Author's Notes: I would like to thank those who reviewed the previous chapters, followed and favorited. I really do appreciate your continued support.
Rachel was still shaken up by Superman's response to her current pregnant state. She suddenly regretted even talking to him in the first place.
I shouldn't have opened my mouth. Rachel thought. I should have just grabbed a hold of him and pulled him out of his mind...Now Superman knows about the children. Hopefully after I tampered with his memories, he won't remember meeting me and knowing about the children.
Yet she knew deep down that probably wouldn't be enough to make the Man of Steel forget. At the possibility, she became worried.
Mama? You ok? She heard her children asked.
Don't mind me, darlings. She responded while rubbing a soothing hand over her large belly. Let us focus on your other father alright? So can you tell me where he is at this place?
Papa is this way! Her children answered while they sent Rachel the images of the room where their second father was lying in a catatonic state.
Rachel followed where her five unborn children directed her to go to. She was currently in Central City, in S.T.A.R. Labs to exact, where Barry Allen - or the Flash - had been taken after the fastest man alive had simply lost consciousness while he was in the process of apprehending some criminals.
Apparently, the Flash had tumbled into a busy highway and had nearly been hit by the oncoming traffic. Fortunately for him, he had suffered only minor injuries. However, like Superman, Barry Allen was in a coma.
Again.
Rachel appeared in the room where the man was and noticed the beeping machines attached to him. She could hear the heart monitor and she was mildly interested to see how Barry Allen's heart rate was beating abnormally fast, which could only be expected considering the man had merged with one of the Seven Forces of the Universe; the Speed Force.
Leaning down, she regarded the unconscious man lying on the bed and she couldn't help but admire his handsome features. In the future, Barry Allen had been older when Dark Raven had taken him captive. Barry had looked ruggedly handsome in the future and had lost most of his boyish good looks while the younger version, whom Rachel was currently staring at, still had it in spades.
However, she instantly shifted her attention away from the Flash, when she started to see her children's surface thoughts,where they expressed their hopes of seeing her and their unconscious father living together in some domestic setting.
Rachel put a stop to it at once.
Don't play matchmaker on me, little ones. Rachel softly reprimanded. And please don't get your hopes up...Your fathers will be far too busy saving the world to even consider settling down with anyone, much less me.
But Mama! Can't our Papas live with us someday at least? Her children asked. Like one, big happy family?
After their question, her children suddenly provided Rachel with a vision of a possible future with their fathers. Like some kind of romcom movie, she watched it inside her own mind.
"Alright, since I'll be late working tonight, it means someone is going to pick up the kids this time," Oliver Queen said as he looked at the rest of the men sitting in the living room.
"I'll pick the little tykes from school. All of you don't need to worry about it," Arthur Curry replied while sipping the glass of vodka in his hand.
"I don't trust your driving at all, Arty," Hal Jordan stated. He was sitting right next to a dozing John Constantine on the couch. "So I'll be the one picking them up."
"Hal..." Bruce Wayne said, glaring at the other man. "You're not going anywhere until you are done doing the laundry."
"But Brucy!" Hal all but whined.
"Oh man, here it goes again," Billy Batson said with a long suffering sigh. "This is seriously getting old."
"What do you expect? The two seemed to prefer bickering as a means of communication. And Hal really needs to stop trying to weasel his way out of his assigned tasks in this house," Dick Grayson remarked, shaking his head.
"I agree. Even Superman is doing his part by helping Rachel with the cooking," Barry Allen pointed out.
The scene shifted without warning and Rachel suddenly saw the vision of Clark Kent wearing an apron and standing next to an older version of her. Both appeared to be cooking something on the stove in front of them.
"Here taste this Clark," the older Rachel said as she lifted a spoon full of - what looked to be soup - up towards the tall Kryptonian who immediately opened his mouth to accept her offering.
"Well? Does it need more spice or salt?" the older Rachel asked while she watched Superman slowly swallow the soup. His Adam's apple bobbing.
"It doesn't need any of those. The soup tastes fine now," Superman replied with a smile.
"That's good then...I know I can depend on your taste buds, Clark. With you being Superman and all that, you make a perfect food taster," the older Rachel said in amusement.
"You make it sound like I'm only good for tasting food Rachel and not saving the entire world..." Clark remarked, raising a brow.
The older Rachel rolled her eyes at the dark-haired Kryptonian and then bumped his shoulder playfully.
"I don't see any difference. With you serving as a food taster, you are practically saving the world since you are ensuring that the superheroes living here don't get poison so easily. Also, if you want me to list down your impressive qualities and shower you with compliments Kent, then sorry to disappoint but you will have to rely on your die-hard fans to boost your already gargantuan ego."
"I don't have a gargantuan ego," the Man of Steel frowned.
"Yes, you have. It's practically the size of an entire planet," the other Rachel replied and then she let out a soft laugh when a pout appeared on the Kryptonian's face.
"You really like to make fun of me, don't you?" the Kryptonian said as he poked the older Rachel in the nose.
The woman swatted Superman's offending hand.
"Yes, because your reaction is always amusing to watch," said the older woman while she grinned at Clark Kent in obvious affection.
As Rachel observed their playful banter, she started to feel uncomfortable, especially when her children were practically wriggling in excitement at the possibility of living with all their fathers.
All nine of them. In One House.
Ugh, nope. Not going to happen. The amount of testosterone will probably suffocate me to death. Rachel surmised.
Like I said Darlings, don't get your hopes up. She told her children. Rachel instantly sensed their disappointment and she decided to divert their attention on their second father who was still unconscious.
Well, let's meet your second father. Shall we? She suggested right before she delved into Barry Allen's mind.
Unlike Clark Kent, who had a replica of his family farm in his mindscape, Barry Allen on the other hand, had his laboratory.
Rachel appeared in his lab slash apartment, where she immediately saw the superhero gazing into a microscope and scribbling something on a notebook beside it.
For a moment, she observed the twenty-six year old Forensic Scientist. Barry Allen appeared to be excited about something just by looking at his boyish grin and his lively face. Rachel was curious what had taken most of his attention.
She could feel her children's growing interest for their second father and she decided to finally make her presence known by clearing her throat out loud.
At the sound, Barry Allen quickly looked up and noticed her at last. Rachel's violet eyes quickly locked into the man's chocolate brown orbs.
The silence seemed to stretch between them as the Flash just simply gaped at her with his mouth half-open.
"I wisely suggest that you close your mouth before a fly decides to make it its new home," Rachel couldn't help but comment in a wry tone.
The Flash instantly closed his mouth and Rachel observed the light flush that crept up to the man's high cheekbones.
"Ahh...hahaha sorry..." the fastest superhero laughed awkwardly as he rubbed the side of his neck.
Rachel also noted how Barry Allen seemed to be staring at her and then at her pregnant belly with an odd expression on his face.
"You really caught me off guard there. I was not exactly expecting to see you this soon," the Flash told her and Rachel suddenly felt her heart freeze at his unexpected words.
"You were actually expecting me?" she asked in both surprise and wariness.
"Yes, I was." He replied and then he looked at her large belly. "And the children too."
Rachel felt the little devils inside her swiftly reacting to their father's attention.
"But how?" She wondered in confusion.
"I will tell you everything I learned, but I think it's better for you to sit down first before I start explaining things," The Flash said as he gestured towards the chair he had just recently vacated.
She bristled at his tone of voice. He sounded so...domineering.
"I think I will stand," Rachel said and crossed her arms in front of her.
The scientist's brows furrowed at her response.
"Look. I know that standing for too long with your condition will be bad for your back and your feet, especially when you are carrying five children. So I suggest you sit down first before I tell you everything I learned so far,"
"You are quite bossy, aren't you?" She remarked instead, glaring at him.
"Sorry, but I can't help it," the Flash answered as he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair while he cast a helpless look in Rachel's direction. "I am only concerned... considering your carrying my children..."
Rachel stiffened in shock at Barry Allen's revelation.
He knows. She thought faintly as she stared at the man. He knows the truth.
"So will you please sit down?..." He said it almost like a plea.
He clearly didn't like to argue with her and Rachel didn't want to either.
Hence, she sat down without another protest.
"Thank you," He sounded relieved at the sight of her finally acquiescing to his request.
Afterward, Rachel simply watched when the man started to pace in front of her while he began his explanation.
"As you know, the time stream - or the Fourth Dimension - has a direct connection to the Speed Force," Barry informed her while he walked back and forth. "So you can only imagine what happens to the timestream when someone time-travels a thousand years from the future. In fact, the children's sudden arrival here sent a ripple through the reality in motion and the other Seven Forces of the Universe, especially the forces that are connected to the children's abilities. That's why the children's presence here in this timeline affected me and the others who shared the children's genetic code. It's also because of this that I managed to catch glimpses of visions from the future and learn the truth about the children the moment they arrived. I am also sure that the others who merged with one of the Seven Forces of the Universes might have the same visions as me as well."
"Does this mean Aquaman, Green Lantern, Shazam, and even John Constantine, knew the truth as well?" Rachel inquired in complete worry.
She seriously didn't like this at all. Rachel understood that the others who knew the truth might say something about her children's future living arrangement. Honestly, Rachel wasn't ready to face the rest of her children's biological fathers and the knowledge that they might know the truth was daunting to say the least. Perhaps locking the truth inside their minds was the only way to prevent them from trying to intervene with her children's upbringing.
"Yes, I believe so. I know Aquaman has the Life Force, Green Lantern has the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum with his power ring while both Shazam and Constantine fall under the Sphere of the Gods with their magic," Barry counted each superhero with his fingers.
"So all four of them might know about the children as well?"
"Yes,"
"But that doesn't explain the reason you were expecting me to arrive," Rachel pointed out.
"Well, since I know you are quite young - perhaps sixteen at least," He eyed her from head to toe.
"Seventeen actually," She corrected with an angry glower.
"Still a teenager," The Flash commented flatly.
"Why is it that everyone seemed to be fixated with my age? And is there even a point to this conversation? ?" She snapped in annoyance. Rachel didn't like to be reminded of her age, when she had the memories and knowledge of the Dark Raven in her head, who had lived for a thousand years.
In fact, a part of Rachel was mentally older than her children's fathers. Unfortunately, she still looked like a seventeen years old girl.
"Yes, I was just getting there. For starters, your age is the reason that I deduced that you might come and seek me out, but not in here though….I was expecting you to come looking for me in the outside world, mainly because you might need help with the children." Barry told her.
"If you are talking about financial help, then you don't have to worry about it. I have the means to support all five of them," She informed him brusquely.
Afterward, she slowly stood up from the chair. Surprisingly, her children had remained silent all throughout her conversation with their second father and she wondered why that was.
Rachel took a step forward but then she felt her legs wobble and she momentarily swayed on her feet. Barry Allen must have noticed her unsteady stance because the man was suddenly there and practically invading her personal space. One of his hands found its way on the small of her back while he used his other hand to grab her shoulder.
"Where do you plan on going?" The Flash frowned at her.
"Where do you think?" was her only sarcastic retort. "I think I've wasted enough time inside your head. I really need to get going and I'm bringing you with me."
"But we haven't even discussed about our children yet," Barry protested.
Rachel felt a flash of irritation. She was beginning to think that her children's resulting arrival had probably affected their fathers' emotional state as well. There was no way that any of them would have easily accepted her and the children so fast. Now, she could only feel annoyance at how Clark Kent and Barry Allen were showing a considerable amount of overprotectiveness with regards to her condition. It made Rachel feel like she was nothing but a weak and helpless woman. A pregnant one at that.
"There is nothing to discuss," Rachel said as she grabbed his wrist. "Not when you will soon forget about the children's very existence."
She noted how Barry's eyes widened after hearing her response and before the fastest man could recover from his shock, Rachel propelled the two of them out there.
At once, Rachel returned to the physical realm, where she was immediately greeted by the loud beeping sounds of the heart monitor and the sight of Barry Allen slowly opening his eyes.
With the Flash awakening, Rachel quickly made her move and pressed her palms on each side of Barry's temples with the intent of locking the memories of her and her children away.
The moment her hands came in contact with his head, Barry became alert and he instantly grabbed a hold of her wrists to stop her.
"Dont!" The Flash managed to choke out through his oxygen mask. His dark brown eyes were wide with panic.
"I'm sorry," Rachel could only say to him even as he tightened his hold on her, but he was still weak after just waking up and she simply took advantage of his weakened state.
She gathered her power at the palm of her hands and used it to force Barry Allen to sleep again.
"Rachel….no…." The Flash could only say feebly as he gradually lost consciousness once more.
That was the first time Barry spoke her name. Like he already knew her well, and Rachel suddenly felt bad for what she was doing to him, but she needed to do it.
At last, she watched as the superhero slumped back into the bed in deep slumber and Rachel set to work in tampering with the man's memories.
It didn't take long for her to lock away Barry's memories. This process was easy to do, but the emotions that she currently felt were difficult to ignore.
Rachel could only look at the sleeping man in regret. Unable to resist, she reached out and brushed a tendril of dark brown hair from Barry's forehead.
"I will return your memories someday, Barry." Rachel whispered to him as she let her fingers softly card through his silken locks while her stomach twisted in guilt. "And this won't be the last time you will see me and the children. I promise."
She sensed the overwhelming sadness emanating from her children.
Do you really need to make Papa forget, Mama? Her children asked. They sounded heartbroken, and with her hormones all over the place still, Rachel couldn't suppress the tears that managed to trickle from her eyes.
It is best that your fathers don't remember your existence, darlings. If they did, I am afraid that you will just end up getting embroiled in your fathers lives. I can't do that. Your fathers are not ordinary men, they are superheroes, who have accumulated countless enemies, villains who are still hell-bent on eliminating your fathers and will use you against them if they know your existence.
We understand Mama...Her children said, but Rachel could still sense their immense sorrow.
Thereafter, Rachel carefully stood up. She had been inside the Flash's head for a long while and Rachel didn't have the time to waste when the rest of her children's fathers might be in danger if she remained there for another minute.
With a final glance in Barry's direction, Rachel turned around and teleported away.
MANY MONTHS LATER...
Barry knew he should stop staring, but he couldn't help it.
There was something familiar about the young woman in the line ahead of him. She was looking to the side and Barry allowed his gaze to inspect her profile. He took note of the stubborn jut of her jaw; the pink, pouty lips; the delicate arch of her cheeks; the small, but straight nose, and the tiny blood red jewel-like object set on her forehead.
At this angle, Barry couldn't see the color of her eyes, but he suspected that it was quite unique. He bet it was a lovely shade of deep violets, darker than the lustrous purple locks that fall down the middle of the young woman's back. He was even beginning to think that her hair was all natural and not dyed.
As he continued to stare at her, something niggled at the back of his mind. Something told Barry that he knew this young woman. He had seen her before, but he wasn't certain about the details of when and where.
There was something about the way she carried herself and the dark clothing she wore over her slender frame that made Barry want to speak to her. Barry's eyes lingered on a certain area of her figure, where he instantly frowned as something occurred to him.
She's no longer pregnant, the thought came unbidden into his mind and Barry felt himself freeze.
He didn't know the reason why he suddenly assumed about the young woman's condition, but somehow he could sense the truth in it.
Barry's gaze didn't stray too far from the unknown girl, even when he listened to her order.
"I want the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino please, and perhaps the Chocolate croissant and the Ice Lemon Loaf cake as well. I really love those..." she said to the female barista, who immediately punched in her order.
She has a sweet tooth, huh? He mused. And for some reason, Barry stored all this information about her. However, when he realized what he was doing, Barry instantly felt like a complete creep.
Ugh, what's wrong with me? He asked himself as he ran his fingers through his hair. Somewhat frustrated about his weird reaction to this purple-haired stranger.
What was more worrying was the fact that the girl might be underage and Barry just spent most of his time acting and thinking like a total stalker. Yet Barry still ended up looking at her again even after she had taken her order from the counter and was turning for the exit.
Barry's heartbeat started hammering wildly against his chest when the strange girl neared him.
I needed to talk to her, Barry suddenly decided and he opened his mouth to say something to the girl while she was about to pass him by.
"Amm…" He started to say, but his words swiftly died in his throat the moment the girl glanced in his direction.
As soon as she did, he could finally see the color of her eyes and it was more breathtaking than what he imagined. They were a lovely shade of violets indeed, but with a touch of turquoise and amaranthine surrounding her irises.
"Yes?"
Her curious voice snapped Barry out of his momentary trance and the first thing that came out of Barry's mouth were these very words, "I like your eyes."
The moment those words left his lips, Barry felt like slapping himself. He also started to panic when he realized that he sounded like he was hitting on her. A young woman who might not be legal to begin with.
Barry could practically see the headlines now, 'The Flash Going to Prison for Corrupting Minors.'
However, before he could rectify his stupid mistake, the girl finally responded to his comment.
"Thanks," She said to him and Barry could only watch as she unexpectedly reached for his tie with the use of her free hand and started fixing it. "There. It's no longer crooked. Sorry, I couldn't resist. My OCD got the better off me."
She smiled up at him and Barry had to swallow his suddenly dry throat when those violet eyes focused on him rather intently.
"Ahh...err...thanks," He managed to stutter out. "I was - err….running really fast and my...ammm... tie might have gotten crooked as a result of it."
Gosh, I am an idiot. You need to stop making a fool of yourself Barry Allen, He thought in mortification when he noticed the amusement that flashed over the young woman's eyes.
"Well, try not to run too fast next time," she stated while she leaned closer to him without warning and Barry just simply froze up at her proximity.
"And you don't need to worry about interacting with me, I turned eighteen three months ago," She whispered to Barry in a voice that told him that she was silently laughing at him.
Barry didn't know how to respond to her revelation. A part of him felt relieved that she was of age while the other part felt both horrified and confused as to the reason he derived some kind of relief after knowing she was eighteen.
"I will see you around, Mr. Speedy." She said to him before she swiftly strode away.
Barry stood there completely dumbfounded. He could only gaped after the strange girl as she made her exit.
It took sometime for his suddenly sluggish mind to catch up to the fact that the girl was leaving already. However, when it finally did, Barry quickly ran after her.
He wasn't quite done talking to her yet and there was something about their encounter that didn't sit well with him.
Unfortunately, he was far too late. The moment he burst out of the door from Starbucks, the strange girl was nowhere to be found and Barry swiftly felt the crushing disappointment when he realized this.
Barry hadn't even asked the stranger her name at all.
Author's Notes: I have made graphic edits for this story. Please do check the aesthetics, the cover and the .gifs if you have the time. The links are in my profile. You can also see the edits in the fic posted in my AO3 account. I usually added my graphic edits with my story. Also, you can check out my tumblr account for some updates. Account name is 'dhazellouise'