Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Don’t own DC or DP.

Chapter 1

Damian froze, feeling the warm liquid drip down his face. Blood…not his… and then time restarted and he darted forward, catching his brother as his Grandfather cruelly pulled his sword back. Timothy coughed, blood dripping down his chin. “Drake is down!” he called over his comm, able to hear the panic in his own voice as he scrambled back. The older boy was heavy in his arms, limp and gasping for breath. “Stay with me,” he told him. He set him down against a pillar and then set himself between Timothy and his Gra…Ra’s.

He knew that Ra’s was interested in his brother as an heir. Having the two of them together when pairing off had been a mistake. He met Ra’s eyes and drew his sword, he would defend Timothy, Father would come for them and they would be fine.

“Come now, Damian. Are you truly willing to risk your life for someone you see as an usurper?” Ra’s smirked at him.

“Timothy is my brother,” he stated firmly, one ear on the raspy, bubbling sound of Timothy’s breathing. There was a Lazarus Pit across the room…but would his brother ever forgive them for using it on him? “It is because of you and Mother that I ever saw him as anything but my brother. The two of you ruined my childhood but I have learnt much since joining Father. You are nothing.”

He ducked a blow, lunging in to try and land one himself only to have to back pedal to avoid a knife. He was limited in how much he could move in order to remain between Ra’s and Timothy. And Ra’s knew it, pushing at him relentlessly. He missed a block, stumbled back, but then the sword was stopped. Father.

“See to Tim,” he ordered, and Damian rushed to Timothy’s side.

He pulled the medical supplies from his utility belt, kneeling beside him. Glassy blue eyes watched him and he knew…without a hospital within the next minute or so, there was no hope. And even with a full medical team…

“Can you hear me?” he asked as he pressed gauze to both sides of the wound to stem the blood, but the amount on the ground… “Timothy?”

“Da…mi…” his voice was barely audible, but he was still aware to some degree.

“No, no…Timmy!” And then Richard was with them, reaching shakily for their brother.

The complex was soundproof otherwise Damian would be yelling for Supernova. Kon-El would come immediately if he heard…but there was no way for him or any of the supers to hear them. While their comms were working inside, they were cut off from Oracle.

“Look at me Tim,” Richard was pleading.

Timothy was far too pale, even for him, eyes rolling as he fought to remain conscious. He had minutes, if that.

“Timothy is dying,” Damian forced the words out calmly, hearing the near silent gasp over the comm. “Father is holding Ra’s off. We need everyone to the Pit Chamber immediately.”

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Dick cradled Tim’s face between his hands, hating the crimson staining his chin, seeing more blood bubble out. The blade had to have hit a lung then, he was bleeding internally and externally. “We’ve got you Timmy, you’re going to be okay. Leslie and Alfred will fix you right up,” he was babbling and he knew it, lying. There would be no miracle from Leslie and Alfred, Tim wouldn’t make it back to Gotham.

And he could tell that Tim knew it too. It was strange, how still he was, not even trying to move or reacting in pain… he looked at the wound again and swallowed. He took one hand off Tim’s face, taking his hand. “Squeeze my hand Tim,” he pleaded, and all Tim did was cough up some blood. “I think his spine’s hit.”

And then Cass appeared, mask pulled aside. Her eyes were wide as she took in Tim’s condition and then she leant in to kiss his forehead. “Love little brother,” she whispered, and Tim made a sound, trying to speak. Then she was gone and from the sound of it she was taking her rage out on Ra’s.

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Bruce stepped back as Cass launched herself at Ra’s and for once…she didn’t seem to be holding back.

“Go, be with Timmy!” she called to him.

Bruce nodded and moved to where his other children were kneeling. He’d heard Dick’s comment on Tim’s spine and from the way his legs were lying, he was sure it was true. Damian met his eyes and he could see the guilt there.

“Father…he…it should have been me,” he whispered.

Bruce pulled him into his side. “He knew what he was doing. You’re his little brother Damian.” It had taken a lot of work and time to get them there but they were brothers now and Bruce had no doubt that Tim loved Damian and had willingly taken the blow.

He moved closer and Dick reluctantly gave up his place to let Bruce move in. “Tim, sweetheart?” he whispered, begging for Tim to respond. Every breath was slower and more laboured than the last, blood coating his lips and teeth. “Can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered weakly and he made a choked noise.

“We’re here Tim.” He took a limp hand in his, even if he was paralysed, he might still be able to feel it. His other hand rested against Tim’s cheek, feeling the coolness of his skin from blood loss.

Tim’s eyes finally opened but Bruce wasn’t sure he could see them, his eyes glassy and unfocused. “S…..s…p…”

Bruce swallowed; they all knew what he was trying to say. But Stephanie was back in Gotham holding down the fort with Duke, Tim had promised to be back in time for their anniversary. And with their comms cut off, they couldn’t contact her, couldn’t let Tim hear her one last time. “We’ll take you home to her,” he promised, seeing Tim’s lip twitch slightly, trying to smile…and then his gaze went distant, breath gurgling with blood.

“Tim?” Bruce called, reaching for the pulse point in his neck, a beat…and nothing. “He…he’s gone.”

“We both know that is not true, Detective,” Ra’s called, and Bruce bowed his head over his son’s body.

He knew what Ra’s was saying. He was offering the Pit for Tim’s use. And then a gunshot rang out. Bruce looked up to see Jason, his helmet damaged, standing in the entrance, even as Ra’s limped away from Cass.

“Let you do to him what your precious daughter did to me? Not happening,” Jason growled. “I promised Tim that I wouldn’t let him be put in the Pit.” He kept his gun aimed at Ra’s and for once…Bruce remained quiet as he gathered Tim’s broken body in his arms. Ra’s would have to kill him first before he let him have his son.

TIME OUT

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He cocked his head to the side, feeling something rippling…oh! He took off, flying quickly until he found the right place and there it was – a small, newly forming, Core. Ever so carefully, he cupped his hands around it, feeling the lingering pain and distress, even grief. Gently, he fed some of his own ectoplasm to the forming Core, helping it to stabilise and grow.

He opened a portal into his Keep, placing the Core over a comfortable bed in one of the many bedrooms. There was no set schedule for how quickly a ghost would form post death, and this was a post-death ghost, not a Neverborn. He then sent for an old friend and soon, Frostbite was entering the room which resized itself for him.

“Great One?”

Danny motioned to the still growing Core. “I was called to them.”

“Ah, let’s take a look then,” Frostbite approached, setting his bag down and pulling out equipment. “I’d say they died within the last few hours, their Core is forming very quickly, almost as if…hmmm.”

“What is it?” Danny asked, worried.

“It would seem that Clockwork wishes this ghost to form quickly. I suggest you go and see him; we still have a few hours before they will take a full form.”

Danny nodded and headed for Clockwork’s lair.

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“Welcome young King, I’ve been expecting you.” He ignored the rolled eyes as young Daniel settled in his lair.

“Who are they?”

Clockwork sighed, always straight to business. But he activated the portal to reveal what the King had asked for. “His name is Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne.” He smirked at the reaction that announcement got. And then the portal revealed his death, impaled by a madman who had long outlived his natural lifespan.

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Danny’s mind was spinning as he returned to the Keep. Tim Drake-Wayne was Red Robin…and now a ghost. The Bats were the Waynes. He owed Wes a hundred, wonderful. He entered the bedroom to find a translucent form around the Core, human shaped.

“Great One.”

“Clockwork’s stopped time on Earth and has accelerated time around him so that he forms quicker.”

“Him?” Frostbite asked.

“His name is Tim Drake-Wayne, he’s pretty famous, youngest CEO. And he’s a vigilante, Clockwork showed me his death. He was impaled on a sword while pushing his younger brother out of the way. It hit him about here,” Danny explained, touching his own chest.

“Ah, he likely bled out then,” Frostbite pondered, he hadn’t known much about humans when Danny first met him but after years of keeping Danny half-alive, he knew a lot. “Given the location of the wound, he was also probably paralysed by the injury, it would have severed the spinal cord.”

“So even if he had survived, it wouldn’t have been good,” Danny murmured. Watching as the new Ghost continued to form. “How long until he’s conscious?”

“At this rate, only a few hours until he is fully formed, conscious will take longer. Was the death swift or drawn out?”

“It took several minutes, long enough for his family to comfort him.” At least he hadn’t died alone.

“That may help some. Though, conscious does not mean he will be able to communicate immediately, he may be stuck in his death for some time. And his memory may not return at once.”

“I know, I sat through your lecture.” Danny smirked at him.

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Frostbite had made sure to explain all about Ghost formation to the Great One some time ago. His own death had been far from typical after all. And as King, it was his job to look after new Ghosts. What was highly unusual, was Clockwork’s interference. Whoever this Tim Drake-Wayne was, he must be very important to the timeline. But he would not ask, it was none of his business and he doubted Clockwork had told Danny either. He would show the past, the occasional glimpse of the present, but never the future.

He set up the equipment that might be needed if something went wrong – a Core monitor and a few other pieces and then took his leave.

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Danny sat and watched as Tim’s body slowly became more and more solid. He was clothed in something very similar to the outfit he’d died in, though not an exact match, a mask covering his face. The only reason Danny had worn what he’d died in was because he had no way to change it till he started coming to the Realms regularly. With this much ectoplasm available, his clothing was shifting to fit how he saw himself, which was good since the inverted colours of the suit Tim had died in would look weird.

Every time he showed signs of rousing, Danny was there, talking softly to him, assuring him that he was safe, that he could take his time. Once black hair was now a soft white and silver, his skin tinted slightly blue. Under his hair, Danny could make out slightly pointed ears, his Ghostly traits coming through immediately. Danny’s Ghost form had looked a lot more human at first, because he was a halfa. Full ghosts gained those traits from the start.

The poor guy semi-woke a few times, curling into a ball and screaming in pain. And then finally, he snapped awake, snarling, and lunging for Danny. He wasn’t really fighting back, just working to tire Tim out. All Ghosts came up fighting at first, it was a reaction to the kind of death that caused them to form.

Even running on instinct, he was a good fighter, but he was no match for Danny and eventually Danny had him trapped against his chest. The new ghost was gasping as if he still needed to breath, trembling, and Danny held him up.

“It’s okay, you’re alright, you’re safe now,” he kept murmuring over and over in a pointed ear. “Just breath with me,” he instructed, taking deep, slow breaths and gradually Tim’s breathing began to match his. It was a left over instinct and one that was useful at the moment.

“Where…what…” he stammered out, and Danny gently hushed him. Thankfully, Tim slowly fully relaxed, all limbs now fully tangible and visible. Panic tended to send their powers haywire after all.

“That’s better, you’re going to be okay,” he promised, moving Tim back to the bed. “Just stay calm.”

“Who are you…where…” The whites of his domino widened. “Who…who am I?”

“Your name is Tim; you’re in a room of my Keep. My name is Danny.”

“Tim…” he whispered, frowning in confusion. “Why can’t I remember? What’s happening to me?”

Danny took a deep breath. “Not remembering is normal for what’s happened, the memories should start coming back with time.”

“What happened?”

Danny got ready for any kind of reaction; he’d never actually had to tell someone before. “You died.”

Tim froze and then one hand moved to his chest. He seemed to be staring over Danny’s shoulder, though the mask made it hard to tell. “Dami,” he whispered. He gasped, shuddering, curling over.

Danny hesitated, not sure what to do.

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His head was pounding, images flashing and vanishing. He didn’t understand what was happening to him. He died? There…there was a boy…had to protect him? Dami? He was scared. He wanted…he… “Home. I want to go home.” He had his arms wrapped around his chest, trying not to shake. He wasn’t dead, he couldn’t be.

“You will,” the stranger…Danny said, and he looked at him. “Right now, your body is frozen in time, the whole world is. You’ve had such an impact on things and will continue to do so, that the Ghost who oversees time has frozen the living world. That gives us time to help you remember and learn the Ghost basics.”

He listened as Danny explained what would happen. How could he be so important?

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Clockwork observed the pair via a portal. It was good the young vigilante was aware; the total amnesia would have been a surprise if he did not already know the events to come. Most Ghosts at least knew their own name upon waking. But it would not add much of a delay to his return.

For him to return to his body, it had to be within minutes of death and so time would remain frozen. The boy had no idea the good he had done by saving his adoptive father from the time stream or of ensuring his team remained strong so that the timeline with him as a killer Batman had become such a tiny offshoot that it was all but impossible and with Timothy’s death saving his brother, it was now fully impossible for it to become the main timeline. Just as it was for Danny to become Dan. The Observants may not like the methods he had chosen but that was their issue to deal with. With a new High King, they had a lot less power in the Realms after all.

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He pulled the mask from his face slowly and set it down, watching it but it remained solid. He didn’t know how long it had been since he’d woken since time wasn’t really a thing in the Realms but he remembered his name now. He knew he’d died to save his little brother, Dami, but there were others to. It was so frustrating to have it there and just out of reach.

Now, he was finally going to see himself. Danny said ghosts looked different to humans, to not be startled, but he was nervous. Apparently the main two eye colours for Ghosts were green, like Danny’s, or red. Something about green brought a vague image to mind, someone… a sibling? Everything was so vague, but he knew he had siblings and that there was someone else, someone important, someone he’d promised to come back to. Danny said that was part of what had caused him to become a Ghost.

Right, no more procrastinating. He looked up into the mirror, seeing himself for the first time.

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Danny looked up and met black eyes, surprised by the colour. And something in the way Tim moved had shifted…more confidence?

“I’m Red Robin,” the young Ghost stated. “I became Robin when I was thirteen and it was taken from me when Batman was lost in time, when Nightwing took up the cowl. So, I became Red Robin to find Batman…to save my Dad.”

“You remember.”

Tim nodded, looking down at the red accented black domino in his hand. “I’m almost twenty years old and I have a girlfriend waiting for me back in Gotham.” He grinned slightly and Danny laughed.

He was ready to go home. Danny was glad, as much as he liked Tim, he missed his Fraid and his fiancé. Just because no time would have passed for them didn’t mean he didn’t miss them. But he understood, Tim had needed the one-on-one training and attention to stabilise and grow. And just because he was going home, it didn’t mean Danny would be abandoning him. He would keep an eye on him, make sure nothing went wrong and he was alright.

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Jason kept his gun aimed at Ra’s. Tim…he was slumped against Bruce’s chest now; the utter limpness of his body was enough to prove that he was…gone. Tim…the geeky little genius who could think his way out of anything… who had never backed down, had sought him out even after everything…had forgiven him and Damian…had stood against literal gods…his little brother was dead.

He knew Tim’s wishes, to never be placed in a Lazarus Pit but for his body to be cremated and his ashes interned wherever the family choose. It hurt since cremation would ensure Tim could never come back, so many heroes had died and returned in ways other than the Pit. Even Jason hadn’t been resurrected by it. As long as his body was intact, there was a chance… but Tim didn’t want that and he would honour his wishes.

He could see Cass, ready to keep fighting, her body between Ra’s and B but not in Jason’s line of fire. The man had taken Damian, snatched him right out of school. He’d had to have known they’d be right on his tail. They’d found the kid quick enough, tossed him his gear, then split up to deal with the ninja and possibly blow the base. Apparently, that was something Tim liked doing since some of the ninja had taken one look at him and run off, yelling about explosions…when the hell had he stared blowing things up? That was Jason’s gig. Tim and Damian pairing up…it had been the wrong choice; Ra’s had gone after the two himself. And now…now Timmy was dead.

No more, Ra’s would die here. For killing Tim, Cass might even help. She was even more against killing than Bruce but at the moment she was also beyond angry.

And then the air went green and Jason tensed, glancing towards the bubbling water…that suddenly went still and silent. Was that good or bad? Ra’s looked over as well, his eyes wide. And that was when a split appeared in the air, opening as if it was a floating Lazarus Pit almost except…the shade of green was different. And out of it came a figure, floating in the air. What the hell?

And then the newcomer looked past them all to where Bruce still held Tim’s body and they all tensed. No way was anyone hurting Tim, even if the kid would never feel it.

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Danny looked around the underground room, immediately seeing Tim’s body, limp in the arms of Batman, his Dad. Batman was Bruce Wayne! Focus Danny, not the time. He let his gaze wander the others, seeing the grief in the various bats and birds. And then he stared at the man Clockwork had spoken of in his own cryptic way. This was the man who had someone avoided Death’s every attempt to claim him. Somehow, somewhere, he had found protection even against Clockwork. But against the High King?

He could feel Tim’s chaotic emotions, the young Ghost scared and yet yearning. It was a good thing he was invisible since he was still recognisably Tim Drake without the mask and Red Robin with it, even with the changes death had made to his suit. Trembling hands clutched the back of Danny’s robe and he sent out a comforting rumble from his core.

“Ra’s al Ghul,” he growled, barely keeping from slipping into Ghost Speak. He didn’t want to deafen the mortals after all. This had to be done quickly or else Tim’s death would become permanent.

TBC….

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 2

Tim was terrified, clutching the back of Danny’s robe, he knew he should be braver…he was Red Robin, or had been. But he couldn’t force his fingers to release their grip. There was so much fear in the air…not just now…but soaked into the place. He looked around, his family…and his body…that was him! He shuddered at the sight but found himself approaching, moving away from the safety of Danny’s side. But Danny had said he didn’t have to stay with him, just stay invisible for now. Until…Ra’s, that was Ra’s, the man who killed him, who took his spleen, kicked him out a window, taunted him...

And holding his body, was his dad. He knelt down, reaching a shaking hand out but he stopped short of trying to touch B, not sure if he could. His head snapped around at a bellow of rage, shifting protectively between his family and the monster.

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Damian had his sword drawn, he would not allow anyone to harm his brother’s body or his still living family. Father and Richard were far too grief stricken to fight properly, especially against some creature from the Pit. A demon? Though…it knew Ra’s name and did not sound happy at all. It advanced on the man who moved to attack but his sword passed through the creature with no effect.

“You have denied death for far too long. The deaths of thousands are on your soul,” the echoing voice growled, and Damian frowned.

Was it here to judge him? Why now? Had Timothy’s death been the final straw? He shivered slightly as the temperature dropped and for a second, he could swear his brother was there. His eyes widened in shock as a clawed hand wrapped around Ra’s who began to rapidly age as if…as if the Pit’s effects were being erased.

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Danny was pressed for time, they had minutes left until Tim’s body would be too long dead. “You have denied death for far too long. The deaths of thousands are on your soul,” he snarled, cape snapping in a non-existent wind. He hated having to be all kingly, all the things that came with it.

He could see Tim, hovering protectively between his family and Ra’s, just in case. He had a hang of the most basic powers but there wasn’t much he could do to protect them except become tangible and take the blow instead of one of them.

He moved forward, ignoring the attempted attacks, wrapping his hand around Ra’s even as he began pulling the contaminated ectoplasm from the struggling man. He ignored the words the man was ranting even as the body began to rapidly age. Within minutes all that was left was dust and Danny turned back to Tim who relaxed now that the threat, his killer, was gone.

He let as much of his kingly form fade as possible, his appearance becoming more like what it had been when he lived in Amity Park. The bats rallied around Batman and Tim’s body and Danny held his hands up.

“Peace,” he told them, voice no longer so echoing. “We have little time if I am to return what has been lost.” And…he was still a little too kingly, oh well. Seeing the hesitant confusion he motioned to Tim’s body. That was a lot of blood, Tim was really going to need to shower once home.

“You won’t hurt him!”

“Dick,” Tim spoke for the first time and everyone froze.

“You need to drop the invisibility, they can’t see you,” Danny pointed out.

“Don’t you dare! Stop whatever farce this is, Timothy is…he is dead.”

“I am.”

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Tim was terrified to reveal himself even as Danny approached them all. He didn’t want to look at his body again, to see how pale its skin was, the blood all over…

“You won’t hurt him!” Dick yelled, shocking Tim out of his thoughts as he looked at his oldest brother, seeing the tears on his face, domino long gone.

“Dick,” he called shakily, realising they heard him.

“You need to drop the invisibility, they can’t see you,” Danny pointed out.

“Don’t you dare! Stop whatever farce this is, Timothy is…he is dead,” Damian snarled, sword in hand.

“I am,” Tim agreed shakily. He just had to drop the invisibility, easy…so why was it so hard?

“Tim?” Jason asked, pulling his damaged helmet off, looking around.

He closed his eyes and took a deep, if unneeded, breath. He felt the shivery feeling that meant he was shifting visibility.

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Bruce watched as shadows seemed to melt from the air and then a figure was standing there. It wore a suit that looked a lot like the Red Robin one, though the patterning was slightly different and instead of gold there was silver in its place. He looked mostly human, except his skin was tinted blue and his hair was a mix of silver and white, his eyes hidden by the red and black domino. He looked nothing like Tim and yet…something in his stance…

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Dick stared at the figure, seeing the way it shifted, fingers tugging at his utility belt exactly like… “Tim?” he whispered, and the figure looked his way. He got to his feet, approaching slowly.

“Dick,” was the soft answer, Tim’s voice…echoey, but still Tim.

He stopped in front of him, looking down at the domino covered face. He reached for it and Tim flinched back. “Is it really you? How?” he glanced back towards Tim’s body.

“It’s me,” he whispered.

Dick lifted his hand again, letting it lay flat against Tim’s cheek, his skin felt strange, cold. He let his thumb rub against the skin, ignoring the cold, and Tim slowly leant into the touch. “Baby bird,” he choked on a sob and then Tim was in his arms, shaking. “Timmy.” It was him; they hadn’t lost him. He pulled back and reached for Tim’s domino again, feeling him tense. “It’s okay,” he promised, carefully pulling the mask free only to stare into pitch black eyes, no sign of familiar blue or even Pit green. But he knew his little brother and everything in him screamed that this was Tim.

“You’re here, it doesn’t matter how,” Dick told him. “I would always know you, Timmy.”

“Dick…” Tim wiped at his eyes; his tears tinted green. Tim wasn’t human, he was dead, but that was okay, they could deal with it.

“We’re running out of time,” the stranger who had brought Tim to them pointed out. “Tim died with regrets and loose ends in a place high in ectoplasm. While for you, only minutes have passed, for Tim it has been weeks. There is a chance to restore him to life, to reunite soul and body, but there is only a small window of time to act in.”

“How can we be sure this is not a trick? Why does he look different?” Damian demanded, and Dick knew it was not out of hate for Timmy, it hadn’t been for years. No, this was concern for all of them and for Tim. Because if this wasn’t Tim and he went into Tim’s body…

“It’s him Baby Bat,” Dick answered, he was positive.

“You’re alright Dami?” Tim asked, looking towards his little brother, looking him over for injuries. “He didn’t hurt you too?”

From the way Damian puffed up but hesitated, it was obvious that he wasn’t hurt, he just wasn’t sure that he was really talking to Tim.

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Bruce looked at the cooling body in his arms, Tim’s eyes closed now, pale face slack. And then he looked up to the faintly glowing figure. Could it really be his son?

“Dad,” the figure was looking at him. “Please…I want to come home. I want to fly with my brothers, I want…I want to marry Steph.”

Bruce swallowed hard at the pleading. How would a creature know about Stephanie? Or that Tim had begun planning a proposal? “Tim?”

He nodded. “It’s me, I know I look different.”

“How is this possible?” he asked.

“Tim is a ghost now,” the stranger answered. “We are almost out of time,” he warned.

Bruce looked at the body in his arms. If there was a chance…he stood and then carefully laid Tim’s body down closer to the stranger who nodded at him, bright green eyes solemn. He then knelt and put his hand over Tim’s wound. Green light flared and he looked over at Tim.

“Ready?”

Tim nodded and moved closer. He hesitantly reached for his body and the light flared. When it dulled, he was gone, his body lying as still as it had been, no signs of life.

“This isn’t a miracle cure. He will live, but he will need to heal. And…he will be different.” the stranger looked to Jason. “You would know that better than the rest.”

Jason grimaced.

And then Tim sucked in a shallow breath, his chest moving. Then another and another. He was breathing! Slowly, some colour came back to his face. The stranger removed his hand from the wound and no new blood flowed.

“His spine?” Bruce asked.

“Repairing, but it will take some time. He needs medical care and probably won’t wake for a few days; he needs to reconnect with his body and that will be easier with him unconscious.”

Bruce reached out and touched Tim’s cheek, feeling the warmth of life once again in his skin. “Cass, get back to the plane and get the spinal board and medkit.”

She nodded and took off running as fast as she could, which was why he’d sent her. She would be the quickest and most ninja seeing her would think twice about attacking, if any were left.

Jason dropped to his knees, gently taking Tim’s gloved hand in his. “But he’ll be okay? He’ll be…Tim?”

“He’ll be himself,” was the soft promise. “But remember, he’s had weeks now to deal with his death while it’s still fresh for you.”

“What…who are you?” Jason asked, and there was something almost shaky in his voice.

“I am High King Phantom of the Infinite Realms, or as some call it, the Ghost Zone. You can feel it, because you died. I assume Robin can too, if to a lesser extent. What you call Lazarus Pits are pooled, rotting ectoplasm, the substance that makes up the Realms.” He held his hand out and green liquid pooled in it, a brighter, gentler shade than the Pits. “All Ghosts are made of ectoplasm; that’s why Tim looked different. He formed within the Realms so his appearance shifted as he formed. If he had formed here, he would have retained his human appearance for longer but would have been weaker.”

And then Cass reappeared, the medkit on her back and backboard under her arm.

They got to work stabilising Tim for the flight home, all of them checking his breathing and pulse at times, needing the reassurance that he was alive.

The King nodded, gently brushing a hand over Tim’s forehead. “He’ll be alright for the flight. I’ll check in soon,” his language slipped, more informal.

“How?” Bruce asked.

“I assume you’ll be keeping him at home? I know who he is, don’t worry. The dead tell no tales.” And with that he vanished.

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Jason sat beside the emergency bunk on the Batplane, watching the monitors. Tim’s oxygen levels were rising gradually, his pulse a bit slow still but steady. They’d stripped his suit off, leaving him in his shorts and tank top, then wrapped him in the emergency blankets to ensure he stayed warm. He’d done his best to wipe off as much blood as possible but he needed a proper wash down.

Tim was alive, he was coming home…it didn’t feel real. The King said he was Tim, but that he’d be different. He hadn’t been in the Pit though, and he’d seemed fine, so that should mean no rage or anything. He’d been more distraught and scared than anything else in those minutes between being revealed and touching his body. But it had been weeks for him, weeks in some other Realm.

And then he saw Tim’s fingers jerk slightly, brow furrowing. His whole body jolted slightly and Jason stood.

“He’s moving!” His spine was heal…oh. “Get the morphine!”

Dick quickly appeared with a needle. “Jason?”

“His spine’s healing, nerves reconnecting…”

Dick grimaced and injected the painkiller. Unconscious or not, that had to hurt. “Should we give a paralytic to make sure he remains still?”

“Call Alfred.”

Dick nodded and headed up to the front to call.

“It’s okay Timmy, we’re here, you’re going to be alright,” he murmured. Unconscious or not, he might be able to hear them.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Babs was relieved as the Batplane came online. “Mission status?” she asked.

“Have Dr T and Agent A on standby. Red Robin has been impaled by a sword, spinal involvement,” Bruce answered, voice tight with anger and fear.

“Would a hospital be better?” she asked in alarm, almost able to feel her own old injury twinge in reaction.

“Negative. The wound was originally fatal, there are…unknowns involved in his recovery.”

She pressed a hand to her mouth. Fatal. Tim had… she felt sick. They all knew the risks but to hear it… “Understood.”

“We need to know if we should give him a paralytic. He’s jolted at least once and with a spinal…before he…he couldn’t move or anything before. We’re worried moving will cause more damage,”

“I’ll contact Dr T and ask. Standby.”

Her hands weren’t shaking when she made the call, they weren’t. She listened carefully to the instructions and then called the plane back to relay them.

“Should I inform Batgirl?”

“Is she back in for the night?” Bruce asked, and she understood, this was not the kind of news to give when she was out.

“Yes, it was a very quiet night.” She hesitated to ask, but Steph should be prepared. “How bad is it?”

“We’ve been told he should make a full recovery. The wound appears weeks old already, so it shouldn’t be too traumatising to see.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

She paced the Cave, able to see Alfred and Leslie preparing for whatever Tim would need. She knew Leslie was angry that they were bringing Tim to the Cave instead of a hospital or even the Watchtower. And she agreed with the doctor, Tim had…he’d been stabbed! She knew it had been no random ninja, she’d seen the ‘gifts’ left in his apartment…Ra’s had tried to kill Tim!

She was scared to see him, to see the damage, but she had to be strong for him. They’d been through so much together…had both messed up so many times though she knew she had messed up the most. She never should have left Tim thinking that she was dead, shouldn’t have ‘haunted’ him on her return…never should have been involved in the mess that led to her death in the first place. It had done nothing but hurt Tim. That he had forgiven her in the end was a miracle. Was it selfish to ask for another miracle now? For Tim to live and be able to walk? A spinal injury…

And then the Batplane was landing, Cass running to her immediately, wrapping her in a hug.

“Alive, Tim’s alive,” she promised.

The plane shut down and then Bruce, Dick, Jason, and Damian emerged, carefully carrying Tim strapped to the backboard, stripped of his suit and skin stained red with blood. Someone had cleaned him up but… She sobbed, covering her mouth, struggling to breath.

“He’s alive Steph,” Barbara spoke up from beside her.

They watched as Tim was carried into the medical bay and then she rushed to the door, watching as they transferred him to the bed, Tim not reacting at all. Alfred quickly attached an IV to the port that was already in his arm from the flight, giving him fluids and who knew what else. She was studying to be a nurse but watching them, it all flew out of her head, replaced by terror. He’d survived the flight…what if…

And then Dick was wrapping her up in a hug. “He’s alive Steph, he fought to come home to you,” he whispered, and she sobbed.

“What happened?” she asked, not entirely sure she wanted to know.

“Timmy saved Damian, took the blow for him,” he answered.

Of course he had. Tim had always been so willing to sacrifice himself for others. Even when he and Damian had been fighting, he had still been protective of the youngest Wayne.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Alfred fought to remain calm as dear Timothy was transferred onto the bed, his skin stained red with blood and too pale. But his chest rose and fell with breath and once attached, the heart monitor began beeping away steadily, if a little slower than normal. The sight of the injury was obvious, the black cloth of his compression top cut through both sides. He cut the cloth away completely and then stared at the wound.

Leslie too stared at it. “What happened?” she snapped.

“He was stabbed by a sword,” Damian answered softly. “It was meant to be me.” He shuddered, and Alfred wished he could comfort his youngest grandson, but then Bruce wrapped an arm around the teen. “He began choking on blood and collapsed as the sword was pulled free. I caught him and moved him to rest against a support before facing Ra’s. He wished to place Timothy in the Pit. He was bleeding out, struggling to breath or even remain conscious.”

“His spine was hit, he was paralysed at least, he couldn’t squeeze my hand or move at all,” Dick picked up the explanation. Within minutes…he stopped breathing.”

Alfred’s gaze immediately went to the monitors, his oxygen was at 91% but he was breathing and even as he watched, it crept up to 92.

“He was clinically dead for almost fifteen minutes,” Bruce spoke up. And then he explained about a King, Ra’s death, and Timothy’s own ghost?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Leslie worked quickly to get Tim connected to the various monitors, Alfred working beside her. Seeing the signs of massive blood loss and then checking his blood pressure, she set up a transfusion. They had to ensure he was stable and remained stable, otherwise they would lose him. Listening as the family explained… how could he be alive? And even if his body lived, surely his brain… she moved to ensure the necessary scanners were ready. They would need to scan both brain and spine.

But then Bruce began speaking of Ghosts and she wondered if she should draw blood from the whole group, see what they may have been exposed to.

“Alright, all of you out, clean up and see to your injuries, I know you must have some. Don’t do anything stupid,” she warned. “Let’s get him into the MRI.”

Alfred nodded and they wheeled the bed to the scanner.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Val wrapped herself around Danny, just being there for him. Something had obviously happened that had upset him while he was in the Realms. She couldn’t really help there, just offer any support that he’d take. A fight here, and she could back him up, whether against a ghost or the Fenton’s or even the GIW. She had done her best to support him ever since learning the truth about Danny. Finding out how wrong she was about Phantom, about what had happened that led to her Dad being fired…it had been a massive shock and adjustment to her thinking. But once she knew she had to wonder how she had never seen it. Phantom was Danny, just colour inverted, or he had been back then. Now his Phantom form was more Ghostly, because he was older and because of the Crown.

She wished they could be together more but he had responsibilities to the Infinite Realms. “I love you,” she whispered, and he smiled tiredly.

“Red Robin was killed and became a Ghost,” he murmured. “Clockwork said he’s important, he froze time to let him form and stabilise so that he could return to his body.”

Her eyes widened in shock. That explained why he was tired; he’d been dealing with a newly forming vigilante Ghost! “Is…is he like you?” she asked, knowing that being so alone was painful for him.

“No, his soul has fully re-fused into his body. He’s alive but…there’ll be side effects. I have to go check on him soon. I explained everything to him then but he might not remember it all when he wakes up. He was stabbed through the chest by a sword Val, his spine was severed. That’s going to take time to heal.”

“And you’ll be there for him,” she smiled and kissed him. “Will he ping the sensors?”

“Don’t know, then again, Red Hood hasn’t and he died too. He has a signature, though weak. Maybe they haven’t put sensors in Gotham yet, maybe even the GIW doesn’t want to mess with Batman’s city.”

“Maybe…maybe they could help?” she suggested.

“The Justice League’s had years to help us and they haven’t.”

“Still worth trying Danny,” she pressed. Their tiny team just wasn’t enough.

“I’ll try,” he finally agreed.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Barbara sat beside the bed where Tim lay, fully cleaned up and dressed in soft hospital pyjamas. He had an oxygen mask over his face, an IV, and every monitor possible hooked up to him. Thankfully, all of his readings were a lot better than when he had arrived. And the brain scans seemed to reveal no brain damage from the lack of oxygen and blood. He’d had two MRI’s of his spine and it was shocking to see the changes between each. His bones and spinal cord were healing, regenerating.

Everyone else’s bloods had been clean, so it hadn’t been a mass hallucination. Tim had truly died, his soul unable to fully move on so he had become a ghost. Like Deadman? Secret? But Bruce had said he looked very different to them, had been visible without magical help. Would that have side effects? Surely it would.

But at least he would be alive and not trapped in a chair like she was. A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up at Dick. She smiled at him softly, reaching up to squeeze his hand. “He’s alive and here Dick, everything else we can deal with.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Duke looked into the medical bay, seeing Tim lying on the bed. The paralytic had been stopped, his spine healed enough to withstand some movement. He was still hooked up to everything though. Leslie wasn’t happy with the readings, they were better than they were, but not normal. But Tim had died, been a real Ghost, so maybe…this was Tim’s new normal?

He blinked as Tim twitched and then moved to his side, putting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay Tim, you’re safe in the Cave.” He talked to him, seeing the heart monitor pick up speed. Was he waking? But then gradually he settled again. Alfred appeared, looking chagrined at having left him alone, but even Alfred was only human.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noise…all around…so heavy…soft…touch…he drifted, unable to understand the noises…

Eventually things began to become clearer, noises becoming words…voices…he knew them…

“Please Tim, please wake up.”

TBC…

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 3

She held Tim’s limp hand in hers, one fingers lightly resting on his wrist, feeling the steady beat of his heart through the pulse point, able to hear the soft hiss of oxygen as he breathed through the nasal cannula. Silly maybe since he was hooked up to the heart monitor but she couldn’t help it. Tim…Tim had died. And not just the kind that took some CPR but the kind it should have taken the Pits to bring him back from.

Steph had watched Alfred check Tim over a few hours ago, the wound on his chest now looked well over a month old. His spine was fully healed according to the last scan and they’d stopped the paralytic and the heavy-duty painkillers, they still had him on some because he was still healing and the fast healing didn’t seem to be affecting the other wounds he’d taken in the rescue mission. Thankfully, everyone else had far lesser injuries than Tim, bruises, some lacerations, Damian had sprained his wrist blocking another blow from Ra’s. And they were all healing well three days later. But Tim wasn’t waking up. Bruce said they’d been told he’d be unconscious for several days to allow his…his Ghost to reintegrate with his body fully but she just wanted him to open his eyes.

“Please Tim, please wake up,” she whispered, lifting his hand to kiss the back of it. He was warmer now than when they’d first brought him home, but still chillier than usual.

And then she froze as his eyelids fluttered, her heart racing. Had he heard her?

“Tim? It’s okay, you’re safe in the Cave.” How much would he remember about what had happened?

Slowly, his eyes opened, blinking dazedly up at her and she froze like a rookie as she stared into eerie blackness.

“Tim?” She couldn’t help the shakiness of her voice, and his brow furrowed slightly, lips parting.

“Sssteph…” his voice was barely audible but it was her name he said. And then his fingers curled around hers weakly, lips twitching up in a tired attempt at a smile.

“I’m here,” she promised, reaching for the nearby cup. “Here, suck on these.” She let go of his hand to slip her hand behind his head, lifting it enough that he wouldn’t choke as she tipped the cup of ice chips to his lips.

Tim sucked on them slowly, eyes half closed.

“Are you in pain?” she asked once she’d hit the alert to let them know he was awake, though she wasn’t sure for how long.

“Nn…” he swallowed. “No,” he got out, voice hoarse even after the ice.

He blinked slowly and his eyes were suddenly the blue she knew. A trembling arm lifted from the bed, reaching for her and she caught his hand. The injury was healed, why was he so weak? But his fingers curled with hers and he tugged at her hand. She stood from the chair and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes before lying down beside him. The medical beds were large, they had to be given Bruce and Jason’s size, but not large enough for them to lie beside each other so she lay on her side, propped up on her elbow, seeing him fighting sleep.

“I love you,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss his cheek but Tim moved his head so their lips met, Tim kissing her sluggishly.

“Love you,” he answered when they parted. “So…tired…”

“So, sleep silly, I’m not going anywhere.” And if this King showed up for Tim, she wouldn’t let him take him. She moved her hand to gently run through his hair and Tim drifted to sleep, right as Alfred appeared.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce rushed towards the Cave, had Tim taken a turn for the worse? No, he was healing, he was.

“Ah, I see. Well, despite this being Master Tim’s idea, I doubt he pulled you onto the bed against your will Miss Steph,” Alfred’s chiding voice reached him, and Bruce slowed down.

Tim’s idea…he was awake! He stepped into the doorway and saw Steph was on the bed, lying propped on her side, right up against Tim who didn’t seem to be awake. His heart fell, he’d thought…

“He was out of it Alfred, exhausted and…he could barely squeeze my hand. But he was awake and he knew who I was. He wanted me here, I couldn’t just…” her voice was shaking, and Bruce moved closer.

“It’s alright,” he soothed. Tim had been awake and aware and he’d missed it.

“Bruce, his eyes…they were black.”

“They were black on his Ghost as well, he might still be integrating and that’s why he’s fallen asleep so quickly again,” he offered, trying to sooth her.

Tim hated contacts but if his eyes were permanently black then he’d have to wear them when he was out during the day. It’d be fine in the mask since no one could see his eyes anyway and even if they did, it would help keep Tim and RR being linked.

“Get some sleep Steph, you’re exhausted.”

He knew why she hadn’t slept; they were all terrified that they would wake and find Tim’s revival was a dream. But now that he had woken once, hopefully she would.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Damian snuck down into the Cave and into medbay, seeing the only occupied bed. Bro…Stephani was lying on her side, asleep, and Timothy lay against her. It was unfair that the rest of them had missed his awakening. The heart monitor was beeping away steadily, oxygen hissing softly. He moved silently, not wanting to wake her, standing on the other side of the bed, watching Timothy sleep. Ever since they had returned home, he’d found himself coming down to check on Timothy several times a day and even at night, just to be sure he truly was alive. He reached out and touched Timothy’s hand, just to be sure, and nearly jumped when he moved.

Damian looked up to find sleepy blue eyes staring at him, he did not appear completely aware though. Timothy’s lips moved silently and Damian nodded, recognising his brother was saying his name. His hand twitched, turning, and Damian gripped his hand firmly.

“Thank you,” he whispered, and Timothy smiled sleepily before his eyes fell shut again. Damian pulled the chair over with one hand and sat, unwilling to break Timothy’s hold.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny appeared wherever Tim was, immediately seeing him hooked up to monitoring equipment and oxygen, fast asleep. He assumed the blond sharing the bed was his girlfriend, Stephanie Brown, Batgirl? And the boy was Damian Wayne, the right size for Robin.

He glanced around and realised they were in a cave…talk about sticking to a theme! But then he moved towards Tim, invisible and utterly silent to keep from waking the two humans. He reached out and placed one hand on Tim’s forehead and the other on his chest, reaching out. Good, his core was still stable, his ghost and body were integrating together into one again. Tim wasn’t a halfa, he wouldn’t have a secondary form.

“Who’s there?”

Danny looked to see a tall, very well built, young man with a streak of white in his hair and a definite ectoplasmic signature. Ah! The Red Hood sans helmet. Not surprising that he was the one who had sensed him so he allowed himself to become visible.

Teal eyes widened and then narrowed, the man tensing at the sight of Danny’s hands on Tim. Danny moved away and towards him instead, pressing a finger to his lips, hoping he would agree not to wake them. Red Hood stared at him and then moved out into the main room of the cave. So, who was Red Hood? He went over the Wayne family, not that he followed them or anything. He’d only known Tim’s name because of Tucker fanboying over him. But…right! Bruce Wayne had lost a son years ago…what was his name? It had to be him.

“How did you get in here?” Hood demanded. “What were you doing to Red?”

“I followed the feel of Tim’s core which I was checking on. He’s integrating well, the process should be complete by morning. Is his spine healed?”

Hood stared at him before nodding. “He woke briefly earlier and could move but was very weak.”

“He’ll recover,” Danny told him. Clockwork had promised after all. “Will Batman keep him safe as well?”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“What do you mean?” Jason was confused by the sudden question. What would Tim need to be kept safe from? Was there something he would be weak to now that he’d died?

“Well, he hasn’t turned you over to the GIW but that doesn’t mean he won’t turn Tim in since he became a full Ghost.”

“The who?” he felt utterly lost with this conversation. Sure, he was grateful this guy, ghost, whatever had brought Timmy back to them. But did he have to be so confusing?

“The GIW, the Ghost Investigation Ward? They work under the Anti-Ecto Acts. According to them - you, me and now Tim are neither sapient or sentient. We’re just echoes of dead people and thus have no rights. They capture, experiment and exterminate any ecto-entity or Ghost they can grab.”

Jason felt his jaw drop slightly. What the hell?! He stalked to the Batcomputer and began a search even as he sent a summons for the others. “I have no clue what the hell you’re talking about,” he growled, “but if that’s true…they won’t be around for long. JL Dark has a ghost on their roster!”

Despite the inhuman features like fangs, skin colour and pointed ears, the King’s shock wasn’t hard to see.

“Jason? Is Tim,” Bruce cut himself off, Dick hovering at his shoulder. “King Phantom.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce had hoped that Jason’s summons was because Tim had woken again but instead, he found King Phantom in the Cave. Unlike before, he was actually standing on the ground rather than floating, his tail replaced with humanoid legs. And his clothing was simpler too, the crown no longer floating over his head.

“King Phantom,” he greeted stiffly.

“Knight,” was the greeting in return. “Your son should wake by morning. It may take a while longer for him to get back to full strength though. Despite time being frozen, his body was still clinically dead for several minutes.”

Bruce forced himself to nod, it was good to have confirmation that Tim would get better…if they could trust this King. But he had brought Tim back to them.

“B, ever heard of the GIW or Anti-Ecto Acts?” Jason asked, and Bruce frowned.

He assumed the GIW was some sort of organisation but for what? He looked to the computer to see a search running. “No.”

“So, you wouldn’t hand me or Timmy over to them for experimentation?” he pressed, eyes flicking to their guest briefly.

What?! Bruce stared at his son in shock. “Never,” he growled. He’d lost Jason once, had lost Tim for those precious minutes, he couldn’t lose his children again. He moved around Phantom to where he could see into the medical bay, seeing Damian in a chair and Steph still in the bed with Tim, the monitors still beeping away.

“Well apparently it’s the law,” Jason continued. “King here’s worried you’ll hand Timbit over since he was a Ghost before going back into his body.”

“Tim is my son, I could never…” Bruce stared at the King. He had brought Tim back even fearing that?

“Found them,” Dick called, sounding sick, but he was staring at the monitor, text scrolling down it. “Yeah…I’m digging up Timmy’s old plans for taking down corrupt governments.”

That definitely got Bruce’s attention. He knew the old plans that Tim used to mess around with, had seen the mission report of Young Justice actually invading a small country, but bringing down the US government? For Dick to suggest that…

Part of Bruce wanted to keep himself between Phantom and the medical bay, but the King had done nothing threatening to them at all, either time. So he moved to the computer to see what had been found, feeling sick as he read the acts and about the GIW. How had the Justice League missed this?

“You claim to have not known?” The King asked, watching them closely.

“No Justice League member would have allowed this to pass if we had,” he stated firmly. “it appears they were well hidden in a mass of legislation that was passed during Luthor’s presidency. I will contact the Justice League to begin working on this.”

“It’s not just Jay and Tim…any hero who’s died, any person on the street, would be covered.” Dick’s hands were clenched into fists and he heard Jason’s growl, saw his son’s eyes glowing.

“Jason.”

“I’m good,” Jason forced the words out.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny watched them all closely, reaching out to sense the emotions in the air. They…they really hadn’t known? He felt so confused. “But…” he whispered.

“King Phantom?” Batman…Bruce Wayne looked at him.

“We sent out so many messages,” he forced himself to explain. “No one ever answered.”

“Who did you contact?”

“The Justice League help line…no one ever responded to any of the calls. We just gave up in the end.”

“Your people?”

Oh right, he thought Danny meant the realms. He shook his head, pulling everything Kingly back, leaving jut Phantom in his hazmat suit. “Amity Park, Illinois,” he explained. “I’ve only been king for a few years, for that to happen the whole city was sucked into the Infinite Realms for three days. Are you saying no one noticed?” How? The GIW…they couldn’t have, could they?

They moved about the massive computer, pulling up records, but Danny couldn’t watch, thoughts spiralling. “Tim will sleep till morning, I’ll return then.”

And he fled, needing Val, needing his Fraid. And damn it, he was going to have to tell them that the Justice League hadn’t known, they hadn’t been abandoned. He better take Sam’s mace first.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Waking up happened very slowly, it was like trying to crawl through concrete but gradually he became aware of the world around him. There was a hand holding his, the warmth of a body pressed to the other side…two people? It felt like someone had attached weights to his eyelids but eventually he pried them open, staring up at the cave…the Batcave…medical bay…why? His shifted, fingers flexing, and the hand holding his tightened.

“Timothy?” Damian, that was Dami, his little brother…the one he’d died to protect.

He gasped in air and then an oxygen mask was pressed over his face.

“Deep breaths brother,” Damian told him and Tim obeyed, the mask removed once he’d calmed and he relaxed there was a cannula under his nose.

He tried to speak but his mouth was utterly dry until Damian gave him some ice chips, Tim savouring the cool fluid.

“Are you in any pain?”

Was he? He considered it, wriggling his toes to check. “No,” he croaked out after a few moments. “Dami…safe?”

“I am safe and well, as are the other. You were the only serious…injury.”

Tim lifted his hand, hating how hard it was, but he managed to get it to land on Damian’s head, ruffling his hair. “Good.”

“I shall summon Alfred and Father.”

Tim’s hand slipped down from Damian’s head but he managed to grab his hand. “Ra’s?”

“You don’t remember?”

Tim frowned, struggling with his foggy head. And then he remembered…Danny…King Phantom…Ra’s being sucked dry…oh. “He’s dead,” he whispered, and Damian nodded. Tim licked his lips and Damian gave him more ice chips. “You’re okay?”

“Yes, he should have died long ago.” And then Damian was gone and Tim turned his head, smiling as he saw Steph sleeping beside him.

He forced his too heavy body to move, rolling to his side and then reaching out to gently trace his fingers along her cheek, smiling when she made a soft noise. “Steph.”

“Mmm…” she yawned, blinked, and then her eyes went wide. “Tim!” and then he was being pulled closer, her arms around him, and Tim managed to get his arms mostly around her, feeling as tears began to soak his hospital pyjamas. At least he hadn’t been put in one of those horrible little gowns. “Don’t you ever…I thought…”

“M’here,” he promised, curling against her as best he could, the sluggishness of his body frustrating. But he could remember being warned…a spinal injury? “Love you,” he promised.

She sobbed and then they were kissing and that, that was something he could manage with little effort.

“Hmm, perhaps that could wait until after I have ascertained Master Tim’s state of health?”

Tim broke the kiss and looked over. “Alfie.”

He watched the stern look melt away into a mix of grief and relief. “Dear boy,” Alfred murmured, coming closer and Tim reached a shaking hand to him. “How do you feel?”

Tim considered it. “Heavy, everyth’gs effort,” he explained, grimacing at the difficulty in speaking. “No pain.”

He felt Steph sit up and tried to do the same, needing her to help him recline against the pillow, Alfred raising the head of the bed so he was sitting up.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Dick made his way into the medical bay and froze as he saw Tim reclining on the bed, awake and listening to Alfred. His eyes were the familiar blue and he was smiling slightly. “Timmy?” he interrupted, unable to help it, and Tim looked over at him.

“Dick,” Tim called, voice still hoarse but he’d been dead so that was probably normal.

Dick rushed to the bedside, Steph stepping away to let him hug his baby bird. He shuddered, holding on tight, feeling Tim hold on in return, though his arms were trembling. “You’re never allowed to die again,” he whispered.

“Try not to,” Tim answered, burrowing into his hold.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Cass watched everyone, seeing Tim’s frustration with his body and everyone else’s relief. And now…the government would want to kill him. That was not happening! Tim looked at her and smiled and she smiled back. Her little brother would be kept safe.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce watched as Tim was examined thoroughly by Leslie. His pulse and body temperature remained lower and slower than usual but he wasn’t in distress so they had taken him off the supplemental oxygen. And he wasn’t allowed out of bed yet, not with the weakness in his limbs. Since he didn’t need medical intervention, Jason was going to carry him upstairs and they would dig out a wheelchair for him for now. Thankfully, the mansion was already as accessible as possible due to Barbara. It meant Tim would need to move into one of the downstairs rooms since they had wheelchair friendly bathrooms, but it would only be temporary, it would.

He didn’t know what King Phantom had spoken with Tim about, the two had asked for privacy but Tim had seemed…off since then. And that really worried Bruce.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim leant back in the wheelchair. Physio was rebuilding his strength and they had lied to the press about an injury that would keep in the chair for a while but not permanently. Even after only a few sessions, he could feel the strength returning so he was hopeful to soon graduate to crutches since his arms were stronger than his legs. It made sense with how high up the injury had been. Some of the nerves to his arms hadn’t been affected the same way.

Sitting out in the garden was nice, as was some time to himself, but Steph was due home soon and they had to talk, as much as he was dreading it. He hadn’t remembered everything from his time dead when he woke up but after talking with Danny, he’d asked Leslie to run some discreet tests and…he was right. There was a ring box in his dresser and before he’d been so sure, but now…

Right when he could use distracting but no one would let him be involved in the mess the acts and GIW had become. They didn’t want them finding out about him or Jason, not that they knew yet just how changed by death he was. Steph first, then the others.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Val checked the article Danny had brought since Amity Park had been on lockdown for years. The only real news they got was from Danny portaling out and bringing stuff in. She almost didn’t believe it, it felt too good to be true but…the Justice League was actually doing something. Which was great but meant things would probably get worse for a while as the GIW tried to crack down before they lost power. It was tempting to just sneak everyone into the Realms till the bastards were gone but how would they explain that? Plus, it would make everyone even more liminal.

Danny sat down opposite her with his tray of food and he grinned at her. They played footsie under the table as they ate, almost like they were back in school. They should be at university but the GIW had put a stop to that very quickly.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Steph headed out, spotting Tim easily enough, smiling at the sight of him enjoying some rare Gotham sunlight. Every time she saw him it was like she could breathe again. She couldn’t help going over the what if’s…he should be dead and they all knew it. Why had the Ghost King brought him back? Was it just for help with the law or something else? She was terrified the King would come for him and they’d be unable to stop him. And Tim…liked the King? But was that real or something that had happened because Tim had been dead?

She shook her thoughts off and joined him, sitting on the bench beside where his chair was parked, taking his hand. He smiled, but it wasn’t his normal smile for her. This one was…nervous, wary, and that hurt. “Tim?”

“I…” he took a deep breath. “I bought you a ring, months ago, but things were so busy,” he whispered, and her heart began to race. Was he proposing? “But things are different now…I’m different.”

“Even if the chair was permanent, that doesn’t make you different,” she denied, glaring at him, but he shook his head.

“Steph…I was a Ghost. Merging a Ghost with a physical body…there’s a price to pay. And I know you want kids.”

She frowned. “What are you saying?”

“I can’t Steph, I can’t give you children, ever. Even if they could figure out how to use DNA in general to do it, mine wouldn’t work. The dead can’t reproduce with the living and I fall too far on that side of the scale now.”

“But you’re alive!”

“My body was dead. If I’d ben resuscitate by normal means, I’d be at least moderately brain damaged, likely severely. My lifespan will also likely be shorter, though I’ll immediately be a fully formed Ghost upon death. I breath, my heart beats, I can think but…it’s my Core powering it all.”

She took a shaky breath, tightening her grip on his hand when he went to pull away. So, kids of their own was off the table. She’d already had a daughter even if she’d given her up. Having Tim’s baby had been something she wanted, but using a donor? “Then…we can take a page from Bruce’s book, just maybe not so many.”

“Steph…”

“I love you Timothy Drake-Wayne, no matter what.” She released his hand, reaching out to take his face between both of hers, ensuring he made eye contact. “Kids or no kids, got it? Weird Ghost stuff and all.”

Tim swallowed and she could see the faint shimmer of tears in his eyes, figured her own were the same. “Got it,” he whispered.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny stood beside Tim as the news went out. The Acts were overturned and the GIW ordered to disband. He swallowed and Tim leant against him in support. “It’s really over.”

“Doubt it. Those bastards probably won’t just stop because they’ve been told, but the Justice League is poised to invade Amity Park. Well…all members who don’t register on the sensors you gave us. Which rules out me, Jason, Damian, Supernova, Superman…quite a few of us actually.”

Danny snorted. “Maybe, but there’s still a lot of you and the people will help. We’ve wanted them gone for years after all. And no one knows Amity Park better than the natives,” he smirked, flashing fangs, and Tim grinned.

“How is everything?”

“Good. It’s nice being able to walk again, was getting very sick of that chair.”

He didn’t blame him.

“And…I told Steph and she didn’t leave me. Though, now she knows about the ring so I better get the proposal right.”

“And?” Danny pressed.

Tim sighed but he blinked and his eyes were pitch black. “No powers that I’ve noticed but I can do this and…sometimes my body just doesn’t feel right.”

Danny nodded and then hugged him, Tim slumping against him. He hated that Tim had to suffer side effects from his death, it wasn’t fair. He’d died to save his brother, fighting a very evil man, if life was a fairy tale, then he’d have come back perfectly. “I’ve been talking with some of the older Ghosts, ones who have met Revenants before and that all sounds pretty normal. They also said your lifespan might not be cut as short as Frostbite first thought.”

“That’d be nice.”

Danny agreed, only getting another twenty, maybe twenty-five, years while better than dying then, was not exactly great. Tim was becoming a good friend, even if they did keep it quiet from the other bats who only knew Danny as King Phantom.

“So, when’s the wedding?”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce looked around the town…city really. The signs of battle were clear all over. Rubble in the streets, damaged buildings, burnt signs… how had they missed this? But they were here now and the GIW would fall. Clark might not be there, but Jon and Kara were. Diana and Cassie as well which meant they had alien and godly power in spades. Especially once the Oa had found out, apparently a bit of panic had been caused and suddenly half of the Green Lantern Corps was there to help.

And the locals were helping too, they were obviously very much against the GIW, though they didn’t seem overly fond of the League either. But who could blame them?

He spotted a flash of black hair and for a second thought it was one of his kids but no, a local… ah, he recognised the young man from the old files. Daniel Fenton, son of the Dr’s Fenton who were largely responsible for this due to their research and bias. Though it seemed he didn’t share their views if the way he just took out an agent with a baseball bat was any indication. He had a good arm.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Val let her armour power down. Was it really over? She lightly nudged the ‘agent’ in front of her and the man groaned but didn’t otherwise react. Still alive then. She looked up to see Tucker across the way, his ever-present hat gone, some of his hair burnt away. And there…Sam yanking Star to her feet, the other girl cradling her arm to her chest. Danny, where was, and then familiar arms wrapped around her waist and she relaxed back into him.

“It’s over,” she whispered.

“It is,” he agreed and then spun her around to kiss.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Steph leant against Tim’s shoulder as they watched the news, utterly silent as they took in the images of Amity Park and its residents. That was…it looked like a foreign warzone, not something that should be in the US, but it was. He tightened the arm around her waist and she lifted her head to press a kiss to his cheek. She knew he hated having to sit out, so had the others. She hadn’t been dead long enough to register but she’d gotten in over her head on patrol last week, her leg in a pretty purple cast.

“Master Bruce just called; they hope to be home by tomorrow evening at the latest. The national guard is beginning to take over efforts.”

That was good. The sooner everyone was home the better. Part of her just wanted it all over but it never would be, not really. Not when Jason was liminal and Tim a Revenant, the first of his kind in centuries. Modern medicine and lack of belief apparently meant the conditions for their creation had become very hard to find. If he’d died anywhere else…

“Love you,” she whispered, and Tim smiled at her.

Soon, he’d be back in the field and Batgirl and Red Robin would be flying again. Once her stupid leg healed anyway.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Jason smirked as he watched Tim carefully kneel down, holding out the ring. They all knew she’d say yes. He also knew Tim was keeping a lot of secrets now, but he wouldn’t push. He hated talking about his death, he’d never press someone about theirs. And he figured Steph knew more than the rest of them, he could see it in her eyes sometimes.

Tim appeared fully healed now, his strength back, and he’d started training to get back to the night job. He could tell most of the family was reluctant, worried, but Jason agreed that it was Tim’s choice. Would they have been like this about him if his return had been different?

He grinned as Tim fell back, Stephanie almost strangling him with a hug and then…yeah, he didn’t need to see that.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny held Jazz’s hand under the table, Val on his other side as they listened to the sentence be given. Their parents had been stripped of all their academic standing already, were no longer Dr’s and now…now they would be jailed for what basically accounted to life sentences. He felt sick but also…free. It had been their work that had killed him, their lax lab security that allowed him down there to die, their refusal to look at their research and see that they were wrong. They had been the ones to build weapons, to hunt Ghosts…they deserved everything they were getting.

They wouldn’t get to see Jazz go off to an Ivy League college, wouldn’t see him and Val get married, nothing. All because they couldn’t let go of their biased assumptions even when presented with clear evidence.

They’d pled not guilty to everything, against the advice of their lawyers, even a lot of GIW agents were proving smarter than that! Yes, those creeps had been acting within the law for many of their actions…but not in cutting Amity Park off or the literal war they’d been waging on the town.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim watched the televised court cases, watching as the two people behind everything were sentenced. Without the Fenton’s and their research there would have been no Acts, no GIW…and Tim would be dead. Because he knew the figure sitting in the front row, it was Danny. He hadn’t seen his human form before but he still recognised his friend and King. He’d thought his parents were neglectful, no matter how much he’d loved them, but Jack and Maddie… If they hadn’t been found guilty, he had a whole team who would have been happy to make their lives hell without ever touching them.

He couldn’t believe that in eight months, he’d be a married man. Steph had said yes despite how he’d changed. He knew he was even quieter now than before; it was so easy to just get lost in his own head. Getting back to work and then out as Red Robin helped with that, forcing him to focus on the present and the world around him. He’d never realised just how haunted Gotham was but now he could sense and see them and they knew it. It certainly made life interesting…and very entertaining for his fiancé.

Tim was thankful he hadn’t developed any powers, mortal flesh hiding his Core away and it using most of its power to keep his body functioning. But now and then when pushed to his limits things would just suddenly go right – he’d be that little faster on grappling, at dodging gunfire or other weapons, that bit better at hiding in the shadows… but it was nothing to get excited about or rely on.

“I hate them for the whole Acts thing but if they hadn’t done all this….”

“I might have died permanently,” Tim finished for her as Steph joined him. He kissed her, wrapping his arm around her back as she flopped back in his lap. “I know. Phantom would have helped me either way, it’s the kind of guy he is. But Clockwork might not have frozen time which means by the time I could have come back, my body would have been long dead.”

She shuddered, pressing into him. “But you’re here. And wow do their kids look mad at them.”

“You became Spoiler to stop your Dad and he’s not exactly a top tier rogue. Imagine living with parents who agreed with genocide.”

“Bet you fifty they were working with Phantom.”

“No bet.” He smirked and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“You know something.” She glared and he shrugged.

“Not my secret to tell.”

She huffed but let it go.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny stood at the back, watching as Stephanie walked down the aisle on Bruce Wayne’s arm to where Tim stood with his brothers and a young man that Danny was pretty sure was Supernova, the first Superboy. The girl walking ahead of them was Cassandra Wayne, the least known of the Wayne family. He’d been very happy to receive the wedding invite, coming with Val. But they hung back since there was no way to explain how Tim Drake-Wayne knew Danny Fenton, son of the infamous scientists. Tim knew they were there, Jason might too from the way he kept scanning the crowd.

“I love her dress,” Val whispered.

“Getting ideas for yours?” he asked, and she smirked.

He’d sent Tim an invite last month, their wedding was in three months. Thankfully, it would be a lot smaller than this. Well, their normal wedding would be, the Realms ceremony…it wasn’t every day or even millennia that the High King got married after all.

“Not my style.” She leant her head against his shoulder as Tim and Stephanie held hands before the officiant, reciting their vows.

It really was a beautiful ceremony.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce hugged his son; happy the new couple was back. The three weeks away had been good for them and they deserved a happy honeymoon. “You had a good time?”

“It was amazing,” Tim grinned. It was good to see him so happy. They had spent their honeymoon on a tropical island, Steph was nicely tanned, but Tim was as pale as ever.

He did his best to ignore the changes in Tim since that fateful day, he was still his son. It wasn’t like Tim was cold, cruel, or a killer. He was still the amazing young man he’d always been; he was just also different. He was a bit more brutal in fights against the kind of people that Jason had once used lethal force against and against the Rogues. He tended to space out a bit, though Steph was good at noticing that and it never happened on patrol. Sometimes, the shadows around Tim seemed deeper, his stealth had improved a lot too. Bruce assumed it had to do with Tim having been a Ghost but he never asked, Tim was very uncomfortable speaking of that time. King Phantom had explained that the first rule was to never ask a Ghost how they had died unless you wanted a fight. That explained a lot about when Jason first came back.

He loved all of his children and would do his best to support them, no matter what. He might not always agree with their choices, they might argue and fight, but they were still his children.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim held his wife’s hand as they stood in the park. He grinned at Danny who grinned back before tugging at his suit. Given his kingly get up, you’d think a suit would be nothing but wow did he look awkward in it. Till he saw his bride anyway. Val’s dress was very pretty and very her. Even Jason would approve of the bright red sash and small scattered embroidered flowers. A pity no one knew who the Red Huntress was and she’d pretty much vanished since the GIW was taken down, she’d fit the theme with him and Jason.

The crowd was a lot smaller than their wedding which meant they were more obvious. He could feel the looks they were getting from many guests. If it came down to it, Tim was going to say that they were funding some of the alternate tech Danny was creating, which was true enough. Though, he could feel the liminals in the crowd so they would have a reason for being surprised.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Steph knelt down where she’d heard the noise and then stared in shock. That…that was a baby! She reached out, pulling the poor thing out of the box to wrap in her cape. “Batgirl to Cave, I need a lift.”

“Are you okay?” Tim’s worry was clear, the sound of wind whipping past meant he was grappling somewhere.

“Fine, just have a passenger I can’t swing or ride with,” she explained.

“Batgirl?” Bruce asked.

“I found a baby in a box in an alley.”

Dead silence met her explanation.

“New sister?” Cass asked, utterly innocent, stirrer that she was.

“Batmobile’s on the way,” Babs answered after a moment. “It’ll take you to the clinic to get them checked out and registered.”

“Thanks O.”

By the time it arrived, the baby had settled and was almost asleep in her arms. Cute little thing and it made her think of the baby she’d given up years ago. But she’d been too young then, too focused on being Spoiler. She was twenty-one now, still too young according to many. Did it hit so hard because she’d wanted to one day have kids with Tim and knew it would never happen?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim stared at the baby in his arms who stared back, seemingly nonplussed with the whole thing. Leslie had let Steph bring the baby home to the Manor since B and Dick were both emergency fosters and no family had been found for the little girl yet. So why dump the baby in his arms before taking Cass off to buy baby supplies. Did…did she want to keep the baby? Could they? Surely, they were too young?

And who knew what affect his presence would have on a baby. Sure, liminals and Ghosts now had the same rights and protections as metas but it wasn’t something he’d want to be the cause of! He knew being around Danny had increased his friends levels after all.

“You’re a natural,” B called, and Tim looked up at him.

“We’re too young, aren’t we?”

“I wasn’t much older when I took Dick in. And you’re a married couple with a very stable income, that would definitely make you good candidates compared to most on the books. But only if you want to. It’s a big decision, no matter how attached Steph is. A baby will change a lot in your life.”

Tim nodded; it wasn’t something to rush into. Plus, there was the fact that if they did this, the kid would lose one parent by the time they were under thirty, not as bad as losing one as a kid but still young.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Val bounced little Janet on her knee, she was a very happy baby. And utterly adorable. She glanced at Danny; they didn’t have the blocks on becoming parents that Tim and Steph did since Danny was half living and fully human in his living form. They were older than the other couple too, though not by much. Everything was settled, the fuss about liminals and Ghosts had died down. Maybe…they could start considering it?

TBC…

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: not mine

Epilogue

Tim coughed and then looked down at his hand, knowing what he’d see and he was right, blood. His body was failing, unable to take the ectoplasm anymore, his Core done with the constant healing from the damage that no one knew about. It had been getting worse the last few years but he could feel it, he didn’t have much time left. But it would be okay, Ghosts were accepted, he didn’t have to leave his family.

“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” Steph asked from the doorway, and he nodded. She walked to his side and they embraced, enjoying the touch. “You’ll come back, right?”

“I promise,” Tim agreed. “I’ll haunt you all for the rest of your lives. I just…I want to be here for Peter’s wedding.” Their son was getting married in three months.

“You will be, no matter the form.”

Tim nodded, he knew that, but it would be different. He’d talked with a lot of Ghosts since his own death, they had all been amazed to meet a Revenant and one that they King had helped at that. The way they described interacting with the living… he would fight for every breath.

“I love you,” he whispered and then they were kissing.

Twenty-six years of marriage and they were still as in love as they had been as teens. He’d made it longer than the first estimate and they had been good years. They had long ago hung up their capes, focusing on WE and their two kids. Peter had been a surprise but one they had happily accepted. Jason loved kids; he could have kids too unlike Tim. It didn’t seem fair given that Jason had been dead for months but however he’d come back hadn’t been the same, apparently reality had been shifted. So, the ectoplasm in his system was only from the Lazarus Pit. Still, he hadn’t expected to become a dad, hadn’t been ready for one, so they had adopted Peter. Their son had known the truth since he was old enough to understand that his Uncle Jason had a special role in his life and he was happy.

Janet was travelling the world with her girlfriend but would be back for the wedding. Another reason to hang on until then. Their children knew the truth of his condition, even if the rest of the family didn’t. Jason had asked him about what would happen when he died, and Tim had told him it would free his Ghost from his body so he at least knew that Tim would still be around, even if he didn’t know Tim would be dying soon. He just hadn’t been able to hurt the family with that knowledge, he wanted them to be happy.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny stood with Val, watching the ceremony and trying not to cry. Who would have thought that their daughter would marry Tim and Steph’s son? None of them had seen that relationship coming but they were a good match. Peter made Emily happy so he had no complaints, he knew Peter would treat her right. Thankfully, while all of their kids were very liminal, they didn’t have any active powers and had stayed away from the vigilante lifestyle. He knew Tim felt the same about his own kids. That life had messed them up, they wanted better for their own children.

It was good the wedding was today; he could almost see Tim’s Core! He must have fought tooth and nail to make it and he would pay for that. If he made it till Wednesday, Danny would be shocked. Hopefully, the death and separation would be peaceful and painless, but Danny would stay in Gotham in case he was needed.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce was surprised when Tim sat beside him on the couch and then leant into him, but he wrapped his son in a hug. “How’s wedding clean up?”

Tim groaned. “So glad Janet and Mia eloped.”

Bruce laughed at that, brushing a hand through Tim’s hair, able to pick out the greys easily, though the shade reminded him of Tim’s Ghost.

“I love you Dad,” Tim whispered, and Bruce felt a flash of fear even as Tim began coughing, a wet, deep cough.

Bruce sat up and he saw it, blood. “DICK!” He screamed for his eldest even as he supported Tim, patting his back.

Dick rushed into the room and froze at the sight. “I’ll call Jada!” he grabbed his phone to do so.

“It’s alright Tim, you’ll be okay.”

His son gripped his hand and the coughing trailed off. “Won’t,” he gasped. “D…dying…”

“Tim?” he asked in horror, and Tim looked up at him with pained eyes, blood on his face.

“S’rry Dad. Knew…no kids, no long,” he coughed again, “life.”

And Bruce put the clues together. He might be old but his mind was still sharp. Tim…Tim had known this was coming. He was dying, again. Bruce pulled his own phone and sent out a message to the family to come home immediately, that it was Tim.

Within ten minutes, Stephanie was there, a knowing look in her eyes. She knelt in front of Tim, taking his hands. “It’s okay Tim, I’m here. You can let go,” she whispered.

“Steph…”

“He won’t go anywhere B; he promised to haunt us forever.”

“You knew,” he whispered, and she nodded.

“Before he ever proposed. He couldn’t do that without me knowing what I was getting into. Like no kids of our and his lifespan being cut,” she explained even as she gently wiped some of the blood from Tim’s face, his breathing was laboured now.

Dick rushed back in. “Jada said to call an ambulance.”

“They can’t do anything Dick,” Steph answered. There were tears in her eyes but she remained steady. She’d grown up so much since Bruce had first met her.

By the time the rest of the family arrived, Tim was lying in bed in his childhood bedroom, barely able to breath but at least he’d stopped coughing blood. They’d cleaned him up so as not to scare the kids and he had a nasal cannula in place…just like all those years ago. Alfred puttered around, looking unconcerned but tender as he checked on Tim.

“It will not be long now,” the Ghost informed them. It had been a shock when six months after Alfred had passed, Bruce had walked into the kitchen to find him cooking breakfast as if nothing had changed.

“Is he in pain?” Jason asked, voice gruff with grief and pain.

Alfred shook his head and Bruce saw the empty morphine syringe. Stephanie was sitting beside her husband, glassy blue eyes locked on her. One by one, his children and grandchildren moved to the bed to say their farewells, temporary or not, Tim would not be the same.

Once they were done, Bruce sat on the bed and carefully moved Tim to rest against himself. “We’re all here Tim, we love you son.”

Tim’s breathing grew more and more difficult and then…nothing.

“Tim?” he called, pressing his fingers to his throat…no pulse that he could detect.

Damian moved in, checking him with a stethoscope, shaking his head, tears in his eyes.

“Timmy…” Dick gripped Wally’s hand tightly.

And then Tim’s body glowed for a moment before a familiar form was standing beside the bed, dressed exactly the same as he had been all those years ago. He looked around, seeming confused.

“Tim?” Jason called and Tim looked at him before looking down at the bed.

“Oh.” He swallowed and hesitantly reached out to touch his own body.

Bruce carefully laid the body down and then stood up to face his Ghostly son. “Tim,” he called, opening his arms, and then he was hugging him. Soon everyone was pressed close, Alfred smiling as he watched them with soft red eyes.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny smiled at Tim as the young Ghost swore his oaths to the King’s Court, taking his place among them. He spent most of his time with the living, with his family, but he had a place in the Infinite Realms too. Danny was fairly sure that many of the family would return as Ghosts given how many near-death experiences they’d had over the years. Plus, as his wife, Stephanie had been exposed to high levels of ectoplasm for decades. She even happily slept with Tim even as a Ghost! Now that was acceptance most could not manage.

They had peace with Earth and all it had taken was Tim dying for his brother. He felt bad that Tim’s life had been cut short, but he still had his family.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Damian smiled as Tim settled beside him on the couch, used to the chill that came with his brother. They’d all gotten used to it with Alfred first after all. Tim pouted at his coffee but then Alfred handed him a mug of ectoplasm which got a smile.

Gotham crime rates had been rising after so long with a very reduced team, most of their kids had chosen civilian lives. But now there was a new Batman, one who was only seen when he wished to be, one who could become one with the shadows in a way no living being could. And Tim really liked scaring criminals by appearing from nowhere. He was a very good Batman, maybe even better than Father had been.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim and Alfred hovered around Bruce. Surprisingly, he had made it to a very nice 98years. No one had seen that coming. Those family members who could were coming as fast as possible but not everyone could. Dick likely didn’t even remember Bruce anymore, that diagnosis had been a horrifying shock but Wally was sticking by him. Babs…Babs was gone and hadn’t become a Ghost. Damian and Jon were California for business but should make it. Cass and Alec were in Europe somewhere so they weren’t sure if she would make it.

Duke was one of the few in Gotham at the moment, he still worked as Signal, barely aged which meant he’d been outed as a meta long ago. But he kept his powers hidden outside of vigilante work so the link between the two wasn’t too obvious.

Sure enough, he was the first one in the room.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Damian held his father’s hand as he slowly slipped away. “Is he?” he looked up at Tim.

“He’s gone. King Phantom will tell me if he begins to form a Core. It takes time,” he reminded them.

It had been years since Alfred had died so the reminder was good. This wouldn’t be like Timothy’s death. Damian was sure he would become a Ghost given he had grown up around the Lazarus Pits. Eternity with his family sounded wonderful. He hated visiting Richard, seeing the lack of recognition. But Timothy promised that if he became a Ghost, then he should remember again. Maybe not all of it, but he should recognise family again.

Damian left the room; he had a lot of calls to make. Seeing Father like that was not something he wanted to dwell on.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny smiled at Val as she perched on the couch, looking as young and beautiful as when they first started dating. Sam and Tucker were bickering about something that was making Steph laugh, Tim steading his wife.

Alfred tutted even as he passed around refreshments to Bruce, Dick, and Damian. Jason was chatting with Frighty over in the corner. Duke stood out as the sole living being in the room but he was still included.

Once, he’d been terrified that he’d end up alone thanks to his messed-up biology but now he knew that would never be the case. The Batfamily had become his friends, extended family even, all thanks to Tim.

Jazz ruffled his hair and he smiled at his sister. His parents hadn’t become Ghosts which had honestly surprised him given their exposure and obsessions. He did wonder if there’d been some interference but he’d never ask, he wasn’t sure he could have ever faced them. Most of his generation from Amit Park were becoming Ghosts as they died and that was because of the Portal and Ghost fights in town when they were teens.

He kind of dreaded the day their children died; he wasn’t sure what he’d feel if they didn’t join them. Surely, they would? But for now, they could visit easily enough. They were grandparents now, something he had never dared to dream of after the accident.

His eyes met Tim’s and they grinned at each other. They’d both gotten their happy endings.

The End.