5 Welcome Home.

In the back of the Wayne's limo, there was quite conversation between my brothers and sister and Richard and Bruce. Damien and I were both quite although my silence was forced. He was sitting next to me with his arms crossed and his eyes shut. I had been staring out the window until then, but I wanted to do something and he was the only one not talking so I started to write.

Sorry I can't talk and if reading my writing is annoying, but I was wondering if you could tell me what to expect when we get there. I tap him on the arm and his eyes snap open to look at me. I lift the board for him to see and watch his expression as he reads to see if he gets angry like the caretaker did. He looks at me and must see the hope and wariness in my eyes because his face softens a little.

"Tt. Well, I suppose the estate is vast. There are many rooms for entertainment, relaxing, and sleeping. We have a butler, Alfred Pennyworth, he's driving right now. I have a cat and dog. Father has two other sons that he adopted, Tim and Jason. Jason has a dog also. That is all I can think of to describe for you."

I could feel my eyes sparkling. Can you tell me what everyone is like? He looks surprised that I still want to know more. "Oh, uh, ok. Um, Tim and I don't get along; we always fight. He is very into computers and technology. Jason is abrasive but can have moments when he cares. He comes and goes so he isn't home a lot. And Richard-"

Since he was sitting close to us he turned when Damien said his name. "I actually prefer to be called Dick by my friends and family. They were only saying my real name because we were in a serious situation." Why don't you like your real name? He waves his hand as he says, "It's too formal. I'm all about getting people to be happy and who can do that with a boring name," he smiles.

Damien nods. "Yes as I was saying before he is always happy-go-lucky and excited." Dick looks at him with a smirk. "And Damien here is always grouchy to others but I'm always an exception. He is always formal, calling people by their last name when addressing them until he feels close enough to call them by first name."

Damien huffs at this. "It is proper etiquette, Grayson." Dick just rolls his eyes and turns back to me. "Speaking of names, I don't think I know all of your names or even your last names." I got a dark look on my face thinking of my name. If you don't mind, I'd like to get rid of my last name. Since I'm being adopted, could I take Wayne?

Until they didn't answer, I hadn't even noticed that the limo was quite. I look around and see my brothers and sister all have the same look on their face as me. Then Bruce, who I didn't even know could see my board said, "Of course you can take Wayne as your name, I would be honored. Is that what you all want?" I nod along with Jessica and John. Joshua and Jeffery look at each other then Jeffery asks, "Are you sure that would be ok? We wouldn't want to impose, you've already done so much by getting us out of that orphanage."

"Of corse it's ok. I've offered this to all of my sons who I adopted. There's not any difference between you and them." Dick nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! Except for Damien, who is Bruce's biological son, we were all adopted. I would have taken Wayne but I wanted my family's name to continue on. The others have their reasons, too."

Jeffery looks at all of us for conformation before looking to Bruce, smiling. "We would like to go by Wayne from now on." Bruce nods, "I'll change the paperwork. And also sorry about this, but who is who? Your names and ages didn't come with the pictures," he said sheepishly.

Joshua says, "That's ok, I'll introduce everyone in order. That's Jeffery, he's 13. I'm Joshua, and I'm 12. That's John, he's 11. That's Jessica, she's 10. And that's Samantha, she's 9." Dick smiles and says, "I'm 19, Jason is 17, Tim is 15, and Damien is 10."

I hadn't even realized we had stopped until the door was pulled open. "We are here Masters and Mistress'." Bruce got out first saying, "Thank you, Alfred." Joshua grabbed my crutches as he got out and Jeffery was about to help me onto his back but Dick stops him. "Hey, how about I get her so you can look around and I can give all of you a tour?"

I nod at Jeff to let him know I'm fine with it and he gets out with everyone else. Dick picks me up bridal style and it feels like deja vú. I smile and tap him on the shoulder so he looks at me then mouth 'thank you'. He smiles back and mouths 'your welcome'. I silently giggle as we start walking and he chuckles softly.

As I'm looking around, I realize that Damien's description didn't match up to the full glory of the real thing. I hadn't been expecting a mansion, but I should have guessed based on the fact that we drove here in a limo.

I hear a click and look to see that Bruce and Alfred were off to the side with a camera. I give them a weird look and Dick says, "They do this to everyone. They like to keep a scrap book of the family and every new member has a picture of their first look at the Manor. You should've seen Jason! I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. I'll have to show all of you another time." With that we walk into the Manor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the tour with Dick, we were sitting in one of the living rooms watching TV. They tried to get me to pick a show but I wrote on the board that I like reading more than watching TV. Up until then, Damien had been quietly following from the back, holding his cat Alfred while his dog, Titus, followed him along with Jason's dog, Ace. At the moment was leaning against a wall but when he read that I prefer to read, he perked up.

"Really? No wonder you're advanced in literature considering your age." I nod and write I'm maybe 4 grades ahead in literature because of my reading. He looks like he is contemplating something as he sets Alfred down then says, "Would you like to look at my collection and pick something out to read?"

I can feel my eyes grow wide in excitement and nod. I grab my crutches and start to follow him out of the room but John stands too. "Do you mind if I look too? I love books on nonfiction; especially history." I can feel the excitement coming from Damien. "Of course. Finally, people who can enjoy reading as much as me. Follow me."

We head to the library we saw earlier and go into a secluded section of five floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. "This is my collection," Damien says. If I were anymore ill mannered, I'd be drooling, I think to myself. After a few minutes of looking at the books, I turn to Damien who was observing John and I geek out. Do you have the Inheritance series? He shakes his head. "I have never heard of it." My eyes light up. It's the best series I have ever read! I have an idea. All of these books are good and I can't decide. You pick out a series for me to read. And based on the books you have, you would like the Inheritance series so you can read that!That is if you don't mind.

He contemplates it then says, "Alright, I agree to these terms. I suggest for you to read the Artemis Fowl series."  I smile and write, Ok. It's funny you suggested that series because I've always wanted to read it but never got the chance.

"Then I'm sure you will like it." He walks down the isle and plucks a book from the shelf. "How fast do you read? Do you want the first two books or just one?" I think for a second and see how thick the book is then hold up two fingers to him. He grabs the books and heads back toward the door where John was standing already reading.

I look at what he's reading and roll my eyes. I quickly write Isn't this the fourth time you're reading that? I tap him and he looks up startled. He reads what I wrote and scoffs. "How many times have you read Eragon? This is nothing." I pout at him as Damien walks up and looks at the book John got. "Good choice. It is one of my favorite nonfictions."

We head back to the living room and once I'm settled on the couch, Damien hands me the two books. I mouth thanks and open the book to start reading, the TV and chatter all background noise. I was already on chapter six when Alfred walks in with cookies and a package under his arm. "Master Damien, I believe a package from the nearest amazon store is here for you."

I give Damien a quizzical look and he says, "I order lots of books off my phone and have them delivered. They know by now to get them here in a timely manner." He opens the package and I see that he pulls out a few books, but then pulls out four books in Saran Wrap. I gasp when I see the title Eragon. He bought the series already!

John, Damien, and I were all ignoring the others as we read while they yelled at something stupid on the TV when I heard a door slam somewhere and someone yell, "I'm home!" Damien groans as Dick perks up from where he was sprawled on the floor and yells back, "We're in the TV room!"

After a few seconds, a teenager walks into the room but freezes when he sees all of us on the couches. "Oh, hello," he says in a surprised voice. Dick bounds up and exclaims, "Guys, this is Tim. Tim, these are our new brothers and sisters!"

He goes behind the couch Jessica, Jeffery, and Joshua were on and introduces them. "This is Joshua. This is Jeffery. And this munchkin is Jessica." He ruffles each of the boy's hair but places his hand on Jessica's head so he doesn't mess up her hair that he had braided earlier. Then he comes around back of the couch John, Damien, and I are sitting on. He ruffles John's hair saying, "This little dude is John."

He starts toward me now and I drop my book to cover my hair so he doesn't mess it up. His eyes light up and he dives at me. "And the littlest munchkin here is Samantha!" As he says that, he starts tickling my sides. I silently squeal and curl into myself, trying to slap his hands away to no use. It seems like forever but he finally stops, leaving me red faced and breathless.

I look around and see that everyone is laughing at us except Damien who hadn't even looked up from his book. I see that Tim is smiling, apparently happy that Dick likes us. He sits in one of the armchairs in the room and starts to watch TV with the others while John and I go back to reading like Damien. I had almost read three more chapters when Alfred walked into the room again. "Young Masters and Mistress', dinner is ready."

After a delicious dinner that was filled with chatter, we decided to play some games to get to know each other better. We were playing Pictionary when Bruce spoke up from where he had been watching us have fun. "Alright guys, it's getting late and it's been a long day so start getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we'll go shopping for clothes and other things you want." He looks at Tim, Dick, and Damien. "For now, would you mind lending them some shirts and shorts or something to wear for tonight?" It ended up being that Dick's clothes were too big for the boys to wear so they wore some of Tim's shirts and shorts while Jessica and I wore one of his shirts and Damien's shorts.

We decided that until we get more comfortable here and get our own things, the boys will have one room to share while Jessica and I also share a room. Jessica was about to help me onto the tall bed when I remembered something. How could we have forgotten to tell the boys! I look at Jessica with wide eyes and grab my board. We forgot to tell the boys about that night in the hospital.

Jessica gasps. "I totally forgot. We just never had the privacy to tell the boys before. Oh man, they're going to be so mad we've kept it from them for so long."

We peek into the hall to make sure it's clear then cross to the boys's room. "What's wrong," Jeffery asks as soon as we close the door behind us. I give them a sheepish look and Jessica looks down. "Well," she says. "We sorta forgot to tell you something important from a few days ago." I quickly write Don't blame her, I told her to do it.

"What happened? Don't worry we won't get mad. You can tell us." Joshua tried to get us to calm down since we were tense but it didn't work. Jess seemed frozen so I started shakily writing. I'm sorry. You remember when Batman saved us with the others? They nod. Well Nightwing, the one who saved me, wanted to make sure I was ok since he was worried when I passed out. He came to check on all of us the night after when you guys were asleep. John looks relieved. "Oh, I thought it was something bad. That's ok, he was just worried." I shake my head and start to write again when Jessica finally speaks up.

"She wasn't done John, she only has so much room to write," she says with a huff. "Oh." While they had been talking I had written more. Nightwing asked me how I had originally broken my leg. I feel that he was trustworthy so I told him to wake Jess up since it was such a long story. Jeffery gasped. "Did you tell him?" Jessica and I both nod with tears going down our cheeks.

"Please don't be mad. I feel that he's trustworthy too. Gosh guys, he's a superhero! Who better to tell. We told him everything. I even shifted to show him.... Please say something." Joshua sighed. "It's ok. What's done is done. All of them did seem trustworthy so I don't blame you. I just hope next time it'll be a group decision." John and Jeffery nod at his words.

Speaking of next time, I think we should tell our new family. We are living here and I think they have a right to know. John nods. "I was thinking that. I say we put it to a vote. I say yes." "Yes." "Yes." Yes. "Yes. It's unanimous. We'll tell them tomorrow. Now let's get to bed, we have lots of shopping to do tomorrow," Jeffery says.