It's 2021 and I'm actually going back through and editing all the chapters I have so far because I want to make one big change- I want Gar to be nonverbal and use sign language, though that's not going to come up in this chapter. ASL is an incredible language that I'm really interested in, I'm hoping to learn more about it and deaf culture through writing this and I want to add a little bit more representation into my stories. I hope I can do it in a respectful way but if you think I handled this incorrectly feel free to comment or privately message me.

Chapter 1

"I just need someone to watch the kids for like two hours while I get the house prepped for four more children."

"I don't have childcare experience, Bruce." Bruce hesitated and looked his friend in the eye.

"I don't either! Clark, I'm desperate. Right now I just need someone with superhuman experience."

"They're adorable, I'm happy to help, just don't expect too much from me, since I'm not a babysitter."

"Just keep them alive?" Bruce begged.

"I can probably do that," Superman promised. Bruce actually pulled him into a hug and then ushered him into the living room, where the five kids were playing rambunctiously.

"Shapeshifter, telekinetic, super strength, and cyborg." He pointed each out according to ability.

"Mm-hm. And what are their names?"

"Oh yeah, Garfield, Raven, Koriand'r, and Victor, and you already know Richard."

"Great. Hey guys! I'm Uncle Clark. What're we playing?" And then Bruce ducked out.

He guessed on clothes sizes for the four kids based on what he vaguely knew from Richard's sizing. He got toys and ordered beds and food. It must have looked ridiculous, billionaire Bruce Wayne buying baby stuff. Frankly, though, he didn't care. He was a family man now! It was terrifying!

It didn't get better when he got home.

"Hey, Bruce, don't freak out-"

"Where's Garfield?!" Bruce freaked out.

"We don't actually know…" Clark muttered.

"We have to find him!"

"We'll look, let's look!" Any part of the house that had been spared from the roughhousing of the little kids was wrecked as Bruce rampaged through it looking for his youngest.

"I've compiled a list of other superpowers your children have!" Clark shouted at Bruce.

"TELL ME LATER!" Bruce shouted back.

"Okay!" They tore the place apart.

"How'd you lose him?!"

"He turned into a frog and slipped away! I'm sorry!"

"I will forgive you when we find him!" They headed outside to the garden, and there, in the fountain, was a little green-haired boy fast asleep and soaking wet. Bruce gave Clark an exhausted look.

"I'm not going to ask you to babysit again."

"That's probably for the best. I'm really sorry, Bruce."

"Yeah, yeah. Come on Garfield, let's go inside." He changed the boy into warm, snuggly clothes, but wasn't going to take any chances with Gar's health. So, he piled the kids into the car, leaving Richard with Alfred because he didn't have a van yet. He was vainly in denial that he was becoming a guy who drove a van, but driving a van was technically better than illegally putting a four-year-old who had already been in a car accident in the front seat in a new car seat. Bruce felt worse about that than he would ever be able to feel about driving a van. But they all needed a checkup and shots, the works, and Garfield was sniffly from his swim in the fountain.

Raven and Victor didn't cry or flinch when they got their shots, because they were, as the doctor said, "brave little soldiers." Koriand'r sniffled and had to look away, but was fine once there were colorful band-aids and a blue raspberry lollipop. As for Garfield, he was hysterical without any needles. He was scared of the doctor, confused and shivering, diagnosed with hypothermia. Bruce was terrified, he was shocked and horrified and ashamed. He got Garfield to the ER as soon as possible and waited patiently as his youngest son got treated. It was clear he was the worst dad ever.

But Gar got treatment and the others were okay. Though he was fussy and confused for a few days Gar would be just fine and dandy, and Bruce used the fiasco to further throw himself into fatherhood. For the next few days, he hardly left their side. And then he was jolted back to reality by his butler.

"Master Wayne, I hate to interrupt family bonding time, but you do have a business that you need to run. Allow me to watch the little ones for a while."

"...I don't know Alfred, the last time I left them in someone else's hands things did not turn out very well. They can be a handful."

"I know sir. I need not remind you that you were also a handful."

"Fair enough, Alfred. I'll be back soon kiddos! Alfred is going to watch you! Be nice!" He was honestly petrified. He fully expected to come back to his children horribly disfigured, or the house burned down, or some sick combination of the two. He tried his best at Wayne Enterprises, but he could hardly focus and that was more than obvious to his associates. After a few hours, they sent him home, requesting that he get his head back on his shoulders, and he obliged, practically speeding the whole way there.

He ran into the house looking like a madman. He didn't smell smoke, but he wasn't fooled by his mortal senses. Something worse than fire could have happened. He heard chattering in the kitchen and ran in, still frantic.

"Master Wayne, how was work?"

"How're the kids?" He did a headcount, all were there, talking amongst themselves and coloring pleasantly.

"Everyone is in good health and having a pleasant time. They behaved like angels."

"So they didn't cause any problems?"

"No."

"And Gar didn't shapeshift?"

"No."

"And Kori and Richard didn't wrestle?"

"Master Wayne, you underestimate your children. They are all well behaved and respectful if you are well behaved and respectful towards them," Alfred explained as Gar reached over and stuck a gold star on Alfred's uniform.

"Thank you, Master Garfield, your horse is very pretty." Gar looked at the scribbly blue and red horse and giggled happily.

"Alfred…" Bruce started in disbelief, sinking tiredly into a chair next to Victor, who proudly displayed a neatly colored giraffe. Bruce smiled at Victor and gave him a thumbs-up, before turning back to the butler.

"I'm a terrible father aren't I?"

"Not terrible, just inexperienced. You'll get better, I know you will Master Wayne. You're very capable."

"Thanks, Alfred."

"I'll be available to watch the children whenever you need me to, sir. Don't forget yourself in the hustle and bustle of taking care of them." Bruce was honestly beyond gratitude. He just nodded mutely and began to color with the kids.