At the airport, Chloe was a mess she clung to Lois for support. "I'm scared" she confided in her, while Bruce was checking the luggage and boxes in. Clark and Jimmy were looking out the runway where the planes took off. "You shouldn't be he's a great guy. He loves you." Lois soothed her cousin and placed a hand over hers in comfort.
"If you need anything or you want to talk all you have to do is call me and I'll be in Gotham before you can say Smallville." She added.
Chloe smiled, and she wiped away the tears on her cheeks. Bruce walked over to them and told her they were ready to leave.
She stood up and hugged Lois one final time. Jimmy hugged her, "The Daily Planet won't be the same without you" Sniffling, she managed a smile. Clark stiffened as she hugged him, but after a moment he hugged her back. She breathed in the comforting scent of his jacket. Slightly smelling of firewood even though it was almost the end of spring. Then she realized it was late May, she was 4 months pregnant and time was flying by. "Take care of yourself Chloe," he said before letting her go. Lois and Jimmy hugged Bruce goodbye, he was a good friend to them now and part of the weird family relationship Chloe, Jimmy, Lois and Clark shared. She took his hand and waved to them before disappearing inside the jet.
Bruce gently woke up Chloe she had fallen asleep on the plane. "We're here," he said softly. She stirred and opened her eyes. He smiled down at her and placed his hand on her growing belly. The stewardess came over her forehead wrinkled with worry, "Mr. Wayne there's lots of photographers outside" Chloe gripped his hand; the media didn't even know that Bruce was back with Chloe and that she was pregnant. Bruce straightened his collar and took a deep breath. "Now or never" he said standing up and pulling Chloe to her feet. "But Bruce no, I'm not even dressed to meet the media." She said nervously tugging at the old blue shirt she wore, the jeans were the first things she had found that morning.
He waved a hand at her, dismissing her comment. She glared at him; she wasn't one of his employees he could wave away. "You look beautiful," he said kissing her cheek. The anger melted instantly and she smiled dreamily.
As they got off the plane, lights flashed all around them. She had a flashback to the night where Bruce took her to the Christmas party. Instinctively, she placed her hand on her belly to protect herself and her baby. "Just relax and smile," he told her. Chloe breathed in and out, and then flashed a smile. The photographers went crazy and whistled at her she blushed. "Oh my god! She's pregnant!" a voice shouted and the flashing lights intensified. People pushed through to get a view of her belly, the air started to suffocate her and she saw Alfred was waiting for them; Bruce opened the door of the car. Alfred quickly hugged her before she got into the car.
"It's good to see you again Miss Chloe," he said, pulling the car onto the street and away from the mob of photographers.
"It's good to be back" she replied and leaned against Bruce. He was tense, and looked over her worried. "Are you ok? Is the baby ok?" he asked her. She nodded, "I'm fine. Its just it was overwhelming." "I'm going to set up a press conference and announce it officially." He said, squeezing her lightly. She breathed in and out, trying to calm her panicked breathing.
Looking out the window she noticed that Gotham was different in the daylight. She could see the cracks in the sidewalk and the tall buildings glistened bouncing off the light. It was a strange mix off old and new. Some buildings were falling apart while others were still under construction. Alfred pulled up to Wayne Manor the old gate opening to let them through. Bruce sighed; "Home sweet home" Chloe smiled and planted a big kiss on his lips. He looked at her stunned, but didn't complain. She didn't wait for Alfred to open her car door. She stepped out and breathed in the Gotham air.
Home, she thought looking at the Manor. She spun around and jumped on Bruce laughing. She had never been this happy before. "Well Mr. Wayne are you going to invite me in?" she asked looking into his eyes. He acted like he was considering it.
"Bruce!" she shouted and he laughed kissing her and carrying her into the house. They left Alfred next to the car, looking at them and sighing. "Finally" he muttered before going inside the Manor.
The parents-to-be Bruce and Chloe were standing in the pressroom at Wayne Enterprises, the journalists and reporters were impatiently waiting for them to begin explaining the scandal that had started since they arrived back at Gotham. Though almost everyone knew the couple was back on and expecting their first child. Chloe was glowing the glow emphasised in the simple orange dress she wore and a large white brimmed hat she wore. Bruce admired her. The night before she had stayed up late putting away her clothes and re-arranging Bruce's. When she had finally got to bed, he considered going out patrolling Gotham but one look on her glowing face stopped him. Batman was starting to slip, already Gotham's crime rate had gone up and he knew he couldn't risk skipping one more night. Not while the Joker's out there. He pushed his thoughts away and focused on the meeting.
"As you may have already known, I am back with Chloe. We are very happy together and she has quit her job to move in with me at Wayne Manor to raise a family together. We are expecting our child in September.
"Boy or girl?" someone asked them.
"We don't know yet. Hopefully we'll know the answer today" Chloe answered, her voice strong and clear. He glanced at her proudly. She blushed and lowered her face, glad that the brim of the hat hid her rosy cheeks.
"Are you planning to deliver at Gotham General?"
"Yes, we hope that everything goes well." He replied.
"Are you married? Or is this just a boyfriend-girlfriend thing?" a woman asked, pen ready to scribble the details onto her notebook.
Bruce grinned and turned to Chloe, she waited for him to tell the reporter that they weren't married. The subject hadn't even been mentioned before and she hadn't really thought it over. "Well actually" he said pulling a box from his pocket and getting down on one knee. Her green eyes widened, and gasped as she saw the engagement ring. The whole room gasped with her. She brought her hand up to her mouth.
"Chloe you know that I have never met anyone like you. I've lost you once and I won't risk that again. You're an amazing woman and you'll be a great mother to our child. I love you, I've always loved you. Will you marry me?" he said, never taking his blue eyes off her.
Her mind was blank. The room held it's breathe for an answer. And after what seemed like an eternity she broke into a smile.
"YES!" she shouted bursting with happiness. "Yes. YES a million times yes!"
Bruce stood up and crushed her lips against his. The people watching clapped and cheered for the happy couple. He placed the ring on her slender finger she started crying. It was beautiful the silver band had tiny flowers and vines etched into its surface. Instead of a diamond, Bruce had an emerald the exact shade of her eyes. On either side of it were small diamonds that complimented the stone. The press conference was over and they walked hand in hand to the car.
No one noticed the scarred man in a purple track suit watching from the back of the room, baseball cap pulled over his clown like features, a disturbing smile on his face.
Instead of going back home to the Manor, Chloe and Bruce headed to Gotham General. She hadn't been to the doctor since her panic attack. A nurse ushered them in to a private wing of the hospital. "This is weird." She whispered to Bruce while they were in the room waiting for the doctor to show up.
"What do you mean?" he asked puzzled, the attention was nothing new to him.
"I mean do people always treat you this good?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He chuckled, "Well yes. Don't worry you'll get used to it. After all you'll soon be Mrs. Wayne"
A few moments later the doctor walked in. She was in her late forty's and had a warm personality. "Hello Bruce" she said pleasantly. "How's Alfred?" she asked glancing over Chloe's medical records. "He's great. Healthy for a man his age I suppose" he replied. "Well Chloe I'm Dr. Arlee. I've known Bruce for a long time. He's been my patient since he was about 10 years old."
"So your 4 months pregnant is that right?" she asked her.
Chloe nervously played with her dress, and placed a hand on her stomach. "Yes."
"Have you had any problems so far? Besides the panic attack a month ago?"
"No I'm jus very…" she paused looking for a word "emotional" Bruce nodded, "Yea she is" Chloe glared at him, her cheeks bright red.
"That's normal and will probably continue up until the birth. So if I were you I'd be careful and gentle. Pregnant women pack a punch if they do decide to swing" Dr. Arlee said, her brown eyes sparkling.
Chloe smiled, she liked her doctor. "When am I due?" she asked her.
"I can't tell you for sure but it might be around September twenty something. Have you talked about the delivery? Will it be a natural birth or do you want to take some medication to numb the pain as you deliver?" she asked them, mostly focusing on Chloe.
"Medication" Chloe said.
"Natural" Bruce said.
The couple looked at each other, surprised. Dr. Arlee grimaced this was a battle she wasn't getting into. "No way am I doing this thing the natural way." Chloe said. "Chloe you're strong. You won't need medication. Besides that could hurt you and the baby." He replied looking at Dr. Arlee for confirmation.
"Well actually no. If the rite dose is given and at the right time, things should go smoothly. A lot of women decide not to take it though when they go into labor. There's just some fear that the woman has. But we can have the medication as an option." She said calmly, hoping that it satisfied them both.
"That'll be fine. In the end it's going to be me that decides. Your not the one whose going to push the baby out of your body" Chloe said.
"Ok now that that's settled. Let me tell you what you both should be expecting in the next coming weeks. First of all cravings, Chloe you'll want to eat more and more. But be warned Bruce her cravings will sometimes get a little strange, but that's perfectly normal. As the father it will be your responsibility to make sure she's comfortable. Her mood swings will get worse just because she'll be adjusting. She'll be more anxious and worried. Chloe your senses will get stronger, you might smell things that other people don't or certain fabrics will be itchy to you. Until your body adjusts to the baby's growth your back and especially your feet will start to ache and your ankles will swell."
The Doctor paused, "What else?"
"Ah yes. Bruce spend as much time as you can with her so she feels safe. And Chloe since your not working try to spend your time on projects, maybe setting up a nursery or shopping for the baby but since you don't know the sex of your baby why don't we clear that up rite now?" She asked.
Chloe grinned, "Yes I can't wait to know"
Bruce looked a little pale, he felt light-headed from taking everything in. Mood swings. Back rubs. Cravings. What about nights when I'm out as Batman? Can she handle that? Can I?
"Honey?" Chloe placed her hand on his knee she looked at him worried. "Are you ok? You look a little green"
He rubbed his neck and sighed, "It's a lot to take in. It just hit me that we're having a baby."
The Doctor slipped out to give them a moment alone, while she set-up the ultrasound machine.
"I know I'm nervous too." She said squeezing his hand.
"I'm worried about your safety because you're going to be married to Batman" he said lowering his voice. "What if something happens to you? What if I can't get there in time? You know that I can't be by your side every night Chloe. It's going to be hard to adjust and I don't want you to wake up to an empty bed in the middle of the night but it's my job. I just can't stop being Batman. I want Gotham to be a safe city for our kids and for every one living here."
She pressed her forehead against his, "Bruce I understand that. I know you love Gotham but will you love your child as much?"
He kissed her, "I'll love you and the baby more than anything. But you said you loved me … all of me. Including the dressing-up-as-a-bat-side."
She giggled, "That's the best part. Seeing you in tights." Bruce chuckled and kissed her cheek.
A/N: I worked very hard on this chapter. So what do you think? Will it be a boy or a girl? I have my mind made up so you'll have to wait and see. Did you guys like the surprise wedding proposal? And who could that mysterious purple man be? Tune in for the next chapter! R&R PLEASE!