Chapter Two-Daughter

"Battaman!" shrieked the girl.

"Oh, right," Terry muttered, removing his mask. "Uh, hi."

"Battaman cool! Save Godam Cidy!"

"Yeah. You're a pretty girl. What's your name, pretty girl?"

"Robin," the child squeaked.

"A pretty name for a pretty girl. What's your Mommy's name, Robin?"

"Rachel," Robin answered. "You know Mommy?"

"Yes. Well, I did anyway. What's your Daddy's name?"

"I've never met him. Mommy told me his name once, but I don't remember. What's your name, anyway?" Robin asked.

"Matt," Terry replied, saying the first name that popped into his head. "Let's go find your Mommy, Robin. She must be thinking you've gotten lost in this big house. I don't think she'd leave you down here by yourself."

Terry quickly changed (Robin was absorbed by the many buttons on Bruce's computer) and offered Robin a hand. She took it willingly.

They found Rachel by the kitchen, looking as if a nervous breakdown was about to occur.

"Mommy!"

Rachel turned, a look of relief spreading across her pretty face. Robin ran towards her mother, who swooped up her daughter in one fluid motion.

"Robin," Rachel murmured. "I told you no exploring in Grandpa's house. It's too big; you'll get lost."

"I'm sowey Mommy. But Matt helped me."

"Matt?"

Looking away from her little girl, she noticed Terry for the first time.

"Matt."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Come on Robin. It's bedtime."

"Mommy," Robin pleaded. "I wanna stay awake wiff you."

"Bed," Rachel said firmly.

She walked away with Robin briskly.

Arriving at the room Bruce had said Robin could stay in, the young adult and her child entered. Robin was changed into pajamas and tucked in to the "big girl bed."

"Story?" Robin asked hopefully.

"No, sweetie. If you had been a good little girl and not gone exploring, you could have a story. That's your punishment."

Rachel turned off the lights and returned downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Terry.

"Terry," she said softly.

"Rachel."

Half of her wanted to run into his arms where she knew she'd be taken care of and the other half wanted to return to Metropolis and never see him again.

The first half won out and she threw herself at him, knowing he'd catch her.

"Um, OK."

"I missed you," she sobbed.

"I missed you, too," Terry whispered, stroking her hair.

Rachel yanked herself out of his caring embrace. "I guess we have to talk."

"We have a lot to talk about."

"Let's get some coffee," Rachel suggested.

Terry started a pot of coffee. While waiting for it to brew, both were silent.

"Here," Terry said, pressing a mug into her hands. "So how's Metropolis?"

"It's great. I love working at the Daily Planet. I was really shocked when the old editor retired and chose me as her successor."

"May I remind you that the old editor was Lois? Anyway, you're a great writer."

Rachel blushed. "Thanks."

"I read and save every article you write."

"That means a lot to me. If you knew I was in Metropolis how come you never looked for me?" she inquired.

"I only knew because Bruce only takes the Daily Planet. I didn't really think you'd want to see me again anyway."

"I was angry, but I'll always be happy to see you," Rachel told him gently. "I like Metropolis, though. My staff is very respectful of me, especially considering I'm only twenty-one and they're all at least thirty. I get to see the Kents and Kara, too. I always wanted to know them better; I only met them twice growing up. I have friends, too. Katrina and Amy; they're great. No where near as cool as Max," she added almost regretfully.

"No one is as cool as Max. I tried to talk to her after you left but she wouldn't open her mouth. Does she know about…Robin?" Terry asked softly.

"Max knew about Robin before anyone else did."

Terry was silent, trying to remember exactly what Robin looked like. Her eyes…they were a light gray, just like his. But it couldn't be…could it?

"How old is she?" he inquired suspiciously.

"Two and a half."

"You and I broke up three years ago…she's mine isn't she?"

Rachel lowered her head, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Rachel." Terry tenderly cupped her chin in his hand and raised it, forcing her to look at him. Rachel's jade eyes were tear-filled.

"I'm sorry, OK?"

"Oh, Rachel," Terry whispered, expertly pulling her onto his lap.

"I-I was scared," she stuttered.

"Scared," he repeated almost arrogantly.

"I was eighteen and pregnant, Terry. I thought the baby's Daddy didn't love me, as I found him with his ex-girlfriend. You'd be scared, too," Rachel said sharply.

"I guess I would be," he admitted.

"Please don't hate me," Rachel pleaded.

"I will never hate you."

"So now what do we do?"

"I have no idea. But I do know it'll be OK in the end. I promise."

"I'm going to trust you, McGinnis," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Good. Batgirl is back, then."

Rachel opened her mouth, ready with a comment about not being Batgirl when she was interrupted by a shrill scream.

"Robin," Rachel whispered urgently. She got off of Terry and raced to the second floor.

"It's OK, angel. Mama's here."

Robin continued to scream, a bit muffled by Rachel's shoulder.

"What happened? Come on sweetheart, please stop crying. Please, angel. Mommy can't help if she doesn't know what happened."

Robin stopped wailing. "Nightmare. No Mommy," she whimpered, clearly frightened.

"Oh, Robin," Rachel whispered, holding her child to her chest. "Mommy's here; it was just bad dream," she added soothingly.

"Mommy stay wiff me?" Robin asked, her voice still trembling.

"Of course."

"Nightwing?"

"OK." Rachel dug through her daughter's duffel bag until she found a nightlight shaped like a bird. She plugged it in. Robin, of course, had no knowledge of the fact that her grandfather had been known as Nightwing and no idea it hurt her mother to hear the name.

Rachel tucked Robin in again. She made sure Robin was holding her bear (Mr. Fluffers, he was called by the child) and read her a story.

Soon enough, Robin became drowsy and fell asleep.

"Goodnight, angel.

Rachel quietly exited the bedroom to see Terry standing in the hall.

"She loves you," he said simply.

"I'm all she's ever known."

"About that."

"I'm sorry," you know."

"I know," he replied, gathering her in his arms.

"You should hate me."

"Well you should hate me."

Rachel smiled slightly. "I guess we're even."

"Definitely even. Do you wanna…just hang out for awhile?"

Rachel's face fell. "I'd love to, but I have a layout to finish and send to the Planet."

Terry looked crestfallen. "Oh."

"But…it's on my laptop!" she exclaimed brightly.

"Great. Go get it and I will see you in the library."

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

A few hours later, after Rachel's layout had been finished and a long conversation about Metropolis and Terry's life in Gotham (he worked part time as a police officer and the other half as Bruce's assistant directing the goings on at Wayne-Powers) had trailed off to nothing, Rachel's eyes began to droop.

"You're tired," Terry said concernedly upon noticing this.

"I'm fine," Rachel insisted but couldn't stifle a huge yawn.

"Go to bed."

"I AM NOT TIRED."

"Batgirl," he said warningly.

"It's Firewing and you know it," she yawned.

A second later she was asleep in her chair.

"My Batgirl," Terry whispered, scooping her into his arms easily.

He carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the comfy bed.

After pulling the blankets from under her exhausted body and spreading them over her, he couldn't resist lying down next to her and wrapping his muscular arm around her slim waist. It felt natural to hold her close. She was his Rachel and always would be.

"My Rachel," he whispered into her hair. The young man's eyes shut and he fell asleep.

So…here it is! Gasp Terry is a Daddy! What will baby Robin say when she discovers the nice man she knows as Matt is her Daddy? Stick around to find out! And to find out sooner, review!