Chapter Text
Batgirl had been working with Batman and Robin for about a year now.
It was fun, running around Gotham with her best friend and his dad and making sure justice was dealt.
...And helping out her dad in what little ways she could, even he didn't know it was her.
She was sparring with Dick down in the cave while also observing Bruce.
He had been... weird the last few days.
She knew it was nothing serious, because Dick knew what was up with Bruce and had spent the last few days laughing at his father about whatever was bothering him.
Alfred just smiling fondly at them all while fiddling with his cufflinks really sealed that nothing *bad* was going on.
But he still acting strange....even for him.
He kept looking like he had something to say but would seem to think the better of it and turn around to do something else.
And he had been weirdly...shuffling lately.
Fiddling with his hands, his cape, and one notable occasion doing it with a batarang and giving himself a pretty bad cut.
Lastly he had been weirdly insistent about her staying for dinner the last couple of days.
She didn't mind, and neither did her father.
Her father had been in Bruce's life since he had been a little boy and Barbara had known Bruce all her life.
Not as well as she did now, but still.
Honestly she wished he would just come out with it already.
She knew it had something to do with her and she would really like if Bruce just got on with it.
Honestly it was getting annoying.
---
He finally SAID something after dinner that night.
"Barbara? Would you come with me a moment there's something I would like to give you."
She nodded, fighting back the urge to raise an eyebrow at him. She wasn't going to do anything to spook him now. She was finally going to get a clue until what he's been so weird about lately!
She followed the fidgety Bruce up to a quiet office space she's never been into.
But that was fair, there were a lot of rooms in Wayne Manor she'd never been into.
Bruce cleared his throat and sat down at a chair in front of an antique vanity.
It was pretty and well maintained, very nice detailing on the sides of the mirrors.
Bruce seemed to fidget a bit more before finally clearing his throat.
"I..." He spoke hesitantly.
Barbara breathed out a sigh. "Come on, Bruce out with it. I'm not going to bite" she said half annoyed half fond, folding her hands in front of her chest.
Bruce stiffened at her words but then chuckled as he relaxed his shoulders. "Right, sorry Barbara." He rubbed the back of his neck.
She shrugged. "It's no problem. I just would like to know why you been so weird lately sometime before I turn 40."
That caused him to relax even more and he let out a breathy chuckle.
Bruce gave her a fond little smile, like the ones he had given her when she was small and had done something particularly clever, or just sassed him.
He always found that funny.
And she always thought he deserved it.
Bruce slowly carefully opened a small silver antique jewelry box. A broken pearl necklace was sitting inside the velvet interior.
He moved his hand towards it, then away, then look back towards her.
"I..." He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. "My mother had a tradition she passed down to me. Where she liked to give these pearls to people she considered family."
He looked at her with ernest eyes. "I'm not trying to butt in between you and your father's relationship. I would never do that to you or Jim. But..."
He shook his head and had a fond little look in his eye. "You're both family to me." He looked at her with sincere eyes. "And especially recently you've become like a daughter to me."
Barbara felt her chest swell. The Waynes were always a part of her life, but Bruce was right they had grown especially close lately especially after she became Batgirl.
She held her hand out and said. "And you're like a second father to me Bruce. I would be honored to be a part of this tradition."
She giggled. "If you want, I could give one of the pearls to Dad for you and explain what it means or you could even invite him over to dinner and give it to him there." She smiles at him.
"I know dad views you as family too."
Bruce smiled a small and bright little smile back at her.
"I think that's a good idea, thank you Barbara." He said gently as he placed a singular pearl into her outstretched hand.
She closed her hand around it. It felt warm and she thought she heard a soft little lullaby vibrating in her hand.
It was hers forever now, just like her place in this family.
"No problem Bruce, you know it's my job to come up with the good ideas for you."
They both descended into laughter and Barbara felt warm.
Yes, being Batgirl was definitely the right decision
Not just for Gotham.
But for her, as well.
---
And if Gordon cried a little when Bruce presented him his little iridescent pearl...
Well that was a secret kept between Bruce, Jim and Barbara.
Just the three of them, like it had been for so many years.
After all, they worked so well together.
In both comforting each other's grief and in protecting the city.
Now that was awesome teamwork.