Hello, hello, hello! Here's the sequel as promised! I shall not waste time in saying what it's about, for the story shall soon tell! You don't necessarily HAVE to have read Heart of a Joker, but this story may be easier to understand if you did/do. Now anything in italics is a dream or something that happened in the past, or someone's thoughts. Okay so that takes care of that. Any who, without further ado, I present to you my lovely readers: She Holds the Ace :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing/no one associated with Batman or the Dark Knight. The only characters I own are Kara, her friends and family (when they are mentioned), a few random goons no one knows the names of, Kyle, and the lovable Rod aka Ryan.

Prologue: 6 Months Later

"Jack, why are you saying these things? Jack, please, you're hurting me."

These were the only things going through Kara's head as the only man who had ever loved her said the vilest things anyone could ever think of. He mocked her because of her love for him. Because of the love she thought he shared for her. It always began this way. And she wouldn't wake up, not until he laughed that blood chilling laugh, and ripped two cards that would be left at her door way. One joker, one queen of hearts, and walked away, seemingly deaf to her pitiful pleas for him to stay.

Kara sat up straight soaked in her own sweat, a racing heartbeat, gasping for air and with her throat as dry as ash. She had been having the same dream she's been plagued with for about 6 months since she's been living at Wayne Manor. She looked at the clock that read 3:30 am, and was grateful that she didn't have to worry about going to school (Bruce thought that it would be better if Gotham thought that she was still missing). She pushed her hand through her black/maroon hair and took deep breaths.

It's a dream, she told herself, Only a dream.

With a sigh she got up and walked in her bathroom to begin her morning routine. She knew that she wasn't going to go back to sleep, she never did after that dream – nightmare. After brushing her teeth and washing her face she got ready to get in the shower. She thought about everything that had happened ever since she had moved in with the people who had become the family that she had lost with Dick Grayson, Barbra Gordon, Bruce Wayne (duh), and the lovable Alfred Pennyworth. She smiled as she thought of the old man.

He seemed to take on the fathering role of their little family, always making sure that she was eating properly, and that she was getting enough sleep. Bruce, he was like the annoying older brother – always trying to take control of situations where he could, and at times seemed boorish and bull-headed, but when push came to shove, he was always there when his friends needed him. Barbra, she was the glue that held them all together. Whenever one had a problem with the other, it was her who always did her best to diffuse the situation, and made sure that each side was heard before she tried to figure out what could be done to put an end to said situation. Which left Dick. Just, who was he to her?

She got dressed and headed downstairs, following the delicious smell of breakfast emanating from the dining room. Barbra was the first to notice her.

"Good morning Kar." She said as she rearranged a few plates and cups to make room for her new friend.

Kara smiled at the nickname Barbra had given her and sat down to pancakes and hazelnut coffee – her favorite, so Alfred had remembered.

"So what's the game plan for today?" asked Richard as he all but shoveled 4 slices of bacon into his mouth.

Alfred made a small grunt of discuss, and snatched the plate from Richard, placing it back on the table.

"Honestly Master Grayson! Do exercise some form of decency!"

"Yea Richard. Be polite." Everyone looked up at Kara, and Alfred nodded in approval.

But just as he was about to congratulate the young girl on her taste in manners, when a loud belch interrupted his thoughts. He looked up with the most hilarious expression any one at Wayne Manor had seen in a very long time. However, it was quiet at the table, until Barbra started giggling. Slowly it seemed to travel to Richard, then Bruce, and finally even Alfred rolled his eyes good naturedly and graced them with a small smirk. After a few minutes, they finished their breakfast and Bruce had left the table a few minutes early, saying that he had to discuss some project with Lucius Fox. Barbra and Richard had exchanged subtle glances when Bruce had mentioned the man who had designed all their equipment. They had yet to tell Kara of their other identities, and had thought it better not to. It was Barbra who had thought of this.

"I mean, why not? She doesn't even know where we got her from. And she doesn't know how far she is from the Joker. Why not just tell her?" Richard had asked.

Barbra had looked at her friend incredulously.

"Dick, think about it! 'oh, well you know Kara, we know that you're probably really confused about life right now. I mean, you've been in a really bad place when it came to your family, you were kidnapped by a crazy man who thinks he's some weird clown prince of crime, and by the way, may I introduce Bruce Wayne? He's a billionaire, but actually, he's the Batman! And my friend Barbra here, she's Batgirl. And me? I'm Nightwing!' Seriously Dick, who do you think that's gonna go down? It'll push her off the edge!"

Bruce had been watching the entire scene before him in silence. "She's right Dick."

When Richard opened his mouth to protest, Bruce had held up his hand, silencing the young man.

"It'll overwhelm her. You want to gain her trust, I get it. But we need to take it slow with her. We will tell her, but in the right time. But until that time, all we are to her are Bruce, Barbra, and Dick. Am I clear?" Barbra nodded, but Richard had remained silent, looking away from his two friends.

It was the shadow of his mentor that caused him to look up and find himself face to face with him.

"Am. I, clear?" Bruce asked slowly, making sure the young man before him understood that this order was to be obeyed and not questioned.

"Yea", he said finally. "Yea, I get it."

A/N: okay, so I know that this is really short, but this is sort of a prologue, I don't know what happened, but I couldn't get it to upload yesterday. But here it is! Yay! Lol. Well, tell me what you think, and if you wish to give me a follow on Twitter Reecie_John, for sneak peeks, and other stuff! K! Bye!

~ SunriseDestined