July 16, 2003

Manchester, UK

Alex sighed as she ran her hand through her hair for what had to have been the twentieth time that night. She double-checked her numbers, and then checked them again. The end figures were getting higher and higher each month and soon she wouldn't be able to afford her home.

For a minute, she thought about giving it all up. About screwing her morals and dignity and going to see him. She missed him and despite everything, she still loved him. He would make everything easier, just like he promised. He would keep them safe.

No. She couldn't go back. She was stronger than that. Alex made a commitment long ago to stay as far away from him as possible. She refused to fall back into him like the pathetic woman she once was. She would be strong, if not for herself, then for Katie.

Holding back a yawn, Alex forced her eyes open and rechecked the bills. It would be a tight fit, and they would have to live of diner leftovers and stale bread, but they would make it. Quickly she wrote the cheques. One for the landlord who she hated with a great deal of passion, one for the lady at child services who she bribed once a month to keep her secret and one for Katie's school.

Just as Alex began packing away the papers and sealing the cheques in envelopes, a soft padding sound echoed through the hallway. Turning around quickly out of instinct, the blonde haired woman found herself slightly taken back by the sight.

A young girl with the same deep blonde hair as her mother clad a long nightdress looked up at Alex, frightened and clutching a black stuffed toy in her hands.

"Mummy," the child, Kate, called out, taking a few steps forward. "Mummy I had the dream."

Ignoring the papers and cheques, Alex walked quickly to her daughter's side, dropping to her knees and holding her tight. "Don't worry, Katie. Sweetheart it was just a dream."

The blonde nodded through her tears as her head lay on her mother's shoulder, quickly wetting the fabric that covered it. She sniffed and was about to pull back when Alex lifted her up of the ground. Latching onto her mother like a lifeline, young Kate felt the fear wash away. As long as her mum was here, she was okay.

"Let's get you back in bed, okay?" Fear filled Katie's eyes once again. She shook her head no.

"If I go to sleep, the evil man will come." The evil man was the source of her nightmares. He would come in her dreams and take her mummy away.

"No he won't." Alex assured with a bright smile. "Katie, I'm going to tell you a secret. The Evil Man," leaning in close, Alex whispered to the frightened child, "is scared of me. As long as I'm there, he won't ever hurt you."

And it was the complete truth. Katie always spoke about the Evil Man. She was terrified of him. She said that in her dreams, he would laugh. Alex didn't know how she knew about Joker, maybe she didn't, but Alex swore on her life that nothing and no one would take her child away. This, Katie, was her redemption and no one would change that.

Katie gave a hesitant nod as Alex carried her to her bedroom. Carefully lifting the crumpled sheets, Alex tucked her daughter in, away from all the evil and hatred of the outside world.

She played with her hair, gently stroking it and humming softly to her daughter.

"Mum?" Katie asked just as Alex dropped her hand. "Will you tell me the story? The one about the Princess and the Dark Knight?"

Without hesitation, Alex nodded. She looked into her daughters deep brown eyes, eyes that she had gotten from her father, and started the homemade fairytale.

"Once, long ago in a village not to far from here, they lived a young princess. The princess longed for a love that would share her journey, but she never found a husband. One day, while the princess was leaving her castle, a man tried to take her jewels. She screamed for help and at last the Dark Knight came to her rescue."

Katie looked sleepy but urged her mother to go on. "Soon the Dark Knight and the princess fell madly in love. They were happy and wanted to spend eternity with each other, but the Evil Man didn't like that. Not one bit."

At this point, Alex would have usually stopped, but that night Katie wanted to know how the story ended. That night Alex allowed herself to relive the best and worst days of her life.

"The Evil Man kidnapped the princess and showed no mercy. The princess knew she had to do something, so she escaped and ran away into the night, never to be seen again."

"What happened to the Dark Knight, mum?" Katie asked curiously, as she pulled the blanket further up her body. A small, sad smile made its way to Alex's face at the memory.

"The Dark Knight thought that the Evil Man had taken his love away from him, so he threw the Evil Man in the bad dungeon. The Dark Knight carried on protecting his city, blaming himself for the loss of his love."

"That's silly mummy." Katie giggled. "Why would he blame himself? He didn't do anything."

Because he's a stubborn ass, Alex thought ruefully. She hadn't seen Bruce in years, 8 to be exact, but she was positive that he had blamed himself for her 'death'

"You have to get some sleep, young lady." Alex scolded gently. Katie sighed but snuggled into the sheets nonetheless. After a few minutes, Alex began to leave.

"Where are you going?" Katie asked, her tiny voice filled with panic.

"Don't worry sweetie," Alex assured, leaning down and placing a small kiss to her daughters forehead. "I'll be right back."

That, Kate would soon learn, was a lie. Her mother never returned that evening and the next morning the young blonde woke to the sound of the screeching sirens of police vehicles.

Alexandria Elizabeth Hunter, Kate's mother, was dead.