"Bella?!", the once seductive voice gasped with the fever and urgency that only a mother could posses, "Bella, where are you?!"

"She's safe.", Batman assured, equal part confused and utterly shocked.

"I'm coming over.", the voice growled, softening to comfort, "Bella, I'm coming for you, okay honey?"

The Batcomputer beeped, signalling that she -whomever she was- had ended the call.

Instantly, Bruce was met with an onslaught of questions. Sighing, the Batman kneaded his forehead, slumping forward in to his chair.

Bruce.
Was.
Done.

This was all too much, all too soon.

First, he finds out that his son is part demon- demon royalty as a matter of fact- then, his son has to drink blood in order not to loose control of his humanity - fucks sake!- oh, next he watched the boy and his friend tear a warehouse of creatures of legend to less than shreds, and now this!

She somehow got out, and now would be on her way here. How was he going to deal with this?

Bruce was broken out of his thoughts by a young, innocent voice.

"Ummm... mister, how do you know my mum?", her wide, light-green eyes stared intently from where she stood in front of him.

"Yeah, good question!"

"Dick. Shut up.", Raven glared at him.

Naturally, the other bat boys gave her a silent applause whilst Dick found something interesting to look at on the floor. Well, whad'ya know, a cat hair.

Bruce tilted his head up, meeting Bella's curious gaze. Smiling tiredly, he ruffled her curls, laughing as she got angry at him messing up her hair.

"It's a long story.", was all he said, making her frown.

Sitting on the floor next to him, Bella sighed (making everyone die a little inside at how cute she was) and Mr Pennyworth the cat sauntered over to her, curling up nicely in her lap.

The corners of Damian's lips lifted. Mr Pennyworth was a proud, snooty cat, if he was comfortable with the five-year old, there was no doubt about it, she was truly special.

Suddenly, she yawned, arms stretched out animatedly, making Raven remember what time it was. However, before she could do anything, Bruce scooped up the child without a second thought. It was like falling back in to a routine.

He did the same with Dick, when the boy was tired, taking his adopted son upstairs to his room. Jason was... different, but there were still times when he had to carry the second Robin upstairs (usually because he had fallen asleep somewhere). Tim had to be forced to sleep rather than live on caffeine, but he did often fall asleep in the middle of working after three days awake.

Then there was Damian.

Bruce couldn't help but smile at the memory of a prideful, entitled ten-year old Damian.

Shaking his head, Bruce carried Bella to an empty space to the left of the Batcomputer.

"Shall I, sir?"

"Please do, Alfred."

The butler pressed a button on the wall, causing a bed to emerge from a space below the area in front of Bruce: not a hospital gurney, or a single bed, but a full-size, bloody comfortable-looking double-bed.

Jason wiggled his eyebrows, "Hey, bigman, when did this ever come in handy?"

Dick chimed in, "Ooooh, who've you had over? I bet it was-ooof!"

That last part was cut off by Damian's elbow finding it's way to Dick's ribcage.

"Ow! What the hell Damian!", he jumped, resisting the urge to throw his brother through a window- or off of a cliff, either would be okay.

Tone laced with sarcasm, Damian proclaimed, "I'm sorry if it's just me jumping irrationally to conclusions, but is it not -I don't know- not okay to make innuendos in front of children?!!"

Naturally, the bickering continued.

But on the bright side (A.N: CAUSE IM MR BRIGHTSIDE!!!) at least they held their peace for that long.

Meanwhile, Bruce lay Bella on the bed, smiling at how she wasn't even half its height . The little girl yawned once more, rubbing her eyes.

"But what...about... mummy?", she yawned, fighting to stay awake.

Bruce shushed her, "Don't worry, just sleep, you need to rest."

She shook her head, voice breaking, "I-I miss her."

Instinctively, Bruce pressed his lips to her forehead, soothing, "Don't worry, you'll see her soon Bella."

In a few moments, after giving him an exhausted smile, Belladonna nodded off to sleep.

Around fifteen minutes later (during which, Damian and Raven held a discussion about politics whilst the Batboys and Alfred eavesdropped and Bruce just watched over Bella) a loud crash issued from the back of the Batcave.

Without a moments hesitation, everyone stood up. Masks slipped on. Hoods covered faces. A sword found its way to Damian's hand. Nightwing's Escrima sticks were at the ready. Magic threaded between Ravens fingers.

thud.
Thud.
THUD.

Louder and louder it grew.

With it came an unusual aura, one Raven had never felt before. It held the usual, cool tones in the aura of a humans, but below that was something akin to the raw essence of nature that had somehow been... manipulated... in to something else.

Something dangerous.

Then that something dangerous broke through the wall.

Hair an inferno of tangerine, amber, ginger and all oranges in between, she jumped to the floor, clad in a corset of leaves and little else. Vines wound around her arms and legs, very much like snakes. In the shadow of a monstrous, carnivorous plant, she stood, beautiful features contorted.

Features including bright, green eyes. Just like Bella's.

"Poison Ivy."

Batman said it as though he was confirming a suspicion, the only one in the room who wasn't stunned to silence.

"Where is my daughter?", she demanded, storming forwards, luckily without the colossal Venus human-trap.

Batman seemed the only one capable of speech- or perhaps, the only one who knew what to say in this situation.

"She's here Pamela, she's safe.", he reassured, hands in front of him in a signal of peace.

Poison Ivy continued towards him, not glancing twice at the other who, including Alfred, were gobsmacked. Hips sashaying hypnotically with each step, she attracted the intense attention of Jason, Dick and Tim. To Raven's amusement and disgust, they couldn't tear their lustful eyes away from her curves.

She looked to Damian, expecting to see the same story, but was strangely pleased to see that his expression was much like hers- he was no doubt appalled by their lack of self control. Raven couldn't explain the reason for her happiness at Damian's unresponsiveness to Ivy, but she couldn't stop it either.

Pushing that thought to the back of her mind, she watched as Mr Wayne calmed Poison Ivy down, showing her how Bella was safe and fast asleep.

"Don't wake her up.", the plant-like woman told him, exhaling lightly before looking up at Bruce, "What happened?"

He sighed, "You had best take a seat."

Batman's eyes shot to the part-demons.

"Robin, Raven, could you join us.", it wasn't a question, though it was said softly.

The rest took it as their cue to leave- and eavesdrop behind the hidden door.

***

"They had her in a cage!", Pamela roared, causing the man-eating plant to stir at the other end of the cave.

Raven soothed, "Bella is physically unharmed, don't worry. We were there before they could harm her."

Poison Ivy massaged her temples, "I know, and I can't show my gratitude enough- even you, young Robin, a decent male compared to the rest. But what would they want with a child?"

Damian frowned, "We don't know, perhaps it was a trap? Though I doubt they would do so."

The four discussed the matter before Ivy finally said what she needed to say.

"Bruce, I must leave- as you know, I'm supposed to be in exile, but when Selina said that Bella was taken-"

He cut her off, "I understand Pamela, Bella can stay until I- wait, Selina?", his eyes visibly widened.

Poison Ivy smiled, "Yes, Selina Kyle, she's a dear friend. Bella's been staying with her whilst I'm exiled.", the smile dropped, "But she can't stay with her."

"Why not?", Raven asked.

"Selina's...going through a spot of trouble, she can't look after a child on her own and juggle other issues."

Bruce looked at her earnestly, "Pamela, what do you want me to do- find the father?"

The look in her eyes was all he needed to know.

"This can't be."

"But it is,", Pamela Isley touched his forearm, "you are Belladonna's father."

Damian's POV: (A.N- didn't see that coming, eh?)

It was like a ton of rocks had been dropped on to my chest, suffocating me.

The others continued speaking, but I hardly heard anything: my ears only registered Raven confirming that Bruce...father...was Bella's- gods, I can't!

I don't know how much time passed, I just stared forwards, unfeeling. Ivy left. And I didn't realise. Fath-Bruce left. And I didn't realise.

Then I felt a hand on my shoulder I and realised- Raven had stayed.

"Damian? Damian, are you okay?"

Her voice was so soft, so quiet, so concerned, I could loose myself in the beauty of it. My skin warmed at her touch and I sighed, the only sign that I had registered what she said.

Raven tried again, "Damian, talk to me."

She was so earnest, almost pleading. The way my name rolled off her tongue so calmly was all I hung to in that moment.

For what felt like an age, but was truthfully only a few moments, the two of us sat there. I knew she could feel everything I felt- my mental barriers were down.

I was rendered vulnerable. So, so vulnerable. But vulnerable in front of... her- that made it fine.

Finally, I looked up at those deadly, enchanting orbs of amethyst, heart rate increasing ever so slightly- despite all the training I had endured to stop things like this from happening.

A lump in my throat, I tried for unaffectedness, "I-don't worry about me."

She frowned, "Damian-"

I cut her off, wincing at how harsh I sounded, but knowing that she wouldn't take it personally.

"Raven, I'm fine."

No! I wanted to shout. No! I'm not fine! Help me out here, please- gods' sakes help me!

I don't know what to do.
Please.

Raven's POV:

He was not okay.

Azarath, he was hurting so bad. I wanted to help- gods, I wanted to, but I couldn't. That would have to wait for now.

It took all in my control not to scream at Batman to come back. To speak to his son! To stop him from falling over the edge!

Damian was so close to going over, I could feel it.

What I wouldn't give to be able to turn his head to face mine and stare in to those alluring eyes of his and reassure him that everything would be fine, that things would get better.

Hell, what I wouldn't give to be able to pull his lips to mine and show him that he wasn't alone. To run my hands through his hair and feel the searing heat of his mouth against mine- mother of Azarath, these thoughts were insane!

Didn't he know what he was doing to me? How he was breaking my resolve? How I couldn't think straight when he looked in to my soul and laid all my secrets out with a single smouldering glance.

But somethings had to be prioritised over personal issues- like the Night Child in a holding cell.

As if reading my thoughts, Damian broke the silence, "The creature, we had best...", he trailed off.

I nodded, mouth dry, "Yeah, I guess."

With that, we stood up, so much unsaid.

Fixated in my mind was one thought and one thought alone: We need to talk.

A.N

Well hello darlings!

Yeah, well... that happened.
I'm not going to say anything more about it, just wait for the next update ;)

Aaaand! I asked you guys to tell me which other ships you would like to see last update, this is still open, please keep giving me ideas- I won't say which I'll include, they'll just pop in the story!

Also, I want to give a shout out to to stories that I would really recommend you read:

The Impures -by OliverJones368

And

Lost With You -by 23678me (please keep writing this story!!!)

😊😊😊

-Thank You

-Bats :3