A Basket Full of Bats

My Mad House

When Bruce was home it seemed there was constant fighting. Jason was screaming at Tim. Damian had taken to chasing Jason away with his sword. Stephanie was yelling at Tim. Damian insulted siblings until they were in a murderous rage.

"Call me a fat cow one more time and see what happens self righteous b-"

"Stephanie! Take a walk! Damian muzzel yourself! Jason fire extinguisher now! Tim get off the computer now and go do laps or something! Cassie? Where's Cassie?"

Cassie seemed to have moved in under the bed in the master bedroom.

Tim had the study completely covered in planning charts, time lines, information packets. He been researching pregnancy for Steph, preemies for Richard, he'd had a smart board up that rearranged Bruce's schedule hourly, he'd been trying to double check Bruce's financial reports because Bruce was a walking zombie and Tim's homework was all past due.

Stephanie was continuously in tears or a temper and seemed to be developing hypochondriac tenancies.

Carrie was wandering around like a lost puppy.

Thank goodness for Terry and Alfred.

Terry kept Gotham's dark side under control and was staying level headed. He'd been taking Damian and a rotating schedule of one other mini-vigilante out per night to let them blow off steam.

Alfred made sure dinner was served promptly at seven and everyone at home, sat down and had to spend at least that hour being civil to each other. Bed times appropriate to age were strictly observed. The fire extinguishers and first aid kits were inspected daily.

Bruce arranged the setup of a private one child NICU in the mansion. He hired nurses and doctors. He paid an embarrassing amount to keep Jason's favorite NICU nurse, both because she knew Richard and for Jason. What use was it being a billionaire if you couldn't make your life easier when you really needed to.

The extravagant expense was completely worth it to get away from the reporters and to be able to work from home more; instead of from a brief case carefully prepared by Tim, his fourteen year old son who seemed determined to throw himself at adulthood because he so desperately wanted to be needed that he didn't mind if he wasn't taking care of his own needs. Tim was acting like an inappropriately unfiltered encyclopedia. He must have been flushing his medication again. If he didn't start taking it, Jason or Stephanie were going to leave him hanging from a lamp post somewhere and Damian would skewer his computer like so much errant shrubbery. Unfortunately Tim didn't seem to understand that the social awareness the medication allowed him was extremely valuable even compared against a slight loss in other areas.

When they were done with the specialized Neonatal equipment Bruce had already agreed to donate it to the hospital. In return Wayne Manor was temporarily licensed as a mobile extension of Gotham General. The hospital desperately needed relief from media pressure too or this unorthodox arrangement would never have been authorized. Some of the equipment was rented. They were talking about it at dinner the day before the transfer.

"We weren't supposed to be allowed to take him home until he hatched." Jason pointed out worriedly. "He's still not ready."

"Father has provided for all of Richards possible needs Todd," Damian explained wearily. He was looking forward to showering at home and taking the Jag to school again.

"We'll still have to wash our hands and put on gowns going into his room," explained Tim pushing up his glasses.

"Father has there been anything further from the cardiologist?" Damian asked.

Bruce nodded.

"Cardiologist, that's his heart still?" Jason interrupted having gone ghost pale.

"Jason, he is doing better," Bruce tried.

Cassie stopped eating and started pushing her peas around her plate.

"Cassie?"

Stephanie ran off to throw up which she seemed to do often when they discussed Richard at the dinner table.

"Master Bruce perhaps this is a topic better left for when Miss Stephanie is not trying to eat," spoke Alfred.

Cassie was determined to do Alfred justice. She straightened her shoulders, shaking off whatever had been bothering her, stopped and thought for a few moments. Finally, a tiny corner of her mouth turned up. Her shy whisper announced mischievously, "Ree'ard stick tongue at me."

"Why the cheeky little devil!" exclaimed Alfred. "You must correct the young Master and explain that such behavior is quite rude."

Jason grinned ear to ear and even Damien smirked a little.

Bruce tried his hand at light hearted. "Alfred will finally be allowed to see his grandson. Carrie you can see him too."

"Tim showed me some pictures," Carrie spoke, desperate to be included but having no idea what to say. "I don't mind changing diapers," she volunteered.

Jason wrinkled his nose at her then turned to Alfred. "If you wash your hands and arms really extra carefully you can stroke his head through special holes in his eggie. He likes that. He'll look at you and sometimes try to touch you."

"Is that right Master Jason."

"He's got really soft peach fuzz on his head now."

"Miss Cassandra has prepared some artwork for Master Richard's room."

"Would you like to tell us about it Cassie?" encouraged Bruce.

"... a a a anmal cir-circus..." Cassie whispered smiling. She jumped up and pulled at Bruce's hand.

Though it was highly irregular to leave the table in the middle of dinner, it was also highly unusual for Cassandra to willing make such physical contact with anyone, even Bruce. The whole family (except Stephanie who'd gone to her room to lay down after her emergency bathroom trip) traipsed over to the newly finished NICU nursery.

"Whoa Cassie, this is incredible," exclaimed Terry.

She had painted the entire room like an animal circus. There were elephants, monkey clowns, high flying robins, a bear for a ring master, a knife throwing bat, a juggling donkey and a cat doing magic.