Chapter 25

Damian and Lindsey sat opposite the Hollings. The two elders seemed the most serious Lindsey had ever seen them. All that ran through Lindsey's mind was what they could possibly want to talk about. And to both of them at the same time.

Damian looked between the two Hollings. He knew that this would be a business meeting. A meeting to talk about their future and the future of Holling Oil and possibly Wayne Enterprises. He clenched his teeth and took Lindsey's hand.

Damian knew that whenever the Hollings talk to Lindsey about their business, she gets upset. He didn't want her to get upset because of her grandparents again.

"Damian, am I correct to say that you will inherit Wayne Enterprises?" Grandpa Holling asked.

"Yes, that's my father's plan," Damian nodded.

"And is it safe to say that you will be in charge of Wayne Enterprises and all the decisions made for the company?" Grandpa Holling asked.

"Where are you going with this, Mr. Holling?" Damian asked.

"As you know, in the business world, the relationships we make with others are for the good of our companies. And Holling Oil wants to branch out. If you and Lindsey continue your relationship, we hope that Wayne Enterprises and Holling Oil can become close partners," Grandpa Holling said.

"What are your plans after you graduate High School, Damian?" Grandma Holling asked.

"Attend Gotham University and major in business. Then work under my Father until he hands over the company," Damian said.

Lindsey looked over at her boyfriend, he sounded so sure of himself. More sure than she was. Since the last time she talked to her grandparents about her future, she had an idea. But that's all it was, an idea. She wasn't sure if it's what she wanted to do.

"And Lindsey have you thought more about where about what you want to do?" Grandma Holling asked turning to Lindsey. "I know you weren't sure last time we talked."

"I don't want to go into business, that's for sure," Lindsey muttered. "I was thinking about being an art teacher. Since I love art, and I think teaching would be a great thing to do."

"Teaching? Would you teach here in Gotham, then? If you and Damian are going to get married," Grandma Holling said.

"Who said anything about Damian and I getting married?" Lindsey asked in shock.

"How long have you two been a couple?" Grandma Holling asked.

"I - I haven't been . . . keeping track," Lindsey whispered.

"Six months," Damian said. "And they've been the best six months of my life."

Has it really been six months? It felt like so much longer to Lindsey. But thinking back, the two of them got together after the Gala in November. It was May now. So much has happened in these past few months that it felt like so much longer.

"Have the two of you never talked about marriage?" Grandma Holling asked.

"We just became seniors in High School, Grandma," Lindsey said. "We have so much to look forward to before getting married."

"We're asking this because we're thinking about what's best for Holling Oil," Grandpa Holling said.

"And you think us getting married would be what's best?" Damian asked. "I love Lindsey. Don't get me wrong. But if the only reason you two want us to get married if for your company and not for her happiness, I won't agree. Whatever partnership you want with Wayne Enterprises can be forgotten."

"No, no, you're misunderstanding," Grandpa Holling said. "You see, we want Lindsey to be the owner of the company. But we'll have the CEO be someone else that's already in the company. All Lindsey would have to do is attend weekly meetings with the Board. That way, as the owner of the company you can still be in charge of making the best decisions for the company."

"And Damian, we of course want a partnership with Wayne Enterprises. But also if you are married to Lindsey, you would be able to help her make the decisions for the company. Since you are planning on going into business, you would be able to help her. That's what we're implying."

"You don't want me to work at Holling Oil?" Lindsey asked after Grandpa Holling was done with his speech.

"No. We made that decision after our last talk with you," Grandpa Holling said. "If you want to be an art teacher, so be it. And we know that you'll be making good money coming from Holling Oil. And even more money if you marry Damian."

"We wanted to talk to Damian about this to make sure that he would be willing to help with the whole business aspect of it," Grandma Holling said. "But if you wanted to, the both of you could even merge the companies. Like you'll be merging our families together."

"That's a brilliant idea to have me helping Lindsey with the parts of the business she doesn't understand," Damian complimented. "I'm glad that you thought of it like that. But about marriage-"

"It's late!" Lindsey yelled, jumping up. "Damian should be getting home. And there was so much excitement today, I need to go to bed."

"Are you sure, Lindsey?" Grandma Holling asked. "It's the first day of summer vacation. Don't you want to hang out with Damian a little longer?"

"That's right," Grandpa Holling said. "Damian can stay until 2am. As long as he doesn't stay over."

Damian glanced up at Lindsey. She stared down at her grandparents. They're actually letting Damian stay that late?

"I would love to stay longer," Damian spoke up. "If Lindsey doesn't mind."

Lindsey stared wide-eyed at Damian. He in turn smirked at his Beloved.

"How cute," Grandma Holling cooed at the two. "But I think it's time to say, this."

"Say what, dear?" Grandpa Holling asked.

"Now, I may look amazing for someone my age. But I am starting to feel old. So don't make me feel older by making me a great-grandma."

"Grandma!" Lindsey shouted. Damian stared at Mrs. Holling with a blank look.

"Margaret. Don't say it like that," Grandpa Holling said. "We don't want the two of you having sex yet."

"Grandpa!" Lindsey screamed covering her ears. Damian continued giving the Hollings a blank look, except for the red appearing on his neck.

"We just want the two of you to be safe," Grandpa Holling laughed. "Focus on school, the two of you don't need to think about any of that until your sure about your relationship. But we can't stop the two of you if you want to do something like that."

"Grandpa, this is my first relationship. I'm not just going to give away my virginity without knowing I'm ready," Lindsey said, cringing. "Come on, Damian."

Lindsey grabbed Damian's hand and pulled him out of the room. I ran to my bedroom with him in tow. Once to my bedroom, I quickly shut the door.

"Why is it every time I see your grandparents I want to tear my ears off?" Damian asked, moving to sit in the armchair next to the small balcony.

"Do you see why we always go to your place when we hang out?" Lindsey muttered as she pulled her knees under her chin while sitting on her bed. "My grandparents are too much." She fell silent for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought. "My parents were nothing like them."

Damian looked shocked at his girlfriend. Lindsey almost never talked about her parents nor her life before moving to Gotham. The most she talked about it was when they went to New York for Spring Break.

"Your mother kept you separated from them for most of your childhood, right?" Damian asked.

"Well, I wouldn't say separated. I would say more wary. As I got older and they were able to take weekend trips, they would sometimes ask if I wanted to come with them. I came for vacations when I was younger and hated it here. So I just never came," Lindsey shrugged. "I felt like they didn't know how to act around children or teenagers. So when I was around them, it always felt awkward."

"Does it still feel awkward?" Damian asked.

"No," Lindsey said simply. "I just don't think they know what to talk to me about. They never want to talk about my mom. I guess I wouldn't want to talk about my only child who's dead. But I'm their only grandchild, sometimes I want to talk about my mom and dad."

"I always talked to my parents about everything. My worries in school, my social life, the news. Everything. Now I can't talk to them about anything because they're dead. I want to tell them so many things. I want to tell them about my exams, about how we went to prom together, about my upcoming birthday. And I so want to talk to them about you. But they'll never know about you. They'll never meet you."

Lindsey had tears running down her face. She clutched her knees closer to her chest, wiping her tears on the back of her knees. She didn't look at Damian across the room from her. She didn't look at the tears building up in his eyes as he stared at her sobbing.

"Today, I felt like I was going to die. For a minute, I actually believed I would. When the Joker was flipping the switch and I hadn't known that you did something to the device. Haley had gas masks for the women and children, but not enough, so I didn't take one. And now that I look back, maybe I was okay to die because I would be with my parents again. If that's what happens after we die. Aren't you scared to die?"

"Well, not really. Being Robin, I've been faced with so many life-threatening situations that death doesn't scare me anymore. And maybe because I was conditioned by Grandfather to believe that death isn't the end, but I've always thought that death wasn't a big deal.

"But, Lindsey. There is one thing I'm scared of, and that's you dying. Being Robin, I have so many dangerous enemies, and if any of them found out my secret identity, they could find out about you. They could do anything to you to get to me, including kill you. That's what I'm scared about."

"But you'll protect me. Like you did today."

"I will always protect you. Even if we break up - which I don't see happening - I'll protect you. Now that you know my identity, you're stuck with me."

Lindsey smiled at Damian, tear stains on her face. To Damian, she was still the most beautiful woman in the world. Even after crying her eyes out and expressing so many worries and fears to him. He only saw the beauty she emitted.

Damian could only think about how her parents would be so proud of the person Lindsey was becoming. He never met her parents, nor would he ever. But he can see pieces of both of them in her.

"What were your parents like?" Damian asked.

"They were the best," Lindsey said with a fond smile on her face. "So kind and compassionate. They were willing to help anyone at any moment. They were always smiling at strangers, and making friends easily."

"What about their personalities?"

"My mom was more outgoing than my dad. She loved being the center of attention. And she was beautiful, even for her age she still looked amazing. Mom could always tell when Dad and I were lying. She planned everything out and was very organized. Dad was confident, but less than my mom. He wasn't very confident in speaking English, but he was very fluent. My dad was more fun, always taking me out for Daddy-Daughter dates. I was a Daddy's girl. But they were my best friends. I didn't need friends at school when I had them."

"That's why you like your friends so much. They're all outgoing and like being the center of attention, just like your parents. You can see so much of your parents, your best friends, in each of them."

"I never saw it that way. But I can see it that way, now."

Lindsey looked at Damian with a tilt of her head. Damian couldn't imagine what was going though her head with the confused look on her face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Damian asked.

"You're nothing like my parents," Lindsey said. "So I'm trying to figure out how I fell in love with you. Besides your good looks."

"Is that all I'm good for, my good looks?" Damian joked.

"That has to be it, since I can't think of anything else," Lindsey giggled.

"Take that back, or else," Damian said standing up and moving to the bed where Lindsey sat.

Lindsey saw his movement. She squealed before jumping off the bed and running away from Damian. He followed closely behind her, easily catching up to her. He tackled her softly to the ground of her bedroom floor. Both of them laughed.

Damian noticed that the two of them were right next to the small balcony. He reached up, opening the door. The cool night air swept into the room. The tree next to the balcony swayed its leaves softly.

Lindsey watched Damian open the door. She scooted across the floor so her head was a bit outside and she was looking up at the stars.

Damian laid next to her, putting an arm behind her head for her to rest on. As Lindsey looked up at the night sky, Damian gazed at Lindsey.

Damian couldn't think of a moment Lindsey looked more beautiful than this moment. He felt so at peace, just being next to her. This is what he needed after taking care of Joker and his goons. Just a quiet moment with his Beloved.

After thirty minutes, Lindsey was fast asleep next to Damian. He sighed, he didn't want to leave Lindsey. But he wasn't allowed to stay the night. So Damian picked Lindsey up, bridal style, carrying her to her bed.

He removed her shoes, before tucking her underneath the covers. He placed a soft kiss to her lips.

"I love you, Lindsey," he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.

He left the quiet manor before returning to Wayne Manor. And all he could think of, was his Beloved. And how truly beautiful she was. He wished he could have met her parents, gotten to know them. The two people who brought his true love into the world.