"I really don't understand why you put up with her. She's so... utterly condescending. So... rich."

The thirteen year-old ebony haired boy quirked an eyebrow. "You realize that I'm rich, too, don't you?"

"You don't count," the twelve year-old redheaded girl that was currently painting his toenails said quickly.

Bruce and Pamela sat alone together in the greenhouse set up in the backyard of Wayne Manor, established years ago for Martha Wayne's gardening hobbies. Since the loss of his parents, Bruce had spent quite a bit of time there both in mourning and to maintain the flowers that his mother once cherished. His friendship with Pam had also granted him more knowledge on how to better care for plants. Plants were the girl's life.

"Rachel's family aren't even millionaires," Bruce tried to defend his sort of childhood friend. "They're more middle class."

"Middle class and so obviously working to pair the two of you together in some archaic arranged marriage," Pam retorted with a bitter sneer that she had so obviously gotten from Bruce. "There's a term for people like that. It's called gold diggers."

"I have no intention of marrying Rachel," Bruce said with a fond smile as Pam finished applying the red nail polish to his toes.

"Let me know if she tries to claw your eyes out when you tell her that. It'll give me an excuse to slap her."

"Honestly, Miss Pamela. Young Master Bruce has corrupted you to the point of no return," Alfred said as the butler sauntered into the greenhouse carrying a plate with two glasses of lemonade. Both children took it graciously. "It is rather disheartening. You seemed like such a fine young lady."

"Why, Alfred, I had no idea you cared so much," Pam gushed, batting her eyelashes.

Alfred merely smiled warmly. "You will be staying over for dinner again, I presume?"

"No meat," Pam said firmly.

"Of course," Alfred nodded, making his way out. "Master Bruce. Exquisite pedicure."

Bruce grumbled, blushing. He reluctantly held is hand out when Pam snapped her fingers for him to do so, and began applying the polish to his fingernails.

"I can't believe I agreed to let you do this."

"Quit whining. It makes you look cute."

"I thought I was always cute?"

"That's just something I say to make you feel good about yourself."

"Perhaps redheads truly are related to Satan."

"Oh stop. You know I love you," Pam chuckled with a smile. "Just think of this as a favor to me. One day, I'll repay you."

Bruce smiled at his best friend. "I'll hold you to that."

"Bruce?"

Bruce was broken out of his reminiscing by the voice of his oldest son, and turned the open doorway to the backyard where he had been staring at the greenhouse.

"Yes, Dick?"

Dick frowned, glancing behind Bruce briefly before looking back at his father. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," Bruce said emotionlessly, silently ordering Dick to drop it. "What did you need?"

Dick was silent for a moment. "I was going to ask if you had heard anything from Ivy yet."

Ever since she had returned Tim to them a week ago, Poison Ivy had completely dropped off of the face of the Earth. Her usual safe house in Crime Alley was completely cleared out. No plants or anything remained. When his own searches through Gotham turned up empty, he had resorted to contacting the Justice League for assistance. They were still looking, but so far their efforts had proved fruitless.

"No. Nothing at all. I assume Jason hasn't found anything either?"

"He, Roy, and Kori are still looking. Haven't heard back from them yet. How... How's Tim doing?"

Tim. Bruce grimaced a bit. The boy honestly could be better. But really, what child would be after the horrific week he had endured? He hadn't left the manor since they had brought him home, both due to his family's protectiveness and his own fear. Aside from being extremely self-conscious about his new appearance, Tim had become afraid of his own shadow. The Joker had beat, cut, burned, and electrocuted him repeatedly, all the while offering fake kind gestures to it. Even though the Joker was dead, it didn't really make Tim feel any safer and that broke Bruce's heart.

What made things even more complicated was how his emotions were effecting his powers. Whenever he became sad or upset, any plant within twenty meters of the boy would react in accordance. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred had to move several plants out of the manor because of this. It was one of the main reasons he was trying to track down Ivy. No one else knew what Tim was going through better than she did.

"He's adapting. Not quickly, but... he's getting there," Bruce said after a moment's thought. "He's outside."

Dick nodded and moved past Bruce to the patio in the backyard. He found the youngest member of the Bat clan sitting on a lawn chair by the hedge maze wearing only a pair of shorts. He had his knees upped to his chest and arms wrapped around them. To Dick's curiosity, he was gazing off to the side, and seemed to be whispering to something.

"Hey, Timmy," Dick said softly.

To his surprise, Tim actually jumped and looked up at Dick with wide eyes. Dick froze as the hedges seemed to come to life and writhe.

Tim grimaced. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Dick said, watching wearily as the hedges gradually became inanimate again. "What are you doing?"

"Just sitting. The sun actually feels really good," Tim commented, gazing up at the clear blue sky.

Dick quirked an eyebrow. Usually Tim tended to avoid the sun, saying he burned to easily. Must be an effect of his transformation. Drawn to sunlight like a real plant.

"Who were you talking to just now?"

Tim's green cheeks darkened to the shade of viridian as he blushed, looking down. "N-No one."

"I heard you whispering just now," Dick said slowly, glancing to where Tim had been facing before, eyes falling on... the hedges?

"Tim, were you... talking to the shrubs?"

"No!" Tim said rather too quickly, then looked down in embarrassment. "Y-Yes."

"Oh," Dick said, shocked and not really sure what to say to that. He had gathered that Poison Ivy had some connection to plants that enabled her to communicate and control them but never knew the details.

"What is that even like?"

Tim was silent for a few moments, looking like he wasn't sure exactly how to describe it himself. Dick was about to tell him that it wasn't really important when he finally spoke.

"It's... I can hear whispering. It's like a song. But it sounds farther away, like whenever we can hear Jason playing with his earphones on full blast."

Dick just nodded to make it known that he was listening while Tim continued. "The melody changes based on how I feel. If I feel sad, it sounds sad. So I've been... trying to respond to it."

"How?"

"I just... think back to it. I don't know," Tim said, shrugging helplessly. "But it works better if I'm closer to them."

"And, what are they saying?" Dick said, nodding at the hedges.

Tim looked over at the bushes, and Dick thought he saw his brother smile a bit when the branches wiggled a bit.

"They're kind. They whisper nice things to me," Tim said, then to Dick's concern, he let off a hysterical sounding giggle. "Do-Do you think that's bad? Do you think I'm going crazy?"

"Oh, Timmy, no, no of course not," Dick said, immediately moving over and wrapping the boy in a hug. Tim tensed briefly before melting into it, burying his face in his brother's shoulder. "You're not going nuts or anything, Timmy. You're just going through a hard change is all."

"My skin is green and I can hear plants singing to me," Tim deadpanned, voice warbled with tears.

"Like I said, a hard change," Dick said, smiling to lighten the mood. Tim couldn't help but smile back. "We'll figure it out. We always do, right?"

Tim nodded shyly, sniffing as he wiped his eyes.

Dick patted his bare shoulder. "Alright, what do you wanna do now?"

"... I want Bruce."

"Then we'll find Bruce," Dick said, standing up and picking the smaller male up over his shoulder.

Tim gave a surprised squeak. "Dick! Put me down! I'm not a child anymore!"

"Please, babybird! You'll always be the baby of the family," Dick laughed as he carried the boy toward the manor.

"I'm almost thirteen!"

"Yeah, almost."

"This is so uncool of you! Dick!"