Author's Note: A little Bane/Blake fic I wrote during class today. Even after ten years, Blake has a hard time letting go. I suck at summaries and I don't want to give too much away. Your comments are always welcome.

John Blake picks up his pen again for the millionth time in the past hour. He wipes the sweat off his brow as his ten-year old, Daniel, runs in, "Daddy, when's dinner?" John sighed, "I'll start it in an hour. Go watch TV with your brother." As Daniel ran out of the room, John put on his reading glasses and stared at his blank sheet of paper. "I wouldn't have to be doing any of this if you had just listened to me," he mutters under his breath as he feels his throat tighten and his eyes fill up with tears.

He hated this day. John always thought of it as the worst day of his life. It was the anniversary of Bane's death. It had been 10 years and each year he would write a letter to Bane and take their sons to the gravesite where his husband was buried. He would tell them the story of how he met and fell in love with Bane then he would set the letter he had written on the gravestone. After this was over, they would quietly leave. John swallowed as he prepared to bare his feelings to his husband in letters that Bane could never read. He wrote:

My dearest Bane,

It is the tenth anniversary of your death tonight. There are a few things I need to share with you. Our oldest son, Charlie, plays on the school's baseball team. I know how many ours you spent with him playing catch in the secluded area behind our house. He says he feels closer to you every time he plays. He's very good and we all wish you could be here to see it.

Our second son, Daniel, wishes he could've met you. He sees the look of inspiration in Charlie's eyes after a game. He wants you to know that he loves you. He is always asking questions. He longs to know you.

They miss you. I miss you, more and more everyday. I still remember the beat of your heart. How it jumped through your chest, I can still feel your arms. I can think of the way you used to hold me on any cold day and feel the warmth they once held.

I remembered the words that you whispered, for just us to know. You told me you loved me, on our very first night. Do you remember? I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe.

I still have your clothes, folded away in your drawers. Your coat in the closet, your boots by the door. I always talk about getting rid of them but, I can't let go. Not yet. As your items disappear, so will your memory. Just as I felt you slip through my fingers and out of my life.

There are many nights that I pray that you'll come save me from myself, from my misery. Take me away from this awful place. The only things that keeps me from ending it all, are Charlie and Daniel. I beg for your death to be a dream and someday you'll come wake me up from this nightmare.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I miss you. I will always love you, now and forever.

Love, John.

John wipes his eyes. His tears have long silenced spilled over and on to his cheeks. "Are you okay, dad," his oldest son, Charlie, asked. John quietly pulled himself together, "I'm fine. Just about to start dinner."

"I don't understand why you put yourself through the pain of writing those letters every year," Charlie said. "You were four when he died. He never got the chance to meet Daniel. There is a lot he's missed out on," John replied. Charlie gave his father a confused look, "You know he can't read them, right?"

John sighed as he walked out of the room, "I like to think that somehow, someway, he can."

~FIN