A faint sound was heard, and she turned her head slightly to see Leslie leading the rest of her beloved pack, noticing Alfred and Bruce coming in slowly with their eyes widening, almost freezing in stunned astonishment and bittersweet grief; Bruce, seeing his mother dancing with his father as it used to be so many times, and Alfred, seeing his dear best friend and former employer dancing with his recent employer and beloved friend, just like in old times, being told that Thomas is an angelic spirit, unable to stay forever, only able to come on Halloween, due to magic, which is something they can believe, since after all, Martha changes into a gamma amazon, and that Martha is in her astral form, tied/bonded to She-Hulk who apparently has a name now, Kel, as an easier name, to fit her.
"Daddy!", Bruce cried as he practically raced towards them; almost completely ignoring his new baby sister but in his young mind, he could have plenty of time with her in a bit, right now, every moment was precious with his father who had so little time left... but perhaps just enough to say some true goodbyes; ones he didn't really get to have both during the shooting as well as the funeral.
Thomas glanced over with tears, smiling as Martha gave him a bit of leeway, smiling, halting their dance, as 5 minutes was spent of them waltzing around, but she couldn't blame Bruce for wanting to hug Thomas, especially with Thomas looking to have 30 minutes left now.
Thomas leaned down, opening his arms, and was nearly taken aback by Bruce's hug, but he held his ground as he hugged Bruce, picking him up, twirling him as Bruce laughed with tears, remembering how Thomas did that, and they dropped down to the ground as Bruce sobbed, "I'm sorry, Daddy! I should have sided with Mommy, said no, or said something about wanting another dessert again at the restaurant while waiting for Alfred!", hugging his daddy tightly, having been told that Thomas had some sort of power to be touchable and solid while still being transparent for he was somehow holding into Kel's hand and all the whole time through everything in Kel's need of support.
He didn't want to leave so far from the den, and he was nervous when the sounds of pain got louder, but was told by Alfred that it was only a sign that the birth of the baby was happening, and never heard his other parents' encouragement and all as Alfred took him up just of the study, but he was insistent on not leaving the caverns at all, so they sat on the stairs, or on the landing of the secret entrance, playing card games or a chess game that Alfred brought from the study all those few hours.
"It's alright, Bruce... it's okay... we never could've guessed what would happen... had the same conversation with your mother already.", Thomas chuckled as he looked to Martha.
"Is... is everything alright with you, Mommy?", Bruce asked as Martha nodded, "This is just temporary, Bruce... a few more hours and then it'll be like before where either me or Kel can be around, never both at the same time.".
Thomas replied, "Actually, I was told vaguely that the mark gift is either staying or leaving depending on how much Kel and Martha wants to be there together if Poppy wants both her mama and mother together to give her attention while Bruce is being tutored or something...", holding up a hand up, "I don't know, honestly! I was only informed surely of being here for my family as a one-time chance tonight for all my family, and honestly, I was focused more on reuniting with all of you, if only to be there throughout Poppy's birth and have some true goodbyes as that night was...wasn't fair on all of us as I never got a chance to say...", looking at Kel and Martha apologetically as he kissed and ruffled Bruce's hair.
Leslie commented, "I hate to be the counting person here, but you have about 27 minutes left...", with a nod, looking at the family.
"I hate it...", Martha admitted. "I hate how so little time there is...", she started to sniffle. "I know; after you were cured, I felt so overjoyed that I would be able to spend decades with you...", Thomas sighed.
Kel replied hesitantly, "And even me?", while caressing Poppy in her almost finished meal, overjoyed that Thomas had declared that he loves both of her and Martha as they are their own selves yet in the same body, and she knew Thomas is dead as she couldn't smell him, but seeing him, it made her wonder if he knew, if he had survived like a gunshot to the side or shoulder where he could get surgery, could he live with two women who loved him, and yes, spend decades together?
"Of course...", Thomas smiled as Kel nearly broke down herself in happy tears hearing that from him. "You're still part of Martha, but you're also your own person and these past months I've been watching over... you share so many of the traits that I fell in love with Martha alongside.".
Bruce looked between his parents in curiosity, seeing that his mother wasn't bothered at all by her husband having feelings, maybe actual love for Kel, and that his mother seemed to love Kel too, and Kel loves them both.
He then spoke, "I don't know what my baby sister, Poppy says, but I don't care what anybody out there thinks about this, I love all of you!", with a proud smile, and as if Poppy understood her big brother, she gave an eager squealing coo in agreement, her excitement and happiness firing up for her parents again as her skin went from its mixed skin tone to emerald green again, having finished her meal.
All three parents beamed at their son proudly, even if they were still a bit worried about Poppy, and Thomas exhaled, "I know Leslie doesn't have a problem as she was here all this time, which I really appreciate...", with a thankful smile at Leslie who nodded with a small smile, as Thomas replied, "But there's still someone left...", glancing at Alfred as he spoke softly, "I wouldn't be upset as I would understand if you are bothered about this, considering that you, like Kel said, are the elder of this family and pack, but I ain't changing my mind about sharing my love with those two beautiful women, even if it will hurt me to leave them again, but I'd be more than relieved and happy to know that they have support and such from this family to move on...including you...", looking anxiously at Alfred who has been one of his most dearest friends, knowing that he called him his best friend and role model of a big brother.
"Sir...", Alfred said. "Alfred, please... at this moment, just call me Thomas, I'm not your employer or anything like that.", Thomas said.
"Sorry, s- I mean, Thomas... force of habit, you know?", Alfred took a deep breath. "I... I'm deeply grateful about what you said about me and what you left in your will...".
Thomas smiled at him, "You deserve it, Alfred...You became more than a servant and butler, you became a friend, a second father-figure model, a brother, an adviser, and you know Wayne Manor as much as Martha does, you deserve to be the man of the house, while Martha is the owner of the house as she deserves it, and besides, Bruce deserves to have his childhood and teen years undisturbed and unbothered about silly issues until he wants to be ready and learn how to manage a household later on.".
"I could be ready now...", Bruce admitted as Thomas chuckled, "You have always been mature for your age, Bruce... but please... don't try to grow up too fast... try to enjoy being a kid a bit longer... I know that's tough with me gone, but I promise you, you'll get through it. You've done so well already...".
Bruce sniffled, nodding, "Okay, Dad...Can I be at least brave to protect Poppy as a big brother?", and Thomas reached over and ruffled Bruce's hair, "That, you can go all the way for...Just don't overdo it, alright, son?", with a smile.
Bruce smiled, "If Poppy is like Mom and Mama, I think she will let me know anyway.", with a giggle, and Martha playfully gasped with a smile, "Oh, Bruce!", as Kel grinned.
Thomas laughed warmly, and exhaled, looking at Alfred, "You haven't answered to my new acclimation about Martha and Kel.".
"It's... it's still somewhat hard to wrap the mind around... I mean, talking to you for starters... honestly shatters everything I've ever thought of growing up and learning...", Alfred admitted.
Thomas smiled, "And I thought you got used to the thought of impossible becoming possible when you saw Kel so often with the anxiety and hormonal moods and such, making sure that the staff was gone those days and that the caverns are covered with things that aren't needed up there to be wrecked like a stress reliever which I appreciate.".
Alfred gave a small chuckle, "I admit it took me awhile, but yet I get surprised at every corner, like with the baby, Miss Poppy, or as of now...I deeply missed you, Thomas...And no, strangely enough, I'm not bothered by seeing that your heart had grown bigger to fit Kel and Poppy besides Martha and Bruce, or that you are loved by Martha and Kel, which I have to say is a very lovely name for you.", with a reassuring smile at Kel, who was anxious again, even if she was relaxed, with Martha nearby, having been waiting for Alfred's answer.
Thomas replied, "Truly?", wanting to be sure to hear Alfred's affirmation, even if he heard him already, he's protective of his mates as they care for Alfred as much as he did. He can't help himself as even if Alfred wasn't like the old farts that was on the ex-board and all, he knew that the decades weren't easy on unique people of slowly being recognized in their orientation.
"Truly.", Alfred nodded. "You probably... if you have been watching... heard what I said about staying with your family, and I plan to continue to honor that.".
Thomas left Bruce's side and Martha's side, and walked to Alfred with a smile, "And I'd not be any prouder of you, my friend, than now.", before hugging him.
Taken aback a bit, Alfred widened his eyes in surprise before returning the hug as he teared up a bit, clapping each other's back gently before stepping back, smiling at each other.
Leslie replied, "Spoiling the moment again, but you got 18 minutes left.", with a sigh, and Thomas walked to Leslie after squeezing Alfred's shoulder with a soft, grateful smile, and looked at her, "Leslie, I'd never thank you enough for looking after Martha and Kel while they were on your orders with the unusual pregnancy of Poppy and being there sometimes for Bruce when he wanted to ask polite, good questions about the mood swings and the baby's wellbeing with hiccups or such.".
"Still felt a bit out of my element at times... I never really went into my field as an OBGYN; but I suppose it wasn't too difficult to figure out.", Leslie chuckled. "Plus, with Bruce, he certainly surprised me with how much he had already learned even before asking.".
Thomas smiled proudly, "He's certainly smart, and crafty at times, through there's a difference, of course.", glancing at Bruce in the near distance who blushed, and Thomas then looked back at Leslie, "And I hope I wasn't putting too much on promoting you to the head of the science department...You were and would always be my first choice, Leslie...If we hadn't become friends while I was engaged to Martha, I wouldn't know what to do if everything...I'd have been a widowed father, and Kel wouldn't have existed, or even Poppy...", hearing a whimper of fright from Kel, hearing Martha's quick reassurance to her mate, even if he knew that Martha would have felt the same, though he would have been depressed and lost, yes, but he would live on for Bruce, to honor Martha.
Hell, maybe he and Bruce wouldn't have been out that night either if Martha...had died earlier, and Joe Chill would have robbed someone else unfortunately. "The past is the past... we have to live... or in my case, move on, with the decisions that we made... and hope, perhaps, in some strange ways that I know the living can't truly see, that it might have been for the best.", Thomas then sighed.
Leslie nodded, "Strangely enough, that makes sense to me...And Thomas, thank you for giving the chance for me to prove myself and blow all those old farts off their feet.", with a smirk as Thomas grinned back at her, and she then smiled, "And my weekend clinic is actually going to open the weekend before Thanksgiving after many months of planning and building and such after I straightened the science department out to my wishes...I appreciated the gift, using it well...".
Thomas chuckled, "Good, I can't wait to watch over you that day, and I know the people will appreciate it more than you think, Leslie...You take care of my family's health, okay?", and Leslie smiled sadly, "You know I will, Thomas...", before hugging him warmly as he returned it in earnest before backing away, with Thomas squeezing Leslie's shoulder warmly with a sad smile.
Alfred commented sadly, "13 minutes left.", and Thomas walked back, stepping over the border of the nest, and smiled at Kel, "Martha fix you up decently?".
Kel nodded, "I be decent now with hulk clothes...Poppy-pup being still awake yet getting sleepy...How can I and Martha-mate protect her if she changing so much?", with a worried glance at her daughter who is looking at her daddy, still a bit energetic as her skin is mixed again of emerald green and warm tan.
Thomas exhaled, "A miscarriage is out of the picture because Poppy will cry and all, and the staff would be suspicious...Perhaps a premature issue of health like sickness...Maybe that would deter the staff away from the family wing of the manor...".
Martha exhaled, "Then it means we really have to be around her as much as possible...If one of the staff sees her changing color in a food tantrum and such...", with a bit of her lip as Bruce frowned, "But Poppy is smart...".
Thomas replied, "Yes, she is, but she can't control her emotions very well as a baby and toddler...Would you risk the chance of a maid seeing her in the crib looking green while she's having a bad dream or crying with a wet diaper and such if both of your mothers and Alfred are sleeping or elsewhere?".
"Of course... but there is the chance too that she might not even change at all for many years..." Martha noted. "We mentioned that a bit earlier. Perhaps her gamma traits are regressive now until her body begins to truly mature and perhaps able to handle it..."
"Perhaps..." Alfred nodded. "Still; best at least to simply keep her fairly hidden away from the other staff for the time being. Especially considering how she already looks a bit older than she should..." Alfred noticed, pointing out how Poppy did look like she was a month or two older looking compared to newborns.
Kel nodded, "I and mates talked on that too...", and Bruce replied, "I will make sure that my tutor would know that the family wing is forbidden while Poppy is trying to catch up on her size and weight! A few months shouldn't be hard, right?", with a determined nod.
Poppy cried out, reaching out for Thomas, and Kel glanced at Thomas, "Can...can I and Poppy-pup dance with you too, Thomas-mate?".
Thomas smiled sadly, "Of course. May I?", offering his arms and Kel gently passed Poppy into Thomas' arms, while Martha helped Kel up, "Are you sure? Are you feeling okay after all of that?".
"I a bit sore, but I feeling better, even if instincts of being mama is still fierce. And Thomas-mate deserving to hold Poppy-pup for first and last time...", Kel whispered with tears.
"Th-thank you...", Thomas whispered, as he felt almost on the verge of tears himself at the offer. Being able to hold his daughter... even once after everything. It almost felt so odd after all the times of enteral peace and happiness that occurred once he passed from the mortal coil of the living world, only to feel sadness again.
Poppy gurgled and cooed as Thomas danced with her, swaying her as he hummed Martha and Kel's favorite lullaby, with him kissing her forehead as she couldn't keep her eyes open, "I know you want to keep seeing me, but you need to rest, baby girl...My beautiful Poppy...You don't need to compare yourself to your big brother...you are also part of me, but also those beautiful women in your mother and mama...I love you so much, Penelope Kel Wayne...", tears falling as he caressed her hair, stopping in his swaying as Poppy fell asleep fast, her green skin becoming warm tan skin again, and hopefully for a while until she wakes up again for a bath or a change of diapers.
Thomas sniffed sadly as Alfred spoke quietly, "7 minutes left.", and Thomas exhaled, kissing Poppy's forehead gently, passing her into Martha's arms before smiling sadly, bowing before Kel, "May I have this dance, my mate?".