I'm so sorry for the terribly long delay. I encountered writer's block and midterms at the same time, and those two things did not go well together. I would like to thank kindleflame5 for helping me out of the slump. You've been truly wonderful. Truly. Thank you.

My dear, dear readers, I hope you're still with me on this one. We've got quite a journey ahead of us, if you're willing to stick it out with me.

(I listened to Michael Giacchino's Labor of Love from the Star Trek soundtrack the entire time I was writing this chapter, so if you're wanting to delve into my mindset a little more in this chapter, by all means, please do.)

Read & Review! And enjoy!

Rain poured down the morning of the funeral, and Rachel almost laughed as she stood at the bedroom window and watched the raindrops slide down the window pane. How perfectly typical it was to rain the day of a funeral. Her hair fell around her shoulders, and a tight, knee-length black dress adorned her body. She stood in three-inch black heels, and her back was straight. Today would be a difficult day to face, but she would make it through. First, there would be a city-wide memorial service at the convention center. Thousands were expected to attend, and Rachel was expected to speak. Then they would move to the cemetery where there would be a short, private, graveside service. Harvey's mother was then hosting a dinner at her home. The only even Rachel looked forward to would be the one in which she and Bruce crawled back into bed at the end of the day and she could put it all behind her.

Warm arms encircled her waist, and she smiled and leaned back into Bruce's firm chest. His lips pressed to her neck.

"You smell lovely," Bruce whispered.

"Thank you," She said.

"Are you ready for today?"

"No," She breathed out. "Maybe we should just stay in bed. That would be much more fun."

"Yes, it would be," He smiled. "I like the way you think."

"But we can't," She said firmly.

"No, we can't," Bruce agreed. His hands spread out over her flat abdomen. "Which is unfortunate, because I would much rather spend the day here, talking about our baby."

Rachel turned in his arms, her hands reaching for his jaw line. "I'm sorry, Bruce. You haven't been able to celebrate at all. All of the excitement has been sucked out, hasn't it?"

"No, we'll make up for it. Tomorrow we will spend our Sunday celebrating, okay?"

"That sounds wonderful," Rachel smiled. "We're going to need to do something happy tomorrow. And I am so ready to be excited about this baby."

"So am I," Bruce grinned. "Rachel, we're having a baby."

"Yes, we are," Rachel nodded, pressing her lips against his.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Bruce said, and then pressed his lips to Rachel's once more.

"The limo has arrived, Master Wayne," Alfred informed them.

"Thank you, Alfred."

The door closed once more, and Bruce turned toward the closet, pulling out one of Rachel's coats. Alfred had retrieved a lot of her things and brought them back to the penthouse since she was living there for the time being. He helped her into her coat.

"Here we go," Rachel breathed out.

"I'll be by your side all day long. Don't worry about what anyone thinks about it either. Just get through the day, alright?"

She nodded. Bruce reached for her hand, and they made their way out of the penthouse and building. Alfred was with them all the way to the car, holding an umbrella for them. As soon as Bruce and Rachel stepped outside, they were assaulted by shouts and camera flashes. Both of them kept their heads lowered and walked briskly toward the car. As soon as the door was shut, Rachel sighed in relief.

"Well, we survived that one," She said.

"It's going to be a madhouse at the convention center," Bruce warned her. "Stick close to me."

"I will," Rachel agreed.

"You look pale. Are you alright?" Bruce asked, his hand resting on her knee.

She nodded. "Just nervous."

People lined the streets starting three blocks back from the convention center. Bruce and Rachel's limo fell in line behind the others, all carrying Harvey's family, friends, and important city officials to the front entrance. Rachel tapped her foot anxiously, looking out at the throngs of people in black and with umbrellas suspended over their heads. She felt nausea rising up within her and took a deep breath.

"Oh…now is not the time for morning sickness…" She complained.

"Just breathe," Bruce instructed, his hand going to her back.

They were the next car in the line-up now, and Rachel began to button her raincoat once more. Bruce kissed her on the forehead as the car pulled to a stop, and then the door was opening and they were being ushered out. Despite all of the people in every direction, there was an eerie quiet over the city. Only the sound of rain, water rushing through storm drains, and the constant click of cameras filled their ears. Bruce confidently took Rachel's hand and helped her out of the limo, all the while looking every direction for any sign of danger. As soon as Rachel was out of the car, they rushed inside. Light piano music was playing over the loud speakers, and hushed whispers filled the entire lobby. Sympathetic and sad eyes turned to Rachel from every direction as Bruce helped her out of her coat and draped it over his arm. They moved as one through the people toward the auditorium. Most of the seats were filled, with seats for Harvey's family, including Rachel, reserved in the front. She reached for Bruce's hand, and after receiving an encouraging squeeze, moved toward the front where a massive picture of Harvey was propped up beside his closed casket. Flowers and cards encompassed the whole area, and Rachel forced every muscle in her body to keep moving toward it.

His eyes stared at her in the picture, following her the entire way down the aisle. His smile haunted her. He had loved her and hurt her so much at the same time. He had been such two completely different men wrapped up in one. He left her at a loss to understand him, even from his grave.

"Oh, Rachel, darling," Harvey's mother, Alice, stepped in front of her and the two women embraced. "He loved you so much."

Rachel could only nod. Alice held Rachel's face in a motherly way.

"Are you doing alright?"

"I'm managing," Rachel told her. "How about you?"

"I just…I don't understand. He was my son…my wonderful, darling, daring son. And now he's gone. Murdered…and I don't understand."

Rachel looked down. "He loved you very much, Mrs. Dent. He valued you and adored you more than you will ever know. He told me so many times."

Alice smiled. "You were good for him. I'm glad he had you, Rachel. You would have made a wonderful wife, and I would have been proud to call you my daughter."

Rachel could not help the tears that formed from the words. "Thank you."

Alice moved on to another friend, and Rachel turned to Bruce as they took their seats.

"She was always so wonderful to me," Rachel told him. "I'm sorry that she's going to be alone now. Harvey was all she had. And I don't think she'll ever forgive me when she finds out that I cheated on her son."

"Hey, look at me," Bruce said softly. "No matter what anyone says, it doesn't matter. They'll never have the whole story, so who are they to judge?"

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Bruce."

Gordon walked toward them, and Bruce stood to shake his hand. Rachel moved to get up, but Gordon reached out to stop her.

"Please, Miss Dawes, stay seated. I wanted to express my condolences once more."

"Thank you," She smiled softly. "You're work on Harvey's case is much appreciated."

"We will catch the Joker, Miss Dawes. Whatever it takes, whoever it takes, we will get him."

"I'm sure that you will," Rachel nodded. "I appreciate the effort. Harvey would appreciate it as well."

"He deserves no less than our best," Gordon assured her, reaching for Rachel's hands. "He was an outstanding man and citizen of Gotham City."

She looked down with a nod and Gordon moved on to Alice Dent with his condolences. Bruce sat down again, running his hand across her shoulders and leaving his arm draped across the chair back behind her. People continued to mill about and find their seats, and many of Rachel's friends found her with words of sorrow and sympathy. Just as Rachel was certain she couldn't take anymore, the lights dimmed and the service began. The mayor, Anthony Garcia, opened the service with kind words about the work Harvey had done for the city. Then a video played that had been put together by Alice. It contained pictures of Harvey from birth until the last picture taken of him before his death. It was a picture of him and Rachel showing off her engagement ring. Rachel looked down at the ring still adorning her finger and began twisting it nervously around her finger as Harvey's close friend from college, Andrew, stood at the podium for a speech.

"I first met Harvey Dent sophomore year when his dorm room was across the hall from mine at Harvard. He was a pig-headed, stubborn, self-righteous man, and I hated his guts," Soft, awkward laughter rang through the building. "One night I was in my room, the door open to the hallway, and I could hear Harvey talking loudly from across the hall. I crept over to listen and heard him practicing what I assumed was a speech. The way he talked, presented his facts, and uncovered the truth, I knew he was destined to be a lawman and a leader. I gained a lot of respect for him, even though the speech he was practicing was about how perfect he would be as a district attorney."

Once again, everyone laughed.

"Harvey accomplished a lot of good things in his terribly short life. But until his death, he was convinced that the best thing he had ever done was fall in love… I'll never forget the night he met Rachel Dawes. He came to see me, and I knew by the grin on his face that something incredible had happened. He began to describe to me this beautiful, brunette woman who was spirited and knew exactly what she wanted. She spoke her mind, and Harvey thought that was amazing. They'd clicked, almost immediately, and he was going to take her out again. And again…and again, until one day he decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. So we went out together to buy the ring, and he proposed. I can't describe to you his elation when she said yes. I had to pry him off the moon."

Laughter again, and then Andrew turned his eyes to her. "Rachel, you made Harvey the happiest he had been in his entire life, and I can't thank you enough for that. I can't thank you enough for loving him, even though at times he could be the hardest person in this world to love. You were a shining light for him in this city, and I know that he spent his last days on this earth loving you, and that he was happy. So I extend to you, Rachel, to Alice Dent, and to all of Harvey's family and friends, my deepest condolences. There will never be another man like Harvey Dent, and we were blessed to know him."

Applause echoed through the room as Andrew exited the stage, and walked down to the coffin. He ran a hand over it, tapped it three times, whispered something, and then hugged Alice. He moved to Rachel next, hugging her.

"I'm so sorry, Rachel. I'm here for you, if you need to talk about him or anything," Andrew told her when he hugged her.

"Thank you," Rachel forced a smiled. "You were an amazing friend to him."

Andrew moved on, and Mayor Garcia moved back to the platform. "I know this has been a horrific and terrifying time for this city, so I asked Rachel Dawes if she would mind sharing a few words with us about who Harvey was and what he wanted for this city. Please welcome to the stage, Miss Rachel Dawes."

Rachel took her folded up speech out of her purse and stood on shaky feet, Bruce squeezing her hand, before she made her way up to the stage. There was a strange echo in her ears, and she felt the weight of the world come down on her shoulders. She took a breath, looking down at the speech she had prepared.

"Thank you, Andrew, for those words about Harvey. He appreciated you very much." She paused, trying to collect her wits. "Harvey's death has been a major shock, and one that I didn't see coming. I wish I could put into words exactly what I'm feeling about losing him, but I can't. I just know that he's gone, and I can't think about much beyond that at the moment."

She looked down at Bruce, whose gaze was intent upon her. "Harvey loved this city, but he believed that it could be better. He woke up each day with that at the forefront of his mind. Harvey dreamed of a Gotham where each of you could wake up every day without fear. He dreamed of a government and police force without corruption. He envisioned a city free of villains, mobs, and evil intent. When he went to work, he wasn't fighting for a higher paycheck, fame, or appreciation. He was fighting for a better Gotham."

She paused, closing her eyes momentarily. She could see his smile, the one he wore each time another mob boss was put behind bars, or corrupt official brought down to the ground. She could hear the passion in his voice as he argued for truth and battled for justice. She could see the man she had fallen in love with so long ago now, usually so hidden behind pain and bad memories, that she could barely make-out what was real and what was a dream. But she saw him, the wonderful, passionate, caring Harvey Dent that had loved her, and her heart dared to miss his presence. Tears began to make their way down her face and when she spoke again, her voice shook with the effort.

"I could go on about Harvey, but you all know. You felt his love for you each time he walked into a courtroom, each time he put another villain behind bars, and as he ultimately sacrificed his life for your right to live without fear. So today, in remembrance of Harvey, stand up. Live by his example. You can be just as powerful in this fight for justice. You can do just as much good. Anyone can do it. Anyone can be a hero."

With her last words, she looked down at Bruce once more, and his tear filled eyes met hers. He smiled at her, and she saw all of the love and admiration in the world on his face. As deafening applause erupted throughout the room, she folded up her speech, stepped down the stairs and paused in front of the casket. She placed the speech on top of the casket, right next to the red roses that covered the top. Then she placed her hand over her lips and pressed a kiss to her fingertips, before she pressed them to the casket.

"Goodbye, Harvey," She whispered.

Bruce immediately reached for her hands when she returned to her seat, squeezing them tightly. Her own hands were shaking violently as the memorial service continued on around them. Gordon spoke next, but Rachel barely heard a word. All she could focus on was the man sitting beside her. The one she was now free to love.

"Thank you," Bruce whispered.

"It was for you, Bruce," She told him, her eyes meeting his. "It was all for you."

He shook his head as they stared at one another. "No… It was more than that. It was for Gotham. It was for my parents. It was for Harvey Dent. It was for our children. It was for you, so you could let go. It was for Batman. And then it was for me."