Special thanks to GirlWhoTookNightlock for following Family Matters!
And another special thanks to Jayce-Grayford for reviewing Family Matters!
Jayce-Grayford: I'M SORRY I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR IT AND PLEASE DON'T BE UPSET; but I'm glad you like the plot. This update is just for you, because I was going to just wait till Tuesday but then you reviewed and I was just like "Well damn." Anyways, here you go~
XXX
The commissioner rubbed his eyes tiredly, then looked at Gordon- or more precisely, the sleeping child he held in his arms.
"Gordon," he began, "Do you realize who you are holding? The only heir to the DiCario's fortune. The rest of the DiCarios have fled the country, gone with the wind and leaving their estates and treasures to the wolves. Over half the known mob families have disappeared; and you are coddling something that belongs to one of the most dangerous."
"Someone," Gordon correct, "This is a person I am holding; a very, very tiny person, sir."
"What are we supposed to do with her?"
"Well I checked, and her only legal guardian disappeared with her family. The only option is to… leave her to the courts." Gordon looked down, scowling at the floor; the court would eat her alive. She was in danger, not just typical Gotham danger but also with her family ties. Gordon looked up suddenly, "Can we keep her at the station?"
"She is not a pet, Gordon."
"No- I mean just until we get everything else sorted; we have that back room, the one we use to break all the bad news and such that she could stay in. Just- just for a few days, until I can figure something out; it isn't like she will be unsupervised, there will be people here twenty four seven."
The commissioner leaned back and stared at Scarlet, his brow furrowed, "Well…."
"I have an idea of where we can send her," Gordon said, continuing, "As in permanently, but I need a few days to contact the person."
"Very well; she can stay for a little while."
XXX
Jonathan sat restrained in the hospital bed; his arms fasten tightly to his side, an emotionless look on his face as he stared at the far wall, and a bitted feeling of defeat settling against his chest.
Where was Annabeth- where was Scarlet? Did they get out in time? Did Annabeth see the news; did she get her and their child out Gotham? He hoped she did; they were all he had left. The Batman; Jonathan pressed his lips tightly together, he hadn't counted on him succeeding- didn't count on failing. And ever since he was sprayed with toxin, he hadn't heard Scarecrow. He spent the first while calling for his counterpart, but received no answer.
It, well, slightly scared him; he was used to a running commentary in his mind, but it was silent, all around him it was silent.
The door to his room opened and a police officer entered- Gordon- and sat down. Jonathan fumed silently; the man had been in here before, trying to get him to talk, but Jonathan remained silent, keeping a nearly bored look on his face when the man greeted him.
"Crane," Gordon sighed, his voice getting frustrated, "There are people suffering- we need to know of a way to get rid of your toxin."
"You already have the antidote," Jonathan drawled, "The Batman gave it to you, remember?"
"Yes but it isn't getting mass produced enough," Gordon said, "We need a faster way, now!"
"And why would I help you?"
"I can give you two minutes with your daughter." Now that, that, caught Jonathan's attention; he looked over to Gordon skeptically, "Nice try, officer, but I know a bluff when I see it."
Gordon sighed impatiently and stood, walking over to the door and opening it to indeed reveal another officer, holding the hand of Scarlet. When her blue eyes landed on her father she let loose a small whimper and darted forward before anyone could stop her, quickly and miraculously making it somehow on the bed as she clutched the front of Jonathan's shirt.
He strained against the bonds, just barely able to wrap his arms around her as she held her tight, "Scarlet; Shh, it's okay darling, don't cry." Gordon watched him carefully, as if thinking it was an act, but Jonathan's relief, his joy, was real.
"Daddy," she whimpered, tears filling in her eyes, "Daddy, I'm scared."
"No, no darling," he whispered, closing his eyes, "Don't be; Daddy's here, I'll take care of you. Are you okay?"
She nodded and sniffled, "Where's Mommy?" Jonathan's eyes darkened as he looked to Gordon, wondering the same thing; Gordon shifted slightly, "With the other officers… at the station." The message was clear to Jonathan; she had been arrested.
His eyes widened suddenly; the rest of the DiCarios were gone, there was no one else to take her. He looked to Gordon with a new, terrified urgency and the officer coughed, "Stanley, why don't you take Scarlet to the cafeteria while I talk to Crane alone."
"I want Daddy." Scarlet cried, holding closer to her father when the second officer came close.
"Don't worry, Scarlet," Gordon smoothed, "You will see your father when you get back from the cafeteria."
"Go on, sweetie," Jonathan urged reluctantly, "I'll be right here." Scarlet hesitated, then nodded, leaning forward and kissing Jonathan's forehead, "Stay here, Daddy."
"I will Darling," Jonathan smiled; she let the other officer walk her out and when they were gone, Gordon talked to Jonathan immediately, "The antidote, Crane."
XXX
"Thank you," Gordon said appreciably, Jonathan having just given him a temporary antidote, "You've helped a lot of people, Crane."
"I couldn't possibly give a damn about them," Jonathan hissed, "I want to know what will happen to Scarlet."
"She'll be handed to the courts," Gordon said sadly, "there is nowhere else for her; she has to."
"You can't put her there!" Jonathan exclaimed.
"Well where else-"Gordon began, but stopped when the door opened again and Scarlet came in; she walked over to the bed and crawled up next to her father. She closed her eyes and nestled into his chest yawning, "Daddy; bed time?"
"Yes, darling," Jonathan whispered, "Just go to sleep, okay?"
"Okay, daddy. I love you."
"I love you too, Scarlet." They all sat in the room quietly, waiting for her to fall asleep.
"You made these mistakes, Crane; now you have to pay the price." Gordon finally whispered, picking up Scarlet. He turned to Crane and frowned, "You've done a lot of bad things, you and your wife. But… as one father to another, I am sorry; but you will never see Scarlet again."
XXX
Batman tapped on the steel bat that hung in the middle of the spot light, "Nice."
"I couldn't find any mob bosses," Gordon sighed.
"Well, sergeant-"
"Oh no, its lieutenant now." Gordon chuckled without humor, "You've really done something; bad cops running scared, hope on the streets… A lot of big shots, mobs, have disappeared, gone without a trace; they fled…. A lot of good has happened."
"But?"
"The Narrow is lost," Gordon sighed, "and we still haven't gotten half the inmates from Arkham."
"We will; we will bring Gotham back."
"What about escalation?"
"Escalation?"
"We carry automatics they carry semi-automatics," Gordon shrugged, "we wear Kevlar, they buy armor piercing rounds. And-"Gordon moved a little closer to Batman "-you're wearing a mask, and jumping off roof tops. Take this guy-
"Armed robbery, double homicide, has a taste for the theatrical, like you. Leaves a calling card," Gordon handed Batman the bag with the playing card in it, revealing the Joker.
"I'll look into it." The Batman turned away, but Gordon stopped him,"Actually, Batman, there is one more thing."
"Jonathan Crane had a wife, Annabeth Crane," Gordon paced slightly, "She was the next don in line for the DiCarios family, a big Irish mob; we got her. But we also got someone else; Scarlet Crane. Daughter of Jonathan and Annabeth; Batman, she's two years old, and a few months.
"She… she can't go into the court system, someone will kill her within the week due to not if her father but the DiCarios blood she has in her veins. We need to get her somewhere safe."
"What do you want me to do, Lieutenant?" Batman asked his back to the Gordon.
"Something," Gordon sighed, "We have her here, but can't keep her forever. You are bound to have the dirt on everyone in Gotham; can you tell me who would be best to take her?"
"If anyone comes to mind," Batman grumbled, "I will send them by."
XXX
It was the two days after the talk with Batman, and Scarlet was wandering around the station. No one was stopping her; she was small enough to where people simply didn't notice her. She had a walky-talky clipped to her belt, in case Gordon needed to check in, and she knew where she could go and where she couldn't.
She turned a corner quickly, running to go ask Gordon when lunch was, when she ran smack into someone's legs.
"Whoa," the man said, leaning down and catching her, "Are you okay, little one?" The man didn't look like a police officer; dressed in a grey suit and had a soft looking demeanor about him, he smiled down at Scarlet. Another man stood behind him is a black suit, much older, and a kind smile on his face as well.
"I'm okay," Scarlet whispered, back up and looking down, "Sorry."
"Scarlet," Gordon had found her, "Are you okay? How can I help you gentlemen today?"
"Ah," the younger man straightened and smiled sticking out a hand, "I'm Bruce Wayne; I was sent here by, an uh, mutual friend, concerning adopting a little one?"
"Ah," Gordon's face alit with understanding and he looked down at Scarlet, "Err- Scarlet, Officer Janet has lunch ready; I'll meet you there, okay?"
"Okay," Scarlet hurried off, happy for lunch, and Gordon looked to Bruce, "You're here about Scarlet."
"Yes," Bruce nodded, "Bat contacted me; said you needed someone to watch her, someone to raise her and keep her safe. I can do that."
"Yes but," Gordon looked around and then stepped a little closer to Bruce, "You need to understand, Mr. Wayne, Scarlet is very…. Delicate, young, and we have yet to really explain to her about her parents."
"Will they ever see her again?" Bruce asked.
"I hope not; I've just told them that she would be sent to the courts."
"Perhaps it would be best if Scarlet just… disappeared. We can place her in protective custody, give her a new identity, and hide her in plain sight."
"…Perhaps… that would be for the best."
XXX
Bruce looked over at Scarlet, worry on his face. They had gotten her, officially, and now she was… quiet. She had been quiet ever since Gordon explained she was leaving her parents, that they did some bad things and had to be put in a very, very long time out.
They took away her identity, her new name was Ester Astrid Wayne; story that they brainstormed was that her parents died in the Narrow attack, and that Wayne adopted her out of kindness and charity. He looked at her again; she stared at her shoes, her eyes empty and lips in a frown.
"Scarlet," Bruce said gently, leaning over, "It's going to be okay."
"Daddy said that," she whispered, looking up with tearful eyes, "But it is not!" She started to cry, and Bruce panicked, picking her up, "Shh, it's alright little one, please don't cry; I'm sorry, but we have to make the best of this."
"I miss Daddy," she cried, "Mommy!"
"Oh hush now, sweetie," Alfred said softly, walking in and carrying a tray with two mugs on it, "Crying won't do you any good, now will it? No, now dry up your tears and drink your hot coco, sweetie." Scarlet sniffled and took the small cup with coco, leaning against Bruce's arm, "Thanks Mister Wayne."
"Call me Bruce," He laughed, "or Wayne, whatever you feel comfortable with." She hummed but didn't talk, only let a silence envelope the room. Eventually, she fell asleep, her coco gone and her mind in a blissful, momentary oblivion.
"What were you thinking, Mr. Wayne, when you decided that you were going to adopt the child of a psychopath that nearly killed you and attempted to destroy Gotham?" Alfred asked softly, taking the cups, "I mean, she is precious, but still."
"She is innocent, Alfred," Bruce hummed, picking her up, "She is good; and if she had stayed with Crane, she would have been corrupted. I can raise her right, teach her justice and keep her on the right track; she will be safe with me."
"If you say so, sir."
XXX
This is all thanks to Jayce-Grayford, because after reading his review I felt really bad for leaving it the way I did.
So Bruce now has custody of Scarlet- or Ester now, if you please. The way I chose her name was that Ester was the first name voted for her, and then Astrid for her middle name because that was the second most popular name chosen.
So, what now? Will Jonathan or Annabeth ever see Scarlet again? Will Bruce care for Scarlet correctly or will he flunk parenting? Will Scarlet forget about her actual parents, or will she grow up to want to take revenge for them? Find out Tuesday!
I love you all!
-Sketch1997