Making the Best of It
Chapter 29
Wayne Manor
Bruce sat in the living room with his daughter sitting next to him. Her blanket wrapped around her, her little fist holding it up to her nose inhaling its familiar and assuring scent.
Bruce was dressed in a dark suit and white dress shirt; his tie was gone, and he left the top button of the collar undone. He and Diana had plans to meet up with Lois and Clark for dinner.
A double date.
Bruce dreaded the idea, but Diana desperately needed some downtime and Bruce… couldn't deny her much of anything anymore.
He bit the bullet and let Diana make the plans and he would show up. He liked Clark and Lois, but he wasn't a social butterfly as so many of the people around him. He was trying to be better but socially he was still lacking.
He waited for Diana to finish getting ready. He had a few minutes, so he sat down with his daughter and decided to read her a story before they left. They were still waiting on their babysitter.
The father had Elissa in his lap, reading her Goodnight Moon. It was a classic to their little princess as she usually fell asleep as soon as they finished reading.
But Elissa was wide awake and was continuously fidgeting in his lap more interested in playing than getting read a story.
"Settle down," he chuckled. He placed the book beside him as he wrapped his hands around his daughter. He marveled at how big she was getting. It was already September with her second birthday fast approaching. Already they were scrambling for ideas.
"Are you going to be a good girl while we're out?" he questioned innocently.
Elissa just stared at her father, sucking on her pacifier. She released her blanket falling into her father's lap. Her little arms reached for her father wanting to play with him.
Playfully, he leaned back into the couch evading her reach only to teasingly lean forward and pulled back instantly she got too close.
His actions brought laughter to his daughter as she found him amusing. Her laughter made his heart swell as she was so innocent that it did not take too much of him to make his little princess happy.
She spat her pacifier out a look of utter joy on her face with a happy smile on her chubby face. Her little teeth protruding from her gums, with more coming in.
Before he could utter any kind words toward her, Diana entered all dolled up. She wore a black sleeveless and backless dress with a low-cut exposing a fair amount of cleavage. A slit on the left exposing her incredible leg with black stiletto heels adorned her feet. Earrings dangling from her ears, a gold necklace around her neck. Her hair was curly, with some red lipstick on her lips.
"Hello, handsome." She greeted him sultry as she was channeling a sexy aura. Bruce's reaction was exactly what she was hoping for.
His eyes widened, his mouth agape. She was certain he lost a few IQ points. The look in his eyes sent a tingle down her spine realizing he considered canceling and taking her upstairs for some alone time.
Tempting. But she wanted to go out with friends tonight. Maybe when they get home.
Eventually, Bruce's brain started to reboot. "Wow! What's the occasion?"
"An evening out," she answered readily. She made her way over to her two favorite people.
She sat next to her beau, her daughter instantly crawling into her mother's arms. "Hello, my love." She greeted her daughter warmly. Her nimble fingers quickly tickled her belly and chin bringing out warm fit of giggles.
In an instant, the woman's warm personality turned cold. Her blue eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on the clotted cut on her precious daughter's button nose. "Bruce, what happened to Elissa's nose?" her tone was absent of warmth as any harm inflicted upon her daughter was met with extreme prejudice.
Diana was a mother grizzly bear that would have you gutted and make you her new throw rug as retribution upon harming her child.
The man paled at her tone, subtly inching away from her. "Well, she scratched herself," he explained, putting more distance between them.
Diana scowled.
Elissa was oblivious as she was holding her mother's necklace, deeply entertained.
"I thought you cut her fingernails after her bath?" she was silently steaming and close to exploding. She treated anyone who directly or indirectly allowed harm to her daughter with the same contempt.
"I did. But she scratched herself before I gave her a bath. It will be gone in a few days," he assured. He finally put a fair distance between them. "It's just a tiny cut."
That was the wrong thing to say to an Amazon mother. "So, if she scratched herself on a rusty nail, it would still be okay?" she hypothetically put.
"Well, no. She would need a Tetanus shot."
"Another shot, which you know well how she detests shots," she returned heatedly.
"I do," he nodded, recalling the trying times of Elissa's immunizations with Leslie.
"And the times we must console her after such an experience," she reminded him with even more heat as Diana grew angry at her daughter's mentioned pain.
The billionaire instantly knew he was in a minefield and was constantly stepping on another. He was low on options, so he picked the only one he had available: he ran away.
"I think I hear the bat signal," he stated nervously, standing up from the other end of the couch.
"You can hear a light fixture?" her skepticism was clear as day and the daggers she was sending his way made him change tactics.
"Coming, Alfred!" he shouted, quickly exited the living room, leaving his girlfriend and their daughter with sardonic stares sent his way.
"Alfred's on vacation," the Amazon muttered wryly, shaking her head. She looked down at her daughter, whom stared at her mother innocently, her necklace was still more interesting.
Diana stared at the doorway with a blank expression on her face. "That was the most pathetic evasion that I have ever seen," she scoffed. She heard Elissa coo. "Indeed." She took Elissa's sounds as her agreeing with her.
She caressed the wound on her daughter's nose with her finger. "I hate seeing you hurt, my love." She said softly. "I don't want to see you hurt yourself." Regret welled up inside her, she should apologize to Bruce. He couldn't have prevented the scratch.
She saw Bruce carefully enter the living room. Taking a quick breath, "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I… overreacted," she admitted.
"It's okay," he assured. "I can do better."
"You already are," she assured him. She gave him a comforting smile as he sat next to her. She gave him a chaste kiss to his lips before pulling back.
"Can I interest you in cancelling and just spending a nice evening in?" he smirked at her, offering the question.
Her red lips twitched upward, "As tempting as it is, we made plans with friends," she reminded him. Although, the temptation was waning her reluctance.
He frowned and groaned as he slumped back into the couch.
"When is she getting here?"
As soon as the question left Bruce's mouth, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," the Amazon volunteered. She handed Elissa over to her father and went to the front door.
The Amazon opened the front door and was greeted to the sight of her sister, Donna Troy. She was dressed casually in jeans and a red top. With a black leather jacket and matching high-heeled boots.
"Hi, sorry!" she exclaimed excitedly as she embraced her sister. She knew she was a few minutes late.
"Thank you for coming," Diana responded gratefully.
"Always for my favorite niece," Donna promised.
"Come on in," the older brunette beckoned her inside. They made a beeline for the living room as Diana gave Donna a rundown of what to expect and what not to. "Alfred is on vacation and won't be back until the end of the week. Damian comes and goes but he shouldn't be a bother," she explained. "And the rest of the family shouldn't be here either."
"Elissa was fed and bathed already. Just give her half a bottle before bed and take it from her before she falls asleep."
As Diana spoke, Donna nodded her head silently in understanding.
"Bedtime is at eight-thirty," she said firmly. "Elissa will fight you on it, but she should have no problem as soon as she gets her bottle," she reasoned.
"Got it."
They entered to see Bruce and Elissa having a little playful tug-of-war with her blanket. Of course, Bruce let her take back her precious blanket only for him to tickle her in revenge.
He stopped when he noticed the two women out of his peripheral.
"Donna," he stood to greet her. "Thanks for babysitting," he said politely.
"No problem," she dismissed. Her blue eyes turned to the little person in the room. "Hello, there," she cooed. She took her niece in her arms with no other qualms. "How is the cutest baby in the world doing?" she questioned sweetly.
Elissa could only bury her face into her aunt's shoulder, happy at seeing her aunt.
"I missed you too," the woman stated. The woman turned back to the couple.
"Okay, we should get going," Diana said grabbing her purse. She walked up to Donna; her hand caressed the back of her daughter's head. "I love you. Be good for Donna," she told her child. Elissa turned her head as she felt her mother's hand. The side of her face pressed into Donna's shoulder.
Diana placed a gentle kiss to Elissa's temple. Her gaze went to Donna, "We shouldn't be out so late," she assured. "You have our numbers?"
"Of course," the woman answered.
"Okay. Bye, my love." The woman started to walk to the door.
Bruce said his goodbyes to his daughter. "Be good." He rubbed the back of his daughter's head and went to the threshold of the room before he waved goodbye to them.
"Say bye," Donna said sweetly as she took Elissa's arm and waved goodbye to her father.
Metropolis
It was odd. The four of them had known one another for years yet it just felt awkward at the dinner table at a fine restaurant in Metropolis. Their table was away from the other patrons for privacy. It paid to be dining with a billionaire.
Bruce and Diana seemed to be the ones responsible for the situation as the kept glancing at their phones searching for the anticipated text or call from Donna about their daughter. Donna was responsible enough for them to entrust their daughter with her. But this was their child that had someone other than Alfred babysitting for them. Alfred was Alfred. He could do anything.
Clark and Lois were nothing but polite and understanding. They had jitters when Jon was being babysat by someone new.
"So, how is Elissa doing?" Lois started the conversation. She aimed to alleviate their concerns.
The dark-haired couple looked up toward the reporter. Diana chose to respond. "Oh, she is full of energy," she said with a smile. "Always moving about," she chuckled.
"Yep, that sounds like her age group," Lois concurred. "Jon was the same. I had to put him in those baby cages to get some work done," she blurted out.
"How are things between you two?" Clark suddenly brought up.
"Clark," Lois chided her husband with a hiss. Although, she was just as curious as her husband. Ever the reporter.
The man's question caught the couple a little off guard. They shared a look with one another before Bruce responded. "We're… working on it," he admitted. What he had with Diana had been great. It worked. They were both busy but at least one of them was home with the baby. And when they had some time free, they made the most of it.
They worked on their relationship that intimacy alone couldn't solidify.
The Amazon shared a smile with her man. Her hand deftly took his own, an assuring squeeze relieved him of any doubts. His response was reciprocating the gesture providing the same comfort as she gave him.
It was then the waiter came to take their orders. And after a quick few minutes he departed with their orders.
Their conversation soon became work related as Clark spoke of Leviathan's recent increase in activity. And while Diana dreaded discussing work matters with friends that evening, she agreed that it was a serious matter to broach. Especially considering that her boyfriend's ex was in charge of it.
"I'm not sure what to make of it," Bruce confessed. "Her father is in hiding after myself and the Outsiders dealt a serious blow to his monetary and Lazarus Pit assets," he disclosed. "Talia has always been bold but from what you're telling me this seems out of character."
"She is much more subtle before she strikes, especially after her attack against me and Gotham a few years ago."
"Is it possible she's facing mutiny?" Clark suggested.
Bruce took a moment to access such an idea. Talia, like her father, detested dissent, they would kill any and all that opposed them from within.
"I need more information before I can make a claim," he stated. The other occupants at the time waited with bated breath on his next few words. "But it is possible that the zealots within her organization have found her leadership wanting," he asserted.
He saw heads nodding in understanding. Processing his opinion on the matter. He looked at Diana out of the corner of his eye. Regret twisted inside him as he chose to disclose Talia's surprise visit when he was on vacation.
"She didn't seem fazed by her strife with Leviathan the last time I saw her a few weeks ago."
The Amazon's eyes narrowed in suspicion as Bruce stated his ex came to see him. The look in her eyes told the billionaire they would be having that conversation later. In private.
"Did she mention anything?" Clark pressed. Leviathan was becoming a thorn in his side, especially in Metropolis. He wanted them gone before any more damage was done.
The billionaire exhaled as he hoped to speak with Diana about the conversation privately, but he knew Clark was just as immovable as anyone else at the table. "Nothing about Leviathan. Just about Damian. And my relationship…" he stopped as he deemed the rest private.
The rest at the table backed down as they saw they would get nothing else out of the man.
Soon their meals came, and all business talk ceased. Everything seemed fine for the two couples, unfortunately Clark heard something.
"A dam is about to collapse in California," he declared. He looked to Lois sheepishly apologetic. "I should—"
"Go," Lois told him. She was used to these occurrences. She had long before she married him. He quickly excused himself and once out of side changed into his red and blue costume and took off for California.
Diana turned to Bruce, "I should—"
"Go," Bruce said with understanding. His voice plain as he realized she should give Clark a hand.
She gave him a peck on the cheek and faced Lois. "Sorry," she uttered with genuine regret.
The reporter merely waved her off in understanding.
"I'll have your dinner wrapped for you," he promised.
"Thanks."
She left to join Clark as quickly as she could. Leaving the two mortals sitting at the dinner table. It was an awkward silence for the two of them as Lois stared at him while the man took a sip of his beverage.
Wayne Manor
Donna and Elissa sat on the couch in the living room. They had yet to move since Bruce and Diana had left for dinner. After a few tears on Elissa's part from her parents leaving her behind, Donna had managed to calm her niece down and the two were playing together.
Or more so Donna was playing with the baby.
She had Elissa in her lap, her phone in one hand, camera mode on with several filters activated. Such filters were animal based such as dogs, cats, pigs, and cows.
"What does the puppy say?" Donna leaned in close to the baby, the camera capturing them both in the filter giving them dog ears and snout. Her nimble hand tickled Elissa's belly as Donna let out a couple of woofs.
Elissa burst into a fit of laughter caused by her aunt's tickling assault.
"What about a kitty?" she paused in her assault. "What does the kitty cat say?" she put sweetly as she changed the filter to a cat.
She peppered her nieces face with kisses as she took photos of the two of them together as cats. Giggling, Elissa tried to push the woman away.
Metropolis
"Do you ever think about it?" Lois suddenly blurted the question out after an uncomfortable silence.
Bruce gave her a confused look yet failed to deliver an utterance.
"What happens a hundred years from now when we're gone and they're still here?"
"Not particularly," he grunted.
"Well, I'm sure Diana won't look any different from now and Clark… well, maybe looking a bit of a silver fox," she said fondly.
Bruce knew he never had forever. Not as Batman. And most definitely not with Diana. But he never gave it much thought.
"Do you think they will end up together?" She questioned. "I know the media speculated on their relationship for years. They still do. And I admit it still bothers me today even after marrying Clark."
The billionaire merely listened as the reporter unloaded on him regarding what she had been holding in for years.
"Diana's a valued friend. I love her like a sister," she expressed sincerely. "But I can't help but wonder what happens between them when I'm gone. I guess all those columns about them over the years make me insecure," she reasoned. "I trust Clark. I love him. And he's said there is nothing but friendship between him and Diana. Which I believe," she stated strongly. She appeared glum as she spoke of her true feelings.
Bruce listened intently as the woman expressed her true feelings. From her standpoint, she had a right to feel the way she did. But she married Clark Kent. Not publicly claimed Superman as her own. She understood the hurdles she and Clark faced as a married couple. However, he did not overthink what his relationship with Diana will evolve into. He preferred to stay in the moment and go one day at a time.
"What brought this on?" he inquired curiously. His expression as stoic as usual.
"I found a gray hair the other day," she confessed. She appeared mortified at the notion that she was getting older.
"Really?" he sounded skeptical.
"I know! I shouldn't have any gray hair. I'm too young!" she maintained emphatically. She stopped speaking, taking a calming breath. She took a sip from her drink as Bruce blankly stared at her. A pregnant pause passed before Lois returned to the topic. "So do you think about it? Them getting together?"
He shrugged, "I'll be dead by then. I doubt I will care very much. I would never tell her to be alone forever because I don't want someone else to replace me. I'm not that insecure," he pointed out.
He paused, a faraway look in his eye before he continued. "Besides, I doubt Diana and I will last," he said bitterly. Lois was startled by his words. Before she could interject, Bruce continued. "I'm not actively trying to sabotage our relationship. But I just know me well enough to know I'm going to screw up and push her away," he said sadly. "Maybe it's just the pessimist in me," he said softly.
Lois could only stare at the man sadly as he dealt with more tragedy than any other man she had ever met.
Wayne Manor
Bruce had returned home alone from dinner, a plastic bag containing Diana's meal in his hand. He looked up to see Donna greeting him.
"Hey, where's Diana?" she wondered.
"Working," was all he said. "Did she go down okay? Any trouble?"
"None," the raven-haired woman smiled. "We had some fun taking a few photos, we watched TV, we played, and she went down after a quick story," she listened off with a fond smile on her lips.
"Good. I appreciate you babysitting, Donna. Really," he told her earnestly.
"Oh, it was a pleasure," she responded happily. "Although, diaper duty is unpleasant. Disgusting really."
"Sorry."
"Still, I want to babysit. We should do this again. Let me know," she asserted.
"We'll let you know," the man promised. "Of course, you can come over to spend time with Elissa if you want," he explained.
"My days are booked," she said regretfully.
"How is that school of yours doing?"
"Making head way," she answered. "Although, they are teenagers. They are a pain in the ass."
He couldn't fault her for her opinion on teenagers. He had shared similar thoughts with all the Robins.
"I'll walk you out," he offered as he helped her get her coat and walked her to the door. "Have a good night, Donna. And thanks again."
"Anytime," the young Amazon promised as she took off.
He was down in the cave getting ready for patrol as he awaited Diana's return so he could take off. His cowl was hanging on his back as his blue eyes watched the baby monitor which he had brought down resting next to the batcomputer.
He heard boots touching down on the metallic platform that made up a certain percentage of his cave. He turned staring as Diana walked up to him. Her hair was damp obliviously from the dam. Strands of inky locks sticking to her face, her face appeared weary from a difficult mission. From the expressionless look on her face, he reasoned that they were going to talk about Talia.
Inwardly, he sighed. But he knew this was coming. "Nothing happened if that's what you are worried about."
He saw her head tilt lost on his meaning. The Amazon zeroed in on the baby monitor observing her daughter sleeping peacefully.
Her gaze turned back to her lover with a blank look in her eyes. "She looks fine. Did something happen?"
Did she forget? Was what he thought, but he answered her question first. "No, she's fine. Donna did a fine job. She wants to be our on-call babysitter," he explained to her.
"Oh, really?" she chuckled at the idea. "Well, I see no issue with that," she laughed again. "I hope she won't regret it as Elissa gets older."
The man merely grunted a ghost of a smile on his lips.
"What were you talking about earlier? When I came home," she inquired curiously.
He swallowed, taking a moment to steel himself. "About Talia."
"Oh, that's right," she exclaimed in realization. She had completely forgot about their dinner table discussion. She patiently waited for him to explain himself.
"She showed up at the beach house after you left. She didn't harm Elissa if you're worried about that. She just wanted to talk about my new relationship and my… old one."
He gave her a look filled with regret. "I didn't see the point of mentioning it," he reasoned. "She didn't seem to have any illicit intent about anything really," he now gave his meeting with Talia more thought as he was more concerned with Elissa's safety back then.
"Nothing happened?" she questioned him. Her voice stern yet fair.
"Nothing." His response seemed to satisfy her, and she relented in further questioning.
"You should not keep secrets from me, Bruce. We need to be honest with each other if we want us to work," she firmly stated.
"Of course. It's a habit that I'm trying to break," he earnestly said. He wanted to say more to describe his feelings of remorse, but he wasn't sure how to put them.
The Amazon's stern face softened as she walked up to him wrapping her arms around his neck. Pulling him close she kissed him passionately. So much so his brain crashed. He soon returned the kiss, his arms holding her tightly. Eventually, they needed to break apart for air.
"Be safe," she said to him softly before she went upstairs.
Bruce was left confidant that they were okay. He hoped that they were. And that he wouldn't screw up spectacularly.
NEXT: Trust
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