Rouge The Bat: Mature Goddess

Rouge and Tom have been married for twenty two years and seven month
as of this chapter.

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Rouge found it hard to walk, but she did so as if her life depended
on it. Her arms wrapped around June, giving her sister a light kiss on
the cheek. "Happy birthday!"

"You remembered..." June felt warm inside. No one had ever celebrated
her birthday before, or even brought it up. "But you shouldn't be
walking around like this, sis."

"I'm fine. I wanted to give you your present." She handed June a stack
of books.

"Romance books?" June was a bit confused. "Uh... these are guy on girl
stuff, aren't they?"

"These are special books, June. I wrote them."

June saw the author's photo on the back of all three books. "But that's
a human, sis!"

Rouge explained, "they were released under a different name. Tom and I
didn't want the media attention. I stopped writing when Teal was born...
or, we both stopped writing."

"Both? You mean he wrote these with you? Uh... sis, how hardcore are
these?"

"What, you're not disgusted by a guy sleeping with a woman, are you?"
Rouge smirked.

She replied, "I AM a lesbian... but I have been a bit curious about it.
You sure I'm old enough?"

"You're old enough to know," Rouge said. "You'll be doing it with Tiff
someday so you may as well learn about this stuff now!"

"Oh..." June's face turned red. "We, uh..." Taking her hand, Rouge tried
to let her know that she understood. "We didn't do it yet!" June shouted
defensively. "We just... I grabbed her boob the other day."

"Really? And?" Rouge seemed to be butting in.

"I think she liked it..." June responded.

"Then you're ready to read these."

"And I think you're ready for a wheelchair, sis. Look at you!" June
was concerned. Rouge was big and only two months from delivery.
"Seriously, sis, don't overdo anything!" Helping her sister sit down,
she picked up the books. "Guess Tiff's going to work now, so I'll
start on the first one while she's out."

"Hey, cheer up birthday girl!" Tiff shouted, running towards her.
"I'll be back this afternoon!" Kissing June, she waked off. Teal
waited by the door, dressed in her work clothes. Once outside, the
two bats flew off. "Teal, I need'ta get June a present!"

"What budget you have for a gift?" Teal asked.

She responded, "well, not paying rent's allowed me to save up a LOT of
extra cash, so... okay, what does she like?"

"Hmm..." Teal thought. "Mostly mom and you, I guess. She's never been
one for small talk."

"Your mom's big on jewels and stuff, so maybe June would like them, too!
Teal, can you help me go shopping after work?" The look in Tiff's eyes
seemed to beg.

"Yeah, guess so. If they don't keep me for a late shift, anyway!"


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Wandering outside, June headed for the old storage shed near the
river at the edge of the manor grounds, past the fruit fields. Inside,
she found Thomas sorting through various odds and ends. "Whoa! Where'd
this ugly thing come from?" she asked, puzzled about the origins of the
small vehicle in Rouge's likeness.

"That... is something she wanted to keep. I don't know where she got it,
or how, but she wanted to keep this ugly thing. It's a car... I think."

"And this?" she asked, gripping the large board.

"The Temptation," he responded, "her... what was it? Right, Extreme
Gear. Those flying hoverboards used in races. I think she wants to
enter one again. Said after the twins get old enough and she's in shape.
I never wanted to try one of those things... I like having my legs
unbroken."

Otherwise the shed was full of old tools and such, most of which had no
real value. "I think it's time half this crap got sent off for
recycling. I remember using some of this as a kid, when this was still
a winery. Don't need it now."

"Sis gave me those books she wrote."

"And?" he asked.

She said, "...wow. If thats based on what you two do, I mean... damn!
I'm a lesbo and some of it even made me tingle..."

"I'm not sure I want to discuss that stuff," he said.

She apologized, "sorry... still, if even some of that is based on truth
I think sis did good marrying you. Listen, I- my dad was a good guy but
I only knew him a few years before he kicked off. I just wanna know I
can come to you if I need to. Especially about sex. Sis has kind of a
light nature about the subject."

"I wouldn't call it THAT, but... she does enjoy it. Not sure I can
tell you much, since you-"

"Don't date men? Yeah... and, hey, I know you let Tiff live here for me.
Not to catch a quick peek at us or somethin'. That means a lot to me."
Smiling, June closed her eyes.

He said, "Rouge is the only woman I've had sex with and she'll BE
the only woman I have sex with. I don't need some girl less than half
my age to feel good."

Taking a step down to the floor, an echo rung in her ears. "You hear
that?"

He asked, "hear what?"

"Right, human ears..." She stomped the floor. "This spot's hollow!"

Turning, Tom looked down. Dropping to his knees, he tapped the metal
panel. "It IS hollow... hand me that crowbar!" Taking it, he jabbed it
into the seam and pried upward. Underneath the floor sat five wooden
boxes. "I don't believe it..." he mouthed, lifting one out.


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The front door slammed. Tiff carried the small gift while Teal quickly
checked the bandage on her arm. Spotting her daughter's injury,
Rouge shouted, "TEAL!"

"Mom... ever seen an automated spy and attack robot made to look like a
standard garbage pail?" Stunned, Rouge's eyes widened. "WELL I HAVE!
Someone snuck one into GUN HQ today. Took us an hour to neutralize it.
Thing had a small turret built in. Bullet grazed my arm."

"I was sealed off from the action," Tiff explained. "Protocol. Seal off
all confidential files in the event of an attack. Means they lock the
doors!"

"Wasn't a total loss," Teal added, "I did get some heavy weapons training
today. I need a burger..." Tired, she ran for the kitchen.

Tiff squeezed the present. "June in?"

"I am now," she said, helping Tom wheel in the cart. "Damn thing's
HEAVY!"

"What's that?" Rouge asked, waddling forward.

"Okay, YOU need a wheelchair," Tom scolded, opening a nearby cabinet.
Pulling out the metal frame, it unfolded.

"Didn't even ask me before you bought it... but you're right." Tom
rolled it to her, helping her sit. "That takes a LOT off my feet..."

Bending down to kiss her, he said, "your sister found five cases of old
wine hidden in the old shed."

Holding one of the bottles up, June displayed it. Tom commented, "one
from my grandfather's vintage. One of those just sold for about five
hundred thousand."

"Wow, that's a LOT of money for wine!" Tiff remarked,
eyes wide.

"It's not just the wine, it's the family name, too," Thomas said. "But
that's not my concern. I think we'll keep this stuff stored away and let
bottles of it out for auction every few years. Stuff should be good,
too, that compartment was air tight and cool."

"Oh! June... here!" Tiff said gleefully.

"Me? Wow..." Taking the package, she unwrapped it to find a necklace
with a green gemstone set inside of a fine gold casing.

"OOH! Very nice!" Rouge said, impressed by it.

June was amazed. "You didn't-"

"I DID!" Tiff said, cutting her off. "Go on..." Without argument, June
placed it around her neck.

"Looks very pretty! So... June... wanna go out and celebrate?"

Grabbing Tiff's hand, June said, "Nah... I got some books. You wanna
read them with me?"

Curiously, she inquired, "what kinda book?"

"You'll see..." June's eyes told enough. Taking her hand, June led her
girlfriend off to their room.

"Tiff doesn't know what she's in for..." Rising from the wheelchair,
she sat beside her husband. "Thanks for the wheelchair."

"The twins'll be here soon. Time flies..." He thought quietly for a
moment, finally saying, "but there are times I wish it could just
stop..."