Thanks to Kat for beta reading for me. And Special Thanks to Syl for letting me borrow 2 pieces of Syl fic canon for this. Charlene :-)
Shadows & Surprises Part 7:
Dinah had taken command of Wayne Manor. This was her mission. Things were going to be perfect, absolutely perfect, or she would beat the snot out of whoever messed up this party.
"Miss Dinah?"
"Alfred!" she said as she turned around. She liked this man. She was going to have to get an Alfred for her apartment.
"The caterers are almost finished in the breakfast room."
"Good. I like that room. It's smaller than that bowling alley you call a dining room. I think the shower will be cozier in there. What about my decorations?"
"Pink streamers, pink booties, pink ... "
"Great! Just great! I'm going to check."
Alfred smiled as he watched Dinah Lance start off for the breakfast room.
"Ahem, Miss Dinah."
"Yes Alfred," she said turning around.
"The breakfast room is the other way."
Dinah wrinkled her nose and headed in the other direction. Alfred could hear her mumbling as she walked off. "This house is entirely too big."
***********************************************************************
Dick rolled over, his arm reaching out for Barbara but only finding a pillow. Groggily, he sat up, stretching his well muscled arms above his head. Slowly he got out of bed. Looking around, he spied a pair of Bludhaven police sweat pants. Reaching down, he picked up the pants, putting them on. Slowly he started toward the kitchen.
"Babs?" he said groggily.
"In here, sunshine."
He laughed at how chipper she sounded. How could anyone be chipper at this time of the morning. It was only, spying the clock, noon.
"Hey there."
"Breakfast, lunch, or brunch?" she asked.
"Yes."
Laughing she moved into the kitchen and started preparing his breakfast as he sat at the table.
"I don't have much time before I have to leave."
He looked up, a puzzled expression on his face. Sitting his food in front of him, Barbara continued.
"The baby shower Dinah's throwing at the mansion today. Remember."
"Oh, yeah. It's too early."
"The shower?"
"No, too early to remember."
"Eat. I'm going to get ready."
***********************************************************************
"Hey Toni, Jesse, are you ready?" Donna asked as she and Lian walked into the Tower's rec room.
"Ready for what?" Toni asked.
"The baby shower," Lian proudly stated. "For Unca Dick."
"Nightwing?" Toni inquired. "I had forgotten."
"Yes, Dick called and said we were all invited. So are you both going?"
"Sounds great Donna. Ever since he told us who he really was, I've wanted to see Wayne Manor," Toni excitedly stated. "Let me run up to my room and change. Oh, and we'll have to stop and let me pick up a gift."
"I have a gift, but it's a s'prise," Lian beamed.
"Really Lian? Why don't you come up to my room and tell me about it. I'll keep it secret."
Donna watched as Lian and Toni hurriedly left the room. Donna turned to Jesse who had been quiet during the exchange. Too quiet.
"Jesse?"
"Yes."
"Are you coming with us?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I have a lot of things to do today. I DO have a job other than being a Titan. I have a lot of deadlines today, I can't go to Gotham."
"Jesse, you could finish whatever deadlines you have in less than five minutes if you wanted to. Why don't you really want to go?"
Jesse sighed and moved toward the window. Donna followed, gently placing her hand on Jesse's shoulder.
"He ... he ... we ..." Jesse sighed again.
"Dick?"
"Yes. We flirted. Have been flirting. AND this whole time, the ENTIRE time, he was seeing someone else. AND not casually BUT seriously. He was sleeping with her. Making babies with her. And flirting with me."
"Dick likes you as a friend Jesse, I'm sure you took things out of context."
"NO. I did not. I'm not so naive that I don't know when I'm flirting with a man and when he's flirting with me. I feel ... I don't know how I feel. Dirty or something. Like he was just playing with me because I didn't know who he really was. I just someone to toy with while he was leading his nice normal real life in Gotham."
"Normal? His father is Batman. He's never had a NORMAL life," Donna replied. "Honey, I don't think Dick was using you or toying with you. You don't know him like I do. He wouldn't do that to anyone, especially not a friend. And he considers you a friend. Please come."
"No. I've got to go Donna," Jesse said as she sped from the room.
"Auntie Donna, we're ready."
***********************************************************************
"Babs," Dinah squealed when she saw her best friend, "what do you think?"
"It looks great. It's ... it's pink."
"Thanks. Glad you like it. Everyone'll start getting here soon."
"I'm glad we've got a few minutes. I wanted to thank you for this, for everything. You've been a great friend Dinah."
"Well, that's what I'm here for. I'm vying for the godmother position."
Both women laughed. It was Alfred's gentle "ahem" that turned their attention to the door.
"Your guests have arrived."
"Great, lets get this party started." Dinah said.
***********************************************************************
Barbara found she was enjoying herself more than she had expected to. She smiled as she watched Cassie and Toni rummaging through Bruce's CD collection.
"You won't find anything remotely modern there," Leslie said as she walked past the girls. "His taste is older than I am."
"Leslie!" Babs stated as she tried to supress her laugh.
"It's true," Leslie said as she sat beside Barbara. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good. So's the baby."
"When's the wedding?"
"Soon," Babs said with a happy sigh. "We haven't set a date yet, but Dick's really ready."
"And you?"
"Well, he's practically moved in with me anyway, so I guess I should make an honest man out of him."
"Good."
Lian walked over to Barbara, her little face looked confused. Barbara looked down at Lian. "Hi honey."
"Where's the baby? Auntie Donna said this was a party for Unca Dick's baby."
Barbara smiled at the child. Placing her hand on her swollen stomach, Barbara stated, "The baby's here."
Lian's mouth made a perfectly round O as her eyes widened. Barbara reached out and took Lian's hand in hers, moving the child's hand to Barbara's abdomen. Barbara waited as she watched the child's reaction to the baby's movements.
"I felt it!" Lian squealed. "How did the baby get in there?"
Barbara felt her face flush as she turned to Leslie who was grinning beside her.
"Ah, well, you see Lian, uh, your Uncle Dick put the baby there."
"He did? He's good at hiding things," the child said as she turned and ran over to her Auntie Donna to tell her about the baby.
Leslie and Barbara laughed aloud. Dinah walked over to Babs from where she had been talking with Donna.
"Girl, you have that child excited. So, Dick hid the baby."
"Well, you want to explain it to her?"
"Me! NO!"
"Miss Dinah," Alfred began as he walked into the room, "another guest has arrived?"
"Who?"
"Miss Quick."
Dinah turned to the door. Donna had told her about Jesse's reluctance to come to the party. Dinah walked over to Jesse with a smile on her face.
"Jesse, I'm glad you could make it."
"Well, I ... I had a lot of work, but I can move fast when I need to. What are you doing here?"
"I'm hosting this party. Babs is a friend of mine. She sometimes does some research for me. Come here and let me introduce you to Barbara," Dinah said as she steered Jesse toward Babs. "Babs, this is Jesse Chambers."
"Hi Jesse. Dick's talked about you. He says you're a very good friend." Barbara said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess we are," Jesse responded.
"Well, this party looks interesting."
All eyes turned toward the door as Bruce walked in followed by Dick and Tim.
"Wait a minute!" Dinah began as she headed to intercept the three interlopers. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Joining the fun," Bruce replied as Dick and Tim moved closer to Barbara to watch the fun.
"You're Batman, you don't do fun. Besides, this is a BABY shower."
"And?"
"Men are NOT allowed," Dinah indignantly stated.
"My house, my grandchild, we're staying."
"You are absolutely the most infuriating man to ever walk the planet."
"Thank you."
"How are we suppose to talk about men and their butts and all the things women do when we get together ALONE with you here?" Dinah continued her protests.
Dick bent down and gave Barbara a kiss as Dinah and Bruce continued bantering back and forth.
"This is the best entertainment we've had all day," Babs whispered. "Except for when Lian wanted to know how you put the baby in my stomach."
"What?"
"Never mind."
Dick made a face as he headed over to the present table. Picking up the small items, he smiled. Everything was so tiny. Had he and Barbara really done this? Had they created a life? The thought still amazed him.
"Barbara, this is for you," Bruce said as he handed her a large box. "Or, actually, for the baby."
"What is it?" she asked as she started tearing off the wrapping paper. "Bruce, you've already given us an entire room of baby furniture."
"It's just something from Grandpa Bruce," he replied with a half-smile.
Dick pulled a chair over beside of Barbara and watched her open the box.
"What is this?" she laughed as she held up a tiny pair of Batman pajamas.
"I wanted to make sure this child has better taste than her father did."
"How many ...." Barbara began as she started pulling out larger and larger versions of the pajamas.
"One of every size they make," Bruce interjected.
Dick had started laughing, but at this new revelation, he fell out of his chair clutching his middle as he laughed uncontrollably.
"What? I don't get it. What's so funny?" Tim asked, as other guests shook their heads in bewilderment.
"Ahem," began Alfred. "I'm afraid that Master Bruce never did approve of Master Dick's Superman pajamas."
"You wore...? In this house?" Tim asked, an incredulous look on his face. "And you grew up?"
"Yes, and he was quiet cute in them too," Barbara replied.
"That's a matter of opinion," Bruce replied flatly.
Dick sat up on the floor wiping his eyes. "I've got to hand it to you Bruce," he began, "for someone who doesn't think they have a sense of humor, you're good."
"I know."
"Yeah, yeah," Dick replied as he took Bruce's hand and stood up. As he looked at the man who had raised him, who was for all practical purposes, his father; Dick's eyes widened.
"What?" Bruce asked, knowing his son had just thought of something.
"I'll be right back." Dick said as he ran out of the room and up the stairs to his room. He looked around until he saw the object he was looking for. Moving to his bookshelf, he picked up the object and squeezed it to his chest, then he walked back to the breakfast room and the party.
Bruce was watching the door, waiting for Dick's return, a worried look on his face.
Dick caught the look as he entered the room.
"I'm okay," he whispered as he walked past his father. "Babs, I've got something special for our baby too."
Barbara looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling with wonder. Bruce, seeing what Dick had behind his back, smiled, as Alfred moved beside Bruce.
Bringing his arms from his back, Dick handed the little stuffed elephant to Barbara.
"Elinore," Barbara said taking the elephant from Dick.
"I figured every Grayson baby ought to have an Elinore."
To be continued ...
Shadows & Surprises Part 7:
Dinah had taken command of Wayne Manor. This was her mission. Things were going to be perfect, absolutely perfect, or she would beat the snot out of whoever messed up this party.
"Miss Dinah?"
"Alfred!" she said as she turned around. She liked this man. She was going to have to get an Alfred for her apartment.
"The caterers are almost finished in the breakfast room."
"Good. I like that room. It's smaller than that bowling alley you call a dining room. I think the shower will be cozier in there. What about my decorations?"
"Pink streamers, pink booties, pink ... "
"Great! Just great! I'm going to check."
Alfred smiled as he watched Dinah Lance start off for the breakfast room.
"Ahem, Miss Dinah."
"Yes Alfred," she said turning around.
"The breakfast room is the other way."
Dinah wrinkled her nose and headed in the other direction. Alfred could hear her mumbling as she walked off. "This house is entirely too big."
***********************************************************************
Dick rolled over, his arm reaching out for Barbara but only finding a pillow. Groggily, he sat up, stretching his well muscled arms above his head. Slowly he got out of bed. Looking around, he spied a pair of Bludhaven police sweat pants. Reaching down, he picked up the pants, putting them on. Slowly he started toward the kitchen.
"Babs?" he said groggily.
"In here, sunshine."
He laughed at how chipper she sounded. How could anyone be chipper at this time of the morning. It was only, spying the clock, noon.
"Hey there."
"Breakfast, lunch, or brunch?" she asked.
"Yes."
Laughing she moved into the kitchen and started preparing his breakfast as he sat at the table.
"I don't have much time before I have to leave."
He looked up, a puzzled expression on his face. Sitting his food in front of him, Barbara continued.
"The baby shower Dinah's throwing at the mansion today. Remember."
"Oh, yeah. It's too early."
"The shower?"
"No, too early to remember."
"Eat. I'm going to get ready."
***********************************************************************
"Hey Toni, Jesse, are you ready?" Donna asked as she and Lian walked into the Tower's rec room.
"Ready for what?" Toni asked.
"The baby shower," Lian proudly stated. "For Unca Dick."
"Nightwing?" Toni inquired. "I had forgotten."
"Yes, Dick called and said we were all invited. So are you both going?"
"Sounds great Donna. Ever since he told us who he really was, I've wanted to see Wayne Manor," Toni excitedly stated. "Let me run up to my room and change. Oh, and we'll have to stop and let me pick up a gift."
"I have a gift, but it's a s'prise," Lian beamed.
"Really Lian? Why don't you come up to my room and tell me about it. I'll keep it secret."
Donna watched as Lian and Toni hurriedly left the room. Donna turned to Jesse who had been quiet during the exchange. Too quiet.
"Jesse?"
"Yes."
"Are you coming with us?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I have a lot of things to do today. I DO have a job other than being a Titan. I have a lot of deadlines today, I can't go to Gotham."
"Jesse, you could finish whatever deadlines you have in less than five minutes if you wanted to. Why don't you really want to go?"
Jesse sighed and moved toward the window. Donna followed, gently placing her hand on Jesse's shoulder.
"He ... he ... we ..." Jesse sighed again.
"Dick?"
"Yes. We flirted. Have been flirting. AND this whole time, the ENTIRE time, he was seeing someone else. AND not casually BUT seriously. He was sleeping with her. Making babies with her. And flirting with me."
"Dick likes you as a friend Jesse, I'm sure you took things out of context."
"NO. I did not. I'm not so naive that I don't know when I'm flirting with a man and when he's flirting with me. I feel ... I don't know how I feel. Dirty or something. Like he was just playing with me because I didn't know who he really was. I just someone to toy with while he was leading his nice normal real life in Gotham."
"Normal? His father is Batman. He's never had a NORMAL life," Donna replied. "Honey, I don't think Dick was using you or toying with you. You don't know him like I do. He wouldn't do that to anyone, especially not a friend. And he considers you a friend. Please come."
"No. I've got to go Donna," Jesse said as she sped from the room.
"Auntie Donna, we're ready."
***********************************************************************
"Babs," Dinah squealed when she saw her best friend, "what do you think?"
"It looks great. It's ... it's pink."
"Thanks. Glad you like it. Everyone'll start getting here soon."
"I'm glad we've got a few minutes. I wanted to thank you for this, for everything. You've been a great friend Dinah."
"Well, that's what I'm here for. I'm vying for the godmother position."
Both women laughed. It was Alfred's gentle "ahem" that turned their attention to the door.
"Your guests have arrived."
"Great, lets get this party started." Dinah said.
***********************************************************************
Barbara found she was enjoying herself more than she had expected to. She smiled as she watched Cassie and Toni rummaging through Bruce's CD collection.
"You won't find anything remotely modern there," Leslie said as she walked past the girls. "His taste is older than I am."
"Leslie!" Babs stated as she tried to supress her laugh.
"It's true," Leslie said as she sat beside Barbara. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good. So's the baby."
"When's the wedding?"
"Soon," Babs said with a happy sigh. "We haven't set a date yet, but Dick's really ready."
"And you?"
"Well, he's practically moved in with me anyway, so I guess I should make an honest man out of him."
"Good."
Lian walked over to Barbara, her little face looked confused. Barbara looked down at Lian. "Hi honey."
"Where's the baby? Auntie Donna said this was a party for Unca Dick's baby."
Barbara smiled at the child. Placing her hand on her swollen stomach, Barbara stated, "The baby's here."
Lian's mouth made a perfectly round O as her eyes widened. Barbara reached out and took Lian's hand in hers, moving the child's hand to Barbara's abdomen. Barbara waited as she watched the child's reaction to the baby's movements.
"I felt it!" Lian squealed. "How did the baby get in there?"
Barbara felt her face flush as she turned to Leslie who was grinning beside her.
"Ah, well, you see Lian, uh, your Uncle Dick put the baby there."
"He did? He's good at hiding things," the child said as she turned and ran over to her Auntie Donna to tell her about the baby.
Leslie and Barbara laughed aloud. Dinah walked over to Babs from where she had been talking with Donna.
"Girl, you have that child excited. So, Dick hid the baby."
"Well, you want to explain it to her?"
"Me! NO!"
"Miss Dinah," Alfred began as he walked into the room, "another guest has arrived?"
"Who?"
"Miss Quick."
Dinah turned to the door. Donna had told her about Jesse's reluctance to come to the party. Dinah walked over to Jesse with a smile on her face.
"Jesse, I'm glad you could make it."
"Well, I ... I had a lot of work, but I can move fast when I need to. What are you doing here?"
"I'm hosting this party. Babs is a friend of mine. She sometimes does some research for me. Come here and let me introduce you to Barbara," Dinah said as she steered Jesse toward Babs. "Babs, this is Jesse Chambers."
"Hi Jesse. Dick's talked about you. He says you're a very good friend." Barbara said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess we are," Jesse responded.
"Well, this party looks interesting."
All eyes turned toward the door as Bruce walked in followed by Dick and Tim.
"Wait a minute!" Dinah began as she headed to intercept the three interlopers. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Joining the fun," Bruce replied as Dick and Tim moved closer to Barbara to watch the fun.
"You're Batman, you don't do fun. Besides, this is a BABY shower."
"And?"
"Men are NOT allowed," Dinah indignantly stated.
"My house, my grandchild, we're staying."
"You are absolutely the most infuriating man to ever walk the planet."
"Thank you."
"How are we suppose to talk about men and their butts and all the things women do when we get together ALONE with you here?" Dinah continued her protests.
Dick bent down and gave Barbara a kiss as Dinah and Bruce continued bantering back and forth.
"This is the best entertainment we've had all day," Babs whispered. "Except for when Lian wanted to know how you put the baby in my stomach."
"What?"
"Never mind."
Dick made a face as he headed over to the present table. Picking up the small items, he smiled. Everything was so tiny. Had he and Barbara really done this? Had they created a life? The thought still amazed him.
"Barbara, this is for you," Bruce said as he handed her a large box. "Or, actually, for the baby."
"What is it?" she asked as she started tearing off the wrapping paper. "Bruce, you've already given us an entire room of baby furniture."
"It's just something from Grandpa Bruce," he replied with a half-smile.
Dick pulled a chair over beside of Barbara and watched her open the box.
"What is this?" she laughed as she held up a tiny pair of Batman pajamas.
"I wanted to make sure this child has better taste than her father did."
"How many ...." Barbara began as she started pulling out larger and larger versions of the pajamas.
"One of every size they make," Bruce interjected.
Dick had started laughing, but at this new revelation, he fell out of his chair clutching his middle as he laughed uncontrollably.
"What? I don't get it. What's so funny?" Tim asked, as other guests shook their heads in bewilderment.
"Ahem," began Alfred. "I'm afraid that Master Bruce never did approve of Master Dick's Superman pajamas."
"You wore...? In this house?" Tim asked, an incredulous look on his face. "And you grew up?"
"Yes, and he was quiet cute in them too," Barbara replied.
"That's a matter of opinion," Bruce replied flatly.
Dick sat up on the floor wiping his eyes. "I've got to hand it to you Bruce," he began, "for someone who doesn't think they have a sense of humor, you're good."
"I know."
"Yeah, yeah," Dick replied as he took Bruce's hand and stood up. As he looked at the man who had raised him, who was for all practical purposes, his father; Dick's eyes widened.
"What?" Bruce asked, knowing his son had just thought of something.
"I'll be right back." Dick said as he ran out of the room and up the stairs to his room. He looked around until he saw the object he was looking for. Moving to his bookshelf, he picked up the object and squeezed it to his chest, then he walked back to the breakfast room and the party.
Bruce was watching the door, waiting for Dick's return, a worried look on his face.
Dick caught the look as he entered the room.
"I'm okay," he whispered as he walked past his father. "Babs, I've got something special for our baby too."
Barbara looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling with wonder. Bruce, seeing what Dick had behind his back, smiled, as Alfred moved beside Bruce.
Bringing his arms from his back, Dick handed the little stuffed elephant to Barbara.
"Elinore," Barbara said taking the elephant from Dick.
"I figured every Grayson baby ought to have an Elinore."
To be continued ...