Thank you once again for all your encouraging comments. As long as you want to read more I'll keep writing it :)
Chapter 6
A Super Visit
It had now been a long eight months since Ira had entered the world. She was now going through her finicky stage. She could feed herself, but she often just threw the bottle around. She had shoulder length beautiful ginger hair and fully feathered wings, since Thanagarians grow hair and feathers incredibly fast. Her eyes were still large and darkly colored green.
Uncle Wally was often around. He loved his niece more than anything in the world. His new favorite pastime was making funny faces for her. This was easy for him to do since his mouth was so huge. And sometimes when he made a good one, Shayera would even let out a giggle or two.
Ira would never leave Uncle Wally. There was only one person she loved more, and that was obviously her mom. When Shay went out to get groceries or just for some free time, the moment she came back, Ira's small arms reached for her desperately. It was only fair since they did everything together.
But now was a bad day, it had been thunder storming all day long. It was as black as night outside, the fact that Shayera's windows were giant didn't help.
Ira sat in her high chair, aimlessly threw her bottle on the floor, and giggled.
"Ira, sweetie, you have to drink your milk before you have you nap, otherwise you're going to be hungry when you get up and it will demolish the whole schedule," Shay explained calmly as she walked over and picked up the bottle. She handed it back to Ira and turned around to clean up the kitchen a bit.
"Bah!" Ira screamed as she threw the bottle back down on ground and giggled. It rolled down the stairs and hit the ground.
Shay picked up the bottle and cocked an eyebrow at little Ira who had the biggest smile on her face, "I take it this means that we're going straight for the nap then?"
She walked over and undid the highchair, she carefully lifted Ira out. When starting to walk to Ira's room, the baby started howling.
"What? What?" asked a concerned Shay, holding up the baby at eyelevel. Ira reached out for her bottle now, as her face turned red and tears streamed down her face.
Shay moaned, "Make up you mind will ya?" She walked over and retrieved the bottle. She handed it to Ira, who graciously accepted it. Shay then walked over to the couch and waited for Ira to finish, so she could put her down.
"Just wait until your Uncle Wally gets here."
She washed up the dishes in the sink and cleaned up the counter. Then she swept the floor. She had the intention of folding the clothes while she sat down and watched TV, and they would've been true, if someone never knocked on the door.
She knew immediately that it wasn't Wally; he would've just barged in. She cautiously walked over and took a glace through the peek hole. Who she saw next was not expected at all. It was a great shock.
Although she didn't see the whole person's body, she saw enough of the red, blue and yellow to recognize that it was, in fact, Superman.
Her eyes widened as she quickly pulled away from the door. She turned and marched toward the television quietly whispering, "I'm not home."
"Hawkgirl," his voice boomed from outside, "I know you're home. Not only do I have supersonic hearing, but I also have X-ray vision."
"Shit," she whispered.
"You shouldn't swear you know," he enlightened as she opened the door to him.
"Clark, what a pleasant surprise. What do I owe this gigantic pain in the ass pleasure to? Am I exiled from earth now?"
"I just need to talk to you," he ignored her uncouth comments, "Can I come in?"
She bit the side of her mouth, she couldn't let him find Ira, but what was she supposed to do? Denying him inside would spark his curiosity. "Umm yeah," she finally mentioned, to reply, but then quickly added, "But please be quiet, the floors aren't that think and the rooms tend to echo."
She moved out of the way, and allowed him entrance. She guided him over to the kitchen table. Luckily since she'd just cleaned up, no evidence of Ira was visible.
She offered him a drink which he declined, so she sat down across from him.
"How did you find my apartment?" she asked breaking the silence, "I thought no one was supposed to keep in contact with me."
"Well that was the rule, but since Flash broke it I figured it would be no biggie if I did as well," he replied stubbornly.
"So, what? Is he kicked out too?" She asked being defensive of him.
"No, since your departure, we are still understaffed so to speak. He got a good yelling at by John, but other than that no one really cared."
She still didn't care, and quite frankly she was growing tired of his visit, "Look Clark..."
"It's Superman," he replied back interrupting her.
"I don't work with you anymore, so I have no use of calling you that. Same goes for me," she said glaring him down, "What do you want?"
He sighed and rubbed his huge forehead, "The Justice League needs your help."
She laughed, "They need my help huh, but I thought that I was a traitor and of no use to anyone."
"Look you won't be reinstated, but you'll help save the Earth. We need your help fighting the Gordainians."
"Clark, look honestly you don't, I'm not even the strongest you'll do fine without me."
"Hawkgirl, Just hear me out," His voice was rising.
"Clark I told you my answer, its Shayera, and please keep your voice down."
The storm was now raging outside; the rain was pounding rhythmically against the window like drums. The lighting flashed, and thunder roared from a distance.
"Hawkgirl, we won't be able to do it without you. We really need your help..." he said clenching his teeth.
"Everyone left in The League is way stronger," she added calmly.
"Hawkgirl," he began.
"Shayera," she said correctively.
"SHAYERA!" he screamed, and by happenstance at that exact moment the storm had moved exactly over her apartment, which sat at the highest level of the building. The noise mixed together and caused another noise eruption.
Ira wailed from her room. Clark looked up at Shay completely stunned.
"Perfect," she mumbled as she rose from the table and hurried off to Ira's room.
She came back to the room with Ira to Clark's outmost surprise. He watched her almost with his mouth hung wide open. Ira's head was rested on her shoulder, and her back towards Clark.
"Is...Is that...ummm...Is..She..Your..umm...Daughter?" he at last managed to stutter.
Shay glared at him with an eyebrow arched, "Now what gave that fact away? The fact that she's in my apartment? The fact that she has the same identical hair and eye color as me? Or the wings sticking out of her back?" she asked sarcastically.
"How..When..Did...You..Uh," he was now stumbling over words.
"She's 8 months old. I found out just after you kicked me out. Thank God for Wally, or I'd be living on the streets now," she smiled as she gave credit to him.
"Who's her dad?" he succeeded in making a full question.
Shay shifted her daughter in her arms, "Now Clark, I don't think you're at the authority to ask that question." she replied back stiffly.
"Does Lantern know?" he inquired folding his arms.
She sighed and reluctantly divulged, "No, and you can't tell him."
"Hawk...Shayera; he has a right to know it he's the child's father." He replied softly.
"Clark listen to me. John's been bitchy ever since I've left."
"How did you know?"
"I know him better than anyone does, or will. Just listen, he's angry at me still, it's been like two years. He's not going to get over it. Oh well the League will just have to deal, you know get used to it. Now picture him knowing about a daughter with a person he loathes. He'll be a big bitchfest."
"Maybe so but still..."
"Look I don't want him to be a father, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to father. If he comes he'll just ruin what I've managed to create. Besides my daughter's perfectly happy. If he comes and takes her away for some reason, she'll be a wreck and so will I. She's all I have." Shay got up and walked towards Clark. She turned Ira around so she was facing forwards, "If you still want to tell him, look into her eyes and apologize for shattering her relationship with me."
Clark looked into the little irises. They sparkled and almost seemed to dance. Then sadness swept Ira's face. Her tiny eyes became glazed over like little porcelain figures.
"Okay, okay, okay," said Clark after smiling at Ira, "You're doing fine without him, so why should I fix what's not broken, besides I'm sure we'll all be happier. But you have to help us fight the Gordainians."
"I can't do that Clark, if I die, no one will look after her," she paused, "Although I can show you how to beat them. Here hold her while I get a piece of paper."
"But I don't know..." but the small Thanagarian infant was forced into his arms.
"She might cry a little, she has separation fears," Stated Shay as she went to the desk drawer for paper.
Ira was screaming and squirming in his arms. "Umm Shayera, how do I make it stop."
"You can't make HER stop, just ride it out." She screamed from the other room.
"What's her name?" Clark was yelling over the ear-piercing wailing.
"Ira," yelled Shay.
"I thought that was a boy name."
She returned with a piece of paper and a pencil, "Ah, there's my big girl," exclaimed Shay who held out her arms to Ira who was doing the identical.
"Wow,' said Clark who was genuinely touched by this sentimental moment.
While Ira cooed in Shay's arms, she drew a faint diagram that showed the weak spot of every Gordainian ship.
"All you have to do it hit this big bump on the bottom and they'll crumble, but you'll have to dodge the laser firing of the other ships," she explained.
"Thanks Shayera, you've been a big help. I won't forget it." He smiled, "Goodbye Ira," but she had fallen asleep.
"Clark, do me one more favor?" she pleaded.
"Umm, yeah I guess."
"Get the Gordainians before they come to Earth."
"Naturally but why do you ask?"
"Gordainians and Thanagarians have been enemies for centuries; we have a sort of sixth sense for detecting each other. If they make it to Earth, they'll come for me and Ira first."
He smiled grimly, "I'll try my best," he replied.
Right before Clark left, Wally sped in, "So how did the meeting with Supes go?" his words blended in together. Then he saw Superman, "Umm, hey now, I'm in the wrong apartment. Feathers you had a kid! What!"
"It's okay Flash I know and I don't care." Clark replied.
"You don't worry about it, but someone wants to see you," She smiled while she adjusted Ira who stirred and woke, "Look sweetie, it's Uncle Wally."
"AH!" Ira screamed full of joy and reached her petite arms out to her beloved uncle.
"Ira!" screamed Wally who seemed to be in the same emotional state as his niece. He took her from Shay's arms, "Who wants to play airplane?" he asked Ira as he sped her around the room holding her high for her wings to soar.
"Oh yeah we'll be fine," Laughed Shay.
She bid a farewell to Clark. Then went back to the games being played in her living room. Even though the ambiance was cheerful, unsettling words ran through her head.
"If they make it to Earth, they'll come for me and Ira first..."The next chapter is a major one. I know that all readers will enjoy it. But sadly GL won't be in it, But he will appear majorly in chapter 8 for sure. And man he won't be happy....