Alfred's POV. Set just after Dick's arrival. A grandfather-father-and-son moment. Standard disclaimers apply. Enjoy.

His boys

Alfred awoke to the sound of doors opening and closing. He sat up on the bed, whipping sleep from his eyes. Rising to his feet, he wrapped the terry robe over his pajamas, put on his soft-soled slippers and noiselessly walked to the door.

Strange sounds were coming from the hallway, sounds he did not hear in years. The even beat of a child's pacing grew quiet with each step that moved it away, further down the hallway, towards the master bedroom.

He opened the door of his own room, careful not to make a sound. Yes, in that house even the butler was stealthy.

The first glimpse of the corridor revealed young Richard, wearing his circus pajamas, opening the doors of the master bedroom. He was carrying a child's book under his arm.

The old man quickly pulled the door back, almost shutting it, and listened.

„Dick..? " Came the sleepy voice of Master Wayne. „Bad dreams again, huh? "

There was no reply, but apparently the boy nodded, for Bruce's next words were: „Me too."

„Really?" The boy was surprised by the coincidence.

„Yeah. " Bruce sighed. „Mom and dad again. "

„Me too. " Richard near whispered. The tone of his voice made the old man's heart sink. „Do they go away? "

Alfred leaned in further, risking discovery.

„They come back less often over time. " Bruce admitted after a moment of hesitation.

The old man let out a quiet sigh of disappointment.

Richard was quiet for a moment. „Could you read me a story? " He remembered the reason of his night walk.

„Sure. Come here. "

The sound of quickly pacing feet and rustling fabric told that young Richard joined Bruce. Lights switched on and paper was flipped through in preparation for reading.

„A long time ago..." Bruce began in his warm voice,

Alfred was pleased to hear it, for it was seldom heard between the growling of Bat and the slurring of Brucy. Deciding to surprise the two with some warm chocolate milk, he sneaked downstairs and made his way to the kitchen.

When he climbed back up with a tray in his hands, no sound could be heard from the bedroom. Leaving the tray on the nearest piece of furniture available, he sunk up to the door and pushed them open no more than an inch. His eyes went wide with a pleasing sight.

The colorful book was propped against the head board, opened on the first page. Bruce laid prone in front of it, with young Dick on his back. Neither one was reading the tale, for they were both sound asleep, Bruce already begining his buzz-saw concerto and Dick rising and falling with his snores.

Quietly Alfred walked inside and tucked them in, careful not to wake them.

Bruce stirred. „Night Alfred..." He mumbled through the pillow, never opening his eyes; probably not even aware of it.

„Good night, boys. " The old man whispered as he switched the light off. „Pleasant dreams. "

The end