a/n: welcome to hell.
aka: the Arkham arc

get ready for a hell of a roller coaster because i'm not holding anything back for these next few chapters.

but here's a wholesome filler chapter to make up for the angst of last chapter and the ones to come

"This demonstration used just five ounces of my latest toxin. By tomorrow, this will all seem like child's play... Gotham, this is your only warning."

"One week is all I ask. One week of fucking peace!" I yelled, turning off the TV and stood up from Dick's lap. "We're going to Gotham. Get the heavy artillery from the safe while I pack our suits."

"I fucking hate Scarecrow and Gotham right now, I swear." Dick grumbled, rubbing his temples. "STEPHANIE! We're going to Gotham! Suit up with heavy artillery!"

"FUCK YEAH!" She yelled as I picked up my phone and called Artemis.

"Hey monkey, what's up?"

"I need you to Zeta and get your mom out of Gotham. You have two hours to get everything packed and leave."

"Yeah, Will saw the news. I was just about to call you. Is it-"

"It's worse, mouse. I need you to get her out. I'll override the Zeta so she can get to Star City quick." I ordered, rushing up the stairs with Dick trailing behind and Stephanie running down the hall to her room. "Stephanie, three minutes. Get the grenades and everything else prepped."

"On it, Mom."

"And you? Will's prepping Lian's room so you and Dick can stay here until it's over, especially you." Artemis said and I heard shuffling around.

"I'm not going anywhere until it's over. We've been preparing for this for weeks."

"Mae, you're five months pregnant, have a doctor's appointment in three days to find out the gender and were in Arkham not too long ago. You're in no condition."

"As long as I'm able to get up and walk without getting fatigued, I can still fight."

"We tried to talk her out of it for weeks!" Dick called out, moving the portrait of me, Harley and Joker to open the safe. "So, Bruce had her entire suit lined with titanium and had special plates for her bump. Anyone tries to hit it and they're electrocuted... it also recognizes our heat signatures so we can stand near her no problem. She's the safest and most bulletproof person in the entire state of New Jersey."

"That brings me a weird sense of comfort when it's not supposed to because that's just terrifying as hell." Will butted and I chuckled. "But if you ever wish to stop by during the night, you know where the keys are."

"You just take care of our goddaughter, Harper. We're out here making the world safe for her." I smiled and hung up. "Okay... what are we taking?"

"I'm packing up grenades, smoke bombs, your throwing cards... pretty much anything that'll fit in our belts."

"Escrima sticks and guns?"

"Charged and loaded. Packing two more just in case and I'll recharge in the Cave."

"Hey, I just got word from Tim that they're headed out to oversee the evacuation. Babs is in the Cave working with Alfred and they're waiting for us there." Steph poked her head out from her room and I nodded. "He said it's chaos out there."

"Soon I'm gonna be too pregnant for this and it'll all go to hell." I sighed as Dick tossed me a duffle bag. "You and Cass head to Gotham North while Dick and Katie head to Crime Alley and get the kids out. I'll make a call to the Foundation to set up everything for those who need it in neighboring cities. Hopefully, we'll be able to contain all of this before it goes to hell and Gotham becomes a wasteland."

"After this, we're going on a babymoon for two weeks." Dick said and I nodded.

"Make it three depending on how bad it is."

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"Mae, Gotham South is evacuated."

"We're halfway done with Gotham North and Crime Alley is fully evacuated. The Foundation buildings in Blüdhaven are full so they're transferring some to Metropolis. Clark and Lois are headed there now to help."

"Any sign of Jason?" Barbara asked and I shook my head. "You think he left?"

"I know that boy better than anyone. He's hiding somewhere... but if he's working with Scarecrow-"

"Then he's still in town."

"Exactly." I sighed, leaning back against my chair and propped my feet on the desk. "Hey, you wanna join the betting pool on the gender? We're almost at two hundred with the Outsiders joining in recently. We even got the old members on the Team on it too like Troia and Garth."

"Who's got the highest?"

"Artemis with a girl and Will with a boy are tied at 75 if I remember correctly. I think Artemis' boyfriend is keeping score since we need an impartial third party."

"After this is over, I'll join the betting pool."

"I joined this morning with Miss Zatanna and Miss M'gann with a girl." Alfred said, placing a plate of snacks in front of us and I smiled. "I believe Master Bruce is betting for a boy with Master Damian."

"The demon spawn joined!? Okay, put me down for a boy then!" Barbara exclaimed and we laughed.

"Oracle, the entire city's evacuated." Bruce's voice rung out and we sighed in relief. "We're headed home."

"I've never seen Gotham so empty... it's more depressing than usual." Dick added. "No sign of Joker, the Knight or Scarecrow anywhere. We covered the city top to bottom."

"Y'know what? That's a tomorrow problem. I believe we deserve one night of peace and quiet as a family and a good night's sleep." I said and heard everyone hum in agreement. "So get your asses home safe."

"After one last lap around town, babe. Gotta make sure there's no strays left."

"Make it quick."

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"MOM! Damian's hogging all the chocolate syrup!"

"DICK! Where's the waffle mix!?"

"So much for peace and quiet." Dick chuckled, not moving from our spot on one of the couches in the den, his head resting just next to my belly and I ran my fingers through his hair. "Keep doing that and I'll fall asleep in a few minutes and won't be able to see the movie."

"DICK!" Stephanie yelled again and I rolled my eyes, glancing at Bruce who was reading across from us. "HEY, PARENTAL FIGURE!"

"And you're not gonna tame your kids?" I asked.

"Nope. I learned with you two that leashing them just makes them more feral. I've learned to embrace the chaos and let it be."

"I believe this is a perfect time to talk strategy for tomorrow night." Damian called out, pushing everyone inside the room. "I believe we should-"

"We don't talk about the mission the night before because we'll jinx it... learned that one too many times when I was Batgirl." Barbara called out, parking her wheelchair next to me. "I'm staying the night because Dad thinks I skipped town... which means that I pick the movie."

"Ooh, can we watch the one you were telling me and Cass about last week?" Steph offered.

"No way! Dick and I have been dying to see that new crime show that came out last month!" Tim protested. "Dude, back me up here."

"Can't... falling asleep trying to see if the acrobat moves." Dick mumbled and, on cue, I felt a sharp pain making him sit up immediately. "Did it just-"

"I think it did." I gasped and the baby kicked again. "Oh, it so did!"

"What happened?" Bruce stood up alarmed but Alfred forced him back down.

"I believe the baby just kicked, Master Bruce."

"Oh, it so did!" Dick and I yelled in unison and everyone cheered.

"God, let it be a girl so I win the cash." Tim begged and was hit by Cass. "Oh, shut up. You betted a boy so you get no cash when I win."

"You two decided on names yet?" Steph asked, placing a hand in my belly and felt the baby kick. "God, I still can't believe there's a human being in there just chilling while the world goes into chaos."

"Wally if it's a boy. Tula, Alice or something else if it's a girl. The boy name is the only one we've actually agreed on." Dick shrugged, pushing her hand away and replaced it with his own.

"Alice?"

"Alice in Wonderland... long story short, Cheshire always told me I should imagine Gotham as Wonderland whenever things got bad with Joker. And she always used to make us watch that movie whenever I stayed over." I answered.

"And Tula?"

"In honor of Aquagirl. She was a member of the Team around the same time Jason was... she was the one that healed my wounds when I came back from Arkham and dated Kaldur up until she died a few months after Jay did."

"We still have time to decide... it'll be fine." Dick assured, leaning back against the couch and pulled me with him. "But we're so watching that crime documentary."

"Bet I can solve it before it's over." Bruce smirked and everyone started yelling protests. "I can and I will!"

"In your dreams, B! We've got this in the bag!"