I watched as Bruce took off in the Bat towards the Bay. The blood drained from my face as I realised that I may never see him again. Please come back. He had given so much to a city that has only continued to break his heart. How I wish I would have only known that he was Batman. I feel like Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice – hmm should really return the 1st edition I took from the museum – when she realised that she was wrong about Mr Darcy. I look up again and i don't know how to feel, a huge mushroom cloud now fills the sky. He's gone. I don't know what's happening, I don't know where I am, and suddenly I find myself on the rooftop where he saved me from Bain and his men, our first meeting as Catwoman and Batman.

What do I do now? – I already know the answer – I am Catwoman, I'll adapt. I can't stay in Gotham. It hurts too much everything reminds me of him. Selina Kyle what have you got yourself in too? It wasn't long ago that you were stealing diamonds and fooling the obscenely rich into helpless little puppy dogs. Was that life so bad? YES that's why you wanted the clean slate which is why he's no longer here. Shit what have I done? Somewhere between delirious and insane i make my way back to my apartment and try to get my stuff together, I need to leave. It hurts too much to take my suit off, I last touched him wearing this. I sit down to gather my thoughts and absent-mindly flick on the TV. Bad idea.

Every channel has Batman streaming on it. Well done Gotham you've realised too late, you're alive because of him and now he's, he's, he's gone. Gosh I'm in tears yet again, my mascara has run down my face and my lips are smudged. I hope he knew how much I cared for him – of course he did you basically professed your love for him when you asked him to flee with you and oh yeah who could forget that kiss – it was full of all things we left unsaid, our love, the desperation of the situation and his love for Gotham there was no changing his mind and through the kiss he passed on hope. Hope? I'm missing something, I've missed something, I must have – my mind reels as I go through the events that have just happened. I did miss something.

I race upstairs to the rooftop. Taking the stairs three at a time I bust through the door onto the terrace, it can't be. I pull the flare my heart stops…I follow the fire race across the terrace up the wall and down the fire escape – I nimbly somersault forwards hoping that it's not a trap – no Bain and Talia are dead- all of a sudden the fire stops – crap – what's happened- it's a rouse – how foolish it couldn't be him - as soon as I circle back strong hands grab me and I'm pinned against the wall. I swing my leg up and it connects with his HAND! Dam! "Like a cat in a trap" I freeze his husky voice sends shivers down my spine and I throw myself at him, our lips connect, I push myself closer, he's still in his suit, he returns the kiss fervently. His rubs his hands up and down my suit pulling me towards him. He hands then move and gently caress my face. My Batman, My Bruce, he's here in my arms. After what feels like forever we break apart and are left gasping for air, our hearts pounding. I want to ask him how, I want to tell him off, but all I my body lets me do is smile and shed a lone tear, Bruce catches my tear and brushes a piece of hair that has escaped my mask, "I'm here now Ms Kyle, no more tears, we're safe." We'll never be safe here we need to leave. For as long as he stays his happiness is not guaranteed.

We scramble back to the apartment and under the shower. The warm water washes all the unspoken words away, our hunger and need for each other grows. As we strip away each other's masks and disguises we are left with two human beings, two lovers, we are together, my heart is glad. We make passionate love, neither of us believing this is possible. My eyes get heavy and I fall asleep.

I awake in the morning to find Bruce cleanly shaven and working on the laptop he pulled out from nowhere. He's hacked into his file at his lawyers and is updating his will. He makes the necessary preparations, logs out and shuts down the computer, a cute boyish smile on his face. "Want one more adventure before we leave Gotham?" How could I resist? I put on my black dress and gloves and prepare for the funeral. My heart breaks when I see his tombstone. I came so close to losing him, I keep from sight and slip into the house. Bruce is gathering supplies from the basement and putting together a pack to leave for Blake, he'll make a great Batman in my humble opinion, so selfless so moral. I continue on my task, I go through the house emptying all the hidden safes and taking out the cash withdrawals. Bruce had to guide me through, it was like he had prepared for this, he said that not even Alfred knew they were here.

I bundle the money up into a black rucksack – ew how tacky- I meet Bruce back down the basement. We put all the supplies in and say a final goodbye to Batman. I'm sure we'll be back one day.

Bruce picks me up and places a chaste kiss on my lips. "Are you sure about this? About me? No more capes, no more masks no more lycra" DAM! "Its not too late." I grab his face and pull it in for a kiss – this is what I want more than anything, "Can't we bring it along just in case, for old times sake?" He caves, got him! He whips me around and out of nowhere I found the pearl necklace around my neck. They are divine, I could never pilfer these. "They look better on you than left in a safe or auctioned to some Gotham billionaire." He loves me.

We get into the Bat and take off into the sunset and make a beeline for the airport. Bruce hands me a passport, I find my picture and a name next to it that isn't mind. Sensing my discomfort Bruce grasps my hand and gently places a soft kiss on my knuckles. "Clean slate remember." How long has he been planning this? We get to the jet, "good evening sir, we are ready to take off when you're ready." Florence, I've never been to Italy, although David has nothing on Bruce, scars and all.

We breeze through customs and take a taxi to our hotel. It's right out front the main Piazza and is simply breathtaking, although there's is no time to enjoy it for long, Bruce is desperate to make contact with Alfred. The poor old man was a wreck at the funeral, he needs to know. We race down to the café. Good he's not here yet. We sit and wait, I order a cannoli and an espresso, Bruce orders a Vino - what's with these billionaires and their vino? Bruce grabs my hand, "I'm so happy you chose me, we can start over together, I can keep you safe, there is no way I'm losing you, you are my world."

All of a sudden his jaw slacks, I'm careful not to look back, Alfred's here. It takes a while for him to look around. Bruce face changes and I know Alfred has spotted us. I fiddle with the pearl necklace and slowly turn around. Alfred has a huge smile on his face

And then he gets up and is gone. I look over at Bruce. We gaze into each others eyes, with no words said at all he's able to communicate his thoughts. He lives a rather generous tip as we get up. The world is our oyster, we only have each other. We walk across the Piazza and down to the river, Bruce pulls me to one side and places kisses along my jawline and kisses the side of my mouth "Care to spend your rest of your lives, all 9 of them with me?" I look up puzzled as he bends down on one knee, reaching into his pocket he pulls out a small purple velvet box. He pops it open. Inside is the most exquisite ring I have ever seen. It has an old world charm to it. It's a white gold band that has an opaque diamond with two diamonds supporting it on both sides. It's the biggest diamond ring I have ever seen – without realising I let out a small purr. "Its that good hey? Selina Kyle will you marry me?"

Tears threaten to appear, I fight them back and wrap my hands around this God of a man. "Yes I will!" Wow this guy doesn't waste time does he! Before I realise I find myself out front of LeBelle the famous Italian dressmaker. In no time my measurements taken and a beautiful silk and lace off the shoulder sheath dress is fitted on me. Its gorgeous, sitting on all the right places it falls gracefully passed my feet leaving a small train at the back. I'm then whisked next door into a boutique where my usually straight hair is pulled softly back into a delicate up do and my make-up is done. One thing is missing, I reach into my handbag and pull out my Chanel Coco Red Lipstick, purrfect. I turn around and my husband to be is smouldering in a black tux. I could get used to this. He had a smirk on his face, g"oing to make a decent woman out of me Bruce?" We get into our Ferrari and speed off into the Tuscan hills. We pull up into a little village and make it into the main Piazza where a quaint but ornate church rests. I have know idea how he's find the time to organise this but the priest comes out to welcome us. The ceremony is beautiful punctuated by a small gathering of locals come to see our proclamation of love. I couldn't ask for anything more. I am his and he is mine. We seal the union with a kiss and a photo courtesy of the town Mayor and spend the evening celebrating under a makeshift gazebo in the piazza.

We spend our first night together, the start of the rest of our lives together.

~to be continued~