The Rose and Her Thorns

Eddie awoke the next morning, the smell of food assaulting his nostrils. He sat up on the couch, wincing as his arm throbbed painfully and his back popped. This was the disadvantage to sleeping on a leather sofa all night; it made you hurt like hell everywhere. Rubbing his eyes, Edward stretched sleepily and looked to see if Sunni was still asleep. Surprisingly, she was gone.

Sliding off of the couch, Eddie went into the kitchen, where a surprising sight met him. Sunni was standing at the stove, making breakfast for all of them. She was dressed in a Kansas City Chiefs jersey, bright red, gold and white paint covering her face. The boys were sitting at the kitchen table, likewise dressed in jerseys and covered in face paint. The curious thing was, half of them were dressed like Sunni, and the other half were painted in the colors of the Denver Broncos. It was a strange sight to say the least, but Eddie was too pre-occupied with his stomach to complain.

"Hey, what's cooking?"

Sunni turned to him, smiling through the hard paint on her face. "French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage and milk. Any special requests?"

Eddie shook his head, settling for drooling over the smorgasbord of food that was sitting on plates next to where Sunni was cooking. Shaking his head, Edward asked the question that he was dying to ask since he saw the war paint. "Okay, what's up with the war paint and jersey's?"

Eli stared at him as if he was crazy, his spikey blond hair painted a fire-engine red. "It's Sunday, dude. Meaning Sunday football baby!"

The other boys whooped, pounding on the table and howling. The babies, who sat in highchairs, were even excited, they themselves painted in the colors of the two opposing teams. Miles, Jasper, Jaylon and Gabe were painted in the colors of the Broncos while Sunni, Eli, Camden, Hayden, and Howard were all decked out in Chief's garb. Eddie chuckled to himself. These kids could be sobbing one minute, and then be excited over the stupidest things the next.

"Alright. So today's football day. I get that now, but where's Ivy and Harley."

Sunni shrugged from her position behind the stove. "They're still asleep I guess. I don't know. I have enough on my hands with these eight yahoos. I'm not about to watch over your girlfriends."

Eddie blushed. "They're not my girlfriends!"

Gabe snorted, shaking his head and making his bright orange sway. "Keep telling yourself that. Sunni's not the only one who can read you like a book, dude."

"Okay. Let's get some rules straight. I'm the adult here, so no back sassing, no lip, no ignoring me, and NO CALLING ME DUDE!"

Both the twins snickered now, speaking sarcastically in unison. "Like we're going to take orders from a man with a pimp cane."

"IT IS NOT A PIMP CANE!"

With that, Eddie started to walk out of the kitchen door, only to find himself confronted with all three wolves. Fang was at the point of the wedge shaped formation, his teeth blindingly white as he growled at the man in front of him. Steel and Snow walked side by side, mimicking their alpha's appearances. They made Edward back into the kitchen, his eyes wide with terror.

"Now, don't growl at me that way. Down. Back. Sit. Stay?"

Sunni chuckled at the Riddler's attempts to keep the wolves away from him. Alright guys that's enough.

Steel spoke in Sunni's mind, his voice laced with hatred. Are you sure? I could finish what I started last night. It would be my pleasure.

Fang agreed heartily, while Snow was somewhat reluctant, although she was doing a fantastic job at keeping a vicious looking face up. No guys really that's enough.

Steel snarled at Eddie. But I don't like him!

I said that's ENOUGH!

With that, the wolves retracted, bouncing off to lay next to the boys' feet. Eddie sighed a breath of relief, taking off out of the kitchen door to go find Harley and Ivy. He found them quick enough, it was the waking them up part that was going to be the hard part.

Harley was sprawled on the twin sized bed, snoring to beat the band and cuddling with her Real Villains plushy of The Joker. Edward made a face and pretended like he was vomiting. He hated the Joker. The man made his skin crawl. How could a girl as sweet as Harley end up with an imbecilic maniac like that?

Shrugging off his thoughts, Eddie walked up to Harley's side and shook her gently. "Come on, Harl. You've gotta get up."

Harley groaned. "Not now Mistah' J. Harleyquins needs to sleep."

Annoyed, Eddie renewed his shaking and raised his voice slightly. "Harleen, I'm not Joker. Now you need to get up or you're going to miss breakfast."

That seemed to do the trick, as Harley's eyes shot open and she leapt out of bed. Frantically looking in the closet Ivy gave her to use for a spare change of clothes, Harley squealed, "Why didn't ya say somethin' earlier ya big lug?"

Sighing, the man strode out of the room to get Ivy. Just another moment of unappreciation suffered by Edward Nygma. Ever so carefully, Eddie picked his way through vines on bare feet, trying to get to the bed. There Ivy lay, her bright red hair laying in a thin curtain over her face. The sight almost took Eddie's breath away. The green temptress was even more stunning when she was relaxed and asleep.

Leaning down, Edward brushed some of the hair off of Ivy's face. "Come on Ivy. Get up. Breakfast's almost ready."

Ivy wasn't like Harley. She didn't groan and turn away. She didn't make a face and strike out. Ivy simply lay there as if nothing had been said to her at all. Eddie tried to get her up once more. Again, there was no response. Now thoroughly annoyed, Edward shook Ivy hard, speaking in a louder voice.

"Ivy! Get up!"

Ivy didn't stir. Groaning, Eddie sat down on the bed next to her. He scanned her for a moment before realizing something; she had an almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Angrily, Edward slapped her on the knee cap and said, "I know you're playing possum Ivy."

Poisonous green eyes opened to scan Eddie as Ivy sat up in bed. "How did you know?"

"My perceptive eyes noticed the smile on your face."

Rolling her eyes, Ivy got out of bed, Edward following behind her. "You mentioned breakfast. I really hope Harley didn't cook."

Eddie chuckled. "No, actually, she didn't. Sunni cooked and it smells so incredibly good."

Walzing into the living room, Ivy's mouth started to water at the pleasant aromas coming from the kitchen. "You can say that again."

Ivy and Eddie went into the kitchen, the war-painted children gathered around the table and happily with Harley. The harlequin grinned and waved at the two. "G'mornin' Riddles! Red!"

Blinking, the plant villainess, stared at the brightly dressed children. Edward leaned in close and whispered, "It's Sunday, Ivy. Football."

Shrugging, Ivy went over to the table and sat down. Sunni had just finished cooking and was placing all the food onto large platters. Turning her head, Sunni looked over her shoulder at Eli. "Hey Speedster, do ya think ya could give me a hand?"

Leaping up and moving at speeds that would make the Flash green with envy, Eli rushed over to his sister and lifted three platters off of the counter. Moving with equal parts grace and speed, Eli went back to the table and placed them in the center. Sunni carried the rest of them over to the rest of the crowd, smiling at her brother's talent. "Thanks."

"No big."

Sunni sat down with them, clapping her hands together and shouting, "Alright everybody! Let's eat and then we'll watch football!"

With that, they all started to wolf down the food, devouring it in less time than it took for them to put on their make-up. Harley and Eli got into a fierce competition over who could eat more food in the time before the game. It was a close match, with Harley actually winning by only half a piece of french toast. The others congradulated her heartily, as no one had ever beaten Eli in an eating contest before. The boys discussed the upcoming game with much enthusiasm to Harley and Ivy, describing it and their favorite teams in great detail.

Soon, they were finished with breakfast, leaving Sunni to wash the dishes. Gabe helped her, even though they were on opposing sides for that particular game. They worked happily, much to Ivy and Eddie's surprise.

"Hey Sunni, can we decorate the wolves?"

Sunni hesitated, passing a wary glance to her brother next to her. "What for?"

"Because I want more Broncos than Chiefs."

"Okay let's make a deal. How about you get Snow and Steel and I'll take Fang."

"Deal."

With that, they shook hands, sealing the deal just as they finished the dishes. Sunni called out to the wolves in her mind, telling them exactly what was going on and what the boys were going to be doing. Snow wagged her tail, panting happily and trotting up to Gabe.

As long as they don't hurt me severely, I'll be happy to be a part of their team.

Steel chuckled. Little one, you're always happy. As long as you've got a beating heart, it will always have room for one more packmate to love.

Fang inclined his head, looking on his slightly younger counterpart with respect. Wise words Steel. I've never heard something quite that poetic leave your lips.

That's because I've never had the inclination to say such things before. I prefer fighting over poetry.

Sunni shook her head and watched as the boys lead the wolves back into the living room. Fang sat patiently next to her as Sunni placed paint and feather's on the table. Taking her fingers, Sunni made a war paint design that was both beautiful and mysterious across the midnight black fur of her friend. Feathers were tied into his pelt just behind his ears and his amber eyes were lined with gold to give them a more indian feel.

Ivy popped into the room just as Sunni finished, raising an eyebrow at the painted wolf before her. "Are you sure he doesn't mind?"

"It's alright. I asked him if I could put war paint on him before I actually put it on. He said it was alright."

Ivy shrugged. "Whatever kid. The games on. I thought you might want..."

The plant villainess didn't even get to finish her sentence as Sunni blew past her into the next room. Ivy grabbed herself a bottle of water from the refridgerator and went back into the living room, where the kids, Harley and Eddie all sat on the couch enthralled in the football game. The boys had managed to get Edward on the side of the Broncos, while Harley was now painted with the colors of the Cheifs. The wolves were sitting with their appropriated teams, growling at the screen everytime they disagreed with a call or a play.

Ivy sat with Hayden on her lap, playing with the little boy even though he was also watching the game with unnerving interest. Despite herself, Ivy found herself watching the ridiculous sport, actually enjoying the game immensely. By half time, the Cheifs were beating the Broncos badly, the score being 24 to 0.

Sunni was laughing her head off at the irate expression on Gabe's face, making her younger brother mad. "How come you're laughing at me?"

"You should see the look on your face!"

Gabe grumbled, muttering something about getting snacks and soda. Jaylon followed him, his deep navy blue head bobbing behind the bright one of his brother. Sunni gestured to Eli, motioning him to follow the others and bring her snacks. Howard was sitting with Harley, playing with the older woman's blond pigtails and watching as she made faces for his amusement. His normally platinum blond hair was now sprayed with streaks of white and gold, the little boy's face almost completely red with face paint.

Ivy was playing with Hayden, Eddie sitting next to her with Miles. The man known as the Riddler was actually bouncing Miles on his knee and watching as the game came back on for the second half. He called out to the boys and they returned quickly, Coke and Mountain Dew in abundance with Cheetos and Lays of all kinds. They flopped on the floor, passing the food and drinks around as the game got back under way.

Two hours later...

"Go,go,go,go,go,go,go,GOOOOOOOO! YES! TOUCHDOWN FOR THE CHEIFS BABY!"

The final buzzer ending the game sounded, and the children rooting for Kansas City, including Harley, were dancing a little victory dance, Fang bouncing right along with them. Ivy laughed and smiled as she watched Harley dance with the little ones, spinning Jaylon and Camden in her arms while Howard was rested in Sunni's arms. Hayden was laughing and clapping in her arms, happy as he could be.

The Broncos were good sports, laughing along with their brothers and sister as they cleaned up the mess they had made. It was almost five o' clock, and when Sunni and the others finally decided to stop dancing, she called over the chaos. "Alright everybody. Game time's over so we need to take showers and baths."

Eli and Gabe nodded, noting their sweaty appearance and running make-up. Ivy frowned. "How are we all going to take hot showers without running out of hot water?"

"Easy. I devised a system at the old house. The oldest go first, in this case, you guys. Sorry but you, me, and the twins only get five minute showers. The boys take baths together to conserve water and I usually just bathe the babies in the sink."

Thinking for a moment, Eddie came to the conclusion that this just wasn't fair. He didn't have any spare clothes besides his Riddler costume, and he really didn't want to have to wear Ivy's clothes. "Um Ivy? I don't have any spare clothes."

Eli waved a hand. "It's alright. I think we've got a coupla' pair of Dad's old pj's in the car. He used to sleep out there when he made Mom mad. You can wear them."

Harley wave her hand high in the air. "I call dibs on the first shower!"

Glaring at her best friend, Ivy sat Hayden on the couch and stood. "I want to take the first shower Harl."

"Tough cookies Red!" Harley stuck her tongue out at Ivy and turned, flouncing down the hallway.

Ivy's face flushed an angry forest green. The others backed away from her, the twins whispering to each other in unison, "Alright! Chick fight!"

Gabe turned to his brother. "You know, I had a dream about this once only Ivy and Harley were mud wrestling in bikini's."

"Get back here Harl! I'm not finished with you!"

Ivy pounced on her friend tackling her to the floor and taking off for the shower before Harley had time to react. The bubbly blond watched from the floor as her best friend's backside disappeared into the bathroom off the hall.

"Woah. Did not see that comin'."

Eddie strode up to Harley and picked her up off the floor. "I did. Ivy always wins Harleyquins. Remember that." He turned to the others. "That goes for you too!"

Jaylon snorted, the usually polite boy snickering as his brother whispered something in his ear to say. "Whatever Pimp Cane."

"IT IS NOT A PIMP CANE!"