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[Having her own nightmares means she would never hold Dick's against him, she understands how bad things can get at night.]

You're welcome, just promise you'll do the same for me when I wake up from my own nightmares.

How bad do yours still get? [pressing his forehead to hers, he tips his head to kiss her softly. He knows that coming back here couldn't be easy. He stops for a second and tips his head.]

You know, we can stay in a nearby city, one that doesn't have as many memories. I want you happy, so, so happy.

Pretty bad. [She admits and then kisses him back, as if that would help dispel all of her future nightmares.]

No, New York is fine. I'm slowly starting to like it the more I explore it.

Good. I'm glad that you like it here. I'm really liking this city as well. I am spending more and more time here. I know you want me to stay in Gotham, but it's nice here and there is crime fighting to be done here as well. I split my time.

[Dick runs his nose along her cheek in a gentle nuzzle, doing his best to comfort her and let her know that he is around watching over her, but not too close where she might feel uncomfortable. They both live with dreams born of a more difficult time, but now what's past is going to be what brings them back together and Dick can't be happier.]

I think we should take a trip to visit the Ballet soon. I'll get us a box and we can both dress up. What do you think of that?

[Dawn pulls away from the nuzzling, blinking in surprise at his sudden offer to go to the ballet.]

I think it's a wonderful idea but, are you sure? You usually hate getting dressed up in stuffy clothes and the last time I tried to drag you to the ballet you weaseled out of it by going off to stop a bunch of bank robbers.

[There's laughter in his eyes as she pulls away, but he keeps his hold around her unwilling to let her get too far away. Dick sighs and bows his head a little, realizing how bad a boyfriend he really was.]

I was a such a fucking screw up. I know. You love the ballet, how could I ever deny enjoying something with you that inspires you so much. If I love you, then I'm going to do things with you that you love. The days of me using work to get out of things is done. I am still very attached to the job, but you are my love and you will take priority unless the world is coming to the end, or someone we love is in trouble.

I'm so sorry for not treating you the way I should have. I'm really going to work hard to make up for it this time Dawn. I mean it.

[He holds her tight, and kisses her hair.]

You are the most important thing to me now.

Dick, listen to me.

[She says and cups his face in her hands, gently bringing it back up so she can look into his eyes.]

You weren't a screw up, we were both young and made mistakes. That's it. You don't have to apologize anytime I mention something from back then, okay? I'm not bringing it up to make you feel bad.

I'm just a little surprised but I'd love it if we could go to the ballet together. You just have to promise that you won't make fun of me if I start crying.

[There's a small part that wants to pull away and not to look her in the eyes, because he hasn't gotten over the way he treated her. The past him is still a thing that he feels he's working toward making up for. The fact that she's forgiving him is wonderful. Taking a deep breath, he nods. ]

I'll try. I can't promise I won't do it now and then. I know what I did, and I am still working on forgiving myself even if you have forgiven me. When I finish all the forgiving, it'll be easier.

[Leaning in, he kisses each of her cheeks. ]

I might smile and kiss your cheeks and call you adorable, and beautiful, but I would never make fun of you. Dancing is your art, and when art is done very well it can touch our hearts. Like the way there are songs that touch me and make me think of you.

[She nods and lets go of his face but is grateful when he kisses her cheeks and she nuzzles him softly.]

Oh really? Which songs?

[Isn't that the way it always goes? At the mention of a song, the mind blanks and Dick has to sit there quiet for a few moments before he can even begin to scroll through the songbank in his mind. There have been so many over the years that have made him think of her, but right now, this moment, he wants the ones that pertain to them and how things are going here.

He bites his lip, and nuzzles her a little more. ] Putting a man on the spot makes it hard, but how about...
[Dick pulls out his phone and starts to scroll through things, pulling up a few titles.]

Okay, here's a small list that you can listen to:

one
two
three
four

There are about a hundred more that I could find. I know that I could send you all the love songs and it wouldn't be enough. I love you, Dawn and I won't ever stop. I'm so lucky to have you back in my arms.

[She makes him play each of these songs, listening to them as she hugs and holds him, a little smile tugging at the corners of her lips. As the fourth and final song plays she tilts her face up to look at him.]

I love you too, Dick.
I always will.

[Smiling down at her, he sighs deeply and tips his head to rest against her.]

I'm a lucky guy to have found the most wonderful woman out there. I love you Dawn and I always will. I'm glad I found you again, and that we will make it work this time. Now that I've played all my sappy songs for you. I'll figure out one to sing for you one day. It's been a while since I had the guitar out.

I'd like that. It's hard to keep up with the little things that bring you joy, isn't it? Life can get so hectic and dangerous that we forget to take a few moments to ourselves and do what we enjoy.

That's exactly it. [He runs his fingers through her hair and takes up the edges of it to brush over his lips, remembering how soft that always felt.]

That is my purpose now, to remember all the little joys and to take time to spend with the people around me, the ones I love and away from my piles of work, because I know what I'll remember when I'm gone and it's not that desk.

[She chuckles softly and gives him a squeeze.]

Look at that, it only took a near apocalyptic event to get you to start enjoying your life and not disappearing into your work....

[He has to laugh with her because it's the gosh awful truth.]

Yes, well. I guess we all must go through our toils and troubles, bubble, bubble before we come out of the witch's brew a better person? I don't know, Rachel would agree.

[He laughs again, because yep. another corny Dick joke.]

[Dawn snorts and rolls her eyes at that joke because yeah, it was pretty bad.]

Do you still keep in contact with her now that she's in school?

I do my best to when she answers. I mean, someone has to keep track of her. I can't just throw her into the world and not keep an eye on her. She's always wonderful, why wouldn't she be. She grew up while we worked together and faced so much...

[Dick shakes his head at that, still in wonder at all the young woman went through. She always touched his life and was close to him in a way that a younger sister might be if he had one.]

[And now, because she can't help herself Dawn asks the question that every big brother hates....]

Has she mentioned if she's dating anyone at school?

[There's a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders, because he hasn't bothered to ask. Dick doesn't really push that hard into things Rachel might not want to tell him. He listens, and does a good job of it. If there was someone special in her lift, he imagines that he'd pick up on it eventually.]

Not that I know of. You could always call and ask. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Girl talk would be easier than talking with me.

I'll send her an email first, she might not want to talk to me anymore considering I kind of took off.

That's an idea, but I have a feeling that she'll probably still be happy to talk to you. I think she'll understand considering all that happened. It's not like she's had the easiest time with things. She's grown a lot through it, but the year was a lot.

[He snuggles against Dawn's neck, unable to keep himself from holding her tight. Right now it's his greatest privilege and that's all he needs from this date. They'll have all the time in the future for other things. Kissing and nuzzling, is enough to fill his heart and help him remember what it is to be loved like this, and to be able to hold a person and to need them in the depth of his being and for no other reason.

Dick could lose himself completely in the best way, not because he isn't complete without her-- but because she makes him feel better in every way when they are together. It's a wonderful, empowering feeling and he's glad that she's the one that does it for him.]

All the more reason to send her an email first, the last thing I want to do is throw her off or stress her out with a random phone call.
Or heaven forbid, show up on her doorstop years later....oh wait no, that was you.

[She teases, poking his side a little.]

That's fine. I'll let her know that we're together too, and that way she has some communication from both of us and it will make more sense all around.

[Ducks his head and laughs, poking back.] Okay, well, it worked out for the better now, didn't it? I get to nibble on you, and we get to start our torrid love affair all over again, making it work this time around. Who knows, maybe in a year or so you'll be picking out a wedding dress.

[She pokes him again, harder this time.]

It is not a torrid love affair. It's not an affair at all since we're both single.

[His comment about a wedding dress makes her stiffen suddenly though and she looks at him, her eyes troubled.]

Dick.
Don't joke about that.

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