Bringing My Children Home
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Chapter Three
Crystal
He stood in her vandalized kitchen. Gotham's Prince. Bruce Wayne, who could trace his lineage back to the Mayflower and beyond through two of Gotham's founding families. He stood in her tiny apartment, which her ex-husband had torn apart in a rage after Batman's visit the day before, and asked to take care of her daughter.
"You brought him in here, despite knowing he had threatened your daughter," the man said earnestly. He glared at the cans on her table. "Your daughter is in danger, Mrs. Brown."
She glanced away, the heat of shame flushing her cheeks.
After Arthur had destroyed the apartment, she had screamed at him to get out. He had yelled back that she was not worth his time anyway, before he left. Crystal had fallen to her knees, sobbing, in the debris of her life. After a hard cry, she had crawled into her armchair and drank herself to sleep.
"I know, but what am I supposed to do?" She sniffled. For a second his face hardened and she felt like she was looking at an entirely different man than the slow, earnest, rich man. It did not feel like she was drunk enough yet this morning to be seeing things like that. She blinked, and the fierce, powerful look was gone.
"Stephanie is good friends with my daughter Cass and my kinda-foster son Timmy Drake. You know the Drakes? They are out of the country on some archeology expeditions and I am raising Timmy, so he can have a stable high school experience. I would like to have Stephanie live with us. I have grown fond of her, and she's such a big help to Cass. Do you know Cass? She was badly abused and never learned to talk until she was a teenager. Stephanie has been a great friend in helping her," He babbled, glancing awkwardly around the room.
"She's the girl with aphasia? Yes, Stephanie introduced her once. I can't picture Timmy," Crystal said vaguely. Wayne's lips tightened briefly, then he picked up one of the fallen kitchen chairs. As he pulled it closer to her, he took hold of her hand.
"I know Stephanie is almost grown up, but I want to make sure she is safe through her last years of childhood and beyond," he said quietly. "I don't want to take her away from you. I would like to see you well and safe too, but my first concern must be Stephanie."
"Of course," the mother agreed. Here was a rich man offering to raise her daughter safely and securely. Stephanie would want for nothing money could buy. Her future would be assured. Worse, she would be able to be a teenager instead of her mother's caretaker. Not only was Wayne wanting to give Crystal's daughter the best material care, he was offering her a life as a child, with a safe family.
Oh, Crystal was not blind to what some said about Wayne's predilection for taking in strays. She did not believe them. She had been an emergency room nurse for over a decade before the stress got to her. Crystal had seen abused kids brought in by their abusers. The slender waif with speech issues had beamed when her adoptive father was brought up. She and Stephanie had eagerly shared all Wayne had done to help her.
There was the lanky teenage boy who stopped by on rare occasions, too.
"Is Timmy the quiet boy?" Crystal asked. Wayne looked surprised. "I'm not sure I was ever actually introduced. Stephanie usually darts out the door the moment he arrives. She doesn't want him to see this."
"Probably. I don't think Dick or Jason would be called quiet," Wayne replied in cautious vagueness.
"He's not in your home just because his parents are out of the country, is he?" Crystal said. "He's got that look when he sees me, as if he is expecting me to yell or hit. His mother hurt him, maybe his father too."
Now there was clear surprise on Wayne's face. Crystal smiled sadly and then looked away. Of the six pictures showing her daughter growing up, only one remained upright on their shelf. It was her first high school picture, taken days before her first blow out fight with her father. For the first time, Crystal could see the careful blankness in her own daughter's eyes.
"I am an alcoholic, but I was an emergency room nurse for a dozen years. I know the look of a neglected, abused child. Your daughter and the Drake boy both have it, but not when you are the subject. I am not a fool, Mr. Wayne"
"That makes your present situation worse."
She flinched but nodded in agreement. "I know. I really have no choice here. Do you know about her? What she did to take Arthur down? She made herself a vigilante. I'm not sure she ever stopped."
Silence met this declaration. The mother kept her eyes tilted downwards. She could imagine the shock on his face, the way he would change his mind, the disaster of her daughter in a cape. All because her mother had taken a drink, rather than stand up for her daughter.
"I don't tell anyone this, but you should know. I think you're a good man, but you might not want to run the danger," Crystal laughed. Bitter tears burnt her eyes. "The worst part? I hear of the purple cape and there is a moment of pride. That's my daughter, standing up for our city. I know what dangers she must run, and I've never managed more than a token protest."
As she rambled on, she became aware Wayne was still holding her hand, the grip tightening. She looked up, expecting disgust. Instead, she met the eyes of a man never seen in the public. His whole demeanor had changed. This was not some sheepish philanthropist. This was a man who knew exactly what she was saying.
"I am aware, Mrs. Brown," He said firmly. The thought flashed across her mind that there was more going on here than she knew. That Gotham's playboy Prince was nothing more than a mask for a brilliant, commanding man. She gasped, not certain she could believe that he was… the Batman. He met her eyes. "I know. I mean to make sure she is safe as she stands up for the City, and the World."
Stephanie
Mom started to get out of the car before Alfred reached her door. Standing between Cass and Tim, Stephanie cringed a little as she wondered what the response would be. She was desperate for this to be real. Talking to her mom was the first legal step in making it real.
Cass tightened her grip on Steph's hand.
"Blondie's mom is here!" Jason roared up the stairs
"Are you okay?" Tim asked softly. She could almost forgive him, but he had kept a bit of distance between them, recognizing that she was upset, recognizing that he had made Batman and Robin's relationship more important than her. They would have to talk when the emotions of today had calmed.
"I will be. I hope, I hope she can accept this," Stephanie said, reaching out her hand in a peace offering. He took it in his cautious way, a bit of hesitation as he waited to see if he was truly welcome. This was slowly improving, but ten months could not undo all the conditioning of fifteen years. Cass tightened her grip on Stephanie's other hand. Unlike Tim, Cass could see the intent of each movement and always went to meet the physical attention eagerly.
With the hands of her two best friends holding her steady, she walked towards the stairs to meet her Mom.
Crystal looked a little worse for wear. She was not drunk, but not quite hung over either. Nor did she have any injuries, so Dad had not hurt her after Stephanie fled. That had been Stephanie's biggest fear.
"Mom, you're okay!" She cried, letting go of the warm hands and flying down the stairs into her mother's shaking embrace. "I was worried he would hurt you, but I was afraid I couldn't stop him if I stayed."
"I'm ok. The apartment is torn up, and I'm afraid very little of your room is salvageable," Mom said sadly. "I am so sorry, Stephanie. I thought maybe he had changed. I wanted him to have changed. I wanted to go back a decade to when we were happy."
"I know, I'm sorry, Mom," Stephanie replied. Bruce came up to them, his eyes sweeping over Stephanie like they so often swept over Tim. Warmth flooded her. He was still worried for her. "Did, did Bruce talk to you?"
"Yes, and I am so sorry I've failed you so badly. I should have been better, I should have been there for you," and Crystal broke down sobbing. Jason and Dick immediately backed towards a door, looking alarmed at the sight of a woman in tears. Alfred solemnly held out a box of tissues, while Bruce gently placed a hand on the mother and daughter's shoulders.
"We'll make it right," Bruce said in the calm, confident tone he used as a Father. "Stephanie has something more to add. Stephanie, she knows."
"Knows?" Jason demanded, from the doorframe as Mom rubbed her eyes viciously to stop the stream of tears. "Knows about the…" He stuck two fingers on either side of his head.
"Yes," Bruce said solidly. "She was worried that if I knew Stephanie was Spoiler, I would change my mind. She has given her word that the secret stays with her."
"Mom's good at secrets," Stephanie agreed. She took her mom's hands. "I want you to be safe too, Mom. I'll be safe here,"
"Or as safe as a Gotham vigilante can be," Jason interrupted, leaning casually in the door, eating a handful of peanuts pulled from his pocket. Stephanie glared at him.
"Not helping," She hissed. "Mom, Dad may try to hurt you when he realizes he can't get me. I want you to go to rehab. A good rehab. I want you to get better."
"Stephanie, that didn't work before," Crystal sighed.
"Part of helping you raise Stephanie, means making sure she can have a relationship with a mother that loves her," Bruce spoke up. "I have a friend, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, who has had success with some of her patients at a small, quiet center about an hour west of here. They are very discreet. The Justice League has partnered with them, and their staff are trusted to help the North American superheroes. Stephanie has won the right of protection under the Federal Vigilante Protection Act that finally went into effect this year. This includes you as her family."
"I thought you had to be associated with the League for that?" Stephanie exclaimed. "I've never been affiliated with the League."
"Anyone Batman registered with the League as an Associate is protected. I listed anyone who works in Gotham, whether I agreed that they belonged on the streets or not," Bruce said in a stunning reply.
Stephanie did not know how to absorb this.
There had been a battle in Congress about the vigilante superheroes for as long as the Justice League had been public. The arguments had initially started about how to regulate the group, but public opinion had gradually changed that to how to protect them. When a young meta vigilante was unmasked and then murdered, the Vigilante Protection Act was introduced. It finally passed two years ago, and went into effect the past January. The Justice League was granted immunity from revealing their identity, with fines and jail time for someone who intentionally and maliciously made the revelation.
The entire North American Superhero/vigilante community could no longer be hunted by the police for their work.
Now Stephanie belonged in that special group. Batman, Bruce, had granted her legal protection for the good she had done with Spoiler. Bruce had protected her even before he had opened his home.
"I don't need charity!" Crystal snapped, bringing Stephanie out of her dazed wonder.
"It's not charity," Bruce replied sternly, "You've agreed to give me parental rights to let your daughter finish growing up healthy and safe. Part of that includes having you healthy and present for her."
"I don't need your money!"
Stephanie cringed. Dick and Jason were backing up again, but Tim suddenly stepped forward.
"Mrs. Brown, what if we arranged to let you work for it once you are healthy?" He said mildly. Mom looked incredulous, but everyone else gave Tim their full attention. "With our family growing, Alfred could use an assistant in caring for us. Obviously, that entails a lot more than what a butler does. You were a nurse, so you have some of those skills."
"Please, mom," Stephanie murmured.
Please let us have this fresh start, please let me belong, please come back.
"Can I have some time to think about it?" Crystal asked cautiously.
"Of course, but we don't want you going back to the apartment. Perhaps a hotel?" Bruce offered.
"I have a home bound Aunt who always likes me to visit. I'll have to listen to a few sermons, but Arthur doesn't know where she lives. She only moved back to Gotham after he was sent to prison."
Relief flooded Stephanie.
Cass
When Stephanie decided to go to the apartment to salvage what she could, Cass and her three brothers came along. Bruce would have come with too, and in fact wanted them to wait until he could, but the girl did not want to wait. It had been overwhelming for Stephanie to realize that Bruce had been watching out for her, even while trying to get her out of the vigilante life. Their paternal mentor had no more qualms about sharing everything he had with Stephanie, from wealth, to protection, to training. After two years of longing, Stephanie was getting what she wanted.
It was more than she expected it to be.
Cass understood where she was coming from. Jason and Tim also understood. Despite Bruce's arrogant, domineering nature, he never wavered in his affection, his protection. For the four younger members of his growing family, they had not always had that protection from their biological families.
Dick alone was oblivious to the slight weariness in Stephanie's eyes as he drove them into the city. Fortunately, his chatter was all about his thoughts on opening a gymnastic center, since his cop career had ended when Bludhaven was annexed by Gotham. It was one thing to be Bruce Wayne's son in Bludhaven, though only fifteen minutes away, but when reorganization had meant he would be working with long time Gotham cops, there had been immediate issues.
They were pretending like Stephanie was not dazed by the sudden changes in her life. By tomorrow morning, Bruce Wayne's wealth would have paved the way for his legal guardianship to be approved.
When they got to the apartment, Jason and Dick insisted on scoping it out first, leaving the three minors to stretch themselves out after being a bit cramped in the car. With her favorite brother and her sister, Cass was content to wait.
"All clear!" Jason hollered above their heads from the apartments front window. Tim glared half-heartedly, but Cass was not worried about being noticed. They had all dressed down, carrying themselves not like the Waynes, but a bunch of young men and women helping a friend out. Baseball caps, beat up jeans and gym shoes, and no one would do a double take to see the Waynes in these middle-class kids.
The apartment was trashed, remnants of Cluemaster's fury. Cass tightened her fists, imagining Stephanie under that fury. No more chance of that. Stephanie belonged to them now.
Stephanie tensed when she saw her bedroom, which was worse than the rest of it. Most of her things were broken or slashed. Clothes, books, knickknacks in a sad pile on the floor. Around her, their brothers tensed, seeing how dangerous Arthur Brown could be in unrestrained fury.
"I think everything needs to be replaced," Tim said firmly, "let's salvage what we can and make a list of things we need to get."
Stephanie poked around the piles, occasionally stiffening when some important picture or present appeared. After a few minutes of picking things up and tossing them in the garbage bags Alfred had sent along, the tension bled out of Stephanie. She darted into the closet, rummaging around until she emerged carrying a backpack with drywall dust and spiderwebs on it. A smile beamed at the curious onlookers.
"He didn't get the really important stuff," she announced opening the bag. There was a change of clothes and a small bag of sundries on top, but underneath it was a locked box and a photo album. "These are my mementos of the last couple years. Plus, it's my emergency kit. Everything else is replaceable."
Jason poked his nose in the back pack.
"We need to review your idea of an emergency kit. You don't have any food here," He pointed out seriously. None of the others had ever been in a place where they could not get food, although they had all trained themselves to think that way. It was always the first thing in Jason's kits, the consequences of being a street kid.
"Oh, I have some in my safe house, plus I can get into some of Tim's stashes," Stephanie shrugged.
"I think my first lesson is going to be showing you the various safe houses and stashes around the city," Jason replied fiercely. "Timmy has shown you what he knew he could get away with, but now you have to know them all."
"Plus, we'll need to update your safe house now that we can get you on the official network," Tim added. "And I've already started a list of other things we can do. Bruce will want to revamp your costume to include a few extra things, but you will need to make the final design."
"Oracle has had your bat network profile ready to go for months," Dick interjected, "she was just waiting until she was mad enough for Bruce to give in to her."
Stephanie looked at Dick in shock. Both Cass and Tim had done everything they could without attracting Bruce's attention. It was obvious their friend had no idea that Oracle had even accepted the idea that Spoiler was not leaving the fight.
"Bruce never hated you," Cass spoke up when the shiver of fear ran through Stephanie's body. "He's always been afraid for you, afraid that you would get hurt. That's why he pushed you away. No, it was not fair to you, but he never pushed you away because you weren't important."
"Bruce doesn't know how to show his care and affection the right way," Dick added, resting his hand on Stephanie's tense shoulder. "Believe me, I know him. None of us have never doubted that he is a bully because he was afraid for us."
"He won't change his mind about me?" Stephanie asked, her normal brilliant personality shrunk to a shy, frightened child for the moment.
"No. Sometimes, if you get hurt, he'll overreact and want to pull you off the streets. You'd think after five of us, he'd be used to it, but most of us have learned to give him a little leeway when he is worried," Dick said with a shrug.
Warmth filled Cass when she saw Stephanie relax.
Bruce
Jason, Dick, Cass, and Tim were out on patrol, leaving Bruce with Stephanie in the cave. Oracle had set up Spoiler's access to the Bat Network so quickly Bruce had a feeling she had been planning it before the events made Bruce realize Stephanie belonged there despite his fears. Suspiciously, Stephanie had a working knowledge of the network already, something the Dark Knight rightfully attributed to Tim. Mingled guilt and relief that Stephanie had had a safety net of sorts as she fought so hard to be recognized, filled Bruce.
The short relationship between Tim and Stephanie had ended amicably that same day. They could not publicly date while living in the same house, where the tabloids would make a big deal about it. Stephanie was hurt by Tim's decisions to keep his protests about the Bat's treatment of Spoiler private. Both teenagers had been relieved to find they were on the same page. Considering very little changed between them that afternoon, except that Tim was more distant about getting into Stephanie's personal space, Bruce suspected the momentary attraction had been more about the need for peers in their vigilante lives.
"Tim will be setting up your bank accounts for both your personal needs and for Spoiler," Bruce said as Stephanie played around with some patrol logs. "I assume you wish to keep Spoiler and not change the identity?"
Stephanie gaped at him. "I'm getting bank accounts?"
Bruce frowned, trying to remember if Tim or Cass had said the same thing. Jason had, but Jason had had the least out of them all. Thinking back neither of the other two current minors had been surprised by the accounts, though Cass had shown a little amazement in the amounts at her disposal. Tim was the least fazed by it all, and had his fingers in the shared accounts sooner than Dick or Jason ever had.
"Of course," Bruce said cautiously. "I'm not going to treat you differently from the others. I've made that mistake once. You're mine, now."
A pair of blue eyes blinked at him. "But I've not met your training requirements yet."
"I think you will meet them faster than I expect. Besides if you ever chose to give up Spoiler, you will still need the personal account."
Her eyes only grew wider. Bruce felt a little self-conscious, uncertain about her reaction. All of his children had reacted in similar ways when realizing what they had access to. It was as if they did not believe that everything he owned was theirs too. He was now Stephanie's official paternal figure, so of course this included her.
"You'd keep me even if I wasn't part of the Bats?" She whispered, her voice smaller than he had ever heard from her.
"Of course," the patriarch said, as dumbfounded by the question from her as he had been from each of the others. He had not taken Dick in to have a partner. He had brought Jason in as a partner, but even that was in hopes of saving the boy from the statistics of Crime Alley, not as a servant.
"Wow," Stephanie whispered, "you really don't get how amazing that is."
Words came easy to Batman, to Brucie, to the various masks, but Bruce, the grieving boy who still held the wound of losing his parents, often struggled to speak the words his chosen family needed.
"I'm not just Batman," was what he came up with for this daughter, "Batman is a big part of me, but so is my family. Part of Batman's mission is to make sure children don't grow up without parents. All of you are another part of that mission."
She wiped her eyes and grinned up at him. "So, Bruce, what should I learn first?"
The father was grateful for the diversion away from the emotional impact of having children. Actions had always spoken more truths than words, but not everyone read his actions the same way. Apparently, some of his children needed words as his actions. He knew he could crush her with rejection now. Bruce wondered how so many of his children's biological parents had never trembled under the weight of having that kind of power, had even used that power to shatter the young men and women.
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Next Chapter: The Introduction of Damian!
