Chapter Text
It was exactly 9 months after Tim was born that Bruce returned to Gotham.
It wasn't intentional on Bruce's part Janet knows.
Because when he knocks on her door after he gets settled back in Wayne Manor, his startled expression upon seeing Tim in her arms is one she will treasure forever.
Jack was out at the time. A dig Janet had found in Vienna that made Jack ecstatic.
She was glad she was able to indulge her husband's love of archeology and find him reputable contacts through her passion.
It wouldn't do for Jack to get mixed up with the wrong people while doing what he loved.
Janet was very aware of how some archaeologists made their fortunes and distinctly thought them foul.
They had chatted and had tea and cakes in Janet's favorite sitting room in Drake Manor, just like when they were kids.
It was good to see her friend well.
And she was happy to note he looked even a bit at peace with himself.
Not completely, not as at peace as he had been when they were children.
But Janet didn't think he'd ever be that at peace again.
But he's better, happier, and frankly that's all Janet cares about.
So she lets Bruce bounce Tim on his knee her baby happily gurgling at him, as Janet watches on delighted.
Tim was already such a good judge of character.
"I have a favor to ask of you, my dear friend."Janet said with mock seriousness.
Though not many other people other than Bruce, Alfred and her husband and in time most likely her son could tell the difference between that and her serious tone.
Bruce looked up from where he was booping Tim on the nose and raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sure I can help in any way you need me Jans, you know that."
She did. She had known since she was a very little girl how far Bruce Wayne would go for his friends.
"Oh it's not so serious Brucie. Smooth out that crease in your brow, you'll give yourself a headache." She joked.
Bruce did relax his face and smiled at her.
"Right as always Jans." He joked back.
She returned his smile brightly and then looked adoringly down at her son.
She extended her hand and his little hand gripped her pointer finger.
When he grabbed a hold of her he looked up with as much seriousness as a baby could muster and babbled earnestly at his mother.
"Right you are my darling. It's best not to delay."
She looked up at Bruce again him looking at her quizzically but fondly.
"I would ask you be Timothy's godfather."
Bruce looked incredibly shocked. Which Janet thought you should not be who else would she trust her darling son to?
"I.." Her friend's stammered. "I would be honored Janet. Of course I accept. But I'm a little confused? You've never been particularly religious? Why... Why do you want him to have a godfather?"
Janet chuckled a bit and moved her hand a little in Tim's grip not enough to dislodge it but enough so his little eyes trailed after her fingers. Like they were little dragonflies flying about in the air.
"Bruce you know my family is... Unusual. By most people's standards."
Bruce opened his mouth to defend her and her family on pure instinct as he had done since he was a child.
Janet silenced him with a look and a pat on his hand.
"I'm not ashamed of how my family is. We love endlessly and devotedly. And we are used to adapting our families to have room for all we love. Unfortunately many people do not recognize such family structures. So my family has had to be... Creative for legality reasons. I had a few godparents myself though my parents were even less religious than me, simply to have my other mothers and fathers although they did not spawn me have a legal way to protect me. I wish to give you that same right over my son."
Janet smiled at Bruce. "I trust you Brucie. You are my friend and I love you dearly. I would have Tim grow up around your influence, I think he would be better for it."
Bruce looked dumbstruck. He knew about all of her parents, but he never really put much thought into how the Drakes would operate legally with how they are. But this made sense.
What Janet was offering him especially coming from a Drake was an ultimate show of trust and love.
He looked down at Little Tim in his lap, who smiled gleefully up at him and cooed slightly.
He looked back up at his friend. He knew she already knew his answer. But he would give it nonetheless.
"Of course my friend. I would be honored. I promise to do my best with looking after Tim." He brought one hand up to rub the back of his neck. "Although I don't think I'll be very much good with it. I don't think I'm really the fatherly type." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Janet punched his arm. "Oh you will do well. I know so. Just trust that heart of yours and occasionally tell that big brain of yours to shut up and you'll do well."
Bruce chuckled at that and Tim mirrored him.
Oh yes. Janet thought. This was definitely the right decision.
They chatted on for a while playing with Tim and discussing the goings on of Gotham and what was new since Bruce came back.
Janet didn't ask where he'd been, didn't ask why he'd been radio silent for so long.
He asked her not to, and she would keep to that promise.
----
Almost one year later the city was suddenly being protected by one of those vigilantes that was popping up all over the place.
The Batman.
Janet did start looking into him.
From what she assessed he would be good for the city, but that didn't stop her from trying to Snoop.
What did stop her was when one of her trails led back to Bruce.
She immediately stopped investigating and did her best to hide the secrets of Batman.
Janet idly wondered where Bruce had met Batman in his travels and what he was like.
Either way it wasn't her business.
Bruce funding a vigilante was an easy enough thing to bury while not finding out any more information herself.
He had asked her not to look into his secrets and she wouldn't.
But she would also make sure that nobody else would go snooping, even if she never knew exactly what she was helping to hide.
It was funny, Bruce being the patron of a sneaky detective vigilante and Janet being the Mistress of secrets in Gotham.
You never do stop playing your childhood games.
You simply raise the stakes.
----
Tim is 3 years old and the circus is in town.
Her brilliant little boy is bouncing with excitement.
Haley's circus had announced they were coming to Gotham. Tim fascinated by the spectacle and the bright colors had begged his mother to go.
Being a Drake, Tim didn't have to beg. Janet would have brought her son to the event even if he was silently fascinated by it.
Her son would experience as many joys of the world as she could manage to get for him.
And really circus tickets were not at all hard to procure.
Especially not for somebody with Janet's connections.
Jack, Janet, Bruce and Tim all arrive at Haley's circus filled with excitement.
Tim babbling on his mother's hip about the flying Graysons and their cool tricks.
All the adults smile at the boy and listen intently.
Janet adjusts his little Batman backpack (He adores the city's vigilante and Janet is nothing if not an indulgent mother.) And looks her son in the eye.
"I know you're excited darling but do remember your manners. These people are professionals and have spent their lives at their craft. You must respect that." Janet reminds her son.
Her son beams up at her. "I remember mother. I will remember my manners I promise. I'm just so excited! They can fly! They can fly like Batman only they do flips!"
Jack and Janet chuckle at that and Bruce outright laughs.
It was good to have a nice relaxing family outing.
Janet does think that he's taking after Bruce and that he's interest will fall along with the blossoming vigilante Community as he grows older but he has also looked utterly fascinated with cameras and photography.
No matter what Janet vows to herself, she will support her son and his interests.
Tim jiggles on her hip like he's trying to bounce right off and run ahead.
She kisses his forehead and pets his hair.
He smiles beautifully up at his mother and calms down a little bit.
Oh yes, with that smile and determination her little boy could take over the world.
And she'll be right there to help him.
----
They're lucky the Grayson's are doing a meet and greet before the show and the lines aren't that long!
They get to the front of the line and Tim is utterly starstruck!
They look so cool especially the youngest one.
His smile is brighter than the big top lights.
Janet smiles indulgently at her son as he hyper focuses on young Dick Grayson.
It seems her son is quick to fall in love, she'll have to see what she can do to invest in this circus.
She patiently leans down to let her son get closer to the Grayson's.
Their young son smiles like the sun up at her.
Janet is charmed, and Tim is utterly entranced.
*Brother brother brother brother!*
He wants this boy with the sunshine smile to be his big brother. He's watched countless videos of his cool tricks and endless puns.
But somehow coming face to face with him stirs the young Drake's heart.
He will be good though, he must get to know Dick. And then he will ask, he'll ask dick to be his big brother, he'll ask Dick to be his.
Mama says consent is important especially when you love is deeply as a Drake does.
The worst thing you can ever do to one you love is force your devotion, your Love upon them.
Tim promised his mother and himself he would never do that.
So for right now he just stares starstruck at the Young Grayson boy.
Dick grins at him and extends his arms in a full body wave. "Hiya little guy! I'm Dick! Thank you so much for coming to the show! Are you a fan?" Tim nods his head eagerly.
"You're so cool!" Tim's little voice squeaks out. "You fly like Batman, but you do flips and joke so you're even cooler than Batman!" Tim says enthusiastically.
Dick tilt his head to the side like a little bird. "Batman? Who's that little guy?"
Janet tilts her head up proudly while still kneeling on the ground and Tim copies her.
"Our citie's Noble protector."Janet says voice like silk.
Dick nods looking impressed and energetic.
"So he's the local vigilante huh? Well I'm glad you think I outrank Batman in the coolness department squirt! Hey what's your name by the way?"
Tim shiley shifts in his mother's group. "It's Tim, Tim Drake!"
Dick beams at him and leans closer to whisper. "Well Tim since you're my biggest fan and think I'm cooler than even Batman, I'll give you a special treat just for you."
Tim holds his little hands over his mouth in Glee looking ecstatic.
"Tonight I'll do the grace and special quadruple somersault and it'll all be just for you!" He winks conspiratory at Tim. Tim shrieks with Glee.
Janet smiles down at the little showman, he's impressively good at reading people for such a young age and making them all feel uniquely special.
She definitely thinks even if Tim didn't connect with this boy she would definitely be interested in making sure he succeeds.
Talent is so beautiful when it's allowed to blossom and grow.
Tim looks up at his mother like he's having the best time in the world.
His mother smiles down at her son with that warm and comforting smile that always makes him feel safe.
"What do you say we get a picture with your new friend dear? It's like your father always says souvenirs solidify beautiful memories."
Tim nods eagerly.
Dick directs is winning smile to her.
"That's a stupendous idea Mrs Drake!" During the word stupendous he does little cartwheel making Tim giggle and squeal.
Bruce asks a nearby worker to take a picture of all of them.
Dick holds his arms out as Janet stands up.
"Here why don't you sit with me while we take the picture Tim?" Tim looks like all his little dreams have been granted and looks up at his mother for permission. Janet smiles warmly gently places her beloved son in Dick Grayson's arms.
"Careful dear he is more precious to me than all the gems in the world." She says half jokingly. He is indeed that precious to her and even more so. But she knows already that Dick will be careful.
He nods seriously at her taking Tim gently as one would the finest porcelain doll into his arms and giving him a tight warm hug.
Tim feels like he's on cloud nine.
He feels so safe, so comfortable in his brother's arms.
(No bad Tim not brother yet.)
Dick pulls Tim's little head back to look him in the eye and give him a blinding smile which Tim returns.
"You are so cute." Dick praises, and snuggles Tim into his lap.
Tim glows with the praise and smiles brightly up at the camera being held by the circus employee.
They snapped the picture and say their goodbyes. Janet briefly speaking with John and Mary Grayson equally as impressive as their son, about investing in the Grayson's in the future.
John and Mary seem a little stunned at her words but ever the performers quickly right themselves and tell her they can discuss it more after the show but they would be eager to see what she has to say.
Janet collects her son from Dick and the two boys wave at each other.
They had their separate ways the Drake's and Bruce to find their seats right in the front and the Grayson's to go prepare to perform.
Her son making his first real connection outside their little family unit, and making some lovely connections.
Janet has a good feeling about this.
----
The show is utterly fantastic.
Until it isn't.
Tim is utterly fascinated by everything he sees and then the Grayson's come on and start to do their wonderful routine.
And then Janet starts to hear the sound of a rope fraying.
Her instincts lead her to look up and see just before disaster the ropes John and Mary are swinging on fray and start to snap.
She tries to crawl out a warning but all she has the ability to do is quickly turn her son around before disaster.
The ropes snap.
John and Mary Grayson's faces twist in horror both reaching for their son on the platform, trying in vain to shield their son from the tragedy about to occur.
Tim makes a questioning sound. "Mama? Why'd you turn me around? I can't see."
As soon as Tim finishes his sentence a dull thud echoes around the silent Big top.
Janet only has time to whisper a quiet. "Don't look baby don't look." Before the screaming starts.
The first voice to the chorus is poor little Dick Grayson.
Janet wants to run to the child to comfort him but she can't get any closer without risking Tim seeing... The bodies.
She will not have her son see that, not this young.
The crisis is solved for her when at the same time she springs up out of instinct for the child's cry and so does Bruce.
Her oldest friend makes eye contact with her and she knows he has this.
She nods at him and he charges quickly out into the rings to wear Dick Grayson is climbing down the ladder trying to get to his parents bodies.
She moves to exit quickly but looks behind her one last time to see her friend stooping down and comforting the crying boy.
For just a second, she sees a different place a different time something that she never saw the true reality of but learned as many details after the fact that she could piece together a facsimile of a memory.
The dark alley instead of a big top but the same poor crying child over his parents bodies.
As she leaves quickly her husband on her tail blocking as much of the scene behind them as he can in case Tim looks, she knows that this time the crying child will have comfort, will have some understanding from somebody who knows exactly what this is like.
She steps quickly into her car holding her son close, he's not said anything since he heard the thud.
He's a smart boy.
Quietly in her own head Janet curses her beloved thrice cursed cesspit of a city.
How dare it take away such loving parents to two such kind boys?