Disclaimer: see chapter one.

Chapter Seventeen

It's been years since I've done this. Really done it I mean. Sure, there were a few times on cases but…

The last time I really flew I was eight years old, and it ended in tragedy. I've done a few flips and small ground tricks, but once my hands had touched the bars that were set up in this…Hold, as Lucius and Victor like to call it, it was like I was a kid again. Eight years old and flying high into the air. After the first few quick flips, it was like riding a bike. I'd performed the infamous quadruple flip in about an hour. I've spent the last month getting the new house set up and training, while taking care of Kory – who is in her last month of pregnancy – and taking the kids to school.

As I walk out of the training room, grabbing a towel along the way, I head upstairs to the main house. It's nice and cozy, just on the outside of Gotham, and for the first time in a long time, I actually feel it's safe here, that my family is safe here. After the extra training I've also put myself through, I also feel a lot stronger and faster. I'm sure if I can keep it up, not many of the crooks out there will stand a chance against me.

As I enter the house I see Ryan and Mari playing in the living room, the light from the TV flickering over their excited faces as I'm sure they're preparing for their favorite show. I remind them to pick up their toys as I walk into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Kory was most likely upstairs, lying in bed and catching up on some rest. Both Donna and Kam were on their way to help around the house since Kory was in her last month. Work would be starting up again soon for me, no doubt. I know that I can't wait around forever for Slade Wilson to make his first move, and it would probably be a good chance for me to start up my Target persona and have a few of Gotham's largest rats start spreading the word on me.

Just as I finished draining the glass, the phone began ringing in the living room.

"Daddy, can I get it?" Mari called out on the third ring.

"Sure, sweetie," I answered as I started walking to the room.

When I entered, she was asking on the other line, "Okay, who is this?" there was a pause before she held the phone out toward me. 

"Some man is on the other line, daddy. He says he's a friend of yours, but told me you wouldn't remember him until you heard his voice."

Raising an eyebrow, I took the phone from her and said, "Hello, this is Dick Grayson," as soon as the receiver was on my ear.

"I know who you are Grayson. Kind of why I called your house." I felt my jaw clamp tightly and I knew my grip on the phone was so hard, my knuckles were white. The moment he first spoke, I knew who it was. Slade Wilson.

Glancing at Ryan and Mari, I saw their attention was back on the television screen and I took the phone into the hallway as far as I could.

"You've got a nice house there, Grayson. Very quaint," Slade continued. "I wouldn't bother trying to glance out the window, seeing as I'm not there right now, but I did have to scout you out to make it look good for the guy who broke me out.

"I know you've got questions, and don't worry, I'll answer them all. This connection is secure because of the pull you've got. The boss didn't even know this house was being built until one of his goons noticed you or one of your family members hadn't come out of Wayne Manor for a couple of days. Bunch of idiots if you ask me. Don't worry, though. I haven't told where you live now, and I won't as long as you agree to meet me tonight. One – nineteen – eight. Corner back room, at ten."

There was a click as he hung up, and I slowly set the phone back down as well before going back into the living room and setting it back in place.

"I'm going to be in my office, if you two need me," I told Ryan and Mari, who were so engrossed in their show now, they didn't bother to nod.

One, nineteen, eight. Obviously a code, just in case someone was listening over one line, but it wasn't that hard of a code to figure out. Ash Street. First letter of the alphabet is A, nineteenth is S, and eighth is H. There's only one Ash in Gotham; it's a street on the East End, there's an old abandoned diner on the corner and in the back room is where a counterfeiting ring used to operate. Commissioner Gordon had busted them up a few months after he had arrived in Gotham. One person had gotten away that night. Slade Wilson.

It figures he'd pick a significant place to meet. It has to be more significant than that, though. There's more to it than just him being a part of the racket.

I went upstairs and grabbed a copy of the file from my cabinets. I now had copies down in the Hold as well, and kept my most important evidence down there too.

I skimmed through the file for over a half hour before I found the real reason why Wilson wants to meet me at the old diner.

It's finally come full circle.

At five of ten, I enter the diner carefully. I can't trust Wilson as far as I can throw him. No matter what he had said in that stupid phone call, it doesn't mean anything. Guys like him always think of themselves first. Save their own butts and leave the rest to die. I made sure to wear a long and large overcoat over my suit. I still haven't really figured out how to hide it, but putting it under my clothes and hiding my mask and weapons in the back of the coat will have to do.

If Roy was still alive…

No, I can't go down that path; especially right now, when I know exactly who his real killer is. Fighting with anger will only get me hurt, even dead, if I make the wrong move.

It's time to really start focusing, Dick. You've found you're third option and you've gotta use it right.

I pulled out my gun as I reached the back corner where the old counterfeiting racket had been hidden. Putting my ear to the door, I listened, checking for even the smallest of sounds.

Nothing.

I kicked open the door, my gun already aimed straight ahead, directly at Slade Wilson's head. He just glanced up at me with his steel blue eyes, not flinching, the jerked his head to the seat in front of him before continuing his game of Solitaire.

"Getting older Slade?" I asked as I continued to stand, but lowered my gun. His hair, at least on the top, had still been blonde the last time I saw him, while his temples had grayed, but now it was all as white as snow.

"Giving into age, Grayson," he smirked. "Gotta do it eventually."

"What did you want to see me for?"

"Just to talk. What's wrong, can't two old enemies have a nice little chat?"

"Seeing as that case only lasted a year, I don't think you can really call us old enemies. Especially since you're about twice my age."

He laughed. "Still so serious, Grayson. And, as usual, you just want to get right down to business." He picked up a card from the side and flipped it to me.

I caught it with my free hand and glanced at the card. Joker.

"Napier broke us all out, to take you out," he began to explain. "He wanted you preoccupied so he could make and move copies of United States money plates and a machine out of the U.S. to Germany. From there, he would easily be able to print and send false cash, in small and large bills, back to U.S. through tourists."

"And why would you tell me this?" I asked, still on edge.

"Because I know how much you want to take Napier down, and I wanted to let you know that tonight is your chance. He's leaving on the same boat that the machine and plates are going on. Already paid off a good number of cops and dock security to sign off on the goods without checking any of it. He'll land in Spain, and from there, transfer everything on to a private plane that will take him to Germany."

"And what do you get out of telling me this? He did break you to take me out." There's another reason he wants me to stop Napier. I don't know what yet, but I know it will benefit him in some way.

He smirked at me as he turned in his chair. "You know me too well, Grayson. See, I never liked working for Napier, especially when I was his hired hand. After Gordon dropped in on the old ring, and I got away, I decided to do my own thing, as you know. Of course, seeing as he did break me out, I owed him. So, I helped him organize all the other idiots. Of course, once they were on their own, they did what they wanted, while still sticking to the plan. Napier did tell them to kill anyone that would help you, though. Even ordered your little brothers to be killed before you got to Metropolis. He wanted to really send you over the edge. Even though Baran, Selinda, and Arthur hadn't killed your brothers, Jade did do a very good job of killing your partner. He believed that would at least either make you slip up, or hang up the badge. I hadn't believed so, but Jack doesn't really know you as well as I do.

"Obviously he's heard of you, but always thought of you as a joke. He believes that he is so powerful, he's untouchable. However, I know that you are the only one that can get to him, of given the right opportunity to. Here's your opportunity Grayson; you can be known throughout all of Gotham as the cop who took down the underworld's King of Crime, or you can take me down and hand me over while the big fish gets away. It's your choice."

So that's what he wants. He wants me to go after Jack Napier, so he can get away.

"What time does the ship leave?" I asked, putting my gun away and taking a step toward him.

He glanced down at his watch. "It's ten-eleven right now, so that would give you exactly nineteen minutes. Better hurry. He likes to be extremely punctual."

I nodded before moving quickly and ramming my fist in his face, pushing him back against the wall. I quickly knocked the wind out of him, before sending a left hook directly into his face. Time to put some of my training to use. Once I knocked him out, I pulled out a small tracker and slipped it onto the side of his shoe. It was brown and the light was placed underneath so it would only look like a small spot of dirt.

He may end up throwing the pair away later, he may not, but I can't just grab one and leave the other out there. I have to at least try to keep both of them in reach.

Rushing out the door of the diner, I ran to my car and took off toward the docks. I had fifteen minutes to get there, park and change, then try to catch that stupid boat. I poured on the gas, racing down the streets. Only one dock is open after ten at night, and that's Napiers'. Glancing down at my watch as I cut through a backstreet, I saw that I only had five minutes to get there.

I arrived at the docks in time to see the boat just start taking off. Pulling off my overcoat, I pulled out my mask and t-batons and threw them to the ground as I pulled off my shirt and pants to reveal my Target uniform underneath. I had kept my boots on, hoping Slade wouldn't notice so I wouldn't have to take time changing shoes.

I slipped my mask on, grabbed my T-batons and slipped them into their proper holding places on my back before running off after the boat. It was chugging slowly past the docks, only a few short yards into the water. All I need to do is catch up and there's my ride.

Running out onto an empty dock, just as the boat began to move past it, I flipped off of it, just making it to the back of the boat. I stayed crouched low in the shadow as a light turned on in one of the cabins. The door opened and two large goons walked out, machine guns in hand. They were the goons that had pulled me out of Napier's car. Must be his personal bodyguards, which means Napier must be in that cabin.

I leapt out and tackled one of the unsuspecting guards. He dropped his gun on the way down, while I quickly flipped back onto my feet, his shoulders in my hands, and threw him over the side of the boat, just as the other guard started to fire at me.

Victor and Lucius are probably my two favorite people in the world right now. When they said the Kevlar pads would give me extra protection over my chest, back, and shoulders, they weren't kidding. Even this Kevlar mask is working wonders, but I know if this guy keeps firing at the same spot for too long, it won't be as effective anymore. I grabbed the T-batons from my back and flipped backwards and over the guards head, just as a larger group came out to join the fray.

I used one of my batons to quickly knock out the second guard before moving on to the next one that came my way. My motions were fluid and my objective was clear. Work my way through the group and toward Napier. Once all of his minions are defeated, he'll probably be cake. Why would someone with so much power learn how to defend himself when he can just hire people to do it for him? The boat had stopped for some reason in the middle of the fight, meaning the captain was probably fighting me as well.

Just as I knocked out the last hit man and moved to the door, a woman appeared in the doorway. I stopped, and tried to see her face, when she suddenly jumped up and kicked me, sending me sprawling to the ground. As I looked up, I noticed her blonde hair and blue eyes. She was Napier's driver!

"Boys aren't the only ones who know how to fight, buddy!" she told me, moving into her fighting stance. She raised one leg high before slamming it down, while I rolled away. "You little…! You made me break my heel!"

I smirked underneath my mask. "Trust me, I know a woman who can fight just as well as I can, maybe even better sometimes, but she doesn't worry about breaking her heel."

The driver just swung her arms at me wildly in anger. Just what I wanted. Grabbing her fists I pulled her close and gave her a strong head butt, knocking her unconscious and let her drop to the floor.

Suddenly there was a shot from behind me and I felt a bullet hit my pad before it dropped to the floor.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not nice to head butt a woman?" Jack Napier teased as I turned and stared at him.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you to never use a woman as a shield?" I shot back, smirking underneath my mask.

He just grinned and laughed. He better enjoy it while he can, because I'm going to be the one laughing in the end. Walking straight up to me, he set the barrel of his gun between my eyes.

"You know kid, I like your style," he told me, still grinning. "What's your name? Bull's-eye Boy? The Avenger? Oh wait, I know! The Moron!"

"The Target," I told him and he began laughing again.

"Target, huh? Well, if that isn't the dumbest name I've ever heard," he muttered as he lowered his gun to the target on my chest. "So, what're you here for kid? Need a job or something and wanted to prove you can handle it."

"You're really cocky, Jack, thinking I'm here to work for you," I told him as I grabbed his throat so fast, he dropped his gun in surprise. "I'm here to take you down."

"Oh really, and how do you plan on doing that?" he wheezed out.

"I know what you've got below deck, and I know you've probably gotten so cocky, you left your fingerprints on the evidence. Right now, a few good cops are on their way to pick you up. You'll be a little too unconscious to know who, exactly, but the next place you find yourself will be behind the bars of Blackgate."

"Now, wait a minute, Target," he held up his hands as I reeled my fist back, "maybe we can work out some type of deal. Ten thou to let me go, scot-free."

"Sorry, Jack, but you can't buy me," I smirked. "And, you don't have any cards on me either. Your slip up is no one's fault but your own. Deal with it."

With that, I slammed my fist directly into his face, dislocating his jaw and sending him to the ground. He tried to stand back up, but I set my foot on his back and grabbed him by his hair, then slammed his face into the ground to finish him off. Finally, I wrapped a pair of handcuffs tightly around his wrists before taking off back to the docks and into a dock house.

I pulled off my mask and called Commissioner Gordon at the precinct as Dick Grayson.

"Great job, Dick, but you better get to the hospital fast," he told me as I heard the scratch of his chair as he probably got up to get his coat. "Your sister-in-law has been trying to reach you. Kory went into labor a half hour ago."

I immediately hung up the phone and ran back to my car. Just as I was about to start it up I glanced down at my hands to see the dark black gloves still covering them. "Shit." I pulled off the gloves, shoulder pads, and t-batons and hid them in the back of my car before quickly throwing my button-up and slacks on over the rest of my uniform. After ten minutes of struggling I finally took off for the hospital.

Unfortunately, half way to Gotham General, my car ran out of gas. I discreetly pulled my uniform into an old gym bag that I had kept in the back seat and had to run to the rest of the way.

This is what I get for knocking out Gotham's biggest crime boss! I'm probably going to miss the birth of my third child!

No, I can't. I promised that I would be there, so I'm going to be there.

With more determination now, I ran down the streets. Cars and people passed by like blurs, my focus only on my destination. I rushed through the doors and asked the receptionist about Kory. She pointed toward the elevator and told me Kory and Kam were on the third floor, room T-Twenty.

While I allowed the elevator to take me up, I tucked in my shirt and ran a hand through my sweaty locks to try and comb it out. I knew my lip was probably swollen from a few punches and my nose had been bleeding for a bit, but all that really mattered was that I was there and alive.

When the doors opened, I looked up and down the hall until I noticed someone waving at me. It was Kam. I rushed up to her as she stood and smiled at me.

"Wow, don't you look great!" she announced sarcastically. "Definitely seems like you're ready to be a father."

"Did she have the baby yet?" I asked, reaching for the door handle just as it turned and a nurse stepped out.

"Oh, Mr. Grayson I presume," the old woman said as she moved aside, a smile on her face. "Congratulations, sir. You're the proud father of a healthy little boy."

I looked in the room to see Kory already hold the baby with tired but still amazed eyes. When she heard the nurse, she looked up at me and gave me the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. I walked in slowly as the nurse walked out, closing the door behind her.

"Have you named him, yet?" I asked, taking a seat beside her and reaching out to the blue-eyed, red-haired baby staring at me through slit eyes. He grabbed one of my fingers and pulled it into his mouth innocently, causing me to chuckle. I pulled it out and started waving it before his eyes, watching as he followed it slowly.

"No, do you have a name in mind?" she asked, gently handing him off to me.

I stared down at him smiling softly. "Let's name him after Roy," I finally said, thinking of my friend and how he sacrificed himself for me. He didn't have to go, and I'm sure that if he didn't, I probably would have been the one lying dead. If he hadn't tripped the alarm, Jade would have probably been the first to come after me. She'd poisoned me before, a slow painful one, which is why I had been able to get it out of my system, but Roy hadn't been that lucky. He took the shot and took the tougher of the quartet on his own. Tim, Jason, and I are still here because of him.

"I like it," my emerald-eyed angel whispered beside me. As I looked at her and Roy, and thought of Ryan, Mari, Bruce, Selina, and the rest of my family, I finally realized I had my little miracle. It was my family and friends.

They were always there for me in some way, shape, or form and they've always loved and cared for me, so much so that they'd risk their lives for me.

I will always be thankful for that.

The End

A/N: Well, that's it. It's finally over. Sorry it took so long for me to get this last chapter out, but I hope that it was worth it.

I would like to thank all of my reviewers, Spoken From The Heart x3, SithKnight-Galen, BerryDrops, RoseXxxXThorn, Green Gallant, Billie-Joe-is-hotter-than-you, Sweet.Love.xO, jumpstarter, Dash-Rendar, SaoirseWaveglow, Royal Blue, and My-name-is-foxglove for all of their wonderful reviews, and all of my readers for reading the story. If I've forgotten anyone, please let me know.

Please review and let me know what you thought of the story.