Cass and Chloe meet

Ironically, Chloe didn't have to wait long to meet Cassandra. Four days before the party, a knock came on their door. It was Saturday and like on most weekends he and Chloe were watching TV and lazing around. He stood up, stretched, and approached the door with a general sense of who was behind it.

"Cass!" Almost immediately, they hugged. Aaron and Cassandra just couldn't keep their hands from each other and they drew away with wide smiles. "Good to see you. You look well."

"You too." Short and to the point yet glowing with joy. That was Cassandra. Fitted in blue jeans and a grey hoodie, there was a distinct change from usual. A casualness Aaron never got to see before.

"Um, hey! I'm here too…"

Behind Cassandra was her best best friend, Stephanie Brown, who smiled and gave a little wave. Time seemed to slow. Blonde hair and blue-eyed, she was a naturally gorgeous chick who chose a comfortable yet trendy look, wearing a pair of well-fitted jeans that accentuated her figure. Paired with a loose-fitting graphic t-shirt and a leather jacket, she exuded a cool and confident vibe. Aaron nodded curtly.

"Hey, sorry about that." Aaron stepped back and gestured to them to enter. "Come in, please. I'm sure Chloe would be happy to see you."

Cassandra stiffened, as did Stephanie. Did they not remember he had a daughter? Or were they just bad with children?

"Hello! Hi!" Chloe was waiting for them in the living room with the goofiest smile ever. "Wow, you guys are so pretty!"

Cassandra blushed. Stephanie laughed and smiled.

"Thank you," Stephanie replied, crouching down to her height. "You too, Ms. Chloe."

The two were both blue-eyed blondes so from a stranger's perspective it seemed like they were related. Their smiles were identically wide and etched with playful chaos. It was scary how a pair of blondes could look so alike.

"I'm Cassandra Cain. Um." Cassandra froze as she questioned whether to kneel to Chloe's height. In the end, she stood there and talked down to her as if she was an adult. "We haven't met."

Chloe shook her head. "Nope! It's nice to meet you, Cassandra. Say, are you Mr. Aaron's girlfriend?"

Cassandra choked. Aaron stifled a chuckle. "It's nothing like that," Aaron said. "I'm making lunch. Come join us."

"Okay," Cassandra and Chloe chorused. It was an odd coincidence that broke Chloe into a series of giggles. The older woman rubbed her nape sheepishly and was grabbed by the hand and guided to the living room

"Oh, um, by the way, I'm a vegetarian." Stephanie popped into the kitchen as he readied their meal. Her comment came right on time too because he was just about to ready a ham sandwich. He had no problem adapting, however. Vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Aaron Reigner could do it all. He settled on making a Quinoa Stir-Fry. Quinoa was a small, round grain that expanded and became fluffed up as it cooked. Its taste was nutty with an undertone of sweetness. It was a substitute for rice and perhaps the superior option as well, holding the edge in terms of nutrition and in filling a stomach up.

'Lots of protein too, just like how Cass likes it,' he thought to himself, humming.

Stephanie hovered over his shoulder and double-checked his method of cooking. She helped pass knives, spoons, and ingredients. A dutiful little assistant as Cassandra and Chloe talked in the living room.

Soon, an aroma of spices filled the air. Crisp bell peppers, vibrant carrots, earthy mushrooms, and fragrant herbs. The star ingredient was a medley of colourful quinoa, adding the hearty and nutritious base to their dish. To enhance the taste, he added a hint of garlic, cumin, and a dash of turmeric. The spices mingled just as he wanted and he stirred the mixture.

"How about some lemon juice," Stephanie suggested. She wasn't a culinary expert like him but she did have the advantage when it came to vegetarian friendly meals. He decided to listen to her. Some time passed. Cheerful sounds in the living room echoed as did the progress in the kitchen. The large skillet of the cooked quinoa was steaming.

"The Quinoa Stir-Fry is ready," Aaron announced. Footsteps ran into the kitchen faster than a speeding bullet. Like children, Cassandra and Chloe sat at the table, ready with grins. Plates were handed and lunch was served.

"Wow…" Stephanie savoured each bite, eyes wide. The blonde looked up at him, amazed. "This really is…wow."

"Thank you."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Stephanie asked, patting the seat beside her. "It's great."

"No, no," Aaron said, "I'm good. Eat up."

"Come on. What are you, a mother?" she joked.

"Something like that. Also, I already ate." A lie. He just wanted to watch Cassandra and Chloe eat with each other, hang out with each other, laugh and happily tear down the meal he cooked. There was a reason why he rejected omnipotence. This ordinary life, this ordinary love, meant more to him than any power in the world.

"Come on, maybe I can convince you to become a vegetarian," Stephanie said, winking. She sure was talkative, he thought to himself.

"Maybe next time." Aaron smiled down at her, arms crossed. "I booked a reservation for dinner at a four-star restaurant and I heard meat is their speciality."

Stephanie gasped and placed a hand on her chest dramatically. "Wow…traitor."

"Oh, yeah! You did! Dinner!" Chloe bounced in her chair, suddenly excited. "I can't wait!"

"First eat your lunch. We can worry about dinner afterwards," Aaron chided.

The conversation flowed naturally as Cassandra devoured the large meal and shared knowing glances and inside jokes with Aaron. The chatterbox, Chloe, regaled them with stories from her day of television and video games, while Cassandra, with her silent presence, listened attentively and chimed in with the occasional nod kr gesture.

As the meal progressed, Cassandra playfully nudged Chloe's arm and pointed to a piece of carrot that had found its way onto Chloe's cheek. Chloe giggled and quickly wiped it away, pretending to be offended.

"Hey, no food fights at the dinner table!" Aaron interjected, a playful sternness in his voice.

They erupted into laughter once more, the joyous atmosphere filling the room. The suspicion in Stephanie Brown's eyes all but disappeared. Once again, Chloe was his greatest alibi and treasure. In the beginning, while she supported him in the kitchen, he sensed the hesitation in Stephanie who likely tagged along to investigate on the behest of Tim. She probably didn't expect to help with lunch and then be dragged by a nine year old to the couch to watch Cocomelon. As lunch wrapped up and the dishes were washed, the four crashed on the couch. Aaron sat between Cassandra and Chloe, whereas Stephanie was to Chloe's left and on the armrest.

Conversation arose. Stephanie wasn't investigating but merely curious. He was a single father, a twenty-five year old who had decided to adopt two years ago when he was just starting his career. Questions of caretakers and school came. Aaron was ready.

"Chloe is home schooled." Aaron sent his adopted daughter a knowing smile. She immediately understood.

"Yep!" Chloe said. "A tutor comes by and tells me stuff. It's fun!"

Chloe was cut from the same cloth as him. Calm and cool in the most pressured situations. She adapted fast and without an issue. Unless a trauma of hers was triggered, Chloe could handle herself perfectly–and lie.

"Still," Stephanie argued, "adopting so young is pretty reckless. Err, no offence."

"I suppose." Aaron wore a grim smile. "The truth is, actually…" He exhaled through his nose and perpetuated tragedy and longing. "I'm sterile so…I can't have kids. It was a random check-up, a random test, and the results…they got to me. I wanted kids but I've never been in a relationship before. So…I adopted."

Chloe was just as good an actor as him and leaned into him with a smile. Stephanie inhaled sharply. Emotion clouded her. However, it was Cassandra that was really moved. Lips parted, brows in a sad arch, she stared at him and pursed her lips.

"I didn't know," Cassandra muttered. In her mind, she was thinking of their sessions and why he was addicted to creampies. He was sterile, she figured, that was why. It was the half truth. Aaron wasn't technically sterile but because of the composition of his body he could willfully choose who to impregnate. In other words, accidents didn't happen with him. His sperm did not swim on their own accord; they could only do so if the intention to breed was there. Between all the women he bedded, that amounted to zero.

"Nowadays, I have my downstairs neighbour take care of her," Aaron elaborated. "Claire Clover. She's great. A sweet college girl needing money."

"She's great!" Chloe parrotted.

"Claire," Stephanie repeated, furrowing slightly. Behind her eyes was a deep line of thought. "Right. Her. Claire."

"You know her?" Aaron asked. He didn't want to raise an alarm but suspicion was circling in his mind. Claire Clover's name seemed to get a reaction out of Stephanie.

"Sort-of?" Stephanie sighed and turned her attention back to the television. The episode of Cocomelon was annoyingly loud and she craned back to the floor. She struggled to explain. "Claire is…well…should I tell you? Ugh." Stephanie eyed Chloe, strangely conflicted and said, "Hey, Chloe, could you close your ears for a second."

"Aww, is it a secret?"

"Yeah…" Stephanie admitted, wholly open with her. "It's adult talk. Sorry."

Chloe pouted but listened to her blonde elder and glued her palms onto her ear holes. Stephanie shifted in her seat and gathered up in the courage in her heart. "It's…I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing. Honestly, it might not even be a big deal…" Stephanie trailed off. Her whispers didn't make sense. Aaron narrowed his eyes and glanced between Stephanie and the floor.

"Okay?" Aaron said. "So what is it?"

"Again," Stephanie reiterated, "it could be nothing–"

"Gotham Girl. Claire Clover is Gotham Girl," Cassandra answered.

Gotham…Girl…?