Chapter Ten-Dealing with Tragedy

Richard sat with the baby in his arms for what easily could have been years but was really only minutes. His tears snaked down his unnaturally pale face and splashed onto Rose's face. She wrinkled her tiny nose in disapproval.

"I'm sorry, honey," he murmured to her shakily, wiping her face gently. "You'd be crying too if you were old enough to know what's happening."

He held Rose's minute form to him so tightly that she whimpered.

"Daddy is so sorry. You don't have a mommy, my angel. My only baby girl."

Still heaving with his sobs, he stood and slowly left the love of his life's deathbed.

His friends were waiting anxiously on the other side of the door.

"She's gone," Richard gasped hoarsely. "She's dead."

Karen stifled a cry and Vic hugged her to his metallic body, keeping his arm securely around her waist.

Gar gently took the child and Rachel led Richard to the spindly, uncomfortable sofa. He buried his face in his hands.

Karen disentangled herself from her boyfriend's arms and sank down next Richard on the couch. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders.

On his other side, Rachel did the same, so uncharacteristically for her that he stared.

"Well," Mr. Anders said, sobbing as well, returning from the room that would forever be stained with Kori's loss. Mrs. Anders clung to her husband desperately, doubting she could support herself with the weight of her grief.

"Garfield," she whispered croakily, "Let me see my grandchild."

Gar glanced at Richard first, as if to get permission. Richard nodded slowly.

"Oh, that's a good girl," Mrs. Anders cooed to the child. She stared into her granddaughter's deep blue eyes for quite some time, everyone remaining silent.

"Richard," Margaret said finally. "Let us take the baby."

"No," he said so firmly that everyone stared at him.

"See here Grayson," Mr. Anders said gruffly, "This child, Rosie, is the last memory we have of our daughter. We should raise her."

"Rosie," Richard said, "Is my name for my daughter. And as she is my child, I will be the one to raise her. You are not the only people who lost someone when Kori died."

"Spoken like a true man," someone said quietly behind the grieving group. "And my son."

Bruce Wayne clapped a hand to Richard's shoulder. "There is no way you will take Rose from Richard Grayson. The city of Gotham will stand behind me on this."

"Bruce-" Margaret gasped, staring at him with her mouth open. "My baby is dead and all I want is to care for my granddaughter."

"You will not be given custody of her unless Richard is found to be an unfit parent," Bruce continued resolutely. "Which he won't be, as he loves this child with his whole heart."

"He is seventeen years old for God's sake! He can't care for a child by himself, let alone a girl! Girls need mothers, Wayne," Kori's father yelled harshly.

"She is my son's kid, Anders," Bruce grunted. "He won't have his daughter taken away."

Mrs. Anders stood again, shaking. "We'll see you at the funeral," she snapped curtly. "Come, we must speak to the director, Robert." Without another word, she pushed Rose into Richard's waiting arms.

Vic and Gar muttered something about coffee and the girls followed them, leaving Bruce, Richard and Rose.

"Thanks, Bruce," he mumbled. "This is your old grandpa, Rosie," he cooed. Richard held the child out.

"I don't like babies," Bruce replied. "And generally, they return that feeling."

"Well, erm thanks again. The doctors said we can take Rosie home tomorrow."

"I'll have Alfred bring the car," Bruce answered, shuffling away swiftly.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

"Here we go!" Richard babbled to Rosie, waving her around in the air so that she felt like she was flying. After zooming around her nursery for a few minutes, he kissed the top of her head and placed her in her crib, tucking the soft yellow blanket around her silky baby skin.

He picked the teddy bear up and settled it next to the now sleepy child, who reached for it confidently.

Richard teasingly snatched it back from her, sticking his tongue out. "I want to sleep with the teddy tonight," he informed her. 'God knows I'm lonely enough.'

Instead, he casually tossed it back into Rose's crib, listening for her giggle. She always did right before he left and he took it to mean she wanted one more hug.

Rosie blew a raspberry at her father's retreating back.

"No no no…" he gurgled back to his daughter. He returned to the side of her crib and lifted her into his arms again.

Rosie whined as he lay her down again. "It's OK, baby girl, Daddy's down the hall," he whispered, ruffling her tuft of red locks that were so like Kori's that they hurt to look at. Richard walked to the doorway and looked back. Rose had shut her aquamarine colored eyes and grasped the bear firmly.

"Goodnight, Princess," he uttered softly, turning off the light. "I love you."