2 Weeks later
Wayne Manor was filled with flowers. Some were delivered especially for Olivia as get-well gifts while others had been brought in memory of Kate's memorial that was being held at Wayne Manor. Her parents opted for a quiet, family-only grave side service for the funeral but were honoured when Bruce Wayne offered the house as a location for a memorial where her friends and co-workers could come and celebrate Kate's life. Olivia was glad to be back home a few days prior but with orders from the doctor to take it easy. She spent those days organizing and planning for the memorial all from the comfort of her bed or the couch. Kate's parents were beyond humbled at the graciousness of everyone who attended.
David stood back against the wall of the hall, champagne in hand as he listened to the music playing softly and watched the trays of food pass by him. A few people passed by him, and he nodded a greeting and smiled to a few people whom he recognized.
This wasn't the sort of affair that Wayne manor was used to. The atmosphere was sombre. There was no laughter and everyone was dressed in dark colours. For an event to celebrate someone's life, it certainly resembled that of death. Heather would always know how to cheer him up in the most sombre of situations.
Where was she? he wondered.
He knew that she wouldn't have wanted to miss the memorial after missing the funeral. She had begged and had been on the verge of bribing the doctor into letting her out early and was a little disappointed when the family had decided to make it the funeral for family only. This memorial could have easily been for Heather and David knew it.
Olivia looked over her shoulder to where David stood and sighed. Gently, she trailed her fingers up and down along the back of Bruce's suit coat as he spoke with one of the guests. As the conversation ended and the guests moved away, he turned towards her.
"Getting tired?" he asked, concerned and fully aware that she was still healing. "I can find a place for you to sit."
She smiled and shook her head before looking back towards David as he took another sip of champagne. Bruce followed her eyes. The young man was alone, taking far too many sips from his glass as far as Bruce was concerned.
"Heather's not here?" he asked, glancing around the room.
"Not that I have seen." She paused, taking his arm that he offered. "They haven't spoken for more than a few minutes since the hospital."
"He told her," Bruce said, turning towards her. "He has to figure out a way to make things work between them and...you know."
"She wouldn't miss it," Olivia whispered loud enough for only Bruce to hear.
Olivia turned her head towards where David once stood, seeing the spot was unoccupied. Wherever he had disappeared to, she hoped that he would find Heather and put things right.
Heather shifted her weight to her good leg and rested the cane against the counter before sitting down on the bar stool. She wiggled on the chair, tucking her skirt under herself as best as she could.
"You know, Miss," Alfred said, busying himself over the many plates of various types of finger desserts that littered the countertops. He passed a tray to a server as they came into the kitchen. "You cannot hide in here all evening."
"I'm not hiding. I'm just tired of explaining what happened to me and then watch the horrified looks on people's faces as I tell them," she stated.
"Master David has been waiting for you out there," Alfred stated, rinsing a dish cloth under the running water.
"He's going to have to wait a little while longer then," she said, reaching for a finger dessert on one of the trays in front of her. "Besides, he's not in a rush to talk about anything so why make matters worse and talk about nothing while ignoring the big, black elephant in the room."
He looked up at her for a moment, hearing the anger in the words.
"He hasn't spoken to you yet?"
Heather snorted, chewing on the dessert. "If he had, I doubt that I'd be in this kitchen, stuffing myself up with sweets like I have been for the past 2 weeks. I wouldn't be worrying and thinking about that big elephant that he is not willing or is afraid of talking about."
She sighed.
"I've given him time, and space to talk about it with me but every time I try to bring up the subject, he changes it on me! I don't want to say it but I'm seriously starting to have second thoughts."
Alfred said nothing but merely listened to the young woman's concerns. He was about to speak when a light tap was heard at the door and a man poked his head into the kitchen.
"Excuse me, Mr. Pennyworth," he said. "We'd like some authorization to open up another case of wine. I believe it's the Colio 77's or it may the 79's."
He nodded. "I'll be there in a moment.
The man closed the door.
"Miss Heather," Alfred began, causing her to look back up at him. "You must talk to him."
She gave him a weak smile before he walked out of the room. If Alfred could send a mental reprimanding slap to the back of David's head, he would. That boy needed some sense knocked into him.
The room was packed. Standing room only. The ushers had to move a portion of the standing flower arrangements out into the parlour to make room for more people. Heather was impressed to see how many people knew Kate. She sat alone at a round table adorned with flowers and wine glasses while Kate's mother spoke some words from the podium, choking back some tears a few times as she made his way through what she wanted to say. A few sniffs and sounds of someone blowing their nose was occasionally heard. It was very casual; just how Kate would've liked it. No large group of people sitting in the hall, hearing anecdote upon anecdote from a cousin or uncle. Just her parents; the people who meant the world to Kate, and perhaps knew her best.
Soft applause and then conversations began once again as Mrs. Watson concluded her short speech in Kate's honour. Heather turned to the wine glass beside her and took a sip just as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She looked up just as Olivia Wayne sat down in an empty seat beside her.
"How are you doing?" Olivia asked.
"Sore," Heather replied, shifting her weight slightly and wincing as she did. "I'm starting to think that coming out tonight over did it for me. I haven't walked around this much since before the accident." She paused for a moment before looking up at Mrs. Wayne. "How about you?"
Olivia smiled. "I'm managing. I just need to remind myself to take it easy. Mr. Wayne has been following me around all evening ensuring that I rest when I can." She looked around the room, trying to find Bruce. "But I think he went off somewhere on his own."
Heather chuckled looking around, before turning her attention back to Olivia. "I want to thank you for letting me stay at your hotel suite."
"Are you planning on returning to the house?"
Heather shook her head. "I have walked in there only one other time since everything that happened and I had to get out. I can't stay there. My Mom and Dad picked up all of my things and brought them to the suite. I'll pay you back once I find a place and get working at the hospital again."
Olivia shook her head, trying to interrupt Heather as she spoke. "No, no. There's no need. Stay there as long as you need. And don't worry about paying us back. You're family." She paused for a moment, a proud smile coming to her face. "We're honoured to have you become our daughter-in-law."
Heather let out a breath and looked down. "About that..." she said.
Olivia nodded. "I almost made the biggest mistake of my life when I fell in love with Mr. Wayne. I ran away. I knew everything about him and it scared the crap out of me. But what scared me more was the fact that I would miss out on a life with him. I can honestly say that being married to Bruce Wayne hasn't been a walk in the park, but I would never have changed a thing."
"It's not so much everything that encompasses a marriage with David that scares me, but it's the fact that he won't let me in," Heather said softly. "It makes me wonder if he's second guessing this as much as I am."
The room and Wayne manor was nearly empty of the guests. Only a few lingered on, having quiet conversations as they slowly made their way out the door. Heather walked slowly over to the large windows overlooking the gardens. The path lights lit up the yard in the dark of the night, making them appear as fireflies.
"Beautiful night."
Heather glanced over at the reflection in the glass, seeing David's face. His tie was loosened and the top button of his dress shirt was undone.
"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice wavering between curiosity and anger.
"I've been here all night."
She turned swiftly; too swiftly she quickly realized and she bit her tongue, her pain coming out in anger. "Bull shit. I've been sitting here all evening, waiting and looking for you. Your mother even sent your Dad to look for you!"
"I know," David replied, calmly. "He found me. I was outside, thinking."
"This whole time?"
David shrugged. "Well, maybe not the whole time, but for a good portion of it I was. I needed to think about some things and my Dad helped reaffirm and clear some things up."
"Such as?"
David smiled and reached for her free hand. "That I love you more than anything in this world and I would give my life if it meant keeping you safe." He gently kissed her hand.
"The reason why I didn't come visit you in the hospital as much as I should have was because I was feeling guilty for allowing you to get hurt," he admitted. He sensed that she was about to speak and instead he quickly added, "And I know it wasn't my fault but knowing that I couldn't do anything to help you frustrated me beyond anything I've ever felt. I didn't know how to talk to you about it, especially in light of what I've decided to do with my life."
"What are you talking about, David?"
The young man looked down at his black designer shoes nervously. He felt a hand suddenly in his and he looked up, catching Heather's eye.
"Just like I'm working with Mr. Fox for the next few months before taking over as CEO of Wayne Enterprises at the end of the quarter, I'd also be working with Batman until he can no longer physically handle it, and at that time, I'd take over."
"Take over?"
"I'd replace him."
She nodded. "That's what I assumed you meant."
David studied her face, trying to gauge her emotions and thoughts. Finally, she smiled. "I support you."
"What?" David was genuinely shocked and Heather couldn't help but giggle. She dropped her cane and put her arms up around his neck, holding onto him for balance.
"If this is something that you want to do, then I support you," she restated. "I love you."
He leaned in and gently kissed her lips before resting his forehead against hers. "I love you too."
18 months later
There was a unfamiliar chill in the air that woke her up.
Heather rolled over, feeling the coolness of the sheets in the unoccupied space in the bed beside her. She closed her eyes until she felt the wind hit her face once again. Lifting her head slightly off the pillow, she looked towards the large patio door and saw the light curtain blowing in the night breeze. Sighing, she sat up and saw the clock flashing 2:13.
She tried to think of whether she had forgotten to close it or if David had left it open before he left. She stood up and walked briskly across the cool hardwood floor of the bedroom, rubbing her arms against the winter air that brushed her skin. Quickly, she closed the door and locked it before quickly turning and bumping into a large form. Heather nearly fell backward but felt a steady hand catch her behind her back as she gasped.
"David!" she exclaimed, slapping her hand against his black kevlar chest. "Don't do that to me!"
She saw a smile appear beneath his masked eyes. "Sorry."
Her surprise turned to concern as she looked at him from head to toe. He was a mirror image to Batman except he had decided earlier on to forgo having his entire head covered by a cowl and opted for just a mask over his eyes.
Heather reached up and brushed her hand through his hair. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he said softly.
Heather was confused. "What are you doing here then? I wasn't expecting you for another 2 hours at least."
He reached down for her hands and smiled mischievously. "I got the rest of the night off."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I was surprised as you were when Dad told me to go straight home instead of back to the cave," David said, pulling the mask off from his face. "He said that you had something to tell me."
Heather glanced at the window, knowing exactly what her father-in-law was trying to do. "I hope no one saw you."
He shook his head. "I was careful."
A smile came to his face as he wrapped his arms around Heather. She felt the hard, cold kevlar against her skin, but she didn't care. It wasn't very often that David returned the to penthouse as Nightwing. "I think this was part of Dad's gift for our anniversary."
Heather reached up and brushed her hands against David's cheeks. "Happy anniversary." She leaned forward and kissed his lips, and felt him pull her closer into him. She pushed him back when she felt him attempt to deepen the kiss.
"Hold on," she said, placing a hand against his chest. He let her go and watched as she walked over to the closet. She pulled out an envelope and walked back towards him. "I think this is what your Dad was wanting me to give to you. I didn't know whether I should give it to you today or if I should have waited."
He took the envelope and pulled off his gloves to open it. Heather sat down on the edge of the bed as he opened it. He smiled knowingly as he pulled out the anniversary card. His smile faded as he opened the rest of the card.
He stared back up at Heather. "You...? You're pregnant?"
She nodded. "Surprised?"
"A little," he said, his mind still reeling over the news. He sat down beside her, and she placed her head on his shoulder and an arm around his waist.
"I know this wasn't part of our plan," she began. "But we can make it work out. I'm nearly done my internship and I can always take a break from it before going back to finish up and take my exam. Allison has already said she'd be willing to babysit anytime and your Mom was more than willing to help."
David sat up straight. "They know?"
Damn.
"Yeah," she said, wincing. "It was actually your Mom who suspected last week when I was wondering what was going on with me. She casually stated that it was how she felt when she was pregnant with you. Alfred, Allison and your Dad just happened to be in the room at the time."
"That's why Batman sent me home," David said, the revelation hitting him. "I knew he was up to something that was not part of any type of training or routine."
A baby. The thought made his heart skip a beat.
He stood up, his hand on his head, still trying to get over the shock. "Wow."
"Are you happy?"
He turned back to Heather, seeing the concern on her face.
"Of course I am," he said, smiling, before looking down at Heather's stomach, revealing no indication of the life that was growing inside her. "It's amazing." He grabbed her hands and pulled her up to stand. "I love you so much. This is the best anniversary present ever."
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing his lips once again.
Beep...beep...beep...
David moaned inwardly hearing the beeping sound coming from behind Heather. She smiled hearing it, knowing who it was.
He cursed softly after breaking the kiss and pulled his arms back, looking down at his wrist. He pressed a button. "Go ahead."
"Nightwing, sorry to interrupt..." Batman began.
"Yeah, I thought I had the rest of the night off."
"Plans have changed. I'll need some extra hands. Meet me at the docks on the east side of the Narrows." He paused for a moment. "I'll make it up to you both. Babysitting perhaps."
David chuckled.
"There is no way that my child is going to be babysat by Batman," David said, with a smile. "Grandpa maybe."
He was certain that he heard Batman stifle a laugh over the 2-way communicator.
"I'll be there in ten," he finally said, looking at Heather.
"Thank your wife for me and congratulations," Batman finally said before closing the connection.
Heather picked up the mask and gloves off the bed and held them out towards David.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, taking the items from her. To his surprise, she was smiling.
She shook her head. "This is who you are. There will be other nights."
David smiled, placing the mask over his face before leaning down to kiss her once more and placed a gentle hand over her stomach. "How did I ever get so lucky to marry you?"
Heather smirked. Seeing her husband standing in front of her with tight black kevlar was enough to give her some ideas. When she caught his eye, he had a curious smile on his face. She shook her head. "Get out of here before I change my mind."
"Are you sure you'd like me to go?" he asked, mischievously.
Heather turned and opened the french door to the balcony with a smile. "Batman is waiting. Go!"
"I'm going, I'm going. But I will be back soon."
With that he ran out the door. He jumped up and off the balcony, spreading his arms to the side as he dove into the air. He caught the wind beneath the cape that opened under his arms and he soared into the sky. Heather watched and put a protective hand over her stomach as she watched her husband disappear into the night.
A/N - Tadaaaa! And there you have it. I thought I'd take more chapters than this to finish it up, but I managed to do it in 1. What did you think? So, the cycle continues. Thank you to all my readers that have followed this since the first chapter of Thicker Than Water and to those who came along throughout the journey. It was your comments that kept me going and brought me back. :)