Summary: Aaron Grayson, son of the famous Robin and Starfire has been faced with challenges throughout his whole life, but he can deal with them. None, however, can compare to the wall that stands between him and the rest of his family. StarRob, BBRae, VicBee, JxKF
Disclaimer: I own nothing: plain and simple. Wait…wait…wait…no. Nothing.
Author Notes: OK, peoples. I only got 3 reviews. You can do better than that. If I want to keep this story going, I need reviews to boost my spirits: even if they're negative. It shows me that people read my stuff.
Please read my story: I'd love for you to do so! It's going to get better. This story will involve medical treatments, but I'm not a doctor, so don't get mad if I make things up that aren't true. New characters introduced in this story so far:
Bruce Nolan Grayson: Bruce is Robin and Starfire's first son. He is two when the story begins. He has red hair like his mother, but blue eyes like his father. He can fly and has super-strength.
Emily Marie Logan: Emily is Gar and Raven's first child. She is Bruce's age when the story begins, meaning she is two. She has purple hair and pale skin. Her eyes, however, are bright green. She has the powers of empathy and healing, like her mother.
Aaron Samuel Grayson: Aaron is Robin and Starfire's second child. He has black hair and blue eyes – he is the image of his father. Aaron is born with his legs tangled, and the doctors estimate that will not be able to walk until his about four years old. Aaron shows no signs powers.
Anyway, let's get down to the story, shall we? Enjoy.Try
Chapter 2: Braces
Three days after Aaron's birth, the doctors finally permitted Kori and Aaron Grayson to leave the hospital. Although they would have to bring Aaron back in five days' time, he was coming home for now. Kori stood in front the hospital's front doors. The outside world was so big – the hospital seemed so safe. In here, no media could harass her, no villains could torture her, and no people could stare openly at her. Beyond the doors, she could easily spot the reporters and cameramen on the sidewalk, waiting for the famous Titan to arrive back into the world, a new baby in tow. No official announcements had been made: no gender, name, or anything. Once she stepped through the double doors in front of her, she would leave the comfort of her snug white room.
"Kori?" a voice called to her. The shout called her back to Earth. It was Richard – she would recognize the voice anywhere. "Kori? Are you all right?"
"Yes, Richard. I believe I am. However, it would be most comforting if you held my hand." Her husband complied, and together, they reentered the busy Jump City. Cameras flashed and reporters yelled questions from behind the camera. Richard and Kori made their way down the sidewalk, trying to ignore the comments and questions thrown at them. About halfway down, Kori pulled her husband aside. "Perhaps we should give them what they want. We can give a gender, a name, and perhaps a comment about much of 'the thrilled' we are. We need not mention our son's problem."
Nodding in agreement, Richard adjusted Bruce on his hip and the family turned back towards the cameras. "Hey, everybody," Richard said, stroking Bruce's back.
"Robin – everyone is dying to know about the child. What can you tell us?"
"Well, the baby turned out to be a boy. His name is Aaron, and he is a beautiful baby."
"Let's get a shot of him!" a cameraman called. Instantly, video cameras came forward to catch a glimpse of the sleeping face that lay safe in Kori's arms. Richard could almost hear an 'Awwww!" echo throughout the city.
"Tell me," one reporter said excitedly, "were you disappointed that it was a boy and not a girl?"
"Well," Kori replied, "although it would be most wonderful to have a female child, I have found it to be marvelous to raise a male child. Son Bruce is a most cheerful youth."
"Bruce Grayson, what do you think of your new brother?" a woman asked.
"Baby!" he shrieked, hiding his face with his hands and giggling. Richard laughed and told Bruce to wave bye-bye to the cameras. He did what he was told, and the family left. Vic had pulled the T-Car up and held the door politely for his good friends. They climbed in, strapping in the little ones and driving off. As they drove, people gathered on the streets to try and steal a glance of the famous couple's new addition. A few people even tailed the car, jogging behind before Vic turned the rockets on and they flew across the bay.
Upon arrival back at the tower, Vic seemed to disappear almost instantly. A little confused, Richard unbuckled Bruce and walked inside, entering the access code. The tower seemed dark and empty. Kori gave her husband a confused look before the two proceeded forward to the main room. The door slid open and they were instantly greeted with a wave of noise and color. There was a call of "SURPRISE!", and all of their friends jumped up from behind tables, countertops, and the couch.
Kori and Richard were mainly bewildered, Bruce shrieked with excitement, and Aaron just kept sleeping. "Wow – guys, thanks. What is this?" Richard asked, setting Bruce down to go find Emily.
"Well, since you guys have been stuck at the hospital for the last few days, we organized a party for the kid over there and his lucky parents." Gar chuckled and stepped forward. "We call it – the Grayson family celebration bonanza!" Kori laughed to herself. It was so nice to have friends who were so kind to do the 'throwing of parties' for she and Richard for the occasion of the birth of son Aaron. Many of their friends were there – Gar and Raven (with Emily, of course), Vic and Karen, Gwyneth and Wally, Speedy, Aqualad, and Más y Menos. There was also another figure who stood in the shadows that Kori did not recognize. He was tall with broad shoulders, but other than that she could not tell. Richard, however, seemed to recognize him.
He seemed to have forgotten all else, and was striding towards the silhouetted man. "B-Bruce? Is that you?" he choked out, trying to stay in control. The man stepped out of the shadows and the whole room seemed to gasp. It was Bruce Wayne – the Bruce Wayne!
"Hello, Richard. It's good to see you." Mr. Wayne smiled warmly down at Richard and placed an arm around his shoulder and pulled him into a bear-like embrace. "Congratulations on the new child. Can I see him?"
"Yeah, of course," he said, heading back over to Kori, who gently passed the bundle into her husband's arms. The whole room seemed to watch with baited breath as Bruce took a tender hold of the baby. "His name is Aaron."
"He is a beautiful baby – all I could possibly want out of a grandson."
Every head in the room focused solely on Richard. He – the son of Bruce Wayne? Kori was the first to speak. "So, you are the man who raised my husband?"
"Yes, I am – I am Richard's adoptive father. You must be Kori. It is a pleasure to meet you. Richard has told me all about you. From what I've heard, you are quite an amazing woman."
Kori blushed profusely and little Bruce rushed over, Emily's hand grasped in his. "You're tall," was all Emily managed. She was rather shy.
"Hi, Mr. Wayne!" Bruce said, jumping up and down.
"Son Bruce, please, calm down," Kori soothed, grabbing her son's hands and restraining him.
"Bruce, eh?" Mr. Wayne chuckled, "nice choice of name, son. I like it."
"So, Richard, this is the reason why you absolutely insisted on naming our son Bruce?"
"This is why," he answered proudly.
"Bruce Grayson, I'd like you to meet Grandpa Bruce,"
Raven interjected. "I hate to break up this family reunion, but this is a party," she pointed out, "besides, you haven't asked us how we got Bruce Wayne to come."
"All right, how?"
"I invited him. I've been in your head – I knew all about him. I figured that he might want to know."
"Thanks."
Gar leapt up in the air, excited. "OK – now that the party is officially underway, let's get started!" He bent down, rummaging for something. The others could hear him mumbling to himself: Come on, dude! I know it's down here…somewhere. Oh! Is that it? No…damn. Where is it? Come on? Rae's gonna kill me if I lost…
"Lost what, Garfield Logan?"
"Um…the cake?" he squeaked.
"Didn't you order an ice cream cake?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Did you try the freezer?"
"Oh…yeah. Heh, my bad."
Gar left to go to the kitchen and returned seconds later, cake in hand. "Tada!" he beamed, opening the lid of the cold box. Inside was a beautiful cake with white frosting and blue writing on top, surrounded by little blue footprints.
Welcome, Aaron Samuel Grayson!
July 14th
6lbs. 4oz.
Congratulations Richard, Kori, and Bruce!
"Oh, friends! It is most glorious! I am delighted that you are so joyous at the birth of son Aaron." Kori flew over to examine it.
"Of course, Star. Why wouldn't we be excited about Aaron?" Karen said, draping her arm around her good friend. "Lemme grab the camera so we can catch a 'Kodak moment'."
As Karen left, Kori turned to her husband. "Please, what is this 'moment of Kodaks?"
"It's just an expression that means to take a picture. Kodak is a brand of film."
Karen returned a few minutes later, and the Grayson family gathered behind the cake, then with Bruce Wayne, and then with everyone at the party. After about eight pictures, little Bruce grew tired of waiting and dug his hands into the frosting. The pictures after that grew blurry. Richard was scolding Bruce for taking the cake without permission, but in that process, he got frosting on his cheek, making Kori laugh.
After Bruce's first attempt at getting cake, they decided that enough was enough, and dug in, themselves. Mingling began, and soon, Emily and Bruce grew bored with adult talk. They went and found Gar and tugged on his pant leg, asking him to turn on the TV for them. Picking both toddlers, he placed them gently on the couch before pressing the power button and flipping channels to find an appropriate show for the two. He found something suitable and returned to the party. After about ten minutes, Bruce suddenly shrieked, "MOMMY! DADDY! LOOK! BABY'S ON TV!"
The room went dead silent as heads turned to face the giant screen. Indeed, there were Kori, Richard, Bruce, and Aaron standing outside the hospital as they left. The camera zoomed in on a shot of the newborn's face before the female announcer's voice came on in the background.
"Jump City's own heroes, Robin and Starfire, welcomed a new addition into their family last week, and here he is. It's been reported that his name is Aaron, and his parents say that he is absolutely beautiful." There was a brief pause, where smiles reverberated around the room. "However, absolutely beautiful might not describe Aaron's health." Richard and Kori exchanged shocked looks as baby Aaron was drawn closer to his mother. "An anonymous tip-off has said that there is news that the baby was born with some physical impairments, and will never fully gain the use of his legs. We asked doctors, but they declined any comment."
The special news report ended, and all eyes turned back to Kori and Richard. Raven stepped forward, her voice faltering. "Is…is it true?" She looked on the verge of tears.
Richard looked angrier than shocked, and Kori was also looking teary-eyed. "How could they?" Kori burst out, stroking her precious bundle of blankets, "How did they?"
"I don't know and I don't care. They will pay."
"Are you going to ask our question or not?" Gar asked gravely.
"Yes," was a small reply from Kori. "Yes. Son Aaron does have a physical impairment. His legs are twisted, and he will not be able to walk until he is four."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Vic asked.
"We did not want the joy or our son's birth to be halted because of this news. We are truly happy, and we wanted to make sure that you could honestly share in our happiness."
Richard headed over to the couch and sat down, burying his face in his hands and then running them through his hair. "How did they find out?" he asked himself, frustrated.
"I think it best if we continue the celebration much later. I must have a word with Richard."
Everyone left. Gar grabbed Emily off the couch, and the room was soon empty. Mr. Wayne, however, stayed just behind the door, ready for an angry Richard – a side of his son which he knew so well.
When the room was empty, Kori sat down beside her husband and gently stroked his back with her free hand. "Richard, I do not know how the people of media found out. That does not matter to me now. What I care about is you. Are you all right? You have…not been…yourself since son Aaron's birth. What troubles you?"
"I…I don't know if I know how to deal without perfection. All my life I've been a perfectionist – when I was a trapeze artist, when I was an apprentice, when I was a leader, a husband, and now, a father. When Bruce was born and the nurse announced that he was perfect, I wasn't overly happy, because I had a voice inside my head that told me that it was automatically expected. This time, I thought it would be true again. I was wrong."
"Richard, you must not demand perfection from everyone and everything. No, son Aaron is not perfect, but that does not matter. No person is. But the question you must ask yourself is if you still love him, no matter what? I do. Do you feel unwavering love for our child?"
To his surprise, he didn't even think about the answer. "Yes. Yes, I do."
Little Bruce crawled over to where his parents were sitting on the couch and whispered into his father's ear. "Don't worry, Daddy. I still love Baby no matter what."
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A few days later, the Graysons found themselves in a familiar part of the hospital – the waiting room. Today was the day. After today, Aaron's life would change forever. Kori and Richard sat with a sleeping Bruce next to them. They had been waiting for six hours. Earlier that day, they had taken Aaron in to have the doctors set his legs in the braces. However, it turned out to be much more difficult than that. Apparently, they had to perform special surgery, because with the amount of work that had to be done, the braces would have to be attached to him at the knee. The surgeons would attach metal rods to the bones and joints, so they would help with stabilization. The shins would contain adjustable knobs and extensions for when he grew. It all sounded so complicated, but the doctor had assured them that it was a fairly simple procedure.
Finally, after the hours of waiting, Aaron's new doctor, Dr. James Walker, came through the large double doors leading to the back. He removed his mask and came over, smiling. "Congratulations. Your son's operation was successful. Aaron is still asleep, but his legs are situated. He will spend the next two weeks here. Before he goes home, you and anyone who he might be left in the care of must be given the information it takes to operate his braces."
"Wonderful. Can we see him?" Richard asked.
"Follow me," was the doctor's reply.
He led them past the incubator room, where tiny preemies lay, attached to every machine known to man. Kori gasped and covered her mouth when she saw. "Thank X'hal that our Aaron…" Richard heard her say.
"You're right about that, Mrs. Grayson," Dr. Walker said, "about half of those poor little ones might not make it past two months. Unfortunately, we don't have the money or technology to help save all such little souls."
"How horrible. It makes one so grateful."
The small group was lead to a private room towards the back, where a small baby lay in a bassinet, covered in blankets. Dr. Walker nodded and the Grayson family came forward to greet the baby. Aaron was still asleep from the medicine. Gingerly, Richard unfolded the blankets on his son's lower half. He drew back instantly. Where pink flesh was once visible, now lay tiny bars of metal. Aaron's knees were slightly disconfigured. It pained him to see a child of his own in so much pain – with such a big problem to face. Then again, no matter how painful the braces looked, they were the source of a great miracle. They would mean that his son would one day be able to walk. He stroked Aaron's cheek softly before turning back to Kori.
"Beautiful," he whispered.
Tada! Here it is…the second chapter! Sorry it took a while, but I was lacking inspiration for a few days. I really hope you enjoyed it, because it's going to get better. I promise!
Please, please, please REVIEW! It makes me sad and disappointed and makes me think that nobody reads my work when barely anyone reviews. Like I said…only three people last time. If you were one of those three people, then THANK YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL.
Peace 'n luv!
GUCIGIRL