-I'm so incredibly sorry for the long wait… I've just been preoccupied and losing interest. But I'm trying to find my footing again in the story so let me know what you think! :)
Disclaimer: I know I forget to write these here and there… but I mean them for the whole story! I own nothing but Sarah and the plot.
Chapter 8: When do you tell the Truth, and when do you tell a Lie?
SPOV
Have you ever felt like you've just had an exhausting dream… and you wake up to find out that everything that happened while you were supposedly asleep, really did occur?
Well I was having one of those.
Never in my entire life have I ever wished I was somebody else. I loved my family, and I loved my friends… of course there were times where life seemed impossible… or the family secret was too overwhelming; yet I always loved being Sarah Martha Wayne.
Until today of course.
Every second since I saw that file on Talia that my parents had kept from me… I had done nothing but wish that I was anyone but Sarah Wayne. Because honestly, who wants to find out that both their parents lied and betrayed you, that your two best friends hate each other and have been competing for your love since practically sixth grade, and that a deadly murderer was out looking for you. Not to mention that she was your father's ex-wife, and had tried to murder both your mother and yourself before. And finally, in one day she had brought you about twenty some years into the past so she could finally kill you.
Exactly.
My dad had always told me that I was in charge of my life and that was something nobody could take from me. He'd go on and on my future and being independent and knowing where I stand… but today I just wanted to crawl back in his arms to when I was six and he would whisper to me everything would be okay. And truthfully, what person doesn't miss that? Of course we all love our lives and jobs and friends, freedom in general; yet there is always a fleeting moment where you want to be safe in your parents arms. Knowing they'd keep you safe from any harm is a tremendous comfort. And my dad was always good at making me feel safe. My life had recently been spinning out of control and I have been able to handle the majority… but this was getting to be too much.
I knew my father; who by the way was twenty years younger right now, would be waiting for answers. I knew he wouldn't be the same loving man that held me when I was scared. He would be Batman in this time… colder, darker, and meaner. Uncle Wally always said that it was my mom and I that made my dad softer. And Uncle Clark always marveled at how dad's smiled more… and how his face lit up when he saw my mom and me. Alfred thought it was touching, he thought it was a miracle my dad was happy with a family now. And Dick and Tim always joked about his new personality. I hadn't ever thought about it… until now. When I knew he would be hard with me and mean. And he wouldn't care about how I felt now… heck, most likely he wouldn't believe that I was who I was. He'd probably think I was insane.
But I knew it was time now… to wake up and face the people who have been my family for years, yet my face would give them no recognition. It broke my heart… but this was only temporary.
My eyes cracked open to the bright white light of the infirmary once again that day.
BPOV
I could tear my eyes away from this girl. Talia said Wayne. Implying that we were related in some way; and judging by both Talia and the girl's age, she was my most likely my child. My daughter.
My daughter… that was a thought I would never have. I never imagined children, much less a wife.
But here laid the proof that I would indeed fall in love eventually, with someone other than my current wife… and we would have a child. Yet what puzzled me were the Wonder Woman references. Were they implying that Diana was Sarah's mother? Was that even possible? Diana and I had gone our separate ways years ago… I'd done what I had to… it was all to protect her from myself.
Judging on Talia's age however, it seemed Sarah must have come from thirteen or fourteen years into the past... and she was definitely older than that.
Did that mean she was already born? Had she already been conceived and lived through her first few years of life? It seemed completely absurd. But the more I recalled, there had been a night between Diana and I… a night I never would've imagined would come to this. J'zon, knowing me, had confirmed Talia's claim of my relationship to the girl. She was indeed a Wayne. But with the proof staring me in my face, I still couldn't face the reality. I was a father. A father to the most beautiful child I'd seen in decades, and even more, her mother might possibly be the love of my life.
"How you holding up?" Clark asked appearing through the infirmary doors.
"Been better…" Simple, that was how I liked it. But I felt like those two words didn't describe my feelings at all. Nowhere near the truth.
And then Sarah's eyes cracked open and she sucked in a quick breath and all I wanted to do was protect her. It was… odd, to feel such intensity for one specific person. I'd never given into my emotions… I'd learned to hide them quite well, and protect the innocent. But Sarah wasn't just an innocent; she was my sixteen-year-old child. My baby.
And my protection feelings were different. I didn't want to protect the innocence in her. My feelings were more paternal. I wanted to love her, to keep her close to me, hold her and kiss her goodnight. And the feelings almost knocked me off my feet because not one of them reflected the man I've been for the last twenty years.
"Daddy…" Her voice cracked and I thought the word would hit me harder than it did. Daddy. That was something I'd erased from my mind, and honestly, I don't think it ever existed. Her eyes flew open and met mine in less than a second. And I stared into my own eyes, and admired her face, because all it took was a second to really look at her and I knew without a doubt who her mother was.
And truthfully, I wonder if I ever really had any doubt.
Because there was no mistaking her dimples, and kind smile, and button nose, her facial structure, the determination in her eyes, wisdom buried in her face that anyone could see, the deep pride that had been instilled through life experience, and the soft caring and compassion I saw lingering on her small face. She was Diana's daughter, and there was no test in the world that would prove me wrong, and honestly, I wasn't going to bother with a single one.
And just like that, she knew that I had figured it out. As if she was just waiting for it to happen.
Maybe she was.
The clues were all there, even the dumbest detective would see plain in black and white, this girl was my child, and Diana's. And I didn't know where, but both of them were alive. Or at least Diana was pregnant with Sarah. Either way, Sarah had existed, whether in Diana or a living breathing child. She was here.
"How do you feel?" Clark asked her sitting in the unoccupied chair on the other side of her bed. And I was thankful he had spoken first, because it seemed as if neither Sarah nor I could speak freely with the other in the room.
"Fine." Simple… just like me. And I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face. And she swung her legs over the side as if to stand but my arm caught her wrist.
"You have to stay here." I ordered trying to put enough authority in me so she wouldn't fight it. And after I spoke, I knew she wouldn't disappoint in proving to me that she was indeed, my child and Diana's. Full with stubbornness.
And of course… she didn't.
"I'm fine; my vitals are good, I'm not nauseated, I'm speaking clearly, my sight is clear, and my bones are slightly sore, but then again… when are they not?" She stated calmly and went to get up again.
"No." That was it. I'd used my dark, angry voice. But hell, if she's my child, I'm not letting her hurt herself.
"It's a little early to be playing the overprotective father; don't you think?" She growled annoyed. Her hands were shaking slightly and confusion flooded through me as I stared at her new facial expression.
"You're not getting up until J'zon clears you. And that's that." Why was she so angry? I knew she was annoyed I was keeping her here, but she seemed furious every time her eyes met mine. What had my future self done to infuriate her so badly?
"Of course, now you care about me." She muttered and my eyes widened. Was I a bad father? Did I disappoint her? Ignore her? Questions were swirling through my mind when she spoke again. "Sorry, didn't mean it like that. I'm just a tad aggravated." She whispered the last part sarcastically, and without complaint, she hauled her legs back onto the bed. "If you're not going to let me protect my mother, than you're going to have to do it. Or else I'm not playing the obedient child act and I'm going to find her from your psychotic wife." She was tough, I'll give her that. Yet I could tell through her firmness and attempting control that she was terrified of the outcome of the events that had past.
"You're mother, her name…" Clark began.
"Diana." I answered before Sarah could. Clark's eyes flew into saucers and he stared from Sarah and me. And I knew he was seeing the resemblance, but having a hard time truly believing it.
"But how…" He began.
"Let's just say Dad and Mom decided a break-up is a perfect opportunity for sex." She sneered.
"Whoa," Wally said before entering the room. "What's got your Nickers in a twist Wonder bat?" He joked and I glared at him.
"None of you get it. Talia is out there, waiting to literally kill my mother at her first chance, and don't doubt me when I say she'll get it. And when she dies, I will follow. And then your whole future, the life with your children and happiness, disappears." Sarah said darkly. "I have to leave. There's no point in discussing it." She stated.
"If you stand again, you'll collapse, and most likely kill yourself Sarah. Your best bet to save yourself is staying here." J'zon explained.
"I'm clearly going to die either way. Talia's going to kill me." Sarah argued.
"We'll fix it. You need to rest." Clark promised but Sarah didn't look convinced.
"Explain. What happened to bring you here?" Shayera asked. Sarah didn't look like she wanted to elaborate. But she took a deep breath, spared a quick glance at me, as if she was searching for reassurance… but I don't think I could give it to her.
"It's more than what happened. Talia's been trying to have me killed since I was six. When she and you found out about me." Sarah nodded in my direction.
"Bats doesn't realize he's a dad until you're six?" Flash asked shocked now.
"Alfred and Clark knew. Alfred knew before I was even born though. Of course, he is Alfred. What doesn't that man know? Clark however, discovered when I was about four or five. He told mom she had to tell dad by the time I was seven, or he would." Sarah continued.
"I thought you said Talia and Bruce discovered you when you were six though?" John asked.
"They did. Talia went searching for mom because she knew dad would always love her first and beyond any woman on the planet. Apparently, she didn't like the competition." Sarah said snidely. "Well, I was with my friend that day at a park. I came home and mom was gone. So I called Uncle Clark, who came and got me, so dad found out soon that I was his kid. Talia was," She faltered. "Talia was downright horrible. She hated me. And was determined to get rid of me. Mom was still missing, and you were all out looking for her. Well, turns out Talia's dad, and whatever goons they hired, were poisoning mom. Of course Botulinum kills a human instantly, but mom's stronger, so it took weeks. Talia grabbed me and took me to where they were holding mom, and she tried to kill her, that's when you guys showed up. But there were too many… and mom was dying…" My mind was racing. Did Diana die? Is that why Sarah was angry? Did I go crazy after Diana's death? Was I neglectful? "So I took the antidote and saved her. Don't ask how I knew what I was doing… I didn't. I just knew she was dying so I did what I did to save her. Well, Talia, as you can imagine her reaction was not good. She broke my hand, and tried to shoot me, but mom saved me. And Talia, since I was six has hated me. Vowed my death to the gods… she was eager to have me killed. But knowing dad and mom, well they weren't planning on letting that happen." Sarah sighed.
"How did she get out?" J'zon asked.
"I don't know. That's why I'm so furious. I guess you all decided it would be better not to tell me the truth about the woman who wants me dead. Well, I found out anyways. And I left. Not sure how well that went. You'll probably kill me if I make it out of here alive." Sarah rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Talia found me, and let's just say I met with a friend along the way that left me in a bad state when she found me. She brought me here." Sarah finished.
"How can we be sure this is all true?" Shayera asked.
"Because Auntie Shay, I may not have proof that I'm not a liar, but I'm telling you if I die, than Rex and Kyra, your son and daughter, won't exist. My existence gave you all the courage to have your own kids. The confidence to know you could protect them and the world. If I die, if I don't exist in the future, you'll all go on without the families you all so love and dear." Sarah explained.
"Why didn't Diana tell me?" I asked slightly angrier now.
"She was afraid you'd hate me. And she was afraid you'd hate her. There was so much that happened between the two of you, she thought it would be easier on you to never know. At least until I was older." Sarah promised.
"Where is your mother?" John questioned.
"Paris." Sarah said simply. How ironic.
"We'll save her Sarah, but you can't. If you get up you could harm yourself, just… stay here." Clark asked and Sarah turned back to me.
"Like I said, if my mother and I die… it won't matter much what happens to me… now will it?" She stated.
