Chapter 1

It was 12:15. His flight was supposed to arrive at 12:10. Bruce waited at the gate, looking out the large glass windows, anxiously awaiting the return of his only son.

"Master Wayne," Alfred said coming up to Bruce, "They said that his plane should be arriving any minute."

"Thank you Alfred," just as Bruce said it, he saw the plane slowly approaching the building, "Hah, right on cue," Bruce smiled and walked over more towards the gate where he would be exiting.

"No need to worry," Alfred laughed.

"Worry? Why do you think I'm worried?"

"You've been pacing by the window for the last twenty minutes and can't stand still for over ten seconds."

Bruce was about to protest when the gate doors opened and passengers from the plane started coming out.

After a minute, Bruce caught eye of him coming down the long hall to from the plane to the gates.

"Dad!" Harvey said coming up to Bruce and hugging him tight.

"Harvey, how are you?" Bruce said as they hugged.

"Pretty good, how about you?" Harvey said as they let go.

"Busy, business is booming here."

"Which business?" Harvey said crooking his eyebrow.

Bruce laughed, "Both, this is Gotham."

"Alfred! It's good to see you," Harvey said hugging Alfred.

"It's good to have you back in Gotham Mr. Wayne."

"Alfred, for the last time, he's Mr. Wayne" Harvey said pointing at Bruce, "Call me Harvey."

Alfred laughed and nodded his head.

"You must be hungry, let's go out to eat, my treat. Besides, I want to hear all about your year away," Bruce said.

"Sounds like a plan," Harvey said picking up his duffle bag.

"Do you have any other bags Mr. Way—, I mean Harvey?" Alfred said as they started walking away.

"Nope, just my one bag."

Alfred looked at Bruce, "He is your son," Alfred laughed.

"Got that right, he's like a young version of me," Bruce said patting Harvey on back.

"Funny Dad, except when you were my age you were on the other side of the world training. Then you came back here and had your choice of just about any woman in all of Gotham."

"Harvey, Harvey, Harvey, maybe you didn't realize it, but you're just as popular with them as I was," Bruce said gesturing over to a group of paparazzi waiting outside the door they were heading towards to exit.

"Wow," Harvey said reacting to all of them, "I forgot about all of this stuff," he laughed.

They arrived at the doors, "Welcome back to Gotham, Harv," Bruce said as he opened the doors and they headed outside into the small sea of paparazzi.

"Mr. Wayne, what do you plan to do now that your son is back in Gotham?"

"Mr. Wayne, do you plan to have your son take your position at Wayne Enterprises?"

"Mr. Wayne!"

"Mr. Wayne!"

"All I am going to say is that we are glad to have Harvey back with us, thank you," Bruce said getting into the limo.

Harvey got in after him, as did Alfred in front.

They began driving away.

"I see things haven't changed much since I left," Harvey said referring to the paparazzi.

"It's the price we pay for a 'famous' family."

"Well, where I've been for the last year I didn't deal that much with being part of a 'famous' family. But I'm glad to be back."

"I'm glad you're glad to be back. Now where's your favorite place in town to eat?"

"Hm—m, let's see there's always somewhere fancy… but you know what I really missed?"

"What?"

"Home food. You know, how we used to eat at home. Our favorites foods, plus new things we hadn't even heard of before. Just you, me, mom, and Alfred."

"I missed that too, then that's what we'll have. Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Wayne."

"To the house, we're going to eat in today."

Alfred smiled, "Very well sir."

"Dad."

"Yes."

"How have you been?"

"I already told you," Bruce laughed, "Fine, busy with—"

"No Dad, I mean you."

Bruce's smile faded away slowly, he knew exactly what Harvey went by the question.

Harvey continued, "It's been almost two years now since she died. When I left you promised me that you would be alright. I wanted to believe you but I knew you were struggling."

"I'm fine Harvey, you're back now and—"

"I can see it, you're getting older Dad. You can't do all this forever. You've been through so much—"

"Harvey… I'm perfectly fine, okay? I'm been concentrating on work to help me."

"That's the problem."

"What?"

"Dad, you're covering up and hiding your pain inside. You're trying to be strong when you know you can't be."

"No, I'm not Dr. Phil."

Harvey ignored his dad's comment, "You're always saying we're exactly alike, and I know that if I'd been through everything you have, I'd be doing the exact same thing."

Bruce began to speak but stopped himself, he was speechless.

"Dad… you've lost almost everything you've loved in life. I know that. I worry about you Dad. You weren't the same after Mom died. And from what I understand, you did the same thing after you lost Rachel and Harvey when you and Mom met."

"We aren't exactly alike…"

"What do you mean?"

"You said it yourself, at your age I had ran away to the other side of the world, trying to learn how to protect myself from everything I feared in life, only thinking and caring about myself… but you… you're a few steps ahead of where I was. You care about others, you put them all before yourself. You've got your life figured out," Bruce smiled.

"I've been thinking Dad, about where I'm gonna end up. You know my job and all."

"And?"

"I've concluded that rather you like it or not, I'm taking over your job."

"Good, I'd planned for you to take over Wayne Enterprises but I thought I'd have to force you," Bruce laughed.

"Not just that job Dad…"

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

They arrived at the house and were getting out.

Bruce got out first and was going towards the door. Harvey got out behind him and followed not far behind with Alfred.

"Harvey… I can't let you do that to yoursel—"

"No Dad, I've already made my decision—"

"We're not having this conversation Harvey."

"Yes we are."

"No we are not."

Harvey stopped.

"You can't be Batman forever!"

Silence. Bruce stopped in his tracks, he turned around to face Harvey.

"I can't let you do that to yourself Harvey. You're my son, my only son. All I have left is you. If something happened to you, I don't know what I would do."

"I'm a grown man now, Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm 19 years old. I graduated early from high school. I'm responsible, I just spent a year on my own and look at me... I'm just fine. For once in your life, believe me. Please. I can do it…"

"We'll talk about it later, Harvey," Bruce said as Alfred went ahead and opened the door.

"We will, Dad. I won't let you push it aside. No matter what, we are talking about it, and I am going to somehow get it through that thick head of yours that I am right," Harvey smiled and went in the door.

Bruce rolled his eyes and went in, "I'll try."

"That's a start!" Harvey laughed as Alfred closed the door behind them.