A/N - 99 reviews guys. You're awesome! Who'll push it over the edge to the triple digits?
I hope that you enjoy this chapter. I rewrote it probably three times because I wasn't satisfied. I don't want to give you guys something that I know is not the best that I could do. Besides, the beautiful weather called Spring has finally arrived. Seriously...we had one day at the end of April where we had a thunderstorm, sleet, and snow all in one day! Not cool, Spring. And then it jumped up 20 degrees and we were living in the mid-twenty Celsius' for the past week. It's heaven!
So, sorry for the delay - but there are my reasons - perfectionism and the weather. I guess it could be worse. :)
The clowns seemed to keep coming.
Batman had managed to get down fifteen floors below the executive floor and found where the bomb was being set up, but also found a group of Joker's men with the man himself.
"Kill him," Joker said darkly as one after another, the clowns attempted to beat on Batman.
With the only light coming from the outside window, Batman no longer had the element of surprise within the darkness. He could hear Joker giggle as he heard Batman cry out when one of the clown's knives happened to pierce his suit.
"Again!" Joker exclaimed happily.
To his dismay, Batman grabbed ahold of the clown's leg and twisted it with an audible crack, causing the guy to fall to the floor in a thud.
When he suddenly heard Alfred's voice in his ear, it took a moment for Batman to process what he was being told.
"I'm sorry to bother you sir, but you need to get back to Emily right away. Frankly, she's going to have the baby without you if you don't get back to your office soon."
Batman grunted, knowing that this was a possibility when he left her with Mr. Fox.
He grabbed another clown by the neck and punched him in the face, sending him to the ground before he spoke again, loud enough for Alfred to hear.
"How much time to do I have?"
"I'm not certain," Alfred replied. "Lucius tells me that her contractions aren't stopping anymore. Dr. Dravis says that she could have anywhere from a few minutes to an hour."
Batman looked over at the remaining clowns as they strategically stood in a row in front of him, each wielding either a metal chain, knife or metal rod. Behind them, Joker stood, eyeing him menacingly.
He quickly made up his mind.
Batman slowly backed up towards the window and quickly reached for a device on his belt. He tossed it at the glass, before giving it a swift kick. Shards of glass fell to the police blocked street below. He quickly turned and shot a grappler towards the rooftop of Wayne Tower before he disappeared from view.
Slightly disappointed, Joker pushed past his clowns and sauntered up to the window before glancing up where Batman had disappeared to. He licked his lips and smiled.
The window suddenly broke open as a blast of cold wind blew into the office. Batman landed on the ground behind his desk and instantly saw Emily standing with her head and arms resting against the wall. She didn't even pay him any attention. He paused, watching as she breathed deeply, swaying side to side. Her hair was dishevelled and a sheen of sweat was on her face.
Gently, he touched her shoulder to get her attention.
"Don't. Touch. Me," she growled, after she took each breath.
He turned to Mr. fox standing a few feet behind him.
"She wouldn't let me help her either. The contractions are almost non-stop now. I don't think she's getting a break between them anymore."
Batman pulls off his gloves and cowl, dropping them onto his desk before running his hands through his hair.
"I can't get her out of the building right now," Bruce said, looking over at Emily as she moaned and grunted against the pain afflicting her body. "We're going to have to stay here until the baby is born."
Lucius nodded, turning his attention to Emily before glancing back to Bruce.
"I don't suppose you have any experience in delivering babies."
"No," Bruce replied, reaching for the earwig that he knew was still sitting in his ear. "But I do know someone who would."
"Alfred, can you still hear me?"
"Yes sir. Loud and clear."
"Is Bill with you?"
"He is. What's going on?"
"I'm going to need his help."
After quickly speaking with Bill and Alfred, Bruce passed his earwig to Lucius for the man to be directed on supplies to gather from around Bruce's office. Bruce turned back to Emily and slowly walked up to her. Carefully, he placed his hand on her back.
"I can't do this anymore," she suddenly said. The strong woman that he knew was no where to be found. Bruce then realized that she had been crying during the contractions and was beginning to sob. The stress, pain and exhaustion were finally bringing her to her breaking point.
"This hurts so much. I'm so scared."
She pushed herself off the wall and wrapped her arms around Bruce's neck. He returned the embrace and could feel the sweat and heat radiating off of her.
"I'm not leaving you," he said softly. "I'm staying right here."
As another contraction suddenly gripped her body, Bruce felt her tense up as she slowly bent over resting her head against his chest while she held onto his arms.
"Relax your muscles," he told her calmly.
"Bruce, there is no way in hell that I can relax!" she growled back at him. "I want to go to the hospital so I can have drugs! Then, maybe I could relax!"
"Em, we're not going to a hospital," Bruce said.
She nodded, tears in her eyes as she watched Lucius search around the room, speaking softly to Bill and Alfred over Bruce's earwig.
"I know," she said, calming her breathing. "That's what scares me. This entire labour has not been textbook! This is my first baby. I should be in labour for hours, maybe even days. Besides, I'm not even due for another three weeks! This is not normal! I need..."
Emily paused, and looked up at Bruce wide-eyed before glancing down at the floor between them.
"What is it?" Bruce asked, instantly concerned at her change in demeanor.
She looked back up at him.
"My water just broke."
It took a second for her body to verify that fact when a strong contraction tore through her body once again, but this time it felt different. Her legs nearly gave out from under her as she cried out in pain. Bruce quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding Emily up against him as she gripped onto his armoured forearms as tightly as she could.
"Oh my god," Emily managed to cry out, as she grabbed ahold of her stomach. "Bruce, I have to push!"
"No! Not yet! Emily, don't push," Bruce told her, as he helped her to the ground.
"Lucius!" he called out.
He turned to find Lucius right beside him with a small stack of towels, his own suit jacket, box cutters and shoelaces. The man quickly passed Bruce the earwig and he placed it back into his ear.
"Bill?"
"I'm here, Bruce."
"You're going to have to walk me through this, because Emily isn't in the right frame of mind to tell me what to do right now," he said aloud, watching Emily's face as she breathed quickly with her eyes shut. "She's wanting to push."
Alfred listened to Bruce's voice fill the area of the cave where him and Bill sat in front of computer screens. If he didn't know any better, he was certain he heard fear in Bruce's voice. It was minimal, but it was there.
"That's all right," Bill told him, calmly. "Tell her to. I want you to check to see if you can feel anything."
Bruce told Emily to push before he reached between her legs. As she cried out from the intense pain, Bill and Alfred could still hear Bruce's words.
"I feel the head," he said aloud and somewhat astonished.
"Now, put your hand against it and you'll put the other hand under it," Bill said louder for Bruce to hear. "Don't pull the baby. Emily will take care of that."
Bruce looked at Emily's face as she grimaced while she pushed. She would pause for a brief few seconds to catch her breath before going right back to pushing.
"Emily, you're doing it," he told her, before looking down at the baby slowly being born. Bruce smiled, catching the first glimpse of the baby's face. "Keep going! Go!"
As Emily's grunting and cries echoed within his office, Bruce watched as his child came into the world and into his hands.
Alfred stood, waiting with bated breath as he listened and waited for those first newborn cries.
Bruce listened to Bill's instructions intently as the baby began to cry in front of him. Emily leaned forward as best as she could, eagerly anticipating the first sight. Lucius crouched down next to Emily and placed his suit jacket on top of her. With a smirk, Bruce looked over at Emily as he picked up the crying newborn within his two hands and put the baby on top of Lucius' jacket.
Emily and Lucius pulled the edges of the coat around the small body while the baby slowly calmed her crying. She tried to absorb as much of that moment as possible, trying to etch it forever in her memory. The softness of the newborn skin, the dark hair on the baby's head, the smallness of the hands and even the way her lips pouted just seconds before she would let out a soft wail, protesting the coldness of the new world around her. To the baby's satisfaction, her uncontrollable hand appeared beside her face and she turned towards it, happily and loudly sucking on her fist.
When Alfred heard the sudden silence, a fear welled up within him.
"Is everything all right?"
Bruce smiled, looking at the baby; his daughter, in Emily's arms.
"Everything is fine," Bruce replied. "She's all right."
"She?" Alfred suddenly inquired. "Are you talking about Emily or the baby?"
Bruce nodded and sat back, watching Emily as she placed a kiss on the baby's forehead.
"Yeah, it's a girl. And she's beautiful, Alfred."
"I wouldn't have doubted that one bit. I can't wait to meet her."
"Call Leslie," Bruce said as he pushed himself up to stand. "Let her know that I'm going to be bringing Emily in to Dent Memorial."
Emily quickly looked up at Bruce and shook her head.
"Bruce, I'm fine," Emily stated. "I don't feel too bad. I'd rather just get out of here and go home."
Bruce looked at her, realizing the real reason behind her wanting to avoid the hospital. Her encounter earlier with Joker brought back her anxiety from years ago.
Finally, he nodded. He turned and pressed the earwig in his ear.
"On second thought, see if Leslie can make a house call," he said, reaching for his cowl and gloves.
"Very well sir," Alfred said. "I'll anticipate your arrival within the hour."
"Thanks Alfred," Bruce said, pulling the cowl over his head. "And Bill, thank you."
"My pleasure, Bruce."
Emily looked down at the baby resting quietly against her chest, eyes open and simply listening. Batman crouched down beside them and placed a large gloved hand over the small head. There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to have that moment that every new father cherishes and hold his daughter, but that wouldn't be happening.
"We have to go," he said, softly. "Joker is somewhere in the building with a bomb and I need to get you out of here. Are you able to walk?"
Emily nodded silently before reaching under the baby and suit jacket to pass the small bundle up to Batman. He looked down momentarily at the baby in his arms, noting her dark eyes opening to look around.
"Surprisingly, I feel really good," she commented as she pushed herself up to stand, holding onto Batman's free arm for support. "I'm not ready to run a marathon, but I'll be able to manage."
Lucius appeared at her other side, taking her arm before walking over to the door. Batman looked over at him.
"The elevator down to R&D, would it work with main power down?"
"R&D and the elevator are hooked up to a different power network than the rest of the Wayne Tower," Lucius said. "As long as they didn't shut it down with the main power, then technically it should still be operational."
"That will be our way out," Batman said, before he looked down at the baby in his arms. He pulled the large suit jacket closer around her so that her face was barely visible. Gently, he handed the baby back to Emily.
He pulled open the door and peered into the dark hallway. A sudden flash of light and he quickly ducked back as a stream of bullets hit the thick door. Emily held the baby close to her and ducked down. The sudden movement and noise caused the baby to begin to whimper in her arms.
Emily peered inside at the baby covered by the coat and gently touched her face, trying to calmly quiet her.
Batman reached to his belt and pulled out three small pellets.
"Wait here," he told them. "I'll call you when it's safe to come out."
Once again, he pulled open the door and tossed the pellets out into the darkness. They could hear the hissing of the smoke being released from the pellets as Batman slipped back out into the hallway.
From within the office, Emily and Lucius could hear the shouts of a man before the sound completely disappeared.
"Go!" Batman called out.
Lucius opened the door and together, him and Emily made their way through the darkness and down the hallway towards his office.
Batman could see them making their way down the hallway and was even certain he heard a baby's cry. As he turned, he was met with a fist punching him in the side. It caught him off guard but he quickly turned and grabbed the man clowns arm, hearing it audibly crack as the man cried out. Batman shifted his gaze, ensuring that Emily and Lucius were all right just as another man with a tightly fit nylon on his face jumped at him, holding a knife in his hand. The man managed to cut Batman along his forearm, causing him to cry out. He quickly turned and saw someone coming at Emily from the corner of his eye. Batman swiftly punched his attacker in the face, sending him to the ground before running towards Emily.
She saw him coming at her, a knife in hand. With her arms full, and not in the best shape for fighting back, she turned away holding the baby close to her as Lucius backed up. Emily braced herself, while hearing the baby cry softly in her arms. But nothing happened.
Batman lunged forward as the man attacked and grabbed his arm before kicking him in the chest. He was angry and it showed as he punched the man in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Turning to Emily, he grabbed onto her arm.
"Come on!" he urged, pulling her along towards Lucius' office.
Once inside, Lucius ran towards his desk. He reached under the top drawer and prayed that it would open the hidden door.
Slowly, the shelving unit slide to the side revealing an elevator door opening. Batman literally shoved Emily into it before turning to Lucius beside her.
"Get them out of here," he told him.
As Emily heard those words, she put her free hand on the elevator door, preventing it from moving.
"No!" she exclaimed. "I'm not going to leave you again."
"Emily, you have to get out of here now," Batman growled, growing impatient and anxious at the same time. "Go with Mr. Fox. I'll come back to you later when this is over."
He turned and began to walk out of the office. She was shocked and suddenly angry. Quickly, she placed her newborn into Lucius surprised arms before taking a step out of the elevator.
"I'm not going to let you leave us again!" she called out. "You have your daughter to think about now!"
Batman stopped and turned, irritated that she wasn't following his direction. He turned on his heel and stalked right up to her.
"Emily, I am thinking about her and I'm telling you to get in the damn elevator," he growled, standing inches in front of her.
To any bystander, they would be surprised and even fearful to see a woman stand her ground in front of someone as intimidating as Batman.
"Not without you," she quickly retorted, determination in her eyes.
As he paused, he watched as tears formed in her eyes.
"This place could explode at any moment and this is the last place that I would want you both to be," he said, softly. "Please, get in the elevator."
Emily reached forward and took his hand. This time when she looked back at him, something behind him caught her eye. Batman not only noticed that, but also noticed her expression change. Her eyes seemed to reveal the sudden panic within her.
"Look out!" she exclaimed as Joker fired his gun at them, shattering the glass panels lining the doorway to Lucius' office.
Batman shoved Emily to the floor upon hearing the gunshots and the glass shattering. He grunted, feeling the impact of the bullet hitting the Kevlar on his back.
Emily turned her head, extremely anxious to see where Lucius and her newborn baby was. She let out a sigh of relief when she noticed him hiding behind his desk with the baby in his arms, wailing away.
Suddenly, it was over. All that could be heard was the soft crying of a newborn.
Joker looked down at his rifle in his hand and shrugged, somewhat confused and irritated that he was out of ammunition so soon.
Batman looked over his shoulder to where Joker stood in the hallway and watched as the deranged man tossed the empty gun to the side before feeling his pockets. He suddenly smiled, feeling the familiar box in his pant pocket.
"I'm so glad that you're here to experience this Batman," he called out. "Consider this a gift."
To Batman's horror, he watched as the Joker pressed the button on the small box. Instantly, the ground beneath them began to rumble as a high pressure wave blew through the building, knocking them to the floor and blowing out the windows and every piece of glass within Wayne Tower.
As quickly as it began, it was once again silent.
Batman turned towards the dusted hallway and saw that Joker had disappeared. Lucius stood up and passed the crying baby back to Emily before he raced over to the elevator.
"The power is down," he said aloud.
Batman looked out of the broken window, watching as smoke began to float up past the opening. He quickly walked over to it and looked down, seeing flames pouring out of the windows at least a dozen floors below them. Lucius was at his side, covering his own nose and mouth from the thick smoke that pillowed past.
"This is a problem," Lucius said.
"I brought the bat," Batman told him, as he pressed a button on his belt.
Emily walked up to the window as the loud engine of the bat grew louder with its approach. Smoke around the window dispersed with the large turbine engines that swirled it around.
They watched as the bat maneuvered itself beside the open window and steadily hovered in one place. Emily looked down at the baby in her arms, looking back up at her, listening intently to the strange sound. Quickly, she covered the baby's face with the jacket and handed her to Batman.
Batman looked out to the bat, aiming to jump onto the outer edge of it. He held tightly onto his precious cargo in his arms, becoming more cautious than he would have if he was doing it alone. The thought of knowing that he was jumping across a three foot span with his newborn daughter in his arms was far more daunting than he realized.
With a deep breath, he jumped and landed safely onto the bat. He gently placed the newborn on the seat before turning back, holding his hand out to Emily. She watched him, not willing to look down at the city street far below them and instead reached for his hand. Lucius followed behind as smoke continued to pour out of the building.
Smoke filled the sky above Gotham city. News travelled fast that something had happened within Wayne Tower, and although most of the building remained structurally intact, it wasn't safe to climb to the higher floors. Most of the windows had blown out and it was possible to look up within the building in some places and see up at least five floors. Fire fighters from around the city were on the scene, using their ladders and hoses to extinguish fires that had erupted on the higher floors.
From a distance, Joker watched from within a helicopter as it moved further and further away from the city downtown core. A sinister smile remained on his face as the helicopter finally landed across town and he effectively shot and killed the pilot before exiting the chopper. His evil mind replayed what he had seen and heard moments before he pressed that single button in Wayne Tower.
A baby's cry.
"You have your daughter to think about now!"
It was starting to make sense.
That damn pregnant woman from the board room was pregnant with Batman's baby. If he had only known that she was in labour, he would have killed her the moment he walked into the board room. He was suddenly glad that he hadn't.
Upon hearing those words and watching that simple exchange between them, it didn't take a brain surgeon to realize that this woman was more than just the mother of his child. This woman just also happened to be the same woman he had seen on covers of magazines holding onto another man's hand; Bruce Wayne's. Joker let out a snickering laugh as he sauntered away from the helicopter.