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Dick watched Peter eat another bowl of cereal. He was actually glad Alfred always dumped his overly sugary cereals when he was gone for more than a few days. Dick did not have any issues eating unhealthy amounts of sugar as his lifestyle kept health concerns at bay. He did have an issue with his son eating that much sugar.
“Can I have more eggs?” Alfred was miraculously out with another batch eggs. “Thank you!”
“He eats as much as Bart.” Tim said impressed.
“I guess it’s good the Waynes are rich.” Stephanie said as she joined them that morning. Peter smiled at her with cheeks stuffed a chipmunks.
“John Peter, swallow your food before you talk or smile.” Damian said with disgust. Peter swallowed.
“Sorry, Uncle Dami. Aunt May spent a lot on food when I was big. She said I ate any raise she got.” He smiled so it was clear May hadn’t said it in hate. “May was just glad she could feed me after Mr. Stark died. Mr. Stark would send us food sometimes so I ate well.”
“If it wasn’t creepy I know Jason would be looking for her in this universe.” Duke said. “He was impressed by your aunt.”
“I want Uncle Jason to find May here!” Peter said eagerly. “Then I can have all my family back.” He frowned. “Well not mommy but that’s okay. She’s alive and gave me to daddy. I love her for that.” Dick’s heart ached.
He did not love Mary. From the photos that Karen had shown them Richard Parker had been ecstatic to marry Mary Fitzpatrick. Dick had hooked up with her after a long day at work. Thankfully she’d recognized him from his public persona.
“It has to happen naturally, Peter.” Bruce said. “If Jason stalks her it wouldn’t be right or honest.” Peter frowned.
“I know your dad and Jason were brothers in your older life but even that isn’t the same. I don’t think every life is the same.” Tim said. Peter pouted.
“He’s right, Peter.” Dick said. “I love you and I love having Jason in my life. I’m glad to know we were brothers in another but love shouldn’t be forced. Jason knows about May but May doesn’t know about us. If he sought her just to make you happy would that be love?”
“No.” Peter sounded subdued.
“Don’t be sad chum. You’re Uncle Ben met May when he was about Jason’s current age. Maybe that will happen again.” Peter beamed.
“Yeah. Then I can be the flower boy at their wedding!”
Dick would need to have the therapist the were using talk to Peter about that. If Jason did meet a version of May and they didn’t work out Peter would be devastated. The possibility of other universes were not always facts.
“I’m done!” Peter said as he finished the eggs. They’d need to give him very calorie dense breakfasts and dinner when he went to school. Dick thought. Luckily that was years away. They were homeschooling Peter and doing play groups.
Aside from his own trauma around the first day of school, Peter having knowledge of both his lives gave him a weird knowledge imbalance compared to children his own age. Peter knew calculus now but didn’t know all the continents. His reading comprehension was back to what’d it been when he’d…left them… rather than a college bound student.
J’onn had worked with Peter to keep the memories of his older family and events. He’d forget things in time. The natural progression of life. Dick didn’t care if he didn’t remember who was the first president but he did care if he forgot things about his best friend or Stark. Some things couldn’t be taught or retaught.
“Did you enjoy your food, Master Peter?”
“Yeah! It was great”. Peter beamed. Dick did not try to comment on the behavior. Peter as cheery a lot more these past few weeks than he had been initially.
After things had settled down Peter had become prone to crying jags that reminded Dick of him when he was a baby. He was mourning. J’onn had said Peter had been born mourning.
Dick understood it. He’d lost the closest thing he’d had to a mother in his life. That didn’t even include his entire other universe worth of relationships.
They’d had a memorial for May. Peter had talked about her. They’d seen pictures of her and videos Karen had stored from older Peter’s life. May had tried protecting her nephew even if he was a superhero.
They’d seen the video of her passing. Of her last words to him. Even in her last moments she’d tried to steer her son on the right path.
Dick wished they’d known her. He hoped she existed in his universe and joined their family. Peter deserved to have all the members of his old family. May deserved to have another life.
Peter and Tim followed Alfred to help him with dishes.
Bruce received a text on his phone. His eyebrows shot up. Dick looked at his father curiously. What had gotten that response from B? Oh god. Was Selina pregnant? Please no. Dick could not have a brother younger than his son. That would be weirder than having his son be his son in two lives.
“What is it, B?” Duke asked. Bruce looked at the kitchen he signed.
Remember Peter can hear us. Just read. He shared his phone. Damian looked surprised. Then Stephanie. Duke smiled in delight. Dick got the phone.
It was a message from Jason.
Her name is June here.