Chapter 4: A new home

Greg stood in the board room of Heffley tower. Everything that has been going on since before the moment he would confront his family, who thought he was dead. He had listened when Dr. Crane had refused to speak to the DA and when he found out Crane was working with Falcone. His thoughts drifted. He began to think about the League of Assassins. He began to think about Talia. He then began to think about Holly. The last time he saw her was over seven years ago. He began to feel guilty for leaving without telling anyone. He remembered the moment when he met Ra's Al Ghul.

Flashback

Greg wondered through a trail in the deep mountains outside Gotham. He tripped in a root and fell hitting his arm hard. He winced at the pain. It was searing. It would drive someone of his age to scream. Yet he kept on like it didn't happen. Meanwhile, someone deep in the brush watched in curiosity. It was a man who looked to be in his 50's. He decided to make himself known.

"Well," He began as he jumped in front of Greg, who jumped back."Looks like you could stand such searing pain for a thirteen-year-old."

"How do you know that? Who are you," Greg asked, fear evident in his face.

"My name is Ra's Al Ghul," the man said.

"What do you want," Greg asked.

"I have come to Gotham to visit these mountains, dear boy," Ra's began. "I am the head of the League of Assassins. I watched you fall. The pain you experienced could not be tolerated by someone your age. Yet, you managed to suppress a scream."

"Well," Greg started. "I've become tolerable of pain over the years."

"Yet, you refuse to fight, am I correct," Ra's asked.

"I don't know how to fight, how can I defend myself?"

"I can help you."

"How?"

"Let me train you. I can give moves that combine over 200 forms of martial arts. But you'll have to come with me to the Philippines, where our training facility is."

Greg contemplated for a moment. "I'm in."

Greg regrets that decision, not because he got hardcore training, but because he never told anyone. He can only imagine what they had gone through. He didn't really want to. Then he remembered his shared kiss with Talia. Talia Al Ghul, of all women, kissed him. He didn't know why, but he knew she had crush on him since he showed up. He knew about it from Ra's. She didn't, however, know that he knew. His thoughts were interrupted by yelling outside the room. He just kept looking outside the window.

Outside the board room:

"Rodrick Heffley, you better have damn good reason for dragging us down here," a very upset Susan Heffley screamed.

"Mom," Rodrick said. "Will you calm down this is important. All you have to do is walk through that door."

Susan didn't hesitate. She, forcefully, pushed the doors open. What she saw on the other side was a figure in the window.

"Excuse me," She said. "Who are you?"

Greg didn't say a word. He hesitantly just turned around. He was then face to face with his mother, whom he hasn't seen in over seven years. He saw the look on her face. The look that said 'Oh my god, you're alive'. He saw the shock and sadness and happiness in her eyes. In turn she saw the sadness and guilt and happiness in his.

"Hello, Mother," he said, breaking the silence.

The sound of his matured voice was all it took for her. She ran to him, embracing him. He had grown over the years. He was taller than her. He embraced her nonetheless. He felt his shirt become wet. He heard whimpering muffled by his body. He knew right away that she was crying against him. He let her. He knew she needed this. Then the company Business manager Frank Reynolds comes in.

"Greg," he says in mere shock. Susan separates herself from her son. "You're supposed to be dead," he said, earning a glare from his boss.

"Sorry to disappoint," Greg mocked.

The next person to walk in was Frank Heffley. Once he stepped in he stopped. His were showing pure shock. He saw before him his long lost missing son Greg. A single tear began to work its way down his face. It takes a lot to make him cry, but to see his son who has been missing for so long he just broke right there. He ran to his son and hugged him tightly. He didn't want to let go.

"Hey dad," Greg said.

Frank let go of his son. He looked into his eyes.

"It's been a long time, son," he said.

"Yeah it has," Greg said.

Then, there was the sound of arguing outside the room.

"Bryce, why don't you leave me alone," the voice of Holly Hills came.

"Come on, Holly," Bryce said. "We're perfect together. I'll soon be taking this company. Don't you see it."

"That doesn't mean I'll just get tog….," her voice faded as she entered the board room. She and Bryce both looked on in shock. There before was Greg.

"Hey," Greg casually said.

"Hey," Holly said.

"You're supposed to be dead," Bryce spoke up.

"Thanks for the news flash, Anderson," Greg retorted.

They both glared at each other. Bryce began to grit his teeth.

"Heffley," Bryce Growled

"Anderson," Greg retorted,

"You're not taking my spot on the board."

"Like hell I'm not, or like hell if you're even getting one."

Bryce raised his fist and swung, but Greg, to everyone's surprise, caught his fist. He swatted it away. Before Bryce could even move, Greg grabbed and lifted him up by his shirt. Greg then threw him into one of the walls. Before Bryce hit the ground, Greg grabbed him by his throat and slammed back into the wall. Bryce gasped for air.

"If you think I'm gonna allow my family to let an imbecile like you be a part of their business, you gotta another thing coming," Greg growled, before he let go of Bryce.

Greg turned back to his family, more relaxed and a little regretful. "Sorry, for my outburst," Greg said. "I just felt threatened by him." "Nonsense, Greg," Frank finally spoke up. "I think you should be given an award for what you just did. He's been eyeing your spot for long time." Greg looked at him quizzically. "Your parents have a spot opened up in case you ever returned," Frank explained. "Once you were declared dead they were still reluctant to fill it." Greg began to understand.

"Well," Greg started. "Keep it open, for now."

"What?! Why," Susan said.

"I'm not looking for a job on the board quite yet," Greg said.

"Well, where are you looking," Frank said.

"Applied Sciences caught my eye," Greg said.

"Fox's department," Frank said. "Well, I'll let him know you're coming. Welcome home Greg."

"One problem," Frank spoke up. "Where are you staying, Greg?"

"You guys wouldn't happen to have a place for me to stay," Greg asked sheeply.

"There is that house just outside of town," Susan said. "We have one our butlers watch over it. It's in our name, but we don't live there. You're welcome there, Greg."

"Sure, I'll take it, but what am I gonna do about paying for it," Greg asked.

"I'll drop a Two billion in a bank account for you," Freank said. "It's a pretty big house."

"How big," Greg asked.

"It's a mansion," Frank said.

"Oh," Greg said.

A few weeks later, Greg got settled in to his new home. But one night while doing some research, he heard a chirping noise. He followed the noise and found a bat in the dining hall. "Northern Bats sir," Alfred J. Pennyworth came in. "They nest somewhere in the grounds." Greg went down to further investigate. He came across a well. He roped down it. Then he saw a little cave. He made his way to an even larger cave. He pulled out a light, an out of nowhere began to surround him. At first he ducked, but then let them surround him. In his mind, he was gonna take back Gotham from the criminals and the corrupt as a symbol.