Chapter 17: I'm Thankful I Didn't Stop at One
Bruce's POV
I walked through the door and handed Alfred my coat.
"How was the office sir?"
"Well, I-"
I lost my train of thought, to see Titus chasing a live turkey! Inside my house! Jason and Damian were running after them!
They stopped once they caught sight of us. Instantly, they pointed fingers at each other and started screaming about how it was the others fault.
"Enough!" I yelled. Calmly I stated, "Jason, Damian I want that bird and that dog out of my house. Now. And Jason, do not shoot it!"
"The mutt or the bird?" Jason smirked.
"Todd, you will not harm my animals!" Damian screamed at him.
"Guess what, if I can't catch that bird, then your mutt's going on my plate tomorrow!" Jason screamed at Damian while running after the loose animals.
"Todd, I will slit your throat while you sleep!" Damian threatened while chasing after Jason.
"Alfred, why do I even bother putting criminals in Arkham? I should just bring them here. After all, I live in an insane asylum!" I yelled.
"Just calm down sir. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to remove some feathers from the chandelier." Alfred said while walking away.
I walked upstairs to my study to see my good and normal children on my computer. Wait, why are Dick and Tim in my study? Why are they on my computer? Why are they on my computer in my study?
"Thanks Timmy."
"You're welcome. Bruce's E-bay password was easy to figure out. Your elephant should be here in two weeks."
Password? Elephant? Two weeks?
"Richard John Grayson-Wayne, did you buy an elephant with my money?"
"Um… but Daddy, I've always wanted one." He said while hugging me.
"Timothy, send it back. Now!" I threatened, while trying to pull Dick off of me.
"But Daddy, I promise I'll take care of him. Please." Dick pleaded.
"Richard, it's not working. Please act your age."
At that moment the damn turkey flew into the room followed by the dog. Feathers, documents, and papers went flying everywhere. Furniture was knocked over. My expensive computer filled with important documents went crashing to the floor. Tim started screaming. Jason flew into the room with a butcher knife screaming death threats at the bird and the dog. Damian had a net and was screaming at Jason. Dick was trying to restrain Jason. If only the damn elephant were here everything would be perfect!
"Enough!" I yelled using my Batman voice.
Silence filled the room. Even the dog and the turkey were silent.
"Timothy, go get on your computer and return the elephant. Dick, get that damn bird out of my office. Damian, put Titus in his pin. Jason, return the knife to the kitchen. Now! When you're finished, my study had better be spotless."
I turned and walked out of my disaster area and into the Batcave. I need to beat the hell out of some criminal before I lose the rest of my sanity.
********Break********
The night was silent. I heard shouting below me, breaking the peace. A small child was crying while his parents were arguing loudly. The father was obviously drunk. Apparently he had spent their rent money on alcohol. He reached out and struck his wife roughly across her face. She fell to the ground. I heard the crack of her skull colliding with the hard frozen concrete. The child cried harder.
My boots sent the drunk to the ground as I leapt from the building. I zip-tied his hands together a little too tightly. I looked up; the crying child was shaking his mother's shoulder, trying to revive her from an eternal sleep. The boy had just lost both parents in one night.
He turned to look at me with red, puffy eyes. I saw Dick in his eyes. I saw Jason in his eyes. I saw Tim in his eyes. I saw Damian in his eyes. I saw myself in his eyes. Alone, unwanted, afraid, unloved.
"She won't wake up." He cried.
I bent down and cradled the child. "I… I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough to save her."
At that moment an officer pulled up.
"What happened here?" he cried.
I handed the boy over and explained what had happened. The officer called in the report.
"The boy has an aunt and uncle. So he'll be okay." The officer stated.
I nodded and disappeared into the night. Would he really be okay? What if he had been one of my boys? I didn't even want to think about it anymore.
********Break********
The next afternoon, as I walked downstairs, I was met by the boys looking extremely guilty.
Dick stepped forward first, "Bruce we're really sorry about what happened yesterday. We're sorry about what happened with the turkey and Titus and the elephant and-"
He was cut off by me pulling all four of them into a hug.
"Great, he's going to strangle us." Jason mockingly said.
"Shut up Todd!" Damian ordered.
Leslie suddenly entered the room, "Boys, the food's ready."
They stampeded into the dining room, while I walked over to Leslie.
"I'm glad you could make it, Leslie." I greeted.
"Now Bruce, I've never missed this holiday before and I don't plan on it now."
We moved into the dining room. I sat at the head of the table; Dick to my right, Jason to my left, Tim beside Jason, Damian beside Dick, Alfred beside Tim, and Leslie beside Damian.
We joined hands because, Alfred was about to lead us in prayer when I spoke up.
"Alfred, would you mind if I gave the blessing?"
"Of course not, when you're ready sir."
"Thank you for allowing us to come together on this holiday. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy this delicious meal. I pray you bless the food to our bodies. But most of all thank you... thank you for allowing us all to become a family. Amen." I just wish I could have said more.
We opened our eyes to see each other smiling. Leslie was about to make a comment when the damn bird followed by the damn dog suddenly burst into the room. The room erupted into chaos. Tim was screaming. Food went flying everywhere. Leslie and Alfred were yelling about the food they just prepared. Jason had his knife lunging for the animals. Chairs were overturned. Damian had his knife lunging for Jason. Dick was trying to separate the two.
I smiled taking in the sight before me. I'm thankful for my children and my parents. I'm thankful that I didn't stop at one.