OK, the votes are in! Selina came in first, with Diana in a close second. Ha, better luck next time Clark. :)
Sorry I haven't been updating lately. School's almost over and during the summer I promise I'll update more often!
It would have been a lie to say that dinner had been fun. First there had been the awkward silence as they ate, only the occasional argument at the smaller kids table would spark some noise. When all the food was eaten and the table cleared by the working Alfred, everyone moved to the sitting room.
The two love seats in the room were each filled with Bruce and his nemesis-turned-lover wife Selena in one, in the other sat Richard and Rachel. James and Mary sat on one of the couches while all their younger siblings played with Bruce and Selena's young daughter Helena.
Though only six years old, Helena was a force to be reckoned with. Showing clear signs of becoming as beautiful and cunning as her mother, she could pack a pretty forceful punch like her father, as they had learned when she'd nearly broken a classmates jaw for teasing her.
The conversation went as it usually did. Talking about work, kids, and some light talk before Damian would complain loudly and stomp upstairs to his room. Tim was settled down with the children. It was getting quite late when Richard, seeing Alfred asleep on the floor and Arella passed out on her second youngest uncle's lap, decided it was time to head home.
Bruce walked them to the door. Richard stayed back.
"I'll see you at work tomorrow," He said.
Nodding, Bruce cracked him a rare half smile. A pat on the back and Richard was walking back to the car. Everyone was already situated in their seats. The ride back was quiet, everyone nodding off. Finally, they made it back to the house.
Alfred was staying the night in his rooms in Wayne Manor, so when they stepped into the house, they were met with darkness. They all groggily made their way up the grand staircase, Richard carrying both Alfred and Arella with him. Within a few minutes, everyone was in bed, falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.
Burrowed under the covers, Richard wrapped his arms around Rachel. It was obvious from her slow, smooth breathing that she was already in a deep sleep. When he placed a hand on her swollen stomach, he felt a slight flutter and smiled. No matter how many times he felt his different children kicking, it always amazed him. Rachel was always happy about it too, but after a few weeks it just began to annoy her. Especially with the twins.
Rachel lay across the couch while Richard bounced a two year-old James on his knee in the chair across from her. Mary sat, transfixed in front of the T.V. where Dora was playing. Rachel suddenly grabbed a pillow, pushed it over her face, and let out a frustrated, slightly muffled yell. Richard raised an eyebrow at her when she let the pillow fall away.
"I am done with the kicking," she growled. "It was bearable with one. Now it's like they take shifts."
Richard tried to hide his amused smile. From the way that Rachel scowled and gave him her death glare, he wasn't doing a very good job. She sat up.
"All you have to know is that this is the last time I get pregnant." She said.
The next morning, Richard woke up early. They had both shifted in their sleep, now a tangle of sheets and arms and legs. Slowly easing away, Richard got up out of bed. Pulling on a robe, he made his way downstairs. The scent of food led him out through the back door, where Alfred was placing breakfast on the outdoors table.
"Good morning Master Dick." Alfred said.
Richard picked up an apple and bit into it. "Mornin' Alfred." He noticed that there were four extra plates set out. "Who's coming over?"
"Mr. Harper and his family called this morning to say they were coming to surprise you at breakfast."
Richard rolled his eyes. "Roy probably just wants to come for the food." He went back inside and upstairs to change. Once properly dressed, he went and woke Mary, James, and the twins up. He didn't dare try to wake Rachel up, favoring staying in one piece.
Half an hour later, there was the doorbell rang. Richard went to go answer it. Roy was leaning against the door frame, red hair perfectly in place and sunglasses covering face. "Hey Richie," he grinned.
Richard smiled back and stepped back to let him in. Kori came up the steps behind him. She hugged him tightly, nearly breaking a rib or two. "It is glorious to see you again friend!" she said sweetly.
Clinging to her legs was their five year old son, Kennan. He peeked up and smiled at Richard, his hair the same flame red as his mother. Alani was holding Kori's hand, her hair a softer red, like her father's. The seven year old grinned at Richard, showing a missing tooth. "Hi Uncle Richie!"
Richard looked at Roy who was smirking. "Just like I taught her," he said.
The sound of squealing suddenly burst through the air. The twins saw Alani and dragged her away, off to play before breakfast. Richard led Roy, Kori, and Kennan outside just as Mary and James made their way down the stairs. Once they were situated, Richard went back upstairs to wake everyone else up.
He took a deep breath and shook Rachel's shoulder. She let out a slight groan and rolled over. He shook her again, harder. This time her eyes opened. When she focused and caught sight of Richard, her eyes hardened. "What?" she snapped.
"Roy and Kori are waiting downstairs." Richard said, stepping back out of arms length.
Rachel closed her eyes for a second before sighing and pushing herself into a sitting position. Richard left her to get dressed to wake Arella and Alfred up. He helped them pull on their clothes, and then headed back outside with them.
Rachel was already downstairs, wearing a loose summer dress, and talking with Kori and Roy. Emily, Emma, and Alani were talking at the end of the table, giggling crazily. Kennan was sitting in his mother's lap, nibbling on a slice of fruit she had given him. Mary and James sat in the middle seats, still looking half asleep.
Richard set Alfred down and Arella into her high chair. Alfred soon brought out the food, stacks of pancakes and waffles, piles of varied sorts of muffins, and platters of fruit. The air was then filled with the sounds of happy talking, forks scraping against plates and bursts of laughter.
The Harper's stayed for a while after breakfast, letting the kids play together a little while longer. Once they had left, Mary and James started attending to their school work. It was nearly summer for them, but not close enough to excuse homework.
He plopped all the younger kids on the floor in front of a mutual T.V. show. Rachel was lounging on the couch behind them, a cup of tea on a coaster balanced on her belly. When the cushions shifted as Richard sat down, she snatched the cup to keep the scalding water from spilling and glared at him. He raised his hands in surrender and settled back in the seat.
Rachel sipped her drink and looked over at him. Richard met her gaze and smile softly. She returned it. She lowered her head to rest on his shoulder. "I'm tired," she muttered.
Richard chuckled, sending vibrations through his body. "When aren't you?"
Rachel punched his stomach lightly before sighing. Within a few minutes, she fell asleep again. Richard carefully removed the mug from her hand and placed it on the table. Then he wrapped his arm around his wife and sat back, trying to understand the abnormality of the show flashing across the screen.