Bats in the Attic (Young Justice/Batman Beyond)

Blended

Pointing out the schedule Mary expected him to follow when the woman apparently didn't care about said schedule suddenly felt foolish beyond measure; he also felt even more convinced Warren's mother was the childcare who fell through yesterday. He watched her turn her attention to her phone, which meant Warren's day at work would end up rather rudely interrupted.

"Warren, it's your mother."

Dick flinched, listening to how shrill the woman's voice sounded. Terry continued reaching out for the woman, not realizing at all she didn't want anything to do with him.

"There's a strange man in your apartment with Terry."

He felt a slight twitch in the cheek area. "You'd think because she found me here and he's not here that I wasn't some random stranger."

"What do you mean he's now watching Terry? I watch..."

"Yup. She's definitely the childcare who fell through the day before." He watched the woman grow silent, yet the color of her skin paled ever so slightly. "I'm guessing Warren is giving her a lecture about falling through regarding watching Terry yesterday I'm curious regarding what her response is going to be."

For a few moments, there remained silent on there side of the phone. "I can't always watch..." She stopped speaking, as if Warren interrupted her. "Well, that is true, but this – he's a complete stranger. He also said something his personal situation and you helping him..."

She stopped, her eyes widening, and her jaw dropping. She swallowed, before looking over at Dick, making him slightly worried regarding what Warren told his mother regarding him. She listened, still looking at him. Dick shifted from one foot to another, swallowing himself. "Seriously, what is he telling her?"

The woman finally took a deep breath before turning off her phone. In the back of Dick's mind, he registered the fact her phone wasn't old fashioned like the cellphones he saw most older ladies who were the age of this woman using. In fact, the phone seemed like a newer model.

"Okay. She's not saying anything, but my mind wandered to the fact she's possibly more tech savvy than a lot of your usual older people." He took a deep breath. "Umm..."

"You were Warren's roommate in college? The one who..." The woman frowned.

"Apparently?" Dick tilted his head. "You were going to say something."

"Nothing. It isn't important."

"It's important to me. I mean, I don't remember anything about college."

Terry continued wiggling, making an attempt at getting to the woman he thought of as his grandmother yet who didn't want anything to do with him. In the back of Dick's mind, he wondered what kind of effect this might have on Terry once he got older. He took a deep breath, still watching the woman and waiting – waiting for anything to happen.

"I guess I have no choice."

"Um..."

"I thought I told you not to um me."

"You're being rather vague."

"You get to take care of the brat."

Dick watched the woman carefully, waiting for her to leave while Terry continued wiggling. The sudden ball of energy the child turned into was quite perplexing, particularly given the fact Terry became energized when he saw the woman even though she didn't want anything to do with Terry. In fact, he'd expected her to leave given the fact she wanted nothing to do with the child.

She didn't leave.

The next thing he knew, she reached for Terry. "Come here brat."

The action proved even more perplexing as Terry called out for his gammy, going willingly into his arms. He quickly nestled down into the woman's arms – in fact, he felt slightly jealous given the fact the woman honestly didn't want anything to do with the child. "Jealous? Are you kidding me? You barely know the kid, so why are you jealous."

The other voice – the one which countered and debated the situation all the time when he became anxious regarding something, anything – chimed in. "It's because you're supposed to be his caretaker, yet he's already taken a disliking to you because his mother's taken a disliking to you."

"Does that mean his mother sucks up to Warren's mother trying to get the woman to like her? I mean..." Dick let out a sigh. "Good grief. You're actually believing this woman when she says that Terry isn't Warren's kid." Except, unless Mary – Helena – dyed her hair, there was no way two parents with red hair could produce a child with black hair. He glanced away, realizing suddenly what Warren's mother said was quite obvious, yet he didn't want to think Warren was that oblivious.

He headed over to the schedule, looking over the itinerary while Terry giggled while sitting in his grandmother's lap. His head drifted over, taking in the fact the woman – despite her words, did in fact act like she cared about Terry. "Maybe she's just voicing her frustration because Terry is too young to understand? That can be dangerous given the fact he may eventually understand. More importantly – " His eyes drifted down to the schedule. "We're definitely way off schedule."

Taking a deep breath, he decided he'd call the phone number Mary left in case anything happened, yet he stepped away, speaking softly so Warren's mother might not hear. The first words out of her mouth were. "What happened?" She then said. "Please tell me you didn't do something like let him use the back of the couch as a high wire."

Dick's bright blue eyes blinked. He took in a deep breath. "Why would I do that when he's not my kid?"

"So you're saying you would actually let a child do that?"

"My parents let me walk a tightrope when I was that age. Mind you, it was low to the ground and my hands were held, but I really don't remember a time when I wasn't up in the air." He listened, waiting for a response, forgetting he was calling her for a reason.

"Why does that sound familiar," she eventually said.

"I wouldn't know why that sounds familiar to you, to be honest."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure how to put this, but Terry's not going to make some of those play dates and things you have scheduled for him."

"What? What did you do that will prevent him from..."

"Warren's mother showed up."

"And you didn't tell her you needed to go – that there were plans?"

"I'm kind of a coward when it comes to the idea of upsetting little old ladies and little kids."

"Warren's mother isn't that old. In fact, she'd majorly lay into you for saying she is. Actually, never mind regarding the fact you're not able to get Terry to go. With her around, it's quite understandable. She never did follow the schedule when she watched him, but she didn't always show up. I guess – I guess I should be glad she's wanting to be around him. I'll forgive you this one Grayson, but only this once."

"I..." Unfortunately, before he finished what he was saying, Mary – Helena – hung up on him. "Is she glad because she's aware of the fact – of course she would be aware. I doubt Warren's mother remains quiet regarding the matter, but if the child isn't Warren – yeah, that explains why she just said what she did. And no, Dick Grayson, you shouldn't say anything. Don't say anything at all."

Yet, something in the back of his mind told him he wouldn't be able to not say something, not if it showed on his face that something was bothering him.