As for Poppy, she is taking up Bruce's old tutor to see where she is caught up in her brilliance if she can pass up a few grades to convince her school that she needs accelerated learning, and through the normal school hours, Poppy was informed by Martha via Michelle and Bonnie's mothers, is that the girls are taking the countryside school bus on the route of the suburbs and countryside to the manor after school lets out.
"You alright?", Martha asked Poppy as she gave a small nod. "Yeah; just… somewhat nervous, you know? I mean, word probably has gotten to them about my change once we got back, but…", she rubbed her arm.
Martha replied, "It's up to them to accept you who you are now. The fact that they want to talk to you is something good at least, but I suppose they need to see it with their own eyes. At least you got an idea with your schooling so far thanks to Bruce's old tutor...".
"I think I might have scared her a bit.", Poppy chuckled. "She thought Bruce was wickedly smart and then I came along.".
Martha smiled softly, "You are incredible because you are, and you want to be, but you are also the daughter of Kel, not just me or your father...The gamma genes might have helped with your development better and faster than a normal human's development, but it's only a part of it. You have traits from all of us, and you are the best you I am already proud of.", hugging her with an arm and kissing her forehead.
"Thanks, Mom…", Poppy took another deep breath. "I don't even know why I'm so nervous… after everything that I've been through alone… and now, you know, big and green, this whole thing should be one of the least stressful moments of my life…".
Martha replied, "I know, but you saved them in your own way too...You saved Michelle from getting kidnapped, and even if I know that the men are doing good with their families, they wouldn't forget how it felt to be prisoners as the Tweedle Twins, but you also saved them next to Kel and Bruce, and for Bonnie, you were there as a sign of hope and got her out of the cage...Situations like that sometimes bring friendships together, and they saved you from feeling lonely in school and hanging out with them...That made them worthy to be your friends, hmm?".
"Yeah.", Poppy nodded before there was a loud knock at the door. "Odds are that it is them?", she asked. Alfred's voice announced, "Missuses Michelle Williams and Bonnie Saunders!", with soon, lower chatting as Alfred must be asking for their coats and backpacks and guiding them to one of the sitting rooms which is where Poppy and Martha are.
Martha patted Poppy's shoulder, "You got this, Poppy. I'll be in your father's room to inform him of how my day was with Bruce at Wayne Entreprises and your situation.", and Poppy nodded before taking a deep breath, and then Martha left the sitting room, faintly greeting the girls, and then the two blondes came in, with Michelle, with her golden blonde hair in a ponytail, light blue eyed as always, and with Bonnie, with her dirty blonde hair in a braid, dark blue-eyed as always, carrying one single backpack, Poppy figuring that it was all the homework she missed last week as the young teenagers stared in stunned astonishment at their friend, clearly an older teenager.
"Hey.", Poppy gave a small smile as she stood up from her chair. "Sorry about the looks; didn't have much in Mom's makeup that I really liked, nor have we got the chance for some real clothes shopping yet.".
Bonnie exhaled, "You look like Poppy, except older...What was I told when we got free?", and Poppy, not blaming Bonnie for her slight wariness, replied, "I told you that the police didn't take too kindly to vigilantes doing their job when they don't really answer to others.".
"Oh, my god, it's really you!", Michelle replied as she had heard the story of her friends from their perspective about the Mad Hatter and all as Bonnie looked amazed, "You look a lot like your mom...And I bet the other features are from your dad...I know you said many times that you believe that your dad will wake up, but he would be sad and shocked about missing this...You're practically grownup!", showing that the Gotham spell worked very thoroughly, still them, but just new memories added and such, like the rest of the city.
"Yeah… rare genetic conditions will do that.", Poppy gave a small chuckle. "It was quite the surprise and a bit scary on top of everything. I mean, abducted twice? Seems like I have some real bad luck.".
Michelle asked curiously, "How did Waylon take it?", as the blondes knew of Poppy's major crush on Waylon, the hot son of the family butler, and as far as they knew, Waylon had noticed Poppy, but never actually was interested in her, and playfully teased Poppy for her crush, yet while encouraging her to grab every chance she got to get him to notice her and all, like a limited prank deal with her brother to bring Waylon along to her gymnastics practices as he is Bruce's best friend.
"He's… taken it well.", Poppy said. That was probably the best way to describe it. She knew that her friends were old enough to know about sex, but she wasn't going to go around by shouting that sort of information to the rest of the world about her and Waylon going all the way.
Bonnie hummed, "Oh? Let me guess, you revealed your crush and all, and he took it well?", with a teasing grin as Michelle looked interested to hear it all.
"Yeah.", Poppy gave a small nod; she really wasn't going to be able to hide that. "I mean, in some ways, really a blessing considering how it helped me get much closer to his age; less time to truly wait on each other…". She rubbed the back of her head.
Michelle chuckled, "That's awesome news, Poppy. Oh, we got all the homework you missed out last week and the first half of this week for you to catch up...What are you gonna do now, since, well, now that you are older in body in finally catching up with your insanely smart brain?".
Poppy smiled, "Oh, guys, you don't have to do that for me, but I really appreciate it...I and Mom are going to talk with the school to put me into an accelerated learning program...It's what I want, and it makes me happy to prove those idiots wrong...I promise you two will be always my first best friends and all, but...are you upset?", biting her lip as she looked at her younger friends...It's strange that she's taller and older, but she hopes their friendship wouldn't be strained by this.
"Not really.", Bonnie said. "For starters, we'd both probably be dead if not for you from that Hatter…". She quickly shook her head. Bonnie, while doing somewhat better than Jervis' other victims, still was having PTSD to her abduction. "Sure, a bit jealous, considering that you've got a head start on us, but we'll be grown in a few years and then can really start hanging out to a lot of places I'm sure you'll go to now.".
Poppy hummed, "Ah, I'm 17. Cannot quite go to bars and such yet unaccompanied, but at least I can go for driving lessons and possibly some high-level gymnastic meets and do a job probably. I hope my coach knows another coach who teaches older gymnasts like me because I ain't stopping another joy of mine.".
Michelle smiled, "That's the Poppy we know! Always finding the positive into loopholes and all. Don't worry, we got your back, and we will support you when those dumb idiots in class ask stupid questions and hurtful comments. You blow those teachers and coaches away, and you will do great! Heck, you can be a tutor too, to us, and other kids who needs a brilliant gal like ya, and get paid for it, make it a job, eh?".
Poppy looked surprised at the job suggestion, "You know, that's ironic...Bruce and I had and now having tutors...You know what, I'll try it out in the summer, see how that goes. You two are incredible, guys...".
Bonnie smiled, "We're BFFs forever, right? Hugs?", and Poppy laughed, "That's right, BFFs forever!", hugging the blonde duo with an overjoyed smile, realizing that she was stupidly nervous for this, but she's all better now.
And so, the friendship remained strong as the next day to the next week, with Martha's stubborn, determined talk with the school, Poppy got into the accelerated learning program and blowing her teachers, tutors, and coaches away, and remaining with the same team, she got another coach in gymnastics.
Thomas woke up exactly to the time he went under, and yes, it felt peculiar and strange when he realized that he couldn't quite walk or such but knew that he had to go with the flow otherwise it would be suspicious, and so, went with physical therapy provided by Leslie, some staff, and of course, Martha. Of course, there was still a few follow ups, like with the cops including Commissioner Gordon.
"I understand if some details are blurry, but honestly, coming out of this coma, your memory must be still fresh about the night of the mugging...I need to close up the case, Mr. Wayne, if that's okay?", Gordon asked as he and the Wayne couple is sitting in one of the living rooms, with the fireplace on low heat.
"O-okay…", Thomas said. For the time being, he was very much playing the act of being fairly sick and weak; considering he was supposed to be almost all but dead for nearly two decades. To those who didn't know, it was quite a surprise that Thomas was even responsive enough to talk and even move a bit, though obviously, he was confined to bed or a wheelchair at the moment.
Martha squeezed his hand gently yet slightly firmly to let him know that she's there, with a look of love, joy, and concern, and Thomas gave her a small smile of love and adoration and awed joy, showing Gordon that the couple are incredibly still in love, still awed that they are seeing each other again after so long, and it warmed his heart to see that as he is very close with his daughter, Barbara, and he knew he would have stayed and came to her every day if Barbara was in a coma too.
"I will start simple. What do you remember doing with your wife and son shortly before the mugging, Mr. Wayne?", Gordon asked politely, with his notepad and pen ready, next to the voice recorder on the table.
"Le-leaving the th-theater. W-was walking to meet with A-Alfred...", Thomas slowly stammered his way through. Gordon checked over the old notes which were coinciding with what had already been established.
Gordon nodded, "Very good. Please continue, Mr. Wayne.", and Thomas replied, "L-Laughing and t-talking with m-my wife a-and son. W-was c-confused and c-concerned when w-we didn't s-see A-Alfred anywhere on c-curb... T-Thought to t-try the restaurant i-if A-Alfred was l-late, or s-standing on t-the c-curb of the m-main street on ot-ther side. We t-thought maybe t-traffic w-was too busy, t-that m-maybe A-Alfred was w-waiting on t-the next s-street, t-taking t-the shortcut, to c-consider the p-payphone t-to call A-Alfred if h-he had p-passed the re-restaurant, or g-grabbing a t-taxi.".
"And you proceeded to go down that alleyway, correct?", Gordon asked as Thomas gave a small nod, "M-Martha had... fears. Sh-she tried to get us t-to turn around, b-but I th-thought it was f-fine...".
Gordon nodded, "And your son?", and Thomas replied, "Yes, B-Bruce said that we w-weren't far, and t-that Alfred could b-be waiting a-already. M-Martha gave i-in when s-she realized that s-she was a-against 2, and w-we went in, t-turning into t-the alley af-after a corner, m-maybe h-halfway w-when I s-saw a h-homeless man as-asking for some s-spare change, and I-I felt b-bad, g-giving him a f-fiver before s-starting to w-walk again.".
"But he didn't simply accept the five, am I correct?", Gordon asked. "C-Correct... he... he insisted I g-give him more. Wh-when I ap-ap-apologized, he pulled out h-his weapon; locked the w-weapon, ready t-to fire.", Thomas continued.
"Mr. Wayne, if this is getting difficult for you, we can finish this up another day when you're making better improvements...", Gordon said.
Thomas slowly shook his head, "N-No...I-I am n-not going to br-bring u-up bad m-memories a s-second time for M-Martha.", glancing at his wife, weakly squeezing her hand back with a loving, concerned smile at his wife. "I-I need t-to do this, e-even if j-justice was s-served already. I-I want t-to close t-the case, C-Commissioner.", Thomas then looked back at Gordon almost determined, if weak and tired.
Gordon exhaled, nodding, "Of course, Mr. Wayne, sir...What happened then after he pulled out his weapon?", realizing that Mr. Wayne is indeed still stubborn and caring as reported before the mugging and all.
"H-He wanted my w-wallet... and M-Martha's pearls... he got a-aggressive, grabbed them o-off her neck. I lun-lun-lunged forward to s-stop him... t-then blackness.", Thomas said as Gordon nodded. All the details lining up. The first shot went off that struck Thomas. Of course, the truth was it instantly killed him but due to the events with the Lazarus Pit and Fate; the story had now changed to a comatose shot.
Gordon then asked, "Any chance you might have overheard anything?", and Thomas scrunched his nose, trying to think, "I-I can't re-remember much, snippets of words and shouting I c-couldn't make out...I w-was feeling pa-pain, distracted...re-remembering ba-barely telling my-myself to ke-ep fighting, he-earing M-Martha and B-Bruce ba-barely, p-pleading w-with me t-to hold on...I g-gave in to th-the pain, tired..l-last thing I h-heard was s-sirens...Si-since then, in de-deep sleep a lot, sometimes aw-awake, but co-couldn't physically w-wake, w-with f-family t-telling me of the-their days, w-weeks, y-years, n-not b-blind to t-time be-because f-family w-was ke-keeping me up-updated which I w-was gr-grateful f-for, he-helping shock l-low, if y-you know wh-what I me-mean.".
"I do. Sometimes coma patients might remember some things they can still overhear even while deep into the coma.", Gordon said as he sighed. "So, obviously, you probably might not be aware of what happened next? Have you told him exactly?", he asked as he looked to Martha.
"I've said it a few times while he was sleeping... and of course when he woke up... one of the first things he was asking me is if what happened to that gunman that attacked us.", Martha said.
"Did you tell him about the She-Hulk? After all these years, we've pretty much decided that it was her that intervened that night; though obviously must have been something different about her before since she killed the man.", Gordon replied.
Thomas replied, "M-Martha tells m-me ev-everything...Almost n-no surprises wi-with exception of a-anniversaries, b-birthday parties, and pr-pregnancies. I-I saw n-newspapers and t-tv media a-about her a-after waking up...M-Maybe S-She-Hulk was s-seeing her p-past in us...A-After all, all pe-people we-were children on-once, in-including heroine vigilantes li-like her. A-At least th-that's my the-theory, if that ma-makes sense, Com-Commissioner.".
"I suppose so... still; can't deny that me and several others high up in the city's hierarchy aren't a bit, edgy, with this whole ordeal. What between her and the Batman, the ideas of unanswerable vigilantes don't sit right. I'll admit, they've been useful, especially the whole Mad Hatter case... but...", Gordon sighed.
"Well, I won't deny that I personally am much more supportive of her... considering she's the one that saved my own life and Bruce's as well.", Martha said.
"If I was in your position, I'd probably say the same... my wife, my daughter Barbara; if she or Batman swooped in the nick of time to save them; I'd be as eternally grateful as you are with her.", Gordon said
Martha nodded as Thomas coughed, "S-Sorry, s-sore throat f-from talking...", and Martha looked at him in concern as Gordon replied, "I believe I have everything on record..", closing up his notepad and shutting off the recording tape. "Thank you for helping, Mr. Wayne. I now have enough to close the case...".