Chapter Text
Barbara yawned as she shut down the computer for the day. Today had been long and boring. There was generally some cases or research she could do during her down time at work. Today had actually required her to spend all eight hours on her job. She pushed back her chair and stood to stretch. She let out a low ‘oof’ of satisfaction as her lower back stretched.
Barbara walked to her wheelchair and sat in it. This was more comfortable than her office hair but she didn’t like using it for her desk chair. Barbara spent enough time in it as it was. A sticker on one of the arm rests had her smiling. It was a sparkly princess. PJ had placed that morning.
She loved her little spider. Being a mom had changed her life so much. The Joker had shot her in the back then she’d gotten the news she was pregnant. It had been almost devastating news on top of her paralysis.
Then she’d been bitten by a radioactive spider that had appeared out of nowhere while in the hospital. It had given her and her then fetal PJ meta abilities. Barbara could walk short distances now but her legs would shake after a while.
Arm canes helped but her chair was her constant aid. She had mixed feelings about her chair. The bitterness of her situation was mixed with the elation of becoming a mother. She’d carried her baby to term using it. She’d raised him into a young five year old preparing for his first day of school.
She was going to pick him up from Wayne manor that evening. PJ had been acting a bit odd. She thinks he’s nervous about being away from family most of the day. Barbara can’t say she isn’t nervous about it either. PJ was meta. He was good at controlling his abilities but he was still five.
Barbara got into her car then headed to Bristol.
The Wayne manor came into view rather quickly. She parked and went into the manor. She didn’t need to knock most days. Barbara headed to the main family room.
She heard them before she saw them. PJ heard her coming. He would perked up like a dog whenever someone he knew and expected approached him. She knew the exactly moment that happened because the conversation in the room changed.
“Mommy!” PJ called as she neared.
“Hi, baby.” Barbara said as she turned the corner. The Waynes were assembled in the room. Dick, Bruce, Tim, Jason, who was still only allowed around PJ with supervision, and the newly welcomed Damian. Barbara did not like Damian. He was rude and had insulted her use of a wheelchair as if she could have done anything about the damage on her spine.
“Barbara, how are you?” Bruce asked.
“Tired.” Barbara said. “Long day but it’s looking better.” She said as she looked at her son. Damian scoffed and he muttered something about sentiment. PJ frowned and glared at Damian.
“I’m glad to see you too, Mommy.” PJ said. “Daddy and Uncle Tim got me a backpack!” PJ had three backpacks. He spent his time between Wayne Manor, her dad’s or her apartment and Dick’s apartment.
“I still do not see why he requires so many. I have one, as does Drake.” Damian said.
“Because!” PJ said stubbornly. PJ preferred having things in each home and it was easier to just do it with things like backpacks. He had his own peculiarities that Barbara loved seeing as he grew. He pouted randomly. Barbara hoped that didn’t mean she was raising a spoiled brat.
“PJ likes having things in distinct places. It’s easier for him to keep track of his things.” Bruce told Damian.
“Yeah and I can remember better once mommy and daddy are gone.” PJ said stubbornly. He looked smug. He leaned into Dick’s leg. “I’m gonna miss you, Daddy, when you’re gone.”
“What do you mean gone?” Jason asked sounding confused.
“When he dies.” PJ said like Jason was stupid.
“I won’t die for a long time.” Dick said. “Nor will your mommy.”
“Yeah, buddy, we’ll be here for a while.” Tim said. PJ frowned.
“That’s what mommy and daddy said last time but then they died.” PJ shrugged and went to get his things like he hadn’t just said something disturbing. “They’ll be gone next year like last time.” Dick and her had a trip planned to celebrate their graduation from grad school. It wasn’t romantic. (It wasn’t as the Titans were also joining them at certain points).
“They’re just going on a vacation, chum.” Bruce said. “They’re not going away forever.” PJ let out a long sigh.
“Mommy and Daddy said they’d come back last time too and then their plane went down and they were gone. Unca Ben said it was the left engine. So I want to remember them all I can.” PJ said.
“PJ you only have one mom and dad.” Tim said. PJ rolled his eyes.
“I meant my other mommy and daddy from before mommy’s tummy.” He looked straight at Dick. “I love you daddy! I’ll see you later. Mommy are we going home or to Grandpa Jim?”
“Your child has an active imagination, Richard.” Damian scoffed in the awkward moment after his statement.
“I’m not lying!” PJ said and stomped his foot. Luckily it wouldn’t require fixing the floor. “I wanna go.” He told Barbara. Bruce gave her a look.
“We’ll talk about this later.” She told him. She looked at PJ. “PJ you don’t have to worry about us, I promise.”
“That’s what my other mommy said too.” PJ said like it was simple then waited for her to head out.
Maybe they needed to talk to a psychologist before PJ went to school. The conversation left Barbara a bit unsettled though. It wasn’t every day your child talked about another set of parents who died. PJ seemed certain they’d die at sea. Maybe it was a fear of them flying manifesting.
Barbara would go over it later with Dick.
No one said parenting was easy.