Chapter 38 – Overnight Accommodations

After a very sullen, disappointed Dick was forced to keep his usual bedtime that evening, the adults enjoyed some after-dinner conversation with no need to censor for young ears. Bruce and Selina had a feeling there was far more the Falcones wanted to share – and their suspicions soon proved accurate.

The study was the obvious choice for comfortable, intimate discussion. Bruce would have been fine with this, had Carmine not continued eyeing the grandfather clock with intense interest as they talked.

"So, Louisa…" Selina began soon after they sat down. "…you mentioned earlier that I have a sister?"

Louisa's expression flickered. "Y-yes, you do. Sofia."

Nodding, Selina waited for something further. Yet Louisa kept her lips pursed after uttering those words.

"Can I meet her sometime?" Selina inquired.

Seeing his wife's distress, Carmine inhaled deeply and answered. "You could, if you called ahead to reserve a visit at the Washington State Supermax Penitentiary."

Selina's blood went cold. "What?"

"She's imprisoned for life," Carmine said matter-of-factly, though his eyes conveyed deep sadness. "May as well just rip this band-aid right off: she's a serial killer, Selina. Murdered at least a dozen people."

One tear escaped each of Louisa's eyes. She allowed them to travel the full length of her cheeks, wiped them from her chin, and then found her composure again.

"There's more you need to know. You have two brothers, Mario and Alberto. When your father decided to leave the mafia, he tried convincing Mario to leave too – but it didn't work."

Barely able to breathe, Selina gripped the leather armrest tightly. She was afraid to ask about her final sibling's fate. Thankfully, Carmine volunteered without needing to be prompted.

"And Alberto… well, if anyone proves that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, it's Alberto," sighed Carmine. "By the time he was born, I'd started to see some ugly things in Sofia and Mario, and I thought I could keep Alberto from growing up the same. But all the protective parenting in the world couldn't keep him from ending up right alongside Sofia."

Selina's eyes stayed open in cold terror. "You mean…"

"He's a serial killer too, Selina."

Carmine's confession hung in the air, slowly being immolated by the crackling fire. Soon the flames would consume the air that suspended Carmine's words, and then someone would have to speak. No one knew exactly whom that should be, however.

Louisa accepted the responsibility. "Now you understand why we were so excited to find you, Selina. You're our only hope for a normal parent-child relationship. And the only hope for normal, well-adjusted grandchildren."

How sweet they think "normal" and "well-adjusted" describe members of this household, thought Selina as she bit her tongue. But perception was reality, and the Falcones were blissfully ignorant of the bizarre baggage Bruce and Selina secretly carried.

And how long would that ignorance continue? How long before Bruce deemed them worthy of knowing his ultimate secret? Would it ever happen? Or would they remain as ignorant as the rest of the masses, no matter how many dinners they shared here? No matter how many hours they spent cuddling their grandchildren?

Selina pushed the thought away. This was not the time to fixate on that topic. Her parents needed her to be emotionally present right now.

"I'm glad you found me, too," she said sincerely. "And I'm glad you're staying with us tonight. Even if catching up is painful, I'm sure we'll get through it together."

"I agree," replied Louisa with gratitude.

Bruce, aiming to lighten the mood, changed the subject. "So Carmine, will you and Louisa be spending a lot of time down in Florida, since that's considered your new 'home?'"

"We might get a condo there at some point," replied Carmine noncommittally.

"I'm not sure how often we'll be there, though, as long as you and Selina are here in Gotham," Louisa said.

"I don't suppose you two would consider moving someplace warmer?" Carmine asked.

Bruce suppressed a smile. "Slim chance."

"I know it's a long shot. Had to ask."

"We'll have to plan a vacation for next summer," suggested Selina.

"That sounds wonderful!" Louisa agreed. "Where were you thinking?"

"Maybe our cottage on Little Delaware Lake?" Selina looked questioningly at Bruce. "Assuming it's repaired by then, of course."

Carmine frowned. "Repaired? What happened to it?"

"Some pretty bad vandalism," answered Bruce. "Selina and I were planning a getaway there before the babies come, but there's no telling how long before a crew can fix it."

The shadows on Carmine's face took on a thoughtful angle. "I may be able to help with that."

Bruce's eyes were skeptical. "You're a licensed contractor?"

"Hardly. But I can get a repair team out there next week."

"Next week?" Selina scoffed, incredulous. "Everyone we've called has told us two or three months, at least."

Carmine smirked. "That's because you've called them. No offense."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "You still expect to have powers of persuasion out there?"

"Not powers, per se. Just one last favor I can call in."

Bruce and Selina exchanged bemused glances with each other. "Well, you're more than welcome to try," Bruce consented. "Best of luck."

Both of the Waynes were fairly exhausted by the end of the evening. Their four-poster bed had seldom appeared so inviting, and Selina fell asleep within two minutes of closing her eyes.

Bruce, on the other hand, couldn't manage to shut off his brain to save his life. His eyelids refused to shut, remaining rigidly open in the dark.

The cottage… next summer… Carmine and Louisa… the twins…

Everything was swirling together like a tornado lifting up everything in its path. But why? Why did it all feel so overwhelming? None of those things were outrageous. The Falcones would stay a few days, then relocate. The wins would be born, and he and Selina would adjust. The cottage would be fixed eventually. And next summer would come when next summer came. Not before, not after, but right at its usual time.

And when it did…

A vision of next summer's cottage danced on the dark ceiling above him. He saw it all in startling clarity: the twins gleefully enjoying a boat ride on Little Delaware Lake, situated on each grandparent's lap. Dick suiting up for his first water-skiing attempt. Selina wearing a wide-brimmed sunhat as she reveled in the tranquil scene. Bruce piloting the craft, easing the motor around the shore to provide a leisurely tour of the lake's opulent homes.

Anyone else envisioning this day would be pleased. Indeed, there was not a single strand of tension to be found anywhere. Yet Bruce sensed that somehow, that was the problem.

No tension. No intrigue. No mystery. All the occupants of the boat were exactly as they appeared. No hidden agendas, no secret identities.

No Batman.

If the babymoon proceeded as Selina doubtlessly intended, she would succeed in making Batman retire. Which meant by next summer, Bruce would be fully assimilated as an ordinary member of society. He'd be well-accustomed to a predictable work schedule, a dry-cleaning routine for the suits he wore each weekday, and Dick's Little League calendar. All of which would be fine and tolerable… if the added mystique of Batman balanced it all out.

Bruce blinked once. Suddenly he understood. There in the silence of his midnight bedroom, everything made startling sense. Batman wasn't just an alter ego, a side of him that existed secondary to Bruce Wayne. Batman was his core personality. All this time, it'd been sustaining his shell of a life – and without it, he feared he'd collapse completely.

This was the revelation he'd been subconsciously avoiding all along. It was far easier to hide behind duty, responsibility and obligation rather than admit the pathetic reality of Bruce Wayne. He wasn't afraid of ordinary life not being enough for him – he was afraid that without Batman, he wouldn't have anything of substance to offer ordinary life.

His breaths were shallow as he lay there, totally immobilized. Sleep seemed utterly impossible for him that night.

Which ended up working in his favor a few minutes later, when Alfred pounded on the door and dragged Carmine in.

"Sorry to interrupt at such a late hour, Master Bruce, but I thought you'd like to know our guest was caught poking his nose around the Batcave."