#omegadickweek

“Bruce is that-“ Both Dick and Tim start when Bruce walks into the cave. Their surprise not that, well, surprising to him considering who he has with him.

“Jason?” Tim finishes.

“A baby?” Dick finishes.

They’re both right. Talia having messaged him out of the blue to tell him there was something she needed to show him.

Bruce had feared it a trap. Instead it was his son back from the dead. And a newborn that was apparently also his.

I am sorry my love, I had thought was doing what was best for all, Talia had said. But the situation had changed and being with the Al Ghuls now more dangerous for the two boys so Talia sent them home with their father.

“Is he okay?” Tim asks. The first to break from the apparent frozen-stillness they had both gotten when Bruce had walked into the Batcave to come over to Jason.

“He’s-“ had a few dips in a Lazarus Pit apparently, but Talia had said they were necessary and Bruce himself would have agreed if he had seen the state the boy was in. “Alive.”

“Give him here,” Dick says, suddenly rushing forward and Bruce wonders what Dick thinks he can do for Jason when he realises it’s the baby Dick desperately wants.

It’s a bit odd behaviour but Bruce doesn’t see anything alarming enough to deny Dick his request.

He can admit his heart softens at the sight - his eldest holding his youngest so close, examining the pup’s features as if trying to commit them to memory.

“What’s his name?” Dick asks.

“Damian.” At least that is what Talia told Bruce.

Damian stirs at his name waking up from the sleep he had fallen into on the trip home. Bruce holds his breath waiting for his son to start crying. Instead the boy just stares up at Dick.

“Hi Damian,” Dick says, smiling down at the boy.

“Bruce we should probably do something about Jason,” Tim says, now on Jason’s other side to help support his weight. “I think Dick has Damian under control.”

“Of course,” Bruce says, before realising he hadn’t really thought about what he was going to do with the two once he got them home.

“Do you want to keep him in the cave or bring him to his old bedroom?” Tim asks. Because he’s taken to Robin like a fish to water and knows when Bruce needs suggestions to help him decide what the best play is.

“Not to his room,” Bruce says – it has been far too long since someone was in it. The room no doubt now smelling stale. And the best thing for Jason right now is the pack’s scent. “We’ll take him to the main living room.”

“Okay,” Tim says, more settling Jason’s weight onto his shoulders.

“You know my feet work just fine,” Jason says.

“Wait – you’re lucid?” Tim asks, shifting so he can look at Jason’s eyes. Bruce is sure if his utility belt was within reach the young omega would be checking for pupal response.

Bruce is tempted to go get one.

“Yep – just wanted to see if you’d figure it out yourselves,” Jason says, standing up and stretching.

“Talia didn’t say.” As far as Bruce had been aware Jason was still recovering from his time in the Lazarus pit.

“She thought it would be a good test for you,” Jason says with a shrug.

Bruce finds he’s not even that mad about the fact. Or the fact Talia hid Damian from him either.

He’s just glad to have his sons’ home with him again.

 -------------

 The first sign something might not be right comes later that night when they are heading for bed.

It’s not Bruce deciding to skip patrols. With what he found out that day it made sense he would want to stay home with his boys.

It’s how Dick demands they all sleep in Bruce’s bed.

Which also makes sense. If Bruce’s alpha instincts wanted to make sure his pack is safe after gaining a new pup to it and refinding another than Dick’s omega instincts are no doubt driving him to make sure the pack is still connected and centred.

Except it isn’t just the first night Dick demands it but the one after it.

And the one after that.

And Dick still hadn’t put Damian down for more than five minutes.

“I don’t remember him being this clingy when I was last here,” Jason says, looking a bit apprehensive about being in the nest Dick built in Bruce’s bed. The nest apparently being a permanent fixture now.

“It’s not unheard of for an omega to become increasingly focused on ensuring pack cohesion when a pup is born into the pack,” Tim says. “Of course normally the pup is one they have given birth to.”

He doesn’t add that Dick hadn’t birthed Damian because he doesn’t need to – yet Bruce agreed that it is exactly how Dick is behaving.

“You know I can hear you all,” Dick says, curled around Damian in the centre of the nest.

“Yeah and?” Jason says, because apparently death and a Lazarus pit had given him the want to test his place in the pack – challenging Bruce and Dick to see if the Heads of the pack will give.

“And I can retract my support of you going back out as Robin,” Dick says.

“Alright fine,” Jason says, “I’ll be good.”

 ------------------

 The thing is it isn’t just Dick’s actions that had changed in response to Damian’s arrival. His scent had too. And not just in a way like it had when he first presented changing to indicate to others that he was an omega.

No, Dicks’ new scent seemed to be designed to create a response in the other pack members. A response of wanting to protect him and Damian.

And with how much he was demanding the pack all huddle around him and Damian at night in a nest. Well. There wasn’t really any escaping it.

“Is there something happening I should know about?” Commissioner Gordon asks. His hands in the pockets of his coat as he stands over the bank robbers Batman had bound for him.

“No.”

“Really? Because you normally only leave criminals in such a state when something big is brewing,” Jim says with a nod towards the bruised robbers.

“It’s nothing.”

“Inner pack drama then?” Jim asks. “I thought that had all settled down after you gave Nightwing Bludhaven.”

“It’s under control.” If anything things were going better. Jason was back and the pack all under the manor’s roof.

“If you say so,” Jim says and Bruce doesn’t stick around to find out if there’s anything more he wants to add. Swinging back into the night to the next crime.

 -------------

 On reflection the Commissioner is probably right. Bruce has gotten a bit more brutal in his handling of the criminals in Gotham recently. And it’s because of the shift in his pack because of Damian joining and Dick’s response to it.

Of course he only realises this after he’s agreed to let Jason join him, and Tim, on patrol.

Honestly he would have likely brought Dick with them as well if not for the fact none of them, Dick included, seem to want him leaving the manor currently.

Honestly Bruce doesn’t know if having Dick with them would make the situation better or worse.

“Robin stop!” Bruce orders.

“Which Robin?” Tim yells back as he tries to pull Jason off the adult alpha he’s currently laying into.

Bruce always knew Jason had issues with abusive alphas. Apparently coming back and presenting as an alpha himself has only made it worse.

The omega and pup at the manor giving off pack protect us pheromones is also not likely making Jason any more forgiving.

And honestly between Jason’s alpha growth spirt and Lazarus-enhanced strength Tim doesn’t stand a chance at physically stopping him at all.

“Both of you!” Bruce says, tugging them both back by the scruffs of their necks.

He’s lucky the abusive alpha is too terrified after Jason laying into him to notice the ridiculousness that is Batman scruffing two robins.

“Leave,” Batman snarls at him. “And I’d suggest never laying your hands on an omega again.”

“Ye-yes sir,” the alpha says with blood covering his face before scrambling off.

Only then does Jason slump limp in Bruce’s hold. Although Bruce doubts he’s at all repetitive.

 -----------------

 “He’s not having Nightwing!” Dick snarls, Damian tucked up against his chest because apparently he won’t even put the pup down to argue with Bruce.

And that basically ends the conversation of Jason perhaps borrowing his big brothers hero identity while Dick stays house-bound with Damian.

 ----------------

 “Batboy Bruce, really?” Barbara says, looking over Bruce’s designs for Jason’s new identity instead of the case file he asked her to. “You really need to leave the naming of things to Dick.”

“Bat-copter,” Bruce replies. “Bat shark repellent, Birdarangs.”

“Fair enough,” Barbara says with a laugh. “Speaking of Dick, how are you all going with his pheromones sending you all into protect mode?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Bruce doesn’t want to be having this conversation.

“I can smell them too you know,” Barbara says because Dick is as snuggly with her as the rest of them when she visits. “But I can’t do as much damage behind a keyboard. Well, I can, but draining Deathstrokes’s bank accounts doesn’t scratch the itch like punching criminal in the face does.”

“Deathstroke’s dangerous,” Bruce says instead of acknowledging what Barbara is actually saying.

“I’m well aware,” Barbara says clearly unimpressed, likely because she is taking it as Bruce doubting her abilities and not him being concerned for her safety. “And you’re deflecting.”

“I have it under control.”

“Dad doesn’t think so.” Of course the Commissioner talked to Barbara about his concerns about Batman’s behaviour.

“I’m getting it under control.” Now he’s aware of it he can put in place contingency plans to ensure both he and Jason don’t go too far while affected by their need to protect the pack caused by both Dick and Damian.

“If you so say,” Barbara says, her voice and eyes full of doubt.

 -----------------------

 Both Jason and Tim have likely settled themselves into Dick’s nest for the night leaving Bruce in quiet to get ahead on his case research without also supervising his kids. Not that he doesn’t like spending time with them just it’s nice to have time to work by himself.

Of course the plan doesn’t last long.

“Bruce,” Dick says as he walks into the Batcave and Bruce hopes Jason and Tim are asleep or else it won’t be long before they show up as well. “When was the last time you took a break?”

“I have a little more work to do and then I will,” Bruce says. He just wants to get ahead of this research while he can.

“Or,” Dick says, wrapping his arms around Bruce from behind, “you can come upstairs with the rest of us and I can do it tomorrow.”

“It’s fine.” Bruce will just get it done now so it’s done.

“Nope, Damian misses you,” Dick says. And it must be whatever is happening with his pheromones that Bruce finds it more convincing than it probably is. “Your son wants you – you know I’ll be able to do whatever research you need while you’re at work tomorrow.”

Dick’s right – he is more than capable of doing the case research. And with Jason and Tim at school he won’t have many distractions either. Plus, it has been a big day for Bruce it will be nice to wind down with his sons.

“Alright fine.”

 -----------------------

 “You know it’s getting hard for me to keep coming up with reasons why I keep staying the night here,” Tim says when it’s just him and Bruce at the breakfast table. Alfred already starting his chores with Jason’s help and Dick gone to change Damian for the day.

“Is that going to be a problem?” Bruce asks.

“I don’t think so,” Tim says. “He doesn’t say it but I think dad’s glad I have an older omega influence in my life – doesn’t want me becoming too business minded. But I think I’m going to be honest with him why I keep staying over. Not the Batman stuff just the… Dick having weird nesting instincts that include me.”

“If you think that’s best.” Bruce figures he should meddle with Tim’s relationship with his actual father as little as possible.

“Hopefully he doesn’t misunderstand and think you got Dick pregnant,” Tim says and it hits Bruce that that might be a possibility.

 ---------------

 “People have always said that about us,” Dick says when Bruce brings up his concerns about people misinterpreting their relationship.

“You never said anything.” If Dick had Bruce would have been sure to down the rumours.

“I thought you knew,” Dick says with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter though. The people who really matter know the truth.”

 --------------

 “So when is Nightwing going to have his baby?” Selena asks, walking along the edge of the roof Bruce tracked her to.

Apparently he was right that tonight’s robbery was just to get his attention. He wishes she would just corner him in galas instead.

“What are you talking about?” Dick wasn’t pregnant. And considering Dick was spending nearly all his time at the manor and not with his Titans Bruce feels fairly secure in that.

“Haven’t you heard?” Selena asks with a too happy smile. “Nightwing is pregnant and that’s why all you bats have decided to be extra harsh on the criminals of Gotham. Or at least that’s the going theory among said criminals.”

That’s exactly the last thing Bruce needed – the underworld gossiping about his pack as much as high society.

“Oh come on Bat,” Selena says with a sigh before walking over and gently cupping his face. “It’s nothing more than a bit of fun for them. Blunt the teeth of the people beating them up every night.”

“It’s not true though.”

“So? Would you rather they know that your pack has come into a pup the same time Bruce Wayne gained custody of his son he previously didn’t know about?”

“Of course not.” There is too much danger of someone putting the dots together and putting his whole family in danger. Damian included.

“Then let them talk. It’s of no consequence to you,” Selena says and Bruce supposes she has a point.

 ---------------------

 “Shit, it’s the Batman!” The street thug says. Abandoning the beta he’s threatening to back up against the ally wall. “Fuck, don’t kill me man!”

“I won’t.” Batman doesn’t kill. And he doesn’t know why everyone is acting like he does.

“No seriously, I’ll go legit, I promise,” the thug says.

“Good.” That is all Bruce actually wanted. Those in Gotham who felt like they had to resort to crime breaking the cycle.

“Alright, cool, we’re cool right?” the thug says.

“Go home.” Bruce is ready for this whole night to be done at this point. He doesn’t know why every thug and goon in Gotham is acting like he’s going to suddenly flip out and beat them to death.

“Right, of course, right away sir.” The thug scrambles to his feet and bolts. Bruce hopes he does go home and not to find a new victim. Hopes he does break the cycle.

Right now he needs to check on the almost-victim.

“Are you alright?”

“Sure,” the beta says, dusting himself off. “Can I just say though I for one am glad for whatever has happened in your pack to get you tougher with these crooks – it’s the only language they understand.”

“I’m getting it under control.” There were less slipups where Bruce only realised he was being too rough after he permanently broke a nose. Jason was also getting his previous hair-trigger temper under control more. Both of them learning to overcome the instincts Damian and Dick had raised in them.

“Well, you’re doing good work in my books!”

 ------------------

 “You know I was thinking,” Dick says after they’ve all settled into the nest he’s built for the night.” With Damian settling in more I should get back on the streets as Nightwing.”

It may be for the best. Maybe seeing Nightwing again out fighting crime will stop the rumours that he is pregnant.

On the other hand will it make Bruce and Jason’s instincts to protect the pack all the worse seeing the member causing it will be out on the dangerous streets of Gotham?

“Well, what do you think Bruce? Can you let me patrol your city?” Dick asks like it’s a joke. Because of course Bruce shouldn’t have a problem with Dick patrolling Gotham again.

His papa had said it was because his dad was unable to see himself the way the world did.  There were too many people in his past that had taken advantage of his dad and now his self-image was shattered.  Too many promises to love, care, and cherish his dad that had eventually been broken and then the blame for those broken promises placed on him instead of where it belonged.  It had made James cry for his dad at first, but then his papa had said it was in the past.  And all they could do was shower him with affection and love now.

“Jamie,” his dad smiled brightly when he spotted James and pushed through the crowd, going straight for his son.

“Hi Dad,” the boy greeted, easily slipping into the waiting arms despite most kids shying away from affection at the age of thirteen.  James could hear the tittering behind his dad and the snickers from his classmates, but he didn’t care.

“Uncle Dick!”  James released his dad and shot a glare at the kids who were watching them as his cousin Harper, Uncle Tim and Uncle Kon’s daughter, came bouncing up to them and demanded a hug.

“Dude,” James looked at Robert when he materialized next to him.  “Your dad is a total MILF.  Look at that crowd.”

“Ew, don’t talk about him that way.”  Shoving his best friend’s shoulder, James looked back to where his dad was still chatting with Harper.  He was aware that his dad was a good-looking man.  You’d have to be blind not to noticed and even then, James had a feeling a blind person would still know.  Because he wasn’t just beautiful outside, but inside as well.  Dick Grayson was the kind of Omega that if he were to write about him in an English paper, he would be considered Mary Sue because as far as James was aware, his dad had no flaws.  At least ones outside of his abysmal self-worth.

His dad was the kind of man who would give anything to protect others.  And he did just that, each night as Nightwing.  And he had done it back when he had been Officer Grayson for a brief moment, long before James had been born.  And he did it whenever he saw someone in need on the streets of Gotham.  It had always been a point of contention between him and Papa, who had to scold him constantly for trusting strangers in a city like Gotham.

And while it was amusing to see his papa treat his dad like a child in those lectures, it was concerning at times how his dad was too trusting.

“It’s true dude, whether or not you want to admit it.”  James just rolled his eyes and frowned at the man who had separated from the group of fans that his dad had previously been surrounded by.  The look of him immediately caused the boy’s hackles to rise and he moved closer to his dad.

“Richard, here is my card.  Please call me about that coffee date to discuss the possibility of WE getting involved with the charity.”  His dad took the card and James didn’t miss the way the Alpha’s fingers lingered against his dad’s.

“Thanks,” his dad said brightly, but it was too bright.  James had learned how to spot the mask that his dad wore in real life now and again when he was in situations he didn’t feel comfortable in.  Stepping closer to his dad, James gripped his hand. 

“Dad, is Papa home yet?  I wanted to ask him about something with my homework,” James interrupted anything the strange alpha might have said in response, pulling his dad’s eyes down to him.  He could tell his dad knew it was a lie.  His papa had mentioned he would be home late that night when they had been having breakfast that morning and he knew his dad knew he remembered.

“I do believe he is.  Shall we?  Harper, is your dad coming to get you or would you like a ride?”

“Uncle Jon is coming to get me.  I’m going to hang out with him and Uncle Dami today.”  James kept his eyes on the alpha who had narrowed his eyes at the blatant dismissal.  When the dark eyes shifted to James, the teen smiled innocently at the man before letting his dad pull him along to the waiting car.

“Nice seeing you all,” his dad said kindly as he opened the door for James, who waved to Robert as he remained on the steps and watched with observant eyes.  James slipped into his seat and waved his phone at Robert as his dad rounded the car and slipped inside.  The instant the door was shut, James heard the rush of air his dad let out.

“Dad?”  James waited for his dad to look over at him before he did or said anything else.  When the older Todd-Grayson looked over at him, James reached for his hand.  “You okay?”

“How do you feel about stopping by to see Papa?”  James nodded but frowned.  Spontaneous visits while his papa was working were rarely a good thing.  “I’m good, baby.  I just could use a little more stabilizing than just his scent back home.”

“Want me to call him?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”  James nodded and pulled out his phone.  He ignored the text from Robert asking what had exactly happened a few minutes ago and pulled up his papa’s number, hitting call.  The phone rang a through to the point that James was fairly sure he was going to get voicemail until it clicked as it connected.

“Jamie, you okay?”  And of course his papa would think something was wrong.  James never called while he was working unless it was an emergency.

“I’m okay, Papa.  But Dad and I are going to come by.  We just wanted to let you know.”

“What happened?  Is your dad okay?”  There was some mumbling in the background and a growl from his papa.  “Handle it.  I have something to take care of that is more important.”

“He said he’s good, but something weird happened at school.  I think he just needs to see you.”  James heard his papa grunt over the phone and then a door shutting.  “We’re turning onto the street from school now.”

“I’ll be in my office; Sheila is being told you’re coming now.  Just come right up.  Let me talk to Dad.”

“Papa wants to talk to you,” James held the phone out to his dad, despite knowing neither of them liked talking on the phone while driving. 

“Jay,” his dad said, voice slightly more strained than it had been just moments ago.  “No, I just need to see you for a moment.  I know you’re busy today.  I just need a few minutes.”  There was a pause in the conversation on his dad’s end and James tried to strain his hearing to listen to what his papa was saying but he wasn’t having any luck.  “No.  No, Jay.  I know.  I’ll explain when we get there.”  His dad listened, glancing over at James for a moment before he came to a stop in front of the building.  “We’re here.  No.  We’ll be up in a minute.”

His dad didn’t bother saying anything else before he hung up the phone and handed it back to James, who watched his dad closely as they got out of the car.  The familiar mask of Richard Grayson-Todd slid back into place and James just frowned more.  He hated that mask.

“Hello you two!”  Sheila’s ever cheerful voice greeted them as they stepped inside after his dad handed his keys off to the valet out front.  “Mr. Grayson-Todd is already up in his office.  Can I send anything up?”  She asked as she held out a bar of chocolate that she kept in her desk just for James.

“Thanks, Sheila,” James muttered as he took the bar.

“Thank you, Sheila.  I think we’ll be fine though.  This is a short visit; I know his calendar is full today.”  The girl nodded sagely to his dad and James could see that she could see the cracks in his mask.  She had been working for his papa for long enough that she knew them before they were married in the eyes of the public.  “Call me later tonight, I’d love to have you and Gracie over for lunch this weekend.”

“Of course,” she smiled brightly, turning back to the computer she had been focusing on before they had come in.

“Come on, Jamie,” his dad said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder to guide him to the elevator.  The palm scanner allowed them access to the top floor where his papa’s office was located without having to key in the security code, and soon enough they were headed up.

The doors hadn’t even opened and they could already hear his papa growling at someone.  And he heard his dad sigh in response.  But he didn’t smell annoyed or frightened.  No, he smelled guilty.  But James couldn’t figure out why.  He hadn’t done anything.

“I said to handle it,” the doors opened to reveal his papa talking on his phone with his back to them.  But the sound of the door opening caught his attention and he turned toward them, visibly sniffing the air before frowning at his mate.  James stepped forward and gave his papa a hug before heading down the hall to where the kitchen was located so he could get a drink for himself.

A glance back before he entered the room revealed his dad with his face buried in his papa’s neck and his papa’s arms wrapped tightly around his dad.  A sight he had seen plenty of times in the past, but this was different.  He couldn’t put his finger on the reason why, but it was.

The clock on his phone told him that about twenty minutes had passed when his papa came in to find James sitting at the table eating the chocolate Sheila had given him.

“Hey buddy,” his papa greeted, dropping into the chair across from him.

“Is Dad okay?”  He watched his papa nod his head as he broke off a piece of the chocolate for himself.  “What was wrong?”

His papa sighed and leaned back into his chair, glancing over his shoulder toward the door before looking back to James.  “You remember the talk we had about the people who had used your Dad for their own devices and hurt him in the process?”  James nodded; he would never forget that conversation.  “Well, a few of those times it was…physically focused.”

“Physically?  Like because he’s good looking?”  His papa raised an eyebrow.  “Kids at school call him a MILF.”  The older man snorted at that.

“Oh, Dick would hate that.  Don’t ever tell him.”  He let out a few more chuckles, shaking his head, before he went back to serious.  “But no, not because he’s good looking.  I mean in more nonconsensual ways.  Do you understand?”  It took a moment for it to hit him but then James jerked back, and his eyes flew toward the door.

Rape.  His papa was referring to rape.

“But…that…”  He looked down at the table and tried to figure out what to do with that information.  It made sense.  His dad hated when people outside of the family and their close friends touched him without him initiating it.  And the air had shifted when that alpha had touched his fingers earlier while handing over the card.

“I can see you working out the issue in your mind right now.  You understand what the trigger was today?”

“That alpha…”  His papa nodded and sighed.  “But I don’t understand why we had to come here?  People have touched him without his consent before and I’ve never seen him react like this.”

“I’m usually already there.”  That was true.  “And the intention matters.  Your Dad said that he could smell what that piss poor excuse of an alpha wanted,” his papa growled.  “And that he knew about me but broadcasted his intent clearly anyway.”

That was disgusting.

“It’s not a part of your Dad’s past that he likes to have known, but we both thought you deserved an explanation.  And now you know for future incidents.”  James nodded, pushing the rest of the chocolate away no longer interested in it.  “He’s also going to be a bit on the smothering side tonight.  He doesn’t like that you had to witness this.”

“He’s always so good at hiding things.”  His papa hummed.  James had to wonder how many times his dad had been hurt before he had learned how to fool the people around him.  “Papa?”

His papa hummed again and watched him from his spot, rocking onto the back two legs of the chair he sat in.

“Does Grandpa know about what happened to Dad?”

With a shake of his head, his papa set his chair on all four legs and folded his arms on the tabletop.  “Your dad will never admit it and the rest of the family is probably in denial about it, but Dick is his favorite.  It’s not a purposeful thing and it’s not really anything Dad has done.  Not even anything the rest of us have done,” his papa explained.  “But your dad was B’s first kid.  And he was basically sunshine personified, he still is despite all the shit he’s gone through.  But Dick came to him when B needed that.  He chose your dad.  Yes, he chose Uncle Tim, Uncle Duke, me and Aunt Cass, but Dick was the original.  And Dick is everything I think Bruce wished he could be.”

James could see that.  He knew that his grandfather’s parents had died when he was about the same age that his dad’s parents had died.  And despite that tragedy happening in front of both of them, they were like night and day.

“So, what does that mean?”

“It means that while Bruce couldn’t avenge me for what the Joker did, he wouldn’t have hesitated to do it for your dad.”  James opened his mouth to argue that fact, but his papa held up a hand to stop him.  “I got over that fact a long time ago.  Your dad helped me move past that hatred and anger, and B and I were able to deal with our issues.  But Bruce has been kept in the dark about this for that specific reason.  He never would have hesitated to take out the people who hurt your dad.”

James considered what his papa said before sighing.  “What about you?”

“What about me, pup?”

“What did you do when you found out?”  He watched as a dark look passed over his papa’s face and that was enough of an answer for James.  The people who had touched his dad in that manner would never touch someone like that again.

“Hey Jamie, you ready to head home?”  James and his papa looked up at his dad who was now leaning against the doorway.  He looked significantly better, but still a bit frayed around the edges.  “Travis is here to collect you for that meeting off site,” his dad told his papa, who swore under his breath and pushed out of the chair.

James stayed seated while his papa walked over to his dad and placed his hand against his neck, leaning down to kiss the top of his dad’s head.  “I can figure the rest of the night out if you need me to come home early.”

“I’m okay, Jay.  This was enough.  I’m going to stay in tonight though.” 

“I’ll call Damian and Jon?”

“Nah, I’ve already asked Tim if he and Kon could do a sweep since Harper is with Dami.  We’ll see you when you get home, though.”  His papa nodded and pressed a kiss to his dad’s lips before slipping out of the kitchen.

“Take care of your dad, Jamie.  Call me if you need to,” he called out, glancing over his shoulder to give James a look that his dad couldn’t see.  James only nodded before looking back to his dad.

“Can we order pizza?” James asked, standing from his chair and grabbing the remaining chocolate to hand to his dad, who always had a sweet tooth.  The man chuckled softly and took the candy.

“Yeah, Jamie.  We can get pizza.”

“And build a nest in the living room to eat and watch a movie in?”