Title: Start Counting
By: Xmarksthespot
Disclaimer: Even after eighteen chapters, unfortunately no. There are quotes from this chapter that was taken from episodes of YJ: Invasion.
Words: 2,300+
Notes: This chapter begins with YJ: Invasion, and then goes off into my own hypothetical little world, due to the hiatus. Towards the end, time will once again go QUICKLY so please be aware of the days.

X-X-X-

Day –1,302

"I'm tired of playing superhero, Dick. Let's play something else."

"Like what, Babs? Pirates?"

"No."

"Cops and Robbers?"

"No."

"Circus Acrobats?"

"No. Let's play House."

"…House? You mean the game that girls play?"

"I am a girl, Dick. It'll be fun. I'll be the mom and you can be the dad."

"You mean we have to pretend we're married?"

"Why not? This can be the kitchen, and that can be the bedroom and here's the dining room…"

"Don't married people share the same room?"

"That's why I said one bedroom, Dick. This can be the car we drive in!"

"I don't have to pretend to be all happy and funny like Bruce is when he's around girls, do I?"

"Dick! You're ruining the game!"

"What game? You just married us!"

.

Day 2,034

"Hey, missed you. How was the team?"

"Delta squad succeeded with their mission against Clayface two days ago. How about yours, Batgirl?"

"Feel sore all over. Those aliens really pack a punch…"

"I heard. I've already planned a mission for you guys tomorrow to try to figure it out."

"You hear me say that I'm exhausted and plan to send me on another mission? Gee, thanks. You're such a great boyfriend."

.

"How about I make it up to you then with a dinner and movie, Babs? You know, a night that doesn't involve our side job?"

"Oh, I like the sound of that."

.

Day 2,057

"Babs, you ready? We're supposed to go see Bruce off along with the other Leaguers and he wanted us to stay in Gotham to monitor things from there while he's gone."

.

"Wow, I sure missed this place. The manor still looks the same…"

"WOOHOO! BRUCE IS GONE AND I HAVE THE MANOR ALL TO MYSELF FOR ONCE!"

"…I can't believe you're considered an adult, Dick."

.

"Ah-hem, must I remind you that I will still be here, Master Richard?"

.

Day 2,075

"Since you're going to be back in Blüdhaven tomorrow for work, I'd thought we should celebrate Valentine's Day early."

"Oh, is that so, Boy Wonder?"

.

"Master Richard, your ph – my word!"

.

"…You need to put a lock on that door, Dick. This is the second time Alfred's caught us doing that."

"Nah, he catches Bruce all the time. He'll get used to it."

"Dick, Alfred may get used to it, but you do realize Tim comes here on occasion, and by occasion, I mean often."

"Fine, I'll put a lock on it."

.

Day 2,076

"Hey, it's after midnight. Happy Valentine's Day, Artemis."

"You remembered!"

"Come on, what kind of jerk I would be if I forgot Valentine's Day?…For the fifth year in a row."

.

Day 2,081

"…Her ability to control the minds of men is why Alpha is an all-female squad for this mission."

"Oh really, and would you have felt the need to justify an all-male squad for a given mission?"

"Ah-hem...Uh, th-there's no right answer for that, uh, is there?"

.

"Queen Bee isn't the only woman who can mess with a man's mind."

.

Day 2,082

"Nightwing, stop worrying…"

"It's my fault you almost got captured today in Bialya. If I had known about Simon…"

"But the team saved me. Come on, late night stroll in Gotham's park?"

.

Day 2,091

"I hear there's a time traveller."

"Yeah, Barry's grandson. Name's Bart."

"Mhm, and what do you think of him, Dick?"

"…I think Speedsters are great friends with Robins."

"Sounds like Tim won't be a shy bird anymore."

"Let's not forget Speedy – kid's more jumpier than Roy was at that age."

.

Day 2,100

"Hey, Artemis, have you met Bart yet?"

"Briefly. Wally kept interrupting him to prevent him from spoiling the future. I just found out that I change my name to Linda Park, of all things."

"Really? I wonder what brought that up…Guess we'll have to see."

.

"Is there a reason you asked, Barbara?"

"…I was just curious."

"About yours and Dick's future, you mean?"

"You know me too well, Artemis."

.

Day 2,110

"No. N-No. NO!"

"Babs, shh. It'll be fine."

"But…But Artemis. I was, I was just talking to her the other day and now she's, oh God, she's…How could Kaldur do this?!"

"It's going to be alright, Babs. I promise…"

.

Day 2,119

"Maybe we should call Wally, Dick…We haven't heard from him since Artemis' funeral."

"Leave him be, Babs. He just needs some time alone."

.

Day 2,123

"Lagoon Boy is safe and away from my father's hands, for now. We shall continue with our plan – I shall see to it that La'gaan is not injured."

"Thank you, Kaldur. Be careful back there, okay?"

"You too, my friend."

.

Day 2,138

"Is it morning already? This thing with the Light is stressing me out so much; I could barely sleep last night."

"I know what you mean…Let's stay in bed for a bit longer, Babs. The team can wait."

"Kind of like how they're waiting for us to reveal our relationship details? You know only the original team knows the truth about us…"

"Hehe, you have to admit though, it is really fun sneaking around the mountain."

.

Day 2,173

"Roy? What are you doing h – is that a baby?!"

.

"Jade went missing."

"What else is new?"

"Wally!"

"I mean she's been gone since she heard about Artemis…I think she's planning on going after the person who took her sister's life."

"Kaldur…"

"She's risking her life, and after what she's done for me…I'm not letting the mother of my child die, Dick."

"Don't worry, Roy. We're on it."

.

Day 2,182

"Sorry, Babs. Looks like we're going to have to delay our move back to Blüdhaven."

"Why's that, Dick? Don't tell me you're doing more work with Bruce? He just got back along with the League."

"Bats don't sleep at night, Barbara. I shouldn't have to remind you that."

"You're a bird, Dick. Go to bed."

.

"There, do you see him? In the video footage."

"A new hero, Dick?"

"Far from it, Babs…"

"Do you know who it is – the red masked man?"

"Bruce has a hunch…"

"Who?"

"…He thinks it might be Jason."

.

Day 2,184

"I'll deal with Red Hood, Nightwing. You have your own problems to worry about."

"Wha – Batman, I –"

"Your team needs their leader, Nightwing. Someone who has knowledge of everything that's going on around them, regardless of whether they are currently a part of the team, or was."

"…You know about it?"

"…"

"Right, when have you not known about something going on?"

.

"Do you think it'll work, Batman – my plan?"

"…Even if it doesn't, you'll find a way, Nightwing. You always do."

"Thanks, B."

"And know this, Dick: I will always have your back."

.

Day 2,190

"Alpha, Beta, and Delta squads: do you have any further questions? We head out in two hours – this will probably be the most important mission in your entire career. Every person on this planet is counting on you –remember that."

.

"…Batgirl?"

"…"

"Don't die out there, okay?"

"Yeah…You too, Nightwing. Be careful."

.

Day 2,199 June 17

"Nightwing! Nightwing, just wait. Please hang on. Help is coming!"

"Batg..Barbara…"

"Shh. Don't talk, Nightwing."

"Oracle. My will. My will it's…it's in… the safe behind my…poster of my par…ents."

"I don't need your will, Nightwing. I need you to stop talking! I need you."

.

"Batgirl, I need you to take Nightwing out of here!"

"You! How dare you –"

"Please, Batgirl."

"Why should I listen to you, Kaldur?"

.

"If you don't listen to him, will you listen to me?"

"…A-Artemis?!"

.

Day 2,202

"Have I ever told you that you need to loosen up, Oracle?"

"Shut it, Nightwing. You were seriously hurt and you're still in recovery. And you still have some questions to answer."

.

"Hey, guys, what's an Oracle? Nightwing keeps calling Batgirl that."

"No idea, Gar."

.

"You mean to tell me Artemis wasn't dead all this time, Nightwing?!"

"Nope."

"You."

"Ow!"

"Are."

"Ow! Oracle!"

"A."

"Hey! That hurt!"

"Jerk!"

"Why do you keep hitting me? You said it yourself, I'm still in recovery!"

.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, Dick."

"I told you before, Babs…You can't get rid of me that easily."

.

Day 2,216

"So how are things with you, Artem – I mean, Linda Park?"

.

"Sorry again, Artemis. I had to make your death real to the public so that it was more realistic …"

"It's fine, Dick. I always liked the name Linda anyway."

.

Day 2,251

"Mr. Gordon?"

"Dick? Still in Gotham? I thought you and Barb were heading back to Blüdhaven."

"I was wondering if you wanted to meet for coffee later on. There's something I want to ask you."

.

Day 2,265

"What are you doing, Babs?"

"Folding paper cranes…You taught me that. When we were twelve, right?"

"Yeah…I did."

.

Day 2,274

"Home, sweet home! I actually missed living in Blüdhaven."

"Yeah, the manor's nice and all, but I missed how cozy our apartment is."

.

"Dinner reservations at eight by the way, Babs."

.

Day 2,275

"Well…?"

"Well, what, Wally?"

"Did you do it?"

"No, I didn't. If I did, you would've heard about it through Linda by now."

"You know my wife doesn't tell me everything, Dick."

.

"Artem – sorry – Linda, has Wally talked to you about Dick recently?"

"No…Why?"

"I think he…I think he was planning on proposing last night."

"What?!"

"Ouch, no need to scream. Yeah, I found the ring in his pocket– we had to go out as Nightwing and Batgirl in the middle of our dinner and well, we left our civilian clothes hidden in the alleyway. I went to go get them after we were finished and I found it."

"Did you tell him?"

"Gods no, I put it back into the pocket and pretended everything was normal. Dick would've been crushed if he didn't get a chance to do it properly."

.

Day 2,300

"Do you think he changed his mind?"

"I doubt it, Barbara…"

"Then why hasn't be proposed yet? He was planning to last month!"

"He's probably just waiting for the right time. You know how busy we've been cleaning up the Light's mess."

.

Day 2,307

"Dick, we're going to be late for Wally's and Artemis' baby shower!"

"Coming! I'm just getting the gifts…"

"Are you really going to give their twins matching Bat outfits?"

"They'd be upset if their kids didn't get one. I mean, Lian has one. So do Barry's kids."

.

Day 2,311

"Babs…Do you remember what happened six years ago? With Bane?"

"How could I forget, Dick?"

"Yeah…Just thinking about that, I remembered how horrible I felt because you didn't know who I was… How everything we shared was lost – that there was a chance you might not be you again…"

"But I came back, right? You pulled me back to you. Twice, if I remember correctly."

"…"

"Dick?"

"I realized back then that I'd never give up, regardless of how far you are from me, because you…You are the most wonderful person I've ever known. I love you so much, probably since the first day I laid eyes on you…You make me the happiest person in the world, Barbara and I want us to be the happiest people in the world and if you'd let me, I…"

"…Oh my…"

"I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make that happen. Will you marry me?"

.

"Yes, Dick. I will marry you."

.

Day 2,312

"Hey, you're Oracle, right? Batman's wife – opps! Spoilers."

"Bart! I told you to stop doing that – and Batman's wife? Are you sure you have your facts right?"

.

"Actually guys…there's something we wanted to say."

"What is it, Nightwing?"

"I'd like to introduce you to my fiancée!"

.

Day 2,589

"It's nice to see you, Barbara. How have you been?"

"I've been alright, Dr. Stone Though, I was just wondering…how long do these checkups last? It's been over six – seven – years since my accident."

"Technically, we should've let you go a long time ago, but you know the Wayne's. They want to be sure of everything."

"Of course."

"Have there been improvement since our last meeting?"

"Just the usual…I mean, sometimes I get these flashbacks, but they're only a few seconds long."

"I see. Hmm, well I am allowed to suggest a special type of surgery that's been tested on Alzheimer's patients lately – it's been pretty successful and I'm sure it could work with you and your memory situation. Would you like to know more about it?"

"Actually… It was really just one year of my childhood that I forgot. I was, what, twelve then? It was so long ago, and to be honest, every single day after that accident is worth so much more. I mean, most adults barely remember their childhood anyway, so I really don't mind having that small blank in my life."

"That sounds great. I guess this will be the last appointment I'll be hearing from you then, Barbara."

.

Day 3,000

"I'm home from the doctor's!"

"Babs? I thought you said you were done with those checkups."

"A different kind of doctor, Dick."

"What?"

"Here, look at the doctor's note yourself."

.

"You're going to have to redecorate the house, Mr. Grayson. We'll be needing a nursery."

"Oh, I'm going to be the only one redecorating? We'll see about that, Mrs. Grayson…"

.

.

.

Fin.

.

X-X-X-

A/N: And that's a wrap!

First things first, I just want to thank every reader, both new and old. Thank you for taking your time to read my works, for favouriting and adding this to your alerts and most importantly: for reviewing. Honestly, I don't know where I'd be without your reviews.

Secondly: I didn't give Barbara her memories back. I know you guys wanted her to, but I hope that by now, it shouldn't be a big deal to you guys like it wasn't a big deal for the characters in the story. The only reason why it seemed like such an important thing in the beginning was because the year of memories she lost just happened to be the year she and Dick became really good friends, but they became friends the first time around for a reason, so becoming friends a second time wasn't so hard for them. In fact, it was due to that experience that they ended up valuing their friendship so much more.

Also, it also seemed like such a large blank in her life because she has a photographic memory, so there's literally a gap in her thoughts when she's used to being able to recall everything. But remember, not everyone has a photographic memory. I mean, how many of us (excluding you thirteen year olds out there) really remember what happened in our lives when we were 12 anyway? I definitely don't remember much.

But Barbara's accident didn't keep her from living her life. It was only held back a bit because her and Dick kept dwelling on the past. But it's the same with all of us. The past helps mold us into the people we are today, but we need to focus on the present so that we can build a better future. There's no point in regretting our history or being constantly held back because of it.

However, this doesn't mean she will never get the memories back. It might come back one day - I'll just never write it out. But if you guys noticed, Barbara remembered at least one thing of her past in each chapter, though the memories come back to her very slowly over time. Again, these memories aren't as important to her as the ones she's planning on making in the future.

Remember to live life to the fullest guys, and I thank you guys once again.

P.S. For any of you guys who wanted some of these scenes written out in regular story format (with descriptions and all that cool stuff), I will write them when I can and post them here as a part of this story.