Chapter 16 – Waking up

Dick left in the late afternoon to be in time at the airport. I'm not going to lie, I missed him already a lot. And on top of that, my nausea strengthened as the night arrived.

I hated it. It'd better not be some tropical virus or something from the honeymoon...

My phone went off snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Dick, he probably arrived.

"How are you, Angel?" He asked worried as I smiled. He was insufferable.

"I'm fine, I promise." I lied hopefully creditable enough. He needed to focus on his mission not on me. "How is everything there?"

"Honestly? It sucks. Jason was right. The whole city fell apart"

"Rory, where do you keep the tea?" Hank asked me from the kitchen as I bit my lips, praying Dick didn't hear him.

"Is that Hank?" He asked in disbelief feeling betrayed.

"It's in the cupboard on the left" I answered Hank then turning back to my phone.

"Seriously, Rory, I only left five hours ago" Dick added getting worked up.

"He called me and noticed I'm not okay. He offered to help."

"Of course he did" He scoffed.

"Well, someone has to take care of your ill wife when you leave her alone. Again. And here I thought marriage should last in sickness just as well in health…" Hank spoke, out of the blue.

I haven't noticed him coming into the living room, but he made his presence obvious, tearing open all the old wounds with one, loud remark.

"Hank!" I sent him a death glare, but it was too late.

"Fuck this moron" Dick swore furiously. "I'm coming home, now"

"No, you don't" I ordered him putting him on the speaker. I looked at Hank seriously then turned back to the phone. "Hank is only here to help as a friend, you should be grateful for him, he makes my miserable night easier, also, Dawn is on her way too." I considered this part done and I gazed into Hank's eyes. "Dick left because I insisted and trust me it took me enough time to convince him, don't make him feel guiltier, he hates being away from me just as much as I do" I explained. "Don't ever question his devotion for me." I warned him as they all fell silent. "I'm not having this conversation again, I hope you both know that." I added for last as I put back Dick from the speaker signalling Hank to give us some privacy.

"I'm so sorry, love" Dick started genuinely. "I have no excuse..." He admitted defeated.

"You can make it up when you come back" I offered him playfully as he chuckled accepting it happily.

"I already have some ideas" He lowered his voice sending shivers down on my spine even via phone.

"Yeah? You'd better, Beast" I teased him as he groaned in response. "Good night, Dick" I smiled contently.

"Good night, Ror"

"Are you still mad at me?" Hank approached me cautiously after a few minutes I hung up with Dick.

I sighed troubled.

"Yes" I answered honestly, yet patting the couch next to me. He sat down taking it as a good sign. "But I'm glad you're here" I confessed resting my head lightly on his shoulder. I felt lost and alone and his presence sooth the growing bad feeling I had with this whole Batman project.

"I'm glad to be with you anytime, my little ready-to-snap Firecracker" He noted teasing, embracing me securely. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as Hank tensed up a bit. It's all my fault.

I lifted my head up, frowning. What was his fault?

"What's wrong, Rory?" He asked as I realised he probably didn't mean me to hear it.

"Could ask you the same" I added knowingly.

"You should rest" He stood up abruptly like he's been stung, wanting to leave.

"Hank, please" I grabbed his arm to keep him there. He stopped, looking down at our clasped hands awkwardly as the tension became palpable. I haven't released him even though I felt the urge to let go, but I refused to feel embarrassed around him. This was just stupid!

"Sometimes I wonder if I was more understanding that night would you still be mine?" He finally confessed, rubbing the top of my hand, making me wish he remained silent...

I had no idea what to say. It probably would've helped, but honestly, getting back together with Dick was inevitable in a way.

"Hank..." I started hesitantly, feeling guilty. His fingers burnt my skin and I regretted greatly not to disengage myself when I had a chance.

Fortunately Dawn's arrival saved me.

"Sorry for being late" She stormed in being occupied enough with the stuffs she brought not to notice the situation as Hank and I jumped apart. "I got some vitamin B6, that couldn't hurt in any case" She started packing out. "How are you, Rory?"

"Uhm... been worse" I tried to regain my composure.

"Hank, would you be so nice and bring a glass of water?" She turned to him, politely asking him to leave us alone. He murmured something under his breath in acceptance as he left. "I brought you something else too" She lowered her voice. "How late are you?" She asked not being able to hide her excitement. For a moment I had no idea what she's talking about, but then she showed me the test.

"Oh, wow" I noted surprised then she really got me thinking. I was indeed, a good two weeks late.

Being pregnant haven't crossed my mind, but Dawn was right. Dick and I haven't planned a baby on purpose, but we weren't paying too much attention to protection lately either... Why would we?

I quickly locked myself in the bathroom as terror and thrill mingled strangely in the pit of my stomach.

It all made sense. I was so stupid not to think about it before... I face palmed myself while I was waiting for the result.

Seconds dragged by as finally the three minutes passed and I could check the test.

Two definite stripes. I was pregnant.

DDD

I checked the address once more as I stood in front of the hotel. I visited the doctor in the morning who confirmed last night's discovery, I could even hear the heartbeat of the baby!

Then I decided to join Dick. I didn't get the flu or caught the cold, and it wasn't some mysterious tropical disease either. Besides, there was no way I was telling him the good news by phone...

Although this accommodation wasn't exactly the best, to say that much, not to mention the people who lived here.

The place was filthy and sticky as I made my way to Dick's room. I knocked on the door truly hoping he's there. I didn't call him, I wanted it to be a surprise. For a few seconds nothing happened. I was about to panic when the entrance opened finally.

"Angel?" Dick frowned first but then eased up, smiling at me genuinely. "You're here" He hugged me, burying his face into my neck, inhaling deeply. "I've missed you so much" He mumbled lifting me up a few inches as he carryied me in to close the door behind us. "But how? Are you alright?" He now realised what was the deal.

"Yeah, told you it's nothing serious" I ensured him grabbing his hand. "What happened?" I raised my brows noticing his bloody knuckles.

"I beat up a man" He answered reluctantly as heavy silence settled.

"Well, I'm sure he deserved it" I added carefully, but he just waved tiredly as he hopped down on the bed.

"It doesn't matter. I lost control. Again." He told me in despair. "Everything is falling apart, Bruce is a lost cause and I'm back to the old patterns too" He covered his face with his palms. "I don't want to be Robin again" He whispered horrified as I sat down next to him. He was fighting his demons. Demons he believed were defeated for good...

"You're not. And you won't be" I said confidently, placing my hand on his thigh.

"You can't possibly know that" He corrected me raising his gaze at me at least.

"Why, I'm sure though" I corrected him with a half-smile, earning his attention. "Because you soon will have a pretty good reason not to" I instinctively put my other hand over my belly.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he put the puzzle together.

"Are you…?"

"Yeah" I nodded chuckling a bit nervously. I had no idea how would he react. "A bit more than six weeks now"

"Gosh, Rory" He got wowed closing me in his arms. "That's amazing" He grinned, cupping my face.

"You're okay with it?" I asked smiling relieved.

"Are you kidding? You just made me the happiest man on Earth" He crushed his mouth on mine claiming my lips passionately. I giggled at his enthusiasm first, but then I followed the rhythm he dictated. "How about we celebrate?" He husked tilting me back on the bed as I folded my arms around his neck, agreeing.

He ran his hand up on my thigh as my whole body tingled at his sensual touch. I let my fingers play over his body, finding their way under his shirt as our kiss grew long and leisure. He was tender and I loved it.

I started to let myself go and enjoy his gentle caresses when a loud moaning and groaning snapped us out. Seemed like the neighbours had fun too. We looked at each other as a hard thud shook the wall next to us. They liked it rough, I guess.

We burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation. So much for our romantic night.

"Sorry, Angel" Dick murmured supporting his forehead on mine.

"We'll have plenty of times, don't worry" I cuddled next to him, my eyelids feeling heavy suddenly as I repressed a yawn. It was a long and exhausting day.

DDD

I woke up in the middle of the night. Something wasn't right. Terror rushed instantly me as I realised, Dick isn't next to me anymore.

"I'm here, Ror" He called me to calm me down. He was in the other side of the room, pacing back and forth, but now he walked back to me.

"What's wrong?" I asked sitting up.

"Nothing, love, go back to sleep" He whispered, smoothing my hair behind my ear.

"Dick..." I warned him that I know him too well to buy this bullshit, as he sighed defeated.

"I have some doubts" He admitted it as my heart skipped, imagining the worst.

"About what?"

"Not you, Angel" He smiled at me tenderly, placing a soft kiss on my lips. "And I already love him here more than anything" He stroked my belly just like he read my mind. "It's just... I'm not sure I could be a good father" He confessed as this time I smiled. "What if I'll ruin him?"

"You'll be an amazing father" I cupped his face to emphasis my words. "And all because of those things you thing you won't. You know exactly what not to do" I ensured him as I saw his mind working fast.

"You're right." He said kissing my palm gratefully. "The future is all ours. I decide what to do" He declared it mostly to convince himself, but it was alright. He had time to get used to the idea of being a father.

"So you think it's a boy" I changed the topic as I pulled him back to bed with me.

"Hmm. Definitely" He confirmed laying down next to me. "Then a girl and another girl and finally a boy again" He enlightened me in a shower of kisses as I giggled at his enthusiasm.

We will be all right.

The next day we had the operation of bringing in Bruce. He really crossed a line and killed not just the Joker, but a bunch of other innocent men and women.

Dick led the mission but he agreed me to join as long as I stayed next to him and didn't do anything stupid, as he said.

We sat in a control room, checking everything on the screens, but it was more than devastating. We slowly lost our whole unit as Batman took them down efficiently, wtihout a heartbeat of hesitation.

"Take it down!" Dick ordered. "Repeat, take it down!" He said meaning to bomb the whole place. Explosives was set in everywhere in and around the Batcave.

And that was all I could take. After the explosion I ran out of the room to check the location. Maybe there were some survivors and I've been sitting on my ass enough to let them die.

"Rory!" Dicked yelled after me, but I was already far away. "For god's sake, Rory" I've heard him swore as I fastened my steps.

The whole building was ruined as I entered the basement where the last location was of Batman. He was there, laying on the ground, but he was alive.

"Bruce" I walked up to him hurriedly as I checked his injuries. "Are you…" I intended to ask whether he was okay considering the situation when a sharp pain hit me. My abdomen throbbed in agony as a knife found its way to my flesh.

Did he just stab me?

The last and only thing I remembered was my blood everywhere. I was bleeding, way too fast and I somehow knew I was dying.

My vision blurred out as I lost conscious.

I was dead. In a way at least. I saw myself from the outside and I watch Dick finding me. Yet none of this was real.

This whole world was an illusion and I just realised it now since I was free from the enchantment. We were only muppets in Rachel's father's dream. It was a test. And Dick was about to fail irrevocably.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Dick fell on the ground next to my body. "Angel..." He murmured checking my pulse as tears were rolling down on his cheeks. "Jesus, Bruce, you killed her." He tried to progress. "She was pregnant, you fucking psycho" He raged up, grabbing Batman to punch him in the face, who let it happen without any fight. "This is what you've always wanted." He kept hitting him with more and more force. He was going to kill him if he continued like this.

Dick, stop! Dick, please, stop, it's not real!" I reached for him, but he was too preoccupied. Dick, I'm here, I'm alive. I tried desperately, but his mind was like a closed safe, locking him up in this nightmare.

"You wanted me to give in to the darkness, to become you." He added panting hard as his former mentor was barely hanging on. "Well, fuck you, Bruce. You win."

Noooooooo! I cried out as he delivered his last punch, killing him.

Dick was lost too. There was no way turning back now and that was exactly what Rachel's father wanted ...