Alfred was nervous. Bruce had been doing better. He was still in mourning and still shaken by what had happened, but he was doing better. After two nights he had allowed Alfred to sleep in his own room. He still slept with the light on and the nightmares still came, but it was progress. He had been eating better too. He finished his dinner last night. But today was the day of the funeral. Alfred wondered how Bruce would handle the service.

"Master Bruce? Are you ready?"

"Just a second, Alfred."

Alfred waited outside Bruce's bedroom. He was wondering what was taking so long. He hoped Bruce was alright. He knocked on Bruce's door.

"Master Bruce? Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

Alfred moved closer to Bruce's door and heard him crying. He opened the door and walked toward Bruce, who was sitting on his bed. He sat next to him and wrapped his arm around him. Alfred was getting used to this. It dawned on him that perhaps Bruce wasn't doing so much better, but rather he was getting more used to handling Bruce's trauma. Perhaps it was both.

"I miss them. Why are they gone? I miss them so much."

"So do I. And that's ok. It's ok that you're sad. It's ok that you miss them. It only means you loved them very much. And they loved you very much. Oh, Master Bruce, they loved you so very much. And today you get to say goodbye to them."

"I don't want to say goodbye. I want them back."

"I know, Master Bruce." Alfred didn't know what else he could say. He still hadn't figured that out.

"I don't want to go."

"There will be lots of people there to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to them. They'll be mad at me."

"Why on earth would they be mad at you? They will be there to say goodbye to your parents and to give you their condolences."

"What does that mean? What are condolences?"

Sometimes Alfred forgot he was speaking to a child. No child this young should have to be in so much pain.

"It means they want to tell you how sorry they are that you lost your parents."

"They will be mad at me. I let my parents die. I shouldn't have made them leave the theater. I should have warned them when I saw him. I should have done something."

"No, no, no, no, no. No one is mad at you."

"Someone should have done something."

"But that someone isn't you."

"What if someone thinks I should have-?"

"No one thinks that. You're only a child, Master Bruce. There was nothing you could have done."

"You really think no one is mad at me?"

"I know that. I guarantee you, no one blames you. Now, let's finish getting ready."

"Mom and Dad would be mad at me. They would be mad at me for not warning them. They tried to protect me from him and they died because of that."

"No, Master Bruce. They would be happy you lived. They would never be mad at you for that. They would be happy you lived and happy you're going to get to grow up to be the man they dreamed you'd be."

"I'm going to catch him when I'm a cop. That would make them happy."

That was one thing Bruce hadn't stopped talking about. Alfred knew it was only natural. He didn't have the heart to tell Bruce that he was expected to take over Wayne Enterprises when he was old enough. He knew Bruce would figure that out when he was older.

"Alfred, what if they see me cry?"

"They'll know just how much you loved your parents. I'm sure half of Gotham shed a tear for them. You won't be the only one crying there. Now, let's finish getting ready. The funeral is very soon."

The service was beautiful, just like everything event that had to do with the Wayne family. The wake was public, but the service was for friends and family only. It looked to Alfred like his guess that "half of Gotham" would cry had been correct. It seemed like the whole city attended. The majority of the Gotham Police Department made appearances at the wake. They explained partners took turns being on duty to make sure everyone could pay their respects.

"Hello, Bruce."

"Hello, Officer Gordon."

"Your parents were very good people. I'm so sorry. I'm working hard to catch the man who did this to them. Your description of him was helpful."

"You need to catch him, Officer."

"We're doing everything we can. I promise you that."

Citizens from all walks of life in the city made appearances, from wealthy citizens who had known them personally to poorer citizens that had been helped by the Wayne foundation. Alfred was asked if they should be turned away, as they did not fit the appearance of the ceremony. Alfred said Thomas and Martha would have wanted them there. They never turned away a Gotham citizen in need.

Alfred stayed near Bruce the whole time, usually keeping his arm protectively wrapped around the child. He wished there was something he could do to make this easier on him. He knew being there for him was the most he could do, but he felt like it wasn't enough. That changed when he put Bruce to bed at night.

"Is there anything else you need, Master Bruce?"

"No."

"Just remember, I'm still right down the hall."

"Ok. Good night, Alfred."

"Good night, Master Bruce."

"Alfred?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for making me go to the funeral today. It was good to say goodbye to Mom and Dad. And you were right. No one was mad at me."