AN: Hiya guys! Welcome to Batscheme! It's an AU where Dick is Bruce's biological son! There are some things – sometimes secrets – you will learn of as the story goes by. I have big plans for this story that include: angst, humor, and of course, daddybats! Oh and by the way, The Team will also make multiple appearances – just that they might be about 4 years younger (Maybe more... SQUEEEE!)

Disclaimer: All rights to recognizable characters, franchise, and whatnot, do not belong to me whatsoever. I write purely for my entertainment and hopefully for that of others ;)

So ya… Enjoy!

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BATSCHEME

Chapter 1: The Beginning of it All

By LavenderBlossom74

Old hands both strengthened and worn with the passing of the years dusted the same spot over and over again, not really focusing on the task at hand. Instead, the owner's mind was far, far away, lost in a never ending sea.

He thought about the events that had transpired recently and sighed wearily. Master Bruce never knew what he had or how truly precious it was—how much value it contained—he didn't know, until there came a moment when he that thing—that someone—was gone.

Mary Loyd and Bruce Wayne were… what was that term that modern people used nowadays? Ah yes, "high school sweethearts"—practically made for each other. While Master Bruce was normally cold and shut out from the rest of the world, when he was with Miss Loyd, a whole new different side arose in him.

A side Alfred knew had been but hidden and just waiting for the right person to find it.

When in the presence of Miss Mary, the young master would smile—that act of in itself was a miracle— and on some rare occasions, the butler had even caught him laughing.

There was just something about Miss Loyd, Alfred thought. Perhaps it was how she would always wear her heart on her sleeve or maybe it was that light that shone within her and brightened everything in the room regardless of how dark and shrouded in shadows it was. Maybe it was her genuine kindness and concern towards Master Bruce or how, even though her family was considerably wealthy, the young miss never acted arrogant. And perhaps it was everything.

Alfred also knew that both young lads were drawn to each other like opposite poles of a magnet even though they never admitted as much in Preparatory School. One the two graduated however, those feelings made themselves known and with that, Master Bruce and Miss Mary began dating both at the ripe age of 18.

The pair made a beautiful and very sweet couple. Bruce's smiles and laughs became so much more common and little by little, the Manor brightened up as darkness was chipped away with each passing day.

At 19, with the relationship lasting a year, Master Bruce bent one knee, opened a jewelry box, and proposed. The happy couple was set to marry at 20; by that time they would both have finished The University as both young adults were extremely gifted in intelligence and very talented.

But as time marched on, Master Bruce began telling Miss Mary about his goals and ambitions. He told her about how he wanted to make Gotham a better place where crime and corruption didn't reign—where justice could rule.

And as more pieces were laid on the table, slowly Miss Mary understood that Master Bruce didn't mean simply donating to the police force or helping with charity. No, he meant so much more. Master Bruce wanted to be out on the field; actually stopping crimes and fighting the criminals… not necessarily on the side of the law either.

Miss Mary also knew, she knew, that a man like him would go through with his dreams and goals. He would accomplish them—but in doing so, she thought that the young lad wouldn't have time for a family.

His mission would simply be too important.

This vital information however, was discovered much too late.

Two weeks prior to her revelation, she and Master Bruce—without a second thought about the consequences—experienced a night of… fun—fun to them at least. No logical or coherent thoughts had ran through their minds in that giddy moment and not once had they stopped to think about the repercussions.

Miss Mary's decision was suddenly so much more heavy with so much more at stake. It was not just her and the Young Master who would reap the consequences.

Her mind was made up though and even if it hurt, even if the pain would seem unbearable, the determined Miss would follow through.

She had no choice.

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The day it happened was a sorrowful one at the Manor - the candlelight which for so long had provided warmth to it was suddenly extinguished with harsh, unmerciful fingers.

From the adjacent room, Alfred heard the whole conversation—the walls after all, were thin. He heard it all; from the disbelief in Master Bruce's voice to the shaking yet firm one of Miss Mary.

Her reason for the breakup consisted of her saying that it was time for both of them to move on with their lives, that both had fallen in puppy love that wouldn't last, and that this was for the better.

But even from her own mouth, the words were coated in lies for even she didn't believe it. The love both shared was real—very real.

She exited the room with puffy red rimmed hazel eyes that at the moment appeared a melancholy blue and tear streaks stretched down her pale face. Her shoulder length blonde hair looked dull and as she looked at Alfred, the butler saw such raw pain and brokenness within her.

Shaking her head silently, she bit her lip before rushing down the stairs as yet another volley of tears descended.

The loyal butler steeled himself for what lay inside the room and with his own heart cracking in two, entered. Bruce had his back turned with his hand at his side and in between two fingers, a ring with a fat diamond.

"Why Alfred? Why?" The young 19 year old's voice was thick with deep emotion as the hand holding the engagement ring curled into a tight fist. "Why?" He whispered.

Alfred simply shook his head and with great difficulty managed to keep his voice level "I do not know sir."

Did he know? Certainly, he did. It was not his place to speak however. He knew at least one reason why and suspected a second one.

How he wished the second one was wrong. His willful wish however, he soon found out did not come true.

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The days following the breakup were filled with cold and isolated silence. Bruce once again shut himself out from the world but this time, he focused on building stronger walls around him. Most of his time was either spent in the gym, his study, or the Manor grounds which stretched for miles and miles from the manor itself.

On one of those particular days, Miss Mary surprisingly dropped by the manor for one last goodbye to the Butler.

Alfred knew the young lady had waited for Master Bruce to leave before ringing the doorbell and sighed sadly before opening the door.

"Hi Alfred," she greeted quietly.

"Good Afternoon, Miss Mary, Do you wish to come in for tea?" The butler smiled softly at her.

She glanced nervously at the door "I actually just came to bade you a final farewell... And If – if... "

The butler shook his head at her reassuringly "Master Bruce will be gone for at least four hours and there are freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies inside."

"Cookies?" Her face lit up for a few precious seconds and Alfred eyed her with a knowing look as he nodded.

She blushed and ducked her head but nodded nonetheless "Okay, thank you"

Smiling kindly, Alfred led her to the living room where she sat down before departing to the kitchen and coming back with Tea and a plate full of cookies.

The two chatted comfortably like old friends for some time until Alfred pursed his lips and asked Miss Loyd a question "Miss Mary if I may, there was more to you leaving Master Bruce, was there not?

An expression equivalent to a deer caught in the headlights captured Miss Mary's face before she absentmindedly placed a hand on her abdomen—an action not gone unnoticed by Alfred.

"No, not at all" she answered rather shakily.

Alfred simply stared at her as she bit her lip and suddenly burst out "You know, don't you? Of course you do, after all Alfred, you know everything." For a second a twinkle of mischief gleamed in her eyes before quickly disappearing.

"Oh I dare say Miss Mary, not everything, but I certainly had my suspicions."

The world class gymnast bent her head towards her hands. She seemed to contemplate something until seemingly giving in and pouring out her heart to Alfred.

"B-Bruce told me about what he wanted to do—how he wanted to change Gotham for the better. I don't pretend at understanding what he meant—I know what he meant." She wrung her hands desperately as she continued.

"And he's the type of man that Gotham needs. The man who will be a symbol of hope for this city and will make a difference. He can do it Alfred, I know he can. One day, he's going to be a legend." She smiled sadly and her voice became strained.

"But you as well as I know, he won't have time for a family—for raising kids and for being the dad our child will need." Touching her stomach, tears fell freely down her cheeks. Tears for the man she loved but couldn't have.

"Yet, I still love him and because I do, I'm letting him go so that he can follow what he feels a passion for."

There was a small pause which gave Alfred time to gather his bearings. This woman was one of a kind— a true precious rarity. She was willing to give up her happiness so that thousands of others could enjoy happiness themselves. She was willing to put what Bruce wanted over her own wants, even if it broke her to no end.

"Please, please, don't tell him about the baby... Alfred please!" Her voice was suddenly riddled with desperation.

" I don't want him to stay with me because he feels it's his duty and the responsible thing. You have to promise me!"

"Miss Mary..." The butler felt tears welling in his eyes. Oh dear heavens...

"Please." Miss Mary's hands were trembling as Alfred placed once of his own above them.

"I promise."

"Thank you... " she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to compose herself "For everything. Take care of him for me, okay?"

She began to get up "Gotham needs more people like him. Goodbye Alfred."

The butler stared at her receding back with pain in his eyes

Oh Master Bruce, what you have lost...

"Goodbye, Miss Mary" he whispered sorrowfully.

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Still dusting the same spot, Alfred thought back to the following events that occurred afterwards. The Loyds left Gotham shortly thereafter; whether they knew about the baby or not, was unknown to Alfred.

It was safe to assume the negative however, since knowing that family, they would have sued for child support, probably a huge amount of Master Bruce's inheritance and made a behemoth deal about the whole thing.

How Miss Mary was from that family and still possessed her kind and humble heart, Alfred did not know.

As for Master Bruce, he departed for the Middle East and to the Mountains to—as he called it—"train." Alfred hadn't heard from him since.

And although Alfred didn't know the location of either of his charges—one former and one current—he knew about the condition of their hearts.

They were shattered and he was the only one left to pick the shards up.

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~LB