Learning that you were pregnant was absolutely wonderful news. You and Bruce had discussed having biological children together but hadn’t been actively trying. Things always got in the way. Bruce was either busy with Wayne Enterprises or being Batman and your own career was keeping you quite busy as well. Your time off rarely lined up often enough to actually figure out fertility windows.

Then you started getting insane heart burn when Alfred used a lot of garlic. The next sign was that your period was late. After that every little thing seemed like a sign of pregnancy. So you took a test. It was positive. You wanted to tell Bruce immediately but you didn’t want it just to be a passing comment so you put it off. You had your pregnancy confirmed by the doctor, you had your first ultrasound. All without Bruce. In your mind it was more than worth it to see his face when you had the time to tell him properly.

Weeks had passed and you still hadn’t told Bruce. You were going to sleep without him in bed and waking up with him gone already. You decided to tell him the next day, even if you had to stay up way later to do that. You never got the chance. You woke up with cramps so bad you could have sworn your abdomen was being torn apart. You noticed the blood next and you’re not sure how Bruce hadn’t noticed, unless he just didn’t come to bed the night before. Your thighs and sheets were covered. Without even thinking about cleaning yourself up you jump out of bed and into your car, making a mess of the leather seats.

You received the news you dreaded the most at the hospital. You had miscarried. You didn’t cry, you couldn’t. Instead you change into clothes that were in your back seat that you had forgotten to bring to the dry cleaners, dumping your bloodied pajamas into a random trash bin. Your next stop is the car wash because somewhere along the line you had decided that Bruce shouldn’t have to grieve too, that this was your burden to bear alone.

You spend a long time cleaning your car, making sure to get every speck of blood so no one will notice something was wrong. Then you go home. Oddly enough Bruce was actually home when you got there. Maybe you were gone longer than you had realized. You can’t even be happy that you finally have time with Bruce. You’re distant, cold, and a little rude. Sure it’s all to protect him but how is he supposed to know?

He assumed you were mad at him for focusing on work for so long, for pretty much ignoring you for weeks. So he gave you space for a few days while also making sure to be home and to be a more active father to your two adoptive sons who had also noticed how distant you were being. Soon enough the tension that was building inside of you couldn’t be held in any longer. Instead of breaking down you started arguments about the pettiest things.

“What is wrong with you?” Bruce snaps finally when your anger turns from him to Jason one evening. “You can hate me all you want but never take it out on our sons again.”