Weeks and months have passed, having Dick now 9 years old, and on Damien's birthday of becoming 8 years old in April, the kids were gifted in seeing another ultrasound and knowing the gender at last, which is discovered to be a girl, much to Jane and Daphne's joy of having another girl in the family, while Dick is delighted and curious to wonder how it's like to have a little sister.
In the same day, in the afternoon, Damien was gifted with adopting a dog from one of Selina's sponsored animal shelters, and so he got a half-grown, essentially teenage dog which is a unique mix of Australian Shepherd and Great Dane, calling him Ace for short which was Ace of Spades.
The kids loved him and shared in having a family dog to take care of, and to their happiness, Ace got along well with Selina's cats in the manor. And it gave Damien something to think about.
Selina and Bruce are enjoying some relaxation of reading a book or doing a crossword, and Selina hummed, "Hey, Bruce, what's the tip of a wave called again?", and Bruce replied, "Crest.".
"Thanks.", Selina replied, writing it down, tipping her pencil thoughtfully when a knock was heard, "Mama, Papa, can I come in?".
Bruce smiled, bookmarking his book, "Come in, Damien.", as Selina put down her crossword book, bookmarking it as well, putting them away, and Damien came in with a nervous smile, in his pajamas.
"What's wrong, honey? Did you enjoy your birthday?", Selina asked warmly, and Damien nodded, "I did, honest, Mama, and Ace is swell as great!", as his smile brightened, "And it was cool that Aunt Mary is having a girl...".
Bruce chuckled, "But...Let me guess, you were thinking that it'd be a boy, huh?", and Damien shook his head before stopping, "Well, sort of, but I liked having the idea of a girl too...I was wondering...if I can make a deal with you two...".
Selina glanced at Bruce, looking curious and confused before they looked at Damien, "What kind of deal?", and Damien scuffled his foot, "Well, if I really show you that I can be responsible for Ace, and help out with Aunt Mary's baby girl sometimes for like 6 months...can I have a baby sister then when I am close to turning 9, like Dick did for his baby sister?".
Both Selina and Bruce were stunned to hear that; thinking that Damien was still a bit too young to think that sort of arrangement. "Yeah, I get it, can't exactly control if it's a boy or girl...".
Bruce replied, "That's right...What has brought you to make this deal?", and Damien rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, Jane got Daddy Waylon as a big brother, Sean and Daphne got each other, and Dick is going to have a baby sister soon, and I don't want to be the only one without a sibling...Sure, I know we might have more brothers and sister in Momma Poppy's remaining lost three in crossing paths someday, but they would have different surnames and families per sec..".
Selina looked at Bruce in surprise, realizing that Damien had thought about this quite a while...perhaps since this morning after seeing the new ultrasound and hearing of the gender within Mary's baby.
Selina looked at Damien, "You really have to understand that taking care of Ace is similarly hard work except for taking him for walks, and that he isn't helpless, but helping out sometimes with a baby for your aunt is very different, and committing to a deal like this, it takes real dedication which means you'd have to be really focused, like how your papa here focuses on Wayne Entreprises.".
"I know...", Damien sighed. "But I can do it... at least let me try!", he argued. "Of course we'll let you try.", Bruce said. "But we can't exactly promise you that if you do that, we can uphold our end of the bargain. We'd need to talk about it for starters amongst each other.".
Damien nodded with a sigh, "I know...It's up to you two...especially Mama.", glancing at Selina who smiled appreciatively, "Thank you, Damien...You're a good, smart boy, honey. Now, it's about your bedtime. Give us a hug and kiss, hmm?".
Damien smiled, coming over and climbing over from the end of the bed on the bench, and went to hug his folks, kissing and getting his hair ruffled, and wishing them good night before slipping off the bed, and leaving the bedroom, closing the door to head to his bedroom to sleep.
"Certainly full of surprises...", Bruce said as Selina nodded, "Ain't the truth... though I can see where he's coming from. He's going to be the only child around here and the others... well, there's no guarantee we'd meet the other kids that Poppy and Waylon lost; not to mention if we did, it is as he said.".
Bruce nodded, "Yeah...It's ironic to think that we were sort of thinking it that day in my office before we went to the circus for the first time and met Dick, Mary, and John...And now Damien proved us out there...Who knew our predictions were coming true?", with a chuckle, remembering their conversation on the couch after their tryst in the chair.
"Could easily be just a coincidence; I mean, let's face it, that day was just boring us out after other days of dull mindless boring work.", Selina chuckled as Bruce nodded. "True. At least there's been a nice break from the monotony as of late with Dick, Mary and John...", Bruce said.
Selina smiled, "That's for sure...Through you have to admit that sometimes patrol nights aren't dull when there are amusing, if stupid idiots trying to do crime...I still roll my eyes when I remember of you telling me of that guy trying to pull a ATM off with a van's rear end and some chain, only that the atm was wrenched in the wall, and the fender popped off, and he drove off, but to be caught all the same hours later because he didn't bother to change license plates or all.", with a smirk.
Bruce laughed, "Oh, god...a decade ago, and you still remember that. Yeah, it's crazy to think that tech is getting better with the cops and all...Hell, Commissioner Gordon is still going, even if he should be retired by now...".
Selina smiled, "True, but crime gets dangerous too sometimes...it's 2021, after all...god, has it been that long since we met and got pregnant with Damien and married not long afterwards?", with a chuckle.
"Feels shorter than that with you around, Selina...", Bruce smiled, "And then Damien surprises us around every corner out of nowhere...he got a deadline of 6 months there...Taking care of Ace, and then after the baby girl is born, some help there to help with clothes or something which I am sure he can think of whatever else to do...He's got my stubbornness and your determination...But he's clearly up to doing his end, and we'd have to watch how he does, but what about us? It's your body, after all, with you carrying for 9 months, and yes, I know I'm involved because it can't be done without me...", with a blush, as even if he has been used to Selina's boldness and flirtations, he's still a gentleman, even with the fact that the times of the social circles has changed and all.
"Still, it's up to us, after all, I'd have to be carrying the child again... and hopefully, not having to deal with... well, you know.", Selina sighed.
"Don't worry, that sort of thing wouldn't happen again... just real bad luck that day but thankfully, it didn't end on a tragic note for us.", Bruce kissed her cheek.
Selina smiled warmly, "I know, and I'm not going to jinx that out loud...All the same, I honestly would like to have a beautiful daughter...but we can't choose the gender because our bodies choose, not really us...".
Bruce nodded, "Damien is really eager for a sister, but I hear you, and Damien understands that...Boy or girl, they will still be amazing and incredible, just like Damien, like the others...", with a smile as he squeezed her hand lovingly, caressing her skin.
"It's only at least two months and so until Mary's baby girl chooses to come early, or on time, or overdue, give me those two months to wean my body off the birth control, and then we'll do the baby-making to start off on the weekend after the birth of the newest Grayson, is that acceptable, dear Bruce?", Selina thoughtfully smiled.
"I suppose so... sure you don't want to wait longer for Damien to try and prove himself at least? Seemed to me like he might feel a strong sense of pride if he accomplished it without us already starting to plan to do what he wished us to do beforehand.", Bruce pointed out.
Selina hummed, "Good point...He got a deadline of six months in his mentioned deal...Perhaps adding another month to the two months couldn't hurt, and we can see the first month of him helping out with the baby, since he would be already experienced with Ace by then...And of course, trying takes a while to get it right, since even if we are so good at practice, it would take my body to be used to get to work after getting weaned off the birth control, and like with Mary, it would take a few months before we know anything, even if not having periods is a pregnancy symptom, it wouldn't still mean anything until I have other symptoms.".
Bruce nodded, "Alright then, three months for you to get weaned off birth control and get used to working again with periods, before we get to baby-making...but doesn't mean that I can still pleasure you, hmm?", with a smirk.
Selina grinned, "Oh, good boy...Counting on that, my Batman.", and Bruce smiled, "I love you, my Catwoman.", kissing his wife on the lips, and Selina purred warmly, "I love you too...I'll start on weaning off tomorrow, along with pleasure time with you, Bruce.".
"Brilliant plan.", Bruce smiled before leaning slightly to turn off his light, and Selina chuckled, "Thank you.", before moving the same to turn off her light, and then they went to cuddle, holding each other, falling asleep as usual, just a husband and wife in love.
And so, their plan began, while the growth of the new arrival became more bigger and the due date getting close with weeks and months coming and going, and July arrived, and it was the second week of the month, with Mary about to pop any day now, with the estimate of the due date this week.
Dick glanced at his mother, "Are you okay, Mom? Do you need a rest in the gazebo?", as he and Mary is strolling in one of the gardens behind the manor, with a gazebo nearby, while John is having a shower, as Mary ordered him to take one after playing a game with the kids, annoying her sense of smell, and Dick volunteered immediately to accompany his mother.
"I'm alright... just slow, that's all. Carrying the extra weight and all takes one off balance. Not like it came all at once but still; even after nine months, it still takes some getting used to.", Mary lightly chuckled as she was trying to keep moving.
Dick nodded, "And I thought carrying Damien piggyback was heavy...", and Mary chuckled, "That is different, because that's carrying in the back, and you are used to carrying backpacks of homework and books, all of you, and you are used to Damien for that, but eventually, he will be too heavy for you, just like the others have been for the grown-ups, but that's what growing up means. Carrying in the front means the spine is out of balance, but massages and wonderful warm baths does wonders, and it's a mammal thing like most animals carry their young in front, but down mostly on all fours, with exceptions of monkeys and of course, humans.", caressing her baby bump fondly before feeling an eager punch.
"Ooh, easy, sweetheart...", Mary hummed with a wince and a smile, "And of course, this far along, more punches and kicks while she turns around to be upside down, making the baby bump lean more into the hips...".
Dick replied, "Are you really sure she doesn't really get dizzy when she does upside down often?", and Mary laughed softly, "I think so, I don't really know how, but I figure that the water bag supports her, like zero gravity for astronauts, and she seems to enjoy it, hence no dizziness when she does upside down often, through it is occasionally discomforting for me. You were the same, and I was fine, as much as I am, right now.".
"It's really weird.", Dick admitted as Mary chuckled. "Well, that's the natural order of birth. Been that way since the dawn of time.", she rubbed his back.
Dick nodded, "That's a really, really long time.", and Mary smiled, "Certainly seems that way to everyone.", as she strolled on, taking some steps onwards when she suddenly stopped, gasping at a familiar pain which was recognized from Braxton Hicks earlier in the week to prepare her baby and her body, but now it's feeling real, as Dick hastened to her side, "Mom?! Is it the baby?", in worry.
"Maybe... not sure yet... but... I think it might be time... let's start heading back now.", Mary said as Dick nodded and held her hand. If she fell, he obviously wasn't going to be much help preventing her from falling but at least he could help her a bit with any sort of balancing issues.
Mary took deep breaths and tried to stay calm, adding her other arm to rest on Dick's shoulders as she held into Dick's hand, glad for his strong frame, growing fast and well, thanks to Alfred and Caroline's cooking as they headed back, turning into another path closer to the back of the manor through the gardens.
Dick was scared yet kept comforting his mother as she gasped in pain every few minutes, "We're almost there, Mom, just a few more steps..", and soon, they made it, opening and closing the door, with Dick calling out, "PA!", knowing that Waylon usually is in the kitchen for one of the meals every day, with turns between cooking meals with Alfred and Caroline, as he didn't know if his father John is finished with his shower upstairs.
"Something wrong?", Waylon called back as he quickly stopped what he was doing when he heard the tone of Dick's voice. "The baby's coming! Mom thinks so!", Dick responded.
Waylon immediately ran to where Dick's voice is, seeing Mary obviously in labor, holding to Dick who looks scared yet calm, and Waylon replied, "You did great, Dick, I can take it from here. Go alert your father. Just knock on the bathroom door if he's in the shower still, alright?".
Dick nodded, glancing at Mary, and she gave him a loving, small smile, "Thank you, my little robin. We'll be okay...", and Dick kissed her on the cheek before switching positions with Waylon and went to alert John.
Mary replied, "I don't think I can make it up the stairs, Waylon...", and Waylon replied, "You don't need to, we can use the service elevator...I got you, Mary...", as Mary then cried out in pain, not holding back anymore as she has been holding her voice back, only gasping in pain not to scare Dick off, "I really think this is the real thing...Ironic that she is early before the twins in birthday order, but the twins are older...", with a small chuckle as she took deep breaths.
"As long as she gets here fine, I don't think anyone will truly care about that little detail. Let's just make sure that this all goes well, right?", Waylon replied. Mary gave a nod to his words, "Right... at least I've gone through this before...".
"That's always a good thing... at least know you know for sure how to get through everything.", Waylon smiled. Mary gave a small chuckle, "Indeed.", before gasping and moaning with a small cry at another contraction as they kept walking to the service elevator through the kitchens, "Sorry about interrupting your time to make lunch, Waylon.".
"Ah, don't worry, I can get back to it as soon as I get you to John and the bedroom. I think Dad is reading in the library with Poppy, while Ma and Pops are at their house, relaxing. Bruce and Mom are training down in the Batcave, and the kids are occupied in the games room except for Dick, of course.", Waylon replied.
Mary smiled, "Of course.", rubbing her baby bump, exhaling with a moan and gasp of pain before getting into the service elevator, with Waylon pressing the speaker system to the manor and the Batcave by a secret button, "Dick called for help, I'm getting Mary to her bedroom by service elevator, the baby's coming!", as they went up, glad that the staff is off for the day.