New To The Family

Chapter 5: Not An Only Child

Different people experience different levels of déjà vu. Some experience it more often than others, some experience it more intently than others. And Batman was experiencing it right now. A little over a year ago, Talia had come to him, revealing that the two of them had a son, and now Selina was here, claiming that they had a daughter.

While the Dark Knight was an expert on appearing to remain stoic and inexpressive, Nightwing was a different story. He pinched the bridge of his nose and threw his head back as he emitted a frustrated groan. "Oh, God, you've got to be kidding me."

Batman ignored him as he studied the two women in front of him, trying to determine how truthful Selina was being. She may be his friend and ally, but she was also very manipulative, making it very hard even for him to determine whether she was being truthful or not from time to time. This claim she was making, it could very well be a ploy.

"What type of game are you playing, Selina?" he demanded, keeping his voice as neutral as he could.

The leather-clad woman stood up, keeping her hands on the girl's shoulders. "No game, not this time. She's your daughter. You know it's not impossible. I have a copy of her birth certificate, and a DNA paternity test if you want to see them." She shrugged. "And if you still don't believe me, feel free to do your own paternity test. The results will be the same."

She spoke the truth. He could easily find out if this girl, Helena, was indeed his daughter. Hell, he could do the test himself right here and now in the Batcave and have an answer in minutes. And she was right; it wasn't impossible. While Bruce Wayne was always careful to use protection, contraceptives weren't exactly something Batman carried around with him when he went out hunting down criminals. And during nights where he and Catwoman would sometimes find themselves lost in an unexpected state of lust and passion, well, accidents could happen.

Besides, if Catwoman really needed his help, she wouldn't need to make up a story like this to get it, and she knew that.

He looked at the girl, studying her carefully. While her mask hid enough of her face to keep her identity a secret, he could still see her eyes. They were the same blue ones he saw in the mirror everyday. "How old are you?"

The girl blinked at the unexpected question. "Um, ten."

So she was born about a year after Selina had disappeared. "When's your birthday?"

"December 17th."

Batman fell silent, doing some quick calculations in his head as he compared the approximate date of her conception to the last time he and Selina had slept together. If she was ten years old, and born on December 17th...

He looked back at Selina, the visible part of his face still betraying nothing to what he was thinking or feeling. "I believe you."

"Father!" Robin objected.

"Quiet, Robin." He approached the two women, bending down to Huntress' level. "Do you mind?"

Huntress shook her head, and Batman slowly reached up and removed her mask, revealing her face. She smiled at him and reached for his own mask. His hand came up to stop her, holding her own for a moment, but then he let it go, and Helena removed his mask, looking into at the face of her father for the first time; not a picture or an image on TV, but the real thing.

"I've wanted to meet you," she told him, unable to keep the happiness out of her voice. "For the longest time."

Selina smiled and stroked her daughter's hair. "She's the reason I left. I have a lot of enemies here, some who know I'm Catwoman. I couldn't risk staying with her on the way. So I left."