Big Surprise Chapter 9
Groaning from the pain in her back Artemis slowly opened her eyes. Stretching she turned to Carson's crib "You ready to get up sweetie?" Artemis asked. But Carson wasn't there, she wasn't in her crib. Panicking Artemis yelled "Carson" running out of her room to Barbara's room, Barbara wasn't there either. She ran downstairs skidding to a stop when she saw Barbara and Carson playing on the floor. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm herself she sat down next to them on the floor pulling Carson into her lap "Good morning sweetie" Carson giggled grabbing a strand of her hair.
Barbara smiled playing with Carson's hands "She woke up about an hour ago; I didn't want her to wake you so I brought her down her. She's already ate breakfast and everything".
Artemis smiled at her friend "Thank you Babs".
"No problem. Dick called thirty minutes ago, and like normal he's bored out of his mind" Barbara said.
"I'm just going to take a quick shower and then head over there with Carson. Do you want to go?" Artemis asked.
Barbara shook her head "I'm meeting my parents for lunch but I can watch Carson while you get ready?"
"Thanks" Artemis said handing her Carson, before she hurried upstairs to shower and change. Once she was ready Artemis packed Carson's diaper bag and grabbed the stroller so it would be easier to take Carson with her. Once downstairs she picked up Carson and put her in her stoller handing her a stuffed animal. "Thank you for all the help Babs" Artemis said.
Barbara smiled and hugged her "It's no problem I'm glad to help. Call me if you need anything okay".
Artemis nodded "Okay. Have fun with your parents Babs I'll see you later". Once outside the apartment building they two friends went their separate ways, Artemis towards the nearest zeta tube and Barbara towards her car. Once she was at the hall of justice she had to take Carson out of her stroller in order to get her to stop crying, Carson really did not like using the zeta tubes Artemis bounced the baby on her hip "It's okay Carson were gonna see daddy, you wanna go see daddy?"
Carson stopped crying but was still whimpering Artemis kissed her forehead and managed to carry Carson on her hip while pushing the stroller towards Dick's hospital room. She knocked on the door before opening it, when she stepped in she saw that Batman and Robin were in the room talking to Dick. Dick smiled at them when he saw them "Hey".
Artemis smiled walking in the room sitting Carson in Dick's lap and kissing his head "How are you feeling?"
"It's still painful to move and what not but it's not too bad" Dick said kissing Carson's head and making different noises at her.
Artemis smiled turning to Tim "How are you feeling Robin?"
Tim smiled "I'm good just some broken bones" Artemis ruffled his hair before sitting in the chair.
To her surprise Batman stepped towards the bed picking up Carson "And how is my baby bats doing?" Carson giggled and tried to pull off his mask.
Dick snorted "Really baby bats?"
Batman scowled "Yes Nightwing baby bats get over it".
Artemis smiled "She's doing fine". Batman nodded and sat Carson back in Dick's lap.
"Robin and I will leave and let you three spend some time together. I'm going to bring your brother over later he really wants to see you" Batman said.
"Okay sounds good Batman" Dick said. Tim stood up with the help of his crutches and followed Batman out the door. "It's amazing how much a baby can change people. I never thought I would see Batman be so cuddly".
Artemis laughed standing up and sitting on the bed with Dick and Carson "I think it's just Carson, she has a way of changing people. I never thought of myself as motherly but her I am".
Dick smiled kissing her cheek "You're doing a wonderful job, mommy".
Artemis laughed "You're doing a great job to daddy. Except the whole getting shot thing, I could have lived without that happening".
Dick smiled sheepishly "Sorry 'Mis. The doctors said I could go home this evening as long as everything looks good".
"That's good, we'll both be glad to have you home. I've been sleeping in Carson's room in the rocking chair" Artemis said tickling Carson with her stuffed animals.
"Why are you doing that 'Mis?" Dick asked frowning at her.
"This is only going to feed your ego but even though it's only been like a week since everything I can't sleep in your bed without you, so I've been sleeping in the same room as Carson" Artemis said.
Dick smirked at her making Artemis roll her eyes "If you weren't already injured I'd wipe that smirk off your face for you" Artemis said.
Dick laughed and said "I know you would 'Mis. I really hate hospitals and I hate that Carson is spending so much time here".
"She wants to see her dad and I know you want to see her to" Artemis said softly.
Dick looked down at Carson who was chewing on her teething rings and sighed softly "It's crazy how quickly she's made me fall in love with her I don't know what I'm going to do when our future selves come back to get her" Dick said softly.
Artemis sighed "I know this whole thing is absolutely crazy".
"When I was shot all I could think about was getting back to you and Carson, and before I passed out all I could see was you holding Carson when we first got her" Dick said softly.
Artemis closed her eyes trying to fight back the tears "No more missions, not while we have Carson, please Dick no more not until she's gone back to the future" Artemis pleaded.
Dick rested his hand on her cheek looking her in the eye "Okay no more missions until Carson goes to her rightful time, I promise".
Artemis put her hand on Dick's "Thank you".
Dick smiled "I would do anything for you 'Mis, I love you, I've always loved you" Dick said softly.
Shocked Artemis did the only thing she knew how she leaned forward kissing him hard on the lips when she pulled away she whispered "I love you to".
They continued staring into each other's eyes until Carson giggled wiggling her teething keys in the air Artemis laughed pulling away from Dick and pulling the little girl into her lap "And I love you to Carson" she said kissing the little girl on the head.
Dick smiled "And daddy loves you to", Carson giggled wiggling her keys making the two adults laugh. Together the three people sat on the hospital bed playing and laughing until the doctor came in the room to tell them Dick could go home. But he was on strict bed rest and he was to do absolutely nothing. Since Dick wouldn't be able to take the zeta tube and Carson hated them Bruce had Alfred come and pick them up and take them to the apartment. Two hours later Dick sat on the couch with his leg propped up and his head on the back of the couch with his eyes closed trying not to think about the pain and how tired he was. Artemis successfully put Carson down for her nap and came downstairs to find Dick asleep on the couch, Artemis smiled and softly kissed his head before she went into the training room to work out all the frustrations and worry that she had been holding in.