First off I'd like to say that I don't own the characters of Nightwing/Richard Grayson or Batman/Bruce Wayne. Most other characters in this fanfiction are of my own creation and I would appreciate that they be left alone. This story is mostly and unedited first draft so please excuse the typos and whatnot, I'll get around to fixing them eventually. Enjoy!
A woman sat in the small seat of an airplane, her blue eyes staring out the window. She would have bought a first class ticket, in order to better suit her swollen stomach, but she barely had enough to pay for even the coach ticket. As she looked out the window at the clouds below the belly of the plane a strand of her auburn hair fell into her face. She lazily blew at it and then sighed as she put her cheek in the palm of her hand.
She should have known this would happen. Her father had warned her for getting involved with a man she had just met at a party, but he had seemed so nice. Now she was disowned and pregnant. The man she had fallen for had been dashing in his tuxedo at the Christmas party her father was invited to every year by his friend Bruce Wayne.
Mouth curling into a dreamy smile, she remembered when she first laid eyes on the gentleman.
i "Excuse me Melody; I have to go say hello to Mr. Wayne," Melody's father said and left her side for the first time that night. She always hated these parties. Everyone there was always far older than her and boring. Her father was normally good about staying by her side so as not to make her feel so alone but this time Mr. Wayne couldn't get away from his group of admirers.
The golden light filled the room and lit the champagne glasses, making it look as if everyone carried a small candle. Melody was busy staring into her own sparkling drink when she saw him through the glass as a bubble floated daintily up to the top. His hair was slicked back and his blue eyes were entrancing as the dim lighting cast shadows across them.
Letting her hand down so she could see him better she was shocked to discover he had disappeared into the immense crowd. She turned around and stood even more on her tip toes than she already was in her high heeled shoes. All she could see was a sea of multi-colored heads bobbing about slowly. It was hard to see anyone's features. She fell back onto her heels and took a sip of her champagne as she turned and nearly spilled her drink against the white-shirted chest of a man.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. Please excuse…me." Looking up she saw the mysterious blue eyes up close. There he was, standing right in front of her, smiling handsomely. Her heart lurched at that smile and her ankles began to shake as if they were jelly. What power did this man hold over her?
"No, excuse me," he said, his voice deep and alluring. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you." He continued to smile as he looked down at her, for all she stood only five feet and two inches. "I don't believe we've met before. My name is Richard Grayson. Most call me Dick, though," he held out his hand and Melody took it. Her breath caught in her throat at the warmth.
"N-nice to meet you," she stuttered. "My name is Melody Bardon."
"Ah so you're the daughter I've heard so much about."
"My father talks about me?" She was beginning to feel comfortable around him now; his charming features made her feel safe.
"Quite a bit, actually. Nothing but good things, I assure you." He lifted his glass momentarily as if to toast her.
"You must be trying to flatter me," she said with a blush. "I do nothing but cause my father trouble."
"Surely a beautiful woman like you couldn't be trouble," he laughed and Melody's heart skipped a beat.
"I'm glad for the dim light in here or else you might see how red my face is," she laughed in reply.
It wasn't long before the two of them were walking through the crowd, getting to know each other. They even took a few moments to stop and talk to Richard's friend, Mr. Wayne. By the end of the night Melody was exhausted and had drank a little too much champagne. She had taken to sitting at her table for the last hour and Dick graciously offered to keep her company.
When it was time to go home Melody didn't want to leave. Her father insisted she go home and go to bed immediately and so ordered her to the car.
On the ride home Melody sat, staring out the window at the passing buildings, humming a song that had played at the party.
"I don't want you to see that boy again," her father said suddenly.
"What?" Suddenly it was as if her mind wasn't muddled by the amount of drinks she had.
"Boy's like him are bad news. They may seem nice and gentlemanly at first but they don't want anything to do with a steady relationship. I should know, I was one of them when I was young."
"Not everyone is like you, daddy," she yawned in reply. "Richard is the sweetest man I have ever met. Not like all those other losers."
"I've met Mr. Grayson on many occasions and even though he may seem like a good man I can tell he is no good. He only wants one thing from you."
"Daddy!" Melody cried. "You're overreacting. I'm old enough now, anyways, to see who I like and I like Richard."
"If I find out you are seeing that boy I'll disown you!" Now her father was serious, but Melody really liked the guy. She would just have to keep her seeing him a secret. /i
Things had gone well enough at first. Her father was clueless to the meetings but eventually word got to Richard that she would be disowned if she had anything to do with him and he forced a break-up. By then she had already found out she was pregnant and was trying to figure out the best way in which to tell him. Unfortunately her father found the pregnancy test in her room and after a long argument she was ordered to leave the house and never come back.
All the money her father had saved for her had been transferred from her accounts to his own so she couldn't get even a cent. As soon as she had found out her father refused her money she went out and bought the nearest news paper and searched the Help Wanted ads.
It had taken several months to accumulate enough money to go overseas to live with her mother. She hadn't talked to her mother in years and was nervous about suddenly showing up at her door. She hoped it would be all right.
The plane jolted and Melody was shook from her thoughts. The light out the window was beginning to grow dark and a few of the passengers had already gone to sleep. Sleeping sounded like a good idea, the baby took much of her energy and she hadn't gotten nearly as much food as she had wanted after being kicked out of her father's house. She had counted on Richard to take her in but when she arrived at his house he was indifferent and told her there was no possible way he could let her live there. Even though he apologized for turning her away Melody still felt as if he didn't care. She decided she wouldn't tell him about his child. The baby wouldn't know what Richard was really like. She would make up wonderful stories about the baby's father so that it seemed like she was the one who had turned him away.
"Miss?" Melody turned to see the flight attendant standing next to her, smiling warmly. "Would you like something to snack on?"
"That would be very nice, thank you," Melody said with a nod and watched the attendant walk to the back and then return.
"I'm not supposed to give you this but you look like you need it." The woman handed over a small tin container and Melody opened it. Inside were a few bags of peanuts, pretzels, and a couple of cookies.
"Thank you so much," Melody said, tears in her eyes. "I won't let anyone know." The attendant smiled and nodded then walked off to help another passenger who had called for her.
Hours later the plane landed and Melody was woken up by the kind flight attendant. The woman helped her off the plane and said goodbye. Now Melody was in a new country and she had to find her way to her mother's house.
With much frustration and confusion she eventually stood on the doorstep to the house her mother inhabited. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. After a second calming breath she reached out a shaking hand and rang the doorbell. When it opened a frazzled looking woman with mousy brown hair stood there.
"Yes?" she asked as she looked Melody up and down.
"Is Shandra Bardon home?" she asked, remembering her mother hadn't gone back to her maiden name.
"And who're you?" the maid asked.
"I'm her daughter, Melody Bardon."
The woman then looked Melody up and down once more and then sighed. "Didn't you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"Miss Bardon," the woman hesitated, "I called a few months ago to tell you that Ms. Bardon died. Didn't your father tell you?"
Melody's heart stopped. Her mother, dead? "H-how did it happen?"
"The lady of the house was diagnosed with bone cancer. She was told she had a few months but she didn't make it past a few weeks. "
"Why didn't she call or write me?"
"She did! Many times. Your father said you weren't there or you never responded to the letters."
Melody collapsed to the ground, hands over her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father would come to ruin for this, she vowed. The maid helped her up and into the house.
"It will be alright, miss," she said as she sat Melody on a sofa. "May I ask what you're doing here so suddenly?"
With something else to think about Melody's tears began to subside.
"I-I was k-kicked out of m-my house," she explained through shuddering breaths.
"Whatever for?" the older woman placed an arm around Melody's shoulders.
"My father forbade me to see this certain man. I liked the man too much and I'm old enough to choose who I do and don't like. I saw the guy in private but when he heard that I'd be disowned if I saw him he broke it off." She took a deep breath. "By then I had been pregnant for a month. I was trying to find the right way to tell him which is why I didn't tell him as soon as I found out. But the night he broke up with me my father found the pregnancy test in my room and threw me out. She rubbed her large belly with a gentle smile. "I was cut off from everything. I found a job so I could save up money and come here. I figured my mom would take me in. I don't have much money left." She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. "Only enough for one meal, if it's small." Tears came to her eyes again.
"Don't worry, miss. I have an idea." The lady rubbed the girl's shoulders. "The house is going to be sold and I have found another job with another family. They pay well and are very nice. I'm sure I could get you a job."
"Really?" Melody asked and the woman nodded, smiling warmly. "If so, then I'll do it! I want my baby to live."
Before long the house and all its contents were sold and Melody worked diligently as a nanny for her employer's children. The maid, Emma, cleaned and sometimes cooked.
Within another month the baby was on its way and Melody had been assigned to the kitchen to help the chef prepare meals by cutting the meat and vegetables.
With this new placement she learned to make many delicious meals. It soon became her favorite thing to do.
The day the baby was born the entire household took the day off but the chef still took the time to create a feast for everyone. After she had the baby, Melody was brought home for private care so she could also enjoy the wonderful meal.
With everyone gathered around the table, the baby in Melody's arms, the other employees and the family wanted to know what the baby girl was going to be named.
"I've always liked the name Bryce, even if it is normally a boy's name," she answered as little Bryce yawned.
"Is she going to have her father's last name?" the wife of Melody's employer asked.
"No," she answered solemnly. "She'll take on my name." Melody looked at the baby and smiled contentedly. "Bryce Bardon."