"WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?" Was going through Dick Grayson's mind. I thought studying law would be a new and exciting adventure. But it's boring, tedious, and HARD! Very, very hard. The mark I wanted to put on this world, might just be me flunking out my Freshman year. I don't understand it. I know I'm intelligent enough, so what is the problem? He knew what the problem was, but didn't want to admit it to himself. He missed Bruce's companionship and the drama of patrolling the streets looking for criminals. The dynamic duo of Batman and Robin had been a large part of his life. And he missed that.

It didn't take him long to make a decision. "Yes!" I'll take a semester off and visit my old friend and crime fighting partner. I know he wants me to receive the best life can offer. So maybe he can give me some sound advice on what I should do. He has always been there when I've needed him. It will give me time to think, and decide if I have to reevaluate my mission in life. I'm sure Bruce will be glad to see me. And truth be told, I feel a little guilty for leaving him high and dry like I did. He probably needs me as much as I need him. It's settled then. Robin will return.

Dick Grayson is sitting on the plane, thinking over what had transpired the last six months. He was sure he made the right choice at the time and it could possibly still work out that way. Hopefully his visit with his friend and mentor, will help clear his mind so he can come to the right conclusion. He did love studying law. And it would be an excellent career for a young man like himself. He would become a prominent member of society and have a normal and satisfying life. If he just didn't miss his old life so much. Therein lies the problem.

Maybe if his desire to become a highly acclaimed basketball player had worked out better. He could have adjusted to the new life he chose. But unfortunately, his passion for basketball and his added height, hadn't improved his skills as a player. Sitting on the bench watching others play the game he loved was depressing. And only being inserted in the game when they were way ahead or way behind, was a bitter pill to swallow. As Batman's sidekick Robin, he was the center of attention.

Dick used his key and entered Wayne Manor. Unknown to him, Bruce Wayne was in town handling some financial matters and wouldn't return for quite a while. Alfred was in town doing the shopping and was visiting a friend of his. When no one answered his call, he decided to check the bat cave and see if Bruce was there. With the enthusiasm of a small child, he ran to the Library to trip the secret door that led down to the bat cave.

Carla Stone was familiarizing herself with all of the gadgets she and Batman used to bring criminals to justice. For the last six months, the Black Widow and Batman had become a fantastic crime fighting team. But Carla needed practice using the tools of Batman's trade. He gave her a utility belt like his own. But Carla wasn't adept at using any of the devices. Bruce Wayne had built an area down in the bat cave where he and Robin used to hone their skills with the various devices on the belt. There was also an arena they used to sharpen their fighting skills against each other. Carla was there now.

She decided to wear her costume to practice, since that's what she would be wearing while she used the gadgets on the belt. Life size straw dummies were strategically placed around the room to practice using the bola, tranquilizer darts, and gas pellets. A full scale brick wall and rocky mountain side was built, for using the grappling hook and repelling cable. Carla had been at it for about an hour when she decided to take a brief rest. She unhooked the belt from around her waist and strolled toward the table where her bottle of water was sitting.

Dick heard noises down in the bat cave and smiled. Bruce was in the training area sharpening his skills. He quickly ran back upstairs to put on his costume and surprise his old friend. Batman and Robin would soon be together again. He was more then a little surprised when he ran into the bat cave and found a woman dressed in black. The black Widow took a fighting stance when she heard someone enter the cave. Bruce and Alfred weren't expected back for quite a while yet. Robin stopped where he was and raised his fists to defend himself.

The Black Widow recognized Robin's costume and relaxed. "Dick! I never expected to see you down here. I thought you were in College studying to be a Lawyer? What are you doing back?" Robin lowered his hands and looked at the woman who had taken his place. He saw her picture in the paper quite a few times over the last six months, standing next to Batman. "Black Widow. Where's Bruce? What are you doing in the bat cave? And how do you know my name?"

"WHOA! Slow down boy. One question at a time. Bruce is in town on business and I'm here learning how to use the devices on the utility belt a little better. As far as my knowing your name, Bruce has told me all about you. We've become quite close in the last six months." Yeah, I'll just bet you have lady. Robin thought to himself. And who in the hell does she think she's calling boy. "You never answered my question Dick. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in College hitting the books?"

"I'm reevaluating my decisions. And I would rather discuss my reasons with Bruce. I don't know you lady, and you don't know me." "There's no need to get offense young man. I know Bruce is proud of what you're trying to accomplish. And I'm sure he will tell you to stick with it. That would be my advise as well. You have a chance to make something of yourself, and you shouldn't give up on it so easily." Dick was becoming furious. "LOOK LADY! I don't care what you think. I don't recall asking for your advise at all. So butt out of my affairs."

Carla was totally taken by surprise at his out burst. And was beginning to get a little pissed off herself. "Don't use that tone of voice with me boy. I'm only trying to help you see things clearly." "Let me help you see things clearly Black Widow." Robin replied. "I'm back now. So you can take your advise and shove it up your patent leather ass and clear out of here. We won't be needing your assistance any longer." That did it. This asshole needed to be straightened out the hard way. And that was right up her alley. Up close and personal, just how she liked it. But Robin wasn't going to like it much.

"You need an attitude adjustment little man. And I'm just the girl to give you one. So unless you want to apologize and ask for my forgiveness, we'll see if your fighting skills can back up that big mouth of yours." The Black Widow challenged. "That suits me lady. Then I can kick your ass before I throw you out on it." The Boy Wonder replied. The two crime fighting warriors faced each other in the battle arena. Only one would be left standing to fight crime at the side of the Caped Crusader. The other would crawl off and lick their wounds. While they tried to figure out what they wanted to do with their life.

Robin wasted no time. He was in his element. He and Batman had battled each other in this arena many times. So he was very familiar with it's surroundings. Besides, he was about to fight a woman. It would take about ten minutes to show her her place and throw her out. So the sooner he started, the sooner she would be out of his hair and out cold. He boldly attacked with everything he had, without a care in the world. There was nothing to worry about.

The Black Widow expected him to try and overwhelm her. She knew he thought he would be able to walk right over a woman. Males were very confident and sure of themselves when they were facing a female. He obviously didn't think she posed a threat to him. And he would be able to end this fight quickly and easily. She was about to prove his assumption was completely incorrect. And it was going to be a very painful lesson for him to learn.

She avoided a half dozen sledge hammer blows before she snapped a left jab to his eye. "SMACK!" Robin's face was filled with fury and he went at her with murder in his eyes. Rights and lefts were fired by the Boy Wonder with as much speed and power as he could muster. But the bitch was very adept at being evasive. Punch after punch missed her swaying, weaving body. And it was beginning to irritate him all to hell. "SMACK!.. SMACK!" When her right and left connected with his mouth and nose Robin totally lost it. He attacked like a madman.

"SLAM!" The next thing he knew, he was flying over her hip and hitting the floor hard. It didn't discourage him. He jumped up and threw himself at her again. "SLAM!" He was thrown over her shoulder this time. "Calm down and apologize Robin. Or I'll be forced to hurt you and make you quit." "GO TO HELL BITCH!" "Your ass is mine when I get my hands on you. You can't elude me forever. So sooner or later you'll be sorry you butted in to my affairs. I'm going to kick your ass clear into next month. So chew on that thought bitch."

Carla was shocked. "That's no way to talk to a lady little man. I'm going to punish you for using that language if you don't stop it this instant." "There isn't a lady present as far as I can see. There is however, a loud mouth bitch that should mind her own business and keep her big mouth shut. But since she doesn't seem to understand that, I'm going to shove my fist down her throat and shut it for her." "OK little man, I gave you fair warning. You'll wish you had listened before I'm through with you." "SHUT UP AND FIGHT BITCH!" Robin screamed.

Robin stepped up to deliver another flurry of punches. He was met by a black leather clad foot that damn near caved in his chest. "WHAM!" It sent him stumbling back with the Black Widow coming right after him. When he managed to get his footing, he threw a roundhouse right at the advancing female warrior. She ducked under it and let loose with a bevy of hard punches to his face and mid section. "SMACK!..SMACK!..THUD!..THUD!..THUD!..THUD!..SMACK!" He was driven backwards and completely defenseless.

"SMACK!" A solid right landed on his chin and dumped him in the floor on his ass. "Have you changed your mind about apologizing little man?" Carla asked. Robin leaped to his feet. "Shut the hell up bitch. I'm j ust getting warmed up. You'll be singing a different tune in a few minutes. Now lets see if you can evade my whirlwind attack." Robin went after her with his body spinning in tight circles. Both fists were straight out from his churning body, like dangerous propellers on a helicopter. A spinning back kick was attempted every few spins to confuse his adversary and keep them off balance. It didn't work.

The Black Widow avoided his attack and studied it carefully. When she had it timed perfectly, she went into action. She leaned back to elude the spinning back kick and stepped forward. She dodged his right back fist and the following left punch. Then she quickly threw a right cross to his exposed chin. "SMACK!" The Boy Wonder spun out of control and landed in the floor on his face. "SPLAT!" "This is your last chance little man. Apologise to me and we'll forget this whole unfortunate incident. If you get up and run that foul mouth of yours, you'll only have yourself to blame for what I will do to you. So think it over carefully and make the right choice."

Robin was so sick of listening to her over confident mouth. There was no way he was going to apologise to the bitch. She had made him look like a fool so far, but that was about to change. With renewed determination, he shot to his feet and went in swinging. Carla shook her beautiful, black haired head and made her decision. If he wouldn't listen to reason, then it was time to beat some sense into his foolish male brain. She bobbed and weaved, ducked and dodged, waiting for Robin to tire himself out. It didn't take long. Because Dick had neglected his physical training for six months while he studied law. Carla smiled and took it to him.

Robin's furious attack slowed considerably. His arms felt like lead weights and he was having trouble keeping them up. His legs were shaking from all the exertion he had used, and his breathing was labored and raspy. The Black Widow swatted down his last feeble right and opened up a can of whoop ass on the tired male fighter. "SMACK!" His nose was broken and hurt like hell. "You should have taken my advice wimp. "SMACK!..SMACK!" Both eyes were in a great deal of pain. "Now you get a lesson in manners."

"THUD!..THUD!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" His stomach was softened up a bit, his mouth was split and bleeding, and his jaw felt like it had been hit by a wrecking ball. "You never ever talk to a lady the way you have today." "SMACK!..THUD!..THUD!..SMACK!" "I will not tolerate such language and disrespect. No woman would or should have to accept it." "SMACK!" Robin dropped to his knees and slumped to the floor at her feet. Carla smiled and picked him up.

The Boy Wonder's eyes were glassy and unfocused. His legs were trembling, and would have buckled if she wasn't holding him up. His arms hung lifeless at the sides of his wobbly body. And his groggy and barely conscious mind was disoriented and lost. Carla held him steady. "SLAP!..SLAP!" "You need to learn some manners little man." "SLAP!..SLAP!" "A crime fighting hero should not act and talk like an asshole." "SLAP!..SLAP!" Batman would be very disappointed in you if he found out how you are acting today." "SLAP!..SLAP!..SLAP!..SLAP!"

She turned him loose and he collapsed to the floor sobbing. "Apologise to me and I'll stop beating you senseless." "Go.. to.. h.hell.. b.b.bitch." "You really are stubborn young man. If you insist on behaving like a spoiled brat, then I'll treat you like one." Black Widow grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled him to his feet. She laughed at his feeble attempt to stop her. "SMACK!" He dropped back to the floor. She picked him up again. "SMACK!" Back at her feet he went. Once more he was dragged to his feet. "SMACK!" And once more he left them and hit the floor. "I can do this all day wimp." "APOLOGISE!"

The beaten young man just shook his sobbing head no. "You'll soon learn you're making a mistake by refusing to do as I tell you." He was jerked to his feet again. "SMACK!" And was knocked off of them again. Back up he came. "SMACK!" Back down he went. Up once more. "SMACK!" Down once more. "Am I getting through to you little man?" Robin didn't answer. "I guess not." Carla said shaking her head. She pulled him back to his feet again. "SMACK!" And deposited him back at hers. Once more the helpless young man was lifted to his feet. "SMACK!" And once more he flopped to the floor sobbing like a baby.

"This isn't painful for me at all wimp. But I know you can't say the same. Abandon your stubborn ways and apologise. Before I beat you half to death." Robin continued to cry and not say a word. "OK boy, if that's the way you want it." The Black Widow straddled his beaten body and easily pinned his weak arms to the floor with her knees. "When you come to your senses, let me know by begging." She raised her hard hitting female fists and smiled at the frightened look in his swollen eyes. "OK little man, I hope you have a high tolerance for pain."

"SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Carla battered his terror stricken face until it was completely black and blue. It was swollen more then twice it's size and bleeding in quite a few places. Robin screamed and cried throughout the terrible ordeal. But didn't give up. "Time to change tactics little man. I believe you would let me beat you to death before admitting you were wrong and apologise. Since you've been behaving like a naughty little boy, lets see how you react to being punished like one."

The Black Widow dragged his badly beaten body over to the bench along the wall. Robin didn't have the strength to try and resist her. All he could do was cry as his tortured body slid across the floor. "Lets see if your stubbornness can out last a good old fashion spanking." Carla pulled his tights down and bared his ass. Then she sat down on the bench and laid his trembling body over her lap. "You've been a very naughty boy Robin. So you deserve the spanking I'm about to give you. It appears to me to be the appropriate discipline for your bad behavior today."

She removed her leather glove to exert the maximum amount of pain to his bare ass. "Here we go you bad little boy." "WHACK!..WHACK!..WHACK!..WHACK!" She spanked his bare ass until it was cherry red and hot to the touch. "WHACK!..WHACK!..WHACK!" Robin was finally broken after about fifty smacks. His stubbornness dissolved and his will snapped. It was to humiliating to the twenty year old crime fighter to be spanked like a little boy. His defiance melted like butter, and his willingness to deny her the satisfaction of winning crumbled like dry crackers. She had won. Shame spread over him as he begged.

"Pl.pl.please.. st.stop. You.. w.win.. Bl.black.. W.widow. I'm.. s.s.sorry.. I.. sp.spoke.. to.. you.. the.. w.way.. I.. d.did. I.. apolog.gise. Pl.pl.please.. forg.give.. me. Don't.. sp.spank.. me.. anym.more.. pl.pl.please." "Good boy. I'm glad you finally came to your senses. Now listen closely and don't interrupt." "WHACK!" "You will return to College and get your degree." "WHACK!" I'm sure that is what Bruce would advise you to do." "WHACK!" "This is not negotiable." "WHACK!" "He is very proud of you and we want him to remain feeling that way."

"WHACK!" "He will never find out what transpired here today." "WHACK!" "It will be our little secret." "WHACK!" "You will stay in school, get your degree, and Graduate." "WHACK!" "And change that attitude you have against women." "WHACK!" "Or you and I will have another painful ass spanking little chat." "WHACK!" "IS THAT CLEAR YOUNG MAN?" "WHACK!" Robin was crying like he had never cried in his life. Lying across her lap with his bare ass on fire, he felt like the naughty little boy she had called him.

He tried his best and she out fought him every step of the way. Fear of the Black Widow spread over him like a prairie fire. He never wanted to face those hard hitting female fists and lethal kicking feet again. The only obvious solution was to obey her. Return to College and finish getting his degree like she told him to do. He knew in that moment, he would achieve his goal. It was what he set out to do in the first place, before he became confused and questioned his actions. The Black Widow had set him straight. He would Graduate and start his new career as a Prosecuting Attorney.

"Yes.. Bl.black.. W.widow.. it's.. cl.clear. I'll.. do.. wh.what.. ever.. you.. s.s.say. Just.. don't.. sp.spank.. me.. anym.more." "Good boy Robin, good boy." Carla replied as she smiled. "Now lets get you cleaned up and out of here, before anyone sees you." Robin slowly climbed to his feet. He grimaced as he pulled the tights up to cover his red, raw ass. Carla helped him upstairs and thoroughly cleaned him up. When she was satisfied he was as presentable as he was going to be, she marched him to the door.

"Now you hit those books hard and make us all proud. I know Bruce feels like you're his son, and he would be so proud and happy to watch you stroll up on that stage and receive your diploma. You can come and visit us when you get a chance, as long as your grades are up to par. Understand?" "Yes ma'am I understand. I'll work my tail off to Graduate and get my diploma. I wouldn't want to disappoint Bruce. He has been like a father to me, and I think very highly of him as well." "Good. I'm glad to hear you say that Dick. And my name is Carla. You may call me that if you wish. Now git. Before someone comes home and spots you." "Yes Carla."

Dick Grayson walked out of the Manor and went back to College. His mind was no longer confused about what he should do. It was set on getting his diploma, and beginning his new life. Carla had made him face his responsibilities, and get his priorities straight. It was a terribly painful and humiliating lesson for him to learn, but she forced him to learn it. And he quit worrying about Batman. With the Black Widow at his side, he was in very capable hands.