I am posting this early since I will be having my surgery tomorrow and I may not be able to post it on Friday. I will try to post the next part next week, but the doctor may want me to stay in bed at least for several days.

A/N ^ represents thought speech. Samantha, being a healer, has opened pathways in everyone's minds so they can talk without words, especially to the unborn children. It can be used to speak privately with someone. Not everyone in the bat family will use this form of communication. The Unborn children speak using their auras. ~ is the symbol for that.

Scarlet Fever

Part 4: Making up and Mental Revelations

Two more days and nights had gone by and Tim still hadn't approached Samantha's door, and his brothers still would not let him out of their sight. At first no one wanted to let him patrol. Tim had to put his foot down.

"I need this," Tim said. "I'm going stir crazy at home."

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Bruce asked. "Alfred hasn't cleared you."

"Bruce, I'm fine," Tim lied. He had been avoiding talking about the rape. It seemed to paralyze him every time he thought about what happened. He needed to do something with his time, something that would keep him from thinking about what happened to him.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Dick stated.

"You better, the Scarecrow is no one to mess with."

"We've dealt with him before," Nightwing said.

"Just watch each other's backs."

And after an extremely exhausting night of patrol and going after Scarecrow, Tim didn't remember coming home or going up to bed. Tim woke up in Dick's room. He turned over and almost fell off the bed when an arm wrapped around his waist. "Watch where you're going baby bird," Dick yawned. "Why am I still in my Red Robin uniform?"

"You don't remember?" Dick asked. His head was pounding. "Someone turn down the light please."

"Are you all right?" "Yeah, i'm okay, sort of. Did Bruce or Alfred use a sedative on me," Dick asked. He looked over to see Damian sleeping on the other side. "Wait. Damian is here, too? What happened?" "You don't remember?" "I remember holding you, and yelling at Bruce for trying to take you away." "You were yelling at Bruce?" Dick nodded. "I guess I don't remember much either. Must have been unconscious at the time. I should apologize for the way I acted." "Um . . . I think he'll understand." "What did happen?" Dick asked.

"Apparently, you got hit with fear toxin. You thought Bruce was some kind of demon that was after me."

"Yeah? But I think I hurt you."

'My ribs are a little sore, but other than that, I'm okay."

"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to," Dick apologized. "I know. You couldn't help it." Tim said. "Be quiet, the both of you," Damian yawned. "Good morning sunshine," Tim said and reached over and patted Damian's head. "Don't start Drake," Damian smiled, and then swiped at Tim's hand. "Hahahaha. Maybe I better go get changed." "Take a shower, you stink," Damian teased as Tim left the room. Tim started to rise and looked back at Dick. He was being cautious, expecting Dick to grab ahold of him and grip him like he did before. This seemed to happen every time Tim had been kidnapped. Tim found it curious, but not unexpected. He was Dick's little brother. He just chalked it up to Dick not having him in his life the first 13 years. Dick yawned and turned to hold Damian. Damian settled into his embrace and they fell back to sleep. That seemed to ease Dick's fears. Tim got up and went to the cave to change out of his uniform and went into the shower. He had a few more bruises than he had before, but they were worth it. Taking down Scarecrow and his men was payback for all the grief he had put them through at one time or another. Once done, Tim went upstairs, but he didn't go to his room. He went across the hall to Samantha's room and tapped on the door. He was finally to talk to her after realizing he was probably being foolish and he did need to apologize to her for leaving so abruptly after the cotillion. When she didn't answer he quietly stepped inside. He found her asleep. She looked so beautiful when she slept. Tim sat on the bed and leaned over and gave her a kiss. Samantha felt a pair of lips on hers. "mmmm...Tim?" "Ummmmhhmmm," Tim continued to kiss her. Samantha opened her lips to let his tongue slip inside. He smelled delicious. She could tell he just got out of the shower. Samantha was enjoying kissing Tim when her thoughts returned to the past six weeks that Tim had been gone. She pushed him away then sat up.

"Sammie, what's wrong?"

"I'm still angry at you."

"Why?" Tim asked.

"You left without saying goodbye."

"There wasn't time," Tim explained. "I didn't know Bruce was going to send me out of town the next day after the cotillion."

"And why didn't you tell me you were some kind of vigilante?"

"Um . . . crime fighter. There's a difference." Tim corrected. "I was going to tell you . . ." Tim started to say when Sammie interrupted him.

" . . . Not only that, your whole family does it." "You know everything?"

"Yes, Timothy Wayne, I know everything." Samantha repeated his words.

"I'm glad."

"You're glad? Well, I'm not," Samantha complained. "You could get hurt. You, you were hurt. No, everyone thought you died."

"I wasn't in uniform . . . "

" . . . That doesn't matter. I was the only one who knew you were alive. It was killing me inside and your children, they . . . They were very upset."

"I'm sorry Sammie, I didn't mean to upset anyone. It's not like I did it on purpose."

"You have to be more careful," Samantha argued. "You're going to be a father. I don't want to be raising two children alone without you."

"You won't be alone . . . " Tim tried to explain.

" . . . You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know," Tim tried to comfort Samantha. "I'm really sorry. I didn't plan on getting kidnapped and being away for so long."

"I missed you. I left my island home to be with you."

"I know you did," Tim brushed his lips up against Samantha's. He wanted to get back to kissing her. "So, I know this is your room. And I've been taught that girls should not be alone in their room with a boy. Can I stay?" "Oh…I don't know," Samantha started to play along. "You promise to keep your hands to yourself?" "Well," Tim put a finger in his mouth and looked toward the ceiling like he was thinking about the question. "I hear girls can be just as . . . " Tim blushed and backed away just a little ways acting shy. "Naughty?" Samantha teased. "Well, I don't know about this girl. I can behave . . . Sometimes." She gave Tim a wicket grin like she had on the island when they first met. "Well, I guess I'm looking for a little naughty," Tim confessed. "I've been good all day."

"I'm looking for naughty too." Samantha pulled Tim closer so she could whisper in his ear. "Can you be a bad boy in bed?" Tim blushed then whispered back. "Let's find out." Samantha smiled and went down to kiss his neck. Tim nuzzled Samantha's neck as well. They were wrapped in each other's arms. Tim hands started to explore Samantha's body. Both were't aware of the time and they didn't come up for air for what ended up being the whole day, until Tim's stomach growled.

"Oh man I forgot about breakfast," Tim stated. "It's way past that. I think we've missed lunch and dinner."

Tim looked out the window. It was getting dark. "Oh man, I've got to go."

"Do … Do you have to go?" Samantha was aware that Caine wasn't so happy at his father trying to leave. "It's part of my job. I help keep Gotham safe. Tell you what I'll only be gone for a few hours." "Oh don't tell me," Samantha smiled and pointed to her belly. "Tell him. You can't tell he's upset?" Tim placed a hand on Sammie's belly and sure enough, he could tell through his aura that his son Caine was indeed agitated. ^It's okay Caine. I'll be back. I need to be out there, helping Batman as much as I can. How about I take my brothers with me?^ Caine must've said no because his aura lashed out and Tim pulled his hand away. "Whoa there little guy. Your brother is in there with you." Tim placed his hand on Samantha's belly again. He didn't know why Caine would be so upset. ^Caine, having a tantrum isn't helping. You'll upset your brother.^ "Our little boy is stubborn. I think he's mad at you." Samantha rubbed at her belly. ^It's fine Caine, calm down.^

"I'll make it up to him later. Come on. Let's get some dinner. I'm sure the boys are hungry. We kind of spent the whole day in bed." ^Mommie is a goddess. You need to protect her.^

Samantha's eyes widened. "Tim, you heard that in your head right. I wasn't imagining this right?" Tim's eyes grew wide as well. "I heard it too." Tim placed his hand on Samantha's belly, again. ^I promise I won't let bad stuff happen to her if I can help it, but your Mommy can protect herself.^ Samantha smiled. "Well, that's a new development." Samantha got up to put clothes on.

"Caleb is pretty quiet. I hope everything is okay with him." "I'm sure he'll talk when he wants to."

Tim put his briefs and jeans back on. He picked up his shirt and put that on as well. Samantha got dressed slipping on a pair of loose fitting jeans and a hoodie. There was no need to get dressed up if she wasn't going anywhere. They went down to the dining room to find Bruce, Jason, Sasha, Dick, and Damian already seated at the table. Alfred was serving the meal. "Sorry we're late," Tim said. So, this is what the dining room looks like. I almost forgot." "Come sit down," Dick smiled at Tim.

Tim sat next to Dick and his brother ruffled his hair.

~Mommy, sit next to Aunt Sasha.~

^No baby, there are no more seats.^ Samantha said privately to Caine as she moved to her usual seat on the other side of the table.

Samantha sighed. She could tell that Dick was being overprotective of Tim since they rescued him. She didn't understand why Tim didn't tell his brother off. She became distracted when Sasha changed the subject. "Um did I just hear a little voice in my head?" Sasha asked.

"Uh, yes...that was Caine." "How was that possible?" Sasha asked. A pang of jealously hit her in the pit of her stomach. Sasha had not heard her children like that. She was aware of their movement, but not their voices. ~Don't worry Aunt Sasha . . . You can hear them . . . Just concentrate~

"I don't know," Samantha said responding to Sasha's question. "Caine got mad at Tim. I mean really agitated." Alfred placed a plate of food in front of Tim. "Thanks Alfred.. " Tim dug into his plate and then he was aware of Dick, Jason, Bruce, and Damian staring at him. "What? I'm hungry." "Why did your baby get mad at you? How could you even tell your kid is mad at you?" Dick was curious. "I could feel their auras," Tim answered. "Um he doesn't want me to go on patrol and he doesn't want his mother to have bad stuff happening to her. Those were his words, not mine." Tim took a bite of food. "You're going to go on patrol after what happened?" Jason took a bite of food.

"Yeah, last night was the first time I had been out on patrol for weeks." Tim took another bit. "Bad stuff? What kind of bad stuff? Is he talking about sex? Did you hurt Auntie?" Damian scowled at Tim from across the table. "Damian! You can't say things like that," Dick said.

Tim nearly spewed his water across the table. "No, I did not, and no on the sex thing. As for bad stuff, I'm not sure where Caine is coming from." Jason had to hold his hand to my face to stop from spitting out his food. He couldn't stop laughing.

Bruce put his fingers on the bridge of his nose. He had to hand it to Damian, he got right to the heart of the matter, but he kept to the subject at hand. "You are determined to go on patrol again, Tim? After last night I thought you would take it easy." "I need to go on patrol." ~Dad no!~

"Hush Caine," Samantha whispered as she took a bite of her food.

"I don't mind going," Dick shrugged, making it look like he didn't really mind, but his stomach was doing flip-flops. He wasn't fully recovered from Scarecrow's fear toxin, but he needed to be there to protect Tim.

"Same here," Jason said. He kept his thoughts to himself. He needed to get into his territory and get what was owed him. Sasha knew about it, but she promised to keep it a secret. ^Caine why are you so determined that I don't leave? I need to do my job.^ ~Caleb said something bad is going to happen to Uncle Jason if you go! You're going to get hurt, too.~ Tim got up and came close to his fiancé and placed his hands on her belly. "Uncle Dick and Uncle Damian will be with us. We protect each other. You'll understand when you are older. The job of a crime fighter is to fight crime." Tim gave his sons a mental kiss. "Come Jason, Dick let's go. You coming Damian? Bruce you coming?"

"Just let me finish my dessert," Damian said, as he shoveled the food into his mouth.

"You three go ahead. I'll join you later." Bruce said. "Damian, you know you're only allowed to be in the cave after what you did."

"Father, that's not fair."

"You got Dick into a mess of trouble. Tim could have also gotten hurt."

Samantha felt her stomach lurch at that.

"You are confined to monitor duty until further notice."

"Me, Pennyworth is supposed to do that."

"Damian, don't make me ground you any further," Bruce growled.

"Yes, Father." Damian scowled. 'Stupid Drake. I could have taken Scarecrow out if he hadn't gotten in the way. It's his fault that Grayson got hit by fear gas. And now i got stuck sitting next to Todd's pregnant woman.' As Bruce's three older son's left, Samantha couldn't help wondering, was Caine right? It was hard enough trying to keep her fears from Tim, now she had to keep those fears from her children. 'If Tim gets hurt a second time, I don't know if I can take it.'

~Mommy, I don't think Daddy understands. Who's the guy with the crowbar?~

"Crowbar?" Samantha looked around the room. "No one here has a crowbar sweetie."

Even so, Samantha couldn't help feeling some trepidation.

Continues with Part 4