Briana Wayne sighed contently as the vast dark skyscrapers that make up her beloved city came to view. Looking out from the window of her husband's private jet, she realized she missed home more than she thought she would seeing as she's usually always defending it.

"Nice to see it still intact since I've been gone" she said to herself. The attendant alerted her they would land in roughly ten minutes, and she knew Alfred would be waiting for her below. It's been two years since she left her city to be guarded by her first adopted son, and though she would occasionally message him to receive updates, she felt it better to trust him to do the job well in her absence. Besides, she had bigger things to worry about at the time.

"Mama?" A noise vibrates from her lap. Silver hair and astonishingly big blue eyes stared at her with sleep still in them. "Are we there yet?"

Briana smiled warmly at her newest treasure. Her beautiful son; one she actually carried through the long months and birthed on a clear night under a lunar moon. She supposed it's fitting, seeing as her husband's family is the house of the moon, and she too has become apart of it. She created bat-woman to embody the night, practically be one with it and utilized fear and physical justice to overpower her enemies, but who would've thought she was truly meant to be a woman of the night?

"In about ten minutes. You can sleep some more and I'll carry you when we land." She kissed her toddler's head. He is a beautiful child but that's the gene of his father. His beauty is ethereal, resembling the light of the moon, in all its paleness, in the darkest of night. She would protect him because the last thing she would want is for him to end up doing the vigilante work like her and her other sons. She could prevent their introduction into that kind of life, but she would damn sure try to prevent this for Shiro.

"Ms. Wayne, the captain just informed me we will will be landing in under 5 minutes. Please prepare for impact" the flight attendant informed her.

She got Shiro ready in his coat, combing his hair out with her fingers, and kissed him on the forehead. She placed him on her lap to hold until they land. The flight attendant got their bags ready at the entrance as the plane door opened for them.

Ms. Wayne, welcome back!"

"Ms. Wayne, how was your stay in Japan?"

"Ms. Wayne, is it true you're married now?"

"Ms. Wayne, is it true you adopted another son? Is that why you traveled to another country?"

"Ms. Wayne, how do you think your sons are going to take the news of a new child in the house?"

Briana was thankful she covered Shiro beforehand. These vultures don't give up, do they? She might as well say something to them so they don't follow behind her. She sees Alfred waiting by the car.

She keeps Shiro's head down in case he gets too curious and peeks his head out. She stands by the family car.

"Hello everyone, it's been a while. As much as I would like to stand here and answer all of your questions, I'm quite tired from the flight. So, I would just say that yes the trip to Japan was wonderful, yes I have a son now, and no he is not adopted. He is my own." She waited for the outburst but got none; just stunned silence. She'll leave it there, "good bye". Alfred opened the door and shut it once they got inside.

"Welcome home, Madam" Alfred peeked from the mirror. He noticed she looked visible different, but he would describe it as a happy mood. She's glowing and her eyes seem to even shine brighter. Perhaps motherhood does change a person.

"It's good to be home, Alfred. I've missed you." She smiled at her father figure. He was the only one she didn't keep in the dark about her child and his father. She felt it better to not tell her sons, seeing how they tend to prefer to distance themselves from her and her "drama".

"Hi! I'm Shiro!" Alfred was met with the face of a cheerful little boy. "Mama told me about you."

Alfred would not say he was surprised as he already knew of the child's existence. Briana's pregnancy announcement was known to him and the father alone, so he knew why she left Gotham. Still, seeing Shiro now is amazing. The child looks very much like his father but his eyes are that of his mother, even with the disguise he has on to cover his non-human traits.

"Hello, young master Shiro. I've heard many good things about you as well, and I am glad to finally meet you."

"My father likes you so I like you too. Father doesn't like a lot of people, so you're okay!"

Briana laughed somewhat embarrassed. It's true that her husband tolerates very few people and likes even less, but he approves of Alfred and who he is to her.

"I am most pleased for the seal of approval" Alfred tipped his head a bit low in teasing respect. He has met the business typhoon and secret demon lord, Sesshomaru, a handful of times. While there are many things he has seen and experienced in his life serving his madam, it would seem fear could still make him feel young in the presence of the great dog lord. His stoic personality rivaled Ms. Wayne's tenfold, and his aura was suffocating when angered or annoyed. Though it did not happen often, the only time he has felt such a demonic presence initiated by his anger was when he was previewed to one of bat woman's many risqué actions that balanced her on the thread of life and death.

The lord cared very little for people other than his wife—even her adopted children were never on his radar of concern as they had an easy tendency to leave the woman to isolation and blame it on her inability to show emotion or genuine care, which the lord thought made them selfish and ungrateful. Therefore, they were irrelevant to him and he saw to it that she would never feel alone again and slowly she learned to express her emotions rather than separate herself to emotional and social martyrdom. Her adopted children have failed to understand her despite how well they can all claim to know her and how expertly trained she made them; it seemed she was doomed to being forever misunderstood.

The introduction of Sesshomaru was like a sensation unknown to her all her life until now. Love…it was strange yet so consuming that she could not even find it in her to seek air. He became her lungs now, and his natural dominance of all things be it in battle or business, made it surprisingly easy for her to want to submit to him. She found herself in scenes she could have never dreamed of, and he cherished her like his most valuable jewel but also understood her need for independence and personal security. That is why he never haggard her for her work but only asked that she is careful. Their union made her stronger: her youth seemed restored as though time for her has stopped as it has for him, her outer exterior glowed brighter, and clarity seemed easier to come to now that she is bound body, mind, and soul to him. He blessed her with a child to mold and who will equally cherish her for life. Her adopted children were also loved dearly but it truly does feel different to have a child to call her own. No one has ever called her mother before until now.

Briana pondered internally; her sons wanted nothing to do with her at the moment, and it was the simple grace of Dick to even agree to defend the city in her absence, though she suspected he really only did that for Alfred's sake. No matter, she loves them but she would not break without them. If they wish to come back then she would welcome them and if not then that is alright too. Shiro is her main priority now.

The car arrived through the giant gate of her ancestral home and pulled up to the entrance door. Alfred opened the door for them and bid them inside while he went to retrieve their luggage.

"Woah! Mama your house is so big!" The young boy exclaimed looking around excitingly. Briana chuckled; it's not as if her precious child has never seen a big building before. The home her husband resides and rules over has plenty of grand palaces and his was the biggest and grandest of all.

Our house, my love. It is yours too whether you are here or not." She walked him inside so he can look around some more. Nothing has changed about her home: everything looks tidy and dark but no longer does she feel the lingering presence of loneliness when she entered. It seems Shiro has a big influence wherever he goes. He looked at everything and touched them even more. He wow'd at the pictures and ran up the stairs, and when he was done with that, he watched cartoons on the big screen while munching on the freshly baked cookies given to him by Alfred.

"Motherhood becomes you, Madam" Alfred commented while stirring tonight's dinner. The two were catching up in the kitchen while Shiro was preocupied with his childish entertainments. He was getting a little tired and that is most likely due to the flight and excitement of all he saw of the manor, so Briana was trying to keep him awake to eat and then dress him for bed.

She blushes, "it is as rewarding as they saw. He makes me so happy—they both do." She was allowed to chop the vegetables under her second father's watchful eye. " I almost didn't want to come back, but I can't just abandon home or you."

"Speaking of home, master Dick is quite curious about your whereabouts but I have managed to keep him at bay for the time being. All he knows is you are on a personal mission." He added the seasonings and continued to stir.

Briana hummed; she would have to see him at some point and thank him for protecting Gotham in her absence. "I'll talk to him eventually."

"I told him to not be angry with you, but seeing as how the two of you have been silent towards each other, I just hope the conversation will not be too chaotic."

"I'll hear him out, but I don't really care about anything else, Alfred. I love them but they have made their choices to leave and I will not beg anyone to stay with me, no matter what."

Alfred nodded, "that's all I ask."

Dinner was a very enjoyable affair. Alfred truly outdid himself cooking a big spread of chicken, beef, bread rolls made with buttermilk, vegetables, pasta, salad, and even dessert. Briana knew he was expecting them but the man truly has gone out of his way to make their stay as comfortable as possible. Shiro was overjoyed seeing how much food he was encouraging his mother to put on his plate.

Briana laughed as she ate some of her salad, "the food isn't going anywhere, love."

"But it's SO GOOD, mama!" He managed to say with swollen cheeks. Alfred poured him some juice and served some to his madame as well. Ever since giving birth, she doesn't have much interest in alcohol anymore. Her husband never really drank much either so naturally she never had it around to desire.

Dessert was tiramisu but since her and Alfred were worried the caffeine would keep the child awake in the late hours, they substituted his dessert for some ice cream, which he greatly enjoyed all the same. Briana watched him fondly as he ate, and after dinner was set and the table cleaned (Shiro even helped), she let him rest a bit in the living room to digest before leading him upstairs to get ready for bed.

She bathe his pearly complexion with warm water, engaged in his whimsical conversations, and kissed his forehead before leading him out with a towel to be dried.

Like his father, Shiro has a predisposition towards the color white. Whether he was living up to his namesake or modeling the aesthetic of his father, the child preferred white clothes, white shoes, and even a paradise inspired bedroom back home, decorated in white.

It was adorable in her opinion and he always looked angelic and pristine. His manners were also quite impressive so he never go his clothes dirty. With that being said she chose a simple white yukata . It was a bit loose for his small frame to allow some air and movement.

"would you like a story?" She asked her angel. He excitingly nodded and hurried to the spacious king size bed to make himself comfortable. She hugged him close and he leaned into her bosom for warmth and love only his mother can provide.

"Mama, I wanna hear a story about father." His request was common. There was no adventure more grand, no villain vanquished in sublime fashion, and no authority higher than that of stories featuring the great dog lord of the West. Shiro's hero and inspiration is his father, and Briana is evermore in love and humbled by the fortunate she has been blessed with to call this her family. The love was genuine, pure, and strong. Her husband is equally as devoted to his child and wife. He is protective without suffocation, masculine without demanding submission, and affectionate without forgoing his own comfortability.

She told him his favorite of his conquest over his lands. His trials on his mission to unite tribes and declare his supremacy over the territory and gain the respect and loyalty of his subjects. She witnessed this herself; his presence demanded admiration, fear, and reverence, and yet he never abused his position or the people who work along side him. She was in awed (and that's rare), but despite being a human, her title as his mate and wife, automatically required the manners of his subjects. However, she worked hard to truly gain their appreciation and favor. She did not delude herself into thinking they liked her just for his preference towards her. Perhaps it was her honesty and the love between the two, but she won them over. The servants treat her well, no scorn was hurled at her openly or secretly, and she even would call her personal maidens her friends. Sesshomaru felt it necessary for some female companionship, especially in the time of her pregnancy. She truly benefited from it. It was always hard for her to open up, but naturally as if by magic, she allowed Yuri and Mori (dog demons twins), Sakura (cat demon) and Kairy (fox demon) into her space. They comforted her, laughed with her, dresses her up and spoiled her in all the pleasures of feminine endeavors until she truly felt that for once in her life she was the woman she always wanted to be.

Her mother would surely be proud from beyond.

She kissed his cheeks and raised the blanket to his chin when she laid him down. Slowly she exited his bedroom towards her own. She did her nightly routine and bid Alfred goodnight before chasing sleep herself.

Next Morning

She heard the small pattering of his feet outside her door before she heard him open it and jump into her bed.

"Mama wake up! It's morning!" He jumped nearly on top of her. Morning, afternoon, or evening, her sweet child was always a ball of energy.

"No good morning kiss?" She opened on eye to look at him jokingly. He leaned down and kissed her cheeks strongly before smiling at her. She returned the gesture and tickled him in her arms while she got out of bed.

"Did you just wake up?"

He nodded, "I'm hungry". Of course.

"Aright. Breakfast first then we'll get ready for the day." Alfred seemed to have already gotten up if the smell of hot food was anything to go by.

"Good morning, Alfred!" Shiro raised his hand up to wave from her arms. It seems he has already warmed up to her father figure and he has done the same. Alfred greeted the child equally as enthusiastic as was in his nature before greeting his madam as well.

Today's breakfast was crepes, bacon, eggs, strawberries, and beverages of tea and juice. Shiro offered a seat to Alfred and as the child was so adorably persuasive, he seated himself and ate with them.

"Master Dick is visiting this afternoon."

Briana nodded as she ate some of her bacon. She figured she'll have to talk to her first adopted son at some point, but truthfully she has no enthusiasm to do so. A simple greeting and introduction of Shiro was necessary and most importantly, reentering her role as bat-woman. "'ll introduce Shiro to his brother."

Shiro whipped his head, "I have a brother?!"

The two adults smiled. His innocence was overwhelming. Briana nodded and told him about his adopted siblings—all three of them. She knew they would be welcoming to the youngest but she doesn't want to deal with teenage angst. She's throughly pass that.

After Shiro satisfied his surprisingly bottomless stomach, he was led back upstairs to clean up and dress to meet his brother. He was excited and chose his favorite clothes to be well presented. Briana appreciated his enthusiasm even if she couldn't share the same level of it, but she is also looking forward to his visit. She did after all, missed all her children. No matter what.

It was half passed noon before the eldest of the Wayne children made his way to the mansion. His thoughts of seeing his mother quickly and leaving was momentarily interrupted by the infectious laughter of a child.

Another parent less child to add to the collection already?

Briana is not above sympathy or empathy, and when you first get to know her, she will shower you with care and spoil you in her riches and stiff yet carefully rehearsed motherly intuition. Then at some point it seems to change; her warmth dimmers to a cooling echoing, and while her riches remain for your benefit, there is no motherly instinct. She raises soldiers—not boys. And soon this unknown child will discover this tragedy.

"Higher mama!" The giggles got louder as he made his way to the living area to an interesting sight. His adopted mother was indulging the child in a game of "airplane". She lifts him up high and motions him around the room in boisterous splendor, and the child was interesting in himself too. His hair was purely white silver, his blue eyes were bright and attractive, and there seems to be more about him that Dick can't fully place his hands on. Aside from the stripe marking on parts of his skin. It wasn't long before he caught their attention and as he walked towards them, he noticed the new appearance of Briana. Her hair grew longer since he has last seen her and the shine from it compliments her natural, radiant glow. He saw her in a loose white dress that flowed behind her as the wind from the open window breezed into the room. The look of summer and femininity is what she embodied in that moment to him.

Strange. Who is this woman? he thought; for there was no possibility of this beauty, this shine of elegance and carefree nature could be his mother. She was not known to have a relaxed posture or wear dresses that do anything less than show her dominance. Yet, here she is before him with the strange child, who now lost his outward image of giggles and screams to now bashful and seeking a hiding place in the nape of his mother.

"Hello Dick."

"Briana. It's good to see you back home."

Briana cuddled the boy gently to look at him, "How can you greet your brother if he can't see you, sweetheart?"

"Brother?" he raised a brow. He can't say he is too surprised by this news. She went to Japan to adopt another child? "What, you don't like your choice of orphans here?"

Briana frowned but said nothing about the comment. "Yes brother. This is my biological son, Shiro." she managed to get Shiro to look at Dick, "say hello, baby."

"Hello," he mumbled timidly and waved. "My name is Shiro Taisho-Wayne. Nice to meet you."

Dick was struck in silence. The child dressed in white wool shorts and equally textured shirt looked at him concerned as if he has done something wrong, but Briana comforted him that it was simply a matter of momentary shock at the news of who he is. Eventually he regained his composure to greet the child back.

As though sensing the tension in the room, Alfred approached them with refreshments of lemonade. "Welcome master Dick."

"Hey Alfred, how's it going?"

"Quite splendid now that the madam has brought home young master Shiro. Speaking of—" he gave the drink contained in a small sized plastic cup to Shiro, "your drink with a straw." He set out the rest on the table with cousters before promptly leaving. Briana knew she would now need to hold conversations with her eldest child, so she encouraged her youngest child to go play with his toys and to call on Alfred if he was in need.

"OK, mama!" he hurried to his toys, eager to recreate his own amusement.

--

Briana invited Dick to a seat on the sofa across from her. She sat comfortability and tucked in her feet on the sofa and waited for him to begin.

"so...you went to Japan to get your kid?"

she chuckled, "No Dick, I went to Japan to give birth to my child because that is also where his father resides."

"I just find it a little unbelievable that you allowed yourself to get pregnant because you're practically married to your night job."

"The father of my child, who I am now married to, is a very capable and devoted man so it was an easy decision." she shrugged.

"Why didn't you tell anybody? You just told me you were going away for a while. I mean, did you think about us?!" he exclaimed. He didn't want to come off angry but this is one of the things Briana does that aggravates her children. Her inability to open up and let them in to her life creates a feeling of distrust and an isolation.

"It was my business to tell and let's not forget that you and your siblings chose to cut off contact with me, so why would I reach out for anything other than to make sure the city was still even after I left?" She will not apologize for her decision to protect herself from their exclusion. On one hand, she can admit her faults but she will not allow herself to continue to just be attacked for their need for independence, and when given to them, they will perceive it as another one of her callous persona and inability to communicate.

"Well obviously it's because of stuff like this. You went and got pregnant, took a vacation for two years, and now you're back as mother Teresa?" Dick scoffs. This conversation is bringing out his less positive side but he was still upset.

Briana looked at him sternly. "We're going to do this."

"Do what?"

"Do this; I did not want to hold a conversation with you just to argue. If that's what you want then you can leave to calm down. I'm not arguing house when my child is in the other room." One thing she was used to is bending backwards for her children even when she was being as stern as she can be, but her time with her husband has taught her that she does not have to bend for fear of being alone. She loves her adopted children and will always encourage their independency and growth, but not if it means disparaging her as their mother. Communication works both ways but it seems it is easier and more favored to just blame it all on her.

"We're having a conversation."

"No, we were going to have an argument. I'm in a good mood and I just want my son to know where I was born. We can talk another time if you're overwhelmed, but I'm not going back and forth with you like we used to."

"I see you also got more talkative."

"I'm learning."

Dick let out a frustrated sighed and scratched his head. Maybe this should be discussed at another time. The news was surprising enough, but imagine if the rest of his siblings found out as well?

This house won't be quiet for long.

"So, I'm guessing you'll be wanting the bat mantle back?"

Briana shook her head. "Shiro is here with me for a month and then he's off to Japan to his father. If you are willing, can you keep it until then?"

"He's not staying here? and yeah, sure."

"In case you weren't able to tell, Shiro is not fully human. His father is a demon, so we felt it best to send him back home to train his abilities. We'll do visits." she drank the rest of her lemonade.

"A what?! Briana!" he yelled but she waved him off.

"See you whenever." she got up and stretched as she points him to the door. So many questions that can be answered at a later time.

Until then...

"Shiro! Ready to play?"

It feels so good to be a mother.