This is a really cute story that I was prompted by my friend. I hope you like it!
Richard Grayson woke to the sound of shrieking. He lifted his head for a second, then let it drop back down again with a groan. It was hard to find any moments of peace in his house. Another scream prompted him to sit up and swing his legs over the edge of the couch he had been sleeping on.
He looked around the office, blinking sleepily as he tried to gather his bearing. The papers he had been working on before he dozed off were laying discarded next to him. Richard stood up and stretched before walking over to the door and yanking it open.
Just as he stepped out onto the upper landing, he had to duck and dodge a giant pillow before it smacked him in the face.
"Calm down!" He shouted at two little girls as they ran past, more pillows in their hands.
Richard leaned over the railing and looked down. His wife was standing in the center of the hallway, hand over her mouth.
"Rachel?"
She only made a strangled sound in reply. Richard hurried down the stairs towards her. When he finally stood in front of her, he put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head and made another noise in the back of her throat. Richard followed her gaze into the kitchen, which was a disaster.
Flour, broken eggs, and other cooking ingredients were strewn across the counters and floor among the pans, bowls, and spoons. It was hard to believe this same room had been pristine only a few hours ago.
"Uh," Richard looked back at his wife, who was two seconds away from a heart attack. "Why don't you go on up to the bedroom and take a nap. I'll clean this mess up and deal with all the kids."
Rachel didn't move, her eyes locked on the kitchen. On any other normal day she wouldn't have cared, probably would have just rolled her eyes and cleaned it. However, in her current state anything, no matter what it meant to her, would send her to pieces if it was ruined.
Richard curled his fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Rachel." He spoke in a commanding voice. "Go and rest. Now."
She opened her mouth to argue but stopped when he put his hand on her huge stomach. "Fine." She said quietly. "Just call me for dinner, alright."
Richard smiled and nodded as she made her way upstairs.
"Some assistance sir?" a British voice prompted next to him.
Richard turned and smiled gratefully at Alfred. "That would be wonderful."
Alfred gave one of his trademark secretive smiles. "Anytime sure. How about I start on the kitchen and you clean up the dirty children?"
Richard nodded and walked into the kitchen, grabbing the two flour covered kids before hauling them upstairs and dumping them in a bath. When they were dried and dressed in clean clothes, Richard let them go to wreck havoc upon the rest of the house. He then walked back downstairs to help Alfred finish up the kitchen.
When they were done, Richard looked around and smiled. You'd have no idea that only an hour ago, the room looked like a flour-winter wonderland. He looked at the time. 7:00 pm.
"Dinner, Master Dick?" Alfred inquired.
Richard thought for a minute, then picked up the kitchen phone. "How do you feel about takeout?"
The dinner table was filled with nine people as they transferred food from the plastic containers to their plates to their mouths. They had insisted that Alfred sit with them. Though he had refused at first, when the kids had pouted for him to stay, he gave in.
"Dad!"
"Daddy!"
Daaaaaad!"
Richard sighed and grinned as he listened to his children all relay their days to him and he patiently listened.
10 and year-old Mary Grayson II looked up at her father with wide blue eyes as she stuffed sushi into her mouth. Her inky black hair was elegantly dutch-braided around her head.
Next to her sat James. Black hair in need of a trim, he sat back, playing with his food. The eight and a half year-old looked around with blue-purple rimed eyes before looking back down at his plate. He would gaze outside every few minutes with longing.
The twins-Emma and Emily- sat in the same chair in matching pink princess outfits. They giggled and continued to switch the foods in their plates about ten times until they ended up with the same food before they started to eat. They looked exactly alike- wavy purple-black hair, pale-ish skin- except for their eyes. Emma had bright violet eyes while Emily's were sapphire blue. The six year-olds were always cute and perky.
On the other side of the table, five year-old Alfred was sucking up noodles as hard as he could; grinning each time they smacked his rosy cheeks. He was a cute young child, still trying to outgrow his cherub faze. Black hair curly, he had peculiar blue-grey eyes and a curiosity that was never satisfied. He was sitting next to the older Alfred, who would frown and wipe the child's face every few minutes.
The last child was little Arella. At two years she was adorable. Banged, dark purple hair was a hassle to hide from the press with lavender eyes. Her chubby cheeks added to the over all cuteness. Especially when she would cock her head to the side and give you a heart-stopping smile. She sat in the high chair as her mother attempted to feed her some soft boiled carrots.
"One more bite. Come on." Rachel tried to get her open her mouth.
"Uh uh." Arella shook her head and stubbornly refused to open her mouth.
Rachel sighed and put down the spoon to take another sip of tea. She was feeling very stressed lately, Richard noticed. Finishing his plate, he stood and took his plate to the kitchen; stopping to pick up Arella on the way. When his dropped his plate into the sink, he looked at the little girl in his arms. "You need to eat and do everything your mother tells you. Understand? Mommy is having a ruff time right now. You little brother or sister is giving her grief. Will you do what she asks?"
Arella pouted slightly but nodded. Richard gave her a smile and kissed the top of her head. He carried her back to her high chair, where she made a big show of finishing her bowl.
"Dad?" Richard faced James who was looking at him with big eyes. "I finished my food. Can I go outside now?"
Richard noticed that the plate was still half full but nodded.
"Thanks dad!" James grinned and ran from the table.
The kids finished their food, one by one until just Richard, Alfred, Rachel, and a bunch of plates remained. Alfred stood, carefully gathered the plates in his arms, and walked into the kitchen to clean them. Rachel looked at Richard with tired eyes. "Ready?"
Time to get the kids ready for bed.
Richard grimaced and nodded. "Ready."
"No!" Alfred wailed as Richard tried to dress him in his pajamas and tried to run away. Richard just picked him up and placed him back in front of him. "I don't want to sleep!"
Richard gritted his teeth and yanked the shirt over Alfred's head, finally managing to get his head out of the hole. Just as Alfred was set, there was a loud pop, the sound of shattering glass, and screaming.
Running out into the hallway, he stopped outside the kid's bathroom. The glass from the mirror was laying all over the floor in sharp, jagged pieces. In the center of the room was Mary and James, protected only by the shield that Mary had apparently thrown up around them at the last second.
"What the hell happened here?"
He carefully stepped over the glass and carried his son and daughter into the hallway after she put shield down.
"Mary did it!" James burst, pointing a finger at his older sibling.
"I didn't mean to!" Tears formed in her eyes. "I was just arguing with James a-and the mirror b-broke." The tears were now coming fast down her face.
Richard sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It's fine. Just be more careful, alright?"
Mary nodded while James scowled, upset she hadn't been punished.
"We just need to clean this up before your mothers sees."
"She already did." Rachel growled behind them. She looked beyond furious. Her face was beet red and there was a tick in her left eye. "You destroyed the bathroom! I told you to have more control! You're ground for a week."
Mary's chin trembled while James grinned wickedly, which Rachel noticed.
"Don't look so smug. You're grounded too."
James' mouth dropped opened but he didn't bother trying to change her mind.
Rachel's eyes narrowed at Richard, daring him to contradict her. After a moment, she spun around, picked up Arella, and walked into the nursery to get finish getting her ready.
Richard stood there for a moment before ushering the kids to their rooms, stopping to tuck in Ella, Emma, and Alfred into their beds since Mary and James didn't like him to anymore.
When everyone was settled into their own rooms, Richard said goodnight to the relaxing Alfred and walked up to his own bedroom.
Rachel was sitting in bed, her bedside lamp on and a book in her hands.
"You were kinda harsh, don't you think?" Richard asked as he opened his closet and pulled on his pajamas. Rachel sighed and put down her book after marking her page.
"Think about it Richard. Even though she's only one-fourth demon, she still has strong powers but little control. When I was her age I was locked up. She's out and about with those powers and she could hurt someone. If she lost control after just an argument, imagine how easily she could hurt someone. And I know it would hurt her far more than getting grounded." Rachel smiled faintly. "I love them. All of them. I don't mean to be mean, I just want them to be careful. And also the baby letting me get no sleep may also be a small part of it."
Richard chuckled and got into bed next to her. He kissed Rachel, long and sweet until she pulled away, smirking. "Goodnight."
"Night."
Rachel turned off her light then settled under the covers with her body pillow. She had thankfully turned her back towards Richard so he could still cuddle her. He rested his chin above her head and curled his arms around her, one hand gently stroking her belly were the baby was.
"Love you." He said.
He could almost see her smiling sleepily. "Love you too."
Yay. Done. Okay, well review so I can know if I should continue or not. And yes, they have six kids and another on the way. I was prompted.