In the peace and quiet of their island paradise, Bruce and Selina found the days almost melding into one another, and soon it was almost time for them to head home. The approaching winter cold had made both Bruce and Selina trade in their swimsuits for some slightly heavier clothing, but thankfully their house on the beach was well equipped for almost any situation. With the click of a button, walls had erected up around the kitchen making it part of the house, a fireplace opened up in the main room and with a warm gentle fire, the house became more like a home.
As Selina's stomach continued to grow, so did the feelings of happiness in the house. Each morning, Bruce would kiss Selina on the lips before kissing her growing bump. Seeing Bruce like this, no one would realise that he was in fact Batman. It was almost like split personalities and Selina always loved it when Bruce wasn't simmering in one of his brooding ruts. Barbara and Tim had made good on their promises of seclusion because it had just been them, no interruptions, and together, both Bruce and Selina had learned even more about each other and gotten even closer together despite Alfred's insistence that it was impossible. For instance, Selina learned that she can't bake…
-o-
One day, Selina had been reading a book while Bruce was on his laptop. Suddenly craving some biscuits, Selina jumped up and went to check the cupboards. To her dismay, they didn't have any.
"Bruce! Where are the biscuits?"
"We don't have any."
"Well go and get some!"
"I'm not sure if you remembered but we're on a secluded island and the nearest shop is probably about an hour away by plane… Is there anything else that you'd like?"
Selina crossed her arms across her chest.
"I'm sorry Selina."
Bruce went back to what he was doing when he heard something coming from the kitchen. Walking in, Bruce saw Selina leaning over her phone, weighing out flour and butter on a scales.
"Selina? What are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I wanted biscuits, so I got onto Alfred. He sent me a recipe for shortbread. And here I thought you were the world's greatest detective…"
Selina stuck her tongue out before going back to the scales.
"Now, how do you change this from grams to ounces?"
"There's a button there on the readout…"
The small scale beeped, and Selina's hand shot up into the air.
"Thanks, Brucie…"
"Selina? You know I trust you wholeheartedly, but have you ever baked before?"
"How hard can it be? It's only flour, butter, and sugar. And anyway, I've done things that are much harder than this."
"Ok…"
Bruce left Selina do her thing in the kitchen as he went back to his laptop. Making sure she wasn't looking, Bruce pulled a slender tan box from a drawer and slowly opened it. Inside was a necklace filled with diamonds, cast in silver. At the centre, was a small ruby heart with a sapphire on one side and an emerald on the other. Their anniversary was almost here, and Bruce wanted to get Selina something nice. On one hand, Bruce thought it was too gaudy, while on the other hand, Bruce thought that once their child was born, they could go out and Bruce thought that the necklace would look amazing on her. Well really, a trash bag would look good on Selina.
Hearing a bang from the kitchen, Bruce dropped the necklace in his drawer and hopped over his desk. Running into the kitchen, Bruce swatted the smoke from his face and found Selina holding a tray of 'biscuits'. Smoke was still billowing out of the oven, but the air ventilation soon kicked in. The biscuits looked like hockey pucks but were also various colours.
"What happened?"
"Smoke started pouring out of the oven, don't know why and then something popped, again don't know why but at least my cookies are ok…"
Selina placed the tray down on the counter. There were blues, browns, and reds. Bruce picked up a red one and went to take a bite. Bruce was almost certain he chipped a tooth.
"Well? What do you think?"
"Selina… This is rock solid."
"They can't be that bad, ya baby…"
Selina picked one of the tray and while glaring at Bruce, she took a bite of the cookie. Slowly, she managed to chew the biscuit, but Bruce didn't believe her that she liked them. Arching an eyebrow, Bruce studied Selina carefully. Watched her jaw go up and down until Selina finally spun around and spat the vile creation into the garbage. Bruce couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny? I suppose the 'Dark Knight' could also trump the world's greatest bakers as well as it's criminals?"
Bruce laughed even harder.
"The first and last time I tried to 'bake' something, Alfred used them as target practise. Said they made better armour plating than cookies. Hasn't ever let me bake something since."
"I still want some fucking biscuits though!"
Selina soon had an adorable pout on her face and soon found himself looking for the keys to the plane outside. Heading for the door, Selina called him back.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"Thought we could go for a spin in the plane. Might land somewhere nice, pick up some snacks?"
Selina suddenly beamed and quickly threw the apron she was wearing, up on the kitchen counter. Walking past Bruce, Selina pressed a kiss to his chin.
"You really know how to make a girl feel special…"
"You're the only one I want to make feel special, Selina."
Selina suddenly started to sob.
"Selina? What's up?"
"Just my… stupid… hormones! Plus, that line was too damn cheesy!"
"Doesn't matter because I meant every word, and don't ever forget that!"
"For making me cry, you now owe me a foot massage when we get back!"
"I'll give you anything I can Selina…"
-o-
At the moment, Bruce was watching meat roast. Selina had felt tired earlier in the day and she had gone to bed, but today was their anniversary so Bruce wanted to do something special. A warm fire burned in the hearth, giving the beach house a cosy feel and in fear of a repeat of the cookie puck incident, Bruce had turned to Alfred for help. Alfred had been more than willing to help. Bruce found it funny, he could wait for hours for some criminal who might or might not turn up but waiting for a simple loin of beef to cook was proving too difficult. Deciding to set the table, Bruce left the meat to cook and placed plates, silverware, and glasses on a table in the main room. A beep from the oven told Bruce that the meat was finally done. Picking up the semi decent looking roast, Bruce placed it on the table.
"Bruce? What are you doing? What's all this?"
Selina looked at the candles flickering on the table, to the nice plates and elegant glassware. Bruce was wearing a blazer, light blue shirt, and jeans. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the sleeve of her pyjamas, Selina tried to make sense of what was going on. It then hit her, and she pressed her hand to her mouth.
"I forgot it… our own anniversary. Bruce… I'm so sorry…"
Selina started to sob again, and Bruce quickly wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his warmth. Bruce pressed a kiss to Selina's forehead before slowly walking her over to the table.
"It's alright, you have a lot more on your plate than me. You were tired so I'm happier that you had a rest rather than do anything else."
"But it's OUR anniversary. I'm always giving you crap about being cold, or distant, and I go and forget about one of the best days of my life… I was even standing in this same place this time last year!"
"Although, I do remember that you were wearing a hell of a lot less… and so was I…"
Selina couldn't help but laugh.
"I was also a hell of a lot less pregnant… crazy how much has changed in a year."
Bruce pulled out Selina's chair and she sat down. Leaning in, Selina almost pressed her nose to the roast, and gave a long sigh.
"Bruce, that smells so good. Where's Alfred?"
Bruce gave a dry chuckle.
"At home…"
Fetching the remainder of the dinner, some boiled potatoes and vegetables, Bruce placed them on the table as well. Bruce then clicked his fingers and ran off, heading for their bedroom. Bruce returned a couple seconds later in just his boxers. Selina was confused for a second before she started to laugh, loudly.
"Bruce? What the hell are you doing?"
"Well I assumed since you were dressed casually, that I should follow suit. As you said, this is our anniversary. We shouldn't be trying to out do each other tonight. Tonight, we celebrate us, and to be here in the same place next year. I love you, Selina."
Bruce pulled a bottle out of a cabinet beside him. Opening the cork, Bruce filled his own glass and then Selina's. Selina looked at the glass, confused.
"You do remember that I can't drink alcohol? You know, me being pregnant and everything…"
Bruce turned the bottle around so that Selina could read the label.
"That's why I brought non-alcoholic wine."
Selina smiled as she took a small sip. It was sweet and refreshing, just like their breakaway together. Selina lifted her glass into the air.
"Here's to our future, together, as a family."
"Hear, hear…"
Bruce cut up the roast and after a surprisingly delicious dinner, they cuddled up on the couch beside the fire. Selina was sitting in Bruce's lap and together, they were both rubbing Selina's stomach in slow circles. Suddenly remembering the necklace, he had stashed in the locker beside the couch, Bruce grabbed it and handed it to Selina. Selina opened the box slowly and gasped at the necklace contained within. Lifting it out, the fire seemed to dance in the diamonds as it wisped and crackled in the fire place.
"I know it's kinda tacky, but I wanted to buy you something nice."
"Bruce, it's beautiful… how much did it cost? You know? That doesn't matter, Thank you."
"Can I put it on? I've been wondering what it would look like…"
Selina craned her head forward and Bruce gently placed the necklace on.
"Beautiful… and the necklace doesn't look so bad either…"
Selina gave Bruce a slight tap on the arm.
"That was so cheesy!"
"True though…"
Bruce took his phone off the armrest and started playing some music. Standing up, Bruce extended his hand towards Selina.
"I can't dance like this! I'm in my pyjamas and I'm the size of a small blimp…"
"It's only the two of us here… and I'm in my boxers. You look as beautiful as ever, nothing could change that… now come on."
Bruce smiled, and Selina couldn't help herself doing the same. Gingerly, Selina took Bruce's hand and allowed herself to be pulled up from the couch. Bruce pulled her to him as he could without making it uncomfortable and together they moved along with the music. Swaying side to side, to any onlooker they would have looked crazy, but they didn't care.
"By the way., don't you dare try and dip me. I'm a bit heavier than when you did it during our wedding, and I'd just pull you to the floor."
Bruce laughed. Lifting his arm above her head, Selina spun around slowly only to be met by Bruce's lips at the end. It was a gentle kiss, full of affection and love. There was no hunger, no desperation, just an unmissable sense of happiness. Bruce slowly dropped his hands from Selina's arms towards her hips, still swaying along to the music, while Selina dragged her fingers through the beginning of a beard that had been sprouting on Bruce's face. The music changed, and it was a tune that Selina immediately recognized.
"This was playing at the party where we first met. How'd you remember?"
"I don't know what you're on about… I believe I met a Lauren Haverson that night. She made nice company until I realised that she had stolen my Rolex…"
Selina looked up at Bruce's coy face.
"If I remember, Batman stopped Ms. Haverson before she pawned it. I hear she had to find alternate means to pay for her rent that week… must have been hard."
Selina noticed that the grin on Bruce's face had dropped slightly.
"I didn't mean to make you feel bad but it's crazy to think we started out like that. If someone had told Catwoman that she'd be married to Batman, she'd have laughed before robbing them blind. There only ever was one person who could keep up with her…"
"She definitely never made it easy… but I'll admit that I always loved chasing after her. That suit…"
Selina laughed before they shared another kiss.
"Happy anniversary Selina."
"Happy anniversary Bruce."
"We should probably head to bed soon… back to Gotham tomorrow."
"One last dance?"
"Ok… one more."
