Buh-huh-huh-huuuuh!
This is technically the last chapter guys! LAST. ONE!
It wraps up a bunch of loose ends and . . . that's it. I need a new inspiration after this.
*ugly sobbing* T-try to enjoy.
Motivation is your Superpower.
I'm sad now. :'(
Touching down in the Batcave turned out to be more awkward then the boys thought it would be.
Bruised and battered and tired, they all wondered what Batman would do with them now.
Once they all exited the jet, Dick turned towards Batman, his brothers sidling behind him automatically, Jason with a defensive look, Tim concern, and Damian just confused and unable to look at anyone in the eye for once.
"So..." Dick drew the word out, it says more than one word should.
Batman's straightened posture changes and he actually sighs out loud. A tired, human sound which surprised everyone present. Pulling off his cowl, revealing two tired bright colored eyes he regarded them with something close to regret.
"Go home." And he turned away heading for the stairs.
Batgirl bit her lips and pulled back her cowl as well, watching Bruce walk away.
"Babs?"
Barbara turned towards Dicks questioning face and gave him a half smile. "You heard the man. Go home. . . before he changes his mind."
Dick swallowed thickly and nodded, face holding a tight expression as if he wanted to say something but didn't think he should.
Jason nudged him and placed a hand on Damians shoulder. "Let's go Dickie, Short stack here must be beat. . . I sure am." He gestured to his own bruises in an attempt to be funny.
Tim actually snickered and fisted his hand in the edge of Jason's jacket. "We're going to have to look into those."
"C'mon Dick. . . Dick?" Jason's face fell when he noticed the pained look Grayson was giving Barbara.
She seemed to notice too and it must have bothered her a lot because she walked right into the older boys space and kissed him suddenly.
Jason rolled his eyes and looked away, slightly miffed, mostly grossed out.
Tim wrinkled his nose and covered Damian's eyes who scoffed at him.
"I'm not a child, Drake, I know what-"
"Yah. . . still, though." Tim shook his head and wished the two would stop already.
It didn't look like they would any time soon.
Jason cleared his throat loudly, reminding both that there were other people in the cave.
Barbara pulled away and blushed, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Dick groaned and glared at his younger brothers.
Jason raised an eyebrow at him. "Seriously, get a room. Later, right now, we're tired, sore, and starving. Can we go please. . ." He finished, voice straining to not sound aggressive by the last syllable.
Dicks shoulders slumped as he turned back to Barbara. "See you Babs."
She nodded, biting her lip. "Yah, probably." She teased as the boys headed out of the cave.
She watched them all ascend the stone cut stairs and hoped they wouldn't run into Alfred on the way out.
Dick cast one last furtive look at her over his shoulder and gave her that heart melting grin that always hit its mark.
Jason groaned ahead. "Come on, Romeo!"
Barbara giggled as they left.
She really hoped everything would turn out alright.
After all. . . they were still technically criminals. And Batman could only excuse them so much.
After barely escaping Alfred, the boys actually walked home, in normal clothes of course, they were all so tired and Damian had actually started to weave on his feet.
They were all silent. Which wasn't normal. Dick figured it was because of that elephant following them home. . . somebody had to say something or else they'd all be awkward and worried forever.
Dick didn't like that thought.
"So Dami. . . did you know Batman was your dad?"
Tim took in a sharp breath, Jason snorted and Damian looked. . . Afraid?
"No. No I did not." He finally answered in a uncharacteristically small voice. "If I had, don't you think I would have gone and told him that myself."
Dick didn't like the sound of that. "You mean. . . you would have left us."
Damian didn't say anything for a moment as they walked. A dog barked at them when they passed it down a corner. Sounds of the city engulfed them and somehow made the not silent silence feel worse.
"Damian?" Dick prodded, waiting patiently for the little boy to answer.
"Perhaps." He finally said, startling everyone.
"Can't say I blame you." Tim spoke out now, slightly deadpanned.
Jason scoffed. "Why? As far as I'm concerned, Batman's a self righteous ass that would probably drive you crazy. . . I mean, he can't be all sane if he runs around dressed up as a Bat and fighting crazies for a crap city like this. . . willingly."
Dick shook his head. "Maybe it's because this is a crap city he does it. Maybe -"
"Maybe he's really trying to help Jay." Tim finished, he was still a fan of the Bat after all.
Damian frowned. "I doubt I would have been very happy with him though."
Dick startled. "Wait. Do - do you want to go live with him, Dami?" That thought scared him a bit, but. . . the Bat was the kids real father. Dick couldn't really blame him if he wanted to -
"I don't know."
Nobody said anything after that.
"What the hell?!"
"Not very eloquent. . . but, well expressed." Tim said to Jason as the four of them stared, wide eyed and shocked at the scene surrounding their building.
At least twenty police squad cars were surrounding the area, men in black and blue uniforms were milling about talking to each other, checking the parameter, jotting down random things they saw, eating doughnuts. . .
Dick rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands in exasperation. "Maven must have flipped out harder then I thought - is that a national guard? What?!"
Damian sighed loudly and shook his head. "Leave it to that woman to make things worse."
"No! For the last time I don't want to give a statement, get out of my face!"
They all froze as Selina came marching out, hair a mess, face drawn and tired, a uniformed woman was following her exasperatedly, waving a notepad in the air as the cat lover stomped away from her.
"I told you I didn't want to call these morons, Maven." Selina hissed as she grabbed frightened Maven by the arm, "I will find them on my-" She froze and looked up, all anger and worry melted right off her face leaving disbelief behind.
"B-boys?" She gasped out, a hand clapping over her mouth. Maven froze next to her.
Dick stepped forward, awestruck and relieved and guilty and. . . so, so, happy she was awake.
Jason let out a sudden whoop and ran like a cannon towards the woman. Tim followed suit and Damian was dragged forward by Dick as they all ran into the waiting woman's arms, shocking everyone as they shouted and hugged and cried against each other.
"You're alive. . . oh my God - you're all-" Selina hiccupped and hugged them harder.
Jason refused to show his tears as he clung to her harder then the rest. Tim buried his little face in Jasons' jacket, he was squished in between Jay and his mother figure. Dick and Damian were in much the same position as they hugged the other side.
She actually sobbed. . . not caring who saw as she hugged them closer, swearing she wouldn't let them go again. Ever.
Selina Kyle had grown so soft it would be shameful. . . if she cared. She had never been happier then when these boys stole pieces of her life and stuck their own into it. . .
Never been more miserable then when they had been lost.
And would never be so grateful as she was to have them back.
They pulled away, she took each of them in, eyes shining with leftover tears. "Oh my God. . . what happened to-"
"We'll tell you later." Dick said gently, holding on to Damian tighter.
Suddenly a high pitched squeal startled them all as Maven came bolting towards them from her frozen spot and grabbing on to them for dear life, blubbering something about losing them and how sorry she was and. . .
Since when had Aunt Maven ever been this emotional?
She surprised them each by hugging them individually and kissing them each on the forehead. . . even Jason, whom had always been her least favorite, was given a warm endearing hug and kiss that made him feel oddly warm inside.
"Don't you boy's ever run off again." She finished, wiping away tears and straightening her messy pony tail in an attempt to regain her composure.
That's when they noticed everyone staring.
A policeman stood up. "Um - so. . . you don't need us to find them anymore?"
The small, strange, patch work group let out a series of laughs as the officers all looked on in confusion.
After much needed baths and dinner the boys all settled in the living room, something they didn't think they'd be doing again, with Selina, telling her the story as she listened with shock and Maven bustled about patching up Dick and Jason, Damian had already been checked and was now sitting cross-legged on the floor, forcing himself not to scratch the Band-Aids on his face.
"And then he let us go." Dick finished the story with a tired exhale as he leaned back into the couch. He skipped the part about Bruce Wayne being Batman though.
"Ow!" Jason huffed as Maven tightened a bandage around his arm.
"Don't you 'ow' me, mister. I can't believe you boys are as reckless as all this to. . . I told you you'd be a bad influence on them." She snapped at Selina crossly, having found her stern attitude again after all those emotions.
Selina's eyes sparkled at her. "I can't believe you boys are that good at it, and to work with Batman like that all so you could get. . . I - I am honestly not sure if I should ground you or reward you." She pushed back her loose dark hair and shook her head in disbelief.
"I really collected quiet the litter haven't I, Mave."
Maven shook her head and patted the now grumpy Jason on his. "That's one way to look at it. Soup, anyone?"
"Yes, please." Dick grinned as he shifted on the couch, Tim leaned against him sleepily.
"I'm just so happy you boys are alright and Damian. . . I'm sorry. . . about everything."
Damian shrugged. "It wasn't a total loss I suppose. . . I found out who my father was after all."
Selina took in a sharp breath. She still hadn't gotten over that fact in the slightest. How could a woman like that she-Demon. . . it boggled her mind that Batman would even stoop that low and-
"I've decided I don't really want to live with him." Damian continued, surprising her.
"But. . . if he's your real father Damian-"
"I know, perhaps he'll fight you for me. I'm not sure but I don't want to ruin - " His green eyes flashed over all of them. "- This."
Dick felt his throat clog up as he looked at the stoic little boy that had been forced to grow up too fast. He couldn't imagine his life without him. Without any of them.
He prayed Batman - Bruce Wayne wasn't going to try to break them.
Selina let out a sigh and bent down to hug the little boy. "We love you Damian, but if you want to live with your father, whoever he is, we have no right to stop you." She was trying to make him understand that he had a choice, no matter how painful it might be to them all.
Jason rolled his eyes and stood up. "Yah, yah, enough of this crap. I'm going to bed. Later." He waved them off and nearly stomped to his room, the door closing loud enough to be just short of a slam.
The others all looked at each other in confused silence.
"He's sad." Tim poke out suddenly in a small voice.
Selina looked at him and nodded worriedly. "I know. . . Give him time. Jason was never one to take emotions in so well."
Damian scoffed and stood up. "Why would he be sad for? We've all returned safely and alive and you're awake, why should he be upset?"
"Because Dami." Dick stood up and stretched. "He doesn't want you to leave. Which you might - eventually." He gave the little boy his own sad look. "None of us really want that but we aren't going to stop you if it ends up being what you want."
"You're all ridicules." Damian stood up too and turned away with a frown. "I've already decided. I won't leave. Just because we might be biologically connected doesn't mean he's more important then any of you." It seemed like the kid was forcing back a shake in his voice. "He'll never give me what I already have. End of discussion." With that, the kid attempted a snobby walk towards his room.
He just ended up looking like he was forcing back tears.
Dick wanted to go after him and squeeze all the love he could into him.
Selina smiled at them all.
"Welcome home boys."
"So, you gonna arrest them?" Barbara asked, leaning over the mans arm chair.
Bruce was trying to tune her and his thoughts out by reading. It wasn't working so well. Barbara had not stopped pestering him about the boys and Selina, who he found out was awake and well. He wasn't going to lie, that news may have made him a bit happy.
"C'mon Bruce, answer the question. You know who they are. Are you going to-"
He slammed the book shut. It echoed through the study as he stood up and looked at the persistent red haired girl who stared right back.
"If you're going to keep pushing this, I might as well tell you. No, I am not going to arrest any of them. Mostly because they're minors and-"
"You're crazy in love with Catwoman." She flashed him a teasing grin which he reciprocated with a scowl.
"And I don't want to ruin their lives. So I am going to offer them something else. And if they accept, then we will be well on our way to healing Gotham of five thieves." Bruce spoke as if he'd already planned for that very thing to happen. Barbara sucked in her cheeks as her eyes wandered in thought. "Sooo. . . what happens if they say no to whatever you're offering them?"
Bruce disappeared and Batman reared himself out as he leaned into the girls face menacingly.
"They won't say no, if they know what's good for them." With that he turned and walked away stoically.
Barbara grinned after him and shook her head. "As if."
Whatever Bruce had planned, Barbara was looking forward to it.
"Bruce Wayne wants what?" Selina stared at Mavens serious face as the red haired woman handed her, her expresso.
"You heard me. He wants you and your boys to meet him at his manor for lunch this afternoon."
Selina stared at her harder. Mind whirling as to why Bruce Wayne wanted to see them?
She hadn't heard from Bruce for a while, and she was up to her neck in social workers. It had only been a week since the whole fiasco and they wouldn't let up. She was deemed unfit to be a guardian of four boys by the state and they were fighting her. She had gathered the best lawyers in the city but...
There wasn't really much they could do.
The only thing that wasn't going down hill was her business. Somehow, thanks to the boys escapades and Mavens ridiculously hard work, she had rise back up while unconscious. It was a small mercy. . . but what was the point of her business if she couldn't have her boys?
"One O'clock." Maven was saying as she handed Selina a stack of paper work. "They'll be waiting for you."
"They?"
"He has a butler you know, and that pretty red haired girl. . . the commissioners girl, I think." Maven answered as she headed out of the office.
Selina stared after her in confusion.
Why would Bruce Wayne invite them all to a private lunch?
Something was off here. . . she had a strange feeling she knew what it was but she couldn't bring it to the forefront of her mind.
Oh well. . . a lunch date with Bruce Wayne. . . how exciting.
"It's a trap." Jason hissed as they all walked up the stairs to Bruce Wayne's manor.
After Selina had told them and insisted they dress nice, they'd all freaked out internally and almost rebelled. They knew who the man was. . . they didn't tell Selina. . . they were horrified that he'd changed his mind and was now luring them all in by acting all nice and businessman like so they would come unsuspecting and he'd sic his Gotham Police jerks on them.
Jason was so tense his jaw was clenched. Damian had turned himself into an emotionless statue that creepily minded them of Batman. Tim was distracting himself by reciting the periodic table from memory. Dick was forcing smiles to come out just so Selina wouldn't see how jumpy he was.
The old butler guy opened the door.
They all instinctively flinched as Selina smiled widely.
"Alfred. Lovely to see you." She shook the mans hand daintily as he bowed professionally.
"Likewise Ms. Kyle. And you as well young Masters."
Jason swore the old mans eyes were twinkling with teasing. He was mocking them. . . he totally was.
"Right this way, please, Master Bruce and Ms. Gordon are in the dining room awaiting your arrival."
They all followed behind Selina quietly and orderly, eyes darting everywhere, half expecting a swat team to burst through the walls and shoot tranquilizing darts at them.
"You boys alright?" Selina asked suddenly, making them all flinch again.
"Uh, yah, yah. . . no problems here. We're fine." Dick covered quickly, forcing an easy smile as he sweated under his polo sweater.
Her eyes analyzed them all for a moment before she decided to drop it and turned back to the butler.
They entered the dinning room faster then the boys would have liked.
Jason grabbed Dicks arm and yanked him subtly back. "We are so screwed, man." He hissed worriedly.
Dick nodded and smiled. "Oh yah." He whispered back through his teeth as they arrived at the table. Bruce Wayne, sitting there in all his dark glory and powerful form, smiled at them all. Barbara was sitting silently next to him, eyes down on her food. She didn't look at anyone.
Tim swallowed hard, his eyes huge. Damian couldn't look at the man without feeling a bit inferior. He didn't like that feeling.
"Welcome, all of you." The man stood up and, much to he chagrin of all the boys, kissed Selina on the cheek, surprising her. "Please, take a seat. Alfred's pasta is to die for, really."
That set all of the boys on edge.
Bruce noticed.
He smiled.
They all sat and stared at their spaghetti. It smelled amazing. Jason decided if Damian left, it would probably be because of this cooking.
Tim carefully picked up his fork and spun a neat spool of noodles as Selina smiled at Bruce. Damian didn't touch a thing, Dick was praying nothing was actually poisoned and bit into a garlic bread stick. Jason fought with his will power to not eat. . . gave in after a full minute and slurped everything down heartily.
Well, if it was poisoned at least it was a great last meal. . .
Barbara watched them all through the corner of her eyes and almost laughed. She hide it with a glass of water.
"So Bruce," Selina started, leaning on her elbows, fingers laced under her chin. "To what do we owe the honor of this invite?" She had that coy smile on her face. The one she used to get information out of people.
Bruce Wayne's eyes flickered as he set his fork down and looked at the beautiful woman. "Other then wanting to spend time with you and your spectacular boys?"
She laughed prettily at that.
Bruce grinned, "actually I want to tell you something." His eyes flickered to the staring boys, ". . . if you'll follow me for a moment."
All the boys instantly stiffened and glared at the man, who very easily ignored them and held out a hand to Selina who took it rather bashfully.
"Be right back boys." Mr. Wayne flashed them another disorienting smile as he lead their mother figure away.
Alfred cleared his throat. "Would anyone care for dessert?"
Nobody answered. They were all to busy mentally debating if they should follow after them or not. Alfred took that as a 'yes' and headed towards the kitchen.
Barbara couldn't take it anymore.
"Oh, cut it out you guys. If anyone should be suspicious it's us." She stabbed a tomato in her salad and laughed at them.
Dick looked at her, for the first time since they'd walked in. "We aren't killers, Barbara."
"Yes, but you steal from innocent people." She countered a bit harshly.
Jason snorted. "Innocent, right. Jerks who have money coming out of their ass' and can't spare a dime for a starving kid they pass everyday on their way to make more money."
That made Barbara tense a bit. "Stealing is stealing. . ."
"Barbara." Dicks face was serious. Very serious. She wasn't sure she liked it. "We stole because our family was in jeopardy. We didn't hurt anyone really and I don't know if you'll get it but, for kids who didn't have much before until we all came together because of Selina. . .we're willing to do anything to keep us this way. Thankfully it didn't require hurting anyone. We just. . ."
"We didn't want to fall apart." Tim finished for them all.
"Because this is all we got." Jason continued, refusing to back down as he crossed his arms defiantly.
Damian nodded. "It's all we've ever had. . . as nauseating as that sounds."
Dick smiled, for real this time. "Can't you see how much we mean to each other, Babs? I couldn't let them be taken away because Selina's business was falling apart because of some rich sharks that don't care about anything except money. . . I couldn't let them go. Ok."
Barbara felt her heart ache just a bit for these four lost little boys. Her brain was insisting they were still wrong. Which was true. . . but her heart understood. Family was the most important thing to them. . . she respected that.
"I get it, still though-"
Dick grinned. "Yah. . . still."
Their eyes connected for a moment and they forgot everyone else. Barbara relished in the jumpy butterflies as his hand reached across the table and slid over hers, warm and comfortable.
She liked that feeling a lot.
Loud, irritating kissing sounds snapped them out of their trance.
Dick glared as Jason made obnoxious sounds and Tim snickered loudly as Damian imitated a gag.
"Oh, don't stop on our account, no really." Jason mocked, fluttering his surprisingly long lashes at them.
Tim's snickers turned to full laughs. "We'll find Brain Bleach somewhere." He teased through his giggles.
Damian smirked. "You look like breeding fish."
That did it. Barbara blushed and started laughing somewhat embarrassed. Dick glared daggers and itched to throw his salad plate at his irritating younger brothers as they laughed at him.
"Shut up. All of you! Geez, wait until you guys have a crush, I am so paying you back!"
"I'm your crush?" Barbara tittered, eyes fluttering, flirty.
Dick stuttered and blushed.
They all laughed harder as Alfred watched them all silently, tray of ice cream bowls in his hands and a gentle smile on his face.
Master Bruce might have had the right idea after all.
Selina couldn't believe what she was staring at.
The Batcave. . . the Goddamn Batcave!
She was standing in it. . . after walking through a moving clock and - and-
"Bruce?" Her eyes searched him, trying to picture the man in Kevlar and pointy ears. . . surprisingly, it wasn't that hard. That was - kind of terrifying.
"You-you're - what?" She was trying to process how this man, and the Bat were one and the same and she. . .had the hots for the Bat and growing affections for - she needed to sit down.
"Going to run out screaming?" He spoke finally as she shook her head in disbelief.
"No. . . I just - didn't expect - I mean -" She blinked a bit. "- I think I might have known, the boys story. . . that means-" Her heart started pattering louder. "You're Damian's-"
"Father. Yes. I am. I'm only angered that I didn't know sooner." He answered stiffly.
She gulped in air and frowned. "Are you blaming me for that?" He better not be. . .
"No!" He looked at her, shock actually showing on his ridiculously handsome face. "No, I'm not. I blame Talia and - it isn't your fault. Actually, I'm grateful you took him in the first place." He walked closer to her, she didn't' move. "I can only imagine the guilt I'd feel if I found him after they were done training him. . . a savage, assassin without any feelings or morals or-"
"You're welcome." She smiled softly, appreciating this broken mans confession of gratitude.
His eyes connected to hers and she forced back a shiver. "That's why I wanted to offer you something. That's why I showed you. . . I know about your boys and what they've been up to and. . . Catwoman-"
She sighed and crossed her arms. "You're going to threaten jail if they don't stop right?" Figures. Batman always put the law first.
And she was really liking him too. . . Both of him.
"No, I want to give you something instead. I've recently come across your social workers problem."
She sneered. "Bastards don't know when to quit. If they think they're taking away my boys-"
"They won't."
She looked at him in surprise. "What?" What was he saying? He couldn't mean-
"I've taken care of it. But that's not what I wanted to tell you." He placed a hand on her arm and pulled her a bit closer. Selina felt herself heat up as she looked up into the mans crystalline blue eyes.
"I want to make a proposition." He said, voice dropping a notch right above Batman level.
"Yes?" She looked at him slyly, hand pressing against his chest. Putting on the flirty look she was so good at, even though he made her feel like nobody else could, a ridiculous teenaged girl in real love for the first time.
"I want you and the boys to live with me."
Selina's heart tattooed itself against her ribs as he bent down slightly and pressed his lips to hers.
The woman practically jumped right back and kissed him harder, liquid heat pooling and rushing throughout her body as she took him in.
Took both of him in.
"I spy with my little eye. . . something old." Tim droned, they were all lazily scattered around the sitting room, waiting for Selina and Bruce to come back.
Jason snickered. "Alfred."
"Better watch yourself Master Jason, I'm not so old as to be unable to deliver swift punishment to rude little boys."
That got everyone but Jason laughing as the boy blushed, his ears red and mumbling apologies.
"You know what Alfred." Dick grinned at the older man. "You're pretty cool."
"Yah, anyone who raised and tolerated the Batman has to be awesome." Tim smiled as he sat up.
Alfred remained poised. "I will accept your compliments young sirs. But there will be no more cookies." He stated flatly.
They all groaned as Barbara laughed at them, she was laying her head on Dicks lap as they talked, she looked incredibly comfortable, her hair splayed all over the boys black jeaned legs.
"Stop laughing at our misery." Jason snapped, lamenting the loss of the butlers cookies.
Barbara laughed harder. "Oh guys, you're so whipped already. You know the cookies is how Alfred gets whoever to do whatever he wants." She teased as the Butler pretended not to hear her.
Tim ginned. "Totally understandable."
"Yah it's like-"
"Boys."
Everyone sat straighter as they all turned their attention to Selina standing in the arched entrance with suspiciously mussed hair and incredibly bright eyes.
Bruce stood beside her, hand resting all too comfortably on her shoulder to please the boys.
"You ok?" Dick asked instantly, trying to decipher the situation.
Selina smiled wider. "Better than ok boys, I have something to tell you."
Jason groaned. "Please don't say you're pregnant or something."
Tim smacked his arm for that. Dick would have done it but he was too far for it to be dramatic.
Bruce's eyebrow rose in slight surprise at them as Selina laughed.
"No, no, nothing that life changing." She glanced at the tall man next to her. "Yet."
Damian froze. "What?" He refused to look at the older man, keeping his eyes firmly on his guardian.
Barbara even sat up, eyes searching Bruce's face for answers which it didn't give, obviously. The man was incredibly good at pretending to be a statue.
Selina took in a deep breath and sat down on the armrest of the love seat. "Mr. Wayne here has. . ." She looked at the man again.
Dick felt odd looking at her smile like that, his stomach tightened. She was practically glowing. . . weird as that sounded. Selina never glows. Not because of a man anyway. What the hell?
Jason's fists balled as Tim tensed a little and wiggled in attempt to shake the tension off. Damian looked like - like Bruce. Except smaller and angrier.
"He's asked me to come live with him. And to become his permanent business partner." She finished.
Barbara sat up ram rod straight, eyes shooting fireworks at Bruce. "That's great!" She exclaimed. "Now you don't need to steal -" She cut off and smacked her hand over her mouth. Idiot. . . so, so stupid! Bruce was going to kill her!
Selina laughed. "Oh, don't worry hon. I already know." She gave her boys a sly smirk.
They all deflated instantly, as if her knowing the secret had untied them from some invisible pole that was keeping them so stiff.
"If you know. . . then - then why would you consider something like that?" Dick asked dully.
"Dick," The beautiful woman placed a gentle hand in her Kittens hair. "You know why."
Jason gagged. Tim blushed and Damian looked irritated.
Dick just sighed. "What about us?"
"I swear if this guy thinks he's taking you away from us -" Jason started, punching a fist into his hand with a glare that actually impressed Batman.
"No, don't worry Jason. I would never ask Selina to choose between you and me. Never." Bruce answered, hand on his chest as if to say 'I give you my word'.
Selina smiled again. "He's asking if we all will move in with him."
Stunned silence met these words.
Alfred let out a tired sigh.
The boys all looked at each other in shock and uncertainty.
Finally Damian looked up with suspicion lacing his fierce eyes. "Why?"
Bruce knelt down to the boys level so easily it actually surprised them how such a big man could do that. "Damian," He placed a large warm hand on the boys small shoulder, "I'm truly sorry I didn't know about you until now. But that doesn't give me a right to ask you to leave your family for me. So I want to take all of you in." He gave the boy a strangely warm smile.
"Besides," His eyes twinkled as they looked up at Alfred, "I've been told I've been missing out on not having a family anyway."
"Very true sir." Alfred nodded in approval.
Barbara took Dick's hand. "Well. . . what do you guys say?" She silently prayed they would pick Bruce. Please pick Bruce.
Dick looked at Jason. Jason looked at Tim. Tim glanced at Damian. Selina waited, watching all of them.
Finally they all turned their eyes to Bruce.
Dick spoke first. "Is this what you want, Selina?" He asked softly.
She smiled. "Doesn't matter. It's all for you boys. I promise, whatever you want. It's your choice." She was giving them a chance to say no. A choice. Choice was something she never had when she was their age.
Dick bit his lip. "I'd be ok with it. Jay?"
Jason shrugged. "Don't expect me to become an angle or something. . . but yah, whatever."
Tim grinned suddenly, his face looked like it would split. "Yes! I'm great with it. This would help everyone, Selina will have a more stable business, the social workers will leave us alone and-" And we'll live in the same place as my hero!, "- and we don't have to steal anymore." He finished a little giddy.
All eyes turned to Damian. The little boy hadn't taken his eyes off Bruce yet, as opposed to avoiding looking at the man.
"Damian?" Selina coxed a bit.
The little boy let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine. I don't care really, just that Drake won't stop whining if I don't say yes."
They all laughed much to the child's chagrin, Dick ruffled his hair and earned a scowl, Jason punched the kid playfully in his arm and Tim flicked his head.
Selina turned to Bruce. "Well. . . looks like you've just got yourself five extra house guests. I hope Alfred's ok with that?"
"Quite alright Ms. Kyle." Alfred looked calm and collected as always. Bruce knew he was beaming.
Heck he felt pretty good too. Bruce Wayne hadn't felt this light in. . . since he was eight years old.
Selina turned and placed a kiss on his jaw. "In that case, consider us permanent."
The boys all agree and turn to Bruce with questioning looks.
"So are you like what? Our dad now?" Tim asked out.
Dick shook his head, "No, can't be, Selina adopted us, he didn't."
"He's technically my father." Damian pointed out, unclenching now.
Jason snorted. "Poor you."
Bruce smirked. "One step at a time boys. One step at a time."
"Hey. . . what about Aunt Maven?" Tim blurted out, "Are you inviting her too?"
"Of course."
Everybody laughed and the boys decided if Selina could look this happy then maybe becoming permanent guests at Batman's house wouldn't be so bad after all. Besides. . he had awesome toys which they were so going to - borrow.
Three weeks later and they all had things settled.
Selina had signed a partnership with Wayne enterprises, her company was holding stronger than ever. She rented out her penthouse and tied up all her loose ends. After a grueling wait, the social workers finally backed off and she had the boys wrapped up and ready to go.
The move had been rather effortless, but noisy.
First came the fight over who got which room where. Then it was about school, if they'd move or stay in Gotham academy. They ended up staying. Then came the rules. . . God, Selina wasn't sure the boys would be able to handle all of Alfred's rules.
Remarkably, they lasted the week and actually seemed to enjoy the older man. And Bruce. . . he was rarely around but when he was she noticed the effort he made to get into their lives.
He laughed at Dicks jokes. He helped Tim with computer mechanics. He attempted to bond emotionally with Damian and he taught Jason how to use a bow which the boy loved.
All in all. . . the man was easily melting into the boys hearts and she loved that very much. She felt as if a huge hole inside her that she didn't know she had was filled up with the idea and reality of having a family.
And even though Bruce was just her boyfriend at the moment. . . it really felt like a family.
Maven moved in too.
Surprisingly the no nonsense secretary kicked it off very well with Alfred. They both bonded over years of servitude to spoiled rich people. Selina laughed and asked what Maven found in common with the elderly man.
Maven had said he reminded her of her late grandfather. It warmed her heart to be close to someone like that again.
Selina loved this. All of this, so much.
And she knew neither her nor her boys would have things any other way.
It wasn't for the first time she's thought about how lucky she was to have taken that little sad circus boy and help him grow into a laughing acrobat with a heart bigger then anything. Or how lucky she was to have found that scrawny rough and tough street kid taking Batman's tires and let him grow into a young man with a future. How fortune smiled on her when she found kidnapped lost child without any knowledge of love and helped nurture him with several hearts to help him grow and teach him to love back. How lucky she'd been to escape Al Ghul and take the wonderfully talented little boy that would have become twisted and ruined if Al Ghul had kept him and gave him a choice to grow the way he wanted to.
She loved them. With all their mistakes and flaws and quirks. She never knew this was what fate had in store for her, and for the first time in all her life she realized, as she watched Dick laugh, Jason tease, Tim snicker, Damian scowl, that starting of a little girl that came from nothing only to grow up and give shelter to these young boys was the best thing to ever happen to her.
This was what she'd wanted all her life. A family, something she's never had. Couldn't have ever foreseen for herself.
And now. . . it was hers.
They were hers.
Her family.
On the other side of the city Barbara Gordon was walking to her fathers room for the millionth time since his accident. She felt very odd and shaky today. She hadn't been getting much sleep but that was mostly because Dick insisted on late night tutoring. . .
She smiled sleepily as she remembered how little actual work they got done last night. Kisses and cuddles were quickly becoming her favorite thing in life. She just wished she could tell her Dad about Dick.
She was pretty sure she was a little bit more then crushing on the adorkable boy by now.
She walked into the room. The heart monitor flat lined. She jumped and instantly panicked.
"Dad!" Se screamed, tears already brimming. No! NO! He can't be -
Commissioner Gordon groaned as he sat up dizzily, connecting wires bunched in his hand. "Someone get me an aspirin and a whole lot of beer. And where are my glasses?"
Barbara burst into tears and ran to her father and hugged him, tight. But not tight enough to make him pass out. "Daddy! Oh my God, I am so glad - you - I - I thought you'd never wake up." She sobbed into her fathers light blue medical shirt.
The greying man let out a relieved sigh and rubbed circles into his daughters back. "I'm here Barb, I'm not going anywhere."
She pulled away, face red and tears streaming down it as her lower lip trembled. "Oh Daddy."
Jim cupped his daughters face and smiled, his face hurt from lack of movement, but he gave her the best smile he could muster. "Nothing can keep your old man down. You know that." He rasped, voice horse from disuse.
She hiccupped and nodded. "I missed you so much." She gave him a watery smile and wanted nothing more then to hug him forever.
"I'm pretty sure I missed you too sweetheart." Jim brushed her hair aside. "But uh - I'm afraid I have a couple of blanks in the old memory bank. You're gonna have to fill them in."
Barbara laughed gently, so happy to see her father awake and well, a little thin, but she planned on fixing that.
She spent the entire afternoon telling her father what he's missed, minus the vigilante and life threatening stuff. She rattled on about Bruce Wayne, she warmly told her father about Dick Grayson, which he gave her a skeptical look on, she hastily recounted her adventures with Alfred and Ms. Kyle and her Boys and basically informed him about what all of Gotham already knew about Bruce Wayne sudden new family.
Within a few hours the doctors deemed Jim Gordon healthy and alive much to their surprise, he'd be released tomorrow.
Barbara Gordon was incredibly happy and now firmly believed that perhaps Gotham wasn't all horrible and could churn out miracles after all.
Thanks a million for all of your support, reviews, Favoring's, Following .. everything.
When I started off this story I didn't think it would get so popular, like the thought didn't even cross my mind. I love Batman and all things related to him, that's why I love this fandom, and you all make me feel so included and I'm just really thankful for everything.
Thanks again, I can never say it enough.
Now I'm tearing up . . .
But don't despair completely. There's an epilogue coming up. Just an extra treat. I hope you all loved this story as much as I loved writing it.
Tata for now my lovely fellow readers/writers/Batman fans!