Hello! :) I am very into writing this story again. So I wrote another chapter! I was up till 4 am last night writing the first. I usually like to write comedies, but currently this story isn't requiring that. Once again, this is a sequel to my other batman story that you can find on my profile. I am posting it separately, AND on my old story. The old story I wrote when I was 16 or so around the time that the dark night came out, Now 5 years later, I am writing it again to be based about Bane. I hope to began more romance soon. The old story starts off with a good plot, but my writing wasn't too awesome, not horrible though. If you read past the first few chapters you can tell I finally got into the story fully and my writing matured. Ignore my author notes...I shook my head when I read them 5 years later.

PLEASE review. Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy the story!

Those words dug a stake right through my heart. Though I had never been to the Wayne Manor, it was the name, and the man that pushed that stake deeper and deeper. I was silent while the words filtered through my brain. Should I go for my job? There had been many parties thrown at his mansion over the years, but he never attended. Batman was still dead. Nobody at the scene had survived to tell of his brief return. But it seemed that Bruce has died as well. Though we all knew he lived, rumors went around. I often tried to ignore them.

"I…" I began. "I will let you know." And I hung up on my father.

I had sent many reporters to the different events at the Wayne Manor, always avoiding them myself. My father had been invited for a party held for law enforcement. The crime section was the one that would cover the event. That was mine specialty section. Public relations for the police must have been throwing it for the media. It would make for a good story, and that was my job. I picked up the phone and dialed my father number.

"I'll go," I told him after he had answered the phone. "He never shows up to the parties anyways."

The night was warm with a nice breeze. I quickly jogged to my car in the under ground parking lot, avoiding the stares of a few men wandering around the pillars. Craving to put the top down of my red convertible 66' Ford Mustang, I waited until I was clear of the underground. Once outside, I felt the breeze brush over my face as the top retracted. I propped my sun glassed up over my eyes and sped off down the road to my house.

I had moved from my duplex, away from the partying teenagers. I had found a nice three-bedroom house on the edge of Gotham City in a quiet neighbourhood. After my promotion to editor, I could finally afford to. Half way back to my house I drove past a farmers market. I felt my stomach rumble. Maybe some nice vegetables would be good for dinner. I slowed down and turned into the parking lot. I climbed out of my car and headed in the quaint wooden building. As I was feeling some melons, I looked across the counter. There was an old man in a nice black coat looking at apples.

"Alfred?" I gasped.

The old man looked up from the apple in his hand. He looked older and tired. A smile formed on his face as he remembered me. "Miss Hilroy! How good it is to see you!" He put down the apple in his hand and hugged me as I came around the counter towards him. "It has been too long!"

I broke away from the hug. "Yes…yes it has." I smiled weakly.

His eyes looked sad as he spoke. "Yes Miss Hilroy…a very long 8 years." He had a frown on his aged face. "Master Wayne...he…"

I interrupted him. "I don't need you to apologize for him Alfred. And neither does he. He is a big boy, and should be able to do that himself" I kissed his cheek. "I hear there is a party tonight for the police."

Alfred nodded somberly. "Yes, your father should be there."

I brushed my brown hair off my shoulder. "Yes, I heard about it from him. I may be covering the event for the paper." I saw Alfred's eyes fill with curiosity. "I am the editor now. I also take special care for the Crime section."

"I heard about Mr. Hunter's death." He frowned.

"Yes…he didn't make it. Past away on the scene." I cleared my throat. "Well I should be going, just wanted to pick up something quickly for dinner on my way home."

I gave him another hug before I headed over to the vegetable section, leaving him with his apples.

….

I grabbed my cane as I heard Alfred come into the east wing of the Manor. I hoisted myself up from the couch and limped across the large room. "Alfred?" I called. I wrapped my robe around me and continued out of the room. "Alfred?"

"Yes Master Wayne?" He asked, coming around the corner.

"When are the guests arriving?"

"In an hour sir," he informed me. "The other side of the manor is busy with final preparation."

I nodded and turned around to go back in the room. I paused and looked back at him. "What's for dinner?"

"Salmon sir," he said. "One of the maids will bring it to you."

I limped back through the doorway. "Thank you Alfred."

"Master Wayne," Alfred called after me, "I saw Miss Hilroy at the Farmer's market on Horseshoe Road today." He waited for my reaction. I kept my back to him and didn't answer. "She maybe he here tonight."

I reached for the door and shut it behind me leaving Alfred outside the room.

…..

I pulled up to the Manor gates. They were open and a line of cars filled the long road leading towards the house. I pressed the gas and drove through the gates and up the hill. At the top a valet was waiting to take my car. He opened my door and politely helped me out. I handed him my keys with uncertainty.

"Don't worry Miss, Your car is safe with me." The young man assured me.

I looked at him skeptically and nodded. I walked up onto the path as he drove away. While I walked up to the garden, I fixed my royal blue evening gown. The train of my dress was probably getting dirty as it followed me. I checked my long brown hair to make sure no hairs were out of place before I entered the party.

…

I could hear the music coming from the garden on the other side of the manor. Cars were pulling up continuously. I had seen her car being driven by the valet to the parking area.

It had been 8 years since I had last spoken to her. Leaving her on that rooftop had been a mistake. But it had been my only choice. I needed her to learn what the consequences were of her actions. Batman could have gone back for Ryan. The police were to close, and I couldn't get caught. What Morgan hadn't known was what had happened during the explosion at the Iceberg Nightclub. I had been hit with large pieces of debris. After managing to get the largest piece off my leg, I grabbed her and got to the nearest rooftop. My body wouldn't have made it back there to save Ryan and get away in time.

Since then I had never been back in the Batman suit. Batman really had died. And Bruce Wayne wasn't much better. I usually spent my days in my manor. I hadn't had any interest in managing Wayne Enterprises and so I made Mr. Fox in charge. Alfred would beg me to leave the manor, but his attempts had always failed.

I limped out onto the balcony, hiding in the shadows. I peered down on the garden. I spotted Commissioner Gordan. He was worse for wear. His hair more gray and his face thinner. His face lit up suddenly as a woman in a dark blue dress approached him. They hugged each other and she kissed him on the cheek. Her brown hair fell all the way down her back as she laughed at what Gordan was saying. I watched as Morgan spoke with her father. She turned to take an appetizer from the waiter's tray and he walked past. Her big brown eyes quickly looked around the garden. I made my way off the balcony back inside.

…..

I glanced up at the old manor. I had seen a figure in the darkness from the corner of my eye. "Excuse me Daddy," I told him. "I will be back." He nodded and headed to the bar.

I gracefully went up the manor steps into the grand hall that opened up to the garden. I smiled at a few guests as they passed. A few people saw me and began whispering to each other. I occasionally still got people asking me about Bruce Wayne, but after multiple public statements about not having spoken to him in several years, the subject died down.

I had never been in the manor before. Glancing around the room, I slipped through a door and into another. Down the hall I spotted the kitchen. The staff was running around with food and drinks. One maid was picking up a silver tray with one serving of dinner on it. She shuffled past me in the hall as I hid behind a pillar. I looked around to watch her turn to go up the stairs. I crept down the hall after her, quietly climbing the stairs. She disappeared into a room at the top of the stairs. I cross the foyer and hid behind another helpful pillar. She emerged from the room with out the tray. Once she was down the stairs I crept through the door. It opened up to another room.

…

The door opened again. "I said that was all Rita," I said as I limped towards my dinner. After getting no response I looked up to shoo her out of the room.

"Bruce…" she said as she stood there, taking in my appearance.

I steadied my balance with my cane after the shock hit me.