There are many things one would hope to see while on a much needed vacation from work and the stresses of everyday life: beautiful beaches, tropical forests, delicious foods. One thing not on that list: your boyfriend's ex-fiance- which is why Diana Prince found herself staring at the woman besides the table she and Bruce sat at, her hands curled into fists as she tried to fight the anger building inside. Bruce, however, let his anger clearly show, staring at the woman with furrowed eyebrows as one of his hands held Diana's thigh so tight she worried it might bruise.
"What are you doing here, Selina?" Bruce asked once more, and Diana could only sit and stare at him in shock. The disdain for this woman was evident in his voice. She could tell it was taking all of his self control not to get up and walk away, and for good reason. Selina had humiliated him in one of the worst ways possible, deciding to leave him without a word days before their wedding.
Diana gently placed her hand over Bruce's, letting him know he needed to calm down, offering the man a small smile when he laced their fingers together under the table, hoping his ex-fiance would not see the small display of affection. Unfortunately, she had, and it had caused her to erupt in a fit of laughter. "Is this the new flavor of the month, Bruce?" she asked, eyeing Diana hard.
Bruce said nothing as he gave Diana's hand a small squeeze, letting her know he would handle things, before he unlaced their fingers and stood from his seat. "I wish I could say it was nice to see you Selina, but after what you did, it was better never having to run into you. And what I'm doing here is no longer your concern. You left me, remember?"
Selina only glanced at Bruce, watching as the hard lines in his face returned as he clenched his jaw, trying to keep himself from saying anymore out of anger. She had expected him to be angry, but he had never been this forward, this irate. She didn't know whether to be concerned or aroused - either way, she wasn't going to stand there and take it, especially in front of his newest conquest. "Bruce," she began, "Have you not gotten over that? It's been years. Besides, it looks like you're back to your old ways," she said, nodding over to Diana.
Diana, who had remained quiet during this interaction, only stood from her seat, glaring at Selina, anger in her eyes. While she had appreciated not having to decline Bruce's offer to move into the manor once more, she had not been happy to see the one woman who had more history with the father of her child than anyone else in the world; it worried her what Selina's return could do to their relationship. Not to mention that now someone had seen Bruce out with another woman, someone who didn't feel any kind of need to keep the secrecy. Had the clock on their secret relationship finally run out? Without a word Diana walked away from the table, suddenly feeling the need to get some fresh air.
Bruce watched Diana walk away and quickly stepped after her, stopping only when Selina stepped in front of him and placed her hand on his chest. "Bruce," she began.
Bruce quickly stopped her, grabbing her wrist and taking it off his chest, before he looked her in the eye. "Don't make a scene," he warned, although he knew she would never do that. She hated the attention almost as much as Diana did, and with a few curious eyes starting to look their way, he knew he would soon have his opportunity to walk away from her without any further complications.
"I need to talk to you," Selina said, once again trying to get him to communicate with her. When she had heard Bruce would be here, Selina had thought it would be the perfect way to get him alone, maybe apologize and see if they could work things out. Granted, when she had left the first time, it had mainly been because she wasn't ready for marriage, and maybe she still wasn't, but she definitely missed having Bruce in her life, and in her bed. When she had heard he had been there with a woman, she knew her task of getting Bruce to forgive her would be a little more complex, but it wouldn't be impossible. After all, it was Bruce Wayne - he was a notorious playboy and this new fling would be gone in a few days. But the way he looked at her when she had left, the way his eyes widened with concern, the way his hands clenched into fists at his side after he had reached out as if he could touch her … this was different. He truly cared about this girl, and that had thrown a major wrench in her plan.
Bruce only shook his head, not allowing her the opportunity to speak further. "Just do what you're good at and leave without a word," he whispered coldly, as he walked away from the table, pulling out his wallet and leaving some cash with the host, before he walked out of the restaurant and towards the elevators. He quickly rode the elevator up in silence, trying to think of what he would say to Diana when he got to their shared suite. He wanted to apologize for Selina's sudden appearance, he wanted to let her know he hadn't planned on this happening, but would Diana actually believe him. There was still some part of him that believed she still saw him as that immature playboy who used women, and although he was trying his hardest to change that image, there were parts of his past he couldn't change. He only hoped Diana would listen to him when he got into the suite.
Bruce continued to make his way towards the suite, his movements swift and resolute. He needed to get to Diana and let her know Selina wasn't going to change their relationship. Maybe it was a good thing Selina had shown up. Maybe then they wouldn't have to hide their relationship any longer.
Bruce stepped out of the elevator and made his way towards the end of the hall, stopping in front of the door that would lead to the suite he was sure Diana was hiding in. He quickly stepped inside, letting the door close behind him. "Diana," he called out, quickly yanking his tie off his neck. He tossed the tie onto the back of the sofa, letting it lay along the piece of furniture as he glanced over the room, looking for his girlfriend.
"I'm out here."
Bruce turned his attention to the open door that led to their private balcony. He quickly made his way across the room and out onto the balcony, joining Diana, who sat on one of the cushioned chairs, staring out into the ocean. He watched as she turned to look over her shoulder, greeting him with a small smile, before she turned back to look at the night sky. He remained quiet as he walked behind her, letting his hand graze her bare shoulder, as he took a seat in the chair besides her. He returned her smile with one of his own, watching as her fingers ran along the fabric of the dress he had picked for her; he had done well, as the blue dress brought out her eyes beautifully.
Bruce continued to stare at Diana, watching as she absentmindedly fiddled with the hem of her dress, her eyes still focused heavily on the ocean, watching as the waves crashed on the sand below. "I didn't know she was going to be here," Bruce said, his eyes never leaving Diana's face. "I haven't seen her in four years and-"
Diana tore her gaze from the ocean and met Bruce's eyes with her own. "I know, Bruce," she said, interrupting him. Truth was, she knew Bruce would have never knowingly brought her where his ex-fiance was. That would have been beyond stressful and he was trying his best to keep her stress and worry free. No, she was more upset that Selina would be the one to spill their secret; the press was going to have a field day with this. "She's going to tell people, isn't she?" Diana asked. She bit her lip in anticipation, waiting for Bruce's answer.
"I won't let her," Bruce answered. He grabbed Diana's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I won't let her," he repeated, trying to convince himself more than her. He knew Selina, and he knew if he was what she wanted, nothing would stop her from getting it.
June 6. 07:27. Wayne Enterprises.
The last few days Diana and Bruce spent in the Caribbean were relatively peaceful and stress free. Selina hadn't made an appearance since that night, and although both Bruce and Diana were worried about her making an impromptu announcement to the press, they kept things quiet, hoping she would give up and go back to where she had been hiding the past four years. By the time they had come back to Gotham, both were surprised their relationship was still a secret; surprised and relieved.
Bruce let out a yawn as he stepped out of the elevator. Diana had decided to stay at her apartment the previous night and although they had spent the better part of a week together, he couldn't help but feel lonely when she was gone. It was harder to sleep without her in his arms. Somehow having her there, her head on his chest, her arm draped over his stomach, made him feel safe; he hadn't felt that way since his parents were murdered.
He walked towards his office, pausing for a second when he noticed Alex wasn't at her desk, but he quickly shook his head clear and continued. Alex was busy, maybe she was out getting a coffee. Besides, she still had half an hour before she was technically supposed to be there. He quickly opened the door to his office and stepped inside, letting another yawn escape his lips as he gently rubbed his tired eyes with the heel of his hands. It was going to be a long day, starting with a meeting with Diana, Victor, and Lucius first thing in the morning. The four were going to go over the security breach they had had, and discuss their options on improving their firewalls and overall security. He had expected Diana, or even Lucius, to come into the meeting early, as they did sometimes. What he hadn't expected to see was the person who currently sat on his desk, staring at him with a smirk on her face.
"What do you want?" he asked Selina. He watched as her green eyes followed him, watching him stand in front of the door as it closed quietly behind him. He knew there was a reason she was here, why she had decided to corner him in his office instead of confront both he and Diana back in the Caribbean. Did she think if she came back to a familiar setting all those feelings, all those memories, would come rushing back? He was a different person now, and she needed to know that.
Selina only shrugged and leaned back on his desk, watching him with fierce eyes. "I figured I'd wait until you were done with your little fling to talk to you."
Bruce rolled his eyes, trying to keep his anger under control. If he let Selina see how aggravated he got when Diana was referred to as another notch in his belt, she would use that against him. "I've got work to do, so if you could please leave, that would be great."
Selina ignored him. "I thought it was a little odd how Bruce Wayne was no longer photographed with new and beautiful women every week and then I saw the two of you." She shifted on the desk, watching as he walked towards his desk, trying to avoid her intense stare. "But when I saw her, there was something familiar about her that I couldn't put my finger on. That was, until, I saw this." She lifted up a copy of the Daily Planet, watching as Bruce glanced up and tried to hide his shock. On the front page was an article of the events that happened when Bruce and Diana had gone to Metropolis, complete with a photo of the two of them standing side by side.
"You need to leave," Bruce said again, his voice growing more stern and louder. He didn't need to explain himself to anyone, especially Selina. She gave up the right to know anything about his life when she walked out on him and their future together. Still, he was curious what her plan was. Did she want money? Did she need help getting out of trouble? Bruce shook his head slightly, deciding whatever the reasoning for her reappearance, he wouldn't let her pull him back into the on again off again relationship that had plagued them for the better half of a decade.
Selina continued to stare at Bruce, gently waving the paper in her hands, slowly mocking him. She crossed her legs and let her smirk grow wider, watching with predatory eyes as Bruce crossed his arms over his chest, trying to deny what they both knew to be true. "I did some digging, and I will say, I was surprised to find out that you're sleeping with your head of security."
"Selina," Bruce warned, his eyes narrowing further, letting her know he was serious. He watched as she raised an eyebrow, unsure of how to continue, as she had never seen him this on edge. What was he hiding? Why was he so defensive of this new woman? What made her any different than those women who had come before her?
"Are you in love with her, Bruce?' she asked. She watched as Bruce's hard exterior remained stoic. He wasn't going to give anything away; this was going to be harder than she thought. She uncrossed her legs and slid off the edge of the desk, standing up right besides him, before she placed the paper onto his desk. "Because you wouldn't risk someone's job for your own selfish reasons."
It was then that Selina chuckled and let out a small sigh. "Wait," she began, "I forgot who I was talking to." She reached up to place a hand on his face, stopping when Bruce grabbed her wrist, keeping her hand away from his face.
He stared down at her, watching as her eyes widened slightly, nervous about what he would say. Bruce only took a step closer to her. "I want what you stole," he said quietly. He watched as her lips twitched, as she tried to plaster another smirk on her face, but Bruce could see she had been frazzled. He knew….all along, he had known; this was definitely not going how she thought it would. It was time for extreme measures.
She leaned close to Bruce and placed her lips on his, hoping she could distract him enough to get what she wanted. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to do anything further, as the door to Bruce's office opened, revealing both Diana and Lucius.
Bruce quickly pushed Selina away, glaring at her as he placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her away from him. He stole a glance at Lucius, who only shook his head, angry to see the woman who had caused Bruce so much pain, back in his life, before he turned to look at Diana. His heart sank when he saw his girlfriend standing in the doorway, her hand on her hip, as she watched her boyfriend standing so close to his ex-fiance…..the ex-fiance she had just walked in on him kissing- it was going to be hard to talk his way out of this one.
"Ms. Kyle," Lucius said, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the room. "Mr. Wayne does have some business to attend to, so if you don't mind-"
"I get it," Selina said, smacking Bruce's hands off her shoulders before she took a step back. "I'll see you soon, Bruce." She glanced over his shoulder, staring at something on his desk, before she gave him a smirk and winked at him. Without another word she walked out of the room, making sure to flash Diana a wink as well, before she walked down the hallway and away from the tension filled office.
Bruce watched as Diana stared at the wall behind him, not wanting to look him in the eye. She was hurt, and for good reason. He and Selina had history, and lots of it, and as much as he convinced her that nothing would happen between the two of them, he couldn't have her unsee the kiss Selina had just laid on him. He could only imagine what she was thinking at the moment.
"Excuse me," Diana said quietly, turning on her heel and stepping out of the office. She quickly rushed down the hall, away from the two men, before Lucius turned to the young CEO and raised an eyebrow.
The two were quiet for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Lucius watched as Bruce stared at the empty doorway, and he knew the man was mentally kicking himself for not speaking up sooner. He knew there was something going on between Bruce and Diana, and he knew that Selina coming back into Bruce's life was something neither of them had planned. He also knew Bruce had better apologize to Diana and tell her the truth about Selina before he messed up one of the best things that had happened to him.
"Oh, just go talk to her, Mr. Wayne," Lucius finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen between them.
Bruce only raised an eyebrow. "Diana?"
"Yes, Diana. Don't let her get away because of a misunderstanding."
"I don't know what-"
"Oh please, Bruce. Every time she steps into the room, you get this look in your eyes. You two spend entirely too much time together to not be attracted to each other. And I know this is none of my business, as what you two do is your concern, but I approve and I know your parents would have as well."
"Lucius, I-"
Lucius only raised a hand, interrupting Bruce once more. "And so help me, Mr. Wayne, it won't be good if you mess this one up."
Bruce chuckled. He knew Lucius was too smart for his own good, but he trusted his opinion. "Yes, sir," he replied. He watched as Lucius took a seat at the desk and got comfortable, setting the files in his hands on the large piece of furniture, before he walked out of the room. He took a step out of the office and sighed, wondering where Diana had headed.
Luckily another familiar face greeted him with a smile, before she pointed over her shoulder. "Is everything okay with Diana? She ran past me into the bathroom and didn't look too good."
Bruce nodded, letting his hand gently pat his secretary's shoulder, before he let out a small sigh. "She's been a little….under the weather," he said. "Let Mr. Stone and Mr. Fox know I'll be right in."
"You got it, Mr. Wayne," Alex said with a salute, as she pulled her seat back from her desk and took a seat.
Bruce continued down the hall towards the bathrooms, stopping when he stood in front of the women's restroom door. He looked around, making sure there was no one else coming, before he opened the door and poked his head inside. "Diana?" he called quietly.
"I'm in here," Diana replied. He heard water running and took a step inside, silently praying there was no one else inside.
Bruce quickly glanced over the restroom, checking to see the doors to the stalls all open and empty, letting out a sigh when he realized they were alone, before he turned to Diana, who was splashing cold water on her face. "Are you alright?" he asked, placing a hand on her back.
Diana only nodded, before she pulled a few paper towels from the dispenser and dried her face. "I promise, Diana," Bruce began, "She was there when I got in the office and she kissed me." He watched as Diana only stared at him, trying to find her voice, before he continued. "I'm not in love with her…..I've moved on. And I would never do that to you. And-"
Diana placed a finger on Bruce's lips, silencing him. "I know," she whispered. She placed her hand on his shoulder, letting him know she trusted him, before she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. She watched as Bruce nodded and leaned in, intent on kissing her, before she stopped him, placing her hand over his mouth. "I just threw up," she confessed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a pack of gum.
Bruce watched as she plucked a stick of gum from the pack in her hand, quickly unwrapped it and plopped it into her mouth, before he nodded, placing his hand on her shoulders as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. He wanted her to know he was going to be there for her. He wanted her to know that he was in this relationship one hundred and ten percent, and Selina Kyle wasn't going to change that.
June 6. 14:10. The Revue.
"Feel better?"
Bruce watched as Diana continued to quietly sip the tea in her hand, nodding gently as she held the cup as if it were a precious stone. After their busy morning, and even busier afternoon, Bruce had forced Diana out of her office for lunch at her favorite cafe, making sure she didn't get caught up in her work too much and forget to eat...again. He also wanted to get her alone after what had happened this morning, and seeing as how Diana had gotten sick once more during their meeting with Victor and Lucius, he knew he needed to get her a cup of the tea Rylie had suggested before she worried anyone else. After all, no one else knew she was pregnant, so they only assumed Diana was getting the stomach flu and were beginning to worry about her health. "Yes," Diana said softly. "Thank you."
Bruce nodded as he took one more bite of the sandwich in his hand. He watched as Diana absentmindedly used her spoon to stir the last of her yogurt, trying to clear her mind as she stared at the cashier behind the counter. Diana watched as her friend cleaned off the counter, refilling the napkins and straws by the register, before she looked up, letting her eyes meet Diana's blue, a smile on her lips when she realized Diana and Bruce were still there. Without a word, the cashier walked over to the booth the two sat in, and slid in besides Diana, her smile widening when Diana unconsciously placed her arm around the younger woman.
"Still on a date?" Rylie asked with a sly smile, winking at Bruce who only chuckled.
"Yes," Diana said, nudging the young cashier with her shoulder. "Although there's this little person ruining it." Diana grinned at her friend and nudged her once more, before she gave her a side hug.
Rylie only sighed and let out a small yawn as she wiped her hand down her tired face. "Story of my life," she muttered.
Diana turned to face Rylie, her eyebrow raising. "When's the last time you and Jacob had a baby free date night?"
"Um, before she was born?" Rylie answered. She and Jacob were both working full time, so they were always paying for someone to watch Emma during the day. They couldn't afford to have someone watch the baby for date nights.
Diana raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Bruce, who only raised an eyebrow of his own. What was Diana up to, and why was she looking at him like that? "Tomorrow night," Diana began, "You two go out and we'll watch the baby." Diana watched as Bruce stopped chewing his food, surprised by what she had just offered. Bruce Wayne wasn't good with babies-but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he needed the practice. After all, his little one would be here before he knew it. That thought alone sent a little shiver down his spine as he realized he wasn't as prepared as he originally thought.
"Diana, I can't let you do that."
Diana nodded her head enthusiastically. "Please, let us. Besides, he needs the practice," she said, nodding towards Bruce, who only feigned hurt at her insinuation. "Plus, I'll be there. What could go wrong?"
Rylie chuckled and shrugged. She knew there wasn't going to be any arguing with Diana. She was stubborn, and once she had her mind set on something, she was going to do it. That was how she had persuaded Rylie into letting her babysit Emma in the cafe when her sitter had canceled last minute. But that had gone well, and Rylie trusted Diana. What could go wrong? "Fine," she said, giving both Diana and Bruce a nod. "I'll see you two tomorrow night."
June 7. 17:13. Downtown Gotham.
"Do you even own casual clothes?"
Bruce turned to glance over his shoulder at Diana, watching as she stared at him, her arms crossed over her chest as they rode the elevator up to Rylie and Jacob's apartment on the fourth floor of their apartment complex. "I came straight from work," Bruce said, looking down at his black suit. He looked up at Diana, taking in her yoga pants and t-shirt, and let out a sigh. He had half expected Diana to tell him she had been joking, that he didn't have to come with her tonight, but when she had told him to pick her up right after work, he knew he wouldn't be so lucky. "I didn't get the chance to go home and change."
"And what would that outfit be? A more casual suit?" she replied with a chuckle. She watched as Bruce only shook his head and snorted, trying to ignore her jab at his attire. He had grown up wearing nothing but the finest clothes, and a suit was always a way to make yourself presentable. There had only been a handful of times he hadn't worn a suit, and even then he hadn't felt like himself. "Either way, it looks much better off," she said with a wink.
She watched as Bruce's eyes shot up, meeting hers, as the elevator dinged and opened, revealing an empty hallway. She watched as Bruce opened his mouth to respond before she stepped out into the hallway, holding her hand out for him to grab. "You're a tease," he whispered, reaching out to grab Diana's hand. He watched as she laced their fingers together and pulled him out into the hallway before she walked towards Rylie and Jacob's front door. His head tilted slightly as he watched her walk, trying to get a better view of her rear in those form fitting pants, but Diana was smart, and pulled him closer. She knew she couldn't have him distracted- at least not until they got back to his place. "Tell me again why they just didn't bring her to the manor?"
Diana stopped in front of the second door on the left and knocked on the piece of wood. "Because Alfred wasn't going to be doing all the work," Diana replied. She watched as Bruce twisted his lips, unsure of what to say. She knew he was secretly freaking out about babysitting, but she wanted to see how he would handle a taste of parenthood. She only hoped this wouldn't drive him away or change his mind about wanting to be as involved as he was now.
"He wouldn't do ALL the work," Bruce said with a shrug.
"Mmhmm," was all Diana said before the door swung open, revealing Rylie dressed in a cute green dress, complete with silver heels and jewelry to match. "Well hello beautiful," Diana said with a smirk.
Rylie only rolled her eyes and moved aside, letting the two into the apartment. The two walked into the apartment, listening as Rylie shut the door behind them, before they looked around the main room. The apartment was modern, filled with photos of Rylie and Jacob from their time in high school to family photos of the three of them, and although it was small, Diana could tell it was the perfect little home for the three of them.
"Rylie, have you seen her socks?"
The three turned towards the hallway to see Jacob turn the corner and Diana's lips curled into a smile as she saw the baby strapped to Jacob's chest in a carrier. She watched as Emma's little legs kicked with wild abandon as she stared up at her father, her little fists wiggling in the air as he moved closer to Rylie. "Hi, Diana. Hello, Mr. Wayne," Jacob greeted.
Diana only nudged Bruce with her elbow and leaned closer to him. "That's going to be you," she whispered, smiling when she heard Bruce chuckle besides her as he gave her a small nod.
"Sure," he whispered back, watching as Diana walked up to Jacob, her arms raised, silently asking for the baby.
Jacob carefully lifted the baby out of the carrier, kissed each of her cheeks, and placed her in Diana's waiting arms. She quickly placed the socks on Emma's tiny feet, kissing the bottoms of both of them as she stared at her daughter. "She has formula in the kitchen," Rylie said, walking up to Diana, a pair of Emma's socks in her hands. "You have both of our numbers, and my mom's number is on the fridge, and-"
"Babe, she's got it," Jacob said as he unclipped the carrier around his waist. He gently laid it across the back of the sofa and fixed his tie, before he placed a hand on his girlfriend's waist. "Call us if you need anything." Jacob led Rylie to the door, trying to get her out of the door before Emma realized what was going on. "Thanks again."
"You're welcome," Diana said, clutching the baby close to her chest. "Don't worry, we'll be fine," she said, watching as the young parents nodded and exited the apartment.
Diana turned towards Bruce, watched as he took off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, before she gave him a small chuckle. "See, not so bad," she said.
Bruce only nodded. "Easy," he said with a cocky smirk.
June 7. 16:03.
Bruce walked out of the elevator and into the hallway, unconsciously flashing a small smile to the couple who walked past him on his way towards Rylie and Jacob's shared apartment. After they had gotten settled with the baby, Bruce had ordered the two of them take out. It had taken twenty minutes for the food to be delivered, and Bruce, taking notice at how comfortable Diana had become with the baby in her arms on the couch, volunteered to meet the driver downstairs.
Bruce's smile grew as he continued to walk towards the apartment door. He thought about Diana, the image of her cuddling the smiling baby in her arms fresh in his memory. He couldn't help but think about the child the two of them would have soon, and the thought of Diana sitting in the manor, cuddling their baby made his heart beat a little faster. He loved learning new things about her, and until now, he never knew just how gentle she could be. Sure, he had seen her with Emma once before, and she was incredibly patient with Ace, but witnessing her caring for a dear friend's baby, quietly talking to the child, smiling as she was rewarded with coos and giggles, only made him more excited that she was the one he was going to experience parenthood with. She made this a little less scary.
Bruce gripped the bag of food tighter in his hand as he reached the apartment. He quickly opened the door he left unlocked and stepped inside the apartment, letting the door close gently behind him, before he reached up and locked the door. "Food's here," Bruce said, following the sound of a fussy baby into the kitchen. When he walked into the small kitchen he saw Diana trying to balance the crying baby in one arm, while the other reached up into the cabinets, trying to grab a bottle. He quickly placed the bag of food on the table and walked up behind Diana. "Need a hand?"
Diana turned to glance at Bruce, nodded, and before he even had a chance to say anything else, placed the now screaming baby in his open arms. Bruce looked down at the baby, his mouth twisting as she continued to wail loudly. This wasn't what he had meant when he had offered to help, but he didn't want Diana to think he wasn't able to take care of a kid. So, he did the first thing that came to mind: he sang.
"Am I blue," he sang, as he rearranged the baby in his arms, letting Emma fall into the crook of his arms. "Am I blue? Ain't these tears in my eyes telling you."
Bruce watched as Emma quickly shut her mouth, watching with a smile as her little lips pouted, still wanting to cry her frustrations out, but intrigued by the new voice that was filling the room. "Am I blue?" he sang, letting his eyes lock with the baby's as he slowly began to rock her. "You'd be too, if each plan that you had, done fell through."
Bruce looked up and noticed Diana staring at him, a grin on her face as she stared at the two of them. He knew why she was giving him that look - he had never mentioned anything about being able to sing, and he had been hoping they could have gone years without this little tidbit being discovered. He didn't like to show all of his hand all at once. "What?" Bruce asked as he continued to gently rock the baby in the kitchen.
Diana shrugged and handed him the bottle she had just finished. "I didn't know you could sing," she said, watching as he placed the nipple into Emma's mouth. He watched as the baby began to greedily eat, letting her small hand hold one side of the bottle, before he looked up and shrugged.
"It never came up," he answered. "It was something my mother used to sing to me as a child." He watched as Diana nodded before she took a seat at the table, reaching into the bag of food and pulling out a carton of food.
"Do you want me to grab her?" Diana asked, watching as Bruce's attention moved back to the baby in his arms.
Bruce only shook his head. "You eat. I got her," he said. He watched as Emma's eyelids got heavier. Her eyes began to close as she continued to suckle on the bottle and Bruce couldn't help but chuckle at how much the infant was fighting the sleep she desperately needed. He heard Diana mumble something behind her, but he quickly ignored it, stepping out of the kitchen and into the living room. He quickly seated himself on the sofa and continued to feed the baby, watching as Emma fought harder and harder to stay awake, before he pulled the bottle from her lips, deciding she could finish her meal when she woke up. He carefully positioned her, letting her lay her head on his shoulder and gently patted her back, a smile on his face when Emma snuggled into his neck, letting him know he had done well. Maybe he wouldn't be as incapable of being a good father as he had worried.
Diana, who only watched Bruce leave the room, stared at the space he had occupied and let out a small sigh. If she was being honest with herself, she had forced Bruce to come with her to see how he was with kids. Sure, she had seen him and his interactions with Joey at the hospital, and he had worked wonders with Jessie to calm her down until the ambulance had come that one time, but babies were different. Babies were hard work. They demanded lots of attention, they needed to be handled carefully, and as Diana looked at the list of reminders on the fridge Rylie had left them, she realized they could make someone as carefree as the nineteen year old, extremely finicky. Was she really ready for all of this? She wouldn't tell Bruce but she had been up all night worrying that neither of them would do well, having both grown up as only children, and she was worried about their capabilities as parents, but seeing him there….seeing him sing to Emma to quiet her as if it were second nature quickly made her worries cease. They would be just fine.
Diana quickly pulled two egg rolls out of the open container in front of her, took a bite of one of them, and stood from her seat. She quickly walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, where she saw Bruce on the sofa, leaning into the back of it. On his shoulder slept Emma, and Diana couldn't help but smile when she saw how tenderly his hand grazed the baby's head. Without a word, Diana walked up to Bruce, took a seat next to him and offered him the other eggroll. Bruce only opened his mouth, silently asking her for it, and she raised it to his lips, before she pulled it back with a smirk. "Not funny," Bruce muttered, watching as Diana chuckled softly, before she offered him the piece of food once more, this time letting him take a bite.
She watched as he chewed on his food, scooting closer to the edge of the sofa, before he stood up. He gently pulled the sleeping baby from his shoulder and placed her in the bassinet by the sofa, watching quietly as Emma relaxed and let out a small coo, before she began to breathe deeply, falling back into the deep sleep she had been enjoying moments before. He turned and watched Diana shove the remaining part of the eggroll into her mouth, before she opened the messenger bag she had brought along and pulled out a folder. "I thought you said to leave work at home," Bruce said, watching as Diana fumbled through the bag, trying to find a pen.
"Who said it was work?" Diana said. "Maybe I'm writing down the secrets of Bruce Wayne. Number thirty-four: he can sing." She flashed him a grin and watched as he shook his head, a smile on his face, as he walked towards her, stopping only when she pointed towards the desk at the end of the room. "Can you see if there's a pen in there?"
Bruce nodded and turned toward the desk. "So unprepared," he quipped over his shoulder, not needing to look at Diana to know she was glaring at his back. He walked to the desk and opened the drawer, rummaging through the drawer, looking for a writing instrument. He quickly grabbed one, but not before something else caught his eye. He pulled the stack of papers out of the desk, gently closed the drawer, and walked towards the sofa, taking a seat on the end opposite of Diana. He handed her the pen, giving her a small nod as she thanked him, before his attention went back to the thick report in his hand.
"Stop snooping," Diana scolded, watching as Bruce flipped through the report in his hand.
Bruce only scoffed, placed the report on the coffee table in front of him, mentally reminding himself to get to it when Diana got lost in her work, before he looked over at his girlfriend. He watched as she wrote something in the folder, licking her bottom lip as she concentrated on the words she scribbled. He watched as she arched an eyebrow, her eyes still focused on the work in her hands. "You're staring," she said, her eyes never leaving the papers.
Bruce only smiled and shook his head. He would never understand how she knew when he was staring. It was an uncanny sixth sense. "Can you blame me?" he asked. His smile grew when he noticed the tinge of pink grace her cheeks and his chest puffed in pride when he realized he could still make her blush with his compliments. "So what are you doing? Writing a tell-all book of my life?" he teased.
"Maybe," was all Diana said, before she dropped the pen and peeked at him over the folder. "But in all seriousness, I do have a question for you." She watched as he nodded, before she asked, "What exactly happened between you and Selina?"
Diana watched as Bruce let out a sigh and dropped his head against the back of the sofa, closing his eyes. Selina was always a sore subject, but not because of the feelings he once had for her. Those feelings had been lost long ago, replaced by the feelings of distrust and disdain he had for the woman who had betrayed him. He felt Diana move from her spot on the sofa and when he felt her hand against his chest, he opened his eyes and lifted his head. "Um, well I'm assuming you know about the failed engagement." He watched as Diana nodded and he rubbed his hand down his face, suddenly worried of what Diana would think of his previous relationship. Until now, he hadn't really cared what others thought of his life and his relationships, but with Diana…..he wanted to be the man she thought he was, and some of his previous decisions didn't fit that description. "We were too different, wanted different things. I knew Selina was going to leave, probably even before she did. What I didn't expect was for her to steal from me before she left Gotham."
Bruce watched as Diana raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what he had just said. This hadn't been covered by the press, and for good reason. The more Diana got to know Bruce, the more she understood how private his life actually was. "What did she steal?" Diana found herself asking before she could stop herself.
Bruce shrugged. "It's not important," he said, waving away her question. "What's important is she is no longer part of my life. I have you. I have the baby."
He watched as Diana considered his answer. "Did you ever consider having kids? Before this, I mean," she asked, gently patting her stomach.
Bruce shrugged once more. "Maybe I'd adopt an older kid, help some kid who had maybe lost their parents like I had. Never did I think I would have kids of my own."
Diana gave him a slight nod and relaxed against his body. The two heard Emma stir in the bassinet and they both froze and looked towards the baby. They waited to hear the baby continue her deep breathing before they looked at each other and chuckled. "That was close," Diana whispered, watching as Bruce nodded, before she laid back on his chest.
June 7. 22:37.
Bruce placed the term paper he had found in the desk drawer down on the arm of the couch, satisfied with what he had just finished reading. He glanced over at Diana, who laid on the floor, resting on her stomach. In front of her was Emma, freshly bathed and in her pajamas, laying on her stomach on a blanket surrounded by toys. He watched as Diana grabbed a stuffed rabbit and waved it in front of Emma, smiling when the baby began to giggle as she kicked her little legs out in excitement.
Bruce watched as Diana spoke to Emma softly, letting her fingers gently run through the baby's wispy hair, a smile on his face as he imagined this is what it would be like when it came to their baby. He couldn't wait.
The front door opened and Rylie and Jacob walked in, laughing at an inside joke as the door quietly closed behind them. "We're home!" Rylie announced, pulling her heels off and leaving them by the door. Diana glanced up and watched Jacob pull the knot in his tie loose, before he pulled it up and over his head, leaving it on the back of the couch. "How did it go?"
Diana sat up and offered the young couple a smile, before she reached down and pulled Emma into her arms. "Besides one diaper blowout and an interesting bath, we were good," she answered. She watched as Rylie came up to the two, opened her arms, and let Diana put the baby into her waiting arms. "How was your date?"
Rylie smiled over her shoulder at Jacob before she kissed the side of her daughter's temple. "It was good. Thanks for watching her."
Diana stood, watching as Bruce stood from the sofa, grabbing the paper he had just finished, before he walked up to her. "It was no problem," Diana said. "It was actually fun."
Rylie smiled and nodded, before she walked the baby into the nursery. Diana followed the two girls into the next room, wanting to show her the photos she captured during Emma's bath. Bruce watched his girlfriend walk off, before he turned to Jacob and offered him a smile. "Hope you guys had fun," he said.
Jacob nodded. "I did. Thank you, Mr. Wayne. It's been a long time since we were able to go out, just the two of us."
"Please, call me Bruce," Bruce answered. "And it was no problem. It was actually fun."
Jacob offered Bruce another smile and nodded. He was truly grateful that they had offered to watch Emma. Without a word he took out his wallet and pulled out some money, however Bruce was quick to stop him. "No, no," he said, raising a hand. "There's no need. Besides, I'm sure Rylie has told you. I need the practice."
Jacob only chuckled as he put the money back into his wallet. "It'll be an experience that's for sure."
Bruce chuckled and nodded. "So while I'm waiting for Diana, I want to ask you a question." He raised the report in his hand, watching as Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Cryoelectronics and Application: Researching the Effects of Technology and its Benefits Within Corporate America," he read. "This was actually really good, and had some good points. What did you go to school for?"
"Computer Engineering and Chemistry," Jacob replied.
Bruce nodded and flipped through the pages of the paper. What the heck was someone like him doing working in a deli in downtown Gotham. "And the co-author? Warren McGinnis?"
Jacob shrugged, a blush on his face. "He's my brother," he said, "He's finishing his Masters in Applied Physics."
Bruce nodded once more, as he glanced over his shoulder, making sure Diana was still in the room before he took a deep breath. "Next week, come to my office," he said, "And bring your brother."
Another chapter done, another secret learned about Bruce. Could these two be any cuter?
Coming up: We get my girl Shayera back into the story, and Bruce and Diana find themselves on the most awkward double date imaginable. Selina comes back for one last attempt, will it work? And Bruce and Diana get to the hard hitting questions, like what they should name their baby. Keep an eye out for the next update! Until then, let me know what you thought :)