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Finally! The day has come! After the years and years of pining and awkward flirting (well Jason was awkward when Rose flirted at him) the marriage between Jason Todd and Rose Wilson was coming to Wayne Manor.
It took a close call during patrol one night, Jason, trying to maintain his edgy bad boy shtick that anyone who has met the man for more than 2 conversations knew was an act, had bitten off a little more than he could chew. How was he supposed to know that Bane's crew were carrying armor piercing rounds? And that there were maybe 2-3 times more men than he was told were in that warehouse by the docks.
Refusing to call for help, adamant that he could handle them, he made quick work of the outer layer of security, made his way inside and started taking out the fringe members, making his way methodically and silent. That's when he heard the whimpered cries of the hostages. Test subjects for Bane's newest strain of venom.
He activated his emergency beacon and came crashing down, guns blazing, into the circle of men, distracting the big man himself from injecting the first hostage. It went down hill from there.
He got 5 new bullet holes for his troubles, a clubbing blow to the back of his head from Bane himself finally got him to the ground where he got surrounded by men with bats and pipes and steel toes boots. Broken windows from above causing a distraction as Dick, Damian, and Cass came down to save him. He already took out about half the guys before he hit the ground so they made easy work with the rest.
A gargled "Hos'ges" was all he could get out as Damian looked down on him with fear in his eyes. "They're safe hood." He gasped out and then things went black.
He woke up to the beeping of a heart monitor and the crisp bleached aroma that told him he was in the med bay of the cave. A groan left his lips as he shuffled in the cot, eliciting a yelp from somewhere in the room. Suddenly his vision was assaulted by black hair and blue eyes, dark bags under them making them pop. A frantic movement from thin, chapped lips that had Jason wondering if he'd gone deaf.
It only took Tim slapping him 4 times to clear his vision and head enough to officially be called awake. He'd been in a coma for the past week, broken ankle, 4 broken fingers, a separated shoulder, 3 broken ribs, punctured lung, concussion. 5 bullets carved out of his hip, his thigh, 2 in his chest, and the last one from his non injured shoulder.
Tim stayed a little longer to give him a run down of what had transpired since he'd fallen asleep until the door slid open and Bruce stood in the doorway and looked at him in shock. He was practically shoved to the floor as a flash of blue, orange, and white barreled into the room and jumped onto the bed, careful to avoid his injuries as she sobbed.
It took a few minutes for his girlfriend to control her tear ducts and hiccuping breaths and in that time the rest of the family had corraled into the room with soft smiles and misty eyes.
Rose looked up at him finally as she wiped her eyes with her forearm and kissed him passionately. He heard some snickers from his family but it was drowned out by the spike of his heartbeat and the world closing in around him. She broke the kiss and suddenly her eyes hardened.
Uh oh
"Can you give us a few minutes" she asked the room. Her voice ice cold, brokering no argument. Bruce opened his mouth to deny that but he was subsequently pushed out of the room by Dick and Cass, leaving the two lovers alone.
Jason opened his mouth to apologize but he quickly snapped it shut when she narrowed her eyes "No, Jason I'm talking and you're going to listen." He nodded his head "I've been through absolute hell theis past week, barely left your side at all. Alfred and Dick had to drug me to get me too bed, I fought Cass when I refused to eat more times than she liked." She started to move a hand to his face, rubbing her knuckles up and down his cheek "I just... I missed you" she said in a soft whisper. "I realized that you'll never change your stupid ways so maybe... I- I'll change mine. I love you Jason Todd. You're my best friend in the world, I missed waking up in your arms, I missed your banter with your siblings, I missed your rants on hundred year old books, I missed- I just missed you."
She brought her lips down to his in a soft kiss, one he returned in kind. She pulled away slowly "I need you to stop trying to throw your life away so readily all the time, I know it's in your nature, your training, but maybe you just need something to come home too. Maybe you'll at least slow down a little, because right now I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, maybe you'll slow down if you knew your wife was waiting for you."
His eyes got as wide as saucers, his lips parted a little in a shocked "O". She moved her hand to grasp his chin tightly "Jason Todd, will you marry me?". He brought a hand up to caress her face "Yes" he managed to grind out, voice still raspy and raw with the disuse. She smiled blindingly down at him and crashed her mouth to his once more.
That brings us to now, 2 months later as a fully healed Jason looked out over the various guests in attendance as he stood under the white terrace, waiting for his bride. Bruce had offered the Manor grounds and Rose bullied Jason into agreeing.
It finally hit him, as he stared out at his wedding guests, that maybe he did spend far too much time with a mask on his face. He didn't see a single normal civilian in attendance. Various members of the Justice League, the Titans, League of Assassin members, various rogues, thieves, mercenaries. A short trice was called for the day. If you had an invite you were allowed entry, but considering both his and her dwelling on the less than sunny side of the law there was a rule book nearly a mile long.
He was broken from his reverie as the music played and the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked out arm in arm. Roy and Kori were first, best man and maid of honor respectfully. Next was Dick as he wheeled Barbara down the aisle, then Tim and Cass, followed by Eddie and Artemis, next were Joey and Cheshire, finally Damian and Steph rounded out the parties.
The pianist started her own rendition of "Enter Sandman" as Slade appeared at the end of the aisle with Rose, arm in arm.
That was an argument and a half with Bruce, to allow Deathstroke not only an invitation to Wayne Manor but to escort Rose down the aisle. Slade tried so very hard to act like he hated Jason but he and Rose both knew that Slade adored the couple.
Rose looked stunning in her dress, her hair coming down the back in a French braid adorned in daisies, her dress was shorter, coming down to just below her knees, flowy with white lace stenciled into the stitch work. Long, white laced sleeves traveled up her toned arms to the white collar around her neck. Travelling down an opened back to the hem of the skirt.
He was man enough to admit that he did cry as she stalked down the aisle, Roy handed him a tissue over his shoulder. Slade handed her off to him as she had that damn smirk on her lips when she saw the tears still on his face.
His street cred was officially ruined.
William Randolf Wintergreen acted as their ordained minister. Leading them through their vows and their duties to each other as man and wife. Finally it was over with a "Oh just kiss already"
And they did.
The reception was a cluster of the most dangerous people on the planet. They agreed that no alcohol was allowed to be served except for the champagne that was passed around for the roasts. Roy's best man speech was a scathing story about the history of the couple, the awful pining and years of will they won't they. He was letting out all his frustration into the speech. Kori's was more refined, befitting a Tamarreanean noble, congratulating the couple on finding warriors to protect each other's back.
After the first dance to "Beyond" by Leon Bridges the crowd died down their applause and Jason started to walk back to his seat. Rose stalled him and grabbed his hand, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Ladies and gentlemen... And others I would now like to direct your attention to the dance floor where we will be performing the honorary Mother-Son dance!" Roy exclaimed into a microphone he got from Cyborg who was running the dj booth.
Jason bristled and glared at the archer. He absolutely did NOT want to do this. He has had enough bad luck with mother's in his two lifetimes thank you very much. He didn't need his friend to run his face in it. Rose was looking at him with pleading eyes until she looked past him and her eyes narrowed. "Uhhhhhh Jay..."
She slowly turned him around and he looked out into the crowd as seven women Rose from their seats.
The entire tent had gone silent as everyone took in the seven women all glaring daggers at one another. Talia, Shiva, Natalia Knight, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Selina, and Diana were all out of their seats.
This... This was... What?
Jason turned to look back at his best man who seemed to be a little pale in the face. He was darting his eyes from Jason, to the women, to the table that his siblings sat at, and back to Jason. He sighed heavily as Jason matched his way across the dance floor towards him.
"Roy" he growled out. Roy immediately threw his hands up in defense "I swear this is not my fault." Jason glowered at him even harder. Cyborg, who was standing behind Roy up on the booth ducked a little as he was caught in the crossfire of a murderous BatGlare. A faint whisper of "well at least we know who the father is" was heard from the Green lantern table.
"Roy I specifically said I did not want this. Why did you set this up?" Jason gritted out. He really wished he was surprised that he was so close to punching his best man on his wedding night. Roy kept his stance loose and arms out, like he was corralling a wild animal "yeah I know you said that. But you say that kinda shit all the time. About how no one loves you, and how you're all dark and edgy and broody, but that's bullshit. I wanted to set up a nice thing for my friend. So I asked your siblings to reach out to your mom, singular, to send an invite. I am just as shocked as you are that you have seven of them."
Jason deflated at that. Yes he would absolutely love to have a mother son dance tonight. He just... When he introduced his siblings to his mother figures, he did not expect this.
He turned around slowly and let out a tired sigh, Rose was at his side and grasped his arm and kissed him lightly on the lips, he smiled softly at her. He took a breath and walked over to the group of women that were now arguing loudly with each other.
"Really Sandra? You choose now of all times to stake a claim for him? Now when he is happy and healthy, you had your chance to have him to yourself so many years ago and what was your answer then? As I recall you told him no. And look where that led him." Talia seethed at the other assassin.
The room drew in a gasp of breath at the proclamation, Jason saw Bruce glaring daggers into Shiva, clearly he remembered that conversation as well.
Shiva sneered at the other woman "What about what I was up to at the time screamed 'mother material's exactly Talia? How was I supposed to know that he would end up blown up in the desert? Yes! Ok, I lied all those years ago, I've trained my body to counter truth serums so I was able to fool them. I birthed him, I named him, and to protect his life from David Cain I gave him away to a contact I had in Gotham."
Jason was floored by the news, Bruce choked on his drink at his table and all of his siblings paled. All except Dick who seemed to burn red with rage and seethed at the woman.
"And who are you to question my choices Talia? What was your brilliant plan to curb his rampage across the planet, learning every way to kill? How exactly did you calm the pit that burnt in his soul? You SLEPT with him! You took my boy, my son, into your chambers when he was just barely over 18!" Shiva retaliated.
Jason paled as Shiva aired his and Talia's dirty laundry out for everyone in attendance to hear. He felt Rose tense at his side and he gripped her wrist harshly to keep her from lunging at Talia. Multiple gasps went up in the air, Bruce and the rest of his family pushed up from their seats, knocking their chairs to the floor, Diana's hands went to her waist, trying to clutch the hilt of a sword that wasn't there, he heard a woosh and looked over to see that Artemis had summoned Mistress into her hand, Kori was rising from her seat, eyes and hands a glow with a violent green.
"ENOUGH!" he yelled out into the night air. Everyone had stilled at his voice. His tone was that he used long ago, when he first broke onto Gotham's criminal element, some went wide eyed, not having heard it for quite some time, others winced in their seats, hearing it for the first time. This was not Jason, loving, and emotional newly wed husband, this was The Red Hood.
"Shiva... It was not like that. I don't even know how you know about it. But wherever you heard it from they were wrong. It was consensual, she offered I agreed. Afterwards we both regretted it." His tone was slow, firm, brokering no arguments. He turned towards his friends and family "Sit. Down." He growled out. His former teammates did as he commanded, still shooting glared at Talia. His family reluctantly picked their chairs up and sat back down.
Bruce stood standing, jaw and fists noticeably tensed. "jason..." He gritted out. "Enough Bruce" he spat back "Do you, of all people want to hash out mistakes that were made when I first came back?" Bruce winced and slowly sank back into his chair.
Jason took in a breath and let it out slowly, a breathing technique he learned from Talia. When he opened his eyes he saw her smiling softly at him. He smiled back.
"Well then... Biological mother or not, I do posses legal documentation that claims I am his mother, I did adopt him before even Bruce did." Natalia Knight spoke up. Jason sent her a brilliant smile, a thanks, for changing the subject.
Pamela cleared her throat. "If we're going off of chronological order here, then I was looking after him before he ever met Batman. Feeding him when he was hungry, sheltering him from the cold, you know, small things..." She shrugged.
"Think again beanstalk" a rough voice sounded from behind the other women. A voice that had Jason groaning into his hands a muttered "how did she get an invite"
"Shut it brat, next to Catherine I was the one who diapered your bottom, so if Ms. Chef's salad here wanted to go off of time then I get to dance with my grandson." Faye "Ma" Gunn spoke out. She walked slowly into the gathering of his mother's with a cane and a haggard air about her.
"Weren't you going to train him to be a henchman for the mob?" Selina asked tersely. Ma whacked her shin with her cane "hop off that high horse whiskers. Not all of us could marry rich. Former alley rat like you? You weren't there for Jason you stuck around for his daddy's wallet."
"How dare you..." Selina growled out. She started to look over the elderly woman. Suddenly the standoff was thwarted by a certain brit "Well since we already have one old crone here, I guess that's my cue. This is that favor I owe you oracle."
Jason whipped his head to stare as John Constantine whirled his hands in the air as they lit a flame. He swiveled his head to look at Babs who was making a violently running her hand across her throat to abort whatever Constantine was doing. Jason turned back around as a glowing gold emblem floated into the air and then broke apart in a shower of sparks.
"Jason..." He whirled around to see Isabel at her table with a wide eyed look. She seemed paler than usual... Oh no.
Constantine did not just summon-
The lights scattered about the patio dimmed considerably casting long shadows about the space. They seemed to writhe and curl, reaching out towards Jason. They rose and curled around him in an almost loving embrace before slinking back down and formed into a ball hovering a foot off the floor.
The lights all cut out.
A soft blue glow came from the spot the ball of shadows used to be and the lights slowly came back up. That blue glow was the shape of a haggard old woman. Deep wrinkles set in her face, back hunched over with white hair cascading down in a ratty frame.
"Come here pup"
The voice was grating. Sounding wheezed and gravelled, but it was warmth to Jason Todd. He knelt down to face her.
"Hey Ducra"
She smiled softly at him. She brought a ghosted hand up and cupped his chin "my how you've grown. So far from that boy walking on fawn legs, fresh from the pitt, still bubbly with green rage. I'm proud of what you've done pup"
He did shed a tear at that a whispered "thank you, granny" the old spirit hobbled around to take in the group of women surrounding her. "And you" her voice turned icy. The temperature dropped a few degrees "This is not a day for custody battles and rivalries. This is his day. A day we should all be thankful for that he got to see. Need I remind all of you that this boy died at 15? And here he stands, married to a beautiful woman who loves him fiercely, just as he loves her. Shouldn't you remember that?"
The group seemed cowered at Ducra's words. Diana stepped forward. "The choice is yours huios. Who shall accompany you on this night?"
Jason looked towards each woman. Not wanting to make a choice really. He loved all of them. They were all there for him one way or another. "I... I don't know..."
Diana smiled at him. She unwrapped her lasso from her belt and held it out towards him. He grasped it tightly. "Who is your mother Jason".
The lasso burned as it dove in for the truth. Forcing it from his lips.
"You are, Diana Prince"
Many women scowled but shifted when he continued
"And you, Selina, and Natalia, and Pamela, and Harley, and Faye, and Ducra, and Talia, and-"
Shiva lowered her eyes a look of shame in them. "Even you Sandra" she darted up to meet his gaze. He smiled softly at her.
"I've forgiven worse honestly. If you'd like to... To start over. I'm open to it." She searches his eyes, his face, his body language, all yelling at her that he speaks the truth. She bows her head slightly "I... I would like that... My son."
Jason nods back, he lifts his gaze to meet the others "you are all my family. You have all been important to me at one point or another in my life. I would be honored if you would all dance with me tonight. We can go chronologically. Starting with Ma, then Ivy, Natalia, Selina, Diana, Talia, Ducra, Harley, and finally we shall end with Shiva."
The women all think it over and finally nod their acceptance. They all move towards Cyborg, calling out their song choice for their Mother-Son dances.
"Is it late to take it back" Rose whispers into his ear. He glared at her half heatedly. He leans down to kiss her lips.
"If you think this is bad imagine all of them plus Bruce, Slade, Alfred, and Billy fighting over favorite grandparent privilege" Jason responded, forgetting those in attendance with super hearing.
Clark paled when he thought of the fallout, planning out a space voyage for when-
Wait.
"YOU'RE PREGNANT!!?!?"