Selina's words echoed in Bruce's mind.

"We're going to be parents!"

Bruce wasn't scared of the prospect of being a father. In fact, since having Dick, Jason, and Tim in his life, Bruce found himself wanting a child more and more but Bruce didn't have much of an example to take any experience from. While Bruce never questioned his parent's love, Thomas and Martha Wayne were usually caught up in their work and without Alfred, Bruce would have grown up with little to no social experience. Bruce wanted his family to grow up in a world where they could live without fear of getting robbed on the streets, but Bruce wasn't naïve. The world was a sinister place and Gotham was almost the epicentre of the whole thing. Gotham just about lost to Metropolis in the number of street crimes per annum, and that had scared a lot of people. Even though he tried, Gordon was forced to call in the Batman to satiate the public. Bruce didn't want to, he wanted to stay at home with Selina. He wanted to lie down on the couch, eat popcorn and give Selina feet massages even though she didn't need them. Bruce didn't know what Selina was going through, but he wanted to show her that he'd be beside her the whole time, just like he promised. Selina urged him to go and keep the city safe. To keep order and give their child, their 'Helena' a place to grow up in and make her mark on. Bruce wanted all the interruptions to stop. He needed to do something, permanent…

Bruce found himself wrapped up underneath the bed sheets. The rain was pummelling against the window panes like always in Gotham and Selina was asleep beside him. The fire cackled in the fireplace and by all accounts, the room would be perfectly comfortable to sleep in. An insomniac's super cure. But Bruce couldn't sleep. This wasn't the first time. Selina was starting to pick up on the signs that Bruce wasn't sleeping well and would ask him what was wrong. Bruce hated it, but his pride wouldn't allow him to tell her his fears and he'd usually try and change the subject with a kiss. Selina knew there was something up, but also knowing Bruce, it was hard for him to open up. Selina didn't push it though because she wasn't the best when it came to open honesty either and Bruce never forced her. When Alfred told them that they were perfect for each other, he spoke from the heart as well as cold hard fact.

Looking over at Selina, Bruce smiled. Selina was always unnaturally beautiful, and all the days Bruce spent getting tutored in English and poetry couldn't help him find the words needed to describe Selina Kyle. Flexible, poised, strong, graceful. Deadly, tactful, vengeful, smart. Brave, curious, genius, Selina… Bruce had no idea when his motivation changed, but at one point it all changed from 'protecting Gotham for the innocents' to 'protecting Gotham for Selina'. As strong as Bruce was, Selina had been there with him and had helped him, nursed him, fought with and against him, and somewhere along the line they fell in love.

Last Christmas, like always Alfred had the day off and Bruce went to his parent's graves. For quite a while on Christmas, Bruce would visit their graves, visit the alley where they were killed and would sit at home in the dark and drink away the pain. It was heart-breaking for Alfred to see Bruce passed out at home when he'd arrive the following morning, but every year Bruce would insist he take the day off. One year, Alfred had found blood on Bruce's knuckles and it turned out that Bruce Wayne had been in the paper, congratulated on beating up six drug dealers and putting them in prison. But this year, it was different. Selina went along with Bruce. They visited Thomas and Martha, and to Selina's amusement, the usually serious Bruce was 'introducing' her. They had three bushels of black roses and laid one on each grave before moving on to Selina's mother. Nothing was said there, but there wasn't any need to. Selina laid the roses down and kissed Bruce lightly on the cheek before burying her face under her scarves. They never visited Crime Alley but rather returned home, put on some cheesy Christmas sweaters over their pyjamas and Bruce cooked a turkey. The wings were burned to a crisp, and the crown was bland, but they had fun together. They cuddled together on the couch and watched 'The Christmas Carol'. When Alfred returned the following morning, the fear didn't come from Bruce's drinking but rather from the mess that he had left in the wake of his cooking. Leaving them to rest, Alfred began to clean. A short time later, Bruce came into the kitchen with Selina over his shoulder, claiming to be the winner of some snowball fight. While Selina was trying her best to get down, she broke down in laughter from Bruce's pantomime more than once. Alfred smiled after they left, thinking that it was high time that Bruce began to be like himself again.

Selina had brought him back from the cusp of a self-destructive streak and Bruce would be forever grateful to her. Bruce feared that there wasn't anything he could ever do for her that would repay that. Now with the baby on the way, Bruce was terrified. Deciding that there was only one thing he could do, he gently raised the covers and slipped out of bed. Throwing on a robe and slippers, Bruce gently pressed a kiss to Selina's forehead and slipped out of the room. Taking the elevator down to the Batcave, Bruce pulled the robe tighter around himself. The Batcave always tended to be that much colder than everywhere else. The metal cage rattled when it reached the bottom and Bruce stood out.

"Does Selina know you're sneaking down here so late at night?"

"I couldn't sleep Alfred. I don't want her stressing too much, especially with the baby."

"You do know that by not telling her, you could also be causing her to stress. I haven't told her just how often you come down here at night, but if I have to I will start giving you sleeping remedies."

There was a serious tone to Alfred's words that Bruce was familiar with.

"I know that you are afraid of becoming a father, it'd be unnatural if you didn't, but you should explain this to Selina."

"I…I can't!"

"And why not?! Did you know that your father did the same thing?! Your mother was afraid that he was cheating on her and at one point we almost lost you! Even after your father explained why he would leave in the middle of the night; your mother was still distrustful of your father. I don't know if the rift between them ever really fully healed."

"Why are you telling me this, Alfred?"

"So, you'll do the right thing and go back to bed and be with the person who loves you! I'm sorry for being rather forward Master Bruce, but I've almost seen this family tear itself apart once. I will not see it a second time."

"Just let me send it, will you? To whom am I contacting?"

"Dick and Tim. Ask them to meet me here at the Manor as soon as they can. It's urgent."

"Right away, Master Bruce. Now may I suggest a nightcap? It's always helped me when I have trouble sleeping…"

"Alfred? Right now, I think I'd need something a hell of a lot stronger…"

And with that, Bruce turned on his heel and headed back up the elevator shaft towards the manor. Sticking his head inside their room, Bruce noticed that Selina wasn't in the bed. Craning his head further, Bruce spotted the bathroom door open. Placing the small cup of water, he had down on the dresser, Bruce walked closer and closer towards the bathroom where he could hear Selina heaving into the toilet bowl. Realisation hit him like a truck and Bruce rushed into the bathroom, planting himself beside Selina. For a brief minute, Selina looks up at Bruce before her stomach turns again and her attention is pulled back towards the obsidian toilet bowl. Bruce places his hand on Selina's shoulder, trying to ease her pain but she feels very tense under his hand. After a twenty-minute session of dry heaving and coughing, Selina stood up and brushed herself off. Without a word, Selina walked past Bruce back into the bedroom. Despite having a foot of height on her, Selina knew how to make Bruce feel small and that feeling was in full force.

"Where were you Bruce?"

"What do you mean? I was getting a glass of water…"

Selina leaned on her hip and squinted her eyes at Bruce.

"Why did it take you almost an hour to grab a glass of water… especially when we have a pitcher of water in our room!"

Bruce then spotted the pitcher on the dresser just over Selina's shoulder.

"I…"

Selina gave out a long breath.

"I don't know what's going on in that big brain of yours Bruce, and quite frankly I don't know why you won't tell me, but I trust you enough not to force the answers out of you. Now either you sort out your problems yourself, let me help you, or let me know that there isn't going to be a real future to this relationship. I do not want to bring a child into a world where its parents aren't together or are fighting over custody. We've both had shitty childhoods, so we know how much it hurts."

"What are you saying Selina?"

"I love you Bruce and I want to have a family with you, but if you think you drag me through the mud, you'll find out that this kitty has real sharp claws. As well as that I'm tired and I've just thrown up everything I've eaten today, so I am a little on edge. Look, neither of us are good with the whole 'heart on our sleeve' thing, but we're the only ones who can help each other. So, help me… please?"

"I will… I'm sorry Selina. Are you feeling alright? Or would you like something to eat?"

"It's ok, but you gotta start talking to me Bruce. Last thing I checked I am Mrs. Bruce Wayne… so if you can't talk to me than who? It's not like I'm gonna throw you out on your ass…"

"Yeah, I know…"

"To make it up to me, you are going making me some chocolate chip pancakes… with marshmallows and cherries… maybe some blueberries and fried chicken…"

"You do know its 2am?"

"You do know you put this thing in me… I don't decide what cravings I get."

"Touché"

And that's how Alfred found both Selina and Bruce asleep against the marble island in the kitchen. Bruce was draped over Selina's shoulder almost like a blanket and Alfred was happy that Bruce listened to his advice.