Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Teen Titans
Chapter 14: Baby Blues
Three days later, baby Arella Ayane Roth-Greyson came home to Titans Tower; Nebula and Jhun also moved in with Nebula cursing herself and other's around her. The nursery was set up in two rushed days. It was set up in a room across from Raven and Nightwing's bedroom. It was a soft lavender with glow in the dark moons and stars on the ceiling.Everyone assisted in creating the room (some more willing to participate more than others). The twins seemed to have no interest in helping with any of the preparations for the new baby. They merely sat in the living room or in their rooms minding their own business. Nebula, on the other hand, had never been any more irate around people. She said that it felt like she was on the television show for creating a room in two days, Trading Spaces.
Raven's condition had still not changed making everyone depressed and worried for the fate of Nightwing and his children. What would come of them?
Nightwing sat in the common room feeding a bottle to baby Arella. It was his very first time and he was just as stiff as a board. His anxiety was clearly written on his face.
Jhun was sitting in the kitchen eating a sandwich and watching Nightwing closely considering that his wife still had no faith in Nightwing's ability to take care of an infant. Jhun got up chuckling and walked down to him.
"You really need to loosen up, Nightwing," Jhun told him. "You're going to give yourself a bad back if you sit that way."
"It's my first time feeding her," Nightwing explained. "I don't want to screw it up. She's so tiny and fragile."
"And so were the twins once upon a time. Look how fine they have turned out."
Nightwing sighed relaxing his posture.
"Better," Jhun complimented. "Much better."
"So…after she's done with this, then what?"
Jhun sighed happily very glad that Nebula was not around to hear that. "You burp her," he replied simply. "You put her over your shoulder and gently pat her on the back until she releases some air."
"Who are you? Mr. Mom?" Nightwing asked surprised by how he knew all the answers about babies.
Jhun chuckled. "Just someone who hopes to be a father someday. That is… if my lovely wife allows me to be. She won't admit it, but she's scared to death of the idea. I have faith in her, though, so I'll wait until she's ready."
"Well, you would make a great dad…unlike me," Nightwing said self-deprecating himself.
"You belittle yourself. Give yourself time. You will get it together. Even you have the ability to take care of an infant."
Nightwing smiled.
Later that day was Nightwing's first experience with changing a diaper. Arella was crying uncontrollably. Nightwing grimaced from the smell and gained a splitting headache from the crying.
"I'm changing your diaper!" He shouted gently. "Please don't cry!" He sighed hopelessly now desiring help. "Rin! Jason! Jhun! Somebody!"
Rin slowly walked to the door.
"Where is everyone?" Nightwing asked her.
"Fighting Plasmus," Rin replied. "Jason's reading."
"Can you use your power to see why she's crying, please?" Nightwing begged. "I'm desperate!"
Rin, seeing her father's distress, focused her empathic powers on her baby sister. "She does not like diapers."
"Sorry, Arella, you don't have a choice." He looked his older daughter. "Want to help? You can feed her when I'm finished."
"No thanks," Rin replied softly.
"Rin, it's your sister and I miss spending time with you and your brother. We all can learn how to take care of Arella together."
"No thanks," Rin said again and left the room.
Then Jason passed the room.
"Jason!" Nightwing yelled. "Come; help me take care of Arella, please?"
Jason rolled his eyes passing by the room leaving Nightwing by himself. At midnight, Nightwing felt as if he would rip his hair out for Arella would not stop crying and the rest of the Titans were still out on a call of duty.
"Arella, what is it?" Nightwing asked as patiently as he could, looking at his crying daughter in her crib. "Are you warm? Cold? Hungry?" He tried to shake a baby rattle in her face which only seemed to anger her more.
"Great," Nightwing sarcastically said to himself.
The endless crying at night lasted for almost two weeks. Nightwing had hardly any sleep and with Rin and Jason not helping or the constantly called to duty Titans, he was on the verge of losing it.
It was eight in the morning and the crying seemed like it would never cease.
"Arella, please," Nightwing begged looking into the crib. "What is it? What do you want?"
"My lord, the dead has arisen!" Nightwing heard Nebula yell as she entered the room. "What in the world are you doing to that baby!"
"Nebula, don't start with me!" Nightwing warned her.
Nebula put her hands on her hips daring him to do something. She was ready for anything.
"I've gone through two weeks without a decent night's sleep. I have a daughter who won't stay in the same room with me or the baby! I have a son who hates me! And another daughter who won't stop crying! I can't do this!" Nightwing ranted. "Are you happy, Nebula? You were right! I can't do this!"
"Are you done?" Nebula asked nonchalantly.
"How can you stand there and not even be fazed by this!" He dropped to his knees and broke down in tears.
This surprised Nebula who had never seen such a focused, serious and determined person fall to pieces.
"I give up," He cried.
Nebula busted into laughter angering Nightwing, but he was already too pooped to pop.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked her dully.
"I'm sorry," Nebula laughed. "It's not you. Well…maybe it is." She pulled him back up to his feet. "Pull yourself together, man!" She slapped him on the side of his face and began to laugh again. "I got to give you your props, Nightwing. You actually stuck this out and took really good care of the baby." She picked up the crying baby from the crib and placed her over her shoulder. Arella's crying stopped.
"How'd you…?" Nightwing asked in disbelief.
"Just like Lil' Rae," Nebula said.
"What?"
"Arella and Rin are so much alike," Nebula explained. "Always wanting to be held so they can see what's going on. She was just curious. Isn't that right, Double A? Too bad you're a night owl like your mama."
"Double A?"
"Arella Ayane," Nebula answered. "Double A." She gently bounced Arella in her arms.
"That's the most beautiful thing I have heard in two weeks. She actually keeps quiet. I didn't think I'd ever get quiet again."
"You thought this was going to be easy?" Nebula chuckled. "With kids, you never know. It can be sometimes easy, sometimes hard. Kids with super powers: Now that's hard. Rin especially. At two months, she was aware that she could conjure almost anything. She conjured mostly ice cream while she was sleeping. There was so much of it in my house; I never went to the DQ again."
" And Jason?"
"Jason's power seemed to have a hold button while he was sleeping. That was a plus for all of us." She then sighed heavily. "I should apologize to you."
"Why?" Nightwing asked now looking at her.
"I didn't think you could do this. You proved me wrong. That's a rare thing." She smiled at Nightwing. "Raven would be so proud if she knew."
"Coming from you, Nebula, that means a lot," Nightwing told her happily.
"I'll tell you what: I'll take Arella off your hands so you can deal with your terrible twins and take a well-deserved nap."
"You will?" Nightwing asked happily. He looked like a needy child on Christmas day.
Nebula nodded.
Nightwing brought her into a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nebula."
"Okay, no hugging," Nebula said dully. "That's enough. Nightwing, don't make me change my mind."
