DISCLAIMER: all characters and locations are property of DC comics

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Chapter 1

'I'm sick of this, Terry! Every time we make plans, you cancel on me! It's like you just don't care anymore,' I shout at him through the phone. I can feel the tears welling up behind my eyes.

'Dana, you know I have to go whenever Mr. Wayne wants me! I mean Jesus, even my tutors understand. That's why they let me study from home,' he tersely replies.

'I don't care, McGinnis!' I scream at him as the tears run down my face.

'You had to run out on my last two birthdays and our prom. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was spending most of prom on my own?'

'You think I wanted to leave?' He shouts back at me. 'After two years I thought you would understand! Apart from the mutt, he is on his own, and he needs my help, Dana! Especially since he took back control of his company.'

'Then why the hell doesn't he just hire a nurse? I mean, it's not like he can't afford it.'

'Because the damn mutt won't let anyone else near him! He even growls at me most of the time!' Terry yells back.

'You know what? I have had enough of this Terry and you obviously don't want to be with me. So, I'll make this easy for you. We are through, so stay the hell away from me!' Sobs begin racking my body, making it hard for me to breathe.

'Fine!' He shouts back as he slams the phone down.

Filled with grief and disbelief, I finally collapse on my bed and bury my head in the pillow, sobbing myself to sleep.

…

It has been two days since that call, and after failing to find Terry at his mum's and college, I decide give Max a ring and see if she knows where he is.

'Hello, Max; it's me.'

Max sighs into her phone. 'Dana, what do you want, girl? I'm busy.'

'I need to speak to Terry but he won't answer his phone. He isn't at college or his mum's,' I reply.

'I'm sorry, Dana; since you two had that fight I haven't seen him either. He's practically been working twenty-four seven. Your best chance would be to go to the mansion.'

Damn it, I so don't want to go the mansion. I've only meet Mr. Wayne once, and he scared the hell out of me.

'Max, will you please come with me?'

'Sorry, Dana, but I can't. With Terry busy and their mum out of town, I'm looking after Matt.'

Double damn. I look outside and find it's pouring rain. Making a decision, I answer Max, 'okay, I guess I better go to the manor.'

I start taking slow breaths to try and calm myself down as I head out to my car. I hope Mr. Wayne is in a good mood, I pray as I drive off.

Pulling up to the gates, I jump out of my car and run up to the intercom while trying to get as much shelter as possible from the wind and rain.

'Hello can anyone hear me?' I ask after pressing the call button.

'Who is this?' A gravelly voice replies.

'Mr. Wayne?'

'Speaking, and I don't like repeating myself.'

Damn, he sounds mad. 'It's Dana,' I say, 'Dana Tan, Terry's girlfriend; I need to talk to him. Max said he might be here.'

I stand there for what feels like ages, but then the gates finally swing open. Thank God, now I just hope Terry will talk to me.

As I get back in the car and drive up, I can feel my heart pound in my chest particularly after I spot an old man with a dog standing in the doorway. As I get out of the car, the dog starts to growl and bark at me.

'Quiet, Ace,' Mr. Wayne grumbles.

I can see why most people don't want to work here: that dog is huge. 'Hello Mr. Wayne; is Terry here?'

'No, but I take it you are the reason he is so distracted lately.'

'Yes, sir; we had a huge fight two days ago, and I wanted to apologize, but he won't answer his phone,' I explain, before suddenly realizing I've started crying and shaking again.

'You better come in then.'

As I walk up the steps he calls out to his dog, 'Ace, heal.'

As I follow Mr. Wayne into a huge study, my initial anxiety starts to leave, the old man no longer seeming so scary any more.

'Take a seat Miss Tan,' he invites; so I do, choosing the sofa beside his armchair. 'Would you like some tea?'

'No, thank you. So if Terry isn't here, why did you let me in?' I nervously ask, wringing my hands in my lap.

'Do you love Terry?'

I gasp, the unexpected bluntness of his question for some reason shocking me. My eyes momentarily travel down to hands before I lift my head to look Mr. Wayne straight in the eyes.

'Yes, I do; very much,' I reply with certainty.

'Then I think you need to see something.' Mr. Wayne stands up and walks over to a grandfather clock behind him. 'Terry won't be happy since I've told him several times to keep this secret from everyone, even you. But if it's the only way he can concentrate at work and stop making rookie mistakes, then I have no choice.'

I let out a shriek of surprise and jump back as the clock moves aside to reveal a secret staircase.

I look at Mr. Wayne questioningly, 'what's down there?'

'The reason I need Terry around so much. So, Miss Tan, are you ready to learn our best kept secret or not?'

Please don't be some kind of torture chamber or dungeon, I think to myself as I head down the stairs with Mr. Wayne following me.

When I reach the bottom, my attention falls on a gargantuan computer with someone occupying its chair, but since the back is facing me, I can't see who it is.

My eyes quickly roam around my new surroundings, finding in one corner a huge penny, beside which are display cases housing old costumes; I quickly recognize one belonging to Harley Quinn amongst others, while opposite to these is the current Batmobile. As I turn back to Mr. Wayne, I see four more cases by the stairs, displaying the old Batsuit along with Nightwing's, Batgirl's and Robin's; but the last one is empty for some reason.

'Oh my God, you're the original Batman! But that means-' As I spin to face the person in the chair, they turn at the sound of my voice.

'Dana?' I find myself staring at none other than the new Batman, his white lenses wide with surprise. He quickly pulls his cowl off to reveal the very familiar face I know so well.

I recoil with shock and anger before rounding on him. 'McGinnis, I'm going to kill you for keeping this from me!'

…

AN; Just a quick note so you all know where I am this story is set a year after 'return of the joker'. Yes, this will be a repost of my old series I managed to recover all but the epilogue of Bat's Rising. Nightwing Beyond I will have to re do from scratch. Also it will now be one long story. Should be able to repost the old stuff every Saturday as it will give me time to fix any leftover errors and remind myself of details.