[A lot of scattered bits and pieces here.]



Come in, Arthur grinning broadly, Mera smiling unreadably as always  
"Someone here to see you"

Dol comes in, "Hello, Garth."

"Dolphin!" crossed over to greet her. "Are you well?" looked... 
different somehow, older, something....


Tiny thing, a shock of white hair, and under that--

Wide violet eyes, mirrors to his own.



{end part one}


Titans Tower, Garth stumbles in, delivers news

Reactions all 'round, Dick drags Garth off to talk privately.



{end part two}



Dick spoke carefully. "Are you sure she's yours?"

Garth's words were simple and indisputable and full of too many 
emotions to decipher. "She has purple eyes." 

"Yeah, I guess that's pretty decisive." Dick stared at him, feeling 
helpless. "So what now?"

"I don't know." Garth's head dropped down into his hands and his voice 
behind them was muffled. "I don't know what to do. I've barely begun 
to realize--Dick, I have a *daughter.* I never thought--" he broke off 
abruptly and Dick moved toward him, sitting down in front of Garth's 
chair and pulling his hands away from his face.

"Tell me."

Garth's conflicted eyes caught his. "I never planned on this, never 
thought of this, since Tula. She...we would have had children. After she 
died I never considered it again, not seriously."

Dick nodded, trying to keep the emotion out of his words. "We never 
talked about this. Is that something you would have...regretted, being 
with me?"

"No! Oh, Pallais, no. Please don't think that." Garth's hands squeezed 
his tightly. "I love you. There is *nothing* I regret about loving you."

"I never doubted it, ves'tacha. But I also never wanted you to miss 
something you would have had otherwise. We could have adopted, you 
know, or...." Dick shook his head. "Anyway. You have a daughter! 
God." He started to smile. "I bet she's beautiful."

"She is, and I don't know her, I don't know how I'm going to...."

Dick finished it for him. "How you're going to be with her, with your 
life here. With me." He was quiet for a moment, then leaned up to drop 
a gentle kiss on Garth's mouth. "Garth, no matter what happens, I love 
you."

Garth looked startled, instantly protesting. "Dick, I'm not going a--"

Dick put a silencing finger on his lips. "Shh.  No promises, not till 
you've had time to think about it."

Garth hesitated, then nodded. "I love you. All of my life and my heart."

"Yeah.  I know.  But it's not just us anymore."




Dick woke suddenly, aware of the emptiness of the space next to him. 
He glanced over at the clock: 3:38 A.M. The shower wasn't running, so 
Garth wasn't rehydrating. It didn't take much to guess where he might 
be. 

He got up, hesitated, reached for his robe. Walked out into the living 
room to see Garth where he'd expected: in front of the window, staring 
out. To the east lay the ocean, and deep below, Atlantis. The shorefront 
was too far to be seen from the house, but Dick had no doubt that Garth 
was seeing it clearly anyway.

Without a word Dick crossed the room to stand behind him, sliding his 
arms around Garth's waist. Without a word Garth raised his hands to 
lace with Dick's own. They stood for a few minutes, both looking 
toward the east. There were so many things Dick wanted to say, wanted 
to ask, but he finally settled on:

"Do you want to go home?"

"I *am* home." Garth's response was so decisive that Dick felt almost 
dizzy with relief. But that couldn't be it; it could not be as simple as 
that. "Dick, I--"

"Shhh. It's okay. It'll be okay. We'll work it out." Somehow. "But for 
now...come back to bed?"

Garth turned in the circle of his arms. "All right."

It wasn't all right but it was better, at least, as they lay together, 
wondering what would happen next.





"I need to be with her. I won't leave her without a father...." Like I was, 
his eyes pleaded with Dick to understand. How could he not?


Like most Atlanteans, DJ couldn't breathe in air for more than roughly 
an hour. But as they knew from the bitter tragedy with Arthur's son, a 
child's tolerance was often much less. So there was no bringing her to 
the 'Haven or even Titans Tower to visit. The Atlantean embassy with 
its underwater dome in NY was an option, but even then, an embassy 
was no place for a child to live. She needed the society of friends, 
school, family; both Garth and Dolphin insisted on that.





"I'm sorry, Dick," Garth whispered.  

"Garth--" Dick reached out, then dropped his hand reluctantly when 
Garth didn't take it. "Please.  Don't do this. I lost-- I lost Kory partly 
because of her obligations. I won't do that again. We can make it 
work." 

"*When?*" The word spoke volumes of exhaustion and pain.  "I'm 
tearing myself to pieces, trying to live four lives at once, and you--
Dick, when was the last time we had more than a few hours together?  
It isn't fair to you."  

"I don't care about fair, dammit.  I just care about you. About us."

Garth said nothing. 

"Okay. Four lives, right? The Titans, Atlantean ambassador, Meridith's 
father, my partner. I won't give up that last, so something else has got 
to go. And not Meri, either. So why not quit the Titans?"

Garth looked at him, shocked. "But--"

Dick nodded firmly. "Think of it as a leave of absence. We'll *miss* 
you, yeah, but we can manage-- Toni's been refining her powers and 
Grant was thinking of coming back anyway. And it's not like you still 
won't see everyone, when they visit here or if you're in New York for 
some U.N. meeting." He frowned. "I know you can't pass on those, but 
Arthur's had you running ragged. You've got assistants, right? Junior 
ambassadors? Make *them* go to some of the less-important functions. 
Same way I told Bruce he should only call me if there's really an 
emergency in Gotham, and let Tim and Cass and Steph handle the rest. 
Even he doesn't try to do it all himself anymore. Delegate!"





Garth's absences grew more frequent, stretched longer, so that he 
finally took an official leave from the Titans.



Dick beating up gym equipment.

Donna ... 

Stopped, looking embarrassed. "I miss him."

"We all *know* you do, honey, but there's got to be a better way. Can't 
you go visit?"

too much going on, here, in 'Haven...besides, it'd be such a hassle to go 
down there....

Donna rolled her eyes. "Only if you make it one. Why not use the JLA 
transporter? I'm sure no one would mind."

Dick opened his mouth, closed it again, finally said, I don't want to 
intrude....

"Oh, for Rhea's sake! As if he wouldn't be thrilled to see you. You just-
-ooh! Sometimes you're just too dense. Wait RIGHT there."

She flew back to the monitor room and clicked on the tiny Oracle icon 
in the corner of the main screen.

"Oracle online, Titans."

"Oracle, it's Troia, and it's a personal matter, if you have the time."

"Hold, please--"

The icon revolved slowly, and Donna waited. A few minutes later, the 
full video link came on to display Barbara's electronic mask. "What can 
I do for you, Donna?"

"Well, it's actually about Dick -- he's being stubborn, as usual."

A pause, and then Oracle's face vanished to reveal Barbara Gordon, 
seated and surrounded by virtual screens. "What's he doing now?"

"He's missing Garth, which is really sweet, but he's driving us all 
insane. I suggested he go and visit, but he'd need your help for that."

Babs started to grin. "Get him to the transporter, I'll do the rest. Tell 
him--he'll be there for 36 hours, no less. I'll ask Robin to patrol 'Haven. 
Password for air-breathers is in ASL--" she signed a sentence, and 
Donna nodded.


Flies back, picks him up, carries him over. "don't fight, this is for your 
own good."

Donna -- 

"Hush. Just go. Enjoy yourself. Call Oracle when you want to come 
back, but not before two days. Here, into this--" She bundled him into a 
pressure suit and made sure the breathing tank was secure in a flurry of 
efficiency. "Test it -- good. I'll help Robin watch Bludhaven for you, 
here's the password," she gave it, "you're all set, have a good time, give 
Garth my love. And yours." Donna grinned and pushed him into the 
tube.

The world dissolved into the Watchtower momentarily, then he was 
surrounded by water. An extremely startled Atlantean sentry stared at 
him and started to shout. Some variant on "who the hell are you," Dick 
assumed, and signed the password at him.

Several additional guards appeared, and the first soldier held up a hand 
and evidently explained. They nodded, but didn't take their eyes off 
him--or lower their weapons. Dick couldn't really blame them; 
Poseidonis had been invaded so many times, he was surprised that 
Arthur had allowed a transport tube in the palace to begin with.

The guard mimed, "Wait," at him, and Dick did so without complaint. 
Those spears looked *sharp.* After a few minutes Minister Vulko came 
in and spoke to the guards, who withdrew. Vulko motioned for Dick to 
follow him and they went to a pressurized, air-filled antechamber not 
too far away. Dick took off the breather. Vulko coughed a few times 
until his lungs adjusted to the environment, and then he spoke in 
heavily accented English.

"Be welcome to Poseidonis, Mr. Grayson."

That was a surprise; he hadn't been expecting a warm reception. It must 
have shown on his face, because Vulko smiled thinly. "We observe the 
protocols, and you ARE Prince Garth's consort. I'm certain his Majesty 
King Orin would be pleased if you alerted him to your next visit in 
advance, however."

'Consort'? Dick suppressed a smile. "I, uh--it was sort of a spur-of-the-
moment decision." 

Vulko nodded. "Ah. I have sent a message for your sai'a'thii, he should 
be here shortly."

Dick blinked, but didn't ask--he'd find out from Garth, later. "Thank 
you, Minister."

"Actually--if I may." Vulko looked a bit nervous, but continued. 
"Perhaps you have heard--I made an unwise decision regarding the 
disposition of the throne of Atlantis. It was not out of personal dislike 
for Prince Garth, truly."

"Unwise" was an understatement, since Vulko had plotted with Arthur's 
(literal and figurative!) bastard son Koryak to overthrow Arthur and 
take the throne. Arthur had forgiven him, knowing that Vulko had only 
wanted what was best for the city--and that, having had the king's 
mercy once, he dared never to try anything of the sort again.

Dick nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "That's between you and 
him."

Vulko bowed briefly. "Of course. Please; if there's anything we can do 
to make your stay more comfortable, let me know. As you know from 
your previous visits, our amenities for surface-dwellers are sparce, but 
adequate."

"Garth's magic will help with that," Dick said softly, and Vulko 
flushed.

"Y-yes. Naturally." He tilted his head, 'listening.'  "Ah. Here he is 
now."

Garth appeared in the airlock, looking worried. "Dick! What's 
happened? Is something--"

"No, everything's fine, I just--" he paused, and Vulko flushed again and 
bowed to them both before withdrawing.

Dick smiled. "I was abducted."

"I don't-- Pallais, I'm glad to see you." Garth came over and kissed him 
hungrily. 

"...Me too," Dick gasped, once Garth let him go. "Apparently I was 
making a real jerk out of myself, so Donna and Babs conspired and sent 
me to you."

Garth laughed. "Remind me to thank them later. I've missed you 
terribly."

"That was supposed to be my line," Dick said, mock-pouting, but Garth 
looked distressed.

"I'm sorry, Robbie! You know I--"

"No, don't! I knew-- we knew this was going to be hard. But I don't 
want you to feel guilty about it. Honestly." He took Garth's face in his 
hands and kissed him again. "I'm just being selfish. So, were you with 
Meredith? Can I see her?"

"Yes, and yes--take off that suit and I'll spellcast you." Garth watched 
as Dick shimmied out of the pressure suit and started to laugh. "That's 
quite an outfit, Robbie...."

Dick grinned, shrugging in his t-shirt and brief shorts. "I was working 
out in the gym when Donna grabbed me. She didn't give me a chance to 
change."

"Just a moment." Garth slipped through the airlock and came back after 
a minute, still laughing. "It's very sexy, but I don't think you want to 
show off for the whole city! I've sent someone to bring clothing that's a 
touch less...revealing." 

"Thanks. In that case...." Dick lifted his shirt over his head, smirked, 
and turned his back. He slid the shorts down slowly, teasing, bending 
down to remove his sneakers....

"Dear gods." Before he could turn around Garth had pressed against 
him from behind. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take you 
right here and now."

Dick shivered at the mingled love and lust in that voice. "Uh. You're 
asking *me?!*"

"...on second thought. No. I'm not asking." Garth's hands glided around 
him, caressing at his belly, and his stomach muscles clenched in 
sudden, urgent desire. "I love you. I want you."

Dick stretched, looping his hands backward around Garth's neck, 
arching against him. "Show me." He closed his eyes, leaning back as 
Garth's hands swept over his chest. "Mm. That feels-- I love you." He 
twisted around so he could see Garth's eyes. "I missed you." He 
brushed his lips over Garth's, tongue flicking out, tasting. "Gotta make 
up for lost time..." 

There was a knock at the door.

"K'a'ch!" Garth growled, and Dick had to suppress a laugh even though 
his initial reaction was exactly the same. 

Garth kissed his neck and sighed. "The Fates themselves are against us. 
Later, then. In more privacy and a more comfortable place...." He went 
to the airlock while Dick moved out of sight, exchanged words with 
someone, and returned carrying a small bundle. "These are mine. They 
should fit well enough."

It was simple clothing, but finely made: black pants and black soled 
slippers, and a deep blue tunic as soft as silk. "Is this locally craftwork? 
I bet you could export this too...."

Garth nodded. "We've been thinking about it. Ready?"

"Mm-hm." Garth touched his chest and murmured in that lyrical 
magical language. Dick felt the heat wash over him--not just from the 
spell's effect--tugged the tunic down lower, and grinned. "Let's go, 
huh?"

They swam out into the corridors of the palace. People moved past 
them, nodded or bowed to Garth and glanced at Dick curiously. As 
always it was slightly disconcerting knowing there were conversations 
going on around him that he couldn't understand. He'd been learning 
Atlantean, but even Garth's spell couldn't help him decipher speech 
passing through water. He was effectively mute and deaf here, aside 
from those very few Atlanteans who (like Garth) had learned sign 
language. 

All Atlanteans were effectively limited telepaths with each other as 
well, which was a whole other layer of communication closed to him. 
Down here, in the middle of the palace with the whole city's worth of 
people around him, Dick had only the barest odd feeling of something 
just out of "hearing." When the other Titans came for Arthur's wedding, 
some of them felt more acutely; Roy in particular had complained 
about a constant itch at the back of his brain, and Donna admitted to 
actually being able to occasionally detect a particularly loud directed 
thought. All humans had some measure of psychic potential, and years 
ago Batman had tested him using Zener cards and other means. Dick's 
psi quotient registered somewhere on the low side of average. It had 
never bothered him much, before.

Garth glanced over at him as they swam, and reached over to take his 
hand. 

Even without telepathy, Garth was attuned to his moods. Dick smiled 
and squeezed his hand, grateful. A little bit of "Stranger in a Strange 
Land" out of place, here, plus the fact that he was on his way to see his 
lover's ex-girlfriend and their daughter. Such a *modern* family unit, 
all disjointed. 

They came to a chamber set off to the side of the main corridor. Garth 
placed his hand against a keypad, and the door irised open. 

Dolphin glanced up, her finger already to her lips to quiet them. Then 
she smiled at Dick and signed, "She's sleeping."

Dolphin had learned sign language years ago to communicate with the 
humans who'd originally found her. Convenient, Dick thought wryly, 
except that here was one time when he might wish for a language 
difficulty. He gestured a greeting and swam over to see the baby in her 
crib, sleeping soundly and anchored against the tides by seaweed 
netting. He glanced up to see Dolphin watching him, her expression 
indecipherable. 


Dolphin smirked. "Love? We just--" she made an extremely obscene 
gesture with her hands. Dick snorted water and looked over at Garth, 
who grinned and shrugged. 

"She's right."


Grateful to you.

Why?

She turned to him, her hands flashing. "Your love keeps him on the 
surface. And because of that, there is no way he could take my daughter 
from me.

He'd never!

"Oh, I know that." 




Dick with Ali. Small "dry-air" library, with surface references carefully 
preserved for those Atlanteans who wanted to examine them.


"Alianne, tell me something...what does 'sai'a'thii' mean?"

Ali blinked at him. "Literally?  'Pledged in Bond.'"  

"Vulko called Garth 'my sai'a'thii,'" Dick said slowly. "He also said 
'consort,' but it sounds like this means something more."

"You might say 'fiancé,' but it also implies...." She paused at the look 
on Dick's face. "What's wrong?"

He ignored her question. "Implies what?"

"Well, an intention to bond in Sai'a'thash. Except that unless I'm 
mistaken, you're not a telepath, so it's not really accurate on that 
account--" 

"Alianne. What are you talking about?!"

"...oh. He hasn't told you. Ah, you should ask Garth."



Vulko called you my sai'a'thii. Ali told me what it meant. 

Garth's eyes went wide, almost panicked. "Dick, I--" He swallowed, 
started again. "I...call you that, here. So that people understand that I 
love you."

"But it means more than that."

"Yes." 

"And you meant it?"

"...yes." Garth looked into his eyes, into him. "I've known it since xx. I 
meant it when I said I wouldn't let you go. I meant it when I said you 
held all of my heart. I've never hidden that from you."

"Yeah, but..." 

"Something like that." Garth hesitated. "Also...Alianne probably 
mentioned the telepathic component. So it's not really accurate...."

Let me see if I have this right. Basically, this means we're engaged as 
far as the Atlanteans are concerned?

More than that. In Sai'a'thash, one partner does not survive the death of 
the other. Literally...bound for life.


Dick smiled suddenly. "You thought I'd be afraid of what it meant. The 
commitment."