Disclaimer: Nightwing and associated characters are the property of DC Comics. The "Newlyweds" storyline itself is the property of the author (That's me).


Mr. and Mrs. Grayson

Newlyweds

John Westcott


Hawaii. Not too bad at all for a former circus kid.

Not too bad at all. Dick Grayson thought as he smiled broadly. Glancing to his right his gaze fell upon his bride of just seven hours. Mrs. Barbara Grayson. Somehow that just sounded so good, so right. The name just rolled right off of the tongue. Mrs. Barbara Grayson. She smiled as she interlaced her fingers in his. Dick closed his fingers around her slim hand and squeezed gently, as always, she squeezed back. The golden rays of sunshine beamed down on them both and re-christened them, happiness was all that lay ahead for them now. A life together. Dick helped Barbara up and out of the taxi, taking her slim form easily in his strong arms and carrying her up the walkway to the hotel's front entrance. Barbara laughed with giddy joy and a little embarrassment as the doors were held open for them by the concierge, who smiled at the sight of two newlyweds.

"Dick put me down!!" Barbara said through choked laughter. "People are staring!!"

A smile on his face so wide that it almost hurt, Dick threw his head back and laughed as they entered the spacious and opulent lobby. Looking about at the myriad vacationers and hotel guests, Dick cleared his throat and addressed them all.

"Attention ladies and gentleman, if I may have your attention please." Almost immediately everyone in the lobby began to look his way as Barbara buried her beet red face in his chest to hide her embarrassment.

"My name is Dick Grayson and this is my new wife Barbara. We'll be staying here for the next two weeks on our honeymoon." Upon that announcement the entire population of the lobby began to applaud them both, one or two people even whistled their approval at the redhead in Dick's arms. Dick however, wasn't finished. "Unfortunately my beloved wife here lost the use of her legs in a terrible accident long ago and is slightly embarrassed at the thought of being carried by her loving husband to and fro. I just thought I would make everyone in this hotel aware that I love my wife and if necessary I would carry her from here to the moon and back with a smile on my face the entire time. I plan on carrying her across the threshold of our room, and anywhere else on this or any other planet she wishes to go. Why do I do this you ask?" He paused for effect as he looked lovingly at his bride. "I do it because I want her to know that I love her with all my heart and soul."

Overcome with emotion, Barbara allowed tears of joy to spill down her cheeks as Dick marched across the lobby floor past a standing ovation from the assembled crowd, including a few elderly ladies commenting on how gallant and handsome Dick was to do this for his wife, and into the waiting elevator.

The applause and wolf whistles faded as the doors whisked shut and Dick informed the elevator operator to take them to the top floor, which of course housed the honeymoon suites. The rest of the ride was filled by Barbara sharing a long loving kiss with the man she loved. Held in his arms, she felt completely safe. Nothing could ever harm her now, Dick would never allow it. She remembered the hours after The Joker had shot her, robbing her of her ability to walk for the rest of her life. She felt to small, so weak, so very vulnerable. Dick changed all that though. Their love now fully realized and displayed in the small church in Gotham city, she felt as though she could fly like Superman. She couldn't imagine a better feeling than this.

The wedding. Could she ever forget the wedding? Bruce paid for the entire affair of course, as he was paying for the honeymoon. Her father tried to offer some money for the wedding, Police Commissioner Jim Gordon was, after all, the father of the bride, but Bruce Wayne had insisted. Finally Gordon relented, realizing that Bruce could afford the entire affair far easier than he with his cops salary. Barbara thought that her father may have been slightly put out about not paying for the wedding, but he had secretly confessed to her later on that he was relieved that Bruce Wayne had insisted. Jim Gordon was never prouder than when he gave his bride away to Dick Grayson, who stood awaiting them at the altar in full Bludhaven Police Department dress uniform. Many of Jim's friends from the G.C.P.D. showed up too, all in full dress uniform, even Harvey Bullock, who swore that the last time he had worn his blues, Carter was President. Many of Dick's friends from the B.C.P.D. were wearing the uniforms as well. To Barbara it looked like a policeman's ball. The fact that many of Dick's fellow Titans were in attendance as well, including Donna, Roy, and Garth made this wedding a super villains nightmare. Dick wasn't the only one with vigilante friends in the assembled crowd, however, Dinah was plainly visible as well, tears running freely down her cheeks.

Wally West was the best man of course, Tim Drake was the usher. Barbara couldn't help but laugh as she noticed Alfred Pennyworth seated in the front row next to Bruce, already dabbing his moist eyes with a trusty hanky. Alfred had at first assumed that he would be in charge of the reception from the food to the entertainment, but Dick would have none of that. Dick insisted that the trusty gentleman's gentleman be completely free of responsibility on this occasion. Dick was right in saying that Alfred had looked after them all for so long, he deserved to just sit back and enjoy the occasion rather than spend his time working to make sure everything was right for everyone else. As the planning for the wedding began however, Alfred insinuated himself into the planning to make sure everything was up to his exacting standards. Dick just smiled, "What can I say? It's in his blood." She remembered him saying.

Finally they reached the top floor and Dick carried her out in to the hallway and down the corridor to the entrance to their suite. His hands occupied, Barbara fished around in Dick's jacket pocket for the keys. Once she found them she turned them in the lock and Dick kicked the door open.

"Watch your head." He said softly as he turned sideways and guided them in across the doorway. Together they looked on in a mixture of awe and joy as they saw the room Bruce had reserved for them. The word spacious didn't even begin to describe the suite. A huge bathroom lay just to their right with a two person bathtub featuring a jet spray massage therapy control panel that allowed the user to adjust the jet spray so that it could massage any part of the body.

"We can have a lot of fun in that Mrs. Grayson." Dick said with a dashing smile. She merely giggled and kissed him. Beyond that lay a giant soft sided waterbed and a lounger that vibrated and reclined. "Almost as much fun as we can have with that." Barbara laughed as she pointed to the recliner. They both wondered why there was a fully loaded entertainment unit with a fifty inch television and surround sound unit recessed into the wall opposite the bed. Who was planning on watching tv while on their honeymoon? Dick looked at her and managed his best Austin Powers laugh as he carried her over to the bed. Beyond the bed lay a set of sliding doors which led to the terrace. On the terrace was a hot tub which looked out upon the beaches and palm trees. Dick couldn't help but wish he and Barbara could spend the rest of their lives here.

Seconds after they finished their inspection of the suite, the bellboy arrived with their luggage, Barbara's wheelchair, and a telegram. Dick ripped open the telegram and laughed out loud as he read it.

"What is it?" Barbara asked.

"It's from Bruce." he responded, "He said if we're having a good time let him know and he'll buy the hotel so we can stay as long as we want." It was after their laughter died down that Barbara began to feel slightly melancholy, her smile fading. After all this time together, Dick immediately recognized her change in mood. "What's wrong honey?"

"That...... thing." Barbara responded as she pointed to the wheelchair across the room with their luggage. Dick immediately didn't like where this was going.

"Oh Babs not again. We've been over this time and again."

Barbara Grayson buried her head in her hands, hiding her face from him, he knew. "It'll always be there Dick. Always. The constant reminder that I'll never be able to keep up with you ever again."

Dick sighed, "I tried to get this point across to you last week sweetheart. I want you for you, not your ability to climb a wall or run a mile." He walked across the room and took her hands in his, looking into her eyes that were welling up with tears, not of joy, but this time from sadness. "Your heart is what I love, not your legs. I know you're frightened that I may grow bored with you but believe me, it could never happen. I'm not like Bruce. He's more Batman than Bruce Wayne, I'm not Nightwing, I'm Dick Grayson, and honey whether you like it or not I'm your husband and I will grow old and grey with you. What I said in the lobby is true. I would gladly carry you to the moon and back but I don't have to, you've overcome your disability. You refuse to let it limit you. You stopped being Batgirl and you became Oracle. And all through that, you've been the woman I love. Take it or leave it hon, but I am not going anywhere. Not out of a feeling of responsibility to you, but because there is nowhere else I'd rather be and no one else I'd rather be with."

Finally Barbara cracked a smile and began to laugh. He laughed with her. He knew Barbara was prone to worrying about her disability and thinking that she was not enough woman for him. He had told her time and again since he proposed to her. Over all the women he had known, Helena, Kory, Donna and all the others, Barbara was more woman than any of them.


Seven hours later...

"Dick I'm not sure I can do this. Can I take my blindfold off?"

"No not yet honey. Just a few more seconds, I'm almost there. Trust me you'll love it."

Wind whipped her red hair from side to side as she nestled once again in Dick's strong arms. Below them, the sounds of passing traffic could easily be heard. She knew in her heart what he was doing, but somehow she was unable to admit it to herself. She felt a thrill she hadn't felt in many years.

"Are you doing what I think you're doing?" She asked.

"Probably." Dick responded with a chuckle.

Finally Dick stopped moving, "Okay, you can take your blindfold off now."

Barbara reached up and removed her blindfold. Allowing her eyesight to adjust, she began to make out the sight around her. The night sky enveloped them as they rested atop the Cathcart Towers Hotel, Dick in his Nightwing uniform, dark hair whipping about in the wind and a smile on his handsome face. Together they looked into one another's eyes, and then shared a torrid passionate kiss. The kiss lasted several minutes until finally, she broke it and breathlessly addressed him, "Are you sure I can do this?"

"I have complete faith in you." He responded immediately.

"Ok. Let's do it." She said as she squared her chin and held her breath.

Dick placed his wife on the rooftop of the hotel for a moment as he produced his jumpline and tossed it out. Barbara couldn't help but marvel at the muscles rippling throughout his back as she watched her husband secure the line and test it several times before finally turning back to her.

"Okay Babs. I'm ready. How about you." She was silent for a moment, remembering the first time she had done this with him. She held out her hand, which he immediately took in his.

"With you by my side, you better believe I'm ready mister. For anything."

Once again he scooped her up in his arms and she put her arms around his shoulders. She felt his strong arm slide in around her waist and a sense of total security enveloped her. They shared one more kiss before Dick stepped off of the roof and let gravity take over. Barbara could only scream with joy as she once again felt herself tumbling through the air, her lover by her side, as she knew he would always be.

The End







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