Thomas exhaled, "Let me guess, because she's human? Bruce, you know that she saw the good and bad out there on the streets for the past few years...you just never noticed her until this year...She isn't a normal human...Waylon has been different himself, even before the gamma treatment, and he saw good and bad in people between bullies and Caroline and himself, and he's not a normal human either...It was damn lucky that I guided your sister to safety in them because I saw him save her even before he made the decision to jump into the river. And I'm sure Kel has seen the same, watching over Selina for us even before you made the decision to let her into the family by her choice to help.".
They felt a warm, familiar presence in a soft breeze through the slightly open screened window of Thomas' office around them and caressed one of Selina's lounging cats in the sunshine near Thomas' desk, purring in its sleep.
Bruce exhaled as Thomas replied, "I trust Kel, and I trust you, son, and that means I must trust Selina to understand that all of this is absolutely deep, top-secret within the family, and we can't afford to fail in being careful. This means that Kel trusts you because she loves you as much as I do. Just...if you are truly going to be with Selina all the way on her birthday in two days, perhaps you should start telling the story tonight steadily, and that means no patrol. Your mother got this, as she can take care of herself just fine. Alright?".
"Don't need to tell me twice with that part, that's for sure...", Bruce gave a small huff, in regard to Martha handling things. "I'll think about it. I still don't know what I should keep hidden or not, but sooner or later, the whole truth will have to come out with her. She deserves to know if she...", Bruce took a deep breath.
"Is the one?", Thomas asked. Bruce nodded, "Yeah...I never felt like this before, Dad. I think I am like you in this... Selina, she's... amazing...".
"Well, don't feel like you need to rush into things or try to push something, if there's still a part of you that isn't sure. Plenty of couples have made that mistake in the past.", Thomas warned.
"I know... but... it really does feel right; like I guess how it was with you and Mom.", Bruce said. Thomas looked at him in surprise before smiling, "And with Kel too. Well, your gut never had failed you before. Anything else you need?".
"Nope, not really.", Bruce said as Thomas chuckled. "Just try not to get into too much trouble with her, alright?", Bruce rolled his eyes by hearing that as he could hazard an idea of what Thomas was probably thinking. The suits were going to stay far away for the time being.
Bruce replied, "Dad, you know that the suits are practically professional out there in the city. It's only in public for dating as our civilian identities which we had been doing for weeks already. And besides, you know that Catwoman can get away with a bit of flirting as people presumes her to be, with Batman getting away with a bit of being aloof as people presumes me to be.".
Thomas nodded, "Fair enough, just check your surroundings as you have been, alright?", and Bruce smiled, "Clear.", before leaving the office.
Bruce went down to the Batcave to drum up some theories for his night cases to help Martha if she sees anyone from his night cases tonight on her patrol while waiting for Selina to come home, after checking that the staff has left for the day.
"Already working, Bruce? Sun isn't going down yet for at least an hour.", Selina's voice hums as Bruce glances over to see her sauntering down the stairs in casual clothes after changing from her formal clothes of attending her charity's park convention as a sponsor.
Bruce replied, "Just updating some of the cases for Mom on her patrol. Today wasn't too bad at the company, but I'm still taking the night off, and I suggest you do as well.".
"Oh? Let me guess, an early surprise dinner date?", Selina chuckles, and Bruce exhaled, "Not exactly...I...Dad told me that you asked Mom about the memorial.".
Selina winced with a grimace, "I didn't know...She looked so sad and devastated that I thought I said something wrong, so I backed off when your dad went to comfort her...but I didn't mean to...It's just that...I saw that Martha as She-Hulk and that memorial didn't match perfectly like twins, and I saw a few pictures on television and newspapers about her, and there was the memorial saying that she was the First She-Hulk...".
Bruce replied with a sad smile, "That was because Mama was loved by Mom and Dad...", and Selina looked at him in confusion, "Mama?".
"Come on.", Bruce got up from his chair, taking her hand, "Dad told me that I should be the one to tell you the whole truth as I trust you, and I do trust you, Selina...", as Selina widened her eyes slightly yet remained politely quiet as she nodded.
They arrived at the memorial, with Bruce smiling sadly, "Selina, this is Kel Emerald Wayne, my and Poppy's mama, Mom and Dad's lover and eventual wife.", and Selina gaped softly, "But...but your mom declared that she is not on the dating aisle all those years while being dedicated to your dad in the coma despite all men thinking that she would have been a widow and all! And your mama, she is, er, was...".
Bruce replied with a raised eyebrow, "Green, big, and strong, which would catch all the wrong people to think she was a monster, a freak, if she was seen in public?".
Selina blinked for a moment before she shook her head, "Wait a moment, I thought your mother was the She-Hulk…?". Bruce smiled, "Let me tell you a story, her story.", guiding Selina to sit on the bench under the memorial, and began to tell the story in truth.
Selina listed in rapt attention at every detail that Bruce had given her about the woman that Bruce and Poppy came to know as a second mother to them; to the original Gamma Guardian of the city; the one that Talia, her father and their organization had wanted, and the woman that Martha came to love just like Thomas did.
Before Selina knew it, it was a few hours and some hydration of water bottles, and of course, many questions to wrap her mind around the amazing story here and there.
"Gosh, she sounded so cool and incredible...She must have been very beautiful at the wedding...", Selina said in awe, and Bruce smiled, "I can do you one better.", before getting up, and headed into Kel's preserved room, and came out a few moments later with the special papers and the secret picture.
"See, that's her name she signed perfectly, and that's the complete picture of her dancing with Mom and Dad...", Bruce pointed out as the memorial picture was only of Kel's face and shoulders.
Selina looked at the picture, "Wow, she was gorgeous...This is the full stature of your mama, and she doesn't look scary...The bad people, they literally exaggerate her scary side when you point it out about her protecting this city, this family, like they don't know that she got feelings...".
"Can't say I truly blame them when they describe her or Mom when she's hulked out. A seven-two invincible green amazon charging straight at you and could snap you like a twig with so much as a finger is probably the stuff of nightmares at times.", Bruce gave a small chuckle.
"No doubt since she loved wolves and saw the family as a pack...Never cross a mama wolf...And your mom is following in her footsteps...Do you...think that she'd have liked me?", Selina asked.
Bruce was about to assure her when a soft cave breeze came through, caressing around Bruce and Selina with Kel's favorite scent, and she felt like she was being hugged, without Bruce doing it, and whispered, "Is that...?".
"Yes, it is...she approves...She trusts you, and she has watched over you since I first met you, and like this family, she literally adopted you to be part of it...", Bruce said warmly.
"I guess she can pretty much see everything...", Selina blushed as Bruce gave a small smile at her. "Yeah... but if that proves anything... it's that you're trustworthy to us as well...", he said as his head got closer to her.
Selina's heart raced, "Really?", and Bruce nodded softly, "You literally listened to me the last few hours, reacting from surprise to rapt attention and everything in between...You...You didn't freak out...".
Selina raised an eyebrow and smirked, "I didn't freak out at Poppy and Waylon being mates or having children out of eggs, did I?", and Bruce laughed warmly, "Touche...", touching her cheek reverently, and kissed her on the lips that somehow told everything in one kiss as Selina fluttered her eyes, feeling her toes curl from the kiss.
Bruce pulled back, and whispered, "I love you, Selina Kyle.", and Selina widened her eyes as her heart skipped a beat, hearing those three words from Bruce for the first time. Her past conquests never said it because they knew that it was just business and pleasure, but this...
Seeing her hesitation, Bruce replied, "I can wait for you, to say those words, but I'm not going to imagine life without you anymore...I don't want to imagine life without you because I'm following my heart.".
Selina blushed as she teared up, never imagining that anybody would love her for just her until tonight when Bruce trusted her completely with the whole truth of the family's origins, starting with Kel and Martha, because he loves her...
Taking a deep breath as she heard her heart and mind agreeing as one, "I love you, Bruce Wayne.", Selina whispered, her heart leaping in joy when she saw his face brighten up like the beautiful lights in the city, his smile so wide, his beautiful blue eyes sparkling, and she had to smile, returning his kiss with fervor, moaning in passion and pleasure as their tongues danced, their hands quickly brushing through each other's hair and caressing each other's bodies.
They panted for air as they parted away, looking at each other, and Bruce asked, "Before you say anything, would you like to go out on a pre-birthday dinner date tomorrow night with me? I know you are busy with some animal activist stuff tomorrow, but is that okay, if you're not bothered about it? And before you ask, the family wanted to surprise you, but I am not giving anything away or they will kill me, on your birthday.".
Selina smiled widely, "Bruce, I'd love to go on a date with you after work, and I can't wait to see what my birthday is going to have...But what about you?", and Bruce exhaled, "Well, part one of my surprise, I suppose I can give it to you now...I'll give you the directions to a sneak peek on the panther cubs that has been born two weeks ago in the zoo.", knowing that Selina has been bemoaning that the zoo was adamant on keeping the cubs secret until their unveiling day.
"How exactly do you know how to give the perfect gifts?", Selina chuckled as Bruce blushed. "No, the perfect gift was getting you one of those cubs to take home.", he smirked.
"Tempting… oh, so very tempting…", Selina grinned. Bruce laughed before kissing her cheek, and smiled, "Come on, let's head upstairs for some late dinner with the family.", and Selina nodded.
And so, they left the bench, heading upstairs and enjoying conversations and dinner with the family before going to bed in each other's arms.
The next day was spent of Selina making hard work with her animal activist job, and Bruce at the company before being picked up by Alfred for their date and a change of clothes in formal style.
The date went very wonderful, and Bruce was tempted to make it perfect but can't mess up his plans, and so, the next day, on Selina's birthday, she was surprised by the family taking her to a family and adrenaline fair with rides and games that even Jane and the twins can enjoy.
Later on, Selina was delighted with the sneak peek when with Batman's directions, she was incredibly happy about breaking into the vents discreetly and looking over the adorable and small cubs, enraptured for an hour to watch them play and nurse from their powerful mama panther who wasn't even bothered by the scent of Catwoman.
"Worth it?", Batman asked her as she nodded. "Yeah... I mean, I want to go so much further but messing with little cubs while Mama's around... not a good idea if a girl is willing to keep her health.", Catwoman teased.
Batman smiled warmly, "Glad to know. And it was kinda hot how you tricked the security guards and all around the zoo.", as Batman had kept binoculars upon the zoo upon her sneaking in and had some patrol time while she was in the vents over the panther indoor part of the exhibit.
Catwoman blushed so hard that Batman grinned, glad that they are high and dark on one of the rooftops from the public, and replied, "How about a game? Two hours of patrol, and we score how many bad guys we nail?".
Catwoman smirked, "Oh, now things are getting interesting. You're on, Bat. See you when I win.", flirting with a kiss on his cheek.
"Not when I win first.", Batman chuckled lowly and Catwoman gasped when he pinched her ass, and got away with his grappler into his chosen patrol route before she can gather a retort, "Hey, no fair, that's a head start!".
The patrols were almost fairly uneventful. If anything, it was almost too quiet. All Catwoman did was stop one guy who was trying to break into an apartment, where in the meanwhile, Batman's only event was a guy trying to break open an ATM like a fool. Idiot tried to hook it to the truck he was using but just ripped out the bumper rather than the ATM. He almost contemplated swooping in to take the guy out of the truck but honestly decided it wasn't worth it as the guy tried to roll away, acting like nothing had happened and he wasn't leaving his bumper at the scene of the crime.
And besides, the guy was dumb to realize that his license plate was caught on camera right there after the bumper was pulled, and Batman was decent enough to cut the chain off the atm for the atm mechanic to make sure there was no damage for any customer service tonight.
And so, to his relief, he went back to the Batcave first as he didn't want to spoil his second part of the surprise and was glad to see that the family headed out for some stargazing and spending the night at the Pennyworth house thanks to Thomas' note.
Bruce saw that the Manor was clear, and the staff gone for the night due to Manor secret cameras and wrote a note for Selina before heading upstairs.
A half hour later, Selina was back in the Batcave, glad for the motorcycle, and saw the taped note to the dark computer, taking it off and opening it to read.
'Selina, keep the suit on, but leave the mask, googles, and whip behind. I am ready for the big step. But there's a promise of a secret I gotta tell first. Bruce.'
Selina had a small chuckle as she read that; her mind racing at thinking what exactly he may have had in store. She took a deep breath and started to head her way out of the caves.
She put away the requested things into her locker/suit closet, and soon saw that the manor was quiet, heading up and upstairs to Bruce's bedroom where the door was partially open, speaking softly, "Bruce? Can I come in?".
Bruce's voice replied, "Selina...I lost the game, I technically helped caught a guy, but I didn't stop him...", referring to their game, and Selina snorted, "You never said specifics, and I won the game anyway. I stopped a guy that was trying to break into one of the middle-class districts' apartments.".
She heard a chuckle, "That's fair. I...before we get far ahead, I have to tell you something...Promise not to be distracted when I need to be serious with you, okay?", and Selina exhaled, "I am not going to make assumptions or interrupt you if it's important, Bruce, I promise.".
"Alright...Come in...", Bruce called her in, and she opened the door, closing it, but not locking it, not going to push Bruce if he's having second doubts, seeing Bruce in his suit without the cowl and cape, sitting on the bedroom bench at the end of the bed.
She smiled warmly, ignoring her boldness to jump Bruce's bones when he's looking so handsome and sexy, knowing that this is the first time he would have a woman to bed, sitting next to him.
"So... what's this about, Bruce?", Selina asked. "I mean, don't beat around the bush if you're going to ask if we...", she bit her lip. "Have some fun in the bedroom, so to speak.", she chuckled as he didn't change his reaction. She stopped once she noticed that. "Okay, so, like actually want to say something important then...", she muttered in a hushed tone.