Disclaimer:

I do not own the characters. I am making no profit from this story. DC Comics owns them. Enjoy!

Chapter 15

For the first time in several months, Barbara found herself constantly thinking about Bruce. It had been nearly 6 weeks since she had seen him at the gala, but seeing him interact with the baby brought tears to her eyes. Had she rushed in to quickly with Dick? Should she have waited until after Martha was born before getting involved with someone? I mean, she thought, things were starting to look as though Bruce was changing his mind about letting Martha really know him…then again; Bruce had a habit of saying one thing and doing another. Barbara shook her tired head. She gazed down at her nursing infant. The soft glow of the nightlight made her look like an angel.

"No matter what, precious, your needs will always come first." With that she kissed her and began to weep quietly.

Bruce had found that he was throwing himself more rigorously into his exercises than before. Alfred would come down to watch and often keep him company. This used to bother Bruce, but now he found comfort in the older gentlemen's words and peace of mind in what he was doing. Although Alfred never came out and said what he thought the right thing for Bruce to do would be this or that, he always supported Bruce in any decision figuring that his charge knew what was best for himself and his future. Bruce secretly wished that there was a clear cut answer to his dilemmas but knew that life was never simple and never clear cut. His parents' murder had been the first indication of that.

One day while training, Bruce suddenly stopped and stood there. His hair was matted with sweat and his body shone brilliantly in the sun's rays. Alfred looked over from his dusting when he realized the punching bag had become silent.

"Master Wayne?" he inquired.

Bruce looked up at Alfred as if he wanted to speak, but couldn't find the words.

"I am abandoning her just like my parents did me."

Alfred sighed and gazed at Bruce.

"Your parents did not abandon you Master Wayne. They were taken violently from you by a man so intent on fulfilling his own needs no matter what the cost to others."

Bruce's hazel eyes looked directly into Alfred's.

"Aren't I doing the same thing with the Batman?"

Alfred opened his mouth but then quickly closed it. No matter how or what he said it would come out siding with the facts: Bruce was placing the Batman over everyone and everything else. Money can only go so far in a child's life. Children need guidance from another. Bruce nodded.

"I thought so, " Bruce stated.

Barbara tried to get some sleep after having been awake most of the night with the baby. She was up every two hours. Barbara felt as if she was nursing around the clock. Her body ached and even when she tried to sleep thoughts of Bruce came into her head. She desperately tried to push them out. As she slowly drifted off to sleep after an hour or so, she felt gentle kisses on her shoulder. Her mouth twitched into a mischievous grin. Barbra rolled over to be greeted with baby blues and a perfect smile.

"Hi sweetheart, "he said.

"Hi Lover" she returned the hello.

Dick began to run his fingers up and down her arm causing Barbara to get butterflies.

"How are you feeling?" he offered.

Barbara grinned and looked at him, really looked at him. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I love you." She said.

Dick smiled, "I love you too."

Barbara felt overwhelmed with emotion.

"Make love to me," she whispered in his ear.

Dick began to kiss her until she was lost in his embrace.

Batman had not seen any sign of the Joker in the past several weeks. He was becoming unnerved by it. The Joker was planning something. Batman held out his arm and shot the grappling hook. As he swung to the next rooftop, he had the sudden feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was not right.

Barbara was sleeping peacefully for the first lime in weeks after a passionate lovemaking session. A gentle breeze caused her to stir and briefly open her eyes. She gasped in horror at the face before her. A painted face and a devilish grin greeted her. Leather gloves covered her mouth.

"Hello darling." she heard.

It was then that Barbara lost consciousness.

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