A/N:- A little plot bunny that stuck itself into my head and refused to get out. This is an AU where Bruce remains lost in time for a couple more years despite Dick's, Tim's and Alfred's best efforts. So, instead of Dick returning as Nightwing in a year, it takes another five years for it to happen. Set in the Pre-Flashpoint verse. Dick is ummm… I think canon Pre-Flashpoint would put him at about 28 when he took up the cowl, so he's 33. Damain is 15 in the beginning of the fic. Be warned, this consists mainly of rambling thoughts and musings on an what if. Sorry if it doesn't sound Damian-ish enough, he's not my favourite character although I did love the Dynamic Duo of Dick and Damian.

Fathers and Dads

Everyone.

Everyone is crowding. Telling me I should be so happy, should be so grateful.

He's back.

And it only took him five years.

FIVE YEARS.

He's supposed to be my father; the human that is on par with the metas, the master strategist.

He wasn't supposed to get lost in time. And he certainly wasn't supposed to take five years coming back.

But he did.

He wasn't there through the nightmares. He wasn't there through the hurt. He wasn't there through puberty, or my first date for that matter.

Ha.

They are telling me now that I should be happy. I did after all choose my father's legacy over my mother. We rescued the other kid you know? The one mother taunted me with. Yeah, I'm a big brother now. Terry is an absolute brat. Makes me wonder how Dad put up with me.

The double barrelled surname seems to be a haunt in the sons of the Bat family: - Richard John Grayson-Wayne, Jason Peter Todd-Wayne, Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne and me; Damian Grayson-Wayne.

You heard me. Damian Grayson-Wayne.

It was year three. Just after we rescued Terrance, now Terrance Grayson-Wayne, just after Tim came back to Gotham, admitting defeat. After he agreed with us that while our father may be alive, he would have to make his way back on his own, without our help.

Dad realised it could be years before he truly returned. Talia challenged him for custodial rights for Terry and I, Dad fought back and won.

That day, he sat me down and told me what father told him all those years ago. That he didn't want to replace my father, and that it was perfectly fine if I wanted to stay at the place where we were. I told him I didn't mind, that I chose to embrace my father's legacy with all I had and if that was needed for me to stay, permanently, I chose that.

I'm lucky, I got to choose. Terry has only known Dad. He never knew our father. And maybe, Dad is all I knew too.

So Bruce Wayne is back.

I actually do not care. Because: Dad was there through the nightmares, He was there through the hurt. He was there through puberty and for my first date for that matter.

I'll need to get used to him again. I'll need to hold my breath waiting for that click where I can start seeing him as my father again. I need to…

Urgh. Need to catch my train of thought. Ravager is gushing about how happy I must be to get this opportunity, you know, the opportunity to work with my father again? Seriously Ravager, I do not care.

There are some talks about the bird that flies at night making a return. Chris Kent stepped down last year, Said he had a feeling something was going to happen, and that the clan will need that identity again.

Father wants to be Batman again. Dad is not fighting back, not like he did with Two-Face. Not like he did for me.

What happens to Robin then?

Tim has spent too much time on his own, being Red Robin, he would not want to return as father's partner.

Oh there's Clark.

"So, you must be happy, getting to work with your Dad again." He says.

"No. I was already working with my Dad. Bruce Wayne was my father. Dick Grayson is my Dad."

The title of a father is one given at birth. The title of a Dad however… -Unknown.

A/N:- Reviews please?