A/N: I have been cleaning and working on this chapter since I posted the last one. I kept taking breaks from it so I could come back with a fresh view. I feel like I've finally polished it up enough that it can be read by others. This unbetaed so my apologies to grammer and spelling errors. It has been spell checked but that stupid program isn't always reliable. If you see anything majorly annoying, please tell me.
Warnings: Sex, language
Part Three
I never thought that I was so blind
I can finally see the truth
It's me for you
Tonight you can't imagine that I'm by your side
Cuz it's never gonna be the truth
Too far for you
But can you hear me say?
Don't throw me away
And there's no way out
I gotta hold you somehow
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Everyday but all I have is time
Our loves the perfect crime
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Every way and when they set me free
Just put your hands on me
Take everything that I know you'll break
And I give my life away
So far for you
But can you hear me say
Don't throw me away
There's no way out
I gotta hold you somehow
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Everyday but all I have is time
Our loves the perfect crime
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Every way and when they set me free
Just put your hands on me
Tonight I'm weak
It's just another day without you
That I can't sleep
I gave the world away for you to
Hear me say
Don't throw me away
There's no way out
I gotta hold you somehow
All I wanna do is touch you
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Everyday but I all I have is time
Our loves the perfect crime
I wanna I wanna I wanna touch you
You wanna touch me too
Every way and when they set me free
Just put your hands on me
- I Wanna, By: The All American Rejects
/
Florida was a place Dick had always wanted to visit. It was one of those little kid fantasies that never got fulfilled. His parents had promised to take him once a long time ago. He had always wanted to go to SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Disneyworld; all of it. He'd always dreamed of visiting it when he was younger. It was a pleasant fantasy that got him away from some of his darker thoughts. It amused him when he was in bad mood to think about dragging Bruce along just to see the disgruntled look on his face when he was told to have fun. It was a silly fantasy now that he was an adult. Yet, it was one of those childhood hopes that never really went away. So when his old college buddies decide to have their own mini reunion in Orlando, Florida, Dick was very tempted to go. There was, of course, his double life and Gotham/Bludhaven holding him back. He knew his own desires did not come above those of the Mission. Normally, he wouldn't have any problem turning down this kind of trip. But it was Florida! He actually regretted having to say no.
When he mentioned it over breakfast to Bruce, Tim, and Alfred, they all swapped conspiratorial looks. Tim nonchalantly remarked that Gotham would be just fine without him and that Robin could handle anything. In Tim's words 'just go so you'll stop being weird and moping all the time.' Dick scowled at that. He was not still moping. Alfred gently pointed out that a vacation was a good idea. He also mentioned that Dick had been far too involved with his double life since being freed from Ivy and Harley. Dick did have to agree with that point. He had become somewhat of a workaholic. Action had kept his mind from wandering. It had been nearly a year now since his imprisonment, but the effects were still lingering. He would never take for granted the feeling of the wind in his hair as he glided between buildings ever again. When Dick looked over to see what Bruce's reaction was the man barely looked up from his coffee. 'Just go' had been his words of wisdom.
Dick found himself dialing his friend Brian's number an hour later and explaining that yes, he would come.
That was how he found himself on vacation in Florida with three of his close college friends; Brian, Vicky, and Sam. It was especially good to see Brian again. He hadn't seen his friend since he got drafted into the NFL. This was a rare occasion for all of them to catch up. Dick was very glad he hadn't passed up this chance. It was the first real vacation he'd taken in years after all. It'd been a great week so far. They'd visited all the places he'd ever wanted to go to. He had pigged out on more food than he ever had in his life. He got boozed up, went clubbing, surfing, scuba diving, and whatever else they could think to fit in during their days. He was having more fun than he'd ever had in a very long time. Spending time with his friends was a wonderful relief for him.
The time passed almost to quickly. They were down to only two days left until it was time to go home. They decided to go jet skiing at a beach on the opposite side of the state. They wanted to try out a different place less populated by tourists. Dick was more than willing to be dragged along. He was truly enjoying the opportunity to be a free spirit. Worries had been placed as far back in his mind as he could push them.
They left early in the morning and drove for an hour before stopping for a bathroom and refreshment break. They pulled into a city surrounded by lakes. A family run diner caught his friends' eyes. Breakfast was suddenly a very good idea. Dick laughed as they pulled him into the diner with the promise of pancakes. Breakfast was a boisterous affair with great food. Dick hadn't felt this calm and relaxed in a long time. He joked, teased, and laughed down the street as they walked back to their car to continue their journey. Across the street a shimmer of red hair caught the edge of his peripheral vision and made him freeze mid-step.
"Dick?" Brian shook his shoulder gently.
He didn't react. His mind was stuck on an endless loop of 'no way in hell.' It just couldn't be her. She'd been gone for a while. She'd told him she was going somewhere far away from Gotham. This just had to be his mind playing tricks on him. But there was no way he could forget the curve of her figure, especially not the shape of those hips. The brilliant red hair set his instincts to screaming. It couldn't be Poison Ivy. This was woman was well dressed and proper looking, pushing a baby stroller. A baby…
He felt his stomach twist. No way…
He was running across the street before he even realized he was moving. It wasn't like him to act this rashly, but he didn't care. He had to know if she was Ivy or if it was just his brain screwing with him. He had to look this woman in the eyes to know it wasn't her before he could relax. He caught up to the lady and grabbed her by the elbow, jerking her around. She spun about with a gasp. Her hand was already flying up to try to smack him in the face. He caught her wrist easily as he stared down into her face. Jade green eyes stared back at him, wide with surprise and anger. She didn't recognize him thanks to the sunglasses and the baseball cap, but he'd know her anywhere.
"Ivy," he breathed.
Her entire posture changed; tensing up and moving into a defensive position. "Who are you?" She snapped fiercely, sending chills down his spin. How many times had she spoken to him in that same voice? He was tempted to let go and pretend like he had made a mistake. He wanted to just walk away. Something wouldn't allow him to.
He pulled off his sunglasses and snatched his hat off. When his blue eyes met hers, he saw the recognition. Her eyes swept from his hair, to the curve of his jaw, and down the length of his body. She knew him now. There was no way she could forget his body either.
"How-?" She began.
"Dick! Man, what the hell?" Brian finally caught up to him. He grabbed Dick's sleeve, trying to pull him back a few steps to give the lady some space. He looked between the two, catching the weird vibe. "Sorry, ma'am, my friend's still a little hung over…"
"Brian," Dick cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. His friend shut up instantly. He'd only seen Dick act this intense a few times. It frankly weirded him out a little. The smaller guy looked so different when he was this way; like he was capable of anything. "You guys go on ahead without me. I'll catch up later."
"But-," Brian started to protest.
"Just go. Alright, I'm fine. She's a…friend," He managed to say. He ignored the pointed look she sent his way.
Brian gave him an unconvinced look. "I don't feel right about leaving you here."
"It's fine, seriously, Brian. Please just go."
The hint of desperation in Dick's voice finally convinced Brian to back off. Whatever was going on between these two was very serious and none of his business.
"Ok, Dick. Just…we'll be back through around 6 tonight. Meet us back at the diner for dinner," Brian said, squeezing his friend's arm before he turned to walk away.
"I will. Thanks, man. I'll see you later," Dick smiled, but it was wane at best.
Ivy said nothing until Brian was back across the street. "Dick?" She arched an eyebrow at him.
"I think you know who I am, but for both our sakes I'll introduce myself. My name's Dick Grayson," He conceded. There was no point hiding his name from her anyways.
She stepped back warily. "How'd you find me?"
"It wasn't intentional. I'm supposed to be on vacation," he smiled bitterly at the irony of the situation. He was on a vacation to forget about this woman, and here she was in front of him.
"What do you want then?" She snapped angrily. Her anger was just a front for her fear and elation. She didn't know how to react now that he was here in front of her. She'd never expected to see him again.
"I just-."
The soft wail of a baby crying cut him off and brought his attention back to the stroller. He belatedly realized she'd been standing protectively in front of it the whole time. That was so unlike him not to take notice of something that obvious. But she'd thrown him so far off his game that he was missing things he normally wouldn't. Ivy reached into the stroller and scooped up the protesting baby. She pressed the child to her chest, letting the baby's little face snuggle into her neck. She effectively hid the baby from his wondering gaze. He narrowed his eyes at her weird behavior. The baby fussed unhappily.
"I know, sweety," she cooed gently, rocking slightly. She glanced up at him. "I have to go. My son needs to be fed." She tried to turn away.
"Oh hell no," He snarled, surprised at his own voice as much as she was. It had been a long time since she'd heard him speak like that to her. "You and I have to talk…about a lot of things. I'm not gonna just let you walk away."
She glared at him. The baby began to cry, sensing her distress. She patted the boy's back. "Fine," she said peevishly. She placed the baby back into the stroller and began to walk. He followed her, only a step behind. He realized that he had automatically fallen into the heeling position he'd had trained into him when he'd been a pet. He picked up his pace until he was walking in step with her. There was no way he was going to defer to her like she had ever owned him. He wasn't hers; even if his body or mind didn't entirely believe him.
He followed her to a modest looking apartment building. He held the door while she pushed the stroller through into the front hallway. His eyes swept over every detail of the worn looking hall. The place was pretty clean, considering the age and worn nature of the building. His brain was automatically taking in the number of apartments, stairs, entrances and exits. He forced himself to stop acting like he was preparing for a trap or a hostage situation. He kept up with her as she moved down the hall to the last door on the right. He stayed a respectful distance away as she unlocked the door and pushed the stroller through. The door remained open for him to come in, despite him half expecting her to slam it in his face. He hesitated before stepping into the apartment.
The apartment was larger than he would have expected from the outside of the building. It had a big living room/dining room area, kitchen, and down the short hall he could see three doors. One for the master bedroom, one for the second bedroom, and the other for the bathroom, he assumed. There were various baby related items around the room like a changing table, swing, and a playmate. It felt weird to see it all there. While he was taking it all in, she had picked up the baby and moved into the kitchen to make a bottle. He stood awkwardly in the living room. He wasn't sure what to do with himself. He'd never been in a situation quite like this. She walked back into the living room and settled onto the couch. She arranged the baby in her arms to a more comfortable position before giving the baby boy his bottle.
"Sit down," she sighed. "You're making me nervous."
He blinked in surprise at that admission. At another time, she would never have said such a thing. He moved slowly towards the couch. A flash of a different couch and laying there naked with his head in her lap briefly swept through his mind. He swallowed hard, pushing away the thought. He sank down onto the couch slowly and perched on the edge of a cushion.
"So this is what you meant by somewhere warm and safe," he remarked, saying the first thing that came to mind.
Ivy huffed a small laugh at that. "Yes."
"What name are you going by now?" He asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the feeding baby.
"Payton Ives," she replied, looking up at him briefly before turning her attention back to her son. There was so much emotion in those eyes that Dick was taken aback, before she turned her face away. He was sure he hadn't just imagined the anxious hope radiating from that jade green gaze.
"It suits you," he said awkwardly. He felt to hot for his skin. Being near her was reminding his body of all the things they'd done together. He felt discomfited and tense essentially alone with her in the same room for the first time in nearly a year. It was more than just feeling ill at ease though. It was excitement, fear, longing… "What's his name?" Dick inquired, gesturing at the baby. He was desperate to fill up the silence that was growing thicker with each second neither spoke. The baby was an oddity to him as well. He knew she wasn't supposed to be able to have children and had always wanted her own family. Had she adopted this little boy? Was the baby just another layer to the identity of Payton Ives, so people would ask fewer questions about her?
"William Ives," she answered softly.
"Hey, Will," Dick smiled softly, leaning over to touch the little baby's chubby hand. The little fingers uncurled to reach out and wrap around his finger. Dick's eyebrows shot up at the strength in that tiny little grip. The boy was hanging on so tight his knuckles were turning white. "Good grip, little guy," he chuckled. He was a softie for kids, especially babies, and for some reason babies loved him.
"Would you like to hold him?"
Dick glanced up, shocked by the question. She'd been very protective of the baby so far. Why was she offering to let him hold William now? He couldn't quite figure out what the look on her face meant. Her eyes were apprehensive. Not the look of a mother who wanted to hand over her child. "Uh…sure." He conceded, despite the nervous vibe that was coming off her in waves.
She carefully transferred the baby over into his arms. He settled back further into the couch, cradling the boy in his arms and holding the bottle steady. It'd been a while since he'd held a baby, especially one so small. It brought back memories of his travels through Africa and Asia.
"Would you like something to drink?" She asked, jumping to her feet.
"No, I'm-."
But she was already out of the room and in the kitchen. Her behavior was beginning to set off alarm bells in his head. She was acting erratic, which was not normal coming from her. She was usually very precise and careful in most things she did. Was his presence throwing her off too? Was she as frightened and excited to see him as he was to see her? Or was it because he posed a potential threat to the baby? But then why would she hand him her son if she felt like that?
He looked down at the baby in question. For the first time, he got a really good look at the boy. The baby was adorable. Not the adorable most people cooed about and never meant, because the kid usually wasn't. No, this boy was honestly absolutely beautiful. He had a perfect round head, chubby cheeks, button nose, dark pink, perfectly formed lips, and chubby little limps and body. He had a thatch of jet black hair that looked like a Mohawk on the top of his head. Dick smiled at that. He stroked his thumb over the baby's fist that was still hanging doggedly onto his finger. The tiny fingers twitched and flexed around his fore finger.
"I bet you're a lady killer already, Will. You're a good looking little guy," Dick spoke gently to the baby.
At the sound of his voice, Will let go of the bottle nipple and opened his eyes to regard the person talking to him. Dick felt like someone punched him in the gut. Beautiful twilight blue eyes were staring up at him; eyes that were exactly the same color as his. The clunk of glasses being put down on the coffee table startled him. He looked up at Ivy, who was watching him cautiously.
"Ivy, how old is Will?" He asked faintly. He felt like someone was slowly choking him. He couldn't have spoken any louder. What he was thinking was impossible. It just couldn't be…
She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. "2 months."
It all clicked into place. The timing was just right. The baby's hair and eye color. The anxiety in Ivy's face. It all resolved into focus. All the clues had been there, but he'd been ignoring them until there was to much evidence to avoid. He felt slightly sick to his stomach. "Shit," he gasped, feeling emotion welling up inside him and threatening to choke him for real. He curled in around the baby in his arms. Will warbled softly in his arms, little hands battering lightly at his chest. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes before he could think to stop them. It was all to much at once. It was threatening to overwhelm him. Part of him was in complete disbelief. It couldn't be possible...
"Really?" He whispered past the lump in his throat as she sat down next to him.
A tentative smile touched her lips. "Yes."
Dick's eyes couldn't seem to leave the baby's face. Every detail was now so deeply important. He reached up to trace the soft features of the little boy's face—his son's face. Holy shit. His hands shook as the full reality of the situation started to sink in. He'd never thought he'd be able to have a family. It had been a silly fantasy he had known would never happen. His life would never allow for it. Yet, now he was a father. He had a son.
He had a son!
"William," he murmured. The little boy blinked up at him and warbled again. "That's a strong name."
Ivy touched his arm and despite himself, he leaned into her touch. They were both quiet for a long time, regarding the baby who had fallen asleep in Dick's arms. Ivy finally stood up, gently took the baby, and went to lay him down in his bedroom.
"Was that the real purpose for capturing me?" Dick asked, soon as she was back in the room. "I thought you weren't able to have children. Did you find some way to change that?"
"No, as far as I knew I wasn't supposed to be able to bear children. I don't know how he was possible. William is a miracle. And, I just wanted to have you. You were the only man that ever caught my eye," she admitted. "I wanted to know what it was like to have you, before I left. Harley's reasons were purely entertainment. She had no idea what I wanted."
"Not really the best way to go about getting my attention," he said incredulously. "There are simpler ways to do that."
She smirked. "Perhaps, but not quite as enjoyable."
That expression he knew well. Here was the real Ivy, under the new mother and proper lady. He was surprised to feel relieved to see her that way.
"And it was enjoyable. You know it was," she walked closer as she pointed out that fact.
He had enjoyed it. Ivy had never hurt him during that time. Treated him as a pet, belittled him, and humiliated him, but never hurt. Then as soon as Harley was out of the picture she had been different with him. She'd still pampered him like someone would a dog, but he had become a person again to her.
"It wasn't just, because I wanted you," Ivy continued, sitting down next to him. Close to him. He suppressed the urge to lie in her lap. A fucking year and he still wanted to move like he was trained. "I wanted a way out. One with a new life that had meaning. No more crimes, prisons, poisons, and insanity. I needed something more than my own motivation to walk away from it all."
He definitely didn't begrudge her that. Hell, he'd even tried to get out himself. He'd quickly found that he couldn't. He was a crime fighter. It was in his blood now. He trained to long and loved it to much to walk away. Ivy didn't have that. She used to be someone before she lost it all to dementia. She'd been a brilliant botanist and a respected person in her field of study. She'd had talent and money. Who wouldn't want that back?
"When I found out I was having a baby I had an even better reason to walk away. Every woman desires at some point to be a mother," she kept talking. "I'd always wanted to be a wife and mother with the big house, a dog, two kids, and a beautiful garden. Somehow, I got lost…"
"I get it," he broke in. Suddenly, the dream of living in that house with the yard, Ivy, and a child didn't seem so ludicrous. He could picture it again so clearly. "Really. I do get it."
She looked relieved.
"It doesn't mean I can forget what happened or that there's a little boy asleep in that room who's my son," saying it aloud made his head spin. Holy shit, he was a father! He swallowed hard. "I don't think I can forgive you for hiding him from me."
She went tense beside him on the couch, radiating fear, anger, and desperate resolve. She was willing to fight him and he respected that. In fact, the fury in her gaze sent a bolt of lust through him so strong it almost took his breath away. No matter what had happened or how, he'd come to admit that he felt something for her. Certainly more than he should given all that they were and all he'd been through at her hands. He knew she felt it to. She'd allowed him in here and let him get close to Will, then divulged such carefully cultivated secrets. That was proof enough that she felt something for him.
"I'm not going to do anything," he said simply. "I won't take away your life or your son."
The tension seemed to bleed out of her slowly. "Thank you," she managed to say.
"You're welcome. From what I've seen you're a good mother. Kids need their mothers," He remarked a little sadly.
Her smile was full of sad understanding.
"Can I ask you something?" He spoke up after they were quiet for a moment.
She nodded expectantly.
"I asked once, but this time be honest." He leaned towards her a little. "Why me?"
"Because I always thought you were beautiful, even back when you were Robin. You ran around in those stupid green tights and that red cape, but you were passionate, brave, and always smiling," She answered honestly. "You are so bright."
He tilted his head and impulsively kissed her softly. It was just a chaste press of the lips, but it sent sparks of awareness dancing through his body. Her fingers were warm on his face as she cupped his cheek. "I missed you," he found himself confessing. "I thought I was crazy for missing you. When I found out you'd left me I thought I was gonna lose it. It wasn't the drugs that made me feel that way either…" He reached out to grab her hips, he tugged gently, and when she didn't resist, he pulled her onto his lap. He couldn't stand not to touch her any longer. He slid his fingers up to bury them in her fiery red hair. "Please, tell me you cared about me…even a little."
"Very much," she whispered against his lips. He closed his eyes and shivered as her fingers traced his jaw. "I missed you," she admitted, "and I never wanted to leave you."
He pulled her into a kiss. He sank into it, losing his senses and worries in the feel of her mouth. Memories flashed through his mind of all the kisses they'd shared. Not one of them had ever felt quite like this. He never wanted to come up for air. He slipped his tongue into her mouth to taste her. Her flavor burst across his tongue; just as sweet and intoxicating as ever. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss further.
She kissed him back just as desperately. Suddenly their hands were everywhere on each other, yanking at clothes and tossing them aside. Dick needed to feel her skin under his palms before he could believe this was all real. He needed to believe that he had really found her again, and that this wasn't all some wonderful, crazy dream. Her shirt and bra were gone instantly it seemed like. He had no idea where his shirt had gone to or how it had even gotten off. He sighed against her throat when her hands slid over his chest and belly like she was re-learning the shape of him.
He palmed her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over the peak of her nipples. She whimpered, arching into his touch. Her fingers worked frantically at his belt and pants until she had them open. He lifted his hips to help her yank his pants and underwear off. He groaned when his cock finally reached open air. She pushed back out of his embrace until she was perched on the edge of his thighs. She looked down at him, taking in every detail of his perfect body. She thought she'd never have the chance to see him in all his naked glory again. Sometimes it felt like she had romanticized how beautiful he had been without clothes. Not a bit of him had been over imagined. He was as beautiful and flawless as she remembered.
"You should never be allowed to wear clothes," she whispered fiercely.
He huffed out a laugh as he ran his palms up her thighs. "I feel the same about you." He unzipped her skirt and helped her slip out of it. A moment later, it was tossed onto the floor with the rest of the pile of clothes. Her panties joined the growing pile. He barely got a moment to appreciate her nude body before she was sliding all the way back into his lap and dragging his mouth into a kiss. They both moaned as their chests pressed together. Dick's arms came up to wrap around her back to hug her close. She fit against his body like she was made for him. He broke the kiss and buried his face in her neck. He closed his eyes as her hair drifted across his cheek.
God, how he loved this woman. He'd been holding the feelings back for so long. It was freeing to finally feel them again. He shivered when she scraped her nails along his scalp. He lifted his head to look at her. She stared back, caught by the emotion in his deep blue eyes. Dick drifted his hands down the length of her spin and over the curve of her backside. He gripped her ass and lifted her up until she was positioned over his cock. He locked eyes with her as he brought her down onto him. They both gasped as he slid inside her. Dick's head fell back against the couch as his body registered how wonderful, warm, and tight she felt around him. She felt so good to him. No one else had ever felt this amazing to him. He was so overwhelmed by how he felt that the whole world seemed to slip away except for the woman in his arms.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed happily. She felt complete again. She finally had the one thing that had been missing from her life. She'd missed him so much the last year. No one could ever make her feel as safe, whole, and wanted as this man did. The look of wonder and pleasure on his face made her feel appreciated. The feeling of him inside her and around her was exquisite. He'd made love to her a few times before she'd left him, but this time it felt different. The feelings behind the act were more real and tangible than ever before.
They found a slow, easy rhythm; more than content to take their time. Hands and mouths trailed across each other's skin. It felt so gratifying to taste and touch each other again after wanting to do so for such a long time. It made everything so much more intense and intimate. Dick loved the flex and slide of her body on and around him. He caught her lips up in a deep, tongue twisting kiss. She whimpered into his mouth. A heart beat later, he was moaning into her mouth as she dragged her nails down his sides. Shit, how he loved the feel of her nails on his skin. He broke the kiss and reached up to bury his hand in her hair. He pulled her head back so he could lavish her neck with nips and kisses. She cried out as he thrust up into her harder with each roll of his hips.
"Bird," she whispered in his ear, her arms tightening around him. "My bird."
He moaned brokenly and buried his face in her neck. Maybe her endearment should have sounded silly or even childish. It didn't. It was a reminder of all they'd been and could be. The nick name sounded sweet and so full of caring to him. She had truly missed him. And she truly cared for him enough to call him hers without any pretenses.
"Ivy," he sighed, surging into her. "Mine." It was all he could get out as his emotions and his orgasm suddenly overwhelmed him. He dug his fingers into her thighs as he came harder than he had in longer than he could remember. She gasped and froze beneath him as she came too. Damn, he wished he had a camera so he could get a picture of how she looked right that second. Her hair was wild around her face and shoulders. Her skin glowed gold in the lamplight. His bite marks were already showing up bright red against the paleness of her skin. She looked like a siren.
She collapsed against him a moment later. He wrapped his arms around her and shifted them so they were laying out length wise across the couch with her on top of him. She shimmed down a little so she could rest her head comfortably on his chest. She closed her eyes and listened to his heart beat throbbing steadily under her ear. She'd imagined this kind of scene over the last year so many times. It had seemed like a fantasy that would never come true. She'd cut ties with everything and everyone from Gotham. He wasn't supposed to ever find her. Yet, somehow he had and she was so glad for it. She glanced up to see that his eyes had drifted shut. He was more relaxed than she had ever seen him. She remembered when he wouldn't even sleep around her and Harley. Then they'd begun to share a bed after the blond had gone. He actually had begun to sleep next to her. It was such a strange phenomenon to know this man had gone from not trusting her in the slightest to having complete trust in her. It was more proof of the sincerity of his emotions.
"We're gonna have to figure this all out," he said softly.
She ran the tips of her fingers down the muscled edges of his chest and stomach. "I know."
"I love you," he whispered.
She rose up abruptly, startled and so hopeful she could barely breathe. "Really?"
He smiled at the irony of her saying that when he'd said the same about finding out he was a father. "Yes."
"I've loved you since the first time I saw you." She told him. He huffed out a pleased laugh. She kissed him gently. "Maybe it was the cape."
"I thought it was my fabulous green tights." He smirked.
"They definitely showed off your legs and your very fine backside." She reached down to grab his ass. She smirked back at him when she felt his cock twitch against her belly. She caught his gaze and gave him an honest smile. "I love you."
He smiled back and raised his head up to kiss her lightly. He guided her back down to lie on his chest. He reached up to the back of the couch and pulled the throw blanket lying across the top over them. They lay together like that until William woke up from his nap.
/
"Please tell me you at least have someone to help you," Dick said. He was he laying on the floor beside William's play mat watching the baby stare fixedly at the bright colors. He was surprised when the baby swung one little fist at the dangling stuffed puppy above him head and hit it square on. Two months old and the boy was already beating things up. "I know it's not easy being a single parent, especially with such a new baby."
Ivy smiled at the scene in front of her. She sat on the couch, letting Dick have his time near their baby. She understood best of all how awe inspiring and disbelieving it was to have a son. He was obviously still in the disbelieving stage. It was cute to see him watch and touch William, as if checking to make sure all his little parts were there and working properly. The stunned look on Dick's face hadn't quite gone away yet either. She was overjoyed to have both of her boys together at long last. "I have a few people," she replied.
"Good. Who are they?" He looked over at her seriously.
His protectiveness is endearing as well, Ivy thought. "Nicole, who lives on the second floor, sometimes babysits. Jennifer, my assistant at the flower shop, sometimes comes by to help out. And my sister Patricia is my biggest supporter."
Dick grimaced. "Sister?"
"Yes. She's the reason I came back to Florida." Ivy answered.
"How much does she know?"
"All of it," she said. "She was the one who helped me get back on my feet here."
Dick frowned. "You've put her in a lot danger-."
"I'm aware of that. I had to make my amends," the red head retorted. "She and I used to be very close. It hurt her a lot when I lost contact with her. I didn't want her to be ashamed of me anymore."
"I understand. Making amends is never easy, but it is necessary," he soothed. It had been hard to tell Bruce he was sorry and come to terms with him. It was probably one of the hardest things he'd ever done. "So Patricia…she knows about me?"
"She knows about 'Nightwing', yes, but not about Dick Grayson. I probably will tell her that. I don't want to keep secrets from her anymore."
Dick sighed and rolled onto his back. He scooped up William before laying the baby on his chest. Will seemed to melt onto Dick's body. The baby looked more than happy as Dick stroked one big palm down the length of Will's tiny back in a repetitive motion. Ivy had never seen William so at ease with a new person. "This is gonna get complicated."
Ivy smiled softly at her boys looking so content together. "Not at all." Dick lifted his head up to frown at her in confusion. "I already have my new identity set up here. Payton Ives is a second cousin to Patricia. The real Payton disappeared a long time ago (most likely dead). I look enough like her to pass as her easily. Patricia owns the flower shop officially, so there is no record of my information there. If anyone comes looking or gets suspicious all they will find is information about Payton Ives."
"Sounds like you had it all planned out."
"I did my best to leave no trace behind. I've to many enemies who could ruin everything. You finding me was a happy accident." She replied.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I think you should improve your disguise a little bit though."
"How so?"
"You're hair definitely needs to be changed. You should probably dye it blond or a lighter strawberry blond. It'd be best to cut it and style it differently as well. You might want to wear some colored contacts as well. Did Payton have green eyes?" He asked curiously.
Ivy shook her head. "More like hazel."
"Definitely colored contacts then. The clothes are good change. I like how sophisticated you look in them," he grinned impishly. "Of course, you look better with no clothes on…"
She smirked. "I believe we just recently had this conversation."
"We did," he acknowledged with a sly smile before trailing off into thoughtful silence.
She could tell he was mulling over something else equally important as her disguise. "What is it?"
"I want to help you," he said carefully. Before she could protest, he continued. "Not because I feel obligated or that I owe you something, because you have my son." He glanced down at Will who was struggling to lift his head high enough to stare at Dick's face. He smiled down at his son's big curious, blue eyes. "I want to help, because this is my family now; you and Will. You're mine and I want to take care of you."
Ivy looked faintly like she might cry. "Alright," she whispered. She'd never imagined that she would get this kind of chance to be with him. They were a family. It was hard for her to believe that she was being given something so wonderful, so easily. For so long, she felt like she'd been struggling in vain for a mission she'd lost sight of ages ago. Now that she had given up being Poison Ivy, she felt like she didn't struggle anymore. Her life was easier and stable. She was finally getting everything she'd always wanted.
"Whatever you need, just tell me and it's yours," he promised sincerely. "I have a trust fund set up that will keep me living comfortably for a long time to come. I also invested into a motorcycle company in Japan that I think will make a great profit." For once, he was very grateful for the wealth at his disposal. He was by no means as rich as his step father, but he was financially sound. It was all worth it if it meant helping his new family live easily.
He sat up carefully, making sure not to jostle William, who had fallen asleep. He set Will carefully into his swing before sauntering back towards Ivy. She watched the sly smile grow on his face with an amused smirk. "Since the no clothes issue keeps coming up, I think we should try to be naked as much as possible," he grinned wickedly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "So how about you show me the bedroom and we can get back to being naked…"
She chuckled as he dragged down the hall into her bedroom and swung the door mostly shut behind them.
/
"Patricia, I need you to watch William tomorrow," Payton said, without preamble. The two hours that William had been asleep had gone by far to fast for her. She could spend hours in Dick's arms and it still would never be long enough. She needed more than just a few hours to make up for all the lost time of the last year. That was why she decided that tomorrow would be their day together. Dick had chosen to stay a few extra days with her, despite the risk of Bruce Wayne becoming suspicious. They needed their time together. There was more than just sex that drove Dick's need to stay longer. He had a family he wanted to be near. He and Ivy had to many complications that needed to be settled before he could leave again. He could not risk bringing trouble down on his new family because he'd been careless.
"Sure, Pay. No problem. Did something happen?" Patricia asked worriedly.
Payton smiled at her sister's concern, and glanced over at the young man sitting on her floor. Dick was once again enjoying his son's company. She smiled softly to herself. She would never get enough of seeing them together. "Something very good happened, but I need the whole day tomorrow to sort it out."
Dick looked over at that statement and smirked. She gave him a warning glare. He just grinned and continued to play with William's little feet. The baby wriggled and smiled brightly.
"Alright. Do you want me to come pick him up? I have a few errands I need to do in town anyways."
"Yes, that's fine." Pay replied. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Thank you, Pat."
"You're welcome. See you in the morning."
Payton hung up the phone with a satisfied smirk. "Well that's been arranged."
"Anything special planned for tomorrow," Dick asked innocently.
"Oh yes…," She answered with a sly smile. "I think you're long over do for a good bath."
Dick couldn't keep the excited smile off his face. "Me too. I'll even sing to you if you want."
"Oh you'll sing, my bird," she walked over to him and pressed a kiss to his lips. Dick stood up to pull her into his arms and kiss her more thoroughly.
William made a silly squawking noise as if the protest the mushy display he was being forced to witness. The two adults broke apart laughing.
"Listen, I gotta go meet up with my friends," Dick said, stepping away from her. "Brian's probably worried sick and he won't let me stay here until I explain things. I'll be back soon as I can…I mean, if that ok." He tried not to show his worry at being turned away.
She smiled at his flustered expression. "You better come back, Bird. "
Dick sighed in relief. "I will." He leaned down and kissed her gently. "See you in a little while."
/
Dick found his friends back at the diner, exactly as Brian had said they would be. They greeted him with smiles and hugs. They were happy to see him, safe and sound. Dinner passed by in excited story telling as they told him about jet skiing. They asked after his day. He merely replied that it had been very good. The rest of the dinner passed by in comfortable companionship. Vicky and Sam headed back out to the car, preparing to head out on the road again. Brian pulled Dick aside just out of ear shot of the others.
"So who was that woman?" Brian asked bluntly.
"Would you believe me if I said she kidnapped me and held me hostage as her sex slave?" Dick smiled cheekily.
Brian rolled his eyes. "Like that would ever happen."
"Right," Dick chuckled. Because it really had, he thought. "Honestly though, remember when I was gone for 2 months last year?"
"Yeah. It was pretty weird, especially since you'd only been back in town for a few months after your 'world tour.'" Brian gave him a skeptical look.
"Yeah, well…anyways, I was with her. We were pretty…involved." He said carefully.
"No kidding. 2 months with her, huh? What happened? Was it an attempt at eloping gone wrong?" Brian asked curiously.
Dick laughed. He couldn't help himself. "Uh, no. She got scared of how intense things were getting between us, especially in such a short amount of time. So she left me. I returned to the real world. I attempted to find her and never did." It was really hard to give his friend a carefully omitted truth.
"So meeting her here was completely accidental," Brian concluded. He knew his friend wasn't lying. He remembered the complete shock on his friend's face when he'd spotted that woman.
"Exactly. It's like a movie drama, right?" Dick grinned.
Brian frowned worriedly. "Yeah. It's kinda crazy."
Dick laughed sheepishly. If only Brian knew the half of it.
"That baby's yours, isn't it?" Brian asked shrewdly after a moment.
Dick's mouth fell open in shock. "How the hell-?"
"I caught a look at him. It was pretty obvious, Dickie. That cute little guy looked just like you."
"Damn," Dick sighed, and then smiled brightly. "He's mine. His name is William."
"Strong name."
"He'll live up to it, I'm sure."
"I'm guessing that was a surprise too?" Brian inquired, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Dick nodded. "I had no idea about that."
"So what are you gonna do?"
"Do?"
Brian gave him an irritated look. "Don't act like you're dense. I hate that."
"Alright," Dick held up his hands in surrender. "I'm staying here for another day or two at least. She and I need to figure a few things out."
"And after that? What are you going to tell Bruce? You know he's not gonna like this." Brian said seriously.
"I guess, I'll go home and arrange things from there. I'll take care of Bruce. Just do me a favor and don't say anything about a baby to him. He'll have a cow. If he asks, tell him I met a girl. I'll break the rest to him when I get back to Gotham," Dick replied.
Brian had a feeling Dick had no intentions of telling Bruce the truth about the woman or the baby. It wasn't his place to interfere. "I'll keep my mouth shut." He agreed. He may not approve of the lying, but Dick was his best friend. He'd do anything for him. "Just answer me this and I'll leave you alone about it after this."
"Ok." Dick agreed.
"Do you love her?"
Dick smiled lopsidedly. "I'm head over heels for her."
"Ok," Brian smiled, but it was a little sad. "Be careful. You know I just want you to be happy."
"I will. I'll see you back in Gotham." Dick answered and pulled his friend into a quick, fierce hug.
Brian hugged back. "Right. I'll see you later."
Dick slapped him playfully on the back and stepped away. He strode a way with a bounce in his step. He had his family to go back to.
/
Patricia stopped by her sister's apartment mid-morning to pick up William. She was a little surprised by Payton's request for her to babysit. It was a somewhat rare occurrence and usually involved some kind of emergency, before Payton would let anyone babysit William on the days she had off of work. She treasured her time with her little boy; her miracle baby that she loved with all her heart. Patricia wasn't going to pry. She knew Payton would explain the situation to her later.
She blinked in surprise when Payton opened her apartment door. The younger woman looked radiantly happy. It was a look Patricia had not seen since they were both girls. Not even when Payton had held William in her arms the first time had she shown so much unfettered joy. Alarm bells started to ring in Patricia's mind, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. She would bid her time.
"Good morning, Payton," she smiled at her sister.
"It is a very good morning, Pat," Pay smiled back, stepping aside to let her sister in.
Patricia hummed. "Good news?"
"Something like that." Pay scooped William up from his play mat and kissed him gently. "He's ready to go."
Patricia took the baby from her sister and cooed gently at him. She loved the little boy almost as much as her own children. "You ready to play with Auntie Pat? We're gonna have a great time together, huh?" She sing songed at the baby. He smiled brightly, all gums and charming baby joy. "What time would you like him back, Pay?"
"Are you still planning on coming over for dinner, Pat?"
"Will you be done sorting out whatever it is you're working on by then?"
Ivy smiled mischievously. "Oh, I think I'll be done by then. Would you pick up some milk, eggs, and broccoli on your way back?"
"Now I'm a maid service!" Pat rolled her eyes at her sister. "Sure, Pay. I'll be back around 5 then."
"Thanks again, Pat. Really," Ivy gave her sister a quick hug.
Pat's eyebrows went up at the simple, but happy gesture. "I'll see you later."
"Later. I love you, Will. Be good for your Aunt!"
Patricia shook her head as Ivy hurried her out the door and then shut it behind her. She glanced down at the baby in her arms. Will blinked back up at her in bemusement. "That's exactly how I feel. Your mother is acting very odd."
Soon as the door shut behind Ivy's sister, Dick came out of his hiding place in the shadows of the hallway. He hadn't even bothered to get completely dressed. He wore only a pair of old faded pajama pants that barely clung to his hips. "Does she always come over for dinner? I thought she had kids?" Dick asked curiously.
"Her ex-husband usually takes the kids Friday and Saturday. He travels a lot so he let Patricia have full custody as long as he got to see them sometimes. So they set up this arrangement. When the kids are with their dad, Pat usually spends time with me." Ivy explained.
"William will be alright with her?" Dick asked, just a touch worriedly.
"Oh yes," Ivy said, then smiled wickedly, "but what you should be asking is if you'll be alright with me?"
Dick sucked in a quick, excited breath. Payton Ives, the proper lady, had disappeared. The woman staring back at him now was Poison Ivy. The woman who'd captured him and broken him to her will. For a brief wild moment, he wished he was drugged like he had been back then. It'd made life a thing of simplicity and sex. She'd claimed him. He'd reveled in it. He wanted those feelings back.
"Come here, bird," she crooked her fingers.
He gulped, cock already hard as a damn spike and lust roaring through his veins, at the sultry tone in her voice and the possessive look in her eyes. He didn't need drugs to feel owned by her. His heart thudded heavy in his chest as moved towards her. He stopped just inches away from her, but did not reach out to her. It was not his place when he was a pet. She reached out to slide her palms across the hard, chiseled lines of his chest. Her eyes were dilated with lust. He loved when she looked like this; as though she was contemplating how best to devour him.
Without realizing it, he started to reach for her. He blinked in surprise when the world suddenly revolved and he found himself lying on his back on the floor a second later. His vision spun a little from the dizzying impact he'd just made with the floor. She stood over him, hands on her hips and a sly smirk on her lips. His cock twitched hard with want. He hadn't even seen that coming. Fuck. She still had the moves.
"Looks like you've forgotten what it means to be mine. Do you need a reminder of the rules, Bird?" She murmured, low and seductively.
He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. He needed to regain a little control, because he was about two seconds from losing it. It'd been far too long since he'd been used like this by her. Fuck, he needed it so bad that he could hardly breathe. Just hearing and seeing her like this was enough to push him precariously close to the edge. "Yes," he whimpered.
"You're not allowed to wear clothes. Take them off," she ordered, her sultry voice skating over his nerves and settling in his cock like a tuning fork.
He eagerly scrambled out of his pants. He opened his eyes to watch her face as he peeled off his pants. Her face seemed cool and controlled, but her eyes were smoldering down at him. She wanted him badly. The air between them was charged with sexual tension. He could almost taste her desire in the air. When he was free of his clothes, he lay still once more.
"You are not allowed to touch me unless I tell you to." She continued with her rules as she slowly began to undress. His eyes followed the path her fingers made across her clothes. The tension in his body grew stronger with each piece of attire that slid off her. "You are not allowed to talk."
She stepped over him, bracketing his hips between her ankles, and giving him full view of her nude form. He swallowed hard as his eyes dragged over every creamy, ivory inch of her skin. The room suddenly felt overheated to him. A puddle of pre-cum was already gathering on his lower belly as he stared up at her. Fuck, she was so damn beautiful. She was like the goddess Aphrodite; awe inspiring and devastatingly lovely. Her red hair fell about her shoulders in soft waves. His fingers ached to feel its softness against his skin. Her breasts were as perfectly rounded and full as he remembered. But the thing that threatened to steal his sanity completely was the wonderful sweep of her hips. She had curves that could make even a eunuch weep at the glory of them.
She walked carefully further up his body until she slowly dropped to her knees, straddling his shoulders. He moaned as her sex was held just out of reach of his mouth. She smelled amazingly sweet with that touch of floral aroma that was so uniquely her.
"Kiss me," she whispered, breathlessly.
He was more than happy to do so. He buried his face between her thighs and showed her just how much he missed her with ever kiss, lick, and nip to her sensitive flesh. Above him, she shuddered and cried out. He groaned with lust as her taste and scent overwhelmed his senses. She shivered, reaching down to drag her fingers through his hair and scraping her nails delicately across his scalp. His hips unwittingly thrust up at the electric tingles her nails were creating that skated through his body and ended in his balls. He thrust his tongue inside her and sucked hard, giving as good as he got. She gasped hard and her body trembled around him. She was close to release. He wanted desperately to give it to her. He worked her body with a delicate combination of teeth and tongue until suddenly she was coming apart above him. Her release flooded over his tongue as sweet as honeyed nectar. Her pleasure nearly made him come in response.
Slowly, she pushed herself away from his mouth and slid down his body. He threw his head back, moaning loudly, and arched his back as her sex dragged down his chest and belly followed by the hard peaks of her breasts. Dear God, she was killing him. It was hell trying not to come from sheer tactile overload. She hadn't even touched his cock. Yet, he was sure if she did he would embarrass himself by coming immediately. He closed his eyes again and forced himself to breathe deep. He almost lost it again when she ground her sex against his cock without warning.
"Look at me," she demanded.
His eyes flew open to gaze up at her. His expression was open and vulnerable with lust and need. She couldn't believe how willing he was to let her order him around like this. It was like he'd craved it and now he couldn't get enough of it. Even with sex pollen in his system, his responses had never been this eager and blatantly wanting. His breath rasped harsh his throat as she teased the tip of his cock with her wet sex. It was taking all he had not to grab her hips and thrust high up inside her. He whimpered pleadingly, fingers curling in towards his palms, as he flexed underneath her.
She lifted her hips up, divesting him of any friction that he'd been trying to create. He whined in the back of his throat. His whole body ached for her. He wasn't one to plead, but for her he'd beg until his throat was raw. She chuckled, husky and just a touch mean. His body tensed at the sound. Without any warning, she pressed back into him. A relieved groan escaped him as he slid inside her. The wet, heat of her drove him nearly out of his mind. He thrust deeper into her before he could think to stop himself. She didn't seem to mind. She matched each thrust of his hips with equal abandon, pressing down onto him and taking him in harder each time. They moved together, quick and rough; dirty and perfect in every way. The room filled with the sounds of their voices crying out and bodies sliding together.
Dick was to far gone to hold out for long. His senses were drowning in her. Every touch of her hands, lips, and body were spiraling him closer to losing control. Watching her ruthlessly take her pleasure from him was mind blowing. And the sounds she was making—fuck! He shuddered hard. He grit his teeth, trying desperately to hang on. It felt to good to last though. His balls cinched up tight against his body. Orgasm was half a second away…
She dug her nails into his sides and clawed downwards. He yelped in ecstasy as the pain and pleasure collided in sensation overload inside him. His hips jerked up, driving into her hard as seconds later his pleasure was exploding out of him. He lost touch with reality for a moment. He was blown away by the sheer force of ecstasy that had burned like wildfire through every nerve in his system— leaving him weak and shaking.
He dragged his eyes open when she cried out above him, finding her second release in wake of his own. His hips stuttered and his cock throbbed hard in another brief, intense orgasm at the sight of her coming apart on top of him. Her head was tipped back, back arched, and thighs spread wide across his hips as she came. He drank in the sight of her like a dehydrated wretch faced with the sight of a dripping, crystal clear glass of water. She opened her eyes and smiled down at him, sated and happy. His heart felt like it'd jumped into his throat.
She leaned down, hands resting on either side of his head, and kissed him languorously. "Speak, Bird."
"I love you," he whispered, fervently, and was kissed breathless in response.
/
Dick had missed these baths. The soft, rumbling purr rose in his throat before he could stop it. She chuckled as she massaged his scalp with her nails. The sensual scrape against his skin sent shivers down his spin. Baths had been one of the best parts of being her captive. It could be argued that was where the whole romance between them started.
In this moment, everything felt completely right. It didn't matter that this tub was definitely way to small for two adults. He didn't care that his legs were getting a little cramped in the position he was sitting. The whole world could come to an end right then and he wouldn't give a damn as long as she kept touching him. A year apart had only increased the power her touch had over his body. It seemed hard to believe that once he'd been resentful of the way she made his body feel.
He was pleasantly aching after the morning spent making love to Ivy. After the incredible sex on the living room floor, they'd moved into Ivy's bedroom. They'd dozed together for a short while until Dick's body was ready to go another round. He'd made love to her slow and leisurely. He'd mapped out every inch of her skin with his mouth and hands by the time she starting begging him to take her. Man, he loved it when she got demanding. For once, though, he refused to give into her. He did everything exactly the way he wanted to. He'd made her come three times before he finally allowed himself to let go. By the end, he'd never seen a woman look so deeply satisfied and content.
He hummed happily as she scrubbed a soapy loofa across his chest and abs. Even after all the fantastic sex, this was by far his favorite moment of the day. Just being together with her was enough to satisfy him far deeper than any love making session could. He rubbed his hands over the soft skin of her knees and shins as she lathered soap over his skin. Goosebumps rose on his skin as she pressed kisses onto his neck and shoulder. He sighed contentedly. A sweet song rose into his mind that fit perfectly. He leaned his head back and began to croon softly into her ear.
"Kiss me once and kiss me twice
It's been a long, long time
Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed with you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time…"
He trailed off when she tilted his head around and kissed him deeply. He sighed into her mouth as she slid her tongue across his. Oh yes, he thought, I could die happy right now.
/
Patricia pushed the door open, maneuvering carefully through with her arm load of groceries on one side and the baby car seat on the other. Payton was moving around the kitchen, preparing dinner, judging by the sounds of the clinking pots. The older woman didn't think anything of the quiet in the apartment. She made it half way across the living room before she realized there was another presence in the room. A quick glance to side had her stopping up short. A young man was stretched across the couch, dozing peacefully. Soft looking, ink black hair fell across his forehead and his handsome features were relaxed. He looked so very young and gorgeous. She instantly recognized him from the gossip shows she liked to indulge in. Dark blue eyes opened to regard her with interest, making her blush bright red in response.
"Uh, hello," she greeted, flustered by the man's extremely good looks and lithe, muscular body clad only in worn looking jeans.
"Hello," he replied easily. Oh, even his voice was hot! She shifted the groceries in her arm nervously. "You must be Patricia."
"Yes," she smiled awkwardly. "And you are Dick Grayson."
He grinned at that. "Yes, I am."
"Nice to meet you." She said automatically.
"Same." He stood up and took the car seat from her, with little William tucked safely inside it. "Here, let me get him for you."
He smiled disarmingly at Patricia. Her brain refused to find anything intelligent to say as she watched Dick unbuckle William and pick him up. The resemblance between the two was unmistakable. She nearly dropped her groceries in shock.
"Well, I better give these groceries to Pay." She shuffled away a step. She was now very intent on interrogating her sister.
He nodded. "Right." His focus was completely taken up by the baby in his arms. The two of them together made a devastatingly adorable picture.
She turned away and hurried into the kitchen, feeling like her cheeks were on fire. Payton looked up with a smirk as Patricia set the groceries on the counter with a clatter. "Oh my God, Pay! What is Dick Grayson doing in your apartment!" She whispered furiously.
Payton smirked. "He stopped by for a visit."
"Stop being sarcastic! How do you know him?" She pointed out the door way, to where Dick was now lounging on the couch once more like a lazy panther. "And why does your son look exactly like him! You said Will was Nightwing's…"
Payton began to unpack the groceries from the bag as the truth began to dawn on Patricia's face.
"Oh my God!" Patricia tried to keep her amazed reaction quiet, but it was hard. She felt almost faint with shock. "He's-!"
"Yes, he is." Payton smiled as she put the vegetables aside to be cut up.
"Wow, you sure know how to pick 'em. You got a vigilante and a hot millionaire all in one guy," the older woman shook her head in disbelief. "I gotta say, he is gorgeous! And he makes beautiful babies. I can't blame you at all for kidnapping him!"
Payton laughed brightly at that. "He is, indeed. He looks even better without clothes."
Patricia's face flushed bright red at the thought. She poked her head out the door to catch another quick look of the handsome man. "Oh, you lucky woman," Patricia murmured enviously. "I bet he looks fantastic without clothes."
"If it was up to me, and it was for a while, he'd never wear clothes again," Payton smirked, as she began to cut up the tomatoes.
"Oh, right! You kept him naked? How did you keep your hands to yourself when you were in the same room with him?" Patricia asked in amazement.
"I usually didn't," Payton chuckled.
"That is so unfair!" The older woman groaned.
They were quiet for a few minutes as they prepared dinner.
Patricia remarked off handedly. "I can see why you needed all day to sort him out…"
The two glanced at each other before dissolving into giggles.
Patricia sobered up after a moment. "Seriously, though, Pay. How did he find you? I thought you'd left no trace."
"I did. He found me by accident. He was on vacation with some old college friends and just stopped in town for breakfast. He happened to see me out on the street." Payton explained.
"Huh, talk about a greater power being at work," Patricia smiled.
"I'll say," Dick's voice made them both jump and turn towards the doorway.
Payton smiled as Will gurgled as if to admonish them as well. "Hello, beautiful boy," she cooed to her baby.
"Hello," Dick smiled playfully, shifting Will to a more comfortable position in his arms.
Payton gave him an unimpressed look that dissolved into a happy smile. He smiled back, reaching out to brush her bangs out of her eyes, before kissing her gently. She pushed him away with a laugh. "Out, Bird. This kitchen is to small to have this many people in it."
He grinned and backed out. It amused her that he still followed her orders, like he just couldn't help himself.
"Where is your shirt, Bird?" Ivy asked with a raised eyebrow. He smirked as she made a pointed glance at her older sister.
"Probably in the living room from this morning," He remarked casually. "Although…," he peered into the living room, "It seems to have migrated somehow."
"I wonder how that could have happened," Patricia smiled with an amused glint in her eye.
"It might have been when-." He cut off abruptly when Ivy shot a warning look at him. He shrugged and smiled innocently.
"Must I go back to enforcing the rules?" She asked a little to sweetly.
Neither of the women missed the lust that sparked across his brilliant blue eyes. "That might be necessary…"
Ivy pointed towards the living room. "Go put your shirt on or you will be punished later."
He lingered in the doorway for a moment longer before she stepped threateningly towards him. He disappeared out sight in an eye blink. Soon as he was out of eye shot, Patricia picked up a cookbook and used it to fan herself. Ivy chuckled at her sister and went back to chopping vegetables.
/
Dinner was a quiet affair. They all made pleasant, small talk while trying valiantly to ignore the giant elephant in the room (namely Nightwing's identity). The conversation never got awkward, but it was difficult to ignore that one detail that was picking at Patricia's brain. Throughout the meal, the cogs were whirling in her head. She was adding up all the bits and pieces of information Payton had told her over the last several months. Then suddenly everything seemed to coalesce into the whole picture.
"Oh my God!" Patricia suddenly burst out.
Payton and Dick both looked at her with a mix of concern and confusion.
"That day we were watching Celebrity Gossip and you looked like you had seen a ghost!" The older woman blurted. "It was because they had that story about Dick Grayson!"
Payton laughed. "I guess you finally put it all together."
"What story?" Dick asked curiously. There had been a lot of stories circulating about him during that time. He honestly couldn't remember what show or gossip news rag had said about him.
Payton smiled wickedly as her sister turned bright red. "It was about the sudden lack of activity in your promiscuous life. All the gossip sources were completely stumped on why you had stopped sleeping around all of the sudden," Payton explained to him. "I meant to ask you about that by the way. Just why were you sleeping around so much?"
Patricia was like an observer watching a tennis match. Her love of gossip was eating it up being in the middle of such a juicy conversation.
Dick cringed and picked at his napkin. "Well to be totally honest, you really messed with my head."
Payton looked guilty and somewhat ashamed.
"Hey, you didn't know that was gonna happen." Dick said to her gently. "Between the drugs, the pollen, Harley, and being with you, I got a little screwed up. Some of it was a case of Stockholm syndrome. It took me three days to finally start putting clothes on, a week to have Tim take my collar off (I still have it), and almost a month to feel comfortable moving out on the roof tops again."
"You didn't want to take the collar off?" Payton asked faintly.
"No, because I felt like I belonged to you." He leaned forward and caught her eyes. "I wanted to belong to you. I was so lost when I found out you left me. Everything felt backwards and wrong."
"And the sleeping around?" Patricia couldn't help but ask.
They both looked over at her like they had just remembered she was still there. Dick cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed. "I'd kinda been turned into a sex addict."
Payton snorted out a laugh and covered her mouth with her hand. Patricia looked stunned and taken aback.
"Between you and Harley, I was getting it several times a day. Then after she was gone I was still getting laid at least once day. I was used to getting it. I needed it. And I needed to be touched. I couldn't go back to living in tactile isolation so easily," Dick explained, blushing a little at telling this stuff to them. "I do blame that part entirely on you. You rarely stopped touching me when we were together."
"I really did mess with your head, didn't I?" Payton sighed. "I'm sorry."
"I wasn't unhappy, Ivy. I could have escaped towards the end if I had wanted to," Dick told her frankly.
"Wow," Patricia said. "I mean I made the connection between you and Nightwing, but hearing you talk about this stuff…I guess it's becoming real to me. You really are Nightwing."
Dick chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I suppose it would be a little hard to wrap your head around."
"No kidding," Patricia smiled. "So if you quit your…escapades, does that mean you got over your addiction?"
"No," Dick replied. "I just realized I was wrapping my whole world around sex and Nightwing. It wasn't healthy. I found a 'steady' to be with until I settled down and started feeling like myself again."
Payton looked displeased. "A 'steady'?"
"Not in the romantic sense at all," he smiled reassuringly. "It was purely physical."
"Who was it?" Payton asked, still clearly jealous.
"The Flash."
There was a moment of utter silence.
"The Flash!" Both women gapped at him.
He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "It worked out. We parted ways on good terms. I think we can still work together effectively should the need ever arise."
Payton shook her head and smiled ruefully. "Well at least it wasn't another woman."
Dick reached over to snag a piece of garlic bread. "Better than sleeping with Catwoman." He remarked offhandedly. He glanced over with a sly grin to see Payton glaring at him. "Relax, Ivy. I never slept with her. I'm sure if it had been up to her though things would have gone in that direction."
"She tried to seduce you?" Payton looked disgusted.
"Tried. Almost had me, 'til I figured out her whole scheme," He answered.
"Good. She's a common thief. You're far to good for her," Payton said loftily.
Dick chuckled. "And you, Poison Ivy?"
"I, at least, had vision." Payton boosted.
"You had a much better costume too." Dick smiled slyly and gestured suggestively with his hands. "It didn't really leave a whole lot to the imagination."
"Now now, keep it PG. There are young ears here," Patricia laughed, pretending to cover William's ears.
They all ate in silence for a few minutes, perhaps trying to figure out more appropriate dinner conversation.
"I've been wondering, Dick…," Patricia said. She waited until he looked up to ask. "Why do you still call Payton, Ivy?"
Payton quirked up her eyebrow in interest, and waited to hear what his response would be.
"She's not Payton to me. To me, she is either Pamela Isley or Poison Ivy. And I can't call her Pamela without giving her away. Ivy feels natural," he replied easily. "Besides, she calls me Bird."
"Don't you two think someone will figure it out?" Patricia asked worriedly.
"Not here." Payton said softly.
Dick nodded. "But I'll have to be very careful in Gotham."
"So you're not going to tell Bruce when you go back?" Payton asked, a little anxiety slipping into her voice.
"Never. He's after you. He thinks you should be put back in Arkham for kidnapping me," Dick said angrily. "I won't let him do that. And I won't let anyone hurt you or Will." His eyes were fierce.
Patricia shivered. Just for a second she could see the ferocity it took for this young man to be Nightwing. He was every inch a warrior. Then the moment was gone and he was smiling again.
"I think everything will be fine as long as we iron out your cover story." A loud ringing sound made them all flinch. Dick growled in irritation as he fished through his pockets. It's like the man has radar, he thought as he dragged his communicator out. "I gotta take this call." He stood up abruptly, before they could even ask what was happening. He stalked out of the room and down the hall to the bedroom. He pushed the door shut before answering the call.
"Yeah?" Dick answered curtly.
"You were supposed to be back in Gotham an hour ago."
Dick rolled his eyes. "I thought Brian talked to you."
"He told me you decided to stay in Florida for a few extra days…because of some girl." Bruce sounded annoyed, suspicious, and not at all convinced.
"Yeah, I met a girl. You told me to come. You all wanted me to get over my issues. What better way than spending it with a girl." Dick replied a bit snidely.
"Dick-."
"It's not her, if that's what you're worried about," the lie slid so easily off his lips. "What are the odds of that happening? She's gone. I'm over it." Man, so far from it. He was so glad he was not having this conversation face to face. Bruce would sniff out a lie in a heartbeat. At least, he'd have time to get Ivy's cover story and his story figured out before he got back.
Bruce was silent for a long moment. Dick knew he was mulling over his story and the possibilities. "How long are you planning on staying?"
"I'm coming back on Saturday." That'd leave him three more days to do what he needed to. He had a lot of lost time to make up for. It killed him to think he was gonna have to leave her again, especially now that he had a son.
"I don't like it." Bruce was blunt about his opinion.
Dick rolled his eyes. "I'm aware of that."
"Be careful."
"Always." He replied quietly, before hanging up the phone. He sighed heavily as he stuffed the irritating piece of technology back in his pocket. Most of the time it was great to be so advanced with communications and such, but this one, it really sucked. There were a lot of reasons he'd left Bruce and Gotham behind for so long. One of the reasons was Bruce's inability to not control his life. There were several other reasons, but that tendency was the most aggravating. Dick understood why he did it, but he wasn't a child anymore. He did not need to be monitored. Although, in this incidence Bruce would very strongly argue the opposite if he found out what Dick was doing.
He walked back into the dining room and plopped into his chair, still mulling over the dilemmas facing him.
"Bruce?" Ivy asked casually.
Dick gave her a crooked smile. "Who else?"
"What's he want?"
"Me in Gotham." He rubbed a hand down his face. "I'm gonna need to think up something good to throw him off."
"Tell him the truth," Patricia replied, nonchalantly.
Dick looked up in shock.
"Not the whole truth," she chuckled. "Tell him you were looking for Poison Ivy and found out part of her family lived here in Florida. You came to investigate. You also met Payton and things just happened. You could claim it was because she looked so much like Poison Ivy that you couldn't help it."
"Patricia, you are amazing," Dick grinned and hugged the older woman impulsively. "Thank you."
She flushed bright red at such attentions from the handsome man. Payton gave her a look that clearly meant 'don't even think about it.' Patricia patted Dick awkwardly on the back before he pulled away.
"We're definitely going to need to discuss you appearance, Ivy. Bruce is going to dig into this and we need to be as convincing as possible." Dick's mind was already beginning to think of all the things they were going to have to do to make this story work.
"And William?" Ivy asked worriedly.
"The less he knows about Will the better. Is my name on the birth certificate?" Dick asked, half hoping it was and yet dreading it if she had done that.
"No." She answered, a little sadly. "I couldn't risk that."
He covered her hand with his and gave it squeeze. "It's alright. You did the right thing." He looked over at William, who was happily beating his little fists on the high chair top. "I'm sorry things have to be this way. I wish I didn't have to lie and deceive in order for us to be together."
"Stories don't usually end with the hero and the villainess falling in love," Ivy smirked, stroking a hand over his jaw.
Dick smiled. "No, but it make for a much better story." He leaned over and kissed her.
Patricia cleared her throat and stood up. "I'm going to change William's diaper. I think he needs it." She whisked the little boy out of his chair. A moment later, she was gone.
Dick laughed softly as the older woman disappeared down the hall. "I love you," he murmured to Ivy. "I want to be with you."
"We'll make this work," she replied with determination.
He kissed her again, slow and deep.
/
The days slipped by far to fast for Dick and Ivy. It felt like living a fantasy; to perfect and wonderful for it to last. Dick couldn't keep his hands off Ivy, and when they weren't on her, they were holding his son.
His son.
It still hadn't quite sunk in that the beautiful little baby boy was part of his flesh and blood. He wanted desperately to believe it. The resemblance was there, and even some of the mannerisms William displayed were Dick's own. He hated to doubt, but he had to. As much as he loved Ivy, he knew her better than everyone. A person could change, but darkness always lurked in a person's soul. It was hard to resist. So while Ivy had been distracted he had drawn a sample of William's blood and hair. He stashed it away for later when he returned to Gotham. Then he set the worry aside for the rest of his stay.
For these few days, he wanted all of it to perfect. Even if someday everything went drastically wrong, he would always remember these days as good memories.
/
Be a responsible reader and review!
I had a really hard time picking a place to stop with this part. I have so much more story to cover before this is over. I think this may end up being 5 parts instead of 4. This part is already at 31 pages. This story has taken on a life of its own. I can only hope that a few of you are getting some enjoyment out of this story too. Please drop me a line and tell me what you think. Criticism is welcome, but please be nice about it. :P