Chapter Text
Dick was irritated.
The lawyer had left them an order. He had to submit to a DNA test.
“I thought you said they would take care of it. She had no case.” He accused his father.
“They are taking care of it but Fitzpatrick has gotten hold of a lawyer with a grudge. They are working at a lesser rate than they normally charge. Fitzpatrick is making a decent salary now.”
“Fine, I’ll take the damn test. When this is over I want to see what we can sue her for.”
“Probably nothing.” Bruce said. “She isn’t going to the tabloids or anything.” He sighed. “I asked.”
“There has to be something.”
“Dick, once she is proven a liar we can ignore her. She isn’t worth our time. Put it behind you and enjoy your time with Kory.” Dick’s temper was flaring. He took a breath. This wasn’t the time or place. She was a fraud and would have wasted her money after this.
“I want someone making sure my DNA is destroyed after this.”
“We’ll get that. Even if we have to do that our way.” Dick nodded. He trusted Bruce with that.
They exited the office and headed to the family room. The rest of the family was there. It was family night after all. They were taking a break from patrol. Dick wished they could go out and get some action but it wasn’t the right mindset for it. They fought often but Dick didn’t do it to hurt people on purpose.
“Is it over?” Tim asked.
“No.” Dick said. “I have to do a DNA test but let’s watch the movie Duke wants.” It was his choice to get them to bond closer. Dick wished to get to know his younger brother without this taint over them too. There was so much tragedy in this family that bonding was something they tried to do without thinking of anything outside of it.
It wasn’t realistic but a few hours was sometimes nice. No alarms, no sudden clues, no epiphanies or anything that drew them to their second life.
“Yeah, let’s focus on that.” Duke added. “I really want you to get my references. For a rich family you guys have no culture.” It was a bit forced but Dick appreciated the gesture. He had the best little brothers and sister.
“Says you, Duke.” Jason retorted with the same faux aggression. “You don’t get any of my literary quotes.”
“I get them, I just don’t bother to pretend they’re deep. I read Pride and Prejudice last year, man. It’s like basic.” Duke said. Jason sputtered. Tim and Damian laughed. Cass smiled.
Yes, he had the best siblings.
Mary smiled as she entered the living room. May looked up at her from where she was playing with Peter on the floor. Peter smiled at her.
“Is it good news?”
“We’re finally getting a DNA test! It’s almost over.”
“Thank fu—dge for that.” May said in relief. She gave her sister an unamused look. Peter smiled then said.
“Fuck!”
“May!”
“It wasn’t me!” May defended. That was likely true. Damn, New York.
“Whatever, let’s get some take out.” She wanted to celebrate.
“Let’s save that for when we get the positive result. Let’s get something from the bodega downstairs.” Mary knew May was looking out for her. She was being paid more but that didn’t mean they weren’t as careful with their money as before. May was her big sister after all.
“You have a good point.” She agreed. May relaxed. There was not going to be any argument. They were not often but the two had their mother’s temper.
“You want me to go down?” May asked.
“No, you stay with Peter. I’ll get it. I got some energy to burn.” May nodded. “Your usual?”
“What else?” May asked and returned to Peter.
May’s heart fluttered with affection for her child.
This had all been for him.
She didn’t care how little Richard paid. His payment would help make a better life for him. All she wanted was that he get the best that he deserved.
It took a few days for their lawyer to arrange a DNA swab. Peter complained at the cheek swab. Richard wasn’t there. His DNA was being gathered else where. There was some privacy matters they had to meet.
Mary didn’t think anyone really cared about them.
They were just a mistake.
Peter was no mistake though.
Mary had never felt like he was a mistake. Her pregnancy with him might have been unexpected but she knew she was going through with it. Mary would go to the ends of the world for him.
It was going to be okay.
Their little family was going to be okay.
Mary went to the bodega. She got their usual. As she waited in line to pay someone bumped into her. She turned to them, face already in the classic New York mean mug. The figure gave her a sheepish smile behind almost too big glasses for his face. A bodega cat raised it tail in irritation and left them.
“Sorry, it came out of nowhere.” The man said.
“Uh, no it’s okay. Accidents happen.” She looked at the cat and motioned to it as it settled on some chip bags. “Miaorio is a little menace.”
“That’s his name? It’s cute.” He said. “Sorry again though. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You didn’t. Don’t let it bother you.” She felt impulsive and extended her hand. “I’m Mary.” The man gave a small smile and took it.
“Nice to meet you, Mary. I’m Richard, Richard Parker.” Mary almost dropped his hand.
“You wrote your doctoral thesis on the phenotype variation of the rare Malaysian ant fungus.” Mary had referenced it as odd as it sounded. His research was brilliant.
“You know of that?” She nodded.
“I’m uh Doctor Mary Fitzpatrick.” She said and gave her own topic. Richard looked interested.
“Uh you wanna talk shop?” He asked. “Maybe over coffee?” It was hesitant and hopeful. Mary almost said yes until the cashier called her.
“I can’t. My sister is taking care of my kid.” She looked back quickly. “But I can later? Rain check?”
“Yeah, yeah. Rain check.” Parker said and smiled, pleased. He hadn’t even been off put by the mention of Peter.
She got his number before he left. New York area code. No New Jersey over cast.
She went back up.
Dick was arranging his utility belt for the night. Duke was in pajamas next to him. His bare feet were swinging off the side of the armrest. Dick could not imagine having a bed time before midnight. Duke was generally in bed at eleven, emergencies not included. Dick was going out early as he was headed back to Bludhaven.
“Hey, Dick.” Duke asked after a moment of companionable silence.
“Yeah?”
“That lady, what if she’s not lying? What if that kid is yours?” Dick stilled. Duke was staring at the stalagmites.
“It isn’t mine.”
“But what if it is? That wouldn’t be the weirdest thing.”
“But it’s not my kid.”
“I’m just asking. I mean accidents happen all the time.”
“If it is mine, and it’s not, then I’ll pay child support and I don’t know see it sometime.”
“The kid is a boy, I think.” Duke said.
“I didn’t bother to think about it.” Dick said. “It’s not my kid.” He paused. “I wanna think about this as simple summary points then move on once it’s over.” Because Dick realized he was sound a bit too much like an asshole. Dick didn’t hate the kid, but he didn’t feel anything for a child that wasn’t his.
“It’ll be strange if it is your kid.” Duke said. “I don’t know, just thinking about it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Dick said.
“Yeah, sorry. I just was curious.”
“Kory and I want kids.” Dick said. “I don’t dislike them. I just don’t like that this is taking forever. You’re my baby brother, I know this is weird for you still. It’s just a lot of people try to scam our family and business.” Duke frowned. “I know, how it sounds like we’re cutting corners but Waynes always pay what we owe. We try to help those we can’t. It grates on me sometimes that people still try to scam us.”
“I guess so.” Duke said. “Sorry, Dick, I’m just making it weird.”
“No, you’re just learning. Trust me plenty of people tried that with Bruce before he started collecting kids.” Duke snorted.
“I’m just the newest.”
“If we weren’t so far apart we’d still wouldn’t fill all the rooms in the manor.”
“Yeah, we all fit in one wing and it’s not even putting a dent in anything. Like we don’t need three parlors.”
“Don’t give Alfred any ideas of opening another parlor. He’d find a reason.” Duke smiled. “I have to head out. I love you. Don’t let Bruce bully you into anything stupid.”
“I still can’t believe he got lost in IKEA.” Duke said. “World’s greatest detective my butt.” Dick laughed. Yeah, that had not been Bruce’s best moment but even he wasn’t immune to sleep deprivation.
“Hey, it’s only because Stephanie wanted us to go.”
“When I get to college I want my apartment to be furnished by IKEA things. I don’t want to be the weird rich kid.” Duke said but he got up. Dick hugged him goodbye. He watched Duke head upstairs, bare feet making the slightest of sounds. They’d have to work on that.
Soon Dick would be back home and with Kory again.
One more week and then the court case would be over.
Mary was humming as she dressed in her best outfit. Peter was staying with May today. She was nervous but excited.
Today was the day.
The paternity results were in.
Grayson would be at the court. A formality, the lawyer had said. He had a right to know and would likely get his payment set at the time. The Waynes had had to submit financials to the court. The lawyer said Grayson’s money was tied in trust funds and third party accounts they wouldn’t be able to touch.
Mary didn’t care about those. She just wanted Peter to get something he was owed.
It was almost absurd that Grayson’s last legal job was CEO of Wayne Enterprises and all it’s subsidiaries. He had official drawn an absurdly wealthy salary. A salary that was likely his trust fund many times over but rich people made money to stay rich.
Mary didn’t need even a full percent. She just needed help with their son. After that he could make the more money. She didn’t care. If he earned as much as she did then she would have different thoughts but Mary wasn’t greedy.
Her phone vibrated.
Mary looked down.
Richard wished her luck.
Richard Parker had taken her up on her rain check. They had gone out several times. He didn’t push for anything. He was cautious about his questions about Peter. They were still to new for Mary to feel comfortable divulging about him.
It was nice, feeling wanted.
She’d taken to using Richard with him rather than Grayson.
Mary would have as little as contact as possible with Grayson. She could go through her attorney. Even if she stopped seeing Richard it would be the new normal.
She went out and headed to court.
This was the end.
Dick was shocked to hear the judge read out the confirmation of the paternity test. 99.9 percent certainty that he, Richard Grayson, was the biological father of Mary Fitzpatrick’s son, Peter Fitzpatrick.
He glanced at Mary. Mary did not look at him. She just conferred with her lawyer. She looked relieved.
Dick looked at his attorney.
The attorney looked annoyed.
Dick hadn’t been—he couldn’t remember her.
Fitzpatrick’s son—his son— was one year old. He would’ve been conceived almost two years ago. Dick had been a playboy in his grief but he had used protection. He couldn’t remember her at all.
“They’re going to determine the monthly payment.” The lawyer said. “There will also be pack pay. Her—your child is entitled to it since his time of birth. You’ll also likely be forced to pay the medical bills he incurred while on public assistance.”
“Money doesn’t mean anything.” Dick said because it’s as true. Whatever they determined wouldn’t be a drop of his trust fund, much less the full Wayne wealth.
Dick was still reeling from the words
He had missed a year of his child’s life.
His birth.
Fitzpatrick hadn’t been lying.
Bruce—Bruce was going to kill him.
Duke’s inquiry came to mind.
Dick…Dick didn’t know if he wanted to be part of that child’s life. He had Kory. He didn’t—
That was his child.
Bruce wouldn’t let him fade into obscurity.
Nightwing’s son was something people would target.
He’d want to know his grandson.
His siblings would want to know their nephew.
Fuck.
Mary was reeling from the numbers the judge had read off.
Well she wouldn’t need to worry about Peter’s college fund.
She was getting so much to raise Peter.
The back payment alone was a million dollars if she calculated right.
What was she supposed to do with a million dollars? Even in New York she couldn’t think what to do with that amount so soon. She couldn’t get an apartment. She could pay back May in full.
Mary wouldn’t have to work if she really didn’t want to.
She wasn’t, she had worked hard to do her research.
If she had wanted to that was an option now.
She stared at Grayson. He was looking solemn now. Face blank. He was handsome. Mary had slept with him for it.
Was he—would he try to take Peter from her?
Even if she got the million dollars the Waynes were worth so much more.
Mary would fight to keep him.
Dick went home with the lawyer.
If he wanted custody that would need to be discussed at a different hearing.
Fitzpatrick had left without addressing him.
If Dick wanted to reach out to her he would need to go through their lawyers.
Dick got dropped off at the manor.
Bruce’s face let him know everything was already out of the bag.
Tim had likely already broken into the records.
He went into the manor in silence.
“What the fuck, Dickie?” Jason snapped. “You - you have a kid. We have a nephew. I don’t even know what he the looks like!” Dick grimaced.
“I want to meet him.” Cass said sternly.
“Yeah, I get it but we wasted so much time.” Tim muttered.
“I don’t see how this changes anything.” Damian said. “This child might be Richard’s but his mother is nothing like this family’s back go round. He is unlikely to be suited for our lifestyle.”
“Shut up, Damian.” Duke snapped, surprising everyone. Dick stared at him. Duke glared. “He’s a baby. He could be the best fighter or stay a civilian. Just because he doesn’t have an assassin mom doesn’t make him useless. My mom isn’t an assassin and I still kicked your ass earlier.” Damian looked shocked.
“Duke!” Bruce barked out in chastisement.
“Wow, you got B angry.” Dick said. Bruce’s eyes shifted to him.
“I’m disappointed in Duke for speaking to his brother. I am angry with you.” Dick winced at the tone. “That is my grandchild. I want to know my grandchild.”
“We can’t just take him from his mom.” Jason said. “I doubt even a court would agree with that. Even with all our money.” Dick grimaced. Mary Fitzpatrick wasn’t an incompetent mother. Even if they got her fired, she made enough now from him that she would stay housed with Peter, with the help of her sister if she hadn’t had it. She’d get another job.
She was a fighter in her own way.
Some part of Dick had recognized that.
It had led to the birth of his child.
His child.
He’d missed so much.
He hadn’t even named him
He’d missed so much.
What was he going to tell Kory?
Mary hummed as Richard helped them pack up their things in the apartment. They were moving out. Richard had offered to help. Mary was finding herself quickly enamored with him.
He liked Peter. He’d met him before he helped them pack. May was ecstatic with them. Mary hadn’t had a boyfriend in a long time.
Grayson didn’t count.
Things were starting to look up.
Grayson had Peter one weekend a month. Day time visits only until he had a better relationship with him. Peter liked Richard more.
Yes, things were starting to look up.