Note: Hey everyone, I'm sorry for leaving you guys without a warning but I was so busy this month. Let's just say I had a wedding to attend to on a different island and I was the maid of honor. I moved to a new home with no internet connection (even now I just try to catch off of my neighbors) and I've been doing side projects for work that I had to finish off at home, especially since we're switching to a new system at work. I'll still be pretty busy but please do not worry; I've promised myself I will finish all of my stories here in fanfiction.

Hope you all enjoy. And hopefully this will make up the not so fluffy meeting that Dick had with Roy and Wally.

If Bruce could blame someone for this, it would be Alfred. Fortunately he was smart enough to keep this fact to himself. The said man was after all the same one who cooked his dinner, drew his bath and cleaned his weapons. So he couldn't exactly openly blame him. It didn't mean that he was comfortable with the whole idea. Not when he was forced to associate with The Flash and Green Arrow outside of their super hero personas. It wasn't the he didn't trust them, it was already established that he did, but no matter how much a part of Batman was to him, it didn't mean that he wanted his son to be part of that world. If anything, he didn't want his son in that world at all. Wasn't it bad enough that Clark was stopping by every week? Apparently not. Ever since the league had met Dick, they had taken it as an invitation to come into his home as they please.

"Master Bruce." The cool tone called behind him, the voice held an edge of a stiff scolding as he backed away from the door and let the two men in. Barry greeted the butler first, his arms holding a sleeping three year old. Ollie entered with a substitutive nod for a greeting as he practically had to pull his young charge in.

"Good afternoon gentlemen. Since Master Bruce seemed to have forgotten his amenities to guests I'd like to thank you for accepting our offer." Alfred raised an eyebrow at the brooding man behind him and Bruce grunted, though in agreement or not remained to be seen.

After seeing Dick's attitude with the other children Bruce had assumed that Dick probably didn't like other kids and opted to just leave it at that. Alfred however reasoned that the baby had acted the way he did was because the young master did not know how to be around other children. 'Maybe,' the butler suggested 'it would be best if young Master Dick had acquaintances around his own age.' Bruce had shook off the idea, but there was a reason Alfred was a butler to Batman. No one says no to Alfred Pennyworth.

Bruce shifted his weight on his foot, unmindful that he looked like an impatient child. He eyed the two men now in his home with their young charges.

Barry gave a smile to the dark haired man as he slowly woke up the sleeping toddler, earning a small whine before the strawberry haired boy finally opened his eyes.

"Come on Wally, we're here." The toddler looked around the large estate, green eyes taking in the whole grandeur of the mansion.

"Castwe?" He asked his uncle, his imagination running to the conclusion courtesy of the cartoon he had watched the night before. Barry laughed at the cute assumption.

"Yeah, it is like a castle huh?" He carefully nudged the toddler's attention to the other men in the room.

"You remember Dickie?" The toddler looked up to Bruce, recognition in his eyes as he quickly buried his face away from the intimidating man.

"Bad baby." The toddler pouted.

"No Wally, he's not bad."

"Yes, he is." Another voice piped up and all four men and toddler looked down to the other red haired child. Ollie had quickly covered the kid's mouth with his hand.

"A joke… he's joking." The child shaking his head side to side however spoke otherwise.

Bruce sighed inwardly; Dick was such a happy and friendly child from what he had gathered. He was always excitable when he met new people, a smile always ready to be given; at times Bruce admits that it was off-putting that his own son could share the same smile he gave his father to everyone else. Then again, Alfred always did tell him that he was just a bit over the realm of possessive when it came to things he considered his. Yet even a friendly baby like Dick seemed to have gotten his ability to make friends as he could not befriend anyone his age. Well, there was Barbara, but that was because unlike the boys she had been more understanding and forgiving…maybe Alfred was right. Maybe because Dick had never had any interactions with other children before that he seemed to just attack them every time he met one. It was probably just coincidence that all the kids he had met had red hair.

"So uh, where is Dick?" Ollie asked trying to change the subject, his hands no longer around Roy's mouth but instead laid itself on his shoulder in warning.

"He's sleeping, I'll get him." Bruce answered, wanting any excuse to leave the other heroes. He headed towards his bedroom where he had been watching over Dick earlier. The baby lay on his crib still asleep. Bruce stepped toward the grand crib and gently lifted the baby into his arms. He laid Dick's head on his shoulder and he patted his diapered bottom to wake him.

"Dickie?" He whispered quietly still unsure on some of his parenting. "Come on, wake up, there are a few people here for you." The baby kicked his legs in answer, a habit of his while waking up before he lifted his head back to look at his dad.

"Hello there." Bruce smiled, the baby blinked at him sleepily before he gave him back a lazy smile, a good sign. The baby suddenly gave a little yawn, his tiny mouth rounding in a perfect 'o' before tiny hands began clumsily rubbing his eyes.

"You awake now chum?" The baby looked at him for a bit longer before laying his head on his dad's chest once again. Bruce chuckled at the gesture, laying a light kiss on the head.

"Well, I hope that means you're in a good mood. Hopefully that means no attacking the people you're about to meet." The baby listened quietly, the rumble of his father's voice vibrating on his ear and making him smile.

"Dickie, you ready to meet them?" Bruce questioned one more time as a tiny hand suddenly went up to rest on his daddy's mouth, patting the moving lips.

"Ahh-be-ba." The baby replied, as if saying 'you said that already' Bruce playfully kissed the tiny hand. Dick had been making a lot more noise that seemed to border on actual words now. And as excited as Bruce was, the awaited 'dada' had not been one of them, though the baby had once pointed at a robin in his picture books and sounded out a 'buu' sound as if saying bird. Bruce had been ecstatic, not only videotaping the occurrence but making the baby say the words over and over until Dick had gotten tired of it.

Bruce walked to the living room knowing that was where Alfred had probably taken Barry and Ollie. Once Dick finally saw his guests he lifted his head once more, now a bit more awake. He began to bounce in his fathers' hold pointing a finger at Ollie and Barry and waving his hands excitedly. The two men smiled and waved back. Bruce noticed though that the two red haired children had sunk back, Roy hiding behind Ollie's legs and Wally bunching his uncles' shirt and covering his face with it, or at least trying to.

Bruce could feel himself mentally rubbing his temples at the reaction. The first meeting with the vivacious baby had been imprinted in their minds and it wasn't a very good one.

It took the baby no time to notice the two strawberry haired boys. Their hair really wasn't subtle if they wanted to hide. A large toothless grin spread on the baby's face followed by an excited squeal as he tried to kick himself out of his father's large arms and toward the boys.

Bruce didn't think that the two toddlers could sink back any further. He was wrong. Wally had wrapped his stubby arms around Barry's neck, almost choking the blond man. While Roy had fully hidden himself behind Ollie, probably hoping the baby wouldn't be able to see him anymore, the tuffs of red hair sticking out didn't exactly do the trick.

Dick, still a smile on his face laughed and clapped his dimpled hands. He buried his tiny face on the crook of Bruce's neck before lifting it again to see if the boys would do the same. It dawned on all the men that Dick had thought he was playing peek-a-boo with the boys. When Dick saw that the two boys weren't peeking out he turned wide blue eyes towards Bruce.

"Boo?" He questioned in his tiny voice and Bruce practically melted. Bruce shook his head slowly hoping the baby understood that no, they weren't playing with him.

Dick tilted his owl round head before turning his eyes back to the two boys. It took two seconds for Dick's lips to form in a deep pout before he broke out in a cry. Bruce was quick to rock the infant, rubbing circles on the baby's back as he tried to sooth his hurt feelings.

"Shhh…hush Dickie, its ok." He turned away from the other men trying to mask his slight panic. What could he do? It wasn't like he could turn to the men and demand that their children do exactly what his son wanted. Well he probably could but he was sure it would drive the two children farther away from his son.

Barry and Ollie watched on, both at lost at what to do. They didn't know if they should tell the two to just be friends, or let them be. Kids tended to have their own schedule and they really didn't want to make the situation any worse if the kids slipped up. Batman, was bad enough, but to have a Batman protecting his young? They shivered at the thought.

Bruce who continued to pat and bounce his son could feel his face getting hot from both desperation and embarrassment, he had gained confidence in dealing with Dick for the months that he had him, but the now wiggling crying child would not stop. Panicked yet too proud to show it, the thought to cancel the play date and send the others away crossed his mind. Maybe this really wasn't such a good idea.

Seeing his masters rising doubts Alfred cleared his throat to catch the man's attention.

"Master Bruce if I may?" The butler asked hands splayed open to accept the child. Bruce ready to try anything to stop his sons tears handed him to his butler. The three men watched as Alfred walked toward the two red heads with Barry slowly putting down the three year old next to Roy while Ollie peeled the child from his legs. The two red heads seemed to cower as the butler walked closer with the baby in hand. And to Bruce and the others amazement, the crying child seemed to settle.

The baby open and closed his palms in a gesture of wanting to be embraced, the two red heads seemed to look at each other before Roy being the oldest, put on a brave face and crept closer. To everyone's surprise and Alfred's slight panic, Dick had jumped out of the grandfatherly mans arms and latched himself on the boys' neck. Settling himself in the small arms. Roy, who had been pushed back momentarily by the weight had found his footing and was able to carry his bearings long enough to pull himself to wrap his tiny arms around the fat baby in his arms.

Dick nuzzled himself on the redheads shoulder, giggling a little before seeming to lay a wet kiss on the boy's cheek.

"Well young sir," the old man said, a warm smile on his face, "it seems that Master Dick wanted to apologize. To both of you." He nodded to the other child. The tinier red head seeing that the other was not in danger, moved forward.

The baby turned to him before offering a hand. Wally gave a laugh before going on his tippy toes to give the baby a kiss on the cheek, an acceptance of the apology.

"There now." The butler stood, setting the baby a bit more in Roy's arms before stepping away to show the three men the now happy children. The butler almost laughed at the surprised stares. Really, if three children who had a bad first impression could get along, so could three grown men who had known each other for years and had watched each others back. Seriously, Alfred sighed, sometimes even children can be more adult than some men.

"Well, gentlemen, there is coffee waiting for you in the living room, and the play room has been set up for the kids, if you'd kindly take the children to settle there. We do have one more guest we are waiting on."

Barry who held a large grin on his face was the first to break off from the small group they had unknowingly made in watching the kids make up. He bent down next to the boys.

"You ok now little guy?" He asked the baby who only smiled at him before he stuck a thump in his mouth in contentment. He turned to his own nephew.

"You got a new friend now huh Walls?" The toddler nodded.

"Baby say sowwy." He nodded at his own words as if saying he accepted the apology.

"Yeah, that's right, and you have Roy now too." The smaller red head continued to nod before grabbing on to the older red heads shirt.

"Yea, Woy is my fwen too."

"Yeah, you have so many friends now, and you know what?" The boys green eyes widen at the words as if expecting something amazing.

"What?" He asked excitement clear on his face.

"You'll meet another one later, and you guys are gonna play together and eat yummy food together." The boy grinned up at the prospect of food and turned to his friends.

"You heaw that Dickie, Woy, wewe gonna eat cookies and ice cweam!" He squealed making Roy nod at his tiny friend. Dick not really understanding what was making the two boys so excitable bounced nonetheless in celebration.

Barry wished Wally hadn't made that assumption; he opened his mouth to correct him when he was interrupted by Alfred.

"Cookies are on the menu, young sirs, however ice cream at the moment remains to be seen." The two older boys cheered at the confirmation of cookies, "maybe if your guardians agree, we can fit ice cream on there, hm?" The boys nodded (Dick nodding along) before Barry pulled his nephew into his arms.

Bruce finally stepped forward ready to take his son out of the struggling boys hold as Dick looked up at him with a smile. Bruce gave back a faint smile, taking the baby back. The sight of his son in his circle of new friends made him realize something.

Maybe… Maybe Alfred was right. Heck who was he kidding? Alfred was always right. And maybe that wasn't always a bad thing. Sure it was different, growing up he had always pushed himself away from company, even now. Not only did it keep him sane and unattached from everyone, it completely cut him off from the lives of people he cared about and stunted his ability to connect with humanity. He had always counted that as a victory (wherein villains could not use anything against him that way) but he understood now that that was not the life he wanted for Dick.

He may have been content with his own life the way it was, but not his son. He wouldn't want to wish it on him. He wanted Dick to have a normal childhood, the childhood he had lost so violently before he was even ready. He wanted his son to have friends, to be able to make strong connections and live his life as a stable young man. A chance he had never given himself.

As he started up the stairs he looked back at the two men following him up.

Friends huh?

TBC…