Chapter 18
The next morning I wake up from the pain shooting through my whole torso. Ma was asleep holding me in her arms like she did when I was young. I squirm out of her hold and sit up. I blink my eyes into focus and look around the room. I never really got a good look at it yesterday. The wall were white and frankly so was everything else.
I lay back down and pick up Ma's phone from the table next to me. I dial Mom. "Can you come back please? I need you." I say as tears form in my eyes.
"I'll be there in 10 minutes sweetheart. I promise. Everything will be okay."
We hang up and I curl back up with Ma by my side. I hug her and then cuddle into her. " Good mornin' kiddo." She says kissing the top of my head.
"Mornin' Ma." I smile and cling to her. "I called Mom she should be here soon."
"You're never normally in a mood to hug me. This is different." She says looking down at me.
"I'm just happy to be back." I smile and hug her. "It's I almost called you Mama like I used to when I was little. "
"It's normal when someone goes through something traumatic to revert back."
"You didn't have to psychoanalyze me." I say slightly annoyed but joking with her.
"Sorry habit." She smiles nervously and then hugs me tighter.
Mom shows up not too long after this and hugs me. "Morning baby girl." She smiles and kisses the top of my head.
"When do I get to go back home?" I ask looking up at Mom.
"The doctors said you could come home today." She smiles and hands me some fresh clothes.
I move to get out of the bed and pain shoots throughout my whole abdomen. I fall back into the bed. "I guess I'll just get dressed in bed." I chuckle and start to get dressed.
When I finish getting dressed Mom picks me up with one hand under my legs and the other around my back. I put my arms around her neck. "You could've just gotten me a wheelchair ya know." I smile and hug her.
She kisses the top of her head and smiles. "I wouldn't dream of putting you in one of those gross things." She chuckles.
Mom carries me out of the hospital while Ma fills out all of the paper work for me to go home. She puts me in the backseat and when Ma comes to the car she sits in the back seat with me. I lay against her and cuddle into her. I smile and look up at Ma. "I'm glad to be going home."
She smiles and hugs me closely. "Me too kiddo."
When we get home Barb is waiting outside. She opens the car door and picks me up without a second thought. She kisses me deeply. "Since when can you pick me up?" I smile and kiss her back.
"I've just been working out when I get the chance." She smiles and I hug her tighter.
She carries me into the apartment and Mom and Ma follow. Barb brings me to my room and sets me down on my bed. She sits next to me and smiles. "Do you need anything baby?" She kisses me and leans her forehead on mine.
"Just you." I say and pull her down right next to me. Barb wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly.
I wince slightly and hold onto her. "He'll never hurt you again. I promise you that." She kisses the top of my head and holds me tighter.
"How can you love me when He is my father? How could you forgive me?"
She hugs me tighter. "Listen to me, you are nothing like him. I love you more than I could ever describe in words. You may not have the best family but your mothers love you. That clown never mattered. Only you, me, and the people you care about. I will never let him hurt you again."
I cling to her and cry. I cry for a long time. I don't hear footsteps but then I hear a familiar voice. "Hey Vinny." Her warm voice says.
I look up and see Selina. I smile slightly before collapsing back into Barb crying. She pets my back and looks up at Selina.
"I'm not strong enough to smile anymore." I mumble into Barb's chest.
Selina sits on the bed and pulls me away from Barb. I try to stay with Barb but she's too strong. She asks Barb to leave and let her talk to me and she does. She lifts my head. "Vin, honey, look at me." She says quietly.
I avoid her gaze. "I'm sorry Kitty. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry sweetheart?"
"Everything he's done is my fault. Like when he broke into your house. Or when he stabbed Ma. It's all my fault. All the things in the future are gonna be my fault too."
She pulls me into a hug and rocks me back and forth. "This isn't your fault. I'll tell you the whole story okay. I'm sure no one told you everything but I will. He met your mother when she was interning at Arkham. He manipulated her into helping him escape and becoming one of his henchmen. In the process your mother fell in love with him. Your mother thought that if she got pregnant with you that he would settle down and stop his crime empire. This backfired and he began beating her worse than before. When she gave birth he began beating you too. You probably don't remember but I do. He took advantage of the situation and used you to manipulate her. After two years your mother had enough and decided it would be best to leave you in the orphanage. She hadn't realized how bad it was there. When you ended up in Arkham they didn't know it was you. It wasn't until he came after you they began to suspect. Now you listen to me. You have brought together people who hated each other before. You made villains give up crime because they love you. You have made a lot of people's lives better. Nothing is your fault." She kisses the top of my head.
"I love you Kitty."
"I love you too Vinny." She smiles.