Chapter 14 Secrets Out

Jacqueline relaxed in the warmth of the bathtub. She was exhausted, but she would never trade the feeling for anything. This new version of her was amazing and she knew she had made the right decision.

"Jackie?" Harleen asked from outside the bathroom door. "I had to bother you but I think she's hungry, she keeps gnawing on her little hands."

"Be right out Harleen," she called back before getting out of the tub and toweling off. She slipped into her now favorite gray silk robe and didn't bother with any other clothing because she would just be exposing her breasts anyway.

That's how he found her. Sitting in a rocking chair with her feet propped up and a dark haired baby girl suckling at her breast. She didn't know he was there, so he watched her for several minutes and thought about everything he had missed with her. She hummed a soft, soothing sound to the baby as she rocked and he found himself swaying along with the lullaby.

"What the hell are you doing Bruce?" the green haired menace asked in a loud voice behind him. "It's just creepy the way you are staring at her."

"Did you just call me creepy?" Bruce asked. "You? The Joker? Just called me creepy?"

"Well I guess when you are in a suit and tie you aren't so bad, it's when you're running around with that damn bat cape on that you are really creepy." He walked away laughing like a maniac and Bruce was not sure how to react.

"I didn't tell him," Jacqueline's soft voice spoke drawing his attention back to her. "I'm not sure how he knows or if he really knows so I wouldn't admit anything if I were you."

Bruce slowly walked into the bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed facing her. "How… how are you?" he asked, suddenly unsure of himself.

"Tired. But what else can a new mother expect."

A quick popping sound signaled that the baby was done feeding. "Would you like to burp her?" Jacqueline asked him and he nodded gently.

Jacqueline stood and placed a rag on his shoulder. "Just in case," she said before handing the baby over to him.

He was so nervous. He didn't have any experience with babies and this one… well… this one was a miracle. He rubbed her back tenderly and when she gave up a large belch he looked at Jacqueline with pride in his eyes. "Yes, your daughter burps like a grown man," she said before sitting down next to him on the bed.

"Why… why didn't you tell me Jacqueline? I missed it all! Everything! I had a right to know."

She stared at her lap. "I know and I regret taking those moments from you, but I couldn't take the chance that you would try to take her away from me or that you and Jack would try to kill each other over either one of us."

"Why did you tell Alfred?"

"I didn't," she said quietly. "That was Jack's idea and he had done it before I knew anything about the plan. Imagine my surprise when Alfred showed up to the birthing suite a couple hours after she was born. He had these great big baskets of goodies. One was for the baby and one was for me. He couldn't take his eyes off of her."

"He knew about her before I did."

"Don't be mad at him Bruce. I… I made him promise not to tell and you can imagine that Jack threatened him with some sadistic tortures if he told you anything. Everyone was trying to let me come to terms with you needing to know about your daughter."

The infant tucked her head into Bruce's shoulder and he smiled contentedly. "She is amazing," he said, his pride evident. "Just like her mother."

Jacqueline blushed. "Martha Rose is amazing, but she has the nastiest dirty diapers I have ever smelled and has the manners of a Billy goat. She burps like a grown man and does not have the decency to eat on a schedule. She is literally in control of my life right now."

Bruce smiled recognizing his mother's name. "I want to be a part of her life," he said unsurely.

She glanced at him and he met her gaze. "I want to be a part of your life too," he said gently.

"I can't imagine our life without you Bruce," she said before kissing him gently.

"Hot dog doll face," Jack said from the open door, "Brucey give your butler a call and let him know the Napier's are moving in… do you have a hot tub? I've always wanted a hot tub."