Bruce asked, "Mr. Doctor Fate, how do you plan to make Gotham think and see my father as alive and all?", and Fate, after sipping some tea, replied, "First of all, good news. I spoke with Dorji's soul, and the Pit is literally destroyed, buried deep under practically a tower's worth of snow, with the temple into ashes and rubble, and I can say that the League's power is over. Ra and Talia, and all the assassins are in hell, while Dorji and Kel went to heaven, so you don't have to worry for Kel's soul either...", with a warm nod.
Bruce gave out a deep sigh of relief by hearing that. Seemed for sure that their secrets were hidden once more and hopefully wouldn't have another scare like that. And good odds that no one would be coming after them; no members trying to rally what was left and try to achieve vengeance.
Martha gave a little sob of relief to hear that Kel's soul was deemed good and all as Thomas kissed her temple, with Poppy smiling happily with Waylon, realizing that they would never have to be forced or prisoned up again, with Alfred and Caroline looking relieved too.
Poppy exhaled, "Thank you, Doctor Fate...", and Fate nodded, "Of course.. Now, I have a spell that would put someone to sleep, so, it would be looking like Thomas is in his coma for a week, that is, after which I am sure that today up to tonight, within the time zones, you are temporarily free to check on your home, settle back into a sort of routine, and some catching up.".
Thomas blinked, "So, let me get this straight, tomorrow, when Gotham notices that cops or something are finding out of the kidnapping by phone and such, Gotham would forever think that I have been in the manor alone all last week in my coma, with the family kidnapped, and then a week later after they return of their escape story and such, I wake up?".
Fate replied, "Pretty much, yes. You have explained about Dr. Leslie Thompkins, and you trust her and all that, but I was thinking that she still goes through everything she remembers, next to a whole new memory of years upon checking on you in the coma, which implies that the staff only allowed Leslie in for the last week while the family was announced missing and such, to only the cops in specific places to look for clues like the dinner table you and Talia was at, and such.".
Poppy replied, "He got a point...Even if we got kidnapped during the night and all, some people would notice all types of medicine and the life beeper machines and such if they took Dad too during the ride to the airport, even if the vehicle was tinted and all, the airport would still have noticed something...plus it would have wasted time for the kidnappers, and they would have been caught sooner...which I am sure Talia and Ra would have thought the same, if Dad was in the coma in the first place instead...of being murdered.".
"Honestly, if I was in their position, why even bother?", Thomas said. "I mean, if I was in a coma for almost two decades, it wouldn't have even worth the time to swing by and unplug me or something. Probably just assume I was never going to wake up. Either way; we have a good excuse at least in terms of me... just... have to be silent or something for some days.".
Martha nodded, "Yes...And this spell wouldn't hurt Thomas, Doctor Fate?", and Fate shook his head, "No, it's practically falling asleep, ironically like Sleeping Beauty. Of course, there has to be machines and such to keep up the act, but otherwise, he's gonna be fine...I suggest going with the dye fast today to do the gray streaks a bit...I know it'd look strange, Mrs. Wayne, and I understand that you wouldn't resist checking on him in the hospital room of the Manor...The spell will be timed to break upon a specific hour a week later, I am thinking morning time, that way, if the staff breaks the news that you woke up when Martha is there to tell her plans for the day like routine or such, Gotham wouldn't be suspicious of the timing then, just surprised and perhaps upset in some people's situations for Martha's 'single' status, even if she's married and checking on Thomas for years, still in love with him.".
"Hey, I'm up for whatever it takes to carry out this mass deception. Anything to try to keep my family safe and not under constant attention. That's the last thing we need.", Thomas said.
"Yeah, we may have gotten lucky with the League but if normal Gotham society really starts digging, there's probably not a spell strong enough for you to put this genie back in the bottle.", Bruce added.
Fate replied firmly, "I will make Gotham forget the murder news of Thomas Wayne, but they will all remember the coma news of Thomas Wayne, and it will be mediocre for years with Gotham only hearing news about Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne taking up the seat next year, and Poppy's medical condition of her quick aging. The cops who was there in the first place would remember calling the ambulance and all to save Thomas, with Martha and Bruce in near-hysterics and such, and after perhaps a month or year in the hospital's memories, Martha would fight the hospital to let her take Thomas home, to be in familiar areas, especially not wanting to make people wait forever for a taken up hospital bed for years when they needed it, with Leslie training the staff to constantly check on Thomas, with Martha as primary caretaker.".
Martha gave a small smile, "That definitely sounds like me alright. What about the newspapers and all?", then frowning thoughtfully. Fate replied, "I will vanish the newspapers, old and in trash and such into ashes, wherever they are, changing them into the newspapers that has the coma then, like collectors and such, though I doubt much will collect about Wayne as a fan. And as for going out and in of Gotham, it will be rumors and stretched gossip for any people passing through, which I doubt they wouldn't bother much until they got a subscription to Wayne Entreprises for phones and such.".
"Wow...That's a whole lot to change, Doctor Fate.", Poppy said, and Doctor Fate nodded, "Indeed. But it will only take a few hours to suppress all of that into a specific spell for all of Gotham, next to the spell for Thomas which is minor in comparison. And as for you, Ms. Jones, I hope I wasn't intruding much, but on the way here, I went through Louisiana to search of your certificates and your home, and I have already vanished evidence of your death and the faint memories of your occasional venture into the town nearby including the hospital, and I may have replaced your beloved rustic home and grounds into a clearing within the Wayne woods behind the manor for you and Alfred to retire at night and such. As far as everybody knows, you are the future-to-be wife of Alfred, intending to be Caroline Pennyworth, with your driver's license and such to be in Gotham, with only your birthplace showing that you were born in the bayou somewhere with barely an address, since you, no offense, has your Southern accent.".
"Certainly sounds like quite the chore you've been doing.", Caroline admitted. "I almost feel guilty of all the work you've gone through, especially in my case. That easily could've been just mostly left alone. Waylon easily could've taken the headstones, and we just get rid of them and leave the shack as is. Okay, maybe clear some things out but still...".
"It's the least I could do for those that Dorji died saving...", Fate told her. "He was a good friend. I only regret that I was unaware of the hell he had been put through for so much time... hopefully, helping all of you would make up somewhat for it.".
Alfred rubbed Caroline's back, "He's right...We may not have known Dorji for very long, but he saved us, and now, his friend here is redeeming himself for saving us and helping us out, Caroline.".
Caroline nodded, seeing his point, and Waylon replied, "So, you're going to do the Gotham spell tonight, when everybody's sleeping, and then Thomas' coma spell tomorrow morning?".
Fate nodded, "Yes. Only this family knows the truth, and I am not going to force all of you to remember alternate memories as it's all your lives, and you deserve to know all the emotions you felt. Gotham would be less emotional of sorts which will make the spell easier.".
Martha replied, "I don't want to forget that night...yes, it was traumatic, but it was...was also when Kel came for the first time...", with a sniffle, and Bruce nodded, "Yeah...Mama was incredible...We can change Dad's gravestone into something of a memorial portrait/post for Mama, like those memorials on the curbs in the streets, in the Batcave, at her nest-bedroom without anyone not of this family noticing.".
Thomas smiled sadly, "That's a wonderful idea, Bruce. And in case if we have allies in other heroes or such in Gotham years later, we will tell a bit of her story, but not the whole truth per sec until we do trust them fully.".
Fate nodded, "I shall do that as a start for your night before I do the Gotham spell, and then tomorrow, for your coma spell. Any other questions?", and everybody else shook their heads, resuming to eat, and rest for the next few hours.
The magical copied/dimensional plane landed soon in a hovering mode, invisible and undetected by police, army, and such, on the Wayne grounds, and indeed, it was reaching sunset time, still Halloween, with the family getting off, with Fate following by, vanishing the plane away, "Oh, don't worry, I have a way of getting home by portal. Now, where is your gravestone?", looking at Thomas.
"I can show you... it's this way.", Thomas led the way. "Hopefully, after this whole ordeal and all, the staff isn't around right now. Would really throw our plans into disarray if someone outside was looking down this way and saw me up and about...".
Waylon took a deep sniff, "They're gone for the night. We're good.", and everybody exhaled in relief as they headed to the family cemetery, and Thomas exhaled, "Kind of strange looking from the outside...", as they found the gravestone not far ahead in their eyesight, and Fate didn't waste any time, golden magic swirling about his hands, and warping around the gravestone, picking it up, erasing away the evidence of ground marks and changing it into a beautiful memorial stone cross with a space for a portrait, the dates changing from Thomas' DOB, and DOD, to Kel's DOB and DOD, with the title 'The First She-Hulk', giving it to Thomas who widened his eyes, "It's lightweight.", as Martha caressed the title lovingly with a sob.
Fate replied, "I changed the composite of stone to lava rock from granite. And I thought lava rock is fitting for your Kel, as she was said to be intimidating yet compassionate, like how lava rock is formed of magma that is dangerously hot yet cleansing to the environment like changing the earth to being fertile. Is that all right?".
"It's perfect...", Martha whispered as she placed her hand on it. "Oh, Kel... how much does this whole family owe you? How much do I owe you...", she sniffled as she just wanted to loudly weep there.
Thomas kissed Martha's temple as he felt the same, and looked at Fate, "Thank you...", and Fate nodded, "I'll let you know when the Gotham spell is working, and call me after breakfast, though I would suggest you only eat a bit to get into the fact that the vein or feeding tube off the main machine is working once the coma spell sets in.", handing Bruce his phone number of a card.
Thomas replied, "I'd take a feeding tube over anything to make sure the coma spell is working. We will see you in the morning.", with a small smile, and Fate nodded as he then waved his hands in golden magic, and then made a portal, stepping through, and vanished away.
Poppy exhaled, "Come on, let's go inside. I really hope the staff took care of Chess and Bandit.", half praying that the dogs will accept her new scent, and of course, Thomas, next to Caroline and Jane.
"They're smart dogs, Poppy, I'm sure they were able to figure things out while we've been gone if the staff weren't already taking care of them." Bruce assured her.
Poppy gave a small nod then glanced over to Waylon before she took a deep breath, "Oh, damn it... there was one little thing I wanted to ask Fate.".
"What is it?", Waylon asked her as she started to go a bit red in the face. It took a moment before Waylon realized it too and blushed as well. It was almost laughable; if they so desired, they had the perfect chance in the plane but that still didn't feel as right.
Waylon whispered to her, "If we are going for soundproof, I have a perfect place in mind, due to my Croc instincts...that is, if you don't mind going first into Hulk mode, since our bedrooms wouldn't handle it...They're half screaming at me to claim you so bad, but right now, they are listening to me because of you wanting to check on the dogs, and of course, putting up Kel's memorial...", as they headed to one of the side entrances into Wayne Manor.
"Part of me... wants that too; but the other part wants our first time to be sweet and gentle...", Poppy said. "And that would require us being... human...", Waylon bit his lip as she nodded.
"I know it's difficult... I'm not having much of the same issues as you... my... my other self is almost non-existent. That whole time I just was still... me.", Poppy said.
Waylon exhaled deeply, "Good thing I'm human now, if I am going to make this night perfect for you, I swear it, starting with the sweet and gentle part.", and Poppy smiled, kissing him on the cheek, "Thank you, Wally...That means a lot to me. After the bedroom, we will go to your ideal place to go wild, is that clear to your Croc instincts?".
Waylon grinned, kissing her on the cheek, "Crystal clear.", before they heard barking sounds, hearing paws and thumps across the hallway and stairs, and the family looked up to see on the main stairs is Chess and Bandit, clearly having been guarding the family wing, specifically Poppy's bedroom.
They stopped at the base of the stairs, sniffing and whining, and Poppy smiled, "It's okay, Chess, Bandit, it's me, Poppy...This is my dad, Thomas, and this is Caroline and Jane, Alfred's loves of his life.", and the dogs came to the family almost excitedly yet politely, to take in all the scents, having missed the family very much while learning Poppy's new human scent, Thomas's scent, and the childbearing Caroline's scent.
It was a moment later before Chess got very friendly with Poppy and licking her a bunch in the face as she laughed, "Okay, okay, Chess! I missed you; ya slobber factory!".
Chess barked happily as Bandit nuzzled Poppy's hand, and she smiled, petting Bandit, "It's good to see you too, furball! I missed you, Bandit!".
Waylon laughed, "Looks like you didn't have to worry there...They're looking fine and good...", and Poppy nodded, "The staff took care of them well...", before taking a deep breath and looked at Thomas and Martha with a small smile, glancing at her mama's memorial stone cross with the empty portrait space, "Shall we put Mama's memorial up before we all split up and all for the night?".
Bruce replied, "There's a perfect picture of Mama in the photo file of her on the computer down in the Batcave. I have to check the ink and all in the printer, but it will be absolutely perfect...".
Alfred replied, "And I believe there's a small ladder to put it up at the perfect height Kel was, like if she'd be watching over us.", with a gentle smile. Martha smiled tearfully, "That's perfect...Yes, let's go...", and so, the whole family went to the private library and went down the secret route behind the grandfather clock, to the Batcave, with the dogs whimpering as they realized that their other alpha leader of the family, Kel, is gone, sensing the grief and sadness in their main alpha in Martha, and the new alpha in Thomas.
And so, after firing up the Batcomputer, and finding the perfect picture of Kel which was of her with a content smile while discovering something on one of the off-road and natural adventures on vacation years ago, like observing something out of the picture, they printed it out, in all perfect portrait size of 100% precision and color, and tacked it with care into the portrait space of the memorial stone cross, with Kel's full name beneath the portrait, and with the small ladder, Thomas lovingly put the memorial up after Alfred put into a strong nail, on the wall at Kel's famous height besides her now and always preserved nest-bedroom where she gave birth to Poppy, danced and hugged Thomas for the first and last time, and made love with Martha many times over the years.