Bruce nodded, "Yeah, Mom stayed home literally because she was afraid of strolling in Gotham or showing you around the company, and of course, I thought about school for you, which would force me to protect you if something happens with bullies or such.".
"Well, clearly none of that happened...", Poppy then rolled her eyes. "Pity I couldn't do it younger, fun party trick or certainly to make sure no one would bully me. Or... that whole Jervis creep, could've handled that whole thing by me and none of you would've needed to raise a finger or worry.".
Thomas pointed out, "True, but you forget the advancing technology...Anyone would see to expose you...especially when you are the daughter of Thomas and Martha Wayne.".
Bruce nodded, "Yeah, he's right...", as Poppy deflated, realizing that if she did that, she would have put her family at danger. The girls would have seen her change, and being young children, they are bound to spill things if stressed or scared...And of course, the security cameras are getting better at school.
Waylon replied, "We also forgot another thing...How can we explain Poppy's sudden age advancement?", with a frown, keeping an eye out for any landmarks near the airport, with the snowmobiles at steady pace to stay with each other in hearing distance and such.
Thomas replied, "Actually, I have something to explain that...As you know, I had to learn so much of terms and diseases and such when I was a doctor, and working together with Leslie at her clinic and all, there's a, not exactly a disease, but a medicinal condition called Werner syndrome which causes premature aging...It happens in the teen years to early adulthood. Poppy would have a mild case of that, since we can't afford to reveal the gamma genes or people would get ideas. Oh, believe me, I can understand for good people, but in the wrong hands of bad people, it will be very horrible...which we have seen nearly in the case of Ra just earlier.".
"I've never heard that before...", Poppy admitted. "It is very rare, but something we could get away with. Hell, for all we know, you might actually truly have that condition, the gamma genes might not have anything to do with your growth spurt.", Thomas said as Poppy chuckled.
"Maybe... at least with this case...", Poppy leaned against Waylon. "Shouldn't be too much trouble to be with my lover now...", she ran her finger on his back as Waylon blushed. He was well aware of everyone including Thomas about feelings between him and Poppy, but her being so... open about it.
Martha chuckled as she leaned against Thomas as he drove, and then grinned, "Hey, I know that boulder!", pointing out a rock that looks like a standing bird, "Go left, Thomas, around it, and there should be a view of the old radio tower!".
Thomas nodded, revving faster, with the others following, turning left, and sure enough, they saw the nearly distant radio tower, heading down a worn trail, a trail they recognized from their first day, and indeed, after a few minutes, the small airport clearing is there, with the one old hangar, and some storage sheds, and there, right there in the middle of the clearing is a American plane, with no sight of the other planes that was used to take the family, either traded off to other countries or hidden in the old hangar.
"Is that it?", Waylon asked as Thomas nodded, "I think so. Only one way to find out... if not... well, I'm sure we can at least find someone there.".
"Just the only issue that no one here speaks Bhutanese.", Alfred pointed out. "Someone in this country must know English at least; they'll lead us if that's the case.", Martha assured.
They revved down to the clearing, and as they got closer, they saw the main door of the American plane opening up with stairs already set up, and most of everybody blinked in surprise to see a strange golden armored man with a cape, standing beside the open door, with Thomas smiling, "Looks like Doctor Fate kept his word...Must have been some magic speed or something for this plane.".
He turned the snowmobile into the open old hangar that had the two planes grounded for good, for the wheels are gone, and all, with the others parking besides him, and Caroline scoffed as she was helped up by Alfred, getting off their snowmobile after turning it off, "Apparently, the League was looking to stop our escape if it was a normal escape that way.", cradling her baby bump through her winter clothes, feeling Jane kick in response.
"We're not going to simply leave our own jet here, are we?", Martha asked. "Might have to, just get some authorities to come and pick them up. It's not a big deal, Martha.", Thomas told her as she nodded.
"True... it's just a plane... not a... life...", Martha sighed. Thomas held her hand, starting to recognize that his wife is reaching her breaking point, and hoped that the American plane is practically a private plane or something as they all left the hangar, and went up the plane stairs.
Doctor Fate stopped Thomas at the door, "What did you say to me last night at the rooftop?", and Thomas replied, "That you were referred by Dorji, that you are a man of great powers, able to help my family escape in your plane, and for me to be back into society with a plan since I'm alive as you can see, and that the League was behind the kidnapping.".
A exhale, and Doctor Fate then nodded with warm, urgent eyes, "Come in, then, all of you, out of the cold.", and they hurried in, with Doctor Fate closing the door, and clicked his fingers as everybody was then amazed by the incredible magic for the plane wasn't a regular plane, but rather like a dimension itself within the plane with plenty of rooms for everyone, with warm air and all.
"I had to work fast, but I hope you all are glad about the atmosphere as inquiring a plane isn't exactly true, but I made a copy of one of Gotham's planes and made the space big enough as a house as a dimension of sorts. No need of pilots or such, but it will be still a long trip. I don't know all your exact sizes and all, but there are fresh clothes in those bedrooms and privacy if you need to rest and oh, I can't exactly conjure food out of the air because that's eating air, but I managed to stock up with some non-perishables from my kitchen, gratefully.", Doctor Fate explained.
"We owe you... like a lot.", Thomas admitted as he heard Fate give a small chuckle, "It's no real issue; I only apologize that this was all I could do and not help with the escape. I assume Dorji...?".
"Yes. He's dead once more but won't be coming back.", Bruce said. "But he made sure that we managed to escape and take the League with him. Hopefully, we'll never hear from them again. I don't know if the knowledge of us was common amongst the grunts, but if anyone survived... we could still be somewhat in danger.".
Fate sighed deeply, and looked at the family, "As it's still Halloween for some time longer, I'll contact Dorji's soul to see the consequences of the escape. You all take up whatever you need to do...We've lifted off already.", with a nod.
The family was surprised to hear that as they didn't feel anything underneath their feet to show that the magic dimensioned plane was up in the air, but they saw the windows showing the landscape flying by.
Martha replied, "Thank you...", before she took Thomas' hand, and went to one of the bedrooms, closing the door as the room became politely soundproof, and she was silent as she looked at the bed, and Thomas whispered, "Let it all out...I'm here to grieve with you...", tears in his eyes as he couldn't hold it back any longer.
"I'm sorry...", Martha whimpered as Thomas sighed. "Don't say that, if anything, I'm the one who should apologize... this whole thing makes it feel like I traded my life for Kel's. You already said goodbye to me once; you didn't need to go through all this again.", he rubbed her back.
Martha looked at him in surprise, "Thomas...", and Thomas gave out a sob as he buried his face into Martha's chest, "Don't let me go...", tears falling.
Martha ran her fingers though his hair, kissing his forehead as she embraced him, "I won't...Let it all out...", and Thomas collapsed into screaming sobs as Martha followed along with cries and shuddering sobs.
It was the same for Poppy and Bruce who went into another bedroom after Waylon reassured Poppy that she needed her brother in this grieving process, and that he would be fine by himself with a reminder that not even a magical plane isn't the right moment either, with Alfred needing to be reassured with Caroline and Jane.
It was perhaps longer for Thomas as Heaven didn't allow too much negativity as far as he could faintly recall now, but he had blamed himself deep down for not being there personally for his lovers for so long.
"How are you feeling, Alfred?", Caroline asked him as he turned to look at her. "Kel... she was a good friend of Waylon and I... but you knew her for her entire life, you were much closer than us in many ways...". Caroline and Waylon had shed a few tears themselves for Kel, but they were taking it somewhat better than obviously the rest of the family.
Alfred sighed deeply, "Like I'm unprepared for those moments I'd see her in the manor, all those memories...I loved her deeply as family, and gods, Caroline, how could I...she was like another sister, a friend I'd count on...I taught her so much about patience, playing chess and other brain games, and being grateful to eat multiple servings from my brilliant cooking...", resting a hand on his face as he was resting back on the bed with Caroline changing into fresh, much needed dry clothes as even with the winter clothes, her clothes she was resurrected in was still damp underneath.
"Just as bad as when you found out about me, right?", Caroline said as she took a deep breath. "Alfred... I saw and heard so much, though my mind's starting to feel... a fog on a bunch of things. Maybe that's the exchange of returning to life; can't really remember much of heaven, I guess...", with a shrug as she got the shirt on.
"It hurts just as bad, Caroline...", Alfred whispered. Caroline sighed softly as she carefully sat down next to Alfred, "I know...It might be different for people here and there, but I was grieving terribly for Jane when I miscarried her...I'm still scared deep down...what if we lose her at childbirth, even if she's kicking strong and healthy right now?", caressing her seven-month old baby bump lovingly, still stunned that she's back to pregnant mode, even after taking it all in for the past hour, and was beyond relieved that Jane didn't react too badly to all the danger, and the ride on the snowmobile, knowing that she was in her last trimester...
"We're not...", Alfred told her as he put on a small smile. "After everything that we've gone through, all this hell, death... Jane will come out fine, I promise you. I think she's much tougher than we both give her credit.".
"I hope you're right, Alfred.", Caroline said, "I know she is strong, but I can't help still worry a bit...Memories, you know...Waylon took about 10 hours of labor since it was the first time for me, with only a midwife and all, and it was quite hard and scary.".
Alfred leaned to kiss her on the lips, "Yet it was all worth it in the end, right, when you saw him for the first time, eh?", and Caroline gave a warm chuckle, "Yeah...", gazing at him before widening her eyes, "Alfred...Your wrinkles are vanishing, and your hair is getting thicker...".
"Is it?", Alfred touched his hair a bit. "Doesn't feel like it...", with a hum. "Doesn't truly look it too but I swear that you're missing a few lines... maybe it's my imagination... or...", Caroline glanced away.
"The Pit, perhaps? I mean, if what you're saying, sounds a bit similar with what happened to you.", Alfred replied thoughtfully. "I was dripping wet when I held you...", Caroline reminded.
Alfred smiled a bit, "And kissed me too...Must be secondhand effects...I was strong enough for a moment through that must have been adrenaline in the first place, to pick you up and carry you over the edge of the Pit...".
Caroline caressed his cheek, "It's still going...I guess it's kicking in after all the adrenaline in the escape and all...I give it 10 more minutes before you could tie me in age then...", and Alfred chuckled, "Looks like I can get back to prime energy for working my job much better than before, not that I never slowed down, but yeah...Might have to ask Fate to slightly change the staff's memories...".
"Good idea...and you can catch up with me better than before.", Caroline smirked with a purr as she trailed a finger down his neck, and Alfred smiled widely, "I forgot about the sexual drive in pregnant women sometimes...Oh, gods, I am finally going to be married and ravish you in my bedroom...", taking note of their engagement rings that incredibly had stayed on through her resurrection and the escape thankfully.
Caroline smiled wryly, "Our bedroom, Alfred...And I was thinking that we'd get married on Thanksgiving. And I have a feeling that Thomas and Martha would want to renew their vows on Christmas Eve as a repeat of their wedding, to show Gotham and all that Martha is still in love with Thomas after all this time of him in his coma and all...I wouldn't want to show them up like that, even with a double wedding...I just want Thanksgiving because it's...well, I like the preference of an autumn wedding, that is, if you don't mind?".
"Will have to quickly find a venue somewhere in the country; a place that's nice and cool and has an autumn look with falling leaves, orange and brown colors. No real snow or something... there's somewhere that would fit in the New England area, I'm sure.", Alfred suggested.
Caroline smiled, "Alfred, the manor is in the countryside, and the grounds is practically filled with the woods behind it and all...It's in New Jersey, and it's New England looks, anyhow...The snow won't be there until the first week of December, typically, with the stories you told me, and looking over you and the family.".
Alfred looked at her in surprise, "Really? You don't mind practically getting married on Wayne grounds?", and Caroline smiled, "It's going to be my new home, after all...And besides, we wouldn't have to go far for food and warmth once the ceremony's over...Just us, the family, Leslie, and Fate...After all, she saved Waylon, and Fate's bringing us home...".
Alfred blushed as Caroline chuckled. "I know; you probably had this more exciting quaint vacation location, but the grounds are fine.", she teased as Alfred smiled, "You truly would deserve something more, of course...".
"Hey, no destination weddings either; I don't need us to go to some exotic island in the Pacific or the Gulf; I'm perfectly fine staying closer to home.", Caroline kissed his cheek.
Alfred replied, "Not even my retirement place in Greece?...Oh, boy, I know in his will, if he went into a coma or dead, he gave me a place in Greece, which still works with the story for Thomas as of now...".
Caroline replied, "I'd not mind a honeymoon anniversary to celebrate in 10 or 20 years in Greece with you, but right now, with Jane in mind, it's so lucky that she is not pushing for birth...Oh, I know she's seven months old and she can survive with Thomas' help and perhaps Fate as well, but I'd not rather give birth here on this magical plane or on the honeymoon right after the wedding...I'd rather want our family to be there, even if they had met Jane already, it doesn't feel right without them, you know?".
"Yeah...yes, you're right...", Alfred smiled as he kissed her on the lips, and sighed contentedly as he snuggled with her, their hands cupping and caressing the baby bump, and Caroline smiled, resting her head against his chest, "And there's my handsome beau...You're looking good for your age...", as Alfred had finished de-aging, now in his mid-30s just like Caroline and Thomas.
Alfred chuckled, "And I'm feeling good.", finally relieved to rest with his fiancée and unborn daughter, and so, the plane was privately quiet with grieving and reassurance and more for a few hours before they felt all better to eat some food out of the stocked pantry Fate had.