Artemis, Dick, and Barbra were standing on the sidewalk in front of Gotham Academy waiting for Alfred to pick them up. It was Friday and Dick had invited the girls over to his 'house' for the evening just for the fun of it. Artemis had never been to the famous Wayne Manor before, so she was, understandably, excited. She tried not to show it though, thinking it would be shallow to be enthusiastic about visiting simply because he was rich. But it was really hard, and she was failing miserably.

Dick smirked knowingly in her direction. It was like he was telepathic; he always seemed to know what she was thinking. But his smug look wasn't making her any less awkward, or guilty.

It was Barbra who came to her rescue, "It's alright to be excited Artemis. I was too the first time I went. So don't let Richard get to you, he just likes to make people uncomfortable."

Dick smiled, "I've had to deal with too many stuck-up snobs who think I'm trash or a charity case. It's fun to remind them that, in the end, I'm richer than they are."

"Understandable," Artemis confessed, "But I'm innocent, I swear!"

"Sure you are," Dick drew out the statement doubtfully.

Artemis shoved the shorter boy in the back of the head, rolling her eyes at his antics. Grayson wasn't the least bit fazed, his infectious smile causing both Barbra and Artemis to smile.

Moments later, a sleek, black car pulled up to the curb in front of them. Without hesitation Dick pulled open the car door, stepping aside with a bow and a gesture for the girls to get inside: "ladies first." Barbra climbed in, apparently accustomed to his behavior, but Artemis paused, uncertain.

"I would have thought we'd be picked up in a limo." She joked weakly as she finally followed Barbra.

Dick sat down beside her and pulled the door shut, "Alfred likes to drive the Rolls Royce, and we don't argue with Alfred."

He said it so seriously Artemis couldn't help but laugh. The picture of billionaire Bruce Wayne and his troublemaking ward bowing to the will of their elderly butler was comical.

"Don't laugh!" Dick pouted, "Alfie can make the scariest threats. I swear he's more frightening than the Batman!" his mischievous grin was wiped off his face by a voice from the front of the car:

"I heard that Master Richard."

"Sorry Alfred," he said, subdued, but a smirk was tugging at the corners of his mouth, "but it's true."

Barbra simply sighed at her best friend, "How would you know that he's scarier than the Batman?"

"Trust me," Dick sounded like he was enjoying his own personal joke, "I know."

Artemis peered at the man in the driver's seat who was currently giving Dick a disapproving look. The butler had potential, but she knew the Batman, and that man was downright intimidating (especially when Robin had the nerve to play practical jokes on him). No way could some posh, English butler one-up the Batman. Dick was just ignorant.

It was quiet for a while as the teenagers waited for their car to crawl through Gotham City traffic. They finally hit the country roads before cruising up an aggregate driveway. Shadows rippled across the car as they drove beneath perfectly spaced trees that lined the path. The moment they came around the final curve Artemis couldn't help but stare. The manor was massive, stonework chiseled with antique designs, a fountain gushed in the middle of the drive, the greenery manicured perfectly. The mansion symbolized the epitome of wealth and affluence, in other words: Bruce Wayne.

"Welcome to Wayne Manor." Dick snarked, obviously trying to impress her. She was impressed, but not by him.

It was 6:30, about the time twilight fell on Gotham City in this season. Artemis, Dick, and Barbra had just started a movie in the theatre room. They were sitting comfortably on the couches, finishing up the last of their genuine, deep-dish Italian pizza Alfred had made for them when Barbra's cell phone went off. Dick scrabbled to find the remote and pause the big screen while she answered.

"Hello… dad? What's going on?" she listened for a moment, "Yeah, I'm still here. We just started a movie… They what!? Alright, I'll ask. You know they'll say yes. Yeah, yeah I'll be fine." Her voice suddenly got quiet, "Take care dad, I love you."

She hung up, face slightly pinched with worry.

"What happened?" Dick asked, concern for his friend blatantly evident.

"Black Mask has a bomb rigged to blow up half of Gotham. Dad asked if I could stay here until they get the situation under control." Barbra's voice was monotone. Artemis realized this sort of thing must happen to her a lot. Her dad was the responsible for protecting the people of Gotham from its homicidal maniacs. It wasn't the safest career.

"Of course you can stay Babs," Dick said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Artemis felt her pocket vibrate. She pulled out her phone, blue backlight glowing brightly in the darkness of the room. A single, short text splayed across the screen: Bomb threat. Stay safe. Love you. Paula knew Artemis could take care of herself; she left the rest to her daughter's professional digression.

She looked up to see both Dick and Babs staring questioningly at her. Closing her phone she asked; "Does that invitation extend to me as well?"

Dick rolled his eyes, "No Artemis, I'm going to kick you out on the streets."

Artemis stuck her tongue out at him.

"Tch. Don't be so touchy. Duh, you can stay!"

They started the movie again; Artemis felt slightly queasy. She was a hero. She should be helping Gotham in its hour of need, yet here she was relaxing while Black Mask was hours away from blowing them all to hell. But Gotham City was Batman's turf; he and Robin would take care of it, and they wouldn't appreciate her butting in. She knew that for a fact.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice that the movie had been paused again till a few seconds later. Dick was on the phone this time, his face uncharacteristically serious.

"Bruce."

Though Artemis didn't know Mr. Wayne all that well, she had assumed from all his press shenanigans that he would be more laid back. The way Dick said his name didn't seem to match that extrapolation.

"I'm on my way."

Dick hung up, surprising Artemis with the brevity of the call. Maybe the billionaire had a much different relationship with his ward than what was shown on television. The boy looked honestly regretful.

"Where are you going?" Artemis asked. Was he ditching them… in his own home?

"Out. I need to meet Bruce."

"Why?" his explanation explained absolutely nothing.

"I gotta save him!" Grayson winked slyly, "The board of directors at Wayne Enterprises has him on lockdown. Only I can persuade them otherwise at this point. Alfred's taking me in, but I'll come back later with Bruce."

"But what about the bomb?" Artemis protested, "Don't you think maybe it's a good idea that Wayne is…"

A calm hand on her shoulder stopped Artemis's tirade. Artemis turned to see Barbra looking Dick straight in the eye, an intense stare burning with a mixture of emotions: worry, care, and determination.

"It's okay Dick. If Bruce needs you, go. We'll just hang out here." Barbra's voice was calm and even, "Just stay safe." Her last three words were a quiet plea.

"I will Babs," Dick said with a soft smile, but the slightest flicker of guilt flashed in his blue eyes, "You can finish the movie without me. See you later!"

He ran out of the room, calling Alfred's name as he disappeared down the hall.

"What was that all about?" Artemis asked only to be ignored by Barbra who stated the movie again.

"Will you ladies be staying for the night?" Alfred asked a few hours later.

"It would seem so," Barbra affirmed, sending a sideways glance in Artemis's direction to receive her agreeing nod. Grayson still hadn't returned, and Artemis didn't feel like leaving Barbra here all alone.

"I shall prepare the appropriate bedrooms." Alfred said with a bow.

"Nah Alfie," Barbra said with a small grin, "We'll sleep on the couches… as usual."

"As you wish, Miss Gordon. I shall get the necessary linens." Artemis was sure the barest hint of a fond smile graced the old butler's features as he turned to leave.

Once the elderly man was out of earshot a long-suffering sigh escaped Barbra's lips,

"'As usual'?" Artemis reiterated, "this happens often?"

Barbra gave her a sharp, wary glance, but explained all the same, "My dad and Mr. Wayne are on very close terms. There has been more than one occasion that I've been stranded here for my own safekeeping during a crisis. I prefer to sleep on the couch, that way it feels more like a sleepover and less like protective custody."

In the ensuing silence, a grandfather clock somewhere in the manor struck ten. Artemis knew Barbra's life wasn't all sunshine and daisies, but she was starting to be very thankful for her own. The girl had to be tough both physically and emotionally.

"It's getting late," Barbra said, carrying the load of blankets Alfred had delivered, "We should get some sleep."

"What about Grayson? He's not back is he?"

"It's fine. He won't be back for a while yet." Barbra said.

Artemis threw her a dubious look, "How do you know? Did he call you or something?" she was sure she hadn't missed any communication from their missing member.

"No, but I know he won't be back until we're already asleep so there's no point in staying up to wait for him." Barbra sounded so sure of herself; it was as if she was reciting the alphabet.

"So… is it always like this?" Artemis was beginning to sense that she was missing a piece of the puzzle.

"Yeah… h-he always leaves in these situations; and then doesn't get back till early in the morning." Barbra was giving Artemis a hard-core, shifty-eyed glare, like she was unsure if she should be sharing this information. "It's probably just a coincidence." Her weak dismissal didn't halt the racing thoughts running through Artemis's head.

Suspicious silence permeated the room. Barbra looked regretful for telling Artemis about Grayson's odd habits. "Maybe he's secretly a diminutive mob boss!" Artemis joked to break the tension. Barbra broke into a strained laugh, considering the matter dropped, but Artemis filed the oddity away for further analysis.

"Yeah, maybe."

Artemis's eyes were blurred with sleep, but the urgent call of nature forced her into action. The glowing numerals on her cell indicated that it was three AM, not exactly the ideal time for a potty break, but whatever. What she didn't understand was why this house had to be so damn big! She had stumbled down a few Persian-carpeted halls, but to no avail. Now she was even more lost than before and didn't even know how to find her way back to the living room. No one in their right mind would even be awake to help her. The house was quiet apart from her heavy breathing, the loud tick of an ornamental clock, and… hushed voices winding down the hallway from the den.

Her father's training forced her to instantly wake up and creep down to the doorway, silent as a shadow. Due to the fact that she didn't know the layout of the house, she settled for listening outside of the door, instead of sneaking in (a decision that would ultimately prove to be the best).

"Long night." A voice she recognized to be Dick's. His tone was serious, which was unusual for him, but there was something even more familiar about that, "We could've done better."

"Unforeseen complications will always arise, that is why it is our job to try and foresee such complications and plan for anything. We did the best we could for tonight; next time we will be better. That is what we do." The other voice was soft and deep. Wayne's, Artemis would hazard a guess. But what were they talking about?

"Yep." Dick's blasé reply to his guardian's wisdom didn't imply that he didn't care, but that he'd heard it before. A yawn followed his answer, "Well, I'm going to bed. Barbra's going to wake me up early for waffles no doubt, so I'd like to catch a few hours' sleep before that happens."

Artemis heard soft footsteps approach the doorway. Cautiously she scrambled back around another corner in the hall.

"Dick,"

She tilted her head to listen again. Wayne's voice was colored with concern. The boy stood in the doorway of the study, his hand resting on the doorknob. He didn't even turn around.

"I'm fine Bruce. Alfred patched me up."

The silence stretched between them. Artemis didn't even realize she was holding her breath.

"Things happen; we did what we could; and next time we'll be better. Isn't that what you said?" Dick turned to offer the man in the room an impish smile, "So don't worry so much. It's an occupational hazard."

The carpet muted Richard Grayson's footsteps as he padded silently up the stairs to his room. Artemis noted he was still wearing his day clothes, but his hair was wet as if he had recently showered. Suddenly, she was aware of how little she knew about Dick apart from common, public knowledge. Everyone had their secrets, so what could the White Knight of Gotham and his ward be hiding. This night proved that it was something was out of the ordinary.

Artemis was relieved that she hadn't been caught, but she hadn't forgotten about the initial reason for her wakefulness. Luckily, she found a bathroom and made it back to her couch without the need to consult a map of Wayne Manor.

Before sleep came over her, through half closed eyes, she saw Dick haul an armful of blankets and pillows into the living room and settle down in a recliner. He looked so innocently like his normal self in his pajamas that she almost forgot about his shady behavior only minutes earlier. Where had he gone? Maybe he was a crime lord!

But that was preposterous, Artemis reminded herself, and Dick didn't have that kind of disposition. But the opposite of a villain was possible. She peered across the room to see that Grayson was already zonked, his mouth hanging slightly open as he slept. He didn't look very heroic when he was asleep, or early the next morning when Barbra woke him up for waffles.