Find Her, Keep Her
Chapter Four: Hero
*Previously*
Bruce smiled, lifting the baby from the changing table. Alfred handed over the bottle as he sat in the rocking chair. Wordlessly, he began to feed his new daughter, not noticing Alfred diming the lights and leaving the two to bond alone, a rare night that all of the Wayne's were sleeping under one roof.
The night did not go well after Giselle fell asleep. Once the baby had actually fallen asleep, and Bruce realized he fell asleep holding her, he placed his into her new crib, turned on the night light and lullaby music, and went to his own bed to get some sleep. Maybe an hour later, the baby monitor in his room went off, signaling that Giselle was crying.
Bruce leapt from bed quickly, rushing to the nursery that was next door. Giselle just needed a diaper change; a simple enough problem with an even simpler solution. The billionaire father made quick work changing the brown-eyed baby and putting her back into her crib. She found interest in the turtle by her pillow, and snuggled the toy tightly as she fell asleep once more.
At around midnight, the baby was crying again. Bruce was pacing around the nursery, patting the baby's back and he slightly bounced her. He thought that Giselle needed another diaper change, but no. She also didn't want another bottle and he couldn't get her to settle down enough to play with any of her new toys.
"Please Giselle." Bruce begged. "Please settle down. You'll wake the whole house up."
Almost instantaneously, the door opened all the way and Dick walked in. "Too late. Damian and Stephanie came in not too long ago, and kicked me out of bed. I've been in Damian's bed. Also, I think if Giselle keeps crying, Jason is going to throw one of his 'temper tantrums'."
With tired eyes, Bruce looked over to his eldest son. "Dick, I'm at a loss here. I've done everything!"
Robin walked over, reaching out for the brown-haired baby. "Let me try Bruce."
Bruce handed him over with a tired sigh, watching Dick take the baby, grab a colorful picture book, and take a seat on the rocking chair. "Okay Giselle, let's read 'Good Night Moon' and let Bruce get back to sleep, huh?"
As Dick began reading the child's book while slowly rocking in the chair, his new baby sister slowly calmed down and leaned against his chest. Bruce smiled, leaving the oldest and youngest children to comfort each other.
The morning came and went quickly as the Wayne household was busy preparing for their many guests arriving in the afternoon. Dick was in charge of breakfast, Tim and Damian were told to help clean up dishes, Jason and Bruce were setting up tables and chairs outside while Stephanie was picking out coordinating outfits for the family. Most likely, it was going to be navy with a pastel color accent.
Alfred was busy giving Giselle her first bath at Wayne manor and she was loving every moment of it. The butler gave Giselle plenty of toys to play with in the tub, and she loved squeaking the rubber ducky. He was laughing at the smiling girl, watching her enjoy herself after her stressful night.
"Alright Miss Giselle, let's get you ready for a quick nap while everyone else gets ready for this afternoon." He announced, pulling the plug from the tub and lifting the baby from the tub. She had a grin on her face as she was wrapped in her polka-dot towel and carried into her nursery. After putting on her diaper and dressing her in a onesie, he gave her a bottle and set her into her crib. "Pleasant dreams Miss Giselle."
The baby looked over at the man leaving the room, "Night night!"
)()()()(
Stephanie decided that the boys were going to wear navy pants, either it be shorts or long pants, with a pastel yellow shirt while she and Giselle would wear yellow dresses with navy hair bows.
Bruce was talking with Clark Kent, Diana Prince, Barry Allen, Arthur Curry, John Jones, Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance. Most of the women present were astounded by Bruce's choice on taking in another child, let alone a baby. He had clipped the baby monitor to his hip, waiting for Giselle to wake up from her nap. Half of his mind was on the conversation while the other was on Giselle. He knew that not everyone was on board with him taking Giselle in, but he knew that once they got to know her, they would love her just like he does.
Dick, Jason, Tim, Wally, Kaldur'ahm, and Roy were tossing around a football while Stephanie and Jason were playing a new video game. "So," Wally began, "what's it like to have a baby around?"
Tim shrugged, catching the ball, "I dunno. She got her yesterday and all she's done is eat and sleep."
"And cry." Jason said, watching Kaldur catch the ball and toss it over to Dick. "Did none of you hear it?"
Dick held back a yawn, "Oh I heard it alright." He threw the ball over to Roy, "but it was her first night here. I don't remember your first night going so smoothly either Jay."
That kept him quiet, and the conversation took a different course as they played catch with the football. After about ten more tosses around, Stephanie ran over dragging Damian along with her. "Come on guys! Giselle just got up!"
Tim rolled his eyes, watching all the older boys drop what they were playing to go see the little baby. Bruce was walking out the back door, holding the brown-haired baby in a yellow dress. Giselle was cuddled up to her new father, burying her head into his shoulder and clutching the rabbit tightly. Mera and Iris, the wives of Arthur and Barry respectively, both got up from their spots at a table to join their husbands where they were watching Mr. Wayne come to the group that was forming. "Everyone, this is Giselle Martha Hart-Wayne."
Bruce barely had time to react as Giselle was taken from his arms by Diana. "Oh Bruce, she is beautiful!"
Diana, Dinah, Mera, and Iris all gathered around the baby who was forced out of her comfort zone, but taking it very well. Giselle was trying to pull Dinah's hair while also showing her rabbit to all of the smiling ladies. "Who are you kidding Diana!?" Iris said, grabbing the baby's hand carefully, "She's absolutely adorable!"
"Definitely a cutie pie!" Dinah smiled, gently getting the baby to let go of her hair.
Giselle giggled, showing off her pearly whites, "Cute!"
While the women were passing around the baby, the men watched with interest. "Thanks Bruce." Barry sighed, sipping at his can of soda, "Now Iris is gonna push even more for a kid right now."
"Indeed." Arthur nodded, "Mera has been pray to the Gods for the gift of a child, but now it shall never end."
With a small smile, Bruce felt pride swell up in his chest as it seemed like everyone was enjoying the newest addition, and the brown-eyed baby was enjoying everyone too. Oliver nudged Bruce, rousing him from his thoughts, "Did you hear me Wayne? How are the others handling the latest addition?"
He shrugged, "As well as I imagined. Dick and Stephanie have both stepped up and offered helping hands. Tim and Damian are still warming up to her being around while Jason wants nothing to do with her."
"And why is that?" John asked, genuinely curious.
Again, Bruce shrugged. "I honestly have no clue. He won't say anything to me or Alfred and none of the others mentioned anything to either of us."
Before anyone could offer any insight, Stephanie and the other children ran up to Clark. She jumped onto his back, clinging onto his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist. "Uncle Clark! Can you take our picture?! I made sure we all matched for a reason!"
Barry and Arthur laughed at the blonde little girl who was clinging onto the Son of Krypton like a monkey. "Sure thing kiddo! If you can manage to rescue your little sisters from the clutches of the Queen of Atlantis."
"I'm always up for a challenge!" With that, she jumped down and grabbed Damian's hand.
As the duo walked off, Bruce turned to the other boys. "Well boys, let's get situated while Stephanie attempts to grab Giselle."
Bruce led Dick, Jason, and Tim over to where Alfred wanted the picture to be taken, and how it was to be taken. At a part of the garden, there was a large stone bench with a large rose bush behind it. The billionaire father motioned for Alfred to join them as the two friends sat on the bench with the older boys standing behind them. Damian joined them, sitting on Alfred's right while Stephanie handed Giselle to Bruce and took her seat to Bruce's left.
"What a handsome looking family!" Mera commented. "Perhaps we should ask Mr. Kent to take our photograph Arthur?"
Clark got his camera, taking his spot in front of the family. "Of course, your Highness, it would be an honor." He lifted the heavy camera up to his eye, setting the focus. "Now, everyone smile!"
)()()()(
"It's really a good picture." Bruce mused, watching Clark flip through all of the pictures he took that afternoon. After the family picture, he asked for some of the children; as a group and by themselves. When the sun began to set, the party moved into the large family room and a movie was put on TV while popcorn popped in the kitchen. Bruce and Clark were sitting at the table discussing what to put into the article about Giselle and which photos were appropriate to use.
The writer nodded, "Lois let me borrow her new camera equipment. It also helps that all of you are extremely photogenic."
He never noticed it, but each of his children were incredible photogenic. Speaking of the children. Dick, Wally, Kaldur, and Roy were in the game room trying to teach Kaldur how to play ping-pong. Tim and Jason were also in the game room playing darts, while Damian watched them. Stephanie was watching the movie with the adults, trying to stay awake. Giselle, however, was curled up on Dinah's chest, drinking from a bottle tiredly.
Bruce looked to the clock, noticing the late hour. He excused himself from Clark, walking to grab Stephanie from the couch, "Would you mind bringing up Giselle Dinah?" He whispered, holding the sleeping blonde in his arms.
With a smirk towards Oliver, Dinah stood slowly and followed Bruce up the stairs. She met him at Stephanie's doorway, watching him place the ten-year-old into bed and place a gentle kiss on her head before closing the door behind himself. He led Dinah to the nursery, turn the light on and taking the baby from her. As if he had been caring for Giselle since she was born, Bruce got the baby ready for bed quickly.
Bruce placed Giselle, along with her rabbit into the crib. Before he left, the billionaire turned on the night light as well as the lullaby music and let Dinah leave the room first so he could leave the door open just a crack.
The Black Canary smiled at the Dark Knight as the two walked down the stairs together. "I gotta say Mr. Wayne, I never would've pegged you as a family man." They reached the bottom of the stairs and joined the others. "Will you give Ollie some lessons?"
No, Black Canary isn't pregnant, it's more of a dig to Ollie than anything. Just a warning, this YJ is not cannon at all because I want Roy to stay! The others (like Miss Martian, Artimis, and Superboy) are coming shortly so keep your eyes peeled! Thanks for reading!
