The Rose and Her Thorns

By Wednesday, the rather unorthodox family had formed a regular pattern and routine. Eddie and Harley had by now been dubbed, "Aunty Harley" and "Uncle Ed", and were now the unofficial babysitters of the household. They watched the older boys most of the times, Harley demonstrating her acrobatic skills and Edward actually using his intellect to create puzzles for the older boys to solve. Ivy was actually getting closer to the little boys around her, finding herself laughing and becoming attached to the little ones.

The Riddler found himslef marveling at how much Ivy was changing in the short amount of time she had been with the kids. She was so much calmer, not snapping at every little thing Harley did. The plants in the house were also no longer the focus of her life, and she was smiling more and more around the little ones. It was a good change, one that Eddie was happy to see.

They had finally solved the sleeping problems, with the twins sleeping on the futon in the living room, Harley sleeping in her room with Jaylon and Camden, and Edward sleeping in the nursery with Jasper. Sunni was the only one constantly moving around, sleeping in one room one night and in another the next. That was just the animal in Sunni that made her roam.

Ivy had asked questions about how they had gotten there, only to find that Sunni was just as devious as the rest of the supervillains. Speaking of Sunni, Harley had become curious about something. Bouncing Howard gently on her hip, Harley had asked a rather innocent question that made the fourteen year old slightly nervous. She was giving Snow a much needed bath after the unfortunate wolf had gotten into a pile of Ivy's fertilizer.

"Hey Sunni! How'd ya get ta Red's house anyway?"

The girl shrugged, not turning away from where she was giving Snow a bath. "I drove of course."

"How'd ya learn to drive?"

At this, Sunni blushed slightly, muttering her answer to where it was just barely audible. "Joyrides."

"You took joyrides? I thought you were some sort of goody goody genius!"

Sunni snorted. "Genius, not goody-goody. My genius brain powers are what kept me from getting caught. I even had a radio name; Bandit."

Harley frowned, cocking her head as Howard played with her pigtails. "Hey, in't that offa Eastbound and Down?"

Lifting Snow out of the tub and beginning to dry her, Sunni nodded. "Yeah, but it's gotta nice ring to it. And it described my driving style pretty well." A sudden flash of something crossed Sunni's face and she started to dry Snow even faster. Confusion etched itself on the face of the harlequin and she skipped up to her younger roomate.

"What is it? Come on, I won't tell!"

Sunni sighed, releasing Snow from her bear hug and told the small wolf to go find Ivy. "It's just that I miss my Baby."

"What'd ya mean?"

"Dad had a Trans-Am that he fixed up to look like the one in Eastbound and Down. It was my favorite to drive. I even got into a car chase with the cops once. Just don't tell Ivy I've ever done something like that or her head'll explode."

Harley pretended that she was zipping her lips, throwing away the hypothetical key. Howard laughed in her arms, looking over her shoulder as Eddie came in the door. He looked slightly worried, a trait that wasn't common for the rather arrogant man. He was wringing his hands slightly, his honey-colored eyes darting around. "Hey, have either of you seen Ivy and Hayden?"

Sunni nodded, gesturing with her head. "Yeah, she went out to the greenhouse."

"Thanks Sunshine."

Sunni frowned. "Don't call me that."

Eddie strode out the door, calling back over his shoulder, "I won't call you that if you don't call me Pimp Cane!"

Chuckling, the riddling genius walked through the living room, his eyes coming to rest on the boys watching a movie on the television. Eli was lounging on the couch, his hair perfectly spiked again as he watched Jaylon, Camden, and Jasper wrestle on the floor. Gabe sat on the floor, a damp Snow by his side and Fang sleeping next to his feet. Miles was sitting alone on the armchair, laughing happily as his older brothers played on the floor in front of him.

Edward frowned slightly. "Be careful guys."

"Okay Uncle Ed."

Eddie chuckled again. Leaning down, he lifted Miles from the armchair and placed him in the crook of his right arm. The left one was healing quite nicely, but it was still rather tender, so why take a chance at opening the wound again? "Come on Miles. Let's go find Ivy."

Much more gracefully than was characteristic for him, Edward floated through the kitchen and into the greenhouse. Fragrant perfumes from the vegetation around him filled the greenhouse air, and Miles laughed at the colorful blossoms that extended towards them. Mel growled happily in the center of the greenhouse, his vines slithering across the ground to carress the flesh on Eddie's arm. Yet above all the other scents, Edward caught the very distinct scent of mandarin oranges; the scent Ivy gave off when she was happy.

Following his nose, Eddie found Ivy and Hayden in a bed of roses, their bright auburn hair shining like a beacon amongst the flowers. Ivy was smiling, her thin elegant fingers tickling the small boy on the belly. Eddie smiled, carefully walking up behind her. His feet didn't make a sound as he stepped around the blossoms to stand behind Ivy.

"May we join you?"

Ivy started, looking over her shoulder and holding onto Hayden reflexively. Noticing it was Edward, she finally relaxed and smiled, sliding over to allow room for him and Miles to sit. Eddie lowered himself onto the spot, Miles cradled carefully in his legs as he sat there. Grinning cheekily, Eddie looked over at the green temptress beside him.

"You two seem to be having fun. May I ask why you decided to disappear all by yourself and nearly give me a heart-attack?"

Ivy sighed, a seemingly non-existent breeze blowing her hair, and closed her eyes. "I needed to get some peaceful time. This is one of the best places for that."

Looking around, Eddie nodded in agreement. "It's gorgeous."

The pair just sat there silently, staring out at the flowers before them. Hayden and Miles soon became sleepy, falling asleep in the laps of their caretakers. Eddie didn't really mind the weight in his lap, he just enjoyed the fact that he, the nerd, was in pleasant company with the hottest woman in all of Gotham City. Well, she was hottest in Eddie's opinion at least.

Suddenly, Ivy leaned her head against his shoulder, her red hair like silk against the exposed skin of his neck. Edward Nygma, Master of Riddles, and enemy to the Batman, blushed fiercely. His face was a bright scarlet color, but thankfully the intoxicating woman leaning against him didn't notice.

Her quiet voice floated up to his ears, whispering so she wouldn't wake up the little ones from their late nap. "Do you think we're doing the right thing, Nygma?"

Eddie frowned, gently shifting Miles into a more comfortable position. He was sitting cross legged, so it wasn't hard to find a position that he didn't have to hold the twelve month old. "What do you mean Ivy?"

"I mean this." She gestured to the little boys sleeping on their laps. "What are we going to do when we have to go back and steal things for money? If we get caught, what are they going to do? I've done some horrible things in the past, Ed. All for the sake of my babies. But these babies need me too. What am I going to do?"

The scent of jasmine blossoms radiated off of Ivy now; the scent she secreted when she was upset. Despite her best efforts to be strong, tears were still building in Ivy's eyes, and Eddie knew it. Eddie wasn't the emotional, comforting type. He doubted that he'd ever truly given a proper hug to anyone in his entire life. But now he did something that shocked him and Ivy both beyond belief. He hugged her, gently pressing her against his side with a one armed grasp.

Ivy leaned into his side even more, tears streaming down her face despite herself. Edward simply sat there, stroking her arm gently with his thumb. "It'll be alright Ivy. These kids lived all on their own for quite some time. I'm sure that if any of us get caught, they'll make it through. I mean, Sunni's got three pet wolves for crying out loud! I have the gash to prove that Steel will do anything for her."

Laughing quietly, Ivy tilted her head so that it rested more snuggly into the crook of Eddie's neck. Nygma didn't move, but he was curious so he asked, "Why are leaning on me and letting me do this?"

A shrug. "You make a good pillow. That, and you're a better listener than Harley is."

Eddie chuckled. "Don't you think we should probably go back and check on the others?"

Ivy pouted at him. "Can we just stay here? I'm comfy."

"Ivy."

"Oh alright."

With careful maneuvering, they both got the sleeping boys lifted into their arms and exited the greenhouse. They found Steel sleeping in the laundry room right off of the greenhouse, but the others were still watching television in the living room, Harley and Sunni watching over them like hawks. Granted, they were very relaxed hawks, but they were watching none the less.

Ivy and Eddie took the boys into the bedroom to finish out the remainder of their nap. Returning to the living room, they sat on the couch together, Ivy actually curling up under Eddie's arm. Sunni and Harley stared in amazement at the two, saying nothing, but looking much like fish out of water.

Camden noticed it too, but instead of gawking, he chose to get up snuggle underneath Ivy's open arm. The plant villainess didn't object to the motion. She stayed curled underneath Eddie's arm, stroking Camden's head as he pressed into her side.

Eli looked up from where he had fallen off of the couch, his blue eyes and spikey blond hair contrasting with the darker carpet. "Okay that's just weird."

Sunni and Harley raised their hands. "We second that statement."

Eddie stuck his tongue out. "You're just jealous because she likes the nerd more than you guys."

Ivy rolled her eyes, smiling. "Edward be nice."

"Alright. But if they call me Pimp Cane one more time, the gloves are coming off."

Ivy chuckled lightly, continuing to run her fingers through Camden's thick brown hair. Snow and Fang came and curled up at her feet, speaking to their packmate unbeknownst to her.

Sunni, I think these people are really starting to warm up to you guys.

I think so too Fang.

Snow wagged her tail, amber eyes bright and cheerful. I like Harley. She's the best ear-scratcher ever! That, and she makes a good bed warmer.

Snow, you are the most easy to please pup I've ever seen.

I'll take that as a complement Fang.

Sunni sighed in her head. Guys, I really wish Steel would warm up to them like you have. He's so distant nowadays. Maybe if one of them did something nice for him...

It wouldn't work. Fang's voice had cut in, silencing the fourteen year old completely.

She looked over at Ivy, Eddie, and Camden. Well, at least I know Ed's doin' alright on his quest to make Ivy his.

They do make a rather attractive couple.

What are you? Alpha male or matchmaker?

Fang winced slightly at the comment, but continued on unflichingly. I'm no expert, but you have to admit, they look good together.

Snow agreed heartily and Sunni sighed. She really needed a joyride.