Robin, Dick and Batman stood back in the shadows as the police stormed the plant. Dick shifted from foot to foot, as if he wanted to break out and be at Mom and Dad's side, but Robin kept his hand firmly planted on his shoulder, keeping him in place. They couldn't be seen in their costumes. It would raise too many questions and draw too much attention to them. As far as the world was concerned, the Flying Graysons were just amazing trapeze artists, not superheroes.

As soon as Dad and Mom had been loaded into an ambulance, Batman led the boys to an alley where two cars were parked. Dick's eyes grew wide when he saw the first.

"Is that the Batmobile?"

"Looks like one," Robin confirmed with a nod. "Though, I gotta say, Batman, the one in my dimension is a lot sleeker." He puffed out his chest proudly. "But then again, I helped design it!" Batman just grunted at that.

"Are we going to ride in it?" Dick asked excitedly.

"He is," Batman replied, jerking his thumb to Robin. "You're going in that." Batman pointed to the other car- a Rolls Royce. Dick's eyebrow shot up. The driver's door opened and an older man stepped out of the car. Dick cast a questioning look to Robin.

"That's Alfred," Robin explained. "He's…"

"The Bat Butler?" Dick asked incredulously. Robin just shrugged a shoulder with half a grin.

"I believe you will find civilian clothes that will fit you in the back seat. You may change into them on the way to the hospital," Alfred said pleasantly.

Dick hesitated. "What about you?" he asked Robin.

"I'll be right behind you. Don't worry. Just go make sure the folks are okay."

"Okay. See you there then," Dick said, still sounding a little wary. Alfred opened the back door and Dick climbed in. Robin watched him pull away.

Batman shifted uncomfortably beside him. "It's about the portals, isn't it," Robin said mechanically. Of course it was. Why else would Batman want to talk to him so soon after the attack in Metropolis?

"Yes. How-"

"I was trained by the world's greatest detective. I read about it in the paper and put two and two together. You think I'm somehow responsible."

"Data from the watchtower supports the theory," Batman confirmed. "Your presence here in this universe is responsible. We need to send you back."

Robin felt his heart break and crumble. "When?" he asked quietly.

"As soon as possible."

Robin nodded soberly. It was probably why he had sent Dick on ahead. He had no intention of brining Robin back to see his parents. He wouldn't even get to say good-bye. "Let's get it over with then."

"I'll take you to say good-bye."

Robin nearly jumped in surprise. "Really?"

"Of course," Batman said, almost sounding appalled that Robin would think otherwise.

"I just thought-"

"They're your parents," Batman said softly. "We all should be so lucky to have the chance to say good-bye." Batman paused. "I wish it could be different, I really do," he said and Robin believed him. Because no matter what dimension he was in, he and Batman would always share that connection the mutual pain of suddenly and unfairly losing their parents at such a young age. "I thought I would prepare you though, so you could say good-bye properly and have time to think about what you would say."

Robin felt tears sting his eyes. "But how do you say good-bye for forever? I lost them once and now… I'll never see them again."

Batman awkwardly reached out and squeezed his shoulder. With a little cough, the Dark Knight swept past him and slipped into the Batmobile. Robin joined him and spent the whole ride thinking of what he could possibly say.

Mom and Dick were sitting next to Dad's bedside. Mom held Dad's hand and stroked his dark locks tenderly as he slept. Dick fidgeted with the buttons of his new jacket, glancing over at the door every three seconds. Robin watched them silently before taking a deep breath and slipping in through the window, still dressed in his costume. Dick looked up and sighed in relief.

"You're here."

"I'm here," Robin confirmed. Mom got up and moved to hug him. Robin flinched and backed away.

He had been thinking that maybe he would tell them he was leaving because he wanted to. That he wanted to be a vigilante more than he wanted a family. That he loved the Batman more than he loved them. That he wasn't sorry for what happened to Dad because those were the risks that came with the job and if they couldn't handle it, he was better off without them. He would say terrible things and make them hate him so that it wouldn't be as painful. So that it would seem like a good idea that he was going back to his own world. He would tell Mom that that's what she had wanted the whole time anyway and blame her for driving him to it. That way, after the initial hurt faded away, they would be glad to be rid of him.

But the look of hurt in Mom's eyes at his simple action wiped that plan completely from his mind. He couldn't go through with it because it would shatter them. He wouldn't be able to stand hurting them so deeply, no matter the long-term benefits.

Perhaps it was selfishness. He wanted to take as much of their love as he could back with him. He wanted to know that somewhere, his parents loved him and missed him.

Tears spilled down from under his mask as he threw himself at his mother and hugged her tightly, burying his face into her shoulder. Mom kissed the top of his head and held him tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Robin sobbed. "It was my fault. I provoked them and they were coming after me and you all got caught in the middle and I dragged Dick into this and-"

"Shhh," Mom whispered as she ran her fingers through his hair. "It's okay, Robin."

"No it's not; there's more," Robin wept bitterly.

"Whatever it is, we'll work through it," Mom said softly. "I need to apologize too, Robin. Maybe if I hadn't been so dead set against you being a vigilante, you would've told us about what was going on. We could've found a way to stop it together or-"

"No, please. It was all my fault, I know that. I was selfish and I thought I could have it all. But I can't," he said miserably. "I'm not allowed to."

"What are you talking about, Robin?" Mom asked.

Robin choked back a sob. "I have to go. I'm destroying this world. I can't stay."

Dick gasped, already knowing what he meant. "What? No!"

"What do you mean, you're destroying this world?" Mom asked desperately.

Robin sniffled and broke out of her embrace. He wiped his nose on his sleeve and took a few deep breaths. "I'm not supposed to be in this dimension," he explained. "My presence here is causing other dimensions to merge with this one. If I don't leave, the entire multiverse could unravel."

"There must be some other way," Mom said, almost pleading with him to tell her there was.

Robin shook his head. "No, there isn't."

Mom made a little noise of disbelief. "But… I… I don't know what to say." She dropped into her chair, looking dazed. "You're leaving? Forever?"

"Batman is letting me say good-bye and then I'll go to the Watchtower and be transported home," Robin explained.

"No!" Mom shouted, jumping back up from her seat. "I won't let him do that. I'll… I'll use bat repellent if I have to! There must be another way!"

"There isn't!" Robin shouted, anger bubbling inside him. Why couldn't she just accept that? Why did she have to make this so hard? "This is bigger than us! This is bigger than what we want! The whole world is at stake! Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good!"

"Hey, hey, what's going on?" a groggy voice asked. Dad groaned as he slowly pushed himself up on his elbow. "There's enough shouting going on here to wake the dead. Or at least the mildly injured."

"Mildly injured?" Mom repeated skeptically, momentarily distracted from the news she had just received.

"Dad." Robin gingerly hugged him. "I'm sorry. This was my fault."

"Occupational hazard," Dad said with a lopsided smile.

"My occupational hazard, not yours. You should never have been brought into this."

"Is that what you two were arguing about?" Dad asked.

"No," Robin said glumly, pulling back and shrinking into himself.

"Dad… Robin has to leave," Dick said solemnly. "He… he has to go back to his own world."

Dad's eyes widened. "What? Why? Ah!" Dad gasped and grabbed his side after trying to reach out to him.

"Because if I don't, it's going to cause problems in this world. Those inter-dimensional attacks in Metropolis were caused because of my presence here. It's… complicated. But I have to leave." Robin wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly feeling cold and empty. Dad looked like someone had just kicked him which made Robin feel even more miserable. "This was never meant to be. I was never meant to be happy."

Dad sighed and shook his head. "Robin, do you remember when you first came here and you had a choice of whether you would stay or not? Do you remember what we told you?"

"This isn't like last time!" Robin snapped angrily, sweeping his hand out. "I don't have a choice this time!"

"There's always a choice, Robin," Dad said evenly. "You may not be able to change the facts, you may not be able to stay, but you have a choice."

"And what choice is that?" Robin asked bitterly.

"You have a choice to be happy. That's your choice, Robin," Dad said emphatically. "You think I don't want to tell the universe to take its problems and shove off? I do. I don't want you to leave. But life is full of things we can't control," he said, somehow managing to not sound bitter. "The only thing we can control is ourselves and our attitudes.

"I know for a fact that there are people in your old world that love you. There are people there that will take those pieces of your broken heart and help you glue them back together. There are so many things that you are capable of doing if you don't let bitterness paralyze you. And whatever else, you will always, always have parents here who love you and want what's best for you. Never forget that. We love you," Dad said so sincerely that it pricked Robin's heart and filled him with warmth. "I want you to be happy, even if we can't be together as a family. Even though it will hurt. And if there's a way for you to come back, we'll be waiting. And if there's not, we will never forget you and never stop loving you."

Robin mind went reeling as it tried to process what Dad had just said. "How did you get so wise?" he finally asked.

"It's not wisdom, Robin. It's love. And I'm filled to the brim with it."

Fresh tears streaked down Robin's face as he hugged his father tightly. He could feel Dad tense ever so slightly from pain, but Dad didn't as much as grunt as he hugged him back.

"Oh Robin," Mom cried as she joined them. Dick threw his arms around them too, completing the family hug.

Robin didn't want to leave the embrace. He wanted to stay cocooned in this ring of warmth and love forever. But he couldn't. But Dad was right- there were people who would love him, who would help him piece his broken heart back together. He could build himself a family in his old world that wouldn't take away from the family here, just add to it. Add to the group of people who loved him. He could choose to be happy despite all the pain of separation.

"I'll try. I'll try to be happy," Robin whispered. "But it'll be so hard."

"I know. Don't close your heart to the good things in life and it'll get easier," Dad said into his hair.

"I'll miss you all so much."

From the window, Batman cleared his throat, causing the whole family to look up at him. He practically squirmed under their gazes. "Robin…"

Robin sniffled and untangled himself from his family, taking a step back. "This is it then… I don't know what to say. Goodbye seems so final. I love you so inadequate. I feel like all this hasn't been enough."

Tenderly, Mom wrapped him in a final hug and kissed his forehead. "Be safe, my little robin. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too. Dad…" He looked over Mom's shoulder at Dad who nodded, his eyes saying more than his words ever could. Stepping away from Mom, he faced his brother. "Dick…"

Dick let out a strangled cry and grabbed him, embracing him with all his might. "You're my best friend, Robin. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I don't know if my heart will ever be whole without you here."

"I know. Mine too."

Dick deflated and slowly let go of him. "Good luck… that sounds so lame…"

"No, it's okay, it's good… it's… it's time for me to good," Robin said quietly. Then, like ripping off a band aid, Robin suddenly turned and escaped through the window.

"Ready?" Batman asked.

"No," Robin replied. "But I'll never be." He nodded towards The Flash. "Beam me up, Scotty."

The Flash hit a few keystrokes on the computer and a moment later, a portal opened up by Robin. He took a deep breath and stepped towards it but stopped before he actually entered and looked over his shoulder at Batman. "Will you keep an eye on them for me? Make sure they're safe?"

"I promise," Batman acknowledged with a nod.

"Good… And… you know, it wouldn't hurt to get yourself a sidekick. It did wonders for my Batman." Robin could only grin as Batman frowned and shifted awkwardly. "Maybe we'll meet again?"

"Maybe. Now go."

"Right." Robin stared at the glowing portal in front of him. "Right." And then, summoning all the courage he could, Robin stepped into the portal that would take him back to Mount Justice. Back to his old home and old family. Back to a new set of adventures and challenges. But he could face them, he could handle it. Because there were people throughout the multiverse that loved him.

What more could he ask for?

The End

No word of a lie, this was the hardest thing I have ever had to write because I really just didn't want Robin to have to say good-bye. I think my heart is broken.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has read and to all those who have reviewed. I hope you enjoyed my humble efforts to entertain and touch your hearts.

Tuttle

Oh! And in case you're worried... there is a sequel planned.