Title: Time Will Tell

Author: DC Luder

Summary: After a tragic injury, Bruce must make the long road to recovery with the help of family and friends.

Rating: T

Infringements: All recognizable characters belong to DC Comics, not DC Luder.

Author's Note: This chapter has been modified to make it more awesome-er.

^V^

Snow fell silently outside of the frosted windows, the sunlight casting a soft glow through the clouds. The massive trees of Wayne Manor were weighed down with a fresh three inches . Three inches that the meteorologist had reported the night before that we weren't supposed to get. We had already endured nearly two feet during the week leading up to Christmas, the bonus accumulation was just adding insult to injury.

The only good to come of it was Bruce's childlike obsession with the wintry weather. Since the first snowfall just after Thanksgiving, he had tried nearly every winter activity in existence, under the tutelage of Dick and Tim. Snow shoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, ice skating and even snowball fights. The boys had suggested they make a trek up to the Lake Placid Olympic village to try out alpine skiing and the bobsled track but Alfred had put his foot down.

Bruce had been the first to rebel, "That's not fair."

As I recalled, Dick and Tim had burst out laughing at Bruce's immature complaint, followed quickly by Alfred redefining the Bat-glare.

Christmas Eve, I had fallen asleep with Bruce's stomach against my lower back, moving slowly with each breath. His one hand had settled on my stomach limply, guarding our soon to be born child. Despite the fact that the thermostat was set to seventy, I had still been chilly and instinctively leaned back into his embrace.

At midnight, I was nearly asleep when I had felt his lips against my ear, "Merry Christmas."

I had groaned, "Bah humbug."

In all honestly, I was jealous of his excitement, not only of the snow but of the holiday itself. It was, in a way, his first Christmas and with my due date a little over a month away, he was literally a bundle of excitement. After our baby shopping had been completed, we had spent the first two weeks of December making the room next to the master bedroom as a nursery. Given that we had not learned the gender, we had painted the walls a light shade of purple with lavender trim, adding decals of jungle animals. Where most father's fought with assembling furniture, Bruce had read over the instructions once and then had been able to empty boxes of parts and turn them into a complete nursery set without a problem.

Just as if it would have been had he not been stricken with amnesia…

Upon waking Christmas morning, I felt a chill wash over me and when I went to lean back into Bruce, I found no warm torso breathing slowly. Looking over my shoulder, I found his side of the bed empty and sat up as quickly as I could, "Bruce?"

"Over here."

The drapes had been pulled back on one of the large windows, outlining his silhouette as he sat on the couch by himself watching the snow fall. Wrapping the comforter around me, I slowly sat up before pushing myself up and out of bed. As I joined him on the sofa I yawned, "What time is it?"

Without looking away from the window, he answered, "Almost eight."

"What happened to sleeping in?" I asked as I moved to sit closer to him, wrapping the blanket over his lap.

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep… I'll go downstairs if you want to-."

Setting my head on his shoulder, I cut him off, "Why couldn't you sleep?"

The fact that he remained silent answered my question. He had a nightmare.

"Want to talk about it?"

He shook his head, then kissed my brow, "No… not today. Today it's Christmas."

"That it is," I turned my head as well, although I kissed him on the lips.

When he pulled back, Bruce asked, "Is it too early to go downstairs?"

I yawned again, "You can go down if you want… I'm sure Alfred has been up for-."

He suddenly jumped up from the couch and dashed for the door, grabbing his robe on the way out. I called out after him that we needed to eat breakfast first but he called back , "Nope, we switched it to brunch!"

I rose to my feet again, leaving the blanket on the couch in order to search for my own robe. Rather than make a fresh out of bed Christmas morning appearance, I took a few minutes to wash up, brush my hair and teeth and apply lotion ot my arms and legs. A glance in the mirror suggested I didn't look that bad for a woman who was eight months pregnant. That included the swollen ankles and feet, painfully swollen breasts and random patches of irritated skin.

Despite all of that, I had never looked better. Or at least happier.

The trip down the stairs took ten minutes and when I arrived at the den, voices were already stirring. Apparently, Bruce hadn't been the only one ready to start the festivities. Due to the unpredictable weather, our guests had stayed over the night before. I had expected Dick, Barbara and Cassandra but when Jim Gordon had showed up with an overnight bag, I had been honestly surprised. Then again, Bruce considered him Family and had personally invited him up for the holiday.

I smiled to see that Dick sat next to Barbara on the far couch on the far side of the massive tree while Jim sat alone in a small blue easy chair. Sitting on the floor, eyeing everyone else with a shy smile, sat Cassandra dressed not in pajamas but Lyrcra leggings and a matching sleeveless shirt. She had most likely already put in a few hours in the training bay following a light night of patrols.

How many Christmas mornings had she missed out on growing up?

Alfred, who was the only being dressed for the day, stood at the entrance and handed me a cup of tea, "Merry Christmas, Ms. Selina."

I kissed his cheek, "A very Merry Christmas, Alfred."

Spotting Bruce as he sat on the sofa opposite of Dick and Barbara, I smirked to see him staring at the tree in awe. It reminded me of a little boy who couldn't wait to see what Santa Claus had brought him. I joined him, setting my tea on the end table before leaning in to kiss his cheek. Apparently, they had been waiting for my arrival for once I was settled, the gift exchange and wrapping paper shredding began.

Seeing how I refused to have a baby shower, most of my gifts were in fact for the baby. The only gift that hadn't been was a small yellow box from Barbara. Within it had been a certificate for an entire day's worth of services at the Manna Dew Spa in Bryanttown as well as an intricate piece of purple lingerie. After opening it, I winked at her and she nodded, "Least I could do."

Taking a break to sip my tea, I watched on as the rest of the Family exchanged gifts. Barbara opened a small velvet box to find an emerald and gold bracelet from Dick as he opened a gift from her. He held up a pair of rubber kitchen gloves and a bottle of 409, "Seriously… my apartment isn't that bad. I just cleaned it."

"Halloween weekend, right?" Jim chided.

Dick grumbled to himself while the rest of us laughed. Odds were he hadn't been in his own apartment in weeks given his hectic schedule, juggling Gotham and Bludhaven precariously. Not that it kept us from enjoying his misfortune.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

^V^

A week earlier, Dick and I had gone to a nursery just outside of Bristol in order to pick out a Christmas tree. After an hour of touring the lot, I had come upon a Douglas fir that was nearly as wide as it was tall. Dick had joined me in admiring it before saying, "Well, Bruce, what do you think?"

Thinking of the childhood photographs of Christmas mornings I had no memory of, I replied, "It's perfect."

"Sure you don't want the Charlie Brown tree we saw up front?"

"I'm sure."

After finding an attendant, we had watched on as the tree was wrapped and bound before being tied securely on the roof of the SUV we had driven over in. Adding in a dozen fresh pine wreaths and boughs, the total had come to well over seven hundred dollars. I had already spent a considerable amount of new ornaments, decorations and lights but I had wanted everything to be perfect.

Interestingly enough, the main gift I had bought Selina had cost less than forty dollars. Alfred had said that the price of something meant nothing compared to the sentimental value. I felt that the sentimental value of her gift was priceless and hopefully she would think the same.

On the ride home from the nursery, Dick had taken the wheel, leaving me riding passenger. We had spent the day together snowmobiling through the woods surrounding the Manor, chasing each other down trails that I had walked countless times over the summer months, alone. For most of the warmer months, Dick, Tim and Cassandra had kept fairly busy, leaving me to spend my free time with Selina and Barbara as well as Jim. After spending the beginning of my recovery with Dick at me side almost every step of the way, it had been odd only seeing him a few times a week, if that.

Once the winter had hit, I had been pleased to find Dick and Tim spending more time at the Manor. Given that it was my first winter following my accident, they had done their best to make sure it was an enjoyable first experience.

That had included decorating the tree, making snow forts and having contests to see who could fit the most marshmallows in their mouth as opposed to letting them simply metl in cups of hot chocolate.

Dick had won by one and a half marshmallows.

Upon arriving home with the tree, Dick and I had worked together to untie it from the car roof before carrying it into the house through the service entrance. The house had been empty, with Alfred taking Selina to a doctor's appointment. I had offered to drive her but she had insisted I spend the day with Dick. Her reasoning had been that once the baby was born, I wasn't allowed to have any fun.

With the massive tree situated in the den, ready for lights and glass ornaments, Dick had commented, "Best one yet."

"You think so?" I had inquired.

"Definitely… then again, when I was a kid, Alfred always picked it out… looked for the less full ones so he would have less needles to clean up."

I had smiled, glancing over the thick branches, "Hope he doesn't mind."

As he set a hand on my shoulder, Dick had assured me, "This year… it's anything you want, Bruce."

We had decorated the tree ourselves, starting with wrapping it with white lights before adorning gold garners and red, gold and green bulbs and balls. Using the ladder, Dick had me top the tree off with a large gold star, one Alfred had said was in the Wayne Family for three generations. Needless to say, I showed extra caution in placing it, careful to make sure it was secure before letting go.

As I had made it back to ground level, Selina and Alfred had stepped into the den, instantly admiring our efforts. Dick had approached the far wall, instructing me to plug in the lights just as he turned off those that were overhead. The room had filled with a soft, warm glow, captivating us all.

Perfect.

"Is that it?" I heard Barbara ask.

Her father surveyed the room and said, "Looks like."

Glancing up, the tree still looked as magnificent as the day we had decorated it. I quickly rose from the sofa, knowing there was one final gift waiting in the reading room across the hall. Rather than wrap it, I carefully put the gift in a large yellow gift bag, holding the twine handles as well as the bottom to support it. Returning to the den, I smiled at Alfred before sitting down again, offering the bag to Selina.

"Another one, Bruce? You didn't have to…" she grinned excitedly and pushed aside the single piece of tissue paper in order to look inside. After a moment, her face grew serious and she looked over at me.

I nodded, "Go ahead."

By then, everyone in the room had paused in order to see what Selina had gotten.

Her hands dipped inside before she lifted a small black kitten from the bag. It mewed softly and batted at her face playfully. Selina's face beamed with animation as she brought it to her face and kissed its tiny head softly. Holding the kitten to her chest, she leaned over and kissed me, "Thank you, Bruce, she's gorgeous."

"Your welcome," I offered quietly.

As Alfred began to direct everyone to the dining room for brunch, we chose to remain behind. The kitten sat on Selina's shoulder for a few moments before daring to climb the back of the couch towards me. As the small black creature batted at the back of my head, I heard Selina say, "Isis."

"Isis," I concurred.

"I love her… Bruce, she's perfect."

"I'm glad. That you like her."

She reached over and lifted the kitten gently before setting her on the cushion between us. As Isis batted at a piece of shiny ribbon, Selina reached behind her, retrieving a gift from the end table. Handing it to me, she said, "One last gift."

I smirked sheepishly and opened it. Inside was a silver framed photograph of Selina and myself. She wore a stunning blue gown and her dark hair was curled and pinned up. I wore a tuxedo and a grin as my arm snaked around her hips. We were at some sort of dance, given the similarly garbed couples that were in the out of focus background.

I didn't remember it at all.

She pointed at it, "That was this spring… I know how much you like looking at old photographs… figured you could use a new one."

My reflection on the spotless frame showed me smiling, jus as I had been in the photograph. Setting it down in my lap, glanced up at her, "Thank you."

"You know, actions speak louder than words," she teased.

We kissed until Isis protested, mewing softly and clawing her way up my robe.

"Looks like we're going to have two babies," I commented as I pulled away.

"Ah, well in that case, I'll take care of this one, you can have the other one… at least until she's toilet trained."

"Or he," I interjected.

She rolled her eyes before patting my cheek roughly, "If it's a boy, you're taking care of him until he's in college.'

^V^

Sitting back in my dining room chair, I patted my full stomach, "Well, I am full."

Barbara rolled her eyes, "Yeah, you're full of something, Dick."

The group laughed at me for the second time that morning and I felt my ears grow hot. Instead of one of my well-known comebacks, I took the last cinnamon roll from the glass platter and grumbled incoherently. Brunch had been another successful Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth feast, including pastries, miniature quiches, bacon and cheddar croissants and divine cherry tarts. Growing up, Alfred had only Bruce and myself to feed on holidays, but with the Family becoming larger, so had the meals. And the more food Alfred made, the happier I was.

A month earlier at Thanksgiving, dinner had lasted nearly two hours. The highlight had not been the divine turkey or melt in your mouth twice baked potatoes. Instead, it had been an impromptu pie-eating contest between myself, Tim, Cass and Selina. Selina only won because she was eating for two.

When Alfred began to clear the table, Barbara's sharp nails dug into my thigh. In order to spare my femoral artery, I rose from my seat and promptly grabbed the plates from Alfred's hands, "Have a seat, Al. I've got it. Cass, you want to help?"

Having stolen my cinnamon bun, she shook her head, "Sorry, still eating."

As the others distracted Alfred with light conversation, I quickly cleared the table in order to prevent him from joining my efforts. Upon my first trip into the kitchen, I had smiled in awe. Even though Alfred had just prepared a massive meal,the room was spotless. Not even a dollop of icing or a smudge of flour. The man was a culinary idol.

Knowing it would save Alfred the trouble, I rinsed and set the dishes in the rarely used dishwasher upon obtaining all of the used dishware after three trips to the dining room. Cass joined me in the kitchen but rather than help clean, she was on guard duty, deterring Alfred each time he tried to set foot in the kitchen. He reluctantly surrendered three times, muttering "bloody" something under his breath.

When my task was accomplished, I joined the others in the dining room, bearing a fresh carafe of coffee and a tray of cups and saucers. Alfred rose to serve but I tsked him, "Please, you wouldn't let me get you a gift, least I can do is poor coffee for you,"

He harrumphed to himself but relented without delay.

Christmas morning had been the grand finale of a month long effort to make sure we had a holiday season to remember. We all had worked tirelessly, Bruce included, over the last eight months, striving to put the same energy and focus into our Family life as we had done previously with out professional lives. In my time behind the cowl, Gotham had been blessed with lower crime rates then we had seen in some time. No inmate breakouts, no plagues depopulating the city, no one threatening to poison the reservoirs… just the plain, run of the mill criminals who couldn't keep their greed and lust for power in check.

Calm before the storm, I kept reminding myself.

Thankfully, Tim had come to accept how our lives had changed and was once again as integral to the Family as he had been before Bruce had been shot. There had been a few months when he had lost hope, the overwhelming realization forcing him into an out of character funk. He was the one who had always been able to adapt quickly and analyze situations without a moment's notice, just like Bruce. And also, just as his mentor, when things became too much, he buried inside, avoiding the comfort offered by those around him.

As we slowly regained our bearings following brunch, I once again thought out the plans for the afternoon. Snowmobiling on the freshened trails, perhaps a race once we were out on the back stretch. Bruce's near instinctual reflexes were as sharp as ever, as was his learning curve. I had to remind myself daily that the really the only thing different about him was that he was missing one key piece to the puzzle that was his mind.

Aside from hot chocolate alter that afternoon and maybe a movie in the entertainment den, the slate was fairly clear and relaxed. Alfred wanted to host a "simple" dinner later in the evening so that Tim would be able to join us, but I figured it would be anything but simple. Then, leaving Bruce in the capable hands of Selina and Alfred, the rest of us would depart for a merry Christmas patrol.

My attention shift when I noticed Jim rising to his feet as Barbara pushed away from the table. Although he had been more than welcome to stay the day, Jim had declined in order to spend a quiet afternoon at home doing absolutely nothing. A rare treat for the commissioner of police, it was one he wasn't about to deny himself. I stood as well and offered my hand, "Sure you don't want to stay?"

Jim smirked, "Oh, I'll leave you boys to play with your toys. I'm aiming for a nap in the recliner."

Barbara shook her head, "After we drop the Toys for Tots off… since someone managed to forget to do it every day this week…"

As she sent an incriminating glare in my direction, I shrugged, "It's still Christmas for another twelve hours."

I watched on as the Gordon's bid their farewells to everyone. Barbara would be back up later in the day, wanting to catch up on some housework and also to indulge in some down time. She hugged Bruce and kissed him on the cheek before she did the same to Selina, adding a small wave to her swollen abdomen, "See you soon, little one."

"Little lady," Selina joked, still certain it was going to be a girl.

"Or gentleman," Bruce corrected her.

Selina promptly slapped his cheek and told him to get her another glass of milk.

Nothing like a Wayne Christmas.

^V^

Shortly after brunch, Tim had arrived from next door, bearing a few gift bags and a dusting of snow on his red and blue winter hat. Dick had been quick to joke, "About time, Stan Marsh!"

Tim had snickered back, "Shut up, Cartman."

I didn't get it.

From there, the Family had divided. Alfred had taken to the kitchen to begin preparing pies for dinner, Selina had gone upstairs to rest for a few hours with her new kitten and Bruce, Dick and Tim had gone outdoors to play in the snow. Wanting to do none of those things, I had taken to sitting in the leather recliner before the Christmas tree, just staring at it.

In my brief time in Gotham, I had experienced and witnessed more than I had in my entire life. I had learned to speak and write and I had developed social skills and friendships. I was part of a Family who cared about me as opposed to using me for their own purposes. I laughed, I joked, I sang, I played. I was fifteen years old and for the first time, I was happy.

But not all that I had experienced had been good.

I had seen my mentor fall, reduced to mental infancy that took months to correct. I had stood by as a an ally tried to fill the void, unable to entirely commit to the guise. I watched my closest friend give up on the man who had taught him so much. These events belonged on the battlefield, not amidst a Family.

"Am I intruding, Miss Cassandra?"

I glanced over my shoulder to see Alfred entering the den. Smiling, I shook my head before looking back to the tree.

Alfred approached me, standing just to the left of my chair, "A magnificent tree, isn't it?" When I had nodded again, he continued, "I can not recall the last time this house hosted a more joyous Christmas."

I guessed to myself that it had been the last one before Bruce's parents had been shot.

After a few silent minutes, I said, "I miss him."

Without needing any further explanation, he responded, "As do I, my dear."

"Ever go back… way he was?" I asked as I turned to face him, drawing my legs up against my chest.

He sighed softly, "We can hope that there will be a day when Master Bruce is able to regain all that he has lost. But… it is a selfish hope, wanting him to become what he is no longer… what he once was. Instead, we should hope that he now has a life he would have never granted himself, a life he would have never hoped for."

A life without danger, without risk.

A life with a woman who loved him enough to bear his child.

A life that wasn't good enough for him…

I nodded before resting my chin between my knees. Alfred paused before asking if there was anything I needed and when I declined, he quietly excused himself. Rather than remain alone in the den, I rose to my feet and followed him. He glanced back only once, and I wasn't surprised to see him smiling.

We trekked to the kitchen in silence and for the remainder of the afternoon, I helped him prepare dishes and desserts for dinner. There was a stuffed goose cooking in the oven, slowly begin to emit an aroma that quickly overcame those already present. from the look of things, it was going to be quite a feast.

Just as Alfred and I took a short break for hot chocolate, faint whirring sounds approached the Manor. We both looked out the large kitchen window to see three snowmobiles barreling across the flat lawn. I smirked to see that the leader was Bruce.

Not ten minutes later, the three of them entered the house through the service entrance, having already removed their winter wear and boots. As Alfred poured three additional mugs of the fresh hot chooclate, I watched as they passed through the kitchen's arched entrance. They were all red-faced, damp haired and out of breath.

As Dick shook bits of snow from his hair, Alfred scolded him for doing so indoors as opposed to outdoors. Dick had tried to defend himself by saying that it was snowing outdoors and doing so there would have been pointless.

I took to leaning against the island counter, amused that the man upholding the cowl was trying to argue his way out of a lecture from Alfred. As Bruce leaned against the counter beside me, I realized that he would have been in the same predicament if he had still been Batman. He leaned over and whispered, "He's in trouble now."

Looking in his eyes, I found myself thinking back to the night Pasqualle had shot him, suiting up in the Cave. Alfred and Bruce had been arguing about his bailing on a Wayne Foundation fundraiser that evening. Tim had leaned over and snickered, "He's in trouble now."

Bruce had naturally heard him and ordered us to leave, with touring the docks firs ton our list to do.

Good old days.

I had tried to be happy for him over the course of the year, that he was finally a normal person with a relatively normal life.

I just couldn't do it.

Selfish be damned, all I wanted for Christmas was for him to come back.

^V^

Sitting on the floor in front of the bed, I teased Isis with a strand of silver ribbon I had saved from unwrapping gifts earlier. Selina remerged from the bathroom in her pajamas chose to sit on the edge of the bed, setting her hands on my shoulders. "Bruce?"

"Hmm," I replied without looking up at her.

"Names, Bruce, we were going to discuss names."

"I thought we named her Isis?" I glanced up to see her brow narrowing, to which I quickly replied, "Just kidding."

"Okay, so girl names," she began.

It had been a running gag for some time that she believed it was going to be girl. Although I was apt to go with her instinct, I had chosen to outwardly declare my first born to be a boy. It had certainly made for an entertaining debate over the course of the year, one which was soon to be decided upon once and for all.

I felt as if I should have been more nervous about her impending delivery, but in all honesty, I felt as if I was prepared. Maybe not for the delivery itself, but for fatherhood. I had obviously done a fine job raising Dick, with Alfred's help, so raising another with him ass well as Selina wasn't a cause for concern. The nursery was ready, Leslie had gone over the delivery with us dozens of times and Selina had been practicing breathing exercises and yoga positions to aide her in the final act.

Really, all we needed was a name.

"I would say Martha," I began, "But… it's kind of an old fashioned name."

Selina began kneading my shoulders, "Well, then how about Mattie?"

"As in short for Martha?"

"Yes, as in short for Martha."

As her fingers worked away a knot in my left trapezium, I nodded, "I like it."

"Middle name?" she continued.

I let my head loll back, "What, no break in between each name?"

She flicked my forehead with a fingernail and said, "We've put it off long enough, Bruce…"

"Fine… Mattie Marie?"

"No alliteration," she growled.

I quirked, "So then I guess Mattie Moo is out of the question." I waited a beat before suggesting, "Mattie Cake."

"No nursery rhymes," she declared.

With a sigh, I looked down to Isis as she rolled onto her back, her paws batting at the ribbon her tiny, clawed grasp, "Can't we just move on to the boy name?"

"Bruce, it's going to be a girl."

After a beat, I suggested, "Mattie Elizabeth. Wayne."

Selina leaned forward, pressing her lips to my ear, "I love it."

"And for a boy…" I said, carefully taking the ribbon from Isis, crumbling it up into a ball and throwing it for her.

After watching the kitten masterfully pounce on the ribbon, chasing and dragging it across the carpet and into the closet, Selina finally relented, "I've always liked Jonathan. Jonathan Thomas."

"So, Mattie Elizabeth and Jonathan Thomas..." I nodded, "Sounds good."

Selina pinched at my neck, "Mattie or Jonathon. Not both."

"I meant for later on," I leaned back against the side of the bed, resting between her legs.

She shook her head, "This is a one-time deal, bubs… And go get the kitten before she gets into trouble."

Rising to my feet, I felt the fatigue in my muscles from the long day. It had felt good, spending it with the Family but I was physically and mentally exhausted. Good thing Christmas came but once a year.

Stepping into the massive closet, I heard soft purring and followed it to the far right corner. Isis had found herself trouble and had traded the ribbon for what appeared to be a paper bag. It had been sitting in a open wooden box of winter socks and sweaters, one, I hadn't honestly noticed before as it sat below a rack of shoes. Pulling the box out into the light, I wiggled my fingers in front of the kitten's face and she batted at them playfully.

Knelling, I went to replace the items she had pushed around in the box, pausing at the small yellow bag. Was it another Christmas present? With no tag on it, I carefully peered inside of it, finding a small velvet box buried amidst white tissue paper.

"Well, let's see if curiosity kills the cat, Isis," I mumbled and opened the jewelry box.

A white gold band rested inside, set with a large, square cut diamond. I carefully pulled the ring out, catching the engraving on the inside of the band.: Are diamonds forever? Time will tell…

My heart began to thump in my chest.

I took a deep breath and replaced the ring into the box and then into the bag. Everyone had said that Selina and I had been close prior to the accident, obviously close enough for her to be pregnant. I must have bought the ring with the intention of proposing marriage. But why was the ring hidden in my closet and not on her finger?

Why had I changed my mind… or rather, what had stopped me?

The kitten stared up at me with big blue eyes of innocence.

When I had found out she was pregnant with my child, I had already known that I loved her. I had wanted her to live with me, I had wanted to be with her forever. She and I were together like a married couple in every sense but actual marriage.

But why hadn't I proposed?

Time will tell…

It was the right thing to do,

Leaving the ribbon, Isis padded out of the closet, bounding with her tail straight in the air.

"Bruce, you get lost in there?" came Selina's voice suddenly.

I took a deep breath and looked at the bag once more, then towards the door.

"Bruce? Don't make me come and get you…"

Bag.

Door.

"Oh, Miss Isis, did you lose your shiny toy?"

Bag.

Door.

I emerged from the closet, nervous and unsure of my decision.

There had been a time when I would have never doubted myself, but I wasn't that man anymore.

Selina had just settled under the covers, the kitten swatting at her toes as they wiggled under the blankets. I approached the bed and sat beside her, leaning into kiss her.

"Mmm, Christmas cheer?" she asked with a smile as I pulled away. Then she asked, "Bruce, what's that? You find another Christmas gift?"

^V^