Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Bruce takes a deep breath, standing by Dick's door. He swallows thickly, raising his hand to knock. Clark had basically demanded that Bruce go and talk to the beta, claiming that he wanted Bruce and Dick to talk it out before the alpha's parents got in from the airport. Clark had also begged him to be there when he did talk to the beta but Bruce had refused, ushering Clark out of the Manor to meet his parents, Kara, and Barbara at the airport. Now Bruce is at Dick's door, trying to conjure up the courage to knock.

With another deep breath, he lands his knuckles on the wooden door three times. He waits but no reply comes. He knocks again and waits some more but still, there is no reply. Bruce opens the door slowly, peering inside. "Dick?"

The room is dark with the shades pulled closed so no sunlight can make it through. The bed is made and the pillows are neatly placed atop the covers. Alfred would be proud. Bruce steps into the room more and looks around. "Dick?" The closet doors are open and so he heads to that first. Half the clothes are gone and a sinking feeling forms in Bruce's chest. He goes to the dresser next, opening every single drawer to see nothing in them. Even the side table, when Bruce checks, is empty. Hurt emanates in Bruce's heart and he feels the ice coldness of abandonment.

With his head hung, he makes his way back to the kitchen where the family is gathered. Alfred is currently baking an apple pie even though Clark had reassured the man that Martha was going to come with one as well. Alfred would never admit it, but Bruce knows the beta has a type of fun rivalry going on between them. Jason, Tim, and Damian are sat around the table. Damian is tinkering with something that looks suspiciously like a homemade baby toy, while Jason and Tim talk idly. Bruce leans on the doorframe, suddenly short of breath. The breaking of the bond between him and Dick is getting worse, but he didn't think difficulty breathing was a sign of it. At least, it wasn't when Jason had died. Maybe it's different when the bond is broken because of death.

"Is Clark back yet?" He asks the group and they all fall silent, looking at him.

"No, not yet," Jason says, bringing a cup of coffee up to his lips and sipping it.

"Are you okay?" Tim asks.

Bruce nods and runs a hand through his hair. "I'm fine. Do you know where Dick went?"

"He's not in his room?" Tim questions.

"He was this morning, Sir." Alfred sets the steaming pie on the counter. "Master Dick never mentioned going out."

"His clothes are gone." Bruce takes a deep shaky breath.

Jason gets up immediately from his seat, taking one step towards him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I just want Clark." The words come out more like a whine. Bruce hadn't meant for it to sound like that. Though Bruce and Clark don't share a mate bond, they do share one in the sense that Clark is the sire to his baby. That means he has a slightly greater pull towards the alpha.

The boys exchange confused glances. "I'm sure he will be back soon," Tim reassures.

"Did Grayson leave, Father?" Damian asks, finally looking up from whatever he was working on.

"I don't know." He pushes off the doorframe and sits down at the table, next to Damian, one hand on his stomach. "I just… can someone please call Clark?"

"Okay." Tim immediately get out his cellphone. "Let me see if I can get a hold of him." The phone goes to the omega's ear and after a few seconds of silence, he starts speaking again. "Hey Clark, it's Tim. No everything is… fine, sort of. Bruce just wants to talk to you."

The omega hands the phone over and Bruce takes it gratefully, putting the device up to his ear. "Clark?"

"Bruce? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?"

Bruce sighs at hearing the voice of his baby's sire and soon to be mate. "The baby is fine. I'm fine." There's talking in the background and Bruce hears Clark speak away from the phone. Bruce assumes the alpha is already with Martha and Jonathan and possibly Kara and Barbara. "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

"Can you listen to where Dick is?"

He can hear the confusion Clark is feeling even without the alpha saying anything. "Okay, give me a moment." There's the sound of shuffling and muffled background noise of a busy airport. "It sounds like… hang on." More shuffling and then the sound of wind, as if Clark is flying. "Okay, it sounded like Dick was on the highway to Blüdhaven so I checked. That's exactly where he is going." The last part of Clark's sentence is growled as Bruce's stomach drops into the floor. "Did you even get a chance to talk to him?"

"No."

"That son of a-"

"Clark stop, please."

"He's running away from the problem, Bruce."

"He's only doing what was given to him as an example."

There's silence on the other end now. Clark can't argue the point, Bruce knows this. Bruce has done nothing but run away from his problems. "Dick is usually better than that," Clark mumbles and Bruce doesn't comment on it. "This isn't like him."

"No, it's not, but I just think he's scared. I'm sure he-" Bruce glances at the people around the room who are watching him intently. He clears his throat. "I'm sure he can feel our bond has broken."

Questioning looks are shot his way as Clark answers. "I know but that's no excuse. Do you want me to retrieve him?"

"No, let him be for now. I'll have you get him tonight. You need to focus on getting the guests here." He hears more whipping wind and then the background noise of the airport comes back. Clark has landed and gone back to the building. He hears Clark grumble something to his parents but otherwise says nothing to Bruce. "Clark?" Clark hums. "I…"

More brief silence. Then "I love you too, Bruce." The corners of Bruce's mouth pull up. "I'll see you when I get back." They both hang up the phone.

The boys are still eyeing him. "Feeling better?" Tim asks as Bruce hands the phone back.

He's still feeling a bit out of breath but he is definitely feeling more relaxed. "Yes, thank you Tim."

"What do you mean your bond broke with Dick?" Jason sit back down next to Tim. "Did that happen after the Kryptonite incident?"

"Kryptonite incident?" Tim and Damian ask at the same time. Alfred gives him a quizzical eyebrow raise.

Jason looks around the table. "I take it you didn't tell them."

"No Jason, I had not." Bruce rubs his forehead in frustration. "Dick used Kryptonite on Clark and I was in the room. It hurt both me and Clark."

"What?" Tim sounds alarmed. "Are you okay? Is the baby okay?"

"I'm fine. The baby is fine." He refrains from mentioning anything about almost losing the baby. That's a shit storm he really doesn't feel like dealing with. He has enough to handle with Clark gunning after the beta. "It's just, since Dick moved to Blüdhaven our bond has been weak. Recently, however, it's… broken."

"Doesn't that hurt Father?"

"Very." He leaves it at that. "I was going to talk to him today but he's apparently on his way to Blüdhaven."

"That fucking coward," Jason growls, hands clenching tight.

Bruce rubs at his forehead more. "It's not his fault. He has a lot on his plate right now between accidently hurting me and Wally being pregnant-"

"Wally's what?" Tim shouts.

At the same time, Jason says, "Stop defending him." He looks confused. "Wait, I'm with Tim. What do you mean Wally is pregnant?"

Tim lifts his hands and waves them about. "Who's the sire?"

"You can't piece it together Todd? Drake?" Tim shakes his head in a confused manner. "The baby is obviously Grayson's."

"But Dick is with Kori." The table falls silent and Bruce realizes how far out of the loop Tim and even Jason has been. After all, as far Bruce understands it, Jason doesn't actually know why Dick had to defend himself with Kryptonite from Clark.

Tim's shocked eyes dart to Bruce. "Is that true?" Then, "Wait, is that why he punched you that one time?"

"Is that the same time I learned about him punching you?" Jason asks.

Bruce shakes his head. "No, he punched me twice. Tim is talking about the first time while you learned about the second time."

"He's punched you twice?" Jason growls. "Did the first one put the baby in danger too?"

"Baby in danger?" Tim starts. "What do you mean?"

Jason turns to the omega, explaining. "The punch I'm talking about almost knocked Bruce down the stairs into the cave."

"Oh my God. Are you okay?"

Bruce sighs. "It was a week ago. I'm fine."

Tim frowns, looking down at his coffee. "What has gotten into him lately? He's not acting like himself."

Jason scoffs, taking another sip of his coffee. "Probably because he has a baby to think about." Bruce doesn't tell them Wally might not keep it. It's not his place to tell. "Not to mention the whole cheating thing."

"Has Clark tried to talk to him? I mean, he's kind of in the same boat as him."

"No," Bruce says sternly. "Clark is not allowed to talk to Dick, you understand? He's not even allowed to be in the same room as him." All three give him a questioning look and Alfred sets pancakes down in front of them with maple syrup along with chocolate syrup for Bruce. "The last thing I need is for Clark to get all alpha on him because Dick put his baby in danger."

"Are you kidding? I'm going to get all alpha on him."

"Then you're banned from talking to him too." Jason rolls his eyes. "Just let me handle it, please. I'm going to have Clark get him tonight, hopefully with Clark not going all alpha on him, and I'll talk to him then."

The room descends into silence once more. It lasts for at least minute as everyone stares down at their pancakes solemnly. Then Tim asks, hesitantly, "How's Wally?"

Bruce shrugs. "I haven't talked to him recently." He doesn't know whether Dick has been in contact with the speedster. He doesn't know if Dick has tried to convince him to keep the baby. He doesn't even know if Wally has already gone through with the abortion. Bruce has been too busy with his own problems to find the time to call the young omega and find out. He reminds himself to do so later.

"Is he keeping it?" Damian asks, finally speaking up after staying quiet for so long.

"I don't know." They're all quiet again and Bruce suddenly feels tired. He looks down at his plate and wants to throw up. He doesn't have a very great appetite today.

"Can you fix it?" Bruce looks up, startled by Tim's question. The omega doesn't meet his eyes. "Your bond with Dick. Can you fix it?"

"I can try." He places a hand on his stomach, rubbing. "It was already fragile to begin with."

Jason's lips thin and he looks contemplative. "You fixed ours." Bruce looks at the alpha, feeling warmth and love filling his chest. "If we could fix ours, it should be no problem to fix yours and Dick's."

"Thanks," Bruce says and Jason shrugs.

"I can't believe he could do that to Kori," Jason mumbles.

Tim nods then adds, "And Wally."

"It's not always that simple." Bruce stares at his plate and uneaten pancake instead of meeting anyone's eyes. He's grateful when Alfred clears his throat. Bruce hadn't even noticed that he left room.

"Sir, the guests have arrived. They are waiting in the lounge."

Bruce stands with a deep calming breath. "Thank you, Alfred." His breathing has gotten better but now he is exhausted and just wants to crawl back into bed to sleep.

He and the boys follow Alfred out of the kitchen and to the lounge where Clark, Martha, Jonathan, Kara, and Barbara wait. As soon as he steps into the room and everyone sees his tiny baby bump, Kara squeals and Barbara awes. Clark's face is the color of a tomato and Kara flies up to him, bending over to be eye level with his stomach. "Can I touch?"

Bruce gives Clark questioning look, ignoring Jason and Tim's giggles and Damian's tsk. The alpha shrugs his shoulders. "Uh, sure."

Kara squeals again and places a gentle hand on his growing belly. "Oh, Barbara come feel."

"Does the baby kick yet?" Barbara asks as she approaches, placing a hand next to Kara.

"No."

Barbara frowns. "Is she supposed to start doing that in the fifth month?"

"Later on." Bruce rubs his belly once Kara takes her hands off of her.

"Oh," Kara shrieks. "Congratulations you two!"

Clark walks up to Bruce and gives the two women a small smile. He addresses everyone. "Uh, guys, do you think you could let Bruce and I talk to my parents for a little while?" Everyone nods and Alfred ushers all of them out of the room. It leaves the four of them alone with Martha and Jonathan looking at Bruce as if they aren't sure what to say. "Ma. Pa. Um, I know this awkward but-"

"Clark," Jonathan starts and Martha's eyes dart away. "We are honestly a bit confused 'bout this whole situation."

"I explained it to you already."

"We know sweetheart." Martha looks at her son, full of love and compassion. "But one minute yer mated to Lois and then the next yer mated to Bruce Wayne with a baby on the way."

"We're not mates," Bruce blurts and regrets it immediately. He looks to Clark because when it comes to parents, he doesn't know how to deal with them.

Clark squirms. "Like I told you already, Bruce and I are just friends right now. We're taking it slow."

"Which we don't really understand either Son." Jonathan sighs. "How can you not be mated by someone who is havin' yer baby?"

Clark rubs at his forehead, looking frustrated and as if he wants to crawl out of his own skin. "Please don't make me explain it all to you again."

"Clark-"

"Don't!" Jonathan and Martha's eyes grow wide in surprise at their son's outburst. "You already know it all."

"We know ya cheated on Lois with Bruce," Jonathan begins and Bruce feels like he is going to be sick. "And got him pregnant."

"I don't understand Clark," Martha says. "I thought you were trying to have a baby with Lois."

"Clark," Bruce whispers, feeling his stomach do summersaults. The room has gotten unbelievably hot and his starting to feel a bit lightheaded.

"I was. But… I didn't cheat on Lois because Bruce could give me a baby."

"Then why Son?"

Bruce keeps his eyes carefully trained on the floor. He's has started to shake. "I was in heat." He says it low and is almost afraid the Kents don't hear him but both pairs of eyes move to him. "Clark was around when it happened." He risks a look up at them and wishes he hadn't when the room starts spinning.

"That doesn't matter anyway," Clark says. "I love Lois, I do, but… I've realized now that I love Bruce more. I always have."

"How can you know that Clark?" Martha takes a step towards them.

He reaches out and grabs a hold of Clark's bicep to keep him steady on his feet. The room is still spinning and Bruce is going to throw up. "Clark."

"What if it was just the heat?" Jonathan asks his son.

Before Clark can answer Bruce turns to the alpha, gripping his bicep harder. "Clark," he says urgently.

Clark finally looks at him. "Bruce? What's wrong?"

"I'm going to be sick." There's a split second in which Clark's eyes go wide before Bruce is suddenly in a bathroom. The super speed makes the queasy feeling in his stomach worse. Bruce bends over the toilet and empties his stomach of acid.

Clark rubs his back. "Are you okay?" Bruce shakes his head as another wave of hits him and heaves into the toilet. "This is starting to become a much too familiar."

"Get used to it." Bruce swallows, his throat burning. "I still have four and half more months." He closes his eyes and enjoys Clark's hand on him. He waits a few seconds before he deems it safe enough to sit up. A glass of water is shoved in his face by a sympathetic Kryptonian. Bruce takes it, swishes, then spits in the sink. He then gulps down the rest of the water, the liquid helping some with his throat. He sighs, closing his eyes. "Why are your parents giving us the third degree? I thought you explained it all to them."

"I did." Clark is watching him closely. "I guess… some things weren't clear enough. I'm sorry they brought up Lois."

Bruce opens his eyes and looks at Clark. "It was bound to happen."

The alpha looks concerned. "Are you going to be okay?" Bruce nods. "Do you want to go back out?" Bruce shakes his head. "Okay." Clark cups one of his cheeks. "I'll talk to my parents myself." With a smile, he leaves.

Bruce exits the bathroom and starts walking the halls aimlessly. He relishes in the peace and quiet of being alone. He stops at painting that are hung up on walls, paintings he hasn't admired in years. Even the calmness of being alone doesn't stop the headache from forming.

Bruce doesn't feel good today. Blames it on his broken bond with Dick. It hurts. In his chest, whenever he thinks about the beta. Whenever he thinks about his bond with him and how it's no longer there. He wants his son back and he wants to fix this mess. But he doesn't know how. Clark is pissed at the beta and so is Jason. Tim is confused and Bruce doesn't even know what Damian is feeling right now. He feels like his whole family is a mess right now and that it is falling apart. It's painful to think about and he wonders how he is supposed to raise a daughter in it? How is he not going to cause her pain and heartbreak like he's caused all his other children? How is he going to keep the bond he shares with her strong?

"Hey," Bruce turns and sees Clark approaching him. "I've been looking for you. Everyone is wondering where you are. You've gone for a while." Bruce looks him up and down. "Are you okay?" For once, Bruce feels like being honest. He shakes his head negatively. "Dick?" He nods and Clark sighs in sympathy. "I'm sorry Bruce." Bruce walks past Clark and the alpha follows. "Do you want to be alone right now?" Bruce thinks about it and decides that being alone feels lonely right now. So, he shakes his head again and Clark doesn't leave. After a few seconds of walking in silence, Clark begins speaking. "I think I've finally managed to get my parents to understand. I basically just explained the whole thing… again. I went over how why we slept with each other and you getting pregnant, about me trying to stay with Lois but it wasn't working out, about you and Oliver, and then finally about me realizing my feelings for you. It took a lot of explaining." Clark eyes him from the corners of his eyes. "But um, yeah, I think they get now. It's… going to take them a little while to accept it, though, I think." Bruce nods in understanding. "They are excited about a granddaughter Bruce, even if they don't seem like it right now. I promise." Again, Bruce nods and he can see Clark's shoulders droop in defeat from his peripheral vision.

Bruce stops walking and turns to Clark. "Clark?" Clark looks at him, questioningly. "Why do you put up with me?"

"Is that even a real question?"

Bruce rolls his eyes. "Don't be stupid."

Clark chuckles but reaches up to tuck some hair behind Bruce's ear. "I don't know. You're my best friend and I care about you. I love you."

"But why? Why do you love me?" Bruce shrugs. "I push everyone I care about away. I make them hate me."

"Is this about Dick?" Bruce looks away, avoiding eye contact. "Bruce, what's going on with Dick is not your fault. All of it is on him. What he did to you and Wally and Kori, all of it. He's the one at fault here. Not you, not Wally, and certainly not Kori. He's the one who has to take responsibility for it."

Tears start forming in Bruce's eyes and he wishes he wasn't so emotional from hormones. "Our bond broke Clark." A tear slips down his cheek and Clark automatically reaches up to wipe it away. "And it hurts. It hurts Clark." His shoulders start shaking with the effort of crying. "And I'm afraid that I'm going to going to lose my other bonds and that I'm going to lose the one with our daughter."

"That's not going to happen, Bruce, I promise. You'll see." Clark wipes more tears away. "You're going to talk to Dick tonight and you two will fix everything. You both will start to rebuild that bond you had. You did with Jason."

"That took years and I can't do it again Clark. I don't want to lose another one of my children."

Clark cups his face. "Hey, hey, deep breaths."

"And your parents don't like me and-and I don't feel good today."

"Why don't you feel good?" Clark asks gently.

"I just don't. I have a headache and I'm nauseas and I-I can't breathe." Clark's eyebrows furrow. "I'm pretty sure it's because of the bond breaking." Bruce sniffles. "It's not a good time for your parents to be here, judging me, and for Kara's hyperactivity and Barbara's questions." He rubs at his forehead. "I just don't want to do this today."

Clark is watching him, probably scanning him, and looking concerned. "You don't have to," he finally says. "Hey, listen, you don't have to do this today, okay? You just go to your room and let me handle everything. My parents, Kara, and Barbara are staying for the week so you have plenty of time to talk to them." He rubs Bruce's cheek. "Go relax, try to feel better, maybe take a nap, and then we'll fix this situation with Dick tonight. Okay?" Bruce swallows, wipes his tears away, and nods. Clark smiles down at him. "Do you want me to walk you to your room?" Bruce shakes his head. "Okay. I'll come check on you later." With one last pet to Bruce's cheek, Clark lets him go and starts walking away.

Bruce stops him. "Clark?" Clark turns to face him. "I won't lose you, will I?"

Clark gives him a sympathetic smile. "Never." He then turns and leaves, leaving Bruce alone.

With a deep breath, Bruce slowly makes his way back to his bedroom. Once there, he lies down in his bed and tries to desperately not think about Dick.

A/N: Thanks for reading!