Bruce Wayne | Batman will definitely be in this story a lot more. Like, tons. Harley Quinn maybe. I am still not a fan of hers.
Samantha pushed back a strand of hair as she made her way into her house, hugging each member of her family tightly. Her heart was racing from the excitement and nervousness she felt since the moment she stepped on the airplane. While some view Gotham as dangerous, Samantha would always view it as home – and no one could take that away from her. She spent the last two years trying to recollect her innocence and transform her mind into a place where he couldn't hurt her. Forgetting his presence, his words and her physical wounds wasn't easy, but she managed to rid most of them. Samantha knew of the cases where patients never recovered, where they were sent to the asylum in the midst of their craziness. Samantha swore she would never end up in one, posting pictures of her family everywhere she could was the reason she was so successful. She already lost her biological parents at a young age, there was no way she was going to those her parents again. Being brave was the attitude she strived for, being strong both physically and emotionally was another task she took on; all for the sake of returning to the place she use to call home.
"Here sweetheart, sit, sit. Any tea or coffee?" Jim Gordon politely escorted his daughter to the living room.
Samantha shook her head, slightly giggling at her father's hospitality, "I'm fine really. It's just, I'm back."
Sitting in the chair next to her, Jim grabbed his daughter's small hand, "Yes, you are Sammy. For good, too."
"So," Samantha smiled, "What have I missed besides a few birthdays? I'm sure the best commissioner Gotham has ever seen has been keeping the streets clean."
"More like the Batman," Jim teased, "without him we wouldn't have caught so many criminals."
"Ah, the famous dark knight is still terrorizing those petty criminals I see."
"Seems to be a pretty good gig, maybe I should become a masked vigilante," Jim winked.
Looking at her father, Samantha realized how much she missed him the most. He was so comforting to her, in every moment of terror Samantha faced; she always could count on her father to take the bad thoughts away. His blue eyes sparkled and his soft face showed traces of stress and smile lines. His grayish-brown hair was messy from running his hands through it so often. She never could comprehend how such a kind-hearted man was able to take on the task of correcting the city's crime sprees.
"So, sweetheart," Jim interrupted Samantha's thoughts, "Don't be afraid to say no, seeing as you just returned, but tomorrow Bruce Wayne is holding a charity even that is mandatory for me to attend. If you would like to go-"
"I'd love to," Samantha interrupted him, "anything to get back into a routine."
Gracefully entering the room, Barbara Gordon wiped her hands on the kitchen rag she was clutching, "Not to cut into bonding time but breakfast is almost ready. Why don't you put your stuff away in your room Sam?"
"Perfect idea," Samantha grinned, rising from the chair and picking up the suitcases she had brought with her.
Pushing the wooden door, Samantha felt a new sense of joy begin to fill her body. She inhaled the bedroom air as she took a look at the surroundings in front of her.
Everything was exactly the same as when she left.
Running, she leaped off the floor and onto the sheets of her bed, laughing at herself and her childish behavior. It was official, she was home.
Slowly rising from the bed, Samantha calmly walked around her bedroom, delicately touching all of her belongings, the walls, carpet, all of which she longed for over the past two years. This exact moment was so unimaginable to her, with all that had occurred it seemed as if she would never return to her habitat. But here she was, it was real and it was going to say that way – no matter what.
"Breakfast!"
Turning towards the door, Samantha smiled, having a nostalgic moment from the many times her mother use to call for the household to come to the table. She made a mental note to unpack later, right now she was going to enjoy her family time.
Samantha's first day back went all too quickly; the Gordon's began to reminisce and tell stories over the years missed together. They talked about recent activities, movies, school, California, work and everything in-between – except for one topic. They spent all day inside together, no complaints were made and no phone calls interrupted their deep conversations. Everything was undeniably perfect.
"Well," Samantha stretched her arms up, "I think it's time for me to go to bed. I have to be well rested for the playboy's charity event tomorrow."
"Now, now, Samantha, Bruce Wayne has done quite a lot for Gotham," Jim said as he ruffled Samantha' hair.
"He's cute too," Barbara chimed in, "You should go on a date with him."
Jim quickly shot his wife a dirty look, "I don't think so. Samantha isn't allowed to date until after she's married."
"Funny, dad," Samantha rolled her eyes, "how do you know that you're not a grandfather? I mean, I have been gone for two years."
Jim stood up, embracing Samantha into a goodnight hug, "Well in that case, I'll just have to lock you up in your room, blaring music from Disney singers."
"No, No, No!" Samantha laughed as she and her father let go.
Barbara kissed her daughter on her head, "Goodnight love. Welcome home."
Smiling at both her parents, Samantha turned around and headed towards her room, quickly getting ready and landing into her comfortable bed. The warmth of the covers embraced her and her eye responded by closing. Her breathing became steady and sooner than she excepted, she was into a deep slumber.
"No!" Samantha screamed as she shot up from her bed. Small beads of sweat ran down her forehead as she felt her heartbeat rapidly racing. Her breathing was irregular and the darkness that surrounded her only made her more on edge. Another nightmare had taken over her night. No sooner had she yelled out, her father raced in.
"What is it sweetheart," He asked as he pushed her brunette locks out of her face and sat next to her.
"Just a bad dream, nothing to worry about."
"Hardly sounds like just a bad dream. Was it the one about your parents again?"
Samantha slowly shook her head, "It wasn't anything in particular. It was just me, standing on the roof of a tall building, like I was about to jump. It just, it felt so real."
Jim kissed his daughter's forehead, "It's just all the excitement of the move that's got your subconscious racing. You're safe my dear, just remember that. Now, try and get some rest."
Nodding her head, Samantha adjusted herself in her bed, trying to recover from the previous scene. Part of her was too afraid to shut her eyes, another part of her felt guilty for lying to her father about the nightmare. She knew what really scared her would have frighten him, or worse, plant the idea in his mind that Samantha needed to go back to her therapist. Inhaling a deep breath, Samantha nestled in her bed as she looked forward to tomorrows events with the playboy himself.