itdoesnthavetobeaperfectworld:
To see the way Bruce reacted was indescribable to Vicki. In his tear filled eyes she saw the same hopes and dreams that she had. They’d just been given a glimpse of their future and in that they saw their lives unfold in front of them with their son. A million new possibilities were open to them and other than the first time she’d met Bruce this moment would forever live in her heart as one of the single most amazing moments of her life. Words were not not needed. She had everything she wanted and needed in her life right here with Bruce’s hand in hers and their son growing happily and healthily inside her. In that moment she vowed this would never be broken. She would go to the ends of the world to protect Bruce and their son. Nothing would ever come between her family. Their son would never want for love and he would never have to know the pain that, though she wished more than anything that he had never had to know it, Bruce knew. Together, she knew that she and Bruce would raise their son with nothing but love and protection and he would have a normal and amazing life. She knew this with her whole heart as her hand tightened around Bruce’s and the warm tears continued to flow from her eyes and fall down her cheeks.
As the nurse came back in and handed Vicki a printed photo of their baby, their son, she thanked the nurse, still in tears. She made arrangements for her next visit and with the warm gel wiped off of her ever growing belly, she pulled the black fabric of her shirt back down over it and stood with her eyes on Bruce. She felt him put her coat on her and before they could leave, she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around. Smiling, she brushed her lips against his. When their lips parted, she laughed in a moment of pure joy and excitement. “I love you. I know you already knew that, but I had to say it. God, I can’t believe it, Bruce. A boy. Our son,” she laughed and a few more tears rolled down her cheeks. “It wouldn’t have mattered what our child was to me, but I’m glad it’s a boy. I’m glad we know. I’m just… I’m so happy. I love you so much.”
She wrapped her arms closer around her and laughed through her own tears. She was so happy that she couldn’t stop herself from crying. She hadn’t expected to feel this joyful when she went to this appointment. Sure, she had been excited to finally find out what their baby would be, but she just hadn’t expected to be this overcome with emotion. If she thought about, somewhere deep inside of her she had known it would be a boy. It made sense to her. Their sweet little baby boy would be one of the most loved children in the world and her desire to finally hold him in her arms only grew that much stronger.
————— BIG OLD TIME JUMP ————————-
The nursery had been painted blue, just as they had discussed. In fact, the nursery was all finished and loaded with furniture, clothes and toys. The only thing missing from it was the baby. It wouldn’t be long now. They were down to only days before they would welcome their precious baby boy into the world together. Vicki was excited and scared at the same time. She was scared of failing as mother. She wanted to give her son everything. She wanted to keep him protected and safe from all harm and most of all she wanted to keep him healthy and happy. She had every intention to do just that, but as she lay awake in bed she couldn’t shake the bit of fear and doubt from her mind.It was late. Her eyes moved to the old clock on the bedside table that told her it was about four in the morning. Her eyes then fell on the sleeping figure lying next to her of Bruce. Her lips pulled into a grin, watching him sleep peacefully. It was rare when she ever actually got to watch him sleeping. More often, she was asleep well before him, but lately it seemed she wasn’t getting much sleep at night. Ironically enough, the baby seemed to be more active during the night hours and she could always feel him moving and kicking away at this time of night. Her grin grew wider as she felt one of those kicks. She ran her hand along her bulging belly in an attempt to calm him.
Sighing when she felt several more kicks, she glanced over at Bruce again. He needed his sleep and he deserved it. Just because she was awake, she didn’t want to make him stay up with her. She got out of bed as silently as she could. It used to be a lot easier, but being this pregnant and about ready to pop, it proved a lot more difficult for her to move quietly and smoothly like she used to. Still, she knew it wouldn’t be too much longer before she was no longer pregnant. The last nine months had been an absolute dream. Every step of the way Bruce was by her side and it had been a beautiful experience that somehow only drew her that much closer to him and made her love him that much more.
Looking down at herself, she had to laugh inwardly to herself. Only someone that loved her could still look at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world when she was as big as a damn house like she was. Still, it was worth it to her. She’d do it all over again in a heartbeat when the end result would be getting to hold their baby boy at the end of it all. She smiled, quietly making her way out of the bedroom and across the hall to the nursery. She stood in the doorway for a moment, feeling the baby do a couple of somersaults, before she flipped the light switch. Her eyes looked around at the pale blue walls and the empty crib that sat in front of her just waiting. Her hand rested on her belly, absently rubbing, as she made her way to the crib. Not much longer and I’ll be standing here looking down at you and you won’t be kicking me all the time anymore… Not that I mind too much. It’s got to be a bit cramped in there, but I can’t wait to meet you… A thought entered her mind then. A name, he still needed a name. Sure, she and Bruce had thrown around some suggestions, but they were waiting it seemed until the perfect name hit them.
At that moment exactly, the perfect name hit her. As the name popped into her head she was met with hard kick. She held her hand to her belly, smiling as tears started to form in her eyes. It’s perfect… As if he had known, at that moment she heard footsteps enter the room and turned to see Bruce standing there, his eyes curiously on her. She smiled at him, blinking away a few tears that managed to fall down her cheeks. “Sorry. I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t want to wake you. It’s the craziest thing, you know… Your son seems to keep about the same hours you do. He’s always awake and springing into action at night.”
She moved closer to him, her eyes on his and she let out a small laugh. She wrapped her arms around him, musing at the way she couldn’t quite fit as comfortably against him in his arms as she used to with the belly in the way. Still, she loved being able to hug him like this, knowing her belly was pressed up against him and he could the movements from their son. She laughed as she felt a couple more kicks. “See what I mean?” She then looked up into his eyes for a moment before she let her lips meet his and lingered there in that kiss for a while. When her lips parted from his, her voice came out in a whisper as more tears fell from her eyes. “Now that you’re awake, I have something I want to tell you. I thought of a name for our son and I think it’s perfect. I know we were waiting for the perfect name that would make complete sense and I’ve found it Bruce. It makes total sense and it’s beyond perfect.”
With one arm still wrapped securely around Bruce and holding her to him, she moved her other arm so that her hand could reach up to cup around his cheek. She swallowed the lump of excitement and emotion in her throat. Her voice was still a whisper as her eyes held his and a smile spread across her lips. This name held meaning to both of them. It held the names of the two men in both of their lives that meant a great deal to them and it would carry on their legacy. Her thumb absently and gently stroked along his cheek. “Thomas… Thomas Allan Wayne…” she let out a shuddered breath as her lips quivered in that smile and her eyes held his. “What do you think?”
Bruce blinked back the happy sobs brimming against his lids. He could barely speak. All words emitted fell into terrible breathless ejaculations that were as incoherent as they were emotional. In truth, there wasn’t much sense to speech in this moment, for the flying rate of his thoughts left him entirely inept in the art of eloquence. There was shock in his bones, but an excitement building within them, itching to break the paralysis that fell over him - broken shortly as the nurse stepped in with the prints of that little wonder presented before them only minutes later.
He sucked in his lower lip as he regained consciousness. His fingers traced over the faded translucent depiction of what lingered just beyond the flesh. His hand caressed the child was framed there, so incredibly minute and beautiful for his frailty. There was something, not widely recognized from this moment, the absolute withdrawal of any present pain, the breathless comfort, the cathartic hold and wash of all unhealthy emotions. It was a powerful moment, and within it, all uncertainties vanished in the overwhelming presence of a larger understanding. Nothing could be more beautiful than this… nothing but perhaps, holding that child in his arms.
“Oh wow…” He spoke absently, breathing finally as Vicki was cleaned off. His eyes met hers and he listened to her, all the while unable to hold back his immense gratitude not only to her but to life. “I love you too, and yes I could care less for the gender. Holy-” He paused, embracing her. “I am just so very inexplicably happy. Our son… my darling boy. I cannot seem to accept this, although I have thought on it. It’s just so very beautiful… and in the extent of my life, I have never been in the face of something so radiant, never wanted something so much that it became reality-” Bruce paused tears clouding his eyes, his hand gripped hers, “-never before wanted to share this with anyone that I didn’t I love so much.”
His arms fell around her as she held herself. Happy tears fell from his face and onto her back, his hands caressing her soothingly. In that moment, life had bent considerably into something understandable, something kinder. Truth was bliss and pain inconstant.
*—
Time Jump
*—
Bruce shifted in the bed as she left the room. It wasn’t often that sufficient rest was achieved, but as time carried on his habits took a turn for the better. No longer was he constantly worried, reminded of wrongs long since past - fearing their re-occurrence in his life… their lives. It was hard at first, to relinquish his worries and let the doctrine of trust and hope to fill him up to this point. But he settled upon a thought not encouraged before: bad things happen at random, ungovernable times (ungovernable said lightly). He would not always be able to swing the tides of fate and banish the storm that was life at its most difficult. There was more than a fight against crime that racked his mind, but a fight against human anguish. The task was maddening and cruel in retrospect, but it didn’t stop him from trying. But just for this minuscule amount of time, just this once… He felt at ease. He felt that pain was behind them, and that this marked their new beginning.
Some weeks prior, he had stood in that stark room soon to be the nursery, returned from the depths of a Sherwin-Williams with buckets of sky blue. Alfred had crossed the hall and stood intently at the doorway as they painted, Bruce didn’t notice firstly, far too engrossed with the slow splat of the roller. He spoke suddenly from that stance at the far corner just outside of the door.
“The Wayne’s have returned.”
The subtle observation struck Bruce, as he had turned to meet Alfred’s gaze, which was sincere in response. The words hung in the air, not the less bit stifled as Alfred left him alone in that room. That line had supplanted itself within his memory, reaching the base as an outline to a goal. A goal not generally realized but a forethought of an idea that hadn’t been named. He repeated it daily, and it grew on him a kind of beauty beyond itself. A family would finally make its way back into Wayne Manor. A family would warm the great mausoleum. A family would make right the many wrongs, would purify their lives and bring radiance into their hearts.
All losses gained, all panic removed.
Bruce turned again in his sleep, his hands absently grabbing at the sheets in silent search for Vicki. Upon realizing she wasn’t there, he was stirred awake. His eyes glanced about the room with unfocused eyes, before sitting up and leaving the bedroom through the ajar door. His feet found their way toward the nursery, and there he found her. He stood there for a second, merely watching. Bruce smiled dotingly as she turned to him, speaking softly and in regard to his son’s nocturnal tendencies.
“Well he’ll be hanging upside down within a week at this rate…” He smirked, leaning into the doorway, as she neared him. “Can you imagine the mess he’d make…? Talk about guano.” As she wrapped her arms around him, he stifled a laugh and grew sincere with the silence between them. A kind of silence that therein could be measured the degree of love between them, a knowing silence. He could feel the soft movement reverberating from her torso. He grinned to himself, at the blissful life that laid within. He listened intently to her following statement, growing a thorough interest as she went on.
And upon hearing that name, so crisp… so perfect. He had paused, firstly, before the feat of ungovernable emotions took him over. Momentarily lost, tears streamed down his face. Thomas…
“…You are right… The name is perfect, expertly chosen…” He spoke in barely a whisper, his hands cupping her face. How had she known? But then again, it was evident that she knew thoughts that were late to course through his conscious mind. She knew and did what little actions seemingly inherent to reduce him to sobs. “Thomas Allan Wayne… Oh god, my fath- my father would be so happy. I’m happy. I’m - I love you so much.” He pulled Vicki into a kiss broken shortly for an embrace.
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itdoesnthavetobeaperfectworld:
Vicki’s hand did not leave Bruce’s the entire time, even as her other hand continued to cautiously pet the gorgeous creature. She was lost in her own thought, the tears still welling at the corners of her eyes. This doe was not afraid of her or anyone else, but it was trusting. Her hand absently tightened its grip on Bruce’s as her thoughts continued to run through her mind.
In a way, this doe paralleled everything that she wanted to be. She wanted to be trusting, to be happy, and to believe in good. She wanted to put the nightmares of her past, the pain she’d experienced and the memories of the time she’d spent without him out of her life. She didn’t want to carry those burdens anymore. She wanted to look ahead to a life that could be normal and happy for her with the man who stood next to her and whose hand she gripped to like she never wanted to part from him. She didn’t. She was sure of that. She didn’t ever want to be without him and she was willing right here and right now to put everything behind her to work towards a better future.
She wasn’t naive enough to think that there would never again be anymore bumps in the road or perhaps anymore pain, but instead she made up her mind that it didn’t matter. Whatever came for them or happened to them, they could handle just as they were now - together. As long as they had each other, nothing else mattered. Everything would work itself out in the end. The sheer fact that his hand was in hers, his fingers last through hers, and that he stood next to her right now was enough to show her that there was so much good in this world. So much beauty, and so much hope. She believed in him and their love more than she’d ever believed in anything before in her life. The realization of this sent the tears out of the corners of her eyes and sneaking down her cheeks.
Pulling her hand away from the beautiful doe that had showed her such understanding and compassion, she turned her head to look at the center of her world that stood right where he belonged next to her. Her misty eyes met his and in that split second they were connected in their thoughts. She could feel that invisible pull there always had been between them, drawing them ever closer together. In that moment she didn’t wonder if he realized how much she loved him or how much he meant to her. No, in that moment she could see in his eyes a mutual understanding. She could see in his eyes what he felt for her and she felt felt her breath hitch in her throat, struck by the tender emotions of something so simple as their eyes meeting.
Vicki heard his question and her lips were pulling into a smile as she was about to tell him that she was better than alright. That she was happier than she ever thought possible. Then she heard the ranger speak and her eyes momentarily left Bruce’s to look at the ranger. A tour? Oh, that would be lovely. Still, her eyes met with Bruce’s again, realizing that he was waiting for her to make the decision.
She smiled at him, her eyes still on his. She grabbed his other hand and laced her fingers through that one so that she could hold onto both of his hands. She meant it as a gesture to tell him in more than just words that she was happy and loved him more than anything. Her first reply was a whisper just to him. “I’m more than alright, Bruce,” and she raised her voice more so that her answer could be heard by all parties. “I think I’d love a tour, if you’re ok with it.”
Bruce blinked, the reassurance perhaps more arbitrary but in many ways any word became easily indistinguishable and meaningless in her gaze. There was that sense between them, that both mystified him and yet felt entirely plausible. At first he hadn’t totally recognized the feeling but now with the amount of time he had spent with her, he was beginning to realize the true meaning of his feelings toward her, and how it differed completely from his past relationships. He knew now that this connection was something beyond whatever had been.
A smile picked up on his lips, sweeping her from the ground with a gentleness as his eyes kept with hers. He took in a breath as the corners of his lips broadened, and he turned toward the ranger and gave him a curt nod who clasped his hands together with determination and a perking grin as he ambled forward motioning for them to follow him.
The man proceeded to give them the full and in depth history of the park, from the detailed description of the oldest oak, allowing them to touch the rough surface of its bark, to the tale of a Napoleonic troop escaping certain death along the lengthy stream that ran through the far west corner of the park. In it’s all, Bruce felt both taken aback and yet totally in awe of the scenery. It was true, that such sights were not commonly visited in Gotham. Even the woods surrounding his home was nothing in comparison to the towering birch trees, which held no genetic deformity causing crippled limbs and twisted trunks. But the most surprising attribute was the air, which was so crisp and clean… He was beginning to get a depressing idea of the things he missed while in his sheltered city-life.
He gripped Vicki’s hand, tilting his head to her as they strode behind the rambling ranger. Stopping suddenly, Bruce moved her swiftly behind a wide pine, listening carefully for the ranger’s voice to die down, he smirked back to her planting a passionate kiss on her lips, bleeding into a chuckle as he thought on the poor man speaking to himself in the forest.
“-I wanted give you something…” He breathed becoming entirely serious. Bruce pulled out a long velvet box from the inside of his blazer, opening it to reveal a lanky but fine pearl necklace. Blinking, he grew a bit uneasy with his gift.
“I hope this isn’t too much - What am I talking about? I took you to France. This is all a bit too much. I’m either crazy, or extravagant… or both. But-” He paused, searching her eyes. “I mean what has it been 72 hours? How are you not screaming and running away from me?” He let out a slightly anxious laugh.
“I just don’t want to rush you. I’m not, am I?”
thebatwithamask started following you
Anthony regarded the masked and cloaked figure warily, thinking him escaped from an asylum or something of the sort. He pulled his jacket closed and fiddled with one of its buttons. “Can I help you, sir?”
Batman looked over the willowy yet sinewy character before him, noting to his dialect which was much akin to Toby’s. Thinking perhaps he knew him, he momentarily halted himself from speaking it. He didn’t want to give away too much to little more than a stranger.
“No, not exactly.” He paused, his arms twining against his chest. “What’s your name, son?”
He attempted to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat, finally managing to do so after a moment. The man’s voice was unshaking and imposing, matching almost too well with the figure he cut in his surroundings. Anthony simply nodded once at his reply but tilted his head up to look the man in the eyes at the question.
“My name’s Anthony, sir, Anthony Hope.”
He observed Anthony carefully as he spoke, keeping in mind any hint of ill-intent. He wasn’t of course, looking for trouble only keeping a keen eye, for one could not be entirely sure with the prowling masses the held their post in the night. He lifted an eyebrow from beneath his cowl, taking in a subtle breath before speaking.
“I hope this will be a pleasure, Anthony.” He spoke half a warning, half a lean toward disappointment. “Forget the formalities and just call me Batman.” Pausing, he held out his glove-clad hand, letting a smile warm his exterior.
“What brings you to Gotham?”
gettingintocarswithstrangemen:
Bruce sucked his cheeks in, breaking into a grin of brief amusement. Dancing wasn’t exactly his stronghold but there was something entirely intriguing that could lead him to agree on such a proposition. He glanced about the room his eyes falling over the loitering crowd which now seemed so far away.
He nodded modestly, a knowing look falling over his face. “Is that a request?”
“It was indeed a request Mr. Wayne,” She cast her gaze down for a moment before looking up from beneath her lashes at him, “I want to see if those little rumors are true about you and dancing.” She clarified, Selina was well aware that there were always rumors buzzing about the rich, always rumors making different headlines and keeping the papers thick on a daily basis.
And maybe, just maybe, so wouldn’t be inclined to take whatever wallet or keys he had in his pockets.
Rumors… Bruce mused silently. In all honesty he could care less about any kind of arbitrary rumor about his person. But he didn’t feel it was necessary to turn her down. If anything, he found himself entirely bored with the surroundings and much more evident, the people. Formerly, he considered leaving, but now intrigued and cautious, he proceeded.
Nodding, Bruce smiled down to her, holding out his arm as he spoke in a hushed tone down to her. “So tell me, Miss Kyle… Why when there are so many others here for you to play with, did you choose me?”
Imagine your OTP laying in bed tangled up in each other and the sheets, watching the rain hit the window while it’s storming outside.
itdoesnthavetobeaperfectworld:
Bruce embraced her, his arms wrapping around her as the reality of the moment, of the future truly struck him. He was overwhelmed by his emotions, sending him into a blur of some cosmic movement much greater than bliss. He sat astonished, never knowing that an event so pure and radiant would take place in his life. There was a word for occurrences such as these. A blessing, but one entirely secular - wholly of chance and yet it happened to him… and yet he had met her.
His life had greatly changed far past the complexity of his feelings. She had reformed him absolutely, and now she would give him this child. A child made from such a gracious union, a child who would be loved like no other.
Tears came easily now, his stoic features crumbling as his chest shook in a painful effort to let out the sob that brimmed within. He listened to her, her words filled him totally with their cathartic hold over him. The words bled through his frame, leaking into the crevices of psyche. All of the pain, their lethal intimacy with death had washed away; its power now thoroughly meaningless in their lives. They were the dominant force. They had lived through disaster after disaster and lived. Their strength was something beyond survival. It was love, a love that sought determination, a love that kept them alive if only for the other.
An echo of laughter emanated from her and he smiled in response, dipping his head down as he laid a gentle kiss on her head. Her head then rose as she met his eyes with hers. There was so much he felt he had to say and yet so little time to speak.
“I know… and I love you too.” Bruce attempted to keep his voice from breaking but it had, and instead of feeling the mortification of vulnerability he let out a laugh. He pulled her in for another kiss, holding it for those few moments they had together. When he broke that kiss a string of ideas swirled into his head.
“There’s so much to do…”
As Vicki held to him, her own laughter and tears calming down, she caught his smile, that smile that always calmed her, right before his lips pressed gently against her head. She tilted her head up to meet his eyes and she saw so much in them just by looking.
Her eyes stayed on him as he began to speak to her. Her hands then reached for his, lacing her fingers through his when she heard the break in his voice. This was big. This was more than big for both of them and she wanted to be there with him through it all and feel what he felt as well as to help him feel whatever she would soon start feeling. She grinned at his laugh and their hands parted long enough that he could pull her in for another kiss that lasted a few moments. It was needed between them. In this kiss they didn’t have to say anything else. They each knew each other’s feeling on the matter and on their future.
She raised an eyebrow at him playfully and she saw the look on his face that signified ideas of things he had thought they needed to do. She had quite a few herself and it was a matter she would discuss with him later. She was feeling the nausea coming back full force and she frowned at him, attempting a weak smile as her fingers lightly grazed across his cheeks. “I know. And I want to talk about it all, but first….Ugh….”
She quickly darted off for the bathroom, feeling worse this time than she had earlier. She lay with her head and back up against the cool porcelain of the bathtub trying to wish the nausea away. Her eyes fluttered closed in the nausea as she passed out on the bathroom floor.
While she was passed out her mind filled with dreams. Dreams of carrying this baby to term. She was so happy and showing and she and Bruce were walking along the streets of Gotham holding hands and talking about the baby. He’d gotten a thing of big fluffy cotton candy for Toby and she held the boys hand in her one hand and Bruce’s arm was protectively around her, his fingers resting on her protruding belly. She was smiling in this dream because she felt so connected to each member of her family and that life could only get better from here on out. She had turned to smile up at Bruce, wishing to kiss him and this had been her undoing in the dream. By looking at him, their lips about to touch she didn’t see what was lurking ahead of them in the shadows until it was too late. Her lips were still moving with Bruce’s when she heard the gun shot and felt the horrible pain. Her eyes turned and she saw him grinning in the shadows, his gun still pointed out at them. He lowered his gun then, his laughter echoing louder and louder as she felt herself drop to the ground. He’d done it. He’d broken her and destroyed her family. Her beautiful little baby…. Sh’d never be able to see or hold them. Not even just once. He’d done it. The Joker had taken everything from her. Feeling her life slipping away from her she glanced into the worried eyes of her beloved Bruce to see the tears in his eyes. His hands were at her cheeks, pleading her to stay with him and telling her it was going to be ok. Then his hands moved to her stomach that was ruined and covered in blood and she could hear his sobs. She knew it was over. She knew their happily ever after had been stripped away from them. Despite the blood on his hands he still cupped to her cheeks, his tear filled eyes never leaving hers. He told her she was going to be alright. Everything was going to be just fine. He loved her. And before she could say anything he began tapping more and more on her cheeks, she felt herself being lifted or moved to some unknown place. His voice was louder, pleading to her to wake up, and his hands shook all over her gently. Then…
Her eyes opened with a startle and shiver. She instantly felt her stomach, praying there was no blood or gunshot wound and she saw him staring at her in utter concern. She realized she was in bed again. She looked up and him and the tears started to fall. “Oh god, Bruce… I’m sorry. I must have passed out after I threw up I… I had the worst dream. You, me, and Toby were walking along and we were so happy. Toby had cotton candy and was holding my one hand and you had your hand wrapped around me even if I was big as a whale and your fingers were on my belly. It was… It was so nice, you know? Like we were all connected and together. I had turned, Bruce, to kiss you and I didn’t see him. It was the Joker. Before I knew what hit me he’s… He’s already shot me right in the stomach. I knew it was all over…. Our dreams… Everything. Bruce, I….”
She sat up, shivering as she clung to him. “I’m scared. Promise me he won’t hurt any of us. Promise me this baby stays safer than anything. I won’t let him hurt my family… No more. I won’t lose this dream with you, Bruce…. I’m sorry.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around him, laying her head against his chest and just focusing on his heartbeat. As long as she heard that heartbeat she was fine. As long as he was alive she could keep her family alive. They’ve been through worse. They could do this. She knew they could because they loved each other with a power so strong death itself did not dare touch them. She breathed his scent in and looked up at him, the tears mostly gone from her eyes. “I agree…There is so much that needs to be done. Starting with the doctors appointments and I’ll go make those, ok? I love you. I’m sorry for scaring you. I know everything will be fine.”
She finished by smiling at him, caressing his cheeks in her hands and bringing their lips together. She smiled again, letting her hands linger on his cheeks a moment longer and her eyes linger on his. Then she got out of the bed to go call to make some doctor’s appointments for herself.
************************************************************
TIME JUMP! - 14 Weeks Later!
After starting to show just a little bit of a baby bump, Vicki was glad she had went shopping with Ed for some maternity clothes. She dressed in a comfortable pair of pants and a flowing black top. When she walked out of the bedroom, Bruce was there to meet her and extended his arm to help her down the stairs. She turned to face him, smiling. “Is this really necessary?”
She was then given a coat and he helped her out to the car that was being driven by none other than Alfred. She shook her head at Bruce as she got into the car next to him in the back. She let out a long drawn out breath when they started driving away. She let her fingers lace through Bruce’s as she looked out the window. Everything was passing by so quickly, including her pregnancy. She was so excited and so scared to learn what they were having and to make sure it was healthy. Above all other things what she wanted most was for their baby to be happy and healthy always. She couldn’t help the way she glanced down at her protruding abdomen and smiled just a little. She rested the hand she held of Bruce’s against it as they completed the rest of the drive.
When they got to the Gotham Medical Center she went in and signed her name in like usual. She signed her name in and was admitted into a room. She laid down in the darkened room with the monitor and equipment and shivered, looking over at Bruce who looked more interested in the equipment than anything. She wondered what he was thinking or if he was nervous too. Their eyes had just met and she was licking her lips to ask him a question before the tech came into the room. Bruce was at her side in an instant holding her hand. She smiled at how sweet that was considering this didn’t hurt at all really. The tech bared her stomach and put the warm gel down. Taking a deep breath before the wand even hit her belly, Vicki glanced up at Bruce and smiled, squeezing his hand.
As soon as the wand hit her stomach and began moving around the tech smiled and turned the TV towards them. She pointed up at the screen pointing out the head, the hands, the feet, and one more tell-tale sign. She turned to smile at the couple who were both transfixed on the screen showing them their baby. “Congratulations. It looks like you’re having a healthy baby boy.”
Vicki’s mouth dropped open slightly and her eyes went wide, filling with tears. As she forced herself to look away from the screen and back to Bruce, she squeezed his hand tightly in hers. She couldn’t help the soft spoken words that she said in between laughs and tears. “A boy, Bruce…. We’re having a boy…”
Suddenly the room was filled with an incredible noise. They turned to look at the tech and were informed that was their baby boy’s very healthy heart beat. She informed them he was doing wonderfully and so was Vicki. She cleaned off her stomach from the warm goo and went out to get photos printed for her along with her bill.
Sitting on the table, still staring at Bruce she started to cry and laugh at the same time she was so overjoyed. “A boy…. We’re having a boy…. ” She glanced up at him, grinning. “Does this mean we paint the room blue?”
Bruce held her hands in his, feeling the indescribable whirl of events hoist them into the air. He had never felt so light, so limitless, so powerful in his life. This was proof, this little glimpse of the impossible shred for them. This meant that hope was not a futile pursuit, that life was something much beyond the petty squabble of so many more trivial things. This was real. This was the truth. A shred of happiness shred to them as repayment for their sufferance.
His eyes scanned hers, catching a glimpse of the pale as her body stiffened and she moved away from him into the bathroom. He called after her, but she waved him off. Sitting he slumped into the bedpost, worry remained on his face. But perhaps as most of the time, now was more or less the relief of his fettered paranoia, and instead they were meant for something better, something lacking any intensity outside of joy. Yet still his eyes traced her, his heart-quickened when he knew she was going out, any place where he knew he wouldn’t be able to protect her.
Suddenly there was silence, a feeling of dread pervading his body as the realization began to sink in. He waited and listened to the quiet, hoping for a noise for an okay and a kind of rationale take over. When there was nothing he called out her name, and no response was made. Standing he moved with haste, expecting reassurance beyond the door when instead he saw before him her collapsed body. He knelt to her side, panic leaking into his bloodstream and pumping through him as he shook her shoulders. With no response, he grew anxious. Had she fallen and he didn’t hear? Hauling her up in his arms, he pulled her back into the bedroom, rushing her to the bed. He shook her further, repeating her name, each time versed with rising hysteria until at last her eyelids fluttered open and with them a flood of tears.
Words came from her lips, drenched in her tears and caught in her throat as she retold her dream to him. He blinked as her words sank into him and with it her tale changed with a darkness- no, a nightfall… smoke encircled them, trapping any remaining exit, a man with a gun standing in the distance, a chuckle of one life destroying the another, only lying before him were not the bodies of his parents but of Vicki and their child. Their blood surrounding her paling corpse, and he was no longer a boy but a man. His legs buckled beneath him as he cupped her limp body in his arms, rocking her as his arms wrapped tightly around that shell. And again the world had grown unfathomably cruel, a world which took innocent lives, a world which only granted a glimpse of love before removing it to spite its inhabitance. A cry emitted from his mouth, one of furious mourning which ached against his tearing vocal chords, one that damned the world, one that knew sorrow would be his only constant companion. And he sat there, the helpless child trapped in a man’s body, unable to preserve the lives of the two he loved most.
Bruce then kept her eyes as she laid on his bed, incapable of shaking the visual from his mind, but he knew that now was not the time for his grievances, he had to reassure her. But how could he tell her that everything would be alright, that he would be able to protect her even at a time when he supposed they were safe, how could he assure her that their child would remain unscathed as he carried on his nightly tirade?
…It wasn’t fair, and it was a lie. He couldn’t carry on this double life, for he was only one person. He was born Bruce Wayne yes, but he wasn’t about to die, Batman.
“I promise.” He said, the word falling out of his mouth almost painful to say but it was out nonetheless as a pledge to do all that was in his power to protect their child… their baby. He held her now, his arms wrapped in a gentle embrace feeling her soften and air loosen. That embrace worked as a cocoon, if only momentarily, keeping them from harm. Within that promise, that vow made both in the physical and in his mind grew something of a truth - not mustered, nor struggled but a truth of its own creation.
She spoke again, this time with hope which he suspected was a product of their shared moment. And as she did, a smile played upon his lips which curved into a shapely grin. “Oh yes, of course… then shopping, classes, books, tapes, food, and eventually diapers - all things, I’m greatly looking forward too.” Bruce smirked as his face met hers in a kiss to seal that moment which reigned now serenely over their lives.
—-*
Time Jump - 14 Weeks Later
—-*
Bruce stood patiently by the staircase, his back facing the balcony and his arms crossed ever so stoically across his chest. Though today was not so much a day for a stoic disposition as it was a day of wait, or rather 14 weeks of waiting. He hadn’t disputed within himself or out loud with either gender he preferred. In actuality it didn’t matter so much, as the child had been predisposed to be loved no matter its bearings since the day of its realization.
A smile stretched on his lips, as she entered the hallway from the bedroom. He held out his arm and as he did she grinned and met him with opposition. He raised an eyebrow tilting his head ever so softly. “It is imperative.” He noted a-matter-of-factly as he lead her down the staircase and into the lower level. He pulled her coat over her shoulders and walked her out into the drive where Alfred was parked. And then they were off. It was about a 30 minute drive to the Medical Center, all the while Vicki held tight to Bruce’s hand and he could think of nothing less than the utter excitement of the situation, but remained outwardly calm.
When they arrived, Vicki signed in and he followed her through the hallways and into the Ultra-Sound room, of which he stepped in and pulled a stool up to where she laid on an incline. Her hand gripped his as they listened to the doctor go over various characteristics resting upon the final with a smile.
His breath was hitched for a moment, his eyes refusing to blink as a million thoughts ran through his head, all ending with ‘yes’ - a great resounding, ‘yes’. Through that ultrasound he saw their future together with their beautiful boy; playing blithely in a sand box, sharing in the anxiety of the transition between pre-school and elementary, making friends… having a childhood - a normal childhood. It was his dream and now it was happening. It was overwhelmingly radiant, he could hardly take this moment in.
His eyes met Vicki’s, and he found that he too was crying. Bruce nodded, laughter echoing between them. “Yes, blue… that’s perfect.”
A boy…
It’s a distressing truth, but for those who I have had threads with (within BBRP), and those who have shared the hard work we’ve mustered into making this something that went beyond a group; I want you to know that these months have been some of the best months in my life and that today is a very sorry day.
You will always remain my family.
I’m sorry. That might have been a tad ambiguous. Let me state that, yes I will be joining the new group and that I will only be indie until it is finished. And can I commend everyone on their maturity during this situation? I’m very proud to know and love each and every one of you.
