Rocky Relationships: That's Family Life

Zatanna aged: 23

Dick aged: 22

They had only been married for 5 months… They both wanted to have a family… But as soon as they had one they would be responsible for taking care of them for 18 odd years...

"Dick?" Zatanna said, softly.

She stepped into Dick's home office. Crime-scene photos were pinned up and spread across the desk. Dick was looking at 2 gory photos of stab wounds. He was a homicide detective now.

"Hi, honey, something wrong?" he asked, not looking at her.

"No, not really..." Zatanna bit her lip "but there's something I need to tell you,"

"Can it wait? I'm trying to figure out who Gotham's latest serial-killer is," said Dick, rubbing his forehead.

Dick had left Blüdhaven and had moved back to Gotham when he married Zatanna. Although; Nightwing was still the protector of Blüdhaven (thanks to Zeta-tubes).

"This will only take a second," Zatanna said, worry in her voice.

Dick spun round in his chair and looked at her.

"I'm all yours, Zee," he said.

"Well... we both want children, right, sweetie?" she said, holding her arms.

"Right?"

"Well..." Zatanna bit her lip.

Dick stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What's wrong, honey?" he asked.

Zatanna berried her head in his shoulder.

"Zatanna?"

Dick lifted her chin up and looked her in the eye.

"Dick... I'm a month pregnant," she said "I found out a week ago and I've been trying to tell you but I've been worried,"

"Zatanna!" Dick exclaimed "That's great news! Why were you worried?"

"We've only been married for 5 months and we wanted to wait for a little while," Zatanna said.

"Well, I'm pretty sure we'll be ready in 8 months," said Dick, stroking her cheek "I love you,"

Zatanna hugged him.

"I love you, too," she said, kissing him.

…7 YEARS LATER…

Both aged 30

Zatanna sat up in bed. Dick yawned and pulled her back down and into his arms. Zatanna laughed and nuzzled into the crook of her husband's neck. There were murmurs from outside their bedroom door. Mary Sindella Grayson, age 7, ran in. She jumped up, did a handstand on the bed and fell flat on her back. Dick and Zatanna sat up and Dick grabbed their daughter. Mary squealed as her father tickled her.

"Easy, Dick, before she pees herself," said Zatanna.

"No! No! Don't stop!" Mary complained.

Dick pulled her into his lap and hugged her.

"Good morning, my little Robin," Dick said to her.

There was a rattling sound and Giovanni John Grayson, age 4, stumbled in. He had recently been given crutches to support himself (before he would crawl or sit in a wheelchair). He looked up at his mother.

"Come here, my little Magician," Zatanna said, picking her son up and sitting him on her lap.

The Grayson family had a family hug. Zatanna could sense the magical energy around her children and in their bloodstreams. Luckily; neither of the Grayson children had attempted to speak backwards. Dick could see Mary had inherited the Grayson family agility, she could never sit still. Giovanni threw his crutches onto the floor and clung to his mother. His father ruffled his mob of raven-black hair. Zatanna tickled Mary's tummy and the 7-year-old shrieked with laughter. Zatanna and Dick looked into each others' eyes. Dick put his arm around his wife and kissed her forehead. Then she looked up at him and kissed him on the lips.

"YUCKIE!" Mary and Giovanni squealed.

Zatanna and Dick laughed and started tickling their children.

Read more about Mary and Giovanni in my story Future and Past Clash. Mary is the 4th Robin and Giovanni is the 2nd Zatara.