COCHISE

EPILOGUE

"When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we see.

No I won't be afraid.

Oh, I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me.

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

Or the mountains should crumble to the sea

(Stand by me)

I won't cry

I won't cry

No, I won't shed a tear

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me."

-Mona, Stand by Me (cover)

"Now class, today we will learn about history." The young and energetic pre-school teacher, Miss Cartwright, told her whole class of five-year old preschoolers. "A few years ago, there was a lot of chaos and turmoil in the streets. People couldn't go out of their homes in fear that they might become victims of supervillains or bad people who just wanted to do harm to others. But then, two heroes, Raven and Nightwing gathered up all the bad guys in one area, and with the help of the Justice League, were able to capture each and every one of them. Soon enough, all the villains went to different prisons where they can never hurt anyone else ever again. Everyone was happy because this brought on peace for all. Now people can go on with their lives without the fear that they could get hurt just because they were outside their house. This brought on the era of peace that we are still experiencing right now. Because of this, most of the superheroes disappeared, knowing that the world would not need their services anymore. They went on to live normal lives, just like you and me. And that includes the two heroes we should be most thankful for, Nightwing and Raven. Wherever they may be today, we should all be thankful to them because they gave us a chance at peace, and we should all be grateful for it. And that's something you can all think about on this Thanksgiving day."

After Miss Cartwright's inspiring lesson, she instantly noticed one of her students with a bright, big smile pasted on his face.

"Why are you smiling, Christian?"

Christian, the student in question, chuckled with mischievous amethyst eyes as he said, "I know something you don't know about that story, Miss Cartwright."

"Oh, and what is that?"

"My mommy and daddy told me that Nightwing and Raven saved the world for their child." He answered, still with that 'I-know-something-you-don't-know' look.

"Well, that child sure is lucky to have such awesome parents, and we should all be thankful to him or her because they helped bring this era of peace. Now let's start fixing our things because it's almost time to go home!" The teacher announced as her little students scurried to prepare their things.

Right at the gates of the preschool, Christian hurriedly ran towards a beautiful woman with long purple hair and a red ajna chakra on her forehead.

"Mom!" he excitedly called out as he ran right into her arms.

"Hi Christian honey, how was school today?" Raven pleasantly asked as she gave him a big fat kiss on his cheek.

"It was okay. I'm gonna tell you something mommy, but I'll wait 'til daddy gets here."

"Okay. Can we tell your Uncle Bruce and Auntie Kate too? Remember we're going to their house for dinner today." Raven reminded her son as they walked hand-in-hand toward her black Lancer.

"Yup. And Auntie Selina and Auntie Maggie and even Damian too!" Christian chirped as he was strapped in his little car seat in front.

"Okay okay, let's not too get excited yet. We still have to get there first." Raven reminded him, as she flicked his little nose. "And to make sure that your dad gets there on time."

"Richard, I told you the dinner's at 7." Raven said, scolding her husband over the phone.

"I know, I know. I just got swamped with paperwork. But I'm on my way already." Richard Grayson replied over his bluetooth earpiece.

"Fine. But I still don't get how Bruce is already here when you work for the same company!" In the background, Richard could hear his mentor laughing at her comment.

"That's because he left all the paperwork to me so that he could get home early!" he said loud enough for Bruce's keen senses to hear.

"You know, if you spent less time complaining and more time driving, then you'd probably be here already." Raven teased, with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Ha, you're only just saying that cause you miss me already." He teased back. He heard Raven's soft laughter before he finally said goodbye, "Hey, I'm off to the road now. I'll text you when I get to the Manor okay? Love you bye."

"Love you too." Raven whispered before he dropped the call.

Suddenly, she jumped when she heard a voice come up from behind her.

"He's totally dating someone behind her back." Kate Kane said.

"Yup. He's late 'cause he was screwing his secretary before he got here." Her wife, Detective Maggie Sawyer, added as Raven spun around to greet the two.

"Ha ha, nice try guys. I know you're just making this up." Raven replied, still with that teasing smirk dancing on her lips.

"You never know, we could be right." Maggie replied, a wicked twinkle in her own eye.

"Yeah, you know how guys are. They can never keep it in their pants... while us girls are fiercely loyal." Kate said, waggling her eyebrows

"They do say that lesbians have more fun." Maggie added.

Raven instantly put up her hands in defense, stopping them from their inviting campaign. "Okay guys, I know you've been recruiting me for the longest time, but for the record, I am very straight and happily married."

"That's a shame, you'd make a fine addition to our team." Kate said with fake dismay.

"Just give her time, Kate. I'm sure she'll come around." Maggie assured her wife, making sure that Raven heard her.

The empath just chuckled and walked away from the two, knowing that they just had so much fun in teasing her. "I'm really honored ladies, but you'll have to excuse me for a moment, I have to check on my son."

And the lovely couple just laughed as she walked away.

Raven trusted Christian enough to leave him unattended inside Wayne Manor, but she still felt the urge to check up on her five year old son. Who knows what would happen if he suddenly discovered the Bat Cave because she left him alone for just a few minutes? She chuckled at the thought, wondering if she had similar worries with normal parents who weren't ex-superheroes, or those who didn't have father-in-laws who had secret lairs hidden behind their grandfather clocks.

But her smile instantly vanished from her face as she entered the game room, where Damian was apparently "playing" with her son. She let out a gasp as she saw Christian standing at the far corner of the room with an apple on his head, while Damian stood on the opposite end, holding a Batarang in his hand.

"Uh… Damian… what exactly are you two doing?" Raven nervously asked the son of Batman.

"Nothing, just target practice." He replied with a lopsided smile before focusing once again at the task at hand. "Okay Christian, make sure you don't move an inch okay?"

"Okay!" her son chirped in an innocent voice, without a clue as to the dangers that could happen to him if Damian even made the slightest mistake.

Raven's heart was hammering in her chest, very much aware of the situation that her son was in. She wondered if this was his way of acting out his jealousy toward Christian, since he took his place as the youngest in the family. But Damian was a far cry from his impulsive and violent self five years ago, which was why all she could do now was to place her trust in him.

Damian simply raised his hand and with a flick of his wrist, he already threw the batarang straight in Christian's direction. Raven had her hand encased in dark energy, just in case something went wrong. But she let out a sigh of relief when she saw the batarang slice through the apple right above her son's head.

Christian slowly looked up and smiled when he saw the batarang on the wall. "You did it Damian!" he exclaimed too excitedly for someone who almost had his head cut off.

"Was there ever any doubt?" The current Robin replied smugly, while taking a glance at Raven, as if seeking her approval as well.

"No, no there wasn't" Raven replied with a genuine smile as she called her son and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "C'mon you two, enough playing around. Dinner is almost ready."

By the time Richard had arrived to the festivities, everyone was already seated at the dining hall, waiting impatiently to start the delicious meal that Alfred had prepared for all of them. "Sorry I'm late everyone. Traffic was horrible. " he apologized while holding up the wine, "Happy Thanksgiving?"

"Oh just take your seat Dick." Bruce ordered. "And let's eat."

Richard simply smiled and took his place beside his wife who was stopping herself from laughing. And that was when they finally began to partake of their meal. Excited chatter rose from the dinner table, as each of the members of the family excitedly told their own story. Maggie and Kate told Selina about their wedding plans. Damian was asking permission to drive the Batjet, which Bruce said no to repeatedly. Richard was showing Raven pictures that Starfire, Roy and Jason sent them from Cobo, saying that they were sorry they couldn't make it to the dinner. And Alfred was helping Christian eat the turkey, which was proving to be a challenge for the little five year old. Their whole family all enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner, without fear that a deranged madman would attack the city at any time, or if there was any devilish plot at work in the world today. Because of what Raven and Nightwing did, they all had something to be thankful for. Now they could live the life that they always wanted, the life that they always strived to have.

"Ehem. Ehem." Damian cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Christian has something to tell us." he announced, looking toward the small boy beside him.

"Oh that's right honey, didn't you say that there was something that you wanted to tell us?" Raven said sweetly, taking her little boy's hand in her own.

"Yup!" he chirped. "We talked about history in our class today. And today's lesson was about mom and dad." He narrated with a beaming smile toward his parents.

"Really? What did your teacher say?" Richard replied excitedly. "I hope it was something good."

"Yeah it was!" his son exclaimed. "She said it was because of what you did that's why everything is peaceful and okay. She said that we should thank you 'cause you made the world a better place."

"Oh Christian, that's really sweet but we can't take all the credit." Raven said.

"Yeah, we could have never have done it without Uncle Bruce and Aunt Kate's help." Richard added.

"Hey!" Damian's offended voice echoed through the room.

"Oh right, and Damian too." He added with a small chuckle.

At that moment, Christian couldn't help but look at all of the members of his family. Even if they all looked like normal citizens now, he knew the truth. He knew that not too long ago, they all fought for freedom and peace. And they were the ones who finally succeeded in bringing that everlasting peace in the world. And he knew it was all because of him.

"I even told them that Nightwing and Raven did it all for their son." Christian said with a mischievous smile on his face. "But I didn't tell them it was me." He hastily added.

He laughed a bit when he saw them all visibly tense up at what he said, and quickly breathe a sigh of relief soon after. They thought that they haven't stressed enough how important it is to keep his identity a secret from everyone - especially the identity of his parents - just in case. Fortunately, he hasn't told anyone who he really was - yet. Now they can only imagine how hard it would be once his powers awaken. Oy.

"But I wish I could tell everyone how thankful I am." Christian said, once he saw his family calm down. "I'm really thankful that I have such amazing parents. I have parents who are willing to risk everything just to make everything peaceful and okay - for me, and for everybody else."

Their hearts all melted with what Christian said. Even the Dark Knight had tears in his eyes with the words from his "grandson". But this was the reason why they fought. This was why they have risked their lives time and time again. For the future generation. So they would never have to go through the horrors that they went through. So that they could live in a better world for everyone. And at that very moment on Thanksgiving day, they knew that they wouldn't have it any other way.

THE END.

(A/N: So yes, this is truly the end for Cochise! Just a little background on the epilogues, they both explored the possibility of what could happen when Raven reset time during the last scene in the previous chapter. So the first epilogue explored the path of what would happen if they continued their revenge and their corporation. Basically it's depicting how Raven and Robin will be so strong that they will ultimately rule the world. And for this epilogue, it shows the future if they decided to create that perfect world for their son, wherein they went the good route and captured all the villains in the organization. (btw, I wrote this at around Thanksgiving which is why it has that thankful vibe)

So yeah, I just presented those two epilogues to see which you would like best. Would you want to go with the dark epilogue with the creepy version of "Hush Little Baby" or this cute version of the future with the adorable Christian Grayson present? You decide!

But there it is, that is really the end of Cochise. I'm glad that people still enjoyed this story even if I update horribly. : ) ) Anyway, may you all have wonderful days ahead and I love you all!

Also, before I forget, I might write a "What if...?" one shot wherein Raven was the one kidnapped by Slade two (or seven) years ago and not Robin. It will be inspired by Frozen by Madonna and I hope I push through with this project or if I do this soon.

Happy Holidays every one and hopefully you will find your happiness in your own lives! Whether it will be in a dark world that you will rule, or just a happy get together with your family : ) 3