Making the Best of It
Chapter 21
Gotham City Park
It was a hot August day as Bruce and Diana, the newly together couple took their nine-month-old daughter to the park to play.
Diana pulled Elissa out of her stroller with Bruce moving the baby transport vehicle to the side as they made a beeline to the slide the playground contained.
Bruce smiled lightly as he witnessed Elissa get all wide eyed from all the people.
Diana thought Elissa looked adorable. All dressed up in a light blue t-shirt and cargo shorts with adorable purple strapped sandals. Her head whipping side to side and then focused on the strange contraption her mother was walking towards.
Diana wore a gray t-shirt with navy jean shorts and brown leather sandals. Her sunglasses hung from her shirt by the temple. Her charm bracelet, curtesy of Zatanna, enabled the woman to let her hair down instead of having to do the whole Diana Prince persona. It was very hot out! The woman climbed up the ladder mounting the slide. She sat down on her bottom with Elissa in her lap. The interior of the slide was pungent with the sunscreen the parents lathered their daughter in. With a squeak, the dark-haired pair went down the slide, making a turn and they were finally at the bottom.
It was at that point Elissa smiled brightly. Giggles erupting from the infant. Diana was curious on the delayed reaction but dismissed it as she didn't understand anything until later.
Bruce was recording the whole scene with his phone. He made sure to capture that smile on his little girl's face at the end. His heart almost skipped a beat when his daughter instantly looked to him.
While the dark-haired man, sporting a blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the collar open, khaki pants and brown leather shoes. While Elissa had his attention, his focus was on everyone else in the park. Families with kids running around, shrieking in excitement. Picnics, playing ball, walking with their dogs, or going for a jog.
Single men or women, whom do not have any particular reason to be in the park. A phone in their hand or a camera. Watching strangers' kids play with unwanted attention.
Those were the people he was on the look out for. He was a trained detective in a city where crime never slept. He was also a father to a nine-month- old daughter that was a very real target for kidnapping.
Call him what you wished, but he was not going to be careless when it came to Elissa's safety. He could not take losing her, too.
His focus was broken when Diana approached, Elissa in her arms. "You want to try with her?" she asked innocently.
Instinctively, Elissa reached for Bruce as she got close to him. With no hesitation, he took her into his arms, her legs hooking around his side as he held her in one arm, his phone in his other hand.
"You want to go again?" he asked his daughter.
Her response was her hand opening and closing in the direction of the slide.
"I'll take that as a 'yes,'" he laughed, walking to the slide.
The Amazon smiled as her… boyfriend took their child for another go down the slide. It was still fresh to her that they were dating now. Her fears were still there but she was never one to back down from adversity.
Besides, being with Bruce was uncomplicated. At first, odd. Foreign. But now, she had gotten so comfortable around him that hope filled her. Hope that maybe they could actually work. He was one of the finest men she had ever met. And one of the few men she could picture herself with.
The fact that he was out of his comfort zone, trying to make them work, spoke volumes on how serious he was about them.
Her smile deepened as she saw the two most important people in her life come down the slide, both with smiles on their faces and a belly of laughter escaping their little girl as she was enjoying time with her parents.
"You want to try the swing set next?" Bruce asked Elissa, his head inched closer to her so she could see him. "Hmm?" he pressed, placing a kiss to her temple.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Diana taking a picture of his moment with Elissa. Another photo for the album.
Her lips tugged upwards as they stared at one another adoration in each other's eyes.
Wayne Manor
Bruce and Diana were lounging on the couch in the living room. A book in the man's hands. Every time he finished a sentence he glanced over to Elissa sitting in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree baby walker. Toys and other features encompassed her as she stood on her little legs. Drool dribble down her chin as she gnawed on her pacifier. Her parents were aiming to help encourage her to stand up and try to walk or at least build up some strength in her legs.
On the couch, Diana leaned back against the arm rest, dressed in a red t-shirt and white shorts, her long bare legs were lying in the billionaire's lap. A notepad and pencil in her hands as she pondered birthday party ideas.
"How about a piñata?" she threw ideas out there as she was uncertain on what to do for her daughter's first birthday. The Amazon wanted it to be special and as much as she wanted to celebrate it the Amazon way, she realized Elissa would be growing up in Man's World with their traditions. Suddenly, a sense of loneliness struck her as she longed for returning home to see her mother and sisters but dismissed it as she needed to be on the ball with this. A lot of work needed to be done. And she preferred not to leave everything to the last minute.
"You want to give a one-year-old a bat?" the man countered, she could hear the skepticism in his voice and in reaction crossed the idea from the list.
"Balloons?" she suggested.
"Definitely," he agreed, hearing noise from baby walker. He looked up from his book to see his daughter slapping her little hand on a button causing more sounds to erupt from the walker.
"That's something," she muttered dryly.
"Pony?" the man suggested uncertain.
"Too young," the woman shot down. A frustrated groan escaped her as her head leaned further back on the arm rest. Her raven locks hanging over it. "How is this so difficult?"
"Maybe you are putting too much thought into this?" Bruce suggested. "It's her first birthday. She won't remember it. Our friends and family will be invited, not hers," he pointed out.
He saw her sigh.
"I know," she conceded. "I just want it to be special," she confessed.
"It will," he asserted. "Because we will be there for her on her special day," he smiled slightly, attempting to comfort her.
She lifted her head up and smiled appreciative by the man's efforts.
"Thank you."
"Anytime," he uttered returning to his book.
All this party planning was causing the Amazon stress. She needed to relax. Her eyes trailed to her baby, busying herself by playing with her walker. The woman turned her eyes back to Bruce, occupied with his book.
Suddenly, a coy smile crept up on her red lips. She rubbed her bare legs against his thighs hoping for a certain reaction from her boyfriend. Seeing no reaction, she increased her efforts. She bent her legs at the knee, her feet situating themselves on his lap, his book jerked upward from the sudden movement.
With wide eyes the man evaded from getting hit by the object.
Blue eyes scowled at the woman, whom appeared sheepish by her action.
"Yes?" the man asked in a deadpan manner.
"I seem to recall that you give an excellent foot massage. Could you help me relax?" she asked him, purposely batting her eyelashes in innocence.
He reacted with a grumble turning back to his book.
Her lips pursed, pouting from his silent refusal before an idea popped into her head. She kept her legs straight along the man's lap, giving off the aura that she had given up.
She pulled up her notepad and pencil and started to write down some more ideas. Every once in a while, her foot would tap the book in the billionaire's hand, jerking it upward. A look of annoyance appeared on the man's face, yet he refused to give in.
The interval between her taps were about a minute. His grimace deepened, clutching the book tightly as he stubbornly refused to give in.
Eventually, Diana was doing it absently.
"Alright!" he shouted in frustration. "You win!"
She smirked in delight as she heard him roughly shut his book and slap it onto the coffee table.
There was a long pause. A sigh of reluctance. And eventually, the pleasure began.
"Ah," she moaned as those magic hands went to work. "Thank you," she said as she erased something from the pad.
"You're welcome," he grumbled darkly in a voice of displeasure. However, that voice sent a tingle down the woman's spine. She recalled that voice from many of their interactions.
She plopped the notepad onto her stomach, "Oh, don't pout. I promise to make it up to you later."
She smirked seductively as she saw the faintest reaction from him. "I saw that," she gloated. "I promise to make it up to you," she reassured. "I need to feel less stressed," she pleaded. "I'll do that think that you like," she offered knowingly. "You know… with the whipped cream."
It took all his willpower and the presence of their child to not jump that woman at that very moment. "You better keep your promise," he grumbled lowly, putting more enthusiasm into Diana's foot massage.
She smiled profoundly at her victory. "I promise," she vowed. She leaned her head back as she relished the sensations her boyfriend brought out in her. She picked up the notepad and scanned the ideas. "Have we given Elissa sugar yet?"
"No idea," Bruce replied putting further pressure into Diana's joints.
Suddenly, a thought struck Bruce. "No clowns," he affirmed in no uncertain terms.
"That's fine," she replied passively.
A family dinner was something both adults tried to make a constant for Elissa. Both desired to give their daughter as normal a childhood as they could give her. That meant unless the world was ending, or someone was threatening Gotham, Bruce and Diana stayed at the dinner table for a family meal.
Bruce had already contacted Duke and Cassandra to cover patrol for the night as the man wanted to spend some time with his daughter for an evening. He had left instructions to contact him if something came up.
Alfred always cooked incredible meals and that never changed with Elissa now in the manor.
The dark-haired couple made small talk as they ate together. It was Bruce's turn to fed Elissa, while Diana got to enjoy an uninterrupted meal.
The billionaire's food was abandoned as he scooped baby food into his daughter's mouth. Pausing in between spoonful's so she swallowed it. Setting the spoon down, he wiped her mouth with her bib.
"Is that good?" he spoke to her so animatedly, Diana was left dumbstruck. She had never heard him speak in such a way. She liked witnessing a new side to the man.
"What am I feeding her?" Bruce directed to the Amazon.
"Chicken and peas," she supplied, sipping her iced tea.
He eyed the bowl of mush momentarily until a thought struck him. "What's this taste like? Like actual chicken and peas?"
She shrugged, "I don't know."
Once again Bruce paused. "I will give you everything in my wallet if you eat a whole jar," he wagered. A devious smirk on his handsome face provoked a raised eyebrow from the Amazon.
Not one to back down from a challenge. Not even a challenge as lesser as eating baby food.
"How much we talking?" she boldly inquired, leaning in on her elbow.
"Over a hundred dollars," the man mirrored her action.
They stared one another down for a hard minute before. "Put up or shut up," she tactlessly demanded.
The man wordlessly dumped several large bills on the dinner table confidently. He raised an eyebrow in challenge awaiting her response.
Scowling, the dark-haired woman left the dinner table, ignoring her daughter's displeased yells at not being fed, to which Bruce quickly rectified.
She came back with a jar in hand, plopping down at the table and unscrewed the lid off. Defiantly, she dropped the lid onto the table unceremoniously, spoon in hand and shoved the mush into her mouth.
Instantly, she grimaced at the taste. Her face scrunched up as she struggled to swallow it down. When she did, she downed it with iced tea.
A smug look on the man's face infuriated her and encouraged her to continue.
"Did I just win?"
"No," she denied heatedly. Stubbornly, she shoved the rest of the mush into her mouth. Took her refilling her glass of iced tea a few times but she finished the jar.
"Pay up!" she demanded, slamming the empty jar onto the table with a bang.
He shifted the bills towards her with a finger, watching her collect her winnings.
"We need to buy more food for her," she stated as the woman had taken Elissa's future meal.
"It's on the list," Bruce finished up with Elissa and wiped her clean.
"Bath time?" he checked with the woman as she was more up to date on the schedule than he.
"Bath time," she confirmed going back to forgotten plate.
"Come on, princess," Bruce said to his daughter, plucking her from her highchair.
An hour later, Bruce had her bathed and dressed for bed. She smelled like baby shampoo and baby powder. He dressed her in shorts as it was a hot night. A fan blasting cool air towards her and the crib, the window ajar.
Gently, he set her down, her treasured pacifier snapped to her shirt and firmly in her mouth, her blanket lightly on her torso, leaving her bare legs exposed.
"I love you," he uttered softly to Elissa, kissing her forehead. His heart melted as blue trusting eyes stared back at him unblinking.
"Goodnight," he whispered kissing her forehead again. He shut the door lightly and went to Diana's room to check if the monitor was working.
He knocked politely and heard her beckon him inside. When he entered, he became tongue-tied and libido skyrocket. He saw Diana sitting in her bed, naked and a sultry smile. Her head leaning against her pillows, one leg straight along the comforter, her other leg bent at the knee, tightly pressed against her other leg. The bent limp blocked him from sneaking a peak at her gender.
"I promised a reward for your hard work," she coyly arched an eyebrow,
Due to the scene the man could only nod his head dumbly as he did not have the ability to verbalize.
Her eyes never straying from her boyfriend's, her hand reached for her nightstand, grabbing what she wanted.
She boldly revealed the cold can of whipped cream, "You wanna have some?" To undercut her question, she sprayed the whipped goodness into her mouth. "Mmm," she moaned at the deliciousness.
"Clothes off," she commanded in a regal voice.
It did not take him very long to strip. If you inspected his clothes you would find he tore some in a rush to join her.
She giggled as he dove into bed with her.
The whipped cream was left abandoned on her bedroom floor, empty from repeated use.
The bed shock under the rhythmic thrusts from the man. The sheets soaked from sweat and other bodily fluids after hours of love making.
"Ah! Ah! AH!" the Amazon moaned as Bruce sawed into her at the right angle that made her all tingly. Both soaked in sweat, the air heady with perspiration and whipped cream. Their bodies sticky from the fun aid item and their sweat.
Her fingers dug into his back as always, sweat soaking the welts, aggravating the wounds. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her toes clutched his backside tightly, her eyes rolling back.
Everything was good. Both were enjoying their time together. Both had very healthy sexual appetites. Both liked a challenge. Both answered that challenge readily.
They were so close until…
"WAH!"
Elissa's wailing interrupted them from continuing as her cries were like the proverbial cold shower that shut both of them down.
Both went wide-eyed as they heard their daughter cry.
The man growled in frustration as Diana instantly jerked her head toward the monitor. He was so close. Diana whined in frustration, as she, too, was on the verge of climax.
"I swear that damn kid knows when we're making love," he grumbled, feeling his girlfriend's legs loosen around him. This was not the first time she interrupted her parent's alone time.
Sighing, he turned back to Diana, whom was scowling at him.
"What?"
"Don't curse at my kid," she told him.
"I didn't curse."
""Damn kid"?" she quoted, heat laced her words.
He did not have a rebuttal, or he did not answer with the swiftness that she expected.
With furrowed brows, she kneed him lightly, issuing a grunt from the man as he rolled away from her.
"I'll be back," she scowled, getting up from the bed, only to pause as a loose sheet stuck to her back. She removed it in search of her robe.
"Diana," the man weakly began, she did not hit him very hard, and she mostly missed anything delicate, but she hits hard. "You have to let go a little," he advised.
"I just want to make sure she's not overheated," she countered, padding to the nursey.
He stared back to the ajar door, before plopping onto the bed disgruntled.
This parenting thing was getting difficult when dating a very remarkable and beautiful woman.
A week later the couple rendezvous back at the manor after a nice dinner in the city. Alfred had watched Elissa for a couple of hours and put her to bed for them. When they returned home, they peaked in on their slumbering bundle of joy. When they were convinced that she would stay asleep for the rest of the night or hoped she would, they went about their business.
Their little girl seemed to enjoy blocking her parents.
The dark-haired pair decided to have a romantic evening in as they took a relaxing soak together. Bruce was forced to remain perfectly still, per the Amazon's instructions, no matter how much he desired not to when Diana seductively striped for him. Shedding her ruby dress and dark heels, a saucy smile on her lips at his discomfort from fighting his urges.
She turned revealing her sun-kissed backside as she turned to fill up the tub. She looked over her shoulder, smirking coyly, shivering as the man's eyes were on her. Converting every image of her to his memory.
When she turned back to him, allowing the tub to fill itself, she strode over to him with all the grace and confidence that she was known for.
He attempted the swallow the large lump in his suddenly dry throat. Every time he saw her, he could barely form coherent thoughts. Hell, barely remember his own name. He promised himself that he would change or at least make an effort to change. He wanted them to work. Not just for Elissa but for himself. Diana made him want to stop being so miserable. Let go of some of the pain and move on with his life.
There was a small part of him that was scared that he would screw up like he did with Selina. But Diana made it worth trying. Worth the risk.
He was pulled from his thoughts when strong slender hands grabbed him by his lapels.
"There is a strict dress code here," she said teasingly. "If you are planning on getting in the tub with your clothes on you are going to look ridiculous."
Her attempt at humor caused him to smile a bit, even chuckle.
Slowly, she assisted him to taking off his clothes. His blazer falling to the tile floor with a thud. Buttons flew when she tore his shirt from his body with excited glee.
He gave her a pointed look.
"I was getting impatient," Diana stated innocently. He sighed and divested himself of his shoes and socks. The Amazon was eager to remove his pants.
Hooded eyes stared at his endowment in satisfaction.
"See something you like?" he asked her with a knowing smile.
"Definitely," she responded with fervid. "Do you see something you like?"
"Definitely," he answered with the same enthusiasm as she did.
His reply brought a smile to her lips. Gingerly, she took his hand in hers as fingers laced together.
Moments later, after shutting off the water, they both got in. Bruce sat back, his head against the tile wall with Diana lying against him, her back sticking to his chest from perspiration and the hot water. Her hair was damp, parted running along her chest like rivers of ebony concealed her bountiful bosom.
To complete the romantic scene, the lights in the bathroom were dimed. Even a few scented candles were burning along the side.
The baby monitor resting on the sink was a hasty addition. Alfred had done enough for the evening. Bruce and Diana were home, clocking in.
The Amazon sighed in relaxation, heading leaning back further just under the man's chin.
"Are you happy, Diana?" Bruce asked after a long silence.
"Very happy," she responded in contentment. Water sloshing as her arm came out of the water pulling the man's arms around her. She felt him press a kiss to the top of her head.
"Are you?" she could not help but ask in return. Unconsciously sounding uncertain on his feelings for a fresh minute.
"For the first time in a long time," he uttered after a pregnant pause. His voice giving off the sense of contentment. Wordlessly, he grabbed a washcloth, running it along her shoulder down to her bicep and forearm. Kisses littered her neck as she made it easier for him. A hum of pleasure escaped her in delight.
"I like being with you," he revealed to her as his hand lifted her leg up breaking the surface of the warm water. He washed her knee and thigh before resting on her stomach.
Instantly, her hand stopped his, taking the cloth from him. Turning around she washed his torso for him, slowly inching downwards, inciting a masculine reaction only for the cloth to return to his chest.
A glare sent her way made her giggle before they resumed bathing the other.
Later, they sat back and relaxed again, inhaling the pleasant scents from the candles and the time they spent together.
Back in their previous positions, Diana, whom was idly brushing her fingers along her boyfriend's large forearm in a back and forth motion. Absently, she spoke. "I miss my mother."
"I know you do," he sympathized. He wished to help reunite her with her mother. But it was out of his area. He concurred; he missed his mother too.
His hand idly rubbing her stomach as he listened.
"I think my mother would love to meet Elissa someday," she smiled hopefully.
"I hope so," he responded lightly. Elissa was a girl, so Hippolyta should not have a problem with a grandchild.
"She would be proud of me for having Elissa. I swear I will raise her like an Amazon. Instilled with my people's ideals. Yet, tempered by her knowledge of growing up in Patriarch's World," she continued wistfully.
Bruce did not seem to have a problem with the woman's plans for Elissa. As long as Diana doesn't stick a sword in a three-year old's hand, he would be fine.
A fond smile formed on the Amazon's lips. "A perfect child from a suitable mate," she continued. "Mother would approve. If you take away the fact her feelings towards men," she jested.
"Hmm."
"But I don't want a mate," she revealed. She turned around looking him in the eyes, chests together, her hands resting on his shoulders. Blue gazed into blue. Breaths mingling together. "I want a lover. Will you be my lover?" she asked in a whisper.
Diana refused to run from their relationship. No more doubts. No more backing out. She wanted to be all in. No more friends with benefits that they were previously. She wanted commitment. From him. But it was what she wanted. A life—a relationship with Bruce. If he could be willing.
"Yes," he answered without any hesitation. He wanted to be with her for the rest of his life if he could. No running away for him. He was in. All the way. Kissing her, things quickly grew heated between them.
Just as things were getting good, their sweet bundle of joy started to cry.
The two reluctantly pulled apart with a collective groan. The Amazon buried her face into the billionaire's shoulder. "I'll take care of her. You get that handsome body of yours into my room," she sultrily put.
Getting out of the tub first, her body dripping wet, Bruce took an extra long minute to admire her curves glistening from the water. He was depressed when the show ended as Diana put on a white terry robe not bothering to towel off.
"Getting moving, Mr. Wayne," she said pointedly.
Bruce was more than happy to comply. "Yes, ma'am." When he got up, he noticed his girlfriend's heated gaze upon his body.
When she noticed his staring back, she retrieved the monitor and left him to clean up and get to her bedroom. He moved in a haste as he dried off and dressed in a robe. Pulling out the drain causing the water to recede, he moved to the door, only to return to blow out the lit candles.
He was never a hopeful man, but Diana made him one.
NEXT: BIRTHDAY!
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