him. If Dick wouldn't be so tired and distracted he would have noticed how Wally shortly stopped as he touched his hand, his slightly raised eyebrows and unfocused gaze.

He didn't even question when Wally offered to help him taking off the uniform. It was obvious he was hurting and honestly he wouldn't mind to not to put himself in any further pain.

Just when the upper part of his Nightwing costume was mostly undone and the ginger moved to take off his gloves his brain kicked in. It was too late however.

"Is that…?" Wally asked in a quiet voice. He must have felt there was something on his finger and thought he was hurt or something…at least that's all Dick could guess right now. "Why are you wearing it like...actually wearing it on your finger? What about the necklace?"

He so wasn't in the mood for this conversation right now. But Wally looked so utterly confused and pleading for an answer. He had to say at least something. Maybe he could just pretend it wasn't a big deal.

"It broke…?" he more asked then answered.

The speedster wasn't satisfied with this however. He still held Dick's hand in his own and now looked very stern.

Dick sighed heavily. He really wasn't in the mood for this. But he wasn't going to lie to his best friend either. Keeping this to himself was one thing, but lying? Never.

"Okay it didn't. But I can't wear a necklace under the uniform. It would be dangerous and could injure me further-"

"But wearing it on your finger wouldn't?" Wally interrupted him harshly. The ebony was actually startled for a moment. He didn't expect him to talk back. Besides he was way too tired and hurt for this shit. Wally didn't even know what he was talking about!

"Oh, shut up," he spat back and pulled his hand away. He continued taking off his other glove while he rambled on. "I already can't wear it at my day job. People would see it and ask stupid questions and shit. So wearing it at night is my only option. Can't you just appreciate I still treasure your present so much and leave it alone. It's not your business anyway…"

"It is my business if you get hurt due to it," Wally reasoned and just now the ebony noticed he wasn't actually angry but concerned and worried.

He sighed again and got up slowly to get into the bathroom for a shower. Wally got up too and helped him to walk without any hesitation. Dick didn't even know if he should appreciate it or feel annoyed. He went for simply taking the offered help and answered: "It never hurt me in the past few years. It won't in the future either, trust me."

He stopped in front of the bathroom and let go of Wally. The ginger blinked at him slowly and apparently didn't know what to say, so Dick just smiled at him shortly before he actually limped inside the bathroom and locked the door.

When he got back into his bedroom – feeling a lot better now he was freshly showered, the painkillers finally kicking in and really comfy clothes on – he found Wally sitting on his bedside. He looked up when Dick entered the room but dropped the gaze quickly.

It was enough for Dick to see what was up though. He breathed in deeply and sat down next to his friend – playing with the rim of his shirt absentmindedly.

"You actually were serious about this whole marriage thing…" Wally stated quietly. It was hard to tell how he was feeling about this conclusion. He sounded rather calm and content. But that could be the shock or maybe he still hoped he was wrong. Dick tried to prepare himself for everything.

"Yeah," he responded shortly and carefully glanced at the ginger to see his reaction. He was nodding slowly. He had predicted it and simply got assured he was right. Still his eyes danced unfocused over the floor and his hands were folded tightly.

Dick never thought they would have this conversation – and even if, he imagined it nothing like that. He had expected Wally to shout at him and be angry, or not believing him and laughing it off or Wally simply running away! Even when he dared to imagine this going somewhere good, he never thought they would just sit next to each other and talk calmly through it.

"I…sorry, I didn't know," Wally ruffled his hair and looked at his friend very apologetically. He was beating himself up about being so oblivious all those years, Dick could tell that. He almost wanted to laugh about that.

But frankly, he never blamed Wally for not seeing it. He was rather thankful and on top of that he always had tried his hardest to hide his true feelings.

He reasoned his current carelessness on Wally being around so much lately. And on him being finally, finally, single and not whining about it. If there ever was a chance for this, it probably was now.

He still hadn't planned to actually tell him. But his subconsciousness must have kicked in or…perhaps Wally was simply ready to actually look for all the hints? He couldn't tell, really.

It could have gone way worse however. Maybe it was better to get this off his chest once and for all. He took a deep breath before he looked back at Wally.

"I could tell," he replied and smiled slightly. The smile never reached his eyes however and made him look rather sad. "Don't worry, I never expected you to feel the same. I just … wearing the ring made it less difficult to deal with all this, okay?"

He played with said ring on his finger while talking and dropped his gaze slowly.

Abruptly Wally got up and paced restlessly through the room. He was pulling his right hand through his hair again and screwed his eyes shut while talking on. "Wait, waitwaitwaitwait…you are actually – completely – serious?"

Dick rolled his eyes in return and looked up again.

"Yes, I am!" he said and looked at the other sternly, who in return stopped right in front of him just as suddenly – looking strangely desperately.

"Hah, oh my god." – he dropped to the floor – tousling through his hair one last time. Then he looked straight at Dick and reached for his hands – "I wish I'd have a more proper reply, but all I can think right now is…that I want to give this a chance. I really, really want give this a proper chance."

Dick was so startled and surprised he could only blink owlishly.

"W-what?"

The ginger rambled on instantly, now smiling slightly and carefully squeezing the other's hands in his.

"It's as you said back then: 'We wouldn't have to worry about a divorce or whatever with each other.' I—I always believed you were right about that. I just never thought this was a serious option, you know?"

Dick still couldn't believe this was actually happening. It was way too surreal. Impossible. He must have fallen asleep and was dreaming…but he could still feel the slight pain in his leg and he could definitely feel the warmth of Wally's hands and that was too real to be a dream.

"... What…?" was all he could muster to say, again.

Wally chuckled in return and moved to sit on the bed next to Dick. They didn't stop to look at each other the whole time.

"Why so surprised?" he laughed. "Did you really think I'd joke about marrying you if I wouldn't be at least slightly interested?"

Dick shook his head slowly and closed his eyes for a short moment. He finally snapped out of his surprise and actually … felt like laughing, too.

This was so stupid and dorky and kind of cheesy. It was them in so many ways. It was ridiculous he never imagined this to go like that.

"I … I never dared to hope you could love me…like that, no."

They smiled at each other for another moment, before both burst out laughing at the same time. Wally moved his arms around the others back and pulled him into a hug. As soon as Dick returned it – both still giggling – the ginger dropped to the side so they both fell into a lying position.

It made Dicks bruised ribs hurt a bit again, but he couldn't care less. He just slightly moved into a more comfortable position – never breaking the embrace.

They calmed down slowly and went for smiling broadly at each other instead. Dick would surely need quite a while to get this was actually happening. That he got that astonishingly lucky.

"Please…stop wearing the ring on stakeouts, okay?" Wally asked calmly and moved his hands soothingly over the ebony's back. "It is dangerous, no matter what you say. Just wear it at your day job. And if people ask 'stupid questions' tell them the truth. That it's an engagement ring."

Dick nodded in return and – if possible – his smile grew even wider.

Here we go, the last chapter is up!

First of all I want to thank you guys for all your nice and sweet reviews! I am really happy about all the encouraging feedback and I'll do my best to improve my writing further and just...thank you so much! *handheart*

Aside from this, I'm planning to next write a third part for my mail-au-series-thingy. It was highly requested and I have a general idea for it. It's just exam time now and...yeeeeh x'D

Anyways, thank you everyone for reading! I hope you like it! :D