Seven Years Later
A woman in her early thirties parked in her driveway stumbling out of her car carrying a briefcase, she was wearing a black pencil skirt with a white button up shirt, her long blonde hair was let loose down her back. Stumbling to the front door she fished around in her purse looking for her keys.
She finally fished them out of her purse but dropped the papers she pulled out on the front step. Cursing quietly she bent down picking up the papers. Finally after everything was picked up she unlocked her front door looking forward to a nice glass of wine and a hot bubble bath.
She sat her things on the table by the door quietly moving through the house. No one was in the living room or the kitchen but there was a huge mess which meant her husband cooked dinner. Finally she made it to the back of the house where the family room was.
Artemis Crock Grayson leaned against the doorway smiling at the sight in front of her. Currently her husband and teenage brother in-law were asleep on the couch with her three children between them.
Her oldest John who was seven was asleep in the middle of the couch with his head leaned back and his mouth wide open.
Her youngest daughter Mary Paula Grayson who was five was asleep in her father's lap with her head resting on his chest and with Dick's arms wrapped protectively around her tiny body, Mary was a very big daddy's girl.
Mary's twin brother Cole Wayne Grayson was asleep with his head in Damian's lap and his feet in John's lap.
Artemis quietly turned and headed upstairs towards hers and Dick's master bedroom so she could change into a pair of sweats and a tank-top. Once she was changed and got a snack from the kitchen she went back to the family room.
Quietly stepping over toys she made it to the couch, deciding to pick up Cole first since he was the easiest. Gently picking him up she cradled him to her body so that his head was on her shoulder. Artemis made it out of the family room and to the stairs before he sleepily lifted his head from her shoulder "Mommy" Cole said while yawning.
Artemis smiled kissing his cheek "Yes sweetie?"
Cole laid his head back down "I'm glad your home, I tried to stay awake for you".
Artemis went into Cole's bedroom gently laying him on the bed and covering him up before sitting on the side of the bed moving the hair out of his half-awake eyes. Cole was the perfect mixture of Artemis and Dick. He had Dick's beautiful blue eyes with her blonde hair, and his facial features matched both of theirs. "I'm glad I'm home to sweetie I missed you very much" Artemis said. Cole yawned pulling his stuffed Batman closer to his chest "I love you sweetie, good night" Artemis said bending over to kiss him on the forehead.
"Luv you mommy" Cole whispered falling back asleep.
Artemis shut his door going back downstairs. When she got back Damian was just starting to wake up. When he looked down to see Cole gone he quickly sat up his eyes frantically searching the room "It's okay I put him to bed upstairs" Artemis said quietly moving closer to the couch.
Damian instantly relaxed "That's good, when did you get home Arty?"
"About forty minutes ago, Cole said you guys tried waiting up for me?" Artemis asked.
Damian nodded his head "Yeah the kids wanted to see you before bed, we tried keeping them awake but obviously it didn't work".
Artemis smiled "That was sweet of you guys, thanks".
Damian shrugged standing up "You want me to carry John upstairs?"
"Yeah just let me wake him up and say good night first" Artemis said taking Damian's spot on the couch and gently running her hand through her oldest sons hair. Johan looked exactly like Dick with only a few features from Artemis. "Wake up sweetie" Artemis said softly.
John slowly opened his eyes "Mom" he said voice thick from sleep.
Artemis smiled "Hey Jaybird. Sorry to wake you I just wanted to say good night".
John yawned stretching his arms over his head "Why are you so late mom?"
Artemis sighed pulling him into her lap "I had a lot of paper work to do at work and I was the only one who could do it, I'm sorry for being so late but I promise tomorrow I'll spend the whole day with you".
John smiled "Can we go to the park mom?"
Artemis laughed "Sure we can Jaybird, but now it's time for Uncle Damian to take you to upstairs" Artemis kissed him on the head "Good night sweetie I love".
"Love you to mom" John said standing up and taking Damian's hand "Night Arty" Damian said.
"Good night Damian" Artemis said watching them go upstairs where Damian picked John up carrying him upstairs. Artemis smiled turning towards her husband and daughter. Gently she shook Dick's shoulder "Dick wake up" Dick grunted moving his head away Artemis sighed "Come on Dick wake up you'll regret sleeping on the couch tomorrow, wake up Dick" Artemis said finally poking him in the cheek making him jerk awake.
Eyes wide he scanned the room when he saw Artemis he relaxed back into the couch "You scared me 'Mis".
Artemis smiled "I'm sorry but you weren't waking up".
Dick pouted "No reason to poke me in the face".
Artemis rolled her eyes "It woke you up, come on we need to get Mary upstairs, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to sleep on the couch all night".
Dick nodded his head gently standing up and shifting Mary in his arms, Mary didn't even flinch she slept like a rock. Something she and Artemis also shared not including their similar looks. Dick went upstairs as Artemis made sure everything was turned off downstairs.
Once she was done Artemis went upstairs to Mary's room. Dick was tucking her in and kissing her forehead when Artemis walked in. Artemis kissed her daughters head and followed her husband to the hallway.
Once the door was shut Dick quickly pulled her into a hug burrowing his face in her hair. "I missed you" Dick said.
Artemis took a deep breath letting herself relax into her husband's arms "I missed you to".
Dick pulled away taking her hand and leading her to their bedroom "Damian put John and Cole to bed?"
"I put Cole to bed and Damian took John to bed" Artemis said sitting down on the bed and watched as Dick changed into a pair of pajama pants.
Dick nodded his head "How was work?"
Artemis groaned "I don't want to talk about it; I just want to lay in bed with you and completely forget about my day".
Dick smiled "That sounds perfect to me" he said lying down on their bed and pulling her into his side. Artemis took a deep breath laying her head on his chest "I love you Artemis".
"I love you to Dick" Artemis said lifting her head so that she could kiss him. Dick eagerly responded to the kiss moving so that he was hovering over her.
Artemis broke away breathing heavy "What are you doing babe?" she asked with a large smile on her face.
Dick grinned "I was thinking we could work on baby number four".
Artemis raised her eyebrow "Number four huh? Well are you going to be the one to carry if for nine months and then push it out".
Dick shook his head "It's kind of impossible for me to do that, but I will be encouraging the entire time".
"You're so persuasive babe" Artemis said sarcastically.
Dick grinned "Is that a yes then?'
Artemis rolled her eyes "Let's go for baby number four, but it better be a girl Grayson".
Dick grinned kissing her hard on the mouth.