Author: My first ever Batman story. It might not be good, but oh well. It has a few original characters, but not a lot. It should be continued, eventually... if nothing happens.

Lost
Prologue: Unexpected Child

It had been the Joker that night, running rampant in the streets of Gotham. He had been late, even if it was only by seconds, but as they say... every second counts. Batman had arrived in time to see the couple take their last breath together, covering something. He had turned, seeing a fleeting glimpse of the Joker as he left... his wild laughter echoing in the room. Batman had seriously considered going after him, but he knew that Nightwing would go after him.

The Dark Knight started over to the couple, his eyes hard as he bent down and checked the pulse of the wife... and then the husband. Neither of them had a pulse, but he had expected just that. Batman started to stand, pausing when he noticed something move under them. He carefully moved the man, blue eyes losing some of their hardness as he saw the little girl. She was lying on her back, blood spattered across her face and on her clothes.

For a moment, Bruce thought that she was dead, and then he saw her small chest move as she took a breath. She was small, no more than three or four years of age. Batman picked her up gently, placing a call to Commissioner Gordon to tell him about the murders. He left out the little girl on purpose as he hung up, carrying her out of the abandoned building. She shifted a little, opening her eyes to look up at him. They were a stunning dark blue, surprising for her age.

"What's your name?" he asked, deliberately lowering his voice. The little girl looked up at him for a moment, her small hands clutching at his Batman uniform.

"A-Angelina. Momma and Daddy call me Angelina..." she stated softly. Angelina sounded a little scared, and yet a little worried.

"How old are you?"

She held up four fingers, a little smile on her face. "I'm four."

Something clenched his heart as he looked into her small face. She was still just a child, and no she was without parents. Suddenly, her blue eyes became sad as she sniffed.

"Momma and Daddy are gone..." she whispered softly. Bruce just nodded his head silently, pulling the little girl a little closer. For some reason, instead of heading to the orphanage, he went to the Batmobile, taking her with him. Bruce was silent for a moment, his own blue eyes staring ahead at the road as he started back towards Wayne Manor. Angelina kept staring at him, fiddling with her shirt.

Bruce slowed down as he got closer to the Manor, reaching over and wiping the blood from her face. She looked up at him again, a questioning look in her eyes.

"Where we goin?"

He paused as he drove, casting a small glance in her direction before he turned his eyes back onto the road.

"Home. You're a Wayne now," he stated quietly.