"Wh-why is it good ne- no... you're kidding me...", Barbara almost wanted to start crying with joy as she was sure she was guessing right to what Poppy was about to say.
"Nope, not in the slightest. This whole thing... our family, much of our powers and such... all stems from Mom having Alderson's before I was even conceived.", Poppy said.
A warm chuckle was heard, "My daughter's right.", and Barbara looked back to see Martha, Waylon, Bruce, and Selina in their suits, with their masks off, with Martha not gamma'ed out yet. "I can't believe it's ironic...", Martha laughed.
Barbara exhaled, blinking in surprise, "Wait, you got cured into She-Hulk?...I thought Mr. Wayne, during the coma, had forgotten how to make the cure and all because of the trauma...", getting a bit confused as she was forbidden to read the truly secret parts of the book including the beginning.
Snorts and chuckles was heard among the others, and Martha smiled, "Yes, it was true my husband helped quite a bit, but he never actually created the cure...He just told others that he did to protect a family friend, but he never told the details and all because of the old bigots in Wayne Entreprises who was replaced by my trusted board of open-minded and progressive people, and everybody presumed that he forgot in his coma...", with a nod as she joined to sit around the table.
"And actually...", Bruce cleared his throat. "The whole She-Hulk stuff was basically all an unknown side effect to the cure. A dangerous and experimental procedure, considering that Mom was basically at her end. If not for it, I don't think she would've lasted another few months.", he explained.
"Could someone start from the beginning?", Barbara asked. "And you don't have to go into great detail; the short version will be fine for me.". Martha gave a small chuckle.
"Fair enough. Well, when Bruce was around seven-ish, I was diagnosed with the illness. Thomas used whatever he could in an effort to save me but at most, it might have bought me a little extra time. So, basically towards the end when it was looking like I was going to finally succumb to it soon, we basically resorted on a real last chance magic bullet, thanks to our friend..." Martha wondered if maybe it would be alright to let Barbara at least know of Leslie. After all this time, she was trustworthy and almost family in a way too with how close she and Poppy are as friends.
Barbara bit her lip, "And do you think this friend will help? I can't lose her...we can't lose her...", and Waylon glanced at Martha who nodded, and he replied, "Our family friend who is like an aunt and all, she is an old friend of Thomas from school. Dr. Leslie Thompkins.".
"Wait, as in the same Leslie Thompkins at her clinic?", Barbara widened her eyes, and Waylon nodded, "Yep...And she is also the one who cured me of my illness from being bitten by a sick crocodile, and my Killer Croc ego was the side effect that came from it.".
"Whoa...Hold on, does that mean the rest of you...", Barbara asked curiously, and Selina replied, "More or less, but we still have some normal people as well, essentially.", as the elder ones hasn't truly experienced creaky joints or anything else of reaching old age and such, and figured that the essence of the Pit, and the donation of gamma energy through portions of blood and emergency touch lingered in the normal family members to stay in accordance with the powered family members equally.
Barbara blinked in awe and surprise and hope, "So, Nora has to go through the procedure then?", and Martha shook her head, "Not the original procedure, as we discovered better, less painful ways...Blood transfer by match and type does it well enough.".
Barbara gave a look as Martha sighed, "Waylon and I went the true treatment route. And let me tell you, I would not wish it on anybody with just how painful it was. Imagine every cell in your body erupting with burning pain... and that's for starters...".
"And of course, obviously what would normally come from it is Nora turning into a hulking creature herself; and if it's similar with Martha there... this new She-Hulk would be fairly savage to start with.", Waylon added.
"Which is why the transfusion should hopefully do the trick; especially at an earlier stage.", Martha said. Barbara exhaled, "So, how can we do that? I mean, I don't want Nora's doctor to be pushy and all if we cure Nora quickly of this week alone...He could be suspicious and all...".
Bruce replied, "She got a point, and the elementary school knew of Nora's collapse and saw her leave the school on wheels to the ambulance and all, and the kids told us of Nora's appearance to announce her sabbatical, saying a bit that she is sick and over exhausted, but not the truth of how bad the situation is.".
Poppy asked, "How long is your vacation, Barbara?", and Barbara exhaled, "Nora said that she just wants to be away from the city, from remembering that she's sick, wanting to be in our favorite place, Jackson Hole for a while...My guess is two weeks, since we came out refreshed and newlywed after two weeks on our honeymoon anniversary three months ago.", with a nod.
Poppy glanced over to Martha as obviously, there was a fix not only to Nora's long absence, but to making sure her doctor wouldn't come back with any sort of questions once Nora could be cured. A little visit from Fate and maybe easily making him think he got a mess up with the lab results somehow.
Martha replied, "That's plenty of time for Thomas and Leslie to figure out the amount of the blood transfusion, because Alderson's Disease is a big shot, and you have my permission as matriarch of this family for you to reveal our true identities behind our Guardian personas, but do not bring Victor and Nora's hopes too high, because we need to be double sure that Nora's blood is a match and everything. Just tell them that we're digging into the science department of Wayne Enterprises, and because you kept your word, and that you are Poppy's best friend all those years, we will pay for everything anonymously with the tickets and the plane, and the hotel while Victor thinks he has, while you three then just pay for your food, drinks, and whatever you do in Jackson Hole for your fun time.".
Barbara's eyes popped just about as she was speechless, and she whispered, "You...you don't have to do that...", with tears in her eyes again.
"Oh, come on, Barb... I'm not going to let my friend suffer a tragic love when there's a solution staring right in the face!", Poppy told her. "It won't be any real trouble, I promise... anything to help Nora and you and Victor.".
Barbara sniffed, and hugged Poppy suddenly in a flash, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!", and Poppy smiled, glad for her stamina and great lung capacity as she was held tightly, "You're welcome...", hugging Barbara back.
The others smiled, and Barbara wiped her eyes of tears as she stepped back, taking deep breaths, "Thank you, all of you...", and Martha replied, "You are practically family, and with Nora being cured, even after you invited us all to your wedding and all, you all are worth of help from this family, and it makes all of you family...Now, with that being on the table and all, let's head for patrol, shall we?".
Barbara gave a grin, nodding as the others nodded, and so, upon taking quick coffee and bathroom breaks, the Guardians set out on their routes to patrol, and a couple of bad guys saw Batwoman's emboldened determination, having the bad luck to get caught, and after a successful, mostly peaceful patrol for herself, Batwoman headed back to the penthouse, and took off the suit before taking up her bike through the tunnel system, and after checking the cameras around the area of the secret hideaway near the Fries-Gordon apartment house, and with a button to change the color of her bike, she headed into the streets, and into the garage.
Barbara smiled as she heard the distinct sound of the tv, after closing down the garage and her bike, coming in, grabbing an apple from the refrigerator, and leaned over the couch to see Victor sleeping on Nora's lap, while Nora is awake.
"Hey, love.", Barbara kissed Nora on the neck, and Nora murmured, glancing back, "Good patrol, then?", with a smile as Barbara used her acrobatics to flip over into sitting on the couch, and smiled, "More than just a good patrol...", biting into the apple and chewing for a moment.
Nora looked at her, "Truly? The guardians suggested ideas to help?", with surprise and hope, and Barbara exhaled, "They gave me permission to reveal their identity after I explained everything, because they are going to look into it literally.".
Nora widened her eyes, and turned off the tv, and shook Victor's shoulder, "Vic, wake up, Barb's home, and she got something big to tell us.".
"What...?", Victor groaned as he was still half asleep. "Come on, Vic... you need to be wide awake for this.", Barbara said as she took a deep breath.
"Barbara, I want to know before anything else... about my disease, did they say anything about it?", Nora asked. Barbara exhaled, "I...I went into a meltdown rant, while they were subjected to it, listening to it all, and after they heard it all, they said that they will look into the science department of Wayne Entreprises.".
"Hold on, wait, are you saying that the Guardians work for Wayne Entreprises?", Victor asked in surprise, now full awake when he heard the word 'science department', and Barbara replied, "Well, more like it's a family tradition of business down for generations...since they own it...".
"You've got to be freaking joking...", Nora said as it all clicked for them so suddenly. "Yep. If you want to know for sure though, the She-Hulks, are Martha Wayne and Poppy. Actually, it's a bit of a story and is related to you, Nora.".
Victor was stunned for a moment, yet everything made sense suddenly as memories ran through, of how the younger kids didn't need time to warm up to Nora during school, that the defending of the elder Waynes' relationship was professionally yet personally amazing, thanks to Barbara, and for him, Thomas Wayne didn't have any issue to talk different doctorates to compare, and all, and of course, their weddings, where there was so much familiarity, yet Victor and Nora thought it was all because of the close friendship between Barbara and Poppy for many years, and in relation, knowing Poppy's family well.
Victor exhaled, "The newspapers...I can't remember much, but I remember my folks talking of the year-long decline at Wayne Entreprises, and that Martha Wayne was ill...and then the shooting and the coma of Thomas Wayne...".
Barbara exhaled, "Thomas found something of a miracle bullet, as to speak, but during the coma, he just couldn't recall it, so they're hoping that there's still a file or something in the science department's computers or such when he was working as a doctor back then, and oh, he still is a doctor, just for the family and family friends.".
Nora exhaled, "Oh...So, Martha had the same thing as me, and she got cured?", biting her lip, and Barbara replied, "Yeah...But Nora, they don't know where it is, and they will search for it as long as they can...", and Nora whispered, "So, it's...not definite...", with a frown.
"No...but please, Nora, listen to me, I...I don't want to lose you...I can't lose you...Poppy promised that she'd do anything to help all of us to have you back to us, as your beautiful, incredible, and brave self...Can you please hold on to your hope that something, anything will be found?", Barbara held into her wife's hands.
"Of course.", Nora smiled. "If Martha was cured of it, then hopefully, I've got a chance too. I'll hold on to any sort of hope, that's for sure!", she exclaimed.
Victor breathed in relief, as last night was difficult, and he wouldn't wish it on anybody else, "So good to hear that, Nora.", kissing her on the cheek, glancing at Barbara gratefully, "Then it's settled. Wayne Enterprises has been a power of Gotham for years, generations even. I promise the option of crypto freeze will be a last option if I can help it, but whatever cured Martha, even better, safer ways of it, I'll take it better in trust than my option.".
Barbara widened her smile, "That's all I can ask for...I love you two...", kissing her wife and husband on the lips, and Nora nodded, "We love you too, Barb...Now, let's head to bed.".
Both Victor and Barbara nodded, and they all headed upstairs to snuggle and hold each other, trusting Barbara's word and praying that the cure will be found sooner or later, and so, into the next few days, Victor and Barbara cleared out their schedules and explained to clients that there's a family emergency, but nothing else much.
And so, that weekend, the wedded trio left Gotham to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with Nora and Victor unknowingly of the Wayne family paying for expenses swiftly with Barbara's discreet hacking online.
Thomas, with Poppy's help, found Nora's file and her blood type as well, and with a bit of stealth, Selina took Nora's blood sample, and Thomas knew it will require him and Leslie to configure the strength of the gamma genes to battle and kill Alderson's Disease in one shot for several hours or at least a full day of blood transfusions without the need of the original procedure, seeing that Martha's blood type matched Nora, gratefully.
They experimented carefully with Nora's blood sample, discovering that when Martha's human, the gamma genes took too long to battle and kill a sample of the Alderson's Disease in a portion of Nora's DNA, causing the Alderson's Disease to fight back and accelerate somehow, and when Martha's all gamma'ed up, the gamma genes took too fast to battle and kill the next sample, overwhelming the DNA, like it was too strong, painful, becoming fresh, new, savage gamma genes, and then finally, they discovered when Martha's halfway transformation between human and gamma'ed up, the gamma genes didn't take too long, or too fast to battle and kill the next sample of Alderson's Disease successfully without it fighting back, or the DNA being overwhelmed, taking up several days of the two weeks' vacation.
"It's tricky, but it will work...", Thomas said as he looked over the samples. "How does that feel, Martha? Being between your normal form and then hulking out?".
"Looked like you were straining a bit there while it was happening. Like you were trying to hold back the transformation, it seems?", Kel suggested.
Martha replied, "That's...that's actually pretty much accurate. I'd have to get used to this for the next few days by practicing so it becomes natural to do it...I hope Nora is refreshed and all from the fresh air and such when they get back.".
Kel nodded, "I bet she will. After all, getting free from the stress and the city and all will do tons for her, and of course, being with Barbara and Victor to help her forget and just bask in love and tranquility and fun.", with a smile.
Thomas chuckled, "Poppy said that from the texts so far, everything's going great. Should we tell them about the good news by phone call, or when in person after they get back?".
Martha replied, "I'd not rather want Nora to be harried rather than refreshed if she's excited, I mean, I don't want her to rush herself on the last few days of her vacation, to make the days go faster and all. Being in person is way better, and besides, I don't want them to go through the scare of another collapse again...I wouldn't forget the look on Poppy's face when the kids told us what happened.".
"Sounds right to me. So, is the testing over for today, then, Thomas?", Kel replied, glancing at Thomas, and Thomas nodded, "Yeah. I'd only need to look over the notes with Leslie. Let's head up and join the family. I'm sure Stormi would be wondering about us if she's getting bored by now.".
His wives chuckled and nodded in agreement, heading back up to the manor after cleaning up and organizing notes, to join the family and tell the good news to the family while giving the reasons not to alert the vacationing trio when they need to be double sure over the next few days and all.
Meanwhile, in a lovely rental cabin at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Nora is contentedly sipping her hot chocolate while watching the sunset, strangely having a gut feeling that everything is going well, hearing the sounds of Victor cooking, and knowing that Barbara is having a shower.
