AN: So, whilst I've written for the Batman comic before, I haven't written for the movie but this idea was stuck in my head and I wanted to write it. I'm pretty much writing for me but if you are reading this, thank you for checking it out 😊 Even if this fic gets zero hits and zero reviews, I'm writing this one for me but in the rare chance you did take a peek at it, I hope you enjoy.

After the Knight

Chapter One – Thomas

The day still stung like a fresh wound, the day of the explosion over the bay, the Batman saving everyone. Even though certain facts from that point had changed, that was still a very defining moment in the life of Bruce Wayne. It was the time he revealed his identity to Jim Gordon. It was his last heroic act as the Batman. It marked his death.

That had been four years ago and Alfred could still remember the pain of losing someone he had felt was an adopted child to him. The poor man had been through too much. After the event, it had been found out that he had fixed the autopilot, his body had never been found…though there might not have been anything to find, even the mess at the stock market had been investigated clearing his name. There was no return though and Alfred felt plenty glad about that.

He had seen him in that café twice, the two of them had shared a brief nod but that was okay. He might have wanted a bit more that second time, seeing Selina Kyle pregnant with what he could only imagine was the next in the line of Waynes. He wasn't going to intrude on that life. He deserved a happy and uncomplicated life after all of the trauma that he had been though.

He wondered what had happened since he had last seen them three years ago, still at that little café. He had seen how Selina Kyle's, or Stefanie Wilkes' fashions had spread throughout Europe. He imagined that with Bruce's skill he was doing a lot more than being a stay at home father as well. In fact, after studying, he could see Thomas Wilkes was an inventor with a similar profile to Bruce but with the aid of a beard, glasses, and what looked like a touch of plastic surgery, he definitely looked different.

It was his eyes that Alfred could see though. It was hard to forget the eyes of someone who you had tried to guide through life.

Alfred had come to this café four times after he had seen the pregnant Stefanie and he hadn't seen them. He was unlikely to see them again today but he could remember the elation he felt knowing that Bruce had survived and was done playing the role of the vigilante. There had been others who had followed his lead, those others could do what they pleased, at least Bruce was safe.

"Thank you, very much," Alfred could hear a man speak in a familiar way. He could hear that chuckle and he put down his newspaper. The man sounded happy.

"Yes," a woman said as a child started laughing, "Thank you. Come on, dear" she told her son. "Let's go to the table that your father likes," she said and Alfred grinned as he saw an older Selena with a pregnant belly again and a young boy, only two-years-old, that looked remarkably like his father. Alfred tried to lift his newspaper up again but his eyes widened at what he saw.

"You need any help, sweetie?" Selina asked and Alfred stopped as he saw a feeble man who looked about to pass out at any moment. He was in a wheelchair, his head covered under a woolen hat and he was too thin. What had happened? Alfred had to restrain himself from standing up and moving towards them.

"I'm fine, just…let's enjoy today," he said and Selena walked over to him. After putting her son in his seat, she went to crouch in front of her…husband? He was her husband, right? He knew to get married when you were to raise a child together. Selena crouched in front of him and handed him a damp cloth and some medicine whilst reaching for a glass of water.

"You know, if I had known you'd get sick I might not have married you," she teased him before leaning down and kissing him passionately. "They are probably looking for you. Well, they're looking for him. You on the other hand have already dropped off the map before."

"Is that so?" Bruce laughed weakly, "If I remember correctly, you're an expert of keeping yourself hidden." He coughed harshly and Alfred's eyes widened as he saw Bruce grab a napkin and cough into it harshly before pulling it back and Alfred had to take deep breaths. Had his once-ward just coughed up blood? What was going on here?

"Maybe we should go home," Selina said as she placed a hand on his cheek. "You need your rest and it's not going to be…."

"Just today, let's just enjoy today," Bruce told her as Alfred watched them. He didn't need to go over there, he didn't need to interfere with the two of them. They were both doing well in their new life, him going over there might cause more harm than good.

Selena nodded and sat down at the table, making room for his chair, "to think, after all that you've battled through, all that you've done and some illness is what will win against you. Maybe you are just a man, though you sure fooled me."

Alfred felt his heart squeeze tighter as he heard the deep coughs and then saw the man's body slump down in the chair. He heard Selena's worry as she tried to help 'Thomas' regain consciousness. He had told Bruce once that they wouldn't talk, that they would respect one another's new lives.

He didn't feel that he could, not when Bruce might need more support, someone to at least talk to. Did he have anyone in his life? He had always kept people at a distance? Still, the way his body had fallen into this state of unconsciousness was troubling.

Alfred nodded, he would break tradition and step into the man's life if only for a moment. He walked up to them. "Ms," he said and Selena looked at him, her eyes widening quickly before she turned back to her husband. "May I be of assistance?"

There was silence and Selena looked between them before nodding.

"I thought that you were going to keep a safe distance, that him being alive was all that you needed, that fact," Selena challenged him and Alfred nodded slowly.

"It was until today. I hope you know that I am only here because I have never seen him like this before. Thomas, isn't it?" he asked and Selena nodded. "Just like his father. Now, do you require a ride to the hospital."

"He just needs to be at home, he needs his rest. He was in the hospital yesterday," Selena volunteered the information. "Listen, I'm only letting you help us because I'm desperate. I'm not sure how he is going to feel about you being a part of this but he's terminally ill and he's not himself."

"Then let me drive you back," Alfred offered and Selena stared at him before nodding.

"I thought that you weren't going to say anything to me," Bruce said with his eyes closed, his body weak and his strength gone. Alfred put a hand on him.

"Sorry that I broke my promise…Thomas…"

"See, I'm not the only one to do so," he coughed trying to sit up. Alfred frowned. How sick was he and what caused for this to happen. He only hoped Thomas would accept his company long enough for him to find out.