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When Ryan heard the loud buzzing of her phone on the end table next to her head, she assumed it was her alarm. With her face still buried in her pillow, she reached over to turn if off but the vibrating stopped before she reached it. Maybe it was the fog of sleep but Ryan was sure her alarm should still be going off.
Then it hit her.
It was her self-declared week off after working way too many days in a row. As a result, when she finally got to sleep; she told her wife to not set an alarm for her. Between working with Luke at Wilder Industries, Batwoman duties and raising a three-year-old; she was exhausted and needed some time off to rest.
Her phone chimed twice indicating a text message. Ryan turned her head and cracked one eye open to peer at the clock on her phone.
11:23 am
She yawned and rolled over to stretch. As expected, the other side of her queen sized bed was empty and cold. Bless her wife. Sophie promised to take their early riser of a daughter Serena out to let her sleep and would only call if there was an emergency. Both of them weren’t exactly “early bird catches the worm” types but Sophie did work more normal hours as Mayor than she did as Batwoman so she usually tried to entertain Serena so Ryan could get some mornings to sleep in.
Another minute passed of her just staring up at the ceiling and allowing herself to adjust to being awake. Eventually, Ryan grabbed her phone to check it and saw pair of text messages from Sophie.
[My Love]: Good morning gorgeous ❤❤❤
[My Love]: So I did a thing and don’t worry. Serena’s fine
It took less than a second for Ryan to go from warm and smiley to cold and concerned. Sophie was notoriously responsible when it came to time spent with Serena but sometimes; she got excited and forgot their daughter was only 3. And then Ryan became the worrier.
She sat up and typed a hurried reply.
[Ryan:] Now I’m worried
[My Love:] I told u not to worry
[Ryan:] which is why i’m worrying what kind of thing?
[Ryan:] u got 30 secs to clarify what u meant
[My Love:] ok. my bad. I probably should have put a preface to that
[Ryan:] ya think
[My Love:] Babe listen. It’s nothing bad. I promise
[Ryan:] tick tock Sophie. out with it
There was a brief pause in the conversation before a picture came through. And all irritation and worry in Ryan's mind was replaced with amusement.
Ryan rubbed her eyes and caught her breath. There was no way she was seeing what she was seeing. She looked her phone again and started laughing.
In the picture was her annoyingly adorable wife in the Batcave posing next to the Batmobile looking her usual sexy way with her blue jeans, red turtleneck and black leather jacket. And though Sophie was a pleasing sight to say the least, what truly caught Ryan’s attention and warmed her heart was her little Serena. In a matching outfit with Sophie, Serena was standing in front of what appeared to be a mini Batmobile. They were both posing the exact same way with arms crossed and leaning with their backs against their respective cars sporting some very serious faces.
What in the world?
Another text chimed.
[My Love]: So…. thoughts?
Ryan slid further up the bed until her back was resting on the headboard. She then pulled the covers up to her chest and settled into them before pressing the green call button. Sophie picked up on the first ring.
“Hey babe.”
“Is that mama?”
“Yes it is.”
“Hi mama!”
Ryan smiled so big, she felt her cheeks burning.
“Serena says hi. Did I wake you?" Sophie asked.
“Kinda. But that’s not why I’m calling.” Ryan answered.
“I know that tone. You’re mad at me.”
Ryan rolled her eyes. “Nah baby. Okay, maybe just a little bothered at your communication skills through text but I’ll let that slide.” Sophie chuckled on the other end of the phone. “I’m just mostly confused. When did you get our baby girl a leather jacket and baby batmobile?”
“This morning actually. I went to pick something up from the cave and she started bugging me about the Batmobile again and how cool it is. So, I did some searching and luck would have it; they have toy versions of the Batmobile at the toy store at the mall.”
Ryan went to ask more questions but Sophie continued.
“And before you ask. Yes, it’s motorized but it goes super slow. All she has to do after I put the key in is press the green button to make it start. And press the red button to stop it.” She explained.
“I wasn’t going to ask any of that.” Ryan lied.
“Ryan Wildmoore. Are you lying to your wife right now?”
Ryan sighed.
“Okay. Busted.”
“Um hm.”
“Anyway. How do they even have a kid version of the batmobile?”
“Not a clue. Especially since you drive the streets of Gotham with every level subtlety.”
“Oh wow. Already throwing shots so early in the morning.”
Sophie laughed. “It’s nearly noon babe.”
“Whatever.”
“Look, all anyone has to do is take a video and makes duplicates.”
“You think Bruce can copyright that?"
"Ryan. I know you just woke up but be fucking for real right now."
Ryan took a beat to think and then mentally smacked herself.
"Right."
"Uh huh."
"Look, as cute as it is, I’m still not so sure about this. She’s like two seconds from a toddler.”
“It’s just as safe as any child's motorized car is. I already checked.”
“Soph.”
“Hey. I know you’re worried but before you write it off completely, check it out for yourself. We’ll meet you at the park across the street from the apartment in 20.”
Ryan sighed again.
“Fine.” She agreed.
“I promise you’ll like it. You have my word.”
“Be there in a few.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Bye.”
“Bye mama!”
“Bye to you both.”
Ryan set her phone down on the bed.
Was she overreacting?
She trusted Sophie with her heart, her life, and their daughter. Then why was she feeling so unsure? It’s not like kids don’t grow up and get toy cars and then bikes and then cars. And all the while, running the risk of getting hurt. Hell, it’s almost expected for kids to get a little dirty and get few scraps and bruises from now and then. So why was this getting to her?
Maybe it was because it was her daughter. Her and Sophie’s little girl that came to them in the middle of the night, all tiny and cute. But also so fragile. And Ryan would be a liar if she said that she didn’t think about the ways that Gotham might find to take Serena from her. Her therapist had mentioned in the past that any unresolved childhood trauma might push it’s way through said that that’s her trauma still pushing it’s way through as she embarked on the motherhood journey. And that it would take time to fully heal those wounds (if they ever did).
Ryan was starting to see that she was probably right.
*****
Twenty minutes later, dressed in dark jeans, Sophie’s old Point Rock sweatshirt and a pair of Doc Martens, Ryan left their apartment building (saying hi to their doorman Kenny on the way out) and strolled across the street to the park with her hands tucked in her pockets.
It wasn’t a big park. About the size of a typical school playground. There was a small jungle gym, a slide, two pairs of swings and plenty of open grass to play on and have cookouts using one of the outdoor grills. The weather was nice out, maybe a little warm with the summer right around the corner but Ryan appreciated being outdoors and not fighting a big bad for the night.
She spotted her wife and daughter making their way around the park on the sidewalk. Sophie was slowly walking beside Serena who was driving her new baby batmobile wearing a black and red bike helmet on her head and a huge grin on her face. A complete look of glee.
Ryan felt all her worries fading away. Maybe it wasn’t so bad afterall.
When the pair finished their loop around the park, Serena squealed when Ryan came into view.
“Mama, look!” Serena shouted, waving with both hands.
“Two hands on the wheel sweetie. Remember, 9 and 3.” Sophie said, presenting her hands as an example for her daughter to follow. Serena quickly put both her hands back on either side of the steering wheel.
“Sawry.” the little girl said.
“No need to be sorry sweetie. Just be careful next time.”
“Otay Mommy.”
Sophie approached Ryan with a sheepish look on her face, running a hand through her now shoulder length waves.
“Hey you.” She said quietly.
“Hey beautiful.” Ryan leaned up and kissed Sophie on the lips. Short and sweet.
“Look, I’m sorry I scared you this morning.” Sophie said, stepping closer. “I thought it would be a cute surprise and I didn’t think about how a text like that could mean anything.”
"Baby, honestly, I was kinda shook at first but we good now.”
"You sure?”
Ryan nodded. She couldn’t let her concerns as a mother stop her daughter from growing up and experiencing life. Especially since both she and Sophie and all their friends fight crime on the daily. Nothing about a toy car could be as dangerous as that.
“Okay. And just in case there are any lingering feelings of concern, let me explain the specs.” Sophie said, with a twinkle in her eye.
“Okay gear head.” Ryan laughed.
“Oh ha-ha. Shut up.”
Ryan crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out.
Sophie walked back to Serena, who was waiting in the car, watching a butterfly hovering nearby.
“This beauty is battery powered. So, no fiery crashes.”
Ryan’s eyes got big.
“Sophie! Not helping.” She exclaimed.
“Oh. My bad. No mentioning fiery crashes. Got it.”
Serena giggled at her moms’ interaction.
“It only goes like 2 miles per hour, and I got her a helmet and taught her how to stop and start. The wheels are big enough to go over most bumps and cracks. And it’s heavy enough to prevent easy tip overs but not too heavy that it’s hard to lift or pick up.” Sophie explained as she stepped around the car, pointing at each feature.
Ryan stepped forward and placed a hand over Sophie’s mouth, stopping her rant. Serena watched in amusement.
"Babe. It’s all good now. Me and Angelique,” Sophie rolled her eyes, “Me and she who shall not be named used to make go-karts out of an old stroller when we were kids. So, I’m cool with the new whip. Just no more cryptic ass text messages. Especially when it involves our very cute but very tiny three-year-old. ‘Kay?” Sophie nodded in agreement. “Bet.” Ryan kissed the backside of her own hand over her wife’s mouth before taking her hand away.
“Hey. She may be tiny like her mama. But she’s also tough. Like her mama.”
Ryan took a step back, analyzing her wife’s words with furrowed eyebrows. “Have you been teaching her fighting again?” she asked, slowly. Ryan watched Sophie’s eyes flicker from her eyes, to Serena in the car and then back to her again.
“Just basic punching and kicks. Nothing serious.” Sophie admitted.
“Soph, she just learned to walk like a year ago.”
“And she’ll be steadier on her feet with a few lessons in self-defense and balance.”
“I can’t with you.” Ryan shook her head and laughed.
Ryan stepped around her wife to meet Serena at her new car.
“Mama. Look.” The little girl beamed. Ryan had to admit it was the cutest thing seeing her daughter dressed like her wife, sitting in a look-alike of her Batmobile.
Serena pulled the key out, opened the door and stepped out. She then searched the key for a button. Eventually, she found the one she was looking for and pressed it, setting off a cute little car locking beep.
"See what Mommy showed me?” Serena smiled big with confidence.
Ryan smiled just as big and laughed. Whoever made the toy car did a good job. From the design to the color; it was nearly an exact replica. And adding an alarm sound was just too adorable.
"Yes, my love. I see that. Good job locking up. Don’t want anybody jacking your ride.” Ryan joked.
"Thanks.” Serena stopped and made the cutest confused face. “What jacking?”
Sophie, off to the side, burst out laughing.
"It means stealing babygirl. You got to lock your car, so no one steals it.”
“Ohhh.”
“Do you like it?” The little girl nodded fiercely, and Ryan loved the way the sun radiated off her brown skin and bounced off the smile.
"So, Mommy did good, huh?” Ryan looked Sophie’s way.
“Yup. It Mommy turn now.” Serena added with a cute nod of her head. Colorful bally barrettes in her hair bouncing.
Ryan was confused.
"Mommy’s turn for what?” She asked the little girl.
Serena stepped to Ryan’s side, gesturing for her to come closer. Ryan followed instructions and bent down to her daughter’s level.
“You has a car. I has a car. Mommy said she want a, a uh, a bike?” Serena whispered in Ryan’s ear.
“A bike?”
Serena nodded.
“Yup. A fast bikey. With bats.”
Ryan took a second to understand what her daughter meant.
“Oh. A bat bike. Is that so?” she whispered.
Serena nodded again.
“I’ll asked Mommy and see what we can do bout that.” Ryan whispered back. “Now go stand by your ride. I wanna take some pics to send to Aunt Mary, Aunt J and Uncle Luke.”
“Kay.”
Ryan rubbed her daughter on her back before sidling up next to her wife.
“So, what’s this about you wanting a new Batbike?” Ryan asked.
“Wow, betrayed by my own daughter.”
“You really thought a three year old would keep a secret?”
“Damn.”
“Oh. Mommy say a bad word.” Serena yelled interrupting their conversation.
“As much fun it is to ride in and on occasion, drive the Batmobile; I think it's well past time I got my own ride."
"I mean sure but can you really drive a motorcycle though?" Ryan asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"Ryan, please. You know I can. You've seen me do it and I know for a fact you love it." Sophie said with a sideways grin.
"I really do." Ryan responded, gently tugging at her bottom lip.
"Plus I do it with no help from an AI too."
Ryan gently pushed Sophie on the shoulder. "Oh wow. More shots fired."
"You gave me the ammo."
"Whatever. We’ll talk about it later with Luke, I guess. Right now I need you to get over there and pose with your daughter. I’m def making this my new lock screen."
*End*