The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 12

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"Close your eyes and think about that boy. Tell me how he makes you feel. Let your mind trace over his tired shoulders. Allow your thoughts to linger on that beautiful smile. Take a deep breath and try to push those dark feelings aside. For once let go of the reins you've wrapped so tightly around your heart. I know you are scared. Who could blame you? Love is a hurricane wrapped inside a chrysalis. And you are a girl walking into the storm."

Lang Leav, Memories

"Oh, hi there! Are you lost, little guy?" Garfield kneeled down to the toddler's level, smiling warmly as he did. He had just walked into the Wayne Enterprise Headquarters and hadn't expected to see a little blond boy sitting by the elevators playing with his pacifier.

The little boy looked up at him with wide, sky-blue eyes and smiled, showing off his tiny white pearls, a few of which were missing. He raised his hands as if he wanted Garfield to carry him. Garfield glanced around, seeing if he could find the boy's parents before he raised him into his arms.

A second later, the elevator doors opened, revealing the person he'd been there to look for. Raven looked surprised for a moment, her eyes locking with the toddler's before he raised his arms and let out a "Momma!"

Garfield furrowed his eyebrows, unexpecting of the toddler's reaction.

"Teether. What are you doing down here? Did Melvin let you run out again?" Raven took the toddler from Garfield's arms and stared him up and down. "Gar," she nodded in acknowledgment.

"Long time, no see, Rae!" Garfield offered a smile. He glanced at the little boy. "So, uh, who's this?"

Raven looked at Teether before replying, "This is Teether. I'm fostering him."

Garfield felt the same strange sensation he'd felt back at the wedding when he'd seen her with the two kids. "Oh. That's great! Hi Teether, I'm Gar." He took the little boy's hand with his fingers. "You're a cute little guy, aren't you?"

"Why did you come here, Gar?" Raven skipped the small-chat, and Garfield chuckled considering he'd predicted she'd want to get straight to the point of his visit.

"I need to talk to you," he admitted.

Raven watched him through narrow eyes and sighed. "Very well. We can talk in my office." She stepped back into the elevator, and Garfield hesitated before following her in.

"Let's hope the elevator doesn't break down again," he joked as the doors closed.

Fortunately, it didn't, and they arrived on the thirty-sixth floor of the building safely without any trouble. They took a few turns in the hallways before they finally got to Raven's office. The first thing Garfield noticed once inside were the two kids sitting on the ground playing a game of monopoly. They were the same two kids who had been at Dick and Kory's wedding. Had she started fostering them back then? If she had, how had he not known about it?

"This is Timmy," Raven introduced the boy with messy red hair. "And this is Melvin," she signaled toward the blonde girl with little pigtails. "Guys, this is Garfield, a friend of mine."

"Hi, Mister!" Melvin waved at him. "Do you want to play Monopoly with us?" she asked excitedly.

"Not right now, Melvin," Raven said before he could even offer a response. "Take your monopoly game to the common room and take care of Teether this time. Alright? Don't let him run out."

"Okay." Melvin appeared a little deflated but followed her instructions.

After she and Timmy gathered up their stuff and stepped outside, Raven crossed her arms and leaned against her desk, staring at Garfield expectantly. "I have a lot of work to do, so please make this quick."