The Bat and the Cat Come Back

Chapter 35

Within a week, it was everyone's business that there was a Wayne heir on the way. Selina was only a few weeks along, but with her stress levels, it was no wonder that she'd lost track of her cycle. And with the photographer following her anywhere and everywhere she went, well, her stress levels were at an all-time high.

She arrived back in their hotel room and slammed the door behind her.

"How the hell did they find out?" she yelled at Bruce. "I just wanted to go to the store and buy something for Alfred, but no! I couldn't get out of the car!"

"You were gone for hours. Where did you go if you couldn't get out of the car?" Bruce asked.

"I drove around Gotham until they got bored with me and left. All. Around. Gotham," she said slowly. "I just don't know how they could have…" she trailed off as she looked at Bruce's sheepish expression. "Did you tell people?"

"I might have mentioned it during the meeting last week…it was right after we found out and I was excited. I still am," he smiled and put her hands on her waist. "Don't be mad…"

"Oh, I'm not mad, Bruce," Selina said softly. She put her hands to his chest and shoved him as hard as she could. "I'm furious!" Selina headed for the suite's bedroom and slammed the door.

Bruce stood silently for a moment and contemplated his options.

But only a minute later, Selina came back out of the room and did something totally unexpected.

"I'm sorry."

Bruce blanched like he'd been slapped in the face.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I know you're excited. And it's not like you told some crazy secret…" Selina trailed off. "So, I'm sorry. But if I punch a paparazzi, you've got to defend me."

Bruce smiled. "Always."

He leaned down and pulled Selina into his arms to kiss her hard.

Selina started to move backwards, towards the bedroom she had just come out of and Bruce stepped with her, then stopped.

"What?" Selina said as she broke the kiss.

"It's just…"

Selina looked at his concerned face and then rolled her eyes. "You can't be serious."

"What if…"

"Do you not know anything?" Selina asked.

"It's just so early in the pregnancy. I don't want to do anything to hurt him."

"Him?"

"What?"

"You think it's a boy?"

"It was just a figure of speech. And I just…"

"We can have sex, Bruce. The doc said we could have sex, I asked."

"I just don't think now is the right…"

"The next eight months are going to be very long, then," she said before kicking her shoes off and pulling her shirt over her head while she walked back towards the bedroom.

Bruce saw Selina's bare back disappear into the room and he gulped while his resolve faded fast. He contemplated things quickly. Then he walked into the bedroom behind Selina, shucking his own shirt as he went.

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Another two weeks and Alfred was finally cleared to be released from the hospital. As it had been since the day it became news, it was virtually impossible for Bruce and Selina to go anywhere within Gotham City.

Outside of the hospital, reporters caught them and Bruce felt his pockets for his nifty little device and was disappointed to not find it.

"I'm the one who's supposed to have baby brain, not you, Bruce," Selina purred into his ear.

"Thank goodness you're the pregnant one; I think you'll look better in the maternity clothes," he whispered back. "I think we should play nice, at least this once…"

Selina looked at him through her eyelashes. "Whatever you say, Mr. Wayne."

He smiled a forced smile. "We have time for a couple questions, but then we have to get upstairs to get Alfred…"

A blonde woman maneuvered her way to the front of the group with a couple swift elbows to faces.

"Mr. Wayne!"

Bruce tried to not roll his eyes. "Yes?" he pointed.

"Vicki Vale, Gotham Times…"

"I know," Bruce said through gritted teeth.

"Now that Mrs. Wayne is pregnant, are your place to move on hold?" Vicki asked. "Can we plan to keep you here in Gotham?"

Bruce looked down at Selina. "As long as the doctors clear her, and when Alfred is totally healed, we'll get Wayne Enterprises sorted back out and then we'll be on our way."

"Mrs. Wayne, do you have a problem with raising your child here in Gotham City?" Vicky asked in a snotty tone.

"Selina," she corrected her. "And no, but we made a home…elsewhere…and we'd prefer to go there. Both Bruce and I were born and raised here in Gotham, but we want to go back to our new home."

"Mrs. Wayne…is it true that you married Bruce Wayne for his money?" Vicki asked.

The loud crowd immediately hushed and waited with bated breath for Selina Kyle-Wayne's response.

Selina simply smiled and put her head on Bruce's shoulder.

"Let's be honest here, no matter what I say, you're all going to be having a field day and write whatever you want," she said. "I love my husband. I don't owe anyone an explanation."

"Well, I think that's enough for now," Bruce said. He was proud of his wife's answer despite the fact that she was showing off because of Vicki.

Selina turned to head into the hospital, but someone else called out for their attention.

"Mr. Wayne! Mrs. Wayne!" called a female that wasn't Vale. Selina turned back.

She didn't see where the voice was coming from, but it didn't mean she was hearing things.

"Lois Lane, Daily Planet, Metropolis," a woman called from Selina's right.

"Yes, Ms. Lane?" Selina said.

"When are you expecting the little bundle of joy?" Lois asked.

Selina smiled. "My due date is in November," she replied. "Thank you for asking," Selina said before turning on her heel and rushing into the hospital.

Bruce's eye brow went up in surprise at her swift exit, but didn't waste time. He smiled proudly and hustled after her.

Once they were alone in the elevator, Bruce finally could ask her.

"You ran out of that pretty fast," Bruce said. "It looked like you'd seen a ghost."

"I saw Blake."

"Blake?" Bruce repeated. He hadn't been able to track down the kid – not that he'd tried really hard. Bruce knew he was okay. He'd gotten a call from Barb Gordon. But Blake's whereabouts had been unknown for the last few weeks.

"Where did he go?"

"He caught my eye and pointed up. Then he was gone," Selina said as she reached for the elevator buttons. "So we go up."

"I don't think you should be rooftop jumping in your condition, Selina,' Bruce said.

"I don't intend to do any jumping. Just standing."

The elevator continued to climb and soon they were on the roof of the building. The doors opened into the daylight.

Both of them walked out into the brisk cold and looked. And there he was.

"Took you long enough," Blake groused.

"Old elevator," Bruce replied.

"Congratulations," Blake said, reaching out to embrace Selina.

"Thank you."

"You're a hard man to find," Bruce said.

"All part of the training," he finally smiled. "I've been up to Metropolis. I thought I should track Luthor for a bit and see what his next move is."

"And?" Selina asked.

"He spends a hell of a lot of time making sure that his head is shiny," Blake replied. "He went back and started licking his wounds."

"Maybe you should try taking on Tony Stark, now," Selina said.

"As much as I dislike Stark, and I really dislike Stark…" Bruce started. "He's never come in and tried to take over my company," he finished.

"Imagine if Wayne Enterprises and Stark Industries worked together…"

Bruce held up his hand. "Don't, Selina. I can tolerate a lot, but he…I put on the mask to protect those closest to me. He tried to, but because he's so full of himself, he came out and announced he was Iron Man. Since then, well, everyone he knows had been in danger…"

Selina opened her mouth then wisely chose to close it. There was no need to point out the obvious that while Bruce had hidden his identity that his loved ones had still wound up injured and/or dead.

"So, now you're back…what are Nightwing's plans?" Selina asked. "And thank you for going up to Metropolis."

"Well, I knew I wasn't going to be any good til I healed. The Joker got me good in a couple places. Doing some detective work suited my recovery. And Nightwing, well, I hear he's ready to get back in the saddle."

Both Bruce and Selina smiled. They'd both had their doubts about his readiness, but he'd proven himself more than ready.

"They're releasing Alfred today?" he asked.

Bruce nodded.

"Any idea when you're headed back to Italy?" Blake asked.

Selina shook her head. "We're going to get Wayne Enterprises back into good shape and then worry about Italy."

Bruce was shocked. He thought she wanted out of Gotham as soon as possible. Wonders never ceased to amaze.

"Don't get any grand ideas, honey. I just want you to be comfortable with the way the company is going before you leave the country again," Selina smiled. "But once that's all set, we're definitely going to Italy. And we're going to need to figure out the baby's room…"

TO BE CONTINUED

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Author's note: Thank yous all around for those of you that are still reading my nonsense! I really appreciate it! As always, let me know what you think of this chapter!