This chapter doesn't have much action, it's only an intro. Adriana De Soto is a character of mine, as are the various people in her family. Other than that, all Batman related things are (c) DC.

This is based after the movie, so you will be seeing Bruce, Alfred, Doctor Crane, and others in future chapters. Enjoy!

Ring! … Ring! … Ring

The telephone rang wildly on the hook, startling the couple from their peaceful slumber.

Ring! … Ring! …Ring

"Honey…" The woman mumbled, drawing her plush down pillow over her head. She lightly brushed her husband's shoulder and mumbled for him to answer the phone.

Ring!

"Adriana…please," he groaned, "you're closer to it." She didn't move. The man waited a minute, letting the phone ring more. His sleepy eyes turned to the luminous digital clock by his bedside. 'Two-thirty…who in their right mind calls at two-thirty in the morning? ' The man flung the warms sheets over him and turned his body, sitting on the edge of the bed. He rose groggily, staggering out of the cozy comforts of his bed and across the chilled wooden floors beneath him.

"Don't get up, hon. I'll get it." Adriana, his wife, smiled beneath her pillow and lifted the temporary sound barrier from her head.

The man fumbled for the phone, his fingers still asleep while his mind struggled to wake them up. He finally grasped the receiver and brought the phone to his ear. "H'lo?"

Adriana opened an eye, looking over at her husband. She could barely hear the garbled words on the other line, but she could still sense a bit of urgency in the person's tone. The person was speaking loudly, obviously somewhere noisy. Adriana propped herself up on her elbow, resting her head on her palm. "Carlos?" She watched him as he curled his fingers around his chin, something he always did when he was deep in thought. He didn't reply, but cast a quick glance over at his wife.

Adriana frowned at this look, creasing her delicate features, and sat up slowly. "Carlos, who is it?" she murmured softly.

"Are you sure this is urgent, commissioner?" Carlos ignored Adriana, pacing a small expanse of the area rug in front of their bed. He let out a sigh and rubbed his eyes. "A-Alright…I'll be there in a few minutes." Carlos slowly rested the phone in the cradle and stood very still. He was hesitating. Before Adriana could once again ask him what was wrong, he started towards the closet and flipped on the light, making her wince.

"Gordon needs me downtown." Carlos spoke in a stern tone, the tone he took whenever there was work to be done.

"The commissioner? Why does he need you?"

Carlos stepped out of the closet seconds later, adjusting his dark navy uniform and the black leather belt around his waist. The light behind him cast his handsome face in dark, eerie shadows. Even with a shrouded face, Adriana could see traces of remorse and worry. She rose from the bed, pulling her snug white robe over her shoulders, and made her way over to his side. He was busy fixing his gun holster, placing the pistol carefully in it.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" She cooed, holding his shoulder gently.

Carlos furrowed his brow and picked up his hat resting on a chair back, along with his badge. "There's a hostage situation. Gordon needs all the help he can get. I just wish I didn't have to go. Hostage situations…there's always risks. Especially for the hostage."

"Carlos, if you're worried, please stay— " Adriana started, but he cut her off with a kiss.

"Don't worry. We deal with these things all the time. Give us good guys a few hours. Who knows," He added with a coy grin, starting towards the bedroom door and out the hall, "maybe you'll see my pretty mug on the morning news."

Adriana followed him, tugging on his elbow desperately.

"Carlos, this is your day off. Sweetheart, please don't."

"I know you hate my job. But you worry too much, hon." Carlos ran his thumb down her cheek, brushing a long strand of curled chocolate hair from her face. "I love you, and I'll see you later."

He wrenched open the door and disappeared towards the elevator, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls, jingling along with his keys.

Adriana sighed, rubbing her eyes as a sudden fatigue swept over her. Her husband was a Gotham City policeman. Their work was never done. She was just sick of worrying about him each time he left the house.

The young woman flipped on the lamp, illuminating the vast loft in dim light, sleepy light. She couldn't rest. Not without knowing where her husband was and how he was doing. She peered over at a large silver clock hanging nearby.

2:43 A.M.

Adriana lowered herself into a cozy chair, holding the day old newspaper in her hands, and blew a long breath out her nose. "Another long wait for the wife of Gotham's finest."

"Alright. Yes, yes I know…Dinner. And…yes, I'm making dessert." Adriana bustled about the kitchen, a bowl in one hand, and a whisk in the other. "No, I'm not making it now. Keith, it's only…nine-thirty." She held the phone between her ear and shoulder, something she had picked up after working as a secretary. She had since dropped that job and was currently in the market for something a little more exciting. She joked with Carlos about taking a job as a skydiver, even though she was terrified of heights.

Adriana shifted the phone to the other ear and began pouring the creamy batter from the bowl into a pan sizzling with melted butter. "Keith, I'm not an airhead like my sister. I know six o'clock means six o'clock. I know it's a surprise party." She drawled, plopping a strawberry in her mouth. "Don't worry." She laughed through a mouthful of fruit. "It's Cassie's birthday, I don't blow off things like that." Adriana leaned against the counter rolling her eyes as the person on the other line continued to warn her about not missing the party. "I swear, if you weren't my brother-in-law, I'd beat you for being so annoying." Adriana cast a look over to a photograph nearby. She and Carlos stood beside a taller, thinner brunette and strawberry-blonde man. She smirked and returned her attention to the caller. "Alright…alright, love you too. Tell Cassie I'm going to be coming to her surprise party. …no, I'm kidding. Yes. Bye."

The young woman put the cordless phone on the kitchen counter and stared at it, laughing to herself. She couldn't wait. Her sister's 27th birthday was today, and her brother-in-law Keith had begged her to help with the organization. She agreed, always ready to assist.

It was a little after nine, and she was starving. She decided that pancakes were the perfect remedy. Plus, Carlos loved pancakes, so it would be a pleasant surprise for him when he came home. She prodded the sizzling pancake batter with a spatula, flipping it over, then turned her attention to the clock. Time seemed to drag on whenever her husband was on duty.

She decided to turn on the television for a little bit of news. She hadn't checked on the hostage situation yet, and Carlos's words still rang in her head. Maybe his pretty mug would be on television. Just as she flipped over to the news station, a loud pounding came from the door.

Adriana's eyes lit up, a smile plastered across her smooth, milky face. "Coming! I'm coming!" The young lady practically skipped with glee, throwing open the front door ready to receive her husband in an embrace.

But her smile soon wilted into a frown, her face filling with confusion. "Commissioner Gordon. Hi. Uh…Sorry, I was expecting Carlos." She looked a little more puzzled and frowned. "Shouldn't you be at that hostage thing? Or is it all over?"

Commissioner James Gordon stood outside in the hall, his creased brown hat clutched against him. He had his other hand stuffed in his pocket, where he seemed to be fidgeting with something. Gordon nodded to the officer beside him and then glanced back at the woman.

"Mrs. De Soto, I need to speak with you."

"My, you're so formal. James, it's me, remember?" Adriana smiled and waved to the living room. "Care to sit?"

Gordon's eyes left hers for a moment. He was looking past her. Adriana's forehead creased with puzzlement and she turned around. The television was low, but a photo of her husband was frozen on the screen. Adriana frowned, whipping back around to face the commissioner. She stood awkwardly, her mouth slightly open. "Sir…what…what do you have to talk to me about?"

It was raining. Cold, dark clouds hung in the air like gray phantoms, surveying the sea of black below. Freezing drops poured around the crowd, although most held dark umbrellas over their heads to protect themselves from their icy sting. Every head hung low, soft sobs and sniffles could be heard every so often. The doleful bagpipes echoed over the empty cemetery like a howling wind, adding to the chill in the air. Snare drums rolled out their marching beat, slow and thunderous all at the same time.

Adriana couldn't feel anything now as she watched with vacant eyes as the officers carrying the sleek black casket over the pit in the ground. She hadn't noticed that her umbrella wasn't covering her head at all until she felt a warm hand grab hers and lift it back into place. She looked up at Cassie, her sister, and slowly turned her eyes forward. The commissioner sat opposite her, his eyes cast to the muddy grass beneath his feet. Various officers from the police department were nearby, most of them together in their own groups, while family and friends stood behind Adriana.

The young widow took a breath. The only thing she could feel was the stinging pain ripping through her heart. Commissioner Gordon had come to her home yesterday…just yesterday…it felt like eternity.

She was expecting horrible news when she saw her husband's face on television. It was all too much of a coincidence. She didn't hear the words from his mouth, but watched his lips as the formed the syllables.

'He's been shot. I'm so sorry…he's gone. '

She blinked at the memory, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. He said things were going fine…Gordon says the hostage taker started firing at the officers, but after watching news cast after news cast, a different story came to light. The man didn't fire his weapon at the officers, but was struggling to shoot at that…that hero. The Dark Knight, as his fans called him. Adriana called him a winged rat…a menace. If he hadn't arrived…if he had just kept out of the way…

"Fire!"

BANGBANG!BANGBANG

Shots rang out, startling the woman from her thoughts. She visibly jumped, her heart racing wildly. More tears streamed down her face, mingling with the cold rain. She bit her quivering lip, shuddering as the officers fired into the air again. Her sister was there, ready to hold her. Adriana shook like a frightened child. In her hands, she held the flag that covered her husband's casket, folded into a neat triangle, along with his police badge. She ran her fingers over the rough words spelling out Gotham City Police Department.

Adriana looked up at Gordon again, and locked eyes with him. She felt a boiling rage filling her pallid frame and pursed her lips. It was all she could do to keep herself from screaming at him. If he had just let Carlos stay home —if he had just kept that wretched Bat away— she wouldn't have to sit here and stare at a wooden box now containing her husband's body.

The thought swam in her head as she watched the mourners slowly walked down the path, towards their cars. She was being held by the only thing she had in this world. Her family.

Childhood sweethearts...married only a year and four months. Now she was a widow, having to live in a place where heroes like Carlos are rare, and murderers...well, they're just worshipped.