digi-gal-rox: well, here's the first chapter, pls review! just to clarrify some things, italics is the present, in this particular chapter

Chapter 1: It's our funeral too...

He stood gravely, at the front. The martian man hunter, J'onn, voice drown on. Beside him, the young boy wonder, Robin and Batgirl stood. Behind him, stood many Gothamites. 'He' was gone. And the world knew who he was. An elderly man walked towards the tomb. An elderly woman next to him. Robin stiffen. Like the boy wonder, he didn't want to accept the fact that, Batman... Bruce Wayne was dead. He turned around to hear some children crying. They had looked up to the dark knight. But now they didn't have anyone to look up to. He face the front again. This time Superman was talking. The world seemed to have stopped for him.
"Nightwing?" Robin said quietly, looking at his older brother. He didn't respond. Bruce Wayne had raised him since the death of his parents. He may have resented the billionaire play boy, but he had taken up the father role. He was there for him, when he needed it most... sometimes. He closed his eyes. He still could hear the argument they both had before his death. If only he hadn't yelled at him. He felt Alfred and Leslie approach him. They were the only family he had left, apart from Robin. He watched Superman leave the podium, as another speaker, Comissioner James Gordon, walked on. He glanced at Batgirl. Her eyes were red. He looked away. He knew she blamed herself for what happened. She always did. Like the time she blamed herself for his departure. It sure as hell seemed like it. He felt like yelling at her saying it wasn't her fault, right at that moment. But seeing the state she was in, he didn't dare move.
"Bruce..."

"Batman!" she screamed, as Metropilis's Toy Man aimed his gun at him. Superman turned around, having already pinned Live Wire to the ground. The gun clicked, an a bright source of energy headed towards the dark knight.
"Batman!" he bellowed, flying as fast as he could towards Gotham's hero. But he was too late. The energy had hit the dark knight, throwing Superman back. Batgirl's body flung against the wall, knocking her uncouncious. Debrie flew everywhere, followed by dust. Nightwing and Robin arrived, within the midst of the smoke. Gotham's police behind them. They saw Batman's dead body, his mask burnt.
"Bruce Wayne?" James murmured surprise, approaching the body. Supergirl appeared beside the Comissioner with a limping Batgirl.
"My god," she murmured. Nightwing and Robin arrived at her side, eyes wide.
"No..." Nightwing muttered, kneeling beside his dead mentor. "Batman..." he looked up in the sky, crying in pain. Than it began to rain. It seemed like the world was crying as well. Slowly, Gothamites came from their hiding spots to see the dead body of their hero. Wonder Woman, the Flash, John Stewart, J'onn and Superman attacked their enemies: Toy Man, Live Wire (who managed to get free), the Joker and Harlee Quin, Clayface and Poison Ivy. Angrilly, Robin ran to help, followed by Nightwing. Batgirl closed her eyes, allowing the tears to fall from her face. Batman was gone. The world knew of his identity. What was worse was that Gotham was now alone.

Barbara Gordon watched Gothamites try to continue with their normal life. She could tell something was bothering them. They were more conscience of where they were going. Always checking their backs every five minutes. She sighed resting her head on the balcony fence. Nightwing... Dick Grayson had left for Bludhaven. He hadn't left any calling card, if they needed his help. He didn't say good-bye to his family. Against his will, Barbara had sent Robin, Tim Drake to the Titans. A group of teenage heros, Dick had once formed in his younger years. A group of new teenage heros now live in the T-Tower of Jump City. Zantanna, the Creaper and Etrigon had quit the League to help Batgirl look after Gotham. She was greatful for their sacrifice, even though they didn't really have to do so. She pulled her hair into a pony tail, before entering her apartment. She still couldn't believe that Bruce Wayne was gone. It felt like a part of her died as well. And maybe some part did. The whole reason she became Batgirl, was to prove her father's innocent. Batman had been her role model... which eventually changed to Robin, Dick Grayson. You could say that a part of each Dark Knight had died. Batman had trained them, he had taken them under his wing. And now he was gone. She couldn't help but ask what would happen to Alfred? And Leslie, Bruce Wayne's most trusted friend? The press were already at both their places, asking about Bruce Wayne and Batman. They were already demanding Tim why keep the secret. But what about Dick? They were proberly at his place already. Barbara rested her head on the glass of the sliding door. Life at Gotham was going to be different. Already, the night before... the night of Batman's funeral, the Joker had taken advantage of the moment to destroy the bat-signal. Nightwing and herself, Batgirl were able to stop him, before unaware citizens got hurt.
"God be with you Bruce," she murmured.

He slammed his fist against the wall. How could 'he' have been so careless?! He was meant to be the great detective. The Dark Knight that was always aware of his surroundings. How could have this happened?! With situations like this, Batman would have already escaped. The Bludhaven police were already guaring his place from the Gotham, Metropilis and Bludhaven press. He felt trapped in his apartment. Sneeking out would be too risky, since everyone was camped out in front. Maybe he should've taken Barbara's offer and hide at her place. But than again, he didn't want to be with her. It would be too awkward. Not after their history together. He knew the moment he moved to the Haven, Batman had followed him here. A part of him was glad, knowing that his one time mentor would always have his back. The other part resented him for it. He wanted to prove that he could take care of himself, without the help of the big black bat. In a way, he couldn't help notice that Batgirl wanted to do the same thing. Always pleading to go on patrol by herself. His phone rang again. He wasn't in the mood to answer.
"I don't think I ever will..." he murmured, as the machine picked it up.
"Hey, it's me." Wally's voice came. "Just wanted to let you know that We're here for you. Me, Barb, Tim... all of us." Dick rolled his eyes. Not like he needed to be told. He walked out to the window, where he witnessed some reporters climbing the fire-escape, the police behind them. He quickly locked his windows and pulled the blinds. This was the last thing he needed. Fame. Fame that he grew up with Bruce. Fame that Bruce was Batman, and that he was presumed to know all this. He did, but that was because he was the Batman's protege. But they didn't need to know that. Fame.

He shielded his eyes, as Bruce Wayne and he, Dick Grayson walked into the museum. It was the grand opening of a new art exhibit, and many Gotham celebreties were invited. He felt Bruce leave his side, as the play boy headed towards an attractive woman. He grunted.
"So what do you think of the place so far?" Barbara Gordon surprised him from behind. He turned around surprised.
"Babs!"
"That's my name." she grinned, taking his arm. He peared over her shoulder, now notcing the reporters had pushed their way into the room. He groaned.
"Why do they bother?"
"Because they have no life," Barbara shrugged, leading him away, "And also because the Bruce Wayne and son: Dick Grayson, is here!"
"You make it sound like they follow our every move." he muttered.
"Only when it's a function," she cocked her head. She turned around to notice that a large group had followed them.
"I hate it," he muttered, pulling her away.
"Where we going?" she asked, as he quietly lead her through the back door.
"Out." he responded, "A place where they can't find us."

If only he could escape now. Robin grumpily watched the news, flicking through every channel. Even the sports were covering the huge news of Bruce Wayne-Batman fenomena.
"Some life, huh?" Cyborg asked, joinging him.
"I feel more sorry for Dick." he responded, narrowing his eyes. "Lucky for Batgirl, she's in hiding."
"Why didn't you stay with her?"
"They followed me there. She got the League to send me here."
"Ouch."
"Just as long they don't know I'm here, I'm fine."
"Which reminds me, new Titans are here. You might want to lay low from them."
"Fine." he muttered getting up. "Send food to my room than."

Comissioner James Gordon starred at the remains of the bat signal. A part of him hoped he still could use it to call Batgirl. Maybe even her new formed group. Slowly, he turned around and left. He had work to do. With the Bat dead, who knew what villians may come out to 'play'. And how on earth would he contact the remaining Knights? Maybe they were already out on patrol. The station remained quiet. He had sent the police out on patrol, to help Batgirl and her group. James gravely sat at his desk.
"I can't believe it," he murmured, resting his head in his hand. Why did this have to happen? Why did he have to die? Everyone had looked up to him. So did he. "I never got to thank you," he said quietly, "for doing this for me. For my daughter..."
"Commish?" Harvey Bullock pocked his head in the office. "They're waiting." Sighing heavily, James got up, starring out the window hopefully.
"Part of me, is just waiting for him to mysteriously pop in,"
"I can't believe I'm actually sayin' this, but I miss him Jim. We all do." James looked at Bullock surprised, before smiling softly. "But we'll get through this. Even if Bat's is that Bruce Wayne. We'll get through this."

Starring out at the darken city, none of them couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened. But they had a job to do now. Even if it meant without him. Zatanna placed a supportive arm on Batgirl, who looked at her and smiled, before pulling her mask on.
"It's never quite the same, is it?" she said softly, as the Creeper hugged himself, trying to wipe off his pernament grin of his face. "I'll still help you, Jack. Hey may have supplied you with the patches back than, and I'll continue to do that for you."
"Thank...you," the Creeper managed to get out, tears falling from his face.
"I can't actually believe he's gone," Etrigan grunted. "And here I thought he'd live forever, as he mentioned, when he went to the future..."
"Things change," Batgirl said quietly, grabbing her grapple. "Let's get to work," she added, as sirens could be heard in the background. "We've got a city to protect."

digi-gal-rox: that's it for now! pls review!