Added December 12th, 2015: This story is more than just a story to me, it is a tribute to every little kid who was too brown too fat too in between too frizzy too messy too freckly too blind too anxious too not enough for every reason and none at all. This story is my tribute to the average ones, the ones who are perfect in all of their imperfection. To my boys, girls, and those who fall somewhere in between: hold your head up high because no matter what, you're worth something.

Hello all! I've been meaning to write this for a long time. The first chapter is finally done and I am so happy. Anyway, this is going to be very AU, so please don't kill me for any inconstancies with the comic. If you have any suggestions on something that needs to fixed, like character personality wise, then please tell me. Anyone and everyone will be appreciated. This will be a prologue of sorts, and I don't quite know how the timeline will go as I will be spanning a few years with this story. Much like my other story, The Darkest Caress (A Lords Of The Underworld Fanfic), this will start with chapters that will be anywhere from really short to really long. I will keep them over 1,000 words each, however. The characters will slowly age up. Trust me when I say the time line is actually a hell of a lot less confusing then I make it out to be. It will be no were as near as bad as the DC timeline. (Which made it entirely to fucking hard to figure out everyone's age.)

For the purpose of this story, the ages will start off as follows:

Rowan Chase: 8

Damian Wayne: 10

Tim Drake: 12

Dick Grayson: 20

Bruce Wayne: 34

I know the age gaps weren't like that, but I did it because Fanfiction lol.

Anyway please enjoy and tell me what you think.

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Rowan sat silently and watched as people rushed around the normally spacious kitchen. Cooks put the finishing touches on random dishes and heated those that were to be served warm. Servers went in and out with their silver trays, most of them leaving with yet another round of delicacies. Some of them shot curious glances at her as she sat all alone in the very corner of the kitchen, others gave her knowing looks. It was cramped and she looked as if she was being put on time out, but there really wasn't anywhere else for her to stand without being in the way.

Ms. Stacy prided herself on running a smooth and flawless catering service, if that meant sticking a little girl in the corner than that was what she was going to do. Rowan didn't much like being forced to sit in the corner, but she couldn't really do anything about it. Ms. Stacy was her Mama's boss and Rowan knew her Mama really needed her job. The fact that Rowan had shown up about halfway through the Wayne party was enough to have Ms. Stacy seriously irritated.

Rowan's Mama had been telling her the day before how fancy this party was going to be. Ms. Stacy had been planning for this party for weeks and had wanted to make sure everything was absolutely perfect. She had picked only her best servers and made sure all the food was delicious and yummy looking. According to her, this party was going to be a serious pay day for Stacy's catering. If everything went smoothly, she was hoping that she would be invited back to cater future parties at the Wayne manor.

Having an 8 year old in the kitchen, however, was just asking for trouble. But Rowan wasn't like most other 8 year olds. She knew her Mama needed the money from this job. Besides, she was never one to run around and cause mayhem. But unfortunately, Ms. Stacy didn't know that.

Rowan's Mama had never taken her to work before. She'd never had any intention to either. Her Mama worked on the floor as one of Ms. Stacy's best servers. She spent most of her time in the midst of whatever party she was at offering food or drinks, which was why she didn't even know Rowan was here yet. Right now her Mama still probably thought she was at home in their little apartment with her baby sitter Sara…..

"Baby Girl what the hell are you doing here?"

Or not.

Rowan flinched and looked up to see irritation and worry in her Mama's honey brown eyes. Normally she loved looking at her Mama's pretty eyes, but not right now. Right now she wanted to go home and hide under her covers. She wanted to be away from this giant mansion with all the pretty people and just let her Mama work. She knew she should leave and just go home. She really really wanted to. Except she didn't want to be alone.

"I actually have the same question."

Rowan turned her head only to see that it had been Ms. Stacy who had been talking. She had a mean look on her face and her hands were on her hips.

Rowan pushed her glasses up and stuck her hands in her jacket pockets nervously. Both her Mama and Ms. Stacy looked mad and it made her uncomfortable. She hated when people were mad at her.

"Well?" her Mama asked.

Rowan pushed her hands even farther into her pockets and glanced away nervously before talking.

"I, um, I just didn't want… I didn't wanna be by myself."

"Baby that's what I left you with Sara," her Mama replied, voice slightly softened.

The soft note reassured her, and Rowan turned her gaze back towards her Mama. She licked her suddenly dry lips before speaking again.

"She left though…."

There was a long silence before her Mama's voice rang clear.

"Excuse me?!"

Rowan winced. She didn't want her Mama to be mad. She shouldn't have come, but she just didn't want to be all alone at home. Especially since she was in Gotham. The things her vivid imagination could come up with terrified her.

"Lower your voice Miranda! I don't want to cause any trouble tonight," Ms. Stacy said with a glare.

Rowan watched her Mama's fist clench in anger before she spoke again.

"Why'd she leave Rowan?"

Rowan scrunched up her nose and pushed her small nails into the palms of her hands.

"I think… I think her boyfriend called? Maybe… I just know that I heard them talking on the phone… And then she came to check on me in my room… She thought I was asleep I think…. And then she left me there and I heard the front door open and close…."

Rowan closed her eyes and forced herself to continue. She hated talking to people. It made her uncomfortable, even if it was just her Mama and Ms. Stacy.

"I thought she maybe just went downstairs…. But then she didn't come back for a while… And I got worried so I went downstairs too but I didn't see her… I know I'm not supposed to leave the apartment at night but I was worried… And then I couldn't find her and I know you don't like me being alone… I remembered where you said you were gonna be so I called a cab… I used the emergency money… I'm sorry Mama…"

Rowan tipped her head forward in embarrassment and let her frizzy hair hide her face.

There was silence again, but longer this time.

Finally Ms. Stacy sighed.

"She can stay, but she has to sit here. I can't have her disrupting my kitchen. And this better not happen again."

Rowan looked up and saw the look of pure fury on her Mama's face.

"Oh trust me. This won't happen again. IT WON'T HAPPEN EVER AGAIN BECAUSE NEXT TIME I SEE THAT FUCKING BITCH I'M PUTTING MY FUCKING HEEL UP HER ASS!"

Her Mama's voice had risen steadily as she had spoken, but unfortunately Ms. Stacy had not been able to silence her before she reached an all-out shriek. Every eye in the kitchen turned towards them and Rowan wanted to just die. She could feel her brown skin heat up in a hot blush. It got worse as a fancy looking white haired man walked towards them.

"Miranda if you don't calm down right now I swear I will fire you!" Ms. Stacy whispered hurriedly.

Rowan watched as her Mama squished her anger. Her jaw was still noticeably clenched, but she had calmed down considerably in just a few moments. It seemed it was just in time too.

"Is everything all right Miss?" the white haired man asked in a British accent. The look on his face was more concerned than anything, yet it still made Rowan feel uncomfortable.

Before Miranda could answer, Ms. Stacy began speaking.

"Everything's just fine Mr. Pennyworth. Please, this doesn't normally happen. Miranda," she said gesturing to Rowan's Mama," is one of my servers. The little girl is her daughter. Her baby sitter left so she's just going to sit here. Miranda is going to go back out on the floor, and I assure you that there will be no more trouble." She finished with a pointed look at Rowan and her Mama.

The man, Mr. Pennyworth, turned a sympathetic gaze towards Rowan. It only increased her need to hide.

"Well now, such a nice little miss shouldn't have to sit in a corner all night. She hasn't done anything wrong. If you'd like I'm sure Master Wayne wouldn't mind if she used one of the entertainment rooms for the night."

Rowan sucked in a breath. As long as there were people in the house or it was the daytime she didn't mind being alone, in fact she preferred it. But this was different. She didn't want to go to some room in this giant place. She wanted to stay here.

"Oh! No thank you. We don't want to be a burden. She'll be just fine here. Besides, I don't really want her to be alone." Miranda replied.

Just as her nerves started to settle, another, new voice spoke up.

"I was just leaving the party. She can keep me company."

Rowan turned towards the voice. It was a boy, maybe a few years older than her. He had dark gelled hair and the greenest eyes she'd ever seen. He stood expressionless in an expensive looking tuxedo with his hands in his pants pockets. Other than the fact that he was dressed really fancy, he looked normal, if a little bit exotic, to her 8 year old eyes. Yet there was something about him that set her on edge. And that was saying something considering the fact that she had been ready to die in a hole for the last 15 minutes. She really didn't want to go with him.

Before Rowan could so much as let out a squeak of protest, however, her Mama began to speak in a relieved voice.

"Oh you're so sweet! You're sure your Dad wouldn't mind? I really don't want cause any trouble."

The boy gave Rowan's Mama a look that she didn't understand before replying.

"It's fine, she can come with me now," he said. And with that, he turned and began to walk away. Dumbstruck, Rowan stayed completely still even as her Mama pulled her up and pushed her towards the boy.

"Ro, I need you to go play with him until Mama is done working okay? It might be really late though, so you two go to sleep if you get tired."

Before she could even answer, her Mama had given her a kiss on the cheek and she was making her way back to the party. Not wanting to be stuck under the irritated gaze of Ms. Stacy, Rowan scrambled after the boy. By the time she caught up to him, he was already walking out of the kitchen door. She thought it was kind of mean that he hadn't stopped for her, but she decided to keep that to herself.

As they walked, Rowan tried not to freak out over the fact that he simply walked through the halls without turning on any of the lights. The dim light from the moon was more than enough to see, but walking through such fancy hallways in the dark was really creepy. It made it seem as if the portraits that lined the walls were staring at her. The very thought made her shiver and she moved closer to the boy. For the first time since offering to take him with her, he glanced over his shoulder.

One word flashed through her mind as the dim lighting made his green eyes flash.

'Beautiful'

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Damian had almost forgotten about the young girl behind him before he'd heard her shuffle closer to him. He glanced back at her and caught large brown eyes shining back at him. He raised one eyebrow at her even as he continued to walk, and she blushed and looked back down, fidgeting with something in her pocket as she did so.

'Weak.' He thought with disgust.

He turned his gaze back in front of him, scoffing at her.

He had half a mind to dump her in the nearest room, but he knew Pennyworth would most likely check on them within the next few hours. If word got back to his Father that he'd left the party without a 'proper reason', then he'd probably be made to go back. The thought of going back to the useless gathering when he could be patrolling or something equally worthwhile angered him to no end. With a scowl on his face, he looked at the girl once more.

When he'd heard a commotion in the kitchen, he'd gone to investigate and he'd found the perfect 'reason' to leave the party. His Father had been imploring him to act his age for quite some time, and what better way than for him to 'play' with another child? Of course Damian was planning on seating her in front of the TV in the game room, then gathering intelligence on a local mob boss using his computer, but Bruce didn't have to know that. He'd stay in the same room with the girl, and make it look as if they were simply watching television together. Besides, the girl seemed deathly shy, so he figured that she wouldn't bother him too much. Hopefully that would please his Father, and the man would begin to take him more seriously.

Once they reached the game room, Damian flipped the light switch without breaking his stride and moved to turn on the TV. Once done, he turned to see the girl gawking at the room, completely frozen in place. He glanced around at the large flat screen TV, pool table, and the multitude of games before rolling his eyes.

"Well don't just stand there like an imbecile, sit down already."

He watched as she flinched, then slowly made her way towards the couch he was standing in front of. She sat, obviously trying to take up as little room as possible. The girl was already tiny, however. She couldn't be more than 6 or 7.

He dropped the remote in her hands before heading towards the door.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. Watch whatever you wish, but don't leave."

He didn't wait for a reply before leaving. As he'd said, it only took him a few minutes to gather his laptop and a few other choice items. He came back to the room and only spared enough of his attention to make sure she was still there before focusing on more important things.

He made his way over to her and sat down, computer in his lap. As soon as the machine was booted up and ready to go, he began his project. As seconds turned into minutes, and minutes became hours, Damian began to notice things. The first was that his assumption that the girl would not bother him was completely correct. She hadn't said a word, nor had she even really moved. The second was that the news was playing on the TV. It was the channel that had been on when he'd turned on the television, and it seemed she hadn't changed it. Now that wouldn't have bothered him, especially considering the fact that the news channel was usually the only channel he watched, if not for the fact that the girl was so young.

'Shouldn't she be watching cartoons or some other vapid show?'

Curious, he looked over at her, only to see that she wasn't paying the slightest attention to the TV. In fact, she wasn't paying attention to anything in the room at all. Instead, all of her focus seemed to be on the twine she was fiddling with. Frowning, he turned all of his attention towards her. She seemed to be looping the twine in intricate knots, over and over again. The knots were not anything he was familiar with, however, so he watched her carefully.

After a while, she seemed to feel his gaze on her.

She looked up at him and watched with interest as her brown cheeks darkened with color. He'd never seen someone blush quite so much.

"Hi," she said softly after a couple of seconds. He sighed at the fact that she would probably spend most of her time talking in that irritatingly quiet voice of hers.

"How old are you?" he found himself asking.

She raised her hands and held up some fingers.

"Eight then? You're small for your age."

She looked back down at her knots and shrugged. Once again curious, he watched as she tied a few more knots. As she did this, he began to wonder how it would turn out on actual rope. Would it be harder to break out of?

"What is that?"

She looked back up at him, obviously not expecting his question.

"It's, um, I'm making a friendship bracelet." She said while holding it up closer for him to see. It was only about three inches long. He sighed, and restated his question. It was obvious that she hadn't correctly understood him.

"Yes, I am aware. What type of knot are you using?"

Her eyes widened in understanding, and she let out a small 'oh'.

"It's a star pattern. Usually you use lanyard string, but I wanted to see how it would look on twine…"

"Show me."

She stared at him for a second before slowly moving closer and bringing her bracelet up farther. They both bent towards it as she softly explained it to him. After doing so, she handed it over so he could practice. As he tied it, he decided that it probably wouldn't be particularly useful for tying people up, yet his interests were still slightly peaked. After perfecting the knots in just under a minute, he handed it back to her.

"How'd you learn it so quick?" she asked, eyes wide and voice full of amazement.

He smirked at her before answering.

"I have superior learning abilities. Do you know how to do any other knots?"

She simply looked at him, before shoving the left sleeve of her jacket up. She shoved her arm towards him and he was faced with a colorful array of bracelets in different patterns all the way up to her elbow.

"I can do these. I have more string if you want me to show you." She said, blush back on her face.

Damian glanced at his watch. It read 10:23. The party would probably go on for hours yet. That was plenty of time. Damian smirked at the thought. Tim was probably going to be stuck in there all night.

'Idiot's probably fuming at the fact that I got to leave.'

"Show me how."

"Which one?"

"All of them."

Her eyes widened and she gaped at him.

"But-"

"Hurry up, you're wasting time."

She immediately shut her mouth and flushed.

"Um, okay. Let's start with this one then…"

She pulled out a wad of string from her pocket and told him to pick four colors, and they began.

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4 Hours Later

"Once again, I am so sorry about this. I swear if you hire us again this won't happen." Miranda said to the handsome man beside her. Bruce Wayne had sent his eldest son to help her find her way to Rowan, and she was extremely embarrassed by the night's events to say the least.

"For the last time, please don't worry about it. Damian doesn't get out enough, and I'm glad that he got to spend the night with another kid. Besides, I know for a fact that he was just dying to leave the party." Dick's voice was friendly as he spoke, and it put Miranda at ease. Well, as much as she could be given the situation. The moment she got home she was going to put Rowan to bed and go find the little bitch that dared to leave her baby all alone. And to think, the little whore hadn't even bothered to call by now! Rowan had been here for hours, and that girl had to have gone back to the house already. As soon as Miranda found her, she was going to show her a whole new type of hell.

She was broken out of her hate filled thoughts by the sound of Richards's voice. She smiled at the sound of it. It was low and smooth and made her think of all kinds of sinful things.

'Man, the tabloids sure as hell got it right when they said this one was a panty dropper.'

She slowed her stride to make it seem as if she was admiring the admittedly beautiful decor, when in fact she was actually just checking out the man's rather fine ass.

"Talk about buns of steel…" she muttered to herself.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that." Dick said over his shoulder.

Without missing a beat, she lied straight through her teeth.

"I was thinking about getting steel toed boots so that I could properly kick my baby sitters face in."

That probably wasn't the best thing to say to the man, but she could honestly care less. Besides, he was laughing.

"It's a shame, it seems like you just can't trust people these days."

"Tell me about it." She replied, thinking of every nasty word she could call Sara once she saw her.

After passing a few more doors, Dick stopped in front of one at the very end of a hall. Miranda sighed in envy of all the very beautiful and very expensive things she'd seen tonight.

"They should be in here. I wouldn't be surprised if Damian was still awake, though your daughter might not be." He said in that deep baritone of his.

Miranda smiled at him, before thanking him again.

"No problem," he said while opening the door. Instead of walking through it, however, he stood in place.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, beginning to worry.

He immediately snapped out of his daze and gave her a dazzling smile.

"Of course not, I'm just surprised to see, well, this." He said quietly, pointing into the room.

He moved out of the way so she could gaze in.

She immediately had to hold back a squeal. Damian was sitting on the couch asleep with his head in his hand, while Rowan was slumped against his side. They were surrounded by the twine she'd given Rowan for her 7th birthday, along with movies, candy, and popcorn. The screen in front of them was in the middle of the movie Mulan, and it was obvious they'd fallen asleep halfway through it. All in all they looked absolutely adorable.

"Do you mind if I take a picture? I mean, Damian never usually acts like this, and I just-" Miranda had to stop him there.

"Say no more, just make sure I get a copy."

He smiled at her and nodded before speaking in a small whisper.

"You know if we wake her up, Damian's going to wake up too, and it is late. If you'd like, you can come get her in the morning."

Miranda frowned. As wonderful as that sounded, she had to get up and work at the salon tomorrow. She wouldn't have time to come back to get Rowan, and Rowan's Gran was still out of town.

"I'd love to, but I have work."

"Oh that's no problem; Alfred can take her home for you."

"Really? Oh I don't know, I've already caused so much trouble tonight."

"I insist. Damian's never even had a sleep over before. This would be good for him."

Miranda was surprised by the information. What kind of 10 year old has never had a sleep over? She decided to dismiss it, however, and take Dick up on his offer. After all, that would give her time to deal with Sara before Rowan got home. She brightened at the thought.

"Are you sure that would be okay with your father?"

"Oh trust me, Bruce will be ecstatic."

"Then that would be wonderful, thank you."

"No problem. I'll have her call you when she wakes up. Does she know your number?"

"Of course, thank you so much Mr. Grayson."

The man smiled as he shut the door and began the long trek back towards the main entrance.

"No, thank you. And you can call me Dick."

Miranda laughed, and followed him out.